Objective To explore the changes of plasma catecholamines(CA)[including epinephrine(E) and norepinephrine(NE)] and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) in children with varying degrees of left ventricular ejection function(LVEF) in chronic heart failure(CHF),and establish natriuretic hormone factors as one of the diagnostic criteria of CHF.Methods Thirty-five patients with CHF and 35 children in good health were enrolled,and the concentration of plasma NE,E,ANP and the LVEF were determined.Results 1.The levels of plasma NE,E and ANP in 35 patients with CHF before treatment were significantly higher than those in control group(Pa

The present study was designed to observe the protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide (GFP) against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice and its underlying mechanism. GFP was intragastrically (ig) given to mice at various doses. After 6 days, the mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L (EF, ig). Serum levels of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were measured, and liver histological evaluation was conducted. Furthermore, reductions of liver glutathione (GSH) amount and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activity were tested. The expressions of GCL-c, GCL-m, and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in liver were observed by Western-blot. The results showed that GFP (600 mg x kg(-1)) decreased EF-induced the increase of serum ALT, AST and TB, and GFP (400, 600 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited EF-induced the increase of serum ALP. Liver histological evaluation showed that the liver injury induced by EF was relieved after treated with GFP. GFP further increased liver GSH amount and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL activity. The Western-blot result showed that GFP augmented EF-induced the increase of HO-1, and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL-c. In conclusion, GFP can act against the oxidative stress liver injury induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of alendronate on osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor of activator of nuclear factor κB-ligand (RANKL) expression in human marrow stroma cells (hMSCs) in vitro. Methods hMSCs were isolated from haman marrow, cultured in vitro, and randomly divided into two groups: alendronate group, hMSCs culture fluid containing 1×10-7 mol/ L alendronate; control group, no special treatment but culturing hMSCs in DMEM. Two weeks after treatment, the expressions of OPG and RANKL were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results hMSCs became uniform spindle-shaped fibroblasts. As cells proliferated, they formed colonies and showed whirlpool arrangement. After one week's treatment, hMSCs in alendronate group had reduced processes and gradually showed disc shape, which did not happen in control group but kept fibroblast shape and just increased in density. In RT-PCR, the ratio of OPG/RANKL in alendronate group and control group was 8.77±1.16 and 4.58±1.27, respec-tively. In Western blot, the ratio of OPG/RANKL in alendronate group and control group was 2.58±0.47 and 1.52±0.32, respectively. The ratio of OPG/RANKL was higher in alendronate group than in control group (P<0.01).Conclusion Alendronatc enhances OPG expression and inhibits RANKL expression of hMSCs in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To perform a retrospective analysis to determine the prevalence of hospital infection and associated risk factors and offer strategies in our neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).METHODS The study enrolled 1082 neonatal patients hospitalized between Jan 1,2006 to Dec 31,2007.RESULTS There were 58 nosocomial infections(NI) in 1082 neonatal patients,and the infection rate was 5.36%.The most common infection was superficial(62.07%).The mortality of NI was 6.90%.The lower gestational age and birth weight,were risk factors of NI.Logistic regression analysis indicated that mechanical ventilation and birth weight ≤1500g were independent risk ractors for NI(P

To discuss the influence of dexamethasion on lL-1β and TNF - α expression in suture - induced rabbit corneal neovascularization ( CNV ) and analyze the potential mechanism.
●METHODS: For 43 healthy rabbits, 40 were randomly selected for establishing CNV model in corneal stroma. The right eyes (group A) were received no medicine and the left eyes ( group B) were injected dexamethasone after successfully establishing the model. The no modeling 3 rabbits were normal control group. The morphologic change of corneal was observed with slit lamp microscope and the areas of CNV was calculated every day, then 8 rabbits were randomly chosen for sacrificing at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21d respectively. The pathological characteristics of CNV were observed after HE staining, and lL - 1β and TNF - α expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.
●RESULTS: CNV was grown at the 4d after suture, and the 7-14d was vigorous growth period. inflammatory cell infiltration appeared after HE staining, and CNV was located at the superficial stroma of cornea. lmmunohistochemistry results showed that lL - 1β and TNF - α expression was gradually increased with prolonged suture time. Compared with corneal stitch group, the rabbits cured by dexamethasone were found with less inflammatory cells infiltrating and neovescularization, moreover, the expression of lL - 1βand TNF-α decreased. There were statistical significance between the two groups (P<0. 05).
● CONCLUSlON: Dexamethasone can inhibit the CNV growth by controlling the inflammation of corneal and restraining lL-1β and TNF-α expression.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem. Methods The minimal inhibitory concentrations ( MICs) of the antimicrobial agents were determined by E-test. The 23 β-lactamase genes and 2 porin genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) , then the products were purified and their sequences were analyzed. Results The MICs of piperacillin, piperacillin/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefoperazone/sulbactam, cefotaxime, cefepime and aztreonam to 5 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were all higher than 128 μg/mL, and those of imipenem or meropenem were higher than 32 μg/mL. All isolates carried blaTEM-1 and blaDHA-1 genes. Deletion of ompK35 and ompK36 were observed in Kp01 and Kp03, and the deletion of ompK35 was also observed in Kp02 and Kp05. Base insertion of ompK36 occurred in Kp02, Kp04 and Kp05. Compared with GenBank (GU945384) , ompK35 gene mutations of G→C at base 465 and T → C at base 466 in Kp04 lead to Gln to His substitution at position 155 and Tyr to its substitution at position 156, and it might be a new subtype. Conclusion The production of DHA-1 β-lactamase combined with the loss of OmpK36 or OmpK35 in porin genes may contribute to high-level carbapenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Objective To evaluate the features of pelvic lymph node metastasis and the significance of lymph node dissection in bladder cancer patients treated with radical cystcetomy. Methods The data of 77 bladder cancer patients(58 males and 19 females with mean age of 57 yrs)treated with radical eystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection from Jan. 1990 to Dec.2008 were analyzed retrospectively.Preoperative TNM staging showed stage T1 tumor of 9 cases,stage T2 of 24 cases,stage T3 of 39 eases and stage T4 of 5 cases.The pelvic lymph nodes were divided into 5 groups according to the anatomic sites.The metastatic rate and dissected lymph node positive rate in these patients were compared. Results The metastatic rate and dissected lymph node positive rate were 27.3%(21/77)and 14.8%(233/1576),respectively.The metastatic rate in these patients from higher to lower were as follows:obturator group 19.5%(15/77),internal iliac group 19.3%(11/57),external iliac group 13.7%(10/73),common iliac group 5.3%(3/57)and presacral group 3.8%(1/26),with a significant difference in those groups,P<0.01.The dissected lymph node positive rates from higher to lower were as follows:external iliac group 23.0%(83/361),obturator group 22.1% (103/467),common iliac group 9.5%(17/179),internal iliac group 6.8%(28/411)and presacral group 1.3 % (2/158), with a significant difference in those groups, P<0.01. There was no metastasis in 9 eases with stage T, tumor. Conclusions In the radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer, it is suggested that the regional lymph nodes with higher metastatic rate should he resected accordingly, and the group with a higher metastatic rate should be dissected completely. The operation extent may be adjusted according to the result of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the obturator or presacral groups. The pelvic lymphadenectomy is not suggested in the cases of stage T1 tumor.

Animals ; Ear, Inner ; growth & development ; Mice ; MicroRNAs

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS2) in colonic mucosa of rat models of ulcerative colitis (UC), and explore the mechanism of acupuncture- moxibustion therapy in treating UC. Methods: The rats were randomized into a normal control (NC) group, a model control (MC) group, an herb-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 8 in each group. The rat models of UC were established by immunological methods combined with local stimulation. The rats in the HPM and EA groups were given herb-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatments respectively, once every day, lasting for 14 d. The morphological variations of rat's colonic mucosa were observed under light microscope; the colonic mucosal mucin was detected by PAS-AB and HID-AB staining methods; the expression of IGF-1 and SOCS2 was assayed by the immunohistochemical method. Results: In the rat models of UC, ulceration and inflammation of the colon were revealed by light microscope. The concentration of colonic mucosal mucin was reduced (P<0.01), while the expression of IGF-1 had an increase (P<0.01), and the expression of SOCS2 was reduced (P<0.01). After HPM or EA treatment, the pathological injuries of colonic mucosa had improved, the concentration of mucin increased (P<0.01), the expression of IGF-1 decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of SOCS2 increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: The secretion of mucosal mucin in rat UC decreased, the expression of IGF-1 was significantly higher, while the expression of SOCS2 was remarkably lower; both HPM and EA can help improve the damage of colonic mucosa in rat UC, and modulate the secretion of mucin, as well as regulate the expression of IGF-1 and SOCS2 in the colonic mucosa.

To observe the effects of paeoniflorin and total flavones extracted from Qixue Bingzhi Recipe on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) cultured in endothelial cell conditioned medium (EC-CM) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and the expressions of platelet-derived growth factor and its receptor genes.