OBJECTIVETo study the effect of melatonin on the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB p65) and synaptophysin in mice of different ages.

METHODSTwenty young male B6C3F1 mice (5.5 months) and 20 aged mice (26 months) were both divided into control and melatonin treatment (daily dose of 0.04 mg/kg) groups. After 2.5 months of treatment, the brain tissues of the mice were collected to examine the expressions of GFAP, NF-κB and SYN by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn the control groups, the expression of NF-κB p65 in the brain tissue increased with age, whereas a reverse change was found in melatonin-treated aged rats (P<0.05). Synaptophysin expression also decreased with age, but melatonin treatment significantly enhanced its expression in aged mice (P<0.05). GFAP expression in the brain tissue increased with age regardless of melatonin treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONGFAP expression is almost not affected by melatonin treatment in aged mice. Melatonin can reduce the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and synaptophysin in the brain tissue to protect the brain and slow down the aging process.

Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chimera ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Male ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C3H ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the difference of internal diameter of bronchial artery in big lung cancer,small lung cancer,and normal lung with multiple slice CT.Methods MSCT angiographies of 44 patients with lung cancer confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed,and 29 patients were with big lung cancer(≥3 cm)and 15 patients with small lung cancer(

Objective To construct a fusion protein that used for treatment of resistance and palindromia in leukemia and studied its biological activity. Methods IL-3 and LP gene fragments were amplified by PCR. After enzymatic digestion and T4 ligation, the fusion gene was cloned into expression vector pAYZ. The product was purified by exchange chromatography and anti-Etag affinity chromatography. IL3-G4SLP fusion protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Protein biological activity was detected by FACS. Results The fusion protein was expressed as soluble protein by E.Coli 16C9. The protein expression level was about 1 mg/L, its purity was over 95 %, and the expression level was about 1 mg/L. The fusion protein can combined specificely with CD123 on leukemia stem cells. Conclusion Fusion protein IL-3-G4S-LP can target on leukemia stem cells and maybe as a potential drug used for treatment of resistance and palindromia in leukemia.

AIMTo investigate the effects of shivering on airway rewarming.

METHODSThe hypothermic dog model without shivering was established by immersing an anesthetized dog in cold water and administering atracurium to inhibit the dog shivering. The model dog respired warm fully humidified (40-45 degrees C, RH 99.9%) air and room temperature air(19 +/- 1 degrees C, RH 30% - 75%) to rewarm each for 2 hours, the priority of different temperature air respired was arranged randomly. After rewarming for 4 hours, the relaxed dog breathed warm humidified air by positive pressure ventilation in order to restore its spontaneous respiratory. Then the dog continued to respire warm humidified air spontaneously until the esophageal (Te) and rectal temperature (Tr) of the dog achieved the same degrees as the dog was immersed in the water. The metabolic heat production was detected by indirect calorimetry during the experiment.

RESULTS(1) When the shivering was inhibited, inhaling warm humidified air for 2 hours made the Tr and Te of the dogs increase 0.26-0.39 degrees C and 0.44-1.11 degrees C per hour respectively, inhaling air at room temperature for 2 hours made Tr and Te of the dogs decrease 0.24-0.51 degrees C and 0.58-0.67 degrees C per hour, respectively. And the changes in Tr and Te of the dogs were unrelated to the priority of inhaling air at different temperature. (2) When the dog with shivering respired spontaneously warm humidified air, the rewarming rates of Tr and Te were 2.26-2.33 degrees C/h and 1.96-2.38 degrees C/h respectively, quicker than those of the dogs whose shivering was inhibited. (3) Compared with metabolic heat production of the unshivering dog respiring warm humidified air by positive pressure ventilation, that of the shivering dog respiring warm humidified air spontaneously increased outstandingly, shivering thermogenesis made the rewarming rates increased obviously.

CONCLUSIONAirway rewarming is a method conducive to rewarming of hypothermia. When the body is shivering, the metabolic heat production increases obviously, that makes the rewarming rate increase markedly. So the shivering must be inhibited in order to eliminate the interference of shivering thermogenesis when the effects of airway rewarming are detected.

Animals ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Cold Temperature ; Dogs ; Hypothermia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Shivering

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of two fluid resuscitations on the bacterial translocation and the inflammatory factors of small intestine in rats with hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSFifty SD healthy male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n equal to 10 per group): Group A (Sham group), Group B (Ringer's solution for 1 h), Group C (Ringer's solution for 24 h), Group D (hydroxyethyl starch for 1 h) and Group E ((hydroxyethyl starch for 24 h). A model of rats with hemorrhagic shock was established. The bacterial translocation in liver, content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and changes of myeloperoxidase enzyme (MPO) activities in small intestine were pathologically investigated after these two fluid resuscitations, respectively.

RESULTSThe bacterial translocation and the expression of TNF-alpha in the small intestine were detected at 1 h and 24 h after fluid resuscitation. There were significant increase in the number of translocated bacteria, TNF-alpha and MPO activities in Group C compared with Group B, significant decrease in Group E compared with Group D and in Group B compared with Group D. The number of translocated bacteria and TNF-alpha expression significantly decreased in Group E as compared with Group C.

CONCLUSIONSThe bacterial translocation and the expression of TNF-alpha in the small intestine exist 24 h after fluid resuscitation. 6% hydroxyethyl starch can improve the intestinal mucosa barrier function better than the Ringer's solution.

Animals ; Bacterial Translocation ; drug effects ; Fluid Therapy ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Isotonic Solutions ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

AIMIn order to study airway rewarming method and rewarming devices for hypothermia, hypothermic dog model was established.

METHODSThe anesthetized dog was immersed in cold water at 16.7 degrees C until the esophageal temperature (Te) of the dog decreased to 34.0 degrees C, the core temperature and skin temperature were monitored by using a 12-channel scanning thermometers. Atracurium besylate, a skeletal muscle relaxant, was injected intravenously when the core temperature of the dog was basically steady after the dog was out of the cold water, the hypothermic dog model was established.

RESULTSRectal and esophageal temperature could stand for the core temperature of the hypothermic dog model, but mixing with each other was prohibited because of leading to mistakes. Administering of atracurium besylate could eliminate the effect of shivering on airway rewarming alone, hypothermic dog model in which shivering was inhibited could be used in determination of airway rewarming technique and rewarming devices for hypothermia.

CONCLUSIONHypothermic dog model in which shivering was inhibited can abolish the interference of shivering, experimental repeatability is good, experimental method quite simple, and the model appropriate for application and dissemination.

Animals ; Body Temperature ; Cold Temperature ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Hypothermia ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Respiratory System ; Rewarming ; methods ; Shivering

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LDT) versus entecavir treatments in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSEighty HBeAg-positive compensated CHB patients with HBV DNA more than 6 log10 copies/ml and serum ALT 2 x ULN were divided into two groups: a telbivudine treatment group, and a entecavir treatment group. HBV DNA, ALT and HBeAg were surveyed at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. The efficacy and safety of the two nucleoside analogues were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks.

RESULTSUndetectable serum HBV DNA levels of the telbivudine group (50% and 80%) were similar to those of the entecavir B group (50% and 70%) according to the polymerase-chain-reaction assay at week 12 and 24. There were no significant differences in the normalization of alanine aminotransferase levels between the two groups at week 12 and 24 (52.5% vs 60.0%, 77.5% vs 75.0%). The mean reductions in serum HBV DNA from the baseline levels at week 12 and 24 were similar between the two groups [5.27 vs.5.36, 6.49 vs.6.18 log (on a base-10 scale) copies per milliliter]. More patients in the telbivudine group had HBeAg seroconversion at week 12 than those in the entecavir group (20.0% vs 5.0%, P = 0.043); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups at week 24 (27.5% vs 17.5%). No adverse reactions were found in either group.

CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference in HBV DNA undetectable rates and the ALT normalization rates between the two groups in a short-term therapy (24 weeks), but the telbivudine group had a higher rate in HBeAg seroconversion than that in the entecavir group at week 12.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidinones ; therapeutic use ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of MRI in evaluating the peripancreatic vessel invasion and resectability of pancreatic carcinoma based on the comparison of MRI image with surgical exploration, and try to establish the criteria for assessment of the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of resectability.

METHODSForty-one pancreatic carcinoma patients confirmed by pathology received preoperative plain and contrast enhanced MRI scan, and 37 of them had additional coronal MRA scan. Peripancreatic vessel invasion was preoperatively assessed based on MRI features, and the vessel invasion degree from the uninvolved to the severely involved was divided into 6 grades represented by 1, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4, respectively. Compared with the findings during the surgery, the sensitivity and specificity of each vessel invasion grade were studied and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of resectability evaluation based on 2 and 2a degree were calculated respectively. The resectability of involved arteries and veins of grade 2 were also analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 41 patients, 22 had resectable tumor, with 20 curative resection and 2 palliative. Compared with the findings during surgery, seven vessels including three arteries and four veins were not correctly interpreted by MRI. If grade 1,2a,2b,3a and 3b was used as the resectable standard,respectively, the sensitivity to predict the unresectbility was 78.3%, 84.8%, 67.4%, 56.5% and 47.8%, respectively. Receiver operator characteristic curve demonstrated that grade 2a was the optimal critical point. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of grade 2a in predicting the unresectbility were 84.8%, 98.5%, 92.9%, 96.6% and 95.9%.

CONCLUSIONOur data showed that grade 2a (tumor involvement < 2 cm long and < 1/2 circumference of the vessel) may be more sensitive and accurate in predicting the resectability, which may be considered as the line of demarcation between the respectable and unresectable cases in clinical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Celiac Artery ; pathology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; pathology ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; Mesenteric Veins ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreas ; blood supply ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic variations of HLA-Cw and 5 KIR2D loci in 2 Chinese Han populations residing at Southern and Northern mainland China, respectively, and to investigate the HLA-Cw polymorphism of a Mongolian Chinese population.

METHODSHLA-Cw genotyping was performed in a total of 293 healthy individuals including 1 Southern Han population living in Hunan Province (n=112), 1 Northern Han population (n=98) and 1 Mongolian Chinese population(n=83) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP) technique. Dimorphism at residue 80 of domain in the HLA-Cw molecule was examined by an additional set of PCR-SSP reactions. PCR-SSP was also used to detect the presence or absence of inhibitory KIR2DL1/2DL2/2DL3 loci and activating KIR2DS1/2DS2 loci for the 2 Han populations.

RESULTSThe main findings were: (1) Very significant frequency difference in the HLA-Cw alleles and dimorphism at codon 80 was detected between Hunan Han and Northern Han population, and between Hunan Han and Mongolian population (P < 0.001),while there was no such difference between the 2 Northern Chinese populations (P> 0.05); (2) There was no significant difference in frequencies of either the 5 individual KIR2D genes or the genotype distributions between the 2 Han populations (P> 0.05); (3) Asn(80)ls/Asn(80), 2DL1+/2DL2-/2DL3+/2DS1-/2DS2- predominated in both Han populations (45/112, 29/98), followed by Asn(80)/Asn(80), 2DL1+/2DL2-/2DL3+/2DS1+/2DS2- (18/112,16/98) and Asn(80)/Lys(80), 2DL1+/2DL2-/2DL3+/2DS1-/2DS2-(11/112,17/98). Among the 12 types of HLA-Cw codon 80 and KIR2D combinations, only Lys(80)/Lys(80), 2DL1+/2DL2-/2DL3+/2DS1-/2DS2- showed marginally significant frequency difference between the 2 Han populations(1/112 vs 8/98; Fisheros P was 0.0134).

CONCLUSIONOur study provided the polymorphism data of HLA-Cw gene for 3 Chinese populations with different geographic and/or ethnic background, we further analyzed the distribution of 5 KIR2D receptor genes in 2 Han populations. Our data suggest that in spite of HLA-Cw heterogeneity, remarkable similarities may exist between the Southern and Northern Chinese Han populations at the combinational level of HLA-Cw and KIR2D, which are characterized by preponderant inhibitory signal pathways.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR2DL1 ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR2DL2 ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR2DL3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo clarify three-grade criteria of curative resection for primary liver cancer (PLC) and evaluate their clinical significance.

METHODSCriteria of curative resection of PLC were summed up to three grades. Grade I: complete removal of all gross tumors with no residual tumor at the excision margin. Grade II: on the basis of Grade I, there was no extrahepatic metastasis, no hilar lymph node metastasis, no tumor thrombus in the main trunks and their primary tributaries of the portal vein, common hepatic duct, hepatic vein and vena cava inferior, and the tumor was not more than two in number. Grade III: in addition to the above criteria, AFP dropped to normal level (in patients with elevated AFP before surgery) within 2 months after operation, and no residual tumor upon diagnostic imaging. A total of 354 cases with PLC who had their liver resected was reviewed. Patients in each grade were divided into two portions depending on whether the treatment was curative or palliative.

RESULTSThe survival of patients receiving curative treatment was better than those receiving palliative treatment (P < 0.01). This was true for patients whose treatment belonged to anyone of the three-grade criteria. The survival was improved along with the promotion of curative criteria used. The 5-year survival rate of Grade I, II and III patients undergone curative resection was 43.2%, 51.2% and 64.4%, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION1. The three-grade criteria may be used for judging the radicality of tumor resection for PLC. 2. The more stringent the criteria used, the better the survival would be. 3. Adopting high-grade criteria to select cases, to guide operation and postoperative follow-up would improve the results of liver resection for PLC.

Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate