Objective To investigate the effect of partial body-weight supported treadmill training ( PBW- STT) on function of lower limbs, walk function, ADL performance and quality of life of hemiplegic patient induced by cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 132 cerebral infarction patients were divided into a control group (n = 69) and a training group( n = 63) randomly. Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation therapy, and the training group accepted PBWSTT at the same time in addition. Both groups were evaluated with regard to their walking ability, func- tion of lower limbs, ADL performance and their quality of life by using Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) , Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) , Barthel index (BI) and SF-36 before and after rehabilitation treatment. Results The function of lower limb, walking ability, ADL performance and the quality of life of both groups were improved significantly after treatment, and those in the training group were improved to a significantly greater extent than those in the control group ( P

OBJECTIVETo provide a convenient method for screening obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in pregnant women.

METHODSSeventy-eight pregnant women with suspected OSAHS were calculated for the EP index using Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) with also measurement of the neck circumference (NC) and body mass index (BMI). The apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated and the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) measured through a 7-h polysomnography (PSG). The women were then divided into 4 groups according to the AHI and LSaO(2). The ESS was compared with the PSG-AHI and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was generated.

RESULTSAll the clinical indexes (NC, BMI, EP, AHI, and LSaO(2)) showed significant differences between the 4 groups (P<0.05). EP and PSG were found to have greater correlations to AHI (r=0.759, P=0.000) than NC (r=0.668) and BMI (r=0.663). The area under the ROC of the EP (0.825) was greater than that of NC (0.772) and BMI (0.784). The index of EP showed greater clinical diagnostic value of OSAHS in pregnancy. Base on the ROC, EP at the optimal operating point of 7.5 had a sensitivity of 76.8% and specificity of 68.2% for diagnosis of OSAHS in pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONThe ESS is an economic and convenient method for screening OSAHS in pregnant women with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Polysomnography ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate whether mitochondrial calcium uniporter participates in the cardioprotection of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) pretreatment in isolated rat hearts subjected to ischemia/reperfusion.

METHODSIsolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 30 min regional ischemia (occlusion of left anterior descending artery) and 120 min reperfusion. The infarct size, coronary flow (CF) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release during reperfusion were measured. The mitochondria of the heart were isolated and suspended in the swelling buffer for measurement of absorbance at 520 nm.

RESULTSPretreatment with TNFa at 10 U/ml for 7 min followed by 10 min washout reduced the infarct size and LDH release, and improved the recovery of CF during reperfusion. Administration of spermine (20 micromol/L), an opener of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, for 10 min during early reperfusion attenuated the reduction of infarct size and LDH release, and improvement of CF induced by TNFalpha. In isolated mitochondria of the heart pretreated with TNFalpha, the absorbance at 520 nm decreased less than that of mitochondria without TNFalpha pretreatment. Administration of spermine (50 micromol/L) attenuated the change of the absorbance induced by TNFalpha.

CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate that TNFalpha protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via inhibiting mitochondrial calcium uniporter opening as well as mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

To construct a TK-/gG- mutant of pseudorabies virus, the gG-detected transfer vector pUSKKBB and genomic DNA of pseudorabies virus TK-/gG-/LacZ+ were co-transfected into IBRS-2 cells. Transfection progeny were plated onto PK-15 cells and incubated for 2 days under methylcellulose. Then the overlay was removed and replaced by 1% low melting point agarose in DMEM supplemented with 150 microg/mL X-gal. After 2 days, white plaques were screened for and purified 4 times. By PCR amplification of gG-deleted gene and LacZ gene, a recombinant virus with TK-/gG- phenotype was confirmed. Sequence of the PCR product revealed that there were 1,176 bp detection in gG gene of the PRV TK-/gG- mutant. Amplifying the gG-deleted gene of different generations of the TK-/gG- mutant showed that the mutant was stable within PK-15 cells. TCID50 assay indicated that the recombinant virus grows well on PK-15 cells. The mice immunized with the TK-/gG- virus showed no sign of abnormality. As a control, all mice inoculated with PRV strain died from the infection. All mice that received TK-/gG- survived after a lethal PRV challenge. However none of the mice injected with phosphate-buffer saline (PBS) survived from the challenge. The above results demonstrated that the recombinant virus could be a candidate marker vaccine strain for eradicating pseudorabies in pig herds.
Animals ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mutation ; Pseudorabies Vaccines ; immunology ; Swine ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of expression of platelet membrane glycoprotein CD31, CD61 and CD62p in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into decompression sickness group and normal control group. The animals in decompression sickness group were exposed to 600 kPa compressed air for 60 minute, then they were rapidly decompressed to normal pressure in one minute. At 60th minute after reducing to normal pressure, the expression of CD31, CD61 and CD62p on platelet membrane in mice was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe mean fluorescence intensity of CD31, CD61 and positive percentage of CD62p on platelet membrane [(18.64 +/- 1.01), (271.06 +/- 24.25), (4.48% +/- 0.43%) respectively] in decompression sickness group were significantly increased compared with normal control group [(16.89 +/- 1.69), (234.09 +/- 15.96), (3.00% +/- 0.66%) respectively] (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONInadequately rapid decompression may induce up regulation of platelet membrane glycoprotein CD31, CD61 and CD62p expression in mice, which may lead to thrombosis.

Animals ; Blood Platelets ; chemistry ; Decompression Sickness ; blood ; Female ; Integrin beta3 ; blood ; Mice ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

AIM:To investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5(ERK5) in platelet aggrega-tion in vitro and arterial thrombosis in vivo. METHODS:The expression and phosphorylation levels of ERK5 in human platelet were detected by Western blot. The effects of ERK5 selective inhibitor XMD8-92 on platelet aggregation and dense granule secretion were detected by Chrono-Log aggregometer. The effect of ERK5 on in vivo thrombosis was analyzed using an FeCl3artery thrombosis model. The effects of XMD8-92 on protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) phosphorylation levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:ERK5 was stably expressed in human platelets and its phosphorylation level increased significantly after platelet activation (P<0.05). XMD8-92,a selective inhibitor of ERK5,inhibited platelet aggregation and dense granule secretion in response to several platelet stimulators (P<0.05). The results of Western blot showed that XMD8-92 inhibited Akt phosphorylation level by down-regulating PTEN Ser370 phosphorylation and enhancing PTEN activity. The pathway was further confirmed u-sing platelet specific PTEN deficiency mice. The first occlusion time was obviously extended in the mice intravenously given XMD8-92 in the FeCl3-induced carotid artery injury model. CONCLUSION:ERK5 plays a role in platelet activation and arterial thrombosis by influencing PTEN and Akt phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the expression of Ang2, Tie2 and the angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. METHODS: Thirty-eight healthy male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 5 rats in the control group; 25 rats in the experimental group were equally divided into 5-day, 10-day, 15-day, 20-day, and 25-day groups; the other 8 rats were used as the supplement of the experimental group. An allogenic transplanted rat model of CBRH-7919 hepatocellular carcinoma in situ was established by immunosuppression. The expressions of Ang2 and Tie2 were detected by immunohistochemical staining in cancerous tissues of different developmental stages and liver tissues of the control group. At the same time, microvessel density was determined by anti-CD31 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: CBRH-7919 hepatocellular carcinoma models were successfully set up in 24 rats. The expression level of Ang2 and Tie2 in cancerous tissues was much higher than that of liver tissues of the control group (P <0.05). The overexpression of Ang2 was pristine and continuous in different developmental stages. The expressions of Ang2 and Tie2 positively correlated with microvessal density in hepatocellular carcinoma (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The up-regulation of Ang2 and Tie2 may play important roles in the angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Ang2 may participate in the start of angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Angiopoietin-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Animals ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) and preeclampsia and the possible pathogenesis of the latter.

METHODSTwenty-five healthy pregnant women, 43 pregnant women with preeclampsia, and 27 with preeclampsia complicated by SAHS were enrolled in this study. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO2) were measured through a 7-hour polysomnography (PSG), and the maternal age, gestational age, body mass index and 24-hour urine protein were recorded.

RESULTSAll the indexes except for the maternal age and gestational age showed significant differences between the 3 groups. The two groups of preeclampsia patients showed a significant difference in BMI from the control cases. Significant positive correlations of AHI to BMI, MAP and 24-hour urine protein were noted; LSaO2 was found to inversely correlate to BMI, MAP, and 24-hour urine protein. In spite of the significant correlation of BMI to the other indexes, we found that BMI was less important than AHI and LSaO2.

CONCLUSIONSAHS may induce or aggravate preeclampsia. Greater attention should be given to the presence of SAHS in pregnant women with obesity, but obesity is not the predominant predisposing factor for preeclampsia.

Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Polysomnography ; Pre-Eclampsia ; blood ; etiology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; blood ; complications ; physiopathology ; Snoring ; physiopathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

The dialysis method was employed to load adriamycin into the micelles formed by temperature and pH sensitive polyhistidine-co-DL-lactide-co-glycolide-polyethylene glycol poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-histidine (OLH-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-OLH). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer was measured with pyrene fluorescent probe method under different temperatures. The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were determined with dialysis method. The diameter, morphology and surface potential of the copolymer micelles were investigated by corresponding instruments, respectively. The release behavior of adriamycin from copolymer micelles and the pH sensitivity were studied. The CMC of the copolymers ranged from 0.022 4 to 0.001 7 microg x mL(-1). The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were 92.8% and 15.7%, respectively. The micelles have a mean diameter of (61.7 +/- 13.4) nm, and zeta potential was -9.88 mV. The in vitro adriamycin release rate increased with the pH dropping from 7.4 to 5.0. The results indicated that the CMC of the copolymers decreased as the raising of temperature, drug release behavior from the micelles possessed clearly pH sensitivity, and the copolymers may have a potential in targeted delivery system for anticancer drugs.
Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Micelles ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglactin 910 ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the best dose and the long-term effect of the human insulin-like growth factor-1 (hIGF-1) gene injection into the penis of aged rats.

METHODSIncluded in this study were 10 young (4 months old) and 40 aged (24 months old) Sprague-Dawley male rats, the latter equally divided into a PBS control and a 10 microg, a 100 microg and a 1 000 microg hIGF-1 injection group. Electrical stimulation was conducted 4 and 8 weeks after hIGF-1 injection into the penile corpus cavernous of the rats to detect the intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Dose - and time -associated therapeutic results were analyzed and the mRNA expression of hIGF-1 determined by RT - PCR.

RESULTSICP, MAP and total ICP were significant decreased by electrical stimulation in the aged rats as compared with the young ones (P < 0.05), statistically increased in the three hIGF-1 dose groups in comparison with the PBS controls (P < 0.05), and showed no obvious difference between the young rats and the latter two dose groups at 4 and 8 weeks. Although less obvious effect was achieved in the 10 microg group than in the young rats, the therapeutic result was still of significance. The mRNA expression of the hIGF-1 gene was confirmed in all the hIGF-1 treated rats.

CONCLUSIONThe hIGF-1 therapy can improve erectile function in aged rats, 100 microg suffices for effective erection and the effect may last at least 8 weeks for a single dose.

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erectile Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Penis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Plasmids ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors