Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Shengjiang decoction in rats with acute pancreatitis for protecting against multiple organ injury

AIM To explore the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Shengjiang decoction(SJD) in rats with acute pancreatitis(AP) for protecting against multiple organ injury.METHODS An AP model was established by retrograde perfusion of 3.5% sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct, and a control group(CG) received 0.9% sodium chloride instead. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a CG treated with SJD(CG + SJD) and a model group treated with SJD(MG + SJD), both of which were orally administered with SJD(5 g/kg) 2 h after surgery. Blood samples were collected via the tail vein at 10, 20, and 40 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after a single dose of SJD to detect its main components using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters were compared. In the pharmacodynamic experiment, 18 male SpragueDawley rats were randomly divided into a CG, an AP model group(MG), and an SJD treated AP group(SJDG). Serum amylase, lipase, and inflammatory cytokines were measured, and heart, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, and intestine tissues were collected for pathological examination.RESULTS The MG + SJD displayed significantly shorter mean residence time(MRT) and higher clearance(CL) for emodin and aloe-emodin; significantly shorter time of maximum concentration and T1/2 and a lower area under curve(AUC) for aloe-emodin; a significantly higher AUC and lower CL for rhein; and longer MRT and lower CL for chrysophanol than the CG + SJD. In the pharmacodynamic experiment, the amylase, interleukin(IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α levels in the MG were higher than those in the CG(P < 0.05). After the herbal decoction treatment, the SJDG had higher IL-10 and lower TNF-α levels than the MG(P < 0.05). The MG had the highest pathological scores, and the pathological scores of the lung, pancreas, kidney, and intestine in the SJDG were significantly lower than those in the MG(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION AP may have varying effects on the pharmacokinetics of the major SJD components in rats. SJD might alleviate pathological injuries of the lung, pancreas, kidney, and intestine in rats with AP via regulating pro-and antiinflammatory responses, which might guide the clinical application of SJD for AP treatment.

Indoor Allergen Levels and Household Distributions in Nine Cities Across China

Objective Chinese allergic subjects have high levels of sensitization to house dust mite （HDM） and other indoor allergens. This study quantifies common indoor allergen levels in Chinese households. Methods Dust samples were collected from nine cities. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f I from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and specific antigens of Blomia tropicalis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and cockroach species Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were measured by ELISA.Results HDM allergens were found in dust samples from bedding in 95% of the Chinese households. The median levels varied from 〈0.006 to 9.2 μg/g of dust, depending on the city. The percentages of households having HDM allergen levels associated with the risk of developing allergy sensitization and asthma were 65% and 25%, respectively. Specific antigens of the storage mite and cockroach were only found in samples from the southern and tropical regions of China. Levels of mite allergens were generally higher in samples from bedding compared to samples from the living room, even for storage mites, whereas levels of cockroach antigens were higher in the living room samples.Conclusion HDM allergens are present in bedding dust samples from most Chinese households. Cities in southern and central China have relatively high levels of HDM major allergens compared to cities in northern and western China. Antigens of storage mites and cockroaches are not as common as HDM allergens.

Smart healthcare: making medical care more intelligent

With the development of information technology,the concept of smart healthcare has gradually come to the fore.Smart healthcare uses a new generation of information technologies,such as the internet of things(IoT),big data,cloud computing,and artificial intelligence,to transform the traditional medical system in an all-round way,making healthcare more efficient,more convenient,and more personalized.With the aim of introducing the concept of smart healthcare,in this review,we first list the key technologies that support smart healthcare and introduce the current status of smart healthcare in several important fields.Then we expound the existing problems with smart healthcare and try to propose solutions to them.Finally,we look ahead and evaluate the future prospects of smart healthcare.

Performance of risk stratification systems for gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A multicenter study

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumor type in the gastrointestinal system. Presently, various classification systems to prognosticate GISTs have been proposed.AIM To evaluate the application value of four different risk stratification systems for GISTs.METHODS Patients who were diagnosed with GISTs and underwent surgical resection at four hospitals from 1998 to 2015 were identified from a database. Risk of recurrence was stratified by the modified National Institute of Health(NIH)criteria, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology(AFIP) criteria, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center(MSKCC) prognostic nomogram, and the contour maps. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves were established to compare the four abovementioned risk stratification systems based on the area under the curve(AUC).RESULTS A total of 1303 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 55.77 ± 13.70 yr; 52.3% of the patients were male. The mean follow-up period was 64.91 ± 35.79 mo. Approximately 67.0% the tumors were located in the stomach, and 59.5% were smaller than 5 cm; 67.3% of the patients had a mitotic count ≤ 5/50 high-power fields(HPFs). Thirty-four tumors ruptured before and during surgery. Univariate analysis demonstrated that tumor size > 5 cm(P <0.05), mitotic count > 5/50 HPFs(P < 0.05), non-gastric location(P < 0.05), and tumor rupture(P < 0.05) were significantly associated with increased recurrence rates. According to the ROC curve, the AFIP criteria showed the largest AUC(0.754).CONCLUSION According to our data, the AFIP criteria were associated with a larger AUC than the NIH modified criteria, the MSKCC nomogram, and the contour maps, which might indicate that the AFIP criteria have better accuracy to support therapeutic decision-making for patients with GISTs.

Mixed reality breathes fresh energy into the development of modern surgery

With the rapid development of holographic imaging technology,virtual reality and augmented reality technology have been used in medicine for decades.However,due to the lack of compatibility between the virtual world and the real world and the lack of human-computer interaction,their widespread use is limited.As a research hotspot in recent years,the mixed reality technology has a huge prospect in the medical field by virtue of its unique advantages combined with the virtual world and the real world,as well as better human-machine realtime interaction and precise matching.This article will focus on the development of this technology in recent years,and introduce the application of mixed reality technology in medical education and clinical application.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of primary intracranial alveolar soft-part sarcoma: A case report

BACKGROUND Primary intracranial alveolar soft-part sarcoma(PIASPS)is a rare malignancy.We aimed to investigate the clinical profiles and outcomes for PIASPS.CASE SUMMARY We firstly reported five consecutive cases from our institute.Then,the cases from previous studies were pooled and analyzed to delineate the characteristics of this disease.Our cohort included two males and three females.The median age was 21-years-old(range:8-54-years-old).All the patients received surgical treatment.Gross total resection(GTR),radiotherapy,and chemotherapy were administered in 3 patients,4 patients,and 1 patient,respectively.After a median follow-up of 36 mo,tumor progression was noticed in 4 patients;and 3 patients died of the disease.Pooled data(n=14)contained 5 males and 9 females with a median age of 19 years.The log-rank tests showed that GTR(P=0.011)could prolong progression-free survival,and radiotherapy(P<0.001)resulted in longer overall survival.CONCLUSION Patients with PIASPS suffer from poor outcomes.Surgical treatment is the first choice,and GTR should be achieved when the tumor is feasible.Patients with PIASPS benefit from radiotherapy,which should be considered as a part of treatment therapies.

Loss of CD20 expression in relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma after rituximab therapy:a case report and review of the literature

Nowadays, resistance to rituximab has become a major issue in clinical practice. And loss of CD20 may contribute to it. Here we presented a case of loss of CD20 expression in relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with rituximab and discuss the incidence, mechanism, influence factors, specific markers, prognosis and treatment of this disease. These results suggested that a post-relapse biopsy after rituximab treatment shguld be performed. CD79a and Pax-5 should be used as the first-line B lineage-specific markers for these patients. Though mechanisms of CD20 decrement are not fully elucidated, the down-regulation of CD20 mRNA is the most probable hypothesis. Recently various new agents are developed, but the prognosis is still poor. Further studies for new treatments are needed.

Development and prospects of digital orthopedics in Hubei province

Based on the development and application of new technology,as a new interdisciplinary subject,digital orthopedics becomes an important development direction of modern medicine in the past years.Using digital orthopedics technology,such as 3D digital printing technology,mixed reality technology,provides new impetus of orthopedic surgery and indicates its great potential of precision medicine and personalized therapy for orthopedic disorders.In 2017,Hubei Branch of China Digital Orthopaedic Society of SociétéInternationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie(SICOT)was founded.It is an important milestone and academic event for the development of digital orthopedics in Hubei.After that,Hubei's digital orthopedics professionals have made great progress in clinical,scientific research,conference and social activities.The development of 5G technologies in China will provide more opportunities and challenges for global digital orthopedics in the near future.

Remote consultation based on mixed reality technology

Telemedicine includes remote teleradiology,remote ultrasound diagnostics,telesurgery,telemedicine consultation,and other forms.Telemedicine consultation is the most used form of telemedicine.However,the traditional telemedicine consultation is limited by a lack of communication and presentation methods,and its wide application is greatly limited.Mixed reality technology cuts through the boundaries between virtual reality and actual reality,bringing a new method of remote consultation.

Erythroplasia of Queyrat: Case Report &Review of the Literature

Erythroplasia of Queyrat (EQ) is Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of penis usually involving glans and prepuce, commonly found in uncircumcised men with progression into invasive carcinoma in about 30% of cases. We present a case of 50 yrs, male with reddish, Irritative rash on glans penis;HPE confirms the case of EQ with acanthosis, derangement of stratum spinosum and basement membrane integrity. It successfully treated with two cycle of Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT). If conservative approach with immquimod, fluorouracil fails then invasive approach should be adopted.

Overview of Kidney Transplantation: A Single Centre Report from China

Introduction: Worldwide, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is one of the leading disease with prolong morbidity. Kidney transplantation offers the best solution for the problem. The shortage of donor kidney is even bigger problem due to transplantation being one of the routine procedures. The use of deceased donor definitely increases the pool of donor with excellent immediate and long-term follow-up proven results. Aim: The aim is to analyze and summarize the outcome of Kidney transplantation. Methods & Materials: A total of 78 cases of Kidney Transplantation were selected for the study and categorized as: Group I—41 (living Donor), Group II—23 (DCD) & Group III—15 (DBD). Perspective study was done with clean data recorded & maintained pre-operatively, post-operatively and follow-up from Jan 2011 to Dec 2015 in our hospital. Post-operative graft status, complications and at least 1-year follow-up were area of main focus. Results: All patients underwent successful kidney transplantation. In Group I, the number of living donor kidney transplantation is 41 whereas in Group II (DCD) & III (DBD), the number of deceased donor transplantation is 23 and 15 respectively. The Normal functioning of graft (NGF) was 38 (87.8%), 16 (69.6%) & 11 (73.3%) in Group I, II & III respectively along with Poor Graft function (PGF) in Group I—4 (9.7%), II—5 (21.7%) & III—2 (13.3%) managed by continuing dialysis. Delayed graft function (DGF) was noted I-1 (2.4%), II-2 (8.6%) & III-1 (6.6%) in respective group, which returned to normal function post intervention. Therefore, 1st year graft survival was >93% [(Group I (97.6%), Group II (95.6%) & Group III (93.3%) respectively]. Manageable surgical complication were found in Group I—8 (19.5%), Group II—5 (21.7%) & Group III—2 (13.3%) like hematoma, hydronephrosis, leakage except one emboli related nephrectomy of transplanted kidney & one pneumonia led death in Group II. The overall survival was greater than 90% [(Group I (97.6%), Group II (91.3%) & Group III (93.3%) respectively] in all three groups after at least 1-year follow-up study, which was an excellent prognosis. Conclusion: Kidney Transplantation is safe, effective and the best method of treatment for ESRD. Significant improvement in quality of life is the hallmark merit over dialysis. Paired donation program should be encouraged in order to overcome shortage of kidney, which increases living donor pool. Outcome in living donor Kidney transplantation is always better than deceased donor transplantation. The prognosis of deceased donor transplantation (1 year Graft survival > 93% & 1 year patient survival > 90%) is also satisfactory with promising results. Therefore all the results were under acceptable standard limit. Thus, kidney transplantation (live or deceased donor) should be encouraged as primary modalities in the treatment of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Safety profile of 0.0015%tafluprost eye drops in China:a post-marketing observational study

AIM:To investigate the treatment pattern and safety of tafluprost for glaucoma and ocular hypertension(OH)in clinical practice in China.METHODS:This post-marketing observational study included patients who received tafluprost to lower intraocular pressure(IOP)within 30d between September 2017 and March 2020 in 20 hospitals in China.Adverse drug reactions(ADRs)during tafluprost treatment and within 30d after the treatment were collected.RESULTS:A total of 2544 patients were included in this study,of them 58.5%(1488/2544)had primary open angle glaucoma(POAG),21.9%(556/2544)had OH and 19.7%(500/2544)used tafluprost for other reasons.Of 359 ADRs occurred in 10.1%(258/2544)patients,and no serious adverse event occurred.The most common ADR was conjunctival hyperemia(128 ADRs in 124 patients,4.9%).Totally 1670 participants(65.6%)combined tafluprost with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors(CAIs;37.1%,620/1670),sympathomimetics(33.5%,559/1670),β-blockers(33.2%,555/1670),other prostaglandin analogs(PGAs;15.6%,260/1670)and other eye drops(15.1%,253/1670).The highest incidence of conjunctival hyperemia was noted in patients who received tafluprost in combination with other PGAs(23 ADRs in 23 patients,8.8%,23/260)and the lowest was in combination with CAIs(16 ADRs in 16 patients,2.6%,16/620).Tafluprost was applied in primary angle-closure glaucoma(41.6%,208/500),after glaucoma surgery(17.8%,89/500)and after non-glaucoma surgery(15.8%,79/500).CONCLUSION:Tafluprost is safe for POAG and OH,and tolerable when combined with other eye drops and under various clinical circumstances.

Detection of Hantavirus gene from peripheral blood of patients with HFRS in Heilongjiang province and the epidemiological significance

The aim of this study is to further understand the genotype of Hantavirus （HV） from peripheral blood of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome （HFRS） and the epidemiological significance of this disease in Heilongjiang province in recent years. Thirty-one serum samples of clinically diagnosed patients with HFRS were examined by RT-PCR to decide the genetic subtype. On the basis of infection season, the serum samples were divided into two groups： winter （Nov, 2003--Feb, 2004）, spring and summer （April, 200d--Sep, 2004）. Further analysis was performed in combination with clinical symptoms. It was found that among the total 31 samples, 22 were sero-positive. Among 14 serum samples in winter, 8 were sero-positive, of which 5 cases were of type Ⅰ （Hantaan virus, HTNV） and 3 of type Ⅱ （Seoul virus, SEOV）. Among 17 samples in spring and summer, 14 were sero-positive, of which 5 cases were of type Ⅰ and 9 of type Ⅱ . So it concludes that both of the two types of Hantavirus exist in Heilongjiang. The type Ⅰ is the main pathogen of HFRS in winter, and typeⅡ is the main in spring and summer.

First-in-man Experience of a New Transcatheter Edge-to-edge Repair System Neoblazar in Patients With Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation

objective:Severe tricuspid regurgitation frequently leads to increased mortality and a poor prognosis.Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair(TEER)for tricuspid valve regurgitation has been reported as a safe alternative to traditional open-heart surgery.This study endeavors to assess the efficacy and safety of a newly designed Neoblazar TEER system in this high-risk population.Methods:This investigation was structured as a prospective,single-arm,first-in-man trial in China(ClinicalTrials.gov number:NCT05497141).From August 2022 to October 2022,patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation were enrolled from 3 centers(Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital,Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital,and Wuhan Union Hospital).The primary endpoint was achieving a minimum 1-grade reduction in tricuspid regurgitation at the 6-month post-TEER intervention,in addition to the pertinent New York Heart Association class.Scheduled echocardiographic evaluations were conducted at the following distinct intervals:baseline,discharge,1 month,and 6 months post-TEER intervention.Results:A total of 10 patients were enrolled in the study.Immediately after the TEER procedure with the Neoblazar system,massive tricuspid regurgitation(grade 5+)at baseline decreased to moderate-severe tricuspid regurgitation(grade 3+)in 2 patients and the optimal tricuspid regurgitation reduction(severe tricuspid regurgitation(grade 4+)to mild tricuspid regurgitation(grade 1+)were achieved in 6 patients.After 6 months of follow-up,tricuspid regurgitation reduction was found to be durable in all enrolled patients,among whom at least 1 grade of tricuspid regurgitation reduction was sustained,even without reintervention.Consistently,the New York Heart Association class among these subjects significantly improved,with the percentage of patients categorized as class I-ll increasing from 0/10 at baseline to 5/10 after 1 month(P=0.015)and 8/10 after 6 months(P<0.001).Conclusion:Tricuspid TEER with the newly designed Neoblazar system appears to be a feasible and safe alternative in treating patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.However,the implementation of larger and more robust randomized trials is still necessary for further verification of the potential benefits.

Prevalence and risk evaluation of cardiovascular disease in the newly diagnosed prostate cancer population in China:A nationwide,multi-center,population-based cross-sectional study

Background:Cardiovascular disease(CVD)has emerged as the leading cause of death from prostate cancer(PCa)in recent decades,bringing a great disease burden worldwide.Men with preexisting CVD have an increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular events when treated with androgen deprivation therapy(ADT).The present study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk evaluation of CVD among people with newly diagnosed PCa in China.Methods:Clinical data of newly diagnosed PCa patients were retrospectively collected from 34 centers in China from 2010 to 2022 through convenience sampling.CVD was defined as myocardial infarction,arrhythmia,heart failure,stroke,ischemic heart disease,and others.CVD risk was estimated by calculating Framingham risk scores(FRS).Patients were accordingly divided into low-,medium-,and high-risk groups.χ2 or Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical variables.Results:A total of 4253 patients were enrolled in the present study.A total of 27.0%(1147/4253)of patients had comorbid PCa and CVD,and 7.2%(307/4253)had two or more CVDs.The enrolled population was distributed in six regions of China,and approximately 71.0%(3019/4253)of patients lived in urban areas.With imaging and pathological evaluation,most PCa patients were diagnosed at an advanced stage,with 20.5%(871/4253)locally progressing and 20.5%(871/4253)showing metastasis.Most of them initiated prostatectomy(46.6%,1983/4253)or regimens involving ADT therapy(45.7%,1944/4253)for prostate cancer.In the present PCa cohort,43.1%(1832/4253)of patients had hypertension,and half of them had poorly controlled blood pressure.With FRS stratification,as expected,a higher risk of CVD was related to aging and metabolic disturbance.However,we also found that patients with treatment involving ADT presented an originally higher risk of CVD than those without ADT.This was in accordance with clinical practice,i.e.,aged patients or patients at advanced oncological stages were inclined to accept systematic integrative therapy instead of surgery.Among patients who underwent medical castration,only 4.0%(45/1118)received gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonists,in stark contrast to the grim situation of CVD prevalence and risk.Conclusions:PCa patients in China are diagnosed at an advanced stage.A heavy CVD burden was present at the initiation of treatment.Patients who accepted ADT-related therapy showed an original higher risk of CVD,but the awareness of cardiovascular protection was far from sufficient.

Irritable bowel syndrome in China: a review on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a common functional gastrointestinal disease worldwide.Current guidelines of IBS are mostly based on the western populations and expected to vary in different communities.China has a large population and a vast literature is available on IBS.Due to linguistic variations in the literature,the studies are not widely known and their conclusions thus remain largely obscured to the western medical literature.In this article,we reviewed the published literatures on the investigations of IBS epidemiology,diagnosis,and management in the Chinese population and emphasized the different findings gleaned from the western publications.The detailed literature review will benefit understanding of and promote future study on IBS.

MicroRNA-548 down-regulates host antiviral response via direct targeting of IFN-λ1

Interferon(IFN)-mediated pathways are a crucial part of the cellular response against viral infection.Type III IFNs,which include IFN-λ1,2 and 3,mediate antiviral responses similar to Type I IFNs via a distinct receptor complex.IFN-λ1 is more effective than the other two members.Transcription of IFN-λ1 requires activation of IRF3/7 and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB),similar to the transcriptional mechanism of Type I IFNs.Using reporter assays,we discovered that viral infection in-duced both IFN-λ1 promoter activity and that of the 3′-untranslated region(UTR),indicating that IFN-λ1 expression is also regulated at the post-transcriptional level.After analysis with microRNA(miRNA)prediction programs and 3′UTR targeting site assays,the miR-NA-548 family,including miR-548b-5p,miR-548c-5p,miR-548i,miR-548j,and miR-548n,was identified to target the 3′UTR of IFN-λ1.Further study demonstrated that miRNA-548 mimics down-regulated the expression of IFN-λ1.In contrast,their inhibitors,the complemen-tary RNAs,enhanced the expression of IFN-λ1 and IFN-stimulated genes.Furthermore,miRNA-548 mimics promoted infection by enterovirus-71(EV71)and ve-sicular stomatitis virus(VSV),whereas their inhibitors significantly suppressed the replication of EV71 and VSV.Endogenous miRNA-548 levels were suppressed during viral infection.In conclusion,our results sug-gest that miRNA-548 regulates host antiviral response via direct targeting of IFN-λ1,which may offer a poten-tial candidate for antiviral therapy.

Comparison of emergency endoscopic variceal ligation plus octride or octride alone for acute esophageal variceal bleeding

Background Octride was the main method for the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding （EVB）. The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effect and safety between esophageal variceal ligation （EVL） plus octride and octride alone in acute esophageal bleeding. Methods A total of 101 cirrhotic patients with EVB were involved in this study and received emergency EVL ± octride （EVL group） or only octride therapy randomly. The cost, efficacy and safety were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results Among 51 patients in EVL group, 5 （10%） patients failed. Among 50 patients in the octride treatment group, 13 patients （26%） failed. The difference was significant （P 〈0.05）. The average blood transfusion volume was （2.4±2.2） units in the EVL group and （6.4±3.4） units in the octride treatment group （P〈0.05）. Hospital stay was （7.4±1.3） days in the EVL group and （11.4±3.3） days in the octride treatment group （P 〈0.05）. The average hospital cost was （10 983±1147） yuan in the EVL group and （13 921 ±2107） yuan in the octride treatment group （P 〈0.05）. Conclusion Emergency endoscopic ligation plus octride is superior to octride alone in the treatment of acute EVB with lower cost and higher efficacy with enough safety.

Effect of Heficobacter pylori Eradication on Reflux Esophagitis Therapy： A Multi-center Randomized Control Study

Background： Helicohacterpylori （H. pylori） frequently colonizes the stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） is a common and costly disease. But the relationship ofH. pylori and GERD is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect ofH. p.vlori and its eradication on reflux esophagitis therapy. Methods： Patients diagnosed with reflux esophagitis by endoscopy were enrolled; based on rapid urease test and Warth-Starry stain, they were divided into H. pylori positive and negative groups. H. pylori positive patients were randomly given H. pylori eradication treatment for 10 days, then esomeprazole 20 mg bid for 46 days. The other patients received esomeprazole 20 mg bid therapy for 8 weeks. After treatment, three patient groups were obtained： H. pylori positive eradicated, H. pylori positive uneradicated, and H. pylori negative. Before and after therapy, reflux symptoms were scored and compared. Healing rates were compared among groups. The x2 test and t-test were used, respectively, for enumeration and measurement data. Results： There were 176 H. pylori positive （with 92 eradication cases） and 180 negative cases. Healing rates in the H. pylori positive eradicated and H. pylori positive uneradicated groups reached 80.4% and 79.8% （P = 0.911）, with reflux symptom scores of 0.22 and 0.14 （P = 0.588）. Healing rates of esophagitis in the 14. pylori positive uneradicated and H. pylori negative groups were, respectively, 79.8% and 82.2% （P = 0.848）; reflux symptom scores were 0.14 and 0.21 （P = 0.546）. Conclusions： Based on esomeprazole therapy, H. pylori infection and eradication have no significant effect on reflux esophagitis therapy.

Lipoxin A_4 negatively regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 murine macrophages into dendritic-like cells

Background Lipoxins （LXs）, endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving eicosanoids generated during various inflammatory conditions, have novel immunomodulatory properties. Because dendritic cells （DCs） play crucial roles in the initiation and maintenance of immune response, we determined whether LXs could modulate the maturation process of DCs and investigated the effects of lipoxin A4 （LXA4） on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into dendritic-like cells. Methods RAW264.7 cells were cultured in vitro with 1 pg/ml LPS in the absence or presence of LXA4 for 24 hours, and cellular surface markers （MHC-II, CD80 （B7-1）, CD86（B7-2）） were measured by flow cytometry （FCM）. Mixed lymphocyte reaction was performed to evaluate the allostimulatory activity. Cytoplastic IKB degradation and nuclear factor kappa B （NF-KB） translocation were detected by Western blotting. Luciferase reporter plasmid was transiently transfected into RAW264.7 cells, and luciferase activity was determined to measure the transcriptional activity of NF-KB. Results LXA4 reduced the ratio of LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells to DCs with morphological characteristics and inhibited the expression of MHC I1. LPS-induced up-regulation of CD86 was moderately suppressed by LXA4 but no obvious change of CD80 was observed. Moreover, LXA4 weakened the aUostimulatory activity of LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. These alterations of LPS＋LXA4-treated cells were associated with a marked inhibition of IKB degradation, NF-KB translocation and then the transcriptional activity of NF-KB. Conclusions LXA4 negatively regulates LPS-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into dendritic-like cells.This activity reveals an undescribed mechanism of LXA4 to prevent excessive and sustained immune reaction by regulating maturation of DCs.