Objective To evaluate the role of delta and kappa opioid receptors in sufentanil preconditioning (SPC)-induced attenuation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 2-3 months,weighing 250-330 g,were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),group I/R,group SPC,δ receptor antagonist naltrindole + SPC group (NTD + SPC group),and κ receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) + SPC group (BNI + SPC group).Myocardial I/R was induced by 30 min occlusion of left anterior descending branch of coronary artery followed by 120 min reperfusion.In group SPC,5 min infusion of sufentanil 3μg/kg was repeated 3 times at 5 min interval before myocardial ischemia.In NTD + SPC group,naltrindole 5 mg/kg was intravenously injected,at 10 before SPC.In BNI + SPC group,nor-BNI 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously at 15 min before SPC.Arterial blood samples were collected at 120 min of reperfusion for measurement of the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) concentrations.The rats were then sacrificed and hearts removed for determination of myocardial infarct size (IS) and area at risk (AAR).IS/AAR ratio was calculated.Results Compared with S group,the serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations were significantly increased in I/R,NTD + SPC and BNI + SPC groups,and the serum CK-MB concentrations were increased in SPC group,and IS/AAR ratio was increased in I/R group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The serum cTnI and CK-MB concentrations were significantly lower in SPC,NTD + SPC and BNI + SPC groups and IS/AAR ratio was lower in SPC and BNI + SPC groups than in I/R group,and higher in NTD + SPC and BNI + SPC groups than in SPC group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Both κ and δ opioid receptors mediate SPC-induced attenuation of myocardial I/R injury in rats.

Eleven type 1 diabetic patients who received fixed regime of insulin Glargine were included in the study.The levels of fasting serum insulin were measured for each subject at 6:00 in three consecutive mornings.The variability of mean fasting serum insulin in each subject was 3.3%-41.5% (mean 15.4%).The variability did not correlate with the dose of Glargine statistically.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the data of angle variation on traction based on a finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature, and try to give experimental reference and suggestion in treating cervical spondylosis.

METHODSA 43-year-old female patient with straight cervical spine was chosen and the CT scan data were collected. By using specially designed modeling system, a high quality finite element model of complete cervical spine with straight physiological curvature is generated,which included ligament and muscle according to anatomy. After the model was confirmed, traction was loaded with angle 0 degree, anterior 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, to observe the data of distance change on between adjacent intervertebral foramen, processus articularis, uncovertedral joint, intervertebral discs, and stress of anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus.

RESULTSWhen the angle was 0 degrees-15 degrees, the distance between intervertebral foramen, Luschka joint and processus articularis posterioris was enlarged, the tensile stress was adequate and compressive stress was small. It met the clinical requests.

CONCLUSION0 degree-15 degrees anterior position is suggested for the treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Traction ; methods

Teixobactin, a cyclic-peptide antibiotic, destroys the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria. It is therefore difficult for bacteria such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to develop resistance to it. Many scholars have studied the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of teixobactin. After reviewing the reports related to the discovery, structure, total synthesis and SAR of teixobactin, we found that the total synthesis of teixobactin was very difficult. The N-terminal methyl modification, ester bond and allo-End were unnecessary for the activity, the configuration of amino acids at the positions 1, 4, 5 and 8 could greatly influence the antibacterial activity, and the substitution of the amino acids at the 3, 4, 9 and 10 positions by Lys could retain the antibacterial activity.

Objective To study the imaging apperances and the diagnostic value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating histopathological types of small hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC).Methods 40 sHCC confirmed by histopathology were classified into 4 groups according to their degree of differentiation:well (n=6),well-moderate (n=5),moderate (n=27) and moderate-poor (n =2).All patients received conventional MRI and DWI (1.5T,b =0 and 600 s/mm2) before the operation.The ADC values of the sHCC were measured and compared.Results On T1WI,32 lesions showed hypointensity,4 hyperintensity (well) and 4 isointensity (well-moderate =2,moderate =2).On T2WI,hyperintensity was observed in 39 lesions and isointensity in 1 lesion (well).Steatosis in the sHCC was seen in 17 of 40lesions (17/40,42.5 ％,well=4,well-moderate=1 and moderate=12).A pseudocapsule was seen in 67.5 ％ sHCC (27/40,well=4,well-moderate=3,moderate=18 and moderate-poor=2).32 lesions showed hypervascularity on arterial phase,and 8 lesions showed hypovascularity (well=3,moderate =4,moderate-poor=1).On DWI,37 lesions showed hyperintensity,except for 3 lesions with welldifferentiated sHCC which showed isointensity (50％,3/6).The mean ADC values±S.D.of sHCC in the well,well-moderate,moderate and moderate-poor groups were (1.757 ± 0.337) × 10-3,(1.917±0.574)×103,(1.816±0.545)×103 and (1.723±0.217)×10-3,respectively.There were no significant differences among the 4 groups.Conclusion The imaging appearances of wellmoderate,moderate and moderate-poor sHCC on conventional MRI were classical which make diagnosis easy.Hyperintensity on DWI contributed to diagnosis.However,the imaging appearances of some well-differentiated sHCC were atypical.The lesions could be isointensity or hyperintensity on DWI.The combination of conventional MRI and DWI contributed to better diagnosis of sHCC,especial for atypical sHCC.

Twelve cases of Bartter's syndrome were reported and reviewed retrospectively.Usually vomiting was the first sympton in children,while fatigue was common in adults.Bartter's syndrome was characteristic of hypokalemia,metabolic alkalosis,elevations of plasma renin activity,serum angiotersinⅡand aldosterone and juxtaglomerular apperatus hyperplasia.Supplementation of potassium choloride was the main manner of therapy.

This study examined whether genistein influences the production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the modulators of eNOS activity in ovariectomized (OVX) rat hearts. Female mature Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy, OVX rats were randomly divided into four groups: 17beta-estradiol (0.1 mg/kg, s.c. daily) was used as the positive control; low dose of genistein (0.5 mg/kg, s.c. daily); high dose of genistein (5.0 mg/kg, s.c. daily) and model. Sham operations as controls, the treatment lasted 6 weeks. Blood pressure, heart rate, plasma estradiol, heart and uterine weights were measured. Nitrite production in the myocardium was determined by nitrate reductase method. Protein level of eNOS, caveolin-1 and calmodulin was determined by Western blot. The results showed that nitrite production and eNOS protein in homogenized ventricular tissue was attenuated by approximately 53% and 67% in OVX rats compared with those in sham rats, respectively. Genistein increased nitrite production in rat heart in a dose-dependent manner, genistein at the dose of 5 mg/kg.d(-1) resumed nitrite production to a level similar to that in sham operated rats. Administration of genistein also increased eNOS protein expression in OVX rats myocardium with a concomitant decrease in the expression of caveolin-1, an endogenous eNOS inhibitory protein. Another eNOS stimulatory protein, calmodulin, was unchanged in these treatments. These effects were also observed in rats treated with 17beta-estradiol. Genistein at the dose of 5.0 mg/kg.d(-1) augmented uterine weight but this side effect in reproductive system was less than that of 17beta-estradiol. These results suggest that genistein supplementation and estrogen replacement therapy directly increase eNOS functional activity and NO production in the hearts of the OVX rats, but genistein has less side effects on the reproductive system than 17beta-estradiol.
Animals ; Calmodulin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Caveolin 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Ovariectomy ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors in treating primary liver cancer (PLC) patients by Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating method (PSQRM), thus providing evidence and optimizing Pi-strengthening and qi-regulating program.

METHODSClinical data of 151 PLC patients treated by PSQRM at Oncology Department, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2007 to March 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate analysis was determined to analyze possible prognostic factors. Selected key factors were introduced into the COX proportional hazard model, and multivariate analysis was carried out.

RESULTSThe 1-year survival rate was 21.85%, the median survival time was 6.80 months, and the mean survival time was 8.98 months. The univariate analysis showed that Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types, clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis, ascites, tumor types, ratios of foci, portal vein tumor thrombus, intrahepatic metastasis, a-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, total bilirubin classification, albumin classification, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). The statistic data of multivariate analysis indicated that CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer were independent factors influencing prognosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of PLC treated with PSQRM is determined by multiple factors including CM syndrome types, ascites, tumor types, portal vein tumor thrombus, AFP levels, Child-Pugh classification, and domestic staging of liver cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo unify the definitions of colonoscopic characteristics of Crohn disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis ( ITB),and to evaluate colonoscopic and clinical features in the differential diagnosis of CD and ITB.MethodsA collaborative group composed of 10 experts from 5 hospitals voted to identify and confirm the colonoscopic characteristics.Clinical and colonoscopic characteristics were analyzed,thereafter,characteristics were scored based on different diagnostic specificity.ROC curve was used for determining the cutoff point to differentiate CD from ITB.ResultsFirstly,standard endoscopic images and descriptions were determined.Secondly,colonoscopic parameters which were significantly different between the CD and ITB patients included the follows:involvement of more than four intestinal segments,anorectal involvement,longitudinal ulcers,cobblestone appearance and transverse ulcers.Clinical findings which were significantly different between the CD and ITB patients included active pulmonary tuberculosis,PPD-test strong positive,anal fistula/perianal abscess and extra-intestinal manifestations in CD.4.4％(6/136) patients were confirmed by histological evidence of caseating granulomas.By using our scoring system,39.7％ (54/136) confirmed diagnoses and 18.4％ (25/136) suspected diagnoses were made in patients without histological evidence.ConclusionIdentification of colonoscopic characteristics and unification of the colonscopic diagnostic criteria were helpful in the differential diagnosis between CD and ITB.The differential diagnosis rate could he improved by using the scoring system.Half cases could not be confirmed even with combined pathology and the scoring system,so a more comprhensive scoring system would be warranted.

Cysts ; pathology ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged