OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Shenfu Injection on prostacyclin, thromboxane A2 and the activities of ATPases in rats exposed to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into two groups: Shenfu Injection (SF)-treated group (rats were treated with Shenfu Injection of 10 ml/kg through intraperitoneal injection) and untreated group (rats were administered with normal saline at the same dose and served as a control group). Hepatic ischemia was caused by Pringle's maneuver and lasted for fifteen minutes, and then one-hour or three-hour reperfusion was performed. Venous blood samples for the measurement of thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) and 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1 alpha)(6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)) were collected three hours after reperfusion. Liver tissue samples were collected one hour or three hours after reperfusion for the measurement of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(+)-Mg(+)-ATPase and for morphological studies. RESULTS: Plasma TXB(2) was lower in the SF-treated group than that in the untreated group after three-hour reperfusion (P>0.05), while 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) was higher in the SF-treated group than that in the untreated group (P>0.05). The ratio of TXB(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) was significantly lower in the SF-treated group than that in the untreated group (P<0.05). The activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(+)-Mg(+)-ATPase in the SF-treated group were improved obviously. A three-hour reperfusion after fifteen-minute ischemia caused important hepatic histological alterations. Marked structural abnormalities were observed in the untreated group, such as massive hepatocyte swelling, necrosis, mitochondria edema and vacuolar changes. In the SF-treated group, hepatic tissue injury was reduced significantly. CONCLUSION: Shenfu Injection protects hepatic tissue from ischemia-reperfusion injury, and such protective effects are achieved by decreasing the ratio of thromboxane A(2) and prostacyclin, and increasing the activities of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(+)-Mg(+)- ATPase.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of acupuncture combined with training of the modified rehabilitation apparatus on upper limb motor function of patients with ischemic stroke.Methods86 patients with ischemic stroke were divided randomly into the treatment group ( treated by acupuncture combined with training of the rehabilitation apparatus) and the control group (treated by simple acupuncture). The upper limb motor function of two groups was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after treatment.ResultsAfter 28 days treatment, scores of FMA of two groups were all raised significantly, but it was significantly greater for the treatment group than the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionIt is shown that acupuncture combined with training of the rehabilitation apparatus can improve the upper limb motor function and activity of daily living of patients with ischemic stroke.

This study was aimed to investigate effects of electroacupunture on PC6-Ne iguan and PC5-Jians hi points on heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) in fear emotion. A total of 120 healthy volunteers were randomly allo-cated into the acupuncture group and control group, with 60 cases in each group. After 20 min frightening audio stimulation, volunteers in the acupuncture group received electroacupunture on PC6 and PC5 of both sides for 20 min and continued to repose for 20 min after needles were removed. Volunteers in the control group reposed for 40 min in the waking state. The heart rate and HRV of each subject was recorded during the whole process through Actiheart. The results showed that the experiment data was divided into two parts, rate rise and decreased or un-changed parts, after listening to audio and analyzed, respectively. Compared to the period of listening for 20 min, there were significant differences on average heart rate, HF, LF/HF of the post listening period between the acupunc-ture group and the control group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences on average heart rate, RMSSD, HF under the condition of heart rate decreasing or unchanging after 20 min (P < 0.05). It was concluded that elec-troacupunture on PC6 and PC5 had immediate regulating and post effects on autonomic nerve and bidirectional regu-lations of the plant nerve function disorder caused by fear, which can treat diseases through excitatory or inhibitory vagus nerve function.

Objective To investigate the application effect of Problem based learning (PBL) combined with role play teaching method in the training of emergency internal medicine.Methods Totally 60 medical students were randomly divided into two groups.The students in the observation groop were trained with PBL teaching method while those in control group were trained with traditional teaching method.The practical performances of the students in both groups were evaluated by virtual experience of dealing with patients in the emergency department through the role play teaching method.The grasp of basic knowledge was assessed by writing tests.Finally all the students in the observation group answered a survey about the teaching methods.Results There was uo difference in the scores of the basic knowledge test between the two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The practical ability of the observation group was much better than that of the control group in the role play practice ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Almost all the students in the observation group accept the PBL teaching method.Conelusion PBL combined with role play teaching method is effective based on the characteristics of emergency medicine.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are important biomarkers for pediatric cardiovascular diseases. Peptide levels are associated with age and gender. Current studies have shown that BNP and NT-proBNP are valuable in the diagnosis of heart failure, with a high specificity and sensitivity. They also contribute to differentiating heart failure from acute respiratory distress induced by simple pulmonary factors. In addition, BNP and NT-proBNP are useful in the evaluation of disease severity and treatment guidance in children with pulmonary hypertension, cardiomyopathy and Kawasaki disease. Current limitations include the relatively small sample size of the study, the detection method and a range of normal values that are not completely uniform.
Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; Child ; Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

Objective To determine the ameliorative effects of Junzhi beverageⅠon neurobehavioral functions in subjects exposed to long-term sustained work.Methods Forty male students of a military institution were randomized into control group ( n=20 ) and the intervention group ( n=20 ) .All the subjects were exposed to 10-hours′high intensity mental work continuously (8∶00-18∶00).At 12∶50, the intervention group drunk a bottle of water with Junzhi beverageⅠ, but the control group drunk water of the same volume only.At 17∶00, neurobehavioral functions of all the subjects were tested by neurobehavioral core test battery (WHO-NCTB) and attention span test(AST).Results According to the results of WHO-NCBT, after 10-hours′continuous mental work,the profile of mood state in the intervention group was more stable than in the control group with lower scores in negative mood and higher scores in positive mood.Meanwhile, some of the neurobehavioral indexes were also found to be significantly improved, including shortened mean time of simple reaction and decreased error reaction rate, enhanced digit span backward, higher scores in Beton test , digit symbol test, Santa Ana practice hand and correct dot number (P<0.05).In addition, higher scores were obtained in the intervention group in AST(P<0.05).Conclusion Junzhi beverageⅠ can significantly improve the neurobehavioral function under sustained mental work conditions, which suggests that the beverage has the potential to postpone mental fatigue protect and enhance cognitive function.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of melittin and 5-Fu, DDP, and TXT on human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 and to primarily explore their possible mechanisms.

METHODSMedian effect analysis was employed to determine the interaction between melittin and 5-Fu, DDP, TXT by analyzing the relationship between fraction affected (FA) and the combination index (CI) acquired from the dose-effect curve. Expressions of chemotherapeutic agent-associated genes of BGC-823 cells with or without treatment were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTS(1) Both melittin and chemotherapeutic agents inhibited the growth of BGC-823. (2) For BGC-823 cells were acted by 5-Fu +melittin, when FA ranged between 0.35-0.75, CI was less than 1. For BGC-823 cells were acted by DDP + melittin, when FA ranged 0.55 or so, CI = 1; when Fa ranged below 0.55, CI was less than 1. For BGC-823 cells were acted by TXT + melittin, CI less than 1 could be seen in the whole interval. (3) After treatment suppressed were the expressions of chemotherapeutic agent-associated genes of BGC-823 cells such as thymidylate synthetase (TS), excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 (ERCC1), breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1), beta-tubulin III (TUBB3), and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT).

CONCLUSIONSMelittin had a synergistic effect on the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. The possible mechanisms might be associated with down-regulating chemotherapeutic agent-associated genes.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Melitten ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the clinical significance of modified thyroidectomy by trans-isthmus approach.Methods The clinical data of 5 751 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from Jan.1996 to Jan.2006 were retrospectively analyzed.All cases were divided into two groups.The modified operation group(n=3288) was treated by trans-isthmus thyroidectomy.Another group(n=2463) was treated by routine approach.The operation time,bleeding volume,and complications were observed and compared.Results In modified operation group,the mean operation time,bleeding volume,temporary injury of recurrent laryngeal nerve,tracheal discomfort,and hypocalcemia were significantly decreased than those in routine approach group(P

Objective To investigate the MR features of pituitary abscess.Methods The MR features of 14 cases of pituitary abscess proved by surgical pathology and clinical treatments were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pre-contrast MR showed hypointense heterogeneous intensity on T_1 WI in 12 cases and iso-hyperintense on T_1 WI in 2 cases,hyperintense on T_2 WI in all cases.Post-gadolinium MR showed the ring-like enhancement around the uneven edge of abscess and the surrounding enhanced meninges connecting to the focus.The normal pituitary could not be identified in all 14 cases.The MR specific findings include the fluid-fluid level,nodule on the edge and the enhanced patchy shadow.Conclusions The pituitary abscess has specific findings on MR examination,which can be used to combine with clinical symptoms to achieve the diagnosis before operation,so that the cases could be treated with antibiotic without operation.

Objective To assess the role of muhi-detector row CT (MDCT) in preoperative evaluation of living renal donors. Methods The data of 104 potential donors who underwent MDCT were retrospectively analyzed. All the candidates underwent 64-MDCT examination. First,unenhanced scans were performed on the kidneys. After administration of Ⅳ contrast medium,enhanced CT images of the arterial phase, venous phase, and excretory phase were obtained. The enhanced scan scope was from the top of diaphragmatic muscle to pubic symphysis. The scanning data obtained was post-processed for reconstructed images. The anatomy and variations displayed in MDCT images on kidneys, ureters, arteries and veins were recorded. The findings in surgery constituted the standard of reference for imaging findings, and the recorded results from images were compared with the findings in surgery to assess the role of MDCT in evaluation of potential donors. Results MDCT examination was successfully performed on 104 candidates. Anomalies of kidneys and ureters were found in 8 donors before surgery. The prevalence of accessory arteries and early branching in image was 27. 2 % (28/103) and 12. 6 % (13/103) respectively. There were 3 candidates with double veins and 3 with retroaortie left renal vein found in preoperative assessment. Ninety-three candidates underwent successful donor nephreetomy. The anomalies and variations of kidneys and ureters in images were all confirmed surgically. The detection rate of the accessory renal artery (ARA) was 80 %. The ARAs measuring > 1 mm in diameter and early branching were all detected by MDCT.The findings of veins found in performed sides coincided with those of MDCT images. Conclusion MDCT can accurately assess the anatomic information and variations of the donors' kidneys, and facilitate triaging donors and planning operation proposal