Glycyrrhetic acid is a hydrolytic product of .glycyrrhizin which comes from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. This study showed that its sodium salt, sodium glycyrrhetinate ( SGA, 28mg/kg ip ) inhibited egg white or yeast-induced edema of rat hind paws; Meanwhile, SGA decreased prostaglandin E2 in inflammatory fluid. Malonyldialdehyde in mouse swelling paws stimulated by egg white was decreased by SGA and increased by arachidonic acid. The inhibitory action of SGA on production of malonyldialdehyde c.ould be entirely abolished by arachidonic acid,suggesting that phospholipase A2 bo inhibited by SGA. Also, SGA antagonized the contracting effect of inflammatory mediators such as histamine ( IC50 = 12 ,7mg/ L), 5 -hydroxytrypataminG (IC50=16.1 mg/L ) and SRS-A ( IC5O = 17.0mg/L)on isolated guinea-pig ileum. Because SGA inhibited cro-ton oil-induced ear-swelling of adrenalectomized mice, its anti-inflammatory action has no relationship with hypophysial-adrenocortial axis.

Objective To study the anti-depressive mechanisms of acupuncture by investigating the effects of acupuncture on depressive behaviors and amino-neurotransmitter in hippocampus in rats treated with chronic mild unpredicted stresses.Methods Thirty adult SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a depressive model group and an acupuncture group,with 10 rats in each group.Separated feeding,long-term unpredictable and middle stimulation stress were used for development of depression rat model.At the same time,the third group was treated by acupuncture.Autonomic behavior was measured with Open Field test and concentration of amino-neurotransmitter in hippocampus was measured by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection.Results Compared with the normal group,autonomic activity of the rats and the concentration of GABA were significantly reduced in the model group,while the concentration of Glu was significantly increased(P0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture could reverse the depressive behaviors of rats caused by middle stimulation stress,and its anti-depressive mechanisms is related to the function of regulating the concentration of amino-neurotransmitter in hippocampus.

AIM: To evaluate myocardial relaxation function changes in an adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy model using the transmitral flow velocity to mitral annular velocity ratio (E/E'), a strong positive relationship with left ventricular filling pressure and a good indicator for evaluating left ventricular diastolic relaxation abnormality. METHODS: Twenty-eight Japanese rabbits were divided into two groups. Adriamycin was administered at cardiomyopathy model. 8 rabbits served as controls receiving the same amount of saline once a week for a total of 8 weeks. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) were performed at baseline, 4th, 6th,8th, 10th and 12th week. RESULTS: In the adriamycin-treated group, LV chamber diameter significantly increased, while ejection fraction and fraction shortening significantly decreased in 10th and 12th week (P ＜0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 10th week. Mitral annulus systolic peak velocity (S') by TDE significantly decreased in 8th, 10th and 12th week ( P ＜0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 8th week. The ratio of E/E' significantly increased in 6th,8th, 10th and 12th week (P ＜ 0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 6th week. In the control group, no significant changes were found in all parameter by tissue Doppler conventional echocardiography (P ＞0.05). CONCLUSION: Myocardial function is reduced in adriamycin-induced rabbit model of dilated cardiomyopathy. The relaxation parameter (E/E') by TDE changes is earlier than contraction indices S' by TDE and conventional echocardiography in adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy rabbits, which provides a new sensitive and reliable method to evaluate LV relaxation function.

We began our teaching reform by following the step of national adjustment of majors frame at the end of last century.We perfected our teaching contingent,created advanced content, composed high quality text book,used multiple teaching methods and ways, paid attention to practical teaching,carried out effective access system and in the end,we firstly combined Meridian and Collateral and Acupuncture,which are the two major courses,into one basic course called Meridian and Acupoint.It covers different levels of students including doctors,postgraduates,undergraduates and seven-year-class students and has the features of abundant and detailed content,creative methods and excellent effects.

Objective To study the influence of gamma globulin to serum B cell activating factor (BAFF) in therapy of neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura.Methods Fifteen cases with neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura(treatment group) were treated with gamma globulin.Serum BAFF levels of treatment group before and after treatment and 20 healthy neonates(control group) were tested.Results Serum BAFF level of the treatment group before treatment was(0.96±0.48) μg/L,which was statistically significant compared with that of the control group[(0.48 ±0.35) μg/L](P ＜0.05).Serum BAFF level of treatment group after treatment was (0.45 ± 0.37) μg/L,which was statistically significant compared with that of before treatment (P ＜ 0.05),but was not statistically significant compared with that of the control group.Conclusion Gamma globulin can play a role in the therapy of neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura by reducing the BAFF.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) has been proved to evaluate general and local function of heart but less reported on adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy following bone marrow stromal cell (BMS) transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate myocardial function of an adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy rabbit model following BMS transplantation using TDE.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized animal control study was performed at Laboratory of Ultrasound, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2002 to December 2003.MATERIALS: A total of 28 male adult Japanese rabbits weighing (2.0+0.2) kg were used in this study. Adriamycin was used to induce cardiomyopathy model in 20 rabbits.METHODS: Twenty-eight male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: cell transplantation group (n=10),PBS group (n=10), and sham operation group (n=8). BMSs were isolated from cell transplantation group at the 8th day. On the 12th week, cells were labeled with 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and then epicardial directly injected into the myocardium of the same rabbits in thoracotomy surgery. Non-cell only culture fluid PBS was injected in PBS group. Sham operation group underwent thoracotomy surgery with the same volume of saline injection.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Left ventricular function was assessed by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography before and 4 weeks after surgery. Histological examination including apotisis study and DAPI fluorescent were assessed after sacrificed.from (4.0+1.1) cm/s to (5.3+1.2) cm/s (P ＜ 0.05) around the inject site, but the improvement of global myocardial function was not found by conventional echocardiography. In PBS and sham operation group there were no differences in global and myocardium at 4 weeks after transplantation. Histological findings showed that the injury of the myocardium around the injection site was relieved with less apoptosis.

Objective To accurately investigate the characteristic and effective of occlusive devices in ventricular septal of defect (VSD) by using stereo 3D echocardiography. Methods Six patients with VSD were included who were undergone the defect closing operation with Amplatzer occluder device. Stereo 3D echocardiography was performed to show 3DE imaging appearance after the operative procedure. Results Stereo 3D echocardiography were performed after the procedure of implanting occluder device. It was clear to show the location of the occluder and the space relationship of each parts. Conclusions The appearance,location and space relationship of occluder could be seen clearly by stereo 3D echocardiography after implanting occluder device. Compare with 2D, real-time 3D echocardiography, stereo 3D echocardiography could provide more veracious information about heart structures and the therapeutic devices for clinical use.

Objective To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosis of univentricle and analyze the sonogram typing. Methods The results of 66 patients with univentricle were reviewed retrospectively,and analayzed their typing connected with the reports in the literature. Results There were 3 ultrasonic types in 66 cases:①Type A(single left ventricle) 19 cases,single ventricle with left ventricular shape,residual cavity in front of it. ②Type B(single right ventricle) 38 cases, single ventricle with right ventricular form,and residual cavity in the rear.③Type C (solitary single-ventricle) 9 cases,there was only one ventricle. Thirty-one of them were treated surgically, 5 cases without operation had MRI or cardiac catheterization examination and the remaining 26 patients were only observed by echocardiography,the positive rate of diagnosis in type was 100%, the results were compared with cardiac catheterization or MRI examination and the operation: 1 cases of mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was misdiagnosed as heart-type total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. But 1 case of descending aorta limitations narrow complicated patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), PDA was missed. The rest were completely correct diagnosis. Conclusions The transthoracic echocardiography can be used to evaluate types and all containing malformations of univentricle,and offers reliable information for operation.

Objective To explore the value of echocardiography in the diagnosis of the criss-cross heart. Methods The echocardiographic results of 6 patients with the criss-cross heart were reviewed retrospectively. The echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed and compared with the surgery results in 4 operated cases. Results The 6 cases were interpreted as representing a criss-cross heart with solitus atria,D-loop ventricles and concordant atrioventricular connections. The ventriculo-arterial alignments of 5 cases were abnormal including double outlet right ventricle with anterior aorta in 2 and transposition of the great arteries in 3 while 1 patient had concordant connection. The following principal characteristics were tilting the transducer from posterior to anterior could demonstrate the connection of the left-sided left atrium and the right-sided left ventricle through mitral valve at first. The more anterior angulation of the transducer then showed the right-sided right atrium was connected to the left-sided right ventricle through tricuspid imaging displayed the two atrial outflows crossed each other without mixing at atrioventricular valve level.right ventricle often occured. The echocardiographic diagnosis of the criss-cross heart and its associated cardiac abnormalities were confirmed by surgery in 4 cases except 1 persistent left superior vena cava was missed. Conclusions The invisibility of a standard 4-chamber view in any cut was very characteristic in the echocardiographic diagnosis of the criss-cross heart. The definitive appearance was the separate display of the two ventricular inlets and the crossed atrioventricular connections with each atrium emptying into the contralateral ventricle by continuous subxiphoid or apical scanning. The transthoracic echocardiography can diagnose this rare heart disease and associated cardiac abnormalities accurately.

Objective To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosis of Berry syndrome and analyze the sonographic typing.Methods The echocardiographic results of 6 Berry patients were reviewed retrospectively.Their sonographic typing were also analyzed connected with the reports in the literature.Results The ultrasound diagnosis of 5cases were confirmed by surgery(3)or angiography(3) and the remain one infant was died 14 days after the echocardiographic procedure.The malformations of Berry syndrome consisted of the distal aorto-pulmonary septal defect(APSD),aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery(RPA),interruption of the aortic arch(5 cases,type A with patent ductus arteriosus)or coarctation of the aortic isthmus(1 case)with intact ventricular septum.In 6 cases,there were 2 sonographic types:(1)Type A(3 cases),the aorto-pulmonary septum was almost absent and the left and right pulmonary arteries remained widely separated,the blood of the RPA came almost from the aorta,the aortic arch was interrupted.(2)Type B(3 cases),the left and right pulmonary arteries remained adjacent and the bifurcation straddled the distal APSD,the blood of the RPA came from the aorta and the pulmonary trunk separately,the aortic arch was coarctated or interrupted. Conclusions The transthoracic echocardiography can be used to evaluate all containing malformations of Berry syndrome and it may be the first diagnostic choice.