Objective To explore the plasma ghrelin levels in children and adolescents with short stature and the role of ghrelin in growth hormone-releasing hormone-growth hormone(GHRH-GH) axis.Methods One hundred and fifty-seven children(115 male,42 female) with short stature were selected.Fasting plasma sample was extracted from 10 mL vemous blood of the children with short stature.Insulin tolerance test and arginine stimulation test was performed initially to differential diagnosis.And blood samples was divided into 3 ca-tegories:37 cases of complete growth hormone deficiency (CGHD),52 cases of partial growth hormone deficiency(PGHD) and 68 cases of idiopathic short stature(ISS) during these two growth hormone(GH)provocative tests.Controls consisted of age and gender-match 20 health children.Plasma ghrelin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.Serum GH was detected by chemiluminescence method,and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Fasting glucose,insulin,testosterone,estra-diol,luteinizing hormone,follicle-stimulating hormone were measured.Statistical analysis were conducted by using SPSS 11.5 software.Results The fasting ghrelin levels of CGHD group were significantly lower than that of ISS group and control group(Pa0.05).The ghrelin levels were positive correlated with the stimulated GH peak(r=0.176 P0.05).Conclusion Ghrelin has an important role on GH secretion and abnormal secretion of ghrelin might be a reason of growth hormone deficiency which due to hypothalamic abnormality.

Objective Explore the conditions of the cloning,expression and purification of FMRP.Methods The plasmid pET22b(+)-FMR1,constructed by molecular cloning,was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) competent cells and induced to express FMRP by IPTG.Recombinant FMRP was purified by affinity chromatography,verified by Western-blot,and tested for its RNA binding ability.Results FMR1 cDNA was successfully cloned into pET22b(+) vector and expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3).A protein with Mr 79 000 was purified and confirmed to be FMRP.This protein retained the RNA binding ability of FMRP.Conclusion We successfully expressed recombinant hFMRP with high purity and activity in E.coli,which provided a reliable material to study the function of FMRP.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Killer Cells, Natural ; pathology ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics

BACKGROUNDPremature ventricular contraction (PVC) is one of the most common kinds of arrhythmias for which the treatment falls into dilemma. Previous clinical application showed that the traditional Chinese Medicine Shensongyangxin (SSYX) capsule is efficacious for the treatment of PVCs. This randomized clinical trial aimed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of SSYX capsule on treating PVC.

METHODSThe subjects who had frequent PVCs with or without organic heart disease and normal cardiac function were enrolled in the study. The primary endpoint was the change of PVC numbers after eight-week medication with SSYX capsule. The secondary endpoints included change of clinical symptoms related to PVCs and the safety evaluation of SSYX capsule. Totally 188 PVC patients were randomly enrolled in the non-organic heart disease PVCs trial and orally took either SSYX capsules or analogues (three times per day, 4 capsules one time). A total of 671 PVCs patients were randomly enrolled in the organic heart disease PVCs trial, and orally took either SSYX capsules (three times per day, 4 capsules one time) or mexiletine tablet (three times per day, 150 mg one time). The PVCs were monitored and calculated with 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram. Routine blood, liver and kidney function were tested before and after medication with SSYX capsule.

RESULTSSSYX capsules significantly decreased the PVCs numbers and alleviated the related symptoms in patients with or without organic heart disease. In non-organic heart disease group, SSYX capsules and the placebos decreased the PVCs from 12,561.34 ± 9,777.93 to 4,806.87 ± 6,507.17, and 12,605.69 ± 8,736.34 to 10,364.94 ± 9,903.41, respectively. The total effective rate was 74.2% and 28.9% in SSYX and placebo groups (P < 0.001). In organic heart disease group, SSYX capsule and mexiletine decreased the PVCs from 8,641.01 ± 8,923.57 to 3,853.68 ± 7,096.42, 8,621.61 ± 8,367.74 to 5,648.29 ± 8,667.38, respectively. The total effective rate was 65.8% and 50.7% in SSYX and mexiletine groups (P < 0.001). In addition, SSYX capsule significantly alleviated PVCs-related symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, insomnia, fatigue, and night sweats. No adverse cardiac events were observed except some slight gastrointestinal side effects during the study.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with placebo or mexiletine, SSYX capsules have significant therapeutic efficacy in reducing PVCs numbers and alleviate PVCs-related symptoms.

Capsules ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; drug therapy

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoid Tumor ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possible association between Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval in surface standard ECG and cardiac events in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS).

METHODTp-e interval in surface standard ECG was compared between BrS patients (n = 23, all males) and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) patients (n = 20, all males) as well as between BrS patients with (n = 16) or without (n = 7) cardiac events.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in Tp-e interval between BrS patients and PSVT patients [(109.57 +/- 22.86) ms vs. (88.50 +/- 13.08) ms, P < 0.05]. Tp-e interval was also significantly longer in BrS patients with cardiac events (syncope, clinical ventricular fibrillation and induced VF during electrophysiological study) than BrS patients without cardiac events [(118.12 +/- 20.40) ms vs. (90.00 +/- 15.27) ms, P < 0.05] while Tp-e interval was similar between BrS patients without cardiac events and PSVT patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe prolongation of Tp-e (> or = 120 ms) was associated with higher cardiac events in BrS patients.

Adult ; Brugada Syndrome ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo report the electrophysiological findings and the ablation strategies in patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) or atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after left atrial circumferential ablation (LACA) in the treatment of AF.

METHODS91 patients with AF had LACA procedure from April 2004 to May 2006, 19 of which accepted the second ablation procedure due to ATAs or AF recurrence. In all the 19 patients [17 male, 2 female, age 25 - 65 (53 +/- 12) years], 11 presented with paroxysmal AF before the first ablation procedure, 2 with persistent AF and 6 with permanent AF. Pulmonary vein potentials (PVP) were investigated in both sides in all the patients.

RESULTSDelayed PVP was identified inside the left circular line in 5 patients, in the right in 1 and both in 2 during sinus rhythm. "Gap" conduction was found and successfully closed guided by circular mapping catheter. In 3 cases, irregular left atrial tachycardia was caused by fibrillation rhythm inside the left ring via decremental "gap" conduction. Reisolation was done successfully again guided by 3-D mapping and made the left atrium in sinus rhythm but the fibrillation rhythm was still inside the left ring. Pulmonary vein tachycardia with 1:1 conduction to the left atrium presented in one case and reisolation stopped the tachycardia. No PVP was discovered in both sides in 4 patients but other tachycardias could be induced, including two right atrial scar related tachycardias, two supraventricular tachycardias mediated by concealed accessory pathway, one cavo-tricuspid isthmus dependent atrial flutter and one focal atrial tachycardia near the coronary sinus ostium. All the tachycardias in these 4 patients were successfully ablated with the help of routine and 3-D mapping techniques. In the rest 3, which were in AF rhythm, LACA was successfully done again. After a mean follow-up of 4 - 26 (11.5 +/- 8.5) months, 16 patients were symptom free without anti-arrhythmic drug therapy; 1 of them had frequent palpitation attack with Holter recording of atrial premature contractions; 2 of them with permanent AF became paroxysmal in one, and still in AF in the other.

CONCLUSIONSReconduction between the left atrium and the pulmonary veins is the dominant factor for post-LACA ATAs and AF recurrence. Other forms of atrial tachycardias or supraventricular tachycardias may coexist with AF or sometimes trigger AF. LACA can not sufficiently modify AF substrate in some permanent AF patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cardiac Electrophysiology ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Veins ; Tachycardia ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the characterization of time distribution of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) using Holter monitoring and ICD follow-up.

METHODSPatients with BrS [all male, mean age (41.07 +/- 11.49) years], were divided into ventricular fibrillation (VF) group (n = 7) and no ventricular fibrillation (N-VF) group (n = 7). Premature ventricular capture (PVC) and VF episodes were detected by Holter monitoring and ICD recording.

RESULTSThe 24 hours total number of PVCs ranged from 0 to 74 (mean 9.61 +/- 17.23) in most of the patients and were similar between VF group and N-VF group. The percentage of PVC episodes in VF group was significantly higher than that in N-VF group from nocturnal time to early morning (22:00 to 7:00, 98.67% vs. 44.14%, P < 0.01). There were total 75 VF episodes during (23.18 +/- 17.96) months' follow-up in 5 patients with BrS, 93.3% of which occurred from nocturnal time to early morning (22:00 to 7:00).

CONCLUSIONSThe episodes of PVC were enriched from nocturnal time to early morning in BrS patients, this time distribution could be a new noninvasive risk stratification factor for BrS. The episodes of VF in BrS patients were also enriched from nocturnal time to early morning and this time characteristic of episodes of VF could be used to guide drug therapy.

Adult ; Brugada Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Time ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways in leukemia K562/A02 cell line.

METHODSK562/A02 multidrug resistance cells were treated with GCS siRNA and U0126, respectively. Expression of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) mRNA was analyzed with qRT-PCR. Phosphorylated ERK1/2, total ERK1/2 protein and P-gp in different groups were measured with Western blotting.

RESULTSAfter treated with U0126, P-ERK1/2 was decreased along with the increased U0126 concentration. P-ERK1/2 and P-gp were apparently down-regulated by U0126 at the concentrations of 20 μmol/L, 40 μmol/L and 60 μmol/L. After being transfected with GCS siRNA, GCS mRNA was inhibited by 70.50% (58.00%-76.00%) in K562/A02 cells. Compared with the negative control, both P-ERK1/2 and P-gp were inhibited significantly after RNAi for 72 hours (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively.

CONCLUSIONGCS may affect the expression of P-gp by ERK signal transduction pathway in leukemia cells.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Glucosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System

OBJECTIVETo get the cDNA clones which cover the whole genome of SARS-CoV PUMC2 strain.

METHODSUsing the SARS-CoV PUMC2 strain genomic RNA as the template, the cDNA fragments were amplified by RT-PCR, the PCR products were further purified and ligated into the pGEM-T vector, and all the clones obtained were sequenced.

RESULTSThe cDNA clones which cover the whole genome of SARS-CoV PUMC2 strain were obtained.

CONCLUSIONSThese cDNAs can be provided for the function study of SARS-CoV proteins and the construction of full-length infectious cDNA clone of SARS-CoV.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Proteins ; genetics