Objective To explore the role of interleukin-15(Il-15)in pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease(KD)and its potential cli-nical value.Methods Thirty patients with KD were selected in Xinhua hospital from Oct.2004 to Jan.2006.The serum concentration of IL-15 was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in acute stage and convalescent stage of KD,and 30 children with low respiratory inflection and 20 healthy children were studied as controls.Results Serum IL-15 level in acute KD was significantly higher than that in normal control,and the two sides were remarkably different in statistics(q=25.64 P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ganoderma lucidum decoction in treating Russula subnigricans poisoning (RSP) patients.

METHODSThe 14 patients of RSP in the treated group were treated with GLD (GLD, one dose was prepared by 100 g of Ganoderma lucidum decocted with water to 600 ml), on the base of conventional treatment, and 11 patients received conventional therapy in the previous year were taken as control. The clinical efficacy and parameters in them were compared, including the urine N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG, which reflects the injury of kidney), the red blood cell and protein in urine, the alanine transaminase (ALT, which reflects the injury of liver), and the aspartate aminotransferase (AST, which reflects the injury of heart).

RESULTSA better clinical cure-markedly improving rate was showed in the treated group as compared with the control group, P < 0.01. In the treated group, red blood cell in urine disappeared after 24 hrs treatment in the majority of patients, urinary protein reduced obviously and the other three parameters reached the peak at the 3rd day then lowered gradually. In the control group, all the parameters increased continuously. Comparison between the parameters at corresponding time in the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.01), those in the treated group were markedly lower than those in the control group respectively.

CONCLUSIONGLD has good effect in treating RSP, could obviously lower the fatat rate of RSP.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mushroom Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Reishi ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the relationship between combined muhigene detection and response to chemotherapy and prognosis in epithelial ovarian carcinomas(EOCS).Methods A total of 80 ovarian tissue samples taken from the surgical specimens of patients with EOCS of our hospital in the last two decades who had received chemotherapy "after surgery were paraffin-embedded.The samples were divided into 2 groups,good prognosis group(patients who survived more than 2 years,n=46)and poor prognosis group(patients who survived less than 2 years,n=34).The expression levels of ToPo-Ⅱ,Ki-67,MGMT, PCNA,p27,p53,pl6,P-gp,LRP,GST-?,bcl-2,C-myc,Fas,bax,MSH2,MRP and BCRP were investigated by the combination of tissue arrays and immunohistoehemical streptavidin-biotin peroxidase(SP) method in all samples.Data were analysed with SPSS 12.0 for windows.Results There were statistically significant differences in the positive expression levels of P-gp,BCRP,MGMT,MSH2,p27 and p16(62%, 50% and 50% in poor prognosis group vs 33%,28% and 28% respectively,P

Long-term excessive iodine intake resulted in an increased TT_4 level and a decreased TT_3 level in maternal serum,meanwhile,hepatic and renal type 1 deiodinase activity decreased dose-dependently.A significant reduction in type 2 deiodinase ( D2 ) activity of 12.5 d placenta was found in 3.0 mg/L or above groups.For 19.5 d uterus,D2 activity decreased and type 3 deiodinase activity increased.The results suggest that excessive iodine has an effect on the embryonic development by regulating maternal-fetal thyroid hormone metabolism.

Objective To observe the change of stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) and calcium content in brain of coal-burning-borne fluorosis rats,and to explore the role of STC1 in brain injury of coal-burning-borne fluorosis.Methods Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into control,low,medium,and high fluoride groups according to body mass.Control group was fed conventional rat chow(fluorinated 1.3 mg/kg),and low,medium and high fluoride groups fed with fluorinated feed(20.0,40.0,60.0 mg/kg).All rats were given distilled water and feed ad libitum.One hundred and eighty days after modeling,STC1 protein and gene expression in the brain tissue of rats were detected using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR and calcium content of brain tissue was detected.Results The cell positive rates of STC1 in low,medium,high fluoride groups [(48.10 + 2.11)％,(54.90 ± 1.73)％,(79.30 ± 3.71)％] were significantly higher than that of the control group[(24.70 + 3.53)％,all P ＜ 0.05],the cell positive rate of high fluoride group was significantly higher than that of the low and medium fluoride groups (all P ＜ 0.05).The STC1 mRNA expression of low,medium and high fluoride groups (0.58 ± 0.09,0.85 ± 0.17,1.75 ± 0.04) were significantly higher than that in the control group(0.37 ± 0.12,all P＜ 0.05),the STC1 mRNA expressions of high fluoride group was significantly higher than that of the low and medium fluoride groups (all P ＜ 0.05).The brain cortex calcium ion concentrations of low,medium and high fluoride groups[(138.62 + 4.19),(167.43 + 6.57),(189.45 + 3.72)nmol/L] were significantly higher than that in the control group [(101.47 + 9.46)nmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05],the brain cortex calcium ion concentrations of high fluoride group was significantly higher than that of the low and medium fluoride groups(all P ＜ 0.05),and the medium fluoride groups was higher than the low groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion STC 1 may be involved in brain damage of coal-burning-borne fluorosis rats through regulating calcium balance.

OBJECTIVETo detect novel mutations in the fibrillin 1 (FBN1) and transforming growth factor beta receptor type II (TGFBR2) genes by screening the genes from 14 patients with Marfan syndrome.

METHODSDenaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) was introduced to screen for FBN1 and TGFBR2 mutations exon-by-exon. The DNA amplification fragments which DHPLC elution profiles showed different from the corresponding normal elution profile were sequenced to identify the positions and types of mutations. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was employed to further prove the mutations when needed.

RESULTSTwo gene mutations of the FBN1 were found in the patients with Marfan syndrome. They were a novel substitutional mutation (Intron29 +4A > T) of FBN1 and a recurrent nonsense mutation (8080C >T) of FBN1.

CONCLUSIONIntron29 +4A > T and 8080C > T of FBN1 are possibly the pathogenesis of the MFS patients.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Fibrillin-1 ; Fibrillins ; Humans ; Male ; Marfan Syndrome ; genetics ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyse the causes and the management of massive hemorrhage in hepatectomy.

METHODSWith over 1 000 ml of bleeding, 4 368 patients with hepatectomy between 1955 and 2000 were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTSAmong 4 368 patients receiving hepatectomy, 286 (6.5%) had massive hemorrhage because of damage to the major hepatic veins, portal hypertension, hepatic insufficiency, and the extensive adhesion around the tumor. Massive hemorrhage was managed by repair and transfixation of the damaged vessels; transfixation or devascularization of variceal bleeding; complete vessels ligation of the hepatic section with mattress suture; resection of the ruptured tumor after temporary occlusion of the porta hepatis; fibrinogen infusion; hot saline compression of the surface of the wound and/or daub biological glue; argon beam coagulation and packs placement.

CONCLUSIONSLight performance and nonforce dragging of liver can reduce massive hemorrhage caused by major vessel injury or tumor rupture. Normothetic occlusion of porta hepatis can reduce blood loss effectively when liver resection. In situ hepatectomy must be adopted if there is extensive adhesion around the tumor. Packs placement is still an effective measure to stop bleeding caused by defective coagulation and extensive blood oozing of wound surface.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemostasis, Surgical ; Hepatectomy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning with Glossy anoderma Decoction (, GGD).

METHODSTwelve patients with acute Amanita mushroom poisoning received conventional treatment (penicillin and reduced glutathione) combined with oral administration of GGD (treated group), which was prepared out of 200 g Glossy ganoderma decocted in water to 600 mL, and 200 ml was given once, three times a day for 7 successive days; while conventional treatment alone was given to the other 11 patients assigned to the control group. The therapeutic efficacy and changes in serum levels of total bilirubin (TBil), bile acids (BA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities in the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe cured-markedly effective rate in the treated group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.01). Elevation in TBil, BA, ALT, and AST activities were observed in both groups 3 days after poisoning, which progressively increased thereafter in the control group. In the treated group, they reached their peak on the 3rd day and then declined gradually. The differences between pre-treatment and post-treatment in both groups were obviously significant (P<0.01), so were the differences between the two groups at corresponding time points (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONGGD shows excellent clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute Amanita mushroom poisoning and can reduce mortality significantly.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Amanita ; Bile Acids and Salts ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Ganoderma ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Mushroom Poisoning ; blood ; drug therapy ; mortality

The cloned TWIK-related acid-sensitive K(+) channel (TASK-1) is sensitive to the pH changes within physiological pH range (pK~7.4). Recently, the native TASK-1-like channel was suggested to be the main contributor to the background (or leak) K(+) conductance in the motoneurons of the brain stem. Serotonin (5-HT) and variation of pH value in perfused solution could modulate these currents. Here we aimed to examine the properties and modulation of the currents by serotonin or variation of pH value in hypoglossal motoneurons of rats. Transverse slices were prepared from the brainstem of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats (postnatal days 7-8). Hypoglossal motoneurons were used for the study. The leak K(+) current (TASK-1-like current) and hyperpolarization-activated cationic current (I(h)) were recorded with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed that these currents were inhibited by acidified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF, pH 6.0) and activated by alkalized ACSF (pH 8.5). 5-HT (10 mumol/L) significantly inhibited both leak K(+) current and I(h) with depolarization of membrane potential and the occurrence of oscillation and/or spikes. Bath application of Ketanserine, an antagonist of 5-HT₂ receptor, reversed or reduced the inhibitory effect of acidified solution on leak K(+) current and I(h). The results suggest that 5-HT₂ receptors mediate the effects of acidified media on leak K(+) current and I(h) in hypoglossal motoneurons.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Stem ; cytology ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; cytology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ion Transport ; Membrane Potentials ; Motor Neurons ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed the important role of free radicals in renal damage induced by high-energy shock waves (HESW). This study aimed at investigating the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on free radical-mediated HESW-induced damage to renal tubules in a live rabbit model.

METHODSForty-five healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 15), sham group (n = 15), and herb-treated group (n = 15). Three days prior to HESW application, the controls received verapamil (0.4 mg/kg), the shams received physiological saline (20 ml), and the herb-treated animals received Astragalus membranaceus (2.4 g/kg) intravenously. HESW (1500 shocks, 18 kV) was applied to the right kidneys of all anesthetized rabbits. We measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels before and after shock treatment in blood and kidney homogenates. Histopathological changes were also observed.

RESULTSMDA levels increased and SOD activity decreased significantly in the sham group (P < 0.05 for both) after shock treatment. MDA levels showed a much less increase in the controls (P < 0.05) and did not increase to statistically significant levels in the group receiving Astragalus membranaceus (P > 0.05). SOD values were significantly higher in the controls than in the shams (P < 0.05). By contrast, SOD levels recovered rapidly in the rabbits receiving Astragalus membranaceus, reaching a nadir within 24 hours, and returning to baseline more quickly than in control and sham rabbits (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that renal tubular damage in the controls was less severe than in the shams, while damage in the Astragalus membranaceus group was even more mild, with rapid recovery in comparison with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides preliminary evidence indicating that Astragalus membranaceus has strong protective effects on free radical-mediated renal tubular damage induced by HESW and that these effects are superior to the effects of verapamil.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Free Radicals ; toxicity ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; adverse effects ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Verapamil ; pharmacology