Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY) and asphyxia in newborns. Methods Thirty-seven patients with neonatal asphyxia (asphyxia group) and 33 healthy pregnant women(control group )in their third trimester were chosen. The concentrations of plasma NPY were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results The levels of NPY in umbilical artery plasma was (187.47? 46.63) ng/L in asphyxia group,and (115.33?29.42) ng/L in control group. There were significant difference between them ( P 0.05). Conclusions The neonatal asphyxia was associated with NPY. NPY might play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in neonatal asphyxia.

BACKGROUND: Orphanin, which was found in recent years, is an important bioactive polypeptide. Its extensive distribution in the central nervous system and peripheral tissue suggests a function of adjusting global behaviors.OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of plasm orphanin level and monoamine neurotransmitters in patients with postpartum depression by determining the levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine(DA) in patients.DESIGN: Case-control experiment taking diagnosis as evidence.SETTING: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five healthy women and seventeen women patients with postpartum depression after delivery who came in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changzheng Hospital and Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA for further consultation during February 2002 to October 2004 were enrolled in this study, and served as control group and postpartum depression group, respectively. All the enrolled women, aged 21 to 43 years, with fair education levels, and voluntarily participated in this study. Women patients of 15 to 25 days after delivery suffered from the incipient postpartum depression with total scores of Edingburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) above 13. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects.METHODS: The levels of orphanin and monoamine neurotransmitters in venous blood from 25 healthy women and 17 women patients with postpartum depression were determined. ① Sample collecting: Blood was taken from women in the postpartum depression group 2 weeks after onset, while from control group 35 days after delivery. ② Assay method:The level of orphanin was determined with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The reagent kit was provided by phoenix company (USA) and the procedure was strictly performed according to the instructions on the reagent kit. The levels of 5-HT and DA were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography or electrochemical detection method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Changes in the levels of orphanin as well as 5-HT and DA in postpartum depression group and control group. ② Correlation of the total scores of EPDS and the levels of orphanin in postpartum depression group.RESULTS: Twenty-five healthy women and seventeen women patients with postpartum depression after delivery all participated in the result analysis. ① The level of orphanin in the postpartum depression group[(27.39±6.04) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(10.37±3.65) ng/L](P ＜ 0.01),the levels of 5-HT in the postpartum depression group [(0.93±0.21) μmol/L] was remarkably lower than that in the control group[(1.43±0.36) μmol/L](P ＜0.05) ,and the levels of DA in postpartum depression group[(2.15±0.41) μmol/L] was obviously lower than that in the control group [(3.64±0.72) μmol/L]( P ＜ 0.01). ②The level of orphanin was negatively correlated with those of 5-HT and DA in postpartum depression group(r = -0.601 , -0.593,P ＜ 0.05). ③ The total scores of EPDS were significantly positively correlated with the level of orphanin (r = 0.512, P ＜ 0.05), and negatively correlated with the levels of 5-HT and DA (r = -0.571,-0.526, P＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The level of orphanin in patients with postpartum depression is increased and is negatively correlated with the levels of 5-HT and DA, but positively correlated with the total scores of EPDS.

Objective To investigate whether timing of image acquisition influenced infarct size estimation using delayed CeMRI,and the association of left ventricular ejection fraction between magnetic resol3anee imaging and left ventrieulography Was also studied.Method From Junary 2005 to April 2006,27 first,onset AMI patients [23 male,mean age(54.3±10.5)years]were enrolledinthistudr.Allpatients receivedleft ventrictdographyas well as coronary angiography.The average checking time was(13.2±5.2)clays after the onset of AMI.MR imaging was performed with a 1.5-T magnet(SIMENS).After breath-hold eine images were acquired,patients re.ceived afI intravenous bolus of 0.05 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA at a rate of 5 ml/8.A first-pass perfusion scan was ac.qllired.Then a second bolus of 0.15 mmoVkg Gd-DTPA was give.at a rate of 2 mE/Is.After the hyperenhancement localized,the typical short axis slice with hyperenhancement WaS chosen to repeat imaging for IlleasuriIin.farct size every5minutesfrom5minutes after secondinjection ofcontrast until 20minutes.Results Twexty-seren patients showed hyperenhancement at the delayed CeMRI and hypoenhancement at the first pass enhancement(FPE).The average infarct size estimated by CeMRI WaS(17.9士9.8)%of LV nlass.Myocardial enhancement at a repesentative short-axis slice WIllS(7.2±6.2)%of LV Imss at 5 minutes,(8.5±7.4)%at 10 minutes,(7.3±6.3)%at 15 minutes and(6.9-t-6.4)%at 20 minutes respectively.There WltlS significant difference be-tween lmfninmes and 20-minutes enhancement size(P<0.05).Correlations of EF obtained by cineventriculo-grapIIy and MR irr,lg were significant(r=0.867,P<0.01).There were also correlations between infarction size and pe.k CK(r:O.819,P

