Objective To observe effect of environmental enrichment on the learning and memory ability and the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.Methods A total of 40 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: bilateral vascular occlusion (2VO) of the common carotid arteries group (n=14, 2VO group), 2VO + enriched environment (EE) group (n=14, 2VO+EE group) and sham group (n=12, SHAM group).Morris water maze, novel object recognition test, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry methods and Western blotting were used to detect changes in learning and memory ability of rats and HIF-1α and VEGF expression levels in hippocampus.Results Morris water maze showed that the escape latency was longer in the 2VO group than in the SHAM group at 3, 4 and 5 day during the training (all P＜0.05), while the 2VO+EE group spent significantly less time in finding the platform as compared with the 2VO group at 4 and 5 day (both P＜0.05).The time for space exploration in target quadrant was less in 2VO group than in SHAM group (P＜0.05), while it was longer in 2VO +EE group than in 2VO group (P＜0.05).Novel object recognition test showed that the 2VO operation impaired the priority index (PI) of time spending at exploring the novel object (P＜0.05), and environmental enrichment could improve the PI in 2VO group (P＜0.05).The real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the HIF-1α mRNA expression was higher in 2VO group than in SHAM group (P＜0.05).The VEGF mRNA and protein expressions were higher in 2VO+EE group than in 2VO group (both P＜0.05).The expression of HIF-1α in hippocampal CA1 area was higher in 2VO group than in SHAM group (P＜0.05).Conclusions Environmental enrichment can alleviate the damages of spatial and non-spatial learning and memory ability which are caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.And HIF-1α and its downstream gene VEGF may be involved in the restoration of cognitive function by enriched environment.

Objective To investigate the clinical and molecular epidemiologic features of human rhinovirus (HRV) in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Shanghai by detecting HRV from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) .Methods One hundred and thirty-five BALF samples were collected from children with ALRTI at Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January to June in 2014 . The specimens were tested by one-step real-time reversible transcription (RT )-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HRV .Gene fragments of VP4/VP2 capsid protein of the HRV genome were amplified and sequenced .The phylogenetic trees of HRV strains were drawn .Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis .Result Among these 135 samples ,6(4 .4% ) were HRV positive , including 4 positive for HRV-A and 2 positive for unknown genotype .The age of children with HRV positive was 8 months to 8 years ,including 5 cases ≤ 3 years old .The nucleotide homology within 4 HRV-A samples varied 76 .5% -100 .0% .These 4 HRV-A sequences were respectively compared with reference strains of HRV-A ,HRV-B and HRV-C in GenBank .The nucleotide homology varied 73 .1% -91 .7% ,57 .8% -66 .0% and 59 .0% -65 .0% ,respectively .Among 135 children with ALRTI ,124 were diagnosed with ordinary pneumonia including 4 (3 .2% ,4/124) HRV positive and 11 were diagnosed with severe pneumonia (with respiratory failure and/or heart failure) including 2 HRV positive .All children with HRV presented with fever and cough .Most of them (5/6) were co-infected with other pathogens .In 5 children with HRV positive ,the peripheral blood leukocyte counts were less than 10 × 109/L , neutrophil percentages were less than 0 .50 ,C-reactive protein was less than 8 mg/L and procalcitonin was less than 0 .05 μg/L .All the children were clinically cured .Conclusions The detection of HRV in BALF samples indicates that HRV is one of the pathogens in children with ALRTI in Shanghai and HRV-A is more common .Gene fragments of VP4/VP2 capsid protein of HRV pathogenic strains display a high degree of genetic variability .

Objective To investigate the correlation between retraction phenomenon on the coronal planes obtained by an automated breast volume scanner ABVS and biological behaviors of breast cancer Methods Two hundred and eighty-eight female patients with 293 pathologically proven breast cancers were included in this study All of them underwent ABVS examinations before surgery Retraction phenomenon on the coronal planes was evaluated retrospectively Correlation between retraction phenomenon and hormone receptor HR human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 HER-2 Ki-67 molecular subtypes histologic type histologic grade lymph node status lesion size and patient age were evaluated by univariate logistic regression analysis Above significant variables were then enrolled in multivariate logistic regression analysis to select independent risk factors for retraction phenomenon Results By univariate logistic regression analysis Luminal A subtype odds radio OR =8 395 P <0 001 HR positive OR=4 876 P <0 001 HER-2 negative OR = 4 407 P < 0 001 lower expression of Ki-67 OR = 3 716 P <0 001 lower grade OR=3 574 P <0 001 lymph node invasion OR=2 053 P =0 004 and smaller lesion OR=1 762 P =0 033 were risk factors for retraction phenomenon while histologic type P =0 3 1 8 and patient age P = 0 612 were not By multivariate logistic regression analysis Luminal A subtype OR=9 877 P <0 001 lower grade OR=3 573 P <0 001 and lymph node invasion OR=2 730 P = 0 004 were independent risk factors for retraction phenomenon among which Luminal A subtype was the strongest one Conclusions Retraction phenomenon on the coronal planes obtained by ABVS is closely related with Luminal A subtype and may be an imaging feature of less aggressive behaviors of breast cancer.

Objective To establish the type Ⅱ collagen specific T cell line of Wistar rat and observe its effect on transferring arthritis.Methods The Wistar rats were immunized with emulsified chicken type Ⅱ collagen (CCⅡ) in complete Freund′s adjuvant by intradermal injection to induce the rat model of collagen induced arthritis (CIA).The lymphocytes were obtained from mesenteric lymph nodes of CIA rats,and the type Ⅱ collagen reactive T cell line was selected and propagated by CCⅡ stimulating in vitro .The proliferation response and phenotype were analyzed by 3 H TdR incorporation and fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS).The onset of arthritis and pathological characteristic in ankle joints of recipient rats were observed with naked eye and histochemical examination.Anti CCⅡ antibody in serum was assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results A T cell line was successfully established.The results of FACS labeled with fluorescent antibodies showed that 98 2% of the line cells were T cells,of which 89 7% were CD4 + T cells.The results of adoptive transfer showed that the incidence of arthritis was 50% when the injected cell number was 5?10 7,meanwhile the level of anti CCⅡ antibody in serum was elevated more than that of the control.Conclusion A cell line has been successfully established.The result of arthritis transferring by T cell line shows that the T cell plays a great role in the pathogenesis of CIA and provides a research datum for rheumatoid arthritis therapy with T cell vaccine.

Objective To execute physical performance testing of Mobetron 2000 mobile intraoperative radiotherapy system.Methods Mobetron 2000 mobile intraoperative radiotherapy system had its indexes measured according to TG51 protocol such as percent depth dose (PDD),output dose,beam energy,field flatness and symmetry,X-ray pollution,dose linearity and repeatability.Three-dimensional water phantom was used for verification and acceptance when the measurement was executed,while the calimator end was tangent to the water surface and the nominal ource-skin distance was 50 cm.Results All the indexes of the system met the desired requirements except 12 MeV beam energy.Conclusion The system can be promoted clinically for safe,reliable and efficient treatment.

Adult ; Coronary Aneurysm ; complications ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; complications ; Fistula ; complications ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunization effects of HBV core antigen and surface antigen fusion protein.

METHODSThe DNA fragments encoding HBsAg 100-162 aa; HBcAg 1-78 aa and HBcAg 83-144 aa were PCR-amplified, and then cloned into pcDNA3 plasmid. The chimeric gene was subcloned into the prokaryotic vector, pRSET-B. The E.coli expressed recombinant protein purified. BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant protein or eukaryotic expression plasmid, humoral response and cellular response were examined.

RESULTSThe plasmid containing the chimeric gene of HBsAg and HBcAg induced effective anti-HBs antibody response and strong HBcAg specific lymphocyte proliferative response, but could not induce anti-HBc antibody response. Fusion protein induced strong anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibody response, and it also caused significant HBcAg specific lymphocyte proliferation. Compared to the recombinant fusion protein, the plasmid containing the chimeric gene of HBsAg and HBcAg can induce more effective cellular response but weaker humoral response.

CONCLUSIONCompared to the recombinant fusion protein, the plasmid containing the chimeric gene of HBsAg and HBcAg is a more effective vaccine.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Viroids ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the abnormal reactions of a series of free radicals and the oxidative damages induced by free radical abnormal reactions in the bodies of patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

METHODSEighty chronic glomerulonephritis patients (CGNP) and eighty healthy adult volunteers (HAV) were enrolled in a random control study, in which concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in plasma, lipoperoxides (LPO) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined with spectrophotometric assays.

RESULTSCompared with the average values of the above biochemical parameters in the HAV group, the average values of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the CGNP group were significantly increased (P = 0.0001), while those of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the CGNP group were significantly decreased (P = 0.0001). Pearson product-moment correlation analysis showed that with increase of the concentration of blood creatinine as well as prolongation of the course of disease in the CGNP, the concentrations of NO in plasma, and LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the CGNP increased gradually, while the concentrations of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as the activities of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the CGNP decreased gradually (P = 0.002454-0.000001). The relative risk ratio (RR) of the above biochemical parameters reflecting oxidative damages in the bodies of CGNP ranged from 6.061 to 72.429. The reliability coefficient (alpha) that the above biochemical parameters were used to reflect the oxidative damages of the CGNP was 0.8137, standardized item alpha = 0.9728, Hotelling's T-Squared = 1135680.191, F = 53274.6478, P = 0.000001.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings in this study show that in the bodies of CGNP a series of free radical chain reactions result in severe pathological aggravation and induce oxidative damages in their bodies. Therefore, suitable dose of antioxidants should be supplemented to them so as to alleviate oxidative damages in their bodies.

Adult ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Catalase ; pharmacology ; Chronic Disease ; Erythrocytes ; enzymology ; Female ; Free Radicals ; adverse effects ; Glomerulonephritis ; physiopathology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the curative effects of pirfenidone (PF) on pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ) in mice and to provide the theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

METHODSNinety adult healthy male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control group, PQ group, 2 mg/kg Dexamethasone group, 25 mg/kg PF group, 50 mg/kg PF group and 100 mg/kg PF group, there were 15 mice in each group. The corresponding volume of normal saline was given to the each mouse in control group according to the weight, after 2 h 0.1% CMC was given to the each mouse of control group one time by intragastric administration, then the CMC was administrated at regular time until sacrifice. All mice for other 5 groups were exposed to 100 mg/kg PQ by intragastric administration. At 2 h after exposure to PQ, 0.02 ml/10 g dexamethasone and 25, 50, 100 mg/kg PF were given to mice for dexamethasone group and for 3 PF groups by intragastric administration each day for 49 days, respectively. The lung coefficient was calculated and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by HE staining for each mouse. The hydroxyproline (HYP) level in lung tissue was measured for each mouse. The mRNA level of and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in lung tissue for each mouse were determined, and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in the bronchus-alveolus lavage fluid (BALF) of each mouse was detected.

RESULTSThe survival rates on the 3rd day in PQ group, 3 PF groups and dexamethasone group were 53.33%, 46.67%, 73.33%, 86.67% and 80%, respectively. The survival rates on the 3rd day in dexamethasone group, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg PF groups were significantly higher than those of PQ group and 25 mg/kg PF group (P < 0.05). The lung coefficients of 3 PF groups were significantly lower than that of the PQ group (P < 0.05). The lung tissue HYP levels of dexamethasone group and 3 PF groups were 50.95 ± 11.65, 44.52 ± 9.48, 43.27 ± 6.01 and 40.82 ± 5.90 mg/g respectively, which were significantly lower than that (74.27 ± 3.68) of PQ group (P < 0.01). The TGF-β(1) protein levels of BALF in dexamethasone group, 50 and 100 mg/kg PF groups were 22.03 ± 7.27, 27.75 ± 5.84 and 21.31 ± 6.82 ng/ml respectively, which were significantly lower than that (52.52 ± 15.51) ng/ml of PQ group (P < 0.01) The expression level of TGF-β(1) mRNA in 100 mg/kg PF group decreased significantly, as compared with PQ group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPF could reduce the collagen deposition and pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ in mice lungs.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pyridones ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn children with congenital heart diseases who have undergone surgical interventions, postoperative arrhythmias frequently complicate the clinical course. "Incisional" atrial tachycardia or flutter is one of the most common forms of postoperative arrhythmias in these patients and can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate how to use antiarrhythmic drugs and the CARTO system to treat these cases.

METHODSThere were 12 patients with "incisional" atrial tachycardia or flutter complicating surgery for congenital heart diseases in this study (3 patients with correction of tetrology of Fallot, 3 with atrial septal defect repair, 2 with ventricular septal defect repair, 1 with switch, 1 with repair of Ebstein's anomaly, 1 with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and 1 with atrial septal closure with the Amplatzer septal occlusion). Patients whose body weight was less than 10 kg or those who did not wish to accept ablation were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, including digitoxin, propranolol, metoprolol and cordarone. CARTO system was used to map 6 patients whose body weight was more than 10 kg and who agreed with accepting ablation for atrial tachycardia and flutter. Radio-frequency ablation was performed in these 6 cases including two cases of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and 4 of atrial flutter.

RESULTS(1) The antiarrhythmic drug was successful in 6 patients with "incisional" atrial tachycardia. (2) Six patients including 2 children with "incisional" atrial tachycardia and 4 children with atrial flutter were successfully ablated. But one case of "incisional" atrial tachycardia relapsed after 3 months of ablation. This case, however, was successfully ablated again later. No further relapse was observed during the 2 - 24 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONAblation of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and flutter is the first choice to treat the patients whose body weight is more than 10 kg and those who agree with accepting ablation by CARTO system. Drug therapy of "incisional" atrial tachycardia and flutter is palliative and it is the only selection to treat the patients whose body weight is less than 10 kg or those who do not wish to accept ablation procedure.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Atrial Flutter ; etiology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Postoperative Care ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome