Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Olfaction Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Sinusitis ; complications ; Smell

Objective To investigate the reproducibility and influencing factors of relative quantification of phosphorus metabolites with two-dimensional chemical shift imaging (2D CSI) in rabbit liver. Methods Using 2D CSI MRS, 500 ml phosphate (NaH2PO4) solution phantom with 0. 05 mol/E concentration and one healthy rabbit were scanned 30 times respectively in one day and rescanned 30 times in the next day, and the stability of MR scanner and reproducibility of within-run and between-days in the same individual were analyzed. Each of thirty rabbits was scanned and rescanned one time respectively in different days, and the reproducibility of between-days in one group was analyzed. The data were statistically analyzed with t tests. Results (1) Phosphate solution phantom had a good reproducibility of within-run with the coefficient variation (CV) of 4. 92% and 5. 12% respectively in different two days. No significant change of phosphorus metabolites was detected in between-days, which was 16. 68 ± 0. 82 and 16. 56 ± 0. 85 respectively(t = 0. 665, P > 0. 05 ). (2) The CV of metabolites in one healthy rabbit ranged from 8. 04% to 34. 13%. Among the metabolites, β-ATP had the best reproducibility with the CV less than 10%. PME was 0. 88 ± 0. 28 and 0. 88 ± 0. 30, PDE was 4. 35 ± 0. 66 and 4. 35 ± 0, 66, Pi was 0. 95 ± 0.30 and 0.97±0.28, α-ATP was 5.58±0.60 and 5.61±0.61, β-ATP was 2.70±0.22 and 2.71± 0. 22, γ-ATP was 2. 20±0. 63 and 2. 18±0.44 respectively, no significant changes of metabolites were detected in between-days( P >0. 05 ). (3) The CV of metabolites in 30 healthy rabbits ranged from 8.48% to 36. 21%. Among the metabelites, β-ATP had the best reproducibility with CV less than 10%. PME was 0. 84 ± 0. 30 and 0. 79 ± 0. 28, PDE was 4. 29 ± 0.72 and 3.94 ± 0. 84, Pi was 0. 91 ± 0. 28 and 0. 92 ± 0. 31, α-ATP was 5.65±0. 66 and 5. 36±0. 60, β-ATP was 2. 71±0. 23 and 2. 66±0. 25, γ-ATP was 2. 07±0. 29 and 1.99±0. 37 respectively, no significant changes of metabolites were detected in between-days (P > 0. 05). Conclusions The relative quantification of hepatic β-ATP may be most reliable among the phosphorus metabolites for rabbit liver because of its good reproducibility and small CV. The quantification of phosphorus metabolites by 31p MRS with 2D CSI in rabbit liver is affected by many factors.

Objective To investigate the effects of different stabilizers, time and temperature before centrifugation on the stability of homocysteine (Hcy) and other related thiols levels involving EDTA-containing whole blood.Methods Blood was drawn from 17 healthy adults and collected into tubes containing EDTA, EDTA plus NaF and EDTA plus 3-deazaadenosine(3DA),then stored on crush ice(0-4 ℃) immediately or at room temperature(25 ℃).Plasma was separated at 0, 3, 6, 24 and 48 hours, respectively.The levels of plasma total Hcy (tHcy), total cysteine (tCys), tatal cysteinylglycine (tCysGly) and tatal glutathione (tGSH) were measured by HPLC.The plasma immediately separated was used as baseline sample. Results In EDTA tubes stored at room temperature, tHcy levels increased by 38.5%, 64.2%, 141.9%, 225.4% for 3, 6, 24, and 48 h, respectively.The levels of tCysGly and tGSH increased by 20.0% and 37.9% within 3 h, however, tCys decreased by 3.5%.The levels of the thiols increase by less than 5% up to 6 h in EDTA tubes stored on crush ice.In EDTA-3DA and EDTA-NaF tubes, no statistical differences were observed in the plasma levels of tHcy, tCys,tCysGly and tGSH compared with their respective baseline values at room temperature for 3 h(EDTA-3DA tubes:F=0.01,0.94,0.09,0.01,all P>0.05;EDTA-NaF tubes:F=0.85,0.04,0.03,0.02,all P>0.05).Conclusions The EDTA-plasma levels of tHcy and other related thiols are time and temperature-dependent. There is a strong need for standardization of blood sample collection and processing in tHcy and other thiols assays. The plasma concentrations of tHcy, tCys, tCysGly and tGSH were stable for 3 h at least in the EDTA-3DA and EDTA-NaF tubes kept at room temperature.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of tea polyphenol in inhibiting microsatellite instability (MSI) of colorectal cancer. Methods: Using LoVo cells and SW480 cells treated with aqueous solution of tea polyphenol, cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method, changes in microsatellite sequences were detected by genescan method and changes in gene expression of LoVo cells were detected by illumina expression arrays and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The proliferation inhibition rates of LoVo and SW480 cells treated with tea polyphenol increased with the increasing of drug concentration and showed an increasing tendency with time. The proliferation inhibition rate of LoVo cells with tea polyphenol was higher than that of SW480 cells, and there was a significant difference in the proliferation inhibition rates at 24 h, 72 h and one week. The microsatellite sequence of LoVo cells treated with tea polyphenol remained stable. The gene expression arrays and quantitative real-time PCR suggested that tea polyphenol inhibited the gene expressions of MT2A, MAFA, HES1 and JAG1 nearly two-fold over controls. It was also found that tea polyphenol inhibited the BAX and p38 genes with a more than two-fold difference but did not significantly inhibit the nuclear factor-κB pathway. Conclusion: Tea polyphenol significantly inhibited the proliferation of MSI colorectal cancer cells and stably maintained the microsatellite state in MSI colorectal cancer. Tea polyphenol inhibited the gene expressions of HES1, JAG1, MT2A and MAFA, up-regulated the gene expression of BAX and down-regulated that of P38. Further research is required to investigate how these pathways are interrelated.

Objective To investigate hippocampal neuronal damage and dynamic change of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit GluR2 in status epilepticus, to find out whether GluR2/glyceral dehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) interaction has any change.Methods Male Wistar rats (62 cases) were induced to status epilepticus by using LiC1-pilocarpine.The 62 rats were divided into 1 h (6 cases),6 h (12 cases), 24 h (12 cases),72 h (12 cases)and 7 d (20 cases)after status epilepticus.At the same time, the healthy control group (12 cases) was established.Morphologic changes of hippocampus and the amount of apoptotic cells in healthy control and SE model groups at different time points (6 h, 24 h, 72 h, 7 d) (6 cases each group) after status epilepticus were quantified by adopting Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling staining respectively.Expressions of GluR2 in healthy control and SE model groups at 1 h,6 h,24 h,72 h and 7 d (6 cases each group) after status epilepticus were detected by using Western blot.Co-precipitation and Western blot techniques were used to investigate whether the GluR2/GAPDH interaction in the hippocampus was increased.Results Compared with the healthy control group, the number of nerve cells in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions was significantly reduced at all studied time points(F =30.866,24.043, all P ＜0.05).Apoptotic cells in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions were significantly increased at 24 h,72 h and 7 d after status epilepticus (F =84.762,52.574, all P ＜ 0.01).GluR2 at 1 h,6 h after status epilepticus was equal to that of the control group (P ＞ 0.05), but it was shown to be significantly down-regulated at other studied time points (F =76.506,P ＜ 0.01);when compared with the healthy control group,the GluR2/GAPDH interaction was significantly up-regulated in the hippocampus at 72 h after status epilepticus (t =7.029, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Status epilepticus can lead to neuronal damage in the hippocampus.Down-regulation of GluR2 and increase of the GluR2/GAPDH complex formation might be one of the mechanisms involved in hippocampal neuronal damage.

To study the anticancer effects of tea polyphenols on colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability (MSI) in nude mice and to explore its mechanism.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of interventional chemotherapy (ICT)on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and microvessel density (MVD) in rectal carcinoma.MethodsThe expression of VEGF and MVD in 34 patients of rectal cancer were determined before the ICT and 4～5 weeks after the ICT. ResultsBefore the ICT and 4～5 week after the ICT, the expressions of VEGF in the tissue of rectal cancer was 61.8%(21/34) and 32.3%(11/34) respectively(P

OBJECTIVETo assess the anxiolytic effect of Anshenfang granules (ASF), a compound traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, on anxiety in rats and the mechanism of its actions.

METHODSMale Wistar rats with anxiety induced by chronic emotional stress were randomized to receive treatments with diazepam or ASF at high, medium or low doses. The behavioral changes of the rats were evaluated using plus-maze test, after which the rats in normal control group, model group, and medium AFS dose group were sacrificed to measure the hippocampal contents of glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); immunohistochemistry was employed to evaluate the expressions of GABAA receptor and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1).

RESULTSPlus-maze test showed obvious anxiety behaviors in the model group, which were significantly meliorated by diazepam and ASF, especially at the medium dose. Hippocampal glutamate levels increased and GABA decreased significantly in the model group, and such changes were obviously attenuated, by comparable amplitudes, by treatments with diazepam and medium-dose ASF. The model group showed significantly diminished GABAA receptor-positive cells and increased NMDAR1-positive cells, which were improved by diazepam and ASF at the medium dose.

CONCLUSIONASF produces strong anxiolytic effect in rats by increasing the content of GABA in the brain, enhancing GABAA receptor expression, reducing glutamic acid content, and decreasing NMDAR1 expression.

Animals ; Anti-Anxiety Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, GABA ; metabolism ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

Objective To assess the clinical diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and aspartate transaminase (AST)-to-platelet (PLT) ratio index (APRI) for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to five times of the upper limit of normal (≤5×upper limit of normal [ULN]).Methods FibroScan,blood routine and liver function test were conducted at the day or one day before liver biopsy in 383 CHB patients with ALT≤5 × ULN.The Scheuer scoring system was used for liver histologic assessment.APRI was calculated.Based on the results of liver pathology,the areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of LSM and APRI for diagnosis of liver fibrosis stage were compared.Results The median LSM were 5.10 kPa for S0 fibrosis stage,5.20 kPa for S1,6.60 kPa for S2,10.10 kPa for S3,and 18.80 kPa for S4.The median APRI values were 0.36,0.38,0.63,0.61 and 1.27,respectively.The AUC of LSM were 0.817 for ≥S2,0.891 for ≥S3 and 0.913 for ≥S4.And the AUC of APRI were 0.717 for ≥S2,0.711 for ≥S3 and 0.746 for ≥S4.The cut-offs of LSM values were 6.8 kPa for ≥S2,8.7 kPa for ≥S3,and 10.9 kPa for ≥S4.Conclusion LSM can accurately assess the degree of liver fibrosis in CHB patients with ALT ≤5 × ULN,which is superior to APRI in clinical utility.

Objective To evaluate the role of a color jaundice card (6 colors) as a possible screening tool for detecting neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.Methods During February 1,2016 and May 31,2017,neonates were enrolled in the study,with gestational age ≥35 weeks,birth weight ≥2 000 g,postnatal age 3-28 days,who were the outpatients or inpatients of the 9th People's Hospital of Wuxi Affiliated to Soochow University and the People's Hospital of Anyang.In a well-lighted room,the card measurements were performed at the infants' forehead,the cheek and the sternum.The skin was pressed with a finger for 2 seconds and left quickly,and then the card was used to compare with the exposed yellow skin.Within 2 hours after jaundice card measurement,blood was obtained by venipuncture and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels were measured.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV),positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were calculated at each measurement sites.Results One hundred and thirty-two neonates were enrolled,of whom 68 cases (51.5％) were male and 64 cases(48.5％) were female and 18 cases (13.6％) were preterm and 114 cases (86.4％) were term neonates.Among all neonates,TSB was ＜5.00 mg/dL(1 mg/dL =17.1 μmol/L) in 21 cases (15.9％),5.00-9.99 mg/dL in 26 cases (19.7％),10.00-14.99 mg/dL in 34 cases (25.8％),15.00-19.99 mg/dL in 37 cases (28.0％) and ≥ 20.00 mg/dL in 14 cases (10.6％).The card had the highest cap ability to recognize jaundice at the cheek,slightly lower at the sternum and the worst in the forehead.The cut-off of ≥ 12 on the six-color card at the cheek had a sensitivity of 95.95％,specificity of 74.14％,PPV of 82.56％,NPV of 93.48％,PLR of 3.710 and NLR of 0.055 for identifying neonates with TSB ≥ 12 mg/dL,with sensitivity being 98.08％,specificity 57.50％,PPV 60.00％,NPV 97.87％,PLR 2.308 and NLR 0.033 for TSB≥ 15 mg/dL.The identification rate was as follows:sensitivity of 100.00％,specificity of 46.00％,PPV of 37.21％,NPV of 100.00％ and PLR of 1.852 for predicting TSB ≥ 17 mg/dL.In addition,in the forehead,cheeks and sternum,the sensitivity of the cut-off of ≥ 12 on the card was 100.00％ for identifying neonates with TSB≥20 mg/dL.In the cheeks and the sternum,the cut-off of ≥ 15 on the card was with a sensitivity of 100.00％ for predicting TSB ≥ 20 mg/dL.Conclusion The six-color jaundice card is a potential screening tool for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia,and the cheek is the best measurement site.