Objective To investigate pediatric infective endocarditis(IE) risk factors and the feature of pathogen.Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 46 cases who were diagnosed as IE from January 2000 to June 2007.Sixteen variables such as sex,primary disease,infectious site,complication,culture result and therapeutic measure were selected for logistic regression analysis.Results Forty-six IE patients accounted for 0.78‰ of all the hospitalized patients during the same period.Of 46 cases,40 had heart diseases.The incidence rate of left-sided endocarditis was higher than that of right-sided endocarditis.Twenty-four had positive blood culture result,one patient had positive culture from vegetation sample.The total positive culture rate was 54%.Gram-positive bacteria were found in 15 cases,and the most common organisms were α-hemolytic streptococcus.Gram-negative bacteria were in 7 cases and fungus infection was present in 3 cases.After antiboitic treatment,40 were cured,6 died.In the logistic regression model,the variables significantly associated with death included negative blood culture (OR=25.127,95%CI=1.110-363.236),hematological system disease (OR=28.620,95%CI=2.261-354.448) and multiple organ failure (OR=19.843,95%CI=0.786-221.754).Conclusion Streptococcus viridans is the most common pathogen in pediatric IE in our hospital.Higher incidence in the left heart than that in the right heart is found.Negative blood culture,hematological system disease and MOF are the risk factors in IE patients.

Endometrial cancer ( EC) is one of the most common gynecological cancer ,of which the molecular biolog-ical mechanisms is very complex .In recent years, it has been reported that the abnormally regulated PI 3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is significantly related with endometrial cancer .The mutation and abnormal activation of the receptors and kinase of the PI 3 K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target of endometrial cancer .

Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infection ; physiopathology ; Sepsis ; physiopathology ; Shock, Septic ; physiopathology

Objective: To investigate the different-dose effects of methamphetamine (METH) on spatial learning and memory and the possible mechanisms. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg of METH or normal saline. The drug was injected intraperitoneally 30 min prior to the Morris water maze. All mice experienced 5 consecutive days' positioning navigation experiment and the spatial exploration experiment conducted 24 hours after the last training trial. Immediately after the probe test, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation and the hippocampus was dissected. Western blot was used to detect changes in phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus. Results: Compared with the mice in saline group, those in 1.0 mg/kg METH group had a significantly shorter latency (P<0.05), spent more time in the target quadrant (P<0.05), and had more platform site crossings (P<0.05). Moreover, 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg of METH did not significantly affect the mice's spatial learning and memory, but 0.5 mg/kg of METH showed a memory-promoting trend, while 2.0 mg/kg of METH showed a memory-destroying trend. METH of 1.0 mg/kg significantly increased p-ERK1/2 (P<0.05) and p-CREB (P<0.05) levels in the hippocampus. Conclusion: METH of 1.0 mg/kg significantly improved mice's spatial learning and memory. The effect of METH is an inverted U-curve among three doses of METH at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg. ERK1/2 and CREB in the hippocampus may be involved in METH-induced improvement of spatial learning and memory in mice.

AIM To investigate the effects of serine/threonine protein phosphatases in regulation of cell signal transduction on voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels in cultured rat trigeminal ganglion (TRG) neurons. METHODS Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the potassium and calcium currents from adult rat TRG neurons before and after perfusion of okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of the serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. RESULTS Okadaic acid 1 μmol·L-1 inhibited transient outwards potassium currents (IA) by 28.6%, increased delay rectified potassium currents (IK) and calcium currents (ICa) by 22.7% and 20.0%, respectively. okadaic acid 1 μmol·L-1 produced significant hyperpolarizing shifts in the conductance-voltage (G-V) curves and inactivation curves of IA , also produced significant hyperpolarizing shifts in the G-V curves of IK, while it had no effect on the activation and inactivation kinetics of ICa. CONCLUSION Serine/threonine protein phosphatases 1 and 2A may be involved in the modulation of voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels on rat TRG neurons. In addition, voltage-gated potassium and calcium channels show different dependence on the dephosphorylation reactions of PP1 and PP2A phosphatases.

