Objective To assess the application of ultrasonography in prenatal diagnosis of fetal choledochal cysts.Methods The clinical data of 25 fetuses,who were diagnosed as fetal choledocho cysts using ultrasonography and followed up,were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among 25 cases,24 cases were confirmed as congenital choledochal cysts after normal delivery or abortion,and 1 case of liver cyst was misdiagnosed.The 24 cases' prenatal ultrasound showed liver cystic space occupying wihich was connected to intrahepatic bile duct or gallbladder.The cysts wall was thin,and the colour Doppler flow imaging CDFI showed that blood vessels circled around the cyst.In 24 fetuses with prenatal choledochal cysts,21 were fullterm birth,3 were aborted including 1 case with other congenital abnormalities.The size of choledochal cysts was not changed in 5 cases,and was enlarged with the gestational ages in remaining 16 cases fetuses.The choledochal cysts did not affect fetal growth and development.The newborn infants with congenital choledochal cysts were treated surgically within 8 months after birth and all recovered well.Conclusion Fetal choledochal cysts have typical sonographic manifestations.Ultrasonography can be used for prenatal diagnosis of congenital choledochal cysts,which can be successfully treated by surgery early after birth.

Biofilms are surface-associated communities of microorganisms embedded within self-secreted extracellular polymeric substances, and a major cause of chronic and persistent infections. Respiratory Pseudomona aeruginosa infection is the leading reason for morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis patients. The formation of biofilms by P. aeruginosa in the airway is thought to increase persistence and antibiotic resistance during infection. Biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa is regulated by complicated signaling systems including quorum sensing and two-component systems that control the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances. Furthermore, iron is an essential and scarce nutrient for bacteria and an important signal factor. P. aeruginosa has developed multiple iron uptake systems to sequester enough iron for its survival, with important regulatory roles in both release of virulence factors and formation of biofilms. In this review, we summarize recent advances in biofilm formation and its regulation along with the iron-uptake strategies in P. aeruginosa, to provide new insights and understanding to fight bacterial biofilms.

OBJECTIVETo construct a dual-reporter gene system that will be applicable for use as a tool to screen and evaluate therapeutic drug compounds that inhibit transcription of the gene encoding collagen I, chain at1 (COL1A1).

METHODSThe full-length eDNA of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) was cloned by RT-PCR and inserted into two vectors, pcDNA3.1 and pJW4303, for construction of two eukaryotic expression vectors, pcDNA3.1-TGFbeta1 and pJW4303-TGFbeta1.Next, the promoter region of COL1A1, cloned by PCR using human genome DNA as template, was inserted into the vector pGL4.29 to construct the reporter gene vector, pGL4.29-COL1A1 promoter.All three recombinant vectors were verified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing.Either the pcDNA3.1-TGFbeta1 or pJW4303-TGFbeta1 vector along with the pGL4.29-COL1A1 promoter vector or a pRL-null, control reporter, vector were co-transfected into the LX-2 human hepatic stellate cells to establish the transcription-activated dualreporter gene system.This system was used as a cell model for screening anti-liver fibrosis compounds that inhibit the transcription of COL1A1.Dexamethasone, a model drug that is known to inhibit the expression of COL1A1, was used as a control to validate the dual-reporter gene system.

RESULTSThe two TGFbeta1-expressing vectors and the reporter gene vector containing the promoter region of COL1A1 were successfully constructed.The results of a dual-reporter gene assay showed that TGFbeta1 co-expression increased the activity of the COL1A1 promoter by above 200-fold (t =21.78, P =0.0001), whereas in the absence of TGF31 co-expression the activity was below 2-fold (t =3.396, P =0.0274).The transcriptionactivated dual-reporter gene system was successfully established.The model drug, dexamethasone, effectively inhibited the activity of the COL 1A1 promoter in dose-dependent manner; the activity decreased 29.6% with 10 mumol/L dexamethasone (t =4.140, P =0.0144) and 53.9% with 100 mumol/L (t =6.193, P =0.0035).

CONCLUSIONThe dual-luciferase reporter system of TGFbeta1 and COL1A1 co-expression developed here can be used as a cell model to screen and evaluate anti-liver fibrosis compounds that inhibit activity of the COL1A1.

Base Sequence ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; Luciferases ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; drug effects ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) point on aging and its mechanism.

METHODSForty-eight health rabbits were randomly divided into 8 groups, ie., group I (normal control group), group II (model group), group III (prevention with moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) group), group lY (prevention with moxibustion both at Shenque (CV 8) and Zusanli (ST 36) group), group V (prevention with moxibustion both at Shenque (CV 8) and Mingmen (GV 4) group), group VI (treatment with moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) group), group XII (treatment with moxibustion both at Shenque (CV 8) and Zusanli (ST 36) group), and group VIII (treatment with moxibustion both at Shenque (CV 8) and Mingmen (GV 4) group). The rabbit models of kidney-yang deficiency were created by pouring Hydroxyurea. The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was detected and the effect of the moxibustion from both prevention and treatment aspects were compared. And then the effect of different compatibility of acupoints was observed.

RESULTSAfter modeling, obvious symptoms of kidney-yang deficiency and decrease of SOD activity (all P < 0.01) were found in groups II, VI, VII and VIII. After the moxibustion treatment, the syndromes of kidney-yang deficiency were significantly improved (all P < 0.01) and SOD activities were increased obviously in groups VI, VII and VIII (all P < 0.01); a few syndromes of kidney-yang deficiency were found in groups III, IV and V after modeling, but with no significant changes of SOD activity (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in three moxibustion treatment groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThree acupoints compatibilities of moxibustion treatment can all regulate serum SOD activity in rabbits with kidney-yang deficiency effectively and have the significant effect both at prevention and treatment aspects and there is close relationship between their mechanisms on aging and regulating serum SOD activity.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Yang Deficiency ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo understand adiponectin, leptin, insulin and ghrelin levels in preterm colostrum and mature milk and their influence on the growth and development of the premature infant.

METHODThe study subjects were divided into two groups: preterm group and control group. Specimens of colostrum and mature milk on 42nd day after delivery were collected, the general situation of maternal and infants growth parameters at birth and at postnatal 42 days were recorded. Leptin, adiponectin, insulin and ghrelin levels in colustrum and mature milk were determined and compared.

RESULTA total of 128 mother-infant pairs were involved. There were 128 specimens of colostrums (80 from preterm group, 48 from control group) and 94 specimens of mature milk(50 from premature group, 44 from control group). The levels of colostrum, mature milk adiponectin, leptin, and insulin were not significantly different between the 2 groups; ghrelin levels in colostrum and mature milk of premature group were significantly lower than those in control group (P = 0.038), adiponectin and leptin levels in colostrum were higher than those of the mature milk (P < 0.05), colostrum ghrelin levels were lower than those of mature milk (P < 0.05). Adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin showed no significant difference between different gestational age groups ( ≤ 34 weeks group vs. > 34 weeks group). True insulin level of mature milk in 34 weeks group was higher than that of > 34 weeks group (29.3 vs. 21.6 mU/L, P = 0.045); true insulin level in colostrums in ≤ 34 weeks group was lower than that in mature milk (21.7 vs. 29.3 mU/L, P = 0.000). Adiponectin levels in colostrum and 42 days weight gain were negatively correlated (r = -0.362, P = 0.025) . Insulin level in mature milk had a negative correlation with birth weight (r = -0.319, P = 0.029) . Ghrelin levels in colostrum and birth weight, length, head circumference, head circumference on 42(nd) day were positively correlated (r = 0.271,0.261,0.360, P < 0.05); weight, length at 42(nd) day and ghrelin levels showed borderline positive correlation (P = 0.050, 0.058).

CONCLUSIONMany bioactive hormones in milk might participate in the regulation of suitable growth after birth. Premature birth affects hormone levels in breast milk. Breast feeding is very important in preterm infants.

Adiponectin ; analysis ; Birth Weight ; physiology ; Breast Feeding ; Colostrum ; chemistry ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Ghrelin ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Insulin ; analysis ; Leptin ; analysis ; Male ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Weight Gain ; physiology

Zn lactate and SnF₂ were used as active compounds in the dentifrice. Here, their anti-biofilm effects were evaluated on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Streptococcus mutans. The biofilm prevention/dispersal assay of P. aeruginosa PAO1 demonstrated that Zn lactate and SnF₂ can inhibit biofilm formation independently or by combined treatment. Zn lactate disrupted extracellular polysaccharides matrix formation and SnF₂ reduced the biomass of biofilm. Most importantly, the combination of Zn lactate and SnF₂ thoroughly abolished the biofilm formation of all three strains.