Objective To investigate the potential protective effects of valproic acid (VPA) on gut barrier function after major burn injury in rats and its mechanism.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into sham + normal saline (NS),sham + VPA,scald + NS,and scald + VPA groups,with 10 rats in each group.Rat with 55％ total body surface area (TBSA) third-degree severe-bums model was reproduced by immersing into 80 ℃ water,and the rats in sham groups were given sham-bums by immersing into 37 ℃ water.The rats after severebums were immediately treated with 0.25 mL of 300 mg/kg VPA or NS by subcutaneous injection.Rats were sacrificed at 2 hours and 6 hours after injury,and abdominal aortic blood and ileal tissue were harvested.The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The intestinal permeability was evaluated by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) determination.The histomorphological changes in gut barrier were evaluated by Chiu grading system.Levels of acetylated lysine at the ninth position of histone 3 protein (Ac-H3K9),hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α),zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) were determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western Blot.Results Compared with sham + NS group,rats in scald + NS group showed intestinal mucosal damage 2 hours after bum injury,as well as increased mucosal permeability,protein expression levels of HIF-1 α,VEGF,MLCK,and lowered levels of AC-H3K9 and ZO-1.These changes were much more prominent at 6 hours after injury.VPA treatment significantly attenuated the bum-induced intestinal damage.Compared with scald + NS group,the protective effects in scald + VPA group was not evident at 2 hours after injury;however,intestinal damage was much less severe at 6 hours after injury (Chiu score:2.03 ± 0.27 vs.3.12 ± 0.15),intestinal permeability was significantly decreased [FITC-dextran (μg/L):709 ± 76 vs.1138 ± 75],histone acetylation was enhanced [Ac-H3K9 (gray value):1.55 ± 0.12 vs.0.48±0.12],ZO-1 degradation was significantly inhibited (gray value:0.69 ± 0.12 vs.0.43 ± 0.16),the protein expression levels of VEGF and MLCK were significantly down-regulated [VEGF (ng/mg):51.7±3.7 vs.71.2±4.3,MLCK (gray value):1.98±0.20 vs.2.80±0.24],while the HIF-1 α protein expression levels were significantly reduced at both 2 hours and 6 hours after injury (gray value:2.50±0.39 vs.3.88±0.42 at 2 hours,1.83±0.42 vs.4.42±0.41 at 6 hours,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Severe bum injury can induce histone deacetylation,ZO-1 degradation and intestinal barrier dysfunction.VPA can improve the levels of histone acetylation and ZO-1,and protect intestinal epithelial barrier function.These may probably be mediated through inhibiting HIF-1α and its downstream gene VEGF and MLCK.

BACKGROUND:In the past 20 years, cholecystokinin in clinical application and nerve repair has been extensively studied. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of cholecystokinin in nerve repair and its possible mechanism of action. METHODS:Relevant research results were retrospectively analyzed at the celland organ levels through retrieving recent literatures concerning the biological characteristics of cholecystokinin and its biological role in the nervous system. Then, we summarized the effect of cholecystokinin after nerve injury and its possible RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cholecystokinin and its receptors are widely distributed in the body, and under physiological and pathological conditions, their roles were complex and diverse. However, studies addressing the neuroprotective effect of cholecystokinin are not sufficient, most of which are limited to phenomenon observation. Neuroprotective mechanism of cholecystokinin is stil worthy of further studies, which can provide the basis for the clinical application.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on short term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in ACS patients within 24 h after admission with ELISA method. The 600 ACS patients were divided into two groups: event group （n=108）and no-event group （n=492）according to occurrence of cardiovascular events（including cardiac death, cardiac shock and heart failure）, The NT-proBNP levels were compared between two groups. Single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate if NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for short term prognosis. Results: The plasma NT-proBNP levels of event group were significantly higher than those of no-event group [1361.2 (965.3, 2088.6) pmol/L vs.605.7 (274.5, 1177.8) pmol/L, p<0.01]. Multiple factor Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that plasma NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for short term prognosis (OR=1.000, p<0.01) in ACS patients. Conclusion: Plasma NT-proBNP was an independent predictor for short term prognosis in ACS patients.

Objective To study the effects of sand therapy on the ultrastructure of knee articular cartilage in rabbits with osteoarthritis ( OA ) and provide evidence of the effectiveness of sand therapy for OA in Uyghur medicine. Methods Models of knee OA were established by fixing with gypsum the right hind limbs of 28 rabbits. Of these, twenty-six rabbits were divided randomly into a free movement group and a free movement plus sand therapy group, and their left hind limbs were used as normal controls. Another two rabbits were used as specimens. The thirteen rabbits in the free movement group after the gypsum fixings were removed were allowed free movement every day for 20 days; the thirteen rabbits in the free movement plus sand therapy group had free movement plus sand therapy every day. The ultrastructure of each rabbit' s knee articular cartilage was observed using an electron microscope. Results Models of knee OA were established successfully. The changes in the ultrastructure of the knee articular cartilage revealed cell swelling, cell debris in part of the cartilage lacunae, and cartilage cells proliferating. The matrix of cartilage cells was thin, hetero chromatin concentrated on the margin and presented in a crescent form. Cell organellae decreased obviously, which was a sign of apoptosis. After the gypsum fixings were removed, the proliferation of cartilage cells gradually increased and rough endoplasmic reticula increased remarkably in the articular cartilages of the right hind knees of the free movement group. Cell pycnosis, disintegration and necrosis could be found in a few cells. The movement of the affected knees of the group treated with sand therapy plus free movement improved more significantly , and the changes in cartilage ultrastructure revealed more cell active proliferation, more rough endoplasmic reticu-lum, more cell surface processes and more matrix fibers. The morphology of cartilage cells in the control knees remained normal. Conclusion It is confirmed that Uyghur sand therapy combined with movement can improve the ultrastructure of knee articular cartilage in a rabbit model of OA.

Objective To compare enteral nutrition (EN) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) elucidate the advantage of EN. Methods Fifty-nine patients were assigned to TPN and EN groups. The nutritional index was detected, and the therapeutic efficacy was reviewed comparetively. Results After giving the nutritional support, the serum contents of albumin, pre-albumin, transferrin and beamoglobin were increased obviously (P < 0.05);and prealbumin, transferrin had statistical difference between the TPN and EN groups(P <0.05). APACHE Ⅱ score was lowered significant-ly in the EN group, comparing with the TPN group (P <0.05). In the EN group, complications, infection rate, food intake time, and hospitalization costs were significantly lower compared with the TPN group(P< 0.05), although mortality rate, hospital stay days had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Conclusion EN is on ideal modality of nutrition support in SAP patients, which has many advantages in improving nu-tritional status, preserving gut mucosa barrier, decreasing bacterium and toxin shifting, regulating inflamma-tory and infective response, decreasing costs in the hospital.

The present study evaluated the application of three dimensional echocardigraphy (3DE) in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the measurement of its size by 3DE and compared the size with surgical findings. Two-dimensional and real-time three dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed in 26 patients with atrial septal defect, and the echocardiographic data were compared with the surgical findings. Significant correlation was found between defect diameter by RT3DE and that measured during surgery (r=0.77, P<0.001). The defect area changed significantly during cardiac cycle. Percentage change in defect size during cardiac cycle ranged from 6%-70%. Our study showed that the size and morphology of atrial septal defect obtained with RT3DE correlate well with surgical findings. Therefore, RT3DE is a feasible and accurate non-invasive imaging tool for assessment of atrial septal size and dynamic changes.
Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*diagnosis ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*pathology ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/surgery ; Young Adult

The effects of ghrelin on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the possible mechanisms were investigated in this study.3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of ghrelin.Proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was evaluated by MTT method and mRNA levels of c-myc and thymidine kinase were detected by RT-PCR.Morphological changes of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were observed and cell differentiation was measured by oil red O staining.The mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPα) in the cells at different differentiation stages were detected by RT-PCR.The results showed that ghrelin at concentrations of 10-7 to 10-15 mol/L could significantly promote preadipocyte proliferation (P<0.05),with the most pronounced effect observed at 1011mol/L (P<0.01).Treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with ghrelin significantly in-creased the mRNA levels of c-myc and thymidine kinase (P<0.01).Morphological findings demonstrated that the great amount of lipid droplets appeared in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes treated with ghrelin.Ghrelin could morphologically induce the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes.Ghrelin significantly increased the mRNA levels of PPART and C/EBPα during the differentiation,when compared with control group (P<0.05).The mRNA levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα were obviously up-regulated with the differentiation of preadipocytes after the treatment of ghrelin.There were significant difference in the mRNA levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα on day 2 and day 8 of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (P<0.01).In conclusion,ghrelin could promote the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by increasing the mRNA levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα and therefore enhance the sensitivity of adipocytes against insulin.

The present study evaluated the application of three dimensional echocardigraphy (3DE) in the diagnosis of atrial septal defect (ASD) and the measurement of its size by 3DE and compared the size with surgical findings.Two-dimensional and real-time three dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed in 26 patients with atrial septal defect,and the echocardiographic data were compared with the surgical findings.Significant correlation was found between defect diameter by RT3DE and that measured during surgery (r=0.77,P<0.001).The defect area changed significantly during cardiac cycle.Percentage change in defect size during cardiac cycle ranged from 6%-70%.Our study showed that the size and morphology of atrial septal defect obtained with RT3DE correlate well with surgical findings.Therefore,RT3DE is a feasible and accurate non-invasive imaging tool for assessment of atrial septal size and dynamic changes.

The non-neuronal cholinergic system, widely exists in prokaryotic, eukarytic, and even plant cells, however, it has not been investigated in preadipocytes and adipocytes. To search for evidence its existence in preadipocytes and adipocytes, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α7 subunit, acetyicholinesterase (ACHE) and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) in 3T3-L1 cells were examined using immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. The choline-regulated visfatin expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was also tested by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Incubation with methyilycaconitine (10-6 to 10-4mol/L) for 12, 24 and 36 hours dose-dependently increased visfatin expression from 1.3- to 1.55-folds (P <0.01) with maximal induction at 24 hours with 10-4mol/L methyllycaconitine. Nicotine treatments (10-6 to 10-4 mol/L) for 12, 24 and 36 hours decreased visfatin expression; choline chloride (10-4 mol/L))suppressed visfatin expression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at 36 hours by 1.64 to 2.03 fold (P < 0.05) which was more effective as compared with nicotine. It was concluded that α7 nAChR was expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and involved in visfatin expression.

The expression of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 and the clinical significance in pediatric acute leukemia (AL) were investigated. The expression of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 proteins was detected by using immunohistochemical assay in 37 children with AL and 10 children with normal bone marrow as controls. The positive expression rate of Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 was 45.9 %, 56.8 %, and 40.5 % respectively in 37 AL children, which was significantly higher than in control group accordingly (P<0.05). The expression of Survivin was positively correlated with CDK4 (P=0.007) and Ki-67 (P=0.008). In conclusion, all Survivin, CDK4 and Ki-67 proteins are over-expressed in pediatric AL and involved in the modulation of apoptosis and proliferation in pediatric AL.