Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thymus Hormones ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of expulsive therapy using alpha 1-selective adrenoblocker and prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor for distal ureteral stones.Methods 94 patients with distal ureteral stone were randomly divided into study group and control group.In study group,47 cases received tamsulosin 0.2mg daily and dielofenac rectal suppositories 50mg 2 times daily,while watchful waiting without tamsulosin and diclofenac suppository in 47 cases of control group.Observation lasted 2 weeks and also stone expelled as end point.Results No severe adverse reactions related to the drugs were noted and no patients withdrew from the study.The stone-free rate was 91.5%(43/47) of the study group and 25.5% (12/47) of the control group (P＜0.01).A mean stone expelling date of the control group was(8.9±4.3)d and that of the study group was(6.4±3.7)d(P＜0.01).Rates of renoureteral colic recurred in the study group and the control group were 4.3%(2/47) and 48.9%(23/47),respectively (P＜0.01).Conclusion Treatment of distal ureteral stones wlth tamsulosin and dielofenac suppository can increase the stone-free rate,shorten mean stone expelling date,decrease rate of renottreteral colic recurred.

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are involved in the formation of various tissues including bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis by increasing the permeability and migration of endothelial cells.OBJECTIVE: To construct a co-expressing vector of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165), and observe the expression of BMP2 and VEGF165 in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).DESIGN: Observation control trail.SETTING: Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College and Plastic Surgery Hospital of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS: The MSCs derived from the healthy adult volunteers of marrow donors. pIRES-EGFP-hVEGF165 containing total length of cDNA sequence of human VEGF165 gene was provided by Dr. Cheng Ting from Plastic Surgery Hospital of Peking Union Medical College. pSP65-hBMP2 containing total length of cDNA sequence of human BMP2 gene was provided by Dr. Guo Ximin from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences. Enkaryotic expression vector pIRESneo (Clontech Company) Pyrobest DNA Polymerae, restriction enzyme, DNA ligase and plasmid extraction kit, DNA Fragment Purification Kit (TaKaRa Company), LiorfectamineTM liposome transfection kit, DMEM medium, trypase, TRIzoIRNA extraction kit (Gibco BRL), Omniscript RT kit (Qiagen), TaqplusDNA polymerase (Promega), PMSF, leupeptin, aprotinin, chymostatin (Sigma), protease inhibitor, PVDF membrane (Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech), rabbit anti-human BMP2 antibody and VEGF monoclonal antibody (Santa Cruz Company), goat anti-rabbit lgG-peroxydase (Wuhan Boster), G418 (Ameresco Company in U.S).METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College and the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between June 2005 and April 2006.hBMP2 and hVEGF165 cDNA were directional cloned into multiple clone sites of the eukaryotic expression vector pIRESneo. The recombinant plasmid was identified by restrictive enzyme Xho Ⅰ/Bgl Ⅱ digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. Liposome-mediated gene transfer method was used to transfect hBMSCs. For observation, the transfected cells were divided into IRES-hBMP2-VEGF165 group, pIRES-hBMP2 group, pIRES-VEGF165 group and empty vector group, which were transfected with pIRES-hBMP2-VEGF165, pIRES-hBMP2, pIRES-VEGF165 and pIRES-neo. Meanwhile, the same number nontransfected cells were selected as blank control group. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Weszern blot were employed to observe the expression and secretion of hBMP2 and hVEGF165 gene and protein.expression vector hBMP2 and hVEGF165 gene sequence were the same as reported after restrictive enzyme EcoRI and Bgl Ⅱ digestion analysis and pIRES-BMP2 gene sequencing, which showed that the recombinant plasmid pIRES-hBMP2-VEGF165 highly expressed hBMP2-mRNA and VEGF165-mRNA, but the non-transfected or transfected with pIRES-hBMP2-VEGF165 or pIRES-hBMP2 secreted a great quantity of hBMP2, but that non-transfected or transfected with pIRES-VEGF165 or empty vector secreted only little.CONCLUSION: The co-expressing vector of hBMP2 and hVEGF165 can be expressed stably in hBMSCs.

Objective To study the impact of preprocedure intravenous urography(IVU)on the outcome of shock wave Iithotripsy(SWL)for the middle and lower ureteral stones.Methods 112 patients with solitary radiopaque the middle and lower ureterat stones on plain radiographs and no severe hydronephrosis on ultrasonographic examination were divided randomly to two treatment groups.IVU group(n=56)had IVU before the start of SwL,whereas patients in the control group(n=56)underwent SWL without IVU.Postoperative success,stone-free rates and complications were evaluated in both groups.Results Eleven patients in the IVU group were excluded from the study.The SUCCESS rate[91.1%(41/45)in IVP group VS 94.6%(53/56)in control group],stone-free rate[88.9%(40/45)vs 89.3%(50/56)],and complication rate[22.2%(10/45)vs 21.4%(12/56)]were similar in two groups(P＞0.05).ConclusionIt is not necessary to obtain an IVU for patients who have solitary radiopaque the middle and lower calculi on plain radiographs with no severe hydronephrosis on ultrasonographic examination before scheduling them for SWL,thus minimizing the cost,avoiding exposure to contrast medium,and reducing radiation exposure.

ObjectiveTo explore the renal functions of vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro(BB) rats by using different concentrated Gadolinium-diethylenetetramine pentaacetic acid(Gd-DTPA) dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).MethodsThe study included 14 BB rats(male rats of 3 month-old) and 14 normal male Wistar rats used as control group.Dynamic MRI was performed by using either a low dosage(0.05 mmol/kg) or a high dosage of Gd-DTPA(0.5 mmol/kg).Data of 0-60 min renal cortex,medulla and pelvic were obtained after using contrast medium.MRI of kidneys at different time was analyzed and the mean relative signal intensity(RSI) was measured.Then the RSI curves of different groups were marked.Data of each group were caculated separately by SPSS 11.0 software.ResultsThe findings demonstrated that RSI curves of the vasopressin-deficient kidneys showed different patterns as compared with those of the control group(P

Objective To identify seven species of Gynostemma BI.,including G.pentaphyllum,G. pentagynum,G.cardiospermum,G.longipes,G.yixingense,G.laxiflorum,and G.guangxiense,by in- ter-simple sequence repeat(ISSR)markers.Methods General DNA was isolated from leaves of the seven species in Gynostemma B1.by CTAB,57 primers constituted by ISSR were tested for PCR and sepharose electrophoresis.Results Fourteen primers amplified polymorphic bands,the amplification patterns of primers UBC-873 and UBC-895 were higher in terms of polymorphic and amplified band ratio.They are used to distinguish all the examined seven species.Conclusion ISSR-PCR Method provides a quick,reli- able molecular marker technique for the identification of different species of Gynostemma B1.

Objective To identify the histological features as well as factors influencing the course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV)-infected patients with persistently normal alanine amino-transferase (ALT) levels (PNAL). Methods Ninety-eight HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected patients with PNAL who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were recruited from October 2003 to March 2008. The ALT level, HBV markers, HBV DNA level and liver histological changes were detected. Comparison of means was done by t test and single factor analysis of variance. Nonparametric statistics was done by Marm-Whitey U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Analysis of independent risk factor was done using Logistic model. The dianostic value of ALT level to significant liver histological changes was evaluated by receiver performance curve. Results Twenty-two point four percent and 17.3% of subjects had the histological activity index (HAI)≥4and fibrosis (F) score≥3 respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that subjects with ALT＞0.50 × upper limit of normal (ULN) had a significantly higher rate of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 than those with ALT≤0.50×ULN (HAI≥4:36.4% vs 11.1%, χ2 =8.881, P=0.003;F score≥3:27.3% vs 9.3%, χ2 =5.487, P= 0.019, respectively), and older subjects (more than 45 years old) had a higher proportion of HAI ≥4 than the younger (33.3% vs 13.4%, χ2 =4.923, P=0.027). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that a decade increase in age was the independent predictor of HAI≥4 (OR=2.410, P=0.023).Receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that 87.0% and 90.7% of subjects with ALT＜0.50× ULN had histological changes of HAI＜4 and F score＜3 respectively. The proportions of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 in subjects with HBV DNA＜1×104 copy/mL were 14.9% and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusions Significant histological changes may be present in part of the subjects with persistently normal ALT and different HBV DNA levels, so that liver biopsy is very important, especially in those with age ＞45 years.Half time the ULN may serve as an appropriate cutoff value of normal ALT level for managing Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-int'ected patients.

OBJECTIVEGas chromatography (GC) was used to investigate the cellular fatty acid (CFA) composition of 141 Acinetobacter baumannii and 32 A. calcoaceticus isolates from different locations in China and to find chemical markers to differentiate these two closely related bacteria.

METHODSWhole cell fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were obtained by saponification, methylation, and extraction for GC analysis, followed by a standardized Microbial Identification System (MIS) analysis.

RESULTSAll A. baumannii and A. calcoaceticus strains contained some major fatty acids, namely, 18:1 ω9c, 16:0, Sum In Feature 3, 12:0, 17:1ω8c, 3-OH-12:0, 17:0, Sum In Feature 2, 2-OH-12:0, and 18:0 compounds. Although most of the total CFAs are similar between A. baumannii and A. calcoaceticus strains, the ratios of two pairs of CFAs, i.e., Sum In Feature 3/18:1 ω9c versus 16:0/18:1 ω9c and Sum In Feature 3/18:1 ω9c versus unknown 12.484/18:1 ω9c fatty acids, could differentiate these two closely related bacteria. A. baumannii could be easily classified into two subgroups by plotting some ratios such as Sum In Feature 3/16:0 versus 17:0 and Sum In Feature 3/2-OH-12:0 versus 17:0 fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONThe ratios of some CFAs could be used as chemical markers to distinguish A. baumannii from A. calcoaceticus.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; classification ; cytology ; metabolism ; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus ; classification ; cytology ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo understand the situation of studies and development of international acupuncture and moxibustion in 2006 by analysis on the acupuncture-related articles embodied in Medline data-base in 2006.

METHODSA total of 881 articles in Medline data-base of the ISI knowledge Web were retrieved by "acupuncture", "moxibustion", "acupressure" and "cupping" as key words, then 761 articles excluding unrelated 120 ones were analyzed and concluded for distribution of the article sources, periodicals source, type, research contents and methods.

RESULTSMost of the articles are from China, Britain and America. The journal of the highest impact factor of 25.8 is Lancet. Acupuncture and moxibustion can treat various diseases, but primarily for relieving pain.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion are still a part of CAM for clinical practice abroad. Most of the experiments confirm the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion, but there are some different views on some diseases. And various countries make a lot work about mechanism research of acupuncture effect, showing the feature of large range.

Acupressure ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; MEDLINE ; Moxibustion ; Periodicals as Topic ; Time Factors