AIM: Niflumic acid (NFA) is known as a kind of inhibitor of calcium-activated chloride channel. The inhibition and mechanism of NFA on the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were investigated. METHODS: Using [ 3H]-TdR incorporation method, we examined the effect of NFA (at concentration of 10 and 50 ?mol/L) on the proliferation of primarily ASMCs from BALB/c mouse. With confocal laser scanning microscope the [Ca 2+ ]i in ASMCs exposed to histamine was observed, and the opposed effects of NFA and nifedipine on histamine were also checked. Finally the effect of NFA on expression of MAPK in ASMCs was examined by indirect immunofluorescent assay. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the proliferation of NFA group was reduced markedly with dependent concentration. Histamine significantly improved the [Ca 2+ ]i in ASMCs, but NFA and nifedipine showed the inhibition on the effect of histamine. NFA reduced the level of MAPK expression in ASMCs. CONCLUSION: It is demonstrated that NFA inhibits the proliferation of ASMCs by reducing [Ca 2+ ]i and the expression level of MAPK. [

Objective To investigate the effect of levosimendan on pulmonary artery pressure in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement.Methods Twenty-four ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ and NY-HA class Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients,aged 35-60 yr,with mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) ＞ 30 mm Hg,undergoing mitral valve replacement were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =12 each):control group (group C) and levosimendan group (group L).In group L,a loading dose of levosimendan 24 μg/kg was injected intravenously after aortic unclamping,followed by infusion of levosimendan at a rate of 0.2 μg· kg-1 · min-1 until 1 d after operation.Group C received the equal volume of normal saline.HR,MAP,MPAP,pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP),cardiac index (CI) were recorded at 5 min after induction (T0),at the end of CPB (T1) and at 1 h after operation (T2),and the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and rate-pressure product (RPP) were calculated.The improvement in pulmonary hypertension was recorded.Results PCWP was significantly lower and CI higher at T1,2 in both groups,and HR was significantly higher at T1,2 and MPAP lower at T2 in group C,and MPAP and PVR were significantly lower at T1,2 in group L than at T0 (P ＜ 0.05).HR,MPAP and PVR were significantly lower and CI was significantly higher at T1,2,RPP was significantly lower at T2 and the improvement in pulmonary hypertension was higher in group L than in group C (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Levosimendan can improve pulmonary hypertension without increasing the myocardial oxygen consumption and with a significant increase in myocardial contractility in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve replacement.

AIM: To evaluate the safety, efficacy and stability of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens ( ICL ) implanation and clear lens extraction for the correction of high myopia.
METHODS: The study enrolled 56 cases ( 100 eyes ) of high myopia. Group I comprised 32 cases ( 58 eyes ) receiving ICL implantation and Group II comprised 24 cases (42 eyes) undergoing clear lens extraction. In this study, we evaluated the two groups of subject's the visual and refractive results, intraocular pressure ( IOP ) , endothelial cell density ( ECD ) , anterior chamber depth ( ACD) , lens transparency, the surgical complications as well as visual adverse symptoms before and after surgery.
RESULTS: The postoperative subjects in group I and group II were followed, uncorrected vision acuity ( UCVA)>0. 5 were 69. 0% in group I and 71. 4% in group II after 3mo. UCVA>0. 5 were 72. 4% in group I and 73. 8% in group II after 1a. Predictability of the manifest spherical equivalent refraction within±1. 00D was achieved in 62. 1%of eyes in group I and 57. 1% in group II after 1a. The central vault of the ICL ( distance from posterior surface of ICL to the crystalline lens ) measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography ( AS-OCT ) was 0. 35-0. 54 (0. 40±0. 16) mm. Twelve point one percent of eyes in group I and 7. 1% of eyes in group II had transient mild increase in IOP. Here were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative ECD (P<0. 001 ). Complications of surgery: 1 eye had ICL spontaneous rotation, 2 eyes had anterior subcapsular cataract, 4 eyes noticed halos around lights at night in group I. Three eyes had posterior capsule mild opacification, 3 eyes noticed halos around lights at night, 12 eyes had difficulty in near vision in group II.
CONCLUSION: ICL implantation and clear lens extraction are effective, safe and predictable surgical option for the management of high myopia. No severe complications occurred, but its long time effect and safety still need more time to prove.

During professor SHAO Jing-ming's academic research and medical practice, his academic opinion of focusing spirit is gradually developed. In terms of nurturing the spirit, attention should be paid on persistence as well as everyday health maintenance and exercise to nurture the spirit of physician. In terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment, patients' psychology, employment and life status should be observed and experienced, which could bring more methods to take essential care of patients' spirit. The treatment should work with psychological counseling, advocating that based on patients' qi and spirit, various forms of treatment methods should be properly used, such as acupuncture or moxibustion or combination of acupuncture and medicine, along with simple acupoint selection and harmony medication. Before clinical treatment of acupuncture, calming the mind is critically emphasized to make a clear diagnosis. During the acupuncture, calming and focusing the mind is necessary as well as emphasizing the details, so acupuncture could be integrated with Chi Gong to create a new warming-sensation technique. In a word, the academic opinion of focusing spirit is shedding an inspiring light upon further study.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; psychology ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans

Objective: To study the influence of authraquinones derivative of nine fold processed Radix et Rhizoma Rhei on hyperlipema and hemorheology of animals. Methods: The blood TC and TG of experimental hyperlipemia rats before and after they were given drug and its improvement on hemorheology of rats were determired. Results: Anthraquinone derivative of nine fold processed Radix et Rhizoma Rhei could decrease levels of the blood TC and TG of experimental hyperlipemia rats and improve hemorheology of rats ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiology of 1977 patients from northern China with acute (ALF), sub-acute (SALF) or acute-on-chronic liver (ACLF) failures.

METHODThe age, gender, etiology, pathogenesis, and prognosis of the 1977 patients with liver failures were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 1977 cases, the three most common causes of ALF were HEV (33.96%) or HBV (13.21%) infections or those caused by medicines (9.43%). The three predominant causes of SALF were medicines (31.53%), HEV (16.22%) or HBV (9.91%) infections, but those of the ACLF were HBV (90.29%) infection, alcoholic hepatopathy (2.65%), and HBV super infected with HEV (2.26%) infections. 90.09% (1781) patients were infected by hepatotropic viruses. Of these 1781 patients, the most common cause of their liver failures was HBV infection (92.93%). In these HBV infected patients, 77.10% were from 26 to 55 years old. From 2005 to 2007, there were 39 patients with alcoholic liver failure. In the past two years, there were 23 patients with drug induced liver failure. The improvement rate of the 1977 patients after their treatments was 35.56%. The improvement rate of HEV infected liver failure was higher than drug induced liver failure (P less than 0.05); no statistical significance was found between other groups (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDifferent types of liver failure have different predominant causes. HBV infection is the most common cause in our 1977 patients. In the past two years, the number of drug induced liver failures and alcoholic liver failures have been increasing.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic ; etiology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis E ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; etiology ; Liver Failure ; chemically induced ; classification ; etiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Muscle Proteins ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Mutation ; Myopathies, Nemaline

OBJECTIVETo determine the mutation responsible for the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type I(CFEOM1) in a Chinese family.

METHODSDirect sequencing of exons 20 and 21 in the KIF21A gene was performed for the proband. The mutation c.2860C to T in exon 21 was examined by allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analysis in other family members. Haplotype analysis was performed using four STR markers (D12S1668, D12S2194, D12S331 and D12S1048).

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation c.2860C to T in the KIF21A gene was identified in all three affected members with CFEOM1. Haplotype analysis suggested that the mutation might derive from maternal germline mosaicism.

CONCLUSIONThis Chinese family with CFEOM1 may be caused by a c.2860C to T mutation in the KIF21A gene.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; Exons ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Kinesin ; genetics ; Mutation ; genetics ; Oculomotor Muscles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Syndrome

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Circoviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology ; Torque teno virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo probe into the bidirectional regulation of acupuncture in the rat with motility abnormality of the stomach and the nerve mechanism.

METHODSAdopting electrophysiological methods, the extracellular discharge signals of neuronic action in NTS were recorded with glass microelectrodes. The effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Qihai" (CV 6) on discharges of NTS neurons and intra-gastric pressure were observed in the rat at normal physiological state, and increase or reduction of gastric motility.

RESULTSAcupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Neiguan" (PC 6) could significantly promote gastric motility of the rat at normal status, increase or reduction of gastric motion, while acupuncture at "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Qihai" (CV 6) could significantly inhibit gastric motion. And acupuncture at all the above acupoints could activate discharges of NTS neurons.

CONCLUSIONThe bidirectional regulation effect of an acupoint does not certainly indicate that the same point has bidirectional regulation effect on an internal organs at different pathological states, while this may show synthetic action of different points which is a good regulation towards normal states and homeostasis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solitary Nucleus ; physiology ; Stomach Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy