Objective To evaluate the clinical value of quantitative myocardial acoustic densitometry in myocardial fibrosis in relative to the alteration in serum procollagen type Ⅲ amino-terminal propeptide(PⅢNP) concentration in hypertensive patients. Methods Seventy-five consecutive hypertensive patients were recruited with 75 normal persons served as healthy controls. The indexes of acoustic densitometry were evaluated by echocardiography and the concentrations of the serum PⅢNP peptide by radioimmunoassay. Results Calibrated acoustic intensity in septal(CAI1) and posterior wall(CAI2) in hypertension group(0.88?0.06, 0.73?0.06) were greater than that in healthy control group (0.66?0.19, 0.54?0.06) (P

Aim To study the modulation of KCNQ2/3 potassium cha nn els by extracellular pH.Methods In vitro transcription was used to synthesize cRNA of KCNQ2/3 potassium channels.The cRNA was injected into Xenopus oocytes to express the KCNQ2/3 channel.The modulation of KCNQ2/3 potass ium channels by extracellular pH was studied by two electrodes voltage clamp tec hniques.Results KCNQ2/3 currents were inhibited and current-vo ltage relationship of activation were shifted to the right with decreased extrac ellular pH. pH modulation of KCNQ2/3 currents was voltage dependent,with a more pronounced effect at more negative potentials above the activation threshold (-60 mV). Extracelluar pH also decreased activation and deactivation kinetics of KCNQ2/3 currents.Conclusion KCNQ2/3 channels, known to contr ibute to neuronal excitability, were modulated by extracelluar pH. The profound effects of the extracelluar pH exerted on KCNQ2/3 channel may play an important role during physiology neuronal activity and pathological events such a s epileptic seizures, cerebral ischemia and shock etc.

ObjectiveTo study the efficacy and safety of heated humidified high flow nasal cannula ( HHHFNC) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure( NCPAP) ventilation for prevention of extubation failure in extremely low birth weight(ELBW)infants in our NICU.MethodsFrom Jan.2011 to Dec. 2014, 129 ELBW infants admitted to our hospital were randomly assigned into HHHFNC group and NCPAP group. The inclusion criteria were gestational age ( GA ) <34 w, birth weight ( BW )<1000 g, admission within 7 d after birth and transition to noninvasive respiratory support after a period of mechanical ventilation with an endotracheal tube. The primary outcome included:the incidence of extubation failure, nasal injury, air leak, abdominal distention and bronchopulmonary dysplasia ( BPD). Results Statistically significant difference sexisted between the two groups on oxygen the rapyduration, the time required reaching total enteral feedings and the incidences of nasal injury, air leak, abdominal & nbsp;distention and necrotizing enterocolitis ( P<0. 05). The incidence of extubation failure within 7 days was 25. 8℅ in HHHFNC group and 47. 6℅ in NCPAP group ( P <0. 05 ) . No differences between the 2 groups on total ventilation duration, non-invasive ventilation duration, re-intubation rate at 3d after extubation, BPD, retinopathy of prematurity ( ROP ) , intracerebral hemorrhage ( ICH ) , periventricular leukomalacia(PVL)and patent ductus arteriosus(PDA).Conclusions HHHFNC is an effective and safe method for prevention of extubation failure in ELBW infants.

Objective To investigate the biological function of M122 in pathogenesis of MCMV in developmental brain disorders and brain damage, screening for mouse brain cDNA library interacting with M122 was performed by a yeast two-hybrid system. Methods The reconstructed bait plasmid pGBKT7-M122 was transformed into yeast cells AH109 and screened on the nutrient deficiency medium SD/-Trp. After express of the bait protein in AH109 yeast strains was detected by Western blot analysis, yeast-two hybrid screening was performed by mating AH109 with Y187 containing mouse brain cDNA library plasmid. The diploid yeast cells were plated on the nutrient deficiency medium SD/-Trp/-Leu/-His/-Ade. The second screening was performed with SD/-Trp/-Leu/-His/-Ade containing X-α-gal. The plasmids in positive colonies were extracted and transformed into E. coli JM109 cells. After plasmid DNA in JM109 cells were extracted form positive colonies and sequenced, the results were analyzed by bioinformatic methods. The interactions between M122 protein and the protein obtained from positive colonies were further confirmed by repeating yeast-two hybrid. Then, autoactivations of the proteins obtained from positive colonies were detected.Results The reconstructed bait plasmid was transformed into yeast cells AH109 successfully. The bait protein expressed in the yeast cells AH109 stably. 24 proteins interacting with MCMV M122 were screened, including syntaxin 8 ( Stx8 ), phosphoglucomutase 2 ( Pgm2 ), potassium voltage-gated channel, shaker-related subfamily, beta member 1 ( Kcnab1 ), collagen, type ⅪⅩ, alpha 1 ( Col19a1 ), archain 1 ( Arcn1 ), cytidylate kinase( Cmpk), DnaJ(Hsp40) homolog, subfamily A, member 1 (Dnaja1), ATPase, Na+/K + transporting, beta 3 polypeptide( Atp1b3 ), SH3-domain GRB2-like ( endophilin ) interacting protein 1 ( Sgip1 ),ankyrin repeat domain 17 (Ankrd17), Smg-7 homolog, nonsense mediated mRNA decay factor(Smg7),sperm associated antigen 9 ( Spag9 ), FK506 binding protein 1a ( Fkbp1a), MYST histone acetyltransferase monocytic leukemia 4 ( Myst4), hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 ( Hapln1), autophagy-related 3 (Atg3), splicing factor, arginine/serine-rich 5 ( Sfrs5 ), zinc finger, C3HC-type containing 1 ( Zc3hc1 ),thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 1 ( Txndc1 ), adaptor protein complex AP-1, gamma 1 subunit (Ap1g1), Cullin 1 ( Cul1 ), and so on. Three of them were formerly unknown proteins. M122 protein could interact with the proteins obtained from positive colonies in the yeast cells AH109. Ap1g1 and Cul1 were proved to have autoactivation. Conclusion A class of proteins in brain interacting with M122 has been obtained. It is presumed that these proteins are correlated with neuropathogenesis of the brain disorders caused by CMV, but the candidates still need further confirmation for the interaction.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of F-waves in patients with Kennedy's disease.Methods Thirty two patients with Kennedy's disease and 30 male healthy volunteers,who visited the Department of Neurology,Peking Union Medical College Hospital between August 2013 and July 2014,were recruited consecutively for this study.Motor nerve conduction study and F-wave examination were performed on the median,ulnar,tibial and peroneal nerves of all participants.A series of 100 electrical stimuli were employed to obtain F-waves.The F-wave parameters in all tested nerves were compared between patients with Kennedy's disease and normal controls including F-wave minimum latency,F-wave persistence,mean and maximum F-wave amplitude,the frequency of giant F-waves.Results The mean Fwave amplitude (median nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 375.0 (298.3) μV,healthy volunteers 297.0(145.0) μV,Z =-3.378,P ＜0.01;ulnar nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 397.5(295.0) μV,healthy volunteers 293.0 (101.8) μV,Z =-3.968,P ＜ 0.01;tibial nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 374.5 (227.3) μV,healthy volunteers 294.0 (160.5) μV,Z =-3.144,P =0.002;peroneal nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 346.5 (292.8) μV,healthy volunteers 146.5 (69.3) μV,Z =-6.864,P ＜ 0.01),maximum F-wave amplitudes (median nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 1 291.0 (952.0) μV,healthy volunteers 846.5 (523.0) μV,Z =-4.823,P ＜ 0.01;ulnar nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 1 663.5 (1 374.0) μV,healthy volunteers 760.5 (341.8) μV,Z =-6.813,P ＜ 0.01;tibial nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease (1 054.1 ± 451.6) μV,healthy volunteers (652.5-± 172.5) μV,t =5.380,P ＜ 0.01;peroneal nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease (840.4 ± 494.1) μV,healthy volunteers (370.2 ± 202.0) μV,t =6.475,P ＜ 0.01),frequency of giant F-waves (median nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 0.0％ (7.2％),healthy volunteers 0.0％ (0.0％),Z =-5.149,P ＜ 0.01;ulnar nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 3.1％ (10.5％),healthy volunteers 0.0％ (0.0％),Z =-7.026,P ＜0.01;tibial nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 0.0％ (3.3％),healthy volunteers 0.0％ (0.0％),Z =-4.651,P ＜0.01;peroneal nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 3.3％ (28.2％),healthy volunteers 0.0％ (0.0％),Z =-5.532,P ＜0.01),and frequencies of patients with giant F-waves (median nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 78.1％ (25/32),healthy volunteers 10.0％ (3/30),x2 =29.016,P ＜ 0.01;ulnar nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 87.5％ (28/32),healthy volunteers 10.0％ (3/30),x2 =37.200,P ＜ 0.01;tibial nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 62.5％ (20/32),healthy volunteers 6.7％ (2/30),x2 =21.085,P ＜ 0.01;peroneal nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 68.8 ％ (22/32),healthy volunteers 10.0％ (3/30),x2 =22.209,P ＜ 0.01) in all nerves examined were significantly higher in patients with Kennedy's disease than in the normal controls.The F-wave persistence in all nerves examined was significantly lower than in the normal controls (median nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 52.5％ (36.3％),healthy volunteers 98.0％ (7.0％),Z =9.010,P ＜ 0.01;ulnar nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 71.0％ (28.3％),healthy volunteers 100.0％ (1.0％),Z =9.455,P ＜ 0.01;tibial nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 100.0％ (2.0％),healthy volunteers 100.0％ (0.0％),Z =4.255,P ＜ 0.01;peroneal nerve:patients with Kennedy's disease 33.1％ ± 23.9％,healthy volunteers 46.9％ ± 27.2％,t =-2.848,P =0.007).Giant F-waves were detected in multiple nerves and often appeared symmetrically on the same nerves between the left and right sides in patients with Kennedy's disease.No significant correlations were found between the pooled frequency of giant F-waves and disease duration in patients with Kennedy's disease(r =0.162,P =0.418).Conclusions The results showed increased F-wave amplitudes,increased number of giant F-waves,especially giant F-waves detected in multiple nerves or appearing symmetrically combined with low persistence,consistent with the pathologic features of chronic and unselected loss of anterior horn cells in patients with Kennedy's disease.

Objective To investigate the effects of early nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) compared with early continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in low birth weight preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).Methods We performed a prospective,randomized controlled trial involving 364 low birth weight preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome within 6 hours of birth.The infants were randomly assigned to NIPPV (n=188) or NCPAP (n=176) groups.Non invasive ventilation was initiated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).The rate of mechanical intubation (within 3 days or 7 days),the use of pulmonary surfactant (PS),the rate of complications and mortality were compared between the two groups.Mann Whitney U,t and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.Results The average time of invasive mechanical ventilation in NIPPV group were lower than that in NCPAP group[2.0 (1.0-4.0) d vs 7.0 (3.0-8.5) d,U=-3.457,P=0.001].The need for intubation and mechanical ventilation by day 3 and day 7 in the NIPPV group were less than those in the NCPAP group [day 3:4.8％ (9/188) vs 10.8％ (19/176),x2=4.621,P=0.032; day 7:9.0％ (17/188) vs 16.5％ (29/176),x2=4.551,P=0.033].In the NIPPV group,infants who got PS therapy was less than that in the NCPAP group [3.2％ (6/188) vs 8.5％ (15/176),x2=4.752,P=0.029].There was no significant difference in the fatality rate between the NIPPV and the NCPAP group [12.8％ (24/188) vs 10.8％ (19/176),P ＞ 0.05].There were no significant difference in the incidence of air leak,intracranial hemorrhage,periventricular leukomalacia,retinopathy of prematurity,necrotizing enterocolitis,patent ductus arteriosus,and bronchopulmonary dysplasia between the NIPPV group and the NCPAP group.Conclusion Among low birth weight prcterm infants with RDS,the early use of NIPPV reduces the need for PS,intubation and invasive ventilation compared with NCPAP.

Objective:To investigate and evaluate the safety of intravitreal injection of recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin) with different concentrations in rabbit eyes.Methods:Thirty healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled with the right eyes selected as experimental eyes, and were randomly divided into five groups by random distribution of computer numbers, with 6 eyes in each group.The rabbits in the normal control group were given no treatment, and the rabbits in the normal saline group, 0.125 mg rh-endostatin group, 0.250 mg rh-endostatin group and 0.500 mg rh-endostatin group were treated with 100 μl of normal saline, 0.125 mg/100 μl, 0.250 mg/100 μl and 0.500 mg/100 μl rh-endostatin according to grouping, respectively.The anterior segment and fundus of the experimental eyes were examined using slit lamp biomicroscope and indirect ophthalmoscope, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the experimental eyes were measured with iCARE handheld tonometer before injection and 1 day, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days after injection.Optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination was performed before the intravitreal injection and 7, 30, and 60 days after injection, respectively.Flash electroretinogram was performed before intravitreal injection and 14 days and 60 days after injection.The rabbits were sacrificed by euthanasia at 60th day after injection.Three experimental eyes of each group were dissected and made into paraffin section, and histopathological staining was used to detect the retinal structural changes.The retinal tissue was separated from the other three study eyes in each group, and the transmission electron microscope was employed to observe the ultrastructural changes of the retina.All animal experiments were performed in adherence to the Regulations of the State and the Animal Center of Yangzhou University Medical College for the Use of Animals in Research.Results:After intravitreal injection, no obvious anterior or posterior chamber change was observed by slit lamp microscopy in all groups at any time point.Flocculent seepage was observed in one eye of the 0.125 mg and 0.500 mg rh-endostatin group, respectively, which was then absorbed completely on the 7th and 14th day.OCT examination showed no abnormal light reflection or morphological changes in fundus of day after injection in all the groups.There was no significant difference in IOP, a-wave and b-wave amplitude among all the groups at different time points ( Fgroup=0.134, 0.101, 0.476; Ftime=1.709, 2.479, 1.706; all at P>0.05). Neither light nor electron microscopy showed any retinal damage in any group. Conclusions:Intravitreal injection of rh-endostatin is safe at the dosage of 0.125-0.500 mg in rabbits.

Objective To evaluate the role of cerebral state index(CSI),burst suppression (BS)and electromyograph(EMG)in monitoring coma/consciousness depth and damage degree of brain. Methods CSM was done in 50 cases with brain injury and coma to analyze its relation with physical reflection,auditory evoked potential(AEP),Glasgow coma score(GCS)and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS).Results As scale range meaning from consciousness to deep coma and to brain death,CSI 0- 100 was positively correlated with coma depth,coma score of GCS and physical reflection.CSI changes under invariable ache stimulation in combination with BS and EMG can accurately estimate prognosis and quantify changes of brain function.Conclusions The quantifiable digit of coma/consciousness depth and damage degree in brain function by CSM can attain real time judgment of dynamic evolvement course of coma and objective guide clinical therapy and assure prognosis,as will change absolutely scoring coma/ consciousness depth and prognosis under current state of artificial diversity and lacking objective evi- dences.

Objective To evaluate the role of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium(mito-KATP) channels in dexmedetomidine-induced attenuation of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion(I∕R)injury in rats. Methods Forty pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-12 weeks, weighing 200-350 g, were divided into 5 groups(n=8 each)using a random number table: sham operation group(group S), I∕R group, dexmedetomidine group(group DEX), a specific mito-KATPchannel blocker 5-hydroxyde-canoate(5-HD)group(group 5-HD)and dexmedetomidine plus 5-HD group(group DEX+5-HD). Myo-cardial I∕R was produced by occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120 min reperfusion in pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats. Dexmedetomidine 5 μg∕kg was intraperitoneally injected at 15 min prior to reperfusion in group DEX.5-HD 40 mg∕kg was intraperitoneally injected at 30 min prior to reperfusion in group 5-HD. In group DEX+5-HD, 5-HD 40 mg∕kg and dexme-detomidine 5 μg∕kg were intraperitoneally injected at 30 and 15 min prior to reperfusion, respectively. The parameters of cardiac function such as left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), left ventricular end-dias-tolic pressure(LVEDP)and the maximum rate of increase or decrease in left ventricular pressure(±dp∕dtmax)were recorded before ischemia(T0)and at 60 and 120 min of reperfusion(T1,2). Blood samples were collected from the carotid artery at the end of reperfusion for determination of the concentrations of cre-atine kinase-MB(CK-MB)and cardiac troponin I(cTnI)in serum. The animals were then sacrificed, and hearts were removed for determination of the myocardial infarct size in the left ventricular myocardial tissues. Results Compared with group S, the LVSP and ±dp∕dtmaxwere significantly decreased, and the LVEDP was increased at T1-2, and the concentrations of CK-MB and cTnI in serum and myocardial infarct size were increased in the other groups(P<0.05). Compared with group I∕R, the LVSP and ±dp∕dtmaxwere signifi-cantly increased, and the LVEDP was decreased at T1-2, and the concentrations of CK-MB and cTnI in ser-um and myocardial infarct size were decreased in group DEX, and the LVSP and ±dp∕dtmaxwere significant-ly increased at T1-2, the concentrations of CK-MB and cTnI in serum and myocardial infarct size were de-creased(P<0.05), and no significant change was found in LVEDP in group DEX+5-HD, and no signifi-cont change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group 5-HD(P>0.05). Compared with group DEX, the LVSP and ±dp∕dtmaxwere significantly decreased, and the LVEDP was increased at T1-2, and the concentrations of CK-MB and cTnI in serum and myocardial infarct size were increased in DEX+5-HD group(P<0.05). Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine attenuates myocardial I∕R inju-ry is partially related to promotion of mito-KATPchannel opening in rats.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) is one of the TNF family member, regulates the survival and maturation of B lymphocyte. BAFF binds to three receptors: BCMA, TACI and BAFF-R. In recent years, studies have revealed important roles of BAFF and its receptors in immune regulation of antibody isotype switching, germinal center maintenance, and T cell co-stimulation, that may provide new drugs in the future for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, lymphoma and B cell immunodeficiencies. Therefore, the structure, expression, receptors, biological function and clinical application of BAFF are briefly summarized in this review.
B-Cell Activating Factor ; immunology ; B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor ; immunology ; B-Cell Maturation Antigen ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity ; Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein ; immunology