Objective To compare the effect of transthoracic contrast echocardiography (cTTE) with transesophageal contrast echocardiography (cTEE) for detecting right to left shunt (RLS) in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods The prospective study was conducted in 29 consecutive patients with PFO who suffered from cryptogenic stroke and/or migraine. Contrast echocardiography was performed in all 29 patients. The cTTE was performed using transducer with second harmonic imaging modality (transmitting frequency 1.7 MHz, receiving frequency 3.4 MHz). The cTEE was performed using transducer with frequency 7 MHz. Ten milliliter saline solution of contrast were rapidly administrated through an antecubital vein. According to whether microbubble (MB) appearing in left atrium after complete opaciifcation of right atrium within the ifrst 3 circles, the results were classiifed by a four-level semi-quantitative categorization:Level 1 (no PFO-RSL), no MB in left atrium; Level 2 (small PFO-RSL) 1-10 MBs; Level 3 (medium PFO-RSL) 10-30 MBs;Level 4 (large PFO-RSL)>30 MBs. Results The total detection rate of PFO-RSL was signiifcant different between cTTE and cTEE (86.2%vs 55.2%,χ2=5.711, P=0.017). In cTTE there were 4 cases at level 1, 1 case at level 2, 5 cases at level 3 and 19 cases at level 4. In cTEE there were 13 cases at leverl 1, 2 cases at level 2, 6 cases at level 3 and 7 cases at level 4. The comparison of semi-quantitative grading derived from cTTE and cTEE was also signiifcant different (Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed Z=-3.789, P=0.000). Conclusions The efifciency in detection of PFO-RLS with cTTE was better than with cTEE. Compared with cTEE, cTTE was easier in practice and brought less discomfort and complications to patients.

In this study, pEGFP-N1 was chosen as the reporter plasmid and transferred into Ctenopharyngodon idellus kidney (CIK) cells by electroporation, and the optimal electroporation conditions were determined by testing the transfection efficiency with different voltages, pulse times, plasmid amounts, and numbers of shocks. The results showed that the maximum electroporation efficiency was achieved under the following conditions in a 0.2 cm electroporation cuvette containing CIK cells (1.5 x 10(7)/mL, 200 microl): electric voltage 200 V, pulse time 45 ms, plasmid 30 microg, and one electric shock. The total genomic RNA of grass carp reovirus (GCRV) was extracted in this experiment and reversely transcribed into cDNA, which was used to amplify the gene segment of GCRV non-structural protein NS26 using designed specific primers. The PCR product was recombined into pEGFP-N1 vector. The fusion protein EGFP-NS26 was successfully and efficiently expressed in the CIK cells by electroporation, which was confirmed by both fluorescent imaging and Western blot analysis. This experiment laid a foundation for further functional studies of the non-structural protein NS26 of GCRV.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyprinidae ; Electroporation ; Fish Diseases ; virology ; Gene Expression ; Kidney ; virology ; Reoviridae ; genetics ; physiology ; Reoviridae Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Child ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Pylorus ; abnormalities

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Cardia ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the serum of traditional Chinese medicine Nao Yi An on glutamate induced cell death in cultured hippocampal neurons of rat and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsHippocampal neurons were cultured. The excitatory amino acid induced toxicity on cultured neurons was investigated. The viability of injured neurons was determined with the measurement of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) were determined by immunoprecipitation /kinase assays /western blot detection.ResultsThe serum of Nao Yi-An raised cell viability. The serum of Nao Yi-An upregulated the expression of extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK) and downregulated the expression of c-Jun N terminal kinase/stress activited protein kinase(JNK) in cultured neurons. The serum of Nao Yi-An induced upregulation of ERK and its anti death action were prevented with the specific ERKs inhibitor PD98059. Conclusions Activation of ERK signaling together with inhibition of JNK signaling by Chinese medicine Nao Yi-An appears to be an important mechanism for its survival effects on cultured hippocampal neurons.

Adult ; Choristoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Thymoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) on c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling pathways in hypertrophic myocardial cells.

METHODSThirty female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, and the EA group, 10 in each group. Isoprenaline hydrochloride (ISO) injection at the daily dose of 3 mg/kg was subcutaneously injected for 14 days to establish the cardiac hypertrophy (CH) model. Rats in normal group were subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of normal saline. EA at Neiguan (PC6) was applied for rats in the EA group while modeling, once daily, for 14 successive days. The left ventricular weight index (LVWI) and heart weight index (HWI) were calculated in all rats. The content of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the cardiac muscular tissue was tested using radioimmunoassay. The protein expressions of JNK and phosphorated JNK (p-JNK) in cardiocytes were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, LVWI and HWI, the Ang II content, and the expressions of JNK and p-JNK were significantly higher in the model group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The aforesaid indices were obviously lower in the EA group than in the model group with statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA at PC6 could prevent and treat CH possibly correlated with regulation of JNK signaling pathways. EA might play a role possibly through regulating its upstream neuroendocrine factors.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Objective To explore the fibrosis mechanism of patients with fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis(FCH) in the way of degradation of collagen.Methods The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP1),and contents of type I,III collagen proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining in the liver tissues of 9 cases with FCH associated with HBV developed following renal transplantation and 5 cases without liver disease as controls.Results The expressions of MMP1 and TIMP1,and type I,III collagen proteins in the patients with FCH were significantly higher than those in the control group.There was a positive correlation between the expressions of type I,III collagen proteins and TIMP1/ MMP1 ratio.Conclusion Hepatic fibrosis in the patients with FCH associated with HBV developed following renal transplantation may be relative to the increase of TIMP1 expression which inhibit the degradation of collagen.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristic of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with severe viral hepatitis, and explore its clinical classification and significance. Methods A retrospective research of 120 cases of SBP associated with severe viral hepatitis was performed, and main clinical symptoms and physical signs appeared at the early onset were classified and explored. Results Clinical manifestations of SBP in patients with severe viral hepatitis included 5 types, which were conventional type(41.7%, 50/120), symptomless type(15.8%, 19/120), hepatic coma type(13.3%, 16/120), refractory aacites type (17.5%, 21/120), and shock type (11.7%, 14/120). The germieuhure positive rate of SBP with hepatic coma type and shock type were relatively high, and the survival rate of these patients were low. Conclusions Clinical manifestations of SBP in patients with severe viral hepatitis may be atypical, and its classification help to enhancing the understanding and early diagnosis of SBP, and decreasing missed diagnosis. The prognosis of SBP in patients with hepatic coma type and shock type was poor, and then it must be taken high into account more than ever before in the clinical practice.

Objective To observe the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase1(TIMP1) and the collagen type Ⅰ,Ⅲ deposition in the liver tissues,and evaluate the possible fibrosis mechanism of patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) in the way of degradation of collagen. Methods The specimens of the biopsy liver in 50 cases with CHB were detected for the expressions of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen proteins,MMP1 and TIMP1 by immunohistochemical staining. Results The expressions of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen proteins and TIMP1,were significantly increased along with the advancing of hepatic fibrosis.There was a positive correlation between the expressions of type Ⅰ,Ⅲ collagen proteins and TIMP1. Conclusions Hepatic fibrosis in the patients with CHB may be related to increase of TIMP1 expression that inhibit the degradation of collagen.