Objective To observe physiological and ultrastructure changes in rabbits breathing various contents of oxygen during exposure to high altitude. Methods Twenty healthy rabbits were randomly divided into air-breathing group, 63% oxygenbreathing group, 83% oxygenbreathing group and pure oxygen breathing group. All rabbits were exposed to an atmosphere corresponding to an altitude of 11 000m in hypobaric chamber for 30min. The amount of air bubble in the heart and ECG of rabbits were recorded, the ultrastructural changes in the heart and brain were examined, and the expression of kidney erythopoietin (EPO) was also observed. Results The amount of air bubbles in the air breathing group was increased remarkably, and most of the rabbits developed arrhythmia. With the increase of oxygen concentration, the changes in ultrastructure were alleviated and the expression of kidney EPO decreased. Conclusion Oxygenconcentration above 80% could provide obvious protection for rabbits during their exposure to high altitude.

Objective To investigate the effects of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the supplementary motor area (SMA) of children with Tourette's syndrome (TS). Methods Thirty TS subjects less than 16 years old were treated with 1 Hz rTMS to the SMA at 110％ of the resting motor threshold (RMT) in 20 daily sessions,receiving 1200 pulses/day.Clinical assessment and physiological measures of the left and right RMT were conducted at different time points during the treatment. ResultsAfter 4 weeks of treatment,statistically significant reductions were observed in assessments with the Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) and in terms of clinical global impression (CGI).Symptomatic improvement was correlated with dramatic increases in both right and left RMTs. ConclusionApplication of 1 Hz rTMS to the SMA can improve the clinical symptoms of TS children.

Objective:To observe different effects of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on electrogastrogram (EGG) of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods:A total of 65 cases were randomized into a Zusanli (ST 36) group (n=33) and a Yanglingquan (GB 34) group (n=32) by random serial number, to receive moxibustion therapy to the corresponding point respectively. The 8-lead EGG was used before and after treatment to collect EGG parameter of the gastric body, antrum of stomach, lesser curvature and greater curvature, including the dominant frequency, slow wave percentage, average frequency, response area and motility index. Results:After treatment, the dominant frequency and slow wave percentage were improved in nearly the whole stomach area in Zusanli (ST 36) group, showing statistical significances (bothP<0.05); the slow wave percentage and average frequency were improved in stomach body and antrum of stomach in Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, showing statistical significances (bothP<0.05); moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) had a significantly higher influence on EGG than Yanglingquan (GB 34) , in which the lifting of slow wave percentage was significantly higher than Yanglingquan (GB 34) group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) has the effect of adjusting abnormal EGG pattern in FD patients. Compared with Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) has a superior effect in improving EGG in stomach area.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To study the characteristic of nosocomial pulmonary infection to find out the measures for prevention and control.METHODS The patients with radiation brain injuries(RIB) from Oct 2004 to Jun 2007 underwent retrospective investigation.The reasons and sites of pulmoary infection were analyzed.RESULTS The incidence of pulmonary infection of patients with RIB after radiotherapy was 68.5%.Major factors of infection were bulb palsy,invasive treatment and hormone usage.The Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant pathogens.CONCLUSIONS The nosocomial pulmonary infection is related to many factors.Antibiotic usage according to drug susceptibility results and controlling of the risk factors are important measures to reduce the rate of infection.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of benign and malignant breast tumors with 2D and color Doppler ultrasound, and to assess the value of color Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Methods A total of 674 patients (327 malignant and 347 benign) of breast tumor underwent 2D and color Doppler ultrasonogarphy. Two-dimensional ultrasound was used to observe the size, form, margin and internal echo of the tumors;color Doppler was performed to observe the degree of blood flow signal in the tumor, and to measure peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI). Results Totally 671 patients were diagnosed with ultrasound. The size of the tumors were from 0.50 cm×0.41 cm to 5.42 cm×4.10 cm. The ratio of vertical and transverse diameter of 69.11% (226/327) of the malignant tumors ≥1.0. Most tumors (266/327, 81.35%) presented with irregular margin like incised or feet of crab;61.47% (201/327) had microcalcification. Color Doppler found that 92.97% (304/327) of the tumors had blood flow signal;PSV was 15.34-39.76 cm/s, RI was 0.65-0.98, and 91.61% (262/286)≥0.70. Significant differences of the ratio of vertical and transverse diameter, the margin of the tumor, microcalcification and blood flow signal, PSV and RI (P＜0.01) were found between benign and malignant breast tumors. Conclusion The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors can be significantly improved with comprehensive analysis of 2D ultrasound, blood flow signal, PSV and RI. Color Doppler ultrasound plays an important role in the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Objective To analysis the long-term retention rate of Levetiraceram (LEV) monotherapy or combination therapy of infant epilepsy. Methods The clinical data of patients with infant epilepsy treated by LEV had been retrospectively analyzed from July 2006 to June 2007. Results Sixty patients with infant epilepsy treated by LEV had been recruited, 20 cases with partial seizures, 19 cases with generalized seizures, 21 cases with epilepsy syndrome. Among them 21 cases was intractable epilepsy. The retention rates of LEV in 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year were 95.5%, 75.0%, 60.0%, 51.7%, and 38.3%. The most common reason for withdrawal was lack of effect (43.2%). COX regression model suggested that duration>1 month (RR=2.91, 95%CI:1.16~7.30) and refractory epilepsy (RR=2.30, 95%CI:1.22~4.32) were risk factors of withdrawal (all P<0.05). After treatment, the seizure frequency signiifcantly reduced compared with baseline (P<0.01). To the end of the follow-up, the efifciency was 100%and the complete remission rate was 69.57%in 23 cases continued treatment. The main side effect were fatigue (56.0%), and sleep increased, irritability, and so on. Conclusions LEV monotherapy or combination therapy has well long-term retention rate, maintains well efifcacy and tolerability in infant epilepsy.

ObjectiveTostudytheroleof hotshockprotein (HSP)47in tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Human proximal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2) were divided into threegroups:control,TGF-β1andHSP47siRNA. Theexpressionsof HSP47, collagenⅣ,fibronectin(FN),plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1) mRNA and HSP47,collagen Ⅳ,FN protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.PAl-1 protein was detected by ELISA. ResultsHK-2expressedHSP47innormalmedium. ThemRNAandprotein expressions of HSP47 up-regulated in concentration- and time-dependent manner in HK-2 cells induced with increasing concentrations of TGF-β1(0,2.5,5,10 μg/L) and with prolong times (12,24,48 h),and peaked at 10 μg/L TGF-β1 for 48 h.Similar phenomena was observed in the mRNA andproteinexpressionsof collagenⅣ, FN, PAI-1inHK-2 cellsinducedbyincreasing concentrations of TGF-β1 (0,2.5,5,10 μg/L) at different time points (12,24,48 h),and peaked at 10 μg/L TGF-β1 for 48 h.HSP47 siRNA could significantly reduce the up-regulation of mRNA and protein expressions of HSP47,collagen Ⅳ,FN,PAI-1 in HK-2 cells induced by TGF-β1.Conclusion HSP47 can promote renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis maybe through the regulation of the expressions of collagen Ⅳ,FN,PAI-1.

Objective To investigate the useful parameters of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the diagnosis of stroke subtypes in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods One hundred and one acute ischemic stroke patients met all of the following criteria including ≥50 years of age,normal sinus rhythm on admission,and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) within 7 days from the onset.The clinical significance of the TEE parameters on admission was examined for identifying intracardiac thrombus formation as follows; left atrial dimension,left ventricular end-diastolic dimension,percentage fractional shortening,left ventricular mass index,ratio of the transmitral inflow velocities (E/A),and the deceleration time of the E wave.Results There were 28 patients with E/A ≥ 1.0 (70 ± 12) years old and 73 with E/A ＜ 1.0 (73 ± 10) years old.No patients showed pulmonary congestion on chest radiography.There were no significant differences in age,TTE parameters,and plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide between the two groups.Patients with E/A≥ 1.0 had higher incidence of left atrial appendage (LAA)thrombus formation and/or spontaneous echograhic contrast than those with ＜ 1.0 (25.0％ vs 5.5％,x2 =7.95,P ＜0.01).A significant relationship was found between E/A and emptying flow velocity of the LAA (r =-0.569,P ＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed E/A was an independent predictor for LAA thrombus (risk ratio 1.531 per0.1 increase,95％ confidence interval 1.129-2.076,P =0.0002).Conclusions Increased level of E/A on admission was associated with the occurrence of left atrial appendage thrombus formation in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Gluconates ; pharmacology ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley