Objective To discuss the clinical significance of the changes of endothelin-1 and troponin-1 levels in kawasaki disease after acute stage. Methods 60 patients of kawasaki disease in which 12 cases of patient were complicated with coronary artery disease and 48 cases of patient who were not complicated with coronary artery disease were enrolled this study. Blood plasma endothelin-1 and serum cardiac troponin I were determined in kawasaki disease acute phase and recovery phase and 30 healthy children. Results Acute phase ET-1 and cTnI [(90.19±3.43)ng/L, (1.35±0.14)μg/L] and recovery phase ET-1 and cTnI [(89.09±2.44)ng/L, (1.12±0.11)μg/L ] in coronary artery lesions of (CAL) group had no significant difference（P＞0.05）. The concentration values of ET-1, cTnI in no coronary artery lesions (NCAL) group of acute phase (64.49±4.78)ng/L,(0.62±0.02)μg/L were different with convalescent phase (50.47±4.49)ng/L,(0.07±0.05)μg/L. There were significant difference between the the two phases (P＜0.01). Plasma endothelin-1 and serum troponin I concentrations were positively correlated in acute phase of Kawasaki disease in children (r＝0.93,0.96,P＜0.01). Conclusions Plasma endothelin-1 and serum cardiac troponin I test for the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease with coronary artery disease may be early indicators of risk monitoring, they are valuable indexes in diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease.

BackgroundOptic nerve injury lead to apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells ( RGCs ), and its mechanism of apoptosis is endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). So, decreasing of ERS may protect the injury of RGCs. ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) and the protective effects of human umbilical cord blood stem cells on partial optic nerve crush injury. MethodsThe optical nerves were crushed with a 40 g clip by holding for 60 seconds to establish the partial optical nerve injury model in the left eyes of 102 SPF SD rats,and 10 μl of mRNA and 10 μl of nerve growth factor were injected into the vitreous immediately after the establishment of the model. The morphological changes of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) were examined under the light microscope after 3,7,14,21 and 28 days and the RGCs number was calculated. The apoptosis rates of RGCs were detected by the TUNEL technique after 3, 12,24,45,72 hours and 1 week. The expression levels of GRP78 mRNA and CHOP mRNA were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR). This procedure followed the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Committee.Results The number of RGCs was significantly decreased with the prolongation of time of optical nerve injury in the model injury group,whereas the number of RGCs in the human cord blood cells group was reduced at a slower rate( Ftime =20. 100,P =0. 007 ). At various time points after the injection of human cord blood cells, the survival of RGCs was evidently increased in comparison with the model group(P＜0. 01 ). The apoptosis rate of RGCs was considerably elevated with injury time prolongation both in the model group and human cord blood cells group,but no apoptosis was seen from 3-24 hours after operation,and only a small amount of apoptotic cells were found in the human cord blood cells group from 48 hours through 1 week than in the model group(P＜0. 01 ). In the human cord blood cells group,GRP78 mRNA level was significantly higher and the CHOP mRNA level was significantly lower than those in the injury group at identical time points(P＜0. 01 ). ConclusionsIn the rat optic nerve partial crush model,ERS induces the apoptosis of RGCs. Human umbilical cord blood stem cells can protect RGCs from ERS injury by inhibiting apoptosis.

Objective To discuss the effects of acupuncture therapy on resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in patients with ischemic stroke; To explore the central mechanism of acupuncture therapy.Methods Ten is chemic stroke patients with hemiplegia limbs and ten matched control subjects were included. Treatment group was given anti-platelet aggregation, anticoagulation, and nutrition brain cell therapy. At the same time, acupuncture therapy was given, taking Jianyu, Quchi, Shousanli, Waiguan, Hegu, Zusanli, Fenglong, Yanglingquan, Sanyinjiao, and Taichong, with even reinforcing-reducing method, and retaining the needle 30 min, manipulating needle every 10 min, once a day, 5 times a week, needle stopping for 2 d, for continuous 30 d. The health group did not undergo any treatment. BOLD-fMRI imaging technique was used, and based on RSET1.8 software, the parameters of brain activity before and after treatment were observed by amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method. The Results were compared with healthy group. Results Before treatment, the ALFF value of left caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus in the treatment group was lower than that in the health group, and the ALFF value of bilateral precentral and postcentral gyrus, left grus frontalis superior, gyrus frontalis medius, gyrus temporalis medius and precuneus was higher than the health group (P<0.05). After treatment, the ALFF value in left caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus in the treatment group was higher than that before treatment, and the ALFF value in left gyrus frontalis superior, gyrus frontalis medius and precuneus decreased than before group (P<0.05).Conclusion In the resting state of the ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia limbs, the principal injured brain regions are caudate nucleus, putamen and globus pallidus. Acupuncture has a regulatory role for these brain areas, presumably may be the central mechanism of efficacy.

In order to provide a scientific basis for the establishment of a Daphnes Cortex medicinal material fungus library and the screening of endophytic fungi that promote the growth of Daphnes Cortex and increase the content of daphnetin, we used Illumina high-throughput testing technology to analyze 9 Daphnes Cortex samples from Gansu and Shanxi provinces. A total of 632 766 valid sequences were obtained, including 348 OTUs, 4 phyla, 20 classes, 48 orders, 108 families, 154 genera, and 208 species. The sum of the first 3 fungal genera account for more than 65% of the total abundance, with the highest reaching 98.4%. Alternaria and Phoma are the main genuses of Daphne giraldii Nitsche, and Altemaria is the dominant genus. The endophytic fungi community of Daphnes Cortex is rich in diversity, and the order of fungal diversity in different producing areas is: Gangu County > Wutai County > Tanchang County.

Objective The abnormal ankle-brachial index ( ABI) is associated with the incidence of cardiocerebral vascular diseases, but little is known about its relationship with cerebral microbleeds (CMB).This study aimed to investigate the correlation be-tween ABI≤0.9 and different distribution patterns of CMB . Methods We enrolled 187 patients with acute lacunar infarction , inclu-ding 115 non-CMB cases and 72 CMB cases (20 strictly lobar, 24 strictly deep, and 28 lobar and deep).We analyzed the differences between the two groups and the association of abnormal ABI with the occurrence and distribution of CMB by logistic regression analysis . Results ABI≤0.9 was found in 57 (30.5%) of the patients, with a significantly higher incidence rate in the CMB group than in the non-CMB group (43.1%vs 22.6%, P=0.003).The level of ABI was negatively correlated with the number of CMBs (r=-0.211, P=0.006).Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusted for confounders indicated that ABI ≤0.9 was significantly associated with the presence of CMB (OR=2.363;95%CI:1.181-4.729), deep CMB (OR=3.434;95%CI:1.283-9.187), and lobar and deep CMB ( OR=2.837;95%CI:1.098-7.333) in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease . Conclusion Decreased ABI is a risk factor of CMB, particularly deep CMB, in patients with ischemic stroke.

INTRODUCTIONProximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and third-generation Gamma nail (Gamma 3) are widely used in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. However, it remains unclear which device achieves better clinical and radiographic outcomes when treating intertrochanteric fractures.

METHODSThis study comprised 239 patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with either PFNA or Gamma 3 for a minimum of 12 months. During surgery, the operative time, image intensifier time and amount of blood loss were recorded. Following surgery, we assessed reduction quality and implant position. At the final follow-up, postoperative complications, including femoral shaft fracture, cutout, reoperation, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cerebral infarction, cardiac infarction and decubital ulcer, were recorded. In addition, walking ability was assessed using the Parker-Palmer mobility score.

RESULTSNo difference was found in the operative time, image intensifier time and amount of blood loss between patients treated with PFNA and those treated with Gamma 3. The reduction quality of fractures treated with Gamma 3 was better than those treated with PFNA. However, there were no significant differences in implant position, walking ability and postoperative complications between the two groups. Although Gamma 3 resulted in better reduction quality, it did not provide any advantages in walking ability and postoperative complications when compared with PFNA.

CONCLUSIONTherefore, we conclude that both PFNA and Gamma 3 are safe and reliable devices for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fracture Healing ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Recovery of Function ; Rotation

The main factors which affected the isolation, purification and cultivation of Pinellia cordata protoplasts from leaves were studied. The results indicated that the optimum enzyme solution for P. cordata leaves was 13% CPW + 1.0% Cellulose +0.1% Pectolase, at pH 6.0, temperature (25-28 degrees C ) for 4 h. The sucrose density gradient centrifugation was adopted to purificate the protoplasts collected, when 25% sucrose was used as mediator, centrifugating at 500 rpm for 10 min. When the protoplasts were shallow liquid and liquid-solid double layer cultured on the medium of MS + 0.5 mg x L(-1) 6-BA + 0.25 mg x L(-1) NAA + 13% mannitol at the density of 2.5 x 104 protoplasts/mL, or fed and nursed cultured at the density of 100-500 protoplasts/mL, cell division could be observed for 3 days; granular calli appeared for 30 days. Calli was proliferated on the medium of MS + 0.5 mg x L(-1) 6-BA + 0.25 mg x L(-1) NAA solidified by 0.55% agar, and differentiated and regenerated after 5-6 months. Plant generation of P. cordata is successfully established.
Cell Separation ; methods ; Culture Media ; Pinellia ; physiology ; Protoplasts ; physiology ; Regeneration

Objective To study the influence of fluoride on the expression of osteoprotegerin(OPG) mRNA and protein in suckling rat osteoblasts. Methods Osteoblasts obtained from calvarial of suckling Wistar rats were cultured in vitro in the media supplemented with NaF at a series of doses[O(control), 1,2 and 4 mg/L groups], and OPG mRNA expression and protein were evaluated by RT-PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. Results OPG mRNA expression in suckling rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro significantly increased after exposure to NaF for 48 h and 72 h(F=333.48,808.34,P<0.05). OPG mRNA expression in suckling rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro after exposure to NaF for 48 h at different doses(0.810±0.003, 0.819±0.031 and 0.870±0.044 for 1,2 and 4 mg/L groups, respectively) compared with that of control (0.800±0.040, all P<0.05). OPG mRNA expression further increased for 72 h exposure to NaF(0.933±0.047,1.031±0.051,1.240±0.062 for 1,2 and 4 mg/L, respectively), significantly higher than that of the control (0.805±0.020,all P<0.05) and corresponding groups at 48 h. NaF doses and time exposure exhibited a significant synergistic effect on OPG mRNA expression(F=2004.16, P<0.05). NaF also enhanced OPG protein expression in suckling rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro. Significant differences were observed only in 4 mg/L group(0.228±0.014,0.277±0.048) and control(0.205±0.012,0.229±0.010) at 48 h and 72 h (P<0.05). In addition, OPG protein expression at 72 h post-exposure was higher than that at 48 h,but there was no synergistic effect between concentration and time(F=1.21,P>0.05). Conclusions The results suggested that NaF could increase OPG mRNA and protein expression in suckling rat osteoblasts with a synergistic effect between the doses and exposure time.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Critical Illness ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Prognosis ; Video Recording

PURPOSE: Gastric cancer often occurs in the elderly but is uncommon in young individuals. Whether young patients have different clinical behaviors and outcomes from those of older patients remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 1,366 cases of newly diagnosed noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Cancer Registry between 2000 and 2010. We then compared the clinicopathological features and survival among the different age groups. RESULTS: The male : female ratio differed significantly between the younger and older patient groups (0.84 in age <50 years vs. 1.52>60 years, P<0.01). More younger patients were Hispanic (54% patients <40 years vs. 19% patients > or =70 years, P<0.0001), while more older patients were Caucasian (49% patients > or =70 years vs. 15% patients <40 years; P<0.0001). The diffuse/mixed histological type was more prevalent in younger patients (70% patients <40 years vs. 27% patients > or =70 years; P<0.0001), whereas the intestinal type was more frequent in older patients (71% in patients > or =70 years vs. 30% in patients <40 years; P<0.0001). Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was more common in the younger patients (80% in patients <40 years vs. 60% in patients > or =70 years; P=0.016). Survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years gradually declined with increasing age (overall P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with gastric cancer had more aggressive disease but higher overall survival rates than older patients. Younger Hispanic patients and older Caucasian patients were more likely to be diagnosed with gastric cancer. These differences may be due to biological predisposition and/or environmental exposure.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Aged ; California ; Environmental Exposure ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hispanic Americans ; Humans ; Male ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate