Animals ; Endothelins ; physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology ; Rats

Objective To investigate the changes of cerebral regional glucose metabolism and regional homogeneity (ReHo) and their relation in patients with major depression disorder (MDD) using 18F-FDG PET/CT and functional MRI (fMRI).Methods A total of 18 MDD patients (6 males,12 females,age:(33.00±7.59) years) and 17 healthy controls (6 males,11 females,age:(34.59±8.96) years) underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and fMRI.The changes of glucose metabolism on PET and ReHo on fMRI were analyzed individually by SPM and ReHo fMRI 1.0 software.Pearson correlation analysis was used.Results Compared with the glucose metabolism of control subjects,those of MDD patients decreased in the bilateral superior,middle and inferior frontal gyri,bilateral superior and middle temporal gyri,bilateral anterior cingulate cortices,bilateral putamina and caudate nuclei and the left pallidum.Meanwhile the glucose metabolism increased in the bilateral hippocampi and the left thalamus.The ReHo in MDD patients decreased in bilateral superior and middle frontal gyri,left pallidum,bilateral putamina,left anterior cingulate cortex,whereas increased ReHo was found in right hippocampus and right thalamus.The SUV of bilateral superior,middle and inferior frontal gyri,bilateral superior and middle temporal gyri,bilateral putamina,left caudate,left pallidum,left anterior cingulate cortex,bilateral hippocampi and bilateral thalami were correlated with ReHo (r =0.51-0.83,all P＜0.05).However,no correlation was found between the SUV and ReHo in right caudate and anterior cingulate cortex (r=0.41,0.37; both P＞0.05).Conclusion There may be relative characteristic models of abnormal cerebral metabolism and cerebral dysfunction impairment in MDD patients,and the changes of cerebral regional glucose metabolism may be correlated with the changes of ReHo.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; Adolescent ; Chemokines ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumoconiosis ; microbiology ; Sputum ; microbiology ; beta-Lactam Resistance ; beta-Lactamases ; analysis

Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) is a newly discovered IFN of type I. It was originally found for its role as a pregnancy recognition hormone in ruminant animals such as sheep and cows. Like the other type I IFNs, IFN-tau have the same biological activities including antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects. In order to clearly identify the function of IFN-tau, the coding sequence of IFN-tau was amplified by PCR from IFN-tau cDNA, this fragment digested by EcoR I and BamH I and was inserted into pBV220 to form the recombinant plasmid pBV220/IFN-tau which was then transformed into E.coli BL21. It was found that pBV220/IFN-tau was highly expressed as inclusion body in BL21. Next, the expressed protein was purified on S-100 High Resolution and the purified product was confirmed by amino acid sequence analysis. Moreover, the standard antiviral activity test indicated that the activity of IFN-tau was about 2.09?106IU/ml.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and initial experience of laparoscopic pyelolithoto- my within renal sinus.Methods A total of 19 patients(14 men and 5 women)of nephrolithiasis on 21 sides underwent laparoscopic pyelolithotomy within renal sinus.Of them,9 cases with other upper urinary tract diseases were treated by laparoseopic pyelolithotomy at the same time.The patient age ranged from 16 to 67 years(mean,41 years).The calculi were 1.2 to 3.5 cm in diameter,and were found on the right side in 11 cases,left side in 6,and both sides in 2.Five cases concomitantly had ureteral calculi;of them,1 had bi- lateral ureter calculi with ipsilateral steinstrasse,2 had pyelic polyp(1 with giant hydronephrosis after open ureterolithotomy),and 1 had giant bydronephrosis with pyelolithiasis during pregnancy with double-J tube drainage.Twelve cases(13 sides)had experienced unsuccessful extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy,and 1 failed with minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy.Results The procedure was successful in all the 19 cases.The operative time ranged from 75 to 240 rain(mean,115 rain).The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 30 to 100ml(mean,50 ml).One case experienced 5-d urine leakage,and was spontaneously cured.The hospital stay was 5-9 d(mean,6 d).Double-J tube drainage was 4-6 weeks.During the follow- up(3-36 months),KUB and IVU showed no upper urinary tract stricture and no residual stones except for 1 stone of 0.7 cm in the renal lower calyx in 1 case.The kidney function was improved in all cases.Con- clusions Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is new and minimally invasive alternative approach for renal calculi. With this procedure the urinary tract complications can be treated concomitantly,thus it can partially replace open surgery.

AIM:To investigate the effect of insulin on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathways involved.METHODS:VSMCs separated from Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The proliferation of VSMCs induced by insulin was assayed by [3H]-thymidin incorporation. The protein expression and activity of p-ERK1/2 were determined by immunblot and [?-32P]ATP incorporation.RESULTS:Insulin induced cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The proliferative effect of insulin on VSMCs was inhibited partly by LY294002 (48.8%),an inhibitor of PI-3 kinase,and the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 (43.6%),respectively. Moreover,phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and activity of ERK1/2 induced by insulin were also inhibited partly by LY294002.CONCLUSION:PI-3 kinase and ERK1/2 are involved in insulin induced VSMCs proliferation.

Objective To evaluate the application and initial experience of laparoscopy in kidneypreserving surgery for savage giant hydronephrosis. Methods This series included 6 cases of savage gianthydronephrosis (2 men and 4 women;age range,15 -57 years;mean age,28 years).Of them 5 cases weredetected when visiting doctors due to flank pain,abdominal mass,and the rest one by B-ultrasound duringpregnancy.Four cases had hydronephrosis on the left;and 2 cases,on the right.The quantity of hydronephro-sis was 2250 -8300 ml,respectively.None had development on IVU examination.Of them,3 cases had con-genital ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction;2 had multiple stones in infracalices secondary to UPJ ob-struction;1 had stones in pelvis with polyp formation.Relieving obstruction,pyeloplasty,nephroplication andnephropexy were performed via laparoscope. Results All the operations were successful.The operativetime was 2.5 -5.0 h;the blood loss was 50 -150 ml,and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.2 d.The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 to 24 months. Three months after operation,B-ultrasound showedthat giant hydronephrosis was markedly relieved in 5 cases (the renal sinus separation was 1.8 m,2.0 cm,2.5 cm,2.5 cm and 2.8cm,respectively),and in the rest 1 case the kidney was slightly smaller than nor-mal.IVU examination was performed every 3 months after operation, and different degrees of developmentappeared in all cases.During the follow-up,no obvious ureteropelvic anastomotic stricture was found on retro-grade pyelography (RGP). Conclusions The protective renal treatment via laparoscopy for savage gianthydronephrosis is a feasible and minimally invasive technique that provides the same clinical and radiograph-ic results as open operation.

OBJECTIVETo explore correlation between lung and large intestine and the two meridians under pathological condition in the view of meridian theory.

METHODSNinety-six cases of bronchial asthma were applied palpation at the running course of 12 regular meridians under the elbow and knees and back-shu points. And abnormal reactions were recorded, the affected meridians and back-shu points were discovered.

RESULTSThe abnormal reactions most frequently appeared on the Lung Meridian, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Liver Meridian, the Stomach Meridian and the Triple Energizer Meridian. And the unusual reaction of the back-shu points most frequently appeared on Feishu (BL 13), and Dachangshu (BL 25) and Pishu (BL 21) followed as the next two.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of correlation between the Lung Meridian and the Large Intestine Meridians under pathological condition can be proved through meridian and acupoint palpation on bronchial asthma patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; physiopathology ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult