Objective To establish the optimal section planes for observing ventricular septal defect(VSD) by real-time three dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods In 6 pig hearts with different types of VSD, after high pressural perfusion with coupling reagent, two dimensional, dual plane and RT-3DE were performed with different section planes, estimating with half quantificational visional grade:4 marks,very clear;3 marks,clear;2 marks,not clear enough; 1 marks,not clear. Results Observation by RT-3DE, en-face view of atrial-ventricular(S2a) and en-face view of left ventricular septum(L1a) provided relatively ideal section planes in sub-arterial ventricular septal defect, S2a and en-face view of right ventricular septum(L2a) provided relatively ideal section planes in perimembranous and muscular VSD. Conclusions S2a reflects relatively ideal section plane in sub-arterial, perimembranous and muscular VSD.

AIM:To investigate the effects of estrogen on the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-2(MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2(TIMP-2) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in cultured human corneal stromal cells.METHODS: Inflammatory environments of human corneal stromal cells were simulated by using 1.5ng/mL IL-1β.The cells were then treated with or without different concentrations of estrogen(0, 1×10-4, 1×10-6, 1×10-8, 1×10-10mol/L estradiol)in vitro.Cell viability was evaluated by MTT.Expression levels of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and TGF-β1 proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RESULTS:Estrogen did not affect the viability of human corneal stromal cells.Compared with the control group, expression levels of MMP-2 and TGF-β1 proteins in E2 treatment group significantly decreased after being treated with estrogen, while the expression level of TIMP-2 significantly increased.CONCLUSION: Estrogen could, to some extent, down-regulate the expression of MMP-2 and TGF-β1 and up-regulate the expression of TIMP-2, which might contribute to protecting human cornea.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective effects in rat model with focal cerebral ischemia through anti-apoptotic pathways and by promoting proliferation of neural stem cells. In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective effect of G-CSF in an acute focal cerebral ischemia rat model with lipid metabolism disorder. Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal diet control group (NC group) and high-fat diet group (HFD group) (n = 40 in each). In HFD group, rats were fed on high fat diet to induce atherosclerosis. After 29 days, 4 rats from each group were sacrificed to evaluate the effects of different diets, and the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed in the rest of the rats. MCAO rats received either G-CSF (50 μg·kg(-1)·mL(-1)) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injection through the external jugular vein for 5 days, which was followed by 5-bromo-deoxy uridine (BrdU, i.p., 50 mg/kg) injection for another 7 days. To evaluate the effects of G-CSF treatment on neurological function, the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was calculated. The vascular distribution, ischemic cells proliferation, cell apoptosis and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured to determine the effects of G-CSF treatment. Our results showed that G-CSF-treated rats had a lower mNSS than PBS-treated rats in both NC group and HFD group. G-CSF injection promoted endothelial cell proliferation and vascular regeneration, and inhibited cell apoptosis. The serum and tissue levels of VEGF were significantly increased after G-CSF treatment. It is concluded that G-CSF exerts its neuroprotective effect in focal cerebral ischemia rats with hyperlipidemia by enhancing angiogenesis, promoting cells proliferation, decreasing cell apoptosis, and increasing local VEGF expression.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke has a younger tendency; hence to explore the risk factors of stroke in the middle-aged and youth for primary rehabilitation has extremely important clinical significance.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factor-of stroke in the middle-aged and youth.DESIGN: A case-control analysis based on diagnose.SETTING: Department of neurology in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 100 hospitalized patients including the middle-aged and youth ( ＜ 44 years old, n = 63 ) and the pre-elderly (45 - 49years old, n = 37) with mean age of(42. 91 ±6.8) were selected into stroke group from the Department of Neurology, Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University between July 1997 and December 2000. Another 100 surgical patients without history of cerebrovascular diseases aged(42.70 ± 2.98) including the middle-aged and youth( n = 61 ) and the pre-elderly( n = 39) were collected randomly from the same corresponding period as control gruop.METHODS: A comparative study of 12 risk factors between two groups was studied and compared the middle-aged group and youth, the pre-elderly group with control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity comparison of each risk factor in each group.RESULTS: Hypertension, hyperlipemia, abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG),family history of stroke, arteriosclerosis of the eyeground, diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease are risk factors of ischemic stroke in the middle-aged.CONCLUSION: It is extremely important significance to reduce blood pressure and blood-fat level in the prevention of ischemic stroke.

The history of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) was reviewed through summarizing the background and process of the establishment of WFAS. The establishment background was explained in different aspects, named the recovery of acupuncture-Moxibustion in the world, the successive setup of world acupuncture-Moxibustion organizations, the divergences of International Association of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, striding forward of China reform and opening policy as well as the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO), etc. The establishment of WFAS was introduced on the proposal from eight countries, the important time of the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in China, 1984, divergences and consensus as well as the final phase. The official establishment of WFAS represents the global benefits of acupuncture-Moxibustion colleagues. It is the international organization of acupuncture and moxibustion, contributing to the promotion of acupuncture and moxibustion in the world.
Acupuncture ; history ; organization & administration ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history ; Societies, Medical ; history

Objective To observe the learning and memory ability,oxidative stress,apoptosis morphological changes in the hippocampus,and to explore the effects of hyperuricemia on cognitive function.Methods 51 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (17 in each group):Blank group,Distilled water group and Hyperuricemia group.Using the lavage methods of yeast extract combined with ethambntol to establish hyperuricemic model.Morris water maze test was used to measure the learning and memory ability.The levels of MDA,GSH-Px,ASAFR,SOD were measured through chemical colorimetry.Hippocampus morphology structures were observed under the HE staining light microscopy to detect the apoptosis of hippocampus cone cell with TUNEL.Results The average escaped latency and passing platform times of Blank group had no significant difference compared with those of Distilled water group and Hyperuricemia group (all P＞ 0.05).GSH-Px,ASAFR,SOD of Hyperuricemia group ((83.70 ± 5.47) nmol/mg,(606.03±46.61) U/L and (55.05 ± 2.11) units/mg) were increased compared with those of Blank group ((67.28±8.37) nmol/mg,(473.84 ± 57.64) U/L,(45.79 ± 2.05) units/mg) and Distilled water group ((71.96±9.47) nmol/mg,(505.97 ± 47.19) U/L,(46.24 ± 3.65) units/mg) (all P＜ 0.05).Compared with Blank group ((3.19±1.14) μmol/L) and Distilled water group ((3.16±1.43) μmol/L),the MDA of Hyperuricemia group ((1.74±0.45) μmol/L) was significantly decreased (all P＜ 0.05).Form and structures of hippocampal neurons of each group were basically normal under the HE staining light microscopy.Compared with Blank group (CA1:(3.59±0.63) ％,CA3:(5.54± 0.78) ％) and Distilled water group (CA1:(3.25±0.97) ％,CA3:(5.96± 0.82) ％),the hippocampal cells of Hyperuricemia group (CA1:(4.04± 0.78) ％,CA3:(5.95±0.80) ％) also had no statistical differences (P＞0.05).Conclusion Hyperuricemia has antioxidant effect on hippocampal neurons and has no effect on cognitive function and hippocampal neural morphology in rats.

Objective To investigate the changes of T cell subsets including Th1,Th2,Th17 and Treg in the hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD) patients.Methods 35 EV71 induced HMFD patients and 12 non-infectious children were included in this study.Patients were divided into mild symptoms group and severe symptoms group.The ratios of Th1,Th2,Th17 and Treg were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Sixteen mild cases and 19 severe cases were included in the 35 patients.No statistical difference of children′s age and sex were found among the groups(P>0.05).The proportion[M(P25,P75)] of Th1 cells of mild and severe groups were 10.65%(8.73%,14.08%) and 15.51% (13.47%,18.31%),respectively,which were significantly higher than normal control group 5.51% (3.61%,8.61%)(P<0.05).The proportion of Th2 cells of mild and severe groups were 4.32%(2.60%,5.32%) and 3.87% (2.34%,5.32%),no significant difference from control group 2.11% (1.02%,5.11%)(P<0.05).The proportion of Th17 cells of mild and severe groups were 8.32%(5.25%,12.33%),7.36% (5.05%,11.9%),significantly higher than that of normal control group 4.23% (2.44%,6.22%)(P<0.05).The proportion of Treg cells of mild and severe groups were 1.46% (0.31%,2.73%),1.59%(0.35%,2.62%),no significant difference from the control group 1.78% (0.31%,2.77%)(P<0.05).Conclusion The Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg ratios of HFMD patients with EV71 virus infection were changed,and the Th1 and Th17 cells may play an important role in the in the disease and body′s resistance.

From cooperation between World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) and World Health Organization, works of academics and standardization, acupuncture-moxibustion education, technique service, organization development, etc., the 27-year development of WFAS since 1987 was summarized and reviewed in details. The growth of WFAS witnesses and promotes the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in the world, so by learning the experience and lessons, WFAS could have a wider path, becoming a core organization for communicating and promoting the development of acupuncture, even the traditional medicine in the world.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; organization & administration ; standards ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; standards ; Global Health ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history ; standards ; Societies ; history ; World Health Organization

In this study, we explored the establishment of the database of Chinese medicine and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for tumor based on the internet, thus to promote the application of Chinese medicine in the comprehensive treatment for tumor. The database was composed of general information database, Chinese medicine database, MIS database, which was characterized by the internet-based information system structure. Data exchange between net server and remote terminal can be achieved through the firewall. The results of testing performance showed that the established database can realize the real-time share of case report, and is convenient in basic retrieve and information analysis function, indicating the feasibility and stability of the database.

Objective To verify the effectiveness of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) with multi-layer electrodes in gastric emptying measurement by simulation experiments using EIT with three-layer electrodes.Methods Firstly,EIT system with three-layer electrodes and gastric emptying measurement simulation equipment was designed and constructed to simulate gastric emptying process and obtain EIT reconstruction images.Secondly,the region where the electrical characteristic of gastric changes was selected as region of interest.Finally,the relative impedance change rate in region of interest for every image obtained from all three layers was consecutively recorded,then the gastric emptying curve was formed and gastric emptying time was calculated.Results There are obvious differences among the sharp of impedance change curves of interested region for three layers,and the gastric emptying time and process of each layer is also different from one another.It is suggested that the passing path and emptying manner of food in gastric emptying process reflected by EIT images varied from layer to layer.Therefore,the necessity and feasibility of using EIT with three-layer electrodes in gastric emptying measurement study is verified.Conclusions EIT with three-layer electrodes can provide more abundant information of gastric motility function associated with gastric emptying pathology and physiology state.It is likely to be a noninvasive,convenient and effective imaging method for the detection and evaluation research on gastric emptying and gastric motility.