Objective To evaluate whether the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire (GerdQ) symptom score could reflect the acid exposure indicated by 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring in patients with GERD, and to further validate the clinical application value of GerdQ.Methods From November 2008 to March 2010, 134 GERD patients from outpatient department with heartburn and acid reflux symptoms were enrolled.All the patients had undergone endoscopy examination, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and GerdQ scoring.According to 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring result, acid exposure group and none acid exposure group was divided by the percentage of time that pH was lower than 4 over 4.2% or DeMeester score over 14.72, the difference of GerdQ score was assessed.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of GerdQ score was drawn according to DeMeester score and the percentage of time that pH was lower than 4 as the gold standard.With SPSS 17.0 statistical software, the ratio was compared with the u test and Chi-square test, comparison between groups with t test.Results The BMI of acid exposure group was higher than that of none acid exposure group(t= 2.365, P= 0.019).The GerdQ score of acid exposure group (8.51± 2.34) was significantly higher than that of none acid exposure group (6.67 ± 2.79), the difference was statistically significant (t = 4.002, P = 0.000) .ROC curve was drawn according to DeMeester score over 14.72 as gold standard; the area under curve (AUC) was 0.70.When the critical value of GerdQ score was 7.5, Youden index was up to 0.3365, the sensitivity of diagnosis was 0.6909 and specificity was 0.6454.The percentage of time that PH was lower than 4 over 4.2% as the gold standard, the AUC of GerdQ score was 0.663.When the critical value of GerdQ score was 7.5, Youden index was up to 0.2790, the sensitivity of diagnosis was 0.6600 and specificity was 0.6190.Conclusions GerdQ score greater than 7.5 can better reflect acid exposure at the lower esophageal.There is stronger association between GerdQ score with the DeMeester acid exposure score over 14.72 than with the percentage of time that pH lower than 4 over 4.2% as the critical value for acid exposure.Obesity may aggravate the transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation leading to occurrence of GERD symptoms.

Objective To observe the variation of enzymatic activity and areas and bulk of focus of heart injuries by using controllable catheter to ablate epicardial tmsue of rabbits and focus underneath atrioventrieular ring narcosis with 20% urethane(4 ml/kg)and divided into three groups.Each group included 7 rabbits.Anterior wallepieardium of left ventricle was ablated thirty seconds in each group(10,20 and 30 W)with self-made ablationspheroid microwave antenna,refilling with high pressure normal saline at same time.Then all of the rabbits were sacrificed respectively and their ventricular myocardium were taken out to undergo immunohistochemistry in order to display suceinate dehydrogenase(SDH).Also amplitude Wag measured in order to calculate areas of heart injuries.(8F)wag delivered to the pre-selected sites around atrioventricular ring of thirty-two healthy dogs,which had beenin intravenous narcosis with pentobarbital sodium(30 mg/kg).The dogs were divided into four groups(40,50,60 and 80 w) and two time points(60 and 120 s),by the combined method of X-ray and endocardial electrocardiograph,the microwave antenna could be confirmed to be located at the accurate position between anterior and posterior wall close to septum of left/right ventricle.After ventricular myocardium had been taken out,amplitude were measuredin order to calculate bulk of heart injuries by 1/6×3.14 x long×wide×deep.In addition.the histological changesand transmural injury were examined by optic microscope.Results In each group,the centre of injuries wagenzyme deficiency locus.The diameter and areag of heart injuries enlarged significantly(3.99.±0.41),(5.20±0.25),(6.31±0.37)mm and(12.53±2.56),(21.19±3.14),(30.96±3.76)mm2 with the increased microwave power level(10、20、30 W).Group comparison had statisficM significance(F＝76.8,58.5;P＜0.01 or ＜0.05).A total of 116points were ablated.The myocardial lesion showed ellipse in shape,and continuous symmetrical coagulationnecrosis under microscopic examination.There was a clear demarcated line around tlle myocardial tissue and fewparietal thmmbus.There were 16 transmura]injuries and five-with lung damage.The bulk of lesion aroundatrioventrieular ring hag been significantly enlarged(46.7±2.5),(51.1±2.7),(133.2±3.4),(141.8±3.9),(248.5±6.2),(260.3±6.5),(313.7±9.5),(327.4±10.5)with the increased microwave power level(40,50,60and 80 W)and/or distance of microwave ablation(60 and 120 s).Groups comparison had statistical significance(F＝31.16,27.85;all P＜0.01).In each time point,the lesion bulks had conspicuous distinction of statistics.In the same microwave power,the time wag longer,the bulk was larger(P＜0.01).Conclusions The more the microwave power level and time,the severe the heart injuries is.It is possible to use the microwave energy to ablate the deep focus under endocardium around atrioventricular ring.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; congenital ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; congenital ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; congenital ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulative effects and possible mechanisms of emodin on autophagy induced by starvation in rat's renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E).

METHODFirstly, Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) was used to induce starvation and the protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) I/II, an autophagic marker of mammalian congener, was detected by Western blot with or without the treatment of emodin. Secondly, the changes of red fluorescent protein-microtubule associated protein light chain3 (RFP-LC3) fluorescent particles, treated by HBSS (1 mL) and bafilomycin A1 (10 nmol x L(-1)) with or without emodin, were observed through fluorescence microscopy in NRK-52E cells transient transfected by RFP-LC3 plasmid. With the intervention of mammalian target of rapamycin mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (100 nmol x L(-1)) , the effect of blocking mTOR signaling pathway on autophagic inhibition of emodin was observed. Finally, the effect of mTOR signaling pathway on autophagic inhibition of emodin was further evaluated through the over-expression of endogenous mTOR inhibitory protein DEP domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein-(DEPTOR).

RESULTHBSS hunger could induce high protein expression of LC3 II in NRK-52E cells, and the intervention of emodin could reverse the unregulated protein expression of LC3 II induced by HBSS. The number of RFP-LC3 fluorescent particles was increased after the co-treatment of HBSS and bafilomycin A1, and this increase was inhibited by emodin. After the co-treatment of rapamycin, emodin and HBSS, the LC3 II protein expression restored in NRK-52E cells, compared with the treatment of HBSS. Over-expression of DEPTOR could also block the inhibitive effect of emodin on LC3 II protein expression.

CONCLUSIONEmodin could inhibit HBSS-induced LC3 II protein expression and the activation of autophagy in NRK-52E cells, and the effect of blocking autophagy may be mediated through mTOR signaling pathway.

Animals ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Isotonic Solutions ; adverse effects ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of rhein on reducing starvation-induced autophagic protein expression in renal tubular epithelial ( NRK-52E) cells.

METHODHank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) was used to induce NRK-52E cells to be in the state of starvation. After the intervention of HBSS for 0, 0.5,1, 2 and 6 hours, firstly, the protein expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3 I/II), which is a key protein in autophagy, was detected. Secondly, the protein expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylated-mTOR Ser2448 (p-mTOR S2448) were examined. And then, after the co-treatment of rhein (5 mg x L(-1)) and HBSS (1 mL) without or with mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin (100 nmol x L(-1)), the protein expressions of LC3 I/II, mTOR and p-mTOR S2448 were tested, respectively.

RESULTHBSS could induce the up-regulation of LC3 II and the down-regulation of p-mTOR S2448 at protein expression level in NRK-52E cells. The co-treatment of rhein and HBSS could reversely regulate the protein expressions of LC3 II and p-mTOR S2448 in NRK-52E cells significantly. The co-treatment of rapamycin, rhein and HBSS could recover the level of LC3 II protein expression in HBSS-intervened NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONHBSS induces autophagy in renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting mTOR signaling pathway activation. Rhein reduces the autophagic protein expression in renal tubular epithelial cells through regulating mTOR signaling pathway activation, which is the possible effects and molecular mechanisms.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Isotonic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology

Objective To find out pathologieal change and the expression of neuron specific enolage (NSE)in the hippocampus dentate gyrus granular cell layer of epilepsy patients,to investigate the relationship between the pathological change and the cause of the epilepsy.Methods The specimens of hippocampus were from 9 epilepsy patients and 20 normal persons and the pathological change were investigated under the staining of the hematoxylin and eosin staining.The expression of NSE in the hippocampns denmte gyrus granular cell layer of epilepsy patients was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC)with specific antibody,and the rate of NSE positive nenrons was evaluated.Results The nuclear pyknosis was observed in all of hippocampus from the epilepsy patients and some neurons were swelling.The positive of NSE was showed to have yellow granule;the rate of NSE positive was 28.66%.The expression of NSE of the neurons in the hippocampus dentate gyrus granular cell layer was.significantly reduced in epilepsy patients(7.9±5.6)%.The normal neuron nuclear was big and round in the middle of the cell and the nucleolus could be seen easily.The expression of NSE of the neurons in the hippocampus dentate gyrus granular cell layer was(39.0±17.4)%.Compared with normal group,the number of neurons with yellow granule was reduced.The difference of the NSE expression rate between the two group was statistically significant(t＝-5.13,P＜0.01).Conclusions The result suggests that the pathological abnormality and the reduced expression of NSE on the hippocampus dentate gyrus granular cell layer neurons could be one of the main reasons of the occurring of epilepsy.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence rate and risk factors for asthma in children from the Futian District of Shenzhen, China who were aged from 0-14 years between 2010 and 2011, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of childhood asthma.

METHODSA multistage stratified cluster sampling survey of 7168 children aged 0-14 years from the Futian District of Shenzhen was conducted using the Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010, to investigate the prevalence rate of childhood asthma. A case-control study (1∶1) and logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the risk factors for childhood asthma.

RESULTSOf the 7168 children surveyed, 169 were diagnosed with asthma, with a total prevalence rate of 2.36%. The prevalence rate was higher in males than in females (3.06% vs 1.55%, P<0.01). Of the 169 cases, 115 (68.1%) had their first asthma attack before the age of 3 years, 95 (56.2%) had moderate attacks, 159 (94.1%) had sudden attacks, 86 (50.9%) suffered from asthma during periods of seasonal change, 97 (57.4%) had attacks before going to bed, 157 (92.9%) suffered from asthma caused by respiratory infection, and 159 (94.1%) had sneezing as the sign of oncoming attack. The case-control study (including the 169 asthma cases and 169 healthy children) and logistic regression analysis both showed that the independent risk factors for asthma in children were a personal history of drug allergy (OR=3.431, 95%CI: 1.240-9.496, P=0.018), a history of food allergy (OR=4.043, 95%CI: 1.669-9.795, P= 0.002), allergic rhinitis (OR=9.686, 95%CI: 5.137-18.263, P<0.001), and a family history of allergy (OR=4.059, 95%CI: 2.054-8.018, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence rate of asthma was 2.36% in children aged 0-14 years in the Futian District of Shenzhen between 2010 and 2011. The prevalence rate had not increased when compared with the rate in this region 10 years earlier (2.39%). The prevalence rate of childhood asthma is higher in males than in females. Personal history of drug allergy, food allergy, allergic rhinitis and a family history of allergy are the independent risk factors for childhood asthma in this region.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Seasons

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains. Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI. And the results of LV measurements were compared, which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains, radial strains and circumferential strains. Also, the time consumption of these two methods was compared. Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s, (305.5±11.2)s, while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s, (1261.4±39.9)s. The differences were signiifcant(t=-21.81, 69.94, both P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)%by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)%by 2D-STI. The difference was signiifcant(t=9.16, P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%, (-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%, (-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI. The differences were signiifcant(t=5.33, 5.99, both P < 0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV. The longitudinal, circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels. However, 2D-STI strains didn′ t show such trend. Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart. Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel, convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.

OBJECTIVEConcentration of extracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](o)) in the central nervous system decreases substantially in different conditions. It results in facilitating neuronal excitability. The goal of this study is to examine the mechanisms of enhanced neuronal excitation in low [Ca(2+)](o) in order to provide new clues to treat the hyperexcitability diseases in clinic.

METHODSWhole-cell patch-clamp technique and neuron culture were used in the study.

RESULTSThe firing threshold of cultured hippocampal neurons decreased markedly in low [Ca(2+)](o) saline. Unexpectedly, apamine and isoprenaline, antagonists of medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) and slow AHP (sAHP) respectively, had no statistic significant effect on excitability of neurons. TTX at a low concentration was sufficient to inhibit I(NaP), which blocked the increase of firing frequency in low [Ca(2+)](o). It also reduced the number of spikes in normal [Ca(2+)](o).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that in cultured hippocampal neurons, modulation of spiking threshold but not AHP may cause the increased excitability in low [Ca(2+)](o).

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apamin ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology