Objective To detect the expression of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs) in aortic valve of children who suffered from rheumatic heart disease(RHD) and to explore the pathological role of MMPs in children′s rheumatic aortic valve disease.Methods RHD group composed of 18 aortic valves from children suffered from RHD.Controls were 8 children who were died accidentally without cardiovascular system diseases.Hematoxylin and eosin stain observing the histological characteristic of the 2 groups.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of MMP2 and MMP9 on aortic valves in 2 groups.Results Hematoxylin and eosin stain showed:in RHD the valves′ structure were destroyed along with fibrous tissue proliferation,mucinous degeneration,collagen and fiber hyalinization,blood vessel and blood capillary proliferation,lymphocyte,plasmocyte,monocyte infiltration.Immunohistochemistry showed that MMP2 and MMP9 expression were significantly higher than those in the aortic of RHD(68.85?13.08,64.35?9.59) compared with control group(107.31?23.39,116.28?6.99)(t=3.92,10.18 all P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of post-treatment PSA kinetics on the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 114 cases of locally advanced PCa treated by maximal androgen blockade (MAB) combined with brachytherapy, and analyzed the association of the changes in PSA kinetics with the prognosis of the patients.

RESULTSThe median survival time of the patients was 81 (15 - 144) months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of 91. 23%, 78.07% and 68.42% , respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the baseline PSA level, PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, PSA doubling time, and the extent of PSA declining were all predictive factors for the survival time of the PCa patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, and the extent of PSA declining were three independent prognostic factors, which prolonged the long-term survival of the patients by 1.7, 3.2 and 6.8 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor locally advanced PCa treated by MAB combined with brachytherapy, PSA nadir <1 micro g/L, the time to nadir <3 months, and the extent of PSA declining >96% are independent prognostic factors.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgens ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe effect of chronic stress on cognitive functions has been one of the hot topics in neuroscience. But there has been much controversy over its mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic multiple stress on spatial learning and memory as well as the expression of Fyn, BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus of rats.

METHODSAdult rats were randomly divided into control and chronic multiple stressed groups. Rats in the multiple stressed group were irregularly and alternatively exposed to situations of vertical revolution, sleep expropriation and restraint lasting for 6 weeks, 6 hours per day with night illumination for 6 weeks. Before and after the period of chronic multiple stresses, the performance of spatial learning and memory of all rats was measured using the Morris Water Maze (MWM). The expression of Fyn, BDNF and TrkB proteins in the hippocampus was assayed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical methods. The levels of Fyn and TrkB mRNAs in the hippocampus of rats were detected by RT-PCR technique.

RESULTSThe escape latency in the control group and the stressed group were 15.63 and 8.27 seconds respectively. The performance of spatial learning and memory of rats was increased in chronic multiple stressed group (P < 0.05). The levels of Fyn, BDNF and TrkB proteins in the stressed group were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The results of immunoreactivity showed that Fyn was present in the CA3 region of the hippocampus and BDNF positive particles were distributed in the nuclei of CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells as well as DG granular cells. Quantitative analysis indicated that level of Fyn mRNA was also upregulated in the hippocampus of the stressed group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChronic multiple stress can enhance spatial learning and memory function of rats. The expression of Fyn, BDNF and TrkB proteins and the level of Fyn mRNA are increased in the stessed rat hippocampus. These suggest that Fyn and BDNF/TrkB signal transduction pathways may participate in the process of the enhanced learning and memory during chronic multiple stress.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Learning ; physiology ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fyn ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, trkB ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stress, Physiological ; physiopathology

The present study aimed at investigating the effects of chronic multiple stress on learning and memory functions of rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into stressed and control groups. Rats in the stressed group were irregularly and alternately exposed to the situation of vertical revolution, sleep deprivation, noise stimulation, and night illumination 6 h per day for 6 weeks to prepare a chronic multiple stressed model. Learning and memory performance of rats was measured by using Morris water maze first and Y-maze afterwards. Neurons in the dentate gyrus(DG), CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus were stained by using Cresyl violet method and counted. The results showed that: (1) After chronic multiple stress, compared with the control rats, the escape latency to the hidden platform in Morris water maze was significantly shortened in stressed rats. In stressed and control groups, the escape latency periods were (15.89+/-9.15) s and (27.30+/-12.51) s, respectively, indicating that spatial memory of the stressed rats was stronger than that of the control ones. In brightness-darkness discrimination learning in the Y- maze, the correct trials and correct percentage of entering safe arm was remarkably increased in the stressed rats, the correct rates of stressed and control groups were (79.01+/-1.23)% and (66.12+/-1.61)%, respectively, indicating that brightness-darkness discrimination learning ability of the stressed rats was better than that of the control ones. (2) After chronic multiple stress, nerve cell density in DG, CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus in stressed rats was higher than that of the control group, the cell densities in DG, CA1 and CA3 of the stressed and the control group were (223.78+/-26.52), (112.07+/-14.23) and (105.55+/-18.12) as well as (199.13+/-15.36), (92.89+/-13.69), and (89.02+/-15.77) respectively. These results suggest that the chronic multiple stress may enhance the capability of spatial memory and brightness-darkness discrimination learning of rats. Possible reasons for the chronic multiple stress-induced learning and memory enhancement of rats were also discussed.
Animals ; Hippocampus ; physiology ; Learning ; physiology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; physiology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spatial Behavior ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiology and etiologic characteristics of a Dengue fever outbreak in Fuzhou from the beginning of September to the end of October in 2004 in order to understand the source of infection.

METHODSData on descriptive epidemiology was collected to study the characteristics and related factors to the epidemic. Dengue virus was isolated through the use of C6/36 cell line while viral serotypes were identified by indirect immunofluorecent assay with type-specific monoclonal antibody. The sources of infection were traced by nucleotide sequencing.

RESULTSDuring the epidemic, 93 cases occured consistently with the region entomoplily growth and decay. The viruses of 6 strains isolated from 10 patients' blood specimens were identified as dengue virus type 1. Phylogenetic evidence suggested that the viral isolate had high genetic relation with the isolates from Kampuchea (DENV-1/KHM/2001; GenBank Accession No. L0904278).

CONCLUSIONThe epidemic was caused by introduction of patients migrating into Fuzhou.

China ; epidemiology ; Dengue ; epidemiology ; Dengue Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emigration and Immigration ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Phylogeny

Objective:To establish and apply a new practical analytical method for identifying the fishy odor of Cordyceps based on headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry （HS-SPME/GC-QQQ-MS/MS） technique. Method:The InertCap Pure-WAX capillary column （0.25 mm×30 m， 0.25 μm） was used for chromatographic separation. The injection port temperature was set at 250 ℃. The injection mode was split injection with a ratio of 5∶1. High purity helium was used as the carrier gas and control mode was set to constant pressure. The column flow rate was 1.43 mL∙min^-1， the linear velocity was 43.3 cm∙s^-1， and the purge flow rate was 3.0 mL∙min^-1. The chromatographic column temperature program as follows：maintained the initial temperature at 50 ℃ for 5 min， and increased the temperature at a rate of 10 ℃∙min^-1 to 250 ℃， held for 10 min. The column equilibrium time was 2.0 min. The ion source of mass spectrographic analysis was electron ionization with ion source temperature of 200 ℃， and the monitoring mode was set to multiple reaction monitoring. Result:Seven batches of Cordyceps samples were collected， including 3 batches from Sichuan， 3 batches from Qinghai and 1 batch from Tibet. There were six batches of counterfeits， including 3 batches from Sichuan， 2 batches from Guizhou and 1 batch in Xinjiang. A total of 81 volatile compounds were screened out in Cordyceps， which could be divided into 13 types （esters， ketones， aldehydes and others） according to the compound structure， indicating that the fishy odor of Cordyceps was a complex odor. There was no significant difference in the types of volatile compounds of Cordyceps from different regions， which suggested that these volatile compounds in Cordyceps produced in Tibet （Naqu）， Qinghai （Yushu and Guoluo） and Sichuan （Litang， Rangtang and Seda） were relatively consistent. However， the contents of some volatile compounds in Cordyceps produced in different regions were quite different， and 16 volatile compounds with significant difference were screened out， including 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate， γ-octalactone， hexyl acetate and others， those compounds maybe could been used as the quality markers for identification of regions of Cordyceps. There was a large difference in volatile compounds between Cordyceps and its counterfeits， and 34 volatile compounds were screened out， including ethyl acetate， acetophenone， 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and others， those compounds maybe could been used as the quality markers for authenticity identification of Cordyceps. Conclusion:In summary， the established method for identifying the fishy odor of Cordyceps in this paper has the characteristics of high sensitivity， accuracy and simplicity， which can provide reference for the analysis of volatile compounds in other Chinese herbal medicines.

This paper makes an interpretation of the collection Acupuncture: how to improve the evidence base published by BMJ & BMJ Open. Studies show that the quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture is low, and multivariable Meta-regression analysis fails to confirm most factors commonly believed to influence the effect of acupuncture. The methodological challenges in design and conduct of RCT in acupuncture were analyzed, and a consensus on how to design high-quality acupuncture RCT was developed. The number of acupuncture systematic reviews was huge but the evidence was underused in clinical practice and health policy, and a large number of western clinical practice guidelines recommended acupuncture therapy, but the usefulness of recommendations needed to be improved. In view of the problems in clinical research on acupuncture mentioned in this collection, combined with the analysis of the purpose of clinical research on acupuncture, perspectives, study types, as well as the relationship between evidence and clinical decision-making, a five-stage study paradigm of clinical research on acupuncture is proposed.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Research Design ; Consensus