Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-5B ; biosynthesis ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the relationship between respiratory viruses infection and the episode of steroid responsive simple nephrotic syndrome(SRSNS).Methods Thirty-eight children with SRSNS were selected,including the active stage group(n=28)and the remission group(n=10).The urine from 18 cases of nephritic nephrosis,16 cases of bronchiolitis,15 cases of secondary glomerular diseases and 15 cases of healthy children were served as controls.By using the method of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and alkaline phosphoesterase-anti alkaline phosphoesterase enzyme-linked assay(APAAP),viral genes and antigens in urine were assayed,respectively.Results The positive rate of detecting viruses in the active stage group of SRSNS children was higher than that in the remission group and the other control groups(Pa

Objective To explore the effects of physical exercises on recurrent seizures-induced long-term learning and memory deficits and on the expression of zinc transporter-3(ZnT-3)in hippocampuses of developmental period rats.Methods Sprague-Dawley rats aged 21 d were randomly divided into blank control group,exercises control group,seizure group and seizure plus exercises group.Abdominal cavity injections of penicillin or saline were used to induce recurrent seizure or as a control in the corresponding groups.During the postnatal(P)39-44 d and P61-65 d periods,Morris water-maze tests were administered to evaluate spatial learning and memory capacity.During the P48-53 d period,the rats in exercises control and seizure plus exercises groups were subjected to a 30-min daily aerobic exercises program for 6 d.The real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)method was used to detect the expression of ZuT-3 mRNA in hippocampuses of all rats at P66 d. Results Searching strategy:There was a decreasing incidence of marginal strategy and an increasing trend in the use of taxis and straight line strategy in all four groups.The scores on d 1 and 4 were significantly higher in two control groups than in two seizure groups in water-maze test(all P＜0.05).By d 2 the exercises control and seizure plus exercises groups were scoring significantly higher than the bland control and seizure groups(P＜0.05).Memory test:The frequency of passing through the platform quadrant decreased significantly in the two seizure groups compared to the two control groups in both probe tests(all P＜0.05).RT-PCR test:ZnT-3 mRNA expressions in hippocampuses were significantly higher in seizure plus exercises group than in any other groups. Conclusions Penicillin-induced recurrent seizures can induce long-term damage on learning and memory capacity in developmerital period rats.Physical exercises can improve learning capacity.It's mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of ZnT-3 expression in hippocampus of rats.

Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the mechanism of external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) injury during thyroid surgery as showed by intraoperative neuromonitoring.Methods 70 patients with 109 nerves at risk were enrolled in this study from March 2011 to October 2011.A positive signal is determined by observing contractions of the cricothyroid muscle.The relationship between EBSLN and the upper pole of the thyroid or the inferior constrictor muscle was studied.Results 108 nerves (99.1％) were located successfully,42 of which were visualized (38.9％).55 nerves (50.9％) crossed the superior thyroid artery more than 1 cm apart,while the other 53 nerves (49.1％) went less than 1 cm including 24 nerves(more than 0.5 cm,less than 1 cm) and 29 nerves (less than 0.5 cm) or coursed below the superior pole of the thyroid.The rate of the latter type was significantly elevated in patients with the top to botton diameter of the gland more than 5 cm.One patient suffered from impairing in the production of high tones postoperatively.Conclusions Intraoperative neuromonitoring is useful and helpful in providing instructive information for operations by locating EBSLN.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is considered as a primary cause of clinical low back pain, however the molecular mechanism is not clear yet. Recently, researches on the molecular basis of intervertebral disc degeneration have become a hotspot. The special structure and biomechanics properties of the disc contribute to its propensity toward degeneration. Intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with the changes of the cytological behavior,including the increase in cell death and the degradation of extracellular matrix. However, the mechanism of cell death including cell apoptosis and autophagy in intervertebral disc degeneration remains unclear. Further study on the molecular mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration is the foundation of improving and treating the intervertebral disc degeneration in the future. Although some progresses are made in the aspect of biological study, the biological environment of intervertebral disc itself is still a challenge for the development of biological treatment. This article is to review the latest advance on the biological characteristics of normal intervertebral disc and the cell death in the process of the intervertebral disc degeneration.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; metabolism ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; metabolism ; physiopathology

This study aims to establish a new method for quality evaluation of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix by simultaneous determination of five iridoids (loganic acid, 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylgentiopicroside, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside), and to detect five iridoids in the root of eight species (Gentiana macrophylla, G. straminea, G. crassicaulis, G. dahurica, G. robusta, G. waltonii, G. lhassica, and G. tibetica). The separation was carried out on a Shiseido SPOLAR C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column eluted with mobile phase of water containing 0.04% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) in a gradient program. The flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1). The detect wavelength was set at 240 nm. The column temperature was kept at 30 degrees C. The volume of injection was 5 microL. The five iridoids were well separated with ideal linear correlations. The average recoveries were 97.35% - 106.23%. All the five iridoids were detected in the root of eight species. The contents of same species changed in a somewhat wider range. The contents in root of G. dahurica were lower than that in other species.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Gentianella ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glycosides ; analysis

Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; methods ; Negative Staining ; methods ; Viruses ; ultrastructure

BACKGROUND: Immune function of chemotaxis signal has been a key focus in medical research. However, the immune activation and related action mechanism of chemotatic factor RANTES are unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immune activation and related action mechanism of chemotatic factor RANTES stimulation on peripheral mononuclear cells.DESIGN: Control Experiment.SETTING: Department of Urologic Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Department of Immunology, University of Louisville from December 2004 to August 2005. Main reagent and equipments included RPMI 1640 complete medium, recombinant human RANTES, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC),CTLA4Ig, LS500 liquid scintillation counter and FACS Epics XL flow cytometry.METHODS: Peripheral mononuclear cells were collected and stimulated by different concentrations of recombinant human RANTES and/or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. Cells with significantly proliferative response were intervened by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or CTLA4lg. 3H-thymidine incorporation was used to detect the proliferation of mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the phenotypes of lymphocytes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incorporation efficiency of 3H-thymidine, the ratio of CD4 to CD8, expression of CD25,CCR5 and CD28.RESULTS: Proliferative reaction of mononuclear cells reached two peaks with recombinant human RANTES concentrations of 100 μg/L and 5000 μg/L respectively. The proliferation of peripheral mononuclear cells stimulated by 100 μg/L recombinant human RNATES was significantly higher than that in the presence of 50 μg/L anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (P<0.05).There were no rivalry or synergistic effect between them.The immune active effects of recombinant human RANTES could be inhibited by PDTC or CTLA,Ig in a dose dependent manner.After RANTES treatment,the level of cell surface CD25 increased (P<0.05) and the CCR5 expression decreased (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in CD28 expression and the ratio of CD4/CD8 of lymphocytes(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: RANTES has a specific function of inducing the immune activation of mononuclear cells. This special signal works depending on the activation of interleukin-2 signal pathway, CD28 co-stimulatory pathway and nuclear factor-κB,but independent of CD3 activation.

Objective To investigate the ultrasound imaging findings of anatomical relationship between femoral artery and vein in children of different ages.Methods Sixty-five children aged 4 months-7 years were enrolled in this study.The children were divided into 3 age groups: group Ⅰ＜ 1 yr;group Ⅱ 1-3 yr and group Ⅲ＞ 3,≤ 7 yr.A protable ultrasound machine was used.The probe was placed at the level of inguinal ligament and 2 and 4 cm below inguinal ligament.The children were placed in supine position.The legs were placed in 2 positions:(1)extended and in standard anatomical position and(2)flexed and 45° abducted and 45° laterally rotated.Results The examination showed that at the level of inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lay behind and lateral to femoral artery in 91% of children.At the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lay posterior and lateral to the femoral artery in all children.When the leg was placed in abducted and laterally rotated,the depth of femoral vein was reduced and the vein was less overlapped by artery in all children,especially in preschool children.Conclusion At the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lies posterior and lateral to the femoral artery in children.When the leg is placed in abducted and laterally rotated,the depth of femoral vein is reduced and the vein is less overlapped by artery.It is indicated that femoral vein puncture should be performed at the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament with the leg flexed and abducted in all children,especially in preschool children.