To investigate role of Notch1 - 3 in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn rat exposed to 85% O2, SD rat litters born on the 22th day were randomly divided into two groups: room air group and hyperoxia group. The animals were sacrificed 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days after continued exposure to oxygen (n = 40, oxygen > 0.85) or room air (n = 40). 6 rats each group were used to assess lung histological changes by HE staining and expression of Notch in lungs by immunohistochemistry. Total RNA was extracted by Trizol reagent from frozen lung tissues. Notch mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that 7, 14 and 21 days after O2 exposure, hyperoxia group showed lung injury characterized by pulmonary edema, hemorrhage and lung development arrest. Positive staining for Notch1, Notch 2 in hyperoxia group was much lower than those in room air group at all time points (P < 0. 01, P < 0.05), but compared with the controls, the hyperoxia group showed higher expression of Notch3 (P > 0.05). Immunostained cells were typically airways epithelia, alveolar epithelial and inflammatory cells, and fibroblasts in hyperoxia group (P < 0.01). Notch mRNA levels showed similar change as protein level (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the prolonged exposure to 85% O2 resulted in abnormal expression of Notch receptors, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn rats. The decreased inhibition of Notch1 might be one of the protective reaction and major mechanisms for proliferation/differentiation of type II alveolar epithelial cells. The up-regulation of Notch3 activity might result in the lung development arrest of the newborn rats.
Aerobiosis ; Animals, Newborn ; Lung/*pathology ; Lung Diseases/etiology ; Lung Diseases/*metabolism ; Lung Diseases/pathology ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Notch/*biosynthesis ; Receptors, Notch/genetics

Objective To identify the expression pattern of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in NK/T-cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) cell lines and to investigate the role of IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling in regulation of cell migration and invasion.Methods RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R.Transwell assay was applied to observe the effects of IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling and downstream kinases activities on cell migration and invasion.Concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were quantified by ELISA.Results Co-expression of IGF-1 and its receptor IGF-1R were identified in two NK/TCL cell lines,SNK-1 and SNK-6,while normal NK cells lack the IGF-1R expression.IGF-1R inhibitors significantly reduced SNK-1 and SNK-6 cells migration and invasion rates.Exogenous IGF-1 promoted both cell lines migration and invasion,but these effects were both blocked by IGF-1R inhibitors.Inhibition of AKT,p38 and JNK,the possible IGF-1R downstream kinases,reduced cell migration rates.Further more,exogenous IGF-1 significantly increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion,while decreased secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed when IGF-1R inhibitors were applied.Conclusion An autocrine IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling loop is aberrantly expressed on NK/TCL cells and the autocrine loop significantly promotes cell migration and invasion through activation of p38,PI3K and JNK signaling and enhances secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hyperoxia ; physiopathology ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Oxygen ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of dynamic level of TNF ?、IL 8、IL 1? and IL 6 in lung lavage fluid obtained from preterm infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods Lung lavage were serially collected from 29 ventilated infants hospitalized in NICU from December 1999 to November 2002. Total cell counts, neutrophilic granulocyte counts, malondialdehyde, protein, TNF ?、IL 8、IL 1? and IL 6 in lung lavage fluid were examined. Among the 29 cases, 10 developed pneumonia, 6 HMD, 7 CLD and 6 without lung disease as control. Results Total cell counts(7.9?10 9/L), neutrophilic granulocyte counts(6.4?10 9/L), TNF ?(13.88 pmol/L)、IL 8(376.92 mg/L)、IL 1?(2.96 ?g/L)and IL 6(1.72 ?g/L) in lung lavage fluid in infants who developed CLD were higher than the others on day 5( P

ObjectiveTo study the rehabilitation effect of physical therapy on patients with above knee amputation. Methods50 patients with above knee amputation were evaluated with FIM scale before and after physical therapy. ResultsThere was a significant difference before and after physical therapy(P<0.05). Conclusions Physical therapy is effective on patients with above knee amputation.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on post-stroke speech disorder between scalp electric acupuncture (EA) under anatomic orientation combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training.

METHODSSixty patients of post-stroke speech apraxia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, under anatomic orientation, the scalp EA was adopted to the dominant hemisphere Broca area on the left cerebrum. Additionally, the speech rehabilitation training was combined. In the control group, the speech rehabilitation training was simply,used. The treatment lasted for 4 weeks totally. The speech movement program module in the psychological language assessment and treatment system of Chinese aphasia was used for the evident of efficacy assessment. The scores of counting, singing scale, repeating phonetic alphabet, repeating monosyllable and repeating disyllable were observed in the patients of the two groups. The assessment was done separately on the day of grouping and 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSIn 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of counting, singing scale, repeating phonetic alphabet, repeating monosyllable and repeating disyllable were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 001). The results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P< 0. 05). The total effective rate was 100. 0% (30/30) in the observation group, superior apparently to 53. 3% (16/30) in the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp EA under anatomic orientation combined with' speech rehabilitation training obviously improves speech apraxia in stroke patients so that the speech disorder cani be relieved. The efficacy is better than that in simple rehabilitation training.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apraxias ; etiology ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Speech Disorders ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Speech Therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; Young Adult

