OBJECTIVETo study apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in experimental different denervated guinea-pig facial muscle.

METHODAn experimental model was established with guinea pigs by compressing the facial nerve 30 second (reinnervated group) and resecting the facial nerve (denervated group). TUNEL method and immunohistochemical technique (SABC) were applied to detect the apoptosis and expression of apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and bax from 1st to 8th week after operation.

RESULTExperimentally denervated facial muscle revealed consistently increase of DNA fragmentation, average from(34.4 +/- 4.6)% to (38.2 +/- 10.6)%, from 1st week to 8th week after operation; Reinnervated facial muscle showed a temporal increase of DNA fragmentation, and then the muscle fiber nuclei revealed decreased DNA fragmentation along with the function of facial nerve recovered, latterly normal, average from (32.0 +/- 8.03)% to (5.6 +/- 3.5)%, from 1st week to 8th week after operation. In denervated group, bcl-2 and bax were expressed strongly; in reinnervated group, bcl-2 expressed consistently, but bax disappeared latterly along with the function of facial nerve recovered.

CONCLUSIONExpression of DNA fragmentation and apoptosis-related proteins in denervated muscle are general reaction to denervation. bcl-2 can prevent early apoptotic muscle fiber to survival until reinnervation. It is concluded that proteins control apoptosis may give information for possible therapeutic interventions to reduce the rate of muscle fiber death in denervated atrophy in absence of effective primary treatment.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Denervation ; Facial Muscles ; cytology ; innervation ; metabolism ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the original plant of "Daibaijie", commonly used Dai herb.

METHODThe literature review, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology, chemistry were used to analysis.

RESULTDaibaijie's historical scientific name, Dregea sinensis Hemsl., was mistakenly given "Daibaijie" and D. sinensis have significant differences from the distribution, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology and chemical composition. "Daibaijie" matches with the characteristics of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in English.

CONCLUSIONDaibaijie's original plant is M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon. The description and illustration of M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in China are wrong. The illustration of M. tenacissima in Flora of China in English is wrong too.

China ; ethnology ; Herbal Medicine ; Marsdenia ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Components, Aerial ; anatomy & histology ; classification

AIMTo study the protective effect of sodium pyruvate on ischemia/reperfusion injury following hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSRat models of hemorrhagic shock were built up. When the shed blood was infused, the rats were also randomly provided by one of normal saline, glutathione and sodium pyruvate. Rats were killed 3 hours after the reperfusion, the activity of plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), the level of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected. Biopsy specimens were obtained to investigate morphological changes of the myocardial, hepatic, lung and renal tissue.

RESULTSThe activity of plasma LDH and GOT, the level of MDA of hepatic, lung and renal tissue and the activity of MPO of myocardial, lung and renal tissue decreased remarkably in group given sodium pyruvate compared with group given normal saline, and the effect of group given sodium pyruvate was more remarkable than group given glutathione.

CONCLUSIONThese data support the view that sodium pyruvate shows protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury following hemorrhagic shock. It is possibly relevant to scavenging of oxygen free radicals, reduction of neutrophil, and anti-inflammatory response.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Pyruvic Acid ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; blood ; pathology

Abstract:Objective　To investigate the clinical characteristics and early diagnostic methods of patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection, so as to reduce the mortality of patients. Methods The clinical characteristics and microbiological analysis data including fungal culture, smear examination and mass spectrometry were collected from 18 patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Tuberculosis, and Department of Critical Respiratory Medicine in Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital from January 2017 to December 2021, and descriptive analysis was conducted. Results　All the 18 patients were confirmed to be infected with Talaromyces marneffei by conventional culture and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). The main infection sites of 18 patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection were lungs and lymph nodes, and the patients were accompanied by clinical manifestations such as cough, sputum and fever. The imaging features such as patchy shadows, mediastinal lymph node shadows and nodular shadows were common. Microbiological testing showed a statistically significant difference between smear and culture with a higher positive culture rate (χ2=13.74, P<0.05). The positive rate of blood culture in microbiological test was 60.0% (9/15), the positive rate of bronchial lavage fluid culture was 26.7% (4/15), the positive rate of sputum culture was 5.6% (1/18), one case each of pus, bone marrow, pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid was positive for culture and the other cases were negative, one case of sputum and one case of pus were positive for smear and the rest were negative. Colony characteristics showed that the colony morphology was mycelial phase at 25 ℃, producing red pigment, and the branching pattern of the penicillus was seen microscopically as monoverticillate or biverticillate; At 35 ℃, the yeast phase appeared at the initial stage, and then the mycelium phase changed after 5-6 days; the yeast phase was observed at 37 ℃, and yeast-like cells were seen under the microscope. All 18 patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection got better after using antifungal drugs. Compared with non-HIV patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection, leukopenia and anemia were common in HIV patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). 　Conclusions The infection of Talaromyces marneffei can be divided into localized type and disseminated type, which usually invade the lungs, skin, lymph nodes and other places. The main manifestations of patients are fever, cough, phlegm and other atypical symptoms. At present, the diagnosis of Talaromyces marneffei infection is mostly based on the fungal culture test, and the application of MALDI-TOF MS method can effectively shorten the diagnosis time of Talaromycosis marneffei. Clinical characteristics combined with microbiological analysis provide an objective basis for early diagnosis of patients with Talaromyces marneffei infection, and timely use of antifungal therapy can improve the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and borderline dyslipidemia and other coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in residents from Beijing communities.

METHODSResident samples were selected by random cluster multistage method. Serum lipid level and CHD factors were obtained through questionnaire, physical examination and biochemical analysis during June 2007 to August 2007 from 10 054 residents.

RESULTSAge- and sex-adjusted standardized prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, and triglyceridemia were 9.3%, 2.56%, 18.79% and 16.84%, respectively. Incidence of borderline hypercholesterolemia was 23.96%. Incidence of dyslipidemia and borderline dyslipidemia was 31.23% and 23.30% respectively, 71.17% residents have at least 1 CHD major risk factor and 20.23% residents were in borderline CHD risks. Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking and obese was 41.57%, 11.08%, 35.81% and 22.89%, respectively. The odds ratio for dyslipidemia (95% confidence interval) in residents having 1 borderline CHD risk factor (RF), 2 RF, and 3 RF versus none RF was 1.668, (95%CI: 1.319 - 2.110), 2.537 (95%CI: 1.989 - 3.235), and 3.203 (95%CI: 2.007 - 5.114).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of dyslipidemia of residents from Beijing communities is higher the average level of China (25.1%). Over 1 out of 5 residents were in increased risk for borderline dyslipidemia or CHD risks. Intensive control of dyslipidemia and CHD risk factors are warranted in Beijing residents.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Dyslipidemias ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDAn elevated serum lipid is one of the major risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). Physicians' awareness contributes to successful adoption of practice guidelines. Community medical centers are the primary defense against chronic disease. This study aimed to investigate community physicians' awareness of cholesterol guidelines and their utilization.

METHODSSix hundred and one community physicians were randomly selected from four different regions, and completed a confidential and semi-structured questionnaire. Four hundred and ninety-one completed the questionnaire, and 486 valid questionnaires were available.

RESULTSThe physicians' fundamental knowledge of lipids was astonishingly poor, while the awareness of cholesterol guidelines was low. Only 24% and 14% of the physicians reported the right optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level for CHD and diabetes patients respectively. More than half of the physicians (55.8%) mistakenly considered elevated transaminases to be the lethal side effect of statins. More than half of the physicians (51.9%) would give up statin treatment in the case of transaminase elevation.

CONCLUSIONEducational interventions to improve cholesterol knowledge and to publicize standard treatment are needed among Chinese community physicians.

Adult ; China ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Clinical Competence ; Coronary Disease ; metabolism ; Data Collection ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Physicians ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of surgical therapy for carotid body tumors.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted, covering the diagnosis, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and prognosis of 120 cases of carotid body tumors in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1949 to May, 2011.

RESULTSSurgical excision was successfully performed in 111 cases with 117 tumors. In all those cases, 50 underwent simple tumor resection, 42 underwent resection of tumors and ligation of the external carotid arteries, 7 underwent co-resection of tumors and common carotid arteries, internal carotid arteries, as well as external arteries without vascular reconstruction, and the other 12 cases experienced tumor resection and vascular reconstruction as internal carotid arteries were involved. After operation, 3 cases developed cerebral infarction, 30 cases showed cranial nerve palsy, including 15 cases of hypoglossal nerve damage, 10 cases of vagus paralysis, and 5 cases of Horner's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONIt is essential to make a proper surgical strategy, which can reduce postoperative complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Body Tumor ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the effects of regular and irregular mandatory treadmill running (TR) on learning and memory abilities,stress response,survival and maturation of newborn neurons in dentate area of C57 mice. Methods Forty-eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into regular running group (n=16,definite time and quantity), irregular running group (n=16,definite time and different quantities) and sedentary group (n=16).Injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU,50 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally to mice from the 1st d to the 7th d of exercise,and then,these mice were subjected to a 4-wk TR training course or sedentary exercise.Double irnmunofluorescence labeling was employed to observe the effect of TR on survival and maturation of newborn neurons. Mice were trained on the Morris water maze to test the abilities of learning and memory. Corticosterone (CORT).level in the venous blood was measured with a radioimmunoassay kit. Results As compared with that in mice of the irregular running group and sedentary group,significant decrease of latency was noted in mice of the regular running group on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th d of place navigation test (P＜0.05). As compared with that in mice of the sedentary group, significant decrease of latency was noted in mice of the irregular running group and regular running group on the 2nd d of place navigation test (P＜0.05),while no significant difference of that was noted between mice of the irregular running group and regular running group (P＞0.05).The platform was removed for a 60-s probe test 4 h after the last trial to test the recall ability, and the times of staying in the target zone in each group were regular running group＞irregular running group＞control group, and significant difference was noted between each 2 groups (P＜0.05). The numbers of double immunofluorescence labeled cells in the dentate gyrus were counted as regular running group＞irregular running group＞control group, and significant difference was noted between each 2 groups (P＜0.05). The serum CORT level was measured as regular running group＜irregular running group＜control group, and significant difference was noted between each 2 groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Mandatory treadmill running could improve the learning and memory abilities,which may be related to the increment of survival and maturation of neural precursor cells,and decreased level of serum CORT; and the effect of regular mandatory treadmill running is better than that of irregular mandatory treadmill running.

OBJECTIVETo observe the urokinase receptor (uPAR) expression in atherosclerotic plaques of human femoral arteries.

METHODSHuman femoral artery samples were collected from patients underwent femoral endarterectomy. Normal internal mammary artery samples were taken from bypass surgery served as control. uPAR protein distribution at shoulders, lipid pool and rupture sites of a plaque and the association with macrophages and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were detected by immunohistochemistry methods.

RESULTSThere was no uPAR expression in intima or tunica media of normal internal mammary arteries. In atherosclerotic lesions of femoral artery, the mean optical density (A) of uPAR was 92 +/- 37 in intima and 46 +/- 28 in tunica media (P < 0.05). The intimal uPAR was coexisted with macrophages and SMCs. uPAR expression was observed at plaque shoulders and lipid pool, while the maximal expression was found at rupture sites.

CONCLUSIONThe increased expression of uPAR in atherosclerotic lesion and uPAR distribution at shoulders, lipid pool, as well as rupture sites of plaques suggest a role of uPAR in plaque rupture process.

Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endarterectomy ; Femoral Artery ; pathology ; Humans ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEHuman growth hormone (hGH) is an essential therapeutic drug for the treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD). However, the process of dissolving hGH of the powder form is complicated and potentially hazardous. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

METHODSA 12-month randomized, open-label, multicenter trial was conducted in 31 previously untreated children with growth failure secondary to GH deficiency [20 boys and 11 girls, mean age (10.5 +/- 4.1) years]. An recombined human growth hormone (rhGH) solution (Iintropin AQ) was given via subcutaneous injection daily in every evening at a weekly dose of 0.25 mg/kg. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of the treatment, and the course of treatment was 12 months. Body height was measured 3-monthly and height velocity (HV) and mean height standard deviation score (HT SDS) were calculated. Serum Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), GH antibodies and safety parameters were assessed at the baseline and at 3-month intervals. Bone age (BA) was assessed at the baseline and the rate of skeletal maturation (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was calculated after 6 and 12 months of rhGH treatment by a central bone age reader. Moreover, the safety of rhGH solution treatment was assessed.

RESULTSAfter 12 months of liquid rhGH therapy, growth parameters were significantly increased over baseline. (1) The mean (+/- SD) height increment DeltaHT (cm) was 4.0 +/- 1.3, 7.0 +/- 2.0, 10.3 +/- 2.6 and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, respectively (P < 0.01), which indicated linear growth after treatment. The GV (cm/years) was 2.7 +/- 0.9 before treatment and increased to 16.0 +/- 5.1, 14.1 +/- 4.0, 13.7 +/- 3.5, and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after treatment, suggesting that catch-up growth was significant after treatment as compared to the pre-treatment status (P < 0.01). Accordingly, post-treatment catch-up growth was obvious, significant differences were observed in HT SDS, which was -4.62 +/- 1.46 at the onset of therapy and increased significantly after the treatment to -3.80 +/- 1.53, -3.28 +/- 1.60, -2.86 +/- 1.75 and -2.47 +/- 1.86, respectively (P < 0.01). The height difference between GH deficient children and unimpaired children of the same age and gender gradually decreased after treatment, which was significantly different from that seen before treatment (P < 0.01). (2) The levels of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were increased comparably for the treatment. IGF-1 level (microg/L) was 41 +/- 64 at baseline and increased to 179 +/- 155, 202 +/- 141, 156 +/- 155 and 159 +/- 167 after 3, 6, 9, 12 months of treatment. IGFBP-3 level (mg/L) was 1540 +/- 1325 at baseline, and increased to 3891 +/- 1815, 4051 +/- 1308, 3408 +/- 1435 and 3533 +/- 1413, respectively, suggesting that with the increases in height, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 were significantly activated to relatively high levels by the medication and reached peak values between 3 and 6 months of treatment. The levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were significantly different before and after treatment (P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio significantly increased during GH therapy (0.143 +/- 0.013 pre-therapy up to 0.240 +/- 0.055 post-therapy, P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio tended to stabilize after 3-month GH therapy. (3) The bone age assessment carried out 6 and 12 months after treatment showed that the bone maturity (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was 1.01 +/- 0.57 and 1.07 +/- 0.75, respectively, suggesting that there was no speed-up development in the bone age. No severe adverse events were observed during the trial and the most frequent accompanying event was mild hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSIONSrhGH solution (Iintropin AQ) is a safe and effective preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

Child ; China ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use