Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To investigate the value of radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) on idiopathic ventricular tachycardia(IVT) in children.Methods The treatment efficiency of 35 patients accepting RFCA from March 2000 to February 2006 was analyzed,which was divided into control group and study group,randomly.The target site of IVT was localized by routine mapping in control group,and study group was localized by routine mapping combining doppler tissue imaging(DTI) on the basic treatment.Results Numbers of discharge,X-ray exposure time in study group were shorter than that in control group.There were no significance of radiofrequency energy,achievement rates and relapse rates between two groups.Conclusions RFCA is a safe and effective method on IVT.Children are localized combined with DTI shall decrease numbers of discharge and X-ray exposure time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, SMO, beta-Catenin and Wnt5b mRNA in four hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines of SMMC-7721, Bel-7402, HepG2, MHCC-97 and normal hepatocellular cell line of L02, and to compare the response of these cell lines to all-trans retinoic acid.

METHODSRT-PCR was used to detect expression of Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, SMO, beta-Catenin and Wnt5b mRNA in four hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and normal hepatocellular cell line. Real time-PCR was used to quantify the expression of the genes.

RESULTSThere are different levels of expression of the stem cell-related gene in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and control cell line (P less than 0.05). There are significant differences in HepG2 and L-02 for the response to all-trans retinoic acid (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe stem cell-related genes are differentially expressed in different hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hep G2 Cells ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nanog Homeobox Protein ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smoothened Receptor ; Stem Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVELamiophlomis rotata is a common wild herb in Tibetan traditional medicine with important medicinal and economic value. The paper examines the wild distributions, exploitation regime, and situations.

METHODA variety of research methods, such as literature survey, specimens inspection, market information collection in major Chinese herbal markets, questionnaire of herbalists and employers of local governments and institutions, and field quadrat survey and AcrGIS as well, have been used for this work.

RESULTTotal stock of wild resources of L. rotata is ranging from 3 713.49 tons to 6 896.56 tons (2 519-3 314 t in Qinghai, 490-1 414 t in Gansu, 641-1 167 t in Sichuan, and 422-999 t in Tibet, respectively), acceptable harvest quantity of the herb is ranging from 908-1 675 t per year, and actual harvest quantity is 2 520 t annually far beyond the acceptable harvest quantity.

CONCLUSIONHarvesting quantity of L. rotata is far more than that of acceptable, suggesting that utilization pattern of this wild resource plant is unsustainable. L. rotata seems to act as an indicating plant of degraded ecosystem of high-altitude grassland, shrub grassland, and wetland, and distributes in those degraded and degrading plateau ecosystems, and the plant is facing with pressure of ecological protection and wild resource population degradation. Wild population monitoring and standard cultivation are of importance for although they are far from implementation due to shortage of related basic studies.

China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Lamiaceae ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of Enterococcus faecium meningitis in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of nine children with Enterococcus faecium meningitis were analyzed.

RESULTSIn all the nine children, Enterococcus faecium was isolated from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or peripherally inserted central catheters; 6 (67%) patients were neonates, 2 (22%) patients were younger than 6 months, and 1 (11%) patient was three years and four months of age. In those patients, 56% had high-risk factors before onset, which included intestinal infection, resettlement of drainage tube after surgery for hydrocephalus, skull fracture, perinatal maternal infection history, and catheter-related infection. The main symptoms were fever and poor response. In those patients, 22% had seizures; no child had meningeal irritation sign or disturbance of consciousness. The white blood cell count and level of C-reactive protein were normal or increased; the nucleated cell count in cerebrospinal fluid was normal or mildly elevated; the protein level was substantially elevated; the glucose level was decreased. The drug sensitivity test showed that bacteria were all sensitive to vancomycin and the vancomycin treatment was effective. Only one child had the complication of hydrocephalus.

CONCLUSIONSEnterococcus faecium meningitis occurs mainly in neonates and infants. The patients have atypical clinical features. A high proportion of patients with Enterococcus faecium meningitis have high-risk factors. Enterococcus faecium is sensitive to vancomycin.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Enterococcus faecium ; drug effects ; Female ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Vancomycin ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the methods for treatment of paediatric stone disease in middle and lower ureter with fascia dilator and ureteroscopic holmium laser. Methods For 35 child patients with middle and lower ureteral calculi, the dilation of orifice was taken by 6.0 ～ 8.0 F fascia dilator, then ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy followed. Results Among the 35 cases, 33 cases were the successful gravel, with a total rate of 94.3％ gravel. In other two cases, the broken stones were rushed into the renal pelvis and ESWL was successfully carried. Conclusion Fascia dilator and ureteroscopic holmium laser in paediatric middle and lower ureteral calculi can improve the successful rate of operation and reduce the operation risks. It is safe and effective.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the cell model of human neuroblastoma cell( SH-SY5Y cell) exposed to1,2-dichloroethane( 1,2-DCE) in vitro and to explore the mechanism of 1,2-DCE-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells.METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were collected in their logarithmic growth phase and cultured in complete medium that had final concentrations of 1,2-DCE in 0,10,20,30,40,50,60,70 and 80 mmol / L for 24 hours. Cell morphology was observed and cell survival rate was examined by CCK-8 assay. Using chemical colorimetric method, the activity of lactic dehydrogenase( LDH) in the cell culture supernatant,and the intracellular level of malondialdehyde( MDA),the intracellular activities of superoxide dismutase( SOD) and adenosine triphosphate( ATP) enzymes were detected. RESULTS: With the increasing exposure concentrations of 1,2-DCE,the cell density of SH-SY5Y cells gradually decreased,the synapse became shorter,the membrane ruptured,cytoplasm condensed and cytoplasmic contents overflowed increased.With the increasing concentration of 1,2-DCE,the cell survival rate decreased( P < 0. 01),the activity of LDH in the cell culture supernatant increased( P < 0. 01). These changes had a dose-effect correlation. Intracellular MDA level,and activities of SOD,Na~+-K~+-ATP enzyme,Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATP enzyme and total ATP enzyme increased at first and then decreased. The activity of LDH in the cell culture supernatant and cell survival rate was negatively correlated( the correlation coefficient is- 0. 907,P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: 1,2-DCE could inhibit the proliferation of SH-SY5Y cells.The mechanism may be related to the permeability change of cell membrane,cellular damage from excessive free radicals,the decrease of free radical scavenging capacity,ATP enzyme activity and calcium overloading. SH-SY5Y cells can be used as a common cell line for 1,2-DCE cytotoxicity analysis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and mechanisms of molecular adsorbents recirculating system (MARS) treatment in severe liver failure patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

METHODS60 single MARS treatments were performed for 6 - 24 hours on 24 severe liver failure patients with MODS.

RESULTSMARS therapy was associated with marked reduction of albumin bound toxins and water soluble toxins, together with a significant removal of NO and certain cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and INF-gamma. These were associated with a improvement of the patients' clinical conditions including hepatic encephalopathy, deranged hemodynamic situation, as well as renal and respiratory function, thus resulted into marked decrease of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (from 9.72+-1.89 to 6.98+-2.34), and improving outcome: 9 patients were able to be discharged from the hospital or bridged to successful liver transplantation. The overall survival rate of 24 patients was 37.5%.

CONCLUSIONSThere is positive therapeutic impact and safety to use MARS on liver failure patients with MODS. The effectiveness of MARS is correlated with reducing the levels of NO and cytokines, except for completely removing of accumulated toxins in liver failure patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bioreactors ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Liver Failure, Acute ; blood ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Sorption Detoxification ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Kaixinsan recorded in an ancient medical book named Beiji Qianjin Yaofang is one of the famous classical formula，which is one of the common prescriptions used by ancient physicians to treat amnesia. In the process of using this prescription，later generations of physicians derived many kinds of associated prescriptions. The effect and indications of these prescription have been inherited and expanded from those in the Beiji Qianjin Yaofang because of the changes in dosages. Therefore，it is necessary to verify the effect and indications of the formulas and the rules of dosage changes. The research results showed that its basic effects included to nourish the mind，induce resuscitation，strengthen the spleen and calm the mind，and keep balance between heart-Yang and kidney-Yin. The main indications included amnesia，sorrow and sadness，fright and fear，and so on，which may differ slightly in different dynasties. In Song，Jin and Yuan dynasties，it also demonstrated the effect of warming the heart and Yang，clearing away heat and relieving wind besides the basic effects， with basically the same indications （slightly different from those in previous dynasties）. In Ming dynasty，it demonstrated the effect of nourishing Yin，clearing away heat and nourishing blood besides the basic effects，and the indications expanded to farsightedness，nearsightedness，spermatorrhea and blurred urine. In the Qing dynasty，its effect also included to nourish the heart and kidney on the basis of the Ming dynasty，and the indications were basically the same with those in the previous dynasties. The compatibility ratio of ancient physicians in the application of this prescription and its associated prescriptions showed some remarkable features，for example，Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Poria should be increased and their ratio was≈1∶1 in the treatment of amnesia，sorrow，sadness，fright，fear，farsightedness，spermatorrhea and blurred urine，with ratio of Polygalae Radix to Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma≈1∶1； the dosage of Polygalae Radix and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma should be increased in the treatment of nearsightedness，and their ratio was≈1∶1. The compatibility ratio of Polygalae Radix-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma-Poria-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma=2∶3∶3∶2 was the most frequent，which basically included the indications of this prescription and its associated prescriptions. According to statistics，the average dosages that ancient physicians used were significantly higher than those in the modern times，Polygalae Radix 57 g，Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma 62 g，Poria 70 g，and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma 54 g，respectively in ancient times，while Polygalae Radix 11 g，Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma 15 g，Poria 17 g，and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma 9.5 g，respectively in modern times. The above textual research results can provide some reference for preparation of tradition Chinese medicine products of Kaixinsan.