Continuous blood purification treatment for endotoxin-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

This study aimed to explore the effects of continuous blood purification (CBP) treatment in pigs affected with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A total of 12 healthy male pigs, weighing 12±1.8 kg, were randomly and equally assigned to the control and experimental groups. The ARDS pig model was prepared by intravenous injections of endotoxin (20 µg/kg). The control group was given conventional supportive therapy, while the experimental group was given continuous veno-venous hemofiltration therapy. During the treatment process, the variations in dynamic lung compliance, oxygenation index, hemodynamics, and urine volume per hour at different times (Baseline, 0, 2, 4, and 6 h) were recorded. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The histomorphological changes of the lung, heart, and kidney were visualized using a light microscope. The nuclear factor κB p65 protein content of the heart, lung, and kidney tissues was also detected using western blot. The experimental group outperformed the control group in both respiratory and hemodynamic events. CBP treatment cleared TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 partially from serum and BALF. The pathological examination of the heart, lung, and kidney tissues revealed that the injury was less severe in the experimental group. CBP treatment can improve the organ functions of pigs affected with endotoxin-induced ARDS and protect these organs to some extent.

Continuous blood purification treatment for endotoxin-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

This study aimed to explore the effects of continuous blood purification (CBP) treatment in pigs affected with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A total of 12 healthy male pigs, weighing 12±1.8 kg, were randomly and equally assigned to the control and experimental groups. The ARDS pig model was prepared by intravenous injections of endotoxin (20 µg/kg). The control group was given conventional supportive therapy, while the experimental group was given continuous veno-venous hemofiltration therapy. During the treatment process, the variations in dynamic lung compliance, oxygenation index, hemodynamics, and urine volume per hour at different times (Baseline, 0, 2, 4, and 6 h) were recorded. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The histomorphological changes of the lung, heart, and kidney were visualized using a light microscope. The nuclear factor κB p65 protein content of the heart, lung, and kidney tissues was also detected using western blot. The experimental group outperformed the control group in both respiratory and hemodynamic events. CBP treatment cleared TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 partially from serum and BALF. The pathological examination of the heart, lung, and kidney tissues revealed that the injury was less severe in the experimental group. CBP treatment can improve the organ functions of pigs affected with endotoxin-induced ARDS and protect these organs to some extent.

Endogenous hormonal equilibrium linked to bamboo culm development.

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) is the most important bamboo species in China and is famous for its fast-growing culms. To investigate the possible relationship between internode development and endogenous hormones, the concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), gibberellins (GA3), and abscisic acid (ABA) were analyzed in culm samples from plants at different developmental stages during a single growing season and, at the same time, anatomical structure was closely monitored. Cell division was the dominant process in internode development during early development, while cell elongation predominated at later stages. There was a negative correlation between the rates of cell division and cell elongation. The four endogenous hormones (IAA, ZR, GA3, and ABA) displayed fluctuations in their levels at different developmental stages but their peak activities were not synchronous. Cell division rate had a significant positive correlation with ZR concentration. Cell elongation had a significant positive correlation with the ratio of promoting hormones (IAA, GA3, and ZR) to inhibitory hormone (ABA) concentrations. We conclude that hormonal equilibrium might regulate the division and elongation of bamboo culms.

Association of the TNF-α+489 G/A polymorphism with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk in Asians: meta-analysis.

The association between the TNF-α +489 G/A polymorphism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains controversial because of small group size and varied design among different studies. In the present study, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between the +489 G/A polymorphism and COPD risk. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify articles that have reported an association between the TNF-α +489 G/A polymorphism and COPD risk. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated under both dominant (AA+GA vs GG genotypes) and allele (A vs G) models. Heterogeneity was assessed, as well as publication bias. Nine articles with ten eligible studies were included in this analysis. Significant association between the +489 G/A polymorphism and COPD was identified in Asians under the allele model (OR = 1.582, 95%CI = 1.035-2.419). However, no significant difference was found in the Caucasian groups. Strong evidence for between-study heterogeneity was identified under both models, and no publication bias was detected. Our results indicated a potential role of the A allele of the TNF-α +489 G/A polymorphism in increasing COPD risk in Asians, but not in Caucasians. Additional studies will be necessary to verify this conclusion.

Genetic diversity of Broussonetia papyrifera populations in southwest China.

Broussonetia papyrifera is an important native tree species with high economic value in southwest China. Its resources are drastically reduced because of over-harvesting and habitat fragmentation. In this study, 17 natural populations of B. papyrifera were analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to assess the genetic diversity and population structure. In total, 100 bands were obtained from 16 ISSR primers. The B. papyrifera populations showed relatively high genetic diversity at the species level [percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB): 96%; Nei's genetic diversity (HE): 0.3074; Shannon's information index (I): 0.4617], while the genetic diversity at the population level was relatively low (PPB: 53.2%; HE: 0.1826; I: 0.2735). Relatively high level of genetic differentiation among populations (41%) was disclosed by analysis of molecular variance, which agrees with the Nei's genetic diversity statistics (40.59%) and Shannon's information measure (40.76%). Gene flow among populations (NM) was only 0.7318. A significant correlation was observed between genetic and geographic distance among the studied populations (r=0.2948). We conjectured that the genetic diversity of B. papyrifera resulted from human disturbance, habitat fragmentation, small effective population size, and geographic barrier. Given the high genetic differentiation among populations, some utilization and conservation strategies were proposed. This study provides a reference for the sustainable use of the species in southwest China.

Association of -238G/A and -863C/A polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on a meta-analysis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease; increasing evidence indicates that the TNF-α polymorphism is associated with progression of this disease. Few studies have focused upon association between TNF-α -238G/A or -863C/A polymorphism and COPD risk. Reported associations have been controversial because of small sample size and varied study design among the different studies. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the correlation of these two polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene with COPD risk. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all published articles on the association between TNF-α -238G/A or -863C/A polymorphism and COPD risk from different databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and the heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Eight articles with 10 eligible studies met our inclusion criteria; six studies were of the -238G/A polymorphism and the others involved the -863C/A polymorphism. In the case of the -863C/A polymorphism, significant association was detected only in Asians in the A allele carriers (GA+AA versus GG genotype) and allele (A versus G allele) model (OR = 0.505, 95%CI = 0.321-0.795 and OR = 0.560, 95%CI = 0.368-0.851, respectively). However, no significant association was detected for the -238G/A polymorphism. No evidence of between-study heterogeneity and publication bias was detected. We suggest a potentially protective role of the A allele in the TNF-α -863C/ A polymorphism against developing COPD in Asians. This hypothesis needs further studies for confirmation.

Association of the G403A polymorphism in the RANTES gene with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.

The G403A polymorphism in the RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) gene has a key role in the expression of RANTES, which has been detected in a range of cells in atherosclerotic plaque. However, the association of this polymorphism with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the association of the G403A polymorphism in the RANTES gene with the risk of CAD. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all studies published on the association of the RANTES gene G403A polymorphism with CAD risk. The fixed or random-effect pooled measure was adopted based on a heterogeneity test among studies, which was evaluated using I(2). Potential sources of between-study heterogeneity were explored using meta-regression analysis. Publication bias was estimated with Begg's rank correlation method. Eight articles were included in this meta-analysis, with 4601 CAD cases and 2522 controls. No significant association of RANTES gene G403A polymorphism with CAD was identified in any of the codominant, dominant, recessive, homozygote, or heterozygote inheritance models. No evidence of publication bias was detected. The meta-analysis suggested that the A allele of the G403A polymorphism in the RANTES gene has no effect on the risk of CAD. This relationship needs to be confirmed by further studies.