OBJECTIVETo elucidate the therapeutic effect and the influence on PI3K-Akt-PKB-BAD-CREB-PCREB pathway in focal cerebral ischemia rat responses before and after treatment with baicalin and jasminoidin given alone or in combination.

METHODRat model of ischemia reperfusion was established with thread. Generally accepted methods were used, including TTC staining, behavior test, as well as micro and ultra microscopy which can dynamically and accurately monitor pathological and physiological changes after cerebral ischemia on earlier period, to evaluate the brain injury induced by ischemia and the attenuations by the drugs. The difference of PI3K-Akt-PKB-BAD-CREB-PCREB expression was detected by western-blot technology.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe combination of baicalin and jasminoidin composition can be potential neuroprotective agent. TTC staining technology combined with behavior grade and ultrmicro-structure observation on brain tissue is effective method to evaluate protective agent, which is related to signal transduction PI3K-Akt-PKB-BAD-CREB-PCREB pathway. The results provide benofical basis for revealing the complex of therapeutic mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Qingkai Ling (QKL).

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; CREB-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Injections ; Iridoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Pyrans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo improve the accuracy of preoperative evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma.

METHODSForty-two patients with thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma underwent neck ultrasonography. Enlarged lymph nodes with their long axis greater than 10 mm and a short-to-long axis ratio greater than 0.5 were considered as metastatic.

RESULTSPreoperative neck ultrasonography revealed the enlarged lymph nodes in 16 patients, but only in 5 (31%) cases the nodes were palpable. Among them 9 were classified as metastatic (cM(1-LN)), including 4 patients with palpable nodes. In 5 cM(1-LN) patients surgical intervention was canceled and the remaining 37 patients underwent trans-thoracic esophagectomy. Cervical node metastasis (pM(1-LN)) was confirmed pathologically in 6 surgical patients, 4 with tumors invading the adventitia (pT3) and the other 2 into the surrounding structure (pT(4)) (pT(1), pT(2) vs. pT(3), pT(4), P = 0.020). All 6 pM(1-LN) patients had concomitant mediastinal node metastasis and 4 of them had upper abdominal node metastasis. Statistically significant relationship was detected between cervical and abdominal nodal status (r = 0.536, P = 0.007). In comparison with the results of pathological examination and treatment response, the accuracy and sensitivity were 81% and 95% (P = 0.043), 36% and 82% (P = 0.081), respectively, for palpation and ultrasonography. Five out of 39 (13%) patients had their therapy changed due to ultrasonographic findings.

CONCLUSIONSNeck ultrasonography for cervical lymphadenopathy is of high sensitivity and accuracy, which plays an important role in the preoperative evaluation and therapeutic decision-making.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo establish the linkage methods of X ba I polymorphisms specific for FVIII gene intron 22, and to find a rapid and simple system for haemophilia A (HA) carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSA long PCR to amplify FVIII gene intron 22 followed by X ba I digestion was used to assay the gene rate and heterozygosity rate of 206 unrelated people. Detection of intron 22 inversion by long distance PCR (LD-PCR) and XbaI, BclI, Hind III, DXS52, STR polymorphism within intron 13 and 22 by hereditary linkage analysis were assays in 20 HA pedigrees.

RESULTSThe gene rate and polymorphism information contents of 206 people were 0.5475 and 0.4955 respectively, 7 of 20 HA families were diagnosed as intron 22 inversion, 6 of 13 non-inversion HA families were diagnosed by X ba I linkage analysis, 8 of 13 non-inversion HA families were diagnosed by two or more linkage analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe improved X ba I linkage analysis is a specific and useful molecular diagnosis marker. LD-PCR and five-linkage analysis can be used in prenatal HA gene diagnosis.

