Objective To figure out changes of serum excitatory amino acids (EAAs) levels in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The levels of serum EAAs was assessed in 34 cognitively normal control subjects,30 patients with aMCI,and 32 patients with AD using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results ①Higher serum concentrations of glutamate((39.6?22.1) ?mol/L),alanine((282.5?71.3) ?mol/L) were found in the aMCI patients (P=0.044,P=0.007),and higher serum concentrations of glutamate ((42.2?21.8) ?mol/L),glycine ((464.2?142.6) ?moL/L) were found in the AD patients than in the control subjects (P=0.010,P=0.010).②No statistically significant difference of EAAs level between the aMCI and AD groups was found.③A close and positive correlation between the serum concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and the mini-mental status examination scores were found in AD patients:the 2 amino acid levels were higher in patients with mild dementia((42.1?21.3),(55.0?29.0) ?mol/L) than those with moderate or severe dementia ((25.4?9.2) ?mol/L,P=0.023;(34.6?11.1) ?mol/L,P=0.036). Conclusion EAAs,correlating with the severity of the condition,play a significant role in AD,while aMCI patients also have disturbance of metabolism of EAAs,indicating that it has similar pathogenesis to AD.

Objective: To investigate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR) in mouse uterus. Methods: 3-week-old immature female mice were randomly divided into 7 groups and treated with corn oil, estradiol (E2) of 1.5, 3.0, 10, 25 ng, progesterone (P) of 100 ?g and (E_2 10 ng + P 100 ?g)/mouse, respectively. After the treatment for 48 h, mouse uterus was collected to isolate total RNA. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of mRNA isoforms of VEGF and its receptors in mouse uterus. Results: Compared with control, both E_2 and P significantly increased the expression of VEGF164 and VEGF120 mRNA in mouse uterus. The expression of VEGFR2 mRNA, not VEGF1 mRNA, was decreased by E_2 treatment in a dose-independent manner. Conclusion: Both estradiol and progesterone up-regulated the expression of VEGF, but estradiol down-regulated the expression of VEGFR2 in mouse uterus.

Objective The present study was undertaken to investigate the properties of nonlinear dynamics of EEG and the changes in depth of anesthesia with real-time approximate entropy (ApEn) and complexity (Cx) nonlinear indexes monitoring during anesthesia. Methods EEG was recorded in 65 in-patients. They were randomly divided into 4 groups: isoflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane (n=15, respectively), and propofol intravenous anesthesia (n=20) groups. The EEG derived parameters ApEn and Cx non-linear indexes were calculated simultaneously during the whole operation including rest state with eyes closed, anesthetic induction, intraoperation, recovery, post-operation awaking. Results ApEn and Cx nonlinear indexes remained the highest during rest state. Both of them kept decreasing during anesthetic induction. They dropped to a relative lower value and leveled off in the intra-operation period. Both of them rose gradually during recovery period and returned to a high level in the post-operation awaking period (correspondingly, ApEn: 0.87, 0.78, 0.55, 0.64 and 0.83. Cx: 0.58, 0.54, 0.38, 0.46 and 0.57). Conclusions With ApEn and Cx non-linear indexes, changes in depth of anesthesia from EEG signal could be real-timely monitored and precisely measured. Nonlinear dynamic analysis might provide us with more information about consciousness and cognition during general anesthesia.

Objective To explore the effect of swimming and caressing on neonatal jaundice and weight.Methods Two hundred and forty newborns were divided equally into control and observation group with random digits table.The former received care with caressing and the latter with swimming and caressing.The two groups were compared in terms of weights and jaundice indices at birth and 7d after birth.Results Seven days after birth,the jaundice index in the observation group were lower than that of the control group and the weights of the observation group were larger(P<0.05).Conclusion Swimming and caressing are helpful for the development of neonates by C-sect and the reduction of jaundice duration.

Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Kidney Tubules, Collecting ; pathology ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of coding gene of Sj26, Sj32 and Sj14-3-3 amplified by PCR for chronic Schistosomiasis japonica. Methods The DNA was extracted from sera of 40 patients with chronic Schistosomiasis japonica, the coding gene of Sj26, Sj32 and Sj14-3-3 was amplified by PCR and identified by 1.2% agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA from the sera of 21 patients with Clonorchiasis sinensis, 13 patients with Parogonimiasis westermani and 43 healthy donors was taken as control. Results A total of 399 bp coding gene of Sj14-3-3 was amplified successfully from sera of the patients with chronic Schistosomiasis japonica,but Sj26(676 bp) and Sj32( 1270 bp) coding gene were not obtained. Control groups were all negative. Conclusions Sj14-3-3 coding gene amplified by PCR can be used for genetic diagnosis of chronic schistosomiasis.

Objective To investigate the effect of sodium fluoride(NaF) on proliferation, differentiation and the mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ ligand (RAN KL) of mouse osteoblasts. Methods Osteoblasts were isolated from calvarias of Kunming mice born in 1 - 2 d and cultured. Various concentrations of NaF(0, 10-8, 10-7, 10-6, 10-5, 10-4, 10-3mol/L) were added to the culture medium, the proliferation and activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) was determined after 72 h or 120 h. The expression of OPG mRNA and RANKL mRNA was analyzed by semi-quantification RT-PCR. Difference among groups was analyzed by One-Way AN0VA. Difference between two groups was analyzed by LSD-t test. Results There was significant difference in cell proliferation among groups after 72 h(F = 13.806, P < 0.05). Compared with control group(0.434 ± 0.010) , the proliferation was significantly induced in 10-7 - 10-4 mol/L groups treated osteoblasts (0.448 ± 0.010, 0.453 ± 0.013, 0.454 ± 0.016, 0.449 ± 0.018, all P< 0.05), and was significantly suppressed in 10-3 mol/L group(0.401 ± 0.009, P < 0.05). There was statistic difference in the activity of ALP among groups(F = 9.021, P < 0.05). Compared with control group (1.677 ± 0.682), the activity of ALP significantly increased in 10-7 - 10-5 mol/L groups[ (2.447 ± 0.756) × 106, (2603 ± 0.183) × 106, (2.687 ± 0.886) × 106 U/L, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 ] and significantly decreased in 10-4 mol/L group[ (1.479 ± 0.366) × 106 U/L, P < 0.05 ]. There was significant difference in the expression of OPG mRNA among groups(F = 11.299, P< 0.05). Compared with control group (1.000 ± 0.000), the expression of OPG mRNA was significantly increased in 10-7 - 10-4 mol/L groups( 1.058 ± 0.027, 1.053 ± 0.026, 1.088 ± 0.055, 1.069 ± 0.008, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) , while significantly decreased in 10-3 mol/L group (0.941 ± 0.029, P< 0.05). There was no difference in RANKL mRNA expression among groups (F= 1.311, P> 0.05). The ratio of RANKL/OPG decreased with increasing doses of fluoride and increased in 10-4, 10-3 mol/L groups, but there was no difference between groups(F = 1.376, P> 0.05). Conclusions A biphasic pattern of proliferation and differentiation has been induced in mouse osteoblasts, which manifests stimulation effect in low doses and suppression in higher doses. Low doses of sodium fluoride suppress differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by increasing expression of OPG mRNA, while high doses of sodium fluoride enhance differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by decreasing expression of OPG mRNA.

Objective To observe the effect of body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on the lower limb motor function of elderly hemiplegia patients with acute cerebral infarction using semi-quantitative analysis of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) through single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Methods Seven patients with cerebral infarction were given comprehensive rehabilitation therapy for 10 weeks in three stages: a baseline period of 2 weeks ( conventional rehabilitation therapy), an intervention period of 6 weeks ( conventional rehabilitation therapy plus BWSTT) and a withdrawal period of 2 weeks (conventional rehabilitation therapy). During the intervention period the exercise duration increased gradually from 15 to 30 minutes, once a day, 5 times a week,for 6 consecutive weeks. Dynamic changes in rCBF in the cortex were observed with SPECT before and after treat ment. Results During the baseline period there was no significant change in average MWS (maximum walking speed) or BBS ( Berg balance scale) scores. During the intervention period both scores improved significantly. During the withdrawal period there were some changes in MWS and BBS scores, but they were not significant. There was a significant change in average rCBF in the cortex after treatment compared with before. Conclusions BWSTT is effective for improving the walking speed and balance of elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction. There is a positive correlation between the recovery of lower limb motor function and changes in rCBF in the cortex.

PurposeTo evaluate and describe fetal cardiac development and hemodynamics high risk pregnancy by using ultrasound technique. Methods Two-hundred and thirty-three pregnancies were prospectively studied by using the detailed fetal echocardiographic procedure( fetus gestational age from 19 weeks to 39 weeks). Cardiac chamber size, internal diameter of great arteries were documented together with the presence of inflow and outflow wave patterns. In utero diagnoses of variety of congenital heart defects were also conducted. ResultsCardiac chamber size and internal diameter of great arteries showed a positive correlation with the increasing of gestational age. Left and right ventricles were demonstrated the same size during whole fetal observational period. Blood flow through mitral valve and tricuspid valve were typically 'M' type. By comparing 'e' wave and 'a' wave, this inflow blood velocity pattern was dominant by 'a' wave, though the ratio of a/e gradually decreased during the fetal development period. Blood velocity in aorta and pulmonary artery remained steady along with the gestational age. The detection rate of verity types of congenital heart diseases in this sample population was 5.7% (13 cases) ,the major problem was the complex heart malformation. The occurrence of fetal cardiac arrhythmia was 14 cases (16 % ), with the majority of atrial premature beat. Conclusions Fetal echocardiography can be used to evaluate and monitor the change of cardiac anatomy, structure and hemodymanics during the different gestational age. This has provided a new approach to the further understanding of fetal cardiac development, and is importantto the screening of congenital heart disease during pregnancy.

Objective:To investigate the expression of amphiregulin in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.Methods: Endometrial tissues were collected from the patients undergoing hysterectomy or endometrial biopsy.Real-time RT-PCR,in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression characteristics of amphiregulin in human endometrium in proliferative and secretory phases.Results: Real-time RT-PCR showed the expression of amphiregulin mRNA in secretory phase was 32 times that in proliferative phase.The results from in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that amphiregulin was located in the cytoplasm and mainly expressed in the gland of endometrium.The expressions of amphiregulin mRNA in proliferative and secretory phases were 0.54?0.22 and 2.96?0.47(P