Objective To analyze the clinical features and common etiology of lung nodules in children. Methods The etiology, diagnosis, radiological features from 98 hospitalized children of lung nodules were analyzed. Results Of them, 58 were male and 40 were female aged from 0.2 years old to 14.8 years old. Pulmonary infection were found in 41 cases (41.8%) including tuberculosis in 15 cases (15.3%), pulmonary fungal infection in 13 cases (13.3%), pneumonia in 11 cases (11.2%), lung trematode in 2 cases (2.0%). Pulmonary metastases were found in 28 cases (28.6%), multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistula in 1 case (1.0%), and pulmonary contusion in 1 case (1.0%) and unknown etiology in 27 cases (27.6%). Conclusions The etiology of lung nodules is complicated, in which infectious diseases are the most commonly seen, followed by pulmonary metastases. Biopsy is the golden standard of diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Xuebijing injection(XBJI, traditional Chinese medicine), in inhibiting TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta pathway of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats.

METHODSThirty six male SD rats (280 +/- 30) g were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): normal group (N group), balanced perfusion group (BP group), model group (M group), low dose XBJI group (XBJI(L) group), middle dose XBJI group (XBJI(M) group), high dose XBJI group (XBJI(H) group). By Langendorff isolated heart perfusion device to establish the model of myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation in rats. ELISA was used to detect the concentration of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta); Western blot was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein and toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein; and RT-PCR to determine the expression of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA;To observe microstructure changes of hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial by light microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with M group, the IL-1beta concentration, NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 protein,NF-kappaB p65 and TLR4 mRNA of XBJIL group, XBJI(M) group, XBJI(H) group expression decreased in varying degrees,and decreased most obviously all in XBJI(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); Myocardical structural damage was serious in M group, and improved after treatment XBJI, the most obvious was the XBJI(M).

CONCLUSIONDifferent dose of XBJI can inhibit TLR4--NF-kappaB--IL-1beta signal transduction pathway and reduce several inflammatory reaction after myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, the 4 ml/100 ml of XBJI is the best.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Periplaneta americana extract is recognized to have a positive effect on gastrointestinal mucosa. This study aimed to investigate the effects of periplaneta americana extract on immune function, nutrition status and gastrointestinal complications of early enteral nutrition patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). METHODS:Patients with SIRS were randomly divided into two groups:treatment and control groups. All patients in the two groups received conventional therapy including enteral nutrition, but periplaneta americana extract, an additional Chinese medicine, was given to the patients in the treatment group. At the beginning of treatment (0 day) and 1, 3, and 7 days after treatment, the levels of immunoglobulin (IgA), total lymphocyte count (TLC), total protein (TP) and prealbumin (PA) were respectively tested in patients' venous blood. The incidences of bloating, diarrhea, aspiration pneumonia and high blood sugar at 7 days after treatment were recorded. The mortality of the patients in 28 days was recorded. RESULTS:At 3 and 7 days after treatment, the levels of IgA and TLC in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 7 days after treatment, the levels of TP and PA in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidences of bloating and diarrhea in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group, the differences were significant (P<0.05). The mortality of treatment group was lower than that of the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION:Periplaneta americana extract could reduce gastrointestinal complications and improve immune function and nutritional status in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo construct a mouse that specifically expresses Cre recombinase in hepatocyte.

METHODSA hepatocyte specific transgenic construct containing mouse albumin promoter, the Cre recombinase gene and the poly (A) of human growth factor gene was generated. The linearized constructs were introduced into the fertilized eggs by microinjection to obtain the transgenic mice. The transcriptional specificity of Cre recombinase was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression and function of Cre recombinase were detected by PCR and Southern Blot after crossing the Alb-Cre transgenic mice with the Smad4 conditional knockout mice.

