Animals ; Female ; Injections, Intraventricular ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Toluene ; administration & dosage ; toxicity

In comparison with the clinical PET scanner,PET scanner for small animals puts forward a higher demand in spacial resolution and sensitivity. This article describes the development of the PET scanner for small animals and compares the characteristics of several kinds of contemporary typical PET scanners for small animals in different aspects based on the development of detectors. Meanwhile,it also introduces the development of the detectors designed for measuring depth of interaction (DTC) to reduce parallax error.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbal therapy on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODSTotally 36 inpatients and outpatients at Department of Nephropathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, from June 2011 to June 2013 were recruited in the treatment group, while 20 volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the IgAN group only took Chinese herbal decoctions by syndrome typing for 3 months (except those accompanied with hypertension additionally took antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and/or dihydropyridines calcium antagonist). No intervention was performed in the healthy control group. The values of Th1, Th2, and CD4+ CD25+ Treg, and red blood cell number in urine were detected using flow cytometry before and after treatment. 24 h urine protein was detected using inmmunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the CD4+ CD25+ Treg level obviously decreased in the IgAN group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). In the IgAN group, Th1, 24 h urine protein, and urine red blood cell counts were obviously lower after treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal therapy could reduce urine erythrocyte number and 24 h urine protein of IgAN patients, and down-regulating Th1 expression might be its mechanism.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Objective To determine whether acute withdrawal of simvastatin treatment in healthy normocholesterolemic men impairs the brachial artery endothelial function.Methods The study was performed on 16 healthy,young male subjects with desirable serum levels of cholesterol.They were administered with simvastatin(20 mg/d)for 4 weeks.Endothelial dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD)was assessed on the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound,and fasting serum lipid profiles as well as vasoactive substances[NO,endothelin(ET)and 6-keto-PGF1α] were measured.The parameters mentioned above were obtained at indicated time points before and after simvastatin treatment. Resuts Simvastatin treatment for 4 weeks significantly improved FMD and reduced low density LDL-C and total TC levels.Withdrawal of simvastatin.however,resulted in dramatic impairment of endothelium- dependent relaxation on the first day after with drawal [(4.6±0.48)%and(10.9±0.89)%,P＜0.01 ], Furthermore,FMD decreased significantly as compared with baseline level[(4.6±0.48)%vs(6.4±0.47)%,P＜<0.01].Serum NO level varied according to the change of endothelial-dependent relaxation(γ=0.496,P＜0.01).After discontinuing simvastatin therapy,plasma ET increased and plasma 6-keto-PGF1α decreased progressively.In addition,serum TC and LDL-C were not significantly modified during the initial 2 days.No correlation was shown between FMD and serum LDL-C level(γ=-0.172,P=0.101). Conclusions Withdrawal of simvastatin not only abrogates the beneficial effect on endothelial function of healthy normocholesterolemic men rapidly,but also induces further endothelial deterioration as compared with pretreatment status.This adverse effect is independent of serum cholesterol.The underlying mechanism may be related to the suppression of endothelial NO production.

Objective:To compare two flexible embryo catheters and determine whether clinical out-come differs in the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET)cycles.Methods:This prospective control study was conducted by one doctor between July 2012 and November 2013.In the study,2 064 patients undergoing fresh embryo transfer by using IVF-ET/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-ET in Reproductive Medical Center of Peking University Third Hospital were recruited.The subjects were di-vided into two groups.Cook Sydney IVF embryo transfer catheters (product model:K-JETS-7019-SIVF) were used for embryo transfer in group 1 (n =949),and FrydmanCCD catheters (product model:131230301)were used in group 2 (n =1 115).Pregnancy outcomes were compared between these two groups.Results:There was no significant difference in age,diagnosis for infertility and stimulation proto-col used between the two groups.In addition,there was no difference in the number of oocytes collected and in the number and score of embryos transferred.The significantly higher implantation rate,clinical pregnancy rate,and live birth rate (34.40% vs.26.92%,51.21% vs.41.52%,42.57% vs. 33.09%,P <0.05)were observed in group 1 compared with group 2.The abortion rate was not signifi-cantly different between the two groups (11.93% vs.15.98%,P >0.05).The proportion of difficult transfer was higher in group 1 than that in group 2 (5.27% vs.3.41%,P <0.05 ).There was no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the two difficult transfer cycles.Con-clusion:The type of embryo transfer catheter affects the clinical outcome in IVF.Good clinical outcome can be obtained by using Cook Sydney IVF catheter,which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Adnexa Uteri ; pathology ; surgery ; Adnexal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Leiomyomatosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; WT1 Proteins ; metabolism

The killing effect on S180 cells was studied using the combination of protoporphyrin IX and focused ultrasound at the frequency of 2.2 MHz and different intensities. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion test, morphology changes were evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy after ultrasonic exposure. The results indicated that protoporphyrin IX(PPIX) alone showed no significant effect on S180 cells when compared with that of control group. Ultrasound alone and ultrasound combined with PPIX groups showed some anti-tumor effect, which became more noticeable as the ultrasound intensity and PPIX concentration increased, and when the concentration of PPIX increased to 120 microM, the ultrasound combined with PPIX exerted a more significant anti-tumor effect than did the ultrasound alone in the same experiment.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Photochemotherapy ; methods ; Photosensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Sarcoma 180 ; pathology ; therapy ; Sonication ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Ultrasonics

BACKGROUND:In vitro studies have demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promote the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into cardiomyocyte-like cells. However, it is unclear whether coronary venous retroperfusion of bFGF stimulates BMSCs differentiation in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of coronary venous retroperfusion of bFGF on BMSCs differentiation in vivo. METHODS:BMSCs from 12 dogs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and expanded in vitro. These cells were transfected by enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) lentiviral vector and the transfection efficiency was analyzed. Acute myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. After 1 week, 10 survival animals were randomized to BMSCs group (n=5) and bFGF+BMSCs group (n=5). bFGF-and EGFP-positive BMSCs were reversely infused via coronary vein using over-the-wire bal oon catheter. One week after infusion, the number of EGFP-positive cells co-staining factor VIII and troponin I was compared between the two groups by immunofluorescence method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:BMSCs were successful y transfected by EGFP and the transfection efficiency was 85%. Immunofluorescence showed that EGFP-positive BMSCs were observed in 23.5%of slides. There were more EGFP-positive cells co-staining VIII and troponin I in the bFGF+BMSCs group than in the BMSCs group (P<0.05). Thus, the coronary venous retroperfusion of bFGF enhances the differentiation of BMSCs into vascular endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. Combined delivery of bFGF and BMSCs can exert a synergistic effect to promote cardiac repair.

Objective: To learn the epidemiological characteristics of fall mortality among the elderly people in Taizhou，and to provide basis for intervention strategies of fall in the elderly. Methods: Data of fall mortality among residents aged 60 years or over in Taizhou from 2016 to 2018，collected from Zhejiang Chronic Disease Surveillance Information Management System，was used for analysis of time，population and geographical characteristics of fall deaths. The epidemic trend of fall mortality in the elderly was described by annual percentage change（APC）. Results: From 2016 to 2018，3 699 cases of fall death in Taizhou were reported，the crude and standardized mortality were 116.90/100 000 and 97.88/100 000. The standardized mortality of fall in women was 106.11/100 000，which was higher than 90.13/100 000 in men（P<0.05）. The standardized mortality of fall in rural residents was 131.20/100 000，which was higher than 28.15/100 000 in urban residents（P<0.05）. The mortality of fall in residents aged 65-69 years from 2016 to 2018 showed an upward trend（APC=4.20%，P<0.05），while the mortality trend of fall in other age groups was not statistically significant（P>0.05）. Conclusion Fall was the first cause of injury death in the elderly aged 60 years or over in Taizhou. Females and rural residents have relatively higher fall mortality.

A flavivirus, Culex flavivirus, was first isolated from Chinese mosquitoes with high sequences similarities to those of flaviviruses found in America and Japan. In this study, a total of 48 pools of field-collected mosquitoes were sampled from Dandong of Liaoning Province, China during July to September of 2011. Six isolated viruses showing cytopathic effect (CPE) in C6/C36 cells were tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)using Flavivirus genus--specific primers and Culex flavivirus-specific primers and the positive PCR-product was sequenced and compared with the sequences of 10 isolates from GenBank. Phylogenetic tree of NS5 and enevelop genes of flavivirus were constructed. The GenBank accession numbers of NS5 gene were JQ409188, JQ409186, JQ409187, JQ409191, JQ409189 and JQ409190. The GenBank accession numbers of envelope gene were JQ065883, JQ065882, JQ065881, JQ065879,JQ065877 and JQ065878.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; China ; Culex ; classification ; virology ; Flavivirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Insect Vectors ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Viral Proteins ; genetics