Adult ; Farmer's Lung ; Female ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the characters of respiratory function in children with chronic cough and explore the correlative association between cough variant asthma(CVA) and etiology of chronic cough.Methods One hundred and forty patients with chronic cough were divided into 2 groups based on peak expiratory flow(PEF) or forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1).Ninty-three cases were done exercise test and 47 cases were done bronchoditor rest.The parameters included forced vital capacity(FVC),FEV1,PEF,forced expiratory flow at 50% and 75%(FEF50,FEF75).Results The measurement 35 cases with positive bronchoditor rest,and 30 cases with positive exercise test were found.The PEF and FEV1 variation rate were(18.30?10.50)%,(18.78?9.44)% in exercise test groups,and(30.36?27.27)%,(36.13?26.83)% in bronchoditor rest groups,respectively.Conclusions FEV1,PEF may be used as markers for the reversibility of airway obstructe in children with CVA.There is significant correlation between PEF and FEV1.Respiratory function mensurate may reflect the change and degree of inflammation in the airway of children with chronic cough.

OBJECTIVETo explore efficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of Jiedu Quyu Zishen Recipe (JQZR) in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by studying its effect on Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) signal pathway of murine macrophage cells after JQZR stimulated CpG oligodeoxynucletide (CpG ODN).

METHODSMurine macrophage cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank serum group, the CpG ODN stimulus group, the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group, the CpG ODN + medicated serum group. Murine macrophage cells were collected after 24-h intervention. The expression of TLR9, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), NF-KB, IFN-α mRNA were analyzed by RT-PCR. The expression of TLR9 and NF-κB protein were analyzed by Western blot. Changes of the NF-KB transcriptional activity were assayed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay system.

RESULTSmRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were enhanced, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the blank serum group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, the protein expression of NF-κB and the NF-κB transcriptional activities decreased in the CpG ODN + dexamethasone group with statistical difference (P <0. 01). Compared with the CpG ODN stimulus group, mRNA expressions of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB, and IFN-α, protein expressions of TLR9 and NF-κB, and NF-κB transcriptional activities were decreased in CpG ODN+ medicated serum group with statistical difference (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONEfficacy enhancing and detoxification roles of JQZR in treatment of SLE might be realized through regulating TLR9 signal pathways.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 ; NF-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; metabolism

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction clinical disease. Surgery is the main therapeutic tool for CSM. However, there are obvious differences in clinical functional recovery after operation. For the past few years, the influence factors of prognosis in cervical spondylosis myelopathic has been widely concerned. Age, nerve function, course of desease, imaging findings,surgical method and related factors became the investigative point for prognosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Present viewpoint showed that the older patient, preoperative worse nerve function, longer the course of disease would result in worse outcomes. Imaging examination maybe can indicate the prognosis, but the correlation is unclear. Selection of surgical method and approach should be based on the principles of sufficient decompression, stabilize the alignment of the cervical spine, keeping backward extension of cervical spine, maintain effective decompression, preventing complications. Therefore, the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy should be on the basis of pathogenic condition and imaging examination at early stage and a suitable usrgical procedure should be performed to obtain a better prognosis.
Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spondylosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

Objective:To investigate the molecular interaction between non-structural protein 3 serine protease of hepatitis C virus(HCV)and wild type P53,and to lay the basis for elucidating the mechanism of oncogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after infection of HCV.Methods:The recombinant plasmids,pGAD424-NS3,pGAD424-NS315aa- and pGAD424-NS330aa-,were constructed and the interaction between NS3 serine protease and its cofactor NS4A,the interaction between wild type P53 and NS3 serine protease and its N-truncated mutants were dectected qualitatively and quantitatively in yeast two-hybrid system.Results:The results indicated that interaction existed not only between full-length NS3 serine protease and P53,but also between N-truncated mutants of NS3 serine protease and P53.Furthermore,the difference between enzyme activity unit(IU)of β-gal induced by these interactions was not significant(P>0.05).Conclusions:NS3 serine protease of hepatitis C virus and its N-truncated mutants can interact with wild type P53,and the region of NS3 serine protease involved in the interaction may be located in its C-terminal,but not in its N-terminal.

Myopia is one of the most popular eye diseases all over the world. The development of the current understanding of its mechanism is still limited. Many studies indicated that the growth factors closely related to eye development and myopia. Some growth factors with biological activity, such as transforming growth factor ( TGF ), fibroblast growth factor ( FGF ) and epidermal growth factor ( EGF ), have an impact on scleral thickness variation, the regulation of the development of myopia and so on, which plays a non-negligible role in the pathogenesis of myopia. In this paper, the function of various growth factors in myopia will be reviewed.

Objective To observe the toxic effects of subacute manganese exposure through drinking water on blood system in rats and offer the scientific data for understanding manganese toxicity mechanism.Methods Male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into control group,high-dose and low-dose Mn-exposed group,12 animals in each group.The two Mn-exposed groups were treated with Mn at doses of 0.5,5.0 g/L,through drinking water,for 60 consecutive days.After 60 days of treatment,haemoglobin (Hgb),red blood cells count(RBC),platelet count(PC),white blood cells count(WBC)and differential count(WBC-DC)were examined by blood routine test.The activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),cholinestarase(ChE),monoamine oxidase(MAO),superoxide dismutase(SOD),nitric oxide synthase(NOS)and the level of glutathione(GSH),maleicdialdehyde(MDA)were determined.Results No significant differences of body weigh,Hgb, RBC and WBC were found among the 3 groups.PC and neutrophil(N)percent of WBC were higher,eosinophil(E)percent of WBC was significant lower in high dose and low dose Mn-exposed groups compared with the control group.None of basophil(B)and monocyte(M)was found in 3 groups.Compared with the control group,the activity of ALT,AST,ALP,ChE,NOS and MDA level increased,SOD activity and GSH level decreased significantly in high dose and low dose Mn-exposed groups,and significant doseeffect relationships were seen in the above changes.Conclusion Long term manganese exposure may have some adverse effects on the blood system in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the sodium ion channel currents (I(Na)) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells, and to explore its anti-arrhythmic mechanisms at the ion channel level.

METHODSSingle ventricular myocardial cells was isolated from SD rats. The whole cell patch clamp was used to record the effects of GA on I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells.

RESULTSGA could inhibit I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L decreased I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells from (-4.26 +/- 0.15) nA to (-3.54 +/- 0.10) nA, (-2.19 +/- 0.09) nA, and (-1.25 +/- 0.08) nA, respectively. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L inhibited I(Na) by 16.08% +/- 2.3%, 50.82% +/- 3.56%, and 75.98% +/- 5.12%, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). GA at 10 micromol/L shifted I(Na) current-voltage curve more positively, but the activation potential and the peak potential were not changed.

CONCLUSIONGA inhibited the I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently, which was possibly associated with its antiarrhythmia effects.

Animals ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; pharmacology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo introduce the location and course of S1, S2 sacral nerve root tunnel and to clarify the significance of the anterior aspect of sacral nerve root tunnel on placement of iliosacral screw on the standard lateral sacral view.

METHODSFirstly the data of 2.0 mm slice pelvic axial CT images were imported into Mimics 10.0, and the sacrum, innominate bones, and sacral nerve root tunnels were reconstructed into 3D views respectively, which were rotated to the standard lateral sacral views, pelvic outlet and inlet views. Then the location and course of the S1, S2 sacral nerve root tunnel on each view were observed.

RESULTSThe sacral nerve root tunnel started from the cranial end and anterior aspect of the vertebral canal of the same segment and ended up to the anterior sacral foramen with a direction from cranial-posterior-medial to caudal-anterior-lateral. The tunnel had a lower density than the iliac cortex and greater sciatic notch on the pelvic X-rays,especially on the standard sacral lateral view, on which it showed up as a disrupted are line and required more careful recognition.

CONCLUSIONIt can prevent the iliosacral screw from penetrating the sacral nerve root tunnel and vertebral canal when recognizing the anterior aspect of sacral nerve root tunnel and choosing it as the caudal-posterior boundary of the "safe zone" on the standard lateral sacral view.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; innervation ; surgery ; Radiography ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; diagnostic imaging ; innervation ; surgery ; Sacrum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; innervation ; surgery ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo research radiographic anatomy of the main structure of the pelvic Teepee view, including its azimuth direction and view anatomy structure.

METHODSFrom June 2013 to June 2014 adult pelvic CT examination results were filtered, excluding skeletal deformities and pelvic osseous destruction caused by tumors, trauma, etc. The data of 2.0 mm contiguous CT scan of 9 adults' intact pelves was,selected and input into Mimics 10.01 involving 7 males and 2 females with an average age of (41.2±10.3) years old. Utilizing the software, the 3D CT reconstructions of the pelves were completed. Setting the transparency being high,the pelvic 3D reconstructions were manipulated from the pelvic anteroposterior view to the combined obturator oblique outlet view and fine-tuned till the regular Teepee-or teardrop-shaped appearance emerges. Cutting tools of the software were at the moment applied to separate the "Teepee" from the main pelvis for each reconstruction. Then the "Teepee" and the rest (main) part of the pelvis were displayed in different color to facilitate the analysis on the Teepee, iliac-oblique, and anteroposterior views.

RESULTSThe "Teepee" started from the posterolateral aspect of the anterior inferior iliac spine and finished at the cortex between the posterior superior iliac spine and the posterior inferior iliac spine in a direction of being from caudal-anterior-lateral to cranial-posterior-medial. The radiographic anatomical composition of the "Teepee" contained one tip, one base,and two aspects. With the inner and outer iliac tables being the inner and outer aspects of the "Teepee", the tip is consequently formed by their intersection. The base is imaged from the cortex of the greater sciatic notch. The medial-inferior-posterior portion of the "Teepee" contains a small part of sacroiliac joint and its corresponding side of bone of the sacrum.

CONCLUSIONSThe "Teepee" is a zone of ample osseous structures of the pelvis, aside from a small medial-inferior-posterior portion, the main zone of which can be accepted as a safe osseous zone for the anchor of implants stabilizing certain pelvic and acetabular fracture patterns. The Teepee view can be utilized as guidance for the safe percutaneous insertion of such implants.

Adult ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Sacroiliac Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult