OBJECTIVETo establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

METHODSA Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables.

RESULTSClustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390).

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Alarmins ; Brain ; Cluster Analysis ; Diarrhea ; classification ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; classification ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency

AIM: To investigate the incidence of trachoma in children aged 1 to 9y in Hainan Province and determine high-risk trachoma endemic and non-endemic areas in Hainan, and thus provide evidence for developing trachoma control and prevention therapy.METHODS:The areas of investigation were chosen on the basis of past literatures, expert interviews and survey on the spot.In 2013, Hainan Provincial Office of Blindness Prevention carried out the survey in 7 counties including Dongfang City, Wuzhishan City, Ledong County, Baisha County, Baoting County, Lingao County and Changjiang County.In these districts, 356 pupils including 192 boys and 164 girls were examined, their age ranging from 1 to 9 and their average age being 7 years old.The targeted students received the trachoma rapid assessment by the adoption of simplified trachoma classification system which was recommended by the World Health Organization.RESULTS: No case of active trachoma was found among the 356 students.CONCLUSION:The prevalence rate of trachoma in children under 9 years is less than 5% in Hainan Province.Active trachoma is not a public health issue in Hainan Province.

1000 IU/L,TBil 40～250 mg/L,and mild liver dysfunction at beginning of the disease,but acute severe hepatic lesion occurred due to the use of antibiotics,immunodepressant or NSAIDs.Three patients developed liver function failure and died,7 patients' liver function recovered to nor- mal by increasing dosage of glucocorticoid.Conclusion AOSD with mild liver dysfunction is frequently en- countered.During the treatment,acute severe hepatic lesion may occur due to certain drugs.Therefore,any drug used in AOSD with mild liver dysfunction should be cautious.Once acute severe hepatic lesion happens, increases the dosage of glucocorticoid promptly can improve prognosis.

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects and safety of monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation used during cardiac surgery to treat atrial fibrillation.
Methods We retrospectively studied a total of 81 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who underwent open cardiac surgery with concomitant RF ablation between January 2007 and March 2011. Fifty-eight patients received bipolar RF ablation and 23 received monopolar RF ablation, respectively. The sinus rhythm restoration rate, the procedural duration, the frequency of severe perioperative complications, and mortality were compared between the two groups.
Results The sinus rhythm restoration rate did not differ significantly between the two groups after follow-up of 15.1 ± 12.6 months (P=0.199). The frequencies of severe perioperative complications and mortality were also similar in the two groups. The total procedural time using bipolar RF ablation was significantly shorter than that using monopolar ablation (19.7±4.6 minutes vs. 28.1±8.5 minutes, P<0.001).
Conclusions Both monopolar and bipolar RF ablation are safe and effective in treating chronic atrial fibrillation patients during open cardiac surgery, but bipolar RF ablation is more convenient in practice.

Objective: To isolate and identify the structures of triterpenoids from the extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruits. Methods:The chemical constituents were systematically isolated by column chromatography and liquid chromatography, and their struc-tures were determined by spectral data including 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, HSQC and HMBC combined with ESI-MS. Results:Totally 8 trit-erpenoids compounds were isolated and identified from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruits, 22-α-hydroxychiisanogenin (1), chiisanogenin (2), 3-oxo-24-methylenecycloartan (3), mangiferonic acid (4), isomangiferolic acid (5), oleanolic acid (6), betulin (7) and betulin-ic acid (8). Conclusion:Compound 3, 4 and 5 are obtained from Acanthopanax genus for the first time.

Objective To investigate the time-and dose-related expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) in cultured rat astrocytes after irradiation by X-ray,and discuss the possible relationship between astrocytes and radiation brain injury (RBI).Methods Rat astrocytes primarily cultured in vitro were exposed to X-ray at various doses (5,10,15 and 20 Gy) and kept culturing for 48 h,and some other rat astrocytes primarily cultured in vitro were exposed to 20 Gy and kept culturing for 4,12,24 and 48 h,respectively; normal control groups (without radiation) were used in all the above experiments.Immunofluorescence staining was employed to detect the level of GFAP and observe the cell morphology changes in each group; DAPI staining was used to observe the apoptosis of astrocytes; VEGF and GFAP expressions were detected by Western blotting.Results As compared with astrocytes in the normal control group,astrocytes in the radiation group showed increased number,hyperplasia,deformation,swelling of the cell body,thickening processus and deepened GFAP staining; and these changes became obvious following the increment of time and radiation doses.No significant differences on the astrocyte apoptosis rate were noted between the normal control groups and the radiation groups of different doses (P＞0.05).Western blotting indicated that the irradiation groups of different doses and the 20 Gy radiation groups of different exposing times had significantly different GFAP and VEGF protein expressions (P＜0.05).The expressions of GFAP and VEGF were up-regulated gradually with the increment of radiation doses in astrocytes and times of radiation (P＜0.05); as compared with the control group,20 Gy radiation groups of different exposing times showed time dependent VEGF expression from 4 to 24 h and time dependent GFAP expression from 4 to 48 h (P＜0.05).Conclusion X-ray irradiation can induce the activation of cultured rat astrocytes; VEGF and GFAP expressions in the reactive astrocytes increased in time and dose-dependent manners after X-ray irradiation; VEGF over-expression in reactive astrocytes after irradiation may play an important role in RBI.

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple but effective method of laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for Ca2+ oscillations of pancreatic acinar cells in adult mice.

METHODSPancreatic acinar cells from adult Kunming mice were isolated acutely with collagenase, and then loaded with fluo-4-AM, a Ca2+ indicator. A laser scanning confocal microscope armed with 488 nm laser was employed to record the dynamic fluorescent signals in-time and synchronously while acetylcholine (ACh) was added in the pancreatic acinar cells.

RESULTS(1) The classic pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by a certain concentration of ACh (100 nmol/L) successfully and steadily, which could be blocked by atropine completely. (2) Plasmic Ca2+ oscillations from different parts of one acinar cell were usually with different amplitudes and almost the same frequencies. But both of amplitudes and frequencies were different among different cells. (3) The acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations were induced by ACh in a concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONThe laser scanning confocal microscopic imaging for adult mouse pancreatic acinar cell Ca2+ oscillations was established successfully. The features of being easy to use, direct to see lively, high efficiency and good flexibility make it a popular tool for researchers to choose.

Acinar Cells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium ; analysis ; Calcium Signaling ; Cells, Cultured ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal ; methods ; Pancreas ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo find out potential molecular targets for gallbladder carcinoma diagnosis and treatment by analyzing and comparing the proteins expressed in human gallbladder carcinoma tissue and benign gallbladder tissue.

METHODSProteomic analysis of 6 human gallbladder carcinoma tissues and 6 benign gallbladder tissues was carried out. Total proteins of the carcinoma tissue and benign gallbladder tissue were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The differentially expressed proteins were analyzed and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of PEBP1 protein in an independent series of samples.

RESULTSProtein extracts of individual samples in each type of tissues were separated on two-dimensional gels. There were forty six differentially expressed proteins in the gallbladder carcinom tissues. Seventeen proteins were successfully identified by MS, in which nine proteins were overexpressed in tumors while the other eight proteins were underexpressed. The increased level of PEBP1 protein in gallbladder carcinoma was further confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis.

CONCLUSIONSeventeen differentially expressed proteins were successfully characterized by comparative proteomic analysis. Those results may provide scientific foundation for screening the molecular biomarkers which can be used in diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder carcinoma, as well as to improve its prognosis and provide a new clue for carcinogenesis research of gallbladder carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gallstones ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder cancer by analyzing and comparing the proteomes expressed in human gallbladder cancer and benign gallbladder tissues.

METHODSThe proteins expressed were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The differentially expressed proteins in tumors were also analyzed by mass spectrometry (MS). AnnexinA3 expression was examined by streptavidin peroxidase immunohistochemical technique on paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 50 patients of gallbladder cancer and 38 cases of chronic eholecystitis.

RESULTSProtein extracts of individual sample in each type of tissues were separated on two-dimensional gels. There were forty six differentially expressed proteins in the tissue samples of gallbladder cancer. Seventeen proteins were successfully identified by MS, in which nine proteins were overexpressed in tumors and the other eight proteins were underexpressed. The positive expression rates of annexinA3 in gallbladder cancer was significantly higher than that in chronic cholecystitis, and the difference was statistically significant (74.0% vs 21.1%, P < 0.01). In the gallbladder cancer, no correlation was obtained between annexinA3 and age, gender or histologicl type (P > 0.05), but overexpression of annexinA3 correlated significantly with those cases with a lower histological grading (40.0% vs 82.5%, P < 0.05); lymph node or distant metastasis (40.9% vs 100%, P < 0.05); or a shorter survival time after operation (50.0% vs 93.8%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSignificant discrepancies in protein expression exist among gallbladder cancer and benign gallbladder tissues. AnnexinA3 plays an important role in the initiation and progression of human gallbladder cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Annexin A3 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cholecystitis ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo establish the patent ductus arteriosus model in preterm rats using the improved natural development method.

METHODSIn the light of the flaws of the natural development method in establishing the patent ductus arteriosus model, the experimental technology was modified to avoid the influence of fixation, dehydration, and section method on blood vessel diameter. Cesarean section was performed for a Wistar rat pregnant for 19 days, and 8 neonatal rats were obtained. After they were sacrificed by dislocation, they were embedded as a whole to avoid dehydration, and the microsection and horizontal section were made. After hematoxylin and eosin staining, a microscope was used to measure the inner diameters of the ductus arteriosus, the main pulmonary artery, and the descending aorta.

RESULTSAfter the cesarean section for the rat pregnant for 19 days, patent ductus arteriosus occurred in all the 8 neonatal rats. The measurements of the inner diameters of blood vessels were as follows: the long diameter and short diameter of the descending aorta were 354±106 and 182±140 μm, respectively; the short diameter of the ductus arteriosus was 155±122 μm, and its area was 36,847±42,582 μm(2); the long axis and short axis of the main pulmonary artery were 589±150 and 174±170 μm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe improved natural development method can help to successfully establish the patent ductus arteriosus model in preterm rats.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; etiology ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar