Objective To investigate the changes of transcranial Doppler (TCD) patterns and parameters in various intracranial hypertension.Methods Sixty rabbits were randomized into 3 groups:control group,the group of mild-to-moderate intracranial hypertension,the group of serious intracranial hypertension.Acute intracranial hypertension was induced by inflating the balloon inserted into the epidural space.Blood flow velocity was measured with TCD and intracranial pressure (ICP) as well as cerebral perfusion pressure(CPP) was measured.Mannitol was injected to the animals of intracranial hypertension,blood flow velocity and ICP was measured.ResultsTwo characteristic flow patterns vere observed in the group of mild-to-moderate intracranial hypertension:high resistance pattern,systolic flow.At the last stage of extreme intracranial hypertension in the group of serious intracranial hypertension Doppler sonograms showed three characteristic flow patterns in the following sequence:retrograde diastolic flow,very small systolic flow and zero flow.Multiform retrograde diastolic flows were related to the phases of brain death.Very small systolic flow showed three shapes:systolic-spike,small systolic triangular and small double peak.AftermedicinaltreatmentICPdecreasedinthethegroupofmild-to-moderateintracranial hypertension,blood flow velocity also increased.After the same treatment IC,P and blood flow velocity did not change in the group of serious intracranial hypertension.ConclusionsAnalysing patterns and parameters of TCD may be helpful for evaluating ICP indirectly as well as clinical experience.

Objective To find out the difference between fetal malnutrition (FM) and small for gestational age (SGA) and its clinical significance. Methods Clinical nutritional status was assessed in 548 singleton term babies. Nine superficial, rapidly detected signs of malnutrition were taken for the clinical assessment nutritional status score (CANSCORE). FM was diagnosed if the total score was less than or equal to 24. Results Among 40 SGA, 21(52.5%) were FM, the other 19 (47.5%) were not FM with scores more than 24, whereas 13(2.8%) out of 508 AGA (appropriate for gestational age) were FM. Conclusion SGA and FM are not synonymous and FM can be rapidly determined by the CANSCORE. Biochemical and ultrasonic studies should be done in high risk preg nancy during second trimester to discover FM and intervene by nutritional treatment to prevent the infants with FM.

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of the four DNA extraction methods according to the endophytic diversity in the roots, stems, and leaves of mulberry analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) , and by taking the yield, purity and PCR amplification as indexes. Methods Four common methods, i.e., cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide ( CTAB) , sterile phosphate buffered saline (SPBS) vibration, liquid nitrogen grinding (LNG) , and KIT methods, were used to extract the total DNA from different tissues of mulberry, and then were compared based on the diversity analysis results for endophyte by PCR-DGGE. Results From the roots and stems of mulberry, we got the highest concentration of DNA by LNG extraction method, and got the lowest concentration by SPBS extraction method. But for the leaves of mulberry, the results of the four extraction methods were completely opposite to those for the roots and stems. For different tissues of mulberry, the purity of DNA extracted by KIT method was the best. According to the endophytic bacteria diversity analyzed by 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE, the appropriate method for extraction of DNA was LNG or CTAB, but was not KIT. And according to the results of endophytic fungi diversity analyzed by ITS PCR-DGGE, the best extraction method was KIT, and the unsuited methods varied from the tissues of mulberry. Conclusion The optimum DNA extraction method for mulberry varies from the tissues of mulberry and endophtic bacteria.

Objective To investigate whether emodin(1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) can attenuate inflammatory response in rats' lungs with acute necrotic pancreatitis (ANP). Method Acute necrotic pancreatitis model was induced by injection of 3% sodium taurocholic acid into the subcapsular of pancreas and emodin was administered by intestine perfusion. Plasma amylase of 3, 6 and 12 h with acute necrotic pancreatitis was measured together with the detection of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA expressions in rats' lungs by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was detected the expression of IL-1β converting enzyme (ICE) in the rats' lungs. Result Plasma amylase of 3, 6 and 12 h with acute necrotic pancreatitis groups are obviously high as compared with normal group(P＜0.05). Plasma amylase was (1 611.20±218.72)IU/L in normal group. Plasma amylase of 3, 6 and 12 h with acute necrotic pancreatitis groups were (1 981.40±56.81)IU/L, (3 287.40±612.37)IU/L and (4 914.60±746.82)IU/L. Plasma amylase of 3, 6 and 12 h with acute necrotic pancreatitis after treatment with emodin groups were obviously low as compared with acute necrotic pancreatitis groups. The plasma amylase was(1 617.20±136.80)IU/L,(2 323.40±318.19) IU/L and (2 670.20±390.03)IU/L respectively. The study showed that the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokin IL-1β and the expression of IL-6, as well as the expression of IL-1β converting enzyme(ICE) were decreased and IL-10 was increased. Conclusion The study demonstrates that emodin plays an important role in reducing plasma amylase level. Emodin exerts anti-inflammatory effects in acute necrotic pancreatitis rats' lungs by downregulating the mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6 and upregulating the mRNA expression of IL-10.

Objective: To study the effect of different sorts of fertilizer on the content of tanshinone Ⅱ A, the effective element of cultivated Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae. Methods: Fertilize Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae with the several kinds of combination: the oddment cake(round flat cake made of residue of seed after extracting oil form it), pig manure, chicken manure, duck manure, human excrement, plant ashes, dregs of a decoction (residue of Traditional Chinese medicine material after being extracted), phosphoric fertilizer and compound fertilizer; and gather Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae one year later. Determine the content of Tanshinone Ⅱ A in cultivated Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae by HPLC. Results: The contents of Tanshinone Ⅱ A in Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae fertilized by different sorts of fertilizer are of significant difference. Conclusion: Plant ashes, oddment cake and compound fertilizer are good for growing of Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae and raises of the content of Tanshinone Ⅱ A.

ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for false negative diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) by capsule endoscopy.MethodsA total of 133 OGIB inpatients,104 in true positive group and 29 in false negativc group,were reviewed.The features of demography,diseases and capsule endoscopy were collected and then analyzed,which included 10 variables like age,sex,time of bleeding,diseases accompanied,type and location of the disease,hemoglobin concentration,transit time of CE,quality of CE pictures and type of purgative agents.All data were analyzed with t test,and all the enumeration data were analyzed with chi square test.Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between the factors and results of diagnosis.ResultsAge ( t =2.095,P =0.038 ),concentration of hemoglobin ( t =2.143,P=0.034),type (X2 =20.222,P ＜0.001) and location (X2 =33.732,P ＜0.001) of the diseases,image quality of the CE (X2 =9.219,P =0.002 ) and the type of purgative agents (X2 =6.999,P =0.024) were found to have statistical differences between the two groups.Chi-square and partition Chi-square test revealed the occurrence of civerticulosis and lesion location,i.e.lower ileum and ileumcecum,were of statistical difference between the two groups (X2 =22.233,P ＜ 0.001 and x2 =24.412,P ＜ 0.001 ).Univariate logistic regression showed diverticulosis ( OR =0.102,P ＜0.001 ),lower bowel diseases ( OR =0.110,P ＜0.001 ),poor quality of CE pictures ( OR =0.258,P =0.004 ) and the use of sodium phosphate agent ( OR =0.367,P =0.027) were risk factors for false negative diagnosis,while older age facilitated diagnosis ( OR =1.024,P =0.041 ).However,multivariate logistic regression showed no statistic significance in type of purgative agent ( P =0.05 ) or the concentration of hemoglobin ( P =0.394).Furthermore,elder age facilitated positive diagnosis ( OR =1.031,P =0.032),while diverticulosis ( OR =0.118,P =0.001 ),lower bowel diseases ( OR =0.145,P =0.001 ) and poor quality of CE pictures ( OR =0.245,P =0.016) were correlated with higher probability of false negative diagnosis.ConclusionAge,disease type,disease location and image quality exert great influence on CE diagnosis.Diverticulosis,lower location of the diseases and poor CE image quality are risk factors for false negative diagnosis.

OBJECTIVENephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by marked urinary excretion of albumin and other intermediated-size plasma proteins such as transferrin. The aim of this study was to determine the changes of serum iron and transferrin and the relationship between the serum and urinary transferrin.

METHODSThe indexes related to iron metabolism, including serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation and hematological parameters (Hb, MCV, MCH), and urinary transferrin were measured in 37 children with NS before treatment and at the remission stage. Thirty-five age-matched healthy children served as controls.

RESULTSSerum iron levels (18.8 +/- 3.8 micromol/L) in NS patients before treatment were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (22.2 +/-3.8 micromol/L) and those measured at the remission stage (21.0 +/- 3.5 micromol/L) (P < 0.01). Serum transferrin levels in NS patients before therapy (1.9 +/- 0.3 g/L) also decreased compared with those in the healthy controls (3.1 +/- 0.5 g/L) and those measured at the remission stage (2.9 +/- 0.6 g/L) (P < 0.01). In contrast, serum total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation were noticeably higher in NS patients before treatment than those in the healthy controls (total iron-binding capacity 56.4 +/- 9.2 micromol/L vs 50.7 +/- 6.8 micromol, P < 0.01; transferrin saturation 55.7 +/- 9.2 % vs 46.4 +/- 8.2%, P < 0.01) and were also higher than those measured at the remission stage (51.9 +/-7.7 micromol/L and 47.4 +/- 13.3%) (P < 0.01). Serum transferrin positively correlated to serum albumin (r = 0.609, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated to urinary transferrin (r = -0.550, P < 0.01) in NS patients before treatment.

CONCLUSIONSSerum iron and transferrin levels markedly decreased in NS patients, which may be partially related to the urinary loss of transferrin.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; blood ; Transferrin ; analysis ; urine

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication.

METHODSSixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Qi ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of suppression of CCL5 ligand gene on the proliferation of human breast cancer cells.

METHODSA lentiviral vector carrying a short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CCL5 was transfected into human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The expression of CCL5 mRNA in the cells was detected by real-time PCR. The proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was assessed by MTT assay and FACS assay, and the colony formation ability of both cell lines were measured, respectively.

RESULTSReal time PCR showed a good knockdown effect of CCL5 in both cell-lines. Colony-forming assay showed that the ability of colony formation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA and MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA was decreased markedly. The colony number of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA group was (0.34 ± 0.08), significantly lower than 0.81 ± 0.12 in the MCF-7/CCL5-N group and 0.92 ± 0.12 in the MCF-7 group (P < 0.05). The colony number of MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA group was 0.33 ± 0.10, significantly lower than 0.97 ± 0.09 in the MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N group and 1.04 ± 0.07 in the MDA-MB-231 group (P < 0.05). However, MTT assay revealed that the proliferation of MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA cells was not significantly different from that of MCF-7/CCL5-N or MCF-7 cells, respectively (P > 0.05), and the same result was found in MDA-MB-231 cells. FACS assay showed that the proliferation index (PI) of groups MCF-7/CCL5-siRNA, MCF-7/CCL5-N and MCF-7 were 0.48 ± 0.03, 0.43 ± 0.01 and 0.45 ± 0.02. The PI of groups MDA-MB-231/CCL5-siRNA, MDA-MB-231/CCL5-N and MDA-MB-231 cells were 0.48 ± 0.02, 0.44 ± 0.05 and 0.47 ± 0.02. There was no statistical difference among them (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe down-regulation of CCL5 gene in human breast cancer cells may significantly suppress their colony formation ability, rather than affecting their population doubling time to some extent.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet on patients with drug-resistant epilepsy over a period of 1 year and 8 months. Methods: Patients with refractory epilepsy on a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet were prospectively enrolled. Their clinical condition and the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet were followed-up every month for 1 year. Adverse events and the reasons for discontinuing the diet were recorded. Results: Fifty-three patients (27 males and 26 females) were enrolled. At the end of the study, 21 patients remained on the diet, 14 of whom were followed-up for 1 year. Among the 53 patients, 22.6% had a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 16.9% became seizure-free. Conclusions: After a 1-year follow-up, the use of a medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diet for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy was found to be a safe and effective therapy, and may be considered to bean alternative for patients with difficult-to-control seizures in children as well as young adults.
Epilepsy