AIMTo study the effects of sodium salicylate on the expression of GABAalpha NR1 and hearing response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in mice.

METHODSThirty-six kunming mice were divided into three groups (A, B, C,). The expression of GABAalpha NR1 were measured by using RT-PCR. The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions and frequency-turning curves were recorded by extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques.

RESULTS(1) The expression of GABAalpha mRNA of B group was decreased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.05), there weren't noticeable differences between A group and C group (P > 0.05). The expression of NR1 mRNA of B group was increased remarkably than the control group (A group, P < 0.01), there were noticeable differences between A group and C group P < 0.05). (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were more broad when sodium salicylate was given. (3) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were non-monotonic while the frequency-turning curves were sharpened after lidocaine was given.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The results suggested that administration of sodium salicylate decreased the expression of GABAalpha while increased the expression of NR1mRNA. (2) The intensity-rates functions, intensity-latency functions were monotonic, the frequency-turning curves were more broad when salicylate was given and the changes above could be reversed by given lidocaine.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Inferior Colliculi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Sodium Salicylate ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of diet-induced obesity on the developmental process of testes in pubertal rats.

METHODSEighty 21-day-old male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=32) and an experiment group (n=48), and fed respectively on a normal diet and a high-fat diet. And changes in the body weight, Lee's index, testis weight and epididymis weight were measured at the end of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th week after the treatment, that is, when the rats were 6, 7, 8 and 9 weeks old. The concentrations of testosterone and estradiol were determined by Access immunoassay system and the morphological alterations in testis development observed by HE staining.

RESULTSThe body weight of the high-fat group obviously increased at the end of the 3rd week (P < 0.05), 26.6% heavier than that of the control by the end of the 6th week (P < 0.01), and Lee's index was also obviously increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the controls, the testicular coefficient declined in the high-fat group at the end of the 5th and 6th week (P < 0.05), plasma TG and TC remarkably increased, the testosterone level obviously decreased (P < 0.05), estradiol concentration lowered at the end of the 3rd, 4th and 5th week but dramatically increased at the 9th, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). Microscope examination showed that spermatogenic epithelial cells were arranged in disorder, the spermatogenic cell layers reduced and the number of mature sperms reduced.

CONCLUSIONHigh-fat diet can induce nutritional obesity in pubertal rats, which in turn may lead to the underdevelopment of the testis and the abnormal level of gonadal hormones.

Animals ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Weight ; Diet Fads ; Epididymis ; growth & development ; pathology ; Male ; Obesity ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; growth & development ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence of asthma and asthma related symptoms among children aged 0-14 years in three Chinese cities and to obtain a crude estimation of the trend of childhood asthma prevalence in China.

METHODSA cross-sectional, population-based survey of prevalence of asthma was conducted in children aged from 0 to 14 years in 3 major cities of China (Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou) with different geographic locations. All the subjects were randomly selected by a multi-stage sampling method. Three to five schools and kindergartens in 2 urban districts in each city were randomly selected for the survey, and a validated questionnaire that included the core questions of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, Phase III questionnaire and several additional questions were used. All questionnaires were completed by parents or guardians of the selected children. Children whose parents responded affirmatively to the question "Has your child ever been diagnosed as asthma by a doctor" were recognized as victims of asthma.

RESULTSThe prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, and 2.09%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those obtained 10 years ago in the national epidemiological survey in 2000 which used the same method of investigation and the same diagnotic criteria (χ²=3.938, P=0.047; χ²=73.506, P≤0.001; χ²=11.956, P=0.001, in each city). Of the asthmatic children 57.21%, 69.91%, and 60.00% had their first attack before the age of 3 in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, respectively. Wheezing was the primary clinical manifestation for all asthmatic children, followed by persistent cough and repeated respiratory infections. Both the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms were statistically higher in males than in females.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of childhood asthma is statistically higher than that 10 years ago in the three Chinese cities.

Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

The effects of neuroglobin (NGB) gene transfer in vivo mediated by GeneJamer on the hearing response properties of the inferior colliculus (IC) neurons in mice after administration of sodium salicylate were studied. Forty-eight Kunming mice were divided into 4 groups (n=12 in each group): Group A1 (negative control);Group A2 (positive control);Group B, sodium salicylate (450 mg/kg every day) + pEGFP-C1;Group C, sodium salicylate (450 mg/kg every day) + pEGFP-NGB. The GeneJamer and pEGFP-NGB were mixed and injected into IC neurons in mice. The expression of NGB mRNA and protein of IC neurons in mice was detected by using RT-PCR and Western blot methods. The intensity-rate functions, intensity-latency functions and frequency-turning curves in IC neurons were recorded by extracellular electrophysiological recording techniques and the effects of pEGFP-NGB transfer following injection of sodium salicylate on them were studied. It was found that: (1) The GeneJamer-mediated pEGFP-NGB could be effectively transferred into the IC brain tissues in mice and NGB could be expressed intensively. (2) The intensity-rate functions of IC neurons were raised after administration of sodium salicylate. The non-monotonic styles of intensity-rate functions in groups A1, A2 and C were accounted for 74.6%, 72.2 %, 59.3 %, respectively, and the function in group B for 47%. There were significant differences between group B and groups A1, A2 or C (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05). (3) The intensity-latency functions in IC neurons were reduced after administration of sodium salicylate. The non-monotonic styles of intensity-latency functions in groups A1, A2 and C were accounted for 3.2 %, 5.1 %and 21 %, respectively, and that in group B for 45.5 %. There were significant differences between group B and groups A1, A2 or C (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). (4) The frequency-turning curves in groups A1 and A2 were sharpened. In 72 acoustic neurons recorded in the group B, the frequency-turning curves from 53 neurons were broadened while those of the rest were sharpened. In group C the frequency-turning curves recorded from 12 of 67 acoustic neurons were broadened while those of the remaining were sharpened. These results suggest that in vivo transfer of NGB gene is highly expressed in IC neurons in mice. In vivo transfer of NGB gene reverses the change of intensity-rate functions, intensity-latency functions and the code styles after administration of sodium salicylate in IC neurons in mice.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality and clinical applicability of pyrosequencing assay kit for detecting hepatitis B virus resistance (HBV DRT).

METHODSSerial dilutions of the International Standard for HBV DNA were used to test the detection limit of the PCR for HBV DRT. Plasmids containing the either a wild-type (WT) copy or one of 10 mutant (MT) copies of the HBV RT gene were used to prepare a series of samples with various mutation ratios. To construct the linear relationship between the true mutation rate and the detected mutation rate, each sample was repeated at least 10 times. A total of 102 clinical samples were analyzed by Sanger sequencing and retested by the PCR for HBV DRT to determine the concordance of these two methods.

RESULTSThe lower detection limit of the PCR for HBV DRT was 50 IU/ml. Except for the RT236 MT, the correlation between the true mutation rate and the detected mutation rate for the other nine resistance-related mutation sites were excellent, with R² more than 0.98 (P less than 0.001). Among the 102 clinical samples, four were not amplified successfully by PCR. The results were significantly different between the PCR for HBV DRT method and the Sanger sequencing method (x² = 71.2, P less than 0.001), and concordance was observed for 897/969 (92.6%) amino acid positions in 98 samples. Concordant results were achieved in 46/98 (46.9%) samples at all 10 mutation sites. For detection of a single mutation site, concordance rates ranged from 71.5% to 100% at the 10 mutation sites, respectively. Analysis of discordant samples showed that in 87.5% (63/72), Sanger sequencing detected WT and the PCR for HBV DRT detected WT/MT. In 5.6% (4/72) of samples, Sanger sequencing detected WT/MT and the PCR for HBV DRT detected WT. In the remaining 6.9% (5/72) of samples, Sanger sequencing detected WT but PCR for HBV DRT detected MT.

CONCLUSIONThe PCR for HBV DRT showed high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting antiviral drug-resistant mutations. The method is superior to Sanger sequencing for detecting minor mutations and can be used for early detection of a resistance mutation.

Antiviral Agents ; Base Sequence ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objectives:To describe the early and long-term survival of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting(OPCAB)and to analyze the impact and risk factors of peri-operative events on mortality and long-term survival in OPCAB patients aged over 75 years old. Methods:From January 2001 to December 2012,233 patients aged over 75 underwent OPCAB in our hospital, 173 cases (74.25%) were male,the average age was (77.1±2.3) years.The perioperative data was retrospectively collected.Binary Logistic regression was used to define the risk factors related to the perioperative events and mortality.Follow-up was performed regularly post-surgery. Univariate analysis and Cox regression model were used to find out factors affecting the long-term outcomes. Results:Fifteen out of 233 patients died during the perioperative period. Binary Logistic regression showed that preoperative arrhythmia (OR=6.767, P=0.002),IABP ( intraoperative, post-operative) (OR=4.292, P=0.040;OR=19.455, P＜0.001), ICU stay time (OR=1.500, P=0.001), mechanical ventilation time (OR=1.004, P=0.002), reintubation or tracheotomy (OR=30.000, P＜0.001), re-thoracotomy (OR=26.750, P＜0.001), postoperative cerebral infarction (OR=5.889, P=0.041) were risk factors of perioperative mortality. The remaining 218 patients were followed up for a mean of (92.84±45.52) months, 121 patients died during follow-up. The survival rate at l, 3, 5, 8 and 10 years was 90.99%, 87.55%, 85.31%, 68.93% and 56.70%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that sex(male), hypertension, preoperative arrhythmia, reintubation or tracheotomy were risk factors of the long-term mortality (P＜0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that reintubation or tracheotomy (HR 4.387, 95%CI=1.876-10.259,P＜0.010) was the independent risk factor affecting the long-term survival. Conclusions:Preoperative arrhythmia, IABP (intraoperative, postoperative), ICU stay time, mechanical ventilation time, reintubation and tracheotomy, re-thoracotomy, postoperative cerebral infarction are risk factors of perioperative mortality. Reintubation or tracheotomy is the independent risk factor affecting the long-term survival.Taken together, OPCAB in patients aged over 75 is associated with favorable perioperative and long-term outcome,and it serves a safe and effective operative strategy for coronary artery revascularization in patients aged over 75.

BACKGROUND: The balloon dilatation technique plays an important role in the correction of kyphosis. A balloon catheter can enlarge the spinal cavity in kyphoplasty followed by injection of bone cement under low pressure to lay a foundation for the stability of the spine. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of balloon dilation with injectable calcium sulfate cement for tibial plateau fractures and to analyze its clinical effect. METHODS: Twenty-four upper tibia specimens of the adults were taken to make the Schatzker Ⅲ collapsed fracture model of the tibial plateau. Then, these specimens were randomized into three groups: the standard group was subjected to poking reduction with autologus bone grafting and screw internal fixation, the bone cement group was inflated with balloon dilatation followed by calcium sulfate cement injection, and the combined group was treated with fixation with cancellous bone screws and balloon dilatation followed by injection of calcium sulfate cement. The general situation of reduction and fixation was observed and the reduction effect was measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Fixation effect in the model: All three models were well reset, and the average displacement of the standard group, the simple bone cement group and the bone cement screw group was (-0.22±0.62), (-0.23±0.67), and (-0.20±0.69) mm, respectively. There was no significant difference in the displacement between the three groups (P ＞ 0.05). (2) Clinical application: One case of Schatzker type Ⅱ fracture of the left tibial plateau was treated with cancellous bone screw fixation and balloon dilatation followed by injection of calcium sulfate cement. X-ray results showed calcium sulfate cement was visible at 3 postoperative days. At 30 postoperative days, the patient presented with good joint range of motion, and the calcium sulfate was partially absorbed on the X-ray film. At 60 postoperative days, the patient appeared to have no joint extension disorder, and fracture healing and absorption of calcium sulfate as shown by X-rays. To conclude, the balloon dilation with injectable calcium sulfate cement for the treatment of tibial plateau fracture is feasible and has clinical value.

To separate and identify the chemical constituents from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera (Linn.) Vent, various columns including Diaion HP-20, Toyopearl HW-40C, Sephadex LH-20, silica gel were employed for the isolation and purification of compounds from the leaves of B. papyrifera. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by their physiochemical characteristics and spectral data. Nineteen compounds were isolated from the leaves of B. papyrifera and their structures were identified as apigenin (1), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), chrysoerid-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranuronide (4), vitexin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), luteolin (6), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyl-6-C-[a-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavone (7), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyl-8-C-[a-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavone (8), saponaretin (9), vitexin (10), benzyl benzoate-2, 6-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), (2R, 3R, 5R, 6S, 9R)-3-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-beta-ionol-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12), (2R, 3R, 5R, 6S, 9R)-3-hydroxyl-5,6-epoxy-acetyl-beta-ionol-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13), ficustriol (14), (6S, 9S)-roseoside (15), 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone-2alpha-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (16), icariside B1 (17), sammangaoside A (18), 3-hydroxy-5alpha,6alpha-epoxy-beta-ionone (19). Compounds 11, 12 and 13 are new compounds, the others are isolated from this genus Broussonetia for the first time.
Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Broussonetia ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEIn recent years, the incidence of allergic diseases in China is increasing. With serious influence on the patients' quality of life and even life-threatening, now allergic diseases have become an important public health problem in our country. This survey aimed to obtain a general epidemic outline of children's major allergic diseases, i.e., childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the downtown of Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

METHODChildhood asthma questionnaire was established by Delphi method based on guidelines for childhood asthma diagnosis and prevention made by Chinese medical association in 2008 with reference to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (ISAAC). This study was carried out from Oct. 2008-Mar. 2009, in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou by a multi-stage sampling method, covering a sample of 24 290 children aged 0 - 14 years by a multi-stage sampling method, the population of children surveyed in the downtown of Beijing Chongqing and Guangzhou was 10 372, 9874 and 4072 respectively; of whom males were 5545, 5258, 2159, and females were 4917, 4588, 1877; the ratio of males to females in the three cities were 1.11:1, 1.15:1, 1.15:1; the average age of surveyed children were 7.63, 8.74 and 8.30 years old. All the questionnaire was filled in by the parents of children or other guardian of children.

RESULTThe self-reported prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, 2.09%, the self-reported prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 14.46%, 20.42%, 7.83%, and the prevalence of eczema was 20.64%, 10.02%, 7.22%. In the survey, asthma combined with allergic rhinitis had the highest rate, 49.54%, 50.14%, 34.83%, respectively in the 3 cities. The self-reported prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis was significantly higher in male than female. Besides, the self-reported prevalences of asthma and allergic rhinitis were relatively lower in children under 1 year and over 10 years of age.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema and other allergic diseases in children 0 - 14 years of age in the three cities gradually increased, and the prevalence of allergic diseases in Chongqing was relatively higher.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Eczema ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo establish a strain of human cervical carcinoma cell line and to provide a cervical carcinoma animal model.

METHODSThe cervical carcinoma specimens incised aseptically were cultured in vitro by tissue culture methods, giving a tumor cell growth curve. Morphology of the cells was observed, with cell cycling analysis and chromosome analysis performed. The tumor markers (ER, PR, Keratine, PCNA) expressions of the cell line were detected by immuno-cytochemical technique.

RESULTSA human cervical carcinoma cell line HCC-0214 (H) has been obtained by in vitro tissue culture methods. The cells have been maintained for 16 months through 131 passages, showing a stable growth with a population doubling time of 35.48 h and a tendency to pile up without contact inhibition. The ultrastructure showed typical desmosomes and numerous tonofilaments. Chromosome analysis revealed the number of chromosomes per cell varied from 35-156 with a stem-line number of 58-80 (64.8%). The morphology of chromosomes showed human tumor cell structure. The tumor markers (ER, PR, Keratine, PCNA) of the cells showed a high expression. The DNA index was 1.931 by flow cytometry (FCM). The histopathology of the transplanted tumors in nude mice was the same as the original tumor, though with none successful by serum culture.

CONCLUSIONA human cervical carcinoma cell line HCC-0214 established by tissue culture is identical to the primary cancer cell in biological characters. After the cells have been passaged for more than 16 months continually, their characteristics are still retained. Therefore, HCC-0214 may be used as a stable cell line.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; physiology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology