Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fetal Diseases ; pathology ; Fetus ; Heart Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; pathology

BACKGROUNDProstatodynia remains a difficult clinical problem. Resiniferatoxin (RTX), an ultrapotent vanilloid, can produce a selective and long-lasting desensitization of nociception via C-fiber sensory neurons. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from C-fibers are key neurotransmitters in visceral pain. In this study, we evaluated the analgesic effect of intrathecal RTX on rat prostatodynia.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups for different treatment. In group A, sham operation was preformed. In group B, 100 microl complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) was injected into the rat's bilateral ventral prostate to induce chronic inflammation. In group C, after prostatitis formed, 50 microl 10 nmol/L RTX was injected into the rat's lumbosacral (L5-S2) vertebral canal. SP and CGRP contents in the spinal cord were investigated by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Their transcriptional levels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, pelvic nerve afferent discharge was recorded to explore the neuro-electrophysiological mechanisms underlying RTX-induced effect.

RESULTSSP and CGRP released in the spinal cord and their synthesis in DRG were increased significantly in response to CFA-induced chronic prostatitis, whereas this increase was effectively inhibited by intrathecal RTX. Meanwhile, pelvic nerve afferent electrical activity was enhanced significantly in rats with chronic prostatitis, but it was attenuated markedly in RTX-treated rats paralleled by the change of neuropeptides.

CONCLUSIONSIntrathecal RTX administration could produce an analgesic effect on rat prostatodynia. Suppression of pelvic nerve afferent electrical activity may be a crucial mechanism underlying RTX-induced analgesia. RTX intrathecal application may present a novel analgesic strategy of prostatodynia.

Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; analysis ; genetics ; Diterpenes ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Spinal ; Male ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore a new strategy for effective and economical anti-virus therapy for HBV infection, we conducted a sequence administration of lamivudine and interferon alpha 1b to evaluate its effects on HBV replication and rebound as well as YMDD mutation induced by lamivudine.

METHODS150 HBV patients having at least 6 months history of infection were assigned randomly into 5 groups. Each group of these patients was either treated with lamivudine, interferon alpha 1b, lamivudine combined with interferon, sequence administration of lamivudine and interferon (sequence group) or no anti-virus therapy (control group) for 12 months. The serum samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18th months and were assayed for ALT, AST, HBeAg, HBV DNA (quantitive PCR) as well as YMDD mutation types by microarray.

RESULTSThe anti-virus replication effects were shown as early as the 3rd month in the sequence group but not in the IFN and control groups. The significant and persistent inhibition effect of it on HBV replication and improvement of liver function was shown. It was more effective than lamivudine or IFN treatments at the end of the drug administration and 6 months later after the drug was withdrawn. We also found that this sequence administration pattern can significantly shorten the period of treatment of lamivudine as well as reduce the rate of YMDD mutation and rebound of HBV replication after lamivudine withdrawal. It is also more economical than a combined therapy of lamivudine with IFN.

CONCLUSIONThis sequence administration of lamivudine and IFN pattern can significantly improve the anti-virus effect on HBV replication, shorten the period of treatment with lamivudine, reduce the mutation rate of YMDD and prevent the rebound of HBV after drug withdrawal.

Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

This study was aimed to investigate the immunological effect of modified dendritic cells (DC) which inducing cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against lymphoma cells. The DC were isolated from the lymph node and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DC were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human p53 gene (rAd-p53-DC). The expression of p53 gene was detected by flow cytometry. Western-blot was used to detect the expression of P53. ELISA was used to detect IL-12 level in supernatant. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was used to detect the proliferative ability of auto-lymphocyte stimulated by DC. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of CTL. The results indicates that the expressions of DC surface molecule (except for CD1a) such as CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly higher in experiment group than that in control group and blank control group. The secretion of IL-12 in supernatant was higher in experiment group than that in control group. The autologous T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic activity against the same kind of DLBL-cells increased in experiment group as compared with control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation increased with the rising of the ratio of DC and T lymphocyte. However, there was statistically significant difference between rAd-p53-DC derived from Lymph node and peripheral blood (P < 0.05). It is concluded that rAd-p53-transfected DC can induce CTL response in vitro against lymphoma cells.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; immunology ; Transfection

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

AIMTo determine the protective effect of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) in inhalant form on experimental respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice.

METHODSMice were infected with the method of nasal intubation drip. During infection, mice were given rhIL-2 by sc injection and the method of nasal intubation drip. There were normal group, vehicle group, model group, rhIL-2 groups and gentamicin group. In the end, the pathological changes in the lung were observed. The survival time and the mortality within a week of each group were recorded. The total protein content, the albumin content, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were dertermined and compared.

RESULTSSymptoms of Klebsiella pneumoniae were remarkably relieved because of rhIL-2 administration. The total protein content, the albumin content, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase of BALF were less than those in the vehicle group and the model group.

CONCLUSIONInhalation of rhIL-2 can alleviate the pathological changes in the lung after infection. At the same dose, it could be seen that the effect of rhIL-2 in inhalant form was better than that of the injection.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Female ; Interleukin-2 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Klebsiella Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lung ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Objective: To design a disinfection system for pipeline of dialysis water that can be automatically controlled so as to improve the disinfection effect, and ensure the health and safety of the operators and patients with hemodialysis. Methods: In the new disinfection system, the manual control was changed to single chip, and the disinfection method was ozone disinfection. In the actual ozone disinfection instrument for the pipeline of dialysis water, through the relationship among solubility, half-life period and temperature of underwater ozone to obtain a simulate relational expression between disinfection time and temperature, and then through single chip to achieve automatic control of disinfection process. Results: Through experimental verification, the system was able to coordinately complete automatic disinfection, emptying and swashing, and the concentration of ozone could meet the requirements of setting. Conclusion: The design can effectively disinfect the pipeline of dialysis water and avoid harm for human body in operation. And the added functions, automatic emptying and swashing, can ensure the pipeline of dialysis water is applied in dialysis cure as soon as possible after the disinfection was completed, and it guarantee the safety of hemodialysis.

The current experimental methods, such as the motion capture system, high-speed video, plane photography and surface EMG, cannot show the details of the muscle strength, or explain the nerve-muscle coordination mechanism during human motion. Thus, computer modeling and simulation are developed and become a new method for researchers in China to study human motion, and the software LifeMOD, AnyBody, ANSYS are mainly used even if these softwares have some limitations such as less precise muscle control and relatively higher prices. Developed by Stanford University, OpenSim is an open-source platform for muscle model development, simulation and analysis of neuromuscular system based on C++ and Java. In this paper, on the basis of computer modeling and mathematics theoretical derivation, the OpenSim modeling theory and simulation steps were introduced in detail to provide some theoretical references for researches on sport biomechanics. The future research directions by using OpenSim modeling simulation to study neuromuscular mechanism of the hemiplegic gait and Parkinson gait, and to improve and perfect the rehabilitation ways of the abnormal gait were also discussed.

OBJECTIVETo explore the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), especially those in the urinary storage phase, following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and to improve the postoperative management and patients' quality of life after TURP.

METHODSA total of 86 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) underwent TURP, and were interviewed on urinary symptoms at 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after removal of the catheter. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had preoperative detrusor instability and/or compliance of the bladder (Group A) or not (Group B), and observed for the changes in IPSS scores and urinary storage symptoms after removal of the catheter.

RESULTSComplete follow-ups were achieved in 71 cases, 28 with detrusor instability and/or compliance of the bladder and the other 43 without. Their IPSS scores on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 15th and 30th day after removal of the catheter were 8.1 +/- 2.5, 7.2 +/- 3.1, 6.3 +/- 3.8, 5.3 +/- 4.2 and 2.4 +/- 3.4, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the 7th and the 1st as well as the 30th and the 15th day (P < 0.05), but not between the 1st and the3rd nor the 15th and the 7th day (P > 0.05). On the 1st day, the cardinal symptoms in the urinary storage phase were urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence; the scores on IPSS and urinary storage symptoms were 10.4 +/- 3.3 and 9.3 +/- 3.8 in Group A and 6.2 +/- 2.8 and 5.2 +/- 2.7 in Group B, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). After treatment with tolterodine and alpha-adrenoreceptor inhibitor, neither IPSS scores nor the scores on urinary storage symptoms showed any significant differences between Groups A and B on the 15th and 30th day (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lower urinary tract symptoms following TURP, especially those in the urinary storage phase, are correlated with preoperative bladder function, and getting improved gradually after surgery.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; etiology

The safety and efficacy of combined low dose aspirin and warfarin therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation after mechanical heart valve replacement were evaluated. A total of 1016 patients (620 females, mean age of 36.8±7.7 years) admitted for cardiac valve replacement and complicated with atrial fibrillation after surgery were randomly divided into study (warfarin plus 75-100 mg aspirin) or control (warfarin only) groups. International normalized ratio (INR) and prothrombin time were maintained at 1.8-2.5 and 1.5-2.0 times the normal values, respectively. Thromboembolic events and major bleedings were registered during the follow-up period. Patients were followed up for 24±9 months. The average dose of warfarin in the study and control groups was 2.91±0.83 mg and 2.88±0.76 mg, respectively (P>0.05). The incidence of overall thromboembolic events in study group was lower than that in control group (2.16% vs. 4.35%, P=0.049). No statistically significant differences were found in hemorrhage events (3.53% vs. 3.95%, P=0.722) or mortality (0.20% vs. 0.40%, P=0.559) between the two groups. Combined low dose aspirin and warfarin therapy in the patients with atrial fibrillation following mechanical heart valve replacement significantly decreased thromboembolic events as compared with warfarin therapy alone. This combined treatment was not associated with an increase in the risk of major bleeding or mortality.
Adult ; Anticoagulants ; administration & dosage ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; blood ; drug therapy ; Prothrombin Time ; Warfarin ; administration & dosage