Acute Kidney Injury ; therapy ; Child ; Hemofiltration ; methods ; Humans

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibitor on expression of MMP-3 in degenerated lumbar intervertebral disc.MethodsThe animal model of degenerated lumbar intervertebral disc was established with rats. The 32 rats were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group with 16 animals in each group. From the fourth week after operation, the animals of the experimental group were injected with tetracycline 25 mg per day, those of the control group with saline. Two weeks late, the tissue of degenerated lumbar intervertebral disc was taken and the expression of MMP-3 was tested by immumohistochemistry and Western-bloting.ResultsThe expression of MMP-3 in the experimental group decreased and significantly different from the control group ( P<0.05).ConclusionMMPs inhibitor can decrease expression of MMP-3 in degenerated lumbar intervertebral disc.

Objective To observe the changes of serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies levels in childhren with autism,explore its relation of with severities of childhood autism to provide clue and evidence for pathogenesis and treatment of children with autism.Methods Fifty children with autism,received training in our special training institution from June 2012 to August 2012,were chosen in our study; another 50 healthy children,collected in our hospital at the same period,were used as control group.The serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies levels were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The severities of autism were assessed by childhood autism rating scale (CARS).The serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies levels were compared between the two groups,between different severities of childhood autism and between geder,and then,corelation analysis was performed.Results According to the highest cut-off value of serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies,increased serum levels of anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies were found in 24％ (12/50) of all autistic children and 4％ (2/50) of normal children,with significant difference (P＜0.05); 7.7％ (2/26) of children with mild to moderate autism and 41.7％ (10/24) of children with severe autism had increased serum levels of anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies,with significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05).The serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibody level of children with autism [12.79 (146.02) ng/mL] was obviously higher than that of the healthy controls [11.35 (53.80) ng/mL] with statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).The anti-ganglioside M1 antibody level of the female autistic children [191.74 (216.18) ng/mL] was obviously higher than that of the male autistic children [11.11 (9.51) ng/mL] with statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the serum level of anti-GM1 antibodies of autistic children had significantly positive correlation with CARS scores (r=0.866,P＜0.005).Conclusion The serum anti-ganglioside M1 antibodies level may be a biochemical sign of autism and is associated with the severity of childhood autism.

Objective:To methodologically establish the lentivirus granule packaging, concentration and infection against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood. Methods:The lentivirus system of the 3~(rd) generation was used to produce the virus. Ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation were employed to concentrate virus. Several treatments were used to improve virus infection including in vitro amplification culture, facilitation of rest cells into cell cycle, promotion of cell adhesion and immobilization during infection, and repeat infection methods. Results:CD34~+ cells were not obviously changed by checking the expression level of CD34 marker on the cell surface after 48 h culture. After two-step concentration, virus titer was increased up to 5.06×10~7/ml, and the infection rate against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood was increased up to 37.7%.Conclusion:Lentivirus supernatant with over 10~7/ml titer can be obtained using the above methods. Efficient infection against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood can be achieved.

To explore the role of regulatory peptides in the secretion of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), we observed the effects of four peptides, i.e.vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), epidermal growth factor (EGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), on the secretion of ILs from unstimulated or O3-stressed BECs. The results of the experiments showed that VIP exerted an inhibitory effect on the secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated and O3-stressed BECs, VIP also decreased the secretion of IL-5 from O3-stressed BECs; EGF promoted secretion of IL-1 and IL-8 from unstimulated BECs, but decreased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs; ET-1 and CGRP enhanced the secretion of IL-1, IL-5, and IL-8 from unstimlated BECs, CGRP also increased the secretion of ILs from O3-stressed BECs. The results obtained demonstrate that intrapulmonary regulatory peptides modulate the secretion of ILs from BECs, and may play an important part in transduction of inflammatory signals.
Animals ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Female ; Interleukins ; secretion ; Male ; Rabbits ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze clinical features of 4 families with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and potential mutations of ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4 genes.

METHODSFour unrelated HHT patients and their affected family members were analyzed. All exons and flanking regions of ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4 genes were analyzed with PCR and direct sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) methods.

RESULTSEleven patients from the 4 families were enrolled in this study. Two ENG and 1 ACVRL1 mutations were identified, among which an ENG mutation (c.207G>A; p.L69L) and an ACVRL1 mutation (c.817C>T; p.L273L) have been previously reported. In addition, a novel ENG mutation (c.1004A>T; p.Q335L) has been found in 3 different families. Similar mutations were not detected in 200 healthy individuals. No mutations of ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4 were found in the fourth family.

CONCLUSIONA novel mutation c.1004A>T (p. Q335L) of ENG has been identified in patients with HHT. And there is significant phenotypic variability and genetic heterogeneity with the disease.

Activin Receptors, Type II ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; Endoglin ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; Smad4 Protein ; genetics ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; diagnosis ; genetics

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change in endothelium-dependent vasodilation and arterial elasticity and the association between them in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSThirty patients with CAD and thirty control subjects were recruited for this study. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery was evaluated by ultrasound Doppler flow method. They also underwent a non-invasive assessment of C(1) large artery and C(2) small artery indices by using pulse wave analysis.

RESULTSFMD was significantly reduced in CAD group compared with that in control group [(5.17 +/- 2.13)% vs (11.1 +/- 4.36)%, P < 0.05], C(1) large artery elasticity index was similar between the two groups [(11.59 +/- 4.56) ml/mm Hg x 10 vs (12.11 +/- 3.82) ml/mm Hg x 10, P > 0.05]. However, C(2) small artery elasticity index was significantly reduced in CAD group compared with that in control group [(4.20 +/- 1.80) ml/mm Hg x 100 vs (6.26 +/- 2.36) ml/mm Hg x 100, P < 0.05]. There was a positive association between reduced C(2) small artery elasticity index and impaired FMD (r = 0.53, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere were impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and reduced C(2) small artery elasticity index in the patients with CAD, which were closely correlated with each other. The present study suggested that the measurement of C(2) small artery elasticity might be used as a novel index for the determination of endothelial function.

Aged ; Arteries ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Elasticity ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasodilation ; physiology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEEarly diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is difficult due to the insufficient specificity of the conventional examination method. This study was to investigate potential and consistent biomarkers for NPC, particularly for early detection of NPC.

METHODSA proteomic pattern was identified in a training set (134 NPC patients and 73 control individuals) using the surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization-mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS), and used to screen the test set (44 NPC patients and 25 control individuals) to determine the screening accuracy. To confirm the accuracy, it was used to test another group of 52 NPC patients and 32 healthy individuals at 6 months later.

RESULTSEight proteomic biomarkers with top-scored peak mass/charge ratios (m/z) of 8605 Da, 5320 Da, 5355 Da, 5380 Da, 5336 Da, 2791 Da, 7154 Da, and 9366 Da were selected as the potential biomarkers of NPC with a sensitivity of 90.9% (40/44) and a specificity of 92.0% (23/25). The performance was better than the current diagnostic method by using the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigen IgA antibodies (VCA/IgA). Similar sensitivity (88.5%) and specificity (90.6%) were achieved in another group of 84 samples.

CONCLUSIONSELDI-MS profiling might be a potential tool to identify patients with NPC, particularly at early clinical stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Algorithms ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antigens, Viral ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Capsid Proteins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Proteomics ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo better understand and measure the impact from immunization activities over the last 10-years, we conducted a sero-epidemiological study using the remaining blood samples of a nationwide survey on Nutrition and Health in Chinese residents, in 2002.

METHODSHBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc in blood samples were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) reagents and revised by solid phase radioimmunoassay and Abbott ELISA reagents.

RESULTSAmong population older than 3 years, the prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs and hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection were 9.09%, 37.48% and 50.04% but for children between 3 and 12 year olds, they were 5.03%, 45.33% and 29.10% respectively. Among population older than 3 years, the rates of HBsAg and HBV infection in urban area were 4.61% and 43.51%, but the rates in rural area were 9.41% and 56.77% respectively while for children from 3-years to 12-years old, they rates were 2.10%, 20.45% in urban area and 8.25%, 39.22% in rural areas, respectively.

CONCLUSIONResults revealed that since the hepatitis B vaccine was introduced into the expanded program on immunization(EPI) from 1992, the prevalence rates of HBsAg and HBV infection, especially in the children from 3 to 12 years of age, had obviously declined, suggesting that some changes had happened in the epidemic characters of hepatitis B in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; immunology ; Young Adult