ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the serum of traditional Chinese medicine Nao Yi An on glutamate induced cell death in cultured hippocampal neurons of rat and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsHippocampal neurons were cultured. The excitatory amino acid induced toxicity on cultured neurons was investigated. The viability of injured neurons was determined with the measurement of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by immunoprecipitation /kinase assays /western blot detection.ResultsThe serum of Nao Yi-An raised cell viability. The serum of Nao Yi-An upregulated the expression of extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK) and downregulated the expression of c-Jun N terminal kinase/stress activited protein kinase(JNK) in cultured neurons. The serum of Nao Yi-An induced upregulation of ERK and its anti death action were prevented with the specific ERKs inhibitor PD98059. Conclusions Activation of ERK signaling together with inhibition of JNK signaling by Chinese medicine Nao Yi-An appears to be an important mechanism for its survival effects on cultured hippocampal neurons.

The present study analyzed the predictive value of combined analysis of collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) methylation levels and the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA-S) Postsurgical score of patients who required adjuvant hormone therapy (AHT) after radical prostatectomy (RP). We retrospectively analyzed 305 patients with prostate cancer (PCa) who received RP and subsequent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Two hundred and thirty patients with clinically high-risk PCa underwent immediate ADT, and 75 patients with intermediate risk PCa underwent deferred ADT. CRMP4 methylation levels in biopsies were determined, and CAPRA-S scores were calculated. In the deferred ADT group, the values of the hazard ratios for tumor progression and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in patients with ≥15% CRMP4 methylation were 6.81 (95% CI: 2.34-19.80) and 12.83 (95% CI: 2.16-26.10), respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that CRMP4 methylation levels ≥15% served as a significant prognostic marker of tumor progression and CSM. In the immediate ADT group, CAPRA-S scores ≥6 and CRMP4 methylation levels ≥15% were independent predictors of these outcomes (uni-and multi-variable Cox regression analyses). The differences in the 5-year progression-free survival between each combination were statistically significant. Combining CAPRA-S score and CRMP4 methylation levels improved the area under the curve compared with the CRMP4 or CAPRA-S model. Therefore, CRMP4 methylation levels ≥15% were significantly associated with a poor prognosis and their combination with CAPRA-S score accurately predicted tumor progression and metastasis for patients requiring AHT after RP.

OBJECTIVE Bergapten (BG), is a furanocoumarin derived from herbal and citrus extracts can act as antioxidant and selective anticancer agents.The current study aimed to investigate whether bergapten would attenuate immunosenescence and to exploreits immunomodulatory effects on immune responses in D-galactose-induced aging BALB/c mice.METHODS Firstly,mice were given D-galactose(180 mg·kg-1)subcutaneous injections for 30 d.To evaluate the establishment of the aging-related effect in mice, serum samples of BALB/c mice were collected from tail vein. Aging BALB/c mice were freely divided into three groups: negative control group received 1% Tween 80 solution only, named D-gal group. Positive groups were received BG administration at the dose of 20 and 100 mg·kg-1, named D-gal+BG(20)group and D-gal+BG(100)group,respectively.Effects of bergapten on T lympho-cyte proliferation and flow cytometry were assessed by using the splenic cell suspension. Enzyme linked immunospot kits were used to quantitatively determine interferon-γ(IFN-γ)and interleukin-4(IL-4) levels of the isolated serum. Immunophenotype was determined by using mixture of antibodies includ-ing anti-CD3,anti-CD4,and anti-CD8.RESULTS Bergapten(20 mg·kg-1)therapy can modulate immu-nity against viral epidemics and attenuate aging-induced immune deficiency(P<0.01),which was correlat-ed with the decline in the activation of the Th and Tc responses in D-galactose induced aging BALB/c mice.According to the in vivo results,bergapten exposure up-regulated the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4 in T-helper 1(Th1)and T helper 2(Th2)cells(P<0.05,P<0.01).Additionally,BG(20 mg·kg-1)restored antigen-specific CD4+and CD8+T cells in aging models (P<0.05, P<0.01), which may help to curing chronic infections. CONCLUSION The beneficial effect of bergapten in D-galactose induced aging BALB/c mice may be due to the Th and Tc responses activation.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the model of universal NICU newborns' hearing screening in high-risk neonates, preliminary understanding factor of hearing damage. METHOD: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and automatic auditory brainstem response (AABR) were used to detect newborns' hearing in 13 315 objects, that is newborns' hearing screening in NICU with TEOAE test who not pass, 42 days after will use AABR rescreening. Children's Hearing Center of Guangxi Child Health Hospital will diagnose the newborns that did not pass in 3 months. RESULT: In these 13 315 newborns, 5 151 subjects who did not pass the initial screening, 1910 subjects who also did not pass after 42 days, 1167 subjects cannot pass the rescreening after 3 months, 642 subjects were diagnosed congenital hearing impairment by Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential Test, the rate is 4.82%. CONCLUSION TEOAE and AABR are the suitable model of universal newborns' hearing screening in high-risk neonates.
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Male ; Neonatal Screening

Objective To explore the perinatal outcomes of women with pulmonary hypertension complicating congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods Clinical data of 45 cases of pregnant women with pulmonary hypertension complicating CHD from Apr 1995 to May 2007 were analyzed and they were divided into three groups:29 cases of slight group[pulmonary hypertension of 30 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) to 49 mm Hg],8 cases of moderate group(pulmonary hypertension of 50 mm Hg to 79 mm Hg)and 8 cases of severe group(pulmonary hypertension equal to or higher than 80 mm Hg).The types of CHD,cardiac functional status(New York heart association,NYHA),gestational weeks of pregnancy termination,mode of delivery,pregnancy after CHD operation and outcomes of infants were compared between the groups. Results(1)The highest incidence of CHD were atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect(58%, 26/45).The rate of pregnant women after CHD operation was 29%(13/45),they were mainly in slight group and their NYHA class were in Ⅰ-Ⅱ.(2)The occurrence rate of NYHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ was 7/8 in severe group.The rate of NYHA class Ⅰ-Ⅱ as 6/8 in moderate group.The rate of NYHA class Ⅰ- was 97%(28 /29)in slight group.(3)The rate of term delivery was 93%(27/29),preterm labor 3% (1/29),abortion 3%(1/29),and the birth weight was(3153?399)g on average in slight group.The rate of term delivery was 5/8,preterm labor occurred in 3 cases in moderate group.The rate of term delivery was 5/8,preterm labor occurred in 2 cases,and iatrogenic abortion in 1 case in severe group.The average birth weight between slight group and moderate or severe group had a significant difference.(4)Caesarean section rate was 78 %(35/45)among all patients.The rate of cesarean section delivery was 76%(22/29)in slight group,6/8 in moderate group,and 7/8 in severe group.(5)The rate of pregnant women who had portent heart failure or heart failure was 24%(11/45),overall maternal mortality was 4%(2/45).Conclusions The higher the pulmonary hypertension,the worse the outcome of the mother and fetus;The pregnant women with good heart function after cardiac operation would have a good perinatal outcome.Cesarean section is more suitable for those women.

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the pathogenic bacterial's distribution and the drug resistance in the upper urinary tract stones, and to provide the information for choosing suitable antibiotics.

METHODSStone samples were taken for culture and for drug sensitivity test in 146 patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy between April 2007 and October 2008, and the results were analyzed.

RESULTSPathogens presented in 72 (49.3%) patients. There were 70 (86.4%) Gram-negative bacteria strains. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter cloacae were the predominant bacteria, accounted for 30.9%(25 strains), 23.5% (19 strains) and 12.3% (10 strains), respectively. There were 10 (12.3%) Gram-positive bacteria strains, the predominant bacteria was Staphylococcus epidermidis (6 strains), accounting for 7.4%. And there was 1 fungi strain (1.2%). Resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam (88.7%), ceftriaxone (81.3%) and ciprofloxacin (67.5%) was most commonly found in pathogen, and the rate of resistance to amikacin, imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam were 8.6%, 10.0%, 10.0%, respectively. Erythromycylamine, teicoplanin, SMZ-TMP, nitrofurantoin were sensitive to Gram-positive bacteria.

CONCLUSIONSBacterial's distribution of upper urinary tract stones are multiple, and the majority pathogen is Gram-negative bacteria. A big variant resistance is found among different bacterium. The suitable antibiotics should be chosen according to the different bacterium in the patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; microbiology ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureteral Calculi ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the overall diet quality and diet model of labor workers in Shenzhen using Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI).

METHODSIn May 2009, 14 canteens from Baoan, Longgang and Nanshan districts were selected by stratified random sampling and 60 workers were randomly selected from each canteen by using random number method. Diet measurements were carried out among the 840 labor workers. Diet quality was evaluated by using DBI scoring and evaluating system.

RESULTSThe median values of labor workers' food intakes of cereal and meat & poultry were 483.8 and 121.7 g/d, which were more than the recommended amounts of their intakes of Chinese residents (cereal: 250 - 400 g/d, meat & poultry: 50 -70 g/d). The median values of the labor workers' intakes of fruit, dairy and eggs were 37.3, 20.6 and 23.5 g/d,which were less than recommended amounts in fruits (200 - 400 g/d), dairy (300 g/d) and eggs (25 - 50 g/d). The DBI-HBS scores of males and females in Shenzhen migrant workers were 24.4 +/- 6.1 and 22.6 +/- 6.3, respectively with a statistically significant difference (t = 4.21, P < 0.01). DBI-HBS scores of < 20 age group, 20 - 29 age group, 30 - 39 age group and > or = 40 age group in labor workers were 12.7 +/- 5.9, 11.3 +/- 6.3, 12.8 +/- 6.4 and 11.2 +/- 5.6 respectively (F = 3.67, P = 0.01). There were 7 dietary patterns among labor workers in this survey. Nearly 8.2% (68/830) of them belonged to Pattern A. Pattern B and E were the main dietary patterns, which accounted for 37.3% (310/830) and 31.0% (257/830) of the total population.

CONCLUSIONDBI can describe and evaluate the overall dietary quality and the major problem of the dietary patterns in labor workers. It is necessary to strength nutritional education to increase the intake of fruits, milk and eggs to improve nutritional status in labor workers in Shenzhen.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dairy Products ; Diet ; statistics & numerical data ; Diet Surveys ; Eggs ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of using iron oxide nanoparticles as gene vector and the effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection.

METHODSIron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by alkaline precipitation of divalent and trivalent iron chloride. The surface of iron oxide nanoparticles was modified by self-assembled poly-L-lysine to form particle complexes (IONP-PLL). Transfection was determined by delivering reporter gene, PGL2-control encoding luciferase, to different cell lines using IONP-PLL as vector. The effect of magnetic field on efficiency of transfection was determined using Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet.

RESULTSForeign gene could be delivered to various cell lines by IONP-PLL and expressed with high efficiency, but the transfection efficiency and time course varied in the different cell lines studied. Magnetic field could enhance the efficiency of transfection by 5 - 10 fold.

CONCLUSIONIONP-PLL can be used as a novel non-viral gene vector in vitro, which offers a basis for gene delivery in vivo.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Ferric Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Genetic Vectors ; Magnetics ; Polylysine ; administration & dosage ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the changes of movement function and viability in human spermatozoa induced by reactive oxygen species(ROS), and to prove whether ROS were one of the causes of the movement dysfunction of spermatozoa.

METHODSSpermatozoa with normal physiological functions selected from semen samples by Percoll gradient centrifugation technique were regarded as normal sperm models. ROS were generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system and then incubated with normal sperm models under aerobic environment. After model spermatozoa were incubated with ROS, movement parameters of spermatozoa were analyzed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, after model spermatozoa were incubated with ROS for 30 minutes, motility, curvilinear velocity(VCL), straight line velocity (VSL) and average path velocity (VAP) of the spermatozoa were significantly decreased (P < 0.001), but amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) was insignificant (P > 0.05). When incubated with ROS for 60 minutes, spermatozoa almost lost movement function and all movement parameters of spermatozoa inclined to zero.

CONCLUSIONSWhen normal spermatozoa were incubated with ROS, movement functions of sperm were decreased. It was demonstrated that ROS were one of the causes of the movement dysfunction of spermatozoa.

Adult ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; toxicity ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

Objective To understand the forming cause of the Oncomelania hupensis snail-existent non-endemic areas of schistosomiasis(SENEAS),and to verify the conclusion of previous studies,so as to provide the evidence for schistosomiasis monitoring in such areas in Nantong City,Jiangsu Province. Methods The controlled field tests were carried out to observe the O. hupensis snails artificially infected by schistosome miracidia in SENEAS. The influence of the soil from SENEAS and the en-demic areas on O. hupensis snails artificially infected by miracidia were observed. Results All the experimental snails could be infected by schistosome miracidia except the smooth-shell snails from Tangyuan Village in the controlled field test environment of SENEAS or the endemic areas. The infection rates of the smooth-shell snails were lower than those of the ribbed-shell snails , but there were no statistically significant differences. The mortality rates of the smooth-shell snails were higher than those of the ribbed-shell snails,which were statistically significant (χ2Xindian = 135.118,χ2Shuangdian = 122.836,χ2Baipu =154.436,χ2Dingyan =138.288,χ2Control=151.923,all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the infection rates of snails between each test group of the soil from SENEAS and the endemic areas(χ2Rugao=0.071,χ2Rudong=0.216,both P>0.05). Also there was no signifi-cant difference between each test group and the control group without soil(χ2=7.148,P>0.05). Conclusion It is likely to form the spread of schistosomiasis in SENEAS in Nantong City with sufficient amount of infection source of schistosomiasis im-ported. It is still necessary to implement the surveillance of schistosomiasis and O. hupensis snails in Nantong City.