AIM: To investigate whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) takes part in the intracellular signaling pathway involved in apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs). METHODS: Cultured HPASMCs stimulated by fibronection (40 mg/L) were passively transfected with antisense-FAK oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). Expression of FAK and caspase-3 proteins was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. In addition, apoptosis were measured by TUNEL. RESULTS: The protein expression of FAK in HPASMCs decreased and caspase-3 expression upregulated in HPASMCs in antisense-FAK ODNs group. At the same time, antisense-FAK ODNs transfection increased the rate of cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FAK may be related with the apoptosis of HPASMCs. Antisense-FAK ODNs inhibit HPASMC proliferation and may facilitate their apoptosis via caspase-3 signaling pathway.

Objective To study whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) promotes human pulmonary artery smooth cells (HPASMCs) proliferation.Methods Cultured HPASMCs stimulated by fibronectin (40 mg/L) were passively transfected with sense -FAK oligonucleotides(ODNs), FAK activity was measured by immunoprecipitation and expression of FAK protein was detected by Western blots.Meanwhile, the change of cell proliferation was measured by MTT and 3H-TdR absorbation experiment. Results The change of FAK activity and FAK protein content was dose and time dependent at diferential concentration and time passively transfected with sense-FAK ODNs in Cultured HPASMCs. At the same time, sense-FAK ODNs prompoted HPASMCs proliferation and 3H-TdR absorbation.Conclusion FAK can faciliate HPASMCs proliferation,which may play an important function in pulmonary artery hypertension development.

Objective To assess the reliability of strength of shoulder rotator cuff using a hand-held dynamometer among subjects with spinal cord injury. Methods 20 spinal cord injury subjects without shoulder pain participated in this study. A hand-held dynamometer was used to assess the strength of shoulder rotator cuff. Two therapists (A/B) obtained the strength of shoulder rotator cuff. One of the therapists assessed again 5days later. The intra- and inter-reliability (ICC) of strength of shoulder rotator was calculated. Results The strength of rotator cuff was assessed by the hand-held dynamometer. The intra-reliability of external and internal muscle strength was 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The inter-reliability was 0.91 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusion A hand-held dynamometer is a feasible and reliable tool to assess the strength of rotator cuff among subjects with spinal cord injury.

Objective Controversies remain as to the recovery time, recovery quality, and incidence of peri-recovery adverse reactions of the patient receiving general anesthesia with remifentanil and sufentanil.This study aimed to systematically assess the qual-ity of recovery from general anesthesia with remifentanil and sufentanil. Methods Randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) were re-trieved from The Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, Ovid, Springer, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wan-Fang Data.According to the modified Jadad quality scale, the literature retrieved was screened and subjected to quality evaluation and meta-analysis was performed on the included studies using the RevMan 5.1 software. Results Thirty-three RCTs involving 2175 pa-tients were finally included.The results of meta-analysis showed no significant differences between the remifentanil and sufentanil groups undergoing thyroid surgery either in the recovery time to spontaneous breathing ( T1) and eye-opening ( T2) and endortracheal extubation time ( T3 ) ( P >0.05 ) or in the incidence rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (P>0.05).T1, T2 and T3 were significantly shorter in the sufentanil than in the remifentanil group in other types of surgery (P<0.05).The patients with level-1 Ramsay score were remarkably more in the remifentanil than in the sufentanil group ( MD =13.67, 95% CI 2.67 -69.91 ) ( P <0.05), and the VAS scores were markedly higher in the former than in the latter group at 30 minutes (MD=3.37, 95% CI 3.28-3.46) and 1 hour after extubation (MD=2.53, 95% CI 2.43 -2.63) (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with sufentanil, remifentanil provides a quicker recovery but a weaker analgesia effect and a higher rate of post-operative agitation.However, sufentanil produces a better pain relief and a higher quality of recovery after operation.

Objective To investigate and compare the applications of white blood cell count (WBC),neutrophil percentage (N%),C reactive protein (CRP)and procalcitonin (PCT)in the detection of bacterial infections.Methods Patients were randomly recruited in the study,70 patients with bacterial infection disease were recruited in the study as bacterial infection group,81 patients without bacterial infection were enrolled as no infection group.WBC,N%,CRP and PCT were detected,then comparative analysis of test results performed.Results Compared with no bacterial infection group,WBC,N%,CRP and PCT were increased in bacterial infection group(P <0.05),CRP and PCT increased obviously.The positive rate of WBC,N%,CRP and PCT in bacterial infection group was significantly higher than that of no bacterial infection group(P <0.05).In the bacterial infection group,the positive rate of N%,CRP and PCT was significantly higher than that of WBC(P <0.05),the positive rate of CRP was higher than PCT(P <0.05).But the positive rate of CRP was relatively high,and PCT was low in no bacterial infection group,suggesting that the false positive rate of CRP was higher,while that of PCT was lower,which had higher specificity.Conclusion WBC,N%,CRP and PCT all have clinical value for bacterial infections diagnosis.For the diagnosis of bacterial infections,N%,CRP and PCT is superior to WBC.CRP is more sensitive,but less specific,therefore,PCT with higher specificity was more suitable in the diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Objective To compare the contents of astragaloside Ⅳ and polysaccharides in radix astragali with different growth years, providing reference for the better harvest time of radix astragali. Methods HPLC-ELSD was used to determine the content of astragaloside Ⅳ. A Hypersil-Keystone C18 column was used with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (33∶67). The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL/min. The parameters of drift tube and gas flow rate of the detector were set at 105 ℃ and 2.7 L/min respectively. Phenol-sulfuric method was employed to determine the content of polysaccharides, and the detection wavelength was set at 490 nm. Results The linear range of astragaloside Ⅳ was within 1.25-6.28 μg. The average recovery was 97.28%, with RSD=1.42%. The linear range of polysaccharides was 10-100 μg. The average recovery was 99.02%, with RSD=0.94%. The content of astragaloside Ⅳ in radix astragali cultivated for more than 1 year was higher than the standard in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and radix astragali cultivated for 3 years showed the highest content. The content of polysaccharides in radix astragali cultivated for more than 3 years was the highest, and radix astragali cultivated for 2 years was slightly lower. Conclusion The better harvest time for radix astragali is at least two years of growth, which is judged from the content of astragaloside Ⅳ and polysaccharides.

Objective:To detect the activity of IgY against complex bacteria in pharynx and throat.Methods:Purified antigens against bacteria in pharynx and throat was used to immunize egglaid hens.The eggs from immunized hens were collected and abstract IgY from the yolks.The antibody activity of IgY was detected by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and ELISA.Results:SDS-PAGE electrophoresis represented at least twelve ladders,and the titer of ELISA was 1∶512.Conclusion:IgY antibody was obtained in egg yolk after immunized hens with complex bacteria.The activity of IgY was detected.IgY showed stable to heat.

Objective To investigate the reliability of the morphologic measure of the iliotibial band (ITB) with musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging. Methods 20 healthy young subjects were measured with the musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of the thickness of bilateral ITB at the levels of the femoral condyle by 2 testers, and one of the testers measured again 3-5 days later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated, and the thickness of ITB in both sides was compared. Results The ICC of test-retest was 0.89 (R) and 0.85 (L), and it was 0.82 (R) and 0.84 (L) of inter-testers. The MDC was 0.41-0.51 mm. There was no significant different between right and left sides for the ITB thickness among healthy subjects (P=0.97). Conclusion Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging is a feasible and reliable to measure the ITB thickness among young healthy subjects.

Objective To observe the effect of hot spring hydrotherapy and routine rehabilitation on spasticity of patients with incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 25 patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were divided into hydrotherapy group (n=15) and control group (n=10). The hydrotherapy group received both routine rehabilitation and hydrotherapy，and the control group only underwent routine rehabilitation．They were evaluated with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) before and after treatment. Results There was a significant reduction on MAS in both the groups after treatment (P<0.01), and it was more in the hydrotherapy group (P<0.05). Conclusion The hot spring hydrotherapy can facilitate the release of spasticity after incomplete thoracic SCI.