group Nor(P0.05).Conclusions The changes of ambulatory pulse pressure can reflect the degree of EH.The obvious increase of PP and decrease of DBP maybe are the exclusive features of ABPM in EH patients with target organs damage.

ObjectiveTo explore the role of ssomatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in evaluating and predicting the lower limb motor function of patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods19 patients (13 male, 6 female) with acute cerebral infarction diagnosed according to the standard of Chinese Classifications of the Cerebral Vascular Disease were chosen as the case group and 18 patients (11 male, 7 female) with non-nerve system injury were taken as the control group. All patients of two groups were received SEP test within 7 days after onset and latency and amplitude values of SEP of two groups were compared. To the case group, SEP was tested again at 30th day after admission, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) was also carried out at same times of two SEP tests, and the correlation of SEP and FMA scores was analyzed.ResultsThe difference of latency and amplitude value of SEP test between the case group and control group was significantly (P<0.01). The latency value of SEP in lower limb was correlated with FMA scores (P<0.01). But the amplitude value was no difference between the onset and 30th day after admission in the case group.ConclusionSEP is sensitive in the acute stage of stroke. SEP has significant value for predicting the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction and correlates with the clinical FMA scores. The value of amplitude is not sensitive.

Objective To investigate the effects of liposome mediated intraocular gene transfection of endostatin on the inhibition of the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a rat model. Methods Experimental CNV model in Brown Norway rats was induced by laser photocagulation. The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pSecTagA hEndostatin or control plasmid pSecTagA and liposome complexes were injected into the subretinal space of the model rats. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical observation confirmed the presence of endostatin mRNA and protein expression two weeks after injection. Intraocular and serum levels of endostatin were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The intensity of fluorescein leakage from the photocoagulated lesions was studied at 13 d after photocoagulation. The area of CNV was measured using high molecular weight FITC dextran (MW2?10 6) for high resolution angiography in RPE choroid sclera flat mounts. In addition, sections of CNV lesions were studied by light microscopy and endoglin (CD105) immunohistochemical evaluation. Results The retina, RPE, choroidal were infected by subretinal delivery of the pSecTag hEndostatin and expressed the endostatin. Two weeks after intraocular injection, the level of endostatin in the whole eye homogenates were (50 14?3 43) ng/eye and (31 5?2 21) ng/eye, respectively. Fluorescein leakage from the CNV lesions decreased significantly as compared with that in the control groups. The average area of CNV at the sites of the Bruch's membrane rupture showed significant difference in eyes injected with endostatin as compared with that in the control eyes. Endothelial cells demonstrated strong immunoreactivity of CD105 in CNV lesions in the control eyes. Conclusion Liposome mediated endostatin gene transfection can significantly inhibit the development of CNV.

·AIM: To study the effect of an intravitreal injection of angiostatin on vascular leakage in the retina and iris of oxygen-induced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).·METHODS: Brown Norway rats at postnatal day 7 (P7) were exposed to hyperoxia (750mL/L O2 )for 5 days (P7-12) and then returned to normoxia to induce retinopathy. Angiostatin was reconstituted in sterile Phosphate Buffered Saline(PBS) and diluted to desired different concentrations. Angiostatin solution was injected into the vitreous of the right eye of the ROP rats at P14 and the age-matched normal rats through pars plana using a glass capillary, and the left eye received the same volume of sterile PBS as the control. Vascular permeability was quantified at 1, 2 and 3 days after the injection by measuring albumin leakage from blood vessels into the retina and iris using the Evans blue method and normalized by total protein concentrations. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retina was evaluated using the Western Blot analysis and immuno-histochemistry 24 hours following the injection.·RESULTS: ROP rats showed significant increases of vascular permeability in the retina and iris (P<0.01). Angio-statin reduces vascular permeability in a dose-dependent manner in the retina of ROP rats. The reduction showed a time course trend. [Angiostatin injection reduced retinal vascular permeability by approximately 1.5 and 2-fold at P15 (P<0.05) and P16 (P<0.01), respectively.] Angiostatin injection significantly reduced VEGF levels in the retina of ROP rats but did not affect retinal VEGF levels in normal rats.·CONCLUSION: Angiostatin significantly decreases pa-thological vascular permeability in the retina and iris of ROP rats but not in normal rats. Angiostatin down-regulates VEGF expression in retina of ROP rats. These results suggest that angiostatin may have a therapeutic potential in the treatment of ROP and other diseases with vascular leakage.

Background There is no effective method to regenerate the optic nerve after injury. It has been recently reported that α-crystallin could promote the survive rate and axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) effectively. However,the molecular mechanism is not clear. Objective This study was to identify the site of RGCs where the exogenous α-crystallin bind to. Methods RGCs was isolated from retinas of two 2-day-old Long Evans rats and primarily cultured. The positive rate of the RGCs was assessed by counting the number of positive cells for fluorescently-labeled thy1. 1 and cy3 under the fluorescence microscope. The biotinylated exogenous α-crystallin was evaluated by direct coloration and the activity of molecular chaperones was measured by insulin test.After identifying the success of biotinylation along with the activity of molecular chaperones,biotinylated α-crystallin was co-incubated with RGCs and the cells then were reacted to fluorescently labeled avidin for the observation of binding site of exogenous α-crystallin under the laser confocal microscope. Results RGCs of 94% were survived through primary culture. The coloration of biotinylated α-crystallin labeled by the direct coloration method was more intensive, and the value of A450 descended as the decrease of biotinylated α-crystallin concentration,indicating that the α-crystallin was biotinylated successfully. The activity of molecular chaperones of biotinylated α-crystallin was significantly strong but no significant change after being biotinylated after co-incubation of RGCs with biotinylated α-crystallin. Laser confocal microscope examination revealed that co-incubated RGCs with biotinylated α-crystallin showed the red fluorescence on membrane and axon of RGCs rather than cytoplasm and nucleus. The absent response was seen in the control group. Conclusion Exogenous α-crystallin can specifically combine with the membrane of RGCs to play the biological function,but its binding mode and mechanism need further study.

Objective To study the expression of VEGF-C and its receptor in breast carcinoma tissue and in peritumoral tissue,as well as their clinic significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to examine the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR3 in 70 cases of breast cancer and in its peritu- moral tissue.Results In all 70 cases of breast cancer,the positive expression rate of VEGF-C in breast car- cinoma tissue was 78.6 %,and its rate in peritumoral tissue was 54.3 %.There was a significant stastistic dif- ference between the two groups(P

BACKGROUNDTo clarify the difference and significance of T-lymphocyte subsets in differential diagnosis between severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS) and common atypical pneumonia.

METHODSTotally 100 patients hospitalized in Beijing Ditan Hospital since March to June 2003 with clinical diagnosis of SARS were involved in this study. These patients courses of disease were over 3 weeks. These patients were divided into two groups, SARS group and common atypical pneumonia group (non-SARS group). The counts of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte of two groups were systematically recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-five of the patients were confirmed to have common type of SARS, including 26 males and 39 females, 50 cases received methylprednisolone treatment. Thirty-five cases had common atypical pneumonia (non-SARS), 21 were males while 14 were females, 20 cases received methylprednisolone treatment. All the cases of two groups were cured in the end. The SARS patients T-lymphocyte counts decreased first and then increased. Before 15 days of disease course, mean CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts of SARS patients were decreased apparently (694+/-568/microl, 441+/-356/microl, 309+/-462/microl). After 15th day of disease course, the counts gradually returned to normal CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts of non-SARS patients were normal. Compared with patients of the same group who were not treated with glucocorticoids, T-lymphocyte counts of non-SARS patients treated with glucocorticoids had no obvious difference. But glucocorticoids had some effect on SARS patients recovery of cellular immune function, i.e., it delayed the recovery by about 6 days.

CONCLUSIONWith or without treatment with glucocorticoids,the lowered CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocyte counts in the early stage are of very important significance in differential diagnosis between severe acute respiratory syndrome and common atypical pneumonia.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the feature of D(L)CO (Diffusion Lung Capacity for Carbon Monoxide) in CHF (left ventricular heart failure) patients, underlying pathophysiological mechanism and clinical significance.

METHODSWe retrospectively studied the D(L)CO, pulmonary ventilation function, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and related clinical information in severer HF patients.

RESULTSPeak VO2 severely decreased to 34 ± 7 percentage of predicted(%pred) and anaerobic threshold to 48 ± 11%pred in all patients. D(L)CO moderately decreased to 63 ± 12%pred and there were 25 patients lower than 80%pred. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and TLC were 75 ± 14%pred, 71 ± 17%pred, 97 ± 11%pred, and 79 ± 13%pred, which indicated borderline or mild restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. The decrease of D(L)CO was more severe than those of TLC, FEV1 and FVC.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with severe CHF, cardiopulmonary exercise function is extremely limited, D(L)CO generally moderately declines and ventilation function is merely mildly limited. D(L)CO is the parameter for cardiopulmonary coupling, reflecting limitation of the cardiovascular dysfunction while without ventilatory limit.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo establish an adolescent violence crime prediction model, and to assess the value of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism for the assessment and prediction of violent crime.

METHODSInvestigative tools were used to analyze the difference in personality dimensions, social support, coping styles, aggressiveness, impulsivity, and family condition scale between 223 adolescents with violence behavior and 148 adolescents without violence behavior. The distribution of 5-HTT gene polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR) was compared between the two groups. The role of 5-HTT gene polymorphism on adolescent personality, impulsion and aggression scale also was also analyzed. Stepwise logistic regression was used to establish a predictive model for adolescent violent crime.

RESULTSSignificant difference was found between the violence group and the control group on multiple dimensions of psychology and environment scales. However, no statistical difference was found with regard to the 5-HTT genotypes and alleles between adolescents with violent behaviors and normal controls. The rate of prediction accuracy was not significantly improved when 5-HTT gene polymorphism was taken into the model.

CONCLUSIONThe violent crime of adolescents was closely related with social and environmental factors. No association was found between 5-HTT polymorphisms and adolescent violence criminal behavior.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; psychology ; Crime ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Violence ; psychology

BACKGROUND:Many scholars at home and abroad have already attempted to apply the technique of the internal fixation pedicle screw placement to cure children’s spinal injuries in recent years, because the children’s thoracic pedicle is more smal , anatomical structure variation is big and adjacent relationship is complicated, so the application of adult’s pedicle screw technology simply to children who was in a continuous growth and development can increase operation risk greatly. Above this, improving the accuracy of nailing and reducing error rate become keys for further development of cervical pedicle fixation. OBJECTIVE:To provide an individualized and accurate positioning method for screw placement in thoracic pedicle of children by computer aided design and rapid prototyping technology. METHODS:After computed tomography scan of four cases of child specimens, the original data were made for three-dimensional reconstruction by the software, then the specimens were randomly divided into two groups:one group used the traditional pedicle internal fixation method, and the other group, first created the individual navigation template using the principle of reverse engineering and rapid prototyping technology. The lumbar pedicle screws were put into the samples by the individual navigation template. The position of the pedicle screws was evaluated according to the computer tomography scan. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The accurate rate of screw placement of the traditional pedicle internal fixation method was 58%;and the accurate rate of screw placement of the individual digital navigation template method was 81%. The success rate was better than the traditional surgery group. Furthermore, chi square test showed that there was a significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). These findings suggested that there has a high accuracy of the screw placement in thoracic pedicle of children assisted by the individual navigation template, ful y reflects the principle of individualization of screw placement, and provides a new feasible method for accurate screw placement in thoracic pedicle of children.