OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of prenatal stress on neurological functions after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult offspring rats.

METHODSPregnant rats were randomly assigned to prenatal stress treatment, which was exposed to restraint three times daily in the last week of pregnancy, and no prenatal stress treatment. Adult male offspring rats were subjected to transient focal cerebral ischemia by MCAO. They were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, prenatal stress + sham group, MCAO group and prenatal stress + MCAO group (n = 10). After 24 hours of reperfusion, the neurological deficits were evaluated. The infarct size, cell apoptosis and expression of Caspase 3, cleaved Caspase 3 and Bcl-2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with MCAO group, the neurological deficits, infarct size and apoptotic cells in prenatal stress + MCAO group were increased significantly (all P < 0.05). The expressions of Caspase 3 and cleaved Caspase 3 were much greater in prenatal stress + MCAO group than those of MCAO group, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in prenatal stress + MCAO group compared with MCAO group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPrenatal stress might exacerbate neuroloeical deficits in the offspring rats after MCAO by increasing cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Female ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological

The specific fragment of Pneumococcal surface protein A(PspA)and Pneumococcal Surface Adhesin A(PsaA)gene was amplified by PCR from Streptococcus pneumonia 5 and Streptococcus pneumonia 19.The amplified fragnent of PspA and PsaA gene was ligated into pET-27b(+)vector and transformed into BL 21 E.coli for expression and obtain the expressive production of PspA and PsaA.Induced by IPTG,the expression level was as high as 75 % of the total disolube protein.The result showed that the recombinant plasmid could express a specific 75 kDa and 37 kDa fusion protein in E.coli BL 21,which showed the good immunogenicity and a broadly cross reactivity with the other serotypes.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the availability and equipment of antidiabetic drugs in public hospitals from Shaanxi prov-ince. METHODS:Using a standardized methodology developed by WHO and Health Action International,the availability and equipping rate of the most common oral antidiabitic drugs were investigated and evaluated in public hospitals of Shaanxi province. RESULTS:The availability and equipping rate of tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals were all higher than those of community health service centers. Among generic drugs,the availability of metformin was the highest (94.4%),and those of glibenclamide and repaglinide were the lowest(5.6%). Among original drugs,the availability of acarbose was the highest(68.1%). The equip-ping rate of original drugs was higher than that of generic drugs. The equipping rate of generic drugs(25.0%)was higher than that of original drugs(12.5%)in community health service center,but the equipping rates of generic drugs and original drugs were in low level. CONCLUSIONS:General hospitals (especially tertiary hospitals) have high equipping rate of original antidiabetic drugs,the community health services have low availability and equipping rate. Comprehensive measures should be taken to im-prove the availability of drugs in primary medical institutions and ensure drug use of chronic disease patients in primary hospitals.

The gamma-secretase complex mediates the final cleavage of APP to generate the principal component of amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.Four integral membrane proteins (PS,NCT,PEN-2 and APH-1) are essential and sufficient for gamma-secretase activity.To identify the promoter of human nicastrin gene (NCT),its 5' -flanking region has been characterized and a 270 bp fragment containing the TSS (transcription start site) for the promoter activity has been identified.EMSA assays confirmed that all four AP-1 binding sites and two NFAT sites in the NCT promoter region were able to bind relative transcription factors in vitro.Mutations,as well as treatment with PDTC,which adjust the regulatory effect of AP-1 and NFAT,altered NCT promoter activity in both HeLa cells and rat cortical neurons.The results demonstrated that AP-1 and NFAT are involved in the regulation of hNCT transcription and suggest that balanced activation of AP-1 and NFAT ensures a strict temporal and tissue-specific control of NCT transcription.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of iterative model reconstruction (IMR) combined with low tube voltage and low iodine intaken of contrast media in head and neck CT angiography (CTA). Methods Eighty patients with clinical suspicion of head and neck vascular disease underwent head and neck CTA were enrolled in this prospective study. According to random number table, patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n=40) was scanned according to the protocol of 120 kV, 50 ml iopromide (370 mg/ml) and filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction, and group B (n=40) was scanned with 80 kV, 30 ml iohexol (300 mg/ml) and IMR, while the other parameters kept consistent. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the enhanced CT value of arteries, image noise, signal noise ratio (SNR), contrast noise ratio (CNR), the score of image quality, effective radiation dose (ED) and iodine intaken of contrast media between two groups. Results The CT value at the origin level of common carotid artery were (316.9 ± 53.0) and (433.4 ± 101.8)HU in group A and B, image noise were (28.1 ± 6.8)and (12.1 ± 2.6)HU ,SNR were (11.9 ± 3.2) and (37.7 ± 13.3) ,and CNR were (10.2 ± 2.9) and (32.6 ± 13.3), respectively. There were showed significant differences in CT value, image noise, SNR and CNR between two groups (Z=-5.490,-7.592,-7.698,-7.660, P<0.05). The CT value at the origin level of internal carotid artery were (359.5 ± 54.3) and (443.5 ± 120.1) HU in group A and B, image noise were (18.8±6.2) and (6.8±1.7) HU ,SNR were 21.5±8.7 and 69.7±27.4 ,and CNR were 18.0±7.3 and 62.7± 26.4, respectively. The significant differences were acquired in CT value, image noise, SNR and CNR between two groups (Z=-3.022,-7.376,-7.496,-7.515, P<0.05). The CT value at M1 segment level of middle cerebral artery were (321.1±47.3) and (401.6±104.0) HU in group A and B, image noise were (32.3± 17.2) and (11.2 ± 2.7) HU,SNR were 12.4 ± 5.6 and 39.3 ± 18.4,and CNR were 10.7 ± 4.7 and 36.4 ± 17.7, respectively. There also showed significant differences in CT value, image noise, SNR and CNR between two groups (Z=-3.527,-7.487,-7.482,-7.535, P<0.05). The score of image quality of group A and B were 3.9 ± 0.7 and 4.5±0.6, which also showed significant difference between two two groups (Z=-3.517, P<0.05). The ED were (2.78 ± 0.13) and (0.84 ± 0.04) mSv for group A and B, which also showed significant difference between the two groups (Z=-7.706, P<0.05). The iodine intaken of contrast media were 1.85 g and 0.90 g in group A and B. Conclusion IMR combined with low tube voltage and low iodine intaken of contrast media can not only decrease effective radiation dose and iodine intaken of contrast media significantly, but also improve the imaging quality in head and neck CTA examination.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH). Method Ninety-six LIDH patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 48 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture, while the control group was intervened by electroacupuncture alone. Before and after the treatment, the lower back pain scores of Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were evaluated, and the clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared. Result The JOA and VAS lower back pain scores were changed significantly after the treatment in both groups (P<0.05). After the treatment, the JOA and VAS lower back pain scores of the treatment group were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05). The pain release time was (2.95±0.59)d after the intervention in the treatment group versus (4.26±0.68)d in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.7％ in the treatment group versus 91.7％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Bai Xiao moxibustion plus electroacupuncture is an effective method in treating LIDH and it can reduce the lower back pain.

G mutation of SLC26A4, the parents and the second child were carriers of the same mutation, while the fetus had a wild-type form. Conclusion It is feasible to identify deafness related genes by screening for GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutation, thus providing correct prenatal diagnosis and avoiding deaf delivery of baby.

OBJECTIVETo detect the point mutations by chip-based capillary electrophoresis and to provide a rapid and sensitive technique detection for beta-thalassemia.

METHODSMultiplex primer-extension reaction was used to amplify the common loci of the samples for beta-thalassemia. The reaction products were detected by the chip-based capillary electrophoresis and the genotypes of the samples were discrened.

RESULTSA system was constructed to detect the point mutations of beta-thalassemia by chip-based capillary electrophoresis, and the technology was ralidated by the patients' samples and the results coincided with those of detection kit.

CONCLUSIONBeta-thalassemia can be detected by chip-based capillary electrophoresis rapidly with a small amount of samples. It would be a new detection method of the genetic disorders.

Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEClinical pathways are standardized, multidisciplinary, integrated management plans. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of clinical pathways in children with Rotavirus enteritis.

METHODSSeventy-one children with Rotavirus enteritis were treated according to the clinical pathways. Seventy-five children with Rotavirus enteritis who received routine therapy and nursing interventions served as the control group. The clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe average hospitalization duration was shortened, the hospitalization costs were reduced and the parents' satisfaction rate increased in the observed group compared with the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe use of clinical pathways may decrease the hospitalization duration and costs and improve the quality of nursing care and the parents' satisfaction rate in children with Rotavirus enteritis.

Critical Pathways ; Enteritis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Patient Satisfaction ; Rotavirus Infections ; therapy

Objective: To construct, express and purify ScFvl4/EGFP fusion proteins which containing Arg9, and to study their binding activities and internalization functions. Methods: Arg9 gene was recombined into 5' terminal, 3' terminal of ScFv/EGFP gene and between them respectively before they were cloned into the expression vector pET32a. After induced in E. coli BL21 and purified, their binding activities and internalization were respectively analyzed by indirect ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence analysis. Results: DNA sequencing and restriction endonuclease digestion proved that the four fusion genes were correctly constructed. SDS-PAGE analysis and Western blot showed that they were successfully expressed and purified. Indirect ELISA confirmed that the expressed products had antigen specific binding activities. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis revealed the fusion protein containing Arg9 at its N terminal had much better internalization function, but never internalized into the cells which do not express HBsAg. Conclusion: The four fusion genes were constructed, expressed and purified successfully. The purified fusion proteins maintained the binding activities to HBsAg and the fusion protein containing Arg9 at its N terminal had much better internalization effect.