Objective To evaluate the effect of splenectomy on hematological and immune system for children with major thalas‐semia .Methods This retrospective study was performed on 68 children with major thalassemia .The indexes of blood and immune system included white blood cell ,red blood cell ,hemoglobin ,platelet ,immunoglobulin IgG ,IgM and IgA and serum complement C3 , C4 ,which were recorded at pre‐splenectomy ,3 months and 3 -12 months post‐splenectomy .Results The mean age of children in this study was 8 .6 ± 3 .1 years .There were 28 children with α‐thalassemia ,35 with β‐thalassemia and 5 with αβ‐thalassemia .The white blood cell ,red blood cell and platelet count increased significantly both at 3 and 3-12 months post‐splenectomy as compared with pre‐splenectomy .The red blood cell and hemoglobin in children with β‐thalassemia or αβ‐thalassemia were significantly lower than children withα‐thalassemia both at pre and post‐splenectomy .However ,the platelet count were similar .The immunoglobulin IgA and IgM were significantly lower at post‐splenectomy than pre‐splenectomy .However ,the IgG ,C3 and C4 did not decrease sig‐nificantly .Conclusion Splenectomy could increase the hemoglobin level and improve the anemia in children with major thalassemia . However ,it might be harmful to the immune system .

Objective To discuss differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC)postoperative lymph node metas-tasis and clinical use and the effect of 131 I treatment.Methods to185 patients with lymph node metastasis of DTC were selected by random sampling method.The standard 131 I treatment was administrated,ultrasound,CT and Tg chan-ges and imaging characteristics of 131 I treatment were evaluated the clinical curative effect was determined.Results Imaging changes:the whole group of patients,153 patients (82.7%)were effective.153 patients with effective treat-ment,105 cases examined LMDTC completely eliminate (56.8%),48 cases examination revealed narrowing (25.9%).Mere lymph node metastasis after treatment was better than that of patients with viscera metastasis,imaging examination results were statistically significant differences (χ2 =2.57,P =0.02).After treatment,imaging examina-tion result in patients with smaller lymph node was superior to that in the patients with relatively large diameter lymph nodes (P >0.05).Tg level changes:there was a significant reduction in the Tg 97 cases of 185 patients (51.1%), and general decline in 54 patients (29.2%).Tg improvement effect of patients with mere lymphatic metastasis after treatment was better than other viscera metastasis in patients with statistically significant differences (χ2 =3.41,P =0.01).Lymph node Tg improved after treatment in patients with small diameter,which was better than that with other viscera metastasis patients with statistically significant differences(χ2 =6.34,P =0.02).Conclusion Comprehensive curative effect of 131 I treatment of lymph node metastasis postoperatively in patients with DTC is distinct,and is worth popularizing in clinical use of DTC.

Objective To study the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1 ) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-L) on human mesangial cells (HMC) after stimulation by endothelin-1 (ET-1). Methods The ex-pression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was detected at mRNA and protein levels by using Northern bolt and cell ELISA respectively. Results There was basic mRNA and protein expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on HMC in the control groups without ET-1. ET-l(10-7mol)augmented the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 with the maximum at 4 -8 hr. Increased protein expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was followed thereafter in a time-depended manner. Conclusion The upregulated expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by ET-1 may have an important role in the development of glomerulonephritis.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of GRE T2 ? WI sequences in low field strength MR with oblique coronal plane in patients with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)injury.Methods 68 cases of acute traumatic hemarthrosis of the knee joint proved surgically were reviewed.The cases were divided into two groups:conventional MR group (axial image,standard coro-nal image and sagittal oblique image),and conventional with oblique coronal MR group.The diagnostic results with surgical and path-ological results were compared.The diagnostic accuracy of two images were evaluated respectively.Results For conventional MR group and conventional with oblique coronal MR group,the sensitivities in diagnosing ACL were 72.9% and 97.9%,the specificities were 80% and 85%,the positive predictive values were 89.7% and 94%,the negative predictive values were 55.2% and 85%,the accuracies were 52.9% and 82.9%,the misdiagnosis rates were 20% and 1 5%,the missed diagnosis rates were 27.1% and 2.1%, and the coincidence rates was 75% and 94.1%,respectively.The difference in diagnosis rates between two groups were statistically significant(P <0.05).Conclusion GRE T2 ? WI sequences with oblique coronal plane can significantly improve the diagnostic rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Objective To explore the effect of long-term chronic mild stress on depression-like behaviors and the expression of heat shock protein 70(HSP70) in rats.Methods The standard SD rats were divided into two groups as following:one group (n =6) was treated with chronic mild stress for 3 weeks,and another group (n =5) was treated with chronic mild stress for 6 weeks.Depression-like behaviors of rats was observed by sucrose consumption test and open field test before and after chronic mild stress.And Western Blot,RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were utilized to detect the HSP70 expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobes of rats after chronic mild stress.Results The sucrose favoritism in sucrose consumption test,the scores of crossing and the time for rats' retention in the center grid of open field test in long-term group were higher than those in short term group(P＜ 0.05).HSP70 expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobes of long-term group (0.81 ± 0.08,0.85 ± 0.08)detected by Western Blot and immunohistochemistry was higher that of short-term group (0.60 ± 0.06,0.85 ±0.07).HSP70 expression in the hippocampus of long-term group (0.90 ± 0.05,1.37 ± 0.38)detected by RT-PCR was higher that of short-term group(0.78 ± 0.04,1.08 ± 0.14) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion After long-term chronic mild stress,the depression-like behaviors decrease,and at the same time HSP70 mRNA and protein increase.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are a family of serine/threonine protein kinases. The investigators pay much attention to the roles of GRKs in the signal transduction through G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with arrestin ever since a long time ago. Due to the physiological and pathological observations with the methods of deletion or overexpression, GRKs are considered as new drug targets. The kinases play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cell migration through GPCRs and Hedgehog signaling pathways. As the development of research techniques, especially bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the special mechanism of GRKs for GPCRs is more evident. In this review, we discuss the recent achievement in the roles of GRKs signaling and the related newest research techniques.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI) may non-wounded detect damage of fiber in white matter and becomes an effectively way to evaluate upper motor neuron(UMN) impairments.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of MRDTI on amyotrophic lateral selerosis(ALS).DESIGN: Case contrast observation.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty ALS patients were selected from Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from April to December 2005. There were 11 males and 9 females, and their ages ranged from 33 to 73 years with the mean age of (51±10) years. All subjects met the diagnostic criteria of ALS set by World Neurology League.Other 15 healthy subjects were collected as control group. There were 8 males and 7 females, and their ages ranged from 31 to 73 years with mean age of (50±11) years. All subjects provided the confirm consent.METHODS: Based on level of upper and lower motor neuron impairments, ALS patients were divided into UMN impairment group (n =16) and lower motor neuron group (n =4). Functional scores of ALS, illness developing velocity and pyramidal sign scores were performed, respectively. All subjects were scanned with DTI at axial view. Regions of interest [subcortical white matter of precentral gyrul and postcentral gyrul (Pre-CG/Post-CG), centrum semiovale and frontal white matter (CS/FWM), peripheral lateral cerebral ventricle, posterior limb of internal capsule (PIC), cerebral peduncle (CP), genu corpus callosum and splenium corpus callosum (GCC/SCC) and dorsal thalamus (DT)] were selected to measure fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlations among FA, ADC, functional score of ALS, illness developing velocity and pyramidal sign scores.RESULTS: Twenty patients and 15 subjects in the control group were involved in the final analysis. ① FA was reduced and ADC increased in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in patients with UMN signs compared to healthy volunteers (t =3.452, 2.670; P ＜ 0.01, 0.05). Nonparametric tests revealed that there was a trend toward reduced FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in B group compared to controls (U =11, P =0.057). ② In UMN impairment group, FA in the posterior limb of the internal capsule was positively correlated with the ALS rating scale (r =0.577, P ＜0.05) and negatively correlated with pyramidalsign scores (r = -0.789, P ＜ 0.01 ),CONCLUSION : The impairment of pyramidal tracts can be noninvasively evaluated by diffusion tensor MR in vivo, thus providing useful information in diagnosing and further understanding MND.

Objective To study the effect and possible mechanism of Apelin in candate on the pain behavior of rat. Methods Tail flick latency(TFL)of rat was taken as pain threshold and radiant heat as nociceptive stimulus. Microinjected Apelin into rat's caudate to observe the effect of Apelin on modulating of pain in CNS and then to study the interaction between Apelin and morphine in modulation of pain.And the contents of cAMP and cGMP in candate tissue and blood plasma were detected.Results Compared with control groups,the pain threshold of rat decreased when Apelin Was injected into caudate alone.Injected 0.5μl Apelin of 10~(-4) moL/L into rat caudate 10 min later,the pain threshold of rat Was reduced(-9.22±1.26)%and 40 min later(-16.95±1.46)%compared with normal saline group(-0.32±1.2)%,(0.17±0.80)%),and it had statistical significance(P<0.01).The contents of cAMP in caudate Was(14.08±2.25)nmol/g and blood plasma(19.94± 4.43)nmol/L compared with normal saline(133.05±20.41)nmol/g,(38.66±6.73)nmol/L,and they had statistical significance(P<0.01).Conclusions Apelin can facilitate the pain behavior of rat induced by radiant heat stimulus and consequently plays a hyperalgesia role in CNS.Apelin may have interaction with morphine and display its hyperalgesia effect through the intracellular second messenger cAMP.

Aim To compare the cytotoxicity of geni-poside (GS)and its metabolite genipin (GP)on hu-man hepatocelluar HepG2 cells and explore the sub-stance and mechanism of hepatotoxicity induced by Fructus Gardeniae.Methods The cytotoxic effect of GS and GP was analyzed by MTT method;the antioxi-dant enzyme activities of manganese superoxide dis-mutase (Mn-SOD),catalase (CAT)and levels of glu-tathione (GSH)were detected by respective kits;the change of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS ) was measured by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA)staining method;multiparameter cytotox-icity analysis (cell loss,nuclear size and morphologi-cal changes,DNA content,cell membrane permeabili-ty,mitochondrial membrane potential changes,cyto-chrome C release ) were measured simultaneously by high content screening (HCS)assays.Results No cytotoxicity was found in GS (20~1 000 μmol·L-1 ) groups (P>0.05 ),but GP was found to exert obvi-ous cytotoxic effect,and 50μmol·L-1 GP could obvi-ously inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation (P<0.05 ),and the IC50 value was (450.00 ±26.15)μmol·L-1;GS showed no obvious effects on Mn-SOD, CAT, GSH ,ROS (P >0. 0 5 ),GP could significantly decrease the activity of Mn-SOD,CAT and the level of GSH,and obviously increase the content of ROS (P<0.05 or P <0.01 );treatment with 50,500,1 000μmol·L-1 GP resulted in loss of mitochondrial mem-brane potential,cytochrome C release and increased cell permeability (P<0.05 or P<0.01),500,1 000μmol· L-1 GP could also show abvious nuclear con-densation,increased total nuclear intensity and cell loss (P<0.0 1 ).Opposed with GP,GS had no signif-icant effect on the cytotoxic parameters (P>0.05 ). Conclusion GP is the direct substance of hepatotox-icity induced by Fructus Gardeniae,and the mecha-nism might be associated with oxidative stress,mito-chondria injury and apoptosis.

Aim To observe the mRNA expressions of cell cycle regulators at different time points during the hypertrophic process of H9 c2 rat cardiomyoctes in-duced by angiotensin Ⅱ stimulation.Methods H9c2 myocytes were stimulated with 1.0 μmol · L-1 angio-tensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)for scheduled time.Cells were stained by Rhodamine labeled phalloidin and the cell area was measured by ImageJ software.mRNA expres-sion levels of cyclin B,D,E,cyclin dependent kinase (CDK)1,2,4,6,and CDK inhibitor p21 were de-termined by real-time PCR at different time points (0, 5,10,30 min,and 1,2,3,6,12,24,48 h).Re-sults H9 c2 cell size increased soon after stimulation of Ang Ⅱ;mRNA expressions of cyclin E,CDK4 and CDK2 all reached the peak at 5 min after stimulation of Ang Ⅱ;mRNA expression of cyclin D was increased dramatically at 10 min,followed by a decrease trend. However,the mRNA expression of cyclin B and CDK6 both showed two peaks,a p2 1 mRNA level was up to the peak at 30 min,and the expression was lowest at 3h.Although its expression increased gradually after 3h,p21 mRNA remained low level.Conclusion mRNA expression levels of the cell cycle regulators fluctuate and jointly facilitate the hypertrophic process of cardiomyocytes.