Adolescent ; Heart Valve Diseases ; etiology ; Heart Valves ; pathology ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; pathology ; Male

Objective Transforming growth factor-β( TGF-β) can regulate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) inhibitors, thus affecting the reconstruction of extracellular matrix (ECM) after lung in-jury.So far, little is known about the regulation of TGF-β1 and MMPs/TIMPs ratio in endotoxin-induced lung injury as well as about the exact mechanisms of ECM reconstruction disorders .This study was to investigate the effects of TGF-β1 antibodies on the expressions of MMP and TIMP inhibitors and lung injury fibrosis in rats with endotoxin-induced acute lung injury . Methods Fifty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, normal (n=16), LPS (n=20), and LPS+TGF-β1(L+T, n=20).The rats of the LPS and L+T groups received intraperitoneal and intra-tracheal injection of endotoxin to induce lung injury fibrosis , the latter intrave-nously injected with TGF-β1 antibodies previously .The normal rats received intra-tracheal and intra-abdominal injection of the same a-mount of saline.At 1, 5, 9 and 14 days after modeling, all the rats were killed and blood and lung tissue samples obtained to detect the wet/dry lung tissue ( W/D ) ratio, diffuse alveolar damage ( DAD) score, hydroxyproline activity ( Hpy) , and the expressions of TGF-β1 , MMP-2 and TIMP-1. Results The DAD score, Hpy ac-tivity, and expressions of TGF-β1 , MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were signifi-cantly higher in the LPS group than in the normal control ( P <
0.05), and so were the DAD score, Hpy activity, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 in the L+T group than in the controls (P<0.05).Com-pared with the LPS group, Hpy, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1 were markedly decreased in the L +T group (P<0.05).The expression of MMP-2 was gradually increased at 1, 5 and 9 days after modeling , reaching the peak at 9 days and then beginning to decline .The Hpy activity, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1 expressions kept rising after modeling . Conclusion The MMP/TIMP imbalance and ECM reconstruc-tion disorders mediated by the TGF-β1 signaling pathway may be an important cause of fibrosis in endotoxin-induced lung injury . TGF-β1 antibodies can exert a protective effect by alleviating lung injury fibrosis .

Objective To study the real?time dose verification with 2D array ion chamber array in volumetric modulated arc therapy ( VMAT) with a 2D array ion chamber array. Methods The 2D ion chamber array was fixed on the panel of electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Source?detector distance (SDD) was 140 cm. 8 mm RW3 solid water was added to the 2D array to improve the signal noise ratio. Patient plans for esophageal, prostate and liver cancers were selected to be delivered on the cylindrical Cheese phantom 5 times in order to validate the reproducibility of doses. Real?time patient transit dose measurements were performed at each fraction. Dose distributions were evaluated using gamma index criteria of 3 mm DTA and 3% dose difference referred to the first time result. Results The gamma index pass rate in the Cheese phantom were about 98%;the gamma index pass rate for esophageal, prostate and liver cancer patient were about 92%, 92% and 94%, respectively. Gamma pass rate for all single fraction were more than 90%. Conclusions The 2D array is capable of monitoring the real time transit doses during VMAT delivery. It is helpful to improve the treatment accuracy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects and safety of penetrating needling on head acupoints for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR).

METHODSEighty-one cases of PAR were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (41 cases) and a medication group (40 cases). Penetrating needling at head acupoints was adopted from Baihui (GV 20) to Qianding (GV 21) and from Shangxing (GV 23) to Shenting (GV 24) in the acupuncture group. A to tal 4-week treatment was given to the patients with 3 treatments a week. Loratadine tablet and azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray were given to the medication group continuously for 12 days. A follow-up was carried out 3 months after the treatment. The efficacy, symptom score and physical sign score, and side accidents were observed in both groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.1% (39/41) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 82.5% (33/40) in the medication group (P < 0.05). The total scores of clinical symptoms and each partial scores after the treatment, and total scores of clinical symptoms in follow-up were obviously decreased in both groups (all P < 0.01), the nasal obstruction score and the total scores of clinical symptoms in the acupuncture group were better than those in the medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Obvious side-effect had not been found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONPenetrating needling at head acupoints is a safe therapy for patients with PAR, and favorable effects can be found in both short term and long term.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The gene approach to the pathogenesis of male infertility may bring about some strategies for the diagnosis and manage of the condition. Gene knockout technology is the mainstream method currently used in the study of gene function. Screening and identification of testis-specific genes and insights into their features and functions in spermatogenesis are significant for a further understanding of testicular functions and searching for new therapeutic targets for male reproductive disorders. This review focuses on the application of gene knockout technology in the study of spermatogenesis-associated genes.
Animals ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Objective To establish a stable primary culture of rat cerebellar granule neurons in vitro for further study the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.Methods Cerebellar cortices were taken from brain of Wistar rat 5-7 day old after born under stereoscopic microscope.Single cell suspension was acquired after digestion and washing with trypsin (0.25％) and DNase Ⅰ solution,respectively.Granule cells were purified from other cells by differential velocity adherence method for two times.Rat cerebellar granule neurons were seeded in culture plate pre-coated with poly-L-lysine.Neurons growth,development and synaptic connections were observed daily.The neurons were identified by neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunofluorescence technique.Results The neurons were affixed to the culture plate in 24 hours,in reticular arrangement observed under contrast microscope.Granule cells gradually turned round from oval and outlines became clearer in 2-3 days.In 4-6 days,there were a wide range of synaptic connections among the neurons and a mature nerve cell network formed.A large quantity of cerebellar granule neurons was seen by NSE identification.Few bigger cells such as purkinjes cells and glial cell outlines were also seen in the same visual field.Conclusions This is a successful primary culture method for acquirement of rat cerebellar granule neurons.The method can provide experimental basis for future studies the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.

Objective To explore the status of iodine nutrition in 8～10 years children after universal salt iodization(USI)in the iodine deficiency area.Methods Probability proportion to size method(PPS)or simple random sampling methods were used to sample children aged 8～10 years in iodine deficiency area in the vear 1995,1997,1999,2002 and 2005, respectively.Goiter were detected by palpation and B-ultrasound, iodine concentration in salt was detected by direct titration method and that in urine by the method of As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry.Results After USI has been implemented,the median of salt and urinary iodine tended to mcreaseand the goiter rate tended to decrease year by year.In 2005,the coverage rate of iodinated salt was elevated to 97.2%,qualified iodize salt rate was 97.1%and edible qualified iodinated salt rate was 94.3%in the whole iodine deficiency areas.The median of urinary iodine Was 227.7 μg/L 89.7%(323/360)of the population had a level of the urinary iodine over 100μg/L Goiter rate of 8～10 years children Wag decreased from 22.3%(282/1267)to 4.4%(53/1200) from 1995 to 2005.Conclusion After 10-year USI,the status of iodine nutrition in ShaJldong Province has been promoted obviously and it is in a suitable iodine nutritional status.

Objective Toinvestigatethecorrelationbetweentheredbloodcelldistributionwidth (RDW)and in-hospital prognosis in elderly patients with cerebral infarction and severe hemiplegia. Methods Atotalof209consecutiveelderlypatientswithcerebralinfarctionandhemiplegiadiagnosedat the Emergency Department,Central Hospital of Jiading District in Shanghai from January 2012 to December 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. All patients were divided into an L-RDW group (n=73 ),an M-RDW group (n=56),and an H-RDW group (n=80)according to the RDW trisection level. A single factor analysis of variance was used to compare the differences of clinical data,laboratory indexes,and mortality during hospitalization among the three groups. The patients were redivided into either a survival group (n=170)or a death group (n=39)according to their clinical outcomes. Its differences of RDW levels in the acute phase were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independence risk factors for the death of patients,and the risk ratio (OR)was calculated. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyzeRDWandtheNationalInstitutesofHealthStrokeScale(NIHSS)scores.Results Themortality of the M-RDW group was significantly lower than that of the L-RDW and the H-RDW groups (1. 8%[n=1] vs. 12. 3%[n=9]and 36. 2%[n=29],all P<0. 01). the RDW level of the death group was significantly higher than that of the survival group (14.2 [13.3,15.1]vs.12.5 [11. 9,13. 5];P =0. 002). The H-RDW level (OR,12. 164,95%CI 2.544-58.181,P=0.002)and the NIHSS score (OR,1. 136, 95%CI 1. 056-1. 221,P=0. 001)were the independence risk factors for the death of the elderly patients with severe hemiplegia cerebral infarction;the RDW level was positively correlated with the NIHSSscore(r=0.167,P=0.016).Conclusion ThemortalityofdifferentRDWlevelsinelderly patients with cerebral infarction and severe hemiplegia showed aU shape. The mortality of the H-RDW is the highest. The RDW level has an important reference value for identifying the prognosis in elderly patients with cerebral infarction and severe hemiplegia.

Objective To investigate the correlation between 28-day prognosis and red cell distribution width (RDW) in sepsis patients.Methods This was a prospective observational study.Two hundred and thirteen sepsis patients were consecutively selected,and the patients were divided into 2 groups according to RDW:normal RDW group (RDW ＜ 0.15,160 cases) and high RDW group (RDW≥0.15,53 cases).The general conditions,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) 1Ⅱ score,sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA),hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP),procalcitonin (PCT),arterial blood lactic acid,liver function injury,renal function injury and 28-day mortality were compared between 2 groups.The independent risk factors of 28-day prognosis were analyzed by multifactor Logistic regression analysis.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to draw the 28-day survival curve,and the survival rate was compared between 2 groups by log-rank test.Results The 28-day mortality in high RDW group (35.8％,19/53) was significantly higher than that in normal RDW group (17.5％,28/160),and there was statistical difference (P =0.007).RDW ≥0.15 was the independent risk factor of 28-day death in sepsis patients (OR =2.634,95％ CI 1.316-5.273,P =0.006).After adjusted by gender,age and other relative factors,RDW≥0.15 was the independent risk factor of 28-day death in sepsis patients (OR =2.895,95％ CI 1.155-7.252,P =0.023).The 28-day accumulative survival rate in high RDW group was significantly lower than that in normal RDW group (50.5％ vs.63.0％),and there was statistical difference (P =0.014).Conclusion The high RDW in sepsis patients is the independent risk factor of 28-day death,and RDW ≥0.15 shows an important predictive value in the prognosis of sepsis patients.

BACKGROUND: During recent years, mononucleotide polymorphism of some genes is possibly related to affectability of osteoarthritis (OA). However, previous researches mainly compare the gene expression of synoviocytes between OA and rheumatoid arthritis (RhA); therefore, the correlation of gene expression between synovioblast and fibroblast in other tissues should be further studied as compared with OA.OBJ ECTIVE: To observe the differences of gene expression between OA synovioblast and skin fibroblast.DESIGN: Observational contrast analysis.SETTING: People's Hospital of Shenzhen City.PARTICIPANTS: Synovium tissue was derived from OA patients who received replacement of knee joint in the Department of Orthopaedics, People's Hospital of Shenzhen City. All OA patients met the diagnostic criteria of osteoarthritis established by American College of Rheumatology in 1995. Three patients including 1 male and 2 females aged more than 65 years old and they did not have cardiac and pulmonary disease and diabetes mellitus. Three male normal volunteers who aged 25 to 35 years did not have rheumatic disease, osteoarthritis and dermatosis. All subjects provided a confirmed consent. The main reagents were detailed as follows: RPMI1640 culture medium, fetal bovine serum and TRIZOL agent (Invitrogen Life Technologies Company, USA); pGEM-T pUC (Progema Company, USA);Display PROFILE-BASIC and Display PROFILE Probe kits (Qbiogen Company, USA).METHODS: The experiment was carried out in People's Hospital of Shenzhen City from January to June 2005. Synovium of OA patients were treated with primary culture to obtain synovioblast; meanwhile, skin fibroblast treated with primary culture from normal subjects was regarded as the control group. Restricted enzyme section differential display was used to separate the different-expressed genes of synovioblast and skin fibroblast in OA patients. In addition, blast technique was used to compare the resulted ranks with Genbank ranks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences of gene expression between synovioblast and skin fibroblast in OA patients.RESULTS: Gene expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), TFPI2, CXCL2, CXCL6 and transforming growth factor (TGF) were high in synovioblast of OA patients as compared with those in skin fibroblast of normal subjects.CONCLUSION: Gene expressions of SOD, TFPI2, CXCL2, CXCL6 and TGF are high in synovioblast of OA patients as compared with those in skin fibroblast of normal subjects. This suggests that gene may play a certain role in onset of OA.