Objective Cardiac muscle cells play a critical role in maintaining normal function of the heart.Cardiotrophin-1(CT-1),a potent cardiac survival factor,is capable of inhibiting apoptosis or promoting survival in cardiomyocytes.To elucidate the mechanism of CT-1 promoting cardiac myocyte survival in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.To explore the potential signaling pathway that might be responsible for this effect.Methods We examined the cardiac myocyte survival effect of CT-1 in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.The cardiomyocytes were stained [3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiaziazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide,MTT] and the counted.Results The survival rate of cardiac myocytes was increased by CT-1 in a dose-dependent manner(10-10～10-7 mol/L) and in a time-dependent manner(1～4 d,10-8 mol/L) in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.Pretreatment of PD098059(5?10-5mol/L),a MAPK blocker,decreased significantly survival rate of cardiac myocytes by promoted CT-1.The phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA)(10-5mol/L),a PKC activator,increased significantly this effect of CT-1,but inhibited significantly by MAPK blocker PD098059.Conclusion CT-1 is a potent factor of promoting cardiac myocyte survival,and increase significantly survival rate of cardiac myocytes in a dose-dependentand a time-dependent manner in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.The MAPK signaling pathway mediates CT-1 induced cardiac myocyte survival.PKC signaling molecule may be a upstream signaling transduction pathway which cascades of MAPK in CT-1 induced cardiac myocyte survival.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of dorsal double locking compression plate (LCP) in treatment of stretched unstable distal radial fractures.Methods Fourteen cases of stretched unstable distal radial fractures were treated by reduction and internal fixation using straight or L-shaped anatomic LCP via dorsal approach.Wrist functional exercise was conducted immediately after operation.Follow up was made after operation to assess motion pain,functional score of wrist,and complication incidence at postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks,and 1 year.Results Follow-up was lasted for 5-24 months.At postoperative 12 weeks,24 weeks and 1 year,mean visual analogue scale (VAS) was (1.88 ±0.26) points,(0.87 ± 0.14) points and (0.37 ± 0.06) points respectively and wrist functional score (Gartland-Werley score) was (6.45 ± 1.72) points,(2.73 ± 0.52) points and (2.10 ± 0.31) points respectively.According to Garfland-Werley score in the latest follow-up,the results were excellent in 10 cases,good in two,and fair in two.Besides,one case was combined with myotenositis of extensor pollicis longus muscle tendon and another case with myotenositis of extensor tendon.Conclusion Dorsal double LCP is one of the effective methods for stretched unstable distal radial fractures that can reconstruct anatomical structure of the wrist efficiently and attain satisfactory functional recovery,with no obvious pain.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of mild hypothermia on cells in the CA_1 region of the hippocampus in gerbils following global ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI),and to explore their mechanism. Methods IRI models were established in 75 gerbils.Any changes in TUNEL positive cells and the expression of Bax and Cytochrome C were then observed in normothermic(N) ,hypothermic(H)and sham(S) groups through immu- nohistochemistry methods.Results In the H group(as compared with the N group)apoptotic cells in the CA_1 sub- field of the hippocampus significantly decreased.The expression of Bax and Cyt C at 3 h,6 h and 1 d were de- creased,and the expression fastigium was delayed.Conclusion Mild hypothermia can moderate and delay cell ap- optosis,and its mechanism might be related with reducing and delaying the expression of Bax and Cyt C released by mitochondria.

The effects of dietary supplementation with Clostridium butyricum on growth performance and humoral immune response in Miichthys miiuy were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Miichthys miiuy weighing approximately 200-260 g were divided into five groups and reared in 15 tanks with closed circuiting culture system. The animals were fed 5 diets: basal diet only (control) or supplemented of the basal diet with C. butyricum at doses of 10(3) (CB1), 10(5) (CB2), 10(7) (CB3) or 10(9) (CB4) CFU/g. Compared with the control, the serum phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased by the supplementation (P<0.05), acid phosphatases activity was increased significantly (P<0.05) at the doses of 10(9) CFU/g. Serum lysozyme activity peaked at dose of 10(7) CFU/g and in the skin mucus at dose of 10(9) CFU/g. Immunoglobulin M level in the serum and skin mucus was increased except at dose of 10(3) CFU/g (P<0.05). The growth at the dose of 10(9) CFU/g was higher than that of the control (P<0.05). It is concluded that supplementation of C. butyricum can mediate the humoral immune responses and improve the growth performance in Miichthys miiuy.
Animal Feed ; microbiology ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; physiology ; Clostridium butyricum ; immunology ; Dietary Supplements ; microbiology ; Fishes ; growth & development ; immunology ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage

To observe therapeutic effects of acupuncture on female's climacteric depression and to study on the mechanism. Methods Sixty cases enrolled were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture were given at Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Xinshu (BL 15), etc. with uniform reinforcing-reducing method, once each day, and the control group were treated with oral administration of fluexertine hydrochloride, 20 mg, once daily. HAMD scale was used for assessment before treatment and 2,4,6 weeks after treatment. Blood dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contents were detected before treatment and after one therapeutic course. Results The total effective rate was 86.7% in the acupuncture group and 92.9% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, DA content increased significantly in the acupuncture group with a significant difference as compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05); and after treatment NE and 5-HIAA contents in the two groups significantly increased as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can benignly and comprehensively regulate general functions, and increase contents of monoamines in the body, so as to play the role of anti-depression.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Climacteric ; psychology ; Depression ; blood ; therapy ; Dopamine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Norepinephrine ; blood

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

This paper is to build a finite element model of brain with a real brain shapeon which simulation studies of electrical impedance tomography EIT in the brain is based. A curve of a real brain shape is simulated with the curve-fitting methods and EIT in the brain is finished with finite-element methods and Equipotential Lines Back-Projection algorithm.The locationarea and amplitude of the change of the resistivity are reconstructed accurately. But the image quality has to be further improved.This paper provides a basis for clinical applications of EIT in brain.

ObjectiveTo observe the rehabilitative effect of patients with shoulder-hand syndrome after stroke by manipulation treatment. MethodsThe patients with shoulder-hand syndrome were randomly divided into two groups, manipulation group (180cases) and control group (128 cases). Patients in the manipulation group were regularly given a passive quantitative movement on shoulder, elbow and hand joints,while patients in the control group were irregularly given a passive movement or ordered to perform an autonomic movement. The signs and symptoms of patients in these two groups were not much different. The rehabilitative effects were compared 3 months later. ResultsSigns and symptoms in the manipulation groups improved much better than that of the control group. Conclusions The manipulation treatment for the post-stroke patients with shoulder-hand syndrome is the method that is simple, effective and easy to perform.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the clinical, laboratory, imaging and pathological features of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and investigate the impact of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy on patient prognosis.

METHODSThe medical records of 22 patients diagnosed with PSC between 2002 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The PSC diagnosis had been made in patients with suspect biochemical abnormalities following evaluation by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Fibrosis and inflammation were assessed by immunohistochemical analyses of tissue biopsies. Outcome of patients treated with UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day, oral) were compared to that of patients without UDCA treatment by the X2 or corrected X2 tests.

RESULTSAmong the 22 PSC patients, the majority was male (n=15) and presented with fatigue, dark urine, and body weight loss (n=15). Four cases had ulcerative colitis. At admission, all 22 cases showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase[ALP: (348+/-184) U/L], 19 cases showed elevated alanine aminotransferase [ALT: (94.0+/-67.0) U/L] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST: (98.0+/-67.0) U/L], and 15 cases showed elevated levels of total bilirubin (99.0+/-115.0) mumol/L and direct bilirubin (74.4+/-92.4 mumol/L. ERCP examination showed segmental intrahepatic bile duct stenosis with expansion, and stiff and enlarged gallbladder bile ducts, but unclear findings for the common bile ducts and pancreatic ducts. MRCP showed beading of the intrahepatic bile duct, stiffness of the bile duct wall, and dilation of the common bile duct. Fibrosis and inflammation were observed in the bile ducts, along with hyperplasia and the typical features of "onion skin" fibrosis and fibrous obliterative cholangitis. Five of the 10 patients treated with UDCA improved, and seven of the 12 patients in the non-UDCA treatment group improved. There was no statistically significant difference in outcome between the groups (paired X2=0.333, corrected X2=0.083, P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPSC patients were predominantly male and the common clinical manifestations were fatigue, dark urine, and body weight loss. At admission, serum biochemical indicators of cholangitis were increased significantly and subsequent imaging studies confirmed the suspected diagnosis by showing obvious characteristic changes. UDCA treatment did not significantly improve patient prognosis.

Adult ; Cholangiography ; methods ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with maxillary protraction with or without rapid palatal expansion (RPE) for skeletal Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition.

METHODSA total of 31 children with Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition were selected, and 15 (group A) received maxillary protraction treatment with RPE, the other 16 (group B) received maxillary protraction without RPE. Cephalometric films were taken before and after treatment, and traditional and Pancherz analysis were used.

RESULTSThe average duration of treatment was 10.14 months in group A and 9.77 months in group B respectively (P>0.05). According to Pancherz analysis, maxillary basal bone moved forwards by 2.99 mm in group A and 3.33 mm in group B respectively (P>0.05), mandibular basal bone moved backwards by 0.07 mm in group A, while forwards by 0.80 mm in group B (P>0.05), the overjet increased by 4.51 mm in group A and 6.37 mm in group B respectively (P<0.05), and the molar relationship improved by 4.97 mm in group A and 4.73 mm in group B respectively (P>0.05). The effects were clinically satisfactory in the both groups. Lower molar moved forwards by 1.18 mm in basal bone in group A, while backwards by 1.20 mm in group B (P<0.05). Traditional cephalometric analysis showed no statistic differences between the two groups except that upper incisior showed greater procline in group B than in group A (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe study shows that maxillary protraction treatment, with or without RPE, is clinically satisfactory to correct early skeletal Class III malocclusion.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Extraoral Traction Appliances ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Palatal Expansion Technique