Animals ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Penicillins ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology

Cerebrum ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neonatology ; Osteopetrosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Research Report ; Telencephalon ; abnormalities

Objective To investigate the prevalence of and predisposing factors of atopic dermatitis (AD ) in 0 - 6 year-old children in rural and urban area of Tianjin. Methods The subjects were chosen by cluster sampling from kindergartens in Tianjin's urban and rural districts. Questionnaires were designed based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC ) and distributed to the children's parents via the teachers. Results In this survey, 3 749 questionaires were returned, of which 3 708 were valid. The response rate was 82.7% in total, 79.3% in the rural area, and 84.9% in the urban area. The age and gender distributions were similar in the urban and rural area. The prevalence rate of AD in these children was 2.9% in total, and it was higher in the urban area than in the rural area (3.5% vs 2.4%, x2 = 3.98, P

OBJECTIVETo study the possible relationship between coronary artery lesions and fibrinogen Bbeta-148 C/T polymorphism in children with Kawasaki disease.

METHODSFast blood samples were taken from 36 children with Kawasaki disease (21 had coronary artery lesions) and 49 age- and gender-matched healthy children (control group). Plasma levels and molecular reactivity of fibrinogen were measured with Assist Plasma Fibrinogen Activity Assay System. Polymerize chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion were used to detect the genotypes of fibrinogen Bbeta-148C/T gene polymorphism.

RESULTSThe plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with coronary artery lesions were significantly higher than those in patients without coronary artery lesions and in the control group. T allele frequency in patients with Kawasaki disease was significantly higher than that in the control group. The patients with coronary artery lesions had more increased T allele frequency compared with the patients without coronary artery lesions.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma fibrinogen levels and fibrinogen Bbeta-148C/T polymorphism are associated with coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease.

Child, Preschool ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; analysis ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is thought as a generative mechanism underlying learning and memory via storing information in central nervous system. Electro-neurophysiological assay for LTP is generally used in screening the drugs that can facilitate learning and memory. By using in vivo LTP technique, isolichenin was found to facilitate LTP induction by a tetanic stimulation (20 pulses/100 Hz) in dentate gyrus. This tetanic stimulation by itself, however, cannot induce LTP. Previous study showed the reagent being able to facilitate LTP-induction, like methanol extract of saffron (MES), usually can antagonize the inhibiting effect of 30% ethanol on LTP induction (30 pulses/60 Hz). Isolichenin may also fall into such kind of drugs. Interestingly, comparatively study showed that isolichenin failed to antagonize the inhibiting effect of 30% ethanol on LTP induction (30 pulses/60 Hz). This result indicates a different unknown mechanism existing in the effect of isolichenin on LTP or memory formation.
Animals ; Crocus ; chemistry ; Dentate Gyrus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV)deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the ovary and HBV intrauterine infection.Methods HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA were assayed in the ovaries of 33 pregnant women who were positive for HBV DNA,tested by Fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR).The level of HBV mark (HBVM) and the content of HBV DNA in peripheral blood of infants were measured by chemoluminescence and FQ-PCR methods respectively.Results The overall positive rate for both HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA in ovarian samples was 51.52％ (17/33).The rate on intrauterine infection among infants was 12.12％ (4/33) and all the 4 infected infants were delivered from mothers with normal hepatic function.When HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA were both positive,the rate of intrauterine infection in infants was significantly higher than those who were with both negative results (P＜0.05).Levels of HBV cccDNA and the rate of positive samples were significantly higher in mothers with infants who appeared to have had intrauterine infection than those did not (P＜0.01 and ＜0.05,respectively).Conclusion HBV infection could be discovered in the human ovary and might be transmitted to the filial generation via ovum.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the structure and cytocompatibility of porcine acellular dermal matrix, which was prepared with dermal reticular layer, treated with matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), genipin, and vacuum freeze-drying.

METHODSFifty-four pieces of porcine dermal reticular layer, prepared with lateral abdominal skin were obtained from healthy large Yorkshire pig with mechanical method under sanitary condition, each 10.0 mm×5.0 mm in size and 0.5 - 0.6 mm in thickness. They were divided into normal control group (A(1), without treatment, n = 6), decellularization group (B, decellularized, n = 12), decellularization + MMP-7 group (C, treated with MMP-7 after decellularization, n = 12), decellularization + MMP-7 + genipin group (D, treated with MMP-7 and genipin after decellularization, n = 12), and decellularization + MMP-7 + genipin + vacuum freeze-drying group (E, treated with MMP-7, genipin, and vacuum freeze-drying after decellularization, n = 12) according to the random number table. Meanwhile, 6 pieces of human acellular dermal matrix, with the same size and thickness as listed above, were taken as control group (A(2), without treatment) in the cytocompatibility tests. HE staining and scanning electron microscope were used to detect the cell number and the change in tissue structure in dermal scaffold in groups A(1) and B-E. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine residual vimentin, laminin and collagen IV in groups A(1), B, and C. Cytotoxicity tests were employed to test the cytotoxicity of the leaching solutions of groups B-E. Human fibroblasts were seeded on the surface of dermal scaffold in groups A(2) and B-E. The proliferation of fibroblasts were determined on post culture day (PCD) 3, 7, and 14, and the content of IL-6 and IL-8 in the supernatant were determined on PCD 3 and 7 with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were processed with two-way analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTSGranular structure with hair follicle in pale yellow color was observed in group A(1). Small amount of hair, epithelial root sheath, nuclei, cell debris-like structure, vimentin, laminin, and collagen IV were observed in group B but not in group C, D, or E, which had been treated with MMP-7. The toughness of dermal scaffold was stronger in groups D, E than in groups B and C as observed in gross condition observation. The collagen fibers of dermal scaffold in groups C-E maintained their structural integrity with similar arrange as that of group A(1). The interspaces among collagen fibers in groups C-E were all increased, while those of groups C and D were similar but larger than that in group B; the interspace in group E was the largest. Groups B-E scored level 0 or 1 in the cytotoxicity test. Fibroblasts could proliferate on the surface of dermal scaffold in groups A(2) and B-E. Furthermore, with the extension of culture time, fibroblasts gradually became to be stratified to form multiple layers, and they proliferated toward the dermis. High density of fibroblasts was observed on the surface in groups D and E and in the deep layer in groups A(2) and C. On PCD 7, the contents of IL-6 [(132 ± 14), (104 ± 9), (122 ± 14), (120 ± 12), (128 ± 17) pg/mL] and IL-8 [(135 ± 18), (102 ± 17), (127 ± 18), (134 ± 23), (141 ± 24) pg/mL] in the supernatant in groups A(2) and B-E were significantly higher than those on PCD 3 [(55 ± 13), (34 ± 8), (48 ± 8), (50 ± 13), (49 ± 12) pg/mL] and [(93 ± 19), (63 ± 11), (82 ± 15), (82 ± 16), (89 ± 16) pg/mL], with F values respectively 98.869, 184.038, 125.531, 93.237, 87.265 and 15.694, 23.451, 22.801, 19.607, 18.808, P values below 0.05. The differences among groups A(2) and B-E in the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 at each time point were statistically significant (with F values respectively 2.809, 3.301 and 3.757, 3.266, P values below 0.05). The differences among groups A(2), C, D, and E in amount of IL-6 and IL-8 at each time point were not statistically significant (with t values respectively 0.058 - 1.905 and 0.034 - 1.295, P values above 0.05), but they were all higher than those in group B (with t values respectively 3.707 - 5.612 and 2.785 - 4.079, P values below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe low immunogenic porcine dermal scaffold treated with MMP-7, genipin, and vacuum freeze-drying after decellularization, has good cytocompatibility. The growth of only a few fibroblasts in the dermal scaffold may be correlated with genipin, which increases tissue toughness.

Acellular Dermis ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermis ; transplantation ; Histocompatibility ; Humans ; Skin Transplantation ; Swine ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUNDPulmonary-vein isolation (PVI) is currently used for the treatment of chronic and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a major risk of PVI is thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to observe embolic event rate in patients with persistent or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergone PVI.

METHODSCircumferential PVI (CPVI) was performed in 64 consecutive patients with persistent AF (42 men, aged (60.0 +/- 9.1) years) and in 84 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF (53 men, aged (61.4 +/- 9.3) years). Warfarin was administrated in all patients before ablation for at least 3 weeks ((5.2 +/- 2.6) weeks) and continued for at least 3 months post ablation with international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 - 3.0. During CPVI, intravenous heparin was given at a dose of 5000 - 8000 U or 75 - 100 U/kg, followed by 1000 U or 12 U/kg per hour.

RESULTSIn patients with persistent AF, 1 patient developed embolic event during ablation and 3 patients developed embolic events after ablation. In contrast, no thromboembolic event was observed in patients with paroxysmal AF (4/64 vs 0/84, P = 0. 033).

CONCLUSIONThromboembolic event rate related to CPVI is significantly higher in patients with persistent AF than that in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Pulmonary Veins ; surgery ; Thromboembolism ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the specific binding of the artificial clonal aryl hydrocarbon receptor translocator (ARNT) with the natural aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the recolonization by polyclonal antibody. The dose-response relationship with tetrachlo-rodibenzo-dioxin (TCDD) was also studied to develop TCDD detection method and the binding degree related to dose response.

METHODS(1) The target genes including AhR-PAS, AhR-C and ARNT-PAS were amplified by RT-PCR by using the total RNA purified from the liver cells of C57BL/6J mice as templates to construct pGEX-5X1 recombinants. The recombinant plasmids were expressed in E. coli. (2) The rabbits were immuned by the clonal fusion proteins: AhR-PAS, AhR-C to prepare the polyclonal antibody. (3) The natural AhR from the hepatic cytosol of C57BL/6J mice was extracted. The artificial cloning expressed fusion protein:GST-ARNT-PAS and the natural AhR were incubated in different dose of TCDD. The quantity of the heterodimer through affinity adsorption and Western blots were measured.

RESULTS(1) The target proteins including AhR-PAS, AhR-C and ARNT-PAS were successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli. (2) The detection limit of polyclonal antibody AhR-PAS and AhR-C were 5 ng and 1 ng, respectively. (3) The total protein concentration prepared from the liver cells was 60.5 mg/ml. The artificial clonal protein ARNT-PAS could specifically bind to the natural AhR complex with the existence of TCDD. The detection limit of TCDD was 0.25 pmol which was 80 pg approximately.

CONCLUSIONA TCDD detection method based on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor system was established and the detection limit might reach pg grade.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Limit of Detection ; Liver Extracts ; chemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

AIM To investigate the protective effect of serum containing Shenshuaikang Enema Liquid (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Carthami Flos,Astragali Radix) on HK-2 cells injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and its effect on Wnt/β-catenin pathway.MEHTODS Six New Zealand white rabbits randomly divided into control group,Shenshuaikang high dose group and PBS group (n =2) were treated accordingly for serum collection after 3 days' enema.The HK-2 cells injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation were then administered with serum of rabbits from the control group,PBS group,Shenshuaikang groups (high dose,middle dose and low dose groups due to the differently diluted concentrations) respectively.The H/R damage was determined by ROS fluorescence probe,the cellular damage/apoptosis were analyzed by CFSE/PI method and flow cytometry combined with Annexin V-FITC/PI,and the investigation on effects of drugs on expression of Wnt4 mRNA and β-catenin mRNA were accomplished by fluorescence quantitative PCR.RESULTS The fluorescence intensity of intracellular ROS expression was significantly increased after modeling.CFSE/PI double staining showed that the variant Shenshuaikang dose groups displayed obvious proportional mortality superiority to either the control group or PBS group,and the high dose group achieved the lowest mortality.Annexin V-FITC/PI and flow cytometry showed that,at 12 h,compared with the control group (45.6 ± 2.2)％ and PBS group (41.6 ±0.7) ％,Shenshuaikang groups [low dose group (14.8 ± 0.3) ％,middle dose group (10.3 ± 0.6) ％,high dose group (12.9 ± 0.9)％] obviously inhibited apoptosis/death.Shenshuaikang Enema Liquid medicated serum demonstrated its significant effect on the increase of the Wnt4 mRNA expression and a dual-directional regulation on the expression of β-caterin mRNA by quantitative PCR (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Inhibition of the apoptosis/death of HK-2 cells with hypoxia/reoxygenation injury due to the serum containing Shenshuaikang Enema Liquid suggests the agent's influence on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.