Objective To explore the correlation between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cerebral vasospasm (CVS) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and hyponatremia. Methods Plasma BNP levels and serum natrium were assessed at 4 different time periods (1 to 3 days, 4 to 6 days, 7 to 9 days, and 10 to 12 days after SAH) in 30 patients with SAH. Correlation analysis was carried out between plasma BNP and blood sodium level. Plasma BNP levels were compared according to patients with or without CVS, and with or without symptom. The plasma BNP levels of 18 healthy controls were measured meanwhile.Results Plasma BNP levels in SAH patients were significantly elevated compared with control subjects ( P

Phase angle (PA), derived by bioelectrical impedance analysis, has been used to evaluate nutritional status.It has a unique advantage in diagnosing early malnutrition related to diseases by the detection of human body cell membrane integrity and fluid composition change, and being associated with bad disease prognosis in part of clinical research.Because of its non-invasive, convenient, accurate and affordable technique, it has a wide prospect of clinical application.However, lack of uniform PA reference value somehow limited its application.We summarize the latest clinical research and application situation of PA, and explore the characteristics and the influence factors of PA in different disease group, in order to provide theoretical basis for the Chinese PA reference range.

Objective To study the MR imaging characteristics of benign cerebellar astrocytomas(BCAs) in children. Methods The clinical and MR imaging data of twelve patients with BCAs were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.Results Of 12 tumors, 7 cases were located in the cerebellar hemisphere, 4 in the vermis, and 1 in the IV ventricle. All children were in company with hydrocephalus rated as extensive (n=9) or moderate (n=3). The tumors ranged in diameter from 23 mm to 68 mm, mean diameter 42 mm. Solid tumors were found in 5 children, and cystic areas occurred in 7 of 12 patients.BCAs were hypointense on T 1-weighted in 10 cases, and hyperintense on T 2WI in 9 cases compared with that of normal brain parenchyma. After contrast injection, BCAs marked (n=2), moderate (n=5), or absent (n=5) enhancement. Hemorrhage and calcification were not common (n=1,0, respectively).Conclusion BCAs has relative characteristic features on MRI in children, and MRI plays an important role in diagnosing and evaluating these tumors preoperatively.

Objective To research the pathogeny and the electromyographic characteristics of myokymia.Methods The clinical features and electromyography of 42 elderly patients with myokymia were examined. Results Symptomatic myokymia (SM) in 27 cases was caused by low salt syndrome, thyrotoxemia, urinaemia, chronic wasting diseases (such as carcinoma of the stomach or liver), brachial plexus neuropathy, lead poisoning, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuritis, succinylcholine narcosis, restless leg syndrome or Isaac's syndrome.Symptomatic facial myokymia was caused by neoplasm of the brain stem or in posterior cranial fossa, multiple sclerosis or other causes. Primary myokymia ( PM ) in 15 cases involved idiopathic generalized and benign myokymia.Compared with PM, SM was more constant and powerful. Myokymia potential appeared in the electromyograms of 42 of the patients. The majority of patients with SM had accompanying myotonic discharge. Conclusion The pathogeny and electromyographic characteristics of symptomatic myokymia are different from the primary stage.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of the intestinal lymph drainage on lung tissue cell apoptosis in rats with hemorrhagic shock after resuscitation,rich ALI intestinal lymphatic pathway theory.MethodsTUNEL method was used to determine the apoptosis of lung tissue cells,the brown nuclei were apoptotic cells.SABC was used to determine Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression.ResultsThe shock group and shock + drainage group lung tissue cell apoptosis rate were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group,but the shock + drainage group,the apoptosis of lung tissue cells was significantly lower than the shock group.Sham operation group showed Bcl-2,Bax protein of expression; In shock group,lung tissue cell Bcl-2 expression was significantly lower than the sham operation group,the Bax expression was significantly higher than that in the sham operation group; In shock + drainage group,lung tissue cells shored enhanced expression of Bcl-2,Bax expression was reduced,and the shock + drainage group lung tissue cell Bcl-2 expression was significantly higher than that in the shock group,the expression of Bax was significantly lower than the shock group.ConclusionThe excessive apoptosis of lung tissue cells was one of the mechanisms of lung injury after shock.Intestinal lymph drainage could reduce lung tissue cell apoptosis,the mechanism invdved the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression.

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans, livestock, and marine mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether superoxide dismutase (SOD) of T. gondii can be used as a new marker for genetic study or a potential vaccine candidate. The partial genome region of the SOD gene was amplified and sequenced from 10 different T. gondii isolates from different parts of the world, and all the sequences were examined by PCR-RFLP, sequence analysis, and phylogenetic reconstruction. The results showed that partial SOD gene sequences ranged from 1,702 bp to 1,712 bp and A + T contents varied from 50.1% to 51.1% among all examined isolates. Sequence alignment analysis identified total 43 variable nucleotide positions, and these results showed that 97.5% sequence similarity of SOD gene among all examined isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these SOD sequences were not an effective molecular marker for differential identification of T. gondii strains. The research demonstrated existence of low sequence variation in the SOD gene among T. gondii strains of different genotypes from different hosts and geographical regions.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cats ; *Genetic Variation ; Goats ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sheep ; Superoxide Dismutase/chemistry/*genetics/metabolism ; Toxoplasma/classification/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Toxoplasmosis/*parasitology ; Toxoplasmosis, Animal/*parasitology

OBJECTIVESTo compare the gene expression profiles of acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB(4) before and after 12 hours of realgar treatment using cDNA microarray.

METHODSTwo cDNA probes were prepared through reverse transcription from mRNA of both untreated and realgar treated NB(4) cells. The probes were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence dyes individually, hybridized with cDNA microarray representing 1003 different human genes, and scanned for fluorescent intensity. The genes were screened through the analysis of the difference in two gene expression profiles.

RESULTSThe analysis of gene expression profiles indicates that 9 genes were up-regulated and 37 genes were down-regulated. Among the 9 up-regulated genes, 2 genes were involved in a proteasome degradation pathway. Some genes related to protein synthesis, signal transduction and cell receptors were down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONPSMC2 and PSMD1 genes may play an important role in the apoptosis and partial differentiation of NB(4) cells.

Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sulfides ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) and Hydroxyindole O-methyltransferase(HIOMT) are the key regulation enzymes in the melatonin biosynthesis pathway in mammals. The AANAT and HIOMT genes were constructed into a binary plant expression vector YXu55. Using leaf strips as the recipiences, we efficiently transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) variety qinyan 95 by the Agrobacterium mediated method. After gradient selection with gentamycin, a number of transgenic plants were regenerated. Southern blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the AANAT-HIOMT genes were integrated into the genome of the transgenic plants and the target genes could express at the level of RNA transcription. By RP-HPLC, we measured the melatonin contents in transgenic plants. The results showed that the melatonin level in YXu55 (containing the gentamycin-resistance gene, the AANAT gene and HIOMT gene) transgenic plants were much higher than those in pZP122 (control containing only the gentamycin-resistance gene) transgenic plants and nontransgenic plants. The content of melatonin in pZP122 transgenic plants was nearly the same as that in nontransgenic plants. Physiological determination of antioxidative characteristics demonstrated that 1) the capacity of total antioxidation, 2) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) and 3) the content of glutathione (GSH) were increased in YXu55 transgenic plants containing the AANAT-HIOMT genes as compared to the control plants (pZP122 or nontransgenic plants). At the same time, malonaldehyde (MDA) content did not appear remarkably difference between transgenic plants and nontransgenic plants. The above mentioned facts indicate enhancement of melatonin levels in YXu55 transgenic plants might help to reduce damage by oxidative stress.
Acetylserotonin O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; genetics ; Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Melatonin ; biosynthesis ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; enzymology ; genetics ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tobacco ; enzymology ; genetics ; Transduction, Genetic ; methods

Toxoplasma gondii cathepsin C proteases (TgCPC1, 2, and 3) are important for the growth and survival of T. gondii. In the present study, B-cell and T-cell epitopes of TgCPC1 were predicted using DNAstar and the Immune Epitope Database. A TgCPC1 DNA vaccine was constructed, and its ability to induce protective immune responses against toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice was evaluated in the presence or absence of the adjuvant α-GalCer. As results, TgCPC1 DNA vaccine with or without adjuvant α-GalCer showed higher levels of IgG and IgG2a in the serum, as well as IL-2 and IFN-γ in the spleen compared to controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and α-Galcer). Upon challenge infection with tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH), pCPC1/α-Galcer immunized mice showed the longest survival among all the groups. Mice vaccinated with DNA vaccine without adjuvant (pCPC1) showed better protective immunity compared to other controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and α-Galcer). These results indicate that a DNA vaccine encoding TgCPC1 is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cathepsin C* ; Cathepsins* ; DNA* ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interleukin-2 ; Mice* ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Spleen ; Toxoplasma* ; Toxoplasmosis* ; Vaccines, DNA*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis of a fetus with ventricular septal defect (VSD) by using modified noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the detection of microdeletion syndromes. METHODS: Chromosomal karyotypes of the fetus and its parents were analyzed by G-banding technique. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect genomic copy number variations (CNVs) in cell-free fetal DNA. The results were verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: The fetus and its parents all had a normal karyotype at 320-400 band level. NGS revealed a deletion of 1.30 Mb at 7q11.23 in the fetus, with a 93% overlap with that of Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). The father also had a deletion of 1.42 Mb at 7q11.23, with a 99% overlap with that of WBS. Modified NIPT also detected the 1.30 Mb deletion at 7q11.23 in the fetus. The result of FISH has confirmed the above results. CONCLUSION It is necessary to carry out genetic testing on fetuses with VSD. NGS can detect fetal microdeletion syndromes and help to trace their parental origin. The modified NIPT for fetal chromosomal microdeletions/microduplication syndromes is highly accurate.
DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Williams Syndrome