OBJECTIVETo establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

METHODSA Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables.

RESULTSClustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390).

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Alarmins ; Brain ; Cluster Analysis ; Diarrhea ; classification ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; classification ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of β₃adrenoceptors (β₃-AR) activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle contractility and the possible related mechanism.

METHODSThe endothelium removed thoracic aorta was pre-contracted with 30 mmol/L KCl physiological saline solution (PSS). Then the tension of the thoracic aorta was recorded in presence of BRL37344 (BRL) to determine the action of β₃-AR. The tension of the thoracic aorta was also recorded in the presence of Propranolol (PRA), SR59230A (SR), L-NNA, H-89 and Iberiotoxin (IBTX) respectively to reveal the underling mechanism of β₃-AR activation on rat vascular smooth muscle. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to confirm the existence and the distribution of β₃-AR in rat thoracic aorta.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) The thoracic aorta was relaxed by β₃-AR activation, with a relaxation percentage of (10.59 ± 0.79). (2) β₃-AR was expressed in both endothelial and smooth muscle layer in thoracic aorta sections of rats. (3) PRA did not block the effect of BRL on the thoracic aorta. The relaxation actions of BRL could be antagonized by pre-incubating the thoracic aorta with SR. (4) L-NNA (a NOS inhibitor) and H-89 (a PKA inhibitor) reversed the relaxation effect of BRL on vascular smooth muscle. (5) The effect of BRL was decreased after application of Ibriotoxin (IBTX), a large conductance calcium dependent potassium channel blocker.

CONCLUSIONThe results confirmed that activation of β₃-AR led to relaxation of thoracic aorta smooth muscle. The relaxation action of β₃-AR on smooth muscle of rat thoracic aorta was related to activation of NOS and PKA signaling pathway. Large conductance Ca²⁺-K⁺ channels were involved in the relaxation action of β₃-AR activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoquinolines ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Relaxation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; Nitroarginine ; Peptides ; Propanolamines ; Propranolol ; Rats ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sulfonamides

Objective To investigate the effect of intra-articular carboxymethylated ehitosan(CM- CTS)injection on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)expression in cartilage at the early stage of os- teoarthfitis(OA).Methods Thirty-two white rabbits were underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and were randomly divided into 4 groups 5 weeks after transection.Rabbits of group A re- ceived 0.3 ml of 2% high molecular weight CMCTS(H-CMCTS)once every two weeks.Rabbits in group B were treated using 2% low molecular weight(L-CMCTS)CMCTS at:the same intervals.Group C rabbits were injected intra-articularly with 0.3 ml of 1% sodium hyaluronate(Na-HA)once a week.Animals of group D were not injected.At sacrifice,11 weeks following surgery,the expression of iNOS in cartilages was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)methods.Results Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed that the level of iNOS expression of cartilage in CMCTS in- jection groups was lower than that in Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.There was no significant difference in iNOS expression between the two different molecular weight CMCTS injection groups. No signifi- cant difference of iNOS expression in cartilage was found between Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.Conclusion CMCTS suppresses iNOS expression in cartilage during the early stage of OA.Na-HA treatment has no effect on iNOS expression in cartilage.

Objective To establish a method for culturing neonatal mice cardiomyocytes, and construct an in vitro model of cardiomyocytes for assessing the cardiac toxicity of chemicals. Methods Hearts of neonatal mice of 1 day old were digested with enzyme mixture of trypsin/collagenase type Ⅱ/dispase and the cell suspensions were pre-plated to flask for a short time and then seeded on coated dishes. The cultured cells were treated with 5-fiuorine-deoxy-uridine(15 μg/ml)and uridine(35 μg/ml)to enrich cardiomyocytes that were identified according to the morphology and immunocytochemistry of α-actin antigen. Cardiac myocytes were incubated with 0-64 μg/ml of a fusarium mycotoxin butenolide(BUT) for 12 h. Cell viability was then evaluated by MTT assay. Microscopic observation showed that BUT induced significant morphological changes including cellular swelling, vacuolation and breakage of muscle fibers. Results It was found that 96% of the cultured cells were cardiomyocytes and the myocytes kept beating after 90 days of culture. Concentration-dependent decreases in cell viability following exposure of cardiac myocytes to BUT were observed. Conclusion The results indicated that relatively pure primary culture of neonatal mice cardiomyocytes is successfully established. BUT possesses the potential to induce myocardial toxicity.

The tracheocutaneous fistula after tracheostomy is a complex clinical problem. An ideal fistula closure is still difficult at present though a variety of fistula-closing methods have been reported in the literature. We used a turnover skin flap to cover the fistula. All the procedures were completed at bedside under local anesthesia. The fistula was successfully closed and well healed without complications within 7-9 days. It has been proven that this operation is simple, effective, and safe.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cutaneous Fistula ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Respiratory Tract Fistula ; etiology ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Tracheal Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Tracheotomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects and complications of subinguinal microscopic ligation, laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy, laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy, open retroperitoneal high ligation, and interventional embolotherapy in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study that included 632 varicocele patients treated by subinguinal microscopic ligation (group A, n = 79), laparoscopic transperitoneal varicocelectomy (group B, n = 120), laparoscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy (group C, n =137), open retroperitoneal high ligation (group D, n = 283), and interventional embolotherapy (group E, n = 13). We compared the baseline and 3-month postoperative semen parameters, postoperative complications, and pregnancy rate among the five groups of patients.

RESULTSThe operation time was longer in groups A ([2.02 ± 1.25] h) and E ([2.17 ± 1.02] h) than in the other three groups, while the postoperative hospital stay was the shortest in group E ([1.1 ± 0.1] d). Intestinal injury or incision bleeding occurred intraoperatively in 2 cases in group B and 1 case in group E. Postoperative scrotal edema developed in 3.7, 17, 10, and 19% of the patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, but not in group E. The rate of 1-year recurrence was the lowest in group A (1.6%) and highest in group E (22%). Sperm concentration and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm were improved postoperatively in all the patients (P < 0. 05), but there were no statistically significant differences among the five groups either in the above three parameters or in the postoperative pregnancy rate (P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONIn the surgical treatment of varicocele, laparoscopic retroperitoneal approach involves short operation time and few complications, subinguinal microscopic ligation has the advantages of little injury, rapid recovery, and few complications but requires specialized microsurgical techniques, and interventional embolotherapy leaves no incision scar and needs only local anesthesia and 1-day postoperative hospital stay, which is uitable for those with a contraindication to anesthesia.

Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Recurrence ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Count ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods

This paper is aimed to study the effects of nitrogen form on the growth and quality of Chrysanthemums morifolium at the same nitrogen level. In order to provide references for nutrition regulation of Ch. morifolium in field production, pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse at experimental station of Nanjing Agricultural University. Five proportions of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen were set up and a randomized block design was applied four times repeatedly. The results showed that the growth and quality of Ch. morifolium were significantly influenced by the nitrogen form. The content of chlorophyll and photosynthesis rate were the highest at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75; The activities of NR in different parts of Ch. -morifolium reached the highest at the NH4(+) - N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 0: 100. The contents of nitrate nitrogen in the root and leaves reached the highest at the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 50:50. The activities of GS, GOGAT and the content of amylum increased with the ratio of NO3(-) -N decreasing and reached it's maximum at the NH4 + -N/NO3 - -N ratio of 100: 0. The content of ammonium nitrogen were the highest at the NH4 + -N /NO3 --N ratio of 75: 25, while the content of soluble sugar reached the highest at the NH4(+)-N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75. The content of flavones, chlorogenic acid and 3,5-O-dicoffeoylqunic acid were 57.2 mg x g(-1), 0.673% and 1.838% respectively, reaching the maximum at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75; The content of luteoloside increased with the ratio of NO3(-) -N increasing and reached it's maximum at the NH4(+) -N/NO3(-) -N ratio of 0: 100. The yield of Ch. morifolium reached it's maximum at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25:75. Nitrogen form has some remarkable influence on the nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis and growth, Nitrogen form conducive to the growth and quality of Ch. morifolium at the NH4(+) -N /NO3(-) -N ratio of 25: 75.
Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Chrysanthemum ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Flowers ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Glutamate Synthase ; metabolism ; Glutamate Synthase (NADH) ; metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

Objective To analyze and compare the imaging features of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma(CCRC)with pathologic findings in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Methods The data of CT and MRI of 12 patients with CCRC were reviewed retrospectively.Ten patients underwent CT examination,including precontrast scan,the contrast eortieomedullary phase scan and the parenchymal phase scan(one patient without corticomedullary phase scan).Two patients underwent MR examination including precontrast T_1WI,T_2WI and enhanced T_1WI of the corticomedullary phase and the parenchymal phase.Results Four lesions located in left kidney and eight in right kidney.Maximum diameter of lesions ranged from 24 mm to 125 mm,average 56.7 ram.Homogenous density was observed in six lesions of ten on unenhanced CT scan and five lesions had homogenous enhancement on enhanced CT scan,which was due to the less incidence of necrosis,liquefaction and hemorrhage on pathologic findings.Nine Lesions showed hyperdense compared with renal medulla but the density was lower than renal cortex on the corticomedullary phase.The enhanced degree was positively correlated with microvessel density(MVD).All ten lesions became hypodense compared with renal medulla on the parenchymal phase scan.Central stellate scar was found in two big lesions and psudocapsula were observed in four lesions confirmed by pathology.Two patients underwent MRI examination.Compared with medulla,the two lesions showed hyperintense on unenhanced T_1WI and obviously hypointense on unenhaneed T_2WI.The enhancement pattern of them was similar to CT. Conclusion The imaging features of CCRC,such as homogeneity,special enhancement pattern and distinct hypointensity on T_2WI,help to differentiate CCRC from other renal tumors.

Red in vivo recombination is a new kind of genetic engineering technique based on homologous recombination. In this work, plasmid pKD46 which expresses Red recombination proteins is transferred into Escherichia coli strain DH5?.The kanamycine resistant gene is generated by PCR by using primers with homology to hisDCB gene of E.coli chromosome. Thus, the hisDCB gene was replaced with kanamycine resistant gene by the plasmid recombination system, then the resistant gene was eliminated by a helper plasmid encoding the FLP recombinase. At last, a E.coli histidine auxotroph which is sensitive to kanamycine was got. The results indicate that Red in vivo recombination is a convenient method to construct auxotrophs.