Gout and hyperuricemia, the frequently-occurring and common diseases, are mainly characterized by the rise of serum uric acid levels. Overproduction and/or underexcretion of uric acid are the primary causes of hyperurice- mia. As an important organ for uric acid elimination, the kidney is responsible for 2/3 uric acid excretion. Recent researches have shown that urate transporters mediate the urate reabsorption and secretion in proximal kidney tubules. The abnormal expression and functional changes of urate transporters are closely related to the occurrence and develop- ment of hyperuricemia. Recently, studies on the urate transporters have achieved great progresses, including the progress in the studies on the urate-anion transporter 1(URAT1), glucose transporter 9, ABC transporter family, sodium-depen- dent phosphate transport protein 1(NPT1), NPT4, and organic anion transporter family, etc. The roles of organic anion transporters(OAT, such as OAT1, OAT2, OAT3, OAT4, OAT10 and URAT1)in renal uric acid excretion are summa- rized in this review.

[Objective]To investigate the value of degree centrality(DC),a novel resting-state fMRI parameter,in voxel-wise whole-brain functional networks analysis in primary insomnia(PI)after acupuncture therapy.[Methods]The resting state fMRI were performed in 29 PI patients and 22 age,education,and sex-matched normal healthy subjects. Analysis of DC map changes between the two patient groups and the control group were performed by two sample t test.(threshold at P<0.05).[Results]Compared with the control group,patients with PI showed significantly reduced DC value in middle temporal gyrus(MTG. R);hippocampus(HIP. B);parahippocampal gyrus(PHG. R);putamen(PUT. R);cuneus(CUN. L).[Conclusions]Changes of DC value occurred in some region of brain in the PI patient groups when compared with the control group. It was indicated that DC ,as a novel resting-state fMRI parameter in the voxel-wise whole-brain functional networks ,might be an appealing alternative approach for further study on pathologic and neuropsychological states of PI.

Objective To investigate the effects of zinc deficiency on the expressions of Th1/Th2 cytokine interferon-?(IFN-?) and interleukin-4(IL-4)in asthmatic rats.Methods Animal models of asthma and zinc deficiency were established.Thirty-two SD rats were divided into 4 groups according to weight:zinc deficient diet with ovalbumin(OVA) challenge group(group A),zinc normal diet with OVA challenge group(group B),zinc normal pair-fed diet with OVA challenge group(group C) and zinc normal diet with saline challenge group(group D).The contents of IFN-? and IL-4 in lung homogenate were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The levels of IFN-? and IL-4 mRNAs were observed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Compared with group D,the content and mRNA expression of IFN-? of lung in group A,group B and group C all decreased significantly(all P0.05).No marked difference was found between group B and group C in all the results.Conclusions Zinc deficiency reduces the expression of IFN-? but have no influence on IL-4.The imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokine may be associated with the increasing airway inflammatory reaction in zinc deficient asthmatic rats.

Objective To evaluate the capability and accuracy of multi-shce spiral computed tomography(MSCT)in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in nonstenotic coronary arteries with reference to the findings of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)in a segment analysis.Methods Both IVUS exams and 16-row MSCT scans were performed on 35 consecutive patients among whom 30 patients had successful MSCT scans.A total of 94 coronary segments without significant coronary stenoses were paired-analyzed both on IVUS and MSCT segment by segment.The plaques were classified as calcified,fibrotic and soft types according to the echogeneity on IVUS.Plaque attenuation on MSCT was measured and expressed by Hounsfield units(HU).Results When referred to IVUS,MSCT had a sensitivity of 82.1%(46/56)and specificity of 89.5% (34/38),respectively in detectiong any plaques.For the detection of calcified plaques,the sensitivity and specificity were 92.1%(35/38)and 96.4%(54/56),respectively.For the detection of mixed and noncalcified plaques,MSCT had sensitivity of 73.2%(30/41)and specificity of 88.7%(47/53).But for the detection of the noncalcified plaque,the sensitivity was 66.7%(12/18). According to the findings On IVUS,the plaques were classified as calcified(n=19),fibrotic(n=19)and soft(n=16).The CT attenuation of calcified plaques was(489?169)HU(196 to 817 HU),fibrotic plaques(69?21)HU(25 to 117 HU)and soft plaques(23?18)HU(-12 to 47 HU).Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference of plaque attenuation among the three groups(P

OBJECTIVETo identify reasons for poor image quality and nonassessability of coronary artery segments, and compare results between early and late diastolic triggering on coronary electron beam angiography (EBA).

METHODSOne hundred patients referred for EBA were studied. Contrast-enhanced transaxial coronary images were acquired using electrocardiographic triggering and reconstructed three-dimensionally using volume rendering techniques. The image quality of coronary segments and image artifacts were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSVolume rendering was failed in 7 patients (7%) due to cardiac and breathing motions. Image quality was the best with the left main (LM), and worst with the left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery (P < 0.001). The image quality decreased systematically from proximal to distal within each coronary artery (P < 0.001). Forty percent R-R interval triggering on electrocardiography was better than 80% for image quality. The nonassessable segments occurred in 3% of LM, 2%, 8%, and 5% of proximal, 24%, 22%, and 12% of mid, 64%, 45%, and 20% of distal segments of the left anterior descending (LAD), LCX, and right coronary artery (RCA), respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe major limitations of coronary EBA are in suboptimal spatial resolution and image artifacts. The image quality could be improved by using optimal electrocardiographic triggering.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality Control ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To evaluate the pathophysiological mechanism of reduced seizure threshold following neonatal seizures by measuring the expression changes in N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)receptor 1(NR1)and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor A α1(GABAARα1)immunoreactivity which are the basic functional subunit in NMDA receptor or GABAA receptor family. Methods Seizures were induced by the inhalant flurothyl in 24 neonatal rats,starting from postnatal day 6.The 24 rats were subdivided into single seizure group (seizure lasted 30 min) and recurrent seizure group (seizures were induced for 30 min/d, totally 6 d). At day 7 and day 75 after the last seizure, brain homogenates were made. The expressions of NR1 and GABAARα1 proteins in hippocampus were examined by Westem blotting analysis. Results NR1 expression did not change significantly in single seizure group and recurrent seizure group at day 75, but was enhanced significantly in recurrent seizure group at day 7(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,polypeptide levels of GABAARα1 receptor subullit in the rat hippocanlpus decreased significantly in single seizure-treated rats at day 75 and recurrent seizure-treated rats at day 7 and 75 (P＜0.05). Conclusions Recurrent or single prolonged status epilepticus in neonatal rats might cause long-term modification on NR1 and GABAARα1 expressions in hippocampus at post-seizure 7 d or in adult, with excessive activation of excitatory neuronal circuits involving both reduction of GABAARα1 receptor and/or enhancement of NR1. This phenomenon might play a key role in long-term reduction of seizure threshold induced by early life status seizures.

Objective To observe the tropism ofboue marrow stromal stem cells for malignantglioma in rats. Methods The immunophenotype of in vitro cultureA Fisher344 rat BMSCs wereidentified using flow cytometry. The BMSCs or NIH3T3 cells were cocultured with 9L glioma cells in aTranswell system, and 24 h later, the cell migration rate was calculated. For in vivo experiment, aFisber344 rat model bearing malignant glioma was established by stereotactic injection of 9L glioma cellsinto the brain. After validation of the model 2 weeks after the injection by neurobehavioral test, magneticresonance imaging and HE staining, the BMSCs or NIH3T3 cells were transplanted via the internalcarotid artery in the rats. Two weeks after the transplantation, the rats were sacrificed by routine cardiacperfusion, and BMSCs migration in the brain was detected immunohistochemically. Results Thethird to six passages of the BMSCs were negative for CD34 and CD45 but positive for CD29 and CD44.Transwell assay demonstrated BMSCs tropism for 9L cells in vitro. In Fisher344 rats bearing 9L glioma,neurobehavioral changes characteristic of glioma were observed, and the BMSCs transplanted via theinternal carotid artery were found to migrate to the glioma tissue, residing mostly on the boundarybetween the normal tissue and the tumor tissue. Conclusion Rat BMSCs show a tropism formalignant glioma both in vitro and in vivo, and administration via the internal carotid artery can be aneasy and effective means for BMSCs transplant.

Objective To map the vision cortex of rats by dynamic manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging and provide a method for researching the nervous function. Methods Six adult male Wistar rats were chosen and the process was divided into 4 continuous phases. No agent was injected into the rats in the first phase (5 min). Disrupting the BBB with marmitol and injecting manganese chloride were performed in the fight internal carotid artery (ICA) in the second phase (10 min). In the third phase (15 min), manganese chloride was administrated into theright ICA and vision stimulation was performed before the imaging process. The mixed liquor of manganese chloride and glutamate was injected into the rats in the forth phase (5 min). MRI was performed instantly after the handles in each phase. SPM and Matlab software were employed to help analyze the imaging data. Region-of-interest (ROI) was recorded to observe the stimulated regions and compare the signal intensity in the visual cortex. Results No specific enhanced region was found in the rat brain in the first and second phases. The right visual cortex was enhanced specifically on T1WI in the third phase. Many brain regions of the right hemisphere, the sites that agents was injected, were obviously enhanced in the forth 2008A1-E4011)phase. ROI analysis showed that the signal intensity in the third phrase (1.897±0.172) was significantly stronger as compared with that in the second phrase(1.549±0.163)(P<0.05). Conclusion The dynamic manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging can analyze the functional activities of the vision cortex in rats and provide a new method for researching the function of the nervous system.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with environmental factors through analyzing birth order data from pedigree sibships.

METHODSA birth order study was conducted based on the methods of Greenwood and Haldane for 100 probands and 22 affected siblings from 100 pedigrees in a cohort which was followed up for 8 years in Haimen, Jiangsu, China.

RESULTSThe findings from the Greenwood method suggested that there was a tendency for cases of HCC to concentrate at lower birth orders of 1 to 3. With the effects of hepatitis B virus on the birth orders being controlled, the same tendency was also observed. The results from Haldane method showed that difference between actual value and expected value of 6A was more than the double standard deviation. Sigma 6A(actual value) = 1,806, Sigma 6A(expected value) = 1,988, the absolute value of (Sigma 6A(actual value) - Sigma 6A(expected value))/the square root of Sigma V6A = 2.1657 (0.02 < P < 0.05). The actual value of 6A was lower than the expected value of 6A suggesting that individuals at lower birth orders were at a higher risk of suffering from HCC. In addition, through data from ecologic research, there was a decreasing tendency of mortality of HCC within 10 years after the prevalence of tap water in Haimen city. The correlation coefficient by Spearman test was -0.818 (P < 0.01). The contribution of the quality of drinking water in the locality to the onset of HCC was found among people born in earlier period.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a tendency that the onset of HCC cases concentrating was at lower birth orders in this research, which was inconsistent with several reports of foreign authors' which showed a reverse tendency. According to the ecological results, it was suggested that long-term drinking of ditch-water was responsible for the tendency of cases of HCC concentrating at lower birth orders. There were also certain effects of environmental factors exerted on the onset of HCC being discovered.

Adult ; Birth Order ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Family Health ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; adverse effects ; Water Supply

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis summarized the clinical features of 6 patients with PAH associated with HHT hospitalized at department of cardiology in Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital between January 2006 and May 2009.

RESULTSThe mean age of the 6 patients (3 male) was 34 years (8 - 67 years). Recurrent epistaxis were present in all patients, there were 4 patients with severe PAH and 2 patients with moderate PAH. All of the six patients with PAH associated with HHT were misdiagnosed at the first hospital visit. Clinical symptoms were significantly improved in 4 patients and remained unchanged in 2 patients combined hepatic venous malformation post medical therapy.

CONCLUSIONSMisdiagnosis for patients with PAH associated with HHT is a common phenomenon in daily clinical practice. Patients could benefit from the corresponding medical therapy after the establishment of the correct diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; complications ; Young Adult