Objective To modify the methods of operation and establishment of cerebral ischemia rat models made by thread occlusion. Method We randomly divided 120 male SD rats into a common group (n = 50), an improvement group (n = 60) and a sham-operated group (n - 10). Rats in the common and improvement groups were made into models using the common and improvement methods separately. All models were evaluated on the basis of physical sign indices and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. The TTC staining results were taken as gold standards. Then, we compared the achievement ratios of the two groups, and computed the sensitivity and specificity of every physical sign index based on these standards. The χ~2 or correction χ~2 test was used to compare the ratios. Results (1) The achievement ratio in the improvement group was significantly higher than that in the common group (71.67% vs. 52.00%, P = 0.034). (2) The sensitivity of evaluation for both common and improvement methods was 98.55%. However, the specificity of evaluation for the improvement method was significantly higher than that for the common method (100.00% vs. 40.00%, P =0.000). Conclusions The establishment achievement ratio and evaluation correctness of models are obviously elevated by modification of the operation and establishment methods.

Through introducing mutations into ribosomes by obtaining spontaneous drug resistance of microorganisms, ribosome engineering technology is an effective approach to develop mutant strains that overproduce secondary metabolites. In this study, ribosome engineering was used to improve the yield of butenyl-spinosyns produced by Saccharopolyspora pogona by screening streptomycin resistant mutants. The yields of butenyl-spinosyns were then analyzed and compared with the parent strain. Among the mutants, S13 displayed the greatest increase in the yield of butenyl-spinosyns, which was 1.79 fold higher than that in the parent strain. Further analysis of the metabolite profile of S13 by mass spectrometry lead to the discovery of Spinosyn α1, which was absent from the parent strain. DNA sequencing showed that there existed two point mutations in the conserved regions of rpsL gene which encodes ribosomal protein S12 in S13. The mutations occurred a C to A and a C to T transversion mutations occurred at nucleotide pair 314 and 320 respectively, which resulted in the mutations of Proline (105) to Gultamine and Alanine (107) to Valine. It also demonstrated that S13 exhibited genetic stability even after five passages.
Genetic Engineering ; Macrolides ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Ribosomal Proteins ; genetics ; Ribosomes ; metabolism ; Saccharopolyspora ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of surface electromyography (sEMG) during swallowing in normal adults.

METHODSThe sEMG during swallowing was carried out in 126 normal adults. There were 66 males and 60 females with their age ranged from 18 to 65 years. The recording electrodes were placed on the skin above the superior thyroid notch and the duration and amplitude of muscle activities during every deglutition were recorded. Swallowing styles were dry swallow, 20 ml water swallow and 40 ml water swallow.

RESULTSThe durations of sEMG at dry swallow, 20 ml water swallow and 40 ml water swallow were (1.133 ± 0.209)s (x¯ ± s), (1.097 ± 0.208)s, and (1.510 ± 0.432)s, while the amplitudes were (0.332 ± 0.115)mV, (0.308 ± 0.095)mV, and (0.399 ± 0.139)mV in normal male group. The durations of sEMG at dry swallow, 20 ml water swallow and 40 ml water swallow were (1.118 ± 0.170)s, (1.085 ± 0.209)s, and (1.765 ± 0.463)s, while the amplitudes were (0.292 ± 0.100)mV, (0.261 ± 0.113)mV, and (0.342 ± 0.129)mV in normal female group. The amplitudes of sEMG in male were higher than those in female (P < 0.05) and the durations had no statistically significant difference between male and female (P > 0.05) in all swallow styles except that the duration of 40 ml water swallow in female was longer than that in male (P < 0.05). In all volunteers, the durations of sEMG at 40 ml water swallow were longer than those at dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow, and there was no statistically significant difference between dry swallow and 20 ml water swallow. The amplitude of sEMG at 40 ml water swallow was higher than that at dry swallow. The amplitude of sEMG in dry swallow was higher than that at 20 ml water swallow. There was no statistically significant difference in durations and amplitudes of sEMG among four different age groups of male. In the female groups, there was no statistically significant difference in durations and amplitudes of sEMG among four different age groups except that the duration at 40 ml water swallow was longer in younger group (<30 years old) than in older groups.

CONCLUSIONSSurface EMG of swallowing is a simple and noninvasive method for evaluating the swallowing function. The sEMG data of swallowing in normal adults obtained in this study may be used to provide reference for screening swallowing function in adults in the future.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition ; Electrodes ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the present study was to identify the relationship between the plasma level of adiponectin and in-stent restenosis of patients with coronary heart disease after coronary stenting.

METHODThe study population comprised 119 individuals (92 men) who underwent stent implantation, including 65 subjects without in-stent restenosis (group A) and 54 patients with in-stent restenosis (group B). The level of plasma adiponectin was measured using ELISA. Coronary angiography was performed immediately before and after implanting stent and 9 - 12 months later.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics including drug use after PCI were similar between the groups. The rate of implanting bare metal stent is 8 (12.31%) and 6 (11.11%), TAXUS drug-eluting stent is 11 (16.92%) and 10 (18.52%) and CYPHER drug-eluting stent is 46 (70.77%) and 38 (70.37%) respectively (all P > 0.05). Plasma level of adiponectin in patient of group A was significantly higher than that in group B [(15.16 +/- 5.02) mg/L vs. (10.01 +/- 4.93) mg/L, P < 0.05]. The quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) showed that lesion length was similar between groups [(15.82 +/- 6.67) mm vs. (13.40 +/- 4.20) mm, P > 0.05], minimum lumen diameter (MLD) and stenosis rate were also similar before and after implanting stent (P > 0.05) and acute gain was (1.48 +/- 0.65) mm vs. (1.19 +/- 0.37) mm (P > 0.05). MLD was higher in group A than that in group B [(2.55 +/- 0.53) mm vs. (0.57 +/- 0.60) mm, P < 0.01] at 9 - 12 months follow up. Restenosis rate [(24.2 +/- 11.2)% vs.(81.0 +/- 19.1)%, P < 0.01] and late lumen loss [(0.50 +/- 0.34) mm vs. (1.60 +/- 0.54) mm, P < 0.01] were lower in group A than in group B.

CONCLUSIONSThe lower plasma adiponectin level might be associated with in-stent restenosis after coronary stenting.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Restenosis ; blood ; pathology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss the Chinese version of reflux symptom index (RSI) scale's reliability, validity and clinical value.

METHODSUsing the Chinese version of RSI scale on the ENT outpatients. There are one hundred and seven patients, included thirty-five patients with common throat (non-suspected) and seventy-two patients with clinically suspected throat reflux. 107 patients are to complete the two scales before and after one week. Thirteen patients with common throat(non-suspected) diseases and forty-one with suspected throat reflux also received RSI testing. Among the thirty-four confirmed acid reflux disease patients, thirty patients received pharmaceutical treatments and self-performed post-RSI testing after three months.

RESULTSThe RSI Scale internal reliability consistency included the test-retest reliability (0.750 - 0.971), discriminant validity and construct validity. RSI total targeting percentage of 66.7%, targeting percentage is 80.8%, discriminant validity using 2 independent samples Wilcoxon test, RSI total score compared to Z = -3.266, P = 0.001. The before and after treatment self-control chi-square test (P < 0.05), difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSRSI Simplified Chinese version has good reliability and validity, and can be used for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) diagnostic screening along with the efficacy for the treatment of patients with appropriate LPRD aids.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Standards ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and major depression in Chinese Han population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction was used to genotype MAOA VNTR polymorphism. A total of 512 major depression patients and 566 normal controls were recruited in our study. These patients were also assessed using the 14-item Hamilton anxiety scale. RESULTS The allele frequency of MAOA VNTR was not significantly different between the male/female major depression patients and the normal controls. Compared with the normal controls, MAOA VNTR genotype was significantly more frequent in female major depression patients (P=0.002), but not in male patients (P=0.17). MAOA VNTR-L carrier was also associated with "fear" symptom in female patients (P=0.0056).

CONCLUSIONMAOA gene is associated with the major depression in Chinese Han population, especially among female patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Monoamine Oxidase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Young Adult

Bone Diseases ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; physiology ; Humans ; Martial Arts ; education ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Religious Philosophies

OBJECTIVETo study the oxidative damage and apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52e cell line) induced by ethylbenzene.

METHODSNRK-52e cells were exposed to 30, 60, 90, 120 μmol/L ethylbenzene for 24 hours. Cell viability were measured using MTT, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were detected respectively. PI fluorescent staining assay was applied to detect percentage of apoptosis in ethylbenzene-treated groups.

RESULTSCompared with control group, cell outline became clear, cell diopter increased, cell became smaller and shrinkage, some cells broke in 60 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated group. Plenty of cells died, suspension cells increased significantly in 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated group. Compared with control group, cell viability the activities of SOD and CAT and the content of GSH were significantly decreased in 60 and 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated groups (P<0.05). The MDA content were remarkably elevated in 90 μmol/L ethylbenzene-treated groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEthylbenzene can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in NRK-52e cells (P<0.05).

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzene Derivatives ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic factors of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and establish a reliable model of clinical prognostic index.

METHODSKaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used to analyze the relationship between survival time and prognostic factors in 60 cases of SCLC. The prognostic factors included clinical and laboratory parameters, serum cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA21-1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CA125, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R).

RESULTSKaplan-Meier analysis showed that poor prognosis was in patients with KPS < 80 or extensive disease and unrelated to other clinical parameters such as age, sex and smoking index, and in patients with serum NSE > 30 micro g/L, CEA > 5.0 micro g/L, CA125 > 37 KU/L and sIL-2R > 500 KU/L. Serum IL-2 and CYFRA21-1 were also elevated, but had no significant prognostic value. Multivariate analysis indicated that serum NSE, stage and treatment of disease were independent prognostic factors. The three prognostic factors enabled establishment of a prognostic index (PI) based on a simple algorithm: PI = NSE (0 if < or = 30 micro g/L, 1 if > 30 microg/L) + stage (0 = LD, 1 = ED) + CEA (0 if < or = 5.0 microg/L, 1 if > 5.0 microg/L).

CONCLUSIONThe stage of disease, systemic treatment and the level of serum NSE are independent prognostic factors. Without considering the influence of treatment-related factors on survival, the levels of serum CEA, NSE and stage of disease before treatment are significant independent prognostic factors. PI calculated on the basis of CEA, NSE and stage is recommended to predict the survival of SCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; mortality ; secondary ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVESalt-sensitivity plays an important role in essential hypertension and is associated with more severe target organ injury and higher mortality in patients with essential hypertension. However, the pathologic mechanism of salt-sensitivity is poorly understood and endothelial dysfunction might be involved in salt-sensitive hypertension. We, therefore, observed the endothelial function changes by measuring plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in salt-sensitive (SS) normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects underwent various salt loading protocols and the effects of potassium supplement.

METHODSThirty-nine normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects (< 160/100 mm Hg), aged 16-60, were enrolled and the study protocol is as follows: 3 days baseline investigation, 1 week low-salt loading (3 g/day), 1 week. high-salt loading (18 g/day) and 1 week high-salt loading plus potassium chloride (4.5 g/day).

RESULTSPlasma and urine NO levels were significantly lower in SS (n = 8) subjects at baseline, low-salt and high-salt loading phases compared with salt-resistant subjects (SR, n = 31) and oral potassium supplement to SS subjects with high salt loading significantly increased plasma and urine NO levels.

CONCLUSIONEndothelial function is impaired in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects. Oral potassium supplement could improve endothelial function in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects.

Adult ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Endothelium ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; urine ; Potassium, Dietary ; administration & dosage