Objective To detect levels of serum platelet activating factor(PAF),thrombomodulin(TM) and white blood cell(WBC),platelet count(PLT) in neonates with meconium aspiration syndrome(MAS),and observe changes of mediators of inflammation and function of endotheliocute.Methods All cases were taken vein blood in 24 h and 72-96 h after birth.Surm PAF and TM were detected by EILSA technique,at the same time,blood cell counts were determined.Results PAF and WBC in neonates with MAS increased,which were relevant to the patients′ condition.TM of neonates with MAS increased significantly,especially in 72-96 h after birth and(aggrava)-ted with the patients′ condition.Conclusion Neonates with MAS have inflammatory reaction and injured endotheliocyte,which are(inte)-raction.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

METHODSTotally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONDOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Sounds ; Syndrome

BACKGROUNDCerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is the main reason for the loss of neurons in the ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, to deeply understand its pathogenesis and find a new target is the key issue to be solved. This research aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of salvianolic acid B (SalB) against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/RP) damage in primary rat cortical neurons.

METHODSThe primary cultures of neonatal Wister rats were randomly divided into the control group, the OGD/RP group and the SalB-treatment group (10 mg/L). The cell model was established by depriving of oxygen and glucose for 3 hours and reperfusion for 3 hours and 24 hours, respectively. The neuron viability was determined by MTT assay. The level of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by fluorescent labeling method and spin trapping technique respectively. The activities of neuronal Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were assayed by chromatometry. The mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)) was quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry. The release rate of cytochrome c was detected by Western blotting. The neuronal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Statistical significance was evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test.

RESULTSOGD/RP increased the level of cellular ROS, but decreased the cell viability and the activities of Mn-SOD, CAT and GSH-PX; SalB treatment significantly reduced the level of ROS (P < 0.05); and enhanced the cell viability (P < 0.05) and the activities of these antioxidases (P < 0.05). Additionally, OGD/RP induced the fluorescence value of ΔΨ(m) to diminish and the release rate of cytochrome c to rise notably; SalB markedly elevated the level of ΔΨ(m) (P < 0.01) and depressed the release rate of cytochrome c (P < 0.05); it also ameliorated the neuronal morphological injury.

CONCLUSIONThe neuroprotection of SalB may be attributed to the elimination of ROS and the inhibition of apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; blood supply ; Cytochromes c ; secretion ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Pseudoallergic reactions of Qingkailing injection (QKLI) was assessed by vascular hyperpermeability which were indicated by ear blue staining in ICR mice after single intravenous injection of QKLI mixed with Evans blue (EB) and skin blue spot formation in SD rats after intradermal injection of QKLI and intravenous injection of EB. In addition, QKLI-induced histamine, VEGF, TNF-alpha release was measured after ICR mice received the single dosing of QKLI iv. The mild vascular hyperpermeability characterized by ear blue staining could be observed in mice after intravenous injection of QKLI and EB. Intracutaneous injection of 50 micro L of test solution containing QKLI (25,50 microL) in rat back skin caused obvious local vascular hyperpermeability at the injection sites so as to result the larger diameters of blue spots than that in negative control group (P <0. 01). QKLI induced a significant increase of VEGF and a slight elevation of histamine in mice after intravenous administration, while TNF-alpha showed no change after QKLI iv. The results in this study indicated that both intravenous injection and intracutanous injection of QKLI could induce vascular hyperpemeability so as to cause pseudoallergic reaction in mice and rats. QKLI-induced pseudoallergic reaction may be associated with the release of histamine and VEGF.
Animals ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; blood ; etiology ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Histamine ; blood ; Injections ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Skin ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Objective To evaluate the effects of PCR melting curve analysis assay on a rapid screening program regarding the resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) clinical isolates to streptomycin and ethambutol.Methods A total of 331 clinical isolates of MTB had been collected since 2007-2009 in Shenzhen.Mutations at codon 306,378-380,406 and 497 of embB gene,codon 43,88 of rpsL gene,and 513-517,905-908 region of rrs gene were detected by PCR melting curve analysis.Results were compared with that of conventional drug susceptibility test.Results Compared to drug susceptibility test,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy for streptomycin resistance were 78.6％,90.1％ and 86.7％,respectively while 83.0％,93.3％ and 91.8％,respectively for ethambutol resistance detected by PCR melting curve analysis.PCR melting curve method was in good agreement with drug susceptibility test.Conclusion PCR melting curve analysis on genetic regions associated with resistance to streptomycin and ethambutol seemed to be a rapid,specific and closed-tube method so it could be used for detection oftreptomycin and ethambutol resistance in MTB.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1p and 19q with the expression of MGMT, p53 and Ki-67 proteins in gliomas.

METHODSOne hundred and forty six cases of gliomas (45 oligodendrogliomas, 42 oligodendroastrocytomas, and 59 astrocytomas) were included in this study. Their tissue and blood samples were retrospectively analyzed by PCR-denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) for 1p and 19q status and by immunohistochemistry for MGMT, p53 and Ki-67 expression patterns. The correlation among them and with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed by chi-square test and t-test.

RESULTSIn the oligodendrogliomas, the positive rate of 1p LOH was 59.8%, significantly higher than 33.9% in astrocytomas (P = 0.002), and 1p and 19q LOH was 42.5%, significantly higher than 16.9% in astrocytomas (P = 0.001). Combined with LOH on 1p and 19q, low MGMT expression (65.5%), and high Ki-67 expression (54%) were more frequent in oligodendrogliomas, whereas high p53 expression was more frequent in astrocytomas and mixed tumors (75.2%). 1p LOH (72.5%) and low MGMT (87.5%) expressions were more frequent in grade II oligodendrogliomas, whereas high expressions of p53 (83.0%) and Ki-67 (76.6%) were more frequent in grade III oligodendrogliomas. In addition, high Ki-67 expression was more frequent in grade III astrocytomas. LOH on 1p and 19q LOH was more frequent in nontemporal oligodendrogliomas (55.6%) than that in temporal ones (22.2%, P = 0.002). Non-random associations were found between LOH 1p and 19q LOH, MGMT and p53 protein expressions, and MGMT and Ki-67 protein expressions (all P < 0.05), whereas mutual exclusions were found between LOH on 1p and 19q and p53 expression, and LOH 1p and Ki-67 expression.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a significant interrelationship of the investigated molecular markers and clinicopathological features of gliomas, which support a promising role of molecular markers in guiding diagnostic assessment and clinical management of gliomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; genetics ; Female ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; metabolism ; Oligodendroglioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of endolymphatic sac tumor (ELST) and normal endolymphatic sac.

METHODSThe clinical and histologic features were evaluated in 5 cases of ELST. Eight cases of choroid plexus papilloma at cerebellopontine angle and 2 cases of normal endolymphatic sac were used as controls. Immunohistochemical study for vimentin, AE1/AE3, CK8/18, CK5/6, EMA, GFAP, synaptophysin, S-100 protein, CEA, TTF-1, VEGF, D2-40, calponin, calretinin and Ki-67 was carried out.

RESULTSThe age of onset of ELST ranged from 23 to 35 years (median = 24 years). The male-to-female ratio was 2:3. The clinical presentation was tinnitus, otalgia, hearing loss, otorrhagia with effusion and headache. The duration of symptoms ranged from 6 months to 10 years. Local recurrences were noted in 3 cases. Radiologically, the tumors were located at cerebellopontine angle and demonstrated petrous bone destruction. Histologic examination showed that the tumors had a papillary-glandular pattern. The papillae were covered by a single layer of low cuboidal cells. The tumor cells had distinct cell borders and contained eosinophilic to clear cytoplasm. The nuclei were slightly atypical and sometimes apically located. Focal dilated glandular structures with colloid-like material were also identified. The surrounding stroma was vascularized. All of the 5 cases had dural or petrous bone infiltration. Immunohistochemical study showed that all of the 5 cases were positive for AE1/AE3, CK8/18, CK5/6 and VEGF, 4 cases for EMA, 3 cases for calponin (focal), 2 cases for vimentin, 2 cases for S-100 protein, 1 case for GFAP and 1 case for synaptophysin (focal and weak). The Ki-67 index measured less than 1%. The staining for D2-40, calretinin, CEA and TTF-1 was negative. The 2 cases of the normal endolymphatic sac were positive for AE1/AE3 and CK8/18, and negative for CK5/6, EMA, S-100 protein, GFAP and synaptophysin. The 8 cases of choroid plexus papilloma were positive for synaptophysin. Seven cases were also positive for S-100 protein, 2 cases for GFAP and 1 case for D2-40. All of the 8 cases were negative for EMA, CK5/6 and calponin.

CONCLUSIONSELST is a rare slow-growing and potentially malignant tumor with a tendency of bone invasion and local recurrence. Distant metastasis is not observed. It must be distinguished from choroid plexus papilloma occurring at cerebellopontine angle. Correlation with clinical, radiologic and immunohistochemical findings would also be helpful.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cerebellar Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endolymphatic Sac ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-5 ; metabolism ; Keratin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Papilloma, Choroid Plexus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the relationship between the activation of RhoA and thrombin-induced neuron injury in the cortex of fetal rats. Methods The neurons from the fetal ratcortex were culturedin vitro for 8 d; and then,they were treated by thrombin at different concentrations (0,1,10,30 and 100 U/mL) for 3 h,and by 30 U/mL thrombm at different times (0,0.5,1,3 and 6 h);Western blotting was used to examine the effects of these different treatments on the activation of RhoA.The neurons were pretreated with Exoenzyme C3,the RhoA inhibitor,for 0.5 h,and incubated with 30 U/ml thrombin for 3 h; and then,Western blotting was employed to examine the activation of Rho A; besides that,the injuries of these neurons with the presence and absence of Exoenzyme C3 were observed by Hoechst33258 staining and CCK-8 assay.Results The activation of RhoA expressing in membrane with the treatment of 30 U/mL thrombin for 3 h was significantly increased as compared with that under the treatment of 0 U/mL (P＜0.05); and the total RhoA showed no significant changes with the treatment of all concentrations. The 3 h site with thrombin (30 U/mL) could more significantly induce R hoA expression as compared with other time sites (P＜0.05),and the total RhoA showed no significant changes under the treatment of all time sites. Pretreatrnent of neurons with Exoenzyme C3 could significantly down-regulate RhoA level as compared with those without pretreatment (P＜0.05); meanwhile,Hoechst33258 staining indicated that the number of brightly stained neurons in the Exoenzyme C3presence group was dramatically decreased as compared with that in the Exoenzyme C3 absence group (P＜0.05), and CCK-8 assay showed that the cell survival rate in Exoenzyme C3 absence group significantly decreased as compared with that in the Exoenzyme C3 presence group (P＜0.05).Conclusion RhoA in membrane is related to the thrombin-induced neuron injury in the cortex of fetal

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and MRI characteristics of hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) to improve our knowledge for this disease and reduce misdiagnosis.Methods Twelve patients with HOD,admitted to our hospital from 2009 to 2012,were chosen in our study; their clinical data,including onset age,protopathy and other clinical manifestations,and imaging data,including SE sequence axial T1WI,T2WI and FLAIR fast spin-echo imaging,were analyzed.Results The protopathy in these 12 patients included pontine hemorrhage in 5,cerebellar infarction in 3,cerebral hemorrhage in 2,midbrain infarction in 1 and surgery for cerebellar tumor in 1.The main clinical symptoms included palatal myoclonus in 7,ataxia in 6,ocular myoclonus in 5,glossolalia in 3,diplopia in 2 and extremity tremor in 2.The region of inferior olivary nucleus (ION)presented high intensity on T2WI and iso-or mild hypointensity on T1WI in all 12 patients.Bilateral ION showed high signals in 5 in FLAIR; enlargement of the ION in 11 patients were noted.Conclusions HOD is a pathological phenomenon that occurs after injury to the dentato-olivary pathway.Its hallmarks include hypertrophy of the olive with increased T2 signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging,and it often manifests with oculopalatal myoclonus clinically.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.

METHODSA total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.

RESULTSAsthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Time Factors