Objective To compare the effect of transthoracic contrast echocardiography (cTTE) with transesophageal contrast echocardiography (cTEE) for detecting right to left shunt (RLS) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods The prospective study was conducted in 29 consecutive patients with PFO who suffered from cryptogenic stroke and/or migraine. Contrast echocardiography was performed in all 29 patients. The cTTE was performed using transducer with second harmonic imaging modality (transmitting frequency 1.7 MHz, receiving frequency 3.4 MHz). The cTEE was performed using transducer with frequency 7 MHz. Ten milliliter saline solution of contrast were rapidly administrated through an antecubital vein. According to whether microbubble (MB) appearing in left atrium after complete opaciifcation of right atrium within the ifrst 3 circles, the results were classiifed by a four-level semi-quantitative categorization:Level 1 (no PFO-RSL), no MB in left atrium; Level 2 (small PFO-RSL) 1-10 MBs; Level 3 (medium PFO-RSL) 10-30 MBs;Level 4 (large PFO-RSL)>30 MBs. Results The total detection rate of PFO-RSL was signiifcant different between cTTE and cTEE (86.2%vs 55.2%,χ2=5.711, P=0.017). In cTTE there were 4 cases at level 1, 1 case at level 2, 5 cases at level 3 and 19 cases at level 4. In cTEE there were 13 cases at leverl 1, 2 cases at level 2, 6 cases at level 3 and 7 cases at level 4. The comparison of semi-quantitative grading derived from cTTE and cTEE was also signiifcant different (Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed Z=-3.789, P=0.000). Conclusions The efifciency in detection of PFO-RLS with cTTE was better than with cTEE. Compared with cTEE, cTTE was easier in practice and brought less discomfort and complications to patients.

Objective To explore the possible effects on differentiation of SHI-1 cells induced by puerariae radix flavones(PRF)in vitro.Methods SHI-1 cells were treated with PRF in various concertration,then the inhibitory effects of cell proliferation were detected by MTT assay,the cell cycles were analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),the cells reduction rates were detected by NBT reduction test,and the expression of CD11b and CD14 were tested by FCM.Results 10-50 μg/ml PRF could inhibit the proliferation of SHI-1 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner,and the cell cycles were arrested in S phase.When SHI-1 cells were treated with 10,30 and 50 μg/ml PRF in 48 houres respectively,the NBT reduction rates of cells were increased in a dose-dependent with PRF(P＜0.05),and the expression of cells surface differentiation antigen CD14 was also increased along with the concentration of PRF.Conclusion The SHI-1 cells could be induced to differentiation partially after treated with 10,30 and 50 μg/ml PRF in vitro.

To study the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome distribution in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Qidong region of Jiangsu Province, China.

Objective To study the effect of Chinese wild rice diet on lipid metabolism in rats. Method Forty four male SD rats were divided into 4 groups:control group, high lipid group, white rice-flour group and Chinese wild rice group. All groups were given different experimental diets for 8 w and body weights, serum TC, TG, HDL-C, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), TNF-? and IL-6 were measured. Results The hyperlipidemic rat model was successfully induced. When compared with high lipid group and white rice-flour diet group, serum TG and TC contents were significantly decreased, and HDL-C significantly increased in the Chinese wild rice group. Moreover, Chinese wild rice group had lower contents of serum hs-CRP and TNF-? than those in high lipid group and white rice-flour group, but no effect on serum IL-6. Conclusion Chinese wild rice could improve lipid metabolism and low-grade inflammation of hyperlipidemic rats induced by high lipid diet.

ObjectiveTo compare the sensitivity and specificity of a new index of insulin resistance (IR) derived from plasma triglyceride and glucose with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index ( HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index from frequent sampling intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT-ISI).Methods A total of 1024 subjects (240 normal control,335 with obesity,312 impaired glucose regulation,and 137 type 2 diabetes mellitus) were included in the present study.Standard oral glucose tolerance test,insulin release test,lipid profiles,and other biochemical markers were measured. Among them 540 subjects were selected to undertake FSIGT.TyG index is derived from plasma triglyceride and fasting glucose.TyG2 index is derived from plasma triglyceride and postprandial 2 plasma glucose.ResultsPearson correlation coefficient between TyG and HOMA-IR or FSIGT-ISI was 0.427 ( P＜0.01 ) and -0.100 ( P=0.024 ),respectively,and that between TyG2 and HOMA-IR or FSIGT-ISI was 0.455 ( P＜0.01 ) and - 0.162 ( P＜0.01 ),respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of TyG index for diagnosis of IR was 68.5％ and 63.5％ compared with HOMA-IR,and 68.5％ and49.5％ compared with FSIGT-ISI.For TyG2 index,the slightly higher sensitivity ( 81.7％ with HOMA-IR,75.7％ with FSIGT-ISI),but lower specificity (51.5％ with HOMA-IR,48.2％ with FSIGT-ISI) were found.ConclusionsBothTyGandTyG2 indices could be used as a surrogate for assessing IR in Chinese subjects.However,considering its moderately high sensitivity but low specificity,these two indices are limited in the use of large-scale epidemiological screening.

Objective: To examine and analyze the nm23, p16 gene expression in gastric cancer tissure,and follow up patients 5 years to discuss the relationship between nm23 and p16 gene synergy expression and gastric cancer biological characteristic and prognosis.Methods: nm23 and p16 protein in gastric cancer tissue and control were detected by immunohistochemistry,and the patients had been followed up for 5 years. Results: In 84 samples of gastric cancer, nm23 positive rate was 46.43%, p16 was 44.05%, the positive rate of gastric cancer tissue and metastasitic lymph node was lower than that of normal control, normal tissue near cancer or benign polyp,and these two genes were related to the depth of tumor invasion and clinical stage.The mortality and recurrence-metastasis rate was higher in these low expression group, and had a shorter median survive period. Conclusion: Abnormal expression of nm23 and p16 gene plays a important role in gastric cancer recurrence and devolepment and may be one of markers for evaluating tumor biological behavior and prognosis.

Adult ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo assess the methodological quality of clinical research on Chinese medicine (CM) applied by intra-arterial infusion in treating primary liver cancer (PLC).

METHODSCochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, and three Chinese databases, including Chinese BioMedical Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Academic Journal (VIP) were searched. Chinese articles were also searched manually in 16 journals. Two reviewers independently selected studies, the quality of literatures were assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration method of quality assessment.

RESULTSA total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Only three of these articles described the randomization method used. None of the studies was blinded. All of the articles didn't report the calculation of the sample size. Only six studies mentioned adverse reactions. All of the studies were of grade C according to the Cochrane Collaboration method. Six studies reported results of survival, and only two of these reported better efficacy in the treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe quality of studies concerned intra-arterial infusion of CM in treating with PLC was poor and the exact effect of these medicines still need evaluation. Well designed RCTs with large sample sizes, adequate follow-up data and reliable methods of assessment are needed to better appraise the real effect of CMs in the treatment of PLC patients.

Biomedical Research ; standards ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qingchang Huashi Recipe (QHR) on the activation and expressions of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and contents of interleukin-8 (IL-8), thus exploring its possible mechanisms for treating ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODSThe HT-29 cells were induced to inflammation model by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). HT-29 cells were divided into 6 groups, i.e., the vehicle control group, the model control group, the sulfasalazine (SASP) group, the high dose QHR group, the middle dose QHR group, the low dose QHR group. Effects on the cell growth were detected by MTT. The chemoattractant of macrophages was observed using Transwell. The expressions of NF-kappaB and TLR4 protein were detected using immune cell fluorescence method. The content of IL-8 was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSThe growth of cells were not inhibited in each group. Statistical difference existed in each dose QHR group in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages, reducing activation of NF-kappaB, lowing expressions of TLR4 protein, and decreasing the secretion of IL-8, when compared with the model control group (P < 0.05). No statistical difference existed in inhibiting the chemoattractant of macrophages between the high dose QHR group and the vehicle control group (P > 0.05). But its inhibition on NF-kappaB activation was higher in the high dose QHR group than in the SASP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHR could obviously attenuate the inflammatory reaction of HT-29 cells, inhibit the chemoattractant of macrophages, reduce the activation of NF-kappaB, lower expressions of TLR-4, and attenuate the secretion of IL-8, which might be one of its mechanisms for treating UC.

Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To construct two types of Wnt-inducible secreted protein 3(WISP3) gene's mutants(1000T/C,840delT) found in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive anthopathy (SEDT-PA) patients, and to observe their expression in COS-7 cells. METHODS: Full-length cDNA of wild type WISP3 gene(WT-WISP3) was amplified from human chondrocytes by RT-PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis was used to obtain full-length cDNAs of the mutated WISP3 genes(MUT1000T/C and MUT840delT). The recombined plasmids WT-WISP3/pcDNA3.1(+), MUT1000T/C/pcDNA3.1(+) and MUT840delT/pcDNA3.1(+) were transfected transiently into COS-7 cells by liposome-mediated method, and pcDNA3.1(+) vector was used as a control. The total RNA and protein of the transfected COS-7 cells were extracted after 48 hours of transfection. The expression of WISP3 gene in the transfected COS-7 cells was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: By restriction endonuclease analysis and sequencing, the sequence of MUT1000T/C and MUT840delT were consistent with that mutated in SEDT-PA, and the open reading frames matched with the vector sequence. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the recombined plasmids were highly expressed in COS-7 cells. CONCLUSION WISP3 gene's mutants of SEDT-PA are successfully constructed by genetic recombination, and expressed in COS-7 cells, which lays the foundation for the further study on its molecular functions in SEDT-PA.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins ; COS Cells ; metabolism ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection