Objective To investigate the efficacy of losartan on the improvement of heart function and its effect on uric acid in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods Eighty-five patients with CHF were divided into two groups randomly. Routine anti-CHF treatment included cardiotonic, diuresis, isosorbide dinitrate, beta-blockers. In losartan group(n=43), patients were given routine anti-CHF treatment and losartan. The patients in control group(n=42) were treated by routine anti-CHF treatment and Benazapril. The heart functional was evaluated. The content of serum uric acid, electrocardiogram, and Duppler ultransonography were measured before and after treatment respectively. Results The variance of heart function, left ventricle diastoic diameter (LVDD), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiothotic ratio did not show statistical difference. However, they were improved sharply as compared with base-line condition in both groups after 3 months and 12 months treatment(P

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to establish a transgenic mouse model for cleft palate relevant gene thyroid transcription factor-2 (TTF-2), which can be used to study palatal shelf development when the expression pattern and regular activation of TTF-2 is altered.

METHODSThe C57BL/6J mouse TTF-2 gene was cloned through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the mouse genomic DNA. The TTF-2 gene was inserted into the expression vector pBROAD3-mcs to construct the recombinant expression vector pBROAD3-TTF-2. This expression vector was then microinjected into the male pronuclei of the fertilized mouse ovum. Thus, the TTF-2 transgenic mice model was established. The genotype of the transgenic mice was identified by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry identified the consistent expression of TTF-2 gene during its palatal shelf development.

RESULTSTTF-2 genes were microinjected into 982 fertilized ova. A total of 580 two-cell-stage embryos cultured and transplanted into the oviducts of 48 pseudopregnant female mice. Overall, 68 embryos were obtained for analysis. The genotype of the mice was determined through PCR and Southern blot analysis using genomic DNA extracted from tail biopsies of the transgenic fetus. A total of 13 TTF-2 transgenic mice were detected. The expression of TTF-2 gene during the palatal shelf development of the transgenic mice was consistently detected by immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant expression vector pBROAD3-TTF-2 was integrated into mouse genome through microinjection. The transgenic mouse in the palatal shelf that consistently expressed TTF-2 was successfully established and displayed a cleft palate phenotype.

Animals ; Cleft Palate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; Genotype ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; Thyroid Gland

Objective To determine whether color doppler ultrasonography (CDU),thyroid function or thyroid autoimmune antibodies could identify Graves' disease in pregnancy(GDP) in pregnant patients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis.Methods It is an observational study.Sixty-eight pregnant patients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis including gestational hyperthyroidism (GHT) subjects (GHT group,n =33) and GDP subjects (GDP group,n =35),and 62 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects (C1 group:pregnant,n =32,C2 group:non-pregnant,n =30) were recruited.Thyroid function,human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG),thyroid autoimmune antibodies were detected.Peak systolic velocity of the superior thyroid artery (STA-PSV) and diastole inner diameter(STA-D) of the superior thyroid artery were measured by CDU.A ROC curve was used to evaluate STA-PSV,STA-D,thyroid function and thyroid autoimmune antibodies for identification of GDP.Results The area under the ROC curve of STA-PSV,STA-D and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),free T4 (FT4) for GDP were 0.905,0.887,0.803 and 0.786,respectively.The optimal cut-off points of STA-PSV,STA-D,TSH and FT4 for GDP were 40 cm/s,2.0mm,0.03 mIU/L and 30 pmol/L with the sensitivity of 82.9％,72.1％,81.8％,76.2％ and specificity of 81.8％,87.9％,75.2％,80.3％,respectively.Conclusions Detection of STA-PSV and STA-D by CDU,as well as thyroid function,is useful in screening GDP in pregnant patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine plus ultrashort wave diathermy in treating post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 40 cases each. Group A received acupuncture, ultrashort wave diathermy and treatment with anti-infective drugs; group B, ultrashort wave diathermy and treatment with anti-infective drugs; group C, treatment with anti-infective drugs alone. The clinical therapeutic effects and the recurrence rates were compared between the three groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 92.5% in group A, 90.0% in group B and 72.5% in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between group A or B and group C (P<0.05). The recurrence rate was 8.1% in group A, 27.8% in group B and 31.0% in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate between group A and group B or C (P<0.05).Conclusion Combined use of acupuncture and medicine plus ultrashort wave diathermy is an effective way to treat post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND:In rabbit femur fracture model experiment, there are a few studies on whether quadriceps tendon wil affect the stability of the fixed device. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effects of quadriceps tendon to the stability of external fixator in rabbit models of femur fracture. METHODS:The 48 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. External fixator was used to make fracture model. In the experiment group, quadriceps tendon was cut. In the control group, quadriceps tendon was retained. 2 weeks later, X-ray examination was utilized to observe the number of failed external fixator in both groups from modeling to success. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) X-ray examination:2 weeks after model establishment, external fixation frame screw was free from femur in one rabbit of the experiment group, and seven rabbits in the control group. Of them, one screw was broken. Threaded portion retained in the femur. (2) External fixation failure rate:failed external fixator was found in one rabbit in the experiment group, resulting in a failure rate of 4%, and 12 rabbits in the control group, resulting in a failure rate of 50%(P<0.05). These findings suggested that cutting off the rabbit quadriceps tendon can effectively ensure the stability of the external fixator, and indirectly improve success rate of the experiment.

Objective To study normal flora components of conjunctiva, explore the relationship between normal flora and ocu- lar bacterial infections.Methods The data of 1 198 bacterial cultures of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients were re- viewed and compared with the results of 985 specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis from January 2000 to December 2004.Results Positive culture of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients was 628 in 1 198 specimens (52.4%).These bacteria including gram-positive cocci and gram-neganve bacilli constituted the normal flora of conjunctiva. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant bacteria (51.1%, 341/667) and its prevalence increased during this 5-year period.S.epidermidis and S.aureus were also the most frequently isolated pathogens in specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis.The correlation was statistically significant between the positive rate in normal eye and conjunctivitis or keratitis in terms of these two species, but not statistically significant between normal eye and endophthalmitis.The resistance rate of normal flora of conjunctiva to ampicillin, amikacin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin increased year by year. The resistance rate to gentamicin and the combination of two drugs decreased.The changing resistant pattern was similar in pa- tients with eye infection.Conclusions There is a close relationship between the normal flora S.aureus and S.epidermidis of conjunctiva and the bacterial infection of ocular surface, but no significant correlation between normal flora and the pathogen of endophthalmitis.

To evaluate the immunities of biodegradable microsphere as a release delivery system for DNA vaccine against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus, in our study, silk fibroin/chitosan microsphere adjuvant was prepared with a precipitation/coacervation method. Both glutaraldehyde and Na2SO4 solution were used in cross-linking. No immune chicken were intramuscularly inoculated at 14 day-old and boosted 2 weeks later. The results show that glutaraldehyde destroyed the DNA activity of the vaccine whereas Na2SO4 solution did not. Factors of the chitosan concentration 0.5% (pH 5.0), silk fibroin concentration 0.6%, plasmid DNA (500 microg/mL) dissolved in 2% Na2SO4 solution were optimized to produce microsphere, with a loading capacity of 89.14%. The average particle size of SF-CS/pCI-VP2/4/3 microsphere is 1.98 microm, and it can protect the loading DNA vaccine from DNase I digestion. Data from anti IBDV ELISA antibodies in the serum show that immunization activity of the microsphere groups were generally higher than plasmid vaccine group (P < 0.05), and the SF/CS compound microspheres group was better than that of sole CS microsphere group. The developed SF/CS microspheres are a very promising vaccine delivery system.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; chemistry ; Animals ; Birnaviridae Infections ; prevention & control ; veterinary ; Chickens ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Infectious bursal disease virus ; Microspheres ; Plasmids ; Poultry Diseases ; prevention & control ; Vaccines, DNA ; chemistry ; Viral Vaccines ; chemistry

There are two serious obstacles to tumor immunotherapy. Firstly, the immune response of the tumor is seriously reduced due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) and low immunogenicity of tumor. The second obstacle is the dense and complex heterogeneous structures, which seriously prevent the nanoparticles (NPs) from penetrating deeper into tumor tissue. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) induced by doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective method to enhance tumor immune activity. However, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) after ICD induction would increase the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and enhance ITM. IDO1 siRNA would reduce the expression of IDO1 protein, regulate the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and regulate ITM, so as to enhance the ICD effect of DOX. In this paper, a novel charge conversional, particle size reduction and highly penetrable NPs based on a pH sensitive copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-poly-L-lysine-2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (mPEG-PLL-DMA, PLD) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to achieve deep delivery of tumor tissue. DOX and IDO1 siRNA were encapsulated to achieve efficient tumor immunotherapy. Preparation and cell level experiments showed that PLD material had significant pH sensitivity. Results of 3D tumor penetrable experiment in vitro showed that adding the pH sensitive material PLD significantly improved the permeability of the preparation. In addition, 4T1 tumor model was established for BALB/c mice and all animal experiments were displayed in according with the requirements of the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University. The results of in vivo efficacy experiments and tissue experiments evaluated that IDO1 siRNA significantly improved the ICD effect owing to DOX, so as to significantly inhibit tumor growth.

Objective To evaluate the significance of color Doppler ultrasound examination of renal blood flow combined with the detection of bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7)in early diagnosis of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.Methods Blood BMP-7 level was tested in 90 patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy and 30 controls,and parameters of renal blood flow were measured by color Doppler ultrasound examination.Blood BMP-7 level as well as resistant index(RI)of segmental renal artery(SRA)and interlobar renal artery(IRA),were compared between these two groups.Results Compared with controls,blood BMP-7 level gradually decreased with the aggravation of diabetic kidney damage(P＜0.01).The peak systolic velocity(Vmax)and the end diastolic velocity(Vmin)of SRA and TRA were slowed gradually,while RI increased(P＜0.01).Blood BMP-7 level was negatively correlated with IRA's and SRA's RI of IRA and SRA(r =-0.603,P＜0.01;r =-0.652,P＜0.01).Conclusions Color Doppler ultrasound examination of renal blood flow combined with detection of BMP-7 might play an important role in early diagnosis of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.