Objective To explore the value of phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MR) in diagnosis of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in pediatric patients. Methods Totally 42 patients (aged from 9 months to 15 years) with secundum ASD proved with tansthoric echocardiographic (TTE) were evaluated with PC-MRI. Images of the flow through ASD were obtained with PC-MRI. The distances of ASD rim to superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), atrioventricular valves (AVV) and right upper pulmonary vein (RUPV), as well as the entrances of the vena cava and right upper pulmonary vein (RUPV) were assessed. Results The sizes of ASD and distances of ASD rim to the adjacent structures (SVC, RVC, AVV and RUPV) at PC-MRI were well consistent with those of TTE in 42 patients (P<0.001). PC-MRI results in 26 patients correlated well with surgical results (P<0.001). With different velocity encoding, compared with surgical results, measurements of ASD's sizes were more accurate when setting velocity from 50 to 70 cm/s than 90 cm/s. Conclusion The shape of ASD can be virtually depicted with PC-MRI. PC-MRI can accurately assess the defect size, number, rim distances to adjacent structures, therefore providing a new method for depiction of congenital heart anomaly.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Phosphines ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of phosphotyrosine interaction domain containing 1 (PID1, NYGGF4) on promotion of IR and HCC, and explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS Lentivirus were used to mediate the knockdown of PID1 in HFD induced IR mouse model as well as ob/ob mice. Intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance were performed 4 weeks after lentivirus injection. Hydrodynamics-based transfection was applied to inducethe liver specific overexpression of PID1. Flow cytometry was exerted to detect the proportion and function of immune cells. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of downstream pathways of PID1.Immunoprecipitation was used to determine the receptor of PID1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was operated to measure the modification of H3K4me3 of PID1 promoter. RESULTS PID1 restriction improved insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and fatty liver. Conversely, hepatic knockdown of PID1 attenuated liver xenografted tumor growth. Moreover, PID1 liver- specific protooncogenes via hydrodynamics- based transfection established a primary hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model, induced an immunosuppressive environment, with the reduction of CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +T cells, retarded maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), pronounced differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and recruitment of MDSC. In addition, PID1 overexpression activated proliferation related genes, promoted anti- inflammatory genes, suppressed pro-inflammatory genes, induced glycolysis and lipid metabolism genes to facilitate tumorigenesis in liver. Importantly, PID1 exerted its tumor-promoting function through binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activation of downstream MAPK pathway. As such, PID1 exist trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) modification and IR up-regulated the expression of PID1 by activation the H3K4me3 modification. CONCLUSION PID1 is a new gene that exerts both liver cancer-promoting and insulin resistance inducing function. IR accelerates liver cancer development and progression partially dependent on the activation of PID1.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) mRNA in male Sprague-Dawley rat heart of different ages and the expression of DMT1 regulated by dietary iron.

METHODSReverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR and Western blot were used in this study.

RESULTS(1)Two isoforms of DMT1 mRNA [with and without iron-responsive element (IRE)] were both detected in rat heart, which were correlated with heart iron content. During development, both of two isoforms of DMT1 mRNA expression were the lowest at the age of PND 7, and increased at PND 21, 63 to 196. (2) After fed with a high iron diet or low iron diet for 6 weeks, the rats developed iron overload or iron deficiency respectively. No significant differences in DMT1 mRNA expression were detected among iron overload, iron deficiency and control rats. By using Western blot analysis, a 21% and 40% reduction in DMT1 protein non IRE form and IRE form respectively were found in iron overload rat (P<0.01, compared with control). Increases (26% approximate, equals 28%) in the levels of two isoforms of DMT1 protein were also observed in iron deficient rat (P<0.01, compared with control).

CONCLUSIONThe level of DMT1 mRNA expression in heart is age dependent;the two isoforms of DMT1 protein may be both regulated by iron on the posttranscriptional mechanism.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Iron ; deficiency ; Iron Overload ; metabolism ; Iron-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Response Elements

OBJECTIVETo determine butylidenephthalide in Ligusticum Chuanxiong with RP-HPLC.

METHODThe sample was extracted with methanol using sonication. The ESTD was used to quantify butylidenephthalide. HPLC separation was carried out in a Hypersil ODS columm (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) , eluted at 1 mL x min(-1) with methanol-5% isopropyl alcohol (60: 40) at 25 degrees C. The detection wavelength was 230 nm.

RESULTThe linear range was 0.07-0.7 microg for butylidenephthalide. The average recovery was 95.3%, and RSD was 2.3% (n =6).

CONCLUSIONThis method was simple and could be used to determine butylidenephthalide with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Light ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Phthalic Anhydrides ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Scattering, Radiation

Objective To explore the modulatory effect of 5-HT2A receptors on the discharge activities of inspiratory neurons in medial region of nucleus retrofacialis of neonatal rats. Methods Experiments were performed in vitro brainstem slice preparations from neonatal rats. These preparations included the medial region of nucleus retrofacialis with the hypoglossal nerve rootlets retained. The rhythmic discharges of the inspiratory neurons and activities of the hypoglossal nerve rootlets were simultaneously recorded by using microelectrodes and suction electrodes, respectively. Roles of 5-HT2A receptors in modulation of the discharge activities of inspiratory neurons were investigated by administration of the 5-HT2A receptor agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodopbenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI), and its specific antagonist ketanserine dissolved in modified Kreb's solution for perfused slices. Results In DOI group, the inspiratory time (TI) was (0.864±0.07)s, expiratory time (TE) was (10.78±1.06)s, respiratory cycle (RC) was (11.79±1.64)s, integral amplitude (IA) was (357.98±37.21)(μV·s) and the peak discharge frequency (PF) was (37.83±3.66)Hz. In control group, they were (0.68±0.06)s, (13.89±2.14)s, (14.77±1.92)s, (273.57±24.39)(μV·s), and (29.92±4.50)Hz, there were significant differences between the 2 groups (Pa<0.01). In ketanserine group, TI was (0.55±0.07)s, TE and RC were (18.43±3.28)s and (20.17+2.91)s respectively, IA and PF were (214.37±33.52)(μV·s) and (22.17±3.92)Hz, there were significant differences between ketanserine group and DOI, control group (Pa<0.01). Conclusion 5-HT2A receptors take part in modulate the discharge activities of inspiratory neurons in neonatal rat brainstem slices.

Objective To explore the value of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in diagnosis of vascular rings associated airway abnormalities in children. Methods CT image data were retrospective analysis in 159 cases of vascular rings, including multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), maximum and minimum density project reconstructions. The relationship between the vascular rings and airway had been observed. Results Of 159 cases of vascular rings as-sociated with airway stenosis in 101 cases, the main airway stenosis in 79 cases, left main bronchial stenosis in 14 cas-es, right main bronchus in 8 cases, tracheal bridge in 14 cases, tracheal bronchial in 11 cases, symmetry bronchial in 2 cases. Conclusions Vascular ring often causes compression of airway narrow and dysplasia. MSCT can clearly display vascular rings and its relationship with airway, providing help for surgical and reasonable treatment.

Amylum can be transformed into trehalose on the action of the MTSase and MTHase, however, the percentage of transformation is low. The research on the enzyme immobilization through four kinds of immobilization carrier is described in this paper. The result shows that the carriers, which are put into with enzyme liquid and crossbonded with chi-tosan and glutaraldehyde at first, can adsorb many enzymes independent from this process of trehalose synthesizing, consequently, the enzyme activity is increased sharply. By comparing with the influence of the immobilizing process and some factors in the reaction conditions, such optimize condition can be reached: the time for carrier crossbonding with glutaraldehyde is 18hours , the time with enzyme is another 18hours , and the time of reaction with amylum (10%) is 9hours.The result of the content of trehalose can reach 27.22g/L and the percentage of transformation can reach 54.43% , which previously is 2.67g/L and 5.33% respectively before dealt with by carriers.

Mycelial morphology are exploited a great influnence to the metabolites of fungi. The effect of the mycelial morphology on producing lycopene by Blakeslea tripora was investigated. The results indicated that pellets has little role on fermentation when adding kerosene and triton-x100, However, The content of lycopene in the medium reached to 98.6mg/L by adding Ig/L span-20, forming dispersed mycelia, which is 3 times of the control experiments.

Objective To establish a specific fluorescence quantitative method for determining the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor3(TLR3)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Methods Using the Beacon Designer 2.1 software,specific primers and Taqman-MGB probe were designed.The plasmid pMD18-T-TLR3 was constructed as calibrator and the amplified fragment was obtained by reverse- transcript-PCR(RT-PCR).RNA quantification based on cycle threshold values(Ct)was used to establish the standard curve.According to which,the TLR3 mRNA levels in 30 normal individuals,20 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC)and 20 ones with chronic liver cirrhosis induced by HBV were calculated automatically by software after the fluorescence of PCR product was detected continuously during amplification.Results The linear detection range of the assay for TLR3 gene and ?-actin was 10~2-10~8(r= -0.9974)and 10~3～10~8(r=-0.9984),respectively.The coefficient of variation of both intra-and inter- assay reproducibility for high concentration sample were 6.7% and 8.7%,respectively,and those for low concentration sample were 12.3% and 14.0%.The TLR3 mRNA expression level ranges from 3.46?10~2- 4.51?10~3 copies/?g RNA,4.92?10~2-1.42?10~4 copies/?g RNA and 2.58?10~2-7.17?10~3 copies/?g RNA for 30 healthy individuals,20 PBC patients and 20 ones with chronic liver cirrhosis induced by HBV, respectively.Conclusion We have successfully set up a FQ-RT-PCR method for detecting TLR3 mRNA, which may be used as an excellent tool for the clinic and basic study on the expression of TLR3 gene.