Objective To explore the interaction between serum melatonin and the status of disease and probe the effect factor of serum melatonin change in asthmatic children.Methods Serum melatonin was measured in asthmatic children with 15 cases of mild persistent asthma,15 cases of moderate persistent asthma,15 cases of severe persistent asthma,15 cases of stable asthma and 15 cases of normal subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The levels of serum melatonin in the 5 groups of mild persistent asthma,moderate presistent asthma,Severe Persistent asthma,Stable asthma,control subject were(22.76?5.16)ng/L,(16.79?3.35)ng/L,(11.54?1.45)ng/L,(22.06?3.36)ng/L,(28.72?4.32)ng/L,respectively.There were significant differences between any of them(Pa

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of development theory based acupuncture on early cerebral palsy (CP) infants with parafunctional sitting position.

METHODSTotally 120 early CP infants were randomly assigned to two groups equally, the treatment group and the control group. All received acupuncture combined with training rehabilitation. Patients in the treatment group adopted acupuncture based on infants development theory, while those in the control group were treated by head acupuncture. Sitting functional points in Gross motor function measure (GMFM) 88 were observed in different groups and infant patients of various types before and after treatment. Root mean square (RMS) signals of sitting correlated muscles (latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, rectus abdominis) were recorded by surface electromyography (sEMG). The effective rate was evaluated by Nimodipine method.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, sitting functional points were significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.01). After treatment, it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). The advance amplitude was higher in CP infants of the spastic type and the hypotonic type than other types (P<0.01). Along with sitting process, latissimus dorsi RMS signals were gradually tapered, erector spinae RMS signals were gradually enhanced, and rectus abdominis RMS signals were slightly weakened. Compared with the control group, latissimus dorsi RMS signals obviously decreased, and erector spinae RMS signals obviously increased in the treatment group after treatment (all P<0.01). The total effective rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (89.29% vs. 77.78%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfants development theory based acupuncture could effectively elevate dorsi-extensor muscles force, improve sitting position of 8 months to 1 year old CP infants with parafunctional sitting position.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Cerebral Palsy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medicine ; Posture ; Research ; Spine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Bushen Yanggan Recipe (BSYGR) on the function and morphology of nigrostriatal system in Parkinsonian model rats with long-term levodopa treatment.

METHODSUnilateral Parkinsonian rat models were established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and ventral segmental area (VTA). Animals were randomly divided into four groups, the sham control group, model control group, levodopa group and levodopa plus BSYGR group. The content of striatal dopa (DA), digydroxy-phenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanilic acid (HVA) or the THmRNA expression level in the midbrain were measured.

RESULTS(1) Levels of striatal DA, DOPAC, HVA, DOPAC/DA, HVA/DA decreased in the model control group by about 90% as compared with those in sham control group (P < 0.05). These parameters in the levodopa group were higher than those in the sham control group, while in the levodopa plus BSYGR group, they were lower than those in the levodopa group (P < 0.01), approaching the levels in the sham control group (P > 0.05). (2) Striatal TH activity in the model group was lower than that in the sham control group significantly, but higher than that in the levodopa group, while in the levodopa plus BSYGR group, it showed a level obviously higher than that in the levodopa group (P < 0.05). (3) Levodopa plus BSYGR group had a higher midbrain THmRNA expression level than that in the levodopa group.

CONCLUSIONBSYGR could effectively reduce the side effects resulting from the long-term treatment of levodopa.

Animals ; Corpus Striatum ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Levodopa ; pharmacology ; Male ; Parkinson Disease ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVESTo explore a sensitive and specific method for detection of bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and verify the credibility of the established method.

METHODSbcl-2/IgH hemi-nested PCR primers were designed using the professional primer design software. Fifty-two samples of pathologically diagnosed DLBCL and 10 fresh tonsil tissues were amplified using hemi-nested touch down-PCR to detect bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTSbcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement was detected in 6 of 52 DLBCL samples and 2 of 10 fresh tonsil tissues using one-way method. By using the hemi-nested PCR for the second round amplification, 5 of DLBCL were positive, but all of the fresh tonsil tissues were negative. The positive PCR products were sequenced and analyzed on the Internet, 3 of 8 cases obtained by one-way method were false positive, 5 positive cases amplified using hemi-nested PCR were all bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. PCR products of 3 false positive cases were homologous to BAC331191 and LLNLR-245D11 in human chromosome 19 and RP11-498P10 in chromosome 1.

CONCLUSIONThere are false positive results using common primers for detecting bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement. The mechanism may be that highly homologous sequences to human genome exist in commonly used primers. The specificity of the diagnosis could be improved by hemi-nested PCR using the combination of primers we designed and the traditional ones.

Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Genes, bcl-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) on ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning.

METHODSCultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups: (1) ischemia/reperfusion group (9 h ischemia followed by 1 h reperfusion, I/R), (2) ischemic preconditioning group (1.5 h ischemia/1 h reperfusion + I/R), (3) pharmacologic preconditioning group, adenosine (10 micromol/L) pretreated for 1 h + I/R, (4) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 (0.5 micromol/L for 0.5 h) + ischemic preconditioning group, (5) KN-93 + pharmacologic preconditioning group, (6) control group. The leakage of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in various groups was determined by biochemical autoanalyzer. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of sodium-calcium exchanger. Activity of sodium-calcium exchanger (Na(+)-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake) was measured by liquid scintillation counting.

RESULTS(1) Compared to the I/R group, the LDH leakages in both ischemic preconditioning group and pharmacologic preconditioning group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) while significantly increased in the KN-93 + pharmacologic preconditioning group and the KN-93 + ischemic preconditioning group (P < 0.05). (2) The Na(+)-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake was significantly increased in the I/R group (P < 0.05) compared to control group and this increase could be significantly attenuated in ischemic preconditioning group and adenosine pretreatment group (P < 0.05). (3) The expression of NCX mRNA in I/R group was also significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the I/R group (P < 0.05) compared to control group and this increase could be significantly attenuated in ischemic preconditioning group and adenosine pretreatment group (P < 0.05), CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 significantly abolished these effects in preconditioning group (P < 0.05) and in adenosine pretreated group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNCX mediated the cardioprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning and pharmacological preconditioning in the neonatal cardiomyocytes I/R model.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; metabolism

This study aimed to assess the measurement uncertainty of a new method for determination of allura redin food by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The uncertainty of mathematical model of allura red is based on Europe for Analytical Chemistry(EURACHEM) guidelines.The sources and components of uncertainty were calculated,including recovery,working solution,sample mass,final volume,response of standard solution,response of sample solution.The expanded uncertainty was 0.0024 (k=2).Uncertainty of working solution was the most significant factor contributing to the total uncertainty,accounting for 86.2％.The uncertainty of volume accounted for the minimum at 0.025％.The developed method is simple and accurate,which can be used for the determination of allura redin puffed samples.

We report here a case of pentastomiasis infection in a 3-year-old girl who had high fever, abdominal pain, abdominal tension and anemia. Ultrasound scanning of the abdomen revealed disseminated hyperechoic nodules in the liver and a small amount of ascites. Abdominal MRI showed marked hepatomegaly with disseminated miliary nodules of high signal intensity throughout the hepatic parenchyma on T2-weighted images; retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and disseminated miliary nodules on the peritoneum were also noted. Chest CT showed scattered small hyperdense nodules on both sides of the lungs. The laparoscopy demonstrated diffuse white nodules on the liver surface and the peritoneum. After the small intestinal wall and peritoneal biopsy, histological examination revealed parenchymal tubercles containing several larvae of pentastomids and a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration around them. The pathological diagnosis was parasitic granuloma from pentastomiasis infection.
Abdomen, Acute/*parasitology ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Parasitic Diseases/*diagnosis ; *Pentastomida ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of hospice care on the life quality and psychological state of aged mortal inpatients. METHODS: Seventy-six aged patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=38). The research group was treated with hospice care, while the control group was treated with conventional nursing. Before and after more than one month of the interference, the quality of life, social support, satisfied degree, anxiety, and depression mood were investigated. RESULTS: All the indexes, such as total scale of life quality, appetite, spirit, sleep, family comprehension and coordination, recognition of cancer, attitude to therapy, and facial expression of the mortal inpatients after the interference, were raised and higher than those of the controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Life satisfaction index and the total scale of social support and subjective support, utilization ratio of support were raised and higher than those of the controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The level of anxiety and depression was decreased and lower than the control (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Hospice care can raise the life quality, subjective support, utilization ratio of support and life satisfaction of aged mortal inpatients. It could decrease the negative mood, such as anxiety and depression and improve the psychological state.
Aged ; Anxiety ; nursing ; Hospice Care ; psychology ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Neoplasms ; nursing ; psychology ; Personal Satisfaction ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of recipe for activating blood circulation and supplementing Qi (RAS) on cardiac functional structure in rats with post-infarction heart failure (PIHF).

METHODSRat model of PIHF was established by left coronary artery ligation. Left ventricular samples of model rats from infarcted or peri-infarcted area were obtained at PIHF formation stage and stable stage (10 days and 8 weeks respectively after operation), the total RNA extracted and detected using 6 pieces of rat's 40s gene microarray (4096 genes/microarray), the data were analyzed using software as Genespring, Treeview, Clustering and SOM. Besides, RAS was used to treat the model rats beginning from 4 weeks after modeling and lasted for 4 weeks, changes of heart function and cardiac coefficient before and after treatment were observed by impedance method with Captopril as positive control.

RESULTS(1) Genespring analysis showed thousands of genes differential expression (upper or down regulated), including 13 kinds of gene involving energy metabolism, myocardial cytoskeleton, fibrosis, etc. which, in the infarcted area at heart formation stage were 1086 genes and at the stable stage, 724 genes, while in the peri-infarcted area, formation stage 196 genes and stable stage 97 genes. (2) After RAS or Captopril treatment, the heart function improved significantly, with the stroke volume, cardiac output and cardiac index increased significantly (P < 0.01). RAS could also improve the cardiac coefficient of model rats, as compared with that in untreated model, P < 0.01, compared with that in the sham-operated rats, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONPIHF is a kind of overload heart disease with multiple genes abnormality. RAS could improve the heart function and histologic indexes, so as to treat the heart failure.

Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Heart Failure ; etiology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to detect Down's syndrome through quantitative pyrosequencing of the heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the chromosome 21.

METHODSAn improved allele-specific-amplification was used to screen heterozygous SNPs on the chromosome 21 from 84 normal samples. Pyrosequencing was used to quantitatively determine the ratio between the two alleles of a heterozygote, and the diagnosis of Down's syndrome was thus carried out based on the ratio.

RESULTSBy genotyping 84 genomic DNA samples from normal Chinese population, 6 SNPs with a relatively high level of heterozygosity were screened out. Heterozygote coverage of 92.9% was achieved by using a panel of 6 SNPs on the chromosome 21. Ten clinical samples from Down's syndrome patients were quantitatively determined by pyrosequencing, and 9 samples were accurately diagnosed by comparing the ratio of the two alleles. The pyrosequencing results showed that the ratio of the two alleles were 2:1 or 1:2 for the Down's syndrome patients.

CONCLUSIONThe method has the advantage of a low cost, simple process, and time-saving operation and could be potentially applicable to the rapid diagnosis of Down's syndrome.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA ; analysis ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; economics ; methods