Objective To evaluate the effect of continuous adenosine infusion on mesentery microcirculation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in rats with asphyxia. Methods Rat model of asphyxia was established in 22 healthy Wistar rats. The animals were then randomly divided into normal saline group (group A, n=10), epinephrine group (group B, n=6) and epinephrine plus adenosine group (group C, n=6). After a 3-min asphyxia without intervention, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started. The cardiac compression was carried out with an electric cardio-pulmonary resuscitation machine (200 times/min). Respiration was restored and maintained with a ventilator with tidal volume of 4ml, breathing rate 50times/min and FiO2 100%. After a 4-min CPR, rats in group A and group B were given normal saline and epinephrine (bolus of 90?g/kg) respectively, and in group C epinephrine (bolus of 90?g/kg) plus 70?g/kg adenosine were given. Electric defibrillation would be initiated if there was ventricular fibrillation. The reperfusion rate of mesentery arterioles and venules, diameter of blood vessels and relative blood velocity were observed. Results The reperfusion rate of mesentery arterioles and venules was significantly higher in group C than in group B (P

In the criminal cases of driving under the influence (DUI), DNA evidence can be collected from the deployed airbag of the motor vehicle and submitted to the crime lab for touch DNA analysis. The evidence can be acquired when the skin cells are observed on the surface of the airbag in a traffic accident. However, the low quantity or quality of the evidence collected from a crime scene prevents further identification analysis in many cases. In the current study, we reported a case of identifying touch DNA extraction from the shed skin cells from the deployed airbag of a motor vehicle. We managed to collect DNA evidence from the shed skin cells in an airbag using a proper approach of collection and extraction. The 5.87 ng of extracted DNA was sufficient for genotyping and forensic identification, which helped to identify the driver of the car in collision with a pier in the street. In DUI cases and other traffic accidents, therefore, the amount of touch DNA extracted from the deployed airbag can be sufficient for DNA marker genotyping and further analysis.
Accidents, Traffic ; Air Bags ; Alcoholic Intoxication ; Crime ; DNA/analysis* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Motor Vehicles ; Skin/cytology* ; Touch

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of curcumin on the injury in hippocampal neurons and the expression of regulated upon activation nonnal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in hippocamp during cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH).

METHODSMale Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): sham group (W-Sham and S-Sham group), ischemia/reperfusion group (W-/R and S/R group), curcumin group (S-Cur group) . Each group was splitted into 5 subgroups of 3 h,12 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d according to the time interval before reperfusion. Global brain ischemia/reperfusion model was established by 4-VO method. Hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE staining) was used to observe the vertebral cell morphology in hippocampal CA1 region. Nissl staining was applied to detect the average density of cone cells in hippocampal CA1 region. The expression of RANTES in hippocamp was determined by ELISA. The behavior of the rats was evaluated at 7 days after reperfusion. Results: Compared with the sham group rats, the ability of learning and memory was significantly decreased in ischemia/reperfusion group rats, the number of injured neurons were greatly elevated , the protein expression levels of RANTES was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with W-I/R group rats, the ability of learning and memory in S-I/R group rats was greatly reduced, the number of injured neurons increased extremely, the protein expression level of RANTES was significantly enhanced( P <0.05). The number of injured neurons declined significantly in S-Cur group rats, the ability to learn and remember of these rats was improved and the RANTES protein content decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHR are more susceptible to ischemia/reperfusion induced hippocampal neuronal injury which may be improved by curcu min. Its underlying mechanism is possibly associated with the inhibition of RANTES protein expression level.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Chemokine CCL5 ; metabolism ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Frequent large outbreaks of food poisoning or foodborne diseases are emerging problems in Korea. As for individual cases, most of food poisoning or foodborne diseases are difficult to diagnose based solely on clinical features. On the other hand, in case of large outbreaks, clinical features such as the incubation period, presence or degree of fever and the severity of upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms could be useful for the differential diagnosis. In this review, we suggest key clinical characteristics and standard laboratory diagnostic methods of epidemiologically important food poisoning or foodborne diseases.
Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Outbreaks ; Fever ; Foodborne Diseases* ; Hand ; Korea ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in hippocampus during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH) .Methods One hundred and thirty-five male rats (homologous with WKY) with SH and 90 male normotensive WKY rats, weighing 275-325 g,were used in this study. The WKY rats were randomized into 2 groups ( n = 45 each) : sham operation group (WS group) and cerebral I/R group (W-I/R group) . The rats with SH were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 45each) : sham operation group (S-S group), cerebral I/R group (S-I/R group) and curcumin group (S-C group) .Global cerebral ischemia was produced by 4 vessel-occlusion method. The bilateral common carotid arteries were only exposed but not ligated in W-S and S-S groups. Intraperitoneal corn oil 10 ml/kg was injected at 30 min of reperfusion in W-I/R and S-I/R groups. Intraperitoneal curcumin 100 mg/kg was injected at 30 min of reperfusion in S-C group. Three animals in each group were sacrificed at 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d of reperfusion and their brains were harvested for determination of apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the expression of JNK3 and PSD95in hippocampus. Results The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly increased in S-S group compared with W-S group ( P < 0.05) . The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly increased and the expression of JNK3was up-regulated in S-I/R group compared with S-S group ( P < 0.05) . The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly decreased and the expression of JNK3 was down-regulated in S-C group compared with S-I/R group (P <0.05) . There was no significant difference in the expression of PSD95 among all the groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusion Curcumin can inhibit apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the mechanism is related to down-regulation of the expression of JNK3 in hippocampus. The mechanism by which curcumin down-regulates the expression of JNK3in hippocampus may not be related to PSD95 pathway.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the metabolic changes in posterior cingulated cortex and left basal ganglia in patients with liver cirrhosis before and after liver Transplantation (LT).Methods A total of 22 controls and 37 cirrhotic patients listed for LT were enrolled in the study. Brain MRS (PRESS sequence) and neuropsychological (NP) tests were performed in all subjects. Eighteen patients were followed up at 1 month and 3 month after LT. The NP parameters including number connection test-A ( NCT-A), digital symbol test (DST) and symbol digital test (SDT) were measured. MRS metabolic contents were measured automatically at posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and left basal ganglia (LBG).Independent t-test was used to compare the parameters of NP test and MRS metabolites between the 2 groups. The changes of the parameters before and after LT were compared using analysis of variance.Pearson correlation test was also used to analysis the relationship between NP test parameters and MRS metabolites. Results ( 1 ) Before LT, significant difference of metabolites was found in the PCC between the two groups [ NAA/Cr(1.96 ±0.21, 1.73 ±0. 12), Cho/Cr(0. 65 ±0. 12,0. 83 ±0.09), mI/Cr (0.41 ±0.14,0.72±0.11), Glx/Cr(2. 37 ±0. 38,1. 92 ±0. 32) (t= -5.42,5.96,8.62,-4.72,P＜0.01)].And statistical significance also were found in LBG between the 2 groups [ Cho/Cr (0. 63 ± 0. 16,0. 77 ±0. 10), mI/Cr(0.38 ±0. 17,0.53 ±0.21), GIx/Cr(1.70 ±0.36,1.29 ±0.30), (t =3.64,3.07,-4.58 ,P ＜ 0. 01 )]. (2)Compared with controls, the patients before LT had longer NCT-A reaction time [ (58. 17 ±19. 12) s,(37.68 ±8.02) s,t =4. 14,P＜0.01], lower scores of DST (36.67 ±9.91,55.36 ±9.27,t = 4.60,P＜0.01) and SDT (31.67 ±9.49,50.73 ±8.34,t = 4.652,P＜0.01) before LT. All the scores of NP tests changed significantly at 1 and 3 month after LT compared with those before LT[ NCT-A (53.06±12.71) s,(35.72 ±5.20) s,F =33.554,P ＜0.01 ], DST(41.89 ±8. 17,54.39 ±5.69,F =85.772,P＜0.01),SDT(37.44±7.68,49.39±5.65,F=83.061,P＜0.01)]. (3) In the 18 patients who were followed, Cho/Cr [ PCC (0. 90 ± 0. 14,0. 92 ± 0. 08, F = 38. 178, P ＜ 0. 01 ); LBG (0. 81 ± 0. 08,0. 80 ±0.09,F =9.447,P ＜0.01)] and Glx/Cr [ PCC(1.86 ±0.32,1.75 ±0.25,F = 19.420, P ＜0. 01 ); LBG( 1.30 ±0. 20,1.23 ±0. 25 ,F = 17. 952,P ＜0. 01 ) ] recovered at 1 month after LT, while the mI/Cr [PCC (0.39±0.15,0.71 ±0. 10,F =75. 186,P＜0.01) ;LBG (0.47 ±0.25,0.61 ±0.27,F =8. 027, P ＜ 0. 01 ) ] recovered at 3 month after LT. (4)mI/Cr of cingulate cortex correlated significantly with NCT-A, DST and SDT (r= -0.743, 0.597, 0.615, P＜0.01 ) before LT. Conclusion Cerebral metabolic changes in patients with liver cirrhosis is reversible and MRS of the posterior cingulate cortex is a helpful method in following up the changes after LT. mI/Cr is a useful indicator to predict the brain changes of cirrhotic patients before and after LT.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between Arg778Leu/Gln gene mutation spot in ATP7B and TCM Syndrome type in Chinese patients with Wilson disease (WD).

METHODSExon 8 of ATP7B of 90 WD patients and 30 healthy controls were amplified by PCR and analysed by restriction enzyme Msp I, the TCM Syndrome type of the patients was differentiated at the same time.

RESULTSIn the 90 WD patients, 34 with Arg778Leu/Gln of exon 8 were detected, among them 20 cases belonged to the TCM Syndrome type of endogenous Liver-Wind agitation.

CONCLUSIONOnset age of WD patients with Arg778Leu/Gln mutation is later than that without this mutation. Arg778Leu/Gln mutation might be related to the TCM Syndrome type of endogenous Liver-Wind agitation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Arginine ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Copper-transporting ATPases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exons ; Female ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Leucine ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phenotype ; Point Mutation

Brain ; abnormalities ; Cerebral Cortex ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nervous System Malformations ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

Renal transplant (RT) recipients have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.However,the effects of renal transplantation on the development of arteriosclerosis have been controversial.The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and diameter (CD) are important indicators of vascular remodeling and arteriosclerosis.In this study,31 patients with hemodialysis (HD),31 RT recipients and 84 age-and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled.Their CIMT and CD were measured by ultrasonic radiofrequency tracking,and the linear regression models and Z test were used to identify the progression of arteriosclerosis and the risk factors.Compared with HD group,RT group had significantly lower CIMT and CD.CIMT was found to be associated with age,body weight,resistance index and diastolic velocity,while CD was associated significantly with age,body weight,pulsatility index,end diastolic velocity and diastolic blood pressure (DBP),respectively.The correlation curves between CIMT and age showed the slopes of curves were decreased successively in control,RT and HD groups,and the curves between CD and age showed the slopes were decreased in order of RT ＞ control ＞ HD groups.It was concluded that CIMT and CD were significantly correlated with age in RT and moderately with age in HD patients.RT could reduce the progress of arteriosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Objective To evaluate the effect of curcumin on the inflammatory responses in the hippocampus during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in hypertensive rats.Methods Forty-eight SPF male Wistar-Kyoto rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 180-200 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (W-Sham group) and I/R group (W-I/R group).Seventy-two SPF male spontaneously hypertensive rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 180-200 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S-Sham group),I/R group (S-I/R group),and curcumin group (S-Cur group).Global cerebral ischemia was induced by 4-vessel occlusion method (10 min of transient global ischemia followed by reperfusion).Curcumin 100 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min of reperfusion in S-Cur group,and corn oil 5 ml/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min of reperfusion in the other groups.The ability of learning and memory was tested by step-down test at 7 days of reperfusion.Rats were sacrificed at 3 h and 1,3 and 7 days of reperfusion (T1-4) and the hippocampi were removed.The morphological changes of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area were observed by HE staining.The mean density of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area was quantified by Nissl staining.The contents of interleukin-lβ (IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10 in the hippocampus were determined by ELISA.Results Compared with W-Sham group,the ability of learning and memory was significantly decreased,the mean density of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area was decreased,the contents of IL-1β at T1-3,TNF-α at T1,and IL-10 at T2 were increased,and the contents of IL-10 were decreased at T1,3,4 in W-I/R group,and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in S-Sham group.Compared with W-I/R group,the ability of learning and memory was significantly decreased,the contents of IL-1β at T1,3 and IL-10 at T2 were decreased,the content of TNF-α was increased at T1,no significant change was found in the mean density of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area,and the damage to pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area was severe in S-I/R group.Compared with S-I/R group,the ability of learning and memory was significantly increased,the mean density of pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area was increased,the contents of IL-1β at T2,3 and TNF-α at T1-4 were increased,and the content of IL-10 was increased at T2,and the damage to pyramidal cells in hippocampal CA1 area was reduced in S-Cur group.Conclusion Inhibition of inflammatory responses in the hippocampus may be involved in the mechanism by which curcumin reduces global cerebral I/R injury in hypertensive rats.