Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Injuries ; surgery ; Dilatation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tracheostomy ; methods

Objective To explore the change and clinical significance of plasma levels of thrombomodulin(TM) in children with Kawasaki disease(KD)(n=44) before and after treatmen with intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG).Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the plasma levels of TM in children with KD(n=44) before and after treatment with IVIG and in normal control group(n=15),respectively.Children with KD were enrolled from September 2004 to June 2006,one group(n=20) with coronary artery lesions(CALs) and another group(n=24) without CALs.The control were enrolled from heathy children in clinic service.Results The plasma level of TM in KD group before treatment with IVIG was significantly higher than that in control group(P

Objective To explore the relationship between social participation and needs for rehabilitation of the disabled in Guangdong Province and to make a proposal for developing the rehabilitation strategies. Meth-ods The data of the Second National Sample Survey of Disabled Persons in Guangdong Province was used in this study. Ranked data analysis was made with the sub-items of the social participation assessment and the main needs of the disabled individuals. Results Significantly statistical differences were revealed with regard to the constitu-ent ratio of needs for rehabilitation services among people with different degrees of difficulties in social participation caused by hearing and visual impairments as well as physical and mental disabilities. No significant difference was found in terms of the constituent ratio of rehabilitation needs among those with difficulties in speech and those with psychiatric diseases. The major rehabilitation needs focused on medical service, assistive apparatus support and functional trainings. Conclusions The rehabilitation needs were different among different categories of disabled persons. Rehabilitation services should be provided accordingly.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of exogenous connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro.

METHODSCultured HK2 cells were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo-control, low-dose CTGF-treated (2.5 ng/mL) and high-dose CTGF-treated groups (20 ng/mL). Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Collagen III alpha mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the levels of intracellular collagen III alpha protein.

RESULTSAfter 48 hrs of low- or high- dose CTGF treatment, the appearances of HK2 cells were changed from oval to fusiform. High-dose CTGF treatment increased collagen III alpha mRNA expression (0.4461+/-0.0274 vs 0.2999+/-0.0115; P<0.05) as well as the protein expression of collagen III alpha (0.4075+/-0.0071 vs 0.3503+/-0.0136; P<0.05) compared with the placebo-control group.

CONCLUSIONSCTGF can induce morphological changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. High concentration of CTGF may increase the synthesis of collagen III alpha.

Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the role and possible mechanisms of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) involved in mesangial cell (MC) proliferation which could be inhibited by bufalin.

METHODSRat mesangial cells were cultured in vitro. The effect of bufalin on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced MC proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. The function of GJIC was detected by Lucifer Yellow scrape loading and dye transfer (SLDT). mRNA levels of Cx43, Cx45 and Cx40 were measured by RT-PCR. Intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca(2+)]i) were examined in laser scanning confocal microscopy after loading by Fura-3/AM.

RESULTSMTT indicated that bufalin could inhibited PDGF-BB-induced MC proliferation (P<0.01). Compared with the hormal control group, PDGF-BB inhibited GJIC function, increased the expression of Cx45 and Cx40 (P<0.01) without altering the Cx43 (P>0.05) in gene level and also increased [Ca(2+)]i. However, bufalin treatment enhanced GJIC function, decreased Cx45 mRNA and Cx40 mRNA expression (P<0.01), and reduced [Ca(2+)]i (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBufalin inhibits PDGF-BB-induced MC proliferation, and its possible mechanisms may be related to regulation of Cx45 and Cx40 expression in the gene level, reduction of [Ca(2+)]i and enhancement of GJIC function.

Animals ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which can promote cell differentiation and inhibit cell apoptosis, on hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in A549 cells and its anti-apoptotic mechanism.

METHODSA549 cells were sub-cultured, exposed to hyperoxic conditions and were then treated with different concentrations of IGF-1 (1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) for 48 hours. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining flow cytometry. Expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe middle-dose and high-dose IGF-1 intervention groups had higher cell viabilities than the hyperoxic exposure group [(64±3)% and (88±4)% vs (51±3)%; P<0.05]. Compared with the air control group, the hyperoxic exposure group had a significantly higher apoptotic rate [(38.3±5.4)% vs (2.4±0.9)%; P<0.05], a significantly lower expression level of Bcl-2 [(72±5)% vs (91±4)%; P<0.05], and a significantly higher expression level of Bax [(54±6)% vs (3±2)%; P<0.05]. Compared with the hyperoxic exposure group, the low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose IGF-1 intervention groups had significantly lower apoptotic rates [(16.1±4.7)%, (9.2±2.8)%, and (6.9±2.5)% vs (38.3±5.4)%; P<0.05], significantly higher expression level of Bcl-2 [(79±4)%, (94±4)%, and (100±5)% vs (72±5)%; P<0.05], and significantly lower expression level of Bax [(26±4)%, （5±2)%, and (4±2)% vs (54±6)%; P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia significantly inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in A549 cells. IGF-1 may promote cell proliferation and inhibit hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in A549 cells by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Hyperoxia ; pathology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of shuxuetong (SXT) in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting.

METHODSSixty-eight patients, accepted intracoronary stenting, were divided into two groups, the SXT group and the control group, both of them were treated with conventional treatment, and to the SXT group, SXT was given additionally. The condition of treated coronary artery restenosis in the two groups was compared by way of quantitative coronary angiography and a 6-month follow-up study was adopted.

RESULTSFollow-up study was completed in 43 patients (23 cases in the SXT group, and 20 in the control group). The angina recurrence rate in the SXT group (3 cases, 13%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (7 cases, 35%, P < 0.05). Quantitative coronary angiography showed the restenosis degree of operated artery in the SXT group was significantly milder than that in the control group, with the last lumen losing and index in the SXT group (0.46 +/- 0.25 mm, 24.26 +/- 8.64%) less than those in the control group (0.75 +/- 0.33 mm, 31.25 +/- 11.03%). The net gain lumen and the net gain index in the SXT group (1.23 +/- 0.30 mm, 58.96 +/- 24.68%) were greater than those in the control group (0.98 +/- 0.33 mm, 42.68 +/- 29.51%), all P < 0.05. But the restenosis rate in the two groups was insignificantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXT might has some definite effect in preventing restenosis after intracoronary stenting.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Stents ; adverse effects

Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) conflicts with the purpose of disease treatment in children. Some research has shown that there are high proportions of extremely preterm infants and infants with asphyxia or congenital malformation in neonates with DAMA. This suggests that the sustainable development of neonatology needs cooperation and co-development with obstetrics, neonatal surgery, and radiology to reduce the rate of DAMA. With reference to the current status of research in both China and other countries, this article reviews the causes for DAMA and the strategies for reducing the rate of DAMA, in order to provide a theoretical basis for effectively reducing the rate of DAMA from the neonatal intensive care unit, improving treatment outcomes of the neonates, and increasing hospitals' comprehensive benefits.
Ethics, Medical ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Health ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Patient Discharge ; Prenatal Care ; Treatment Refusal

Objective To investigate the value of diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)in predicting delayed encephalopathy of the rabbits brain after carbon monoxide(CO)poisoning.Methods Sixty healthy rabbits were put into self-made poisoning cabinet and were poisoned by inhalation of CO.Aeration of CO was stopped when the rabbits became comatous,and the cabinet was kept airpoof for 6 h.The rabbits underwent MRI before poisoning,at 1 h,3 d,5 d,7 d,15 d,30 d,45 d,and 60 d after poisoning respectively. Axial and sagittal T_2WI,axial T_1WI and DWI were performed.In the rabbits that did not show symptoms of delayed encephalopathy,the observation was discontinued on the 60~(th)day.In the rabbit that showed the symptoms,the observation was discontinued on the 30~(th)——45~(th)day.The changing pattern of cortical ADC values before and after CO poisoning was observed and its relationship with delayed encephalopathy was investigated.Results In the group without delayed encephalopathy(15 rabbits),the ADC value at 1 h after poisoning[(7.58?0.36)?10~(-4)mm~2/s]decreased significantly compared with the pre-poisoning value[(8.02?0.35)?10~(-4)mm~2/s](q=0.4441,P0.05).In the group with delayed encephalopathy(15 rabbits),the ADC value at 1 h after poisoning [(7.40?0.32)?10~(-4)mm~2/s]decreased significantly compared with the pre-poisoning value[(8.08? 0.32)?10~(-4)mm~2/s](q=0.6728,P

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Fish Oils ; therapeutic use ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; therapy ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use