Cadmium ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Metallothionein ; biosynthesis ; Ubiquitin ; biosynthesis

Objective To explore the value of echo-tracking technique in the detecting the ipsilateral external iliac artery elasticity after gunshot wound in pig limbs.Methods Two-dimensional ultrasound imagings and elasticity parameters of external iliac artery of fifteen pig limbs were obtained respectively,and the results were compared with pre-injury groups.The animals were sacrificed after ultrasonography.Pathological examinations of adjacent external iliac artery of injured pig limbs were analyzed.Results Two-dimensional ultrasound imagings of external iliac arteries had no significant changes post-injury.The changes of elasticity parameters were significiant differences in the injured group comparing with the pre-injured group (P ＜0.05),including the increased stiffness parameter(β),pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep)and the decreased arterial compliance(AC).Pathological result showed that the internal elastic lamina of artery detected were flat,endothelial cells came off discontinuously and structure of them were undefined.Conclusions Echo-tracking technique can find the elastic changes of adjacent artery indirect injured by gunshot wound sensitively and which can suggest the occurrence of vascular indirect injury.

Objective To investigate the expression of extraeellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2)pathway in rat brains with fluorosis and the effects of fluoride on learning and memory of the rats,and to reveal the mechanisms of damaged nervous system resulted from the toxicity of the ion.Methods Seventy-two SD rats were divided into 3 groups and 24 rats were in each group.Three groups were fed respectively with different concentrations of fluoride(NaF)for 6 months to establish rat models with fluorosis.Controls were fed with tap water (NaF＜0.5 mg/L):lower and higher concentration group were fed with water containing NaF(5,50 ms/L).Animals are sacrificed after 6 months of treatment with fluoride and the dissected brains were kept for analysis.The protein levels of ERK1/2 in rat brains were detected by Western-blotting and the mRNA level by RT-PCR. The spatial learning and memorizing ability was measured by Morris water maze test. Results The ERK1/2 protein in control group,lower and higher concentration group was 0.944±0.10,1.253±0.02,1.953±0.07,the differece being statistieally sighificant between any two groups (P ＜ 0.05). The phospho-ERKl/2 protein in control group,lower and higher concentration group was 0.73±0.08,0.77±0.07,1.28±0.11,the differece being statistieally sighificant between any two groups(P ＜ 0.05);the activation rate of phospho-ERK1/2 in lower and higher concentration group [(68.4± 3.8)%,(64.1±3.2)%] was decreased compared to control group[ (82.3±10.7)%],the differece being significant(P ＜ 0.05). In the navigation trial,longer escape latencies of lower concentration group on the second, the third,the fifth and the sixth day were observed[ (46.0±8.0),(24.0±2.7),(8.9±5.3),(7.4±4.1 )s] compared to the control[ (39.3±6.9),(19.1±9.1 ),(8.3±3.4),(4.8±2.7)s],the differece being significant (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 );the similar results were also observed in the higher concentration group[ (36.9±16.8),(37.7±12.9), (19.7±7.6),(12.2±5.7 )s],and the escape latencies of the higher concentration group on the third,the fifth and the sixth day were longer than that in lower concentration group. In the probe test,the rats took more time to reach the first cross in lower and higher concentration group[(1.17±0.75),(4.18±1.10)s] than control group[ (5.89± 0.56 ) s ],the differece being significant (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ) ;stayed shorter [ ( 17.05±4.25 ),(18.20±4.57 ) s ] than control [(25.37±5.65 )s ] in platform area (P ＜ 0.01 );the activation rates of ERK1/2 were directly correlated with the time taken to reach the first cross platform located in the probe test(r = 0.364,P ＜ 0.05) and the activation rates were also directly correlated with the escape latencies on the sixth day(r = 0.497,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Long-term exposure of excessive fluoride induces the change of expression and activating rate of the ERK1/2 in rat brains,leading to the decreased capacity of learning and memory.

Objective To observe the long term effects of arthroscopic knee debridement and reconstructing operation for treating osteoarthritis in patients with Kaschin-Beck disease. Methods Thirty-one cases of patients with Kaschin-Beck disease were followed for 6 years after operation of articular clearing by arthroscope. Index of pain, symptoms of self-evaluation, range of motion, walking distance, standing test by affected leg when bending at 30° or 60° were recorded and compared with the preoperative results. Results Twenty-four cases were followed up for 6 years. Six years after operation the pain index(3.38 ± 2.87) was dramatically decreased compared to that before operation (6.88 ± 1.45, t = 5.30, P ＜ 0.05). Patients symptoms markedly improved by subjective self-evaluation was 70.83% (17/24), the effective rate was 100% (24/24). The number of cases that could stand up when leg bending at 30° or 60° were 21,18 cases, respectively, compared with that of preoperative of 14, 11 cases, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(x2 = 5.17,4.27, all P ＜ 0.05). Six years after operation the walking distance(3 cases ＜ 1 km, 11 cases 1 - 5 km and 10 cases ＞ 5 km) were greatly improved compared to the results before operation (12 cases ＜ 1 km, 9 cases 1 - 5 km and 3 cases ＞ 5 km, U = 2.88, P ＜0.05). Six years after operation the knee activity[(132.25 ± 14.52)°] remained at the same level, compared with that of preoperative [(131 .58 ± 14.68) °], the difference was not statistically significant (t = 0.16, P ＞ 0.05) .Conclusions The method of arthroscopic joint debridement to cure Kaschin-Beck disease knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain, improve function and walking distance, with more stable long-term satisfactory outcome.

Objectives:To examine the relationship of social capital with anxiety and depression symptoms among urban elderly in China.Methods:A household survey by using self-administered questionnaires was conducted in 3 communities in Jinan,Shandong Province and the data of 925 people aged 60 years or over were collected.The social capital indicators according to its operational definition and Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SAS) and Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale were used.The social capital factors were extracted by using exploratory factor analysis and were dichotomized to conduct logistic regression analysis.Results:The average standard scores of SAS and SDS were (35.8 ±6.9) and (41.9 ±8.7),respectively.The proportion of anxiety symptom was 4.4％ and that of depression symptom was 19.0％.Logistic regression analysis showed that perceived social support,perceived trust,reciprocity and safety and social participation were associated with self-rating depression(Ps＜ 0.05).Perceived social support (OR ＝ 0.29,95 ％ CI:0.20-0.44),perceived trust,reciprocity and safety (OR ＝0.49,95％ CI:0.33-0.72) and social participation (OR ＝ 0.66,95％ CI:0.45-0.98) were protective factors of depression.No significant association between social capital factors and anxiety was found.Conclusion:It suggests that social capital could be a target for elderly people's mental health promotion in China.Additional efforts should be taken on enhancing the elderly people's perceived support,trust and safety from their families and communities,as well as providing more opportunities of social activities in the neighborhoods.

Aim To investigate the antinociception, tolerance and withdrawal abstinence of δ/μ/κ opioid receptor triple agonist KUST201 ( DPI-125 ) in rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to de-termine the time course of analgesic effects and ED50 effects of co-administration of naltrindole were assessed as well. In withdrawal experiments, KUST201 was ad-ministrated twice daily for 3 d with increasing doses each day. On the 4th day, the rats were given a single dose, challenged with naloxone 3 h later, and signs of abstinence were monitored. Results The ED50 values of KUST201 were 0. 34 mg·kg-1 in tail-pinch test and 0. 68 mg · kg-1 in hot-plate test. The antinociception actions of KUST201 started to decrease 1 h after ad-ministration, and disappeared after 2 h. In chronic tol-erance experiments, the antinociception actions started to decrease on d 3 , and completely disappeared on d 7 . Naltrindole could reduce the antinociceptive action of KUST201. In withdrawal experiments, abstinence scores increased significantly in the dose range between 2~8 times of tail-pinch ED50 . Conclusion Compared with previously reported δ/μ/κ triple agonist DPI-3290 , KUST201 exhibits similar antinociceptive effects in rats. The chronic tolerance to KUST201 actions de-velops less quickly, but the abstinence scores of KUST201 are slightly higher. The activation of δ-opi-oid receptor can synergistically enhance the antinoci-ception mediated by μ-receptor.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis of gastric mucosa in rats with stress ulcer, investigatethe mechanism of moxibustion in promoting the repair of gastric mucosal injury at cellular and molecular levels. Methods: Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: the restraint control group, model group, moxibustion on acupoints group and moxibustion on non-acupoints group. Water immersion and restraint stress (WRS) was used to copy the stress ulcer model of rats, radio-immunoassay was used to detect the content of transforming growth factor (TGF-α), and S-P immunohistochemical assay was adopted to determine the HSP70 expression, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa. Results: For the WRS-induced gastric ulcer model of rat,the gastric mucosal injury (gastric ulcer index, UI) was increased, the content of TGF-α was decreased, PCNA was also decreased, HSP70 expression and cell apoptosis index were all increased (P＜0.01). Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangrnen (ST 31) could decrease UI, increase the content of TGF-α, promote the expression of PCNA and HSP70,decrease cell apoptosis index in gastric mucosa, with significant differences when compared with the model group and control group (P＜0.01). Conclusions: Moxibustion on acupoints Zusanli (ST 36) and Liangmen (ST 31) had protective effect on the gastric mucosa of stress ulcer, its mechanism may be promoting the TGF-α synthesis, stimulating cell proliferation in gastric mucosa and inhibiting cell apoptosis in gastric mucosa, and this process is related to the moxibustion-induced HSP70 expression.

Objective:To observe the effects of moxibustion pretreatment on Glutathione Peroxidase(GSH-Px),Superoxide Dismutase(SOD),and Malondialchehyche(MDA)in gastric mucosa of rats with stress ulcer,and to investigate the mechanism of moxibustion pretreatment preventing the oxidized injury of gastric mucosa.Methods:Forty-eight healthy SD rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups,namely control group,model group,acupoint moxibustion group,and non-acupoint moxibustion group.The ulcer model was developed by restraint and water immersion stress,Ulcer index(UI)was calculated with Guth method,and the contents of GSH-Px,and MDA and SOD activity in the gastric tissues were measured with chromatometry method.Results:Compared those in the model group and nonacupoint moxibustion group,moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could decrease the UI(P<0.01)and MDA(P<0.05)contents,and increase the activity of GSH-Px(P<0.01)and SOD(P<0.05).Conclusion:Pretreatment of moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)could promote the recovery of gastric injury in rats induced by restraint and water immersion stress by enhancing the activity of GSH-Px and SOD,and lower MDA content.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin and nitrogen monoxide (NO) which are regarded as a pair of factors to maintain equilibrium between vascular stress and hemodynamics have different responses during various diseases. It is the key point for the treatment of atherosclerosis to find out the effect and pathophysiological mechanism of hyperlipemia on endothelial cells, and seek the methods and drugs for protecting vascular endothelin.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of herbal cake-separated moxibustion on contents of plasma endothelin and NO and analyze its regulative mechanism.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study.SETTING: College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALS: A total of 60 healthy New Zealand white rabbits weighing 1.5-2.5 kg of both genders were selected in this study. Herbal cake was made of danshen, shanzha, yujin, dahuang and zexie, which were crushed into powder according to a certain ratio. Then, vinegar was added to make paste which was 5-8 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm in depth. Moxa cone:(Shenjiu 300) was provided by Suzhou Dongfang Airong Factory (type:Dongfang I; batch number: 20021212).METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Experimental Animal Center of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between November 2003 and October 2004. All rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control group, hyperlipemia model group, direct moxibustion group and herbal cake-separated moxibustion group with 15 in each group. Except blank control group, rabbits in other three groups were fed with high fat forage to establish hyperlipemia models. Two groups of acupoints were acupunctured alternatively: Group Ⅰ: Juque (CV14), Tianshu (ST25) at bilateral sides, and Fenglong (ST 40) at bilateral sides; Group Ⅱ:Xinshu(BL15),Ganshu(BL18) and Pishu(BL20), at bilateral sides respectively.On the first day, moxa cone was directly adherent to acupoints of rabbits in direct moxibustion group and lighten for acupuncture, but in herbal cakeseparated moxibustion group, moxa cone which was gotten rid of the carriage was adherent to herbal cake which was put on acupoints and lighted for acupuncture. Each acupoint was acupunctured for 4 successive dosages for once a day. On the next day, the other group of acupoints was acupunctured.The course was 40 days. Rabbits in other two groups were not treated with any ways. On the 41st day, contents of plasma endothelin and NO were measured in each group with radio-immunity method and nitrate-reductase reduction method, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contents of plasma endothelin and NO of rabbits after 40-day treatment.RESULTS: Five rabbits died because of diarrhoea or other reasons, including 2 in blank control group, 1 in model group, 1 in direct moxibustion group and 1 in herbal cake-separated moxibustion group. Therefore, 55 rabbits were involved in the final analysis. ① Content of plasma endothelin was lower in herbal cake-separated moxibustion group than that in model group [(431.57±63.68), (500.14±75.41) ng/L, P ＜ 0.05], but there was no significant difference between herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and direct moxibustion group [(431.57±63.68), (429.08±77.07) ng/L, P ＞ 0.05]. ② On NO content, there was an increasing tendency of model group ＜ blank group ＜ herbal cake-separated moxibustion group ＜ direct moxibustion, but there was no significant difference between any two groups [(27.17±16.55),(29.39±13.24), (30.24±20.25), (30.47±19.62) μmol/L, P ＞ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Effects of both two methods of moxibustion in the rabbits with hyperlipemia on content of endothelin are significant and similar, but there are no significant effects on NO content.

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors associated with three-year survival outcome in patients with serous ovarian adenocarcinoma by classification tree.Methods Retrospectively we analyzed 81 cases with serous ovarian adenocarcinoma who had 3-year clinical outcomes and were hospitalized in People's Hospital from Jan 1991 to Dec 2003 by classification and regression trees(CART)software.Establish the classification tree.Results Among the factors that were associated with the 3-year survival rate,age was the most important factor,other factors in turn were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)stage,lymphoid metastasis,residual size after operation,chemotherapy and pathologic grade.By substitution variable analysis,it was demonstrated that there was cross interaction between age and residual size as well as age and chemotherapy.Conclusion Age,FIGO stage,lymphoid metastasis,residual size after operation,chemotherapy and pathologic grade are important prognostic factors related with three-year survival probability of serous ovarian adenocarcinoma patients.