Objective To explore the changes of Nogo-A mRNA and Nogo receptor(Ng-R) mRNA expressions in hippocampus of immature rats after febrile seizures(FS).Methods One hundred and twenty-seven male SD rats(15 days) were randomly divided into control group(immersed in 37 ℃ water,n=40)and hyperthermia treated group(immersed in 44.5 ℃ water,n=87).The latter was further divided into febrile control group(n=42) and FS group(n=45) according to whether seizures occurred or not.Each group was further divi-ded into 5 groups according to different therapies(1,3,5,7,10 times treatment).Then 5 cases of the 8 rats were randomly used to observe the expressions of Nogo-A mRNA,Ng-R mRNA in hippocampus by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Three of the 8 rats were randomly used to observe the changes of neurons and mossy fiber sprouting(MFS) in hippocampus by Nissl and Timm staining.Results 1.No seizures occurred in normal control group.Seizures occurred in 2 rats of febrile control group.In FS group,various seizures occurred such as nodding spasms,tonic seizures,clonic seizures and tonic-clonic seizures,2 rats died of drowning and 3 rats died of status epilepticus.2.The expressions of Nogo-A mRNA,Ng-R mRNA in the immature rats′ hippocampus became up-regulated after the 7th and 10th seizure,significantly higher than those of the other 2 control groups(Pa

Objective To investigate the influence of factors related to metabolic syndrome(MS)on the outcome in subjects without diabetes mellitus in a community.Methods A two-year follow-up study was conducted in 885 subjects who were enrolled in the epidemiologic survey carried out in Pingliang Community, Shanghai in 2002.Oral glucose tolerance test,lipid prefde,blood pressure(BP),body mass index(BMI),waist and hip circumferences were measured.Results (1)The baseline of BMI,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),2h plasma glucose after glucose loading(2hPG),BP,triglyceride(TG)in the subjects with impaired glucose regulation(IGR)increased significantly as compared to those with normal glucose regulation(NGR)(all P

In this study, the general bacterial probe and specific cellulolytic bacterial probes were used to quantify the bacteria in rumen. The total RNA were extracted and then hybridized with general bacterial probe after a dilution of concentration. The result showed that there was a high correlation between the hybridization signal and the dilution of total bacterial RNA. Based on the result above, the quantities of three cellulolytic bacteria in rumen sample were detected. The comparative RNA percentage of three cellulolytic bacteria to total bacterial RNA were similar to the previous reports. It can be concluded that the quantification of bacteria in rumen could be conducted by this approach, and which could be used in future research.

AIM:To study the effect of berberin hydrochloride(Ber)on the elevation of blood concentra- tion of Cyclosporin A(CsA)and liver and renal functions in renal transplanted recipients.METHODS:138 cases with renal transplantation in experimental group were treated with CsA and Ber and 150 cases with renal trans- plantation in control group received CsA only.Blood lev- els of CsA,biochemistry indexes for liver and renal func- tion were determined.RESULTS:After 1,3,6 months combined with Ber,blood concentrations of CsA in pa- tients went up by 49.8%,81.4%,36.9% and the radios of blood concentration of CsA to CsA dosage increased 88.8%,102.0%,72.5% compared with those before taking Ber(P

The clinical application of orbital magnetic resonance (MR) T2-mapping imaging in detecting the disease activity of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO),and the predictive values of therapy response to intravenous glucocorticoid (ivGC) were investigated.Approved by the local institutional review board (IRB),106 consecutive patients with GO were included in this prospective study.All subjects were divided into two groups according to the patients' clinical activity score (CAS):the CAS positive group (CAS ≥3) or the CAS negative group (CAS ＜3).T2 relaxation time of extraocular muscles (T2RT;ms) and the areas of four extra-ocular muscles (AEOMs;mm2) were measured by 3D T2-mapping MR sequence before and after methylprednisolone treatment,so as the CAS and some ophthalmic examinations including visual acuity,intra-ocular pressure,eyeball movement,diplopia and proptosis.In addition,24 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.The mean T2RT and AEOMs in CAS positive group were higher than those in CAS negative group.Both CAS positive and negative groups had significantly higher mean T2RT and AEOMs than the control group (P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation between T2RT and AEOMs values in GO patients,both of them had a positive correlation with CAS and the ophthalmic examinations.It was concluded that to evaluate the activity of GO,CAS was mostly related to inflammation symptoms of ocular surface,more than that,T2RT and AEOMs were also related to abnormal findings of the ophthalmic examinations including high ocular pressure,impaired eyeball movement,diplopia and proptosis.T2RT and AEOMs can reflex the inflammation state of ocular muscles better.CAS combined with 3D T2-mapping MR imaging could improve the sensitivity of detection of active GO so as the prediction and evaluation of the response to methylprednisolone treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Shenqi Fuzheng injection (SQFZI) combined with docetaxcl, flurouracil and calcium folinate in treating advanced gastric carcinoma, and to evaluate the action of SQFZI for enhancing therapeutic effect and alleviating adverse reaction of chemotherapy.

METHODSSixty advanced gastric cancer patients were assigned to two groups randomly, the control group treated with chemotherapy alone and the treated group treated with SQFZI combined chemotherapy. Chemotherapy regimens (TFC) was given to all patients consisting of docetaxel 75 mg/m2 intravenous dripping on the 1st day, flurouracil (5-FU) 350 mg/m2 and calcium folinate (CF) 120 mg/m2 intravenous dripping with micro-pump continuously from day 1 to 5, for 21-28 days as a cycle. To patients in the treated group, starting from 3 days before chemotherapy, SQFZI 250 mL was dripped every day for 14 successive days. The clinic effects were evaluated after two-cycle treatment.

RESULTSThe short-term effective rate was 40.0% in the treated group and 33.3% in the control group. As compared with those in the control group, patients in the treated group after treatment had a higher Karnofsky score (chi2 = 7.21, P < 0.05) and body weight (chi2 = 11.47, P < 0.05), lesser adverse reactions in decreasing of peripheral blood leucocyte, damage of peripheral nerve, adverse reaction of gastrointestinal tract, as well as better immune function.

CONCLUSIONSQFZI could effectively improve the clinical symptoms induced by chemotherapy regimen TFC, alleviate the adverse reaction, raise patients' quality of life and their immune function.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Anemia ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy Trimesters

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical differences between the surgery and adjacent segments of intervertebral discs in the lower lumbar spine, which were implanted with Coflex into the segments of L4, and L5S1, respectively.

METHODSThree finite-element models (the model of the intact lower lumbar sacrum,the L4.5 and L5S1 segments implanted by Coflex) were developed, respectively. According to the spinal three-column loading theory, three models were forced by the physiological loads of upright standing, flexion and extension. The stress of the different areas of the disc annulus, the changes of intervertebral dorsal height and the degree of nucleus pulposus pressure were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSCoflex implanted into the L4.5 and L5S1 segments in compression and extension could both decrease the stress of the posterior area of intervertebral disc in the surgery segment, resist the changes of the intervertebral disc dorsal height and reduce the perssure of nucleus pulposus. Furthermore, the stress of the L5S1 segment decreased when Coflex fixed the L4.5 segment in extension. However, when Coflex fixed the L5S1 segment, the stress of L4.5 segment had no significant changes.

CONCLUSIONCoflex fixing the L4,5 and L5S1 segments can effectively decrease the stress of the surgery segmental discs, respectively. Furthermore, Coflex fixing L4,5 segment may play a biomechanical role in reducing the stress of L5S1 segment.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Intervertebral Disc ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the changes of plasma levels of the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter aspartic acid (Asp), inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine (Gly) and asparagine (Asn) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHODSPlasma samples were collected from 15 MDD patients (9 males and 6 females, aged 32-64 y) and 14 healthy subjects (7 males and 7 females, aged 30-65 y); and also collected from 7 MDD patients (5 males and 2 females) 2 months after antidepressant treatment. The plasma levels of amino acids were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method.

RESULTSPlasma Asp and Gly levels were significantly lower in MDD patients than those in controls (P<0.04). There were positive correlations between plasma levels of Gly and Asp, and between Gly and Asn (P<0.005) in the control group; while in MDD patients, a significant positive correlation was found only between plasma levels of Gly and of Asp (P<0.001). MDD patients did not show significant changes in plasma Asp, Asn and Gly levels after antidepressant treatment compared to those before treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe reduced plasma Asp and Gly levels may serve as a clinical biomarker for MDD.

Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asparagine ; blood ; Aspartic Acid ; blood ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Glycine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the right para-tracheal triangle (RPT) of esophageal carcinoma patients and the technique of dissection.

METHODSOn the top of double mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenectomy, 333 esophageal carcinoma patients received RPT lymphadenectomy through the right pleural apical approach from 1990 to 2001.

RESULTSIn these 333 patients, the lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate in the RPT was 36.40%. A total of 457 nodes among 2 159 nodes removed gave a metastasis degree of 24.96%. The LNM rates in RPT for cervical, upper third, middle third, and lower third segments of esophagus were 66.67%, 45.45%, 34.19% and 15.79% (P < 0.05), while their respective metastasis degrees were 44.44%, 27.04%, 24.32% and 18.92% (P > 0.05). The frequency of positive nodes in the RPT for PTI, PT1, PT2, PT3 and PT4 was 0, 17.24%, 28.7%, 45.16% and 53.57%, while those of metastasis degree were 0, 8.77%, 17.62%, 33% and 41.17% (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT in papillary, erosive, patch-like and covert type of early tumor was 40%, 3.85%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.05), while those of the metastasis degree were 29.41%, 1.82%, 0 and 0 (P < 0.01). Higher rate of LNM in progressive stenotic esophageal carcinoma was observed compared with those of the other gross types (56.52%, P < 0.05), so was the degree (P < 0.01). The frequency of LNM in the RPT for mono-focal and multi-focal tumor was 34.98% and 70% without significant difference (P > 0.05), while the degree was 24.29% and 53.33% (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications were: leak (0.6%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1.2%). No injury of vein or infra-clavicular artery, tracheal damage or mortality occurred.

CONCLUSION1. The lymph node metastasis from esophageal carcinoma has a tendency of wide spread and right para-tracheal triangle is an important region to be doomed. 2. With location, depth of tumor invasion and differentiation of tumor as major factors affecting LNM of esophageal carcinoma, dissection of this region should be paid more emphasis. 3. In early lesions, higher frequency of LNM in the RPT is found in papillary and erosive lesions than in the other macroscopic types. 4. Exposing the RPT, lymph node by dissection through a right pleural apical approach is very important and significant.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardia ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Invasiveness