Objective To observe the effect on the patients of diabetes mellitus and cerebral infarction in terms of level of blood rheology and endothelin after using both intravenous low intensity laser irradiation (ILILI) and traditional Chinese medicine Tangnaoluotong in the treatment. Method Ninety patients of diabetes mellitus and cerebral infarction, having the symptom of deficiency in both vital energy and yin with blood stasis, were divided into three treatment groups at random:ILILI group (A), TCM treatment group (B), and a group with compound treatment of ILILI and TCM (C). The level of blood rheology and endothelin were observed after 1 month’s treatment. Result Compared with group A and group B, group C could significantly reduce the level of fibrinogen and endothelin, improve the deformed ability of RBC. Conclusion ILILI with Tangnaoluotong can significantly alter the blood rheology and endothelin on the patients of diabetes mellitus and cerebral infarction, which result in a better curative effect.

Objective To investigate the imaging feature of Chinese familial BCS, and to evaluate the efficacy of interventional treatment for Chinese familial BCS. Methods Angiography was taken in 4 familial BCS patients(from families A and B), and PTA was attempted in 2 of 4 patients, stents were placed in another 2 patients. Results Sisters in family A and sisters in family B had membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava(MOVC) and segmental obstruction of the inferior vena cava(SOVC), respectively. PTA was attempted in younger sisters of the two families, stent was implanted in elder sisters of the two families. Patency of inferior vena cava and clinical symptom improvement were noted in 4 patients after interventional treatment. Restenosis was detected by angiography in sisters of family A after follow up 2 years later, and stenting was performed in the elder sister, PTA was performed in the younger sister once again. The elder sister was dead after the second stenting, and the younger sister had no symptom up to now. Sisters in family B had no restenosis after 4 years′ follow up. Conclusion 1.Lesion types of Chinese familial BCS were varied. 2.Vena cava thrombosis is the etiology of Chinese familial BCS .3.PTA, stenting and long time anticoagulation treatment may be effective methods in the treatment of familial BCS.

Heart Failure ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Mitochondria

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; mortality

Objective:The aim of the current study was to explore the alterations of TLR4 after traumatic brain injury. Methods: 20 Male ICR rats were randomly divided into four groups(5 rats each group)including control group without brain injury and traumatic brain injury groups(4,24 hours and 7 days).All rats were decapitated at corresponding time point and mid-jejunum samples were taken.The intestinal mucosa structure was detected by histopathological examination.Immunohistochemistry and realtime RNA were used for detection of TLR4 expression in ileum samples.Results: After traumatic brain injury,the histopatholocal alterations of gut mucosa occurred at 4 hours and progressed to a serious state.Compared to control group,TLR4 was significantly up-regulated on the endothelia of microvessels in villous interstitium and lamina propria by 4 h following TBI and maximally expressed at 24 h post-injury.The endothelial TLR4 immunoreactivity in ileum mucosa still remained strong on 7 d post-injury.There was a very low mRNA expression of TLR4 in the gut of control rats and significantly increased at 4 h following TBI(P

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Diving ; adverse effects ; Ear Canal ; injuries ; Nitrogen ; Oxygen ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rabbits

Objective To investigate methods for prenatal molecular diagnosis of fetuses at high risk for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy(X-ALD).Methods The amniotic fluid was obtained and genomic DNA was isolated from amniotic fluid cells.Maternal contamination was evaluated by paternity test.PCRRFLP,sequencing and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC)were used to detect the ABCD1 gene of fetal genome.Results In the pedigree 1,the PCR product(799 bp)of the fetus 1 and her father(normal control)could be digested with BcnI. No P560L mutation,which was present in the index patient,was detected in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 1 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 2,the PCR product(232 bp)of the fetus 2 and her father could not be digested with MaeI and no Q177X mutation,which was present in the propositus,was detected in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 2 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 3,the PCR product(271 bp)was digested with AciI.the pattern of the fetus 3 and the propositus being the same,and the R617C mutation was found in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 3 using direct sequencing.In the pedigree 4,the PCR product(269 bp)was analyzed with the DHPLC,and the pattern of elution peaks of the fetus 4 and her father was similar,but different from that of the propositus.No K276E mutation was detectable in the ABCD1 gene from the genomic DNA of the fetus 4 by using direct sequencing.Judging from the sex of the fetuses,fetuses 1 and 2 were normal homozygotes,fetus 3 was an ALD hemizygote,and fetus 4 was a normal hemizygote.Conclusion A new protocol for X-ALD prenatal molecular diagnosis is proposed,which would ensure the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis.

Objective To fabricate an ultrasound/fluorescence bi-modal contrast agent by encapsulating fluorescent quantum dots into polymeric ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles.Methods Polylactic acid (PLA,500 mg),(1R)-(+)-camphor (50 mg) and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (0.5 ml,2.3 μmol/L)were dissolved or dispersed in dichloromethane (10 ml) to form in an organic phase.Ammonium carbonate solution and poly (vinyl alcohol) solution were employed as the internal and external water phase,respectively.The fluorescent microbubbles were generated using double emulsion solvent evaporation and lyophilization methods.The morphology and illumination were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectrophotometry.Synchronized contrast-enhanced ultrasound and fluorescence imaging was acquired by injecting fluorescent microbubbles into the silicone tube coupled to a self-made ultrasound/fluorescence imaging device.Ultrasound/fluorescence bi-modal in vivo imaging was acquired on the kidney of New Zealand rabbits and suckling mice.Results The fluorescent microbubbles were hollow spheres with an averaged diameter of (1.62 ± 1.47) μm.More than 99％ of these microbubbles were less than 8 μm in diameter,which meeted the size criteria for ultrasound contrast agents.The fluorescence emission peak of the microbubbles appeared at 632 nm,indicating that good luminescence properties of quantum dots were maintained.In vitro ultrasound/fluorescence imaging showed no echoic signal when the silicone tube was filled with saline,but there was a strong echo when filled with fluorescent microbubbles.The liquid column with fluorescent microbubbles emitted red luminescence under ultraviolet irradiation.The kidney of the rabbit was remarkably enhanced after the administration of fluorescent microbubbles.Bright fluorescence could be observed at the injection site of the suckling mice via subcutaneous injection.Conclusions A bi-modal but single contrast agent based on polymeric microbubbles has been successfully fabricated for the use of ultrasound and fluorescence imaging.It retains the good characteristics of both echogenicity and fluorescence,which complement each other in case of limitations imposed by uni-modal,single agents.

Objective To manufacture magnetic microbubbles with dual-response to ultrasound and magnetic fields.Methods Microbubbles of ultrasound contrast agent (ST68) based on a surfactant were prepared by the acoustic cavitation method.Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with negative charge were synthesized using the polyol procedure.Magnetic microbubbles were generated by depositing polyethylenimine and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles alternately onto the microbubbles using the layer-by-layer self-assembly.In vitro ultrasonography was performed on a silicone tube with/without magnetic microbubbles (3 × 108/ml) by a self-made device to observe the movement of magnetic microbubbles under the effects of magnetic field.In vivo imaging was performed on the kidney of New Zealand rabbits before and after the injection of magnetic microbubbles.Results The Fe3O4 nanoparticles carried a stable negative charge of (-24.6 ± 6.7) mV and more than 98％ of the particles were less than 8 μm in diameter,meeting the size requirement of an ultrasound contrast agent for intravenous administration.There was no echoic signal in the silicone tube before injection of magnetic microbubbles,but there were strong echoic signals after injection.After applying a magnetic field,the magnetic microbubbles moved along the direction of the magnetic flux.In vivo ultrasound imaging could not visualize the kidney before injection of magnetic microbubbles,but could remarkably visualize the kidney after injection.Conclusions The magnetic microbubbles exhibit favorable magnetic targeting and ultrasound contrast enhancement characteristics.Such properties may serve as the foundation to study their potential for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment in the future.

Objective To observe the lung protection of Astragalus membranaceus against radiotherapy to intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm, and its influence on TNF-α and ET expression.Methods The patients with intermediate-stage and terminal thoracic neoplasm under radiotherapy were divided into a treatment group and a control group.Patients in the treatment group took 10 ml of Asragalus membranaceus twice a day.for consecutive 6 months from the beginning of radio therapy.TNF-α and ET in the plasma were measured before and after the radiotherapy.The clinical symptom,iconographic changes and lung diffusion were observed from the 15th day of radiotherapy.Results The TNF-α and ET in plasma afterthe radiotherapy were(2.48±0.75)as/ml and(69.32±23.03)pg/ml for the treatment group,and(5.12±1.01)ns/ml and(97.87±37.83)pg/ml for the control group with the statistial difference(x2=7.49,6.57,P<0.001).The decrease of CO diffusion 5 and 10 months after the radiotherapy in the treatment group was statistically different compared with that in the control group(x2=3.98,3.78,P<0.05).There was a statistical difference of the incidence of acute radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis between these two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Astragalus membranaceus could inhibit the excess expression of TNF-α and ET in plasma and reduce the deterioration of diffusion after radiotherapy,so that it can be used for intervention of lung injuries from radiotherapy.