BACKGROUND: Endothelin(ET) -1 is a peptide with potent actions on blood vessels and nerve system. Its expression increases in the central nervous system(CNS) in a variety of pathological conditions, inducing harmful effects on the nervous tissue. However it is not clearly elucidated whether the over-expressed ET-1 can directly induce neuronal apoptosis.OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ET-1 can directly induce apoptosis in primarily cultured brain neurons of rat, and which ET receptor subtype(s) is involved in this action.DESIGN: Completely randomized and controlled experimental study based on cells.SETTING: Neurological department in a university hospital, pathological department of a university and laboratory center of tissue transplantation and immunology, life science and technology college.MATERIALS: This study was completed in the Pathology Department, the Institute of Tissue Transplantation and Immunology, the Life Science and Technology College of Jinan University. The subjects were primarily-cultured neurons obtained from cerebral cortex of newborn rats that were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of the Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University.INTERVENTIONS: After culturing for five days, the neurons were treated with ET-1 (0. 2 nmol/L and 20 nmol/L) for 24 hours. Apoptotic neurons were semi-quantitatively measured with Annexin V and Hoechst 33258 staining respectively. ET-1(20 nmol/L), with BQ123(a selective antagonist for ET receptor A, 1 mmol/L) or with BQ788(a selective antagonist for ET receptor B, 1 mmol/L), was added respectively into the cultures simultaneously. And the apoptotic neurons were quantitatively measured with flow cytometry 24 hours later. Equal amount of PBS, instead of ET-1, waw added into the control subjects.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of ET-1 on apoptosis rate of cultured rat cortical neurons, and the ET receptor subtypes involved in this action.RESULTS: Twenty-four hours after treated with 0.2 nmol/L ET-1, the Annexin-V, and Hoechest 33258 positive stained cell rates[ (23.00 ± 9.96)%,(9.82 ±0.95)% ] were of no difference as compared with those of the controls[ (13.50 ± 3.35)%, (8.21 ± 2. 17)% ]. By contrast, after incubation with the higher dose of ET-1 (20 nmol/L), significant higher rate of apoptosis was measured in Annexin V staining[(50.50 ± 10.78)%, P=0.01, n=4] and Hoechest 33258 staining[(13.78±1.52)%, P= 0. 000, n = 8] . Analyzed with flow cytometry, the apoptosis rate was (0.20±0. 15)% in the control group, (26. 11 ±3.28)% in 20 nmol/LET-1 group, and(13.58 ±4. 92)% in BQ123 +ET-1 and(9.99 ±3.30)% in BQ788 +ET-1 respectively, indicating that BQ123 and BQ788 partially-blocked the apoptosis effect of ET-1 on. cultured neurons(BQ123 + ET-1 vs ET-1, P = 0. 005; BQ788 + ET-1 vs ET-1, P = 0. 001, n = 4, respectively).CONCLUSION: The higher dose of ET-1 (20 nmol/L) can directly induce apoptosis of primarily-cultured cerebral neurons of rats. The effect of ET-1 inducing neuronal apoptosis may be mediated via both ET receptors A and B.

Objective To establish the methods for measuring the dose to occupational staff's eye lens in interventional procedures with direct-reading dosimeters,and to realize the real-time monitoring of eye lens dose and warning for high dose rate,thus providing the scientific basis of the staff radiological protection in interventional procedures.Methods Direct-reading dosimeters were calibrated with personal dose equivalent HP (3).The eye lens doses for occupational staff in different kinds of interventional procedures were measured by the devices with both single-and double X-ray tubes.The data obtained fromthe direct-reading dosimeters was compared to those obtained from TLDs.Results Direct-reading dosimeters showed good linear fitting with the calibration of HP (3),and the coefficients of variation were lower than 5％.The average eye lens HP (3) for the main operator in coronary arteriography and stent implantation in brain obtained by direct-reading dosimeters were 12.0 and 24.5 μSv,respectively,whereas those obtained by TLDs were 11.9 and 22.7 μSv,respectively.The direct-reading dosimeters gave similar t~nds as TLDs do so.The direct-reading dosimeters were able to provide eye lens HP (3) in each individual interventional procedure,and to monitor the real-time dose rate as well.Conclusions The calibration of HP (3) and the data gained by direct-reading dosimeters are reliable.Therefore,the methods for real-time measurement of eye lens dose for occupational staff in interventional procedures are successfully established.

Objective To establish methods of measuring the eye lens dose to interventional staff,to obtain relevant dose data and to provide a scientific basis for reducing eye lens dose.Methods Two kinds of dosimeters,thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD),were selected to measure the personal dose equivalent HP (3) to eye lens of occupational staff in several kinds of interventional procedures,including cardiovascular interventional procedures,cerebrovascular interventional procedures etc.Five types of Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) equipment were chosen in the study,including single tube equipment and double tube equipment.Results The eye lens dose HP (3) to interventional staff varied significantly with different interventional procedures.The lowest dose is shown in the coronary angiography procedure,while the highest dose shown in the cerebral stenting procedure.For the same type of interventional procedure,the eye lens dose to the primary interventionist was the highest.For same interventionist,the dose to the left eye was obviously higher than that to the right eye.In addition,the measured results of OSLD were apparently higher than that of TLD.Conclusions Both TLD and OSLD could be used to measure eye lens dose,and the ways of calibrating TLD to evaluate personal dose equivalent HP (3) were feasible.The reason of significant difference between the measured results of TLD and OSLD needs further research.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of external application of Chinese medicine ion introduction through acupiont in the prevention and treatment of hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis following endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). Methods Three hundred subjects were divided into treatment group and control group randomly, and treated with routine therapy after surgery, moreover, treatment group was treated with external application of Chinese medicine ion introduction through acupiont. The incidence of hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis, the time of serum amylase returned to normal in patients with hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis was observed, and the abdominal pain after ERCP was scored. Results Excluding 17 cases according to the exclusion criteria, the treatment group included 142 cases and the control group included 141 cases. The hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis happened less frequently in the treatment group than in control group, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The time of serum amylase returned to normal in patients with pancreatitis was (4.25±0.95)d in treatment group and (5.28±1.11)d in control group, with no significant difference (P>0.05). The time of serum amylase returned to normal in patients with hyperamylasemia was (2.88 ± 0.78)d in treatment group and (3.81±1.62)d in control group, showed a significant difference (P<0.05). The score of abdominal pain was 0.95±1.04 in treatment group and 1.21±1.12 in control group, showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion External application of Chinese medicine ion introduction through acupoint can promote the recovery of the patients postoperative ERCP combined with hyperamylasemia or pancreatitis, and can better alleviate abdominal pain.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Changjishu soft elastic capsule, a new Chinese herbal medicine for smoothing liver, invigorating spleen and regulating qi activity, on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) patients with liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of expression of MG7-Ag diflferentiation and guidance of follow-up mucosal biopsy in the patients with suspected malignanct gastric ulcer.Methods The expression of MG7-Ag in 58 patients who were suspected as having malignant gastric ulcer under routine endoscopy was studied by immuno-histochemical staining.The follow-up endoscopy was pefformed 1 to 72 weeks(mean 7 weeks)later and biopsy was taken.Results There were 19 cases of gastric carcinoma in 30 patients with positive MG7-Ag expression(63.3%)and only 5 in 28 patients with negative MG7-Ag expression(P＜0.01).Conclusion The positive expression of MG7-Ag is correlated with gastrie carcinoma in patients with suspected malignant gastric ulcer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) and endoscopic naso-biliary drainage (ENBD) on hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HACC).Methods The clinical data of 87 patients with HACC,who underwent ERBD and ENBD form January 2010 to January 2016,were retrospectively analyzed.The incidence of postoperative severe cholangitis,biliary obstruction again within 4 weeks,reduction of total bilirubin and survival time were studied.Results There were significant differences between ERBD group and ENBD group on the incidence of severe cholangitis[29.2％ (14/48) VS 10.3％ (4/39),x2 =4.689,P=0.030] and bile duct obstruction in 4 weeks after operation [47.9％ (23/48) VS 23.1％ (9/39),x2=5.710,P =0.017].The total bilirubin within 2 weeks and 4 weeks postoperatively was significantly reduced compared with that before operation (P＜0.05).There was no statistical difference in descend range of total bilirubin between the two groups.There was significant difference between ERBD group and ENBD group in the median survival time [14 weeks (range,0-60 weeks) VS 34 weeks (range,2-96 weeks),x2 =10.101,P=0.010].Conclusion Compared to ERBD,ENBD has certain advantages on palliative care for HACC.

Objective To investigate the correlation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and left atrial and left ventricular enlargement in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 224 patients with acute cerebral infarction were included. Based on the thickness of CIMT, it was divided into three groups which were normal CIMT group, thickening CIMT group, and carotid plaque (CP) group, with 57, 97, and 70 patients included respectively. Clinical data were collected, and carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound, cardiac color Doppler ultrasound and other examinations were determined to carry out relevant statistical analysis.Results The left anterior-posterior diameter (LAD) , left atrial diameter index (LADI) , left ventricular end-diastolic septal thickness (IVSD) , and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in the CP group were all higher than those in the normal CIMT group and thickening CIMT group (P < 0.05). The percentage of the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) took in the thickening CIMT group were both higher than those in the CP group (P < 0.05). Multi-factor logistic regression analysis indicated that there were statistically significant differences in age, homocysteine and left LVMI (P < 0.05). In the Pearson correlation analysis, CIMT and LADI were positively correlated (r= 0.184, P < 0.01) , and there was a positive correlation between CIMT and LVMI (r = 0.236, P < 0.01). Conclusions Left ventricular enlargement is one of the highrisk factors for CIMT abnormalities in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Left atrial and left ventricular enlargement are closely correlated to the severity of CIMT in patients with acute cerebral infarction, indicating that abnormal CIMT in patients with acute cerebral infarction has a certain predictive effect on left atrial and left ventricular enlargement.