Animals ; Depression ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; methods ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; methods

Objective To explore the role of interleukin-15(Il-15)in pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease(KD)and its potential cli-nical value.Methods Thirty patients with KD were selected in Xinhua hospital from Oct.2004 to Jan.2006.The serum concentration of IL-15 was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in acute stage and convalescent stage of KD,and 30 children with low respiratory inflection and 20 healthy children were studied as controls.Results Serum IL-15 level in acute KD was significantly higher than that in normal control,and the two sides were remarkably different in statistics(q=25.64 P

Objective To evaluate the effects of sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia on the balance between cerebral oxygen supply and demand during cerebral revascularization for ischemic moyamoya disease by monitoring regional cerebral O2 saturation (rSO2) with near infrared spectroscopy.Methods Forty patients of both sexes aged 19-59 yr with a body mass index of 19-25 kg/m2 undergoing superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n =20 each):propofol-remifentanil group (group PR) and sevoflurane-remifentanil group (group SR).Radial artery was cannulated for direct BP monitoring and blood sampling.Near infrared spectroscopy probe was placed on the forehead.Anesthesia was induced with propofol TCI (Cp =5 μg/ml),fentanyl 3 μg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg.The patients were mechanically ventilated after tracheal intubation (VT 8-10 ml/kg,RR 10-12 bpm,I∶ E 1∶2,FiO2 =1.0).PETCO2 was maintained at 35-40 mm Hg.Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (end-tidal concentration 1.0％-1.7 ％) or propofol TCI (Cp =3-4 μg/ml) in combination with remifentanil TCI (Cp =3.5 ng/ml) and intermittent iv boluses of rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg.BIS was maintained at 40-60 during operation.rSO2 was recorded before induction of anesthesia (T0),10 min before and 10 min after blood vessel was clamped (T1,T2) and 10 min after anastomosis was completed (T3).Results rSO2 was significantly increased on the operated side at T3 in PR group while in SR group bilateral rSO2 was significantly increased at T1-3 as compared with the baseline values at T0 (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).rSO2 on the operated side was significantly higher at T1 in group SR than in PR group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia is similar to that of propofol-remifentanil anesthesia for revascularization for moyamoya disease in terms of maintence of the balance between cerebral oxygen supply and demand.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of double source multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in visualization of cardiac veins in patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODSThirty-five patients with chronic heart failure (aged 65.4 ± 8.8, 21 males and 14 females) were enrolled in the study. In Group A, MDCT and retrograde coronary venography (RCV) were performed consecutively; in Group B anterograde visualization of the coronary venous and RCV were performed.

RESULTSCoronary sinus, GCV and MCV of all individuals were identified in MDCT. LVPV was observed in 65% patients of Group A, and 66.7% patients of Group B. The correlation coefficient between MDCT and RCV was 0.944, and that between CVG and RCV was 0.42.

CONCLUSIONNon-invasive evaluation of cardiac veins with double source CT is feasible and may be used in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigation the shielding property to (125)I of several different prosthetic materials used in clinical when prostheses are used as carriers of (125)I seed in tumor treatment.

METHODS(125)I seeds were taken as the radiation sources to establish a model in vitro and the radiation doses were measured by thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD). The shielding property of titanium plate, cochrome plate, and poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) plate were detected, calculated and compared with that of plumbum plate in the control group.

RESULTSThe radiation doses of the radiation source at 10 mm distance through the following materials were measured, and the results are 2.805 mGy (0.09 mm thick titanium plate), 1.082 mGy (0.48 thick titanium plate), 0.390 mGy (0.41 mm thick cochrome plate), and 0.261 mGy (0.67 mm's cochrome plate), and 2.885 mGy (1.685 mm thick PMMA plate).

CONCLUSIONSThe shield property of cochrome is optimal. The poly methyl methacrylate behaves to some extend as a shield to the (125)I seed which can shield the radiation as the effects of plumbum when adopted together with the 0.557 mm's (or more) titanium plate.

Brachytherapy ; Chromium ; chemistry ; Cobalt ; chemistry ; Dental Materials ; Dental Prosthesis ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; chemistry ; Protective Devices ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiation Protection ; instrumentation ; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry ; Titanium ; chemistry

To investigate the upregulated genes associated with cold acclimation, a cold acclimation model was established based on Balb/C mouse. mRNA of muscle and liver were isolated, and the upregulated genes of these tissues were studied by representational differential analysis (RDA). The upregulated genes then were sequenced and searched by Blast software in GenBank database. The results showed that some genes were upregulated and possibly associated with cold acclimation. Three of these genes, transferrin, fibrinogen B-beta-chains and a new gene fragment (Genbank ID: AF454762), were confirmed to be upregulated by RNA slot-blot analysis. The finding of these genes might contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cold acclimation.
Acclimatization ; genetics ; Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Gene Expression ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation

To investigate the mechanism of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of K562 leukemia cells by lithium chloride (LiCl), after K562 cells were treated with LiCl (30 mmol/L) cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry (FCM) and the expression of bcr/abl fusion gene mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. The intracellular Li(+) concentrations of K562 cells were determined at different time after treated with 30 mmol/L LiCl and the effects of TTX and FSK on intracellular Li(+) concentrations of K562 cells were also detected by atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of TTX and FSK on LiCl-induced growth inhibition of K562 cells were determined by cell counting in liquid culture. The results showed that LiCl (30 mmol/L) caused a sustained arrest in G(2)/M cell cycle and down-regulated the bcr/abl mRNA expression in K562 cells, the intracellular Li(+) concentration of K562 cells increased at 30 minutes after treated with 30 mmol/L LiCl and reached apex at 2 hours, thereafter, gradually decreased and balanced at 4 hours after the treatment. If either Na(+) channel was pre-blocked with TTX or K(+) channel was pre-blocked with FSK, the intracellular Li(+) concentrations of K562 cells treated with 30 mmol/L LiCl were higher than that in the cells just treated with LiCl without pre-blocking. Furthermore, after pre-blocking either Na(+) channel with TTX or K(+) channel with FSK, the inhibition rate of K562 cell growth by 30 mmol/L LiCl could be increased. It is concluded that the mechanism of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of K562 leukemia cells induced by LiCl is probably related with the G(2)/M cell cycle arrest, the bcr/abl mRNA expression down-regulation and the status of Na(+), K(+), or Li(+) ion channels on K562 leukemia cells.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colforsin ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lithium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the expression changes of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ(PPARγ) following the secondary injuries in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Seventy-two male SD rats were equally randomized into control group and SCI group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression changes of PPARγ on the 1st, 3nd, 7th 14th, 28th and 56th d of SCI. Western blotting wasemployed to detect the protein expression changes of PPARγ Results Compared with those in the control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ in the SCI group on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th d of SCI were significantly increased (P＜0.05), reaching its peak level 14 d after SCI; on the 56th d of SCI, their expression levels in the SCI group were still higher than those in the control group, but no significant differences were noted (P＞0.05). Conclusion The expressions of PPARγare significantly increased following secondary injuries in rats with spinal cord injury, reaching its peak level 14 d after SCI.

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a case-finding program on tuberculosis (TB) in richer rural areas.

METHODSScreening was implemented every three months for a total period of 9 months, in rural areas with high case notification rates. Three villages, each with ten thousand population, were selected to carry out a household screening program. A suspect was defined as who coughed for more than 3 weeks. The suspect was then referred to further diagnosis in county TB dispensary to undergo chest X-ray and sputum test.

RESULTSOf the 86,168 community population screened, 26 TB patients were identified with 7 of them were smear positive. The ratio of effectiveness vs. cost decreased on the second but slightly increased on the third screening program. The direct costs for the 3 screening programs were 6,312,397 and 1637 RMB respectively. Of total direct cost, 5.9% was paid by TB patients, whereas 35.9% was through financing of the county itself.

CONCLUSIONThe community household screening program could achieve higher case detection rate than passive case-finding approach which could be used in richer areas with low case detection rate in China.

China ; Chronic Disease ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Cough ; etiology ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rural Health ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis ; complications ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of long-term exposure to carbon disulfide (SC(2)) on cardiovascular system of workers.

METHODSThe concentrations of CS(2) were detected in the representative workshops with different exposure levels. The indicators related to cardiovascular system were tested in 633 workers occupationally exposed to CS(2), which included blood pressure, electrocardiogram, blood routine (blood RT), cholesterol (TCHO), triglyceride (TG) and so on. The data were analyzed by chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe exposure concentration of CS(2) for 389 workers was less than or equal to 5 mg/m(3), which for other 244 workers was higher than 5 mg/m(3). The maximum exposure concentration of CS(2) was 15.73 mg/m(3). There were no significant effects of CS(2) on the electrocardiogram, red blood cells, white blood cells, blood platelet, TCHO and TG of workers. However, the positive effects of CS(2) on blood pressure and negative effects of CS(2) on hemoglobin were found. The rates of high TCHO, TG and hypertension in male workers were significantly higher than those in female workers (P < 0.05). The rates of high TCHO, hypertension and sinus arrhythmia in older workers (≤ 30 years old) were significantly higher than those in young workers (> 30 years old) (P < 0.05). The rate of sinus arrhythmia in workers with 1 - 10 working years was significantly higher than that in workers with more than 10 working years (P < 0.05). The rate of hypertension in workers with 1 - 10 working years was significantly lower than that in workers with more than 10 working years (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were no significant effects of CS(2) exposure on the indexes of cardiovascular system of workers.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult