ABSTRACT:Objective To validate that relaxin can resist hepatic fibrosis at the cellular level and explore its molecular mechanism in order to provide experimental basis for the treatment of liver cirrhosis.Methods Cultured HSC-T6s were treated with different concentrations (20,50 and 100 ng/mL)of recombinant human relaxin-2 (RLX-2).The proliferation of HSC-T6 was measured by MTT colorimetric assay.The content of type Ⅰcollagen in the cell culture supernatant of each group was detected by ELISA at 48 h of drug intervention;RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of CTGF and TGF-β1 in HSC-T6 at 48 h of drug intervention.Results RLX-2 inhibited the proliferation of HSC and reduced type Ⅰ collagen content of HSC cells.It also inhibited the CTGF mRNA expression of HSC,but did not have a significant effect on the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA. Conclusion In the experiment of culturing HSC-T6 in vitro,RLX-2 may play a role in rat liver fibrosis by inhibiting cell proliferation and type Ⅰ collagen and CTGF mRNA expressions.

ObjectiveTo observe and compare the efficacy of two types of microencapsulated rat islets xenotransplanted into diabetic mice. MethodsThe mice diabetic model made with injecting 3% Streptozotosin through tail vein. Four groups were assigned: control group, naked islet transplantation group, alginate-BaCl2 microencapsulated islet transplantation group, agarose-PSSa microencapsulated islet transplantation group.300 islets were transplanted under the renal envelope of each diabetic mice respectively. ResultsThere were no significant difference in mean level of the blood glucose before transplantation among four groups. One week after transplantation, the respective mean level of the blood glucose in four groups were (7.26±1.56) mmol/L in alginate-BaCl2 microencapsulated islet transplantation group, (7.14±1.04) mmol/L in agarose-PSSa microencapsulated islet transplantation group, (7.42±1.52) mmol/L in naked islet transplantation group and (22.54±1.24) mmol/L in control. There were significant difference between the two encapsulated islet groups and the other two groups. The survived period of the two encapsulated islet transplantation groups were longer than that of the other two groups. The survived period of the alginate-BaCl2 microencapsulated islet transplantation group was longer than that of the agarose-PSSa microencapsulated islet transplantation group (92 d vs 56 d),the same as the time of keeping nomal blood glucose level (76 d vs 41 d). ConclusionMicroencapsulated rat islets with this two materials can survive in diabetic mice with their biological activity, and the alginate-BaCl2 microcapsules are better than the agarose-PSSa microcapsules.

Objective To propose a new blood purification modality-hemodialysis with plasma- based dialysate (HD-PBD) plus high volume hemofiltration (HVHF) for patients with liver failure, and to evaluate the effect of this treatment on plasma cytokines.Methods Twelve patients with liver failure were included in this study.All patients received HD-PBD therapy in the first 6 hours,and then were treated with HVHF for 24 hours with the same filter (AV600).The levels of TNF-?,IL-1?, IL-6 and IL-8 in plasma before and after HD-PBD plus HVHF for 6 and 24 hours were examined respectively by ELISA,and changes of clinical parameters were observed at the same time point. Serum bilirubin,total bile acids (TBA),serum ammonia,blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were detected before and after treatment.Arterial blood gas analysis and the concentration of electrolytes were monitored before and after treatment.Results (1)HD-PBD for 6 hours was more effective than HVHF for 24 hours in removal of serum bilirubin and TBA(P＜0.05). (2)Serum ammonia,BUN,Ser,arterial blood HCO_3~-,PCO_2,PO_2 and electrolytes did not show significant difference before and after HD-PBD (P＞0.05),but these parameters significantly changed before and after HVHF (P＜0.05).(3)The average level of serum bilirubin was sharply decreased after HVHF for 24 h following HD-PBD(P＜0.05).(4)After HD-PBD plus HVHF,there was a marked reduction of the plasma levels of TNF-?,IL-6 and IL-8.Conclusions HD-PBD plus HVHF,a newly proposed modality for patients with liver failure,can effectively decrease serum bilirubin,TBA,BUN,Scr,ammonia and cytokines,and adjust water-electrolyte as well as acid- alkali balance.It is a low-cost,safe,simple and convenient therapy.

Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnets ; Male

Objective To investigate residual hearing of children with sensorineural hearing loss in whom wave V was not found in ABR testing and to emphasize the importance of behavioral audiometry in determining the residual hearing.Methods Residual hearing obtained by behavioral audiometry of 101 children with SNHL was studied in relation to the absence of wave V in both click-ABR and tone burst-ABR tests.Results All children have residual hearing of different degrees at different frequencies.There appeared to be a higher percentage of lowfrequency residual hearing than middle and high frequencies.Also,the residual hearing at low frequencies appeared to be better than those in the middle and high frequencies.Average residual hearing thresholds in the right ears from 500 to 4 000 Hz were 106.81±7.13,110.00±7.90,111.78±5.22,112.06±7.08 dB HL and those in the left ears were 98.01±3.98,111.30±7.18,112.06±7.08,108.33±7.23 dB HL.Conclusion The absence of wave V in ABR does not mean total deafness.For those children with no wave V in ABR,behavioral audiometry must be conducted to determine children's behavioral hearing thresholds in order to know their residual hearing.

Objective To study the curative effect and adverse reaction of Oxcarbazepine(OXC)on treating epilepsy in children.Me-thods One hundred and twenty-nine children with different types of epilepsy were orally given OXC,and the drug dose was added gradually.According to the seizure frequency,the cases were divided into 2 groups.Group A:more than 3 seizures occurred in 3 months prior to to take OXC;group B:more than 3 seizures occurred in 1 year prior to taking OXC.After 5 months and 1 year from beginning to take OXC,the original curative effect of the 2 groups was evaluated,respectively;on the other hand,the adverse reaction and the retention were studied.Results 1.Original effect:the rate of seizure-free was 45.8% and the total curative efficiency was 66.7% in group A(n=47);the rate of seizure-free was 92.3% in group B(n=13);in 60 partial epilepsy children,the rate of seizure-free was 56.7% and the total curative efficiency was 73.3%;Both rates were 62.2% and 75.6% of patients with OXC monotherapy and 40%,66.7% of patients were given OXC in combination with another antiepileptic drugs.2.Drug adverse reaction:24% of patients were found to have adverse reaction and most of the symptoms were light and most transient.3.Tolerability:patients' retention of OXC in 1 year was 72.2%,and in 2 years was 80.0%.Conclusions The antiepileptic effect of OXC is satisfactory and adverse reaction is light and mostly transient,OXC as a new antiepileptic drug is well tolerated as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy and should be used extensively.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2009,24(1):53-55

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical application results of the repair soft tissue defect in contralateral leg with a cross-leg soleus muscle flap pedicle transplantation.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to January 2013, 8 patients with soft-tissue defect in lower leg underwent reconstruction with a cross-leg soleus muscle flap pedicle transplantation (without microvascular anastomoses). There were 7 males and 1 female, aged from 20 to 49 years old with an average of 31.8 years. The operative time after injury was from 2 to 8 weeks with the mean of 46 days. The soleus muscle flap was transposed across to the contralateral leg defect area, then immediate to perform the coverage of the muscle flaps by a meshed split-thickness skin graft. The donor site was closed directly.

RESULTSAll the muscle flaps had survived completely. In one case, recipient area edge had a less exudate from drainage hole everyday, the incision spontaneously was healed after 2 week's changing dressing. Follow-up period ranged form 1.5 to 4 years with an average of 2.5 years postoperatively. The tibia and fibula fractures were healed well. A good contour was achieved at the recipient area. According to LEM standard, 2 cases got excellent results, 5 good and 1 fair.

CONCLUSIONSoleus flap pedicle transplantation is very suitable to repair the soft tissue defect of the injuried leg only one main blood vessel, and can reduce the damage of donor area.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical application result of the selective nerve root blocks in limited operation of the lumbar spine.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to October 2012,68 patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis with multiple levels were underwent the selective nerve root blocks in limited operation of the lumbar spine,including 47 males and 21 females with an average age of 56 years old ranging from 45 to 80. After never roots blocks,64 cases were positive for limited operation of the lumbar spine; the other 4 cases were negative and abort the operation.

RESULTSThe nerve roots block operation smoothly and no complications related to the nerve roots block occurred. There was no neurologic injury complication in this study. Follow-up period ranged from 16 to 45 months postoperatively (means, 32 months). The recovery effect was calculated with Macnab scores, the result was excellent in 44 cases, good in 18 cases, poor in 1.

CONCLUSIONOperative treatment for lumbar spinal canal stenosis with multiple levels is focused on the areas causing symptomate neural compression rather than prophylactic decompression at areas of nonsymptomatic disease. Application of selective nerve root blocks can accurately judge the responsible vertebral body and pain source and improve the curative effect of limited operation of the lumbar spine

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Block ; methods ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of CE-MRA with low dose contrast agent by comparison with DSA in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial diseases. Methods ( 1 )Study in vitro: test tubes containing Gd-DTPA of different concentrations were scanned, and the relationship between signal intensities and concentrations of GD-DTPA was analyzed. DSA and CE-MRA with selected concentrations of Gd-DTPA were performed on stenotic vascular models to estimate the proper low dose of GD-DTPA for clinical applications. (2) Clinical applications: 78 diabetic patients with peripheral arterial diseases were scanned from the abdomen and pelvis station to the calf-foot station in a 3 T MR system with standard bolus chase 3D CE-MRA sequence after injection of 13 ml GD-DTPA . The image quality,diagnostic rate of stenosis of arteries in calf and degree of venous contamination were evaluated with Fisher's exact test. DSA images of 220 vascular segments in 22 patients ( 10 segments per patient) were acquired as the gold standard and compared with CE-MRA by using Kappa test. Results The MR signal intensities were proportional to the concentrations of contrast agent in present study, and all stenotic segments of vascular model were displayed by CE-MRA with GD-DTPA at lower concentration of 1.5 mmol/L. As for MRA images of 78 diabetic patients with low dose Gd-DTPA, about 97.4% (76/78) showed diagnostic image quality for pelvic and thigh stations. But the MRA images of lower extremities were interfered by the venous contamination significantly (P ＜ 0.01 ). Compared with DSA for 22 patients, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and agreement coefficient (Kappa value) of MRA were 96. 0% ( 168/175), 73.3%(33/45), and 0.72 (P＜0.01), respectively. Conclusion Using 3.0 T MR scanner, high quality CE-MRA of lower limb arteries can be obtained for clinical applications with contrast agent dose as low as 13 ml,which has comparable diagnostic sensitivity and specificity with DSA. But the limitation of venous contamination in MRA image should be resolved in further studies.

BACKGROUNDCongenital cataract is a sight-threatening disease that affects about 1 - 6 cases per 10000 live births and causes 10% - 30% of all blindness in children. About 25% of all cases are due to genetic defects. We identified autosomal dominant congenital coralliform cataracts-related genetic defect in a four-generation Chinese family.

METHODSComplete ophthalmological examinations were performed prior to lens extraction. Lens samples were then studied by electron microscopy. Genomic DNA from family members were examined using whole-genomic linkage analysis, with two-point logarithm of odds (LOD) scores calculated using the Linkage program package (version 5.1). Mutation analysis of candidate genes was performed by direct sequencing. Finally, a three-dimensional protein model was predicted using Swiss-Model (version 2.0).

RESULTSEleven of the 23 examined individuals had congenital cataracts. Ultrastructure studies revealed crystal deposits in the lens, and granules extensively dispersed in transformed lens fiber cells. The maximum two-point LOD score, 3.5 at theta = 0.1, was obtained for the marker D2S325. Mutation analysis of the gamma-crystallin (CRYG) gene cluster identified a mutation (P23T) in exon 2 of gammaD-crystallin (CRYGD). Protein structure modeling demonstrated that the P23T mutation caused a subtle change on the surface of the gammaD protein.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that the coralliform cataract phenotype is due to a mutated CRYGD gene, and that this sequence change is identical to one reported by Santhiya to be related to another distinct clinical condition, lamellar cataract. This study provides evidence that this same genetic defect may be associated with a different phenotype. This is the first report identifying the genetic defect associated with an autosomal dominant congenital coralliform cataract.

Cataract ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, Dominant ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mutation, Missense ; gamma-Crystallins ; chemistry ; genetics