Objective To investigate the expression of homeobox gene MSX-2 during cranial suture fusion of SD rats and discuss its significance. Methods SD rats aged 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 18, 22, 30 and 45 days were selected, and immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR were employed to localize and quantify the expression of MSX-2 in different regions of cranial sutures. Results MSX-2 expressed in calvarial suture tissues including the extreme ends of the osteogenic fronts and the underlying dura mater. The expression of MSX-2 was low in posterior frontal suture (PF) and sagittal suture (SAG) from postnatal day 1 to day 8 before the initiation of suture fusion, while it was higher in PF than in SAG from postnatal day 12 to day 22 after the initiation of PF suture fusion. The expression of MSX-2 significantly declined in PF and was moderately higher than that in SAG from postnatal day 30 to day 45 after the initiation of suture fusion. Conclusion There is different expression of MSX-2 in PF and SAG during different suture fusion periods, which suggests the expression of MSX-2 may participate in the regulation of cranial bone development and the fusion of cranial sutures.

Objective To elucidate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of human metapneumovirus(hMPV)in hospital- ized children with respiratory infection.Methods A total of 452 hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infection were observed from Aug 2004 to Jan 2005.Respiratory tract aspirates were collected from all patients within 48 hours after admis sion.The specimens were routinely tested for respiratory syncytial virus,influenza virus A and B,parainfluenza virus 1 to 3 and adenovirus by direct fluorescent assay(DFA).The 245 specimens negative by DFA were tested for hMPV by RT-PCR. PCR products of hMPV M gene from some patients were randomly selected for sequencing analysis.Results hMPV was identi- fied in 59(24.1%)of the 245 specimens tested,hMPV infection alone accounted for 13.1% of the infections in the 452 chil- dren under study,The prevalence of hMPV was higher than other respiratory viruses in winter.The mean age of hMPV-infec- ted children(n=59)was 27.7 months.There was no significant difference between age groups in terms of the prevalence of hMPV(P＞0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in demographics and clinical symptoms between hMPV in- fection and other common respiratory virus infection.Genotyping for the hMPV M gene from 23 Shanghai patients showed two distinct hMPV genotypes.Sequence analysis of these hMPV M genes showed 82.8%-100% homology to the registered se- quence in GenBank.There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics between the 2 genotypes.Conclusions hMPV plays an important pathogenic role in lower respiratory tract infection of children,hMPV prevailed in the winter of 2004.Clini- cally,hMPV infection can not be discriminated from the infection of other respiratory viruses.Clinical manifestation is similar between the two hMPV genotypes.

The interaction between Gliotoxin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by the fluo-rescence, Circular Dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) techniques. The fluorescent experiment showed that the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA was quenched by the binding of gliotoxin in a static quenching procedure, with an association constant of 7.2?103 L/mol and in hydropobic forces. And the CD spectrum revealed that gliotoxin effected the conformation of BSA by increased the mass of ?-helix.

Objective To investigate the relation between the cellular immune function and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA) and the mechanism of active immunotherapy on URSA patients.Methods The flow cytometry(FCM) was used to detect CD3+ ,CD4+ ,CD8+ T lymphocyte and CD16+CD56+ natural killer(NK) cell subsets and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ of peripheral blood(PBL).112 cases with URSA(76 cases treated with active immunotherapy) and 30 cases of normal fertiled(NF) women were studied.The percentages of T lymphocyte and NK cell subsets before and after therapy were compared among 76 cases wtih URSA treated by active immunotherapy.The rate of next successful pregnancy of URSA patients treated with and without active immunotherapy was compared.Results The percentages of CD3+ and CD16+CD56+ cell subsets as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ of the URSA patients were significantly higher than those of NF cases(P <0.05).After active immunotherapy,the percentages of CD3+ and CD56+CD16+ cell subsets as well as the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ of URSA cases were significantly decreased(P <0.05 ).The rate of next successful pregnancy of URSA cases with and without active immunotherapy were 88.2% and 31.2% respectively,the difference was significant(P< 0.05).Conclusion The changes in the percentages of T lympyocyte and NK cell subsets have something to do with URSA.Active immunotherapy can effectively regulate the cellular immune function and increase the rate of next successful pregnancy of URSA patients.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect and the effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis of artemether(ART) on human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines and pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. Methods The inhibitory effect of ART on human gastric cancer cell lines(SGC-7901 and MKN-45) and human pancreatic cancer cell lines(SW-1990 and BXPC-3) were detected by MTT assay,and the effect on cell cycle and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. Results It was indicated by MTT assay that the killing effect of ART on the cancer cell lines were positively correlated to time and dosage(P

Background Our previous study determined that expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMPs)change in the conjuntival fibroblasts of conjunctivochalasis in vitro.To seek a suitable drug is very important in the prevention and treatment of conjunctivochalasis.Objective This study was to explore the effect of qijingmingmu soup on the expressions of MMPs and TIMPs in human conjunctival fibroblasts of conjunctivochalasis.Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomized into two groups.Qijingmingmu soup was administration gastrically for consecutive 3 days,and normal saline solution was given in the same way in the control group.The blood was collected from aortaventralis and drug serum was prepared.Human conjunctival samples were obtained during the surgery of conjunctivochalasis relaxation and cultured in the DMEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum,20％,15％,10％,5％ of drug serum and 8 ml/L epidermal growth factor(EGF) was added into the medium respectively.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the expressions of MMP1,MMP3,TIMP1 and TIMP3in conjunctival fibroblasts.Results Cultured cells grew well with the fusiform shape and showed the positive response for vimentin.The expression value of MMP1 (A value)in the cells was declined after administration of qijingmingmu soup.A significant difference was found in the expression of MMP1 among the control group,20％,15％,10％,5％ drug serum groups and EGF group(F=466.664,P＜0.05),and that in the 10％ ([9.92±0.14] mg/L) and 20％ ([11.87 ±0.11] mg/L) drug serum groups was significantly lowed in comparison with the control group([16.31±0.10] mg/L)(t=99.974,87.394,P＜0.05).The expression value of the MMP3in the cells in the various drug serum groups,EGF group and the control group was significantly different(F=158.168,P＜0.05),with a lower value in the 20％ drug serum group compared with the control group ([3.50±0.03] mg/L vs.[4.44 ± 0.11] mg/L) (t =21.991,P ＜ 0.05).Also,the significantly different expressing value of TIMP1 was seen among all the groups (F=183.508,P＜0.05),and expressing value of TIMP1 in the 15％ drug serum group was(1.88±0.06)mg/L,which was lower than(3.20±0.32) mg/L of the control group(t=10.353,P＜0.05).Furthermore,the expressing value of the TIMP3 in the cells was significantly different among the various groups(F=54.503,P＜0.05),and that of the 20％ drug serum group was (1.743±0.065)mg/L and it was significantly higher than (1.54 ± 0.05) mg/L of the control group (t =5.046,P =0.004).However,the expressing value of TIMP3of the 15％,10％ and 5％ drug serum groups was lower than that of the control group,respectively all at(P＜0.05).Conclusions Qijingmingmu soup drug serum at the concentration of 20％ can down-regulate the expressions of MMP1,MMP3,TIMP1 and up-regulate the expression of TIMP3 in human conjunctivochalasis bulbar conjunctival fibroblastsin vitro,which probably plays preventive and therapeutic effects on conjunctivochalasis.

AIM: The study was undertaken to investigate the effort of Dexamethasone (DEX) on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) cells and rabbit corneal epithelial wound healing.METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, primary cultures of RCE cells were used. DEX in different concentrations was added to cultured RCE cells. The effects were measured with tetrazolium salt (MTT)method and flow cytometry. For the in vivo wound-healing experiments, a central corneal deepithelialization was created and were treated with 0.1g/L DEX eyedrop randomly explain how randomly. Epithelial wound healing was evaluated clinically and analyzed histopathologically using light microscopy along with immunohistochemical staning and electronic microscopy.RESULTS: Less than 0.1g/L DEX didn't influence survival rate in cell culture conditions by MTT assay. Flow cytometric studies revealed that 0.1g/L DFX had no effect on cellular growth phase in cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells. The mean time of the epithelial healing was significantly shorter in the DEX-treated group than in the control group at 24h. There were strong proliferative-cell-nuclear-antigen(PCNA) expressions in newly generated epithelial cells of both groups. The Dex-treated group had a more regular architecture of stromal lamella and significantly less inflammatory response than the control group under electronic microscopy.CONCLUSION: Less than 0.1g/L DEX had no inhibiting effect on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cell growth.0.1g/L DEX eye drops can effectively promote epithelial growth and reduce inflammatory response, which may have useful clinical application at the early stage of corneal wound healing process.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and blood pressure as well as target organ damage in essential hypertension, and to evaluate the effects of enalapril and losartan on them. METHODS: Forty-two newly diagnoszed patients with essential hypertension were randomly divided into enalapril-treated group and losartan-treated group. Serum ADMA, L-arginine, and nitric oxide( NO) were measured before and after the treatment for 8 weeks. Twenty-three healthy volunteers were included as control subjects. RESULTS: The concentrations of ADMA and L-arginine in serum were significantly higher but the level of nitric oxide was relatively lower ( P < 0.01 ) in hypertensive patients than those in control subjects. Serum ADMA was higher in different levels of blood pressure and target organ damage. Treatment with enalapril or losartan for 8 weeks not only reduced blood pressure but also decreased serum ADMA (P <0.01 ). Furthermore, treatment with these drugs also increased the level of serum nitric oxide but didn't change the level of L-arginine. CONCLUSION The concentrations of serum ADMA and L-arginine were increased, but the level of nitric oxide was decreased in the early stage of essential hypertension. Both enalapril and losartan could ameliorate the endothelial function by reducing the concentration of ADMA.
Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Enalapril ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; Losartan ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective To explore the diagnosis and therapy experience of vascular ring combined with tracheal compression in infants and neonates.Methods Sixteen cases(including 7 boys and 9 girls,aged 1 day to 12 months)with vascular ring combined with tracheal compression hospitalized in Guangdong General Hospital from Jun.2004 to Dec.2009 were enrolled.In these 16 children,13 cases had congenital heart malformations.All children underwent X-ray,echocardiography and spiral computed tomography examination.Nine cases received bronchoscopy study.Fifteen cases performed surgical division of vascular ring with cardiopulmonary bypass and 1 case underwent vascular ring division and tracheoplasty.Eleven cases received management of congenital heart defect simultaneously.Results Vascular ring anomalies included pulmonary artery sling in 5 children,right aortic arch-left ligmentum/aberrant left subclavian artery in 8 cases,double aortic arch in 1 case,innominate artery compression in 1 case,and pulmonary sling combined with right aortic arch-aberrant left subclavian artery in 1 case.There were 2 ring-sling complex cases in this study.The diagnosis of vascular ring were correctly made by echocardiography in 7 children and made by spiral computed tomography in all 16 cases.Two cases combined with tracheal ring died.In the follow-up study of 11 cases,5 cases were still vulnerable to wheezing.Conclusions The common presentation of tracheal compression in infants and neonates associated with vascular ring are tachypea,stridor,and dyspnea.Multi-slices spiral computed tomography is an important imaging modality.Surgical divisions of vascular ring are safe procedure in most cases and tracheal compression can be relieved by this operation.In patients with severe tracheal stenosis,tracheoplasty should be recommended.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of Holter ECG recordings for patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS ) . Methods Holter recordings was performed in 76 patients who were diagnosed OSAHS by polysomnography( PSG) within one month from Jan. 2008 to July 2009 in our hospital. Twenty-eight patients were identified as mild OSAHS (AHI≤20) and forty-eight patients were moderate-to-severe OSAHS ( AHI >20). The indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) , total scores of thirteen sleep apnea risk indexes of Holter recordings and BMI were analyzed by bivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results Clinical features ( eg. Gender, age, complicated with hypertension,coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and taken β-blocker) , total scores, the sum of thirteen sleep apnea risk scores collected by Holter recordings (5. 64 ± 2. 33 vs. 6.42 ± 2. 22, respectively,P>0. 05 ) were similar between patients with mild OSAHS and moderate-to-severity OSAHS. VLF/Total Power>70% ,the difference of daytime/nighttime LF Power < -70 and BMI were independent predictors of moderate-to-severe OSAHS with OR 3. 98 (1. 087 - 14. 596), 3. 69 (1. 106 - 12. 285) and 1. 28 (1. 062 - 1. 544), respectively (all P < 0. 05). Conclusions VLF/Total Power and the difference of daytime/nighttime LF Power and BMI could be used as screening parameters to recognize patients with moderate-to-severe OSAHS.