Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Objective To optimize methods of culturing smooth muscle progenitor cells(SPCs) from mononuclear cells(MNCs) of peripheral blood. Methods Human MNCs isolated from buffy coat were seeded on M-199 with bovine pituitary extraction.On the eighth day outgrowth cells were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB(PDGF-BB).Fifteen days later,immunofluorescence,Western blot or RT-PCR was used to analyzed the expression of smooth muscle cell specific ?-actin(?-SMA),smooth muscle myosin heavy chain(SM MHC),Calponin,CD34,Tie-2 and Flk-1,and fluorescence activated cell sorter was employed to examine ?-SMA positive cells ratio. Results The cells stimulated by PDGF-BB for 15 d were positive for ?-SMA,SM MHC,Calponin,CD34 and Flk-1,but negative for Tie-2.The ?-SMA positive cells ratio was(90.57?5.63)%,significantly different from that of the control(P

AIMTo investigate the mechanism through which insulin affect the learning and memory abilities of the Alzheimer's disease-like rats.

METHODSOkadaic acid (OA) was injected into the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus and the insulin was injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle of the rats. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed through Morriswater maze behavioral test, and the expressions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and GFAP were observed by Westem blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control rats, the abilities of learning and memory were lowered significantly (P < 0.01) and the expressions of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were decreased and the GFAP positive astrocytes were increased greatly in the model rats (P < 0.05). In the rats injected with insulin, it was found that their learning and memory abilities were improved significantly (P < 0.01) and that the expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were increased and GFAP positive astrocytes were decreased obviously (P < 0.05), as compared with the model rats.

CONCLUSIONInsulin is able to enhance the learning and memory abilities of the Alzheimer's disease-like rats, possibly by improving the function of the acetylcholine system and decreasing the astrocytes proliferation in the brain.

Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the normal anatomy of petrosal vein and the space adjacent relationship between the petrosal vein and the homolateral trigeminal nerve by balanced turbo field echo (B-TFE) Cine-MR imaging and enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation (e-THRIVE)imaging.Methods Forty-one patients with facial spasm and epileptiform neuralgia were selected and taken a scan with ACHIEVA NOVA DUAL A-serial 1.5T MR machine using the BTFE and e-THRIVE series.The space adjacent relationship between the petrosal vein and the trigeminal nerve in cerebellopontine angle were observed.Results The 82 sides of petrosal veins and homolateral trigeminal nerves (41 cases) were displayed well.Petrosal veins were located in cavitas subarachnoidealis,partly in free state; the number of trunk ofpetrosal vein could be 1,2,3,respectively,responding to 70 (86%),10 (12%),2 (2%).The petrosal veins located in the dorsal-lateral of trigeminal nerve were found in 74 sides (37 cases,91%,by BTFE,e-THRIVE series),the petrosal veins located in the ventri-lateral of trigeminal nerve in 6 sides (3 cases,7%,by e-THRIVE series),and the petrosal veins located in the right upon trigeminal nerve in 2 sides (1 cases,2%,by BTFE series).Conclusion B-TFE MR imaging and e-THR/VE imaging,showing the petrosal veins and trigeminal nerves clearly and evaluating their relationship accurately,can provide information of topographic anatomy before microsurgical vascular decompression.

Objective To survey the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and fractional anisotropy (FA) value ofpontine cistern section of the trigeminal nerve, and understand the characteristics of various parameters of trigeminal nerve pontine cistern section. Methods The distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem in 50 healthy volunteers were recorded, and fusion images of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with B-TFE or THRIVE were achieved to improve the spatial resolution of the pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve; their ADC value and FA value were recorded, separately. Tracing image formation was noted in the pontine cistern section of the trigeminal or trifacial nerve. Results The ADC and FA results of the left side and right flank of pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve in these healthy volunteers were not statistically different (P＜0.05). The closer to the brain stem, the more asymmetrical tendency of distance from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem between both sides. DTI indicated that the ADC values between each 2 distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mum of brain stem between both sides were significantly different: the ADC values increased along with the distance elevating gradually, but rotated suddenly at the line of 6-9 mm. The FA value increased in 0-6 mm along with the distance reducing gradually, and the neighboring 2 distances had remarkably statistical difference, but the FA value no longer obviously changed from the line of 6-9 mm. Conclusion DTI can distinguish the two-sided trigeminal nerve brain pond section clearly, and may realize each item of DTI. Regular changes are noted in FA and ADC values along with the different distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem,indicating that DTI enjoys perspective in being clear about the discrimination of cranial nerve CNS section, the change-over portion and the PNS section, and in detecting the cranial nerve vascular compression.

The objective of this study was to investigate Babesia infection among domestic animals in Western Yunnan Province and provide scientific evidence for developing control measures.A total of 1 073 domestic animals blood samples (274cattle,395 sheep,354 dogs,33 horses and 17 donkeys) were collected in 12 counties in Western Yunnan Province.Genomic DNA was extracted and a near full-length 18S rRNA gene sequence of Babesia was amplified by using nested PCR.Babesia species was identified by Blast program and phylogenetic tree.It was indicated that 50 samples were infected with Babesia,belonging to 5 species and with the infection rate of 4.66％.Among 274 cattle blood samples,11 were infected with Babesia (4.01％).Four of them were Babesia bovis and seven of them were Babesia bigemina.Among 395 sheep blood samples,38 were infected with Babesia (9.62 ％),37 of them were Babesia odocoilei-like parasites and 1 of them was Babesia capreoli-like parasites.Horses and donkeys were negative.In conclusion,domestic animals in Western Yunnan Province are infected with many kinds of Babesia,which threaten stock raising development and human health.It is necessary to strengthen prevention of babesiosis and investigate infection rate of babesiosis in human.

Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Phenotype ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; immunology

Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Coronary Sinus ; surgery ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo determine the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of polyethylene glycol 4000 (forlax) in the treatment of constipation in children over 8 years old.

METHODSThis study was designed as a randomized, positive medicine (lactulose) controlled multicenter trial. A total of 216 children with constipation from 8-18 years old from 7 hospitals across China who were matched with a uniform entry criteria were enrolled in this study. The 216 patients were randomized to receive either oral forlax (20 g/d, n=105) or lactulose (15 mL/d, n=111) for 2 weeks. The therapeutic effects, including bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, clinical complete remission rate of constipation and abdominal symptoms, and the safety of forlax and lactulose were evaluated at 1 and 2 weeks of treatment.

RESULTSThe median weekly frequency of bowel movement in the forlax group increased by 4 and 5 times respectively after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment, and increased by 3 and 4 times in the lactulose group (P < 0.05). The stool consistency of the two groups was both improved significantly after treatment. The Bristol score of stool consistency of the forlax and lactulose groups were 3.41+/-1.11 and 3.64+/-1.33 respectively (P < 0.05) after 1 week of treatment, and were 4.26+/-0.89 and 3.63+/-1.33 respectively (P < 0.05) after 2 weeks of treatment. The clinical complete remission rate of constipation in the forlax and lactulose groups was 70% and 40% respectively (P < 0.05) by week 1 of treatment, and that was 72% and 41% respectively (P < 0.05) by week 2 of treatment. Abdominal pain disappeared in 75% of patients in the forlax group but in only 57% in the lactulose group by week 2 of treatment (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events happened and no abnormalities were found in laboratory tests and physical examinations in the two groups after medication.

CONCLUSIONSForlax is safe and effective in the treatment of constipation in children over 8 years old.

Adolescent ; Cathartics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lactulose ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between the progression of gastric cancer and the aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene in preoperative abdominal lavage fluid.

METHODSReal-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(qMSP) was used to investigate the methylation status of the CDH1 gene promoter 5'-CpG islands from preoperative abdominal lavage fluid in 92 patients with gastric cancer. The associations between methylation of CDH1 genes and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were investigated.

RESULTSAmong the 92 patients with gastric cancer, aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene was detected in 45(48.9%) patients, including total aberrant methylation in 12(13.0%) cases and partly aberrant methylation in 33(35.9%) cases. Significant associations were found between CDH1 methylation status and tumor size, growth pattern, differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and clinical staging(all P<0.05). However, there were no significant associations between CDH1 methylation status with gender, age, tumor location, or Helicobacter pylori infection(all P>0.05). The median progression-free survival was 20 months for CDH1 methylation group and 38 months for non-methylated group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). Cox model analysis revealed that CDH1 methylation status in preoperative peritoneal lavage fluid was an independent factor associated with postoperative survival in patients with gastric cancer(P=0.000, RR=332.88, 95%CI:21.71-5105.07).

CONCLUSIONSThe aberrant methylation of 5'-CpG of CDH1 gene promoter is common in gastric cancer. The examination of CDH1 methylation status of abdominal lavage should be considered in the progression of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology