Objective To summarize the features of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS in EHH.Methods A retrospective analysis of 88 EHH patients and 50 healthy controls was conducted with focus on their findings on CEUS.Results The structures of the cardiac and abdominal esophagus were clear in 50 healthy controls,and the esophageal hiatus diameters were (1.96±0.39) cm.In contrast,the cardiac and abdominal esophagus in EHH patients were unable to be identified in subdiaphragm region.The esophageal hiatus was wider with a diameter of (3.24±0.76) cm.The difference was statistically significant(t=2.36,P＜0.05).The hernia sacs were found in 78 EHH patients at rest.And the hernia sacs were present on the diaphragm in 10 EHH patients after pressure.The maximum diameter of hernia sac was 7.6 cm.The size of hernia sac may change with abdominal pressure.In sliding EHH patients,the sac wall was found to slide up and down the diaphragm.A mass was found on the wall in 2 patients.The B ring was present in 76 patients.For healthy controls in supine position,contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that the gastric bottom and diaphragm were at dependent or horizontal position.The gastric bottom and diaphragm was upward in 73 patients.Conclusions The EHH has characteristic appearance on CEUS.It is easy to detect and diagnose EHH with CEUS,which has a diagnostic value in detection of space-occupying lesions in hernia sac.CEUS can be used for EHH screening.

Base Sequence ; Binding Sites, Antibody ; Biochemistry ; methods ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the stage characteristics in the exercise behavior improvement of college students and explore the role of Process in the exercise behavior change based on the transtheoretical model, providing basis for the stage-matched intervention for the exercise behavior of college students. Methods There were 932 students who completed the questionnaires, from 5 universities in Shanxi Province were selected by using a stratified random cluster sampling method. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the exercise behavior of college students. Variance analysis and multivariate Logistic regression model were used to analyze the difference of the process of with stage of change among college students’ physical exercise. Multivariate variance analysis was used to analyze how personal characteristics affect process of change. Results Among all participants, 89.4% students knew the importance of physical exercise, and 29.4% students were satisfied with their physical exercise condition. The distribution of students’ physical exercise stage showed an inverted U-shape with left-side peak, and there was a significant difference between gender( 2=54.657, P<0.001). There were significant stage characteristics in the process of students' exercise behavior, gender had a significant main effects on mutual aid relation(F=7.400, P=0.07)and conscious control (F=7.778, P=0.005), gender and grade had interaction effects on social release (F=3.614, P=0.013). Conclusions The college students' exercise behavior showed the characteristics of “knowing but not to do”, which conformed to the Transtheoretical model. It is essential to develop targeted phased exercise intervention strategies according to the relationship between change of phase and change of procedure.

To investigate the effects of conducting electrodes implanted into the penicillin-induced epilepsy foci in rats on seizures, 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Afer penicillin(PNC) administration, metal electrode was implanted into the epilepsy focus in EG. Behavior evaluations were given after PNC injection in both groups and electroencephalogram recordings were taken respectively. Immunohistochemical methods were used to test the expressions of P38 and Calcium channel a 1A subunit (CACNA1A) at the serial time-point. We found that EG showed reduction of epileptic discharge frequency than did CG at time-point 3 h and 6 h, and that P38 expressions of EG were lower than those of CG in the injected side, and the expressions of Calcium channel a 1A subunit (CACNA1A) were downregulated in EG at time-point 6 h and 24 h. This evidence suggests that the metal electrode implanted into the penicillin-induced epilepsy focus may reduce the epileptic discharges and downregulate the expressions of P38 and CACNA1A. This new idea might be used in antiepileptic field in future.
Animals ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Male ; Penicillins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDHuman urotensin II (UII) is the most potent mammalian vasoconstrictor identified so far. Our previous study showed that UII is a potent mitogen of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) inducing ASMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The signal transduction pathway of UII mitogenic effect remains to be clarified. This study was conducted to investigate the signal transduction pathway in the proliferation of ASMC induced by UII.

METHODSIn primary cultures of rat ASMCs, activities of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and calcineurin (CaN) induced by UII were measured. The effect of CaN on PKC and MAPK was studied by adding cyclosporin A (CsA), a specific inhibitor of CaN. Using H7 and PD98059, inhibitors of PKC and MAPK, respectively, to study the effect of PKC and MAPK on CaN. The cytosolic free calcium concentration induced by UII was measured using Fura-2/AM.

RESULTSUII 10(-7) mol/L stimulated ASMC PKC and MAPK activities by 44% and 24% (P < 0.01), respectively, after incubating for 20 minutes. It increased CaN activity in a time-dependent manner, being 1.68 times as that of control for 24 hours (P < 0.01). It promoted the cytosolic free calcium concentration increase of 18% (P < 0.01). CsA 10(-6) mol/L and H7 50 micromol/L inhibited UII-stimulated CaN activity by 45% (P < 0.01) and 21% (P < 0.05), respectively, while PD98059 50 micromol/L had no effect on CaN activity (P > 0.05). CsA 10(-6) mol/L inhibited UII-stimulated PKC activity by 14% (P < 0.05), while having no effect on MAPK activity (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUII increases cytosolic free calcium concentration and activates PKC, MAPK and CaN. The signal transduction pathway between PKC and CaN has cross-talk.

Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme Activation ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Mitogens ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Trachea ; cytology ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy and risk of long-term administration for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who cannot tolerate the standard treatment.

METHODSForty-six CHC patients who had proven intolerant to standard treatments were treated with low-dose IFN (non-pegylated IFN: 60 to 300MIU QOD, or pegylated IFN: 50 to 90 mug/w) plus ribavirin (RBV; 0.6g to 0.9 g/d) for 72 weeks.

RESULTSForty-three (93.5%) of the patients were able to tolerate the long-term treatment with low-dose IFN plus RBV. Only three patients experienced severe side effects (low white blood cell and platelet counts) that required treatment withdrawal. The virology response rates over treatment time were: rapid virologic response (RVR): 10.9%; early virus response (EVR): 30.4%; 24 week virologic response: 45.7%; and, 48 week virologic response: 47.8%. B-sonographic imaging revealed that three patients experienced improved liver morphology through the treatment course. The patients who achieved RVR, EVR, or 24 weeks virologic response also attained higher 48 week virologic response. The 24 week virologic response had the strongest predictive value of good prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrated that long-term treatment with low-dose interferon plus ribavirin is effective for patients who are otherwise intolerant to standard treatment. In these patients, low-dose IFN plus RBV can obtain a high virologic response rate at 48 week. Furthermore, the 24 week virologic response is sufficiently predictive of treatment success. As with any treatment regimen, it is important for healthcare workers to monitor the disease status and potential side effects throughout the course of therapy.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is rare and seldom considered in adolescent patients; however it occurs with a greater frequency than is generally recognized, and it is a potentially fatal condition. The aim of the current study was to understand its epidemiology, clinical features and the cause of delay of its diagnosis in adolescents.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of nine adolescents with acute PE admitted to the Peking University Third Hospital over the past 16-year period was performed. The epidemiology, clinical features and risk factors of the adolescents were described and compared with those of adults and elderly patients. The time to diagnosis and misdiagnosed diseases were analyzed. Pretest probability of PE was assessed retrospectively by the Wells score and revised Geneva score.

RESULTSThe incidence of PE was 43.6 per 100 000 hospitalized adolescents in our hospital. The incidence of PE in adolescents was much lower than that in adults and PE is diagnosed in about 1/50 of elderly people. The clinical features in adolescents were similar to those in adults. But fever and chest pain were more common in adolescents (P < 0.05). The major risk factors included surgery, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), thrombocytopenia, long-term oral glucocorticoids and trauma. The mean diagnostic time was (7.8 ± 8.4) days. Six cases had a delayed diagnosis. The mean delay time from symptom onset to diagnosis was (11.0 ± 8.8) days. The time of presentation to diagnosis in patients initially admitted to the emergency department was less than one day, and was much shorter than the time in outpatients, (9.4 ± 7.5) days. Most of the patients were initially misdiagnosed with a respiratory tract infection. Most patients' values of Wells score or revised Geneva score were in the moderate or high clinical probability categories; 88% by Well score vs. 100% by revised Geneva score.

CONCLUSIONSPE was seldom considered in the adolescent patients by physicians, especially outpatient physicians, so the diagnosis was often delayed. If adolescent patients complain of dyspnea or chest pain or syncope with/without fever, and they had risk factors such as surgery, thrombocytopenia and trauma, PE should be considered and included in the differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Probability ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) and hydrocolloid occlusive dressings in the acceleration of epithelialization in excised burn-wounds in rats.

METHODSEach of the anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (n=28) was subjected to a third-degree burn that covered approximately 10% of the total body surface area. Rats were assigned into four groups: Group I (no irrigation), Group II (irrigation with physiologic saline), Group III (irrigation with EOW) and Group IV (hydrocolloid occlusive dressing after EOW irrigation). Wounds were observed macroscopically until complete epithelialization was present, then the epithelialized wounds were examined microscopically.

RESULTSHealing of the burn wounds was the fastest in Group IV treated with hydrocolloid occlusive dressing together with EOW. Although extensive regenerative epidermis was seen in each Group, the proliferations of lymphocytes and macrophages associated with dense collagen deposition were more extensive in Group II, III and IV than in Group I. These findings were particularly evident in Group III and IV.

CONCLUSIONSWound Healing may be accelerated by applying a hydrocolloid occlusive dressing on burn surfaces after they are cleaned with EOW.

Animals ; Burns ; therapy ; Colloids ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Occlusive Dressings ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Water ; administration & dosage ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND:Periplaneta americana extract is recognized to have a positive effect on gastrointestinal mucosa. This study aimed to investigate the effects of periplaneta americana extract on immune function, nutrition status and gastrointestinal complications of early enteral nutrition patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS:Patients with SIRS were randomly divided into two groups:treatment and control groups. All patients in the two groups received conventional therapy including enteral nutrition, but periplaneta americana extract, an additional Chinese medicine, was given to the patients in the treatment group. At the beginning of treatment (0 day) and 1, 3, and 7 days after treatment, the levels of immunoglobulin (IgA), total lymphocyte count (TLC), total protein (TP) and prealbumin (PA) were respectively tested in patients' venous blood. The incidences of bloating, diarrhea, aspiration pneumonia and high blood sugar at 7 days after treatment were recorded. The mortality of the patients in 28 days was recorded. RESULTS:At 3 and 7 days after treatment, the levels of IgA and TLC in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 7 days after treatment, the levels of TP and PA in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidences of bloating and diarrhea in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group, the differences were significant (P<0.05). The mortality of treatment group was lower than that of the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Periplaneta americana extract could reduce gastrointestinal complications and improve immune function and nutritional status in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo compare the expression and activities of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) among different gastric cancer cell lines and investigate their relations with peritoneal metastatic potency.

METHODSThe uPA expression in 4 gastric cancer cell lines (AGS, SGC7901, MKN45, MKMN28) was detected using ELISA and Western blot methods. uPA activity was detected simultaneously using uPA activity kit. The gastric cancer cells were cultured with confluent mesothelial cells in 24-well plates or Boyden chambers for different times. The adhesive cells were counted directly under a microscope. The motility and invasion of gastric cancer cells were determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSAmong four gastric cancer lines,the highest expression of uPA was found in SGC7901 and the highest uPA activity in MKN45, while the lowest expression and activity of uPA in AGS. Compared with the other three lines, MKN45 had stronger adhesion than MKMN28 (P< 0.05), SGC7901 (P< 0.05), and AGS (P< 0.01), but there were no significant differences in motility and invasion among MKN45, MKN28 and SGC7901. The adhesion,motility and invasion of AGS were weaker compared with those of the other three cell lines.

CONCLUSIONThe uPA expression and activity are significantly different among 4 gastric cancer cell lines, and positively correlated with their peritoneal metastatic potency.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism