Objective To explore the clinical and MDCT features of pediatric irreducible intussusception. Methods 66 patients were divided into irreducible intussusception group (19 cases) and reducible intussusception group (47 cases). Age clinical courses, length of intussusception body (L), neck max diameter (D1), head max diameter (D2) andthe ratio (D2/D1) and MDCT imaging data were compared and analyzed. Results (1) The course time, L and D2/D1 values of irreducible intussusception group were significantly higher than those of reducible group, the D1 was lower than that ofreducible group, and the difference is statistically significant (P<0.05). Clinical course,L and D2/D1 value AUC values were more than 0.7, the threshold values were 33.0 h, 7.5 cm and 1.33. (2) The occurrence rate of non-ileum-colon intussusception, Meckel's diverticulum, appendicitis and intestinal necrotic for irreducible intussusception were 36.8%, 21.1%, 21.1%, 15.8%and 10.5%respectively. Conclusion Whenthe time of course>33.0 mo, D2/D1>1.33 and L>7.5 cm, the irreducible intussusceptioncould be considered, and Meckel??s diverticulum, intestinal necrosis, appendicitis and intestinal obstruction should be judged further.

Objective To identify G?quadruplex structures in the promoter region of MET. Methods CD spectroscopy,UV spectroscopy,non?denatured electrophoresis and PCR stop assay were applied to indicate the G?quadruplex structure and its function. Results The Pu23WT se?quence in the promoter of MET adopted an intramolecular parallel G?quadruplex structure under physiological conditions in vitro,which can stop the extension of Pmet. Conclusion G?quadruplex structure in the promoter might inhibit MET gene expression in vivo.

Objective To study the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of licorice flavonoids(LF) isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis(licorice) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced lung inflammation in mice.Methods Mice were intratracheally instillated with either LPS(4 mg/kg) or saline.At 6 or 24 h after LPS intratracheal instillation,pathological examination and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed and the lung wet/dry weight ratio as an index of acute lung injury was assessed.Then,the numbers of total leukocytes,neutrophils and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and TNF-? protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were measured.LPS-induced myeloporoxidase(MPO) activity and expressions of TNF-? and IL-1? at the mRNA levels and TNF-? at the protein level in lung tissues were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA.Results LPS caused a severe lung inflammation,as indicated by the pathological findings and the lung wet/dry weight ratio.However,oral LF could attenuate these LPS-induced abnormalities.LF could decrease the numbers of total leukocyte cells and neutrophils,and increase the levels of SOD and TNF? BALF.In addition,LF significantly suppressed the MPO activity,TNF-? and IL-1? mRNA expression levels,and TNF-? protein level in the lung tissues.Conclusion Inhibition of inflammatory cytokines expressions and regulation of oxidation/antioxidation of LF may be its anti-inflammatory mechanism in LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice.

Adult ; Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Male ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Silicotuberculosis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; etiology

BACKGROUND:Host immune rejection is the main problem for nerve alograft in the repair of nerve defects. Therefore, how to avoid and minimize the immune rejection is the key to the success of nerve alografting. OBJECTIVE: To develop a new nerve pretreatment method by which Schwann cels and myelin can be removed from the peripheral nerve of dogs while the basilar membrane can be reserved integraly in order to obtain acelular nerve alografts. METHODS:Bilateral sciatic nerves from healthy adult dogs were taken and pretreated with the combined freeze-thaw and chemical methods folowed by microscopic observation of ultrastructural features, histological staining and western blot analysis of its ingredients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Pretreated acelular nerves with good ductility and excelent epineurium toughness were empty basal lamina tubes with no Schwann cels, myelin and fragments that were al removed thoroughly, but the basilar membrane was fuly retained. These findings indicate that the optimized combination of freeze-thaw and chemical methods can efficiently clear Schwann cels and myelin which are the major antigenic components in the peripheral nerve, while preserve the basilar membrane to promote nerve regeneration. Therefore, this method can be an ideal method for preparation of tissue engineered nerves.

Objective To investigate the differential gene expression in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with typical syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM) syndromes, and to explore the relationship between TCM syndromes and gene expression. Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from CHB patients and healthy volunteers before treatment. After total RNA of leukocytes was isolated, the gene expression profiles were detected by microarray. The expression levels of partial genes were tested by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) . Results Microarray analysis results showed that there were significant differences of gene expression between CHB patients and healthy volunteers, and among CHB patients with the syndrome of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, syndrome of damp-heat accumulation, and syndrome of liver-kidney yin deficiency. The results of gene ontology ( GO) and signal pathway analysis between the healthy control and CHB patients with various syndromes showed that the specially-regulated genes of CHB patients with liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency were mainly related to cytokinetic process, those in patients with dampness-heat accumulation were mainly related to the positive regulation of lipid storage, and those of patients with liver-kidney yin deficiency were mainly related to the activities of nitric oxide synthase regulator. The real time RT-PCR for partial genes presented the similar results with those of gene microarray. Conclusion There are specific expression profiles of differential genes and significant differential genes in CHB patients with the syndrome of liver-qi stagnation and spleen deficiency, syndrome of damp-heat accumulation, and syndrome of liver-kidney yin deficiency, which may be the molecular foundation for the classification of TCM syndromes of CHB patients.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of soybean isoflavones (SI) on the heart function of the rats with adriamycin induced heart failure. METHODS: Thirty adult male SD rats were divided into 5 groups:normal control (NC) group, adriamycin (ADR) group, L-SI group, M-SI group and H-SI group. SI of 30, 60, 120 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) was orally administered through a stomach tube once a day for 6 days in L-SI group, M-SI group and H-SI group, respectively. The other two groups were given the same amount of normal saline the same way. Then ADR of 10 mg/kg was given intraperitoneally once to copy the model of heart-failure. The MedLab-U/4c biological signal collecting system was used to record and analyze the LVSP of the rats. The pathological changes of the cardiomyocytes were observed. RESULTS: As compared with NC group, the LVSP,+/-dp/dt max, Vpm of the ADR group were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but those of the H-SI group were markedly higher than those of the ADR group (P<0.01). Electron microscopic morphometry of the heart samples of the rats in ADR group revealed typical alterations, consisting an increase of collagen content, vacuolation, diminishing of the cardiomyocyte diameter, alteration of myofilaments and Z-lines of myofibers, and myofibrillar degeneration. SI of 120 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) treatment could prevent the loss of myofibrillae and the reduction of myocyte diameter, and the degeneration of myofilaments and Z-lines were reversed by SI. CONCLUSION: SI of 120 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) treatment can relieve the toxic effect of ADR on myocardium, and also obviously improve the cardiac contractility of heart-failure rats.