RESULTSThe linearized constructs were microinjected into 837 fertilized eggs, and then the 797 effective eggs of microinjected eggs were implanted into the oviducts of 27 pseudo pregnant mice. In the 53 offspring, there were 6 mice carrying the transgene identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern Blot. Cre recombinase transcripts were detected in the livers and testis of the Alb-Cre transgenic mice using RT-PCR. The Cre recombinase was expressed in the livers of the double heterozygous for Alb-Cre and Smad4 floxed allele, and the exon 8 floxed by loxP site was deleted.

CONCLUSIONA hepatocyte-specific Cre transgenic mouse was generated successfully. The Cre recombinase expressed specifically in liver and could mediate the recombination between loxP sites in vivo.

Animals ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrases ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cytoskeleton integrity on the expression of c-fos gene in osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

METHODSBALB/c mouse primary osteoblasts were divided into four groups (according to fluid shear stress loaded or not and cytochalasin D used or not). The Tagman probe real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression levels of c-fos mRNA, c-fos protein and cytoskeleton, respectively. The data were analysed using two-way ANOVA.

RESULTSIn control group and cytochalasin D group, fluid shear stress could significantly increase the expression levels of c-fos mRNA (0.1637 +/- 0.0303 and 0.0104 +/- 0.0070, respectively) and protein (177.14 +/- 9.37 and 150.95 +/- 6.17, respectively) in osteoblasts, compared with the unloaded osteoblasts of the control group and the cytochalasin D group (0.0057 +/- 0.0021 and 0.0032 +/- 0.0014, respectively for c-fos mRNA, and 117.96 +/- 4.11 and 119.77 +/- 5.19, respectively for protein, P < 0.05). Induced by the fluid shear stress, the expression levels of c-fos mRNA and protein in cytochalasin D group were lower than control group, and the difference had statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cytoskeleton integrity in osteoblasts was essential to the expression of c-fos gene induced by fluid shear stress.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochalasin D ; pharmacology ; Cytoskeleton ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rheology ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of astragalus on testis tissues following unilateral testicular torsion/detorsion.

METHODSThirty healthy adult Wistar rats were equally randomized into Group A (sham-operation control), B (torsion/detorsion) and C (torsion/detorsion plus intraperitoneal injection of astragalus). The testicular torsion/detorsion model was established by the Turner method. All the rats were fed under the same condition for 7 days and sacrificed, and the torsional testes were harvested for the detection of germ cell apoptosis, glutathione activity and the level of malonic diethylaldehyde (MDA).

RESULTSThe apoptosis indexes (AI) of spermatogenic cells in the torsional testes were (5.82 +/- 1.21), (36.18 +/- 8.40) and (20.39 +/- 3.57) in Group A, B and C, significantly higher in Group B and C than in A (P < 0.05) and in Group B than in C (P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in glutathione activity in the ipsilateral testes among Group A (48.03 +/- 2.01), B (30.93 +/- 1.25), C (38.44 +/- 1.06) U/mg (P< 0.05), as well as in the level of MDA, (1.43 +/- 0.17), (3.98 +/- 0.36), (2.57 +/- 0.53) nmol/ml, among the three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAstragalus could significantly reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, decrease the level of lipid peroxidation and protect glutathione activity in the torsional testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astragalus Plant ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; drug therapy

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. Methods 179 cases of patients with thyroid disease underwent fine needle aspiration cytology, designated senior specialist, complete the relevant operation, record the inspection results, the data input SPSS software to give the corresponding analysis and conclusions. Results 179 cases of thyroid diseases were successfully completed fine needle aspiration cytology,the success rate was 100%, the majority of patients with benign lesions, including nodular goiter the highest proportion (30.73%), the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of fine needle aspiration cytology can provide reliable basis for clinical diagnosis of thyroid disease, help the patients diagnosed the illness as soon as possible and get timely treatment,has a positive significance to guarantee the curative effect and prognosis.

Objective To investigate rickettsiae infection from host animals and vector arthropods in some areas of Yunnan Province. Methods Rat clip and cage traps were used to capture mice. Chiggers from body surface of mice and ticks from body surface of farm cattle were collected. DNAs were extracted from mice spleens, chiggers and ticks. Rickettsiae groEL segment were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), sequenced to analyze the homology with other known sequences. Results A total of 410 samples were collected for rickettsiae groEL segment detection with nPCR and 19 samples (4.63%) showed positive for rickettsiae groEL segment . Among them, 2.68%(11/410)were positive for Orientia tsutsugamsushi (Ot) groEL segment, and 1.22%(5/410)were positive for spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) groEL segment, and 0.49%(2/410)were positive for rickettsia mooseri (Rm) groEL segment, and 0.24%(1/410)were positive for rickettsia endosymbiont(Re) groEL segment. When analyzed the homology with other known sequences, 11Ot strains with 93.6%-100% similarities among them in this study shared the highest similarity with other Ot strains from GenBank respectively, reached up to 96.1%-100%; The groEL segments of 5 SFGR strains with 92.1%-99.5% similarities among them in this study shared highest similarity with other SFGR strains from other GenBank respectively, reached up to 98.9%-100%; In this study groEL segments of 2 Rm strains all showed 100% similarity with Wilmington strain (GenBank No:AE017197); One groEL segment of Re showed 98.9% similarity with Re strain (GenBank No:EU435143). Conclusion There were kinds of rickettsiaes infection in host animals and vector arthropods in Yunnan Province, so the monitoring and prevention of the Rickettsiosis should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between hypertension and the tendency of change among children,so as to lay a foundation for the prevention and control of hypertension.

METHODSBased on findings from the prevalence survey that carried out in September 1999 in Daqing of Heilongjiang province. New admission children were selected as subjects to conduct a five-year cohort study. All the subjects were interviewed with questionnaires and their blood specimens were collected for biochemical analysis. All data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 software. Results The prevalence of hypertension among 447 children was found 2.01% at the baseline study but increased to 5.37% in the fifth year. During a five year period, the systolic pressure level among children increased from (100.65 +/- 11.62)mmHg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (106.67 +/- 9.29) mm Hg,while the diastolic pressure level was from (66.27 +/- 11.31) mm Hg to (70.28 +/- 7.98) mm Hg and showed significant difference between boys and girls. There were association between hypertension and family history, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, insulin, insulin resistance index while insulin sensitivity index and family history, BMI and insulin sensitivity index appeared to be the important factors. Children under this study were divided to 'with family history or without' and then every group was divided to 'with over weight-obesity or normal'. Obesity and insulin sensitivity seemed the key risk factors on hypertension. Descent of insulin sensitivity was an independent risk factor.

CONCLUSIONThe level of blood tension among children in Daqing city was higher than that from the national data. The present study confirmed that over-weight,obesity, heredity and insulin resistance were the risk factors of hypertension while insulin resistance was related to hypertension. The interaction of these risk factors was independent or correlated to each other.

Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; complications ; epidemiology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Overweight ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the abilities of population-based birth defects surveillance system (PBBDSS) and hospital-based birth defects surveillance system(HBBDSS).

METHODSWe used capture-mark-recapture method(CMR) to analyze the data of the two kinds of birth defects surveillance systems from 1 Oct. 2006 to 31 Dec. 2006 in a county of Hunan province. Data from PBBDSS were defined as the first source and data from HBBDSS were defined as the second source.

RESULTS49 and 28 birth defect cases were found from PBBDSS and from HBBDSS respectively. Among these cases, 20 were marked. With the method of CMR, the estimated birth defects cases were 68 (95% CI: 56-70). The coincident rates of PBBDSS and HBBDSS were 72.1% and 41.2%, while the total coincident rates was 83.8% and the coincident rates from different sources was 57.1%. The unreported rates of PBBDSS and HBBDSS were 27.9% and 58.8%.

CONCLUSIONNot only the HBBDSS but also the PBBDSS appeared to have had high unreported rates, suggesting that we could use CMR to adjust the rate of birth defects from the birth defects surveillance data.

Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Population Surveillance ; methods