Objective To explore the intervention effect of cathepsin B inhibitor (CBI) and its signaling pathways after flurothyl inducing brain injury in rats with recurrent seizures. Methods 6-day-old (P6) SD rats were randomly divided into: recurrent neonatal seizure group ( RS group, n = 30), CBI-treated seizure group ( CBI group, n=30) and the control group( CONT group). Rats in RS group were subjected to 5 seizures with flurothyl during the first 14 days of life. In CBI group,CBI was injected each day before seizures were induced. Then examined development indexes such as the physical growth, neural reflex, neural behavior and cognitive emotional competence. Western blot was employed to determine Cathepsin B expression at different time points ( 1.5h,3h,6h,24h and P35) after the last convulsion. Results The weights of rats in RS group( (27.28 ± 1.6) kg) were lighter than CONT group( ( 33.45 ± 1.57 ) kg). They had significant difference (P＜ 0.01 ) at the age of p14. The time of cliff avoidance in RS group( (2. 10 ± 1.45 ) s) was longer than CBI group( ( 1.05 ± 0. 32) s). It showed a statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05 ) in p12. In the open-field behavior test: the activities of RS group (20.00 ± 13.08 )were markedly reduced than CONT group ( 57.83 ± 33.22 ) in the horizontal movements, the RS group ( 2.50 ±2.43 ) were significantly decreased than the CONT group and CB1 group( ( 22.17 ± 10.74), (9.33 ± 5.39 ) ) in the vertical motions (P ＜ 0. 05 ). Cathepsin-B expression in RS group( 1.5h, 3h,6h and 24h )was significantly higher than that at the same time in CONT group(P＜ 0. 05 ). Cathepsin-B expression of CBI group was significantly decreased compared with that in RS group (P＜ 0. 05 ) at the time point (1.5h ,3h,6h and 24h). There were no significant differences among three groups at P35(P＞0.05 ). Conclusions CBI can improve brain injury and regulate the expression of abnormal molecules.

Objective To explore the dynamic expressions of autophagia and apoptosis associated protein Beclin-1, Cathepsin B and Bcl-2 in hippocampus and the intervention efficacy of cathepsin-B inhibitor (CBI) after recurrent neonatal seizure. Method Ninty 6-day-old SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into the recurrent neonatal seizure group (RS group, n = 30), CBI-treated seizure group (CBI group, n = 30) and the control group (n = 30). Rats in RS group were subjected to 55 attacks of seizure induced by using flurothyl during the consecutive 9 days beginning on the 6 th postnatal day (P6). In CBI group, CBI (2 μL, 0.5 μg/μL) was administered every day before seizures induced. Western blot was employed to determine the protein level at different intervals (1.5 h,3 h,6 h,24 h) after the last convulsion.Results There were higher expressions of Beclin-1 and Cathepsin B, and lower expressions of Bcl-2 expression in RS group(1. 5 h,3 h,6 h and 24 h) than those at the same time in control group (P ＜ 0.05). Beclin1 and Cathepsin B expressions were lower while Bcl-2 expressions were higher in CBI group at the intervals of 1.5 h,3 h,6 h and 24 h compared with those in RS group (P ＜ 0. 05). Conciusions Autophagic and apoptotic pathways were activated immediately after recurrent neonatal seizures as indicated by expression changes of Beclin-1, Cathepsin B and Bcl-2 in hippocampus, which suggests a synergistic effect of the two pathways in the pathophysiology of the long-term brain damage of neonateε resulted from the adverse effects of recurrent neonatal seizures.

Objective To investigate.the survival rates in a follow-up group of patient with primary liver cancer.Methods The follow-up data of new primary liver cancer cases between year 2001-2004 in Xuhui district was investigated.The age distribution of patients was described.Survival rate was analyzed with single and multiple Cox proportional hazards regression model,respectively.Results The age proportion distribution of patients showed double apexes with one in age 45～50 and another in age 70～75.The arithmetic mean of survival month was 16.4 with 95%CI 14.8～18.1 and median month was 6.9.It was no significance between male and female.Patients who had liver operation owned longer survival time,RR=0.315 5(95%CI 0.243 2～ 0.4093).The sutdy showed 5-year survival rate was 40.90%and 3.95%for patients with or without operation,respectively.It had no significant effect on survival time by gender,age and family history.Conclusion The screening test and intervention in high-risk people shall be done preferentially before peak age,so as to find primary liver cancer earlier,and the more patients can accept a suitable surgery care,the more they can obtain longer survival time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of OMT on TGF-β1-induced CFBs proliferation, and then explore the mechanism.

METHODThe experiment was randomly divided into 6 groups as following: control group (serum free DMEM), model group (20 μg x L(-1) TGF-β1), OMT low dose group (1.89 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) + 20 μg x L(-1) TGF-β1), OMT medium dose group (3.78 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) + 20 μg x L(-1) TGF-β1), OMT high dose group (7.56 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) + 20 μg x L(-1) TGF-β1), SB203580 group (p38MAPK blocking agent, 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) + 20 μg x L(-1) TGF-β1). Vimentin of CFBs was identified by immunocytochemical methods, α-SMA of myFBs as well. Inhibitory effects of OMT on CFBs proliferation was detected by the MTT assay. Picric acid Sirius red staining was analyzed collagen type I and collagen type III deposition. Western blot was determined the expression of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK, collagen type I and collagen type III.

RESULTMTT results showed that OMT significantly inhibited CFBs proliferation induced by TGF-β1 (P < 0.01) α-SMA immunocytochemical experiments suggested that OMT could protect against the CFBs proliferation. OMT could significantly decrease the deposition of collagen type I and collagen type III by Western bloting and picric acid Sirius red staining. Western blot results showed that TGF-β1 enhanced p38MAPK phosphorylation, however OMT attenuated the phosphorylation of p38MAPK induced by TGF-β1 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOMT can inhibit the CFBs proliferation induced by TGF-β1, and its mechanism may be involved in inhibiting p38MAPK phosphorylation.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Heart ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

The paper deals with a portable analyzing monitor system with liquid crystal display (LCD), which is low in power consumption and suitable for China's specific conditions. Apart from the development of the overall scheme of the system, the paper introduces the design of the hardware and the software. The 80196 single chip microcomputer is used as the central microprocessor to process and real-time electrocardiac signal data. The system have the following functions: five types of arrhythmia analysis, alarm, freeze, and record of automatic paperfeeding. The portable system can be operated by alternate-current (AC) or direct-current (DC). Its hardware circuit is simplified and its software structure is optimized. Multiple low power consumption and LCD unit are adopted in its modular designs.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; Computers ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Software

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of 1, 25-(OH)2D3 on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODSType 2 diabetic mellitus (DM) model rats were established by intraperitoneally injecting with 30 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 8 weeks, 19 male rats were identified as diabetic with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by ultrasound examination, and randomly assigned into three groups: untreated (DM-LVH, n=7), treated with insulin (DM-LVH+INS, n=6), and treated with 1, 25-(OH)2D3 (DM-LVH+VD, n=6). Healthy male rats were used as the controls group (n=6). The fasting blood glucose and the insulin level were determined weekly. The left ventricular mass index, myocardial collagen content, collagen volume fraction, and 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor level were determined by 4 weeks later.

RESULTSIn the DM-LVH model group, the insulin level was significantly decreased compared with the non-diabetic control group (P<0.05), whereas the blood glucose, left ventricular mass index, myocardial collagen content, collagen volume fraction, and 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor expression were significantly increased (all P<0.05). In the DM-LVH+INS and DM-LVH+VD groups, the insulin levels were significantly increased compared with the DM-LVH model group (P<0.05), whereas the other parameters were significantly decreased (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION1, 25-(OH)2D3 could reverse LVH in diabetic rats and that the mechanism may involve stimulating insulin secretion and reducing blood glucose via direct up-regulation of 1, 25-(OH)2D3-receptor expression.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Calcitriol ; therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; prevention & control ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; analysis ; Streptozocin

OBJECTIVETo explore effective pretreated methods for hydrosalpinx before frozen embryo transfer (FET).

METHODSA randomized controlled study was performed on 229 FET cycles of hydrosalpinx patients. They were assigned to two groups by random digit table, Group A (94 cases), Group B (89 cases), and Group C (46 cases). Patients in Group A received transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx combined with auricular point sticking. Those in Group B received transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx group. Those in Group C received no transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx. Pregnancy outcomes of FET, endometrial and subendometrial blood flow distribution on the embryo transfer day were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the endometrial thickness on FET day, the number of transfer embryos, the number of transferred good quality embryos among the three groups (P > 0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate and the embryo implantation rate were significantly higher in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.05), and the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). The early abortion rate and the transfer cycle cancel rate were significantly lower in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.05). Type A endometrial and subendometrial blood flow distribution was dominant in Group A, which was significantly higher in Group A than the rest two groups (P < 0.05). Type A distribution rate was also significantly higher in Group B than in Group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTransvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx combined with auricular point sticking before FET could improve the endometrial receptivity and improve outcomes of IVF.

Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

Objective To study the clinical application of finger reconstruction by transplantation of two second toes and evaluate the postoperative appearance and function regarding the reconstructed hand and donor feet. Methods Defect of fingers were treated by transplantation and reconstruction with a total of 74 cases,including two second toes transplantation for both thumbs in 2 cases,thumb with index finger in 10 cas es, index finger with middle finger in 8 cases and middle finger with ring finger in 17 cases. Results Sevetythree fingers survived except 1 failed. During the follow up examination made from 3 to 36 months, the reconstructed fingers could move, write and dress with ease, pinch forcefully, show good recovery of manual work and the sensation of pain and warmth. Two-point discrimination found to be between 5 to 10 mm. Both donor feet have symmetrical appearance with normal gait and satisfactory motion. Also, no pain was complained.Conclusion Transplantation of two second toes from both feet is a good method to reconstruct defect of multiple fingers, and has little effect on the appearance and motion of feet.

This paper is aimed to microscopic identification of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) using an in situ imaging method. In this study, two kinds of Zingiberaceae seeds, Amomi Rotundus Fructus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, were investigated by synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (IXPCT) imaging method. The results showed that the microstructures of these Zingiberaceae seeds could be clearly obtained from the virtual slices information in different observing angles. It proves that IXPCT is an effective imaging method, which can provide the imaging information for the microscopic identification of the intact TCMs in situ and non-destructively.
Amomum ; cytology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Seeds ; cytology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is a homeostatic process for intracellular recycling of bulk proteins and aging organelles. Increased autophagy has now been reported in experimental models of traumatic brain injury, stroke and excitotoxicity, and in patients with Alzheimer's disease and critical illness. The role of autophagy in developmental epilepsy, however, is unknown. The present study was to investigate the effects of recurrent neonatal seizure, in the presence and absence of autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), on the acute phase gene expression of ZnTs, LC3 and Beclin-1 in rat cerebral cortex and the interaction among them. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats at postnatal day 6(P6) were randomly divided into three groups: a recurrent-seizures group (RS, n=12), a 3-MA treated-seizure group (3-MA group, each rat pretreated with 3-methyladenine before seizures, 100nmol/ l/day, i.p., n=12) and a control group (n=12). At 1.5 and 6 hours after the last seizures, the mRNA levels of ZnT1-ZnT3, microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 (LC3) and beclin-1 were detected using the real-time RT-PCR method. The LC3 protein level was examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: The levels of LC3, beclin-1 and ZnT-2 transcripts in the RS group elevated significantly at 1.5 and 6 hours after the last seizures compared with those in the control and 3-MA groups. At the interval of 1.5 hours, the mRNA level of ZnT-1 increased significantly after the last seizure compared with that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the transcript levels of ZnT-3 among the three groups. Linear correlation analysis showed that the expression of the five genes in the control group exhibited a significant inter-relationship. In the 3-MA group, however, the inter-relationship was only found between beclin-1 and ZnT-1. In the RS group, the inter-relationship was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The autophagy/lysosomal pathway is immediately activated along with the elevated expression of ZnT1 and ZnT2 in the cerebral cortex after recurrent seizures. 3-MA is involved in the regulation of the autophagy/lysosomal pathway and ZnTs by down-regulating the expression of LC3 and beclin-1.