The present study was designed to investigate the electrophysiological characteristics of rat conduit pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the response to acute hypoxia. PASMCs of the 1st to 2nd order branches in the conduit pulmonary arteries were obtained by enzymatic isolation. The PASMCs were divided into acute hypoxia preconditioned group and normoxia group. Hypoxia solutions were achieved by bubbling with 5% CO2 plus 95% N2 for at least 30 min before cell perfusion. Potassium currents were compared between these two groups using whole-cell patch clamp technique. The total outward current of PASMCs was measured under normoxia condition when iBTX [specific blocking agent of large conductance Ca-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channel] and 4-AP [specific blocking agent of delayed rectifier K(+) (K(DR)) channel] were added consequently into bath solution. PASMCs were classified into three types according to their size, shape and electrophysiological characteristics. Type I cells are the smallest with spindle shape, smooth surface and discrete perinuclear bulge. Type II cells show the biggest size with banana-like appearance. Type III cells have the similar size with type I, and present intermediary shape between type I and type II. iBTX had little effect on the total outward current in type I cells, while 4-AP almost completely blocked it. Most of the total outward current in type II cells was inhibited by iBTX, and the remaining was sensitive to 4-AP. In type III cells, the total outward current was sensitive to both iBTX and 4-AP. Acute hypoxia reduced the current in all three types of cells: (1614.8+/-62.5) pA to (892.4+/-33.6) pA for type I cells (P<0.01); (438.3+/-42.8) pA to (277.5+/-44.7) pA for type II cells (P<0.01); (1 042.0+/-37.2) pA to (613.6+/-23.8) pA for type III (P<0.01), and raised the resting membrane potentials (E(m)) in all these three types of cells: (-41.6+/-1.6) mV to (-18.6+/-1.5) mV (P<0.01), (-42.3+/-3.8) mV to (-30.6+/-3.0) mV (P<0.01), (-43.3+/-1.6) mV to (-28.4+/-1.4) mV (P<0.01), for type I, II, III cells, respectively. These results suggest that acute hypoxia suppresses the potassium current and improves the E(m) in PASMCs. These effects may be involved in the modulation of constriction/relaxation of conduit artery under acute hypoxia. Different distribution of K(DR) and BK(Ca) channels in these three types of PASMCs might account for their different constriction/relaxation response to acute hypoxia.
4-Aminopyridine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore effects of Yougui recipe (see text) and salmon calcitonin acetate in preventing osteolysis surrounding artificial prosthesis.

METHODSThirty-two SD male rats with weighted (250 +/- 20) g, aged 8 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups: blank group, model group, salmon calcitonin acetate group and Yougui recipe (see text) group, and 8 rats in each group. Blank group did not undergo any process, other 24 rats underwent anesthesia by chloral hydrate, their knee joints were exposed through medial patellar side,drilling from fermoral condyle nest to marrow cavity,high density of polythlene particles were injected into hole, titanium nail were put into, bone wax closed the window, then suturing step by step. After the molding, saline were used to gavaged in blank group and model group, Yougui recipe (see text) for Yougui recipe (see text) group, salmon calcitonin maximus injection for calcitonin group. After 10 weeks' mediation, rats were executed, and arterial blood and bilateral femoral organization were collected to biochemical, imaging morphology, tissue pathology and molecular biology detection.

RESULTSThe key gene expression of activiting osteoclast were inhibited in Yougui recipe (see text) group and calcitonin group. The level of OPG, Ca, ALP in Yougui recipe group were higher than calcitonin group (P<0.01); the content of RANKL were lower (P<0.01). There were no significance meaning in RANK, Trap5b, P between two groups.

CONCLUSIONBoth of Yougui recipe (see text) and calcitonin can slow and treat surrounding osteolysis of artificial joint prosthesis, and Yougui recipe (see text) has better effect in promoting bone formation. The effect of Yougui recipe (see text) in promoting bone formation, inhibiting osteoclasts to provide a new method to treating surrounding osteolysis of artificial joint prosthesis.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Osteolysis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases ; genetics

Objective To assess the value of 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission-CT(FDG PET-CT) in defining the length of primary esophageal cancer.Methods Thirty-two patients had underg- one esophagoscopy,esophagography and FDG PET-CT scans one week before esophagectomy.There was one tumor located in the upper thoracic esophagus,22 in the middle thoracic esophagus,and 9 in the lower tho- racic esophagus.The location and length of primary lesion of the tumor was determined by esophagoscopy, esophagography,and FDG PET-CT.The length of the abnormality seen on the CT portion of the PET-CT scan was determined separately and independently by two radiologists.All results were compared with the resected specimen.Results According to esophagography,CT and PET-CT,all lesion lengths were compared with that of the resected specimen.It was found that the tumor location determined by esophagoscopy was not in accordance with the resected specimen in 2 patients.The mean length of the primary tumor,being from short to long,were (3.8?1.4),(4.1?1.5),(4.4?1.6),(5.3?1.9) and (4.7?1.7) cm,as determined by esophagoscopy,esophagography,CT,actral length of the resected specimen and PET-CT.Compared with the resected specimen,there was obvious difference (P=0.000,0.007,0.025,0.001).Considering that there might be some kind of shrinkage in the resected specimen (about 83.59%,as reported by Ma et al), we rectified the length of resected specimen and compared with other findings again.It was found that insig- nificant difference existed between PET-CT and rectified length value of the resected specimen (P=0.082). Conclusions FDG PET-CT is effective in the length determination of primary esophageal cancer.It may he used to determine the length of esophagus to be resected for patients indicated for esophagectomy.It may also be used to ac- curately delineate the gross tumor volume for patients eligible for radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVEWe observed the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of different antidepressants as well as the correlation between symptomatic improvement of depression and improvement of chest pain in patients with susceptible "angina pectoris" and negative coronary angiogram complicating comorbid depression.

METHODSIn this double-blinded randomized study, a total of 123 eligible patients were allocated into three groups: (1) Group F: fluoxetine 20 mg QN (n = 41); (2) Group P: Placebo 1 tablet QN (n = 40); (3) Group F + O: fluoxetine 20 mg + olanzapine 2.5 mg QN for the former 2 weeks and only fluoxetine 20 mg QN for the latter 2 weeks (n = 42). The total therapy duration was 4 weeks. HAMD, HAMA and self-evaluation table of chest pain were obtained before therapy, at the end of 1 and 2 weeks after therapy.

RESULTSBaseline HAMD and HAMA scores and self-evaluation score of chest pain were similar among 3 groups and all scores were significantly improved post various therapies in the order of group F + O > group F > group P. The rate of score decrease were seen after 1 week treatment in group F + O and after 2 week treatment in group F. There was a significant positive correlation between the rates of self-evaluation chest pain score decrease and HAMD (r = 0.867, P < 0.001) and HAMA (r = 0.854, P < 0.001) score decreases after 4 weeks therapies (P < 0.05). During the whole course of treatment, no serious adverse reaction was found in all patients.

CONCLUSIONIn patients with suspected "angina pectoris" and negative coronary angiogram complicating comorbid depression, the antidepressants were safe and significantly improved the symptoms of depression and anxiety and chest pain. Low dose fluoxetine plus short term olanzapine regimen was superior to fluoxetine alone regimen in terms of stronger and quicker symptom improvement.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation ; therapeutic use ; Benzodiazepines ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Angiography ; Depressive Disorder ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo identify the active material of anti-hepatic fibrosis from Amydae Carapax.

METHODSMembrane separation technology was adopted to screen active fraction in Amydae Carapax, and the active components were isolated from the active fraction using gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The purified active components in Amydae Carapax were further analyzed using 4700 series time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

RESULTSProteins and peptides of Amydae Carapax with molecular weight less than 6000 were proved to have biological activity. 8 components (Bj1-Bj8) were isolated from the active fraction. Bj4, Bj6 and Bj7 were screened as active components. Bj7 was further purified, resulting in 7 components (Bj701-Bj707). Bj704 and Bj707 showed significant biological activity. Mass spectrometry showed three molecular ion peaks with highest abundance, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, i.e. m/e 526, 542 and 572, in Bj707 -A The amino acid sequences of above three peptide compounds were NDDY (Asn-Asp-Asp-Tyr), NPNPT (Asn-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr), and HGRFG (His-Gly-Arg-Phe-Gly), respectively. And M572 was the most abandunt components.

CONCLUSIONThree active peptide compounds of anti-hepatic fibrosis of Amydae Carapax were identified.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tissue Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 between drug-resistant gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR and gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 as well as its correlation with multiple-drug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from SGC7901 and SGC77901/ADR, with internal control RT-PCR, Northern blot, gene cloning and expression, construction of eukaryotic expression vector, gene transfection by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR in transiently transfected cell was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe internal control RT-PCR and Northern blot showed high RPL6/Taxreb107 expression in SGC7901/ADR cell line. Sense and antisense eukaryonic expression vectors demonstrated by double enzyme digestion were successfully transfected into gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and SGC7901/ADR respectively by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR detected 48 hours after transfection showed that RPL6 gene had shown effect on drug resistance in gastric cancer cell.

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 in drug resistant gastric cancer cell shows its correlation with multiple-drug resistance in gastric cancer.

DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Humans ; Statistics as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured