Objective Clinical significance of using ELISA to determine ?-amyloid(A?)_(1-42) antibody levels in the sera of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods 96 wells PVC plate was coated with A?_(1-42)peptide.Serum of AD patient was competing with mouse A?_(1-42)monoclonal antibody in this assay.The second antibody was horseradish peroxidase(HRP)conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG.Serum A?_(1-42)antibody levels were determined by ELISA.Results The sensitivity of this assay was about 1 ng/ml.The recovery rate of this test was between 96.5% and 104.7%.The residual A?_(1-42)antibody levels in human serum or horse serum after A?_(1-42)antibody was removed by absorption were less than 1 ng/ml. Serum A?_(1-42)antibody levels in 37 AD patients[(5.1?1.9)ng/ml]were remarkably lower than those in normal people[(12.6?3.3)ng/ml,P

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Infant ; Male ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Effect of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) on calcium paradox-induced heart injury and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThirty-two adult male SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, namely the control group, BDM treatment control group, calcium paradox group, and BDM treatment group. Isolated Sprague Dawley male rat hearts underwent Langendorff perfusion and the left ventricular pressure (LVP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were monitored. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was calculated to evaluate the myocardial performance. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the coronary flow was determined. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was used to measure the infarct size, and myocardial cell apoptosis was tested with TUNEL method. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, BDM at 20 mmol/L had no effect on cardiac performance, cell death, apoptotic index or the content of LDH, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c at the end of perfusion under control conditions (P>0.05). Calcium paradox treatment significantly decreased the cardiac function and the level of LVDP and induced a larger infarct size (P<0.01), an increased myocardial apoptosis index (P<0.01), and up-regulated expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c (P<0.01). BDM (20 mmol/L) significantly attenuated these effects induced by calcium paradox, and markedly down-regulated the levels of LVEDP and LDH (P<0.01), lowered myocardial apoptosis index, decreased the content of cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome c (P<0.01), increased LVDP, and reduced the infarct size (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBDM suppresses cell apoptosis and contracture and improves heart function and cell survival in rat hearts exposed to calcium paradox, suggesting the value of BDM as an potential drug for myocardial ischemia reperfusion injur.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; adverse effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Diacetyl ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo investigate the imaging features and pathological manifestations of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

METHODSThe imaging characteristics and pathological manifestations of 26 surgically treated patients with histologically confirmed GISTs were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe tumors were found to originate from the small bowel (n=10), stomach (n=8), colon (n=6), mesentery (n=1) and omentum (n=1). The imaging and pathological features of GISTs were (1) most of GISTs were well-defined and exophytic (n=19, 73.1% ), which usually compressed the adjacent tissues but no invasion. The tumor diameter ranged from 5.1 to 23.5 cm with a mean diameter of 11.6 +/- 5.9 cm, (2)most tumors had an inhomogenous density or signal intensity due to necrosis(n=21, 80.8%), hemorrhage (n=15, 57.7%) or calcification (n=3, 11.5%) within the tumor, (3) on the CT or MR images, heterogeneous enhancement pattern presented as peripheral or intra-tumor patchy enhancement was common (n=21, 80.8%). Furthermore, enhanced striped vessels were seen in 12 patients. However, homogenous enhancement pattern was rare (n=5, 19.2%), (4) the most common site where GIST metastasized to was the liver (n=7), followed by the peritoneum (n=4), but rarely to lymph nodes, (5) of these 26 patients, spindle-cell type was observed in 69.2% (n=18), epithelioid-cell type in 23.1% (n=6), and mixed cell type in 7.7% (n=2). Immunohistochemical studies showed positive CD117 expression in all of these 26 patients, but positive CD34 expression in only 22 patients.

CONCLUSIONGastrointestinal stromal tumor usually presents as a exophytic, well-defined large tumor, with internal striped vessels, necrosis or hemorrhage within. It usually metastasizes to the liver or the peritoneum but rarely to lymph nodes. Pathologically, most of gastrointestinal stromal tumors consist of spindle-cells, while a small portion of the tumors are composed of epithelioid-cells or mixed ones. Both CT and MRI play an important role in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of CT enterography in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODSMulti-detector CT enterography and small bowel follow-through were performed in 30 patients with Crohn's disease. The locations and characteristics of the intestinal and extra-intestinal lesions detected by both two techniques were compared.

