AIM: To observe the effects of six common traditional Chinese herbs of activating blood, paeoniae rubra radix, salviae miltiorrhizae radix, ligustici, rhizome, notoginseng radix, pruni persicae semen and wine staemed radix et rhizome, on atherosclerotic plaque structure and stabilization in ApoE gene-deficient mice. METHODS: Four sections of the aortic root were choosen and stained with hematoxylin and masson. All sections were measured with Image-ProDR○ Plus Version 4.5.1 (IPP) software. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, plaque area corrected by cross-sectional vessel wall area reduced significantly in salviae miltirrhizae radix treatment group, lipid core area reduced in paeoniae rubra radix group, pruni persicae semen and wine steamed radix et rhizome treatment group, minimum thickness of fibrous cap became thicker significantly in salviae miltiorrhizae radix, ligustici, rhizome, pruni persicae semen and wine steamed radix et rhizome treatment group. CONCLUSION: These Chinese herbs may stabilize the atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE gene-deficient mice by interfering their structure, but their effects do not parallel with their activating blood efficacy in traditional Chinese medicine.

Background Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)is a cation channel isolated from the eyespot of Chlamydomonas algae and has been used to control neuron activity.The light stimulation is a more precise fashion whether space or time than that of electrical,magnetic and ultrasound stimulation. Objective This study was to construct a replication deficient recombinant adenovirus cxpression vector of ChR2 and to determine its function.Methods Human embryo kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line was cultured and passaged in DF12 medium containing 10％ fetal bovine serum(FBS).The ChR2 gene was cloned at the downstream of cytomegalovirus(CMV)promoter of the adenoviral shuttle plasmid pSB291 in sense direction,and the resultant recombinant plasmid pSB291-hChR2- GFP was transfected into HEK293 cell together with plasmid pBHG lox ( deltaE1,3 ) containing adenoviral genome,then small amounts replication deficient recombinant adenovirus expression vector of ChR2 (Ad-ChR2) was obtained.Through amplification gradient centrifugation and dialysis,pure Ad-ChR2 was obtained.Visual cortex cells derived from 4 1-day-old clean Long Evans rats were primary cultured with serum-free culture media and infected by AdChR2.When expressing green fluorescencc,those cells received the stimulated of blue light with 460 nm.Patch clamp technique was applied to record an action potential. Results After purification and concentration,the titer of AdhCHR2 reached 7.9×1010 PFU/ml.Twenty-four hours after transfect of Ad-ChR2,HEK293 cell membrane showed the green fluorescence for the recombinant plasmid with green fluorescence protein under the inversed fluorescence microscope.The HEK293 cells change their shape from flat to round 13 days after transfected.The primary cultured visual cortex cells exhibited the green fluorescence 3-5 days after infected by Ad-ChR2.The action potentials evoked by blue light stimulation were recorded with patch clamp on those cells expressing green fluorescence. Conclusions Ad-ChR2 expressing vector is constructed successfully in this study.It is verified that Ad-ChR2 expressing vector can infect visual cortex cells with visual function.This result is very important for visual plasticity study.

Adolescent ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dystonic Disorders ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Objective To elucidate the electrophysiological features of POEMS syndrome. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the electrophysiological findings of 22 patients of POEMS, and compared their results with those of 22 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Results Compared with the CIDP group, the motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in the POEMS group, but the difference was not significantstatistically (P>0.05); whereas, distal motor latency (DML) was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and terminal latency index (TLI) was significantly increased (P<0.05). The incidence rate of the nerve conduction block in the POEMS group was lower than that in the CIDP group (P<0.05). Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the tibial nerve was decreased significantly in the POEMS group as compared with the CIDP group (P<0.05), whereas CMAP of the median nerve was not significantly different (P>0.05). Abnormal electrophysiology was frequently observed in muscles of lower limbs in the POEMS group, and in comparison of upper limbs, the difference was not significant statistically (P<0.05).Conclusion In POEMS syndrome, slowing of nerve conduction velocity is more predominant in the intermediate segments of the peripheral nerve, and conduction block is rare. Abnormal nerve conduction may be correlated with limbs.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical therapeutic effects differences between acupuncture at Suliao (GV 25) and Shuigou (GV 26) on promoting regain of consciousness from coma in severe craniocerebral injury.

METHODSBased on regular emergency treatments of neurosurgery, eighty-two cases of craniocerebral injury who were under stable condition were randomly divided into an observation group (42 cases) and a control group (40 cases). Suliao (GV 25) was selected as main aupoint, while Laogong (PC 8) and Yongquan (KI 1), etc. were selected as adjuvant acupoints and Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yifeng (TE 17) and Wangu (GB 12), etc. were selected as matching acupoints in the observation group where a strong needle manipulation was applied to improve the regain of consciousness. The main acupoint of Shuigou (GV 26) along with identical adjuvant acupoints and matching acupoints in the observation group were selected in the control group with identical strong needle manipulation. The treatment was given once a day in both groups, five times per week and ten times were considered as one session. The immediate clinical symptoms after acupuncture at Suliao (GV 25) and Shuigou (GV 26) were observed as well as Glasgow coma scale (GCS) before the treatment, after 45 days and 90 days of treatment to assess the resuscitation time and rate. Also the clinical efficacy was compared between both groups.

RESULTSThe occurrence rate of sneezing reflex was 85.7% (36/42) in the observation group, which was higher than 25.0% (10/40) in the control group (P < 0.01). The average resuscitation time was (64.6 +/- 19.4) days in the observation group, which was obviously shorter than (73.8 +/- 14. 6) days in the control group (P < 0.05). The resuscitation rate was 88.1% (37/42) in the observation group, which was similar to 75.0% (30/40) in the control group (P > 0.05). Compared before the treatment, GCS were both improved after the treatment in two groups (both P < 0.01). The 90-day GCS was 9.52 +/- 2.32 in the observation group, which was superior to 8.47 +/-2.14 in the control group (P < 0.05). The curative and markedly effective rate was 45.2% (19/42) in the observation group, which was superior to 22.5% (9/40) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of acupuncture at Suliao (GV 25) on improving regain of consciousness from coma in severe craniocerebral injury is positive. It could specifically improve sneezing reflex and stimulate respiratory center, which has more obvious effect than acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coma ; etiology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Consciousness ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of azosemide in patients with edema and ascites.

METHODSA multicentral, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was applied. All 223 patients (cardiac edema 92, hepatogenic edema 63, renal edema 68) were randomized to azoesmide and furosemide group, and all patients were treated for 2 weeks. Patients with cardiac or renal edema took azosemide (30 mg/d) or furosemide (20 mg/d); patients with hepatogenic edema took azosemide (60 mg/d) or furosemide (40 mg/d). The dosage were adjusted to azosemide 60 mg/d (cardiac, renal edema), 90 mg (hepatogeic edema); or furosemide 40 mg/d (cardiac, renal edema), 60 mg (hepatogeic edema), if diuretic effects were not obtained at the end of third day.

RESULTSAt the end of the study, the weight changes were (2.87+/-3.10) kg and (2.81 +/-2.84) kg; the total effective rate of edema lessen was 89.19% and 89.81%; the total effective rate of heart function improvement was 64.44% and 66.66%; the 24 h urine output increased (321.85 +/-669.52) ml and (273.80 +/-645.72) ml for azosemide and furosemide, respectively. The total effective rate of ascites lessen (tested by B-ultrasound) was 89.28% and 86.66%; abdominal girth decreased (5.20 +/-3.58) cm and (5.03 +/-3.74) cm for azosemide and furosemide, respectively. The adverse event rate was 23.01% in azosemide group and 21.01% in furosemide group; the main adverse effects were hypokalemia, hyperuricemia, hypertriglyceridemia and thirsty.

CONCLUSIONAzosemide could effectively lessen edema, improve heart function and decrease ascitesûit is well tolerated and is particularly useful for the diuretic treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ascites ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Diuretics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Edema ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Edema, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; complications ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sulfanilamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of tumor markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for meningeal carcinomatosis (MC).

METHODSTwenty-one MC patients (including 13 adenocarcinoma and 8 non-adenocarcinoma patients), 72 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 23 with primary intracerebral tumors (PIT) were enrolled in this study. Blood and CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA72-4, CYFRA21-1, AFP and NSE were measured by Roche E170 electrochemiluminescence analyzer and sandwich assay.

RESULTSCSF tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA199 and CYFRA21-1 and the serum tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA153, CA199 and AFP were significantly higher in MC group than in the other two groups. CSF CEA and CA15-3 were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma MC than in non-adenocarcinoma MC patients, but no significant differences were found in the serum tumor markers between the two groups (P>0.05). CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA72-4 and CYFRA21-1 were positively correlated to the serum tumor markers (P<0.05). CA199 was positively correlated to the disease course (P<0.05), and age was not correlated to any of the indexes (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetection of the tumor markers in the CSF, especially CEA, CA125, CA19-9 and CYFRA21-1, may help in the early diagnosis of MC. CEA and CA15-3 can serve as indicators for differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; cerebrospinal fluid ; CA-125 Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

In this paper, a new, fully-automatic method for the quantification of brain atrophy based on CT volume data is put forward by taking advantage of the characteristics of cerebral CT images in combination with the prior medical knowledge. This algorithm has been verified through the calculation of 2388 cases of normal and brain atrophy subjects.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Autoanalysis ; methods ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Pick Disease of the Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of cystis vesicular seminalis induced by the obstruction of the distal end of the ejaculatory duct.

METHODSFrom November 2005 to December 2006,12 cases of cystis vesicular seminalis ( [2.3 +/- 1.1] cm) were diagnosed by semen analysis (as on the seminal volume, pH and fructose), transrectal palpation and ultrasonography. All cases were treated by transurethral incision or resection of the obstructive ejaculatory duct till milky semen discharged.

RESULTSThe cysts were significantly reduced ([1.0 +/- 0.8] cm, P < 0.05) in all the 12 cases and no complications were observed during the follow-up 1, 3 and 12 months later.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral electrotomy is a simple and effective method for the treatment of cystis vesicular seminalis induced by the obstruction of the ejaculatory duct.

Adult ; Cysts ; etiology ; surgery ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genital Diseases, Male ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Seminal Vesicles ; pathology ; surgery ; Urethra ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether tacrine and donepezil can prevent apoptosis induced by Lipopolysaccharides.

METHODSPhase-contrast microscopes was used to observe the morphological changes of Vero cells. Cell counting kit-8 was used to measure cell survival vitro. DNA fragment was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis to determine the apoptotic biochemical changes.

RESULTSVero cells treated with 400 microg/ml and 500 microg/ml Lipopolysaccharides exhibited cell apoptosis. 10 micromol/L tacrine provided protective effect to 500 microg/ml Lipopolysaccharides induced cell apoptosis measured by Phase-contrast microscopes, cell counting kit-8 and DNA fragment analyze. However, donepezil did not show any protective effect of the apoptosis induced by 500 microg/ml Lipopolysaccharides.

CONCLUSIONLipopolysaccharides can induce apoptosis in Vero cells to built an apoptotic model in vitro. Tacrine rather than donepezil can inhibit Lipopolysaccharides induced apoptosis in Vero cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Count ; statistics & numerical data ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Drug Antagonism ; HeLa Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hepatitis B ; pathology ; Humans ; Indans ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Tacrine ; pharmacology ; Vero Cells