Objective To investigate the effect of irrigation with hypothermic artificial cerebral-spinal fluid (aCSF)on expression of aquaporin-4(AQP-4) in the spinal cord following spinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rabbits.Methods Fifty-four adult male New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2.0-2.5 kg were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=18 each):group sham operation(S group); group I/R and group irrigation with hypothermic aCSF (FI group). Spinal I/R was induced by clamping the abdominal aorta below renal artery for 60 min. Hypothermic aCSF(25 X.)was infused at L4,5 interspace at a rate of 30 ml/h and drained from L7,8 interspace during spinal ischemia.Neurological function was evaluated at 4, 24, 48 and 72 h of reperfusion and scored (0=no hind limb activity, 4=hind limb function completely recovered) in 6 animals in each group. Six animals were sacrificed at 4, 24 and 72 h respectively in each group.The lumbar segment (L5-8) was removed for measurement of water content and AQP-4 protein expression (by immuno-histochemistry).Results Neurological function scores were significantly lower,water content was higher and AQP-4 expression smaller in group I/R than in group S. I/R-induced effects were significantly attenuated by irrigation of hypothermic aCSF. Conclusion Irrigation with hypothermic aCSF can ameliorate the spinal cord I/R injuries by up-regulation of AQP-4 expression.

Objective To establish a microbial limit test for levofloxacin hydrochloride gel. Methods Ca2+ was added to neutralize the antibacterial activity of quinolone,and to form the insoluble precipitate by binding with carbomer, therefore destroying the stability of macromolecules in the gel. The microbial limit test for levofloxacin hydrochloride gel was confirmed combining with membrane filtration and plate methods. Results The normal plate counting was used in detecting the mold and yeast colony in the gel, the recovery was more than 70%.Simultaneously neutralization centrifugation and membrane filtration were used in bacterial count,with recovery less than 70%,and controlling bacteria test. Conclusion The method is accurate and practical for microbial limit test of levofloxacin hydrochloride gel, but is risky for bacterial counting and needs further risk assessment.

Objective To study the effect of balloon dilatation therapy on dysphagia caused by cricopharyn- geal achalasia.Methods Ten cases of dysphagia were diagnosed as cricopharyngeal achalasia by videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS).A 14~* urethral catheter was inserted into the esophagus and an amount of water was injec- ted into the balloon of the urethral catheter to make it turgid.Then the catheter was pulled upwards and passed through the stricture of esophagus to dilatate the cricopbarygeus muscle.Meanwhile,low frequency electrical stimula- tion was used and combined with functional training of the organs related to deglutition and ingestion.The results be- fore and after the treatment were evaluated.Results After 19.7 times of dilatation therapy,the content of water in- jected into the balloon was increased from 2.65?0.91 ml to 8.20?0.92 ml.Cricopharyngeal achalasia was alle- viated significantly(P

Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms, Fibrous Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

In this study, 120 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement were randomly divided into the control group and the Qishen group, with 60 cases in each group. Before the operation, the control group was given routine heart and diuretic treatments and placebo of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.5 g each time, three times a day); While the Qishen group was given Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.5 g each time after meal, three times a day) on the basis of the routine treatments. The right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), end-systolic volume (RVESV), stroke volume (SV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were detected after the operation. The results showed that patients in the two groups showed significantly lower right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end systolic volume (RVESV) and stroke volume (SV) decreased than that before the operation, but with significantly higher Ejection fraction (RVEF) significantly than that before the operation. However, the Qishen group showed a significantly lower right heart function reduction than the control group, with the statistical significance in the differences (P < 0.05). This indicated that the pretreatment with Qishenyiqi Drop Pills showed a remarkable efficacy in the improvement of right ventricular function after valve replacement.
Aged ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Ventricular Function, Right ; drug effects

Objective To prepare an attenuated Listeria vaccine Lmdd-LMP2A expressing the Ep-stein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A ( EBV-LMP2A) and evaluate its specific anti-tumor effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods The gene fragment encoding EBV-LMP2A was amplified by PCR analysis and then subcloned into the shuttle vector p1565.PCR restriction enzyme digestion and DNA se-quencing were performed to identify the recombinant shuttle vector p1565-LMP2A.The p1565-LMP2A vector was then transformed into competent strains of the attenuated Listeria monocytogenes ( Lmdd) .The recombi-nant attenuated Listeria vaccine strain Lmdd-LMP2A was verified by Western blot assay.The histological sections of spleen and liver tissues were stained by Haematoxylin and eosin ( H&E) for analysis of inflamma-tion.A tumor-bearing HLA-A2 transgenic mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of CNE-1/HLA-A2/LMP2A nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.The prepared Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine was inoculated into the mice via tail intravenous injection for the evaluation of specific CTL induction and the in vivo anti-tumor effects.Results The shuttle vector p1565-LMP2A and the recombinant attenuated Listeria vaccine strain Lmdd-LMP2A with stable expression of LMP2A protein were successfully constructed.The immunized mice showed mild inflammations with no structural damage and necrosis as indicated by H&E staining.The growth of tumors in tumor-bearing HLA-A2 transgenic mice was significantly inhibited by the immunization of Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine as compared with mice without inoculation.The survival time of mice was prolonged with the immunization of Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine.Conclusion The prepared attenuated Listeria vaccine Lm-dd-LMP2A showed specific anti-tumor effects with the safety advantage, suggesting the possibility of using it for anti-tumor therapy in clinic.

Objective To clone and express the outer surface protein C ( OspC) from a Chinese Borrelia afzelli FP1 strain and to evaluate the immune protectivity of the recombinant OspC protein ( rOspC) . Methods The gene encoding OspC protein of Borrelia afzelli FP1 strain was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then inserted into pET-30a plasmid to construct the recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a-OspC. The transformed E. coli BL21 strains carrying pET-30a-OspC plasmid were induced by IPTG to express OspC protein. The expressed proteins were purified by Ni-IDA resin chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot assay. Indirect immunofluorescence assay ( IFA) was performed to detect anti-rOspC protein antibodies in serum samples from rabbits immunized with rOspC protein. In vitro neutral-ization test was performed for evaluation the immune protectivity of rOspC protein. Results The recombi-nant expression plasmid pET-30a-OspC was successfully constructed and highly expressed in E. coli BL21. A strong antigen-antibody reaction between the rOspC protein and polyclonal antibody against Borrelia afzelli FP1 strain was detected by Western blot assay. The titers of IgG in serum samples from rabbits immunized with rOspC protein were significantly elevated. The in vitro neutralization test indicated that 106/ml of Borre-lia afzelli FP1 strains were neutralized by every anti-OspC protein serum sample from the experiment group. Conclusion The rOspC protein showed a strong immune protectivity against Borrelia afzelli, which could be used in the development of polyvalent subunit vaccine against lyme disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-atherotic effects of heme-L-lysinate in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis and related machanisms.

METHODSAdult rabbits were treated with 1% cholesterol diet (chol group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus heme-L-lysinate (9 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1), Heme group, n = 8) or 1% cholesterol diet plus isotonic Na chloride (Na chloride group, n = 8) for 10 weeks. Eight rabbits fed with normal diet served as normal control. Aortic carbon monoxide (CO) was quantified spectrophotometrically by the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO). Aortic heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and HSP70 mRNA and protein expressions were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSAortic CO production and HO-1 activity were significantly increased in chol group and Na chloride group compared those in normal control group (P < 0.01). Aortic plaque area was significantly reduced in heme group (26.6% +/- 9.2%) than that in chol group (42.3% +/- 8.7%, P < 0.01). Aortic HO-1 expression, CO production and HSP70 were significantly increased in heme group than those in chol group and Na chloride group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHeme-L-lysinate could attenuate atherosclerotic progression through upregulating HO-1 and HSP70 expression and increasing CO production in this model.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; Diet, Atherogenic ; Disease Models, Animal ; HSC70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heme ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Lysine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits

Objective To study the characteristics,diagnosis and therapeutic principles of postmenopausal ovarian masses. Methods The clinical data of 261 postmenopausal women were reviewed to understand the characteristics,best diagnostic measures and therapeutic principles of postmenopausal ovarian masses. Results Among the post-(menopausal) ovarian masses,27.9% were malignant and 5.36% were boundary.No symptoms were found in(44.4%) of the patients.Before operation,the characteristics of masses can be identified by B-mode sonography,color Doppler sonography and CA-125 detection.Simple adnexectomy was performed for most of the benign ovarian masses and cytoreductive surgery for malignancies. Conclusion Regular examinations should be performed on postmenopausal women for ovarian masses,and B-mode sonography,color Doppler sonography and CA-125 detection be employed in the case of necessity.Once the ovarian masses are confirmed,surgeries may be the best choice for patients.

The postpartum depression outcome and the effect of psychological intervention were studied in order to reduce the occurrence and development of the postpartum depression. A survey of 4000 women within 4-6 weeks postpartum in 80 communities in Shenzhen, China was performed using random cluster sampling method. By employing Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as a screening tool, the positive women (defined as EPDS ≥10) were randomly divided into intervention group and control group at a ratio of 1:2. The women in the intervention group were treated by means of mailing postpartum depression prevention and treatment knowledge manual, face-to-face counseling, and telephone psychological counseling interventions aiming at individual risk factors, while those in the control group were treated with conventional methods. EPDS scores were assessed in these two groups again at 6th month postpartum. Totally, 3907 valid questionnaires were obtained. All the 771 positive women were divided into two groups: 257 in the intervention group, and 514 in the control group. At 6th month postpartum, the EPDS scores in the intervention group were decreased significantly, from baseline stage (12.84±3.02) to end stage (3.05±2.93), while EPDS scores in the control group were reduced from 12.44±2.78 to 6.94±4.02. There were significant differences in the EPDS scores at end stage between the two groups (t=13.059, P<0.001). Psychological intervention can reduce postpartum depression, with better maternal compliance. It is feasible and necessary to establish postpartum depression screening and psychological intervention model in community-hospital and include the postpartum depression screening, intervention, and follow-up into the conventional healthcare.