Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Inhalation ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy

Objective:To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q 6.0) in female patients with eating disorders.Methods:A total of 239 patients with eating disorder and 142 healthy controls who were recruited consented to participate in the study and completed Chinese EDE-Q 6.0.Confirmatory factor analysis was used in patients to compare the original 4-factor model,1-factor model and 3-factor model.The criterion validity was tested with the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI).Mann-Whitney U analysis was used to compare the differences of EDE-Q 6.0 scores on the two samples to test the empirical validity,and ROC analysis was used to determine the cut-off value.The internal consistency of the scale was tested in two samples.Among all participants,89 patients and 31 healthy controls were retested 1 month later.Results:The original 4-factor model fit better than the other two.The EDE-Q 6.0 total score and the EDI total score had a high consistency in the total sample,patients and controls,respectively (ICC =0.88,0.87,0.73).Patients had higher scores on the EDE-Q 6.0 than controls (Ps ＜0.01).The mean area under the curve (AUC) of EDE-Q 6.0 was 0.91,the optimal cut-off point of EDE-Q 6.0 was total score ≥ 1.27,sensitivity and specificity were 79.4％ and 88.2％ respectively.The Cronbach α coefficients were 0.95,0.91,and 0.88 for the total sample,patients and controls respectively.The test-retest reliabilities were 0.73 for the total scale,0.58,0.68,0.69 and 0.71 for the 4 factors.Conclusion:The Chinese version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 have good psychometric properties and diagnosis accuracy,and it could be used to assess the severity of clinical symptoms.

OBJECTIVETo constitute a model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice.

METHODSThe SCID mice were reconstituted by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of 5 x 10(7) human lymphocytes from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seronegative individuals. After one week, the SCID mice were inoculated with EBV by i.p. injection, and subjected to the investigation of whether there was any tumor in the abdomen of such SCID mice four weeks later. The characteristics of the found tumor was observed by the methods of Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain, immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the control groups, all the EBV-infected Hu-PBL-SCID mice had abdominal solid tumors [(32 +/- 12.5) mm3] developed, often located in the liver. HE staining and immunohistochemical staining showed the tumors were human B cell lymphomas. EBV DNA could be detected in the tumors by the PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe model of B immunoblastic lymphomas in the Hu-PBL-SCID mice is successfully constituted, and may well be useful to the human tumor immunological study.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; physiology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Immunoblastic ; Mice ; Mice, SCID

OBJECTIVETo probe the expression level of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) in malignant clone cells of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODThe combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunochemistry (alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase, APAAP) was used to detect the expression of IGF-IR in the bone marrow cells of 40 MDS patients with abnormal karyotypes.

RESULTSThe average IGF-IR expression level on the clone cells \[(84.5 ± 14.2)%\] from the MDS cases was markedly elevated compared to the corresponding level on normal cells \[(11.4 ± 12.1)%\]. And the percentages of malignant clone cells in all 40 MDS cases were significantly correlated with the relevant percentages of IGF-IR positive nucleated cells (r = 0.929, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIGF-IR might be taken as a marker of clone cells in MDS for its trait to malignant proliferation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Clone Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptor, IGF Type 1 ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of catecholamines on human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation.

METHODSCatecholamines (epinephrine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline) were added to the culture media of human preadipocytes. The proliferation of cells, the expression of GPDH and lipid droplet accumulation in cytoplasm were observed and recorded. The functions of alpha and beta receptors were examined with adding alpha and beta receptor blockers.

RESULTSEpinephrine and isoprenaline stimulated human preadipocyte proliferation and inhibited GPDH up-regulation during differentiation. The three types of catecholamines inhibited lipid accumulation in cell differentiation. The beta-adrenoceptors played a key role during the process.

CONCLUSIONHuman preadipocytes responded to catecholamine characteristically. The result would be applicable in the study of drugs for obesity.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Catecholamines ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Epinephrine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the infection status of Bartonella spp. in rodents in western part of Yunnan province.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from four species of rodents captured in four counties in western Yunnan in 2004. Bartomella was isolated through being cultured in brain and heart infusion agar media containing 5% rabbit blood. Suspective Bartomella strains isolates were confirmed by amplification of 379 bp of citrate synthase (gltA) gene with specific primer by polymerase chin reaction (PCR).

RESULTSFifty-four strains of Bartomella isolates were obtained from 397 samples including four rodent species captured in the fields with an overall isolation-rate of 13.6% (54/397). The rates of isolation among different species were: 22.0% (22/100) in Rattus nitidus, 14.8% (31/210) in Rattus flavipectus and 1.2%(1/87) in Rattus norvegicus while in R. t. yunnanensis it was negative.

CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrated that the local rodents in western Yunnan were widely infected by Bartomella spp. It is indispensable to study the vector and the route of transmission to discover the relations between Bartomella and human diseases.

Animals ; Bartonella ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Bartonella Infections ; transmission ; veterinary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rodentia ; microbiology

Objective To investigate the possibility of inducing mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly to differentiate into spermatogonia.Methods To isolate,culture and purify MSCs with adherent method,the growth and proliferation of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were observed,and their immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry;MSCs of the third generation were divided into 2 groups to be induced and cultured,MSCs of the control group were cultured in basal medium,while those of the experimental group with conditional medium.The morphologic and ultrastructure changes of control group and experimental group cells were compared with phase contrast microscopy,electron microscopy(EM)and transmission electron microscope(TEM)respectively ;the spermatogonial cells differentiated were then evaluated by immunohistochemistry stained for CD117and CD49f ;the method of Western-blot was used to test if the cells induced could express CD49f.Results A population of MSCs were isolated from human umbilical Wharton's Jelly;they were processed to obtain a fibroblast-like population of cells and could be maintained in vitro for extended periods with stable population doubling;After induction,the shape of MSCs changed greatly from the fibroblast to the round,even familiar to the tadpole;expressed the known molecular markers of spermatogonial cells,such as CD49f,CD117.Conclusion The induced MSCs not only undergo spfermatogonial-cell like morphologic changes,ultramicrostructure mature with increasing cell organs,but also express the spermatogonial cell markers,which show that human umbilical cord derived MSCs are capable of differentiating into spermatogonial cell.

Bacterial Translocation ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenqi Compound on diabetic angiopathy modeled rats.

METHODSTotally 18 SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and Shenqi Compound group, 6 in each group. The DM rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet (to induce hyperlipidemia) +intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). Shenqi Compound was given to rats in the Shenqi Compound group at the daily dose of 2 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. All treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Then 2-D and ultrasonic integrated backscatter technique were used to evaluate structural and functional changes of abdominal aorta in the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy. The fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries were observed by using HE and Masson trichrome staining. The tension of the aortic vascular ring was determined. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and phosphorylation P38 MAPK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, abdominal aortic systolic inner diameter, diastolic inner diameter, Peterson elastic modulus, stiffness index, and backscatter integral significantly increased; the rangeability of integral backscatter and the extension coefficient of cross section significantly decreased in the DM group (all P < 0.05). After 12 weeks aforesaid indices were obviously improved in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of HE and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries was obviously alleviated in rats of the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of the aortic vascular ring tension showed that acetylcholine induced vasodilatation and maximum diastolic percent were obviously elevated in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all significantly increased in the DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenqi Compound could effectively improve the arterial function in diabetic marcoangiopathy and microvascular dysfunction. The mechanism might be due to the down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta, and further suppressing the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, reducing the synthesis of collagen I and collagen III, therefore, ameliorating arterial and myocardial interstitial fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the relationship between oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), angiogenesis and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in human coronary arteries; and to investigate the role of oxLDL in creating vulnerable sites in atherosclerotic plaques.

METHODSSamples of coronary arteries were obtained at autopsies of 42 patients with acute coronary syndrome. Eighty randomly selected blocks were studied by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against oxLDL and endothelial cells (factor VIII). Computer-aided planimeter was used for quantitative analysis.

RESULTSIn unstable plaques, percentage of immunoreactive areas for oxLDL was significantly higher than that in stable plaques. Most of the oxLDL were located in shoulder region of these plaques, as compared to the fibrous cap and basal regions. The details of distribution of oxLDL were as follows: shoulder region (20.43 +/- 3.12 for unstable plaques and 17.65 +/- 4.22 for stable plaques), fibrous cap (4.77 +/- 2.03 for unstable plaque and 2.80 +/- 0.22 for stable plaques) and basal region (5.65 +/- 1.65 for unstable plaques and 3.22 +/- 1.02 for unstable plaques). OxLDL was also a main component in the lipid core. In the shoulder region, there was a significant positive correlation between neovascularization and oxLDL (r = 0.8247, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe amount of oxLDL is significantly higher in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, especially over the shoulder region. OxLDL in coronary atherosclerotic plaques is thus an important factor in determining stabilization of the plaques. OxLDL may induce influx of inflammatory cells which subsequently leads to decreased plaque stabilization.

Angina, Unstable ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology