OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of total saponins of Panax japonicus (TSPJ) on human leukemic HL-60 cells. METHODS: Human leukemic HL-60 cells were cultured in vitro. The cancer cell vigor was detected by using cell counting kit-8. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) was used for measuring cell reduction. The cell cycle and the expression of differentiation antigen CD11b were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the negative control group, TSPJ in different concentrations could decrease the vigor of HL-60 cells and the number of cells in S phase and up-regulate the CD11b expression, while the numbers of NBT positive cells and cells in G(0)/G(1) phase in the different concentrations of TSPJ-treated groups were increased. CONCLUSION: TSPJ can inhibit the HL-60 cell growth in vitro. Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting proliferation and inducing cell differentiation and cycle arrest.

Objective To explore environmental hazards of childhood leukemia and to determine hazardous suspects on childhood leukemia. Methods Using 1∶2 matched case-control study design,50 patients of leukemia and 100 controls selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical College were investigated during Feb.2005-May 2007. Information was obtained by questionnaires, which included the general social demographic characteristics, disease history, the history of exposure to the materials during the child's mother pregnancy, indoor and outdoor environmental situation and the history of the families. Results The data showed that hazards for childhood leukemia were significantly associated with the history of infection(OR=0.452),diagnostic X-ray exposure (OR=0.157), the history of exposure to the chemical fertilizer and the pesticide during the pregnancy of mother(OR=3.150), the house type(OR=5.162), the nearest distance to the high voltage electricity (OR=2.383) and the radioactive source to the dwelling environment (OR=2.793) were important hazardous factors of the childhood leukemia. Conclusion The history of infection, diagnostic X-ray exposure, the history of exposure to the chemical fertilizer and the pesticide during the pregnancy of mother,the house type, the nearest distance to the high voltage electricity and the radioactive source to the dwelling environment might be the hazardous factors of the childhood leukemia.

China ; Foundations ; Preventive Medicine ; economics ; Research Support as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

Objective To evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine sputum discharge liquid on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP).Methods A randomized double-blind,placebo-controlled study was con-ducted,according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,patients with respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU)of a hospital in 2011 -2014 were selected and divided into treatment group and con-trol group.Treatment group received sputum discharge liquid in addition to conventional treatment,control group adopted simulation agent based on conventional treatment.The incidence,treatment effectiveness,occurrence time, and prognosis of VAP between two groups of patients were compared.Results A total of 139 patients were monitored,70 cases in treatment group and 69 in control group.The incidence of VAP in treatment group and con-trol group were 37.14% (n =26)and 57.97%(n =40)respectively;the average onset time of VAP in treatment group and control group were (76±3.2)hours and (45±8.9)hours after admission to ICU respectively;treatment effectiveness rates in treatment and control group were 88.46% and 55.00% respectively;the incidence,occurrence time,and treatment effectiveness rates of VAP between two groups of patients were both significantly different (all P <0.05).There were no significant difference in blood routine,liver and kidney function,urine routine,stool rou-tine,and electrocardiogram results between two groups of patients (all P >0.05 ).Conclusion Intervention in patients with mechanical ventilation by sputum discharge liquid can reduce the incidence of VAP,and has a positive effect on the prognosis of disease and pulmonary infection in patients.

Objective To investigate the proliferation and collagen secretion of transplanted human fibroblasts.Methods The solution containing human fibroblasts(2?1010L-1)was prepared and 1 mL was injected into the dermis of BALB/CNU nude mice.Animals were killed by the end of the 1st,2nd and 3rd month after injection.The dermis in the injected area was taken out and stained with HE.Immunohistochemical staining for type I and type Ⅲ collagen was performed at the same time.Results Mitosis was observed by the end of the 1st,2nd and 3rd month.The concentration of type I and type Ⅲ collagen in the extra cellular matrix increased with the passing of time.Conclusion Transplanted human fibroblasts can proliferate automatically in the dermis of nude mice and manufacture the type I and type Ⅲ collagen in situ.Long period of survival and secretion will make it possible for fibroblasts to become promising option to correct minimal tissue defects.

Aging changes of somatostatin (SS) mRNA-positive neurons in the dorsal hippocampus of old rats were studied by in situ hybridization histochemistry and image analysis. In the young rats,SS mRNA-positive cell bodies were mainly located in the pyramidal and polymorphic cell layers of the CA1 and CA2 regions, and in the strata radiatum and polymorphic cell layer of the CA3 region, and in the polymorphic cell layer of dentate gyrus. In the old rats,SS mRNA-positive cell bodies were concentrated in the polymorphic cell layer and denate gyrus. A marked decrease of number of SS mRNA-positive cell bodies and a significant increase of gray value of SS mRNA-positive cell bodies were found in the dorsal hippocampus and dentate gyrus of the old rats as compared with the young rats. No significant age difference in the sectional area of SS mRNA-positive cell bodies was observed in the dorsal hippocampus. The results showed that there were apparent changes with aging of the SS mRNA-positive cell bodies in the dorsal hippocampus of the rats. The significance of the changes remains to be studied further.

Objective To test synchronization of cardiac mechanical contraction by means of advanced echocardiography and investigate the correlation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony, and the relationship between DTI, STI and RT-3DE.Methods Control group (20 cases), chronic heart failure with a widened QRS complex (12 cases) and chronic heart failure with a shortened QRS duration (10 cases) were selected. We evaluated mechanical dyssynchrony with the DTI, the STI and the RT-3DE, and analyzed the correlation between the improvement degree of cardiac function and indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony, and the correlation between DTI, STI and RT-3DE. Results (1) In CHF groups (including shortened QRS group and widened QRS group), the indexes of synchronization of cardiac mechanical contraction were higher than control group ( <0.05) . (2) However, the indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony before operation showed no statistically significant difference between the widened QRS group and the shortened QRS group (>0.05) . (3) In CHF groups (including shortened QRS group and widened QRS group), the indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony before operation were higher more than after operation ( <0.05) . (4) In postoperation, the indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony showed no statistically significant difference between the widened QRS group and the shortened QRS group ( >0.05) . (5) There was a significant negative correlation between the LVEF and the indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony (<0.01) . (6) .In the indexes of synchronization of cardiac mechanical contractions, there are significant positive correlations between the DTI, the STI and the RT-3DE ( <0.01) . Conclusion Echocardiography can be used to screen CHF patients,and patients with left ventricular synchronous (including shortened QRS duration) can also be benefited from CRT.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effects and side effects of hirudin in treating immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) with hematuria and minimal proteinuria in a short-term. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-two histologically confirmed cases of IgAN with hematuria and minimal proteinuria from 1998 to 2007 were randomly divided into hirudin-treated group (peroral administration of Maixuekang capsules) and dipyridamole-treated group (peroral administration of dipyridamole). In the two groups, contrast analysis of conformation and counts of erythrocytes in urine, urine protein quantitation in 24 hours, levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), blood lipid, five items of blood clotting and side effects was performed. RESULTS: After six-month treatment, the anisotrophy rate and the counts of erythrocytes in urine, and the urine protein quantitation in 24 hours in hirudin-treated group were decreased distinctly as compared with pre-treatment (P<0.01) and dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.05). On the other hand, Ccr was increased obviously in hirudin-treated group as compared with pre-treatment and dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.01). The blood lipid was also ameliorated in hirudin-treated group, but there was no significant difference. The anticoagulation effect of hirudin was better than dipyridamole (P<0.01). Efficacy assessment showed that the total response rate, complete remission rate and predominance remission rate in hirudin-treated group were higher than those in dipyridamole-treated group. Few side effects were found in both groups, and the rate of adverse reaction in gastrointestinal tract was lower in hirudin-treated group as compared with that in dipyridamole-treated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with dipyridamole, hirudin has superiority in kidney protection and decreasing the anisotrophy rate, counts of erythrocytes in urine and the urine protein.

Objective To increase the awareness of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and correct diagnosis rate of AIP by investigating radiologic characteristic of AIP and small pancreatic cancers.Methods The clinical data and radiologic imaging of 24 AIP patients who met the Asia diagnostic criteria of AIP in 2008 and 25 cases of pathologically condirmed small pancreatic cancer were retrospectively reviewed.All imaging findings were reviewed,especially on the shape,enhancement patterns of mass,pancreatic ducts,peripancreatic and extra-pancreatic manifestations. Chi-square test and Fisher test were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe imaging signs,including location of masses,distal pancreatic atrophy,enhancing mass during portal phase,truncated duct sign of pancreatic duct,capsule-like rim and renal involvement,was significantly different between AIP and small pancreatic cancer ( x2 =9.010,10.506,15.488,8.688,6.292 and 4.966 respectively,P ＜0.05 ).But only two signs,distal pancreatic atrophy and enhancing mass during arterial and portal phase,were statistically different between local AIP and small pancreatic cancer (P ＜0.05).ConclusionsThe typical imaging features of diffuse AIP is distinct and helpful for the differential diagnosis of AIP from small pancreatic carcinoma,but there is limited value in the differential diagnosis between local AIP and small pancreatic cancer.

Objective To explore the association between late-onset sporadic Parkinson' s disease (PD) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Ca2+-dependent protease calpain inhibitor calpastatin (CAST) gene in a Chinese Han population.Methods 370 evaluable patients (221 male,149 female) with PD (mean age 65.2 ± 8.5 years) and 390 neurologically healthy controls (208 male,182 female) matched for gender,ethnicity,and area of residence.PD cases were identified from the PD cohort of the Chinese National Consortium on Neurodegenerative Diseases (www.chinapd.cn).A total of 24 tag-SNPs were genotyped capturing 95％ of the genetic variation across the CAST gene.Results There was no association found between any of the polymorphisms and PD in all models tested (co-dominant,dominant-effect and recessive-effect (P ＞ 0.05)).Similarly,none of the common haplotypes was associated with a risk for PD(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Results show no significant association between the CAST gene polymorphisms and late onset sporadic PD in the present population.