Objective·To investigate and compare the clinical characteristic of non-organic dyspnea and asthma both with complaint of dyspnea.Methods·Seventy-four consecutive patients with non-organic dyspnea,and 74 age-,height-,weight and sex-matched patients with asthma were recruited for investigation in the study.The self-assessment surveys were conducted for the two groups by means of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,Nijmegen Questionnaire and Athens Insomnia Scale.The words for describing dyspnea,clinical symptoms,effective sleep hours and items of pulmonary function test were collected and analyzed Results·Non-organic dyspnea patients tended to describe psychogenic aspects.Asthma patients tended to describe airflow limitation.Non-organic dyspnea group mainly performed psychogenic symptoms.The sleeping time in non-organic dyspnea group was significantly lower than that in asthma group(P＜0.05).The score of anxiety,depression,Nijmegen Questionnaire,Athens Insomnia Scale,FEV1,FEV1％Pred,FVC％Pred,FEV1/FVC in non-organic dyspnea group were significantly higher than those in asthma group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in FVC between two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion·The non-organic group feel more anxiety,depressed and insomnic than the asthma group.Lung function test of asthma group is often abnormal.To discriminate non-organic dyspnea with asthma,clinicians should pay more attention to emotion,sleep,somatoform symptoms,medical history and so on,and do pulmonary function test,improve the understanding of the characteristics of the two diseases,decrease misdiagnosis and wrong diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of Dihuang Yinzi (DY) on the receptor for advanced glycation end-products(RAGE)/reactive oxygen species(ROS)/apoptosis pathway in SH-SY5Y cells induced by amyloid-beta1-42 (Aβ1-42) oligomer. Methods Firstly, we adopted methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) method to detect the cell vitality in fetal bovine serum (FBS) group, blank serum group, and low-, middle- and high- dose DY-containing serum groups, so as to confirm the optimal concentration and treatment time of DY-containing serum. Secondly, we applied MTT method to detect cell vitality and applied Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining method to observe the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells treated with 0~20 μmol/L Aβ1-42 for 24 and 48 h, so as toconfirm the optimal concentration and treatment time of Aβ1-42 for establishing Alzheimer's disease (AD) model in vitro. Thirdly, MTT method was used for the detection of cell vitality, and Annexin V/PI staining method was used for detection of the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells in blank serum group, model group, western medicine control group and low-, middle-and high-dose DY-containing serum groups, and Dihydroethidium (DHE) method was used for the assay of ROS contents, so as to observe the effect of DY on the recovery of injured SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ1-42. Finally, we applied Western blot method to detect the expression level of RAGE in SH-SY5Y cells of blank group, model group and DY-containing serum group; after Aβ1-42-induced SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with RAGE gene, we adopted DHE staining method and Annexin V/PI staining method to detect ROS content and cell apoptotic rate in all of the above groups, so as to observe the effect of DY on SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis and RAGE expression. Results The cell vitalities were increased in low- and middle-dose DY-containing serum groups at 24 h (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with that in the blank serum group). The conditions for the establishment of AD model in vitro were as follows: the optimal concentration of Aβ1-42 was 5μmol/L, and the treatment time was 24 h. The cell vitalities were significantly enhanced, the cell apoptotic rate and ROS content were significantly lowered in Aβ1-42-induced SH-SY5Y cells of the medication groups(P <0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those in the model group) , and the cell vitality was the highest and the cell apoptotic rate was the lowest in the middle-dose DY-containing serum group. The RAGE expression level was decreased in Aβ1-42-induced SH-SY5Y cells of the middle-dose DY-containing serum group(P < 0.05 compared with that in the model group) . ROS content and cell apoptotic rate were decreased in Aβ1-42-induced SH-SY5Y cells transfected with RAGE gene in the middle-dose DY-containing serum group (P<0.01). Conclusion DY may play an anti-oxidative role through inhibiting the production of ROS and cell apoptosis, thus to suppress RAGE protein and to achieve the preventive and therapeutic effect for AD.

Objective To investigate the effects of Dihuangyinzi(DHYZ) on behaviors and RAGE/p38 pathway in APP/PS1 mice.MethodTwenty APP/PS1 dementia mice were randomly divided into model group(n=10) and Chinese medicine group(n=10).The blank group was C57 BL/6 J normal mouse(n=10).The mice in Chinese medicine group were intragastric administration with DHYZ (9.75 g·kg-1·d-1).The mice in model group and blank group were treated with distilled water.After 30 days,the abilities of learning and memory of mice were detected by Morris water maze.The expression of amyloid-beta1-42(Aβ1-42) in the hippocampus and cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry.Reactive oxygen species of brain tissue were detected by DCFH-DA Methods in the brain of APP/PS1 mice.Gene expression level of receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE) was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice.The expression of phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38) was analyzed with Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice.Results Behavioral Results showed that DHYZ significantly increased the distance((23.088±7.083)cm) and residence time((1.961±1.230)s)of effective area in Morris water maze on the fifth day(P<0.05,P<0.01)and remarkably increased the number of effective area crossings((1.607±0.405) times) and plats((0.893±0.283) times) in Morris water maze on the fifth day(P<0.01,P<0.05).DHYZ also significantly reduced the intracelluar ROS level(122.611±7.630) in the brain(P<0.01),and DHYZ could depress the expression of RAGE(1.467±0.081,7.983±0.136) and phosphorylation of p38 (0.376±0.026,0.538±0.016)in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusions The Results demonstrate that DHYZ can partly improve memory impairment of APP/PS1 mice by the inhibition of RAGE/p38 pathway.

Objective To investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the effects of its complications on prognoses in past 7 years in the north area of Guizhou province. Methods Data of 209 patients with SAP admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College from January 2009 to January2016 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into a survival group (178 cases) and a death group (31 cases) according to the prognosis. The gender, age, diagnosis (primary and recurrent), the length of stay in hospital, the levels of creatinine and total bilirubin (TBil), the time of blood purification, hematocrit (HCT) level on the first day after admission, pathogenesis, complications [infection, pseudocyst, intra-peritoneal hemorrhage, acute renal failure (ARF), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS), pancreatic encephalopathy, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)], sequential organ failure (SOFA) score (maximum SOFA score during hospital stay), application of hormones, surgical interference, etc. related factors were compared, the SAP epidemiological characteristics, factors affecting prognosis and the effect of complications on prognosis in intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed in the two groups.Results Of the 209 patients 98 cases were diagnosed biliary pancreatitis accounting for the majority (46.9%), hyperlipidemic pancreatitis 76 cases (36.3%), alcoholic pancreatitis 6 cases (2.8%) and idiopathic pancreatitis29 cases (13.9%). The age (years: 47.1±13.5 vs. 53.2±12.0), creatinine (μmol/L: 109.4±100.3 vs. 335.7±222.4), the ration of intra-peritoneal hemorrhage [4.5% (8) vs. 38.7% (12)], ARF [1.1% (2) vs. 54.8% (17)], ACS [1.1% (2) vs. 9.7% (3)], MODS [18.5% (33) vs. 74.2% (23)] and SOFA score (3.3±2.4 vs. 10.5±5.4), percentage of patients using hormones [5.6% (10) vs. 29.0% (9)] were significantly lowered (allP < 0.05) and the time of blood purification was shortened (days: 1.95±1.97 vs. 4.81±5.84) in survival group than those in death group; while the gender, diagnosis, the length of stay in hospital, TBil, HCT on the first day after admission, pathogenesis, complications (infection, pseudocyst, ARDS and pancreatic encephalopathy) and surgical treatment situation were compared between the two groups, no statistical significant differences were seen (allP > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that creatinine > 300μmol/L [odds ratio (OR) was 2.651, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.459-3.935,P = 0.017], intra-peritoneal hemorrhage (OR was 5.231, 95%CI was 3.517-7.159,P = 0.000), ARF (OR was 3.731, 95%CI was 2.641-4.857,P = 0.000), ACS (OR was 2.517, 95%CI was 1.003-3.098,P = 0.000), use of hormone (OR was 1.012, 95%CI was 0.825-2.051,P = 0.000) and SOFA score (OR was 3.179, 95%CI was 2.630-6.021 andP = 0.000), MODS (OR was 4.716, 95%CI was 2.086-7.902 andP = 0.031) were the risk factors having critical effects on the prognosis of thedisease, The higher the creatinine level, the worse the prognosis. The mortality of ARF was very high reaching 89.5%; the mortalities of patients with complications as intra-peritoneal haemorrhage, ACS, MODS, pancreatic encephalopathy, AKI, infection, pancreatic pseudocyst and ARDS were as follows: 60.0%, 60.0%, 41.1%, 33.3%, 32.1%, 23.1%, 17.7%, 13.1% respectively.Conclusion Biliary disease andhyperlipidemia are the major causes of SAP in north area of Guizhou province, creatinine > 300μmol/L, intra-peritoneal hemorrhage, ARF, ACS, SOFA score, use of hormones are the independent risk factors leading to poor outcome in patients with SAP and the use of hormones cannot ameliorate the disease situation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Rbl on action potentials and force of contraction in guinea pig ventricular papillary muscles.

METHODThe ventricular papillary muscles of guinea pig were isolated regularly and immersed with Tyrode, s solution. The effects of Rbl (purified saponins of panaxnotoginseng) on the action potentials (AP), the slow action potentials and the force of contraction (FC) of the muscles were studied. The AP and FC were measured synchronously.

RESULTRbl shortened the duration of AP, including APD2O and APD90, and reduced the FC(n = 5, P < 0.01), but didn't affect the rest potential (RP), the amplitude of action potential (APA), overshot (OS) and maximal upstrok velocity (Vmax). Rbl also decreased the APA of slow action potential, but quinidine had no such effects.

CONCLUSIONRbl may be a channel blocker.

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Panax ; chemistry ; Papillary Muscles ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Sanlengwan (SLW) on adhesion molecules expression and the accretion in ectopic endometrium of rats.

METHODEndometriosis was established by surgical implant of endometrial tissue which belong to its body. Forty EMS model rats were randomly divided into five groups: model control group, three dose of SLW groups and anastrozole group. Meanwhile, eight normal rats were used as the normal group. All the rats were treated for 4 weeks respectively, and the volume of grafts were measured by vernier caliper, morphological changes were measured by HE stain, and the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and CD44 protein, were also measured by immunohistochemical test before and after treatment of SLW.

RESULTSLW markedly reduced the volume of grafts, improve the morphological characters and decreased the expression of ICAM-1 and CD44 in ectopic endometrial tissue.

CONCLUSIONSLW can inhibit the accretion of ectopic endometrium tissue of rats, and its mechanism might be associated with inhibiting the expression of ICAM-1 and CD44 protein.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; NF-kappa B ; pharmacology ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Hemophilia A ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

Objective:To assess the usefulness of gray-scale ultrasonography and shear wave elastography in assessing the condition of skeletal muscle in people with chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods:In this prospective study, there were 50 CHF patients and another 50 healthy people undergoing physical checkups served as the control group.The rectus femoris and the gastrocnemius medialis of all participants were evaluated by shear wave elastography and gray-scale ultrasonography.Data were collected using quantitative parameters including muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, fascicle length, pinnation angle, gray value and Young's modulus.Results:Compared with the control group, the thickness(7.80±2.01)mm, cross-sectional area(3.27±0.91)cm 2 and gray value(70.07±6.06)of the rectus femoris and the thickness(12.23±2.42)mm, fascicle length(35.90±1.38)mm and pinnation angle(18.07±3.05)degrees of the gastrocnemius medialis in the CHF group were statistically different[(12.90±2.57)mm, (4.94±2.08)cm 2, 60.93±9.77]for the rectus femoris and(15.90±2.62)mm, (37.83±2.83)mm, (20.75±2.59)degrees for the gastrocnemius medialis of the control group, t=7.71, 3.78, 3.94, 4.99, 4.47, 3.06, P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in Young's modulus of the rectus femoris and the gastrocnemius medialis between the two groups( t=1.10, 0.51, P>0.05).In the CHF group, the thickness, cross-sectional area and gray value of the rectus femoris in different New York Heart Association(NYHA)heart failure grades were statistically different( F=56.36, 69.98, 55.96, P<0.01), but no difference was found in the gastrocnemius medialis with the same ultrasound parameters( P>0.05).When participants in the CHF group was divided into subgroups based on left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), there was no significant difference between the subgroups in values of the ultrasonic parameters for the rectus femoris and the gastrocnemius( P>0.05). Conclusions:Gray-scale ultrasound may quantitatively evaluate the skeletal muscle of CHF patients to guide early rehabilitation training to improve their prognosis.

Asthma is a common respiratory disease charaeterized by airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness.Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in human body.In reeent years it has been reported that dopamine reeeptor is expressed in immune eells, type I alveolar eells, airway epithelium and airway smooth muscle, and affects ovalbumin ( OVA )-indueed asthma in animals.This review introduees the role of dopamine in the occurrence and development of asthma from the aspeets of airway inflammation, pulmonary nerve regulation, airway epithelial and smooth muscle abnormalities.

OBJECTIVETo summarize clinical application of one-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger).

METHODSNine patients (male 7, female 2) underwent thumb (finger) reconstruction with second toe transfer were treated by one-stage toenail lengthening technique. Eight were the thumb and 1 was the index finger. Patients aged from 18 to 46 years,with an average of 25 years. A rectangle skin was resected at 0.5 cm away from the eponychium, which was 0.2 cm high and as wide as the toenail. Then stripped U shape flap gently towards proximal end and sutured it. During the operation, the injury of the subcutaneous vascular network should be avoided.

RESULTSSuperficial infection at donor area happened in 1 case and was healed by changing dressings. All the reconstruction thumbs (fingers) had survived completely. 2 to 3 mm extending of toenail length was obtained and the appearance of thumb (finger) was improved. There was no growth deformation of toenail. After 7 to 24 months follow up (the average time 13 months), the appearance of the nail was good.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger), which can obtain a satisfactory appearance of the nail and have no influence on the motion of the reconstruction thumb (finger), is a simple and an effective operative procedure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nails ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thumb ; surgery