Objective To investigate the feasibility to establish experimental model of autoimmune myocarditis and to study the value of echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular structure and function.Methods Seventy-two male 6 weeks old Lewis rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group,negative control group and positive group.Positive group were immunized with porcine cardiac myosin at days 0,7,30.Results ①The positive group showed weight loss,increased heart weight and myocardial necrosis with inflammatory infiltration.②The development of experimental autoimmune myocarditis included acute,subacute and chronic stages.The left ventricular diameter,ventricular wall thickness,left ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction of positive group differed significantly from those of other two groups.Conclusions Lewis rats immunized with porcine cardiac myosin may be a desirable experimental model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis,echocardiography can evaluate changes of cardiac structure and function accurately.

High-performance liquid chromatographic coupled with variable wavelength detection (HPLC-VWD) has been developed for simultaneous determination of 5 analytes including ellagic acid, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-rutinoside, tiliroside and kaempferol, and high-performance liquid chromatographic with an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) has been established to determine goshonoside-F5 in extract of Rubi Fructus. Chromatographic separations were carried out on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5.0 microm). All calibration curves of reference standards revealed good linearity (R2 > 0.999 5) within the concentration ranges tested. The method limits of detection ranged 0.297-90.144 ng and the method limits ofquantitation ranged 0.990-300.480 ng, respectively. Recoveries of 6 analytes were from 97.11% to 101.7%, with RSD less than 2.1%. The result shows that amounts of the 6 analytes in the samples from 16 localities were found to be different. The higher latitude of growing environment, the more ellagic acid in herb. The content of total flavonoids in sample from east localities were higher than that in middle and west localities, and the content of goshonoside-F5 in Bozhou, Anhui province was higher than others. This method was found to be simple, accurate, sensitive with good repeatability. Those results might serve as a sound foundation for further study, quality control and application of Rubi Fructus.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ellagic Acid ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Geography ; Rosaceae ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of transcatheter Amplatzer device closure on patent ductus arteriosus(PDA),and to give some evidences for the clinical application.MethodsAll studies in the world regard to the controlled trials(CT) about transcatheter Amplatzer device closure and cardiac surgery on PDA were searched and made synthetic evaluation by means of Meta-analysis.RevMan 4.2.2 software was used for statistical analysis.Cases relative risk(RR)and its 95% confidence interval(CI)of procedure failure,the incidence of complication and residual shunt were calculated.ResultsTotally 5 studies including 349 cases were analyzed.Operation failure of Amplatzer device occlusion was higher than cardiac surgery [5 CT,349 cases,3.0% vs 0,RR=4.29,95%CI(0.77,23.95)](P=0.10).Incidence of complication of Amplatzer device occlusion was lower than cardiac surgery[5 CT,343 cases,3.1% vs 38.0%,RR=0.11,95%CI(0.05,0.23)](P

Objective To establish and evaluate intestinal epithelial barrier model using Caco-2 cell so as to play a foundation for next study of barrier permeability.Methods Caco-2 cells were cultured in vitro then seeded into Transwell cell culture inserts.The permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier was detected by transepithelial electrical resistance(TEER)and lucifer yellow flux,and verified by transmission electron micro-scope.Different concentrations of PAF(0,50,100,and 200 nmol /L)were exposed for 24 hours to Caco-2 mono-layer when cultured 21 days.The tight junction was observed under transmission electron microscope.Assess-ment of ZO-1 protein localization and expression were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot analy-sis.Results Cultured Caco-2 cell confluencd as monolayer with time passed.From 5th day,TEER increased, then reached 600Ω?cm2 at 15th day and lasted to 21 st day,there was little flux of lucifer yellow,transmission e-lectron microscopy also found cells differentiated better,had well-arranged villi and polarity alined as monolayer, forming completed tight junction which was the marker of intestinal epithelial barrier model in vitro.TEER de-creased and lucifer yellow flux increased in cells exposed to PAF.The permeability reached the peak when ex-posed to 100 nmol /L PAF(P <0.01 ),tight junction disrupted,ZO-1 protein expression downregulated,abnor-mal localization and distribution was assessed by immunofluorescence staining.Conclusion Cultured Caco-2 cells for 2-3w can be used to study intestinal epithelial barrier as a model in vitro.PAF increased intestinal epi-thelial permeability,which would correlate to the decreased protein expression and abnormal distribution of ZO-1.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis value of the tissue strain imaging in myocardial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Sixty-two patients and sixty controls underwent conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Peak strain and strain rate value during systolic and diastolic phases as well as E/A, left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) were measured in both SLE and the control groups. Results ①E/A,LVFS and LVEF did not differ between SLE patients and controls( P ＞0.05). The systolic peak strain and strain rate of SLE patients were lower than those of controls but without significant differences( P ＞0.05). ②The diastolic peak strain and strain rate of SLE patients were significantly lower than those of controls (P ＜0.01). ③ The diastolic peak strain and strain rate of antiheart antibody (AHA) positive patients were significantly lower than those of negative ones( P ＜0.05). Conclusions Strain and strain rate combining with AHA can sensitively detect myocardial dysfunction of SLE.

Objective To observe whether the expression of interferon-regulatory factor genes are re- lated to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods The clinical data of 45 SLE patients and 37 normal controls were collected.Total RNA of peripheral blood was extracted and transcripted into cDNA.Sybr green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression (indicated as-??Ct value) of IRFI,IRF4,IRF8 in patients with SLE and those in the controls.Results The levels of IRF1,IRF4 and IRF8 mRNA were-3.90?0.19,-8.04?0.25 and 3.60?0.15 respectively in normal controls.In SLE patients, IRF4 mRNA expression was -8.82?0.18,higher than that in normal (P=0.011).But IRF8 mRNA expression was 3.09?0.13,lower than that in normal (P=0.012).Conclusion Abnormal IRF mRNA expression is found in the peripheral blood of SLE patients.IRFs may play roles in the pathogenesis of SLE by affecting the differen- tiation of Th cells.

Objective To evaluate the respiratory mechanics and inflammatory status in elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).Methods The arterial blood gases (ABGs),respiratory drive and its derivatives,mechanics of respiratory muscles,resistance and compliance of airway,interleukin-8 (IL-8)and interferon-?(IFN-?)were measured in 42 cases withstable COPD and 40 subjects of normal control.Results The elderly patients with stable COPD had great changes in the following parameters while compared with the control group:peak inspiratory pressure(PIMAX) [(4.48?2.11)vs(6.10?2.91)kPa],maximum expiratory pressure (PEMAX)[(6.30?3.20)vs(9.15?93.30)kPa],0.1s mouth occlusion pressure(P_(0.1)) with its correction index,airway resistance,compliance,ABGs,the levels of IL-8[(218.46?91.14) vs (161.84?14.40)ng/L]and IFN-?[(2435.82?639.92)vs(1652.40?95.08)ng/L],which might aggravate the progress of COPD consistently.Conclusions The elderly patiends with stable COPD has marked changes in respiratory drive,airway resistance,and airway compliance,respiratory mechanic and inflammatory status.The intervention should be performed in the elderly stable COPD patients.

Objective To evaluate the value of volume measured by multi-slice spiral CT in preoperative N staging of gastric canc-er.Methods CT data of 1 93 cases of gastric cancer proven pathologically were collected and analyzed.Volume of the tumor was cal-culated in the portal phase,and the correlation between the results and N staging was evaluated.ROC curve was used to get diagnos-tic value to differentiate N stages.Results Intra-observer Kappa value was 0.77 (P < 0.05 ),0.72 (P < 0.05 ),Inter-observer Kappa value was 0.69 (P <0.05).The tumor volume data was positively correlated with different N stages (r=0.568,P <0.05). ROC curve showed that the volume could help differentiate between stage N0 and stage N1 - N3 (cutoff 12.06 cm3 ,sensitivity 55%,specificity 95%),stage N0-N1 and stage N2-N3 (cutoff 22.35 cm3 ,sensitivity 66%,specificity 86%),stage N0-N2 and stage N3 (cutoff 25.95 cm3 ,sensitivity 62%,specificity 89%)respectively.Conclusion The volume of gastric cancer measured by CT plays an important part in predicting lymph node metastasis staging and optimizing individualized clinical strategy for patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of aquaporins (AQPs) in the mouse prostatic tissue and their significance, and to provide some evidence for a deeper insight into the physiological function and regulation of AQP expressions in normal and diseased prostatic tissues.

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of AQP0 - 4 in the mouse prostatic tissue were determined by RT-PCR, and the expressions and localizations of AQP1 and AQP3 proteins were characterized by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSRT-PCR exhibited the mRNA expressions of AQP1 and AQP3, but not those of AQP0, AQP2 and AQP4 in the prostate tissue, while Western blot showed the expression of the AQP1 protein with the relative molecular mass (RMM) of 28 000 and those of the glycosylated and non-glycosylated AQP3 proteins with the RMM of 35 000 and 27 000, respectively. Immunohistochemistry indicated the strong expression of AQP1 in the cyst and plasma membrane of the secretary cells and that of AQP3 in the stroma cells of the prostate.

CONCLUSIONThe AQP1 and AQP3 genes were expressed in the secretary epithelia of the mouse prostate tissue, which suggests that AQP1 and AQP3 may play an important role in the secretion of prostatic fluid.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Aquaporin 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of the tissue strain imaging in myocardial dysfunction in children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS24 patients with SLE and 32 healthy controls underwent conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Peak strain and strain rate value during systolic and diastolic phases as well as E/A, LVFS, LVEF were measured in both SLE and the control group subjects.

RESULTSThe E/A, LVFS and LVEF did not significantly differ between SLE children and controls (P > 0.05). The systolic peak strains and strain rates of SLE children were lower than those of the controls but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The diastolic peak strains and strain rates of SLE children were significantly lower than those of the controls (P < 0.01). The diastolic peak strains and strain rates of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) positive children were significantly lower than the aCL negative ones (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStrain and strain rate combined with aCL could sensitively detect myocardial dysfunction of children with SLE.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Ventricular Function, Left