RESULTSSkip lesions were diagnosed in 16 patients (53.3%) by CT enterography and in 9 patients (30%) by small bowel follow-through (P = 0.039). Mucosal changes were detected in 29 patients (96.7%) by CT enterography and in 18 patients (60%) by small bowel follow-through (P = 0.001). Among 11 patients whose small bowel follow-through did not show abnormal mucosal changes, 8 patients underwent endoscopy, which showed superficial ulcer with or without mucosal congestion and edema in 5 patients, mucosal congestion and edema in 2 patients, and mucosal erosion in 1 patient. CT enterography and small bowel follow-through consistently depicted fistula in 3 patients and had no significant difference in diagnosing intestinal stenosis. CT enterography also exclusively detected abdominal abscess in one patient.

CONCLUSIONSCT enterography is superior to small bowel follow-through in diagnosing the disease location and characteristics of Crohn's disease; furthermore, it can detect more extra-intestinal lesions. CT enterography has potential to replace small bowel follow-through as the imaging examination of choice for patients with Crohn's disease.

Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the management of cerebral ischemia caused by Takayasu's arteritis.

METHODSNinety-three cases treated from June 1984 to September 1999 at the General Post & Telecom Hospital, the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, the Second Medical College of Beijing University, Beijing An Zhen Hospital, and the Beijing Union Medical College Hospital, including 10 men and 83 women, were reviewed. Of the 93 cases, bypasses from the ascending aorta to the axillary or subclavian artery and from graft to the carotid artery were performed in 47 cases. Subclavian to carotid bypass was performed in six cases. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was used in five cases and stenting in one.

RESULTSMarked improvement was achieved in 30.3%, fair in 34.9%, improvement in 21.2%, unchanged in 4.6%, and death in 9.0% before discharge; 30.6%, 38.8%, 16.3%, 4.1%, and 2.0% respectively during a mean follow-up of 48 months, and recurrence requiring revision in 8.2%.

CONCLUSIONPatients with occlusive lesions of all four cervical arteries always have severe cerebral ischemia and their distal runoff is always unvisualised by angiography. However, we found by exploration that the internal carotid artery is patent in all but one patient. Therefore, an ascending aorta to carotid bypass is feasible in most instances, and this can and should be done when the cerebral perfusion is jeopardized at a time when the patient is in a stable or relatively stable condition. Unfortunately, the cerebral re-perfusion syndrome is still a serious and not completely solved problem.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; therapeutic use ; Takayasu Arteritis ; complications ; Tripterygium

Objective To observe the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao populations.Methods A toLal of 1170 subiects of Bai Ku Yao aged 15 and over were surveyed by a stratified randomized cluster sampling.Blood pressure,body height,weight,waist circumference,serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured, and body mass index(BMI)were calculated,matched 1173 subjects of Han Chinese from the same region served as control.Results The standardized prevalence of hypertension in Bai Ku Yao was significantly lower than that in Han(11.53% vs.16.79%,P<0.01).The mean levels of systolic,diastolic blood pressure,and pulse pressure in Bai Ku Yao were also signifieanfly lower than those in Han[(115.7 ±16.3)vs.(120.0±16.3)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),P<0.01;(74.1 ±9.4)vs.(75.9 ±10.4)mm Hg,P<0.01;and(41.6 ± 12.0)vs.(44.2 ±11.2)mm Hg,P<0.01;respectively].Hypertension was positively correlated with male,age,physical activity,BMI,waist circumference,and the intakes of total energy,total fat,and sodium,and negatively associated with education level in both ethnic groups(P<0.05-0.01),but was positively associated with alcohol consumption only in Han.The rates of awareness,treatment and control of hypertension were significantly lower in Bai Ku Yao than those in Han population[(11.81%vs.21.76%),P<0.05;(5.51%vs.12.95%),P<0.05;and(2.36%vs.8.29%),P<0.05;respectively].Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension was significantly lower in Bai Ku Yao population than in Han population and diet,low sodium inmke,life style,and genetic factors might be responsible for the lower hypertension prevalence in Bai Ku Yao population.

Objective: To study the value of unmethylated cytosine guanine dinucleotide oligodeoxynucleotide (DSP30) and IL-2 in the conventional cytogenetic (CA) detection of the chromosomal aberrations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) . Methods: Bone marrow or peripheral blood cells of CLL patients were cultured with DSP30 plus IL-2 for 72 h, following which R-banding analysis was conducted. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed in 85 patients. CA results were compared with data obtained by FISH. Results: Among 89 CLL patients, the success rate of chromosome analysis was 94.38% (84/89) . Clonal aberrations were detected in 51 patients (51/84, 60.71%) . Of them, 27 (27/51, 52.94%) were complex karyotype. Among 85 CLL patients tested by FISH, chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 74 (74/85, 87.06%) patients, of which 2 (2/74) patients were complex karyotypes, accounting for 2.70%. Of the 85 CLL patients examined by FISH, 50 had abnormal karyotype analysis, 30 had normal karyotype, 5 failed to have chromosome analysis. Among them, 25 cases showed clonal aberrations by FISH assay but normal by CA, and 4 cases were normal by FISH but displayed aberrations in chromosome analysis, and totally 78 (91.76%) cases with abnormality detected by the combination of the two methods. The frequency of 13q- abnormality detected by FISH was significantly higher than that by CA analysis (69.41%vs 16.67%, P<0.001) , while the frequency of 11q-,+12 and 17p- detected by two methods showed no significant difference (P>0.05) . The detection rate of complex abnormalities in conventional karyotype analysis was higher than that in FISH (50.98%vs 2.70%) . In addition, 11 low-risk and 9 intermediate-risk patients according to FISH results showed complex karyotype by cytogenetics, and were classified into high-risk cytogenetic subgroup. Conclusion: DSP30 and IL-2 are effective in improving the detection rate of CA in CLL patients (60.71%) and CA is more effective to detect complex karyotype. However, FISH had a higher overall abnormality detection rate (87.06%) than CA, especially for 13q-. The combination of CA and FISH not only enhanced the detection rate of clonal aberrations to 91.76%, but also provided more precise prognosis stratification for CLL patients, thus to provide more information for clinical implication.
Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Interleukin-2 ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell

The Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) flaviviruses exhibit similar replicative processes but have distinct clinical outcomes. A systematic understanding of virus–host protein–pro-tein interaction networks can reveal cellular pathways critical to viral replication and disease patho-genesis. Here we employed three independent systems biology approaches toward this goal. First, protein array analysis of direct interactions between individual ZIKV/DENV viral proteins and 20,240 human proteins revealed multiple conserved cellular pathways and protein complexes, including proteasome complexes. Second, an RNAi screen of 10,415 druggable genes identified the host proteins required for ZIKV infection and uncovered that proteasome proteins were crucial in this process. Third, high-throughput screening of 6016 bioactive compounds for ZIKV inhibition yielded 134 effective compounds, including six proteasome inhibitors that suppress both ZIKV and DENV replication. Integrative analyses of these orthogonal datasets pinpoint proteasomes as crit-ical host machinery for ZIKV/DENV replication. Our study provides multi-omics datasets for fur-ther studies of flavivirus–host interactions, disease pathogenesis, and new drug targets.

Thirteen compounds were isolated from the 95% aqueous EtOH extract of the rhizomes of Sophora tonkinensis by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sphadex LH-20, MCI, ODS, and semi-preparative HPLC.Their structures were elucidated as 1-(6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-3-yl)ethanone(1), cyclo(Pro-Pro)(2), nicotinic acid(3), p-hydroxybenzonic acid(4), p-methoxybenzonic acid(5), 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(6), coniferin(7), syringin(8),(-)-secoisolariciresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(9),(-)-syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(10),(-)-syringaresinol-4,4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11),(-)-pinoresinol-4,4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(12), and(6S,9R)-roseoside(13) by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data.Compound 1 was a new naturalproduct, and compounds 2,5,6,9,10,12 and 13 were obtained from the Sophora genus for the first time.Compound 1 possessed moderate cytotoxic activity against A549 human tumor cell [IC₅₀（23.05 ± 0.46）μmol•L⁻¹].