0.05).Conclusions Serum NT-proBNP level is sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of pneumonia complicated with CHF and CHD complicated with CHF. There is an increasing tendency of NT-proBNP level companied increasing pulmonary pressure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of serotonin (5-HTIA) receptors in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) on active avoidance learning in rats.

METHODSTotally 36 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, antagonist group and agonist group(n = 12). Active avoidance learning ability of rats was assessed by the shuttle box. The extracellular concentrations of 5-HT in the DG during active avoidance conditioned reflex were measured by microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. Then the antagonist (WAY-100635) or agonist (8-OH-DPAT) of the 5-HT1A receptors were microinjected into the DG region, and the active avoidance learning was measured.

RESULTS(1) During the active avoidance learning, the concentration of 5-HT in the hippocampal DG was significantly increased in the extinction but not establishment in the conditioned reflex, which reached 164.90% ± 26.07% (P <0.05) of basal level. (2) The microinjection of WAY-100635 (an antagonist of 5-HT1A receptor) into the DG did not significantly affect the active avoidance learning. (3) The microinjection of 8-OH-DPAT(an agonist of 5-HT1A receptor) into the DG significantly facilitated the establishment process and inhibited the extinction process during active avoidance conditioned reflex.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that activation of 5-HT1A receptors in hipocampal DG may facilitate active avoidance learning and memory in rats.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; Dentate Gyrus ; physiology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A ; physiology ; Serotonin ; physiology ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of procalcitonin(PCT) in early diagnosis of neonatal infections.Methods Rapid hemi-quantitative immunoassay was used to measure PCT levels in 196 hospitalized neonates, who were divided into sepsis group,(local-)infection group, virus-infection group and non-infection group.Results If plasma PCT≥0.5 ?g/L was taken as positive,the positive rates in sepsis group,local-infection,virus-infection,non-infection group were 87.87%,41.66 %,12.0%,11.11%,respectively.The positive rate of sepsis group was significantly higher than that of the other 3 groups(all P

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

In this study, cardiotonic and cardiotoxic effects of Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK) I, a modulator of voltage-gated sodium channels, were investigated on the isolated rat hearts. The results showed that BmK I evoked complex effects characterized by a change in both cardiac mechanical and electrical activity. Langendorff perfusion showed that: (1) maximal left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP(max)) and dp/dt(max) were markedly increased by BmK I (0.5-10 micromol/L) in a dose-dependent manner (n=6, P<0.05), positive chronotropic effects were also induced by BmK I (n=6, P<0.05); (2) negative inotropic action and bradycardia could be elicited at a larger dose of BmK I (20 micromol/L); (3) the coronary flow varied inversely with the positive inotropic effects, coronary flow reduced during positive inotropic effects from 14.5 to 8.6 ml/min after administration of 500 nmol/L BmK I (n=6, P<0.05). In addition, tachycardia and complex cardiac arrhythmias were induced by BmK I (0.5-10 micromol/L). The modulating of BmK I on the heart mechanical, electrical activity could be partially recovered after washing. As propranolol was applied to block the release of catecholamines before administration of BmK I, suggesting that the changes in cardiac mechanical and electrical activity induced by BmK I might not due to catecholamine release from the nerve terminal and subsequent stimulation of the beta-adrenoceptor but attributable to the modulation of BmK I on cardiac voltage-gated sodium channels.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Electrophysiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insect Proteins ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; Neurotoxins ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects

Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the inclusion of coenzyme Q10 with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD).

METHODSThe inclusion of the electroactive guest molecule coenzyme Q10 with the host molecule beta-CD was studied by the polarography. The change of the reduction peak current of the inclusion complex with time and the change of the peak potential of the inclusion complex with beta-CD concentration were examined. In order to study the photostability, the change of the reduction peak current of both coenzyme Q10 and coenzyme Q10-beta-CD inclusion complex with time were also examined under light, separately.

RESULTSIn 0.1 mol x L(-1) HAc/NaAc (pH 4.7) buffer-ethanol/water (60:40) medium, coenzyme Q10 was included with p-CD to form an 1:1 inclusion complex. The formation constant Kf was 1.26 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) the apparent formation rate constant was 6.64 x 10(-2) min(-1). The photodegradation apparent rate constant of coenzyme Q10 as 7.77 x 10(-3) min(-1) and that of the coenzyme Q10-beta-CD inclusion complex was 3.38 x 10(-3) min(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe inclusion of coenzyme Q10 with beta-CD took place. The stability of coenzyme Q10 to lights was improved in a certain degree due to the formation of the inclusion complex.

Coenzymes ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Light ; Oxidation-Reduction ; radiation effects ; Polarography ; methods ; Ubiquinone ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

Histocytochemistry ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

Objective To study the enhancing effect of ultrasound plus microbubble on small interference RNA(siRNA)transfection in vitro and in vivo.Methods Human vascular epithelial growth factor(VEGF)siRNA with 2'deoxy modification(VEGF 2'-eoxy siRNA,VdsR)was used.The human CNE cells(fromnasopharyngeal carcinoma)line was used for in vitro cell-based experiments and in vivo mouse xenograft model.Two different microbubble agents.BR14 and Levovist.were used together with the RNA transfection reagent RNA-mate.ELISA and RT-PCR assays were used to assess VEGF gene expression.Immunohistochemical staining (IHC)was performed to assess CD31 expression in xenograft tumors.Results VdsR transfection in CNE cells abolished VEGF expression as determined by ELISA experiments.In the first mouse xenograft experiment,ultrasound exposure dramatically enhanced VdsR-mediated tumor inhibition.In the second mouse xenograft experiment,when VdsR was mixed with the microbubble reagents and then injected into xenografts,ultrasoundexposure significantly reduced tumor growth in BR14-mixed VdsR group but not in the Levovist-mixed VdsR group compared to the control.RT-PCR experiments demonstrated that VEGF expression in ultrasound-exposed tumors was significantly lower than that in the control.Meanwhile,VEGF expression in the tumor tissue treated by BRl4-mixed VdsR declined as compared with the controls.Tumor vascular density as measured by CD31 immunostaining was significantly decreased in ultrasound-exposed tumors compared to the control.Conclusions Ultrasound exposure and/or microbubble can significantly enhance delivery and the efficiency of VdsR-mediated anti-tumor effects,and should be a location-specific enhancement approach for siRNA-based anti-cancer therapy.

Objective To compare the relative efficacy and quality of extraction of human fecal DNA using four methods.Methods Real-time PCR were utilized for analysis both quantification and quality of the fecal targeted bacteria(including gut all eubaeterium,Bacteriodes-PrevoteUa group,Bifidobacterium spp Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp)by using 16s rRNA gene-targeted genus or group-specific primer sets.Results The negative rat of PCR product from method 3(phenol-chloroform plus bead-beating) was about 40%(4/10)by using universal primers,the PCR inhibition disappeared after fecal DNA purified with column.The total fecal 16s rRNA gene copy numbers(per gram of wet weight of feces)as well as the numbers of Bacteriodes-Prevotella group from method 1(QIAamp~DNA stool mini kit)and 4(QIAamp~ DNA stool mini kit combined with bead-beating)was higher significantly than that from method 2(FastDNA ~Kit,Biol01)and 3(P