AIM: To study the effects of angiotensin Ⅳ(Ang Ⅳ) on growth of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.METHODS: Cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal SD rat were cultured in vitro and divided into groups: control DMEM,10~(-6) mol/L Ang Ⅳ, 10~(-5) mol/L Ang Ⅳ.The effects of Ang Ⅳ were assayed as follows: protein synthesis was determined by modified Bradford method,and cell cycle by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Ang Ⅳ promoted protein synthesis(P

Objective To study the state of T-cell and T-helper cell subpopulation in children with recurrent tonsillitis(RT) in remission period and make clear its role on pathogenesis in children with RT.Methods The expression of membrane molecule on T-cell subsets was analyzed in 27 RT children and 21 control health children by using immunofluorescence and flowcytometry,the levels of interferon-?(IFN-?) and interleukin-4(IL-4) in culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) were detected by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA).Results The CD4~+ and CD3~+ cell were significantly lower in RT children than those of the controls(P0.05),a ratio of CD4~+/CD8~+ was disproportion(P0.05),the ratio of Th1/Th2 was disproportion(P

Objective This study was to observe the effects of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) on migration and transdifferentiation of bovine lens epithelial cells(BLECs). MethodsThe culture and identification of BLECs adopted the method of Hu(reference 1).The 2-3 passages of BLECs were collected and used in this experiment at the concentration of 1×10~6 cells/hole.The free-serum DMEM containing 0.1 ng/L,0.5 ng/L,1.0 ng/L of CTGF was added into medium for 24 hours in different experimental group respectively,and only equal volume of free-serum DMEM was added in control group.Expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) mRNA and protein in the BLECs were examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively.The transwell inserts were used to evaluate the migration ability of BLECs. ResultsThe expression of α-SMA mRNA in cultrued BLECs was gradually increased in different concentrations of CTGF groups.Compared with control group,the expression of α-SMA mRNA in experimental group was significantly enhanced (F=66.56,P＜0.01).The expression of α-SMA protein followed the same pattern(F=65.43,P＜0.01).The migration ability of BLECs was obviously elevated after CTGF stimulation under the light microscope.The migration rate of BLECs was considerably increased in experimental group compared with blank control group (t=51.7,P＜0.01).ConclusionCTGF promotes the migration and transdifferentiation of BLECs at a dose-dependent manner in vitro.CTGF plays an important role in the formation of posterior capsule opacification.

The X-ray radiograph, CT scan and MRI appearance of 5 patients with pathologically proven fibrous dysplasia in thoracic and lumbar spine vertebrae were retrospectively analyzed. Plain radiographs, CT scans and MR images showed the presentation of eccentric lesion with intact cortex bone and marginal sclerosis in vertebral bodies without involvement of vertebral appendix and extraosseous soft tissue. The lesion masses were round (one being oval-shaped) and radiolucent in plain radiographs and CT scans. Homogeneous long signal was observed on T1 weighted image and strongly enhanced when gadolinium was administered. On T2 weighted MRI, short signal was found in the anterior part of the mass, long signal in the posterior part, and short and slight long signal in the middle part, without partitioning and laminating change. There was a good correlation between radiological features and surgical findings. These findings may be useful to diagnose fibrous dysplasia in spine.
Fibrous Dysplasia, Monostotic/diagnosis ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Monostotic/*radiography ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To study disfunction of activated T cell from peripheral blood and explore its role on pathogenesis in patients with refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).Methods T cell subsets and expression of membrane molecule on activated T cell in peripheral blood were measured in 26 refractory MPP patients by using immunofluorescence and flowcytometry,and compared with those of 18 control healthy children.Results The percentage of CD4~+ cell from peripheral blood in refractory MPP children was significantly lower than that in control group(P0.05).Conclusions There are disfunctions of T cell in refractory MPP patients in acute period,and the abnormal T cell activated disfunction may play an important role on pathogenesis.

Objective To explore the effect and significance of AQP4 mRNA expression in bronchial epithelium of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on airway inflammation. Methods Bronchial epithelium was obtained by bronchoscopy in patients with COPD (n=30) and healthy controls (n=30) whose bronchial epithelium was confirmed to be normal by the pathologist. AQP4 mRNA were studied by RT-PCR method. Inflammatory cells infiltration was observed by HE staining; pulmonary function test was performed too before bronchoscopy. Results Compared with that in the healthy controls, AQP4 mRNA expression in COPD was reduced (P

Objective To study mental state of children with asthma and psychosomatic symptoms of their parents. Methods Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ) for children and Rutter's Behavior Ques-tionnaire were applied to 36children aged 6～14with asthma, SCL-90 was applied to their parents. Children from the same kindergartens and schools and their parents were sampled as control matched by age, sex etc.Results Children with asthma had more personality problems than normal children. The E.N scores of EPQ scales were higher in asthma children than in normal samples. The rate ot behavior problems was 33.3 %; Par-ents of children with asthma had higher scores of S SCL-90 than parents of children as control, espeeially in de-pression, anxiety, somatic complaints and terror. Conclusion Children with asthma and their parents, It is im-portant to take some active measures to intervene psychological and behavioral problems of children with asth-ma and psychosomatic symptoms of their parents.

Objective To evaluate the sanitation of the ecological toilet systems used in rural areas. Methods The urine diverting Ecosan toilets in rural areas of Guangxi province were observed for the utilization, maintenance and sanitization. The hygienic evaluation was carried out according to the Hygienic Standards for Excreta Sanitization GB 7959-87. Results The new type of urine diverting Ecosan toilets could meet the requirements of non-hazard treatment of excreta. Conclusion Such toilet system should be developed in most parts of Guangxi.

Objective To explore the indication,technique and complications of Snodgrass operation in hypospadias repairment.Methods From Sep.2005 to Nov.2006,22 boys from 2 to 18 years old with hypospadias were treated with Snodgrass modification.The procedure was performed in 16 patients as a primary repairment and in 6 patients as the 2-stage repairment.The entire length of the urethral plate was incised along the midline in primary repairment,and the skin flaps and residual urethral plate were incised in the 2-stage repairment.The length of neourethra was from 1 to 10 cm.The neourethra was tubularized over a F 6 or F 8 catheter.The urethral stent was removed in 10 to 14 days pos-toperatively.Results Of the 22 patients,18(81.8%) required no other surgery as the repairment provided a normal appearing penis(straight,terminal meatus, cosmetics) without complications.Fistul aoccurred in 4 patients(18.2%) and meatal stenosis in 1 patient.Conclusion Snodgrass operation creates a vertical slit-like neomeatus.The procedures restores good function and normal appearance to the penis.

[Objective]To analyse the imaging findings of thoracic and lumbar fibrous dysplasia and evaluate the imaging characteristics.[Method]Among 5 cases of monostotic fibrous dysplasia of thoracic and lumbar spines,4 were imaged with CT scaning,2 with MRI and 5 with X-ray.All materials were analysed.[Result]Each X-ray revealed a round or oval radiolucent lesion surrounded by a distinct and thick rim of sclerosis.CT showed a round or oval low-density lesion with a high-density borderline between the lesion and normal vertebral bone tissue.Bone cortex remained intact in all cases.The lesion showed homogeneous long T1 signal on T1WI and hypo-or isointensity signal on T2WI.There was a characteristic hypointensity loop surrounded the lesion on T1WI,T2WI and PdWI.The lesion was demonstrated obviously in the contrast enhancement of scanning.[Conclusion]Monostotic fibrous dysplasia of thoracic and lumbar spine shows distinctive imaging characteristics that are different from dysplasia of limb bone or skull.These characteristics are decisive in the diagnosis of the lesion.