Objective To investigate the association between matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene polymorphism (-1562C ＞ T/R279Q) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Uygur nationality of Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. Methods A total of 352 patients with ACS including 213 patients with unstable angina pectoris and 139 patients with acute myocardial infarction evidenced by using coronary arteriography and 421 control subjects were recruited in this study. The MMP-9-1562C ＞ T and R279Q genotypes were detemined by using PCR-RFLP method. The relationship between the polymorphism in the MMP-9 gene and the severity of coronary arterial stenosis was analyzed. All polymorphisms were determined for confimation with Hardy-Weinberg expectations in both groups separately. Differences in distributions of genotypes and alleles between two groups were analyzed with x2 test. The association between the MMP-9 polymorphisms and the risk of ACS was estimated by odds ratio(Ors) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and the comprehensive evaluation of the factors associated with ACS was determined by using multifactor logistic regression. P ＜ 0. 05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results The genotype frequencies for CT + TT genotypes and T allele were 25.9 and14.5 percent in ACS subjects and 15.7 and 8.4 percent in control subjects, respectively. The genotype frequencies were different significantly between the two groups (x2 = 12.26,P ＜ 0.01;x2 = 14.15,P ＜ 0.01, respectively). No relationship between R279Q polymorphism and ACS was found in this study ( P ＞ 0.05). The multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that the T allele carrier (CT + TT) significantly increased the risk of ACS compared with the CC genotype ( OR = 1.791,95 % CI: 1. 088 - 2.951, P = 0.022) after adjustment for tradition risk factors. The frequencies for CT + TT and CC genotypes of the -1562C ＞ T polymorphism were not statistically different among ACS patients with one, two and three or more significantly diseased vessels ( x2 = 1.15, P = 0.56). Conclusions The findings suggest that the polymorphism in MMP-9 gene promoter (-1562C ＞ T) is associated with the susceptibility to the ACS. The T allele might be an independent risk factor for the ACS. But the -1562C ＞ T polymorphism may not be useful as a predictor of the severity of coronary arterial stenosis. The R279Q polymorphism of MMP-9 gene was not significantly associated with ACS in this studied population.

Objective To investigate the expression of inositol requiting enzyme1 α (IRE1 α) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and its significance through establishing models of intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (IIRI) in rats.Methods According to the random number table,50 male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:sham operation group (n =10) and ischemia reperfusion (I/R) group (n =40).Sham group animals underwent laparotomy.I/R group rats were subjected to occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min;then the blood flow was restored.I/R group animals were divided into 4 subgroups:2 h,6 h,12 h,24 h according to the time of reperfusion.Eight rats were examined based on the number of live rats in each subgroup.The HE staining pathological changes in intestinal samples were observed by the light microscope.The small intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis index (AI) was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression levels of intestinal tissues tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (Ⅰ-FABP) were detected by ELISA tests.Situ end labeling method was used to detect intestinal cell AI.Western blot was applied to investigate the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) proteins IRE1α,phosphorylation IREIα (p-IRE1 α) and TRAF2 in all group rats intestinal tissues.Results (1)The pathological changes showed that the intestinal injury of I/R groups was more severe than that of sham group,especially at 6 h.(2) Compared with sham group,the expression levels of TNF-α [sham group (16.41 ± 4.44)ng/ L,2 h group:(79.71 ± 8.20) ng/L,6 h group:(131.70 ± 11.59) ng/L,12 h group:(94.23 ±7.66) ng/L,24 h group:(69.78 ± 9.58) ng/L],AI[sham group:(3.93 ±0.77)％,2 h group:(16.24 ± 1.97)％,6 h group:(42.19 ±2.40)％,12 h group:(37.79 ± 2.34)％,24 h goup:(10.38 ±1.46)％] and plasma Ⅰ-FABP [sham group:(0.65 ±0.10) × 103 ng/L,2 h group:(1.47 ±0.10) ×103 ng/L,6 h group:(2.36 ±0.17) ×103 ng/L,12 h group:(37.79 ±2.34) ×103 ng/L,24 group:(l.41 ±0.09) × 103 ng/L] were higher (F =231.462,149.032,162.491,all P ＜ 0.01).(3) The expression of TRAF-2 protein and p-IRE1 α/IRE1 α could be up-regulated after IIRI (F =40.473,59.59,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of these proteins was up-regulated 2 h after reperfusion,peaking at 6-12 h reperfusion,and then decreased at 24 h,and the variation tendencies of all groups were the same.Conclusions IIRI could induce ERS,activate IRE1 α and up-regulate TRAF2.IRE1α/TRAF2 mediating ERS might be involved in regulating the cell inflammation,apoptosis and increasing intestinal permeability after IIRI.

Objective To study the relationship between expression of G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1) in gallbladder mucosa and formation of lithogenic bile in patients with gallstones.Methods Gallbladder mucosa,gallbladder wall,bile and plasma were collected from 34 patients with gallstone (GS) and 15 individuals who were gallstone free (GSF).The gallbladder wall was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunohistochemistry to detect pathologic changes and expressions of GPBAR1,mucin 1 (MUC1) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC).Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to test mRNA expressions of GPBAR1,MUC1 and MUC5AC in the gallbladder mucosa.The contents of total cholesterol (TC),total bile acid (TBA),triglyceride (TG),low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) in plasma and cholesterol,TBA,phospholipid (PL) and mucin in the bile of gallbladder were measured.Results The gallbladder mucosa in all GS patients showed chronic inflammation on hematoxylin-eosin staining.The expressions of GPBAR1 and MUC5AC were more markedly increased in the GS group than in the GSFgroup (61.34±8.06 vs.43.05±7.83,P＜0.01; 52.11±9.62 vs.45.05±9.27,P＜0.05).The mRNA expressions of GPBAR1 and MUC5AC in the GS group were also more markedly increased than in the GSR group (0.87±0.07 vs.0.80±0.09,P＜0.05; 1.04±0.22 vs.0.8±0.17,P＜0.01).Serum cholesterol,as well as biliary cholesterol,cholesterol mol percentage,cholesterol saturation index and mucin in the GS group were more significantly higher than in the GSF group (5.07±1.64 vs.3.62±1.42,P＜0.01; 17.23±3.67 vs.12.47±2.31,P＜0.01; 7.47±0.65 vs.5.05±0.24,P＜0.01; 1.03±0.58 vs.0.69±0.38,P＜0.01; 92.02±20.89 vs.76.36±19.71,P＜0.05).Biliary total bile acids and bile acids mol percentage were lower in the GS group than in the GSF group (162.68±20.19 vs.180.21±26.05,P＜0.05; 71.28±1.84 vs. 73.29±0.96,P＜0.01). In the GS group,there were negative correlations between the mRNA expression of GPBAR1 and biliary TBA (γ=-0.341,P＜0.05).There were negative correlations in the GS group between the GPBAR1 expression and the level of biliary TBA (γ=- 0.403,P＜0.05),and between the GPBAR1 expression and the level of biliary total lipid (γ=-0.365,P＜0.05).Conclusions This study shows an increase in expression of GPBAR1 in gallbladder mucosa in patients with GS.It is suggested that GPBAR1 may accelerate formation of lithogenic bile by inducing re-absorption of bile acid.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol combined with monochromatic excimer light (MEL) 308 nm vs MEL 308 nm monotherapy in treating vitiligo.Methods Thirty-eight pa- tients with vitiligo were enrolled in the single-blind clinical trial,using plabebo-treated lesions in the same patient as controls.Contralateral or nearby lesions were randomly selected to be treated by either tacalcitol or placebo.All lesions were treated weekly with MEL 308 nm,for a total of 12 sessions.Patients were ex- amined at monthly intervals.The mean number of sessions and the cumulative dosage for initial and excel- lent repigrnentation were calculated.Results Thirty-five patients were evaluated.The mean?SEM cumu- lative dose and number of MEL exposures for initial repigmentation,respectively,were 4.27?3.59 J/cm~2 and 4.89?3.16 on tacalcitol-treated site,5.36?4.12 J/cm~2 and 5.69?3.29 on placebo-treated site,re- spectively (both P＜0.05).For excellent repigrnentation,the cumulative dose and number of exposures were 7.72?5.64 J/cm~2 and 7.79?4.70 respectively on tacalcitol-treated site,and 8.18?4.87 J/cm~2 and 8.4?3.92 respectively on placebo-treated site (both P＞0.05).Treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a sig- nificantly higher percentage (71.4% vs 54.3%) of repigmentation than that with placebo.Conclusions Our results show that MEL 308 nm is safe and effective for the treatment of vitiligo.Additionally,concur- rent topical tacalcitol potentiates the efficacy of MEL 308 nm in the treatment of vitiligo;this combination achieves more rapid pigmentation with a lower total MEL dosage.

Objective To study the changes of somatostatin(SOM) in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with convulsive diseases.Methods Sixty-seven children with convulsive diseases were studied as following:obtaining the samples of plasma in the 1st and 7th day after being in hospital,and the samples of CSF in the 1st after being in hospital.We investigated the changes of SOM in plasma and CSF with radioimmunoassay(RIA).Results 1.Convulsive group:the concentration of SOM in plasma in the 7th day(29.47?9.40 ng/L) was significant lower than that in the 1st day(39.23?11.00 ng/L)(t=21.530 P0.05).The concentration of SOM in plasma in the 1st day in control group was(19.58?6.04) ng/L.There were significant differences in convulsive group and encephalitis group without convulsion, control group(t= 6.847,7.921 P

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to explore the effects of exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress on the antioxidant capacity and diformability of rat red blood cells.

METHODSRats were divided into three group (n = 10): sedentary control (C), exhaustive running exercise (ERE) and moderate running exercise (MRE) groups. Animals in the ERE group started treadmill running at a speed of 20 m/min speed with a 5% gradient, and reached a speed of 25 m/min with gradient 15% in 20 min. Running was continued until exhaustion. MRE group rats running at a speed of 20 m/min with a 5% gradient for 40 min. The levels of free thiol in erythrocyte membrane protein, lipidperoxidation levels and membrane protein components were analyzed. The red blood cell deformability of different groups was also observed.

RESULTSThe results showed that red blood cells were damaged by severe oxidative stress and the anti-oxidative capacity decreased significantly under exhaustive exercise conditions. Besides, lipid peroxidation and protein sulfhydryl cross-link based clustering of membrane were found after exhaustive exercise, and polymers high molecular weight (HMW) was formed. The elongation index (EI) was found to decline significantly in the ERE group compared with the C and MRE groups under shear stress (control group, 0.41 +/- 0.01 at 3 Pa and 0.571 +/- 0.008 at 30 Pa; ERE group, 0.314 +/- 0.013 at 3 Pa and 0.534 +/- 0.009 at 30 Pa; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThese exercise-induced oxidative injure result in a significant decrease in deformability of rat erythrocytes, which in turn leads to dysfunction in the microcirculatory.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; Fatigue ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Four-stage selected random samples were used to analyze the prevalence and distributing feature of hyperuricemia and gout in 13 559 Han,Uighur,and Hazakh adults in Xinjiang. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 11.00%,3.27%,and 3.94% respectively in Han,Uighur,and Hazakh populations,and 1.32%, 0.65%,and 0.70% for gout,with statistically significant difference among three groups(all P＜0.05). No-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that nationality,body mass index,renal function,and serum lipid were risk factors of hyperuricemia,while female and physical activity were protective factors. Eating seafood and animal visceral organs were independent risk factors of hyperuricemia in Han population. Eating animal visceral organs and drinking alcohol were independent risk factors of hyperuricemia in Hazakh population.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of manganese poisoning on the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in mice's hippocampus.

METHODSThe mice (weight 8 approximately 10 g) were divided into control group(CG) low-dose group(LDG) middle-dose group(MDG) and high-dose group(HDG)by intraperitoneal injection of 0, 5, 20, 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of manganese chloride dissolved in physiological saline. The ability of learning and memory was detected by Morris Water Maze, and the proliferation of NSCs in subgranular zone (SGZ) in these mice's hippocampus was also detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS1) Compared with the CG, the ability of learning and memory in all manganism group decreased significantly (P < 0.01) and this phenomenon in HDG was most notable (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the ability of memory was negatively correlated with the dose of manganese chloride (r(s) = -0.598, P < 0.01), but the difference of swimming speed in every group was of no statistic significance. (2) The numbers of NSCs in proliferation period in SGZ of all manganism groups was much lower than that of CG (P < 0.01) negatively correlated with the dose of manganese chloride (r(s) = -0.666, P < 0.01). (3) The reduction of NSCs had a positive correlation to the depression of learning and memory (r(s) = 0.734, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSManganismus can affect the ability of learning and memory, which is probably caused by the inhalation of manganese on NSCs in hippocampus.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Manganese Poisoning ; pathology ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of cerebral revascularization in the treatment of intractable aneurysms and to discuss the indications, surgical techniques, and the outcome of the revascularization.

METHODSDuring the recent 4-year period, 9 radical artery grafts were performed in patients with intractable or giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. The indications for cerebral revascularization included parent vessel occlusion during the treatment of the intractable aneurysms with poor collateral circulation or the young patients. Modified techniques were taken to use the main trunk of superficial temporal artery (STA) as donor, while M3 branches near the bifurcation of the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were chosen as the recipient arteries. STA-Radial artery (RA)-MCA bypass was followed by parent vessel occlusion via chronic cervical ICA ligation or balloon occlusion.

RESULTSPostoperative angiography demonstrated the patency of the grafts in eight cases. The procedure of the parent vessels occlusion was uneventful in these patients. Follow-up showed the patients were in excellent conditions after successful treatment of aneurysms. Significantly delayed filling of the graft was revealed in one patient, who could not tolerate balloon occlusion test and occlusion of parent artery failed.

CONCLUSIONSExtracranial-to-intracranial bypass followed by parent vessel occlusion is a safe and effective method to treat intractable ICA aneurysms. Radical artery as graft can offer high-flow revascularization with less complications. Combined surgical and endovascular treatment might be the future direction for the treatment of the difficult aneurysms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; surgery ; Cerebral Arteries ; surgery ; Cerebral Revascularization ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Ligation ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETentorial dural arteriovenous fistulae are uncommon but life-threatened lesions. We present our experience of 5 cases with tentorial dural arteriovenous fistulae, review the relevant literature and present the rationale of our current management strategy.

METHODSThe data of five patients with tentorial DAVF treated in Huashan Hospital between June 2002 and May 2003 were reviewed retrospectively, including their ill history, neuroimagings, operation records and follow-up data.

RESULTSThere were 3 females and 2 males with age from 25 to 52 years (average, 42.6 years). Clinical manifestations were acute subarachnoid hemorrhage in 2 cases, progressing neurological deficits in 3 cases. MRI and DSA were major diagnostic and follow-up modalities. Borden classification type II was in 1 case, type III in 4 cases. According to DAVF location, tentorial marginal type were in 3 cases, tentorial lateral type 1 case, tentorial medial type 1 case. Two patients had transarterial embolization preoperatively. All patients underwent craniotomy with the coagulation of the nidus and tentorium, disconnection of leptomeningeal venous drainage. The surgical approaches were via trans-anterior-petrous approach in 3 cases, transpterional subdural approach 1 case, transoccipital and transtentorial approach 1 case. All patients had clinical improvement, there was no surgical mortality and morbidity. Postoperative DSA confirmed obliteration of DAVF in 3 cases, MRI demonstrated the thrombosis of venous aneurysm and the disappearance of previous brainstem edema, partial thrombosis of venous aneurysm in 1 case. Follow-up study ranging from 1 to 2 year showed no recurrence and all patients resume their full activities.

CONCLUSIONSTentorial DAVF is an aggressive vascular lesion, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage and progressive neurological deficits. Prompt diagnosis and definite treatment for tentorial DAVF are mandatory. Obliteration of the nidus and/or leptomeningeal venous drainage should be the goal of treatment. Microsurgical procedures with/without endovascular intervention are the best choice of treatment.

Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Cerebral Angiography ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Radiosurgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed