Objective· To investigate the clinical features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD),and provide the basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Methods· The clinical data of 42 patients with AOSD,including 14 patients with AOSD-induced MAS (the MAS group) and 28 AOSD patients paired by age and sex (the non-MAS group),diagnosed in Department of Rheumatology,Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from October 2013 to June 2016 were collected and then retrospectively analyzed.Results· There was no significant difference in age,sex and duration of AOSD between two groups.The mortality rate of patients in MAS group was significantly higher than that of patients in non-MAS group,as well as the rates of rash,splenomegaly and hemophagocytosis.The levels of ALT and serum ferritin in MAS group were higher than those in non-MAS group,while the level of FDP is lower.Glucocorticoids were used in all 42 patients,and the dosage of glucocorticoids was significantly higher in MAS group than non-MAS group.Only 1 patient with AOSD-induced MAS received MTX,the percentage of patients receiving MTX was significantly lower in MAS group than non-MAS group.Five patients with AOSD-induced MAS received IVIG,the percentage of patients receiving IVIG was significantly higher in MAS group than non-MAS group.Two patients with AOSD-induced MAS received VP-16.Conclusion · The mortality rate of patients in MAS group was significantly higher than that of patients in non-MAS group,as well as the rates of rash,splenomegaly and hemophagocytosis.The levels of ALT and serum ferritin in patients with AOSD-induced MAS were higher than patients without MAS,while the level of FDP was lower.Early diagnosis and active treatment is the key point to improve clinical outcome.

ObjectiveTo assess the characteristics of left ventrlcular ( LV) systolic syncnrony before and 6 days after percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation(PTSMA)in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) using two dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2DSTI),and to investigate correlation between the LV systolic synchrony and LV outflow-trace gradient (LVOTG).MethodsLVOTG were measured before and 6 days after PTSMA in 21 patients with HOCM.The two dimensional loop-cinec were obtained in three levels of the short axis views of LV (mitral valve,papillary muscle and cardiac apex).The time from the onset of QRS complexes to systolic peak strain from the radial vectors (TRs) was recorded using 2D-STI.The standard deviation of the TRS of 18 segments (TRsSD) were calculated as indicator of LV systolic synchrony.Results Six days after PTSMA,LVOTG decreased significantly from (84.3 ± 19.1)mm Hg to (40.6 ± 8.3)mm Hg( P ＜0.01).TRS of the base and middle segments of anteroseptal were prolonged dramatically( P ＜0.05) 6 days after PTSMA compared with that before.There were no significantly differences in TRs-SD of LV between before and 6 days after PTSMA ( t =1.03,P ＞ 0.05).Decreased LVOTG correlated moderately to prolonged TRS of the base segments of anteroseptal ( r =0.657,P ＜0.05).Conclusions2D-STI can detect exactly the characteristics of LV systolic synchrony before and 6 days after PTSMA in patients with HOCM.

Growth of animal is largely regulated by growth hormone (GH). In this study, the GH gene was isolated and cloned from the genomic DNA library from Rongjiang pig, a Chinese local swine, using polymerase chain reaction technique. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.903 kb genomic fragment containing Rongjiang swine GH gene has been determined. The GH gene contained five exons and four introns similar to the GH genes of other mammalians and exhibited 97%~99% identity to the GH genes of the four western meat-type breeds and nine Chinese local pigs. Polymorphism of GH genes was analyzed by using the restriction enzymes Dde I, Nar I and BsmN I in four western meat-type breeds and ten Chinese local pigs. Five polymorphic restriction sites, with Dde I at the base 622 (G/A) in exon 2 and 274 (T/C) in 5o-flank, with Nar I at 631 (G/A) in exon 2, and with BsmN I at the base 841 (T/C) in intron 2 and 1358 (A/G) in exon 4, were identified. The polymorphic restriction site at 1358 (A/G) leaded to the GH mature protein of Rongjiang pig differing from that of four western meat-type breeds and eight Chinese local breeds at the residue Val108 substituted by Ile108. According to the crystal structure of human GH mature protein, this Ile108 substitution might result in a lower affinity of GH for its receptor in Rongjiang breed.
Animals ; Breeding ; China ; Cloning, Molecular ; Exons ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; physiology ; Introns ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Species Specificity ; Swine

Sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P) is an important bioactive lipid produced from cell membrane sphingomyelin metabolism process.S1P and cell membrane surface S1P receptors(S1PR1-5) are G protein coupled receptors(GPCRs), which influence the formation of new blood vessels in the immune system via combining the related inflammatory signaling pathway.This review describes briefly the effects of S1P and S1PRs on autoimmune disease angiogenesis through intracellular signal transduction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus.Further research will be a new therapeutic target on vascular inflammation of autoimmune diseases.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the perihematomal tissues in human hypertensive,intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and brain edema formation following ICH.Methods Paraffin-embedded brain tissues of 39 human fatal cases of ICH from the perihematomal tissues,1—3 cm away from the margin of the hemorrhagic lesion,as well as tissues from the corresponding area at the opposite side as controls,were stained with HE and immunohistochemistry staining.The expressions of MMP-9 and ICAM-1 in the pefihematomal tissues were analyzed with the SPSS 11.5 system.Results ①With MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining positive capillaries in the perihematomal tissues were identified at 2 h ((1.2? 0.8)/HP).The number of MMP-9 positive capillaries began to rise at 5—10 h ((4.1?0.8)/HP) reaching the peak at 45—48 h ((10.6?1.4)/HP,P

BACKGROUNDThe auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) have been used to treat deafness for patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2 and nontumor patients. The lack of an appropriate animal model has limited the study of improving hearing rehabilitation by the device. This study aimed to establish an animal model of ABI in adult rhesus macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta).

METHODSSix adult rhesus macaque monkeys (M. mulatta) were included. Under general anesthesia, a multichannel ABI was implanted into the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle through the modified suboccipital-retrosigmoid (RS) approach. The electrical auditory brainstem response (EABR) waves were tested to ensure the optimal implant site. After the operation, the EABR and computed tomography (CT) were used to test and verify the effectiveness via electrophysiology and anatomy, respectively. The subjects underwent behavioral observation for 6 months, and the postoperative EABR was tested every two weeks from the 1 st month after implant surgery.

RESULTThe implant surgery lasted an average of 5.2 h, and no monkey died or sacrificed. The averaged latencies of peaks I, II and IV were 1.27, 2.34 and 3.98 ms, respectively in the ABR. One-peak EABR wave was elicited in the operation, and one- or two-peak waves were elicited during the postoperative period. The EABR wave latencies appeared to be constant under different stimulus intensities; however, the amplitudes increased as the stimulus increased within a certain scope.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible and safe to implant ABIs in rhesus macaque monkeys (M. mulatta) through a modified suboccipital RS approach, and EABR and CT are valid tools for animal model establishment. In addition, this model should be an appropriate animal model for the electrophysiological and behavioral study of rhesus macaque monkey with ABI.

Animals ; Auditory Brain Stem Implants ; Deafness ; surgery ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Macaca mulatta ; Male

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Diabetes Mellitus ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Insulin Resistance ; Pregnancy ; blood

Aged ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Male ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; complications

OBJECTIVETo determine the expressions of HO-2 and eNOS in the corpus cavernosum of castrated rats and investigate the correlation of HO-2 and eNOS with erectile dysfunction.

METHODSForty SD rats of 10 weeks were equally divided into 3 castrated groups (4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively after removal of bilateral testes) and a sham operation control group. All the rats were detected for serum testosterone (T), intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) 2, 8 and 12 weeks after the surgery, the content of HO-2 analyzed by Western blot and the expressions of eNOS and HO-2 determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSTestosterone level and ICP/MAP ratio were markedly decreased after the castration (P < 0.05). The HO-2 expression was detected in the corpus cavernosum of all but the 12-week castrated rats, and the area under the curve was (341.50 +/- 99.70) in the 4-week castrated group, significantly less than in the 8-week (705.00 +/- 152. 74) and the control group (876 +/- 443. 36) (P < 0. 05), with no obvious difference between the latter two. eNOS was found mainly in the vascular endothelial cells of the corpus cavernosum, significantly less in the castrated (123.94 +/- 30. 23) than in the control group (421.21 +/- 125. 12).

CONCLUSIONAndrogens might mediate the penile erectile function through HO-2 and eNOS in the corpus cavernosum of rats.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Blotting, Western ; Erectile Dysfunction ; blood ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Rho-kinase and heme oxygenase and the interaction among NOS/NO, HO/CO and RhoA/Rho-kinase in the corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs).

METHODSA series of electric stimuli were applied to the corpus cavernosum nerves of 7 SHRs, the changes of ICP/MAP observed continuously and the expressions of ROCK2, HO-2 and eNOS analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Another 7 WKY rats were taken as controls.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, ICP/MAP did not rise obviously (P < 0.05), HO-2 dropped sharply (P = 0.006) and the expression of the ROCK2 protein was elevated markedly (P = 0.017) in the SHRs. Immunohistochemistry showed HO-2 to be distributed in the smooth muscle cells and nervous cells of the corpus cavernosum, and eNOS mainly in the vascular endothelial cells. The expressions of HO-2 and eNOS were obviously reduced in the SHRs.

CONCLUSIONNOS/NO, HO/CO and RhoA/Rho-kinase are related with erectile dysfunction in SHRs and may interact on one another.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Erectile Dysfunction ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Penis ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism