OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at "Tianshu" (ST 25) on electro-activity and mechanical motility at different phases of migrating motor complex (MMC) during jejunal digestion period in rats with detached jejunum, so as to explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture on regulating intestinal movement.

METHODSSixteen adult SD rats were selected. Electrodes were implanted in the serous membrane of intestinal smooth muscl.e and high-sensitivity sensors of strain gauge were sutured on serosal surface, and then the rat was anesthetized and its jejunum was detached. Electro-acriviry and mechanical motility of jejunal smooth muscle were recorded simultaneously. Acupuncture was applied at "Tianshu" (ST 25) at MMC I , MMCII and MMC III, respectively, to observe its influence on electro-activity and mechanical motility.

RESULTSAt phase of MMC I, there was no obvious change of the fast wave before and after the acupuncture, while the frequency and amplitude of slow wave and mechanical motility were both significantly decreased compared with baseline (P < 0.01). At MMCII-Ill, the frequency and amplitude of fast wave, slow wave and motility were all significantly decreased compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Acupuncture at "Tianshu" (ST 25) had prohibited effects on electro-activity and mechanical motility of jejunal smooth muscle in rats with detached jejunum.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at "Tianshu" (ST 25) has obvious prohibited effects on electro-acrivity and mechanical motility at MMC I , MMC II and MMC III time phases in rats with detached jejunum. The possible mechanism is that acupuncture at "Tianshu" (ST 25) could prohibit jejunum movement through reflex path of skin-sympathetic.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Digestion ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Jejunum ; chemistry ; physiology ; Male ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the relationships between different dietary patterns and serum uric acid in Tianjin residents. Method By cross-sectional study design, 11282 subjects were studied via lifestyle questionnaires (including a valid food frequency questionnaire), physical examination and laboratory tests. Using factor analysis method to establish the dietary patterns, and relationships between different dietary patterns and serum uric acid were analyzed. Results Factor analysis showed 3 kinds of dietary patterns, including eastern dietary pattern, vegetable diets and Tianjin dietary pattern. There were more males in hyperuricemic population, who have a higher BMI, waist circumference, blood lipids, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and also higher proportion of metabolic syndrome, smokers and alcohol drinkers. In addition, hyperuricemia patients had a higher level of social status and income. After adjustments for age, sex, BMI, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, education level, occupational status, energy intake, physical activity and metabolic syndrome, logistic regression analysis showed the odds ratio (95%confidence interval) for hyperuricemia across the quartiles of 3 dietary patterns as follows: 1.00, 1.07 (0.91, 1.25), 0.96 (0.82, 1.14), 1.12 (0.94, 1.33);1.00, 1.03 (0.88, 1.21), 1.04 (0.88, 1.23), 1.00 (0.84, 1.19); 1.00, 1.28 (1.08, 1.52), 1.40 (1.22, 1.71), 1.37 (1.15, 1.63), respectively. Significantly positive correlation was shown between Tianjin dietary pattern and hyperuricemia. Conclusion Tianjin residents' Tianjin dietary pattern is closely related to serum uric acid levels. Tianjin dietary patterns have characteristics of high calorie, high fat, high protein. Healthy eating habits have significant importance to prevent occurrence of hyperuricemia.

OBJECTIVEImpulse noise was adopted in adult rats to built acute deafferent animal model. Differential proteomics techniques were applied to detect the changes of protein expression in the auditory cortex before and after the noise exposure.

METHODSThirty adult SD rats were divided into three groups: normal group, rats with acute noise exposure and rats 28 days recovery after noise exposure (n=10/group). All animals were exposed to impulse noise at 156 dB for 50 pulses with a rise-time of 100 µs and duration of around 0.25 ms. ABR was used to evaluate the auditory function. The two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to identified the differential protein expression.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, ABR thresholds were found significantly increased at 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 kHz (P<0.05) in the acute and recovery groups. There was a 40-60 dBSPL ABR threshold shift at all tested frequencies immediately after impulse noise exposure. There was a partial recovery of ABR thresholds at 7 day to 28 days after impulse noise exposure. In addition, it seemed that the thresholds were rather stable and no further ABR threshold recovery was observed from 14 day to 28 days after the impulse noise exposure. Using differential proteomic techniques, 36 spots containing 27 proteins were revealed and identified in auditory cortex. Those proteins are related to cytoskeleton, neurotransmission, energy supply, mitochondrial function and synaptic remolding.

CONCLUSIONSImpulse noise may influence the function of microtubule transport and cell metabolism, there after affect the neurotransmission of auditory neurons. The compensatory changes such as pre- and postsynaptic or such related functional changes may also happen in auditory cortex after the deafferentation treatment.

Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Proteomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the clinical,radiological findings and pathogenic factor of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.Methods Five cases were reported and the relevant documents were studied retrospectively.Plain X-ray film was performed in all patients.Results There were 4 male and 1 female,age ranged from 4 to 15 years with average of 9 years.The main features of 5 cases included delayed bone age,stature short,short trunk,waddling gait noted,scoliosis in 2 cases,kyphoscoliosis in 1 case,severe genu valgum in 2 cases.The main X-ray appearance of 5 cases is multiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia,epiphysis is normal.Type Ⅰ SMD in 2 cases,Type Ⅱ SMD in 1 case,Type Ⅲ SMD in 2 cases.Conclusion When we meet children with delayed bone age and stature short,and muhiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia were seen in X-ray plain film.we should think about spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas(CAFs).Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 19 patients mean age of(5.5?4.1) years treated from February 1995 to December 2005 with transcatheter closure of CAFs using transcatheter spring coil embolization,Amplatzer PDA occluder or Amplatzer plug.One case had a residul fistula postoperatively associated with patent duetus arteriosus(PDA).Results The abnormal parameters included mean fistula diameter(3.7?1.6)mm(2.5-8.2 mm),pulmonary mean pressure(28.0?5.0)mmHg(25.0-67.0 mmHg)and pulmonary to systemic shunt(Qp/Qs)1,6?0.8(1.0-2.3).The sites of the fistulas were originated in right coronary artery 11,left anterior descending coronary artery or left circumflex coronary artery 8. Abnormal communication sites of these fistulas were to right ventricle in 14 and right atrium in 5.Various occlusion devices used to close these fistulas included one Giantureo coil in 10,2-4 Gianturco coils in 3, Duct-Occlud in 3,Amplatzer duct occluder in 2 and Amplatzer plug in 1.The post-operative residul fistula with PDA was treated successfully with PDA occlusion.The immediate,one month and one year complete occlusion rates were 55.6%(10/18),88.9%(16/18),100%(18/18),respectively.The coil slipped into the left pulmonary artery in 1 case and correction was obtained by retrieving with forceps.Follow-up studies at 3 months to 4.3 years showed complete abolition of shunt in all patients with no evidence of recanalization leading to recurrences of shunt.Conclusion Transcatheter closure of CAFs is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair.

OBJECTIVETo compare the wear between the enamel and two types of dental decoration porcelains for all-ceramic restorations (Vita-alpha, Vintage AL).

METHODSFriction coefficients, wear scar width, element concentrations and wear surface evolution were considered relatively to the tribology of that in vivo situation. The wear scars of the samples were characterized by means of dynamic atomic force microscopy (DFM). The different element concentrations of the surface before/after the wear test were determined with energy dispersion spectrometry (EDS).

RESULTSThe friction coefficient varied from time in each kind of material. The statistical differences between materials were observed in wear scar width and properties of materials (P<0.05). DFM results showed wear surface of natural tooth full of abrasive particles and denaturation of dental texture. Wear surface of veneering ceramics consisted mainly of abrasive particles, plough and microcracking. EDS results showed that the element concentration of Fe was obviously found on the samples after wear.

CONCLUSIONThe main underlying mechanisms of natural teeth wear are abrasive, and denaturation of dental texture. Abrasive wear, adhesion and fatigue of veneering ceramics characterize the wear patterns which plays different role in Vita-alpha and Vintage AL. The wear patterns of veneering ceramics can be described as mild wear.

Ceramics ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Restoration Wear ; Materials Testing ; Surface Properties ; Tooth Attrition

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) withdrawal from tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen in renal allograft recipients.

METHODSA cohort of 45 patients following cadaveric renal allograft transplantation were randomly divided into 3 groups based on the regimen of combination of tacrolimus, steroid, and MMF: triple therapy group, steroid withdrawal group, and MMF withdrawal group. During 2 years, survival of patients and allografts, clinical acute rejection, adverse events, hepatic and renal allograft function, and blood lipids were monitored to evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or MMF withdrawal after renal transplantation.

RESULTSDuring two-year observation, steroid or MMF was successfully withdrawn from immunosuppressant regimen based on tacrolimus without any clinical acute rejection. Patient and graft survival rates were 100% and all the renal allografts kept excellent function. Some adverse events occurred and there were no significant differences among groups.

CONCLUSIONWithdrawal of steroid or MMF in low-immunological-risk renal allografts treated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen can be achieved with no increased risk of acute rejection.

Adult ; Aged ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Graft Rejection ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Tacrolimus ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis induced by manumycin in U937 and HL-60 cell lines, and to explore the role of mitochondria apoptotic pathway in manumycin-inducing apoptosis.

METHODSLeukemic cells line U937 and HL-60 were treated by manumycin at 2 micromol/L for different time. Apoptosis of leukemia cells was detected by flow cytometry. The cytosolic proteins were extracted using a digitonin buffer. The protein expression of cytochrome C, caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 were determined by western blot. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1.

RESULTSIn U937 and HL-60 cells, manumycin induced mitochondrial depolarization after 6 h treatment. The average red/green fluorescence ratios at 6 h were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than those at time 0, being 0.51 +/- 0.07 and 0.41 +/- 0.06 for control group respectively. Manumycin induced cytochrome C release from the mitochondria into the cytosol after 6 h treatment, and activated caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 after a 16h treatment. The broad-spectrum caspase-inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk at 50 micromol/L was able to inhibit caspase cleavage completely, but only reduced the manumycin-induced apoptosis rates by 51.69% and 56.47% in U937 and HL-60, respectively.

CONCLUSIONManumycin induced apoptosis in U937 and HL-60 cell lines via mitochondria apoptotic pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Polyenes ; pharmacology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEAlthough NuMED Cheatham-Platinum (CP) stent was specifically designed to treat vascular obstructions associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), its application in pediatric patients is relatively uncommon, especially in the pulmonary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate-, early- and intermediate-term results of CP stent implantation in the treatment of vessel stenosis associated with CHD in children and adolescents.

METHODSFrom August 2005 to May 2007, 5 consecutive patients (3 boys and 2 girls) diagnosed as vascular stenosis associated with CHD underwent CP stent implantation in our institution. One patient had native coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and four patients had pulmonary artery stenosis. The median age and weight of patients were 12 years (range 4 - 15 years) and 24 kg (range 20 - 51 kg), respectively. The CP stent and NuMED Balloon-in-Balloon catheter were selected according to digital subtracted angiography measurements. After checking for correct position by angiography, the inner balloon and outer balloon inflated successively to expand the stent to desired diameter.

RESULTSTotally 6 stent placement procedures were performed and 8 CP stents (8-zig, 22 - 39 mm in length) were implanted in these 5 patients. All stents but one in a case of right pulmonary artery stenosis were immediately successfully placed in the target lesions without displacement during the procedures. For this case, a repeat procedure was performed and a second CP stent was reimplanted successfully 11 months later. After the procedure, the systolic pressure gradient across the stenosis decreased from (43.43 +/- 25.61) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (3.29 +/- 3.09) mm Hg (t = 4.320, P < 0.01) and the narrowest diameter of the stenotic vessels increased from (6.86 +/- 2.04) mm to (13.44 +/- 4.02) mm (t = -4.508, P < 0.01). The percentage of pulmonary artery flow to the ipsilateral lung increased from 11.0% and 13.0% to 47.5% and 52.2% after the procedure in 2 cases of unilateral pulmonary artery branch stenosis, respectively. The ratio of right ventricular to aortic systolic pressure decreased from 62.3% and 72.2% to 27.0% and 33.3% in 2 cases of bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenosis, respectively. Upper limb blood pressure of one case of native CoA dropped greatly from 206/133 mm Hg to 156/95 mm Hg. During a median follow-up of 20 months (range 13 - 34 months), the results have been stable without complications except 2 stents which developed intrastent restenosis 6 months after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONOur experience suggests that the CP stent implantation is safe and feasible for the treatment of vessel stenosis associated with CHD in children and adolescents. The immediate-, early- and interim results are encouraging, but long-term results remain to be further evaluated and demand many more cases to be studied.

Adolescent ; Aortic Coarctation ; therapy ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Platinum ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; complications ; therapy ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEPerimembranous ventricular septal defects (PMVSDs) is the most common type of congenital ventricular septal defects (VSD), which accounts for 70% approximately 80% of VSD. The structure of PMVSDs is very complex, it is close to tricuspid valve, mitral valve and aortic valve. The atrioventricular (AV) node is located in the posterior upper membranous ventricular septum and branches into left and right bundle in the posterior lower margin. This increases the risk of transcatheter closure of PMVSDs. Arrhythmias is the common complication after transcatheter closure of PMVSDs. The present study aimed to identify the risk factors resulting in arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of PMVSDs in patients under 18 years of age to decrease the incidence of arrhythmias after the interventional catheterization.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the patients treated with transcatheter intervention from June 2002 to June 2004. Transcatheter closure of PMVSDs with Amplatzer membranous septal occluder and a domestic product was performed in 89 cases after obtaining consent themselves and/or their guardian or parents, 47 cases were males and 42 females. The age of the cases ranged from 3 to 18 years (mean 8.2 years) and the body weight ranged from 13 to 55 kg (mean 26.7 kg). They were all diagnosed as having PMVSDs with trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) before the interventional catheterization, the electrocardiographic (ECG) and chest X-ray (CXR) findings were recorded. A simultaneous care ECG and TTE were performed during operation in order to identify the effect of the transcatheter closure, the heart structure and functional changes and whether or not arrhythmias occurred, respectively. In 80 cases AGA Amplatzer membranous septal occluder was used and in 9 cases a domestic product was used. Follow-up was performed based on the echocardiography and ECG.

RESULTSThe devices were successfully implanted in 89 cases; 11 cases (12%) developed various block of heart conduction within 5 days, which included first degree AV block in 1 patient, third degree AV block in 1, left anterior bundle branch block in 5, partial right bundle branch block in 4, complete right bundle branch block in 3, and 3 patients had two kinds of heart block. Eight patients were treated with corticosteroids, 6 of them recovered within 14 days, 1 patient within 1 month and in 1 case the problem shifted from first degree block and left anterior bundle branch block to left anterior bundle branch block 5 days later and that persisted for 6 months. It was found that the distance from upper margin of defects to the aortic valve < 3 mm, the diameter of ventricular septal defect > or = 8 mm, the diameter of device > or = 10 mm, blood pH < 7.35 and arteriovenous track building time after the success of the Seldinger technique > or = 60 min were independent predictors of post-closure arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONArrhythmias remain the severe early complications after interventional catheterization for PMVSDs in patients under 18 years of age. Shortening of operation time, prevention of acidosis and strict selection of indications may be the most effective measures to prevent arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of PMVSDs in patients under 18 years of age.

Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Block ; etiology ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors