OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship of airway remodeling with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) levels in asthmatic mice and the effect of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (AG1478) on airway remodeling.

METHODSTwenty-four male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control, asthma, AG1478-treated. Mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and a mouse mode1 of asthma was prepared. Collagen deposition was determined in Masson-stained lung sections. Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining was used to observe the proliferation of goblet cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein expression of HB-EGF. RT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of HB-EGF and EGFR.

RESULTSThe characteristic changes of airway remodeling occurred in the asthma group. The expression of HB-EGF and EGFR in the epithelial cells of bronchi in the asthma group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group. Compared with the asthma group, the AG1478-treated group had decreased inflammation reactions, decreased collagen deposition and proliferation of goblet cells and lower expression of EGFR and HB-EGF.

CONCLUSIONSEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (AG1478) ameliorates the progression of airway remodeling in mice with asthma by inhibitions of EGFR and HB-EGF expression and EGFR signal pathway.

Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology ; Tyrphostins ; therapeutic use

Objective:To study the expression of ULBP2 protein in the brain tissues of patients with drug-refractory epilepsy and its clinical significance.Methods:Gene-chip,immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to test expression of ULBP2 in the surgically removed brain tissue of patients with drug-refractory epilepsy from the brain bank of our department(n=42),and the results were compared with that of normal controls (n=12).Results:The relative increasing expression of ULBP2-gene in the brain of patients with drug-refractory epilepsy,and ULBP2 protein expression was significantly increased in temporal lobe cortex of patients with drug-refractory epilepsy as compared with the same regions of the controls specimens.Conclusion:The results indicate that the overexpression of ULBP2 may be involved in the pathophysiology of drug-refractory epilepsy.

Objective: To investigate whether γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of thalamic undefined (ZI)-nucleus accumbens (NAc) neural pathways on gastric distraction (GD)-sensitive neuronal firing activity and the impact on food intake, the number of times and the frequency in rats. Methods: Six rats were randomly selected and the neural pathway between ZI and NAc in rat thalamus was observed by fluorescent gold (FG) retrograde tracing method.Eighty-two rats were randomly selected, and the gastric balloon was placed in gastric cavity, the microelectrode was placed in the NAc, and the stimulating electrode was placed in the ZI. The single-cell discharge recording method was used to observe the effect of electrical stimulation ZI on the excitability of GD-sensitive neurons in rat NAc.Eighteen rats were randomly selected and were divided into three groups according to the random number table. They were NS group, GABA group, GABA + GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline (BIC) group with 6 in each group, and the rat NAc was used to embed the cannula. The method of GABA and BIC was injected to observe the changes of cumulative food intake in rats for 4 h. Eighteen rats were randomly selected and randomly divided into three groups: sham stimulation (SS) group, 50 μA electrical stimulation group, 50 μA electrical stimulation + BIC group with 6 in each group. The 4 h cumulative food intake of rats was observed by electro-stimulation of rat ZI and rat NAc injection of BIC. Results: Fluorescent gold retrograde tracking combined with fluorescent immunohistochemical staining showed that there were visible GABA and fluorescent gold double labeled neurons in ZI. Electrical stimulation of ZI, the frequency of GABA-sensitive GD neurons in rat NAc increased significantly (GD-E increase: (78.8±8.4)%, GD-I increase: (89.3±9.2)%, P<0.01), but the inhibitory effect was antagonized by BIC (GD-E increase: (113.8±13.6)%, GD-I increase: (121.8±14.2)%, P<0.01). Microinjection of GABA in rat NAc significantly increased the cumulative food intake for 4 h ((155.72±18.84) kcal, t=3.41, P<0.05), which was antagonized by partial BIC (123.43±15.11) kcal, t=3.28, P<0.05). Electrical stimulation of ZI significantly increased the food intake in rats ((39.07±11.27) kcal, t=2.96, P<0.05), and this effect can be partially antagonized by BIC ((34.17±10.85)kcal, t=2.33, P<0.05). Conclusion The ZI-NAc neural pathway regulates the discharge activity of rat gastric distension (GD)-sensitive neurons and the feeding status of rats, and the GABA receptor signaling pathway may be involved in mediating the process.

