OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and eNOS in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS).

METHODSFourteen children with VVS (group A), 10 children with syncope other than vasovagal (group B) and 20 healthy volunteers (group C) were enrolled. Plasma NO levels in groups A and B were determined before and at the termination of the head-up tilt table test (HUT). The G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene was determined in the three groups.

RESULTSPlasma NO levels in group A increased significantly when syncope attacked from 76.7+/-9.6 micromol/L (before HUT) to 90.0+/-11.4 micromol/L (P<0.05). After the syncope attack was improved, plasma NO level in group A was significantly reduced. There were no statistical differences in plasma NO levels before and after the HUT in group B. Determining the G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene showed that group A was associated with a higher incidence of the GT gene type as compared to groups B and C (42.9% vs 10%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma NO may be involved in the pathogenesis of VVS. The increased plasma NO level may be associated with the G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene.

Child ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; physiology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; etiology

Objective To evaluate the effect of health intervention to the self-care on patients with high risks of diabetic feet. Methods A total of 60 patients with high risk of diabetic feet received systemic health education containing self-care of feet and following-up for 6 months. A year later, the indicators including selfmanagement ability, rate of readmission and the incidence rate of diabetic feet were analyzed. Results After systemic health education, the knowledge of diabetes-related was enhanced and the self-management ability was improved. Only one case of diabetic feet occurred. Conclusions The systemic health education can promote the self-care ability of patients, control the diabetic feet risk factors and prevent related disease.

Objective To describe family cognition of breastfeeding and primiparas' breastfeeding behaviors 4 months postpartum and to explore the relationship between family cognition and new mother' breastfeeding behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to 200 primiparas at outpatient clinic in Beijing in terms of their breastfeeding behaviors and family cognition of breastfeeding. Results The rote of entire breastfeeding was 47.0％ ;and the score of family cognition was (23. 13 ±3. 19), which was at a moderate level. The total score of family cognition of primiparas who gave entire breastfeeding was significantly higher than those gave mixed or artificial feeding (F=8.26, df=2, P＜0. 01). Conclusions The breasffeeding rate in primiparas was relatively low,primipaaras who insists on giving entire breastfeeding have high level of family cognition. To help people form correct and active family cognition of breastfeeding and improve breastfeeding behavior in primiparas, health education should be launched toward not only primiparas but also their family numbers, especially the main caregiver.

Objective To analyze the normal anatomy of petrosal vein and the space adjacent relationship between the petrosal vein and the homolateral trigeminal nerve by balanced turbo field echo (B-TFE) Cine-MR imaging and enhanced T1 high-resolution isotropic volume excitation (e-THRIVE)imaging.Methods Forty-one patients with facial spasm and epileptiform neuralgia were selected and taken a scan with ACHIEVA NOVA DUAL A-serial 1.5T MR machine using the BTFE and e-THRIVE series.The space adjacent relationship between the petrosal vein and the trigeminal nerve in cerebellopontine angle were observed.Results The 82 sides of petrosal veins and homolateral trigeminal nerves (41 cases) were displayed well.Petrosal veins were located in cavitas subarachnoidealis,partly in free state; the number of trunk ofpetrosal vein could be 1,2,3,respectively,responding to 70 (86%),10 (12%),2 (2%).The petrosal veins located in the dorsal-lateral of trigeminal nerve were found in 74 sides (37 cases,91%,by BTFE,e-THRIVE series),the petrosal veins located in the ventri-lateral of trigeminal nerve in 6 sides (3 cases,7%,by e-THRIVE series),and the petrosal veins located in the right upon trigeminal nerve in 2 sides (1 cases,2%,by BTFE series).Conclusion B-TFE MR imaging and e-THR/VE imaging,showing the petrosal veins and trigeminal nerves clearly and evaluating their relationship accurately,can provide information of topographic anatomy before microsurgical vascular decompression.

Objective To survey the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and fractional anisotropy (FA) value ofpontine cistern section of the trigeminal nerve, and understand the characteristics of various parameters of trigeminal nerve pontine cistern section. Methods The distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem in 50 healthy volunteers were recorded, and fusion images of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with B-TFE or THRIVE were achieved to improve the spatial resolution of the pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve; their ADC value and FA value were recorded, separately. Tracing image formation was noted in the pontine cistern section of the trigeminal or trifacial nerve. Results The ADC and FA results of the left side and right flank of pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve in these healthy volunteers were not statistically different (P＜0.05). The closer to the brain stem, the more asymmetrical tendency of distance from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem between both sides. DTI indicated that the ADC values between each 2 distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mum of brain stem between both sides were significantly different: the ADC values increased along with the distance elevating gradually, but rotated suddenly at the line of 6-9 mm. The FA value increased in 0-6 mm along with the distance reducing gradually, and the neighboring 2 distances had remarkably statistical difference, but the FA value no longer obviously changed from the line of 6-9 mm. Conclusion DTI can distinguish the two-sided trigeminal nerve brain pond section clearly, and may realize each item of DTI. Regular changes are noted in FA and ADC values along with the different distances from pontine cistern section of the trifacial nerve to 0, 3, 6 and 9 mm of brain stem,indicating that DTI enjoys perspective in being clear about the discrimination of cranial nerve CNS section, the change-over portion and the PNS section, and in detecting the cranial nerve vascular compression.

OBJECTIVETo find a better therapy for extensive cerebral infarction.

METHODSSixty cases with extensive cerebral infarction were treated by surgical decompression. After operation, they were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus medication group and a medication group, 30 cases in each group. The patients in the medication group were treated by routine western medicine, and the patients in the acupuncture plus medication group by the routine western medicine plus acupuncture 2 days after operation with Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xuehai (SP 10) and Shuigou (GV 26) selected. They were treated for 10 days. The nervous functions were assessed by Chinese Stroke Nerve-function Rating Scale and criteria for clinical therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAfter surgical decompression, the death rate was 20.0%; after operation, acupuncture could significantly improve the neurological functional deficit degree of the patient. The total effective rate of 40.0% in the acupuncture plus medication group was better than 13.3% in the medication group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe surgical decompression is able to decrease the death rate of extensive cerebral infarction; after the operation, acupuncture and western medicine have cooperative effect on extensive cerebral infarction with a good therapeutic effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the anatomy of the facial artery using 16-slice spiral CT angiography (CTA).

METHODSForty-five patients without vascular pathologies or other anomalies underwent 16-slice spiral CT angiography after injection of 350 mg I/ml Omnipaque through the ulnar vein. MIP and volume rendering of the images were performed to analyze the left and right facial artery.

RESULTSThe left facial artery arose from the external carotid artery with the distances from the carotid artery bifurcation of 4.5-47.90 mm (mean 18.77-/+8.98 mm), and in 1 case (2.2%), the artery arose from the common carotid artery. The right facial artery arose from the external carotid artery in all the 45 cases (100%) with distances from the carotid artery bifurcation of 6.8-39.70 mm (mean 19.23-/+8.25 mm). The bilateral facial arteries more commonly arose from the external carotid artery independently, and the lingual artery and facial artery sharing the same trunk arising from the external carotid artery was less common. In 1 case, the left facial artery and the submental artery shared the same trunk, and in another case, the left facial artery, thyroid artery and lingual artery shared the same trunk. The diameter of the left facial artery ranged from 1.40 to 4.70 mm (mean 2.83-/+0.77 mm), and that of the right facial artery was 1.60-4.30 mm (mean 2.81-/+0.79 mm). The left facial artery ended below the angle of the mouth in 12 cases (26.67%), between the angle of the mouth and the nasal wing in 7 cases (15.56%), and above the nasal wing in 26 cases (57.77%). The right facial artery ended below the angle of the mouth in 7 cases (15.56%), between the angle of the mouth and the nasal wing in 12 cases (26.67%), and above the nasal wing in 26 cases (57.77%). The bilateral facial arteries frequently passed through the submandibular gland parenchyma (23 cases on the left and 24 cases on the right), and the facial arteries were found occasionally to run below the submandibular gland (11 cases on the left and 9 on the right).

CONCLUSION16-slice spiral CT angiography can help in preoperative facial artery evaluation noninvasively. This modality can clearly display the bilateral facial arteries, including their origin, course, distribution and ending to provide detailed information for flap designing before plastic surgery and for preoperative evaluation for microvascular surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; methods ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Face ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the tumor-suppressing effect of microRNA-218 (miR-218) in osteosarcoma (OS) and explore its molecular mechanism.

METHODSWe examined the expression levels of miR-218 in 68 pairs of OS and adjacent tissue samples using qRT-PCR. Cultured human OS cell line Saos-2 was transfected with miR-218 mimics or anti-miR-218 mimics, and the cell apoptosis was assessed using CCK-8 assay, annexin V-FITC staining and Western blotting. We also analyzed the potential functional targets of miR-218 in Saos-2 cells using luciferase assay, qRT-PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe expression level of miR-218 was lowered by at least 8 folds in OS tissues as compared with the adjacent tissues. In cultured Saos-2 cells, transfection with miR-218 mimics for 24, 36, and 48 h resulted in a significant reduction in the cell viability, while transfection with anti-miR-218 mimics significantly increased the cell viability. The cells transfected with miR-218 mimics showed an obviously enhanced expression of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (C-PARP) as compared with the cells transfected with anti-miR-218 mimics and the control cells. Flow cytometry demonstrated obviously increased apoptosis of the cells following miR-218 mimics transfection. We identified the oncogene B lymphoma mouse Moloney leukemia virus insertion region 1 (BMI-1) as a specific target of miR-218 in Saos-2 cells. BMI-1 expressions at both the mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in Saos-2 cells overexpressing miR-218 but increased in the cells with miR-218 knockdown as compared to the control cells. Luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-218 directly inhibited the expression of BMI-1 via binding to its 3'-UTR in OS cells.

CONCLUSIONmiR-218 can promote OS cell apoptosis and plays the role as a tumor suppressor by down-regulating BMI-1.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of carbamyl phosphate I (CPS-I)and ornithine transcarbamoylase (OCT) levels in cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy, and to analyze the correlations between CPS-Iand OCT with the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

METHODSCPS-I, OCT, plasma ammonia and liver function of 95 cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy and 25 cirrhosis patients without hepatic encephalopathy in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2009 were analyzed. 60 healthy controls were recruited in the control group. The differences of serum CPS-I, OCT levels among the cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy and the healthy controls were analyzed; the correlations of CPS-I, OCT levels with plasma ammonia and total protein in cirrhosis patients,and the correlations of CPS-I, OCT levels with Child-Pugh classification of cirrhosis symptom severity in cirrhosis were analyzed. the clinical characteristics between patients who had HE and no HE with chi-square tests were compared. Comparisons of CPS-I, OCT levels across patients based on the Child-Pugh classification were performed with One-Way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls, correlation of CPS-I, OCT with other indicators were performed with Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSSerum CPS-I and OCT levels in cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy were (143.3+/-48.5) U/L, (297.0+/-102.6) is multiplied by 10 U/L, which were lower than that in cirrhosis patients without hepatic encephalopathy (180.3+/-51.5) U/L, (351.8+/-109.0) is multiplied by 10 U/L (t = 2.53, t = 2.78, P < 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, serum CPS-I and OCT levels in cirrhosis patients with and without hepatic encephalopathy were all lower (t = 3.21, t = 4.16, t = 2.12, t = 3.15, P < 0.05). CPS-I was correlated with OCT, (r = 0.946, P < 0.05); CPS-I and OCT were negatively correlated with ALT and AST (r = -0.284, r = -0.239, r = -0.303, r = -0.322, P < 0.05). Additionally, CPS-I and OCT levels were negatively correlated with the Child-Pugh classification in Cirrhosis (F = 10.13, F = 20.28, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe serum CPS-I and COT levels were important factors affecting plasma ammonia in patients with cirrhosis and played an important role in the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Adult ; Ammonia ; blood ; Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia) ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; blood ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: This study tests whether long-term intake of Allium tuberosum (AT) can alleviate pulmonary inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice and evaluates its effect on the intestinal microbiota and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into three groups: phosphate buffer saline, OVA and OVA + AT. The asthmatic murine model was established by sensitization and challenge of OVA in the OVA and OVA + AT groups. AT was given to the OVA + AT group by oral gavage from day 0 to day 27. On day 28, mice were sacrificed. Histopathological evaluation of lung tissue was performed using hematoxylin and eosin, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. The levels of IgE in serum, interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-13 from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ILCs from the lung and gut were detected by flow cytometry. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing was used to analyze the differences in colon microbiota among treatment groups. RESULTS: We found that long-term intake of AT decreased the number of inflammatory cells from BALF, reduced the levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF, and IgE level in serum, and rescued pulmonary histopathology with less mucus secretion in asthmatic mice. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing results showed that AT strongly affected the colonic bacteria community structure in asthmatic mice, although it had no significant effect on the abundance and diversity of the microbiota. Ruminococcaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae were identified as two biomarkers of the treatment effect of AT. Moreover, AT decreased the numbers of ILCs in both the lung and gut of asthmatic mice. CONCLUSION The results indicate that AT inhibits pulmonary inflammation, possibly by impeding the activation of ILCs and adjusting the homeostasis of gut microbiota in asthmatic mice.