Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the reformatted unenhanecded spiral CT of ureter for ureterolithiasis. Methods 39 patients were examined using nonenhenced spiral CT from the top of the kidneys to symphysis pubis in a single breath hold. The postprocessing method used in our studies was curved planar reformatting(CPR). Results Reformatted CT displayed clearly the entire course of ureter in all 39 cases . The diagnosis of ureterolithiasis was made on CPR views by definitive demonstration a calculus actually within the ureter, including the stone size, shape, location and the obstruction degree of ureter in 33 patients. The CPR views also demonstrated the ureter and the structures around clearly to aid greatly in differentiating the other 6 cases miscellaneous urinary tract conditions. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the reformatted nonenhanecded spiral CT of ureter has potential as an imaging tool for the ureterolithiasis and other urinary tract abnormalities.

Aim To investigate the effects of ?,?-methylene ATP ( ?,?-MeATP) on the P2X1 purino-ceptor-mediated vasoconstriction by different administration ways in the rat mesenteric artery. Methods Isometric vasoconstrictive responses to ?,?-MeATP,administered in non-accumulative manner or single concentration manner,were recorded in the rat isolated mesenteric arterial rings. Results ?,?-MeATP ( 10 -7 ～ 10 -4 mol ? L -1 ) administered in both of the two manners produced concentration-dependent vasocon-strictive responses in the rat isolated mesenteric artery. The vasoconstrictive responses to ?,?-MeATP in single-concentration administration group were greater than those in non-accumulative administration group when the vasoconstriction was standardized either by tissue wet weight or by maximal response to 120 mmol ?L-1 KCl ( P

Objective:To evaluate the feature of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).Methods:Thirty-eight cases with JORRP were analyzed retrospectively from June,1986 to June,2000.Results:The average age was 3.5 years before diagnosis.Average 3.45 operations had been performed per patient .Of 38 cases ,eight had comlications of laryngeal dysfunction after operations.Peristomal and tracheal papilloma were spread in six of the nineteen cases with tracheotomies.Conclusion:JORRP is the most common laryngeal tumor in children. Most patients have frequent recurrences and multiple operations. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the normal laryngeal structure during surgical excision.

Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Ouabain ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Tibetan Medicine (TM) has become important source of feature industry in several main Tibetan regions with its unique cultural and natural resources. This article argued that the researches on TM basic theories are weak;ecological environment for TM is fragile;safety evaluation ability is relatively insufficient;standardization system for researches on TM is needed; reasonable talent team supporting the development of TM industry is required;The combination of production, learning and research is not close;innovation ability is low;guiding principles for the evaluation of new TM do not exist. All of these are main factors that restrict the development of TM industry. Therefore, the main measures for the promotion of TM are:improve research level of TM theories;strengthen the protection of TM resources;promote national standard construction of TM;improve collaborative innovation ability of TM;enhance talent team construction;formulate appropriate policies and create good marketing environment.

OBJECTlVE To investigate the effect of stretch on muscarinic receptor- and 5-hydroxytryptamine( 5-HT)receptor-mediated contractiIe responses in isoIated circuIar muscIe strips taken from the rat stomach. METHODS The contractiIe responses to carbachoI(CCh)0.001-30 μmoI·L-1 or 5-HT 0.0001 -30 μmoI·L-1 administered cumuIativeIy were recorded in isoIated circuIar muscIe strips taken from the gastric fundus,body,cardia and pyIorus of rats under different preIoads of 1.0,1.5,2.0, 2.5 and 3. 0 g,but a singIe concentration of CCh 0. 3 μmoI·L-1 was administered to the antrum. RESULTS The -Log EC50 vaIue for CCh in the isoIated circuIar muscIe strips of the gastric fundus, body and pyIorus under 1.0 g preIoad was the Iargest,but decreased significantIy with higher preIoads (P﹤0.05,P﹤0.01). A simiIar resuIt was obtained in the isoIated circuIar muscIe strips of the gastric body when 5-HT was used as an agonist. The Emax vaIue of contractiIe responses to CCh and 5-HT in the cir-cuIar muscIe strips of the gastric cardia under 3.0 g preIoad was increased by 117.4% and 75.7% com-pared to that under 1.0 g preIoad. The Emax vaIue of contractiIe responses to 5-HT in the circuIar muscIe strips of the gastric body under 3.0 g preIoad was aIso increased by 115.9% when compared to 1.0 g preIoad. The Emax( g) vaIue of contractiIe responses to CCh in four types of muscIe strips was 10.453±2.956(cardia under 3.0 g preIoad),13.878±2.618(fundus under 2.5 g preIoad),10.244±1.843 (gastric body under 2.5 g preIoad)and 2.585±1.098(pyIorus under 2.5 g preIoad),respectiveIy. The Emax(g)vaIue of contractiIe responses to 5-HT in three types of muscIe strips was 4.363±1.705(cardia under 3.0 g preIoad),3.931±0.615(fundus under 3.0 g preIoad)and 3.161±0.680(gastric body under 3.0 g preIoad),respectiveIy. CONCLUSlON 0.5 g or 1.0 g preIoad is inadequate for accurate determi-nation of contractiIe responses mediated by muscarinic receptors and 5-HT receptors in isoIated circuIar muscIe strips taken from the rat gastric cardia,fundus,body and pyIorus,but 2.0 g preIoad is optimaI for investigating muscarine receptor- or 5-HT receptor-mediated contractiIe responses of isoIated gastric strips of rats.