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays important roles in varieties of biological processes. This factor is highly conserved in mammalian animals and only one heterozygous LIF mutation was reported to cause the infertility of women. A LIF mutation was generated and the evidences were provided that the mutation of mature LIF at the 29th amino acid totally abolished its functions, including stimulation of STAT activation assayed by Luciferase reporter gene expression and EMSA experiments. In addition, the mutated LIF failed to inhibit the proliferation of M1 cells. The data indicated that the mutation of LIF did not have a dominant negative effect but lost the biological functions, suggesting that the 29th amino acid is critical for maintaining the activities of LIF.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and initial experience of laparoscopic pyelolithoto- my within renal sinus.Methods A total of 19 patients(14 men and 5 women)of nephrolithiasis on 21 sides underwent laparoscopic pyelolithotomy within renal sinus.Of them,9 cases with other upper urinary tract diseases were treated by laparoseopic pyelolithotomy at the same time.The patient age ranged from 16 to 67 years(mean,41 years).The calculi were 1.2 to 3.5 cm in diameter,and were found on the right side in 11 cases,left side in 6,and both sides in 2.Five cases concomitantly had ureteral calculi;of them,1 had bi- lateral ureter calculi with ipsilateral steinstrasse,2 had pyelic polyp(1 with giant hydronephrosis after open ureterolithotomy),and 1 had giant bydronephrosis with pyelolithiasis during pregnancy with double-J tube drainage.Twelve cases(13 sides)had experienced unsuccessful extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy,and 1 failed with minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy.Results The procedure was successful in all the 19 cases.The operative time ranged from 75 to 240 rain(mean,115 rain).The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 30 to 100ml(mean,50 ml).One case experienced 5-d urine leakage,and was spontaneously cured.The hospital stay was 5-9 d(mean,6 d).Double-J tube drainage was 4-6 weeks.During the follow- up(3-36 months),KUB and IVU showed no upper urinary tract stricture and no residual stones except for 1 stone of 0.7 cm in the renal lower calyx in 1 case.The kidney function was improved in all cases.Con- clusions Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is new and minimally invasive alternative approach for renal calculi. With this procedure the urinary tract complications can be treated concomitantly,thus it can partially replace open surgery.

To investigate the protective effect of retinoic acid (RA) on hyperoxic lung injury and the role of RA as a modulator on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), gastation 21 d Sprague-Dawley (SD) fetuses (term = 22 d) were delivered by hysterotomy. Within 12-24 h of birth, premature rat pups were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12 each): air-exposed control group (group I); hyperoxia-exposed group (group II), air-exposed plus RA group (group III), hyperoxia-exposed plus RA group (group IV). Group I, III were kept in room air, and group II, IV were placed in 85 % oxygen. The pups in groups III and IV were intraperitoneally injected with RA (500 microg/kg every day). All lung tissues of premature rat pups were collected at the 4th day after birth. Terminal transferase d-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used for the detection of cell apoptosis. The expression of PCNA was immunohistochemically detected. Western blot analysis was employed for the determination of phosphorylated and total nonphosphorylated ERKs, JNKs or p38. Our results showed that lungs from the pups exposed to hyperoxia for 4 d exhibited TUNEL-positive nuclei increased markedly throughout the parenchyma (P<0.01), and decreased significantly after RA treatment (P<0.01). The index of PCNA-positive cells was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and was significantly increased by RA treatment (P<0.01). The air-space size was significantly enlarged, secondary crests were markedly decreased in hyperoxia-exposed animals. RA treatment improved lung air spaces and secondary crests in air-exposed pups, but had no effect on hyperoxia-exposure pups. Western blotting showed that the amounts of JNK, p38 and ERK proteins in hyperoxia-exposure or RA-treated lung tissues were same as those in untreated lung tissues (P>0.05), whereas activation of these MAPKs was markedly altered by hyperoxia and RA. After hyperoxia exposure, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK1/2 and p-p38 were dramatically increased (P<0.01), whereas p-JNK1/2 and p-p38 were markedly declined and p-ERK1/2 was further elevated by RA treatment (P<0.01). It is concluded that RA could decrease cell apoptosis and stimulate cell proliferation under hyperoxic condition. The protection of RA on hyperoxia-induced lung injury was related to the regulation of MAP kinase activation.

Objective To explore the value of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods VTI features of 77 histologically proven thyroid nodules in 74 patients were analyzed and the VTI features were divided into 6 grades.The higher grade represented higher tissue stiffness.Differences in VTI grade between benign and malignant lesions were analyzed by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve,and the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy were calculated.Results 77 pathologically proven thyroid nodules included 61 benign and 16 malignant lesions.VTI images classification included 0 in grade Ⅰ,1 ingrade Ⅱ,1 in grade Ⅲ,9 in grade Ⅳ,3 in grade Ⅴ and 2 in grade Ⅵ for malignant diseases ; and included 18 in grade Ⅰ,28 in grade Ⅱ,10 in grade Ⅲ,1 in grade Ⅳ,2 in grade Ⅴ and 2 in grade Ⅵ for benign diseases.The best diagnostic point of VTI-grade was grade Ⅳ.When VTI-grade Ⅳ or greater was used as the diagnostic criterium for malignancy,the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy rate in differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 87.50％,91.80％ and 90.9(％ respectively.Conclusions VTI is useful in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.