0.05),but those in severe hyperbilirubinemia group significantly higher(Pa

Objective To explore the early diagnostic value of the expression level of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)for heart failure(HF)in neonates.Methods Thirty-five neonates who were clinic diagnoses as HF newborns and 20 cases of non-HF newborns(control group)were selected,on the 2nd,the 7th day after birth,plasma NT-proBNP and CK-MB levels were measured with electrochemiluminescence method and mass method.All data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software.Results Compared with the control group,CK-MB and NT-proBNP were higher in the HF group before treatment(P0.05).Compared with before treatment,CK-MB and NT-proBNP were significantly lower in the HF group(P0.05),NT-proBNP level was lower in the control group(P

Objective To study the characteristics of immune function,Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) antibodies and EBV-DNA in children with different clinical types of EBV infection,which provide basis for prevention and treatment of EBV infection.Methods Clinical data of 103 patients suffering from EBV infection were retrospectively analyzed in Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University.A total of 103 children were divided into infectious mononualeosis(IM) group(n=68),chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection(CAEBV) group(n=13) and Epstein-Barr virus-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(EBV-HLH) group(n=22).The changes of EBV antibodies,EBV-DNA,immunoglobulin levels,lymphocyte subpopulation and complement series were detected and compared among the three groups.A total of 26 healthy children at the same stage were enrolled as a control group,immunoglobulin levels,lymphocyte subpopulation and complement series were detected in control group,then compared with the rest of the three groups.Results The levels of C3 and C4 in CAEBV group and EBV-HLH group were significantly decreased than those in the control group(P<0.05).The levels of IgA,IgG and IgE in EBV-HLH group,CAEBV group,IM group and control group gradually increased(P<0.05,respectively).The levels of IgA,IgG and IgE in EBV-HLH group and CAEBV group significantly decreased than those in control group(P<0.05,respectively).The levels of IgA,IgG and IgE in IM group decreased than those in control group,while there were no statistically significant differences(P>0.05).CD8+T cells in IM group significantly increased than those in the rest of the three groups(P<0.05,respectively).T cells,CD8+T cells,CD4+ T cells,CD4+/CD8+ ratios,NK cells,B cells of EBV-HLH group significantly decreased than those in the rest of the three groups(P<0.05).The positive rates of EBV antibodies in CAEBV group and IM group were significantly higher than those in EBV-HLH group(P<0.05).EBV-DNA in EBV-HLH group were significantly higher than those of CAEBV group and IM group(P<0.05).Conclusion EBV-DNA levels in the serum are positively correlated with disease types and severity,the pathogenesis of IM,CAEBV and EBV-HLH induced by EBV infection are associated with immune dysfunction.Dynamic monitoring of EBV load and cell immune function can reflect disease status and progress risk.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on ovarian function in rats with ovulation induction.

METHODSThirty SD female rats were numbered according to random number table. According to vaginal smear method, rats of estrus were divided into a normal group (10 rats) and cohabitated with male SD rats with the proportion of 1:1. With computer-generated random number, the remaining rats were divided into a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. The model of superovulation was established with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the model group and EA group. Before model establishment and cohabitation, rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Guanyuan (CV 4)" and "Sanyinjiao (SP 6)", once for 15 min, for consecutive 7 days. Rats in the normal group and model group received no further treatment. The third day 23:00 pm after cohabitation, blood samples in three groups were collected to test the level of estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P). After the rats were sacrificed, the HE staining method was applied to observe the morphological changes of ovarian tissue; the immunohistochemical method was applied to measure the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2; the real-time quantitative PCR technique was applied to measure the gene expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2.

RESULTSThe number of ovarian follicle in the EA group was higher than that in the model group and normal group (all P < 0.05); the ratio of corpus luteum size to ovarian size in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The ratio of plasma estradiol to progesterone in the EA group tended to be normal group (P < 0.05) and lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in lutein granulosa cell and follicular fluid in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05); gene level of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in ovarian tissue in the EA group was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEA pretreatment has certain protective effect on ovarian function in rats with ovulation induction, which is likely to be related to regulation of VEGF and its receptor.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Male ; Ovary ; physiology ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of melatonin on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hippocampus of rats after isoflurane anesthesia.Methods Sixty male SD rats weighing 390-440 g were randomized into five groups (n =12 each):control group (group C),1％ isoflurane group (group Ⅰ),1％ isoflurane + melatonin group (group IM),2％ isoflurane group (group J) and 2％ isoflurane + melatonin group (group JM).Rats in groups IM and JM received intraperitoneal injection of melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 7 days,and rats in other groups received normal saline.On the 7th day of injection,rats in groups Ⅰ and IM inhaled 1％ isoflurane for 4 hours,and rats in groups J and JM inhaled 2％ isoflurane for 4 hours.One day after anesthesia,all the rats began Morris water maze to assess the learning and memory ability,which was made for continuous 5 days.At the end of probe test,6 rats in each group were randomly selected,blood samples were collected to detect plasma melatonin level,and the hippocampi were removed to evaluate the expression and activity of ChAT.The other rats were sacrificed to perform immunofluorescence to detect ChAT in hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus.Results The plasma melatonin level,and the expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group Ⅰ than in group C (P ＜ 0.01).The escape latency was significantly longer,the probe time was significantly shorter,and the plasma melatonin level and the expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group J than in group C (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The escape latency was significantly shorter,the probe time was significantly longer,and the plasma melatonin level and the expression and activity of ChAT were significantly higher in group IM than in group Ⅰ (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The escape latency was significantly shorter,and the plasma melatonin level and the ChAT activity were significantly higher in group JM than in group J (P＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion Melatonin can attenuate isoflurane-induced ChAT inhibition and thus improve the cognitive function of rats after isoflurane anesthesia.

Objective To investigate the changes of hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive dysfunction induced by cranial radiation therapy.Methods C57BL/6J mice aged 10 d were subjected to 10 Gy whole brain irradiation with 6 MV X-rays to develop irradiation-induced brain injury model.Morris water maze was designed to estimate spatial learning and memory.At different time post irradiation,brain tissue was removed to stain with hematoxylin-eosin for the pathological results.DCX and PCNA immunohistochemical staining was used to mark the level of neurogenesis in the hippocampus,and ED1immunohistochemical staining to mark the activation of microglia.The TUNEL assay was used to assess the apoptotic neuron death in situ in the hippocampus.Real-time PCR was supplied to inspect the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 β mRNA.Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was tested for the concentration of TNF-αt in the plasma.Results Pathological studies demonstrated that radiation could induce interstitial edema,inflammatory cell infiltration,cell degeneration,necrosis,apoptosis in the acute phase,edema subsiding,reduction of inflammatory cells,and cytothesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.IHC studies revealed that,at different time post irradiation,the number of DCX-positive cells and PCNA-positive cells decreased (F =4.9-12.5,5.2-15.7,P ＜ 0.05) but ED1-positive cells increased significantly (F =20.8,P ＜ 0.05).TUNEL-positive cells began to appear in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus 6 h post-irradiation,and its number reached to the highest level at 48 h post-irradiation (F =15.1,P ＜ 0.05).The formation of γ-H2AX foci got at the top 0.5 h post-irradiation (F =18.4,P ＜0.05) and then decreased.After irradiation,the expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA in the the irradiated group was higher than those of the control group (t =16.3,12.7,P ＜ 0.05).The concentration of TNF-α in the plasma of the irradiated group was higer than that in the control group 3 h post-irradiation,and maximized at 1 week post-irradiation (F =10.5,P ＜ 0.05).Morris water maze tests showed that the latency had no significant differences between the irradiated group and the control group at 1,2,3 d postirradiation,but the latency in the irradiated group was longer than that in the control group with a significant differences at 4,5,6 d post-irradiation (F =7.01,8.17,4.22,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Irradiation-induced cognitive dysfunction may be caused by microglial activation and suppression in hippocampal neurogenesis following cranial radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2/neu gene and prognosis of gastric cancer.

METHODSThe expression of HER-2/neu in gastric cancer was detected by immunohistochemical technique and analyzed in relation with the follow-up and clinicopathologic data of the patients.

RESULTSThirty-two of the 103 gastric cancer specimens (31.1%) were positive for HER-2/neu, but whose expression was not found in benign gastric lesion and normal gastric mucosa. HER-2/neu expression was not correlated with the patients' sex, age, tumor size and location or the degree of differentiation (P>0.05), but with the depth of invasion, clinical stage, lymph node and distant metastasis of the tumor and survival of the patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHER-2/neu expression is closely related to invasion, metastasis and prognosis of gastric cancer and can be used to evaluate the biological behavior and prognosis of gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; biosynthesis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To evaluated the clinical significance of embolization of arterio-portal venous shunt (APVS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT) treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and portal vein stenting. Methods Twenty-six HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, who were treated with TACE and portal vein stenting, were enrolled in this study. Portal vein stenting was performed via percutaneous transhepatic approach, which was followed by the embolization of the feeding arteries of APVS by using suitable embolic agents. The portal vein pressure levels were separately measured before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization. The results were statistically analyzed. Results Both the portal vein stenting and APVS embolization were successfully accomplished in all the 26 patients. Hepatic angiography and portal venography performed before portal vein stenting revealed bidirectional portal flow in 16 cases and hepatofugal portal flow in 10 cases. Among the 16 patients with bidirectional portal flow, remarkable improvement of portal vein to liver blood flow after portal vein stenting was seen in 14, and obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization in 2. Obvious recovery of main portal vein to liver blood flow after APVS embolization was also demonstrated in 10 cases with hepatofugal portal flow. The portal vein pressure determined before, after portal vein stenting and after APVS embolization was (50.1±6.3) cmH2O,(43.5± 7.5) cmH2O and (36.9 ±8.2) cmH2O respectively. After portal vein stenting the portal vein pressure was significantly decreased when compared with the preoperative pressure, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); after APVS embolization the portal vein pressure was further decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion For HCC patients with MPVTT and marked APVS, portal vein stenting can effectively restore the portal blood flow and reduce the portal vein pressure; and embolization of APVS can further reduce the pressure of portal vein, thus the bidirectional portal flow or hepatofugal portal flow will return to normal hepatopetal flow.

Objective To discuss the technical skill of super-selective catheterization for “one-way valve occlusion” of the common hepatic artery during transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods A total of 128 patients with “one-way valve occlusion”of the common hepatic artery were enrolled in this study, who were admitted to authors’ department to receive TACE during the period from 2000 to 2011. The lesions included hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 110), cholangiocellular carcinoma (n = 3) and hepatic metastasis (n=15). “One-way valve occlusion”of the common hepatic artery occurred in 90 patients (70.3%, 90/128) after 2-5 times of TACE had been carried out, and in the other 38 patients (29.7%, 39/128) the “one- way valve occlusion” of the common hepatic artery was recognized at the initial TACE procedure. Super-selective hepatic catheterization was performed via the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) approach or celiac artery (CA) approach using coaxial micro-catheter catheterization technique. The success rate and fluoroscopy time of super-selective catheterization were recorded, and the results were compared between the two approaches. Results A total of 337 times of hepatic super-selection catheterization were performed in 128 patients, with a mean of 2.6 times for each case. The success rate was 100%. Of the 337 procedures, the catheterization was via CA approach in 148 (43.9%, 148/337) and via SMA approach in 189 (56.1%, 189/337). The mean fluoroscopy time in CA approach group was 3.2 minutes(ranged 1-6 minutes), and in SMA group was 15.3 minutes(ranged 5-40 minutes). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Super- selective hepatic catheterization for “one-way valve occlusion” of the common hepatic artery can be achieved through SMA approach or CA approach by using coaxial micro-catheter catheterization. Compared with SMA approach, the technique of hepatic catheterization through CA approach is much simpler and the fluoroscopy time is significantly shorter.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of endovascular deployment of metallic Z-type self- expandable stents in treating the patients with inferior vena eava(IVC)obstruction caused by hepatic malignant tumour.Methods One hundred and fifty six patients with IVC obstruction due to malignant compression were enrolled.Venography was performed via femoral vein before and after metallic Z-type self-expandable stent deployment across the stenotic segment of IVC.The diameter of stenotic segment,collateral vessels,venous pressures and the scores of patients IVC syndrome were compared before and after stent placement.Results One hundred and seventy nine stents were implanted in 156 patients successfully.The average obstructive length of IVC was(6.1?2.2)cm.The pressure gradient of stenotie segments of IVC declined from(2.1?0.5)kPa to (0.5?0.11)kPa.The diameters of stenotic segment of IVC increased from(0.33?0.11 )cm to(1.6?0.4) cm.After operations,the main clinical symptoms and physical signs relieved quickly.During 2～24 month follow-up,the pateney of IVC stents reached 86.7%.Conclusion Endovascular deployment of metallic Z-type self-expandable stent is an effective palliative treatment for patients with malignant obstruction of IVC.