Objective To explore the effects of aging on ventricular remodeling and cardiac rupture after acute myocardial infarction in mice. Methods　Male C57BL/6 mice of 3 months and 12 months old were randomly divided into sham operation group and myocardial infarction(MI)group.Following acute myocardial infarction(AMI)modeling induced by open-chest surgery,the events of cardiac rupture were monitored and the echocardiography and hemodynamics were performed on the 7th day after surgery.Zymography,immunohistochemical method and pathological staining were used to measure the activity of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs),the content of collagen and the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration on the 3rd and 7th days after surgery,respectively. Results　The incidence of cardiac rupture was higher in elderly group than that in young group(38.0% vs.16.0%,X2=6.139,P＜0.05).Compared with young group,significant infarct expansion,left ventricular (LV)remodeling and hemodynamic deterioration were showed in elderly group on the 7th day after surgery(t=5.754,P＜0.05).The degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and the expression of MMP-9 were significantly increased in elderly group on the 3rd day following AMI modeling(P＜0.05),and the collagen content and the expression of type Ⅲ collagen were significantly increased (P＜0.05)compared with young group. Conclusions　Aging is a risk factor for post-infarct cardiac rupture in the mice model.The mechanisms which are responsible for this age-related difference of cardiac rupture are related to increasing degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, overexpression of MMP-9 and type Ⅲ collagen and aggravated early LV remodeling.

Objective To explore the parental personality traits and affective expression in abuse children.Methods The investigation was carried out in 3 villages in Xinxiang,Henan province,with a total of 1 310 households,of which there were altogether 370 households that had children at 10-15 years old.From them,200 households were randomly selected to screen the children for child abuse,and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) assessment were made among the parents who were primary caregi-vers.Independent samples t-test and Chi-square test were conducted to the 196 valid questionnaires.Results The average educated years of parents in abuse group and non-abuse group were (7.75?5.437)years old and (7.28? 2.532) years old,there was no significant diffe-rence (P=0.413).The average age of fathers in abuse group and non-abuse group were (36.16?8.96)years and (39.06?7.99)years repectively,there was no significant difference(P=0.170),and those of mothers in both groups were (36.06?5.15)years and (37.62?5.70) years respectively,there was no significant difference(P=0.121).There were 31 fathers and 49 mothers who were guardian in abuse group,while there were 35 fathers and 81 mothers in non-abuse group (?2=1.56 P=0.212).No significant differences were found in parental psychoticism [t(father)=1.221 P= 0.227;t (mother)=-0.471 P=0.639],neuroticism[t (father)=-0.524 P=0.602;t(mother)=-0.556 P=0.579],extraversion/ introversion[t(father)=-0.449 P=0.655;t(mother)=-0.859 P=0.392] and lie [t(father)=-1.263 P= 0.211;t(mother)=0.733 P= 0.465],the ability to identify and describe feelings[t(father)=0.946 P=0.348;t(mother)=0.815 P=0.417],to distinguish between bodily sensations[t(father)=0.215 P=0.831;t(mother)=2.107 P=0.037],to daydream [t(father)=-0.088 P=0.930;t(mother)=-0.971 P=0.333]and to focus on externally oriented thinking[t(father)=-0.648 P= 0.519;t(mother)=-0.164 P= 0.870] in TAS.Conclusions In a general way parents who abuse their children do not necessarily have problems with their personalities or affective expression.Not only abnormal parents are likely to assault their children,but also normal parents may do it as well.

Digoxin plays a part in healing of congestive heart failure in clinic. Its therapeutic dose is very approximate to toxic dose and even they overlap each other sometimes. There are many influencing factors on blood drug level of digoxin. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics varies with different individuality. It is indispensable to detecting blood drug level in order to treat disease and prevent intoxication. Integrating with the detecting-methods of blood drug level of digoxin home and broad, characteristic of many methods are summarized from sensitivity, linearity range, cross-reaction and precision. These methods include radio immunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, chemiluminescence immunoassay, fluorescence immunoassay and HPLC-MS-MS. These methods are popular for their specialized ascendancy. The cost of radio immunoassay is low. Enzyme immunoassay has good specificity. Sensitivity and stability of chemiluminescence immunoassay is very excellent. Fluorescence polarization immunoassay is sensitive and convenient. HPLC-MS-MS has high resolution and good specificity. One of the development tendencies is to combine two or more methods in detecting the blood drug level of digoxin which contribute to these methods integrated use.
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Digoxin ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ; Fluoroimmunoassay ; Humans ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Xuesaitong soft capsule (XST) on liver fibrosis criteria in patients with post-hepatitis fibrosis.

METHODSSixty-four patients with such fibrosis were randomly divided into the treated group and control group. They were treated with XST and Dahuang Zhechong pill (NFDA1) for 3 months respectively. Their liver fibrosis criteria were examined before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe levels of serum procollagen III, hyaluronic acid, collagen IV, laminin in the two groups were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those before treatment. The differences between the two groups were insignificant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONXST could recover liver dysfunction and had anti-liver fibrosis function.

Adult ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To determine whether recombinant adeno-associated virus serotyoe 9 with CaMEK gene transfected on myocardial cells leads to reduce I/R-induced apoptosis.Methods Establish an ischemic/reperfusion(I/R) model of myocardial cells in vitro and the cells were divided into four experimental groups:(1) control group;(2) I/R group;(3) I/R+rAAV9-CBA-CaMEK group;(4) I/R+rAAV9-CBACaMEK+PD98059 group,respectively.The P-ERK1/2 and the Caspase-3,Bax were quqntitated by Western blot.Results These data clearly demonstrate that AAV9-mediated CaMEK gene transfected lead to active ERK1/2 and reduce I/R-induced apoptosis notablely.Conclusion rAAV9-mediated CaMEK gene transfected on myocardial cells can reduce I/R-induced apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of the simplified gonadorelin stimulation test for precocious puberty.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-two girls with signs of advanced breast development received the gonadorelin stimulation test. According to the result of gonadorelin stimulation test, the girls were divided into 3 groups: 151 with central precocious puberty (CPP),119 with premature thelarche (PT) and 22 with peripheral precocious puberty (PPP).

RESULTSLH or FSH levels at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min in PPP group were not significantly different (P>0.05). Those were significantly different in PT group (P<0.01). The highest levels of LH were at 30 min and the highest levels of FSH were at 60 min. LH or FSH levels at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min in CPP group were significantly different (P<0.01) with the highest levels at 30 min. The ratio of basal LH and FSH >0.2 had a diagnostic sensitivity of 48.3 % and specificity of 69.7%. Taking the LH/FSH ratio >0.9 at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min as cut-off value, the diagnostic sensitivity was 80.1%, 68.9% and 38.4%, and the specificity was 90.8%, 96.6% and 69.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe LH/FSH ratio>0.9 at 15 min after gonadorelin stimulation test can be used as a cut-off value to differentiate CPP from PT and blood sample at 60 min were not necessary.

Child ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A new phenylpropanoid (1), together with seven known ones (2-8), has been isolated from the flowers of Rosa rugosa collected from Shanxi province by using various chromatographic techniques. Compound 1 is a new compound, and it displayed cytotoxicity against NB4, SH-SY5Y, PC3, A549 and MCF7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 8.2, 6.2, 4.3, 2.8, and 9.6 µmol · L⁻¹ respectively.
Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the treatment of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (CHPS) with endoscopic pyloromyotomy.

METHODNine consecutive infants (7 boys, 2 girls; age range 26 - 70 days; weight range 2.65 - 6.10 kg), with a diagnosis of CHPS according to typical clinical manifestations, transabdominal ultrasound (US), gastroenterography and gastroscope. All the cases had accompanying malnutrition, anaemia, metabolic alkalosis, and some were complicated with congenital heart disease. In gastroscope operating room, all the patients were given pentobarbital and midazolam intravenously. A gastroscope with an outer diameter of 5.9 mm was passed through mouth, stomach, pylorus to the descending segment of duodenum. Under gastroscopy, two incisions were made along the anterior and posterior wall of pylorus from the duodenal bulb to the antrum by using endoscopic electrosurgical needle knife and an arch sphincter sarcosome. Incisions were deepened by 2 to 3 procedures until the longitudinal muscle was exposed, about 2 to 4 mm according to transabdominal US performed before operation. The incision depth was 2 - 3 mm if pylorus wall was 4 - 6 mm in thickness; or 3 - 4 mm when the wall was thicker than 6 mm.

RESULTThe endoscope was easily passed through the pylorus to the duodenum post-operation. The transabdominal US and gastroenterography showed that liquid easily flew through pylorus. All patients were able to have regular feeding about 2 to 10 hours after the operation. Vomiting in all patients was significantly decreased in frequency and amount, and in 8 infants vomiting stopped within 1 week, in one case it did not stop until 1 month after the treatment. Some cases showed slight adverse reaction, no perforation or massive haemorrhage in stomach or intestines occurred in any of the patients during and post-operation. Eight infants were doing well at follow-up (range 2 to 9 months). One girl had recurred vomiting at normal feeding after a period of 1 month postoperation without vomiting. This case was cured by second endoscopic pyloromyotomy.

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopic pyloromyotomy is effective, safe, simple, and offers several advantages: no need for open-abdomen surgery, feeding can be initiated rapidly.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic ; congenital ; surgery ; Pylorus ; surgery ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; ethics ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe prevalence of obesity and of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children have increased in the Chinese population over the past two decades, and thus diabetes prevention has become a major concern of public health agencies. Identification of individuals at risk for diabetes is an essential first step in designing and implementing intervention programs. Insulin resistance is the hallmark of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects with hyperinsulinemia and impaired glucose tolerance are well accepted as being at high risk for diabetes. Acanthosis nigricans (AN) has been proposed as a reliable marker of hyperinsulinemia, but its utility for predicting hyperinsulinemia has not been systematically evaluated in obese children. In order to further explore the relationship between obese childhood with benign acanthosis nigricans and insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, we examined 19 obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans.

METHODSNineteen of seventy six obese children (25%) with BMI over 25 enrolled in the Children' Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine fromJune 1st to September 1st in 2003 were studied. Skin biopsies were performed in these 19 obese children with acanthosis nigricans for final diagnosis. Levels of glucose, insulin, and glucose/insulin ratio were measured on fasting blood specimens and anthropometric parameters including waist/hip ratio, fat mass, body fat percentage and body mass index were examined. Oral glucose tolerance tests were also performed in these 19 children with benign acanthosis nigricans.

RESULTSAnthropometric parameters including waist/hip ratio, fat mass, body fat percentage and body mass index as well as fasting insulin level in acanthosis nigricans group were significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P < 0.01). Fasting glucose to insulin ratio (FGIR) of these 19 obese children with benign acanthosis nigricans was 4.27 +/- 0.53, indicating apparent insulin resistance. One of them was diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus and ten of them showed impaired oral glucose tolerance.

CONCLUSIONChildhood benign acanthosis nigricans is tightly associated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insuline resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and may be used as a reliable index of insulin resistance.

Acanthosis Nigricans ; complications ; physiopathology ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; complications ; physiopathology ; Insulin Resistance ; Obesity ; complications ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of dietary boron supplement on retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis in rats, so as to provide experimental evidence for clinical management of osteoporosis with boron.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats were randomized into normal control group (8 rats) and osteoporotic group (24 rats), and osteoporosis was induced in rats of the latter group by intragastric retinoic acid administration at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg for 15 consecutive days. The osteoporotic rats were subdivided into control group (8 rats) without treatment, boron treatment group (8 rats) and estradiol treatment group (8 rats). After 30 days of treatment, the serum contents of Ca, P, boron and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in the rats were assayed, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, lumbar vertebrae and tibia were determined, and the morphological changes of the femurs were observed.

RESULTSThe serum contents of Ca and P in the rats of the 4 groups differed scarcely, but the content of boron in boron treatment group was markedly higher than that in the other three groups. In the osteoporotic control group, the activities of serum AKP and TRAP, the masses of spongy bone and cortical bone of the femurs, and the quantity of the osteoclasts were increased, with the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and tibia decreased, suggesting osteoporotic conditions. The mean trabecular plate density and thickness, trabecular bone volume and cortical bone volume of the femurs in the osteoporotic rats treated with boron or estradiol were significantly increased, but the active osteoclast quantity in the spongy bone and serum TRAP activities were obviously decreased, and the bone quality was comparable with that of the normal group. In addition, the serum AKP activity and the active osteoblast quantity in the spongy bone were obviously increased in boron treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe dietary boron supplement can increase the serum content of boron of osteoporotic rats to stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, producing therefore obvious therapeutical effect against osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Boron ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Time Factors ; Tretinoin