Objective:To investigate the range of normal value of total nasal cavity volume(NV)and total na-sopharyngeal cavity volume (NPV)of healthy adults. Method: Six hundred and fifty-nine healthy adults andeighty-two adults of chronic rhinitis were measured with acoustic rhinometry. Result:The range of NV was29. 922～37. 481 cm3 and NPV was 29. 369～44. 159 cm3. Comparing healthy adults with adults of chronic rhini-tis,there was a significant difference in NV. Conclusion:Acoustic rhinometry suited for objective assessment ofthe nasal airways in adults. It was demonstrated that these data could provide available information for the studyof nasal physiology and pathophysiology,as well as for the diagnosis and judgement of therapeutic effectiveness ofnasal diseases.

Background Inherited retinal degeneration,one of the major causes of blindness worldwide,comprises a large number of disorders characterized by a slow and progressive retinal degeneration.Interleukin-1 (IL-1)was recognized to be involved in inherited retinal degeneration.Whether IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) can arrest retinal degeneration is worthy of investigation.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of IL-1ra on photoreceptor apoptosis in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats.Methods The use of the animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.The SPF RCS rats aged 9,15,16,25,30,35,40,50 and 60 postnatal days were collected,with 9 rats for each age group.Retinal sections were used for the TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) cell apoptosis assay.1 μl of IL-1ra (1.8 g/L) was intravitreally injected in the right eyes of 9 RCS rats aged 15 postnatal days and PBS was used in the same way in the fellow eyes.The injection procedure was repeated on the 20 th and 25 th day,respectively.The rats were sacrificed on the 30 th day and retinal sections were prepared for the TUNEL assay.The differences in the percentage of the positive cellular nuclei area among different ages of rats were compared by one-way ANOVA,and the differences in retinal layer thickness between IL-1ra injection group and PBS injection group were assessed by paired t test.Results Photoreceptor apoptosis appeared in 20-day-old RCS rats and progressed and peaked in 30 and 35-day-old rats and then reduced,showing a significant difference among rat of various age groups (F=28.020,P＜0.01).Images from TUNEL assay showed a weaker and less TUNEL staining in the IL-1ra injected eyes than the PBS injected eyes in 30-day-old rats.The total area and relative area of TUNEL positive nuclei were (223.052±153.092) μm2 and (2.206±1.531) ％ in the IL-1ra injected group,and those in PBS injected group were (1235.050±359.767) μm2 and (7.269± 1.624) ％,with a significant difference between them (t =4.370,t=3.250,P＜0.01).The cone and rod thickness was (15.324±9.035) μm in the IL-1ra injected group and (49.566±4.605)μm in the PBS injected group,showing a significant difference (t =22.674,P＜0.01).However,no significant difference was seen in the outer nuclear layer thickness between the two groups (t =0.268,P＞0.05).Conclusions IL-1 participates in the pathogenesis and development of inherited retinal degeneration of RCS rats.The use of IL-1ra might be a potential approach in the treatment of inherited retinal degeneration.

Plants in Ainsliaea genus, belongs to Compositae family, are traditional Chinese medicine and widely used in folk. These plants contain various types of chemical components, and main components are sesquiterpene lactone and its glycosides. In addition, there are triterpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, phenolic acid, long chain fatty acid and volatile oils. Recently, much attention has been payed to varlous research of A. fragrans. This paper reviewed and summarized the chemical components to provide the theoretical basis for the use of Ainsliaea.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure

AIM:To discuss Daidzein intravitreal injection whether has protective and recovery effects on acute nerve damages.
METHODS:After the crush models of acute optic nerve were set up, 72 males SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly as common group without surgery, FBS negative control group, Daidzein treatment group ( 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L, 1000μmol/L ) and positive control group using rats nerve growth factor ( mNGF, 100ng/mL ). Three days after interference, all experimental animals were executed. HE staining was used to evaluate morphologic change of the retina, immunohisochemical staining and western-blot tests for identifying and quantifying the distinct expression of Caspase-3 and GAP-43 among the groups.
RESULTS: Compared with the normal group and negative control group, retinal morphology of different concentrations of each Daidzein treatment group and positive control group was more complete, the expression of Caspase-3 protein was relatively lower, the expression of GAP-43 protein was relatively higher, the differences have statistically significance (P<0. 05).CONCLUSION: Daizein injection in the vitreous cavity has the capacity of protection and restoration in rat's acute nerve damages.

Objective To investigate the etiology and clinical characteristics of pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH) and improve its early diagnosis and treatment.Methods The clinical and echocardiogram data of all inpatients with PAH in Pediatric Department of Peking University First Hospital between May 1995 and May 2007 were retrospectively analyzed for age,sex,etiology,symptoms and echocardiographic measurement of pulmonary artery pressure.Data were divided into groups according to different etiology and statistics.Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure(sPAP) values estimated from the tricuspid regurgitant velocity by Doppler echocardiography were compared among different groups.Cases who were not belonged to the first category of the Venice Clinical Classification of pulmonary hypertension were not included.Results Totally 276 cases,168 boys and 108 girls were diagnosed to have PAH.Age ranged from 1 month to 17 years,median age was 9 months.Most of pediatric PAH was associated-PAH(267 cases,96.7%),while idiopathic PAH took a small part(9 cases,3.3%).Congenital heart disease-associated PAH(CHD-PAH) was predominant(245 cases,88.7%) and left to right shunt was the main lesion (217 cases,88.6%),while complex lesion-associated PAH comprised 28 cases(11.4%).Connective tissue disease associated PAH(CTD-PAH) was the second common among this group of pediatric PAH patients(19 cases,6.9 %).The incidence of PAH in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),juvenile rheumatoid arteritis and takayasu arteritis were 10.3 %(13/126),8.7%(4/46),15.4%(2/13),respectively.The other 3 cases of PAH were associated with portal hypertension(2 cases) and thalassanemia(1 case).The estimated sPAP from tricuspid regurgitant velocity in 8 cases with idiopathic PAH[(74.6?23.9) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)]was higher significantly compared with those of 33 cases of CHD-PAH [(58.0?19.7) mmHg ] and 12 cases of CTD-PAH [(49.6?18.9) mmHg] respectively(t=-2.052,-2.609 Pa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition effect of fludarabine on the growth of human MDS-RAEB cell line MUTZ-1 and to explore the possible cellular and molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells induced by fludarabine was studied by transmission electron microscope, MTT assay, DNA ladder test, flow cytometry and RT-PCR method.

RESULTTreatment with fludarabine remarkably inhibited the growth of MUTZ-1 cells, the 24 h IC(50), 48 h IC(50) and 72 h IC(50) of fludarabine for MUTZ-1 cells were 137.65 mg/L, 6.27 mg/L and 0.51 mg/L, respectively. Fludarabine inhibited the growth of MUTZ-1 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. After treated by fludarabine (1 mg/L-16 mg/L)for 24 h, MUTZ-1 cells showed the typical features of apoptosis. After fludarabine treatment the mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, survivin, XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2 was not changed, but the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was decreased.

CONCLUSIONWith a certain range of dose fludarabine (1 mg/L-16 mg/L)could inhibit MUTZ-1 cell growth by inducing cells apoptosis. MMP may play a certain role in apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells induced by fludarabine.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The present study is to establish Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells and investigate the transport capability of PLGA nanoparticles with different surface chemical properties across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells. PLGA-NPs, mPEG-PLGA-NPs and chitosan coated PLGA-NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as carrier material with surface modified by methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) and chitosan. The particle size and zeta potential of nanoparticles were measured by dynamic light scattering. Coumarin 6 was used as a fluorescent marker in the transport of nanoparticles investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The transport of furanodiene (FDE) loaded nanoparticles was quantitively determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Colchicine and nocodazole were used in the transport study to explore the involved endocytosis mechanisms of nanoparticles. Distribution of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 was also analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the nanoparticles dispersed uniformly. The zeta potential of PLGA-NPs was negative, the mPEG-PLGA-NPs was close to neutral and the CS-PLGA-NPs was positive. The entrapment efficiency of FDE in all nanoparticles was higher than 75%. The transport capability of mPEG-PLGA-NPs across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells was higher than that of PLGA-NPs and CS-PLGA-NPs. Colchicine and nocodazole could significantly decrease the transport amount of nanoparticles. mPEG-PLGA-NPs could obviously reduce the distribution of ZO-1 protein than PLGA-NPs and CS-PLGA-NPs. The transport mechanism of PLGA-NPs and mPEG-PLGA-NPs were indicated to be a combination of endocytosis and paracellular way, while CS-PLGA-NPs mainly relied on the endocytosis way. PEG coating could shield the surface charge and enhance the hydrophilicity of PLGA nanoparticles, which leads mPEG-PLGA-NPs to possess higher anti-adhesion activity. As a result, mPEG-PLGA-NPs could penetrate the mucus layer rapidly and transport across Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultured cells.
Biological Transport ; Caco-2 Cells ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Coculture Techniques ; Drug Carriers ; Furans ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; HT29 Cells ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; metabolism

Cerebral Palsy ; classification ; etiology ; psychology ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Intelligence ; Intelligence Tests ; Risk Factors

Objective To compare the influences of off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting operation on plasma thyroid hormones.Methods Forty patients undergoing coronary surgery were randomly divided into off-pump group(n=20)and on- pump group(n=20).Plasma thyroid hormones(T_3,T_4,FT_3,FT_4,rT_3)and thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)were studied perio- peratively.Results Before operation,the values of aU the variables were within normal range in the two groups.In off-pump group, T_3 and FT_3 concentration dropped significantly after operation,reaching the lowest value at first day postoperatively[T_3:(39.7?6.2) ng/dl vs.(78.6?2.1)ng/dl,P0.05),which were within normal range all along,rT_3 concentration rose significantly after operation,reaching the highest value at third day postoperatively[(82.1?26.8)ng/dl vs.(42.3?15.6)ng/dl, P0.05),whereas baseline,operative and postoperative variables were similar.Con- clusion Off-pump operation has some influences on plasma thyroid hormones,showing"low T_3 syndrome"postoperatively,that is similar to what on-pump operation does.

ObjectiveTo explore temperament characteristics of children with cerebral palsy.Methods364 children with cerebral palsy, ages from four months to seven years, were tested with modified Carey\'s Children Temperament Questionnaires. Temperament characteristics of children with different types of cerebral palsy, able and unable walk independently were compared.ResultsChildren with cerebral palsy had negative temperament including less active, low persistence, high distractibility and negative mood. Approach was different between children with diplegia and athtosis. There were no different temperaments among children with different lever of IQ. Children they could not walk independently had an obvious negative temperament.ConclusionChildren with cerebral palsy have significantly negative temperament.