Objective: To investigate the effect of abstracted formula granule of Siwu drugs on the sex hormones and expressions of androgen receptor (AR)and estrogen receptor (ER) in bone marrow depressed mice. Methods: One hundred and eighty mice (90 male and 90 female) were randomly divided into 6 groups. The effects of the formula granule of Siwu on sex hormones and expressions of AR and ER were explored by SABC method in bone marrow of depressed mice. Results: For the male rats, the levels of androgen were increased in male of treatment groups compared with those of model groups (P＜0.05), and the levels of estrogen were decreased in male of treatment groups compared with those of model groups (P＜0.05).For the female rats, the levels of androgen were increased in female of treatment groups compared with those of model groups,but no significant differences (P＞0.05), and the levels of estrogen were decreased in femal of treatment groups compared with those of model groups (P＜0.05). There was a dose dependent manner between treatment groups. Conclusion: The results suggested that formula granule of Siwu drugs may play a role in the hematopoietic function to repair bone marrow depression by improving AR and the balance of estrogen / androgen in mice.

To study the effect of physiological conditions on spidroins, we analyzed NTR1SR2CT module secondary structure, aggregation and silk-formation influenced by different salts (in different concentration intervals). According to the full-length Araneus ventricosus MiSp sequence, NTR1SR2CT module was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the recombinant proteins were purified by denaturation method mediated by 8 mol/L urea. Random coil and helix are the main secondary structures of NTR1SR2CT and could be induced into beta-sheet by drying natively and lyophilization, where methanol can be used as a promoter. Furthermore, potassium and phosphate cations can cause significant NTR1SR2CT protein aggregation and silk-formation. The results could be a basis for the determination of silk-formation mechanism, and also useful for industrialized generation of high performance spider silk-like fibers.
Animals ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Salts ; chemistry ; Spiders

Objective To assess left ventricular(LV) longitudinal strain in patients with coronary heart disease by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2DSTI),and to explore the clinical value of 2D longitudinal strain in detecting myocardial ischemia. Methods Forty-four patients with coronary heart disease (CHD group) and 28 age-matched subjects (control group) were enrolled into this study. The two-dimensional data were obtained in apical 4-chamble, 2-chamber and long axis view. And the longitudinal strains of every segments, the average longitudinal strain of LV 18 segments (SL18), the average longitudinal strain of 12 segments (SL12,excluded the 6 apical segments) were analyzed. Results In the patients with CHD, the longitudinal strain of ischemia segments and the global LV longitudinal strain were significantly decreased than that of the control subjects. Both in patients with CHD and in control subjects,the longitudinal strains in apical segments were higher than that of middle and basal segments. There was significant difference between SL18 and SL12 ( P=0.027 in CHD group and P =0.003 in control group).Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the cutoff point of SL18 to detect myocardial ischemia was - 18.8％ (sensitivity 80.2％ and specificity 74.1％ ) ,and the cutoff point of SL12 to detect myocardial ischemia was - 17.8％ ( sensitivity 81.7％ and specificity 85.6％ ). Conclusions 2D longitudinal strain was sensitive to detect myocardial ischemia, SL12 was better than SL18 in detecting myocardial ischemia. 2DSTI might be useful for identifying patients with severe CHD.

Objective To investigate the evolution of diffusion indices in the pyramidal tract with Wallerian degeneration(WD)due to cerebral infarction using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),and to study the relationship between early changes of diffusion indices and motor deficit.Methods Fifteen patients (13 males and 2 females)with acute cerebral infarction(within 7 days)were recruited from the Neurology Department from Mar 2006 to Jan 2007.A11 patients were assessed with DTI.National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS),Bathel Index(BI),modified Rankin Scale(mRS)and Motricity Index(MI)within 7 days from onset,and at the second week.DTI was performed with SIEMENS Trio 3.0 T MR scanner.The placement of region of interest(ROI),measurement of diffusion indices were performed by DTI Studio software.The mean diffusivity(MD),the fractional anisotropy(FA),the first eigenvalue (λ1),the second eigenvalue(λ2),and the third eigenvalue(λ3)were computed.Results At the second week.NIHSS was 6.93±3.39.BI 45.33±26.01,mRS 4.33±0.90.and MI 69.47± 60.71.At the second week from onset.MD of the pyramidal tract at the levels of the middle slice of pons and the superior slice of medulla oblongata showed no significant differences between both the two sides at second week from onset. Other ROI showed significant differences between both sides.MD.FA and λ1 of affected side were lower than the unaffected side.λ2 and λ3 of the affected side were higher than the unaffected side.Positive correlations were found between FA and BI(r=0.530,P=0.042),FA and MI(r=0.543,P=0.036)at the second week.Negative correlations were found between FA and NIHSS(r=-0.613,P=0.015)at the second week.Conclusions DTI can detect the changes in the pyramidal tract due to WD within 7-14 days after ischemic stroke.including a decrease of the fractional anisotropy.the first eigenvalue and increased the second and the third eigenvalues.The fractional anisotropy of the second week from onset is related to the outcome of the motor function.

Objective To assess the left ventricular (LV) systolic synchrony in patients with myocardial infarction using real-time three dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) and speckle tracking imaging(STI). Methods Twenty-five healthy subjects and thirty patients with myocardial infarction underwent two-dimensional echocardiography and RT-3DE examination. The systolic synchrony parameters derived from RT-3DE were the dispersion of time and the maximum difference of time to minimum regional volume for 16 LV segments (Tmsv-16-SD and Tmsv-16-Dif). When the Tmsv-16-SD was above the percent 99 of the control group distribution in patients with myocardial infarction were considered statistically different from those in the control group and were accordingly classified as LV systolic asynchrony. The time from the onset of QRS complexes to systole peak strain from the radial vectors was recorded using STI. The standard deviation and the maximal temporal difference of the radial (TRS-SD and TRS-Dif) of 18 segments were calculated as indicator of LV systolic synchrony. LV systolic asynchrony was defined as an interval≥130 ms for the absolute difference in time to peak radial strain for the anteroseptal wall versus the posterior wall (TAS-POST). Results All the systolic synchrony parameters derived from RT-3DE and STI were significantly larger in the myocardial infarction group than those of the control group (all P＜0.01 ).For Tmsv-16-SD and Tmsv-16-Dif,a moderate correlation with TRS-SD and TRS-Dif( r = 0.675 and 0.620,all P＜0.01) was found. No significant difference and general consistency were found between the systolic asynchrony parameters by RT-3DE and STI ( P = 0.125, Kappa = 0.60). Conclusions RT-3DE and STI provide effective tools to assess the LV systolic synchrony. There is no obvious correlation between these methods, thus it is essential of using different methods and parameters to evaluate the LV systolic synchrony.

Objective To study the inner diameter and hemodynamics of ophthalmic artery(OA)and central retinal artery(CRA)in hyperuricemia by Enhance-flow(eFlow)imaging and spectral Doppler.Methods One hundred and one patients with hyperuricemia and 30 volunteers were selected,the inner diameter in eFlow imaging and the peak systolic velocities(PSV),the end diastolic velocities(EDV),the resistive index(RI)were measured,and pulsatility index(PI)of OA and CRA were measured by spectral Doppler.The 101 patients were divided into two groups according to the time of diagnosing hyperuricemia,one group had a diagnosis of hyperuricemia for more than five years and the other had such a diagnosis for less than five years.The data were compared by t-test.Then,the patients were further divided into a group of hyperuricemia combined with hypertension and the other without hypertension.The differences between the experimental group and the group of volunteers were carried out by One-way ANOVA,the comparison between two groups were analyzed with SNK.Results The RI(0.68±0.09)and PI(1.3±0.4)of OA in patients who were diagnosed as hyperuricemia for more than 5 years was higher[RI:0.63±0.09,PI:1.1±0.3(t=3.504,P=0.001 ;t=3.164,P=0.002)],the EDV[(6±3)cm/s]of OA was lower than those patients with a diagnosis of hyperuricemia for less than 5 years[(8±5)cm/s,t=1.988,P=0.049].The PSV[(11.5±3.5)cm/s]and EDV[(3.7±1.1)cm/s]of CRA in hyperuricemia combination hypertension group was lower,and the RI (0.88±1.40)was higher than hyperuricemia without hypertension group[PSV:(13.5±4.0)cm/s,EDV:(4.1±1.2)cm/s,RI:0.67±0.08].Conclusion By eFlow and spectral Doppler,we have found that hyperu-ricemia could accelerate OA and CRA atherosclerosis.The eFlow and spectral Doppler are valuable methods to study the hemodynamics in ophthalmic artery of patients with hyperuricemia.

Objective To evaluate retrospectively the role of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT associated with MRI in the localization of epileptogenic foci. Methods Sixty-seven patients with medically resistant epilepsy were included from 2003 to 2008. All underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI for presurgical evaluation as well as post-surgical evaluation 12 to 65 months after operation. Based on postoperative seizure occurrence, patients were divided into two groups. One group was free of seizures ( Engel classification Ⅰ, Group 1) and the other was with postoperative seizure occurrence of any type ( Engel classification Ⅱ-Ⅳ, Group 2). X2-test or Fisher's exact test was used for the statistical analysis. Results About 71.6% (48/67) patients were defined as group 1, and 19 patients were group 2 ( 11 were Engel Ⅱ , 5 were Engel Ⅲ, and 3 were Engel Ⅳ ). In Group 1, no statistically significant difference was found between concordant (45/63) and discordant findings (3/4) with regard to 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI images (Fisher's exact test, P ＞0.05). For 41 patients that showed focal abnormality both on MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT, 80.5% (33/41) were found in group 1. For 20 patients that showed focal lesions on MRI while with multi-focal or generalized abnormal metabolism on 18F-FDG PET/CT, 11 (55.0%) were in group 1 and9 (45.0%) were group 2. There was no significant difference (33/41 vs 11/20, X2 =4.34, P ＜0.05 ). Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT associated with MRI may offer more helpful information for pre-surgical evaluation and prediction of prognosis of epileptic patients.

Objective To explore the efficiency of endoscopic septoplasty with submucous resection for the treatment of 220 patients with deviated nasal septum and report our experience in this field. Methods From May 2006 to May 2010, 220 patients with deviated nasal septum were treated by endoscopic septoplasty with submucous resection to decompress the stress points, resect the deviated parts and implant the reshaped bone of nasal septum, while retaining the normal structure of nasal septum with minimally invasive technique. Results Satisfactory effects were achieved in all the 220 patients, showing centered septal structure and disappeared symptoms such as nasal obstruction, headache and nasal hemorrhage, but no complications including perforation of nasal septum, depressed nasal bridge and septal chalasia and flaring. Conclusion Rhino-endoscopic septoplasty with submucous resection can substantially retain the original structure of nasal septum and thus is proven to be a desirable operation with multiple advantages including minimal invasiveness, quicker healing and fewer complications.

At present, the clinical skills training process for ultrasound medicine professional postgraduates is still facing many problems, such as inadequate guidance from tutors, little accumulation of clinical knowledge and practice, not solid basic ultrasonic skills, imperfect assessment system, and disconnection between scientific research and clinical practice. Analyzing the cause of problems, combining with the characteristics of ultrasound medicine and our experience in the clinical skills training process, we have put forward targeted solutions, such as building a complete and efficient training team, attaching importance to rotation and cultivation of relevant clinical departments, realizing teaching objectives by different levels and stages, establishing a perfect management, supervision and assessment system, paying attention to the combination of clinical and scientific research ability, so as to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical skills training process of ultrasound medicine.

Objective To determine the prevalence and characteristics of the del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Connexin30(Cx30) gene in children with prelingual deafness.Methods Forty-six prelingual deaf children and 30 children with normal comprehension were obtained,and the del(GJB6-D13S1830)in the Cx30 gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 2 groups.Results Three cases of 46 deaf children were found to have heterozygous del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Cx30 gene.The rest deaf children and the normal controls did not harbor this deletion.Conclusion The heterozygous del(GJB6-D13S1830) in Cx30 gene is one of causes of prelingual deafness.