Formation of the heart valves is one of critical steps in vertebrate cardiac development. Valvular heart anomaly can induce severe cardiac impairment, which is one of most common symptoms for congenital heart defects (CHD). The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is essential for numerous developmental processes, has also been suggested to be involved in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and migration of myocardium, endocardium and valve primordia at different stages. The canonical Wnt signaling also regulates the endocardial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process during the endocardial cushion formation. This paper reviews current knowledge about the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in heart valve development, including the functional diversities of Wnt activity in heart valve development at different stages and its interaction with other valve-relevant signaling pathways and the potential role of canonical Wnt activity in heart valve mesenchymal stem cells at the late developmental stage.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Heart Valves ; embryology ; Humans ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huannao Yicong capsule (HYC) on senile mild cognitive impairment.

METHODSSixty-two patients were randomly divided into two groups, the 31 patients in the treated group were treated with HYC 3 capsules, 3 times daily, and the 31 in the control group with Hydergin 3 tablets, 3 times daily. Treatment for two successive months was a therapeutic course. The changes of cognitive effect index (CEI), integral of measuring scale (CCSE, FQA and MMSE), TCM Syndrome scoring, quality of life (QOL), cerebral arterial blood flow (CBF) and hemorrheologic parameters in the two groups were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of treatment in improving cognition in the 30 patients of the treated group (with one case lost) was 83.33%, while that in the 29 patients of the control group (with two cases lost) was 48.28%, the difference between them was significant (u = 2.36, P < 0.05). Intent-to-treat analysis, namely, the case lost in the treated marked as ineffective and those in the control group as effective, showed the total effective rate in the two groups was 80.65% and 51.61% respectively, which also showed significant difference (u = 2.02, P < 0.05). In the treated group after treatment, the integrals of CCSE, FAQ and MMSE significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the TCM Syndrome scoring decreased (P < 0.01), the scoring of QOL significantly improved, the mean BBF increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the cerebral arterial resistance index improved significantly. All these improvements in the treated group were significantly higher than those in the control group respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, the hemorrheologic parameters in the treated group were improved, most of them were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHYC has good therapeutic effect on senile mild cognitive impairment, it is safe without any adverse reaction.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Capsules ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Dementia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Intelligence Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life

Objective To explore the feasibility of mobilization circulating MSCs by G-CSF and observe the repairing effect of G-CSF mobilization in severe mouse traumatic brain injury(TBI) model.Methods MSCs-derived bone marrow and peripheral blood(PB) were cultured and its CFU-F were counted after mobilization by G-CSF.At 2,24,48,96,120,144,192,264,336 h after severe TBI in mice was establish,the neurobehavior of mice was measured by neurological examination and motor functional test,and mortality rate and pathologic changes were analyzed.Results MSCs-derived PB were successfully cultured.The CFU-F of mobilization group increased significantly than that of control group(P

Because of irregular shapes of Chinese herbal pieces, we simplified the previously deduced general extraction kinetic model for TCMs, and integrated particle diameters of Chinese herbs that had been hard to be determined in the final parameter "a". The reduction of the direct determination of particle diameters of Chinese herbs was conducive to increase the accuracy of the model, expand the application scope of the model, and get closer to the actual production conditions. Finally, a simplified model was established, with its corresponding experimental methods and data processing methods determined. With total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix as the determination index, we conducted a study on the adaptability of total flavonoids extracted from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method in the model. The results showed a good linear correlation among the natural logarithm value of the mass concentration of total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix, the time and the changes in the natural logarithm of solvent multiple. Through calculating and fitting, efforts were made to establish the kinetic model of extracting total flavonoids from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method, and verify the model, with a good degree of fitting and deviation within the range of the industrial production requirements. This indicated that the model established by the method has a good adaptability.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; Kinetics ; Models, Theoretical ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of sodium hya- luronate in relieving the symptoms of refractory non-bacterial cystitis.Methods Totally,20 patients(1 man and 19 women;mean age,47 years;age range,22-68 years)with refractory non-bacterial cystitis were included.Their disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years.Of them,16 patients had the disease for more than 1 year.Instillation of sodium hyaluronate(50 ml solution of 40 mg HA)was performed intravesically in them for a total of 12 weeks(once a week for the first 4 weeks and once every 4 weeks for the succeeding 8 weeks).Follow-up visit ended at 16 weeks,when the patients filled in the symptom assessment scores(VAS on pain,frequency and urgency)according to the subjective evaluation.Therapeutic results were classified as(1)total response:symptom disappearance or relief by at least 90% of the symptom scores;(2)partial response:symptom relief by 50%-89%;(3)mild response:symptom relief by 49% or less;(4)no re- sponse:no improvement in symptom scores.Results Nineteen patients completed the 16-week follow-up with only 1 withdrawing.The average general symptom score decreased from 22.32?5.53 to 9.47?5.88 (P＜0.001);frequency score from 8.21?1.75 to 3.89v2.31(P＜0.001);urgency score from 7.47?2.14 to 3.37?2.14(P＜0.001);pain score from 6.63?3.47 to 2.21?2.74(P＜0.001).After 16 weeks,overall positive response rate(total+partial response)was 53%(10/19).No serious adverse effect occurred except for urethral irritation(25%,5/20),worsening of distending pain of the bladder(5%,1/20) and vertigo(15%,3/20)caused by the procedure itself.Conclusions For patients suffering from refrac- tory non-bacterial cystitis,intravesical instillations of sodium hyaluronate can significantly relieve the symp- toms and is safe and of good patient compliance.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reasons on complications of treatment with elastic nail in children's long bone fracture.

METHODSSixty-six cases (75 parts of long bone fratures) were treated by elastic nail including 49 male and 17 female. The age ranged from 3 to 17 years, mean 7.8 years. There were 35 femur fractures (2 cases were hibateral), 20 tibia and fibula fractures (12 cases were tibia fractures), 8 radial fractures (1 case was ulna fracture) and 3 humerus fractures. The cases included 4 open fractures and 62 closed fractures. All cases were fresh fractures, no multi-segmental fractures. Three cases associated with brain and chest injuries. These cases were treated by open or closed reduction and internal fixaion with elastic nail. A cast or brace had been used after operation for a month. Following-up included the function of the joint,the bottom of the nail and the callus. Complications were timely recorded.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed-up for 12 to 29 months, averaged 17 months. The cases occurrenced compilications including 2 cases of nonunion, 2 of new fracture, 1 of displacment, 4 of joint dysfunction, 3 of irritation of the bottom of the nail and 1 malunion.

CONCLUSIONStrict indication, well design,canonical operation is a good way to avoid compliacations. At the same time,early treatment can reduce the sequela.

Adolescent ; Bone Nails ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; surgery ; Fractures, Closed ; complications ; surgery ; Fractures, Open ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Leg Bones ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of rat endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation on hepatic fibrosis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic fibrosis rats.

METHODSHepatic fibrosis was developed in 24 healthy female SD rats by feeding them 25% CCl4/olive oil for 8 weeks. Eight of them were sacrificed at the end of the 8 weeks. The rats were subdivided into a EPCs transplanting group (n=8) and a saline control group (n=8). After the EPCs were isolated and cultured for 9 days, the cells were injected into the portal veins of the rats in the EPCs transplanting group. Four weeks later all of the rats were sacrificed. The blood biochemical parameters from the serum were examined. The degree of liver fibrosis was evaluated by reading Masson staining liver slides and by detecting the expression of a-SMA and collagen III.

RESULTSCompared with the saline control group, hepatic activity index (HAI), levels of ALT, AST and TBil in the serum were all lower in the EPCs transplanting group, but the level of Alb was higher and the expression of a-SMA and collagen III were lower. Compared with the 8 week hepatic fibrosis group, the levels of ALT, AST and TBil in the serum of the EPCs transplanting group were all lower. In the saline control group, the serum levels of ALT, AST and TBil were higher, the level of Alb was lower, and the expressions of a-SMA and Collagen III were higher.

CONCLUSIONIn hepatic fibrosis rats, transplantation of rat EPCs could minimize the hepatic fibrosis process and the injuries.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; pathology ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUNDDiffusion weighted imaging (DWI), with the applying of intravoxel incoherent motion model, has showed promising results in obtaining additional information about microperfusion and tubular flow associated with morphologic changes in chronic kidney diseases. The study aims to evaluate the potential of T2-weighted signal intensity (SI) and DWI with mono- and bi-exponential models to reflect the serial changes on cisplatin (CP) induced rat renal fibrosis models.

METHODSMagnetic resonance exams were performed prior to and 2 nd day, 4 th day, 6 th day, 8 th day, 2 nd week, 3 rd week and 4 th week after CP injection at a 3.0T with an animal coil. Besides T2-weighted images (T2WI), DWI of 13 b values from 0 to 1500 s/mm 2 was acquired. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fluid fraction f, pure diffusivity D and pseudodiffusivity DFNx01 values were calculated. The regions of interest were placed on cortex (CO), outer stripe of the outer medulla (OM) and inner stripe of the outer medulla (OM), parameters were measured and compared among different time points. Five rats were scarified at each time point for pathological examination.

RESULTSOM revealed remarkable hyperintense and broadened before it became an obscure thread, while CO demonstrated moderate hyperintense and IM didn't show significant change on T2WI. On all three stripes, ADC values decreased firstly then kept increasing since the 4 th day; f values decreased on all stripes; D values had a tendency to increase with fluctuations but the changes didn't achieve statistical significance; DFNx01 values increased at the 2 nd day then tended to be steady thereafter. Pathological findings revealed tubules epitheliums swelling followed by inflammation cells infiltration, interstitial fibrosis was observed since the 2 nd week.

CONCLUSIONSAll of T2-weighted SI, ADC, and biexponential models parameters vary during fibrotic process; biexponential model is superior to monoexponential model in separating changes of microperfusion together with tubular flow from pure diffusion.

Animals ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Disease Progression ; Fibrosis ; diagnosis ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To develop the visual uroflow scale (VUS), analyze the relationship of VUS score and index of free uroflowmetry, assess urination function preliminarily and improve the work efficiency in the clinic. METHODS: Male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) patients, who attended the Department of Urology in Peking University People's Hospital from March 2016 to March 2017, were assessed for their urination function according to the Visual Uroflow Scale without help from clinicians before undertaking a free uroflowmetry test. And afterwards, a free uroflowmetry was undertaken, and variables including maximal flow rate (Qmax), the average flow rate (Qave) and voiding volume (VV) was obtained. During the study, 124 cases were collected and 53 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the study cohort. The Spearman correlation analysis was used for analyzing the correlation of VUS scores with free uroflowmetry variables and age. The validity of VUS was evaluated. RESULTS: Most of the patients could choose the very figure matched with self-condition by first instinct without any help from the clinician. The data were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. In the present study, voiding time was positively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient, 0.62, P < 0.05). In the present cohort, the patients chose the third and fourth figures to take longer time to urinate, implying worse LUTS situation. Flow time and VUS scores were positively correlated (correlation coefficient, 0.61, P < 0.05). The patients with higher VUS scores would spend more time on urinate, no matter how long urinary hesitation was. Both Qmax and Qave were negatively correlated with the VUS score (correlation coefficient －0.54, －0.62, P < 0.05). The study illustrated that the VUS score suggested that the Qmax basically and further reflected the urination function. And its relationship to age revealed the decreased urination function of aging male, which had reached a consensus. CONCLUSION Development of VUS has helped the clinician assess the urination function preliminarily at the first time. Patients are assessed for a VUS score before getting surgery or receiving the drug for treatment, and can be re-assessed after. The VUS score can provide an objective quantitative basis to evaluate the treatment efficacy. In addition, considering that it is convenient, timesaving and easy to understand, the VUS is available for follow-up.
Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Urination ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVETo understand the pollution rates of vibrio cholera (V. cholera) in different seafood, aquatic products and their circulatory processes, so as to help making measures for cholera control and prevention.

METHODSDifferent seafood, aquatic products and breed water specimen collected from 12 provinces of China were tested from July to September in 2005.

RESULTA total of 12 104 samples of seafood and aquatic products were tested and the average pollution rate of vibrio cholera was 0.52%. The positive isolate rate of turtle sample (1.72%) was the highest among all samples. The second higher isolated rate was 1.14% in water specimen of turtle breed pool. The positive rate of bullfrog was 0.50%. The percentage of toxin strains was 47.54% and 79.31% of them were isolated from turtle and water samples of turtle breed pool. The important sector of the pollution of vibrio cholera was in turtle breed pool (2.38%).

CONCLUSIONThe average pollution rate of vibrio cholera in seafood and aquatic products in 12 provinces of China was low. It should be very necessary to supervise the sanitation in turtle breed for controlling and preventing the vibrio cholera.

Animals ; China ; Female ; Fishes ; microbiology ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Seafood ; microbiology ; Seawater ; analysis ; Turtles ; microbiology ; Vibrio cholerae ; isolation & purification