Objective To study the changes of field potentials (FPs) during development and after long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in rat visual cortical slices. Methods Field potentials recorded from layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ induced by layer Ⅳ in the rat visual cortical slices were examined. The developing changes of FPs from postnatal days 8-13,15-21 and 29-35 were observed. Amplitudes, peak latencies and slopes of FPs before and after LTP induction were compared. Results Field potentials changed with the development, and the stimulating threshold at p15-21 was lower than that of the other two groups. The increase of FP amplitude was positively correlated with increase of its slope. The shortening of FP latency was positively correlated with the difference between changes of slope and amplitude. Conclusion Developing changes of field potentials reflect the development of visual cortex. The changes of FP slope follow the changes of its amplitude and latency, and thereby the slope is a proper parameter used as an index to evaluate LTP in visual cortex.

Objective To study the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in developing rat visual cortical slices. Methods Field potentials recorded from layer Ⅱ/Ⅲ induced by layer Ⅳ stimulation in rat visual cortical slices were examined. LTP was induced by tetanus in the slices on the postnatal 2, 3 and 5-week rats. The LTP incidences and the effects of GABA on them in different developmental stages were compared. Results LTP incidence at postnatal week 5 was significantly lower than that in other two groups. GABA A receptor antagonist picrotoxin could reverse this tendency, but had no effects on the LTP induction at the early postnatal age. Conclusion In visual cortex, GABA has inhibitory effects on the LTP induction only after the end of critical period and has no any facilitatory effects on the LTP induction before the developmental critical period.

The underlying effect of different concentrations of neogenin on proliferation, apoptosis and the related proliferative factors in human trophoblasts was explored in order to understand the function of neogenin during placentation. TEV-1 cell line was cultured and the expression of netrin-1 was detected by using indirect cellular immunofluorescence. Exponentially growing TEV-1 cells were treated by different concentrations of neogenin (0, 1, 5, 10, 50 ng/mL) for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. TEV-1 cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of netrin-1 mRNA and protein in TEV-1 cells was examined by using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. It was found that immunoreactivity for netrin-1 was observed in cytoplasm of the trophoblasts. Immediately after treatment with different concentrations of neogenin for 24 h, the netrin-1 expression began to increase. Real-time PCR revealed that the expression level of netrin-1 mRNA was 37.59+/-10.25 times higher than control group when TEV-1 cells were exposed to 50 ng/mL neogenin (P<0.01), and the same tendency was seen by using Western blot. MTT results showed that proliferation of TEV-1 cells was independent of neogenin. Meanwhile, apoptosis was significantly increased to (22.15+/-6.15)% at 50 ng/mL neogenin and (6.55+/-0.25)% without neogenin (P<0.01). It is suggested that neogenin regulates proliferation and apoptosis of TEV-1 cells. And it can enhance the ability of TEV-1 cells to express netrin-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Neogenin may play an important biological role in the normal human pregnancy and contribute to the physiological pregnancy process.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility and safety of EEN with Freka Trelumina and Supportan after esophageal and cardiac carcinoma operation.Methods: 30 patients with esophageal and cardiac carcinoma were retained Freka Trelumina in to jejunum during the operation.All patients were given EEN with Supportan on the 3rd day after the operation.The complication and resumption of digestive tract functions were observed and recorded carefully.Renal and Liver functions were examined on the 8~(th) day after operation.Results: No mortality and serious complication occurred in all patients during the period of study.There was no evidence of damage of EEN to the renal and liver function. Conclusion: EEN with Freka Trelumina and Supportan after esophageal and cardiac carcinoma is feasible and safe.

To investigate the intervention effects of Morinda officinalis How. on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' induced by hydrocortisone in rats, the metabolic profiles of rat urine were characterized using proton nuclear magnetic resonance and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to study the trajectory of urinary metabolic phenotype of rats with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' under administration of M. officinalis at different time points. Meanwhile, the intervention effects of M. officinalis on urinary metabolic potential biomarkers associated with 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' were also discussed. The experimental results showed that in accordance to the increased time of administration, an obvious tendency was observed that clustering of the treatment group moved gradually closed to that of the control group. Eight potential biomarkers including citrate, succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, lactate, betaine, sarcosine, alanine and taurine were definitely up- or down-regulated. In conclusion, the effectiveness of M. oficinalis on 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome' is proved using the established metabonomic method and the regulated metabolic pathways involve energy metabolism, transmethylation and transportation of amine. Meanwhile, the administration of M. officinalis can alleviate the kidney impairment induced by 'Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome'.

Objective To study the imaging manifestations and characters of infectious atypical pneumonias.Methods The imaging materials of 80 cases of infectious atypical pneumonias which were proved by clinical were collected, the characters of imaging manifestations were analysed.Results The abnormal appearance of lung appeared after fever occured, the average time was 2.3 days. The most appearance was high density patchy and was found in every lung field. The multiple focuses were 43.8% in all the cases. The focuses changed fast. CT could have some help in early diagnosis and prognosis observation of infectious atypical pneumonias. Conclusion Medical imaging can play important part in the diagnosis and determining the treatment effect of infectious atypical pneumonias.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effects of nanometer silver dressing and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel on burn residual wounds.METHODS: Forty burn patients with residual wounds because of deep second degree burn and full-thickness burn, were randomly divided into control group and management group. There were 20 patients in both groups. The patients of management group were treated by nanometer silver dressing and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel. The patients of control group were treated by saline and paraffin absorbent gauze. Healing time, wound healing rates at different time points,cases of infected wound and results of bacterial culture before and 7 days following treatment, and drug adverse reaction were recorded.RESULTS: The healing time of management group was significantly shorter than the control group (P < 0.01). The wound healing rates of management group was significantly higher than the control group at different time points (P< 0.01). The cases of infected wound was significantly fewer than the control group after treating (P < 0.01). The pathogenic bacteria detection rate was significantly lower than the control group after 7 days (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: There was better antibacterial activity, decurtating the healing time when the management of nanometer silver dressing and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel on burn residual wounds were put into practice.

BACKGROUNDAbout 50% - 70% of patients with Chiari malformation I (CMI) presented with syringomyelia (SM), which is supposed to be related to abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow around the foramen magnum. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrospinal fluid dynamics at levels of the aqueduct and upper cervical spine in patients with CMI associated with SM, and to discuss the possible mechanism of formation of SM.

METHODSFrom January to April 2004, we examined 10 adult patients with symptomatic CMI associated with SM and 10 healthy volunteers by phase-contrast MRI. CSF flow patterns were evaluated at seven regions of interest (ROI): the aqueduct and ventral and dorsal subarachnoid spaces of the spine at levels of the cerebellar tonsil, C2 - 3, and C5 - 6. The CSF flow waveforms were analyzed by measuring CSF circulation time, durations and maximum velocities of cranial- and caudal-directed flows, and the ratio between the two maximum velocities. Data were analyzed by t test using SPSS 11.5.

RESULTSWe found no definite communication between the fourth ventricle and syringomyelia by MRI in the 10 patients. In both the groups, we observed cranial-directed flow of CSF in the early cardiac systolic phase, which changed the direction from cranial to caudal from the middle systolic phase to the early diastolic phase, and then turned back in cranial direction in the late diastolic phase. The CSF flow disappeared at the dorsal ROI at the level of C2 - 3 in 3 patients and 1 volunteer, and at the level of C5 - 6 in 6 patients and 3 volunteers. The durations of CSF circulation at all the ROIs were significantly shorter in the patients than those in the healthy volunteers (P = 0.014 at the midbrain aqueduct, P = 0.019 at the inferior margin of the cerebellar tonsil, P = 0.014 at the level of C2 - 3, and P = 0.022 at the level of C5 - 6). No significant difference existed between the two groups in the initial point and duration of the caudal-directed CSF flow during a cardiac cycle at all the ROIs. The maximum velocities of both cranial- and caudal-directed CSF flows were significantly higher in the patients than those in the volunteers at the aqueduct (P = 0.018 and P = 0.007) and ventral ROI at the inferior margin of the cerebellar tonsil (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002), as so did the maximum velocities of the caudal-directed flow in the ventral and dorsal ROIs at the level of C2 - 3 (P = 0.004; P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONSThe direction of CSF flow changes in accordance with cardiac cycle. The syringomyelia in patients with CMI may be due to the decreased circulation time and abnormal dynamics of the CSF in the upper cervical segment. The decompression of the foramen magnum with dural plasty is an alternative for patients with CMI associated with SM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation ; cerebrospinal fluid ; complications ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syringomyelia ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of genes (CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1) involved in estrogen metabolism and susceptibility to breast cancer in Chinese women.

METHODSA case-control study was performed. PCR-base restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) assays were used to detect the polymorphism distribution of CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1 in 213 breast cancer cases and 430 matched controls. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the OR, multivariate adjusted OR and 95% CI of each and all three genes and estrogen exposure factors on the risk of breast cancer. Relationship between polymorphisms and clinic-pathological features was also assessed.

RESULTSThe frequency of A2 allele of CYP17 was 49.8% in cases and 49.1% in controls (P > 0.05). The frequency His allele of SULT1A1 in cases (13.6%) was significant higher than that of controls (9.5%) (P = 0.03). There was also significant difference in the frequencies of (TTTA)10 allele CYP19 which was 12.4% in cases and 8.2% in controls (P = 0.02). Multigenic model indicated that there was an increased risk of breast cancer with more numbers of high-risk genotypes in a dose-response effect (trend P = 0.05). Data from multivariate analysis showed that the allele of SULT1A1 His and CYP19 (TTTA)10 was positively associated with the risk of breast cancer. Other well-established risk factors as higher estrogen exposure including total years of menstrual, early menarche etc, and women with a higher BMI and WHR were all served as independent risks.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that the polymorphisms of estrogen-metabolizing genes were related to breast cancer.

Aromatase ; genetics ; Arylsulfotransferase ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Prognosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology