Objective To analyse the flow characteristics in the true lumen and false lumen,and the relationship between the flow characteristics and the collapse degree of the true lumen using MRI.Methods Eleven patients with acute Stanford type B aortic dissection were examined by true FISP、3D CE MRA、PC cine MRI on a Siemens Sonata 1.5 T.Not only the quantitative data on the hemodynamics such as peak velocity,average velocity,average flow volume,forward volume,retrograde volume and net volume,and the area of the true lumen and false lumen can be acquired,but also the blood flow model,ie the velocity-mapping.Then we analysed the relationship between the flow characteristics and the collapse degree of the true lumen.Results The average area of the false lumen in the proximal descending aorta(about 2 cm distal to the entry)was(8.10±2.93)cm2,and(2.59±0.93)cm2 of the true lumen in the same slice (P＜0.05).The average velocity in the false lumen,(2.81±0.73)cm/s,was significantly lower than in the true lumen[(15.52±2.84)cm/s,P＜0.01],wheras the average flow(36.32±5.37)ml/s,was not significantly difierent(P＞0.05)from the average flow in the false lumen(37.62±24.58)ml/s.The velocity-mapping curve looked like same in the true and false lumen in this level.And in the abdominal aorta(about the level of the hepatic hilar),the average flow(10.46±5.57)cm/s was significantly lower(P＜0.05)than in true lumen[(4.04±2.96)cm/s].At this level,the direction of blood flow in the true lumen was retrograde(upward)in the mid and late systolic phase in six patients,and normal in the diastolic phase and early systolic phase,that was to say,bidirectional blood flow can be caught in the true lumen of the abdominal aorta.The collapse degree of the true lumen was closely correlated with the the average velocity and the flow volume in the false Iumen,and the coefficient correlation and P value were 0.931 and 0.000,0.926 and 0.000 respectively.Conclusions PC cine MRI can quantitatively measure the peak velocity,average velocity,average flow volume,forward volume,retrograde volume and net volume,and combined with 3D CE MRA can evaluate the collapse degree of the true lumen.It is important for clinical application in the diagnosis,therapeutic management and the therapeutic opportunity choice of the acute Stanford type B aortic dissection.

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional status of children aged 8 to 10 in both costal and non-costal areas of Rizhao city Shandong province,and provide a basis for scientific supplementation of iodine.Methods In 2009 and 2010,townships of Lanshan and Donggang were chosen as survey points which situated close to the coast,the counties of Wulian and Juxian that were more than 50 kilometers away from the coast were selected as controls.The iodine concentration of drinking water in every village and water supply point was determined.At the county level,5 to 9 towns were selected according to their sub-area positions of east,west,south,north and center,4 villages were selected in each chosen township,8 - 15 households were selected in each chosen village,edible salt from the households was collected; 5 primary schools were selected in each chosen township,60 students aged 8 - 10 were selected to take thyroid examination in each chosen school.Twenty copies of urine samples were collected from the 60 students to detect the iodine concentration.Iodine in drinking water was tested by cerous sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry,in iodized salt by direct titration,in urine by arsenic-cerium contact method,and thyroids were examined by palpation.Results Totally 3483 copies of drinking water samples,1164 copies of edible salt samples,and 476 copies of urine samples were tested,and a total of 1200 children aged 8 to 10 were investigated; and the ratio of water iodine frequency distribution ≤ 10 μg/L (in costal and non-costal area) accounted for 90.03％ ( 1011/1123 ) and 91.10％ (2150/2360),respectively,the medians of water iodine were 5.6 and 4.2 μg/L,respectively; the iodine medians of edible salt were 29.03 and 29.99 mg/kg,respectively; the consumption rates of qualified iodized salt were 96.77％ (569/588) and 97.05％ (559/576),respectively; total goiter rates were 1.17％(7/600) and 1.33％(8/600),respectively; the medians of urinary iodine were 144.05 and 159.15 μg/L,respectively; the percentages of urinary iodine that bellow 100 μg/L were 26.58％ (63/237) and 22.59％ (54/239),respectively; between 100 - 300 μg/L were 66.75％ (158/237) and 64.02％ (153/239),respectively;above 300μg/L were 6.75％ (16/237)and13.39％ (32/239),respectively.ConclusionsThe costal of Rizhao is an iodine deficient area.The current popularity of household's consumption of qualified iodized salt is suitable.The levels of iodine nutrition of children aged 8 to 10 is appropriate,which met the national standard of elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).There is no iodine excess.There are no significant differences in levels of iodine nutrition between costal and non-costal areas on the premise that the same iodized salt is supplied in both the areas,and there is no need to make differentiated supply of iodized salt.

Objective To present a new method and design of an instrument for measuring intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) non-invasively. Method A pressure sensor (YH-4) and a displacement sensor (sliding rheostat) were assembled into a probe so that they work in a linear mode. When this assembled instrument probe acts on the abdominal wall of a subject, a pressure as called the external abdominal pressure (EAP), and a corresponding displacement were detected. A relationship was established mathematically between the IAP measured by non-invasive and invasive method, and IAP was calculated by EAP measurement indirectly non-invasively. Result The method was testified by animal experiment in rabbits. And the preliminary results indicated that linear relation between EAP and IAP was obtained. Conclusion Feasibility of the new method is validated by animal experiment. It provides scientific evidence for further clinical experiment.

OBJECTIVETo explore Akt-regulated direct p53 mitochondrial translocation in cisplatin-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells and the relationship between this and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.

METHODSChemosensitive ovarian cancer cell lines (OV2008 and A2780s) and chemoresistant cells (C13(*) and A2780cp) were treated with cisplatin and whole cell and mitochondrial p53 contents were determined by Western blot. The p53 accumulation in mitochondria was determined in purified mitochondrial fractions in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cells. Akt1/2 siRNA were transfected into C13(*) cells. Cisplatin-induced apoptosis was measured by Hoechst staining and p53 translocation was determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCisplatin induced mitochondrial p53 accumulation and apoptosis in chemosensitive cells (P < 0.05), but not in resistant cells (P > 0.05). Over-expression of active Akt2 inhibited p53 directly translocate to mitochondria, and downregulation of Akt by Akt1/2 siRNA increased p53 mitochondrial accumulation and sensitize C13(*) cells to cisplatin treatment.

CONCLUSIONSCisplatin induces direct p53 mitochondrial accumulation in chemosensitive cells, and Akt confers resistance in ovarian cancer cells, in part, by regulating the direct action of p53 in mitochondrial death pathway.

Antineoplastic Agents ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; genetics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of puerarin (Pue) on the neurocyte apoptosis and the p-Akt (Ser473) expression in the ischemic penumbra of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODSThe 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation group, the I/R group, the Pue treatment group, and the Pue + LY294002 treatment group (Pue + LY), 12 in each group. The cerebral I/R rat model was established by Longa's suture method. Pue and Pue + specific P13K kinase inhibitor, i.e., LY294002 were administered. The score of the neurological deficit was estimated 1 h followed by 24 h reperfusion. The infarct volume was measured using TTC staining. The number of apoptotic neurons were detected using Tunel method. The expressions of p-Akt (Ser473) was detected using immunohistochemical assay, and the images were analyzed.

RESULTSThe score of the neurological deficit decreased more obviously, the number of apoptosis decreased more significantly, the expressions of p-Akt (Ser473) increased more significantly in the Pue group than in the I/R group (all P < 0.05). The score of the neurological deficit increased more obviously, the number of apoptosis increased more significantly, the expression of p-Akt (Ser473) decreased more significantly in the Pue + LY group than in the Pue group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPue reduced the apoptosis of neurocytes and had protective effects against cerebral I/R injury possibly through activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To investigate the bladder function in primipara and bipara within 1 week after delivery using urodynamic study.Methods Investigations on urodynamic changes were performed in 36 primipara volunteers and 12 bipara volunteers according to the recommendations of the International Continence Society(ICS).Fourteen women with upper urinary tract diseases but having normal lower urinary tract function,who had not experienced parturation were included as controls.Results Functional bladder volume(FBV)of primipara and bipara after delivery and normal desire cytometric capacity (NDCC)were respectively lower than those of control group(437?193)ml and(338?120)ml,however FBV and NDCC between primipara and bipara(310?154),(215?90)ml vs(243?141),(225?115) ml were not significantly different.The static Pure.max and Pure.clos.max of primipara and bipara were respectively higher than those of control group(87?7)cm H_2O(1 cm H_2O=0.098 kPa)and(78?8) cm H_2O(P

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between hRad17 mRNA expression and clinicopathologic factors and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer, and to assess the significance of predicting the extent of lymph node metastasis and prognosis.

METHODShRad17 mRNA expression was examined in matched primary lesions, normal gastric mucosa and lymph node metastatic lesions among 52 gastric cancer patients by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and silver stain with the relation between hRad17 mRNA expression and clinicopathologic factors analyzed. At the same time, hRad17 mRNA expressions in 5 gastric benign lesions and SGC7901 gastric carcinoma cell lines were also examined.

RESULTSThe primary tumor samples (88.4% positive) showed a significantly higher level of hRad17 expression compared with matched normal tissue (76.9% positive) (P = 0.014), so did the lymph node metastatic samples (94.2% positive) (P = 0.001). The hRad17 mRNA expression showed a low level in benign lesions, but very high in SGC7901 cell line. The hRad17 mRNA expression showed a higher level in patients with the number of lymph node metastasis above 15 than below 15 (P = 0.02), so did the diffused growth than the mass-like growth (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONThe method of PAGE and silver stain can improve the sensitivity of RT-PCR. The degree of lymph node metastasis and invasiveness of carcinoma cells are more serious in cases with hRad17 mRNA overexpression, and extensive lymph node dissection should be carried out for these patients. Examination of hRad17 expression by RT-PCR before surgery is indicated to arrive at an optimum treatment scheme and to estimate the prognosis.

Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo constitute a composite skin substitute that can proliferate well with epidermal stem cells and fibroblasts on collagen sponge.

METHODSEpidermal stem cells were selected by rapid attachment to collagen IV for 10-15 min and cultured on 3T3 feeder layers. Collagen was extracted from rat tail. The matrix lattice was fabricated by freeze-dryer and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Fibroblasts were inoculated on collagen sponge and cultured for 4 days prior to inoculation of epidermal stem cells to construct composite skin substitute. The composite skin substitute were examined by means of histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microcopy, the histologic appearance was similar to that of normal epidermis.

RESULTSThe epidermal stem cells formed large colonies at 7-8 days, expressed K19 antigen. The percentages of cells at G0/G1 phase of cell cycle and the percentage of alpha6 briCD71dim cells in ESC groups were higher than those in the control group. The skin substitute had epidermis and dermis, the histologic appearance was similar to that of normal skin. The artificial skin expressed keratin antigen by immunocytochemical methods.

CONCLUSIONSEpidermal stem cells proliferated well and differentiated properly on this artificial skin dermis which contained fibroblasts. It seemed that the composite skin to be a good equivalent.

3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Skin, Artificial ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of interferon-stimulated exonuclease 20 kDa (ISG20) on replication of genotype 2a hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenomic replicon RNA and infectivity of the cell culture-derived HCV strain JFH1 to determine the potential of exogenously expressed ISG20 as an anti-viral therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSPlasma vectors containing wild-type (WT) ISG20 or a catalytically-inactive mutant ISG20m were transiently transfected into Huh7, Huh7.5 and HEK293 cells, and the replication of a monocistronic subgenomic JFH1 RNA replicon, SGRm-JFH1BlaRL, was measured. Huh7.5 cells stably expressing ISG20, ISG20m, or the control vector were established by transducing replication incompetent pCX4-Bsr-myc retroviruses encoding WT ISG20, D94G mutant ISG20, or the empty vector, respectively, and selecting with 5 mug/mL of blasticidin for approximately three weeks. The stable Huh7.5 cells were then transfected with HCV replicon RNA and infected with cell culture-derived HCV to investigate inhibition capacity of ISG20 against HCV.

RESULTSHuh7.5-ISG20, Huh7.5-ISG20m, and Huh7.5-Bsr controls cells stably expressing ISG20, ISG20m, or the control vector, respectively, were constructed successfully; the ectopically expressed ISG20 and ISG20m were distributed in both nucleus and cytoplasm, as detected by immuno uorescence. SGRm-JFH1BlaRL replicated efficiently and with similar kinetics in the Huh7.5-Bsr and Huh7.5-ISG20m cells, with expression levels plateauing at 48-96 h post-transfection. In contrast, at all time points examined, SGRm-JFH1BlaRL replication was 9.1% to 16.7% in the Huh7.5-ISG20 cells. The Huh7, Huh7.5 and HEK293 cells transiently expressing ISG20 also showed 16.7% to 25.0% of HCV replication that the respective controls. In addition, the amount of infectious progeny JFH1 virus released in culture supernatants was 9.1% to 12.5% from the Huh7.5-ISG20 cells than from the Huh7.5-Bsr and Huh7.5-ISG20m cells at 48-72 h post-infection, and the latter two cultures produced similar JFH1 virus yields. Finally, the expression of HCV core protein was also lower in the Huh7.5-ISG20 cells, as detected by immunoblot analysis.

CONCLUSIONExogenous expression of ISG20, either in a transient or stable manner, suppresses not only replication of genotype 2a HCV RNA replicons but also JFH1 virus propagation in cultured hepatocytes. The exonuclease activity of ISG20 is required for its antiviral activities against HCV.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Genome, Viral ; HEK293 Cells ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Replicon ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

This article describes the experiences of professor CHEN Quan-xin, an old famous TCM doctor, in the treatment of insomnia. He believes that insomnia stems from incoordination between nutrient qi and defensive qi and deficient cultivation of cardiac spirit, and treatment of insomnia need to regulate spirit and quiet heart coherently. Painless acupuncture method of Chen's flying needling is adopted including to select Shenmen (HT 7), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Anmian (Extra) as the main points and take special needling technique and grading reinforcing and reducing manipulations. During treatment, he pays attention to understanding patients' psychological and mental status through "watching one's expressions and weighing his words carefully".
Acupuncture Therapy ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Spirituality