Objective To investigate the role of serotonin transporter (SERT) in pathogenesis of abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods Neonatal SD rats were divided into control group and IBS abdominal pain model group which was established by colorectal distension.The colon, nucleus raphes dorsalis (NRD) and prefrontal cortex (FC) tissues were harvested when all rats grew into adults. Expressions of SERT and 5-HT were determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results The expression of SERT mRNA in colon, NRD and FC tissues in model and control group were 13.95±2.05 vs 8.65±1.33, 52.69±22.59 vs 13.82±5.71 and0.48±0.17 vs 0.17±0.14, respectively, with significant differences (all P values ＜0.05). The protein expression of SERT in colon and NRD,but not FC tissues,decreased in model group compared with control group (13.19±3.82 vs 21.35±4.49,2.47±0.44 vs 4.55±0.92, respectively, P＜0.05).Meanwhile, in comparison with control group, the expression of 5-HT in colon was significantly increased in model group (5.56±0.48 vs 2.68±0.22), but decreased in NRD and FC tissues (3.75±0.43 vs 7.46±0.72, 5.07 ± 0.80 vs 7.97 ±1.10, respectively, P＜0.05). Conclusions Low expression of SERT in brain and colon may attribute to the pathogenesis of abdominal pain in IBS.

Adult ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; Female ; Hemolysis ; Humans

Autophagy ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology

Apnea ; epidemiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Birth Weight ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/serine-threonine kinase (PI3K/AKT)has been found playing an important role in the pathogenesis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)in recent years,but the underlying mechanism has not been clarified.Aims:To investigate the role of PI3K/AKT in regulating the inflammatory response in SAP by evaluating the effect of insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ)and wortmannin,the agonist and inhibitor of PI3K/AKT on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)signaling pathway in macrophage cell line RAW264.7.Methods:RAW264.7 cells were treated with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS ), IGF-Ⅰ and wortmannin, respectively, and cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay.RAW264.7 cells were divided into blank control group (no treatment),LPS group (LPS 1 μg/mL),IGF-Ⅰ group (IGF-Ⅰ 100 ng/mL +LPS 1 μg/mL),wortmannin group (wortmannin 100 nmol/L +LPS 1 μg/mL)and IGF-Ⅰ +wortmannin group (wortmannin 100 nmol/L +IGF-Ⅰ 100 ng/mL +LPS 1 μg/mL).Protein expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6 (IL-6)were detected by ELISA;mRNA expressions of TLR4,myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88),AKT,PI3K,p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)were determined by real-time PCR.Results:After treated with LPS,IGF-Ⅰand wortmannin, respectively,no differences in cell viability of RAW264.7 cells were found between different concentrations groups (P>0.05).Protein expressions of TNF-αand IL-6 in LPS,IGF-Ⅰ,wortmannin and IGF-Ⅰ +wortmannin groups were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P<0.05 ).Protein expressions of TNF-αand IL-6 in wortmannin group were significantly lower than those in LPS and IGF-Ⅰ groups (P<0.05),and those in IGF-Ⅰ+wortmannin group were significantly lower than those in IGF-Ⅰ group (P<0.05).In LPS group,mRNA expressions of AKT and PI3K as well as TLR4 and its downstream molecules MyD88,p38MAPK and NF-κB were significantly higher than those in blank control group (P <0.05 ).Expressions of all above-mentioned mRNAs in IGF-Ⅰ group were further increased and significantly higher than those in LPS group (P<0.05).Expressions of all above-mentioned mRNAs in wortmannin group were significantly lower than those in LPS and IGF-Ⅰ groups (P<0.05 ),and those in IGF-Ⅰ+wortmannin group were significantly higher than those in wortmannin group (P<0.05),but significantly lower than those in IGF-Ⅰ group (P<0.05).Conclusions:PI3K/AKT might regulate TLR4 signaling pathway and its downstream molecules in macrophages, thereby affects the expressions of inflammatory cytokines and being involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory response in SAP.

Objective To investigate the EUS elastographic patterns of normal pancreas and focal pancreatic lesions, and its value for characterizing and differentiating between benign and malignant pancreatic tissues. Methods Between January and June 2009, 6 patients with normal pancreas and 9 patients with focal pancreatic lesions were enrolled. Real-time elastography was carried out during the conventional EUS examination. The elastographic images were scored with 1 to 5 based on the elastographic pattern. Results Nine focal pancreatic lesions were finally diagnosed as pancreatic cancer (n = 4), cyst-adenocarcinoma (n =1), cyst-adenoma (n = 2) and focal pancreatitis (n = 2), respectively. Pancreatic cancers were scored as 3(n = 1) and 4 (n = 3). Cyst-adenocarcinoma was scored as 5 and cyst-adenomas were scored both as 2,while focal pancreatitis were scored as 2 and 3, respectively. Elastographic pattern was scored as 1 (n = 5)and 2 (n = 1) in 6 normal pancreas. When scores 1 and 2 were assigned to benign lesion and 3 to 5 to malignancy, the overall diagnostic accuracy of EUS elastography for focal pancreatic lesions was 88. 9%(8/9). Conclusion There are apparent differences in elastographic patterns between benign and malignant pancreatic tissues. EUS elastography is a promising method that allows characterization and differentiation of benignancy and malignancy.

Objective To explore the utility of Kinect motion sensing technology in the rehabilitation of shoulder joint dysfunction caused by surgical neck fracture of the humerus.Methods Fifty-one patients with shoulder joint dysfunction caused by surgical neck fracture of the humerus were randomly divided into a Kinect group (26 cases) and a control group (25 cases).Both groups were given routine joint mobilization and rehabilitation training,while the Kinect group additionally spent time on a computer with Kinect software in activities such as picking peaches,playing golf,climbing ladders,throwing balls and with a game called open sesame.Before and after 4 weeks of treatment,both groups were assessed for pain,ability in the activities of daily living (ADL),and range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder joint using the Constant-Murley shoulder functional rating score scale (CMS) and a muscle test scale.Results After the treatment,significant improvement in all of the measurements was observed in the Kinect group,and in all except the average ROM in the control group.The average pain,ADL,ROM and muscular strength of the Kinect group were then all significantly better compared to the control group.After the treatment,the average total CMS score of the Kinect group was also significantly better.Among all the patients in the Kinect group,88.46％ had good or excellent treatment effect.Conclusion Kinect-based motion sensing technology can significantly improve rehabilitation outcomes for such patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of diabetes on short-term prognosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in elderly patients.Methods From January 2006 to June 2010,126 patients with TIA aged over 60 years were selected.Patients were divided into diabetic group and non-diabetic group according to past history,blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels.The cumulative ischemic stroke incidences were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis 30 days and 90 days after the first TIA.The risk factors for short-term stroke after TIA were analyzed by Cox regression analysis.Results Among 126 patients with TIA,31 cases (24.6％) had diabetes.The cumulative ischemic stroke incidences were significantly higher in diabetic group than in non-diabetic group 30 days and 90 days after the first TIA (54.8％ vs.22.1％,61.3％ vs.28.4％,both P＜0.01).Cox regression analysis revealed that diabetes and cerebral arterial stenosis were the risk factors for recurrent stroke within 90 days.Conclusions The short-term stroke incidence is significantly higher in elderly diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients.Diabetes is the independent risk factor for recurrent stroke after TIA.

Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra) cardiotoxins are three-fingered family with 60～62 amino acids bind by four disulfide bonds. CardiotoxinⅢ (CTXⅢ) is one of the major toxic component which can cause hemolysis and cytotoxicity. However, there is no report on the fusion expression of CTXⅢ in soluble form so far. The cloning, expression and purification of recombinant CTX Ⅲ (rCTXⅢ) from Naja naja atra in E. coli and in yeast Pichia pastoris were reported here. CTXⅢ gene, fused with enterokinase in E.coli His-patch Thioredoxin expression system, were expressed in soluble form and released by osmotic-shock treatment. CTX Ⅲ gene was also cloned and expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris pPIC9K expression vector in the first time. The yield of the secretion level was 9.5 mg/L. Using straightforward one-step chromatography procedure, the rCTXⅢ, with three additional amino acids (GYT) at the N-terminal site, was purified to a purity of more than 90% and recovery yield of 65%. The purified rCTX Ⅲ was further characterized by cytotoxic assay with IC50 4.66μg/ml. An effective expression and purification system for recombinant CTXs in P. pastoris was developed, this system will permit us the ready isolation of active cardiotoxins. This protocol can also be easily used for the production of the toxin in a larger scale with low cost.

Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Infant, Newborn