Azure Stains ; chemistry ; DNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; chemistry ; Humans ; Rosaniline Dyes ; chemistry ; Staining and Labeling ; economics ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus tuina in treating cervical vertigo (CV).Methods:One hundred CV patients were randomized into an observation group and an acupuncture group by the random number table,with 50 cases in each group.The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Xiang Ba Zhen (eight acupoints on the nape);the observation group received tuina treatment in addition to the Xiang Ba Zhen acupuncture.The two groups were both treated once every other day for 10 sessions in total.The two groups were examined by transcranial cerebral Doppler (TCD) before and after the treatment,and their therapeutic efficacies were evaluated.Results:After the treatment,the mean velocity (Vm) of vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) showed significant improvement in both groups (all P＜0.001);there were significant differences in the Vm of VA and BA between the two groups (both P＜0.05).The total effective rate was 100.0％ in the observation group versus 82.0％ in the acupuncture group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Xiang Ba Zhen acupuncture as a monotherapy or used together with tuina can improve CV,but Xiang Ba Zhen plus tuina can produce a more significant efficacy.

Objective To analyze the clinical,myopathological and genetic features in 5 female manifesting carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).Methods The age of onset of these 5 patients were from birth to 54 years old,one of which had a family history of DMD.Two patients presented with proximal weakness,one with myalgia and dilated cardiomyopathy,one with limb weakness and ventricular septal defect,and one with exercise intolerance.Serum creatine kinase concentrations were between 1 000-31 815 U/L.Muscle biopsies were performed in 4 patients.Dystrophin gene mutation analyses were carried out in 5 patients by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.Karyotype study was done in one patient who had no dystrophin gene mutation.Results Muscle biopsy revealed markedly decreased dystrophin expression in one patient and a mosaic pattern with some fibers lacking or partially expressing dystrophin in 3 patients.Four patients were identified carrying exonic deletions of dystrophin gene and one had t(x;5) (p21 ;p14).Conclusions The clinical manifestations and myopathological changes are more compatible with Becker muscular dystrophy.Chromosome translocation can be detected in Chinese female manifesting carrier.

Objective To investigate the effects of icarrin on the activity and protein expression of core binding factor otl(Cbfa1) in rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro,and to explore whether mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in this process.Methods Calvarial osteoblasts were obtained from newborn (<24 h) SD rats by trypsin-coUagenase digestion method.The second generation osteoblasts were cultured in the medium containing icariin (10 ng/ml) or estradiol (10-8 mol/L) with or without extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor (UO126) or p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580).Nuclear protein was extracted from osteoblasts.And then the activity of Cbfa1 was detected by ELISA.The amounts of Cbfa1 protein were detected by Western blot.Results Calvarial osteoblasts were obtained successfully and were used in this study after indentified by alkaline phosphatase and mineralized nodus staining.Cbfa1 expression and the activity in osteoblasts were up-regulated by both icariin and estradiol (P<0.05).The effects were partly inhibited by addition of U0126or SB203580 (P<0.05).Conclusions Either icarrin or estradiol can stimulate the proliferation and maturation of cultured osteoblasts in vitro via up-regulating the activity and expression of Cbfal.The MAPK signal pathway inhibitor seems to partly decrease Cbfa1 activity.It suggests that MAPK pathway may be involved in the transduction of icariin's impact on proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts.

Malignant hyperthermia is a well-recognized syndrome of uncertain etiology. The confusing facts are: the variety and different nature of the triggering agents, the variation in time of onset of rigidity and fever coupled with a variation in response to succinylcholine, the lack of family history in some patients, and its occurence in some who have had previously normal general anesthetics. A case is a 23 year old relatively healthy male patient in whom subtotal gastrectomy was performed under N2O-O2-ether and gallamine anesthesia with induction after pentothal sodium and succinylcholine. This was complicated by an abrupt, high rise in body temperature, muscle rigidity, flushing with peripheral cyanosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and hyperpnea 40 minutes after induction. He died 3 hours after cessation of anesthesia without effective response to any active antipyretic therapy. The etiologic factors, incidence, clinical feature, prevention, treatment and prognosis of malignant hyperthermia are discussed.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics, General ; Body Temperature ; Cyanosis ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Fever ; Flushing ; Gallamine Triethiodide ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Malignant Hyperthermia* ; Muscle Rigidity ; Prognosis ; Sodium ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of the variation of immune function in high humidity environment in different time, and lay a foundation for further study of the related mechanism.

METHODThirty SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 10): 20 day group, 40 day group in 90% relative humidity chamber and control group in normal relative humidity. Peripheral blood and spleens were collected to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subsets by Flow Cytometery.

RESULTSIn peripheral blood of the 20 day group rats, the CD3+ %, CD4+ %, CD8+ % and CD4+/CD8+ were 52.91 +/- 6.27, 37.80 +/- 4.11, 14.85 +/- 3.73 and 2.72 +/- 0.82 separately. Expect CD3+ %, they all had significant differences (P < 0.05). In addition, the data of the 40 day group rats showed no diversity in statistics. In spleen, CD8+ % of the 20 day group rats was 6.23 +/- 2.87 with significant differences (P < 0.05) and IgG, IgA and IgM did not change a lot in blood serum of the high humidity groups except C3 of the 20 days group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn high humidity environment, the immune function of the rats increased in the initial stage. As time went on, the immune function gradually went to normal level through the self adjustment.

Objective To explore and evaluate the method and feasibility of applying the contrast agent fluorescein sodium to enhance the efficiency of Cerenkov radiation energy transfer (CRET).Methods Fluorescein sodium was employed as the energy transfer receptor of 18 F-FDG Cerenkov radiation (CR) to achieve stronger signal.18F-FDG was mixed with fluorescein sodium of different concentrations:0.05,0.10,0.20,1.00,2.00,4.00,8.00 mmol/L.Optical signal strength was quantified by ROI analysis.The influence of fluorescein sodium concentration on CRET efficiency and the optimal concentration that could achieve most optical signal augmentation were studied.The optimal concentration of fluorescein sodium was mixed with 1.85-11.10 MBq 18F-FDG for CLI.Linear regression was performed to investigate the range of 18F-FDG dose with most optical signal augmentation and the influence of 18F-FDG dose on CRET efficiency.A tumorbearing nude mouse was imaged after intravenous injection of 18F-FDG and then imaged again after injection of fluorescein sodium post 18 F-FDG injection.These two sets of images were compared to evaluate the CRET efficiency in vivo.Results In vitro study showed that 1.00 mmol/L fluorescein sodium was the optimal concentration for 18F-FDG dose ranging from 1.85 MBq to 11.10 MBq.The signal from 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium was 3.7 times stronger than that from 18F-FDG alone.Experiment in vivo suggested that 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium could effectively enhance the signal strength by CRET.Conclusion 18F-FDG mixed with fluorescein sodium may improve the efficiency of CRET,therefore,can enhance the signal strength,reduce the exposure time and achieve better signal to noise ratio.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cardiac vagus nerves and changes of connexins(Cx)and intracellular gap junction(GJ)distribution pattern in superior vena cava(SVC)myosleeve in dog with atrial fibrillation(AF).Methods Twenty four hybrid dogs were divided into sham operation group(Sham group,n=8),SVC-AO fat pad removed group(RM group,n=8)and SVC-AO fat pad reserved group(RS group,n=8).In RM group and RS group,right atrial pacing was performed at a frequency of 500～650/min for 6 weeks to establish AF model.AF was induced by programmed stimulation or burst stimulation of atrial pacing.The expression and distribution of Cx40 and Cx43 in the SVC myosleeve tissue in three groups were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining.Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the uhrastructural organization of gap junction(GJ).Results The rate of inducing sustained AF(＞ 15 min)in RS group was significantly higher than that in RM group (P ＜ 0.01).The expression of Cx40 and Cx43 in the SVC myosleeve in sham group and RS group were significantly higher than that in RM group(P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,the expression of Cx40 and Cx43 in RS group were obviously higher than that in sham group(P ＜0.05).The ratio of end-to-end to side-to-side in RS group was lower than that in Sham group and RM group.Comparing with RM group,the channel of GJ became shorter and wider in RS group(P ＜0.05).Sarcomere was dissolved and mitochondrion showed vacuole degeneration in RS group.Conclusion The remodeling of Cx40 and Gx43 in SVC myosleeve tissue may be mediated by vagus nerves.It is conducive to the maintenance and stability of AF.However,this effect can be weakened by removing SVC-AO fat pad of canine.

In practice of forensic medicine, potential disease can be associated with fatal asphyxia in restraint position. Research has demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are plentifully distributed in skeletal muscle, contributing to the regulation of contractile and relaxation. In the current study, respiratory functions, indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions ex vivo, as well as NO levels in serum, the expressions of diaphragmatic inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA, and the effects of L-NNA on contractility of the diaphragm were observed in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) under the condition of restraint position. The results showed that in the CLP12-18h rats, respiratory dysfunctions; indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions (Pt, +dT/dt(max), -dT/dt(max), CT, Po, force over the full range of the force-frequency relationship and fatigue resistance) declined progressively; the NO level in serum, and iNOS mRNA expression in the diaphragm increased progressively; force increased significantly at all stimulation frequencies after L-NNA pre-incubation. Restraint position 1 h in CLP12 h rats resulted in severe respiratory dysfunctions after relative stable respiratory functions, almost all the indices of diaphragmatic biomechanical functions declined further, whereas little change took place in NO level in serum and diaphragmatic iNOS mRNA expression; and the effects of L-NNA were lack of statistical significance compared with those of CLP12 h, but differed from CLP18 h group. These results suggest that restraint position and sepsis act together in a synergistic manner to aggravate the great reduction of diaphragmatic contractility via, at least in part, the negative modulation of NO, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of positional asphyxia.
Animals ; Asphyxia ; Diaphragm/physiology* ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Respiration Disorders ; Restraint, Physical ; Sepsis