Electromagnetic Fields ; Threshold Limit Values

Objective To evaluate the value of intraduetal ultrasonography (IDUS) in diagnosing biliary and pancreatic disorders. Methods The findings by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and IDUS from 19 patients with suspected biliary and pancreatic disorders from July 2006 to August 2007 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of the 19 patients, 17 had obstructive jaundice (including 6 eases of cholangiocarcinoma, 2 pancreatic adenocareinoma, 2 gallbladder carcinoma, 2 chole-docholithiasis with bile duct stricture, 2 autoimmune pancreatitis, 1 papillary adenocarcinoma, 1 papillary adenoma, and 1 sclerosing cholangitis) and 2 intraduetal papillary mueinous tumor (IPMT). The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and pathological findings in 11 patients. The diagnostic accuracy of ERCP and IDUS was 73. 7% (14/19) and 84. 2% (16/19), respectively, and that of ERCP combined with IDUS was 89. 5% (17/19). The sensitivity and specificity of ERCP to differentiate benign bile duct strictures from ma-lignant ones were 100. 0% (11/11) and 83.3% (5/6), respectively; and those of IDUS were 100. 0%(11/11) and 100. 0% (6/6), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of ERCP in diagnosing cholan-gioeareinoma were 83.3% (5/6) and 60% (3/5), respectively; and those of IDUS were 100. 0% (6/6) and 40. 0% (2/5), respectively. Conclusion Combination of ERCP with IDUS can improve the diagnostic accuracy of pancreaticobiliary disorders. Additionally, IDUS shows higher sensitivity and specificity in differ-entiation between benign and malignant bile duct strictures, but it is still difficult to identify the etiologic factors of malignant bile duet strictures by IDUS.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats

AIM:To investigate the role of bcl-2 and bax expression in apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells(PASMC) of rats induced by Na +/H + exchanger isoform-1(NHE-1) inhibition in vitro. METHODS:Intracellular Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i) was measured using Fura-2/AM. The expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA in cells were detected by sqRT-PCR, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein were examined immunohistochemically. RESULTS:The expression of bax mRNA and Bax protein and [Ca 2+ ]i in cells transfected with NHE-1 ribozyme gene increased significantly compared with those of cells transfected with pLXSN and nontransfected control. Meanwhile, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein in cells transfected with NHE-1 ribozyme gene decreased significantly. CONCLUSION:Apoptosis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by inhibiting NHE-1 may have relevance to the increase in [Ca 2+ ]i and bax expression and the decrease in bcl-2 expression.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the curative efficacy of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GM-CSF in the treatment of AML were retrieved from PubMed,EMBase,Cochrane Library,CBMdisc and CNKI database by computer as well as from the leukemia-related journals manually for a quality evaluation of the methodology and Meta analysis using RevMan5.0 software. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs were included,of which,3 RCTs were graded as A,5 as B and 2 as C. The results demonstrated that there were no significant differences of indexes among groups as complete remission (CR) rate,relapse rate,infection rate and length of hospital stay,etc. CONCLUSION: The available clinical research results showed that GM-CSF adjunctive therapy could neither increase CR rate,nor decrease the relapse rate,infection rate or length of hospital stay.

Background Mutant C57BL/6 mouse with corneal opacity (B6-Co) appears eye open at birth (EOB) phenotype,which is a good animal model in the study of developmental mechanism of eyelid.Investigating the relationship between serum response factor (SRF) and EOB phenotype can provide theoretical support for the research on the mechanism of innate defects in eyelid development in humans.Objective This study was to assess the dynamic expressions of SRF in eyelid of embryonic B6-Co mouse.Methods Total RNA was extracted from B6 and B6-Co mice eyelid tissue at embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5 d),E17.5 d and E18.5 d.The relative expression levels of SRF mRNA and protein in the eyelid tissue of B6 and B6-Co embryonic mice were assayed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot,respectively.In situ expressions of SRF protein in eyelid of B6-Co mice and B6 mice were detected using immunofluorescence technique.The use and care of the animals complied with the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals of Nantong University.Results The relative expression levels ofSRF mRNA in the eyelids were 0.41±0.06 and 0.24±0.17 in E16.5 d and E17.5 d of B6-Co mice,showing a significant decline in comparison with 1.03 ±0.17 and 1.01 ±0.09 in the B6 mice (P =0.025,0.017).The expression levels of SRF protein in the eyelids of E16.5 d and E17.5 d B6-Co mice were 0.08±0.01 and 0.08± 0.01,which were significantly lower than 0.12 ±0.03 and 0.13 ± 0.02 of B6 mice (P =0.036,0.024).However,there were no significant differences in the expression levels of SRF mRNA and protein in E18.5 d between the B6-Co mice and B6 mice (P =0.387,0.774).Immunofluorescence assay displayed that SRF was expressed in the keratinocytes of eyelids in both mice,but the fluorescence intensity was weaker in the B6-Co mice.Conclusions SRF probably interrupts the developing process of eyelid in early embryo of B6-Co mice.

Objective To investigate changes in high mobility group box-1 protein ( HMGB1 ) level in brain tissues with severe sepsis, and the relationship between HMGB1 and septic brain injury.Methods Forty wild C57BL/6 mice were randomly ( random number) divided into 4 groups: sham group, sepsis group, cerebroventricular injection control group, and sepsis with BoxA ( HMGB1 inhibitor) cerebroventricular injection group.Septic model was reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture, and the cerebroventricular catheterization model was established by motorized mice brain stereotaxic instruments.After septic challenge, 1 μg BoxA was injected into the ventricle of brain via cerebroventricular catheter immediately.Mice were sacrificed and brains were harvested at 24 h after sepsis, and hippocampus tissue was separated immediately.Expressions of brain HMGB1 and caspase-3 changed in apoptotic neurons and brain injury were determined by brain tissue immunofluorescence, Western blotting, TUNEL and HE staining respectively.One-way analysis of variance ( ANOVA) for analyzing inter-group differences, student t test for comparing difference between two groups . Results (1) HMGB1 expression in hippocampus was significantly enhanced in the septic group compared to the sham group [ (22.74 ±9.29) vs.4.57 ±2.18, P<0.01].(2) Compared to the sham group, neuronal apoptosis [ (35 ±9.17) vs.(1.67 ±1.53) , P<0.01) and caspase-3 expressions [ (16.79 ±8.17) vs.( 3.39 ±2.09), P<0.05] were significantly increased in hippocampus with aggravated brain injury in the septic group.(3) Cerebroventricular injection of BoxA significantly inhibited HMGB1 in hippocampus [ (2.66 ± 2.06) vs.( 22.74 ±9.29), P<0.01];(4) Cerebroventricular injection of BoxA obviously alleviated acute brain injury, and decreased neuronal apoptosis [ ( 12 ±4.36 ) vs.( 35 ±9.17 ) , P <0.01 ] as well as caspase-3 activity [ (4.10 ±2.11) vs.(16.80 ±8.17), P<0.05].Conclusions The elevated expression of brain HMGB1 is closely related to pathogenesis and development of septic brain injury, and treatment with antagonist towards brain HMGB1 can markedly attenuate acute brain injury following severe sepsis.

Objective To study the effect of magnetic doxorubicin stealth liposome on human gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice.Methods Human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 was implanted into 36 nude mice.Different kinds of drug were injected through the caudal vein of tumor bearing nude mice divided into 6 groups .Permanent magnet was put into tumor in targeting group.Results The growth speed of tumor in the group of MDL (+) significantaly slowed down than other groups.The rate of tumor restrain in tumor weight and tumor volume of MDL (+) group were 71% and 70%, which were remarkably higher than those of the DOX and MDL (-) group (all P

Objective To assess alternations in left ventricular volume and systolic synchrony in patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) from the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT).Methods Twenty-nine patients with frequent isolated PVCs from RVOT were included and 30 healthy subjects as control.Instantaneous full-volume imaging(IFI) was performed to evaluate left ventricle volumetric parameters,including end-systolic volume (ESV),end-diastolic volume (EDV),stroke volume (SV),ejection fraction (EF),and systolic synchrony parameters,including systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI),dispersion end-systole (DISPES),mean end-systolic time (MES),pre-contraction time volume (PreContr) and post-contraction time volume (PostContr).Contraction front mapping was performed to visualize volumetric contraction sequence.All values of patients with PVCs were recorded during sinus beats (PVC-S) and premature ventricular beats (PVC-V) respectively.Results Significant differences were observed in left ventricular systolic volumetric and synchrony parameters between PVC-V and control subjects (P＜0.01),as well as in MES and PreContr between PVC-S and control subjects (P＜0.01).Conclusions Left ventricular systolic dysynchrony was demonstrated in patients with PVCs from RVOT.IFI was a novel tool to analyze left ventricular global and regional volumetric alternations.