AIMTo study the expression and effect of TLR4 and NFkappaB protein in hippocampus neuron in rats exposed to chronic hypoxic hypercapnia.

METHODSThe disorder of learning-memory in pulmonary hypertension rat model was reproduced by chronic hypoxic hypercapnia. Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, hypoxic hypercapnia 2-week and 4-week group. The number of apoptosis neurons in hippocampus CA1/3 was counted by TUNEL method. Activity of TLR4 and NFkappaB in hippocampus CA1/3 was detected by using SP immunocytochemical technique.

RESULTSThe expression of TLR4 protein in hippocampus CA1/3 in group 2HH( CA1: 0.1275 +/- 0.0242, CA3: 0.1156 +/- 0.0376) and 4HH (CA1: 0.1522 +/- 0.0187, CA3: 0.1427 +/- 0.0453) were significantly higher than those in the NC group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The positive expression of NFkappaB were showed in cell nucleus in group 2HH (CA1: 0.1326 +/- 0.0324, CA3: 0.1301 +/- 0.0112) and group 4HH (CA1: 0.1612 +/- 0.0428, CA3: 0.1578 +/- 0.0365), and significantly higher than those in the NC group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The apoptosis of neural cells in hippocampus CA1/3 gradually increased with the time of exposure, and reached peak at 4 weeks (P < 0.01 vs NC group).

CONCLUSIONThe activation of TLR4 and NFkappaB may play an important role in the apoptosis of hippocampus neural cells in rat exposed to chronic hypoxic hypercapnia.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

Apoptosis of abnormal oocytes is essential for defective oocyte elimination during prepubertal ovary development, and the ubiquitin system regulates the cell apoptosis via the degradation of specific proteins. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is a component of the ubiquitin system, and the UCH-L1-dependent apoptosis is important for spermatogenesis. In the present study, the change in the number of follicles and the expression of UCH-L1 in oocytes were determined in prepubertal mouse ovaries by immunohistochemical techniques. A significant decrease in the follicular pool was found in prepubertal mouse ovaries during the period of day 21 to day 28 after birth, and accordingly, the UCH-L1 protein expression was increased, to some degree in association with Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kipl). The increased UCH-L1 protein, together with the corresponding changes of Jab1 was detected in morphologically abnormal oocytes of prepubertal ovaries. Through the immunofluorescent colocalization, UCH-L1 was shown concentrating in abnormal oocytes, and a parallel change in Jab1 was also seen. The affinity analysis confirmed the interaction between UCH-L1 and Jab1 in ovaries. These results suggest that UCH-L1 plays an important role, possibly in association with Jab1 and p27(Kipl), in selective elimination of abnormal oocytes during mouse prepubertal development.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Mice ; Oocytes ; cytology ; Ovary ; enzymology ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the causes of peripheral vascular thrombosis in patients with paraquat poisoning. Methods: The patients with paraquat poisoning who were admitted to our department in recent two years were observed to screen out the patients with large vessel thrombosis. The data on toxic exposure history, clinical features, and treatment were collected to analyze the causes of thrombosis in the patients with paraquat poisoning. Results: Three patients had typical lower limb thrombosis. There was one case of right common femoral vein thrombosis, one case of bilateral calf muscle vein thrombosis, and one case of right calf superficial vein thrombosis and right calf muscle vein thrombosis. Conclusions After paraquat poisoning, the blood is in a hypercoagulable state and prolonged bed rest may increase the risk of thrombosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of ThinPrep cytology test (TCT) in lung cancer.

METHODS353 cases of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and(or) bronchial brushing cytology (192 cases from lung cancer patients and 161 cases from benign lung disease patients) were detected with TCT and method of direct smear, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of two methods was compared.

RESULTSThe sensitivity and specificity of TCT were 39.6% and 99.4%. And which of direct smear method were 8.3% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of TCT was significantly higher than that of method of direct smear in the diagnosis of lung cancer (P < 0.01). There were 71 patients who underwent BALF and bronchial brushing cytology simultaneously, the sensitivity of TCT of BALF was higher than that of bronchial brushing cytology (P < 0.05). Of the 69 cases which had both TCT and histopathological results, TCT and pathology concordance rate was 84.1%.

CONCLUSIONTCT has more diagnostic value in lung cancer; BALF is more preponderant than bronchial brushing cytology by TCT in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Cytological Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVENeonatal asphyxia is the third leading cause of neonatal death and main cause of long-term neurodevelopmental handicap throughout the world. Prevention is more important than treatment. Most previous reports are limited to retrospective investigations of the relationships between some prenatal risk factors and low Apgar scores. This study was designed to prospectively investigate the relationship between prenatal risk factors and neonatal asphyxia and the influence of single or multiple risk factors on the incidence of neonatal asphyxia, and examine significant risk factors for neonatal asphyxia.

METHODSFrom April 2002 through October 2004, a total of 10 376 live-born newborns were enrolled. Forty-six prenatal risk factors were investigated. Neonatal asphyxia was diagnosed based on the following four items: 1. 1-min Apgar score or=0.10 and p<0.05 as significant. The OR and 95%CI were calculated for each significant risk factor.

RESULTSOf the 10 376 newborns, 8 530 cases (82.21%) had 1-9 risk factors, and asphyxia occurred in 117 cases (1.13%) out of the 8 530 cases. In the 1 846 cases without risk factors, none had asphyxia (x2=25.6, p<0.01). The incidence of asphyxia increased with increasing numbers of risk factors, from 0.23% in newborns with one risk factor to 14.29% in newborns who had nine risk factors (r=0.96, p<0.01). Twelve significant risk factors identified were as follows: ominous fetal heart rate patterns (OR=17.1,95%CI:11.2-25.9), placenta abruption (OR=15.2, 95% CI: 4.5-51.8), maternal lung diseases (OR=11.5, 95% CI:1.4-91.3), fetal acidosis (OR=6.1, 95% CI:1.5-24.1), placenta previa (OR=5.0,95% CI:1.5-16.9), breech delivery (OR=4.5, 95% CI: 2.1-9.9), meconium stained amniotic fluid (OR=3.2, 95% CI:2.2-4.8), forcepsjassisted delivery (OR=3.2, 95%CI: 1.1-9.9), prolonged labor (OR=2.94, 95%CI:1.5-5.8), abnormal utero contraction (OR=2.8, 95% CI:1.7-4.6), and premature delivery (OR=2.5,95%CI:1.4-4.8). Cesarean section had a protective effect (OR=0.6, 95% CI:0.4-0.9) (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIt is very important to prevent perinatal asphyxia by systematically examining prenatal risk factors and giving interventions for the newborns with risk factors, especially those with the above significant risk factors or with multiple risk factors. Proper cesareon section according to indications might be helpful to decrease the incidence of birth asphyxia.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo assess the subjective and objective outcomes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and establish an assessment system of outcome with ease of application clinically.

METHODSA prospective cohort study was conducted to survey and assess the outcomes of 120 consecutive CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery at 12 months after operation. The subjective and objective measures comprised symptom by visual analog scale (VAS), health-related quality of life by medical outcome study short-form 36-items (SF-36) and sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) scales, endoscopic appearance, mucociliary function, and histological findings. The differences of subjective and objective assessments before and after operation were compared by t-test and Chi-Square test and the correlations between the parameters above were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTSAt 12 months after operation, the patients' total scores by VAS, SF-36 and SNOT-20 scales improved significantly beyond the preoperative survey (P < 0.01); there were 85.96%, 77.19% and 83.33% patients with the scores respectively superior to that of preoperation, of which 72.28% subjects benefited simultaneously from these parameters; and a significant correlation was observed among them before and after operation (P < 0.01) where SNOT-20 showed a more compatibility than the other two. At 12 months after operation, the patients' total scores of endoscopic appearance, mucociliary function, and histological findings significantly improved beyond the preoperative evaluation (P < 0.05); there were 86.84% , 86.81% and 75.57% patients with the scores respectively superior to that of preoperation, of which 71.85% subjects benefited simultaneously from these parameters; and a significant correlation was observed among them before and after operation (P < 0.05) where endoscopic appearance showed a more compatibility than the other two. At 12 months after operation, 74.56% patients showed an accordant improving or worsening outcome evaluated by SNOT-20 and endoscopic appearance, while 25.44% ones represented inverse endings, of which patients with comorbidity of nasal polyps more easily demonstrated this tendency significantly (P < 0.05). No significant correlation existed between the scores of SNOT-20 and endoscopic appearances both in preoperation and in postoperation (P > 0.05), but the total scores of the anterior 10-item, excluding the posterior 10-item, of SNOT-20 inventory was found significantly correlated with the quantitative appearances on nasal endoscopy throughout (0.18 < or = 0.42, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAdministration of ESS can effectively improve the outcomes of CRS patients including symptom, health-related quality of life, endoscopic appearance, mucociliary function, and histological findings. A subjectively and objectively measured assessment system with tenseness, trustiness, reasonableness, and effectiveness and with ease of application clinically is established on the basis of SNOT-20 and endoscopic appearance evaluation for outcome research.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Sinusitis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this article is to establish an endoscopic score system for quantitative evaluation of the inflammation of mucous membrane in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) , and to investigate the correlation of this system with a variety of clinical factors.

METHODSA set of score system was constructed based on anatomic configuration, status of mucous membrane and nasal secretion to evaluate quantificationally the severity of inflammation of CRS. The clinical correlation of this system was studied prospectively in 60 CRS patients, with a variety of clinical factors which included age, duration of disease, previous recurrence and the years from recent recurrence, atopy, serum total immunoglobulin E (TIgE), serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), the count of blood eosinophil, the count of tissue inflammatory cell, the extension of CRS indicated by CT, smoking, concomitant chronic inflammation in lower respiratory tract. All above factors were analyzed statistically with the endoscopic score by Pearson correlation and multi-factor linear regression analysis.

RESULTSIn pearson analysis, the correlative factors with the evaluated score included age (x1, r = - 0.310, P = 0.016), the extension of disease (x2, r = 0. 810, P < 0.0005), recurrence (x3, r = 0.408, P = 0.001), eosinophil of nasal tissue (x4, r = 0.279, P = 0. 031), duration of disease (x5, r = 0.536, P < 0.0005), concurrent nasal polyps (r = 0.549, P < 0.0005), plasm cell (r = 0. 317, P = 0.014) and years from the recent recurrence (r = 0.385, P = 0.002). In multi-factor linear regression, the five independent predictive factors were recurrence, age, extension of disease, tissue eosinophils, years of disease. The regressive equation is y = 10.148 - 0.152 (x1) + 2.250 (x2) + 3.348 (x3) + 1.233 (x4) + 0.270 (x5).

CONCLUSIONSAppropriate score system by nasal endoscopy is feasible to evaluate quantificationally the degree of inflammation of CRS; being appropriately modified, it is even able to reveal the underlying histological behavior finely.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Sinusitis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of life (QOL) outcome of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and its influencing factors.

METHODSprospective trial was conducted to survey the QOL status of 120 CRS patients undergoing ESS, in contrast that of 200 healthy individuals passing health examination, at the baseline and at 12-months after operation by Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20). QOL changes and its influencing factors were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS(1) By the assessment of SF-36, the scores of 6 domains were less than that of healthy individuals preoperatively (P < 0.01). After 6 months, the scores of these domains resumed normal level and the proportion of scores also restored normally (P > 0.05). (2) By the assessment of SNOT-20, the total scores of 20 items and 5 most important items of patients were more than that of healthy objects (P < 0.01). After 9 and 12 months, the former and latter returned to normal, respectively (P > 0.05). In 12 months setting, the proportion of scores also restored normally (P > 0.05). (3) According to the survey of SNOT-20, we concluded the following equation: convalescent time (months) = 39--(normal scores/preoperative scores) x 50, by which the time of coming back to normal QOL status can be computed. (4) By analysis of Logistic Regression, residence in city or country, course of disease, extension of diseased sinus, and coexistence of nasal polyposis or not were correlated to the preoperative QOL scores; working environments, surgical extension, and preoperative scores of QOL were correlated to the score difference between pre and post operation.

CONCLUSIONSCRS patients undergoing ESS could obtain entirely normal QOL status at 12 months postoperatively, so we suggest that the essential follow-up period should last at least one year. The risk factors influencing patients QOL status preoperatively includes residence in country, longer course of disease, more extension of diseased sinus, and coexistence of nasal polyposis. The risk factors hindering the improvement of QOL status postoperatively includes exposure to indoor working environments, insufficient surgical extension, and lower preoperative QOL scores.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Sinusitis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of overexpression of glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol-specific phospholipase D (GPI-PLD) on the biological character of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. METHODS: The GPI-PLD gene eukaryon expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)/ GPI-PLD was transiently transfected into HepG2 cell by lipid-media transfection. The untransfected HepG2 and HepG2 transfected with pcDNA3.1(+) were used as controls. After screening with G418, the single clone was obtained. The expression level of GPI-PLD mRNA in HepG2 was identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). GPI-PLD activities were analyzed quantitatively by triton-X-114 partition with GPI anchored placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) as a substrate. Cell count was used to detect the proliferation of the 3 groups, and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) effects were observed by the staining of trypan blue. Apoptosis cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with HepG2 and pcDNA3.1(+)/HepG2 cell, the levels of GPI-PLD activities and its mRNA from pcDNA3.1(+)/GPI-PLD/HepG2 were increased with almost 2 to 5 times,respectively. The GPI anchored PLAP and CEA released into the medium by GPI-PLD, and the rate of CDC killing on the cells were significantly increased. However, the proliferative capacity was obviously decreased, and the typical apoptosis cells were presented in positive clones and its apoptosis rates were increased significantly. CONCLUSION The stable cell line with overexpression of GPI-PLD has been constructed. The overexpression of GPI-PLD in these cells increases the sensitivity of these cells to CDC killing and impairs the proliferative capacity of cells, and promotes the apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Complement Activation ; genetics ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Phospholipase D ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.

METHODSA total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.

RESULTSAsthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Time Factors