Cannula ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Duodenal Diseases ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/surgery*

OBJECTIVESevere newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) has a very high rate of disability and no effective treatment is available. The present study aimed to preliminarily evaluate the effects of human neural stem cell transplantation in treatment of severe neonatal HIE.

METHODSThe patient was a 75-day old male infant with sequelae of severe HIE who had highly delayed development of intelligence and movement and myotonia. MRI showed multiple cerebromalacia and encephalatrophy. Cells obtained from the forebrain of an 11-week old fetus were cultured and amplified for 15 days. And then the human fetal neural stem cells were injected into cerebral ventricle of this infant.

RESULTSTwenty eight days after transplantation, remarkable improvement occurred not only in his myotonia but also in his intelligence and movement, which became similar to those of the normal infants of the same age. Positron emission tomography (PET) showed significantly increased radioactivity at temporal and occipital lobes which suggested that the cellular metabolism had increased greatly.

CONCLUSIONThe short-term effect of NSCs transplantation on the infant with severe HIE sequelae was significant. PET suggested that the implanted NSCs survived. Many more studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects of NSC transplantation in treatment of HIE.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; complications ; Brain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Injections, Intraventricular ; Multipotent Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Neurons ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prognosis ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of body overweight and obesity and its changes among Chinese people during 1992-2002, and to provide scientific basis for developing intervention strategies for obesity in China.

METHODSThe data from "1992 China third National Nutrition Survey" (78,704 subjects, 38,323 male and 40,381 female) and from "2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey" (209,849 subjects, 101,377 male and 108,472 female) were used in this study. The overweight and obesity were defined by using WHO Z-score criteria for children younger than 7 years old, Chinese age-, sex-specific BMI criteria for children aged 7-17 years, and Chinese BMI criteria for adults.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people was increased by 38.6% and 80.6%, respectively during the period of 1992-2002. The prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people aged 0-6 years, 7-17 years, 18-44 years, 45-59 years and above 60 years was increased 31.7%, 17.9%, 66.7%, 45.2% and 43.7%, respectively. The increase of the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls younger than 6 years than their male counterparts, while among other age groups, that were higher in boys than girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among people living in rural areas was lower than that of their urban counterparts, while the increment of overweight and obesity prevalence among rural people was greater than that of their urban counterparts. It was estimated that another 70 million overweight and 30 million obese Chinese people emerged in China from 1992 to 2002.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people was increased rapidly in the past decade, which had affected 260 million Chinese people. It would continue to increase in the near future if effective intervention measures have not been taken.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVERasmussen syndrome (RS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin, usually affecting one brain hemisphere. The present study aimed to analyze the electroclinical characteristics and treatment of RS.

METHODSThe medical records of 16 children with RS were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSOf the 16 children, 8 were males and 8 were females. The age of onset was from 1 year and 11 months to 11 years and 6 months. The first symptom was seizure in all patients. The main seizure type was partial motor seizures. In all the patients, seizures gradually became frequent and in the form of epilepsia partialis continua (EPC). Thirteen cases developed hemiparesis. Fixed hemiparesis occurred from 2 months to 3 years after the onset of seizures. The cognitive deterioration was present in 14. The EEG background activity was abnormal in all the cases, asymmetric slow wave disturbances were bilateral but with unilateral predominance in 11, unilateral delta or theta wave in 8. The presence of interictal epileptiform discharges were found in all cases, unilateral in 11 and bilateral in 5. Seizures were recorded in all patients, no electroclinical correlation was found in 5. Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed progressive unihemispheric or focal cortical atrophy in all cases. Six cases transiently showed focal cortical swelling or T2/FLAIR hyperintense signal on early scans. Antiepileptic drugs were not effective in any of the patients. Three of 10 patients receiving immunoglobulin, and 4 of 8 receiving corticosteroids, had some reduction of seizure frequency for a short period. Six patients accepted functional hemispherectomy, in 4 of them seizure no longer occurred and cognitive function was improved. The results of multiple subpial transection in 2 cases and focal resection in one patient were disappointing.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical features of RS were refractory partial epilepsy, progressive hemiplegia and cognitive deterioration. The EEG background was asymmetric with slow wave activity, interictal epileptiform discharges were unilateral or bilateral, no electroclinical correlation occurred. Serial MRI showed progressive unihemispheric focal cortical atrophy. Antiepileptic drugs were not effective for RS. In some patients, immunoglobulin or corticosteroids could reduce seizure frequency in the short term. Functional hemispherectomy could lead to seizure control and prevent further development of neurological impairment and cognitive deterioration.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Electroencephalography ; Encephalitis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Epilepsia Partialis Continua ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Hemispherectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the application of 43-plex SNP typing system in forensic science. Methods The typing of 43 SNP loci in 123 unrelated Han individuals from East China was detected by MALDI-TOF-MS. The application value of 43-plex SNP typing system was assessed according to the foren-sic parameters of population genetics. Results All the 43 SNP loci of 123 individuals showed no signifi-cant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). Excepted rs1355366, rs2270529, rs10776839 and rs938283, there were 39 SNP loci had minor allele frequencies (MAF), which were greater than 0.25. Among the 25 loci MAFs, 24 ranged from 0.4 to 0.5, while 3 were close to 0.4. The DP, CDP, PIC, Ho, PEtrio and PEduo of the 43 SNP loci were 0.2901-0.6544, 1-9.8×10-11, 0.1708-0.5000, 0.1557-0.5935, 0.0854-0.2500 and 0.0146-0.1250, respectively. The CPEtrio and CPEduo were 0.999986 and 0.9924361, respectively. Conclusion The 43-plex SNP typing system in present study shows a high polymorphism, which can be an effective supplement and verification for traditional STR genetic markers. It also can be used with other commercial kits for the forensic paternity testing and individual identification.

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of implant placement in the edentulous jaw using computer planning and fully-guided mucosa-supported surgical template by Simplant software. Methods: 63 implants were placed in 9 patients (11 fully edentulous jaws), 26 implants were placed in upper edentulous jaw and 37 implants in lower edentulous jaw. Preoperatively, first, a cone beam CT was required for patients with radiographic template and radiographic template respectively. Therefore, the data of CBCT was inputted in Simplant software by DICOM format, followed by virtual implant planning. Hereafter, a mucosa-supported surgical template was designed by dentist and made by Masterilise company to allow implant placement using the template as a guide. To investigate the accuracy of implant placement, a postoperative CBCT scan was obtained and matched to the preoperative scan. The accuracy of implant placement was validated three-dimensionally including divations of implant shoulder, apical point, axial angulation and depth. Results: The survival rate of 63 implamts for a 6 month to 10 year observation period was 100%. The mean divation of implant shoulder was 0.73 ± 0.53 mm, implant apical point was 1.15 ± 0.62 mm, implant depth was 0.95 ± 0.64 mm and implant axial angulationwas 4.10 ° ± 3.23°. Conclusion Divation between virtual and actual implant was existed and it should be considered preoperatively when virtual implant was planned to avoid injuring anatomic structure and keeping surgery safely. Correct manipulation during implant operation are helpful to decrease the divation of implant placement.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the genetic polymorphisms of myxovirus resistance 1 (MxA) gene and susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the T/G polymorphism at position-88 in the mxA gene promoter. Information on related factors of SARS was collected using a pre-testing questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted with SPSS software package.

RESULTSSixty-six cases and sixty-four controls were selected for the study. Comparing with GG genotype, the proportion of GT genotype were significantly higher in the case group (81.3%) than that in the control group (62.5%)) with an OR (95% CI) of 2.700 (1.208-6.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant association remained after factors as wearing masks, protection gowns and eye-protection when contacting with SARS patient etc. were adjusted with an OR (95 % CI) of 2.911 (1.027-8.250).

CONCLUSIONmxA promoter-88G/T SNP might be confered to host genetic susceptibility to SARS in Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myxovirus Resistance Proteins ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; genetics