Objective To evaluate the value of endoscopic profile in an adult population with typical heartburn. Methods Clinical and endoscopic data were collected from 5042 consecutive outpatients who underwent routine upper endoscopy without any alarm features between March 2006 and Feb. 2007. Results Three hundred and thirteen (6.2%) patients were diagnosed as having typical heartburn. Of these, erosive esophagitis (EE) was found in 99 (31.6%) patients, Barrett's esophagus (BE) in 10 (3. 2%) patients, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in 21 (6. 7%) patients and carcinoma in three (0.9 %) patients (1 with esophageal carcinoma and 2 with gastric adenocarcinoma).Multivariate analysis revealed that age＞50, male, overweight and alcohol use were independent risk factors for positive endoscopy findings (P＜0.05) and EE (P＜0.05) in heartburn patients. Male and Helicobacter pylori infection were independent risk factors for PUD (P＜ 0.05). Conclusions In China, patients with typical heartburn but without alarm features, early endoscopic examination may be helpful in avoiding missing diagnosis of tumor.

Objective To investigate the electrophysiological and morphological properties of the single ventral neuron in the medial geniculate body (MGBv) in rats. Methods The basic electrophysiological properties and action potentials at different levels of membrane potentials were recorded by whole cell patch clamp technique. Morphological properties of ventral neurons in the medial geniculate body were studied by biocytin staining. Results Nissl and biocytin stainings indicated that MGBv neurons were composed of oval shaped cell bodies, and the dendritic branches were tufted. In current clamp recordings, the resting membrane potential was (-54.92?10.85) mV, the input resistance (945.67?507.80) M?, the membrane capacitance (5.37?1.98) pF, and the time constant (2 109 87 ?2 496 01) ?s. Action potentials under different current inputs were various. Spontaneous discharge could be recorded by voltage clamp and current clamp. Conclusion MGBv dendritic trees are fairly dense with bushy tufted neurons and variety of action potentials under different current inputs in ventral neurons of the medial geniculate body. Spontaneous activities recorded by current clamp are similar to the action potential, which may be the spontaneous action potential due to the exceeding of membrane potential over liminal value.

Objective To explore the changes of genes associated with the nuclear factor of kappa B(NF-?B) signaling pathway in neonatal rats with early hypoxic-ischemic reperfusion brain damage(HIRBD).Methods Twenty-four SD rats at age of 7 days,with male to female of 1212,were randomized into normal control group(group A,n=8),hypoxic-ischemia reperfusion for 2 h(group B,n=8) and hypoxic-ischemia reperfusion for 4 h(group C,n=8).The tissues of hippocampus were taken for complete RNA extraction.Gene chip inspection and biological signal analysis technique were used to detect the expression of 113 involved signal molecules of NF-?B pathway.Results Compared with group A,the up-regulated expression was found in Chemokine(C-C motif) ligand 2,Dual specificity phosphatase 1,FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene(Fos) and Toll-like receptor 9.Whereas the expressions of Caspase-1,8,Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6,Mitogen activated protein kinase 3 and Ras homolog gene family member a from Ras-gene famimly was found down-regulated in group B.The up-regulated expression was in Fos,IL-1? and Toll-like receptor 6,but that of down-regulation was found in Caspase-1,Extracellular matrix protein 1,Lysophosphatidic Acid G-protein-coupled receptor 2,Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation gene 1,Inhibitor of kappa B kinase epsilon and Ras homolog gene family member c.Conclusions At the early stage of HIRBD,the Toll-like receptors may induce NF-?B activation,leading to the coordinated induction of multiple genes,which is involved in inflammatory,apoptosis and cell proliferation.Genes induced by NF-?B are responsible for the physiopathological process of early brain damage in neonatal rats with HIRBD.

The hippocampus plays a critical role during the consolidation of trace eyeblink conditioned responses (CRs). However, the role of its related structure such as dentate gyms (DG) remains unclear. The present study was aimed at monitoring the activity of single granule cell in the DG during the consolidation of trace eyeblink CRs, and elucidating the possible role of DG during this hippocampus-dependent task. Guinea pigs (n=8) were trained on a trace eyeblink conditioning paradigm using a 200-ms tone conditioned stimulus (CS), a 200-ms corneal airpuff unconditioned stimulus (US) and a 600-ms trace interval. Controls consisted of pseudo- conditioned guinea pigs (n=8). Extracellular single unit recordings in vivo were performed in the DG of learner animals during the consolidation of trace eyeblink CRs. The results revealed that all the trace-conditioned animals acquired the trace eyeblink CRs over 14 training days, however, none of the pseudo-conditioned animals did. Furthermore, 23 of 40 single granule cells in the DG of learner animals exhibited heterogeneous activity patterns during the consolidation of trace eyeblink CRs such as increases in activities to the tone CS, trace interval or airpuff US. The results suggested that the DG might participate in the neural circuit important for the consolidation of trace eyeblink CRs, and that the granule cells might encode different information during the consolidation of trace eyeblink CRs.

Objective To explore the influence of automatic and semi-automatic hemodialyzer reuse method on hemodialyzer reuse effect. Methods 1728 dialyzers were randomly divided into automatichemodialyzer reuse group and semi- automatic hemodialyzer reuse group with 864 dialyzers in each group. Thetime of douching and testing, the cost of sterilization,the frequency of the pyrphgen reaction,the broken dialyzer membrane and re-examined dialyzer between the two groups were measured. Results The time of douching dialyzer, testing of total cell volume and pressure in the semi- automatic hemodialyzer reuse group was (26.443±3.237), (2.172±0.128) and (2.157±0.090) minutes respectively,while the automatic hemodialyzer reuse group was (5.793±0.193), (1.257±0.118) and (1.110±0.076) minutes respectively. The frequency of re-examined dialyzer in testing total cell volume and pressure was 499(57.755%), 243(28.125%) respectively. At the same time, all dialyzer in semi-automatic hemodialyzer reuse group could be examined successfully at a time. The cost of sterilization in automatic henmdialyzer reuse group was (9.330±0.138)yuan. No pyrogen reaction and broken dialyzer membrane happened. Conclusions The semi-automatic bemodialyzer reuse group can retrench cost during perfusion,but consumes long douching time, lacks matching detection equipment, difficult to detect, and is not easy to read data and has high re- examination rate. while in the automatic hemodialyzer group, it is convenient of douching and detection, but the cost of sterilization and equipment is high, and clinical demand can be fulfilled only when the dialysis center can allocate reasonable number of the machines.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of esomeprazole test in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.Methods Consecutive patients with heartburn and/or acid regurgitation in three medical centers were enrolled in a prospective,randomized,double-blind study with a placebo-control design.After upper endoscopy examination,patients were divided into non-erosive reflux diseases and erosive esophagitis.All patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring.Those who were diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux diseases had either esophagitis under endoscopy or abnormal esophageal acid exposure in 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring.The patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The patients in treatment group were received 40 mg of esomeprazole daily while the patients in control group were given placebo once daily for 14 days.The severity and frequency of heartburn were recorded both by doctors and patients before and during treatment.Results Two hundred and seventeen patients were completed the study(105 patients in treatment group and 112 patients in control group).If the symptom of heartburn which disappeared in the sixth and seventh day of the first week,it was defined as positive for esomeprazole test,the sensitivity and specificity in treatment group were 87.7% and 42.5%,respectively If the symptom of heartburn disap peared in the second week,it was defined as positive for esomeprazole test.The corresponding sensitivity and specificity in treatment group were 84.6% and 45%,respectively.The Youden index was 0.362 and 0.296 for criteria of one and two weeks,respectively.If the heartburn score improved by more than 50%,75% or 100% from the baseline score after treatment,it was defined as positive for esomeprazole test,the sensitivity and specificity were 95.4% and 32.5%,87.7% and 32.5%,84.6% and 45%,respectively.Conclusions The esomeprazole test has high value in diagnosis of GERD with sensitivity of 87.7% and specificity of 42.5%.Positive definition of heartburn disappeared in the sixth and seventh day is superior in cost-effective.

Objective To explore correlates of health-care seeking behavior in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).Methods Four thousand permanent residents were recruited from eight urban communities and rural villages in Guangzhou and Huizhou, Guangdong province during 2009 by cluster stratified sampling for face-to-face questionnaire survey, including symptoms of bowel disease,behavior of seeking for health-care, demographic characteristics, coping style, life events and medical history.IBS was identified based on the Rome Ⅱ Criteria.Patient with IBS were divided into two groups,one seeking health-care at hospitals or clinics and the other non-seeking health-care.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare difference between the two groups and explore its related factors.Results A total of 237 IBS patients were identified based on the Rome Ⅱ Criteria, 53 of them (22.4% ) had sought health-care due to their symptoms.Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preference in seeking for health-care, abdominal pain lasting for more than one hour in each episode and extra-gastrointestinal symptoms were main factors related to their seeking for health-care,adjusted for age and gender, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.81 (95% CI: 1.27 -2.58), 1.41 (95% CI:1.01 - 5.14 ) and 2.14 ( 95% CI: 1.06 - 4.33 ), respectively.Conclusions Extra-gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal pain lasting for more than one hour in each episode correlate their health-care seeking behavior in patients with IBS, as well as their preferences in seeking for health-care.

AIMTo study the relationship between changes of learning, memory and orphanin FQ (OFQ) in hippocampus of rats in acute hypobaric hypoxia at two different altitude levels of 4 500 m(moderate) and 7 500 m(serious).

METHODSHypobaric chamber, Morris water maze training method and RT-PCR technique were used in the experiment.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the control, the OFQ mRNA expression of hippocampus increased significantly after exposure to acute serious hypobaric hypoxia (8 h/d for 6 d in succession), but obviously decreased after Morris water maze training (6 times/d for 6 d in succession, the latency of place navigation was shortened). (2) After exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia, the latency of place navigation was markedly elongated, but the OFQ mRNA of hippocampus was significantly higher than that of learning and memory group.

CONCLUSIONThe hippocampal OFQ was involved in the mechanism of decrease in spatial learning and memory induced by acute hypobaric hypoxia.

Altitude ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Opioid Peptides ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIMTo develop simple but reliable intracellular labelling method for high-resolution visualization of the fine structure of single neurons in brain slice with thickness of 500 microm.

METHODSBiocytin was introduced into neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slices while blind whole cell recording. Following processed for histochemistry using the avidin-biotin-complex method, stained slices were mounted in glycerol on special glass slides. Labelled cells were digital photomicrographed every 30 microm and reconstructed with Adobe Photoshop software.

RESULTSAfter histochemistry, limited background staining was produced. The resolution was so high that fine structure, including branching, termination of individual axons and even spines of neurons could be identified in exquisite detail with optic microscope. With the help of software, the neurons of interest could be reconstructed from a stack of photomicrographs.

CONCLUSIONThe modified method provides an easy and reliable approach to revealing the detailed morphological properties of single neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slice. Without requisition of special equipment, it is suited to be broadly applied.

Animals ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Software ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

Objective To determine the bowel habits and its perceptions in the general population of Guangdong province. Methods Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18-80 year was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas in Guangdong province. Questionnaire included the items on the characteristics of people being selected and their bowel habits. Results A total of 4103 residents (male 1878, female 2225) were investigated. Mean age among the responders was 42.81 ± 14.13 year. Among 4056 subjects (missing =47 ), 2972 subjects (73.3%) reported daily defecation, and 3951 subjects (97.4%) reported stool frequency between 3 times per week and three times per day. Two hundred and seventy subjects (6.6%) reported abnormal bowel habits by themselves. The stool frequency (OR=2.03, 95% CI:1.54-2.67) , forms of stool (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 2.35-3.22) and straining (OR=3.56, 95% CI:2.49-5.11) were significantly associated with self-reported abnormal bowel habits. Among 3949 subjects (missing= 154), 644 (16.3%) were defined as having abnormal bowel habits according to Rome Ⅱ criteria. There was poor agreement between self-reported abnormal bowel habits and that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria (Kappa=0.312). Conclusion It seemed to be appropriate that the normal stool frequency was defined as bowel movements between 3 times per week and three times per day in the general population. The prevalence of self-reported abnormal bowel habits was lower than that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria and the agreement between these two definitions was poor.