Fibrosis is a pathological process characterized by tissue scars and can occur in many organs of the human body. Organ fibrosis is manifested by increased fibrous connective tissue and reduced parenchymal cells in organ tissues, which can lead to destruction of organ structures and reduced function, which seriously endangers human health. Current strategies for treating organ fibrosis include: blocking the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway, anti-inflammatory, regulating the sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine-1-phosphate (SK1/S1P) signaling pathway, antagonizing vasoactive peptide receptors, enzyme inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, inhibitors of cellular signaling pathway, regulation of metabolic pathways, and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. In the review, the treatment strategies for organ fibrosis and the latest developments in the research of anti-organ fibrosis drugs are summarized to provide a reference for the development of anti-organ fibrosis drugs.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of serum Cys-C, hs-CRP, and urine mALB for early renal injury in gonty patients. Methods A total of 100 gonty patients and 50 healthy volunteers were divided into 3 groups, acute phase group (n = 50), intermittent group (n= 50), and healthy control group (n = 50) . The serum Cys C,hs-CRP,and urine creatinine were determined by automatic chemistry analyzer and urine mALB by immunofluorometer equipment, and the results were analyzed in each group. Results The results of mALB/Cr(mg/[g • Cr]), hs-CRP(mg/L), and Cys-C(mg/L)in acute phase group were 11.45±3.55, 5.15±1.98, and 2.62±0.83, in intermittent group were 8.96±1.78, 3.28±1.23, and 0.93±0.26, and in healthy volunteer group were 3.89± 0.76, 1.91±0.57, and 0.78±0.22, respectively. The values of the above three parameters in the acute phase and intermittent groups were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (P< 0.05) ; and the values in the acute phase group were significantly higher than those in the intermittent group (P<0.05). The abnormal rate of hs-CRP+ Cys-C+ mALB/Cr was 87% in gonty patients. Conclusion Simultaneous determination of mALB/ Cr, hs-CRP, and Cys-C can help to assess the early renal injury in gonty patients.

Objective: To explore the expression of GATA4 and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in fetal liver and hepatocarcinoma cells and their correlation. Methods: Semi-quantitive RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of GATA4 and AFP in liver tissues from mouse of E 10.5 d to P 0.5 d, normal liver cells, and hepatocarcinoma cells. Eukaryotic expression vector of mouse GATA4 was used to transfect normal liver cell line and the product was identified. Doxorubicine was used to treat hepatocarcinoma cells; then semi-quantitive RT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA of GATA4, FTF and AFP; Western blot was used to examine the expression of GATA4 and AFP; and ELISA was used to determine AFP in supernatants. Results: The expression of GATA4 and AFP decreased with the maturation of fetal liver cells and reached adult level 0.5 d after birth. GATA4, FTF and AFP were not detected in normal liver cells but were overexpressed in hepatocarcinoma cells. The expression of FTF and AFP was increased in normal liver cells after transfection of GATA4, and the level of AFP was also increased in the supernatant. GATA4 was sharply decreased in hepatocarcinoma cells within 6 h after doxorubicine treatment; the expression of FTF and AFP was also decreased in supernatants 12 h after doxorubicine treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: GATA4 is highly expressed in fetal liver and hepatocarcinoma cells,which may contribute to the elevation of AFP expression.

The carotene content in 42 kinds of Chinese herbs applied traditionally as the remedies for "Hwen-mong" were analyzed with the column chromatogra-ghic method. It was found that majority of the samples were not so rich in carotene as considered formerly, there were 13 kinds of herbs which contained no carotene at all (The contents of the 42 kinds tested varied from 0 to 12.83 mg. per 100 gm. of the dry weight). Our figures are far lower than those reported by Mar and Read in 1936. The significant discrepancy between these results is ascribed chiefly to the different methods employed for chemical analysis. Since the method used by Mar and Read did not completely exclude the interference of the other carotenoid pigments in the chloroform extracts.In view of the data obtained, we believe that the efficacy of these vegetable remedies for nightblindness due to a'vitaminosis A needs further investigation.