Objective To analyze the influence of age on the diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF) with amino terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) ,and to explore the best cut‐off value of NT‐proBNP in the diagnosis of AHF .Methods Totally 457 inpatients suspected with AHF obtained a blood NT‐proBNP measurement within 24 hours when in charged ,including 194 patients with AHF .Patients were divided into three groups according to their age :≤50 years ,>50-70 years and >70 years . The relationship between NT‐proBNPand AHF was analyzed .The diagnostic value of NT‐proBNP was evaluated for AHF in differ‐ent age groups .Results The median NT‐proBNP levels of AHF in all age groups were significantly higher than those without (P<0 .01) .AUC of NT‐proBNP for AHF in ≤50 years ,>50-70 years and >70 years groups were 0 .95 ,0 .91 ,0 .88 ,the best diagnos‐tic cut‐off points were 1 100 ,1 800 ,3 000 pg/mL ,respectively .The diagnostic specificity was 88% ,76% and 73% ,respectively .O‐verall ,the specificity of NT‐proBNP cut‐off values for age group was higher than non‐age groups .Conclusion NT‐proBNP has a good value in the diagnosis of AHF in patients with different ages .According to the age group ,the different NT‐proBNP cut‐off values can be used to improve the specificity of diagnosis .

Objective To investigate the influence of indenter diameter on fracture strength and fracture mode of IPS e. max all-ceramic crowns using mechanical experiments and three-dimensional finite element (3-DFE) method, to validate the 3-DFE model using mechanical experiments, and to provide a guideline for occlnsal surface design for IPS e. max all-ceramic crowns. Methods A 3-DFE model of an all-ceramic crown on a molar was established using ANSYS10.0 software. The 3-DFE crown was loaded occlusally at three points to simulate the contact points of a hemispherical indenter loading on the crown. Two indenter diameters (4 mm and 10 mm) were designed by changing loading point, load level and its direction. The stress distribution and the principal stress in the 3-DFE model were calculated. Meanwhile, IPS e. max ceramic crowns were made on a laboratory model and loaded with indenters. The diameters of the indenters were also 4 mm and 10 mm respectively. Fracture mode and fracture-resistance of the crowns were recorded. Results The principal stress increased as load increases for both small and large indenters. Stress concentrated in the central fossa of the 3-DFE crown when loaded with the small indenter. Stress concentration appeared in the middle area of the occlusal surface mesio-distally when 3-DFE crown was loaded with large indenter. The fracture-resistance load was 600 N to 700 N for 4 mm diameter indenter, and 2500 N to 2750 N for 10 mm diameter indenter. Mechanical experiments indicated the same results as those from 3-DFE analysis. Conclusions Both the three-dimensional finite element analysis and the mechanical experiment showed the same results. When loaded with 4 mm diameter indenter, fracture occured in the central fossa of the crown, however, 10 mm diameter indenter usually caused extensive crown damage.

Objective To evaluate the value of reconstruction of three-dimentional CT in development dislocation of hip(DDH)in children.Methods Twelve cases of DDH concluded 4 bilateral and 8 unilateral cases.To sum up,16 sick hips were operated and 8 normal hips were also obtained by three-dimensional CT(Hip speed Fi/x,GE Co).Results 3D reconstruction were used to show femoral head,(acetabulum) and relationship of acetabulum and femoral head respectively.The difference between FNA measurement of sick hips and those of normal hips were significant(P

Objective To investigate the clinical epidemiologic features of transient synovitis(TS) of hip in children occurred in Shen-zhen district.Methods The medical files were reviewed and a standard questionnaire was filled according to the conditions of 705 cases such as pathogeny,clinical manifestation,therapy and prognosis.Results Transient synovitis occurred in a sporadic form all the year round.The peak age of patients with TS was 3-7 years old.The ratio of boys to girls was 2.9:1.About 19.3% patients were attacked an upper respiratory tract infection and 11.9% patients attributed the symptoms to trauma or severe activities before 1 week.A varying degree of painful limp and restriction of movement at the hip were found clinically.All of cases were cured by skin traction.The incidence of recurrence was 6.95%.Conclusions Male predominance is found in TS.It is characteristic of sporadic form in the 4 seasons and intently relation to an upper respiratory tract infection and trauma or severe activities.TS is recurrent and the prognosis is good by skin traction.

How to eliminate the background of other tissue and to protrude the blood vessel information is the basic requirements in DSA. Because of the complexity and non-linearity of the X-ray imaging process, the common DSA technique cannot completely remove other tissue's image which lapped over the vessels. By experiments, this paper analyses and corrects the imaging process of the actual DSA system based on the "equivalent single energy" model, and the results indicate the validity of this method.
Algorithms ; Aluminum ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Plastics ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The present study is to establish Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells and investigate the transport capability of PLGA nanoparticles with different surface chemical properties across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells. PLGA-NPs, mPEG-PLGA-NPs and chitosan coated PLGA-NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as carrier material with surface modified by methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) and chitosan. The particle size and zeta potential of nanoparticles were measured by dynamic light scattering. Coumarin 6 was used as a fluorescent marker in the transport of nanoparticles investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The transport of furanodiene (FDE) loaded nanoparticles was quantitively determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Colchicine and nocodazole were used in the transport study to explore the involved endocytosis mechanisms of nanoparticles. Distribution of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 was also analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the nanoparticles dispersed uniformly. The zeta potential of PLGA-NPs was negative, the mPEG-PLGA-NPs was close to neutral and the CS-PLGA-NPs was positive. The entrapment efficiency of FDE in all nanoparticles was higher than 75%. The transport capability of mPEG-PLGA-NPs across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells was higher than that of PLGA-NPs and CS-PLGA-NPs. Colchicine and nocodazole could significantly decrease the transport amount of nanoparticles. mPEG-PLGA-NPs could obviously reduce the distribution of ZO-1 protein than PLGA-NPs and CS-PLGA-NPs. The transport mechanism of PLGA-NPs and mPEG-PLGA-NPs were indicated to be a combination of endocytosis and paracellular way, while CS-PLGA-NPs mainly relied on the endocytosis way. PEG coating could shield the surface charge and enhance the hydrophilicity of PLGA nanoparticles, which leads mPEG-PLGA-NPs to possess higher anti-adhesion activity. As a result, mPEG-PLGA-NPs could penetrate the mucus layer rapidly and transport across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells.
Biological Transport ; Caco-2 Cells ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Coculture Techniques ; Drug Carriers ; Furans ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; HT29 Cells ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; metabolism

Blood Platelets ; physiology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Thrombocytopenia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology

This study was aimed to explore effects of Jinzhen Koufuye (JZKFY) on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, positive control group, and three JZKFY groups with the drug dosage of 4.4, 2.2, 1.1 g·kg-1, respectively. Intragastric administration was given to animals for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the last administration, ALI model was induced by the injection of LPS (6 mg·kg-1), and then rats were killed at 16 h after saline (control) or LPS injection. Histological examinations were performed on the lungs. At the same time, the lung permeability index, activities of MPO, MDA and SOD in lung tissues, contents of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in serum were measured, respectively. The results showed that JZKFY of high-, medium-, or low-dosage can significantly reduce JZKFY lung permeability index. JZKFY of high- and medium-dosage can obviously regulate activities of MPO, MDA and SOD in lung tissues, re-duce contents of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in serum, as well as significantly improve lung tissue lesions in ALI. It was concluded that JZKFY might improve ALI induced by LPS through inhibiting lung vascular permeability, reduc-ing the lung neutrophil aggregation, improving the ability of antioxidative stress and lowering inflammatory response.

Background Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)is a cation channel isolated from the eyespot of Chlamydomonas algae and has been used to control neuron activity.The light stimulation is a more precise fashion whether space or time than that of electrical,magnetic and ultrasound stimulation. Objective This study was to construct a replication deficient recombinant adenovirus cxpression vector of ChR2 and to determine its function.Methods Human embryo kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line was cultured and passaged in DF12 medium containing 10％ fetal bovine serum(FBS).The ChR2 gene was cloned at the downstream of cytomegalovirus(CMV)promoter of the adenoviral shuttle plasmid pSB291 in sense direction,and the resultant recombinant plasmid pSB291-hChR2- GFP was transfected into HEK293 cell together with plasmid pBHG lox ( deltaE1,3 ) containing adenoviral genome,then small amounts replication deficient recombinant adenovirus expression vector of ChR2 (Ad-ChR2) was obtained.Through amplification gradient centrifugation and dialysis,pure Ad-ChR2 was obtained.Visual cortex cells derived from 4 1-day-old clean Long Evans rats were primary cultured with serum-free culture media and infected by AdChR2.When expressing green fluorescencc,those cells received the stimulated of blue light with 460 nm.Patch clamp technique was applied to record an action potential. Results After purification and concentration,the titer of AdhCHR2 reached 7.9×1010 PFU/ml.Twenty-four hours after transfect of Ad-ChR2,HEK293 cell membrane showed the green fluorescence for the recombinant plasmid with green fluorescence protein under the inversed fluorescence microscope.The HEK293 cells change their shape from flat to round 13 days after transfected.The primary cultured visual cortex cells exhibited the green fluorescence 3-5 days after infected by Ad-ChR2.The action potentials evoked by blue light stimulation were recorded with patch clamp on those cells expressing green fluorescence. Conclusions Ad-ChR2 expressing vector is constructed successfully in this study.It is verified that Ad-ChR2 expressing vector can infect visual cortex cells with visual function.This result is very important for visual plasticity study.

Objective To investigate the radiosensitizing effects of gefitinib at different administration time. Methods Gefitinib was administered to A549 lung cancer cells in three different ways (method 1, 24 h before irradiation ;method 2, upon irradiation and method 3, 24 h after irradiation). Cell-surviving rates were evaluated by the colony-forming assays. Cell apoptnsis and cell-cycle distributions were detected by the flow cytometry (FCM). Protein expression of p21, Cdc25c, Bcl-2, Bax, Rad51 and phosphorylated DNA - PKcs (phnspho - DNA - PK) were measured with the Western blot analysis. Results The sensitizing effect ratio (ratio of D_0 value) was 2.23, 1.51 and 1.30 with method 1, 2 and 3, respectively. A higher apoptosis rate and more G_2/M phase arrest were observed with method 1 when compare with method 2 or 3. With the similar tendency, the protein level of p21, Cdc25c, Bcl-2, Bax, RadSl and phospho-DNA-PK changed distinctly. Conclusions Radiosensitizing effects are obtained in all three methods, with gefitinib delivered before irradiation being the best.