The paper aimed to evaluate the effects of lead stress on photosynthetic performance and ginsenoside content in ginseng (Panax ginseng). To accomplish this, three years old ginseng were cultivated in pot and in phytotron with different concentrations of lead, ranging from 0 to 1000 mg x kg(-1) soil for a whole growth period (about 150 days). The photosynthetic parameters in leaves and ginsenoside content in roots of ginseng were determined in green fruit stage and before withering stage, respectively. In comparison with the control, net photosynthetic rate and SPAD value in ginseng leaves cultivated with 100 and 250 mg x kg(-1) of lead changed insignificantly, however, ginseng supplied with 500 and 1 000 mg x kg(-1) of lead showed a noticeably decline in the net rate of photosynthesis and SPAD value (P < 0.05), the lowest net photosynthetic rate and SPAD value showed in the treatment supplied with 1 000 mg x kg(-1) of lead, with decline of 57.8%,11.0%, respectively. Total content of ginsenoside in ginseng roots cultivated with 100 mg x kg(-1) of lead showed insignificantly change compared to the control, but the content increased remarkably in treatments supplied with 250, 500, 1 000 mg x kg(-1) of lead (P < 0.05), and highest content appeared in these ginsengs exposed to 1000 mg x kg(-1) of lead. The net photosynthetic rate and SPAD value in leaves of ginseng both showed significantly negative linear correlations with lead stress level (P < 0.01), and significant positive linear correlations between total content of ginsenoside and lead concentration was also observed (P < 0.05). These results strongly indicate that exposing to high level of lead negatively affects photosynthetic performance in ginseng leaves, but benefits for accumulation of secondary metabolism (total content of ginsenoside) in ginseng root.
Ginsenosides ; analysis ; metabolism ; Lead ; pharmacology ; Panax ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Xiehuo Yangyin powder (XHYY) in treating the initial stage of toxic and diffuse goiter (Graves' disease).

METHODSSixty patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group (n = 30) was treated with XHYY and methimazole, while the control group (n = 30) was treated with methimazole alone. The TCM syndrome score and thyroxin level in the two groups were compared and analyzed before, and 2 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSThe syndrome score and thyroxin level in the treated group 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks after treatment were reduced in comparing with before treatment, with the improvement better than those in the control group in the corresponding stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese herbal medicine XHYY plus methimazole, in treating Graves' disease, could rapidly and effectively improve the patients' clinical symptoms and lower the thyroxin level, reduce the daily taken of methimazole.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antithyroid Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graves Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Methimazole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Powders ; Thyroxine ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antiproliferative activity of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(2-hydroxy-4, 6-dimethoxy-3-((ethyl(methyl) amino) methyl) phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one (DMF) against human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect of DMF on PC3 cells was measured by MTT assay. Induction of apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometric analysis. Changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) were detected by JC-1 staining. The levels of apoptosis related proteins were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTSDMF exhibited high efficiency on cell growth inhibition in PC3 cells with an IC50 value of (9.5 +/- 0.2)micromol/L. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that DMF could induce apoptosis in PC3 cells. A significant decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in PC3 cells treated with DMF, which was in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results of Western blot indicated that DMF induced the activation of caspase-3, increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of phosphate-p38.

CONCLUSIONDMF is a potential compound against PC3 cells and the mitochondrial pathway might be involved in DMF-induced apoptosis in PC3 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chlorobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Growth Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Adult ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; complications

AIM: To analyze the electronic product use time, writing time, playing piano time and outdoor activity time and the distribution of myopia in 586 cases of school age children in our hospital. ·METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 586 cases of children aged 6 to 12 years old in the outpatient department was established. Personalized files were used to record the uncorrected visual acuity, optometry, slit lamp, fundus mirror and strabismus. The cumulative use time of electronic products ( including computer, mobile phone, iPad) , writing time, whether to play the piano and outdoor activities time with the eye situation were recorded. Statistical analysis of the age group of myopia, the cumulative use of electronic age in different age groups, writing time, whether playing piano and outdoor activities and the distribution of myopia occurred. · RESULTS: ( 1 ) With the increasing of age, the distribution of uncorrected eyesight was in children mostly mild myopia, and the proportion of mild myopia was significantly higher than that of moderate and high myopia. ( 2 ) Electronic products use time distribution:the proportion of playing electronic products ( including mobilephone, computers, iPad) accounted for 76. 8%, of which 9 years old, 10 years old the cumulative use of electronic products with a long time was higher than other age groups. ( 3 ) Distribution of writing time: the proportion of write homework ≤1h was significantly lower than the proportion of writing homework > 1h (37. 2% vs 62. 8%), of which 9 and 10 years old children cumulative write time was higher than other age group. ( 4 ) Distribution of playing the piano: the proportion of playing piano time less than 1h was significantly higher than the proportion of playing piano time more than 1h ( 89. 1% vs 10. 9%). ( 5 ) Distribution of outdoor activities: the proportion of outdoor activities ≤1h in children at school age was significantly higher than that of outdoor activities > 1h (91. 8% vs 8. 9%). ·CONCLUSION: With the age exposure to electronic products becoming younger, heavy learning tasks and less outdoor activities, myopia occurred in advance of age. So health examination and eye guidance, reducing the amount of work appropriately, increasing outdoor activities will slow the development of early childhood myopia.