Endoscopy ; Humans ; Skull Base ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of noncompaction ventricular myocardium under ultrasonic cardiography. Methods8 patients, 1 with non-symptom and other 7 with various cardiac dysfunctions and arrhythmias, accepted ultrasonic cardiography. ResultsNumerous ventricular trabeculae and deep intertrabecular recesses, as well as left ventricular dilatations were found under ultrasonic cardiography.ConclusionNoncompaction ventricular myocardium can be diagnosed with ultrasonic cardiography reliablely.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in the distal cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons (CSF-CNs) in the mid-brain of morphine dependent rats.Methods Forty-eight male adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230-270 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:control group (group A) and morphine dependence group (group B).Morphine dependence was induced by increasing doses of subautaneous morphine for 5 consecutive days.The initial dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg twice a day and was increased by 10 mg/kg everyday until 50 mg/kg on 5th dav.The equal volume of normal saline was injected subcutaneously instead of morphine in group A.On 3rd day after morphine dependence was induced,the distal CSF-CNs in the mid-brain was labeled with 30％ cholera toxin subunit B and horseradish peroxidase compound (CB-HRP) 3 μl injected in the lateral cerebral ventricle in the morning.At 4 h after the last injection of morphine,the segments in which CSF-CNs were located were removed,and CB-HRP positive neurons,phosphor-ERK5 (p-ERK5) positive neurons and CB-HRP/p-ERK5 positive neurons were counted.Results Compared with group A,the number of p-ERK5 and CB-HRP/p-ERK5 positive neurons in the mid-brain was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in CB-HRP positive neurons in group B (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The enhanced activity of ERK5 in the distal CSFCNs in the mid-brain may contribute to the development of morphine dependence in rats.

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal neuronal extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 5/cAMP response element binding protein (ERK5/CREB) signaling pathway in withdrawal responses in morphinedependent rats.Methods Ninety-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats in which intrathecal catheters were successfully placed,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =24 each):normal control group (group A),morphine withdrawal group (group B),dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + morphine withdrawal group (group C) and ERK5 inhibitor BIX02188 + morphine withdrawal group (group D).Morphine dependence (MD) was induced by increasing doses of subcutaneous morphine for 6 days.The initial dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg once a day and was increased by 10 mg/kg once a day from 2nd to 5th days until 50 mg/kg on 6th day in B,C and D groups.Morphine withdrawal response (MW) was induced by intraperitoneal naloxone 4 mg/kg at 4 h after last morphine administration in B,C and D groups.In addition,BIX02188 10 μg and 1％ DMSO 10 μl were injected intrathecally at 1 h before naloxone injection in D and C groups,respectively.MW and morphine withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia were scored.The rats were then sacrificed after hyperalgesia was scored and the spinal cord was removed for determination of CREB and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) expression.Results Compared with group A,MW and hyperalgesia scores were significantly increased and the expression of p-CREB was up-regulated in B,C and D groups.Compared with group B,MW and hyperalgesia scores were significantly decreased and the expression of p-CREB was down-regulated in D group,and no significant change was found in group C.Conclusion The spinal neuronal ERK5/CREB signaling pathway is involved in withdrawal responses in morphine-dependent rats.

Objective To evaluate the role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) in the spinal cord in withdrawal responses in morphine-dependent rats.Methods Ninety-six adult male SpragueDawley rats in which intrathecal catheters were successfully placed,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:normal saline group (group A),withdrawal group (group B),dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group (group C) and ERK5 inhibitor BIX02188 group (group D).Morphine dependence (MD) was induced by increasing doses of subcutaneous morphine for 6 days.The initial dose of morphine was 10 mg/kg once a day and was increased by 10 mg/kg once a day from the 2nd to 5th days until 50 mg/kg on the 6th day in B,C and D groups.Morphine withdrawal response (MW) was induced by intraperitoneal naloxone 4 mg/kg at 4 h after last morphine administration in B,C and D groups.In addition,BIX02188 and 1％ DMSO 10 μl were injected intrathecally at 1 h before naloxone injection in D and C groups,respectively.MW and morphine withdrawal-induced hypemlgesia were scored.The rats were then sacrificed after hyperalgesia was scored and the spinal cord was removed for determination of ERK5 and phosphorylated ERK5 (p-ERK5) expression.Results Compared with group A,MW and hyperalgesia scores were significantly increased and the expression of pERK5 was up-regulated in B,C and D groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group B,MW and hyperalgesia scores were significantly decreased and the expression of p-ERK5 was down-regulated in D group (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in group C (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion ERK5 in the spinal cord is involved in withdrawal responses in morphine-dependent rats.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of the sperm quality to fertilization outcomes after short-time insemination.MethodsA total of 558 cycles of short-time insemination in the Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital during January 2009 to June 2010 excluding patients aged ＞ 38 years and M Ⅱ oocyte number ＜ 3 were analyzed retrospectively.According to whether undergo rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection( Re-ICSI),all cycles were divided into in vitro fertilization (IVF)group (472 cycles) and rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Re-ICSI) group (86 cycles).Both IVFgroup and Re-ICSI group were subdivided into primary infertility and secondary infertility according to previous history of pregnancy.269 primary infertility cycles and 203 secondary infertility cycles were characterized in IVF group; and 64 primary infertility cycles and 22 secondary infertility cycles were characterized in Re-ICSI group.x2 test was applied for comparison of embryo plant rate,clinical pregnancy rate,early miscarriage rate between IVF and Re-ICSI groups,while Fisher test was used for comparison of live birth rate.and Mann-Whitney U test was utilized for comparison of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity between IVF and Re-ICSI groups.ResultsThe embryo plant rate,clinical pregnancy rate,early miscarriage rate,live birth rate of IVF group were:29.4％,44.9％,13.4％,37.0％ respectively; the above indicators in Re-ICSI group were:25.7％,34.6％,10.7％,29.6％ respectively,the differences of the indicators between the two groups had no statisticalsigmficance (x2 =0.869,2.963,0.010,P =0.351,0.085,0.922,0.098).Median of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity of primary infertility cycles in IVF group were:4.00(3.00 -6.00) years,58.37(33.64 - 102.27) × 106,81.09％ (79.41％ -88.69％ ),76.30 (48.50 - 92.46 ) μIU/106 sperm respectively ; in Re-ICSI group were:5.00 ( 3.25 -8.00) years,36.33 (20.59 -64.43 ) × 106,85.5％ (81.28％ - 89.02％ ),47.14( 31.61 -90.24) μIU/106 sperm respectively,the differences of them between the two groups had statistical significance (Z =-2.617, -3.505, -3.553, -3.530,P =0.009,0.000,0.000,0.000).Median of duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity of secondary infertility cycles in IVF group were:5.00 (3.00 -7.00) years,63.00 (34.20 - 107.73 ) × 106,81.29％ (79.90 -86.09) ％,78.34 ( 53.87 - 98.00) μIU/106 sperm respectively,in Re-ICSI group were:5.00 ( 3.75 -7.00) years,28.80 ( 18.57 - 48.56 ) × 106,88.79％ ( 84.04 - 95.64 ) ％,54.70 ( 39.73 - 76.77 ) μIU/106 sperm respectively,the differences of them between the two groups showed statistical significance except duration of infertility (Z =- 0.338,- 3.505,- 3.553,- 3.530,P =0.735,0.000,0.000,0.006).ConclusionThe duration of infertility,forward moving sperm counts,abnormal sperm rate,sperm acrosin activity have predictive value of fertilization outcomes after short-time insemination.

To study the chemical constituents of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f., a new aurone glycoside named as (Z)-7, 4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxyl-aurone-4-O-β-glucopyranoside was isolated from the 95% ethanol extracts of the rhizomes and roots of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f. by repeated column chromatography on silica gel and recrystallization. Its structure was established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and its cytotoxicities against HepG-2, MCF7 and A549 cell lines were measured in vitro.
Benzofurans ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Veratrum ; chemistry

Objective To assess the feasibility of using PET molecular imaging to evaluate the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine FuZhiSan (FZS) on the model of aging Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. Methods Twenty aged AD rats (Sparague-Dawley rats,male) were randomly divided into FZS treated group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Another 10 healthy adult rats were as blank controls. Morris water maze record system was used for cognitive function assessment. Before and after FZS treatment 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 11 C-2- [4'-(methylamino) phenyl] benzothiazol-6-ol ( PIB )PET imaging was undertaken. After post-treatment imaging procedures the brain tissues of all animals were taken for histochemical study,such as staining with HE,congo red,amyloid β (Aβ) immunofluorescence,5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunofluorescence and NeuN immunofluorescence. Paired t-test was performed with SPSS 13.0 software for the data analysis. Results The cognitive dysfunction of aging AD rats was improved after FZS treatment. The escape latency in FZS treated group was significantly shorter than that of control group ((32.5 ±10.8) s vs (102.6±8.8) s,t =15.7987,P=0. 0001). Diffuse neuronal loss and Aβ deposition were detected in the hippocampus and cortex in the aged AD rats. The imaging data showed that brain glucose metabolism was amended in FZS treated group while the abatement of amyloid deposition was not significant. Immunofluorescence results indicated that the neuronal proliferation was more remarkable in FZS treated group. Conclusions It may be feasible to use PET imaging as a method to evaluate the therapeutic effect in AD rats. FZS may ameliorate memory dysfunction of aged AD rats. Its mechanism may be partly contributed to the enhancement of the neuronal proliferation and survival.

Objective To construct a bicistronic expression vector containing HPV type 6b L1 gene, to express the recombinant vector in mammalian cells, and to establish a cell strain stably expressing HPV6b L1 gene. Methods After endonuclease digestion and purification, the gene fragment of HPV6b L1 was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The identification of the recombinant was realized via endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis. Then, the recombinant plasmid pIRES2-HPV6bLl-EGFP was transfected into NIH3T3 (a mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line) cells. Subsequently, the expression of EGFP was observed by fluorescent inverted microscopy, and HPV6b L1 mRNA expression by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. Results The recombinant plasmid pIRES2-HPV6bLl-EGFP was successfully constructed, transfected into N1H3T3 cells, and selected by G418. The expression of EGFP was seen under an inverted fluorescence microscoy. RT-PCR proved the expression of HPV6b LI mRNA in transfected cells. Conclusions The recombinant plasmid pIRES2-HPV6bLl-EGFP was successfully constructed and transfected into NIH3T3 cells. Inverted fluorescent microscopy and RT-PCR confirmed the successful expression of HPV6b L1 in NIH3T3 cells.

The Yellow Fever (YF) vaccine, an attenuated yellow fever 17D (YF-17D) live vaccine, is one of the most effective and safest vaccines in the world and is regarded as one of the best candidates for viral expression vector. We here first reported in China the construction and characterization of the recombinant expression vector of yellow fever 17D which contained the proteinase 2A fragment of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Three cDNA fragments representing the full-length YF-17D genome, named 5'-end cDNA (A), 3'-end cDNA (B) and middle cDNA (C), were obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), together with the introduction of SP6 enhancer, necessary restriction sites and overlaps for homologous recombination in yeast. Fragment A and B were then introduced into pRS424 in turn by DNA recombination, followed by transfection of fragment C and the recombinant pRS424 containing A and B (pRS-A-B) into yeast. A recombinant vector containing full length cDNA of YF-17D (pRS-YF) was obtained by screening on medium lack of tryptophan and uracil. A recombinant YF-17D expression vector containing FMDV-2A gene fragment (pRS-YF-2A1) was then constructed by methods of DNA recombination and homologous recombination in yeast described above. In vitro transcription of the recombinant vector pRS-YF-2A1 was then carried out and introduced into BHK-21 cells by electroporation. Results of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and titer determination showed a stable infectious recombinant virus was gotten, whose features such as growth curve were similar to those of the parental YF-17D. The results suggest that the recombinant vector pRS-YF-2A1, by introduction of heterogenous genes via 2A region, is potential to be an effective live vaccine expression vector.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Epitopes ; immunology ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; prevention & control ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; Recombination, Genetic ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Yellow fever virus ; genetics ; immunology