Objective To explore the diagnostic significance of differential cell count in induced sputum to chronic cough and assessment of airway inflammation.Methods The sputum of 335 chronic cough patients were induced.Differential cell counts were measured in these samples.The side effects were observed during the induced procedure.The final diagnosis was made based on clinical manifestation and examination findings including pulmonary function tests,provocation test,induced sputum cell differentials, etc.Results The cause of chronic cough was defined in 322 patients.The six most important causes of cough were typical asthma(TA,n=84),eosinophilic bronchitis (EB,n=62),atopic cough (AC,n= 42),cough variant asthma (CVA,n=40),gastroesophageal reflux cough(GERC,n=37),rhinitis and/ or paranasal sinusitis (PNDs,n=32),and others and indefinite cause (n=25,13).Percentage of eosinophils were significantly increased in the induced sputum of AC,EB,CVA,and GERC patients (0.005,0.052,0.059,0.234) compared with those in other causes and the healthy controls (0) (P

Objective To discuss the ability of 64 slices CT to display the image of peripancreatic vessels. Methods 105 patients underwent abdomen enhancement scans. The scan data of aterial phase and venous phase were reconstructed respectively, the peripancreatic vessels were displayed by means of volume rendering (VR) and multiplanar volume reconstructions (MPVR). The percentage of successful display of the peripancreatic vessels were calculated. Results ①The display frequency of the peripancreatic big arteries and veins, including celiac trunk artery(CTA), common hepatic artery (CHA), 1eft gastric artery(LGA), splenic artery (SA), gastroduodenal artery (GDA), right gastloepiploic artery(RGEA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA), portal vein(PV), superiormesenteric vein(SMV), spleenic vein (SV)was 100%. ②The display frequency of small arteries including superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PSPDA), inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (PIPDA), dorsal pancreatic artery (PDA), transverse pancreatic artery (PTA), pancreaticomegana artery (PMA) and caudal pancreatic artery (PCA) ranged from 43.3% to 97.20%,while of the posteriorsuperior pancreaticoduodenal vein (PSPDV) and posterior-inferior pancreaticoduodenal vein (PIPDV) was 71.4% and 30.5% respectively. ③The display frequency of the peripancreatic small vessels by the multiplanar volume reconstruction (MPVR) was higher than that of the volume rendering (VR)(P＜0.05). Conclusions Multislice CT can display the peripancreatic peripancreatic vessels. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the display frequency of the peripancreatic small vessels between the MPVR and VR reconstruction methods.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in onset time and the overall efficacy of the acupuncture therapy of dredging Governor Vessel and regulating mentality combined with fluoxetine and the fluoxetine for post-stroke depression(PSD).

METHODSSixty-three patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture intervention of dredging Governor Vessel and regulating mentality group(acupuncture and medication group, 33 cases) and a control group (medication group, 30 cases). In the medication group, 20 mg fluoxetine was used by oral administration, once a day at 7:00 in the morning, continuously for 4 weeks. In the acupuncture and medication group, based on the oral administration of fluoxetine, the acupuncture intervention of dredging Governor Vessel and regulating mentality was applied mainly at Baihui(GV 20), Fengfu(GV 16), Shenting(GV 24), Shuigou(GV 26), Dazhui(GV 14) and Shendao(GV 11), once a day, 6 times a week, continuously for 4 weeks. Twenty-four items in Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD), modified Edinburgh Scandinavia Stroke Scale(MESSS) and activity of daily life scale(ADL, Barthel index, BI) were used before and after 2-week and 4-week treatment. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter 2-week treatment, the HAMD score and the MESSS score in the acupuncture and medication group were obviously decreased and the BI score was apparently increased(all P<0. 01). In the medication group, however, the score of every scale was not statistically different from that before treatment(P'>0. 05). After 4-week treatment, HAMD scores and MESSS scores in the two groups were obviously decreased and the BI scores I were apparently increased(all P<0. 01). After 2-week and 4-week treatment, the HAMD scores and the MESSS scores in the acupuncture and medication group were lower than those in the medication group and the BI scores were higher than those in the medication group(P<0. 01, P<0. 05). The total effective rate of anti-depression (97. 0%, 32/33) the total effective rate of nerve function impairment(90. 9%, 30/33) and the total effective rate of daily life activity(97. 0% 32/33) in the acupuncture and medication group were better than 80. 0% (24/30), 80. 0%(24/30), 83. 3%(25/30) in the medication group(all P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture therapy of dredging Governor Vessel and regulating mentality could reduce the onset time of anti-depression medicine treatment of PSD and enhance the overall efficacy. Therefore, it enhances the clinical compliance.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in cervical carcinoma and their clinical significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in 72 cases of invasive carcinoma of cervix (ICC) and 16 cases of normal cervical epithelium remote from tumor (NCE), and the relationship between the expressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ICC and some factors relating to clinical pathology of cervical carcinoma such as histopathological grading, lymph node metastasis, stroma involvement and FIGO staging were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe rates of positive expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 in ICC were significantly higher than those in NCE. COX-2: 88.9% in group ICC and 12.5% in group NCE, P = 0.000. MMP-9: 94.4% in group ICC and 43.8% in group NCE, P = 0.000. The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and stroma involvement (r = 0.296, P = 0.012 in group ICC and r = 0.257, P = 0.029 in group NCE, respectively). The expression of MMP-9 was positively correlated with FIGO staging (r = 0.329, P = 0.005) and histopathological grading (r = 0.351, P = 0.003). The expression of COX-2 was positively correlated with the expression of MMP-9 in ICC (r = 0.297, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONThe overexpressions of COX-2 and MMP-9 are closely related to the invasion and growth of cervical carcinoma. The tissue with overexpression of COX-2 has strong invasion ability. COX-2 and MMP-9 have synergistic effect on proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Detecting the expression of both COX-2 and MMP-9 may be of value in further understanding the biological behavior and predicting the prognosis of cervical carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the extent of retinal vascular development and influencing factors at birth and the relation between retinal vascularization and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODSFrom October, 2006 to December 2006, retinal vascularization was screened and evaluated in 84 neonates at different weeks of gestation and birth weights (BWs), had dilated fundus evaluation for zone of retinal vascularization by the 130 degrees lens of a digital fundus camera. The infants' pupils were dilated with 2.5% phenylephrine and 0.5% cyclopentolate eye drops. The study cohort was divided into subgroups depending on the weeks of gestation and birth weights. The control group consisted of healthy term infants. Maternal and neonatal factors were ascertained and analysed.

RESULTSVascularization up to zone I and II was considered to be immature retina; vascularization up to zone III or beyond was considered to be mature retina. In this study, 11 of 12 infants who were born at < 30 weeks of gestation, 12 of 26 infants who were born at < 31 approximately 33 weeks of gestation, 1 of 26 babies who were born at < 34 approximately 36 weeks of gestation and none of 20 babies who were born at < 37-40 weeks of gestation had immature retina; 12 of 15 babies at < 1500 g BW, 8 of 14 infants at 1500 g < BW < 1700 g, 4 of 11 infants at 1700 g < BW < 2000 g and of 44 infants at > 2000 g BW had immature retina. Those infants who were born at > 34 weeks of gestational age and at > 2000 g BW had mature retina. Infants who were born between 31 to 34 weeks of gestation and at 1501 to 2000 g BW had variable extent of retinal vascularization at birth. Vascularization was associated with postconceptional age (F = 31.9193, P = 0.000), birth weight (F = 32.4532, P = 0.000), anemia (F = 36.9391, P = 0.000), surfactant (F = 24.000, P = 0.0000), poor nutrition (F = 4.184, P = 0.041), RDS (F = 17.6191, P = 0.000), cesarean delivery (F = 10.972, P = 0.0022) and oxygen > 48 h (F = 22.076, P = 0.0000). Vascularization was affected mainly by the postconceptional age (95% CI = 1.57-261.728, P = 0.021). At last, 15/24 infants with immature retina developed ROP while none of the infants with mature retina developed ROP (chi2 = 45.1087, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThere is considerable variability in the extent of retinal vascularization in infants who we born between 31 to 34 weeks of gestation. Modifiable maternal and fetal factors could influence extent of vascularization at birth. Immature retina is the critical factor of ROP. Gestational age is the main factor of the immature retina in premature infants.

Birth Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Retina ; anatomy & histology ; Retinal Vessels ; growth & development

Objective To assess mucin gene expression in Barrett's esophagus.Methods Mucin core protein-MUC1,MUC2,MUC3,MUCSAC and MUC6 were detected by immunohistochemistry.The re- lationship between mucin expression and magnification-endoscopic characteristics,pathohistologic epithelial types of Barrett's esophagus was analyzed.Results Mild expression of MUC1 was predominantly found in the superficial epithelium of both gastric and specialised intestinal metaplasia.In a small number of specimens, mild expression of MUC1 was also noted in glands.Strong MUC2 expression was noted only in the goblet cells in Barrett's oesophagus.MUC3 was expressed in the superficial columnar cells of specialized intestinal metaplasia with or without globlet cells but not in gastric metaplasia of the oesophagus.In some specimens MUC3 was expressed in the vacuolus of the globlet cells and the lumen of gland.Strong staining of MUCSAC was noted in the columnar epithelium of both gastric metaplasia and specialized intestinal metaplasia in Barrett's oesophagus,as well as expressed in the cytoplasm and vacuolus of the globlet cells in some speci- mens.Expression of MUC6 protein was detected at the basement of the crypts in gastric metaplasia and spe- cialised Barrett's glands.Expression of MUC2 and MUC3 protein was found much higher in villous or irregu- lar pit pattern than that in dot or rod pit pattern(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of gene expression profile in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder T24 cell after crocin treatment, in order to find the possible crocin targets.

METHODThe bladder cancer T24 cell line was treated with crocin. MTT assay was adopted to determine the inhibition rate for selecting the best effect time and concentration of crocin. Differentially expressed genes on groups with or without treatment of crocin were screened with high throughout cDNA microarray. One up-regulated gene p21(WAF1) and one down-regulated gene cyclinD1 were selected to undergo analysis by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, immunocytochemical method was used to evaluate p21(WAF1) and cyclinD1 protein expression.

RESULTThe growth of T24 cells was inhibited remarkably following a marked positive correlation between crocin concentration, time and inhibitor rate. When 3 mmol x L(-1) crocin treated T24 cells for 48h, the difference was significant compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Crocin induced wide changes of the gene expression profile of T24 cells. A total of 836 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated by more than 2 times, which were involved cell cycle controlling, DNA cell apoptosis, replication factor, and so on. The mRNA expression of p21(WAF1) and cyclinD1 detected by RT-PCR were in accordance with cDNA microarray data. The results of immunocytochemical method showed that p21(WAF1) and cyclinD1 protein expression were consistent with those mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONCrocin can induce the significant alteration of gene expression profile of T24 cell. It is suggested that the widly konwn anti-tumor effects of crocin are medicated at least in part by regulating the cell cycle controlling gene expression.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) RNA interference (RNAi) on biological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721 and on apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).

METHODSSmall hairpin hTERT (shTERT) sequence was identified by PCR method; hTERT expressions, morphological features, cell proliferation and replicative senescence were respectively determined using RT-PCR, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, growth curve and beta-galactosidase (b-Gal) staining; cell cycle and apoptosis were identified using flow cytometry after propidium iodide (PI) staining and annexin V/PI double staining.

RESULTSshRNA were found in 6/8 HepG2 and 6/6 SMMC-7721 cell clones transformed by the recombined plasmid pSilencer 3.1-H1 neo-shTERT. The interference rates of hTERT on HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were 100% and 43.3% respectively. Cells in G2-M phases increased from 7.1% to 10.6% and from 6.9% to 7.9% respectively; and the percentage of replicative senenscence cells increased from 0 to 20.4% and from 3.6% to 10.0% respectively. The nucleus/cytoplasm ratios of the cells were obviously decreased after hTERT RNAi treatment. Moreover, apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and apoptosis induced by TRAIL were strikingly increased by hTERT RNAi (P < 0.05). For example, apoptosis rates were increased from 3.5% to 5.2% in HepG2 cells and from 4.8% to 7.9% in SMMC-7721 cells after hTERT RNAi treatment. Apoptosis rates were increased from 5.3% to 10.4% in HepG 2 cells and from 13.9% to 77.2% in SMMC-7721 cells after being treated by 100 ng/ml TRAIL for 24 h. However, there were no remarkable changes between control cells and untransformed cells.

CONCLUSIONhTERT RNAi not only has a significant effect on biological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, but also obviously can increase cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of combined therapy with Xuezhikang Capsule (XZK) and Valsartan on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in hypertensive patients.

METHODSNinety primary hypertensive patients with LVH were randomly assigned to three groups. Basic treatment, including aspirin, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, etc. were administered to all patients. Additionally, Valsartan (VS, 80 mg once a day) was given to the 30 patients in the VS group. Valsartan (in the same dosage) and XZK (600 mg, twice a day) were given to the 32 patients in the Chinese medicine (CM) group, while none was given to the 28 patients in the control group. The therapeutic course lasted for 24 months. Changes in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by cardiac ultrasonic indices, HRT parameters, including the original heart rate (TO) and slope coeffificient (TS), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP), as well as blood cholesterol level (TC) were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, TO and LVMI were lowered, while TS increased in both the VS group and the CM group (P<0.01), but changed insignificantly in the control group. Significant differences between the CM group and the control group were shown in terms of TO, LVMI, SBP, DBP and TS (P<0.01); and between the CM group and the VS group in terms of TO, LVMI and TS (P<0.01). Moreover, HRT parameters showed an evident correlation with LVMI (r=0.519-0.635, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined therapy with XZK and Valsartan can improve hypertensive LVH and HRT parameters, and lessen the damage on the autonomous nervous system.

Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Capsules ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Valine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between mitochondrial DNA instability (mtMSI) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) activity in gastric mucosa of various lesions.

METHODSIL-8 level in gastric mucosa was assayed using ELISA method. The mtMSI was detected by PCR-SSCP techniques.

RESULTSmtMSI was observed in 11 out of 30 (36.7%) gastric cancers, 2 of 15 (13.3%) intestinal metaplasia, 2 of 10 dysplasia and 1 of 10 chronic atrophic gastritis. IL-8 level in mtMSI+ group [(76.8 +/- 3.8) pg/mg] was significantly higher than that in mtMSI- group [(48.3 +/- 3.6) pg/mg, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONmtMSI closely correlates with IL-8 level in gastric mucosa and is involved in gastric carcinogenesis.

DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genomic Instability ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism