Objective To evaluate the effect of percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)on left ventricular size and function by measuring plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level and using two-dimensional echocardiography.Methods According to the modified Ross score,55 children with PDA were divided into 3 groups,no congestive heart failure(CHF)group(31 cases),mild CHF group(14 cases)and moderate-severe CHF group(10 cases).Fifteen age-matched and weight-matched normal children were used as controls.Plasma NT-proBNP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).All patients had complete echocardiographic study,including measurement of left ventricular end diastolic volume index(LVEDVI),left ventricular end systolic volume index(LVESVI),and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS).The correlation between plasma NT-proBNP level and echocardiographic cardiac functional indexes was determined.Results 1.Before operation LVEDVI and LVESVI in PDA patients were obviously higher than those in normal controls(Pa0.05).3.Three months after operation plasma NT-proBNP level,LVEDVI and LVESVI were significantly decreased(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the original meaning of concept of shichen in acupoint selection according to time of "needling methods of midnight-noon ebb-flow (Ziwu Liuzhu)" and "eight methods of the intelligent turtle (Linggui Bafa)", so as to provide more scientific and accurate calculating method for acupoint selection according to time in clinical acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSBased on the theory of "Heaven-people corresponding", use modern calculating time method to return to the ancient traditional concept of shichen. Compared ancient and modern calculating time methods of shichen and referred to sundial time-calculating method, in combination with changes of day and night time in 24 solar terms, use modern time-calculating method to calculate, so as to deny the mechanical time-calculating method of heavenly stems and earthly branches, in which each shichen is equal to 2 hours and it has been used from the last stage of the Ming dynasty and the initial stage of the Qing dynasty up to now.

RESULTSReturn to the original meaning of shichen in acupoint selection according to time, and time of each shichen should change along with changes of day and night time in the four seasons of one year.

CONCLUSIONThe concrete calculating method of shichen for different stages of four seasons in one year should be different.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Seasons ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular biological mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion (A&M) in reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity, relieving myelosuppression and increasing peripheral white blood cells (WBC).

METHODSTwo hundred and twenty-four male Kunming mice of clean grade were randomized equally into 4 groups, the blank control group (A), the model group (B), the acupuncture group (C), and the moxibustion group (D). Except those in Group A, mice were duplicated into myelosuppression model with cyclophosphamide (CTX) using the accepted method. After being modeled, mice in Group C and D were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion respectively, once a day for 7 successive days, while those in Group A and B were dealt with the same actions (seizing and fixing) every day but no therapy was given. From day 2 to day 7 of the treatment, 8 mice were taken from every group per day and killed in batches. Their peripheral WBC was counted and bone marrow for detecting Cyclin D1 expression and percentages of bone marrow cells in different cycle stages using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometer respectively.

RESULTSWBC count restored to exceed the baseline in group C and D at day 5 of the treatment, being one day earlier than that in group B. Cyclin D1 expression in the bone marrow raised in Group C and D, and reached the peak at day 4, showing significant difference as compared with that in Group B (P < 0.01). The phase G1 marrow cell percentages in Group C and D was lower than that in Group B at all days of detection, showing statistical significance at day 2-4 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); while the percentages of phase S and G2-M cells in the two treated groups was higher than that in group B all the times.

CONCLUSIONSWhile CTX damaged marrow cells, it intervened the cell cycle regularity and reduced the DNA content to cause myelosuppression and leucocytopenia. A&M therapy could improve the Cyclin D1 expression, speed up the cell transition from phase G1 to phase S and increase the synthesis of DNA. At the mean time, taking advantage of the block at phase G2, it can repair the injured DNA, speed up cell mitosis for turning into multiplication, improve the anti-injury and repairing ability of cells to protect bone marrow cells, and relieve the myelosuppression.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes in spatial learning performance and long-term potentiation (LTP) which is recognized as a component of the cellular basis of learning and memory in normal and lead-exposed rats after administration of melatonin (MT) for two months.

METHODSExperiment was performed in adult male Wistar rats (12 controls, 12 exposed to melatonin treatment, 10 exposed to lead and 10 exposed to lead and melatonin treatment). The lead-exposed rats received 0.2% lead acetate solution from their birth day while the control rats drank tap water. Melatonin (3 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to the control and lead-exposed rats from the time of their weaning by gastric gavage each day for 60 days, depending on their groups. At the age of 81-90 days, all the animals were subjected to Morris water maze test and then used for extracellular recording of LTP in the dentate gyrus (DG) area of the hippocampus in vivo.

RESULTSLow dose of melatonin given from weaning for two months impaired LTP in the DG area of hippocampus and induced learning and memory deficit in the control rats. When melatonin was administered over a prolonged period to the lead-exposed rats, it exacerbated LTP impairment, learning and memory deficit induced by lead.

CONCLUSIONMelatonin is not suitable for normal and lead-exposed children.

Animals ; Female ; Lead ; toxicity ; Learning ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Melatonin ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Rats ; Spatial Behavior ; drug effects

To investigate the eletrophysiological effect of rat adrenomedullin (rADM) on barosensitive neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) and its potential mechanisms, the extracellular recording and multi-barrel iontophoresis methods were used. Of the 29 barosensitive neurons in the rVLM, 20 neurons demonstrated excitatory response to iontophoretically applied rADM and increased the firing rate from (10.8 +/- 2.7) spikes/s to (14.6 +/- 3.6), (19.8 +/- 4.7) and (31.9 +/- 6.4) spikes/s (P<0.05, n=20) at the current of 30, 60 and 90 nA, respectively. Application of human adrenomedullin (22-52) [hADM (22-52)], a specific antagonist of rADM receptor, distinctly attenuated the augmentation of firing rate induced by rADMjthe firing rate was increased by 15.4% [(11.4 +/- 2.5) spikes/s, P<0.05, n=10]. Another antagonist, human calcitonin gene-related peptide (8-37) [hCGRP (8-37)] had no significant effect on rADM-induced excitation. Other 23 barosensitive neurons were recorded to test the influence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on the excitatory effect of rADM. In 10 neurons, 7-NiNa (neuronal NOS inhibitor) decreased the firing rate from (10.1 +/- 3.5) spikes/s to (7.5 +/- 2.5), (5.3 +/- 2.1) and (3.1 +/- 1.4) spikes/s (P<0.05, n=10) at the current of 10, 20 and 40 nA, respectively. The excitatory effect of rADM (60 nA, 30 s) during 7-NiNa application was nearly eliminated and the magnitude of firing rate was increased only by 17% of the basal level (6.2 +/- 1.9) spikes/s (P<0.05, n=7). While aminoguanidine (AG, iNOS inhibitor) increased the firing rate at the resting level from (11.5 +/- 5.1) spikes/s to (17.8 +/- 5.6), (22.5 +/- 6.3) and (29.1 +/- 6.4) spikes/s (P<0.05, n=8) at the current of 10, 20 and 40 nA in 8 barosensitive neurons, respectively. When rADM (60 nA, 30 s) was delivered during AG iontophoresis period, the firing rate significantly increased by 60% of the basal level [(22.5 +/- 6.3) spikes/s, n=5]. These results indicate that rADM activates the barosensitive neurons in the rVLM directly and acts as a cardiovascular regulator, and that this function might be mediated by its specific receptor. NO, mainly neuronal NOS-originated might be involved in the excitatory effect of rADM in the rVLM.
Adrenomedullin ; physiology ; Animals ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; physiology ; Pressoreceptors ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects and prevent the complications of posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation in the revision of cervical anterior internal fixation failure.

METHODSFrom 2008 January to 2011 December, 17 patients with cervical anterior internal fixation failure were treated with posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation. There were 12 males and 5 females, aged from 26 to 68 years old with an average of 44.1 years. The lower screw loosening was found in 6 cases, the upper screw loosening in 5 cases, titanium mesh caving in 3 cases, the upper screw breakage in 2 cases, the lower screw breakage in 1 case. Informations of bone fusion were observed by X-ray, CT, MRI. Clinical effects were evaluated by modified JOA score.

RESULTSAll the revision operations were successfully completed. One case with poor blood coagulation function before operation resulted in postoperative hematoma and occurred neurological symptoms; after hematoma removal and fresh frozen plasma infusion later, neurological symptoms of the patient disappeared. All patients were followed up from 6 to 38 months with an average of (22.4±10.0) months. Postoperative at 2 weeks, 3 months, and final follow-up, JOA score had obviously improved and respectively was 13.1±1.6, 13.4±1.6, 14.2±1.5. All internal fixation locations were good after revision,and obtained bone fusion at 10 months after operation, with an average fusion time of 6 months.

CONCLUSIONThe combined posterior and anterior decompression and internal fixation in the revision of cervical anterior internal fixation failure is safe, can achieve thoroughly decompression, maintain the cervical curvature, reconstruct the three column stability, and it may be used for the patients of cervical anterior fixation failure.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and influence of vagus nerve preservation in radical operation for proximal gastric cancer.

METHODSThirty-two patients with early or T2 cardia cancer from May 2007 to May 2009 were enrolled and randomized into two groups, i.e. vagus nerve preservation group(n=16) and control group(n=16). Two groups were compared with regard to operative time, anastomotic fistula, digestive discomforts, body weight, survival rate, findings on gastroscope and abdominal ultrasonography.

RESULTSThere were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time (2.8 vs. 2.5 h), postoperative complications rate (25.0% vs. 31.3%). No recurrence or mortality was observed after one-year follow-up. However, patients who underwent vagus nerve preservation had less postprandial discomforts(3 vs. 12 cases), bile reflux(3 vs. 10 cases), atrophic gastritis(1 vs. 9 cases), gallstones(1 vs. 8 cases), body mass index, and diarrhea(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor patients with early gastric cancer, preservation of the vagus nerve during radical gastrectomy results in less complications and does not compromise patient survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Vagus Nerve ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the biomechanical characteristics of Ni-Ti shape-memory alloy-enclosed interlocking intramedular nail Ni-Ti En for clinical application.

METHODSSix transverse fractures were induced in 6 fresh humeral shafts and fixed with Ni-Ti En, plate, interlocking intramedullary nail, and Ender nail, respectively. The specimens then underwent stress analysis for comparison of the bending strength, twisting force, and flexibility.

RESULTSThe bending strength of Ni-Ti En was not significantly different from that of the plate and better than ender's nail; the twisting force of the interlocking intramedullary nail was comparable with the plate, but better than Ender nail.

CONCLUSIONNi-Ti Enpossess good biomechanical property to meet the demand of osteosynthesis, and its less stress protection, freedom of distant nail locking, flexibility and stable fixation may accelerate fracture healing.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Nails ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Nickel ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo study the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response induced by dendritic cells (DC) transduced with recombinant adenovirus vector bearing hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. 2. 15 cells in vitro.

METHODSFull length HBsAg cDNAs were subcloned into pIND vector, followed by being cloned into pShuttle vector. The HBsAg gene fragments resulted from the pShuttle-S digested with PI-Sce and I-Ceu were linked to the linear adeno-X virus DNA. After packaged with HEK293 cells, the adenovirus expression vector was obtained. Then the recombinant adenovirus expression plasmid AdVHBsAg was transfected into human monocyte-derived dendritic cells, to construct AdVHBsAg hepatocarcinoma tumor vaccine. The effectiveness of transfection was detected by Western blot. Surface molecules of AdVHBsAg-DC were detected by FACS. Autologous T cell proliferation stimulated by AdVHBsAg-DC was detected by 3H-TdR assay. Cytotoxic CTL activity induced by AdVHBsAg-DC in vitro was detected by LDH assay.

RESULTSHBsAg gene in the inserted DNA of AdVHBsAg was confirmed by PCR, and predictive fragments proved by restriction enzyme digestion analysis were exhibited. Cell pathological changes appear after 10 days HEK293 cells transfected AdVHBsAg. Western blot analysis showed that HBV surface antigen gene was expressed in transfected DC, indicating that the transfection was effective. AdVHBsAg-DC was able to upregulate CD1a, CD11c, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR. Autologus T cell proliferation induced by AdVHBsAg-DCs was significantly higher than that in DC control group and LacZ-DC group (P < 0.05). AdVHBsAg-DC activated CTL presented the specific killer ability to the hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing HBsAg.

CONCLUSIONDC transduced with recombinant adenovirus HBsAg can express HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma antigen (HBsAg), and AdVHBsAg-DC can induce potent immune response against HBsAg-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Antigens, CD1 ; metabolism ; CD11c Antigen ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEKawasaki disease (KD) is an acute and self-limited systemic vasculitis syndrome of unknown origin that mainly affects small and medium-sized arteries, particularly the coronary arteries, which is followed by aneurysm formation. Increased levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) have been detected in aortic aneurysms in adults, suggesting an important role of MMP-1 in arterial wall destruction and resultant aneurysm formation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of MMP-1 in the pathogenesis of coronary artery lesions in patients with KD.

METHODSForty patients with KD, including 23 patients without coronary artery lesions (CAL) and 17 patients with CAL, as well as age-matched 10 febrile and 10 healthy afebrile controls were studied. The duration of KD was divided into three phases: the acute phase, the subacute phase and the convalescent phase. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the protein levels of MMP-1 in the sera. MMP-1 mRNA expression in the circulating leucocytes was studied using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSLevels of MMP-1 protein in serum and MMP-1 mRNA expression in the leucocytes were significantly elevated at the acute phase in the two groups of KD patients (CAL group: 14.91 +/- 3.88 ng/ml and 0.89 +/- 0.15 ng/ml; NO-CAL group: 11.27 +/- 3.28 ng/ml and 0.77 +/- 0.14, respectively), compared with febrile (7.05 +/- 1.98 ng/ml and 0.45 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, respectively) and afebrile (5.13 +/- 1.20 ng/ml and 0.29 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, respectively) controls (P < 0.01). Furthermore, MMP-1 protein and MMP-1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in KD patients with CAL than in KD patients without CAL (P < 0.05). There was a significantly positive correlation between the serum protein level of MMP-1 at the acute phase of KD and the circulating leucocytes counts (r = 0.750, P < 0.01). The MMP-1 serum protein level and mRNA expression in the leucocytes at the acute phase of the two KD groups decreased obviously from the subacute through the convalescent phases (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of MMP-1 at the acute phase of KD was significantly elevated, especially in KD patients with CAL. MMP-1 might be involved in the formation of coronary artery lesions and pathogenesis of KD.

Acute Disease ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; enzymology ; etiology ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes ; enzymology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; blood ; genetics ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Severity of Illness Index