Objective Gastrointestinal tract is commonly affected in amyloidosis.The deposition of amyloid protein may cause a variety of endoscopic changes in the gastrointestinal tract.The aim of this study was to investigate the endoscopic manifestations and evaluate the biopsy results in amyloidosis of the gastrointestinal tract.Methods The gastroscopy or colonoscopy records of ten patients with amyloidosis of gastrointestinal tract(five males,five females) were reviewed.The definitive diagnosis of amyloidosis was made by tissue biopsy.The endoscopic changes in the gastrointestinal tract were characterized. Results The frequent clinical symptoms related to amyloidosis of the gastrointestinal tract presented as:abdominal pain,hematochezia or melena,abdominal distension and chronic diarrhea.Five patients underwent gastroscopy and three of them were established the diagnosis.Gastroscopic examinations revealed ulcerations,granular appearance,mucosal denudations and scars except one patient in whom the mucosa appeared normal.Eight patients underwent colonoscopy or sigmoscopy and all of them got positive results.The endoscopy revealed polyps,ulcerations,mucosal denudations,granular appearance,mucosal hyperemia and edema.Two patients who suffered from abdominal pain and hematochezia were diagnosed as colonic ischemia clinically.The histopathological examination of one of the patients showed that there was amyloid deposits in the blood vessels.In another patient,amyloid was found in the stroma.This suggests that there are some relationship between amyloidosis and colonic ischemia. The amyloid deposition in the small vessels may decrease the blood flow of the colon,on the other hand,chronic ischemia may cause inflammation which may lead to amyloidosis.The relationship between amyloidosis and colonic ischemia needs to be further investigated.Conclusion Gastrointestinal tract is one of the predisposed organs in amyloidosis.Endoscopic examination may discover the lesion.Biopsy of gastrointestinal tract may greatly help the diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To reveal the distribution and effects of peripheral nerve axolemma ion channels in experimental allergic neuritis(EAN).Methods The alteration of Na+ and K+ channels on peripheral nerves(PNs) in the course of EAN was observed and the relationship between the channels and nerve conduction properties was analyzed by assessing histology and electrophysiology of PNs as well as clinical severity.Results Na+ and K+ channels obviously decreased on day 9 post immunization(p.i.),a time point of disease onset,and quickly became undetectable in next two weeks.Undergoing a slow and incomplete regeneration,neither of the channels regained the normal appearance on day 85 p.i.even if the clinical symptom disappeared several weeks before.Na+ and K+ channels had a synchronous development during disease course and remained a close correlation with the alteration of paranodal myelin.Electrophysiological abnormality kept consistent with the disturbance of PNs just in the acute period of EAN(9-23d p.i.) and the compound muscle action potential(CMAP) amplitude partly reflected the distribution of axolemma ion channels.Conclusion Loss of axolemma ion channels of PNs might be one of the reasons directly leading to the early symptoms of EAN.As a structural component,the channels were liable to damage and difficult to restore.The clustering and maintenance of the channels were closely related with the specialized paranodal myelin.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of repeated transfer of liposome mediated CD gene plus radiation on the growth of human rectal cancer cells xenograft in nude mouse Methods HR 8348 cells transfered with liposome mediated CD gene repeatedly (at day 0,4,8,12 ) and treated with fractionated radiation at a dosage of 2 Gy/day to a total dose of 30 Gy. At the same time, mice were injected i.p.with 800 mg/kg/day of 5 FC for 12 days. Results Compared with controls tumors in treatment group grew with an inhibition rate of 78 7% in weight, and 81 5% in volume. ConclusionRepeated transfer of liposome mediated CD gene working together with radiation effect a significant inhibition on the growth of xenografted human rectal carcinoma HR 8348 cells in nude mouse.

Objective To investigate the changes and their relationship of aquaporin-9(AQP9) mRNA expression and Ca2+ concentration of brain tissue after cerebral ischemic.Methods The models of cerebral ischemic in the rats were made by occluding unilateral middle cerebral artery with the suture method.The expression level of AQP9 mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR at interval times of 6 h,1 d,2 d,3 d,5 d after cerebral ischemic,respectively.Fura-2/AM fluoremetry technique was used to determine the cellular Ca2+ concentration of brain tissue.The results were compared with control group.Results Compared with control group,the expression level of AQP9 mRNA and the concentrations of Ca2+ significantly increased at 6 h in ischemic edema tissue,and reached a peak at 2 d,3 d after cerebral ischemic(P

AIM:To investigate the effects of aminoguanidine intervention on lens cell damage induced by D-galactose in rat eyes and its mechanism of action.METHODS:D-galactose(400 mg/kg) was injected into rats intraperitoneally for 14 weeks to induce the animal model of glycosylation and lens cell damage.Aminoguanidine(75 mg/kg,150 mg/kg) were administered for 12 weeks by intragastric administration beginning at 3rd week.All animals were killed and blood samples were taken to measure the activity of aldose reductase,the level of fructosamine,the amounts of glycohaemoglobin and advanced glycation end-products.The lenses of eyes were taken to detect the activities of AR,GR,SOD and SDH.The amounts of AGEs,GSH,MDA or outleakage of LDH were measured,respectively.The ultrastructure and apoptosis of lens epithelial cells were examined by transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS:Animals were treated with D-galactose for 14 weeks,the serum level of fructosamine,the amounts of glycohaemoglobin and AGEs,and activity of AR were significantly increased.The amount of AGEs and activity of AR in lens were increased,the activity of antioxidase was decreased and oxidative product was increased.The apoptosis,the damages of mitochondria and cell nucleus in lens cells were observed.After treated with aminoguanidine for 12 weeks,the activity of AR and the level of fructosamine in serum,and the amounts of glycohaemoglobin and AGEs were significantly decreased(P

Objective To explore surgical treatment through posterior approach to reduce the fracture and dislocation complicated with longitudinal ligaments and intervertebral disc rupture in the thoracic or lumbar spine. Methods Eighteen cases suffered from the fracture and dislocation complicated with longitudinal ligaments and intervertebral disc rupture in the thoracic or lumbar spine between January 2001 and May 2004, retrospectively were reviewed all the patients are male, aged from 19 to 58 years old (average 38 years). All the patients are paraplegia. The involved vertebrae are T11 to L 3. All the lateral X-ray films showed the fractured vertebra taking on wedged shape. The posterior vertebral body-height was decreased in six patients. The fractured vertebra lost its height by 1/4 to 3/4 of normal height. The upper vertebral dislocation extent was from 25% to 100%. Two cases complicated with lateral displacement. All the patients were operated on within posttraumatic 10 days. One of the two posterior surgical techniques was used for a given patient: 1) One technique is implantation of pedicle-screws in upper and lower vertebrae just adjacent to fractured vertebra. 2) Another technique is implantation of pedicle-screws both in fractured vertebra and its adjacent upper and lower vertebrae. Results All the patients were followed up 3 months to 3 years (average 18 months). 8 cases were treated with two-vertebrae 4 pedicle-screws implantation technique, the height of fractured vertebral body was not improved in 5 cases, partially improved in 3 cases. The dislocation of the upper vertebra adjacent to fractured vertebra was partially improved in 6 case, not changed in 1 case, got worse in 1 case. 10 cases were treated with three-vertebrae 6 pedicle-screws implantation technique, the height of fractured vertebral body was all improved by 80% to 100%. The dislocation of the upper vertebra was corrected completely in all the ten cases. Conclusion The procedure of three-vertebrae 6 pedicle-screws implantation is practical, effective and useful for treatment of the fracture and dislocation comlicated with longitudinal ligaments and intervertebral disc rupture in the thoracic or lumbar spine.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of crude Paecilomyces tenuipes polysaccharides(cPtPs) and Paecilomyces tenuipes polysaccharides(PtPs) in a rat model of acute hepatic necrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4).METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into four groups(control group,CCl4 group,cPtPs+CCl4 group and PtPs +CCl4 group),the four groups were given intragastrically with normal saline,cPtPs and PtPs for 15 d,respectively.In the last two days,these groups except control group were injected peritoneally with CCl4.Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),direct bilirubin(DBIL) and indirect bilirubin(IBIL) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer.Pathological changes of hepatic tissue were assessed by hematoxylin-eosine(HE) staining.The levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in liver homogenate were analyzed using xanthinoxidase and thio-barbituric acid,respectively.The concentration of Ca2+ in hepatocyte mitochondria was determined by colorimetric method.The expression of ?-smooth muscle actin(?-SMA) was examined in hepatic tissue by immunohistochemical method.RESULTS: Compared with control group,serum levels of ALT,AST,TBIL,DBIL and IBIL in CCl4 group increased significantly,denaturation and necrosis implicated to the whole hepatic lobules.Compared with CCl4 group,serum levels of ALT,AST,TBIL,DBIL and IBIL in PtPs +CCl4 group decreased significantly,denaturation and necrosis located in the third region of hepatic lobules,the level of SOD increased and MDA decreased(P

Objective To establish standard liver volume formula of healthy Chinese and to explore if there is a correlation between changes of hepatic volume and hepatic functional reserve.Methods Two hundred and eighty healthy volunteers and 85 cirrhotics undergone serial abdominal H-CT scanning. The relation between normal liver volume measured by CT and body surface area(BSA) was studied by linear regression and correlation method, the standard liver volume formula was deduced. For cirrhotic patients, the change rate of liver volume was calculated and was compared with their Child class and postoperative complications.Results The mean normal hepatic volume for Chinese adults was (1?250?141)?cm 3. There is a positive correlation between estimated liver volume in vivo and body surface area[r=0.96, LV(cm 3)=613?BSA(cm 3)+162.8]. The mean liver volume (SD) for Child class A cirrhotics was (1?092?276)?cm 3, (868?163)?cm 3 for class B, and (652?76)?cm 3 for class C. Differences were observed among the three classes (P

OBJECTIVE To explore the characteristics of the pathogens in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) following severe craniocerebral trauma. METHODS The 220 cases with severe craniocerebral trauma were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS The incident rate of VAP was 24% in these patients. A total of 169 pathogens were isolated,including 146 ( 86%) strains of bacteria and 23 (14%) fungal isolates. The main Gram-negative bacteria (114 strains) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumoniae,etc. The Gram-positives (32 strains) were Staphylococcus aureus and twenty-four (75%) of them were meticillin-resistant. CONCLUSIONS The incident rate of VAP is high following severe craniocerebral trauma. Most of the isolated pathogens are drug resistant. These cases have mixed infection occurred commonly. To prevent and treat VAP,we should pay attention to disinfection and aseptic manipulation,and make the rational use of antimicrobial agents.

BackgroundProliferative vitreo-retinal disease (PVD)is one group of ocular complications marked by the enhanced proliferation of various cells included retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) are implicated in the aberrant cell proliferation and pathological neovascularization that characterizes PVD,but the signaling mechanism is unclear now. Objective This study was to explore the effect of IGF-1 on VEGF in cultured human RPE cells under the small hairpin loop RNA (shRNA) keeping hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α ( HIF-1 α) silencing. Methods Human retinas were isolated from 4 healthy male donors,and the RPE cells were harvested and cultured.The ceils were identified using anti-human keratin antibody.The third to fifth generation of human RPE cells were used in the experiment.One target site of HIF-1α mRNA was chosen by certain design principle,and shRNA was designed and synthesized by the target site and transferred into the cells in vitro,and then the cells were cultivated with 50 μg/L IGF-1 for 24 hours.The mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results Cultured human RPE cells showed the flat irregularly multangular shape,and 97％cells appeared the positive response for keratin.HIF-1α mRNA expression in human RPE cells was significantly lower in 50 μg/L IGF-1 group than the 0 pg/L IGF-1 group ( 1.49±0.18 vs 1.46±0.17 ) ( t =0.335,P =0.743 ),however,the expressing levels of HIF-1α protein( 1049.86±172.54 vs 0.00±0.00) and VEGF mRNA(0.95±0.15 vs 0.35±0.07) and VEGF protein (391.98±56.77 vs 214.36±37.15)were raised in the 50 μg/L IGF-I group compared with 0 μg/L IGF-1 group (t=16.098,9.935,6.928,P＜0.05).After the HIF-1α-specific shRNA was transferred into cultured RPE cells,the expressions of both HIF-1α mRNA and its protein significantly decreased in RPE cells under 50 μg/L IGF-1 concentration condition( F=68.679,89.904,P=0.000),moreover,the expression of VEGF mRNA and its protein were significantly lowed(F=21.770,6.205,P＜0.05). ConclusionsIGF-1 promotes the accumulation of HIF-1α protein and induce the expression of VEGF in human RPE cells,which probably play a pivotal role in the development of PVD.