Left atrial enlargement is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and other cardiovascular adverse events. It can affect stroke severity and increase the risk of recurrence. The mechanisms associated with left atrial enlargement and ischemic stroke are not yet clear. It may be associated with atrial thrombosis or co-morbidity, such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension. How to conduct primary and secondary prevention of stroke patients with left atrial enlargement still need further clinical trials to determine.

Objective To investigate the associations of left atrial enlargement and the severity and lesion patterns of cardioembolic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).Methods The patients with NVAF diagnosed as cardiogenic stroke within 48 h after onset were enrolled.The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to evaluate the severity of stroke,and ≥ 10 was defined as moderate to severe stroke,and ＜ 10 was defined as mild stroke.Transthoracic echocardiography was used to measure the left atrial diameter.The patients were divided into normal group,mild,moderate,and severe left atrial enlargement groups.According to the lesion patterns revealed by the diffusion weighted imaging,they were divided into either a multiple infarctions group or a single infarction group.Results A total of 137 patients were enrolled,including 86 patients with mild stroke (62.8％),51 with moderate to severe stroke (37.2％),69 with multiple infarctions,and 68 with single infarction (49.6％).Left atrial enlargement was found in 103 cases,in which 35 (25.5％) were mild enlargement,40 (29.2％) were moderate enlargement,and 28 (20.4％) were severe enlargement.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of severe stroke in patients with mild (odds ratio [OR] 15.662,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.821-134.677;P =0.012),moderate (OR 26.435,95％ CI 3.201-218.319;P =0.002),and severe (OR 75.763,95％ CI 8.536-672.441;P＜0.001) left atrial enlargement were increased significantly,and there were no significant differences in the lesion patterns among the different severity of left atrial enlargement groups (x2 =7.050,P =0.07).Conclusions Left atrial enlargement may be independently associated with the severity of cardiogenic stroke in patients with NVAF,but it is not associated with the lesion patterns.

Purpose:To study the relationship between expression of TGF-?_(1) and invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer.Methods:ELISA was used to examine TGF-?_(1) in serum of patients with bladder cancer.Results:Compared to the control group,TGF-?_(1) level in patients serum was higher(P

Objective To investigate the possibility of differentiation of multipotent adult progenitor cells from human bone marrow(hMAPCs) into hepatocytes with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) in vitro to find a new cell source for liver tissue engineering. Methods (1) Harvest of the hMAPCs: The bone marrow mononuclear cells were obtained from bone marrow obtained from volunteers by gradient centrifuging. The adherent mononuclear cells were cultured. The mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) were isolated and collected by magnetic activated cell sorting(MACS) through depletion selection by the use of CD45 and GlyA microbeads. (2) The hMAPCs were induced to differentiate with HGF(20ng/ml) +FGF-4(10ng/ml). L-02 human hepatocytes (cell lines) were used as the control, with undifferentiated hMAPCs serving as the contrast. (3)The expression of albumin (ALB), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin-18(CK-18), cytokeratin-19(CK-19) was detected with immunocytochemistry to identify the characters of the differentiated cells at different time, and to determine the ratio of positive cells. (4) ALB expression of the differentiated cells at different time was detected by Western blot on day 21 and 25. Results (1) The result of immunocytochemistry: The differentiated hMAPCs expressed the late markers (ALB, CK-18) of hepatocyte at all the time but did not express CK-19. The differentiated hMAPCs expressed AFP on day 7. (2) The result of Western blot assay: the differentiated cells expressed the late markers (ALB) of hepatocyte on day 21 and 35. Conclusions hMAPCs can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells under specific inducing conditions.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of pulsed ultrasound (PUS) and pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on the secretion of extracellular matrix from a culture complex during in vitro chondrogenesis.

METHODSAll the rat bone marrow mesen- chymal stem cell pellets were cultured in achondrogenic medium. Different intensities of PUS (100, 150, and 200 mW · cm⁻²) and PEMF (1, 2, and 5 mT) were applied to the cell pellets for 2 weeks. Group N was cultured without PUS and PEMF stimu- lation as control. The culture medium was collected after 2 weeks of culture. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the type of collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in the culture medium.

RESULTSPUS increased the secreting-type collagen and GAG from cell pellets compared with group N (P < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in different intensities (P > 0.05). PEMF had no significant effect on the secretion of the type of collagen (P > 0.05). A PEMF of 1 mT had no significant effect on the secretion of GAG (P > 0.05). A PEMF 2 and 5 mT decreased the secretion of GAG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTo prevent the secretary of extracellular matrix may play a role in chondrogenic effect of PEMF.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrogenesis ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Extracellular Matrix ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; radiation effects ; Rats ; Ultrasonic Waves

Objective To study the relativity between pathology and CT diagnosis and CT classified types of the golioma of the brain.Methods Seventy cases of golioma confirmed by CT diagnosis and pathology by way of non-contrast CT scanning and enhanced scans were analysed in comparison the results of the pathology and CT appearances.Results (1)The accuracy rate of CT diagnosis was 85.7%;(2)having pointed out the CT classified types of the golioma of the brain a acording of CT appearances comibined with shape.Type Ⅰ was(low-tensity,non-enhancement types)16 cases,which can be only seen in Ⅰ and Ⅱ grade of astrocytoma oligodendroglioma,and the latter was often characterized by bending stripe-like calcification or cluster dot-like calcification,both of which occupy 33% of the total (3/9).Type Ⅱ was (ring-like enhanced patterns)13 cases,which often appeared in Ⅱ?Ⅲ?Ⅳ grade astrocytoma,charactenied by parietal-node which took up 53.8%(7/13).The pathology changes were mainly caused by the internal neceosis and a few by cystic changes.Type Ⅲ(nodular or mass-like enhancement) in 31 cases revealed by various types of goliomsas,which were typical CT appearances of medulloblastoma and ependymoma.Type Ⅳ(mixed types)in 10 cases had showed the CT appearances of malignant goliomas.(3)The results indicate that no or slight edema and mass effect as well as intensification were mainly seen in Ⅰ and Ⅱ grade astrocytomas,Ⅲ and Ⅳ grade astrocytomas were classified as the less serious and the serious both of which had distinctive differences.(4)Analyse the CT appearances of brain golioma in terms of tumor cytology had provided the pathology evidences for CT classified patterns.Conclusion CT appearances and CT classified patterns can reflect some pathologie characteristics and provide an important reference for astrocytoma pathology grading.

Objective To investigate the effect of different doses of sufentanil combined with dexmedetomidine ( DEX) on hemodynamic and Narcotrend index ( NI) during pediatric anesthesia induction. Methods A total of 45 children with lower abdominal surgery were randomly divided into three groups evenly: sufentanil 0. 1 μg·kg-1+ DEX (S1 group),sufentanil 0. 2 μg·kg-1+DEX (S2 group),and sufentanil 0. 3μg·kg-1+DEX (S3 group). Patients in each group began with intubation at the peak point of administration. Blood pressure,heart rate,perfusion index (PI) and NI were detected at the baseline (t0), delivering DEX 0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1 and sufentanil intravenously for 5 min (t1),delivering sufentanil for 3 min (t2),time of intubation ( t3 ) ,1 min ( t4 ) ,and 5 min ( t5 ) after intubation. The application rate of atropine and propofol was recorded. Patient recovery time and adverse reactions were observed. Results Compared with basicline value at t0 time point, hemodynamic parameters and NI were decreased at t1 and t2 ,while PI was increased in both groups. At t3 ,t4 ,and t5 ,all of the indicators in S1 group were significantly different from those at t0 ,and also significantly different from those in S2 and S3 group. Six patients were treated with propofol in S1 group and four presented with agitation after operation,more than S2 and S3 groups. Three patients were treatment with atropine in S3 group. Conclusion Sufentanil (0. 2 μg·kg-1 ) combined with dexmedetomidine can be used to induce intubation for pediatric anesthesia with stable hemodynamic profile and low incidence of adverse effects.

