OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between Chinese medical types of coronary heart disease (CHD) [i.e., phlegm turbidity syndrome (PTS) and qi deficiency syndrome (QDS)] and their metabolites.

METHODSRecruited were 65 CHD patients including 37 cases of PTS and 28 cases of QDS. Serum endogenous metabolites in the two syndrome types were determined by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer (GC/MS), and their differences between their metabolic profiles analyzed.

RESULTSMore than 100 chromatographic peaks were totally scanned. Chromatograms obtained was matched with mass spectrum bank, and finally we got the category contribution value of 46 kinds of substances. Results of MCTree analysis showed patients of PTS and patients of QDS could be effectively distinguished. Compounds contributing to identify the two syndromes were sequenced as serine, valine, 2 hydroxy propionic acid. Comparison of metabolites showed contents of serine and 2 hydroxy propionic acid were higher in patients of PTS than in patients of QDS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe differences in the metabonomics of CHD TCM syndrome types could provide material bases for TCM syndrome differentiation of CHD, indicating that metabonomics technologies might become a new research method for TCM syndrome typing.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolome ; physiology ; Metabolomics ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Research ; Sputum ; Syndrome

Objective To evaluate blood flow structure and quantify the variation of the flow within left ventricle,assess the impact of chronic heart failure(CHF) by vector flow mapping(VFM).Methods Twenty-seven patients with chronic heart failure and thirty controls were involved.The flow vector images on the section plane of the flow within the left ventricle were acquired by VFM.Time-flow(T-F) curve and all other peak systolic and diastolic flow curve include normal velocity profile,parallel velocity profile,vector profile,flow profile were analyzed by DSA-RS1 program.Results Ventricular ejection peak S,rapid ventricular filling peak E and atrial systole peak A were relatively lower at basal and middle segments in CHF group than normal control group.Normal velocity profile,velocity profile,flow profile at peak S and E were lower at basal and middle segments in CHF group than normal control group.Conclusions VFM technology could provide quantitative and intuitive information to demonstrate the flow structure of the ventricle and evaluate the cardiac function in patients with CHF.

Objective To explore the possibility of using the mammotome system (MMT) with 2.5 cm spiral cutting mode to resect benign tumor of 3-6 cm in diameter.Methods The study group consisted of 160 patients with tumor of 3-6 cm in diameter,who received treatment of MMT cross combination with parallel rotary cutting method.The control group consisted of 160 patients with tumor ＜ 2.5 cm and received routine MMT operation.The therapeutic effects and complications of the two groups were compared.Chi-sqare test was used for statistical analysis.Results All operations were successful on MMT.There was no statistical difference in intraoperative bleeding,skin ecchymosis and postoperative hematomas between the two groups(x2 =0.251 8,P =0.616;x2 =0.328 2,P =0.567 ;x2 =0.146 3,P =0.702).The hospitalization duration,the operation scar and other complications were similar between the two groups.Conclusions The MMT cross combination with parallel rotary cutting method can be used to resect 3-6 cm benign breast tumors.It has the advantages of safety,efficiency,minimal invasiveness,covertincision,good cosmetic effect and low complications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of adductor spasmodic dysphonia phonatory break in mandarin Chinese and select the stimuli phrases. METHOD: Thirty-eight patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia were involved in this study. Standard phrase " fù mŭ xīn" and a speech corpus in mandarin Chinese with 229 syllables covering all vowel and constant of mandarin Chinese were selected. Every patient read the phrases above twice in normal speed and comfortable voice. Two auditory perpetual speech pathologists marked phonatory break syllables respectively. The frequency of phonatory break syllables and their located phrases were calculated, rated and described. The phrases including the most phonatory break syllables were selected as stimuli phrases, the phonatory break frequency of which was also higher than that of standard phrase "fù mŭ xīn". RESULT: Phonatory break happened in the reading of all patients. The average number of phonatory break syllables was 14 (3-33). Phonatroy break occurred when saying 177 (77.3%) syllables in the speech corpus. The syllables "guŏ, rén, zāng, diàn, chē, gè, guăn, a, bā, ne, de" broke in 23.1%-41.0% patients. These syllables belonged to the phrases "pĭng guŏ, huŏ chē, shì de, nĭ shì gè hăo rén, wŏ mén shì yŏu zŏng shì bă qĭn shì nong dé hĕn zāng, wŏ mén nà biān yŏu wăng qiú yùn dong chăng, cān gŭan, jiŭ bā hé yī gè miàn bāo dìan, tā shì duō me kāng kăi a,wŏ yīng gāi zài xìn lĭ xiĕ yī xiē shén mē ne?". Thirty-seven patients (97.3%) had phonatory break in above mentioned words. Ratios of these words phonatory break also were more than "fù mŭ xīn". CONCLUSION Adductor spasmodic dysphonic patients exhibited different degrees of phonatory break in mandarine Chinese. The phrases" shì de, pĭng guŏ, huŏ chē, nĭ shì gè hăo rén, wŏ mén nà biān yŏu wăng qiú yùn dong chăng, cān gŭan, jiŭ bā hé yī gè miàn bāo dìan, tā shì duō me kāng kăi a" were recommended as stimuli phrases for adductor spasmodic dysphonia evaluation.
Dysphonia ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Phonation ; Spasm ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Voice

Objective To investigate the low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS)/induced radioresistance (IRR) in A549 cells synchronized at G2 phase and the role of ATM kinase in the process.Methods Human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was synchronized at G2 phase by aphidicolin.The ATM-specific activator and inhibitor,chloroquine and KU55933,were used to regulate the activity of ATM.The colony formation assay was used to evaluate cell survival.Flow cytometry was used to determine the cell cycle of radiation-exposed A549 cells synchronized at G2 phase.Immunofluorescence was used to observe the dynamics of γ-H2AX fluorescence and evaluate the efficiency of DNA repair in A549 cells synchronized at G2 phase.Western blot was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated ATM (Ser1981) and ATM.Results A549 cells synchronized at G2 phase had substantially enhanced HRS than non-synchronized cells.The dose-induced transition from HRS to 1RR was in accordance with the dose-response pattern of early G2/M checkpoint.However,with the same threshold dose,the activation of early checkpoint occurred earlier and lasted longer than normal.The activation of ATM kinase inhibited HRS and enhanced DNA repair,while the inhibition of ATM kinase enhanced HRS and hindered DNA repair.Conclusions ATM kinase-mediated early G2+M checkpoint is a molecular switch for HRS in synchronized A549 cells.Low-dose irradiation with G2-phase synchronization and ATM inhibitor can enhance the low-dose radiosensitivity.

3 mg/L was significantly worse than in those with hs-CRP≤3 mg/L (18.18%,5.45%;P=0.044,log-rank test). Higher hs-CRP concentration was an independent predictor of death or new vascular event(OR 3.609;95% CI 0.869—14.992;P=0.047).Conclusion Higher hs-CRP concentration in acute phase after ischemic stroke is an independent predictor of death or new vascular event in a year.

Objective To observe the pathologic features on cardiac allograft and to test archived endomyocardial biopsy specimens for antibody-mediated rejection specific marker-C4d deposition and its characteristics by using immunoperoxidase (IP) techniques. Methods From January 2003 to December 2007,10 recipients underwent orthotopic cardiac transplantation and 17 specimens of endomyocardial biopsy were obtained either for a protocol basis (generally at 1 st month,3rd month,1st year and 2nd year post-transplant) and on immediate clinical indications.All specimens of endomyocardial biopsy were collected for histopathological examination and C4d immunohistochemical staining,simultaneously. All pathological diagnoses were done according to 2004 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) recommendation working formulation and AMR Schema,and C4d staining intensity were graded and recorded as 0 to 3 +.Results Except 1 specimen unqualified,all 16 consecutive specimens of endomyocardial biopsy were qualified.There were 4 cases of acute T cell-mediated rejection (all graded 1 ),2 cases of Quilty lesion,and 7 cases of antibody-mediated rejection,who were documented according to ISHLT Schema and C4d deposition.Meanwhile,there were 6 cases showing evidence of antibody-mediated rejection without concurrent acute cellular rejection and only one case concordant with acute T cell-mediated rejection.One case of antibody-mediated rejection died 20 months posttransplantation due to combined transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD). The C4d in the cardiac allograft was deposited in microvasculature diffusively.Conclusion Antibody-mediated rejection is an important clinical entity following orthotopic heart transplantation and is difficult to diagnosis except to perform endomyoeardial biopsy.Immunoperoxidase staining for C4d is a sensitive and specific technique for detecting one marker of antibody-mediated rejection.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1),insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and mean height standard deviation score(HtSDS) in recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)-treated small for gestational age (SGA) children.Methods 32 cases of SGA failed of catch-up growth were subcutaneously injected with rhGH every night before bed at a dose of 0.15-0.20u· kg-1 · d-1.And the variation of serum IGF-1,IGFBP-3,HtSDS,body height and growth velocity (GV) were monitored at 3,6,9 and 12 months of the treatment and compared.Results The GV (cm/years) increased to (12.4 ± 3.2),(11.0 ± 2.3),(10.1 ± 3.5),(9.4 ± 1.8) versus (4.1 ± 0.5) before treatment,suggesting a significant catch-up growth after treatment (F =51.35,P ＜ 0.01).Accordingly,HtSDS increased to (-2.55 ± 0.73),(-2.39 ± 0.65),(-2.21 ± 0.58),(-2.09 ± 0.94) versus (-2.81 ± 0.64),suggesting that height gaps were reduced compared to the normal children of the same age and sex after rhGH treatment (F =4.99,P ＜0.01).The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 were significantly increased compared to pre-treatment (F =34.52,14.04,all P ＜ 0.01),especially for serum IGF-1,which maintained at a high level after 3 months of treatment and up to peak after 6 months.However,the ratio of IGF-1/IGFBP-3 showed no increase after treatment (F =1.82,P ＞ 0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between the serum level of IGF-1 and △HtSDS after the rhGH treatment within six months (r3 =0.72,r6 =0.91),while there was no correlation between them after 9 months (r9 =0.26,r12 =0.33).There were no serious adverse events during the rhGH treatment.Conelusion The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 were significantly increased after the rhGH treatment,especially for serum IGF-1.There was a significant positive correlation between the serum level of IGF-1 and △HtSDS within six months,but not after 9 months.The rhGH treatment could be a safe and effective strategy for SGA children.

Objective To induce mouse embryonic stem(ES)cells to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells by means of a 5-step model system.Methods E14.1 mouse ES cells were cultured in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF)for 2 days(step 1),then the cells were cultured in hanging drops to form embryonic bodies(EBs)and the resulting EBs were cultured in suspension for 6 days in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor bFGF(step 2).Subsequently the EBs were cultured in the medium containing glucagon- like peptide 1(GLP-1),hepatocyte growth factor(HGF),nerve growth factor(NGF)and nicotinamide for 10 days(step 3).After that,the EBs were dissociated into single cells,and the cells were cultured in monolayer in the presence of GLP-1,betacellulin,activin A,bFGF and nicotinamide for 10 days(step 4).Finally,the cells were cultured in low-glucose medium containing nicotinamide for 4 days(step 5).Insulin and some other islet- related genes expressions were investigated using RT-PCR and insulin expression was also investigated by DTZ- staining and immunohistochemistry.The percentage of insulin-secreting cells was evaluated by flowcytometry and insulin concentrations were measured by RIA.Results mRNA expression of insulin became visible at step 3 and more evident at step 5.Additionally,at step 5,mRNAs of glucagon,somatostatin,pancreatic polypeptide(PP), pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1(PDX-1),beta-cell E box transactivator 2(Beta2)and neurogenin 3(Ngn3) were detected.DTZ-staining positive cells and insulin immunohistochemical staining positive cells were observed. The percentage of insulin-positive cells was(24.0?2.5)%(n=6).In the presence of 5.6 mmol/L and 25 mmol/L glucose,insulin concentrations were(0.05?0.01)?g/L and(0.13?0.02)?g/L respectively(n= 6).Conclusion E14.1 mouse ES cells can be induced to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells by the 5-step model system.Insulin-secreting cells can release insulin into culture medium when treated with glucose,and insulin concentrations increase with rising concentration of glucose.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of the 14-3-3 protein overexpression on the injury of PC12 cell induced by MPP~+ and its mechanisms.Methods For expression in mammalial cells, pcDNA3.1(+)-14-3-3 plasmid was constructed and transfeeted into PC12 cell with Lipofectamine~(TM)2000. The overexpression of transfected 14-3-3 gene in PC12 cell was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting.The effects of 14-3-3 overexpressing on the cells viability,apoptotie ratio and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)as well as glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)of PC 12 cell treated with MPP~+ were measured by MTT assay,flow cytometry analysis and microplate reader respectively.Results The expression of 14-3-3 protein in transfection group(1.19?0.06)increased evidently compared with control group(0.75?0.05).And the antioxidant enzyme activity assession,MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis shows that the overexpression of 14-3-3 protein elevates the activity of SOD(transfection group:(9.13? 0.41)U/mg protein,MPP~+ group:(6.45?0.52)U/mg protein)and GSH-Px(transfection group: (89.66?3.42)?mol/mg,protein MPP~+ group:(82.73?4.15)?mol/mg protein),increases the cell viability(transfection group:0.78?0.06,MPP~+ group:0.54?0.07),and inhibits cell apoptosis (transfeetion group:11.87%?3.26%,MPP~+ group:36.30%?2.39%)of PC12 induced by MPP~. Conclusion The overexpression of 14-3-3 protein could elevate the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px,reduce oxidant stress,alleviate MPP~+ toxicity,and thus inhibit the apoptosis of PC12 cell induced by MPP~+.