Objective To explore the high risk factors of brain injury in preterm infants,and to reduce its morbidity and improve the developmental outcome.Methods One hundred and thirty preterm infants,who were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit(NICU)between Aug.2005 and Aug.2007,were scanned by echo in 1,3,4,7,15 days,and 1,3 and 6 months after birth,respectively.Those who had intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH)of grade Ⅰor Ⅱ were regarded as mild brain injury,whereas those who had IVH of grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ or periventricular leukomalacia(PVL)were regarded as severe brain injury.Logistic regression was adopted to analyze 17 factors:gestational age,birth weight,hypertension syndrome during pregnancy,premature rupture of membranes,modalities of delivery,fetal distress,asphy-xiate,resuscitation,surfactant,apnea,seizures,hypoxia,hypercarbia,hypocarbia,acidosis,use of oxygen,nasal constant positive airway pressure or mechanical ventilation.Results Among 130 preterm infants,88 cases(66.7%)were detected with brain injury,which included 29 cases(33%)with mild brain injury(5 cases with IVH of grade Ⅰ,24 cases with IVH of grade Ⅱ)and 59 cases(67%)with severe brain injury(53 cases with IVH of grade Ⅲ,1 case with IVH of grade Ⅳ and 5 cases with PVL).Gestational age and birth weight were the fundamental factors of brain injury in premature infants.The smaller the gestational age and the lower the birth weight,the highter the brain injury rate.Resuscitation,hypoxia,the use of auxiliary ventilation were also important high risk factors of brain injury in preterm infants.All these high risk factors could influence the autoregulation of cerebral blood and trigger or aggravate brain injury of preterm infants.Conclusions Smaller gestational age,lower birth weight,resuscitation,hypoxia,the use of auxiliary ventilation were all the high risk factors of brain injury in premature infants,which could influence the parameters of cerebral blood dynamics by influencing cerebral blood autoregulation of preterm infants and lead to the occurrence of brain injury in premature.

Objective To observe the curative effects of monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside(GM1)on neonates with moderate and severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods Eighty-six neonates with HIE were randomly divided into GM1 treatment group and control group.The control group(42 cases)were received routine treatment(including cerebrolysin and citicoline);the treatment group(44 cases)were given GM1 on the basis of routine treatment as early as possible(within 6 hours after birth).Brain CT,neonatal behavioral neurological assessment(NBNA)and children's development center of China(CDCC)at 12 months after birth were proformed in both groups.Results Brain CT,NBNA and CDCC markers in treatment group were better than those in control group(Pa

Objective To assess the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in adult patients with KaschinBeck disease(KBD) in endemic area, and to investigate the association between KBD and atherosclerosis. Methods B-mode ultrasound was used to investigate carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD over 40 years old in Shanhe farm and Shangzhi city and residents in Shuangcheng county in 2009. Ultrasonography images were saved and graded according to intima media morphology. Results The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shanhe farm were 50.0%(26/52),37.3%( 19/51 ),42.5%(30/71 ),58.2% (39/67) and 44.0% (22/50) , respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shangzhi city were 63.0% (34/54), 45.3% (24/53), 47.2% (25/53), 60.0% (30/50)and 51.9% (28/54), respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in people without KBD in the 5 control villages affiliated to Shuangcheng county were 63.9% (46/72),43.1% (31/72),57.1% (40/70),46.9% (30/64) and 53.0%(35/66), respectively. Ten villages in KBD endemic area and 5 villages in control area were investigated. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in the 15 villages were standardized and compared by Wilcoxon test. The differences were not significant between two KBD endemic areas and one control( T = 25.0,24.5,all P ＞ 0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence of atherosclerosis in the 3 areas(x2 = 0.36, P＞0.05). Comparing the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in 3 locations, the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 15.28, P ＜ 0.05) and there was significant difference statistically between the subjects in Shangzhi city and that in the control group(x2 = 8.92, P ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the detection rate of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD, and similar results in the grade of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD were found (x2 = 1.88,5.07, all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in historical endemic area in Heilongjiang province is not higher than that in the control area.

Objective To probe into the impact on sperm motility in male rat induced by fluorine poisoning, and provide experimental basis to further research for reproductive toxicity of fluoride. Methods According to bodyweight, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose group( 100,200,300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) NaF), and were treated by intragastric administration for 90 days, and the weight of the rats was observed each day. After the last intragastric administration, all rats were killed. The relative weight of liver, kidney and testis was calculated. Rat epididymides were plucked off and spermatozoa released from it. Sperm motility parameters were measured by WLJY-9000 color-detection system of sperm quality. Results Compared with high-dose group[(206.00 ± 18.16)g], the weight of low-dose and medium-dose group [ (235.00 ± 14.56), (235.44 ± 24.99)g] in 30 days were statistically significant increased(all P < 0.05) ; there were no significant differences between the groups in 60 days and in 90 days(F = 0.578,1.893, all P > 0.05). Comparison of organ coefficient of liver, kidney and testis among three groups showed no significant difference(F = 2.148,0.907, 1.801, all P > 0.05). The average path velocity(VAP) of the high-dose group[ (25.04 ± 4.59)μm/s] showed significant increase compared with control group[ (20.22 ± 3.29)μm/s] ; the straight line velocity(VSL) of the low- dose, medium-dose and high-dose group[ (18.82± 3.19), (17.84 ± 4.54), (16.46 ± 2.63)μm/s] showed significant increase compared with control group[ ( 12.48 ± 1.73 ) μm/s ] ; linearity (LIN) of the low-dese, medium-dose and high.dose group[(23.84±1.58)%,(24.99±3.37)%,(26.75±5.07)%]showed significant decrease compared with control group[(33.29±4.00)%];wobble(WOB)of the medium-dose and high-dose group[(47.03±3.98)%,(4921±723)%]showed significant increase compared with control group[(38.09±0.48)%];mean angular deviation (MAD)of the low-dose group[(68.29±5.71)radian/s]showed significant decrease compared with control group [(81.57±8.44)radian/s];beat cross frequency(BCF)ofthe high-dose group[(117±0.61)/s]showed significant increase compared with control group[(9.49±0.34)/s];sperm density(p)of the low-dose and medium-dose group [(1.26±0.24)×10~9/L,(1.84±0.50)×10~9/L]showed significant decrease compared with control group [(3.94±1.10)×10~9/L,all P<0.05].Comparison of the eurvilinearvelocity(VCL),straightness(STR),amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH)among three groups showed no significant difference(F=0.264,2.209,1.667, all P>0.05).Conclusion Fluorine poisoning could change sperm motility parameters of the rat,reduce the sperm density and cau8e damage to the reproductive system.

A single dose of 3H-norcantharidin solution was intragastrically given, blood, tissues, urine and feces were collected as scheduled, and radioactivity in these samples was determined by tritium tracing method to investigate the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of norcantharidin in Kunming mice. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of norcantharidin were evaluated by DAS version 2.0. The blood concentration reached to maximum 0. 5 h after intragastric administration. The radioactivity in tissues was high in small intestine, gallbladder, stomach, adrenal gland, kidney, heart and uterus 15 minutes after administration, descending with time, and high in gallbladder, adrenal gland and uterus 3 hours post dosing. The 24 h accumulative excretion ratio of urine and feces were 65.40% and 1.33% respectively. 3H-norcantharidin was easily absorbed after orally given to mice, the radioactivity was high and existed for a long-time in gallbladder, adrenal gland and uterus, and low but also existed for a long-time in large intestine, thymus and fat tissue. 3H-norcantharidin was declined quickly in small intestine, stomach, kidney and heart, and occurred rarely in brain. Norcantharidin was excreted mainly by urinary route and seldom in feces, which may be the cause of the urinary stimulation side effects observed. Because the radioactivity measured were the sum of 3H labeled norcantharidin and its metabolites, further studies on the disposition of norcantharidin in mammal animals, on the separation or identification of metabolites and, if any, on their activities, are fairly needed.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Random Allocation ; Tissue Distribution ; Tritium

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of infrared radiation (IR) on the skin scald in rats.

METHODSThirty-nine male Wistar rats were used in the study, and they were randomly divided into normal control (C, n = 13), scald (S, n = 13, no treatment after scalding) and treatment (T, n = 13, with IR radiation treatment for 5 days since 2nd post scalding day (PSD) groups. The rats in S and T groups were subjected to deep partial thickness scalding on the back. The cutaneous tissue samples from rat wound in each group were harvested on the 3rd and 7th PSD for pathomorphological examination. DNA synthesis in wound tissue was analyzed by 3H-TdR incorporation method, and the vascular permeability in cutaneous tissue, degree of tissue edema and MDA content were determined by corresponding methods.

RESULTSEpidermal exfoliation, cutaneous ulcer, follicular atrophy and damage, and massive formation of collagen were identified in the skin wound of rats in S group on the 7th PSD compared with C group. The skin in T group was smooth with slight atrophy and a few collagen fibers in follicles. The 3H-TdR incorporation amount in the rats in T group (1856.33 +/- 343.81 cpm/mg) on the 7th PSD was significantly higher than that in S group (1353.95 +/- 274.48 cpm/mg) (P < 0.01). The tissue permeability, edema degree and MDA content in the cutaneous tissue in S group were obviously higher than those in group C, while these indices were markedly lower in T group when compared with those in S group (P < 0.01-0.001).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with IR seemed to be beneficial to the promotion of skin tissue metabolism and tissue repair.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Infrared Rays ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo understand the molecular basis for a potential reaction mechanism and develop novel antibiotics with homology modeling for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase (HMGS).

METHODSThe genetic engineering technology and the composer module of SYBYL7.0 program were used, while the HMGS three-dimensional structure was analyzed by homology modeling.

RESULTSThe mvaS gene was cloned from Streptococcus pneumoniae and overexpressed in Escherichia coli from a pET28 vector. The expressed enzyme (about 46 kDa) was purified by affinity chromatography with a specific activity of 3.24 micromol/min/mg. Optimal conditions were pH 9.75 and 10 mmol/L MgCl2 at 37 degrees C. The V(max) and K(m) were 4.69 micromol/min/mg and 213 micromol/L respectively. The 3D model of S. pneumoniae HMGS was established based on structure template of HMGS of Enterococcus faecalis.

CONCLUSIONThe structure of HMGS will facilitate the structure-based design of alternative drugs to cholesterol-lowering therapies or to novel antibiotics to the Gram-positive cocci, whereas the recombinant HMGS will prove useful for drug development against a different enzyme in the mevalonate pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; physiology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Protein Conformation ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; enzymology ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; Disasters ; statistics & numerical data ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Fractures, Open ; psychology ; surgery ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; psychology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDAdult stem cells provide a promising alternative for the treatment of injured tissues. We aimed to investigate the effect of in vivo transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on injured gastric mucosa in rats.

METHODSThe gastric ulcer in rats was induced by indomethacin. BMMSCs from male rats, labeled with the fluorescent cell linker 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFDA SE), were transplanted into the female rats via tail vein injection. The healing process of gastric ulcers was monitored by HE staining. The protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the injured gastric mucosa were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAt 48 and 72 hours after BMMSCs transplantation, the CFDA SE labeled cells were found scattered in the injured gastric mucosa, but not in the gastric mucosa of control rats. At 72 hours after BMMSCs transplantation, the mean ulcer index was 12.67 ± 2.16 in the BMMSCs transplanted group and 17.33 ± 1.97 in vehicle-treated controls (P < 0.01). Both VEGF and EGFR protein expression levels were significantly higher in the gastric section from the rats that received BMMSCs transplantation as compared to rats without BMMSCs transplantation.

CONCLUSIONAutologous BMMSCs transplantation can accelerate gastric ulcer healing in injured gastric mucosa in a rodent model.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cell Movement ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; pathology ; Genes, sry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; analysis ; Stomach Ulcer ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and lab features of sibling brother and sister both with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

METHODSWe conducted comprehensive clinical and lab investigations including the test of serum enzymes, electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography, color Doppler echocardiography, HE staining of skeletal muscles, immunohistochemical study of dystrophin and utrophin, multiple ligation probe amplification (MLPA) on exon 1-79 of dystrophin gene, and short tandem repeat-poly- merase chain reaction of CA repeats located in dystrophin gene.

RESULTSThese two patients were confirmed to suffer from DMD. They were characterized by typical features of DMD including typical clinical manifestations, increased serum enzymes, EMG presenting myogenic impairment, HE staining presentation belonging to DMD, negative dystrophin in brother, and inconstantly positive on the sarcolemma of sister. Furthermore, no deletion or duplication was found in the 1-79 exons of dystrophin gene. The suffering brother and sister carried the same maternal X chromosome.

CONCLUSIONSCarriers of DMD gene show typical clinical and laboratory manifestations of DMD. Comprehensive examinations should be performed for such carriers.

Dystrophin ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Siblings