Objective To determine the efficacy of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in children with coronary obstructive disease subsequent to Kawasaki disease. Methods Between Feb 2005 and Sep 2009, 6 children with ischemic heart disease due to Kawasaki disease comprised the study group. The age of patients at operation was ranged from 6 to 12 years with a mean of ( 8.0 ± 2.3 ) years. The preoperative EF was ranged from 0.33 to 0.71 with a mean of 0.57 ± 0.15. There was one case with moderate mitral valve regurgitation. Results All patients survived the procedures. The mean number of bypass graft was 2.0 ±0.6,with 4 internal thoracic arteries and 7 radial arteries. Mitral valve repair was employed in 1 case. The cardisc function ( NYHA and EF) was significantly improved postoperatively. Postoperative CTA showed no graft disease in all cases. Conclusion CABG using the arterial grafts can provide attractive mid-term results in patients with obstructive coronary arteries associated with Kawasaki disease.

Objective To quantitatively assess anterior chamber angle of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary angle-closure (PAC) patients after laser pheripheral iridotomy (LPI) by spectral-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SD-AS-OCT),and investigate which parameters should be used in these patients and the clinical significance of these parameters in screening and follow-ups of glaucoma.Methods Fifty-five eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with PACG remission (11 eyes,8 patients),PAC (20 eyes,20 patients) or PAC suspect (24 eyes,12 patients) were examined.Each eye was examined by SD-AS-OCT at upper,lower,nasal,and temporal sides.Anterior chamber angle (ACA),trabecular iris angle (TIA),and trabecular iris space area (TISA500/750) were measured or calculated.All results were analyzed.Results The points from the inside to the corneal scleral spur 500 μm and 750 pm were selected,AOD,TIA,ACA,TISA at upper,lower,nasal,and temporal sides were measured,which were included into 500 series and 750 series.The mean values of TIA,ACA and AOD in the 500 series and 750 series were the largest in the temporal side and the lowest in the nasal side.The mean values of TISA measurement was the largest in the lower side and the smallest at the upper side.Pearson correlation analysis showed that TIA500 and ACA500 (r =0.799,P =0.00),TIA750 and ACA750 (r =0.799,P =0.00),TIA500 and TISA500 (r=0.919,P =0.00),TIA750 and TISA750 (r =0.920,P =0.00) had positive correlation.With TIA500 as independent variable x and TISA500 as dependent variable y,the regression equation was obtained:y =-0.300 + 0.005x (F =1195,P =0.00),which showed TISA500 and TIA500 were linearly positive correlated.With TIA750 as independent variable x,and TISA750 as dependent variable y,the regression equation was obtained:y =-0.440 + 0.009x (F =854,P =0.00),which showed TISA750 and TIA750 were linearly positive correlated.The coefficient of variation of the 750 series parameters were less than the 500 Series in the four directions.Conclusion SD-AS-OCT is an efficient tool for efficiency evaluation and follow-up during the course of PACG and PAC after LPI.For narrow angles,as the parameters of 750 series parameters have less variability,so 750 series are more recommended in clinical application.

Microarray has become a popular biotechnology in biological and medical research.However, systematic and stochastic variabilities in microarray data are expected and unavoidable, resulting in the problem that the raw measurements have inherent "noise" within microarray experiments. Currently, logarithmic ratios are usually analyzed by various clustering methods directly, which may introduce bias interpretation in identifying groups of genes or samples. In this paper, a statistical method based on mixed model approaches was proposed for microarray data cluster analysis. The underlying rationale of this method is to partition the observed total gene expression level into various variations caused by different factors using an ANOVA model, and to predict the differential effects of G V (gene by variety)interaction using the adjusted unbiased prediction (AUP) method. The predicted G V interaction effects can then be used as the inputs of cluster analysis. We illustrated the application of our method with a gene expression dataset and elucidated the utility of our approach using an external validation.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in the proliferation of neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (NRCFs). Proliferation of NRCFs was induced by the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) or angiotensin II (Ang II) at various concentrations. The concentration-dependent effect of NaHS (donor of H(2)S) on NRCFs proliferation was examined. NRCFs proliferation was assessed by 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation method. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured using the dye probe, 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). The results showed that FBS- or Ang II-induced NRCFs proliferations were inhibited with the treatment of relatively high concentrations of NaHS (5 × 10(-5) mol/L, 1 × 10(-4) mol/L), but FBS-induced proliferation was increased by low concentration of NaHS (1 × 10(-5) mol/L). Two or 6 h of Ang II (1 × 10(-7) mol/L) treatment caused an increase of ROS level in NRCFs, while this increase was inhibited with NaHS (1 × 10(-4) mol/L) treatment. These results suggest that H(2)S is an inhibitor of cardiac fibroblast at a certain concentration range. This inhibitory effect may be mediated by a reduction in intracellular ROS production.
Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Depression, Chemical ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the optimized conformal and IMRT plans for the upper esophageal carcinoma. Methods Eight patients with upper esophageal carcinoma underwent CT simulation.GTV was contoured on the CT image,referring the esophagogram and endoscopy simuhaneously,then CTV and PTV were also defined using the same criteria.Different conformal radiotherapy plans consisting of 3 fields(F),4F or 6F,IMRT plans consisting of 3F,4F,5F,7F,9F or 11F,and a simplified IMRT(s-IMRT)plan were designed for these patients.The minimum prescription dose that 95%of PTV volume received was 6000 cGy.Dose distributions of the PTV and OARs in different 3 DCRT and IMRT plans were compared and the optimized plans for the upper esophageal carcinoma were then recommended. Resuits Dose and volume parameters of PTV were similar among the 3DCRT plans(P＞0.05).4F 3DCRT plan reduced lung V20 as compared to 6F plan(P＜0.05),and mean lung dose(MLD)of 3F and 6F 3DCRT plans were higher than that of4F plan(P＜0.05).PTV D100 of 3F IMRT plan was lower than that of 9F and 11F plans(P＜0.05).IV of 4F IMRT plan was larger than that of 9F and 11F IMRT plans(P＜0.05).PTV dose and volume parameters of the 9F IMRT and 1 1 F IMRT were similar comparing with 5F.7F and s-IMRT plans,and OARs dose was also similar among IMRT plans(P＞0.05).PTV CI,D100,D95,V100 and V95 of the 4F 3DCRT plan were all lower than those of 5F,7F and s-IMRT plans(P＜0.05).5F,7F and s-IMRT plans reduced lung V20 as compared to 4F 3DCRT plan(P＜0.05).Conclusions For the upper esophageal carcinoma.4F 3DCRT plan is recommended among the 3DCRT plans.5F.7F and s-IMRT plans are recommended among the IMRT plans,which are superior than 4F 3 DCRT plan.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of voice disorder and voice fatigue mental state in the pri-mary school teachers in a district of Chengdu.Methods A random sampling survey included 389 teachers from a dis-trict of Chengdu after they filled out the throat symptoms questionnaire,carried out voice fatigue tests,and strobo-scopic laryngoscopy.Results The most common voice of discomfort symptoms was hoarseness,followed by sore throat,dry throat and vocal fatigue.There were 189 teachers,48.5%,with voice disorders as the voice disorder group)and 200 teachers without throat and voice disorders as the control group.The failure rate was significantly higher at 80 dB than 75 dB,and for the study group,the failure rate was higher than that of the control group.The difference was statistically significant in 1,2 and 10 minutes between the two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion Voice fatigue is very common in the primary school teachers and when high volumes are required,the voice fatigue is more serious.To reduce voice fatigue and the incidence of primary school teachers'voice disease,we should strengthen the teacher's voice health care.

Objective To track the migration and incorporation of intravenously injected, magneti?cally labeled endothelial progenitor cells ( EPCs) from mouse bone marrow into the blood vessels in a rapid?ly growing HCC model by microMR (7.0 T). Methods This study was approved by the Institutional Com?mittee on Animal Research. H22 hepatic ascitic cancer cells was directly injected into the left liver lobe of BALB/c nude mice ( n=15) . EPCs derived from bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice were isolated and cultured. The third passage EPCs were collected and labeled with 25 μg/ml superparamagnetic iron oxide ( SPIO) and poly?l?lysine (PLL) complex (SPIO?PLL). MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the difference of growth curve and apoptosis between labeled and unlabeled EPCs. EPCs labeled with SPIO?PLL were injected into mice via tail vein in experiment group (on the 3rd day after establishing HCC model) (n=15) and control group (n=6). The signal changes of tumor (the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after transplantation) were observed by microMR. Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemistry staining of CD31 were per?formed. MRI findings were confirmed by histomorphology. Two?sample t test was used to analyze the data. Results Single tumor was showed in the liver of all mice 3 d after establishing models. Labeling with SPIO?PLL at a concentration of 25μg/ml did not alter cell growth curve ( measured by MTT assay;t=0.281, P>0.05) and cell apoptosis (analyzed by flow cytometry). The apoptosis rates of SPIO?PLL labeled and un?labled EPCs were (12.31±1.43)% and (11.57±1.24)% in early stage, and (0.55±0.07)% and (0.49± 0?05)% in late stage. No significant differences were observed between them (t=0.967, 1.060; both P>0?05) . Migration and incorporation of transplanted and labeled cells into tumor were documented with in vivo microMR as low signal intensity at the tumor periphery as early as the 3rd day after EPCs administration in preformed tumors (4/5). Prussian blue staining showed iron?positive cells at the sites corresponding to low signal intensity on MRI. The positive cells expressing CD31 existed in intratumoral and peritumoral vessels. There was no signal change in control group at all time points. Conclusions MRI can demonstrate the in?corporation of magnetic labeled mouse EPCs into the implanted hepatoma. It may be helpful for early diagno?sis and therapy of liver tumor.

BACKGROUNDMultifocal lens has become popular in cataract surgery. Short-term outcome after AcrySof ReSTOR Lens implantation had been reported by many studies, but long-term visual performance and the effect of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) on visual performance need further investigation.

METHODSThis retrospective study involved 54 eyes from 41 cataract patients implanted with ReSTOR lens, with a follow-up period of 12 to 31 months. Manifest refraction spherical equivalence (MRSE), monocular uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuity, uncorrected and distance-corrected near and intermediate visual acuity, contrast sensitivity were assessed. The effect of PCO on visual performance was evaluated by comparing visual parameters between pre and post-capsulotomy.

RESULTSUncorrected distance visual acuity of eyes with MRSE within +/-0.5 diopter (D) was better than those with MRSE greater than +/-0.5 D (P < 0.05). Uncorrected distance and near visual acuity (LogMAR) was 0.10 and 0.17 respectively. Best corrected distance visual acuity and best distance-corrected near visual acuity (LogMAR) was 0.00 and 0.16, a significant improvement was noted after correction (P = 0.000, P = 0.001, respectively). Contrast sensitivity logarithm was comparable with the normal value at difference spatial frequencies except at 12 cpd. In 5 eyes with mild PCO, post-capsulotomy visual parameters were better than pre-capsulotomy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONReSTOR lens provides a good long-term distance and near vision, functional intermediate vision and contrast sensitivity. Mild PCO significantly affects visual performance and needs early intervention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Male ; Refraction, Ocular ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

To investigate the effect of Tripterygium wilfordii polycoride (TWP) on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory response, particularly the inhibitory effect on inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β and the regulatory effect on inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB. The MTT method was adopted to test the effects of tested drugs, TWP, dexamethasone (DXM) and azathioprine (AZA) on cell growth to define the appropriate concentration. LPS was used to induce the inflammatory reaction in mouse RAW264. 7 cell lines. The Elisa kit was adopted to test the release level of TNF-α and IL-1β. The Western blotting was applied to test the protein expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β. The RT-PCR was adopted to test the expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB. According to the results, TWP could inhibit the release of macrophage inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β in a dose dependent manner. All of TWP groups showed a weaker efficacy than that of the DXM group. But the TWP high dose group revealed a better effect on TNF-α and equal effect on IL-1β compared with the AZA group. TWP show an equal or better effect in down-regulating TLR4 and NF-κB p65 expressions in a dose dependent manner than DXM and AZA. In conclusion, TWP could inhibit TLR4 and NF-κB p65, which may be related to the down-regulation of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 receptor expressions.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; immunology ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; immunology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; immunology ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

The ancients highlight taking off the needle slowly. From aspects of proper timing of withdrawing the needle, the safe treatment, treating and keeping the spirit, dealing with the acupuncture accidents, reinforcing and reducing manipulation and strengthening the post-needling sensation, etc. advantages of taking off the needle slowly are described in this paper. So the taking off the needle slowly is worthwhile in clinic.
Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; psychology ; Humans ; Needles ; Sensation