Objective To investigate the effect of change in neurotrophins level in the bronchial asthma rats' lung on airway hyperresponsiveness and airway neural plasticity. Methods A total of forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 rats in each group: control group,asthmatic group, NGF+BDNF prevention group and anti-NGF+anti-BDNF prevention group. The asthmatic model was established by inhalation and injection of ovalbumin. The airway responsiveness was measured after 8 weeks.The bronchial inflammation was assessed by HE staining,and nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor expressions of left lung were assayed by the immunohistochemistry staining.Then the expressions of synaptophysin and neurofilament were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the lung tissue of the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group had more infiltrating inflammatory cells; The expressions of NGF and BDNF were higher in the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the control group and anti-NGF+anti-BDNF prevention group (P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the asthma group (P＜0.05).Both the airway responsiveness and the levels of SYN mRNA and NF mRNA in the lung tissues were significantly higher in the asthma group and NGF+BDNF prevention group than those in the control group (P＜0.05).In asthma group,the expressions of NGF and BDNF were positively related to the expressions of SYN (r=0.889,P＜0.05; r=0.985,P＜0.05)and NF(r=0.956,P＜0.05; r=0.927,P＜0.05),and also positively related to the airway hyperresponsiveness (r=0.938,P＜0.05; r=0.906,P＜0.05). Conclusion NGF and BDNF might be involved in rat airway bronchial neural plasticity changes,which resulted in the airway hyperresponsiveness.

Forest plays very important roles in global system with about 35% land area producing about 70% of total land net production. It is important to consider both elevated CO(2) concentrations and different soil moisture when the possible effects of elevated CO(2) concentration on trees are assessed. In this study, we grew Cinnamomum camphora seedlings under two CO(2) concentrations (350 micromol/mol and 500 micromol/mol) and three soil moisture levels [80%, 60% and 40% FWC (field water capacity)] to focus on the effects of exposure of trees to elevated CO(2) on underground and aboveground plant growth, and its dependence on soil moisture. The results indicated that high CO(2) concentration has no significant effects on shoot height but significantly impacts shoot weight and ratio of shoot weight to height under three soil moisture levels. The response of root growth to CO(2) enrichment is just reversed, there are obvious effects on root length growth, but no effects on root weight growth and ratio of root weight to length. The CO(2) enrichment decreased 20.42%, 32.78%, 20.59% of weight ratio of root to shoot under 40%, 60% and 80% FWC soil water conditions, respectively. And elevated CO(2) concentration significantly increased the water content in aboveground and underground parts. Then we concluded that high CO(2) concentration favours more tree aboveground biomass growth than underground biomass growth under favorable soil water conditions. And CO(2) enrichment enhanced lateral growth of shoot and vertical growth of root. The responses of plants to elevated CO(2) depend on soil water availability, and plants may benefit more from CO(2) enrichment with sufficient water supply.
Biomass ; Carbon Dioxide ; metabolism ; Cinnamomum camphora ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Shoots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; Trees ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Water ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical results of treating femoral head necrosis staged Ficat III or IV with total hip arthroplasty (THA) between mini invasive direct anterior approach (DAA) and posterolateral approach.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to December 2009, 48 patients with femoral head necrosis staged Ficat III or IV treated with THA were compared and analyzed. There were 21 patients in mini invasive direct anterior approach group including 11 males and 10 females with an average age of (65.2±4.3) years old;while there were 27 patients in posterolateral approach group including 16 males and 11 females with an average age of (63.6±4.0) years old. Operative time, blood loss during operation, bed rest time and complications of two groups were observed and compared. Acetabular abduction and stem shaft angle were measured 1 month after operation and compared between two groups. Postoperative Harris Hip scoring and VAS scoring were applied for evaluating hip function and pain at 1, 6 months and 5 years after operation respectively.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 48 to 73 months with an average of 60.4 months. Operative time, blood loss in DAA group was (78.30±5.08) min, (351.30±21.46) ml, respectively, in posterolateral approach group was (75.61±10.60) min, (362.20±26.15) ml, and no significant differences between two groups. Bed rest time in DAA group was (2.05±1.10) days, better than that of in posterolateral approach which was (3.30±1.35) days. No significant differences were found between two groups in acetabular abduction and stem shaft angle at 1 month after operation. There was no significant differences between two groups in HHS and VAS score at 1, 6 months and 5 years after operation. There was 1 case with injury of ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, 1 case with great trochanter fracture and 1 case with superficial infection in DAA group, 1 case with dislocation in posterolateral group. No prosthesis loosening occurred in two groups.

CONCLUSIONSBoth DAA and posterolateral approach are effective in treating femoral head necrosis staged Ficat III or IV, and could obtain excellent outcomes. However, DAA seemed to has disadvantage in learing curve compared posteriolateral approach in complex cases.

OBJECTIVETo determine the therapeutic efficacy and elucidate the probable pharmacological mechanism of Zhizhuwan (ZZ), a known formula for GI/Dysmotility and constipation in Traditional Chinese medicine, in managing constipating diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSubjects, composed of both males and females, ranged from 55 to 76 years of age, and had constipating DM. Subjects with severe colon, rectum, heart, renal, or hepatic disease, obesity and those on medications known to alter gastrointestinal motility were excluded. 28 healthy subjects were also recruited. The study group (n = 28) received 90 g per day of ZZ and the control group (n = 28) received 30 mg per day of cisapride for a 1 month period. Conservative therapy was similar in both groups and administered by a person blinded to randomization code. Patients were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment by a blinded interviewer. A constipation visual analogue scale (CVAS) was constructed to evaluate the patients' constipation status. To analyze neuropeptides motilin (MTL), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP) levels in plasma, a radioimmunoassay technique was adopted. Data were analyzed for treatment effects using the "t" test.

RESULTBase line characteristics were similar in both treatment groups. There were significant effects on symptom relief, increases in serum SP level, and decreases in VIP level in both groups (P < 0.05). ZZ was significantly more effective than cisapride in ameliorating patients' subjective symptoms of defecating and stool frequency, and increasing serum SP level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONZZ is beneficial in constipating DM via increasing SP levels and decreasing VIP levels of serum.

Aged ; Constipation ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hormones ; blood ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Substance P ; blood

To study the chemical constituents of K. oblongifolia, silica gel column chromatography, MCI and Sephadex LH-20 were used to separate the 70% acetone extract of the stems of K. oblongifolia. The structures of the isolated compounds have been established on the basis of physicochemical and NMR spectroscopic evidence as well as ESI-MS in some cases. Twenty compounds were obtained and identified as heteroclitalignan A (1), kadsulignan F (2), kadoblongifolin C (3), schizanrin F (4), heteroclitalignan C (5), kadsurarin (6), kadsulignan O (7), eburicol (8), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (9), kadsufolin A (10), tiegusanin M (11), heteroclitin B (12), (7'S)-parabenzlactone (13), angeloylbinankadsurin B (14), propinquain H (15), quercetin (16), kadsulignan P (17), schizanrin G (18), micrandilactone C (19) and (-)-shikimic acid (20). Compouds 1, 5, 8, 11-15, 18 and 20 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Toxicity of compounds 1-10 were evaluated with zebrafish model to observe the effect on its embryonic development and heart function. The results showed that compounds 7, 9 and 10 caused edema of zebrafish embryo and decreased the heart rate of zebrafish, which exhibited interference effect on heart development of zebrafish.
Animals ; Embryo, Nonmammalian ; drug effects ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Kadsura ; chemistry ; Lignans ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Quercetin ; toxicity ; Triterpenes ; toxicity ; Zebrafish ; embryology

OBJECTIVETo determine the association of CD133 expression with the sensitivity to radiotherapy among rectal cancer patients.

METHODSThe clinical data of 32 rectal cancer patients was retrospectively collected for patients who received a short-term preoperative radiotherapy(5 Gy/d,×5 d) from 2008 to 2010. Pretreatment tumor biopsies were immunostained for CD133 expression. Rectal cancer regression grade (RCRG) was used to evaluate the sensitivity of the rectal cancer to preoperative radiotherapy. The correlation of CD133 expression and sensitivity to radiotherapy was analyzed.

RESULTSCD133 differentially expressed in rectal cancer tissue with 17 high expression and 15 low expression. The expression of CD133 was associated with the differentiation of rectal cancer with higher expression of CD133 among poorly differentiated rectal cancers(P<0.05). Among the CD133-high patients, two patients showed 1st RCRG, five patients showed 2nd RCRG and ten patients showed 3rd RCRG. For the CD133-low patients, there were five 1st RCRG, seven 2nd RCRG and three 3rd RCRG. There was a significant association between CD133 expression and sensitivity to radiotherapy (P=0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the expression level of CD133(P=0.027) and the differentiation of rectal cancer(P=0.046) were independent predictive factors for the sensitivity of rectal cancer to radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSCorrelation between CD133 expression and sensitivity to radiotherapy of rectal cancer may exist, which may be helpful in predicting the sensitivity of rectal cancer to preoperative radiotherapy.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Biopsy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND:Acromion morphology is the most important external factor of degenerative rotator cuff tear,and studies on acromion morphology and acromion coverage have been continuing. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the coverage of acromion on rotator cuff tissue in three-dimensional space,measure coronal and sagittal parameters,and explore the relationship of acromial overhang,acromioglenoid angle and acromial coverage angle with degenerative full-thickness rotator cuff tears. METHODS:A total of 56 patients diagnosed with full-thickness rotator cuff tears by shoulder arthroscopic surgery or MRI in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected as the tear group,while 48 patients with non-rotator cuff tear were included as the control group.Clinical data and chest CT data of the patients of the two groups were collected,and the shoulder blades of the patients were reconstructed using Mimics software.Acromial overhang,acromioglenoid angle and acromial coverage angle were measured in 3-matic software.The differences between the measurement parameters were compared between the two groups.Binary Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to evaluate the ability of the measurement parameters to predict rotator cuff tear.It is generally believed that the parameter had good diagnostic value when the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was greater than 0.8. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The mean acromial overhang in patients with rotator cuff tears was greater than that in controls(P<0.001).The mean acromial coverage angle was also greater in patients with rotator cuff tears than in controls(P<0.001).There was no significant difference in the acromioglenoid angle between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that acromial overhang and acromial coverage angle were both risk factors for rotator cuff tear(P<0.05).(3)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the areas under the curve of acromial overhang and acromial coverage angle were 0.725 and 0.865,respectively,and the optimal cutoff values were 36.15 mm and 60.65°.(4)The results showed that the acromial overhang and acromial coverage angle were greater in patients with rotator cuff tears than in patients without rotator cuff tears.Both were associated with degenerative full-thickness rotator cuff tears,and they could be used to predict rotator cuff tears,and the acromial coverage angle was more effective in predicting rotator cuff tears.

OBJECTIVETo detect the RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV) by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeted for a two loci and a modified nested real-time RT-PCR as to improving the reliability and sensitivity of tests.

METHODSA nested RT-PCR was used for detecting one fragment of SARS-CoV RNA in oropharyngeal swabs from 3 SARS probable patients, 4 SARS suspect patients and other 27 patients with fever in Hangzhou, and the nested RT-PCR product from one SARS probable patient was sequenced. Meanwhile in these 3 SARS probable patients, other three RT-PCR methods, including a hemi-nested RT-PCR targeted for another fragment of SARS-CoV RNA, a real-time RT-PCR and a modified nested real-time RT-PCR, were employed to detect SARS-CoV RNA.

RESULTSTwo positives were found in the 3 SARS probable patients, and none positive in 4 SARS suspect patients and other 27 patients with fever, using the nested RT-PCR. The sequence of the nested RT-PCR product from one SARS probable patient was identified with the counterpart of SARS-CoV genomes published in public database. The results of the hemi-nested RT-PCR, the real-time RT-PCR and the modified nested real-time RT-PCR in the 3 SARS patients were consistent with the one of the nested RT-PCR. During detecting specimen with low copies of RNA, a weak positive signal was produced after about 35 cycles in the real-time RT-PCR, but a strong positive signal was found only after 10 cycles in the modified nested real-time RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONIt might improve the reliability of test by employing RT-PCR targeted for two or more fragments in SARS-CoV genome. The modified nested real-time RT-PCR might have higher sensitivity than the routine real-time RT-PCR.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; virology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficiency of metallic stent implantation in combination with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.

METHODS22 cases of HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus were devided into 2 groups: 10 patients (group A) recieved stent implantation in combination with conformal radiation therapy, 12 patients (group B) recieved stent implantation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The adverse reactions, and liver function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months and the survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months were followed up. Comparison of liver function was analyzed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Comparison of stent patency rate curves and survival curves was analyzed by Log rank test.

RESULTSThe portal vein catheterization was successful in all the patients. The stents were successfully implanted by transhepatic portal vein approach, and portal vein stenosis was re-opened. There was no abdominal hemorrhage in all the patients, but there were symptoms of abdominalgia, fever, nausea, vomiting and flatulence of varying degrees after interventional operation, and these symptoms were relieved by symptomatic treatment in one week. All patients in group A completed the treatment. I-II degree gastrointestinal tract reactions occurred in 3 cases, I-II degree myelosuppression occurred in 2 cases, and they were all completely relieved after treatment. The stent patency rate at 4, 6 and 12 months was 90%, 70%, 30% in group A; and 50%, 25% , 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05). The survival rate at 3, 6 and 12 months was 100%, 80% , 30% in group A and 91.7%, 41.7%, 16.7% in group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONStent implantation combined with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy is a good treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus and causes less damage to liver.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Metals ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Radiography ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; therapy

Chronic airway inflammation,a main pathologic process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),can trigger inflammation cells and airway structure cells to produce bioactive molecules,which play key roles in the pathogenesis of COPD and are also an efficient indicators for the diagnosis and treatment of COPD. This article reviews the important roles of these exhaled air molecules in the diagnosis and treatment of COPD,with an attempt to offer new strategies in the management of COPD.