Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygenation(HBO)therapy on serum con- centrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(slCAM-1),soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(sV- CAM-1),soluble E-selectin(sE-selectin)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in patients with aeute cerebral infarction and their clinical implications.Methods One hundred and twelve cases of cerehral infarction in the ca- rotid artery system were assigned into two groups.Patients in the routine treatment group(RT group,n=62)were treated with routine clinical treatment regime,whereas those in the HBO group(n=50)were treated with H BO ther- apy in additioo to routine clinical treatment.Thirty age- and sex-matched normal subjects were recruited and served as controls.The serum concentrations of sICAM-1,sVCAM-1,sE-selectin and MMP-9 were measured hy using ELISA method before and 10 days after treatment.The assessment of neurological deficits using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score was conducted before treatment,and at 10 and 30 days after treatment,and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated.Results The concentrations of sICAM-1,sVCAM-1,sE-selectin and MMP-9 of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control subjects.These parameters were all decreased signifi- cantly after treatment in the two patient groups.Moreover,these parameters were lower in the HBO group than those in the RT group after treatment.The NIHSS scores of HBO group were significantly lower than that of the RT group at the 30th clay post-treatment.The effective rate of HBO group was higher than that of RT group.Conclusion HBO therapy can decrease the serum levels of sICAM-1,sVCAM-1,sE-seleetin and MMP-9,which might be one of the mechanisms of HBO in the treatment of cerebral infarction.

Plasma ghrelin level was measured by RIA in 49 grids with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP)and 35 girls with simple premature thelarche(PT).The results showed that the plasma ghrelin level was negatively correlated with Tanner stage,bone age,Lid at 15,30 and 60 min after GnRH activation, uterus and ovary volumes.The plasma ghrelin level in the ICPP group was remarkably lower than that in the PT and control groups(both P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of CKJ Recipe (consisting of Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide, amygdaloside, and gypenosides) containing serum on the activation of rat primary hepatic stellate cells (rHSCs) and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSrHSCs were isolated form liver and cultured for four days. Then they were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the CKJ group. rHSCs in the model group and the CKJ group were treated with 2.5 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in serum-free DMEM for 24 h. Serum free DMEM (containing no TGF-beta1) was taken as the control for the normal control group. rHSCs in the CKJ group were treated with 5% CKJ-containing serum for 24 h. rHSCs in the other two groups were treated with 5% blank serum for 24 h.The protein expression level of a smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was determined using high throughput screening (HCS) and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, collagen I (Col-I), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-betaR), TGF-beta1, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-betaR1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-beta R2) were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR1, and TGF-betaR2 significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta R2 significantly decreased in the CKJ group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCKJ containing serum could inhibit the protein expression level of o-SMA, which was probably related with inhibiting TGF-beta1 and its related receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore method of recombinant gene lentivirus containing LIM mineralization protein-1 (LMP-1) in transfecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC), and to observe the effect of gene LMP-1 on proliferation effect and expression of BMSC.

METHODSSix clean SD rats aged 4 weeks were selected, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted under sterile conditions and cultured to the third generation, then divided into three groups:control group (the third generation of BMSC), lentiviral vector transfection group (PGC-FU-GFP and Polybrene were injected into the third generation of BMSC) and recombinant gene transfection group (PGC-FU-LMP-1-GFP and Polybrene transfection were injected into the third generation of BMSC). After 48 hours' transfection, fluorescent expression were detected under immuno-fluorescence microscopy; lentiviral transfection efficiency were detected by flow cytometry; effect of lentiviral transfection on BMSC were evaluated by MTT; gene expression of transfected cells were determined by Western Blot.

RESULTS1) The third generation of BMSC was cultured successfully,and transfected with MOI:100. After 48 hours, green fluorescent expression were detected and transfection efficiency was 67% under immuno-fluorescence microscopy; 2) Compared to control group, there were no statistical differences between control group and other two groups; 3) Western blot teast showed that 72KDa specific band was observed in recombinant gene transfection group and its size was similar to LMP-1 fusion protein (50 kDa+28 kDa=78 kDa).

CONCLUSIONThere is no effect of recombinant gene lentivirus containing LIM on BMSC, and can effectively influence the expression of LMP-1.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; LIM Domain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Osteoporosis ; genetics ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects between the Hwato neuro and muscle stimulator (SXDZ-100) and the regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II) on chronic functional constipation.

METHODSSixty-four cases of chronic functional constipation were randomly divided into a (SXDZ-100) observation group (n = 33) and SDZ-II control group (n = 31). For the SXDZ-100 group, under the considerations of patients' endurance, Zhigou(TE 6) and Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) were punctured and then the courle of acupoints on the same side were connected with SXDZ-100 apparatus in reinforcing and reducing by twirling and rotating manipulation wave for 30 min, while in the control group SDZ-II apparatus was applied in the same way mentioned above with disperse-dense wave at frequency of 1Hz/20Hz for 30 min. By means of clinical therapeutic effect evaluation and clinical symptom score, the contrast between two groups can be made.

RESULTSAlthough the total effective rates were both 100.0%, the rate of short term effects in SXDZ-100 group (54.6%, 18/33) is significantly higher than that in SDZ-II group (29.0%, 9/31) (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the clinical symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly (both P < 0.05). And the therapeutic effective indices of the SXDZ-100 group were significantly higher than those of the SDZ- II group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of Hwato neuro and muscle stimulator (SXDZ-100) on chronic functional constipation is superior to that of a regular electronic stimulator (SDZ-II).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Constipation ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

0.05).However,the shorter the history of the disease,the better the efficacy of the treatment.The younger the patient was,the better the efficacy of the treatment.Conclusions Vulva dystrophy can be treated with focused ultrasound effectively and safely.This approach appears to be a new promising treatment method.

ObjectiveTo investigate the quality of life (QOL) of the epilepsy patients and the factors affected the QOL.Methods200 cases were investigated using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 10 (QOLEI-10) and the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Investigate (WPSI). 200 healthy persons were chosen as normal control group. ResultsThe QOL of the patient group were significantly poor as compared with that of normal control group(P<0.01). The factors that the patients always faced with were disability in the attack control, short in money, unemployment, restriction of movement, disability in intercommunication, psychological disorder (depress, strain, anxiety, dread, shame feel, cognitional dysfunction, etc.), as well as the difficult to get professional curtains, taking medicine improperly and side effects of the medicine. Conclusions The factors mentioned, which were usually neglected by many doctors, do affect the QOL of epilepsy patients, and hinder the epilepsy treatment effectively.

Wistar rats with different levels of iodine nutrition were killed after 3,6 and 12 months of experiments.Serum thyroid hormones were assayed with RIA.The activity of typeⅠdeiodinase(DⅠ)and typeⅡdeiodinase(DⅡ)was measured based on the release of radioiodide from the ~(125)Ⅰ-labeled substrate.The result showed that hypothyroidism reflected by decreased T_4 happened during the initial phase of iodine deficiency.The activity of DⅠand DⅡin rats was raised significantly in iodine deficiency groups.An excess of iodine inhibited DⅠactivity resulting in decreased serum TT_3 and FT_3.However,DⅡactivity increased in rats with iodine excess, attributing to the inactivation of T_3 and T_4 to the substrate of DⅡenzyme.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acute phosgene inhalation on the antioxidant enzymes, nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rats.

METHODSPhosgene was produced by decomposing bis (trichdomethyl) carbonate in the presence of N,N-dimethyl formamide. SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and phosgene exposure groups. In a special experimental device with equipment modulating the gas flow, phosgene exposed rats inhaled phosgene quantitatively for five minutes. Two hours later, all the rats were sacrificed and the ratio of wet weight to dried weight of lung (WW/DW) was calculated. Peripheral blood, serum and liver were collected to examine the activities of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), NOS, and NO level. The total content of proteins were also determined.

RESULTSThe WW/DW ratio of lung in phosgene exposure group was much higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). The activities of GST in serum and liver of phosgene exposure group increased significantly (P < 0.05). The activities of SOD, CAT, GSHPx and NOS in serum or blood and liver of phosgene exposure group were also increased significantly (P < 0.05). But the content of NO was significantly decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcute phosgene inhalation may cause a dramatically changes of several antioxidant enzyme activities, and acute injury of liver to some extent in rats. The latter is related to reactive oxygen species. But the elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities suggests that antioxidative treatment for acute phosgene poisoning should not be considered first.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Chemical Warfare Agents ; poisoning ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Phosgene ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; enzymology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the apoptosis of alveolar type II cells, alterations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor (Flt1) in serum and lung and expression of VEGF mRNA in lung in pulmonary edema mice induced by phosgene.

METHODSTwenty-six BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group, exposed group (13 mice in each group). Mice of exposed group were intoxicated by inhalation of phosgene 11.9 mg/L for 5 minutes. Mice of control group were treated as the same way by inhalation of air. Isolation of mice alveolus type II cells 4 h after intoxication was carried out to observe their apoptosis under electron microscope. Contents of VEGF and Flt1 in lung and serum by ELISA, and expression of VEGF mRNA were determined.

RESULTSAlveolar type II cells were identified by tannic acid staining and electron microscopy. After exposed to 11.9 mg/L of phosgene for 5 minutes, the apoptotic body in alveolus type II cells was found in exposed group. The contents of VEGF in serum and lung and Flt1 in lung of exposed mice [(134.07 +/- 120.26), (477.76 +/- 98.06), (1,2818.48 +/- 2,304.15) pg/ml] were significantly lower than those of control group [(445.57 +/- 173.30), (1,026.87 +/- 474.56), (21,976.51 +/- 7,421.01) pg/ml, P < 0.05] but the content of Flt1 in serum [(2,369.56 +/- 381.70) pg/ml] was higher than that in control group [(1,898.00 +/- 453.69) pg/ml, P < 0.05]. The expression of VEGF mRNA in pulmonary edema mice was decreased.

CONCLUSIONPhosgene can induce apoptosis of alveolar type II cells, and decrease in the content of VEGF and Flt1, and expression of VEGF mRNA in lung.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemical Warfare Agents ; toxicity ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phosgene ; toxicity ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pulmonary Edema ; chemically induced ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; analysis ; genetics