To construct a system of genetic transformation suitable for Rhizopus oryzae, we constructed a single-exchange vector pBS-hygro carrying hygromycin B resistance gene (hph) as its selective marker using gene splicing by overlap extension PCR (SOE PCR) technique. We introduced this recombinant vector into Rhizopus oryzae AS 3.819 by PEG/CaCl2-mediated transformation of protoplast, electroporation of protoplast and germinated spores; and we studied the effects of hydrolysis time, field strength and spore germination time on transformation frequency. We conducted quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay to determine the gene copy number of ldhA integrated in the genome of R. oryzae transformants and its effect on the stability of transformants. We successfully achieved R. oryzae transformants integrated with pBS-hygro-ldhA vector. The optimal hydrolysis time for protoplast production was 140 min, and the optimal field strength of electroporation pulse for protoplast was 13 kV/cm. The optimal germination time of spores for electroporation was 2.5 h, and the optimal field strength of electroporation pulse was 14 kV/cm. The transformation frequency of method based on germinated spores was generally higher than the methods based on protoplast. The qPCR test results suggested that transformants with high copy number of integration in a certain range were relatively stable. Our results provided basis and support for metabolic regulation and genetic engineering breeding of R. oryzae.
DNA, Recombinant ; Electroporation ; Genetic Engineering ; Genetic Vectors ; Hygromycin B ; Protoplasts ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizopus ; genetics ; Transformation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo analyze and evaluate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for symptoms of large intestine cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with large intestine cancer were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen was used in the two groups,and heat-sensitive moxibustion was added in the observation group. The acupoints were Zusanli(ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) Xuehai (SP 10) and Geshu (BL 17), etc. The treatment was applied once a day,five-day treatment as one course. Four courses were required. The reaction rates of uncomfortable symptoms by the Chinese version of the M. D. Anderson symptom inventory (MDASI-C) scale and clinical effects were analyzed and evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the MDASI-C reaction rate of uncomfortable symptoms in the observation group was 50.4% which was lower than 53.3% in the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of symptom improvement in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion can improve symptoms of chemotherapy for large intestine cancer.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; drug effects ; Leucovorin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To establish and evaluate the CaV1?1?R528H gene knock?in mouse model of thyrotoxic hy?pokalemic periodic paralysis. Methods Thirty?six 8?week?old male CaV1?1?R528H gene knock?in mice and thirty?six 8?week?old wild?type male C57BL/6J mice were used in this study. Using three?factor two?level 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design ( the three factors including mutation, thyroxine and insulin, and two levels were with or without) , the mice were divided into 8 groups. The thyroxine groups were intraperitoneally injected with levothyroxine in a dose of 350 μg/kg once per day for 12 consecutive days to produce thyrotoxicosis. The insulin groups were intraperitoneally injected with short?acting insulin in a dose of 0?8 U/kg after the last administration of levothyroxine, and the potassium levels of different groups were meas?ured and recorded before (0 min) and after insulin injection (30 min, 60 min). Results (1) Compared with the control group, the following phenomena including irritability, dull coat, increased diet and water intake, and slow body weight gain, were observed in the thyrotoxic mice. Thyroid function tests showed that the levels of T3 and T4 in the thyrotoxic mice were significantly higher than those in the corresponding control mice (P<0?05), and the TSH level was significantly low?er than that of the corresponding control mice (P<0?05 ). (2) After administration of insulin or thyroxine alone, the po?tassium levels in the mutant and wild?type mice were not significantly different. However, after combined administration of thyroxine and insulin, the potassium levels in the mutant group were significantly lower than those in the wild?type mice at 30 min and 60 min ( P<0?05 for both). (3) The main effects and interactions:Mutation factor or thyroxine factor alone did not influence on the potassium level, only insulin showed hypokalemic effect (P<0?05). There were interactions be?tween thyroxine and mutation, and between insulin and mutation (P<0?05), but no interaction between thyroxine and in?sulin. Conclusions (1) A thyrotoxicosis state in mice is successfully developed in this study. (2) An CaV1?1?R528H gene knock?in mouse model of thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis is successfully established.