BACKGROUND: Both antioxidant and cytokine can induce the differentiation of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem calls (UCB-MSCs) towards neuron-like cells in vitro. It remains unclear regarding how to select an inductor that has the ability of either neuro-protection like cytokines or powerful antioxidation. After wide screening, baicalin has been included in this study. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of baicalin on in vitro purification, amplification, and differentiation towards neuron-like cells of hUCB-MSCs.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, cytological in vitro observation was performed at the laboratory of Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between February and April 2005. MATERIALS: Ten portions of UCB were collected from healthy full-term normal delivery pregnant women aged 23-25 years old. Baicalin with purity > 95% was purchased from Department of Pharmaceutics, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University. Antioxidant additive J -mercaptoethanol was provided by Sino-American Biotechnology Company, China. METHODS: The collected UCB was anticoagulated with heparin to separate mononuclear cells. After concentration adjustment (1 ×109/L), UCB mononuclear cells were purified and amplified with dulbecco's modified eagle's medium containing fetal bovine serum (0.2 volume fraction), glutamine, B27, granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, and stem cell factors. According to antioxidant additive application, 4 groups were set: baicalin, blank control, β -mercaptoethanol, and baicaUn+ β -mercaptoethanol. Cells in each group were cultured for a total of 4 consecutive weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Detection of CD 34 and CD 29 immunoreactive expression on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after cryopreservation. (2) Cellular morphology observation. (3) Detection of surface antigen expression of MSCs by flow cytometry. (4) Detection of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP-2), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression after 4 weeks of culture by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: O Compared with prior to cryopraservation, trypan blue exclusion rate of UCB-MSCs was significantly reduced on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after cryopreservation (P < 0.05). (2) Morphological observation: UCB mononuclear cells adhered to the wall 2-3 days after culture, reached a peak level at 2 weeks, and formed a confluence of approximately 80%-90% 3 weeks after culture; at this time, all UCB-MSCs displayed a spindle shaped appearance. Four weeks later, in the baicalin group, some spindle-shaped UCB-MSCs began to present shrinkage, with slender processes on the cell edge, and some UCB-MSCs tended to be spherical-, conical-, and triangle-shaped appearance, with many slender processes on the pseudopodia. In the β-mercaptoethanol and baicalin+β -mercaptoethanol groups, an increasing number of cells defoliated and died with culture time in addition to above-mentioned appearances. (3) Four weeks after culture, cells were positive for CD45 in the blank control group, while cells in the remaining groups were positive for CD29 and CD 83, in particular in the baicalin+ β -mercaptoethanol group, followed by the baicalin group, and lastly the β -mercaptoethanol group. Significant difference in CD29 and CD 83 immunoreactivity exhibited between groups (P < 0.01). No CD34 immunoraactive calls were found in each group. (4) Four weeks after culture, NSE and MAP-2 immunoreactive expression was significantly lower in the blank control and β -mercaptoethanol groups than in the baicalin group (P < 0.01). The percentage of cells expressing GFAP was lower than 1% in each group. CONCLUSION: 100 μmol/L baicalin can promote the in vitro amplification of UCB-MSCs in a time-dependent manner and also can induce the differentiation of UCB-MSCs towards neuron-like cells in vitro to some extent.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic therapy has a long history and is used in the treatment of various diseases. To study the protective function of constant magnetic field for ischemic cerebrovascular diseases may provide new clinical foundation for non-medicinal and non-traumatic treatment and develop a novel way for treatment with physical factor.OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of constant magnetic field treatment on hemodynamics at macroscopic level, RBC membrane fluidity at subcellular level and antioxidase activity at molecular level, as well as NO and NO synthetase activity in rats with ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injury.DESIGN: A completely randomized design.SETTING: Biophysical Teaching and Research Department of Harbin Medical University.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at Biophysical Laboratory,Harbin Medical University, between May and November 2002. Forty healthy Wistar rats were adaptively raised for 1 week before randomized into 3 groups, namely, sham-operation group (n=10), model group (n=15)and magnetic therapy group (n=15).METHODS: ① IR model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) was established in rats in model group and magnetic therapy group, but MCA was only tied up without occlusion in sham-operation group. ② In magnetic therapy group, rat necks were exposed to 40 mT constant magnetic field instantly after ischemic injury for 30 minutes, once a day, while rats in sham-operation group and model group were not exposed to magnetic field.Three groups of rats were anaesthetized at postoperative 7 days for obtaining blood from eyeball, and cut off head for obtaining brain.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Hemodynamic changes in three groups of rats. ② Changes of RBC membrane fluidity-related parameters.③ Changes of serum glutathione peroxidase and ceruloplasmin content.④ Changes of brain malonedialdehyde (MDA), NO, and NO synthetase activity indexes.RESULTS: Thirty rats were included and all entered the result analysis.① Hemodynamic parameters: Blood high-shearing, blood low-shearing viscosity, fibrinogen and HCT were remarkably higher in model group than in sham- operation group (P ＜ 0.01), but obviously lower in magnetic therapy group than in model group (P ＜ 0.01). ② RBC membrane fluidity: The fluorescence polarization, average microviscosity and aeolotropy were remarkably higher in model group than in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.01), and the above indexes were lower in magnetic therapy group than in model group (P ＜ 0.05). ③ Serum glutathione peroxidase and ceruloplasmin contents in model group were remarkably lower than those in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.05), but were higher in magnetic therapy group than in model group (P ＜ 0.01), and slightly higher than sham-operation group. ④ The brain Cu/Zn-SOD, MDA, NO, NO synthetase activities in model group were remarkably higher than in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),but antioxidase activity was remarkably lower than that in sham-operation group (P ＜ 0.01); all parameters were proved to get better in magnetic therapy group after magnetic field treatment, and better than those in model group (P ＜ 0.05, 0.01).CONCLUSION: Constant magnetic field exposure can remarkably improve rat hemodynamic property, increase RBC membrane fluidity and antioxidase activity, and reduce the content of MDA, NO, NO synthetase,thereby improving organic anti-oxidation capability and effectively preventing free radicals and NO-induced neural damage. It possesses certain function of protecting brain IR injury through holding up the pathophysiological development of brain ischemia injury.

Objective To study the washing methods for the piping instruments of laparoscope and prevention form biological membrane .Methods 300 pieces of the piping instruments of laparoscope select from the center of sterilization supply were random classified into 3 groups(100 pieces in each group) according to washing methods :washing by hand(group A) ,full-automation wash-ing machine(group B) and Tri-band pressurized ultrasonic washing machine(group C) .Comparing the cleanliness and ATP detec-tion fluorescence value on different methods .Results Cleanliness of group A was 85% ,ATP fluorescence detection rate was 27% ;Cleanliness of group B was 82% ,ATP fluorescence detection positive rate was 31% ;Cleanliness of group C was 99% ,ATP fluores-cence detection positive rate was 5% .The test data of group C was significantly compare with the data of group A and B . Conclusion The washing method of using tri-band pressurized ultrasonic washing machine can effectively improve laparoscopic tube cavity equipment cleaning effect and prevent form biological membrane .