Adenosine ; metabolism ; Adenosine Kinase ; metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted ; methods ; Diet, Ketogenic ; Energy Metabolism ; Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Humans

Objective: To investigate the developmental toxicity of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in zebrafish embryos. Methods: AB wild-type male and female zebrafish were selected to mate and spawn, then the eggs were cultured with Holt buffer solution. Six dose groups ( 0.4, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0 μg/mL ), a solvent control group and a cosolvent control group, were set up with 20 embryos each. Malformations and death of embryos were observed at 48, 72 and 96 hpf ( hours post fertilization ), the mortality and 50% lethal concentration ( LC50 ) were also calculated. Results: At 48, 72 and 96 hpf, the LC50 of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene on zebrafish embryos were 1.668, 1.043 and 0.895 μg/mL, respectively, with a downward trend. After 72 hpf, when the concentration reached 2.0 μg/mL, all the zebrafish died. In the range of 0.4-2.0 μg/mL, the mortality of zebrafish at 48, 72 and 96 hpf increased with the increase of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene concentration ( all P<0.05 ); the malformation rate of zebrafish embryos at 48 hpf increased with the increase of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene concentration ( P<0.05 ). Zebrafish embryos exposed to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene led to yolk sac edema, pericardial edema and spinal curvature. Conclusion 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene can affect the development of zebrafish embryos, which will lead to lethal and teratogenic effects.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of compound Qianglizhenxian pill on epilepsy. Methods 94 patients with epilepsy were treated with compound Qianglizhenxian pill, and every course lasted three months. After treatment, checking patients' electroencephalogram again, evaluating the clinical effect according to degrees and numbers of attack. Results After 12 months of treatment, 90.43% of patients got an obvious improvement, while 6.38% for better, 3.19% for validity and no invalid. Conclusions There is a great improvement for patients with epilepsy after taking the medicine. The effective control rate is 92.62% with no toxication on blood system, liver and kidney.

OBJECTIVETo explore the strategy of pediatric intractable epilepsy surgery.

METHODSThe clinical data of 96 pediatric cases with intractable epilepsy and epilepsy syndromes underwent surgical treatment from April 2004 to April 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe surgical treatments were performed based on the results of comprehensive data from neurological, neurosurgical and pediatric departments. Among of them, 78 cases were performed with curative procedure, 17 cases with palliative procedure and 1 case with stereotactic damage procedure. The surgical effect was judged with Engel's standard, 58 cases had no seizure during 14 to 26 months follow-up, 26 cases had significantly improved in seizure control and the total efficiency was 87.5%. 81 cases had improvements in neuropsychological tests. 22 cases had postoperative complications such as neuro-dysfunctions and 15 cases were gradually recovered after the period of follow-up ended, 1 case died of CSF over drainage after operation 3 months.

CONCLUSIONSPediatric patients with symptomatic epilepsy and epilepsy syndromes are suitable to surgical treatment, the results are satisfactory in seizure control and neuropsychological function tests.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the expression of p53,p16,PCNA protein in esophageal carcinoma and its relationship to sexual distinction,the location of disease,the biological level,the depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis.Methods 118 patients with esophageal carcinoma were included in the study,all of them were treated for the first time.p53,p16 and PCNA protein in the 118 cases of esophageal carcinoma were detected by immunohistochemical assay(SP technique). Results The positive expression of p53, p16, PCNA protein in 118 patients was 80 %(92/118),42%(50/118)and 97%(115/118),respectively.The positive expression of p53,PCNA protein were irrelated to the sexual distinction,the location of disease,the biological level,the depth of invasion and the lymph node metastasis.The loss of p16 was significantly related to the depth of invasion and the lymph node metastasis(P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bacteriostatic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and its derivative platelet gel (PG) supernatant on Escherichia coli in vitro and its relationship with platelet factor 4 (PF4). METHODS: Apheresis platelets donated by healthy volunteers were obtained from the Blood station of Lu an Blood Center as the source of PRP. The counts of platelet, white blood cell and red blood cell in PRP and its derivative PG supernatant were detected by automatic hematology analyzer. Bacterial growth of PRP and PG supernatants co-cultured with bacteria for different time was observed by plate coating culture method, and the contents of PF4 in PRP and PG supernatants were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: Apheresis platelets were collected from 28 healthy volunteers with a median age of 33 (21-56) years old. PRP can inhibit the growth of escherichia coli, but there were individual differences in antibacterial effect within 24 hours. PRP of 13 healthy volunteers had strong antibacterial effect at 24 hours, 7 cases had weak antibacterial effect at 24 hours, and 8 cases had no antibacterial effect at 24 hours. PG supernatant showed no significant individual difference, and all of them had bacteriostatic effect within 12 hours, but no bacteriostatic effect after 12 hours. There was no statistical difference in the bacteriostatic effect of PRP at 24 hours between healthy volunteers aged ≤30 years and >30 years (P>0.05), and there was no statistical difference between the white blood cell count ≤0.1×10⁹/L and (0.1-1) ×10⁹/L groups (P>0.05). There was significant difference in the bacteriostatic effect of PRP between the two groups with platelet content ≤1 000×10⁹/L and >1 000×10⁹/L (P<0.05). The platelet count in PRP was higher than that in PG supernatant ［(911.57±160.52) ×10⁹/L vs 0］. The PF4 level in PRP was higher than that in PG supernatant (23623.34±9822.14 vs 6664.74±4065.83, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Both PRP and PG supernatant have antibacterial effects in Escherichia coli. The bacteriostatic effect of PRP was better than that of PG supernatant, and the platelet and PF4 contents in PRP were higher than those in PG supernatant, suggesting that the platelet and PF4 levels play an important role in bacteriostasis.
Adult ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Escherichia coli ; Platelet Factor 4 ; Platelet-Rich Plasma

BACKGROUNDThe role of the cerebral venous system (CVS) in intracranial pressure (ICP) regulation remains largely unclear. In the present study, the interaction between ICP and the cerebral venous system and its possible mechanism were investigated with respect to the biological characteristics of the cerebral venous system and its hemodynamic response under increased ICP.

METHODSWe created intracranial hypertension animal model, measured and calculated the venous flow velocity and diameter of the outflow terminal of the CVS with color ultrasonic system and recorded the vascular morphology by 3-dimensional anatomical microscopy. Patients who suffered from raised ICP underwent MRI and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination to show the length in the vertical direction of the wall of the bridging vein representing the diameter value. Pathological autopsy was performed from bodies of patients who had died from non-cerebral causes to observe the juncture part between the venous sinuses and tributary vertical brain veins.

RESULTSUnder increased ICP conditions, venous drainage through the outlet cuff segment, a unique structure between the bridge vein and sinus, was obstructed and in turn venous blood became congested. Therefore, the increased blood volume worsened the pre-existing ICP according to the well-accepted theory regarding volume-pressure relationship. This phenomenon was described as concurrent "venogenic intracranial hypertension", which is characterized by intracranial venous blood stasis responsive to and together with the original increased ICP.

CONCLUSIONSThe existence of this special pathophysiological process is prevalent, rather than rare, in various intracranial disorders. This finding would definitely provide new insight into the area of cerebral venous system research.

Adult ; Cerebral Veins ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypertension ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Intracranial Pressure ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH).

METHODSWe studied 4 groups of age-controlled male rats, i.e., normal control for 2 weeks group (N2), normal control for 3 weeks group (N3), exposed to hypoxia for 2 weeks group (H2) and for 3 weeks group (H3). Chronic HPH rat models were established by chronic hypobaric hypoxia [(10.0% +/- 0.5% O2] for 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. The rats were anesthetized and fixed, and the levels of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and carotid arterial pressure (CAP) were measured using catheters by a microcomputer via transducers. The weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle and septum (LV + S) [RV/ (LV+S)] were determined. The contents of ET-1 in plasma of pulmonary artery and carotid artery and in homogenates of lung and systemic arteries were determined by radioimmunoassay, and the contents of VEGF in serum of pulmonary artery and carotid artery were determined by ABC-ELISA.

RESULTSHPH rat models were established successfully. Compared with control groups, the values of ET-1 were both enhanced in carotid artery and pulmonary artery plasma in model groups (P < 0.01). In the HPH groups, the level of pulmonary artery plasma ET-1 was significantly lower than that of carotid artery plasma, but just the reverse was ET-1 in control rats. The levels of ET-1 in homogenates of lungs from HPH models were significantly higher than those in homogenates of lungs from control groups (P < 0.01), and markedly higher than those in homogenates of systemic arteries from HPH rats (P < 0.01) SThe values of VEGF in serum of pulmonary artery from H3 group were significantly higher than those from control groups and H2 group (P < 0.01). In serum of carotid artery, the values of VEGF from the HPH models were higher than those from the control groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONET-1 and VEGF play important roles in the pathogenesis of HPH. The result that ET-1 concentration around pulmonary arteries was significantly higher than that around systemic arteries may be one of the mechanisms accounting for the different reaction of them to hypoxia.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study explored the effects of levetiracetam (LEV) on the expression of nerve cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) mRNA in the hippocampus of rats with epilepsy induced by lithium-pilocarpine (Li-PILO) in order to provide a basis for investigating the antiepileptic mechanism of LEV and its doseresponse.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control, a Li-PILO model and two LEV treatment groups (LEV: 150 and 300 mg/kg) (n=12 each). The LEV treatment groups received LEV by intragastric administration 6 hrs after status epilepticus (once daily for 2 two weeks). The expressions of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA in the hippocampus was determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA in the Li-PILO model group was significantly higher than in the normal control group (P<0.05). LEV treatment of 150 and 300 mg/kg significantly decreased the expression of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA compared with the Li-PILO model group (P<0.05). The LEV treatment group at the dose of 300 mg/kg showed significantly lower expression of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA than the 150 mg/kg LEV treatment group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLi-PILO can up-regulate the expressions of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats with epilepsy. LEV can inhibit the expression of NCAM and GAP-43 mRNA and the effect is associated with the dose of LEV.

Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; GAP-43 Protein ; genetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Piracetam ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo detect the serum specific proteins in tumor-like polypoid lesions of the gallbladder patients and establish diagnostic model.

METHODSSurface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) technique and WCX Magnetic Beads were used to detect the serum proteomic patterns of 23 patients with tumor-like PLG, 21 patients with non tumor-like PLG and 26 normal persons. Biomarker Wizard and Biomarker Patterns Software were used in combination to analyze the data.

RESULTSPreliminary screening out 22 representative specific proteins for the diagnosis of the tumor-like PLG. Analysis system under the conditions set selected 3 specific proteins to establish diagnostic model for the tumor-like PLG. The sensitivity and specificity of the model for the diagnosis of the tumor-like PLG were 100% and 89.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSELDI-TOF-MS technique can select specific protein of the tumor-like PLG, and establish diagnostic model of the tumor-like PLG.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyps ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization