Objective: To assess the clinical application of transabdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of achalasia. Methods: The subjects were divided into 3 groups, with 8 patients suffered from achalasia as patient group, 10 normal individuals and 8 patients with cardiac carcinoma as controls. All subjects received water provocative test to study the lower esophagus and cardia. Sonographic findings were compared between the 3 groups. After treatment by administration of drugs, pneumatic balloon dilation, or intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin, the 8 patients were re examined by TAUS for longitudinal comparison. Results: (1)The normal subjects had no dilation of cardia and lower esophagus before drinking water, but their cardias opened rapidly with the drinking action. (2)All the patients of achalasia were found to have dilation of lower esophagus before taking water. During 10 min continuous TAUS scanning, 5 of 8 demonstrated absence of relaxation of cardias and absence of water from the esophagus into the stomach. The other 3 showed slight and intermittent relaxation of cardias with water flow into the stomach. Thirty minutes after water provocative test, all the 8 patients had water retardation within the lower esophagus. (3)The patients of cardiac carcinoma had an ultrasound feature of cardiac ring enlargement and thickening of cardiac wall without dilation of lower esophagus before water provocative test. Water passed the cardia more slowly. Conclusion: TAUS is a readily accepted examination. It can quickly give reliable diagnostic clues to achalasia. TAUS can also be used for making assessment of therapeutic effect on achalasia. [

BACKGROUND: Studies on substitute cells of bladder smooth muscle cells are in the early period at present. Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is an ideal method. Human amniotic mesenchymal cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes and nerve growth factor and promote local structure repair. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal cells into smooth muscle cells following transplantation, and the effects on bladder muscle layer. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The cytology in vitro study was performed at the Japan Xinzhou University from October 2006 to April 2007. MATERIALS: Human amnion was obtained from healthy full-term puerperal. A total of 18 clean female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly and equally assigned into normal bladder cell transplantation group, frostbite bladder control group, and frostbite bladder cell transplantation group. METHODS: Amnion was cut and mixed in DMEM containing trypsin. Epithelial cells were removed prior to tissues were incubated in DMEM, supplemented with collagenase and DNA enzyme. Human amniotic mesenchymal cells were harvested for use. Posterior vertex of urinary bladder was frozen using a -70 ℃ iron rod in rats of the frostbite bladder control group and frostbite bladder cell transplantation group. Hematoma appeared at the frostbite region of the bladder three days later. 100 ?L DMEM was injected into the hematoma of the rats of the frostbite bladder control group, while an equal volume of human amniotic mesenchymal cell suspension (105 cells) was injected into the hematoma of the rats of the frostbite bladder cell transplantation group. Human amniotic mesenchymal cell suspension was implanted into the normal rat bladder in the normal bladder cell transplantation group. After three weeks, the bladder tissue including partial urethra was used for bladder sample preparation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bladder smooth muscle repair was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal cells in the wall of urinary bladder was detected using fluorescence immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal bladder cell transplantation group, normal wall structure of urinary bladder, few fibrosis and good proliferation of smooth muscle cells were detected in the frostbite bladder cell transplantation group, while the wall of urinary bladder was slowly repaired, and disorder muscle structure, fibrosis, scar-like shape, and inflammatory cells were found in the frostbite bladder control group. Three weeks later, human amniotic mesenchymal cells were not seen in the normal bladder tissue. A large number of human amniotic mesenchymal cells was lived and some of them had differentiated into the smooth muscle cells in the frostbite bladder cell transplantation group. CONCLUSION: Human amniotic mesenchymal cells had the potential to differentiate into bladder smooth muscle cells and promoted self-repair of the wall of urinary bladder.

Objective: To assess the clinical application of transabdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of achalasia. Methods: The subjects were divided into 3 groups, with 8 patients suffered from achalasia as patient group, 10 normal individuals and 8 patients with cardiac carcinoma as controls. All subjects received water provocative test to study the lower esophagus and cardia. Sonographic findings were compared between the 3 groups. After treatment by administration of drugs, pneumatic balloon dilation, or intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin, the 8 patients were re-examined by TAUS for longitudinal comparison. Results: (1)The normal subjects had no dilation of cardia and lower esophagus before drinking water, but their cardias opened rapidly with the drinking action. (2)All the patients of achalasia were found to have dilation of lower esophagus before taking water. During 10 min continuous TAUS scanning, 5 of 8 demonstrated absence of relaxation of cardias and absence of water from the esophagus into the stomach. The other 3 showed slight and intermittent relaxation of cardias with water flow into the stomach. Thirty minutes after water provocative test, all the 8 patients had water retardation within the lower esophagus. (3)The patients of cardiac carcinoma had an ultrasound feature of cardiac ring enlargement and thickening of cardiac wall without dilation of lower esophagus before water provocative test. Water passed the cardia more slowly. Conclusion: TAUS is a readily accepted examination. It can quickly give reliable diagnostic clues to achalasia. TAUS can also be used for making assessment of therapeutic effect on achalasia.

Object In order to identify the medicine at the molecular level, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of Saussurea medusa Maxim and its easily confusable species were sequenced Methods The double stranded DNA was amplified using PCR systems 9 600 kits and sequenced on an ABI 377 automated sequencer from both directions Results The ITS sequences of S medusa of different populations showed no variation, but there existed distinct variation between S medusa and its confusable species Conclusion ITS sequences can be used for the molecular authentication between S medusa and its confusable species

Objective To establish the method and assess the safety，feasibility and clinical efficacies of percutaneous transhepaticcontrast-enhancedcholangio-ultrasonography(PTCECUS).Methods Twenty-one patients aged(58.5±16.65)years(range 27-93)with biliary obstruction or stricture underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage or ch01ecystodrainage.A dose of more than 50 ml of 0.94% Sono Vue(Bracco，Itay)solution was injected into their bile ducts(n=17)and cholecysts(n=4)through the drainage catheter.Their biliary tracts，cholecysts and duodenums were scanned under contrast pulsed sequencing mode(CPS，Sequoia 512，Siemens)to achieve related contrast-enhanced ultrasonograms.Severity of biliary obstruction were assessed according to the PTCECUS findingswith a comparison toconventionalultrasonography(CVUS)，magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography(PTC)in a part of the patients.Results①PTCECUS gave rise to good-quality contrast-enhanced uhrasonograms of biliary tracts.②PTCECUS was superior to CVUS and in consistence with MRCP and PTC in evaluating the severity of biliary tract obstruction.This method helped to make a proper design for biliary drainage.③PTCECUS was more efficient than PTC in that PTC had the patients receive transhepatic puncture and cholangiography in separated departments.④Neither any complications immediate from transhepatic puncture and administration of SonoVue inall the 21 patients，nor those 1 to 8 months late during ultrasound follow up in 14 patients were found.Conclusions PTCECUS，characterized in bettering the display of biliary tracts，especially the severity of obstruction of biliary tracts，is safe through the procedure and valuable in supervising biliary drainage against obstructive jaundice.

Objective: To study the chemical co nstituents obtained from Hedysarum multijugum . Methods: The compounds were separated by liquid-liquid extraction a nd chromatography, their structures were identified by spectral analyses. Results: Seven compou nds were obtained triacontyl alcohol (1); tetra cosanoic acid (2); 5,7-dihydro xy-6, 8-di-C-prenyl -4′-methoxy -isoflavone (3); 4′-hydroxy-trans-cinnamic acid docosyl ester (4); stigmasterol (5); 5, 7-dihydroxy-6-C-prenyl-4′-methoxy-isofl avone (6, Gancaonin M); caffeic acid tetracosyl ester (7). Conclusion: Compounds 3 and 4 were new natural compoun ds and the rest were obtained from the plant for the first time.

Patients were divided into normal control, liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis groups. The patients with cirrhosis were categorized according to the Child Pugh classification into Child A,Child B and Child C groups. The waveforms of the right hepatic vein were examined with ultrasonography. HV(hepatic vein)0 waveforms were found in all the control subjects, 70.8% in those with fibrosis and 40.7% in those with cirrhosis. HV1 were found in 16.7% of those with fibrosis and 17.8% of those with cirrhosis. HV2 were found in 12.5% of those with fibrosis and 41.5% of those with cirrhosis. Statistical analysis showed that HV2 waveforms were significantly more often in patients with cirrhosis than in those with fibrosis. HV2 waveforms in the right hepatic vein are suggestive of liver cirrhosis.

Objective To establish a double reporter transgenic mice for monitoring Cre recombinase activity. Methods ZAP DNA fragment with lacZ and human alkaline phosphatase (hAP) gene was microinjected into the male pronucleus of 554 fertilized eggs from C57BL/6 mice. The founder mice and their progeny were screened for integration of transgene into the mouse genome by PCR and Southern blotting. The expression of lacZ transgene at early embryos from F1 generation mice was analyzed by X gal staining. Results A total of 398 survival ZAP DNA injected fertilized eggs were transfered to the oviducts of 21 pseudopregnant recipient mice. Of the 21 recipient mice, 13 became pregnancy and gave birth to 68 offspring mice. The zygote survival rate and birth rate were 71% (398/554) and 17% (68/398), respectively. Of the 68 offspring mice, 9 mice (5 males and 4 females) were identified by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Total integration rate and efficiency of transgene was 13% (9/68) and 1.6% (9/554), respectively. Nine mice as the founders were back crossed to set up F1 generation with other inbred C57BL/6 mice. Out of 9 transgenic mice, transmission of reporter gene in F1 offspring mice followed Mendelian rules, but the expression of lacZ protein was detected at the early embryonic stage (13.5 days postcoitum) in only 3 mice. Conclusion A double reporter transgenic mice for monitoring Cre recombinase activity is established.

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma indirect bilirubin(IDB) and its role in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea hyponea syndrome(OSAHS).Methods Plasma IDB levels were detected in 30 healthy controls and 20 patiemts with OSAHS by improved J G method with 7170A automatic biochemistry analytical apparatus.Plasma IDB levels in OSAHS were compared before and an overnight or a month after CPAP treatment.ResultsPlasma IDB levels in controls were significantly higher than those in OSAHS [(16 2?5 0) ?mol/L vs (8 0?3 5)?mol/L, P 0 05] and markedly increase after a month CPAP ventilation [(8 0?3 5) ?mol/L vs (14 0?5 0)?mol/L, P

Objective:To analyze the effect of tanreqing injection on the serum levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:102 patients with COPD were divided into the control group and the observation group according to random number table method,52 cases in each group.The control group was treated with routine therapy,and the observation group was treated with Tanreqing injection based on the control group.The serum TGF-β,MMP-9 levels,forced vital capacity (FVC),1 s forced expiratory volume (FEV1),partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2),oxygen partial pressure (PaO2),CD4+,CD86,CD4+/CD8+,syndrome integral,clinical efficacy and incidence of side effects were observed and compared between the two groups.Results:After treatment,the serum TGF-β,MMP-9 levels,PaCO2 and syndrome integral of observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group,the PaO2,CD4+,FVC,FEV1,CD4+/CD8+ and the clinical efficacy of observation group were obviously higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effects between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Tanreqing injection could effectively reduce the serum levels of TGF-β and MMP-9,and improve the arterial blood gas,lung function and immune function in treatment of patients with COPD.