Objective To study the effect of methyl mercury on the development of rat offspring. Methods The male Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly, each group was administrated methyl mercury by gavage every two days for two months, then, the rats were mated with healthy female rats. The development, growth and behaviors of offspring were investigated. Results Compared with the control, the body weights of offspring in groups of 1.170 mg/kg and 0.580 mg/kg were less and the development was tardy. The indexes that can reflect the level of development showed that the behaviors of offspring in experimental groups were damaged. Conclusion The male rats exposed to methyl mercury may produce an adverse effect on the development, growth and behaviors of their offspring.

We studied the function of connexin 43 (Cx43) gene in Xiao Meishan swine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) resulting from overexpression. Cx43 eukaryotic expression vector (pEGFP-Cx43) was constructed and transfected into BMSCs by nucleofector, after detecting the transfection efficiency; the expression of Cx43 was verified by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and western blotting. Furthermore, we detected its cell cycle and apoptosis through flow cytometry. Our results show that pEGFP-Cx43 plasmid was successfully constructed, and green fluorescence in pEGFP-Cx43 transfected BMSCs was highly expressed with 60% transfection efficiency. In transgenic Xiao Meishan swines BMSCs, the expression level of Cx43 mRNA and protein were up-regulated. Meanwhile, the ability of cell proliferation was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly reduced. Taken together, Cx43 overexpression could promote the proliferation of Xiao Meishan swine's BMSCs and markedly reduce their apoptosis, which provides evidence for in vivo research.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Vectors ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Swine ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xuebijing injection in the adjuvant treatment of children with perforated appendicitis. METHODS:72 children with perforated appendicitis in the Dept. of Pediatric General Surgery of our hospi-tal were enrolled into a prospective clinical trial,and randomly divided into experimental group (n=36) and control group (n=36). Both groups received the emergency surgery and anti-infective treatment;experimental group had additionally given Xuebijing injection. The white blood cell count (WBC),C-creation protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT),liver and kidney function and hospitalization time before and after treatment were collected and adverse reaction. RESULTS:The WBC in experimental group af-ter 3 and 6 d of treatment was respectively(13.6±3.4)×109 L-1 and(9.1±4.2)×109 L-1,CRP was respectively(52.7±13.6)mg/L and(8.5±3.3)mg/L,the PCT(0.3±0.2)ng/ml,and the hospitalization time after 3 d were lower than control group,with signifi-cant difference(P<0.05). There were no significant difference in the liver and kidney function(P>0.05). There was 1 case with itch of skin but with no severe ADR. CONCLUSIONS:Xuebijing injection in the adjuvant treatment of children with perforated ap-pendicitis is safe and effective.

Obgective To explore the risk factors of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD).Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the risk factors of preterm infants with BPD.Preterm infants (gestational age ＜ 32 weeks,and admission within 24 h since birth,and survival time more than 28 d since birth) who were sent to the Ward of Extremely Preterm Infants in Bayi Children's Hospital Affiliated to Clinical Medical College in Beijing Military General Hospital of Southern Medical University were enrolled from November 2013 to May 2014.According to the diagnostic criteria of BPD,the subjects were divided into 2 groups(BPD group and non-BPD group).Factors such as maternal information,neonatal basic information,neonatal diseases and treatments were compared between the 2 groups.Risk factors of preterm infants with BPD were analyzed by using t test,Chi-square test,Fisher's exact probability method and Logistic regression analysis.Results (1) A total of 298 cases were enrolled in this study.Among these infants,180 cases were male and 118 cases were female.The gestational age ranged from 25.6 to 31.9 weeks with the average age of (29.9 ± 1.4) weeks and the birth weights ranged from 740 to 2 300 g with the average weight of (1 428.3 ± 289.0) g.There were 19 cases of extremely low birth weight and 175 cases of very low birth weight.Sixty-nine cases of these infants were diagnosed as BPD (43 cases were mild,10 cases were moderate,16 cases were severe) with incidence of 23.2％.(2)The incidence of BPD was negatively related to gestational age and birth weight:the incidence of BPD in preterm infants with gestational age ＜ 28 weeks,28-30 weeks and ≥ 30-32 weeks were 70.4％,41.9％ and 6.2％;the incidence of BPD in preterm infants with birth weight ＜ 1 000 g,1 000-1 500 g and ≥ 1 500-1 800 g were 78.9％,29.5％ and 8.8％.(3) Multivariate Logistic regression found gestational age (OR =4.52),birth weight (OR =3.38),gender (OR =3.04),cytomegalovirus infection (OR =55.27),duration of invasive ventilation ≥ 7 d (OR =3.22),the highest concentration of inspired oxygen ≥400 mL/L (OR =4.14),patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) in need of surgical ligation (OR =7.30),and transfusion of packed red blood cells within 14 d since birth (OR =3.51) were the independent risk factors of BPD (all P ＜ 0.05).(4) Factors such as birth weight (P =0.015),duration of invasive ventilation (P =0.003),duration of inspired oxygen (P =0.000),and PDA in need of surgical ligation or not(P =0.017) were related to the severity of BPD.Conclusions BPD is a multifactorial disease.Taking effective measures to control risk factors is the key for preventing BPD.

To monitor the trans-differentiation from adult stem cells to germ cells, we analyzed the vasa expression of goat testicular tissues in different ages and constructed the germ cell specific reporting vector pVASA-EGFP. The expression of vasa was verified by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. The vector pVASA-EGFP was constructed by molecular technology, then transfected into goat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by Lipofectamine 2000. Moreover, we observed the expression of the vector through green fluorescent protein (GFP). Immunofluorescence results show that Vasa was expressed in all groups of goat testicular tissues, RT-PCR results show that the levels of vasa mRNA in 3-month group and 10-month group were significantly higher than that in 10-day group. Sequencing and restriction enzyme results show that the vector was successfully constructed. After transfection and RA treatment, GFP expression was observed, which proved the validity of our reporting system. All the results proved that vasa was expressed in different ages in goat testicular tissues, and the vector pVASA-EGFP is efficient in monitoring the trans-differentiation in vitro, which paves the way for further characterization and screening of the trans-differentiation of goat BMSCs.
Animals ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; Goats ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; Testis ; metabolism ; Transfection

To study the effects of Xifeng Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with carbamazepine on spontaneous epileptic seizure induced by lithium and pilocarpine in rats and the expression level of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1).

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of oral ibuprofen and indomethacin for the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants and investigate the factors affecting the effect of indomethacin.Methods Two hundred and four preterm infants with symptomatic PDA were enrolled in this retrospective study.They were divided into two groups accroding to the admission date.From Jan.1,2007 to Dec.30,2009,44 infants orally administered ibuprofen (one course:first dose was 10 mg/kg,followed by two doses of 5 mg/kg at 24 h intervals) were as ibuprofen group.From Dec.31,2009 to Jan.31,2011,160 infants orally administered indomethacin (one course:0.2 mg/kg,at 12 h and 24 h intervals for three times) were as indomethacin group.Chisquare test,t test and rank sum test were used to compare the rate of ductal closure,side effects and complications of two groups.Influence factors of indomethacin therapy were analyzed with Logistic regression.Results There were no differences of overall ductal closure rate [77.3％ (34/44) vs 70.6％ (113/160),x2 =0.757,P＞0.05],one course therapy [68.2％ (30/44) vs 63.8％(102/160),x2=0.297,P＞0.05] and two courses therapy closure rate [9.1％ (4/44) vs 6.9％(11/160),x2 =0.030,P＞0.05] between i buprofen group and indomethacin group.The incidences of oliguria [＜1 ml/(kg ? h)] and high serum creatinine (＞88 μmol/L) of indomethacin group were higher than those in ibuprofen group [21.3％ (34/160) vs 6.8％ (3/44),x2=4.841,P=0.028;26.9％ (43/160) vs 9.1％ (4/44),x2=6.156,P=0.013].Logistic regression analysis showed that small gestational age (OR=2.563,95％CI:1.099-5.976,P=0.029),neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (OR=2.407,95％CI:1.023-5.664,P=0.044)and septicemia (OR=4.575,95％CI:1.782-26.768,P=0.009) were unfavorable factors for ductal closure in preterm infants underwent indomcthacin therapy,while antenatal steroid (OR=0.530,95％CI:0.312-0.901,P=0.018) was a favorable factor.Conclusions Oral ibuprofen have the same effects as indomethacin on PDA treatment in preterm infants,but with fewer side effects on renal function in terms of urine output and serum creatinine level.Some factors such as septicemia may affect the theraputic effects.

Objective To improve the understanding of malignant triton tumor on imaging findings.Methods CT and MRI findings of rare malignant triton tumor in 3 cases confirmed histologically were analysed with review of the literatures.Results 3 tumors included prostatic malignant triton tumor with pulmonary metastatic tumors and neurofibromatosis-I in 1 case,left haunch malignant triton tumor in 1 case and right maxillary sinus malignant triton tumor with destruction of maxillary sinus paries in 1 case.The imaging appearances of tumors were the huge soft tissue mass which strongly suggested malignant tumors,high signal intensity on T2WI,circular septa inside the tumors with low signal intensity.Conclusion Although the qualitative diagnosis of malignant triton tumor depends on pathological examination,CT and MRI play a useful role in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this tumors.

The medium for fermentation has been selected by means of orthogonal designs. The number of cell has reached 10~(11)/ml, and spore forming rate is 70—80%. LC_(50) of mosquito larvicied is lower than 0.125 ppm. Three targets are obviously better than those of previous report. The stable results are proved by studying of fermentation in shaking flask and further in 50L~3-bench fermenter. The production cost of per ton is decreased by 33%.

Objective: To observe the effect of balancing yin-yang needling manipulation on post-stroke upper limb spasticity and changes of electromyography (EMG) after treatment.
Methods: A total of 60 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, 30 in each group. Based on routine medication, cases in the control group were treated with conventional needling manipulation, whereas cases in the observation group were treated with balancing yin-yang manipulation. After the courses of treatment were completed, the therapeutic efficacies were evaluated using modified Ashworth scale and clinical spasticity index (CSI), coupled with the integrated electromyography (IEMG) and root mean square (RMS) value of biceps in passive flexion of the elbow joint during isokinetic testing recorded with the surface EMG.
Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7%, versus 53.3% in the control group, showing a statistical significance (P < 0.05). After treatment, there was between-group statistical significance in severity of elbow spasticity (P<0.05); there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.05) statistical significances in CSI index;and there were intra-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and inter-group (P<0.01, P<0.05) statistical significances in IEMG and RMS values.
Conclusion:Balancing yin-yang and conventional needling manipulations can both improve upper limb spasm and reduce CSI as well as IEMG and RMS values in stroke patients;however, balancing yin-yang manipulation is better than conventional manipulation in clinical effect.