Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Polycythemia ; genetics

This study was aimed to observe the changes of dendritic spine density in different regions of brain among spleen-yindeficiency dementia (SYDD) model rats, in order to investigate the effects ofZi-Bu Pi-Yin Recipe (ZBPYR) on dendritic spines. Spleen-yindeficiency (SYD) rats were modeled by classical method. And incubatedβ-Amyloid 1-40 (Aβ1-40) was injected into the hippocampus of each rat to make SYDD model, which received the administration of ZBPYR. Golgi staining was used to stain dendritic spine in different regions of brain in rat model for the observation of the amount and shape. The results showed that dendritic spine density in different regions of hippocampus and cortex in SYDD group was reduced than that of the SYD group. Compared with the dementia group and the SYDD group, the dendritic spine density in different regions of hippocampus and cortex of the SYDD + ZBPYR group was increased. Compared with the blank control group, the dendritic spine density in different regions of hippocampus and cortex in rats from the dementia group was reduced. It was concluded that there were different degrees of reducing in the dendritic spine density of different brain regions in SYDD group. ZBPYR improved the learning and memory impairment, which might be related to the maintenance of dendritic spine density in different brain regions.

AIMThe clinical manifestation of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is polycythemia, pulmonary hypertension and mionectic blood. However, the pathogenesis of it is not identified now. So it is necessary to investigate the effects of the angiogenic growth factors on the pathophysiologic development of CMS.

METHODSThe serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 13 healthy Tibetan natives (Native), 17 healthy people in Xining (control group) and 35 CMS patients were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Meanwhile, the levels of Hb, Hct and SaO2 were determined.

RESULTSThe serum levels of bFGF (107.26 +/- 7.86) ng/L, PDGF (630.18 +/- 9.89) ng/L and VEGF (543.74 +/- 6.76) ng/L in CMS were significantly higher than those in Natives (37.01 +/- 9.16; 292.16 +/- 6.88; 125.51 +/- 7.26) ng/L, and in control group (40.58 +/- 5.34; 287.68 +/- 8.33; 76.26 +/- 4.60) ng/L, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the natives and the control group in bFGF and PDGF (P > 0.05), while there was predominant difference between the Natives and the control group in VEGF (P < 0.01). There was a predominant positive correlation between the serum levels of bFGF, PDGF or VEGF and hemoglobin concentrations in CMS respectively (P < 0.01). And there were positive relations between angiogenic growth factors each other.

CONCLUSIONThe serum levels of bFGF, PDGF and VEGF in patients with CMS significantly increase, these angiogenic growth factors may play important role on the pathophysiologic development of CMS; the VEGF level likely contributes to the adaptation to plateau hypoxia in healthy Tibetan natives; the elevated bFGF, PDGF and VEGF levels are likely associated with excessive erythropoiesis in CMS.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture for pattern of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) and its impact on cell factors.

METHODSForty cases were selected and divided into an acupuncture group (21 cases) in which acupuncture was applied and a medicine group (19 cases) in which oral administration of dicetel and bifidobacterium lactobacillus triple viable capsules were applied. The symptom scores, level of Th1-type cytokine (IFN-gamma, IL-2) and Th2-type cytokine (IL-4, IL-10) and ratio of IFN-gamma to IL-4 were compared in two groups before and after treatment to analyze acupuncture effect.

RESULTSThe clinical symptoms were improved after one-week treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05), which had faster onset than the medicine group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.48% (19/21) in the acupuncture group, which was superior to 78.95% (15/19) in the medicine group (P<0.05). Compared with medicine treatment, imbalanced condition of Th1/Th2 was turning towards the direction of Th2 after acupuncture, indicating a tendency to recover the balance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical efficacy of acupuncture for D-IBS has close relationship with effectively improving balance of Th1/Th2 in patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; immunology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of repeated injections of L-NMMA on a goat model with osteoarthrotic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease.

METHODSEight goats were selected in this study. Bilateral TMJ osteoarthrosis (OA) was induced by injecting 0.5% collagenase. L-NMMA was injected into one side of TMJs at 4 weeks after collagenase injection (one time every three days). Another joint as control was simultaneously injected using 0.9% saline solution. All goats were killed at 12 weeks after collagenase injection. The TMJ specimens were harvested and processed for histological examination. Modified Mankin's grading score system was used for evaluating changes in the TMJ.

RESULTSThe control side of TMJs showed severe osteoarhrotic changes in the condyle whereas the L-NMMA-treated TMJs showed less degenerative alterations. The histologic score was 3.83 in the L-NMMA treated side, and 6.33 in the control. There was a significant difference in osteoarthrotic changes between the L-NMMA-treated and control TMJs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSRepeated intra-articular injection of L-NMMA into TMJ may play a role in inhibiting TMJOA progression.

Animals ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Goats ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; drug therapy ; omega-N-Methylarginine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA, and explore the changes of apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS).

METHODSOf 18 CMS patients and 16 controls were enrolled in this study. The apoptotic index (AI) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) was measured by TUNEL technique, the levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in BMMNC of CMS patients and controls were determined by RT-PCR. Results (1)The AI of BMMNC in patients with CMS (8.51 ± 3.35)% was lower than that in controls (16.00 ± 4.28)% (P < 0.01); (2) The values of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA were (0.28 ± 0.07) and (0.23 ± 0.08) respectively, in CMS patients, which were significantly lower than those of (0.45 ± 0.09) and (0.41 ± 0.09) respectively, in the controls (both P < 0.01); (3) Hemoglobin (Hb) value was negatively correlated with levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA (r values were -0.52 and -0.61 respectively, both P < 0.05) in CMS patients. There was a negative correlation between AI and Hb (r value was -0.89, P < 0.01) in CMS patients. However, the significant relationship was not found between AI and level of caspase-8 or caspase-9 mRNA (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed a decrease apoptosis of BMMNCs and reduced levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in CMS patients, the latter might be involved in the change of BMMNCs apoptosis.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the modulation effect of a concoction of Chinese herb drugs on immune dysfunction in severely burned rats.

METHODSOne hundred healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into A group (n = 30, with Chinese herb drug feeding after burns), B group (n = 30, with bouillon feeding after burns), C group (n = 30, with ordinary feeding after burns), and D group (n = 10, with sham burns as normal controls). The rats in A, B and C groups were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness burns and received conventional treatment. The rats in A group received 2 ml of Chinese herbal drug at 37 degrees C by gavage two times a day beginning from 2 postburn-hours(PBH). The rats in B group received 2 ml bouillon by gavage instead, and otherwise treatment was the same as A group, while the rats in C group were not fed by gavage. The activity of natural killer cell and T lymphocyte, and the levels of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, C4 in A, B, C groups were examined on 3, 7, 14 PBD, and these indices were also determined in D group.

RESULTSCompared with D group, the amount of the CD3+, CD4+ lymphocyte, the ratio of the CD4+/CD8+, the level of IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, C4, the activity of NK cells, and the density of the sIgA in A, B, C groups were obviously decreased, but the amount of the CD8+ were obviously increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, the above indices in A group improved more quickly when compared with B and C groups.

CONCLUSIONThe concoction of Chinese herb drugs can improve the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets, increase the activity of NK cells, promote the secretion of sIgA in intestinal mucous membrane and promote recovery of IgM, IgG, C3, C4 levels, thereby improves the immune function of the body.

Animals ; Burns ; diet therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Immune System Diseases ; diet therapy ; etiology ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo construct effective RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene and testify their effects and specificities in interfering HIF-1alpha expression.

METHODSThree RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene, pBS/U6/HIF-1alpha-siRNAI~III, were constructed and identified using double digestion method in the present study. RT-PCR, immunostaining and western blotting were employed to detect the expression alterations of HIF-1alpha in 293T cells following transfections of the three plasmids, respectively. The interference effect of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II in SH-SY5Y cell line was further investigated.

RESULTSAll the three RNA-interference plasmids, especially pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II, showed significant inhibition in HIF-1alpha expression in 293T cell line. pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II could also inhibit HIF-1alpha expression in SH-SY5Y cell line, in a dose-dependent way.

CONCLUSIONPlasmid pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II constructed in our study can effectively and specifically inhibit HIF-1alpha expression, and its role in neural tube development and dysfunction will be further investigated. Construct of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II plasmid will provide a useful tool to study the role of HIF-1 pathway in embryogenesis, oncogenesis and ischemia development.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of sequential intraoperative peritoneal lavage in reducing the positive rate of peritoneal exfoliated tumor cells.

METHODSSix sequential intraoperative peritoneal lavages were performed in each of the 63 patients with rectal cancer, with three before resection and three post resection, which were then compared by using cytological smear examination.

RESULTSExfoliated tumor cells were positive in the first three intraoperative peritoneal lavages of all the 63 patients before resection. The cytological smear examination of the three peritoneal lavage fluids after excision revealed that 40 cases were positive at the first lavage, 33 at the second and 13 at the third. The positive rate between the first and the second post-resection peritoneal lavages showed no significant difference (P>0.05), while the positive rate of the third lavage was significantly lower than the second after resection (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSequential intraoperative peritoneal lavages is a useful method in reducing the positive rate of peritoneal exfoliated tumor cells in patients with rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Cytological Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To explore standardized continuing vascular ultrasound training in China.Methods Data of current ultrasound practitioner education levels in the secondary and tertiary hospitals were collected.Under the direction of the Chinese Ultrasound Doctor Association (CUDA),Vascular Ultrasound Guidelines were introduced.The CUDA Steering Committee for Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training and Vascular Ultrasound Training Centers were established.Results The questionnaires were received from 182 ultrasound departments of 57 secondary hospitals and 125 tertiary hospitals.The proportion of ultrasound practitioners who obtained a university degree was significantly higher in the ultrasound departments of tertiary hospitals than that in the secondary hospitals (75.18% vs 52.63%).The proportion of ultrasound practitioners who only received short-term ultrasound training and did not have tertiary education was significantly higher in the ultrasound departments of secondary hospitals than that in the tertiary hospitals (8.31% vs 1.03%).The directors of ultrasound departments in both secondary and tertiary hospitals believed that ultrasound practitioners should at least have a university diploma and preferably have a university degree.The CUDA and the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) co-hosted two standardized vascular ultrasound training seminars and the first Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) credential examination in Beijing.A well-known vascular ultrasound reference book,Introduction to Vascular Ultrasound was translated from English into Chinese and published in September 2008.The CUDA Vascular Ultrasound Guidelines were drafted by 12 vascular ultrasound experts from China,U.S.and Australia,which were widely discussed and passed by the CUDA Standing Committee.The guidelines have been published in the Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography and on the website of CUDA (www.cuda.org.cn).The CUDA has signed a publishing contract with a medical press to publish the guideline booklet.The CUDA Steering Committee for the Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training was established which includes 24 domestic and foreign experts.The CUDA Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training Centers were awarded to 12 hospitals,which were selected,trained and assessed by the CUDA from 35 candidates.Each center is expected to undertake one to two standardized vascular ultrasound training courses each year.Conclusion Continuing education of vascular ultrasound introduced by CUDA has been accepted positively by a portion of Chinese doctors with ultrasound major.