Objective: To evaluate color velocity imaging-quantitative method (CVI-Q) in estimating cerebral hemodynamic change in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: The carotids of 60 normal people and 40 cerebral infarction patients were detected by CVI-Q. We observed endangium thickness and atheromatous plaques,and measured the diameter (d), peak velocity(Vmax), resistance index(RI) and blood flow volume(Q) of the common carotid arteries. Results: In cerebral infarction group there were 75% cases with endangium thickening to different degrees, 45% cases with atheromatous plaques and 71% plaques in carotid enlargement section or bifurcation. The data measured in 2 groups were compared: (1)The d value in cerebral infarction cases increased than that in normal（P<0.05 or P<0.01）; (2)The Vmax reduced in cerebral infarction cases(P<0.05); (3)The RI increased in cerebral infarction cases (P<0.05 or P< 0.01); (4) The Q value reduced in cerebral infarction cases (P<0.01). Conclusion: CVI-Q can be used for detecting cerebral hemodynamic changes and provide quantitative indexes for clinicians to estimate ischemia degree and treatment in cerebral infarction patients.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) has been a primary target of treatment as well as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer. The level of human X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) mRNA was related with that of ERalpha in breast tumors and was over-expressed in some breast tumors. These previous studies suggested that XBP-1 may interact with ERalpha. XBP-1 has two isoforms, XBP-1S and XBP-1U, as the result of unique splicing. GST pull-down assay showed that both XBP-1S and XBP-1U bound to ERalpha in vitro. The binding of XBP-1S to ERalpha was stronger than that of XBP-1U to ERalpha. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed that the binding was in a ligand-independent manner. XBP-1S and XBP-1U interacted with the region of ERalpha that contains a DNA-binding domain. The ERalpha-interacting regions on XBP-1S and XBP-1U have been mapped to two regions, the N-terminal basic region leucine zipper domain (bzip) and the C-terminal activation domain. These findings suggest that XBP-1S and XBP-1U may participate in ERalpha signaling pathway through the mediation of ERalpha.
Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; X-Box Binding Protein 1

OBJECTIVE: To detect the changes of mitochondrion DNA (mtDNA) sequence in articular chondrocytes of cartilage affected by osteoarthritis and to clarified the pathogenetic mechanism of osteoarthritis. METHODS: We analyzed the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion mutations of articular chondrocytes in 10 patients with osteoarthritis and 3 normal cartilages using the gap-PCR amplification method. We designed a two round PCR detection method, in which total DNA was isolated from articular chondrocytes as the template of the first round PCR reaction and products from the first round were the template in the second round reaction. RESULTS: The results of the first rounds of PCR reaction showed the mtDNA 524 bp amplified products in the osteoarthritis group and in the corresponding peripheral blood samples were not detected, but the 533 bp products were detected. However,the results of the second round reaction revealed that the 524 bp zones were detected in 2 of the 10 osteoarthritis patients and the corresponding peripheral blood samples were not detected. The 533 bp products were detected in all specimens. The mtDNA 524 bp amplified products in all the normal articular chondrocytes and the corresponding peripheral white blood cells contrast were not detected in both rounds PCR. CONCLUSION This was the first study to evaluate the mtDNA 4799 bp large fragment deletion mutational accumulation between nt8,470 - nt13,447 of articular chondrocytes in osteoarthritic cartilage. Osteoarthritis may be related to mtDNA mutation of articular chondrocytes.
Adult ; Cartilage, Articular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; genetics ; Osteoarthritis, Hip ; genetics ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

This article is report the study of the pharmacokinetics and metabolic disposition of exogenous phosphocreatine (PCr) in rats by means of an ion-pair HPLC-UV assay. PCr and its metabolite creatine (Cr) and related-ATP in rat plasma and red blood cell (RBC) were simultaneously determined. A blank plasma and RBC were initially run for baseline subtraction. Plasma and RBC samples were deproteinized with 6% PCA prior to HPLC. Following i.v. administration of PCr 500 mg x kg(-1) and 1 000 mg x kg(-1) the C-T curve could be described by the two-compartment model with t1/2beta 22.5-23.3 min, V(d) 0.956 4-0.978 6 L x kg(-1), CL 0.029 L. kg(-1) x min(-1). The Cr as PCr degraded product appeared as early as 2 min post i.v. dosing with t(max) 20 min, t1/2kappa (m) 40.6-42.7 min and f(m) 60%-76%. After po administration of PCr, the parent drug in plasma was undetectable, but the metabolite Cr was detected with t(max) 65-95 min, t1/2kappa (m) 56.0-57.7 min, metabolite-based bioavailability F(m) 55.02%-62.31%. PCr i.v. administration resulted in significant elevation of ATP level in RBC but not in plasma, the related-ATP in RBC was characterized by t(max) 68-83 min, t1/2kappa 49-52 min. In RBC no exogenous PCr was found but Cr was detected following i.v. administration of PCr, with the t(max) 120 min and t1/2k (m) 70 min for Cr. The above results indicate that PCr eliminates and bio-transforms in body very rapidly; K > K(m) confers ERL, instead of FRL, type upon the metabolic disposition of Cr. Following po administration of PCr, the degraded product Cr is absorbed but not the parent drug PCr. The formed Cr can be accounted for by most of i.v. and po PCr. Intravenous dosing leads apparently increased and sustained Cr and related-ATP concentration in RBC.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Biotransformation ; Cardiotonic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Creatine ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Phosphocreatine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cytosine deaminase (CD) gene plus 5-fluorocytosine (5-Fc) on the growth of human colon cancer xenograftin nude mice.

METHODSRetroviral vector expressing CD gene was transfected into human colon cancer SW1116 cells. Expression of the transfected CD gene in SW1116 (SWCD(2)) was confirmed by RT-PCR. The cytotoxicity of 5-Fc on SW1116 was determined by MTT assay in vitro. In vivo, the CD gene expression vector was injected intratumorally and 5-Fc was given by ip injections.

RESULTSIn vitro, SWCD(2) cells were killed by 5-Fc with an IC(50) of 66 micromol/L while the nontrasfected SW1116 cells needed an IC(50) of 16 000 micromol/L to be killed. The growth of SWCD(2) xenografts was significantly inhibited by systemic administration of 5-Fc.

CONCLUSIONCD gene/5-Fc system is a potential gene therapy strategy for human colon cancer.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Fascia Lata ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Cyst ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of uterine contraction and stages of labor during delivery under continuous epidural block anesthesia.

METHODSTotaling 213 parturients in spontaneous labor under epidural block anesthesia with dilated cervical orifice of 3 cm were monitored for the contraction cycle, duration, intensity and curve types of uterine contraction, and recordings were made for 30 min before and 30, 60 and 120 min after the anesthesia took effect, respectively. The duration of the active phase in the first, second and third stages of labor was compared between 421 cases with anesthesia and 237 without anesthesia.

RESULTSSignificant difference was noted in the objective indexes of uterine contraction recorded after anesthesia had taken effect (P<0.05) in comparison with those before anesthesia, suggesting significantly attenuated uterine contraction after anesthesia, whereas these indexes underwent no significant further variation as compared between different time points after anesthesia (P>0.05). The average active phase in the first stage was significantly shorter in anesthesia group than that in the control group (P<0.05), but the average duration of the second and third stages of labor differed little between the two groups with appropriate use of oxytocin under strict monitoring (P>0.05). The rates of obstetric forceps utilization and use of oxytocin were higher in anesthesia group than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpidural block anesthesia produces certain influences on uterine contraction and stages of labor during delivery, for which appropriate treatment measures may prove beneficial.

Adult ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; methods ; Anesthesia, Obstetrical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Labor, Obstetric ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Time Factors ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects ; physiology

This study was aimed to investigate the expression level of NF-kappaB mRNA in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reduction (qPCR) detection and to explore the effect of NF-kappaB mRNA in pathogenesis of AML. The fresh bone marrow was collected from 60 newly diagnosed patients with AML, the total RNA was extracted by means of RTIzoL, the cDNA was synthesized, the expression of NF-kappaB mRNA was detected by qPCR using GAPDH as internal reference. 12 normal healthy persons were selected as controls. The results showed that the expression of NF-kappaB mRNA in patients with AML was higher than that in normal healthy persons with significant difference (p<0.05), the expression of NF-kappaB mRNA in patients with AML-M4 and -M5 were higher than that in patients with AML-M1, -M2 and -M3. It is concluded that the expression of NF-kappaB mRNA is higher in patients with AML. The up-regulation of NF-kappaB expression in patients with AML may play an important role in pathogenesis of AML.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between hypoxia and the apoptosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in SD rats.

METHODSCCSMCs were cultured in vitro and identified by immunohistochemistry, and then underwent hypoxia interference at the concentration of 1% O2 for 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, with normal oxygen concentration as the control. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cycles and apoptosis of the cells.

RESULTSThe cultured CCSMCs grew well, positive for anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin monoclonal antibody immunohistochemical staining. Flow cytometry showed that the number of CCSMCs in G0/G1 was gradually increased within 48 hours and then decreased, just opposite to the proportion of the S phase cells. But no regular change was found in the proportion of the cells in the G2/M phase.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes the apoptosis of CCSMCs in a time-dependent manner, to the maximum at 48 hours, and then cell lysis may occur, but with no further apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study epidemiological characteristics and influential factors of in-hospital patients struck by the Wenchuan earthquake disaster.

METHODSThe clinical data of 196 cases were collected from 2 hospitals of Chongqing city, including age, sex, occupation, injury site, dwelling and injury severity score.

RESULTSIn this series, 31.63% victims'age was over 60 years, and 54.08% were farmers. Multiple trauma accounted for 35.71%, and lower limb injury for 33.67%. There was no significant difference on injury severity score between city dwellers and rural ones (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe earthquake injury is influenced by many factors. More attention should be paid to the treatment at first 5 days after injury and high risk population.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; statistics & numerical data ; Earthquakes ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology