Objective To elucidate the correlation between Chinese patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection.Methods The peripheral blood of 73 patients with CD (ileocolon type) and 40 healthy individuals was obtained.The monocyte layer was isolated for MAP culture.The growth of bacteria colony in the culture tube was observed every two weeks and totally for 16 weeks.By the end of culture,specific DNA of MAP (IS900) in the culture tube was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction.ANOVA was performed for measurement data analysis and chi square test was used for count data.Results After cultured for 16 weeks,no bacteria colony of MAP had been observed in 113 mycobacteral growth indicator tube (MGIT).No IS900 had been detected in the peripheral blood of all patients with CD and all healthy controls.Conclusion MAP is not correlated with the pathogenesis of CD (ileocolon type) in Chinese patients.

Objective To observe the effects and the mechanism of the thoracic pressure variation on the velocity of tricuspid regurgitation in quiet respiration, to accurately estimate the pulmonary artery systolic pressure,and to verify the new proposed mechanism of respiration effects on hemodynamics using echocardiography. Methods Continuous-wave Doppler spectra of tricuspid regurgitation were recorded with Sequoia 512 in 50 patients who had stable tricuspid regurgitation. Electrocardiogram and respiratory tracing were recorded simultaneously. The velocities and the pressure gradients were recorded during different respiration phases for analyzing. Results Respiration reliably affected on tricuspid regurgitant velocity. There were three patterns of manifestation:①The velocity increased in the inspiratory phase. ②The velocity decreased in the inspiratory phase. ③The velocity changed randomly. Conclusions Thoracic pressure variations had definite effects on the velocity of tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid gradient. This research indicated that to obtain accurate and reliable Doppler echocardiographic measurement of the pulmonary artery systolic pressure, the measurement should be at the time between inspiration and expiration.

A design of ECG monitor was presented in this paper. It is based on the latest MCU and BLE4.0 technologies and can interact with multi-platform smart devices with extra low power consumption. Besides, a clinical expansion part can realize functions including displaying the real-time ECG and heart rate curve, reading abnormal ECG signals stored in the monitor, and setting alarm threshold. These functions are suitable for follow-up use.
Electrocardiography ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of silencing cell division cycle 25a ( CDC25a) gene on the prolifera-tion of human hepatoma HepG2 cells.METHODS:CDC25a gene in human hepatoma HepG2 cells was silenced by RNA interference.Real-time PCR was applied to detect the expression of CDC25a, cyclin E and CDK2 at mRNA levels in the HepG2 cells.Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of CDC25a at protein level.In addition, MTT assay, Giemsa staining and flow cytometry were used to measure the proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 cells.RESULTS:The expression of CDC25a at mRNA and protein levels in RNA silence group was lower than those in negative control group and normal control group (P<0.05).The mRNA expression of cyclin E and CDK2 in silence group was lower than that in negative control group and normal control group (P<0.05).The cell proliferation in silence group was lower than that in negative control group and normal control group ( P<0.05) .The results of flow cytometry revealed that the cells in silence group were blocked in G1 phase.CONCLUSION:Infection of LV-CDC25a-RNAi recombinant to the HepG2 cells effec-tively inhibits the CDC25a gene expression and the proliferation of human hepatoma cells, and arrests the cells in G1 phase, suggesting that CDC25a gene may be a key target for the treatment of liver cancer.

The Chinese herbal medicine Tianma (Gastrodia elata) has been used for treating and preventing primary headache over thousands of years, but the exact pharmacological mechanism of the main bioactive ingredient gastrodin remains unclear. In present study, the effects of gastrodin on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (pERK1/2) expression were observed in rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) after in vitro organ culture to explore the underlying intracellular mechanism of gastrodin on primary vascular-associated headache. CGRP-immunoreactivity (CGRP-ir) positive neurons count, positive area, mean optical density and integrated optical density by means of immunohistochemistry stain were compared at different concentrations of gastrodin, which was separately co-incubated with DMEM in SD rat TG for 24 hours. Only at 5 or 10 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin demonstrated significantly concentration-dependent reduction of CGRP-ir (+) expression and its action closed to 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate. While at 2.5, 20, and 40 mmol L(-1) concentration, gastrodin did not show remarkable effects on CGRP-ir (+) expression. The optimal concentration of gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) similarly inhibited CGRP-mRNA expression level separately compared with 1.2 mmol L(-1) sumatriptan succinate and 10 micromol L(-1) flunarizine hydrochloride, which was quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). pERK1/2 level was examined by Western blotting after co-cultured with optimal concentration of gastrodin and effective specific ERK1/2 pathway inhibitors PD98059, U0126. The result indicated that gastrodin significantly reduced pERK1/2 protein actions similarly to ERK1/2 pathway specific blockade. It suggests ERK1/2 signaling transduction pathway may be involved in gastrodin intracellular mechanism. This study indicates gastrodin (5 and 10 mmol L(-1)) can remarkably reduce CGRP-ir (+) neuron, CGRP-mRNA and pERK1/2 expression level in cultured rat TG, with its actions similar to the effective concentration of sumatriptan succinate, flunarizine hydrochloride and specific ERK1/2 pathway blocker. The intracellular signaling transduction ERK1/2 pathway may be involved in the gastrodin reducing CGRP up-regulation in rat TG after organ culture.

Objective To explore the effects of sumatriptan on the modulation of calcitonin generelated peptide(CGRP) expression and its involving intracellular signaling transduction mechanisms in rat trigeminal ganglion(TG) after organ culture.Methods Using organ culture in vitro model,54 isolated TGs of SD rats were randomly divided into fresh group ( n =6 ),control group ( n =6 ) and experimental group (n =42,6 TGs for each subgroup).Experimental group included seven subgroups,which were respectively pretreated with four different concentrations of sumatriptan,specific inhibitors of extracellular signalregulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway (U0126 and PD98059 ),and the inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) (SP600125).After co-cultured with above intervention agents for 24 h,CGRP-immunoreactivity (CGRP-ir) positive neurons and CGRP-mRNA expression levels were quantified by immunohistoehemistry stain and real-time polymerase chain reaction,respectively.Phosphorylated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and JNK (pJNK) proteins levels were determined by Western-blotting method.Results The CGRP-ir ( + ) neurons expression levels were significantly increased after 24 h organ culture.However,0.10 and 0.50 mg/ml concentrations of sumatriptan remarkably decreased the CGRP-ir ( + ) neurons expression levels.The positive cell percentage,positive optic area,integrated optical density,mean optical density and CGRP-mRNA expression level in TG were significantly reduced than control groups (tPCP =8.652,26.382; tarea =6.220,13.917; tIA =5.606,15.904; tM14 =2.661,21.748; tmRNA =8.032,15.675.P ＜ 0.05 ).The CGRP-mRNA expressions were significantly down-regulated after co-incubation with concentration of 0.50 mg/ml sumatriptan for 24 h in TG of SD rat ( P ＜0.05 ).The levels of pERK1/2 and pJNK protein kinase detected by Western-blotting were significantly reduced by 0.50 mg/ml concentration of sumatriptan,the degrees of which were closed to the ERK1/2 and JNK pathway specific blockers.Conclusion It suggests that the optimal concentration of sumatriptan significantly down-regulates CGRP over-expression via intracellular ERK1/2 and JNK signaling transduction pathways in TG after organ culture.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli and Feishu on endotoxin shock-induced acute lung injury in rabbits.Methods Sixty healthy male New Zealand white rabbits aged 2 months weighing 1.5-2.0 kg were randomly divided into 6 groups (n =10 each):group sham operation (group S); group zinc protoporphyrin-Ⅸ (ZnPP-Ⅸ) (group Z); group lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (group L); group LPS + EA (group EL) ; group LPS + sham EA (group SEL) and group LPS + EA + ZnPP-Ⅸ (group ELZ).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10％ chloral hydrate 400 mg/kg and tracheostomized.The animals kept spontaneous breathing.Right internal carotid artery was cannulated for BP monitoring.Ear vein was cannulated for drug administration.LPS 5 mg/kg was injected iv in groups L,EL,SEL,ELZ.Endotoxin shock was confirmed by decrease in BP by 20 ％ of the baseline value and PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300.ZnPP-Ⅸ (heme oxygenase (HO-1 ) inhibitor)10μmol/kg was injected intraperitoneal at 2 h after LPS injection in groups Z and ELZ.Bilateral 15 min EA stimulation of Zusanli and Feishu ( according to atlas of animal acu-points) was performed once a day for 5 days before LPS administration in groups EL and ELZ.The animals were sacrificed by blood-letting at 6 h after LPS administration.The lungs were removed for microscopic examination (0 =no injury,4 =most severe injury),detection of alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis (by TUNEL) and determination of HO-1 protein and mRNA expression.Results LPS significantly increased lung injury scores,alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis index (the number of apoptotic cells/total cells) and HO-1 protein and mRNA expression.EA significantly attenuated lung injury and alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis induced by LPS and further increased the expression of HO-1 protein and mRNA in group EL as compared with group L.The protective effects of EA was counteracted by ZnPP- Ⅸ in group ELZ.Conclusion EA at Zusanli and Feishu can attenuate endotoxin shock-induced lung injury by up-regulation of HO-1 expression and inhibiting alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis in the lung.

[Objective] To investigate the expression of NF-κB and IL-lra in gastric cancer, and to explore their correlation with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). [Methods] Expression of NF-κB and IL-1ra was detected by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarry of 359 cases of GC. [Results] The expression rates of NF-κB in the patients with metastasis of lymph node, TNM Ⅲ-Ⅳ stage, and poorly differentiated of histology were 80.2%, 80.0%, and 79.2%, respectively. The expression rates of IL-1ra in the patients with tumor size ≤3 cm, early stage, non-metastasis of lymph node, and TNM Ⅰ-Ⅱ stage were 61.7%, 75.0%, 66.4%, and 61.9%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of the cases with non-expressed NF-κB was statistically higher than that of the cases with expressed NF-κB(P=0.036). The 5-year survival rate of the patients with negative expression of NF-κB and positive expression of IL-1ra was statistically higher than the others (P=0.021). [Conclusions] NF-κB is the adverse predictors of prognosis of gastric cancer. IL-1ra maybe play a protective role in early gastric cancer stage, but it is necessary to study deeply and get more evidences.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of high frequency ultrasonography with E-flow imaging in the evaluation of fingertip's microcirculation changes in patients with systemic sclerosis(SSc).Methods Twenty-four SSc patients and 29 healthy subjects were involved.High frequency ultrasonography with E-flow imaging was used to observe the configuration and distribution of digital arteries in the last segment of left and right middle finger.Peak systolic velocity (PSV),end diastolic velocity (EDV),mean velocity(MV),vascular resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index(PI) of digital palmar propria arteries,nail bed arteries and finger ventral arteries were measured.Results In control group,rich blood supply was revealed within the fingertips.Digital palmar propria arteries,nail bed arteries and finger ventral arteries and their small branches were displayed clearly and continuously by E-flow imaging.While in SSc patients,the definition and continuity of fingertip's small vascular flow images were not as good as that in the control group,with the distribution of blood flow markedly reduced.compared with the control group,PSV,EDV and MV of digital palmar propria arteries,nail bed arteries,finger ventral arteries were decreased in SSc group(P＜0.01),but both RI and PI were increased(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between left and right fingertip's arteries index in normal control group (P＞0.05).But PSV,EDV and MV of left digital palmar propria arteries in SSc group were higher than that of the right(P＜0.05),whose differences bear statistic significance.Conclusions High frequency ultrasonography with E-flow imaging is sensitive and reliable to reflect fingertip's microcirculation changes and provide a new method to assess microvascular changes in SSc patients.

Objective To study the clinical value of tamsulosin in prevention of urinary retention after radical hysterectomy.Methods Sixty-six patients after radical hysterectomy were enrolled in this study, and divided into two groups in random.Thirty-three cases in the treatment group were treated with tamsulosin 0.2 mg once every night,3 days before the catheter was drawn.While 33 cases in the control group only with placebo.Catheter keeping days, residual urine volume at first extraction,the rate of urinary retention and urinary tract infection,hospitalization time and drug adverse reaction were compared in two groups.Results Catheter keeping days and hospitalization time were shorter in the treatment group than those in the control group(P< 0.05).The residual urine volume at first extraction was(38.2 ± 5.6) ml in the treatment group and (168.5 ± 11.8) ml in the control group,there was significant difference between two groups (P< 0.05).The rate of urinary retention was 18.2%(6/33) in the treatment group and 36.4%(12/33) in the control group,there was significant difference between two groups (P <0.05).There was no adverse reaction resulted from tamsulosin in the treatment group.Conclusion Tamsulosin is an effective drug which could prevent and treat the urinary retention after radical hysterectomy.