Genetic Heterogeneity ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective:To compare the cardiovascular risk factors and the characteristics of coronary lesion between Chinese and Australian patients with myocardial infarction(MI). Methods:Five hundred and seventy-eight Chinese and 399 Australian MI patients received selective coronary angiography after hospitalization.The cardiovascular risk factors and coronary angiograms were compared and analyzed.Results:Five hundred and fifty Chinese cases(95.16%)and 376 Australian cases(94.24%)showed angiographically coronary stenosis.The comparing results of MI cases between Chinese and Australians were as follows:the percentage of patients below 40 years old,2.08% vs 6.02%(P0.05);the percentage of patients with three vessel disease and total occlusion,32.87% vs 24.31% and 45.50% vs 32.33%,respectively(P

Objective To study the clinical characteristics, the laboratory profile (CD4+ and CD8+ counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio) and the efficacy of antifungal treatment in HIV/AIDS patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. Methods Oral lesions were evaluated among 20 HIV/AIDS patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis and the controls who were HIV-negative patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. Samples were obtained from the lesions for fungal examination by microscopy and culture. The flow cytometry was used for detection of CD4+ and CD8+ counts in peripheral blood. Treatment efficacy of itraconazole was assessed among study group and the control group after treatment for one week, two weeks, at the end of treatment, as well as two weeks after treatment. Results Out of 20 HIV/AIDS patients, 19 were infected with Candida albicans and one with Candida parapsilosis. Six cases had infection on the tongue and 14 on the mucous membrane of oral cavity. CD4+ and CD8+ counts, and CD4/CD8 ratio were 119.40?127.43, 652.50?338.57 and 0.163?0.13, respectively. Mycologic clearance rates were 16.67%, 50.00%, 61.11% and 66.67%, respectively, after treatment with itraconazole for one week, two weeks, at the end of treatment, and two weeks after treatment. Conclusions Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a complication occurred in HIV/AIDS patients, and Candida albicans is the most common pathogen of the infection. The tongue and mucous membrane of oral cavity are usually involved in the patients. The therapeutic efficacy is related to the status of immunity.

The role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the central regulation of the circulation is known to be a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator, but its actions on baroreceptor reflex function are not fully resolved. The present study examined the role of ANP (6, 60 ng/0.2 microl) by direct microinjection into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in conscious rats. OPC-21268 (0.45 microg/3 microl), an antagonist of the V(1) receptor, was microinjected into the lateral ventricle to examine whether the effect of ANP on baroreflex sensitivity is mediated by vasopressin (VP). ANP significantly increased the baroreflex sensitivity, and OPC-21268 attenuated the increase of baroreflex sensitivity induced by ANP. Intravenous injections of ANP (60 ng/0.04 ml) did not affect baroreflex sensitivity. These results suggest that ANP in the PVN may produce a facilitative effect on baroreflex, and the effect may be via, at least in part, the central vasopressin.
Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Microinjections ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIMTo investigate the possible involvement of glutamate(Glu) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the central regulation of baroreflex.

METHODSThe baroreflex was induced by intravenous injection of phenylephrine in conscious rats, and the extracellular concentration of Glu in the PVN region was measured by microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. To determine whether the observed Glu release was involved in the baroreflex, NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists, MK-801 and CNQX, were perfused in the PVN region during baroreflex.

RESULTSDuring baroreflex, the Glu concentration in the PVN region immediately increased to 384.82% +/- 91.77% of basal level (P < 0.01). (2) During baroreflex, direct perfusion of MK-801 and CNQX in the PVN were attenuated the increase of blood pressure and enhanced the decrease of HR (P < 0.01),resulting a significant increase in baroreflex sensitivity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGlutamate in PVN is involved in central regulation of baroreflex, which may inhibit baroreflex via ionothopic glutamate receptors.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; pharmacology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Male ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study DNA damage, Bcl-2 and Bax expression, and ultrastructure change in spermatogenic cell of mice by cadmium exposure.

METHODSTwenty-four male mice were divided into 4 groups: 3 groups treated with cadmium chloride of 1, 5, 10 micromol x kg(-1) x d(-1) i.p. respectively for 5 days, and one normal saline control group. The DNA damage of spermatogenic cell by single-cell gel electrophoresis technology was detected. The expression positive rate of Bcl-2, Bax protein in spermatogenic cell by the immunohistochemical method was assayed, and the ultrastructural change of spermatogenic cell by the transmission electron microscope was observed.

RESULTSDNA damage rates of of spermatogenic cell in 1, 5, 10 micromol/kg cadmium chloride groups were higher than that of normal group (P < 0.001). Bcl-2 protein expression positive rates were lower than that of normal group (P < 0.001). Bax protein positive expression rate in 5 micromol/kg group was higher than those in normal group, and 1, 10 micromol/kg groups. The ultrastructure of karyotis, karyotheca, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum in three treated groups had different degree of damage and the degree of ultrastructural change was increasing with rising concentration of cadmium.

CONCLUSIONCadmium exposure will cause the DNA break, Bcl-2 and Bax protein abnormal expression and ultrastructural change in spermatogenic cell.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; DNA Damage ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the possible involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in cardiovascular responses induced by central salt loading.

METHODSDirect perfusion into PVN region with hypertonic saline (0.6 mol/L) was performed in conscious rats by using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique. Then, the extracellular concentration of GABA in the PVN region was measured by microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques, and the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were with recorded simultaneously. Bicuculline (an antagonist of GABAA receptor) or saclofen (an antagonist of GABAB receptor) were coperfused hypertonic saline into PVN region, then the cardiovascular responses were examined.

RESULTS(1) The local perfusion of 0.6 mol/L saline elicited significant increases on BP and HR (P < 0.01). In addition, perfusion of 0.6 mol/L saline increased the extracellular GABA levels in the PVN region, which reached 561.96% +/- 173.96% (P < 0.05) of the basal level. (2) Bicuculline or salcofen significantly attenuated the in-response of BP (P < 0.01, respectively), whereas the antagonists did not influence the response of HR induced by hypertonic saline.

CONCLUSIONLocal perfusion of hypertonic saline in the PVN region elicits a local release of GABA, which may act via GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors to produce pressor response.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; metabolism ; physiology ; Pressoreceptors ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a central site for integration of the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system. Despite a number of studies have pointed out the importance of the PVN in the central regulation of cardiovascular functions, the chemical mediators in the PVN responsible for mediating baroreflex are not well understood. In the present study, we used the conscious rats to investigate the possible involvement of glycine (Gly) in PVN in the central regulation of baroreflex induced by intravenous injection of phenylephrine (0.8 mug/0.04 mL, in 3 min). Then, the microdialysis sampling was performed in the PVN and the concentration of Gly in the microdialysate was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with electrochemical techniques, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded simultaneously. Injection of phenylephrine elicited a significant increase (P<0.01) in MAP from the baseline of (99.5+/-14.2) mmHg to the maximum of (149.8+/-19.5) mmHg and a decrease (P<0.01) in HR from the baseline of (400.8+/-33.1) beats/min to the minimum of (273.4+/-40.8) beats/min, respectively. Synchronously, the injection of phenylephrine increased the level of Gly in the microdialysate from the PVN to (162.9+/-27.3)% of the basal level (P<0.05). Perfusion of strychnine (100 mumol/L), an antagonist of Gly receptor, into the PVN enhanced the pressor response and attenuated the bradycardic response during the baroreflex, resulting in a decrease in baroreflex sensitivity (P<0.001). Whereas, the perfusion of Gly (1 mmol/L) into the PVN did not affect the pressor response but enhanced the bradycardic response during the baroreflex, resulting in an increase in baroreflex sensitivity (P<0.001). These results suggest that endogenous Gly in the PVN may act via strychnine-sensitive Gly receptor to produce a facilitative effect on baroreflex.
Animals ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; Glycine ; pharmacology ; Heart Rate ; Microinjections ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; physiology ; Phenylephrine ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the angiographic feature and its diagnostic value in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

METHODSTwelve patients with pathologically proved GIST underwent angiography using PUCK and DSA one week before operation. The origin, size, morphology and angiographic appearance of the lesion were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIt was found that two tumors originated from stomach, eight from jejunum, and two from ileum. Seven cases were benign but five malignant. Obviously thickened and enlarged feeding artery was detected in eight tumors, and early-developed vein was found in three. Two types of angiographic changes of GIST were observed: 1) twisted irregular neoplastic vessels with partially coarse and indistinct margin were found in four cases, which were all malignant; 2) ball-like neoplastic vessels with homogeneous stain in tumor were found in eight cases, seven of them were benign but one was malignant.

CONCLUSIONAngiography may be helpful in localization and diagnosis as well as defining the size of GIST, and especially in patients with melena of unknown origin.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Jejunal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo define the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the atrial dynamics and ANP secretion in the perfused beating rabbit atria.

METHODThe experiments have been done in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. ANP was measured by radioimmunoassay in the atrial perfusate in real-time base.

RESULTA. membranaceus (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 g L(-1)) could increase atria stroke volume from (694.70 +/- 0.01) microL g(-1) (P<0.05) to (1,003.00 +/- 8.80) microL g(-1) (P<0.001); (1,120.00 +/- 17.71) microL g(-1) and (1,195.00 +/- 8.21) microL g(-1) (P<0.001), respectively, and its could difference increase atrial pulse pressure from (0.82 +/- 0.01) kPa to (0.86 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.01); (0.96 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.001) and (1.02 +/- 0.01) kPa (P<0.001), respectively; A. membranaceus obviously increased rabbit atrial dynamics with dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, A. membranaceus inhibited ANP secretion. Nifedipine (1.0 micromol L(-1)), a L-type Ca2+ channel inhibitor, and KB-R 7943 (10.0 micromol L(-1)), an inhibitor of reversed Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger, blocked the effects of A. membranaceus-induced augmentation of atrial dynamics but failed to modulation the inhibition of A. membranaceus on ANP secretion.

CONCLUSIONA. membranaceus increases the atrial dynamics via Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger and L-type Ca2+ channel and negatively modulates ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; secretion ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Heart Atria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thiourea ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology