Cryptoporus volvatus polysaccharides attenuate LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory factors via the TLR2 signaling pathway in human alveolar epithelial cells.

Context: Cryptoporus volvatus (Peck) Hubb grows wild in China, and its fruiting bodies have been used traditionally to treat asthma and bronchitis.

Objectives: This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory effect of Cryptoporus polysaccharides (CP) extracted from fruiting bodies of C. volvatus on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory factors and the signaling pathways involved in human alveolar epithelial cells.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids attenuate cigarette smoke extract-induced interleukin-8 production in bronchial epithelial cells.

In response to endothelial cell activation, arachidonic acid can be converted by cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which have potent vasodilator and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous EETs on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced inflammation in human bronchial epithelial cells (NCI-H292). We found that CSE inhibited the expression of CYP2C8 and mildly stimulated the expression of epoxide hydrolase 2 (EPHX2) but did not change the expression of CYP2J2.

Apple polyphenol protects against cigarette smoke-induced acute lung injury.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex chronic inflammatory disease involving oxidative stress as well as a wide variety of cells activated from smoking cigarettes. There have been disappointingly few therapeutic advances in drug therapy for COPD. Plant polyphenols have been the topic of much research regarding their antioxidant activities and antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Shp2 plays an important role in acute cigarette smoke-mediated lung inflammation.

Cigarette smoke (CS), the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, contains a variety of oxidative components that were implicated in the regulation of Src homology domain 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (Shp2) activity. However, the contribution of Shp2 enzyme to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathogenesis remains unclear. We investigated the role of Shp2 enzyme in blockading CS-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Oral administration of allergen extracts from mugwort pollen desensitizes specific allergen-induced allergy in mice.

Clinically, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) using allergen extracts effectively alleviates the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma. We hypothesized that oral administration of a high-dose of allergen extracts imitates SLIT, which may prevent IgE-related responses in allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of oral administration of allergen extracts from mugwort pollen (MP) on allergen-induced inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in an allergic mouse model.

Antiinflammatory effect of low-level laser therapy on Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis in rabbits.

A rabbit model of endophthalmitis was established to evaluate the antiinflammatory effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to treatment for Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups to receive intravitreal injections into their left eye: group A received 0.5 mg vancomycin (100 μl), group B received 0.

Application of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To compare serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin (L/Z) concentrations between patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDR) and normal subjects, and to explore the effect of L/Z supplementation on serum L/Z level and visual function in NDR patients

Methods: SUBJECTS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS: 30 NDR patients supplied with Lutein 6mg/d and Zeaxanthin 0.5mg/d for three months (DR Group), 30 NDR patients without L/Z supplementation (DR Control Group) and 30 normal subjects (Control Group). Serum L/Z concentrations were measured by liquid high-resolution chromatography (HPLC).

Laboratory diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis.

Aim: To analyze the lab diagnosis and etiology of infectious endophthalmitis.

Methods: The medical and microbial records of 36 patients diagnosed with infectious endophthalmitis and 8 patients diagnosed with intraocular lens (IOL)-related inflammation between Nov. 1999 and Dec.

[Normal conjunctival flora in healthy infants aged from 1 to 4 months].

Objective: To investigate the normal conjunctival bacterial flora isolated from healthy infants aged from 1 to 4 months and to analyze its correlated factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. From January to March 2009, 109 cases of healthy babies aged from 1 to 4 months were selected through simple random sampling when they accepted health examination provided by Tianjin Medical University Eye Center and Tianjin Women and Children's Health Center.

Dynamic analysis of CD127 expression on memory CD8 T cells from patients with chronic hepatitis B during telbivudine treatment.

Background: Accumulating evidence supports the theory that expression of CD127 on CD8 T cells during the process of antiviral immune response indicates a subset of effect CD8 T cells that successfully develop into fully protective memory. CD8 T cells expression of CD127 may be used as a predictor to evaluate disease status in chronic viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the CD127 expression level on different subsets of CD8 T cell and explore the relationship between CD127 expression on CD8 memory T cells and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Efficacy of telbivudine in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with high baseline ALT levels.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LDT) in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who have high baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels between 10 and 20 times the upper limit of normal.

Methods: Forty HBeAg-positive CHB patients with high baseline ALT levels between 10 and 20 times the upper limit of normal were enrolled and received LDT monotherapy for 52 wk. Another forty patients with baseline ALT levels between 2 and 10 times the upper limit of normal were included as controls.

[hVEGF siRNA inhibits initial growth of A549 tumor cells in nude mice and angiogenesis on CAM assay].

Objective: To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF) on A549 cell growth in nude mice and angiogenesis on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.

Methods: Three pairs of hVEGF siRNA-plasmid and non-silencing-plasmid were constructed, and transfected into A549 cells through lipofectamine 2000, respectively. The most effective pair of hVEGF siRNA-plasmid was selected by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR.

Sex hormones and their receptors in patients with age-related cataract.

Purpose: To determine the sex hormone levels in the serum and aqueous humor in patients with age-related cataract and the corresponding hormone receptors in cataract lens epithelial cells (LECs).

Setting: Research Laboratory, International Intraocular Implant Training Center, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Methods: Serum and aqueous humor were drawn from patients with cataract and a control group.