Factor VIII ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Genotype ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

The aim of this study was to explore application value of detecting platelet associated antibody and platelet membrane glycoprotein in the diagnosis and prognosis for immune thrombocytopenia. The platelet associated immunoglobulin (PAIg) and platelet membrane glycoprotein (CD41, CD61, GPIIb/IIIa) in 76 cases of immune thrombocytopenia and 30 healthy subjects were determined by FCM. The results showed that PAIg level in ITP patients included PAIgG (31.25 +/- 18.06)%, PAIgM (32.41 +/- 15.51)%, PAIgA (23.39 +/- 16.67)% which were remarkedly higher than in health control (10.48 +/- 5.05)%, (9.40 +/- 4.42)% and (7.23 +/- 3.61)% (P < 0.001). In patients with secondary immune thrombocytopenia (chronic aplastic anemia, SLE, Evans syndrome, liver cirrhosis hypersplenism, etc), PAIg level was higher than that in control group, while the platelet membrane glycoprotein in the blood of these patients was lower than that in control group. The level of PAIg decreased (P < 0.05) after treatment, but platelet membrane glycoprotein increased (P < 0.01). The result suggested that measurements for platelet membrane glycoprotein and platelet associated antibody by FCM were practical with high sensitivity, rapidity and simplicity used as a routine method in diagnosis and evaluation of the therapeutic effects in immune thrombocytopenia patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Platelets ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Integrin beta3 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; analysis ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; analysis ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Thrombocytopenia ; blood ; diagnosis

Objective To analyze the impact of attack frequency as well as therapy strategies on outcome of patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS).Methods A total of 159 patients (aged from 15-59 years old) with VVS were included in this study.Patients were divided into low frequency (＜ 3) group (n =95) and high (≥3) frequency group (n =64) according to the attack frequency in the past 5 years at the primary survey.Patients received one of the three therapies:no treatment,physical therapy,and comprehensive treatment.All cases were followed up with telephone or outpatient visit for 24 months.Results Incidence of syncope was significantly higher in the high frequency group and in the low frequency group [40.6％ (26/64) vs.11.6％ (11/95),P ＜0.01].The overall improvement rate was significantly higher in the low frequency group than that of high frequency group (P ＜ 0.01).Improvement rate was significantly higher in the physical therapy subgroup and the comprehensive treatment subgroup than no treatment subgroup for patients with low attack frequency [81.8％ (27/33) vs.47.1％ (8/17),P ＜ 0.05 ; 82.2％ (37/45) vs.47.1％ (8/17),P ＜ 0.05],and in comprehensive treatment subgroup than in physical therapy subgroups observed between and [62.2％ (28/45) vs.31.6％ (6/19),P ＜ 0.05] for patients with high attack frequency.Conclusion Outcome is related to previous attack frequency for patients with VVS,physical therapy is effective for reducing the recurrence rate of syncope in VVS patients with low attack frequency while physical therapy combined with pharmacotherapy should be applied for VVS patients with high attack frequency to improve outcome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of mutation and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of class III receptor tyrosine kinases such as PDGFRbeta and SHIP in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

METHODSScreening of the mutation and SNP of PDGFRbeta and SHIP by genomic PCR, RT-PCR, directly sequencing and Mass-ARRAY system was carried out in 273 AML patients.

RESULTSThe mutations of PDGFRbeta R685C and SHIP Q1153L were detected for the first time in AML patients. The positivity ratio was 0.73% and 0.36% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe mutations of PDGFRbeta R685C and SHIP Q1153L may contribute to leukemogenesis of AML.

Humans ; Inositol Phosphates ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To design and manufacture a multifunctional cushion for venous thrombosis prevention of lower extremities, which can be also applied to the low extremities needing raising. Methods The cushion was made of anti-rust, low-weight, undeformable and easy-to-clean stainless material, which was composed of a pad and a massage apparatus. The pad had its height regulable from 16 to 30 cm and telescopic inclination from 30 to 70° to adapt the cushion to sizes of patients. There were 6 independent air chambers and tubular circulating pipes around the blanket wrapping the chambers so that extremity massage and temperature-controlled heating could be executed based on setting up pressure, time and temperature of the electromagnetic air and water pumps. Results The cushion simulated the functions of the muscle pump, which formed step-by-step-increasing pressure changes by driving the chambers to be inflated and discharged continuously to execute extremity massage, temperature-controlled heating etc. Conclusion The cushion gains advantages in flexible composition, patient comfort etc, solves the problems in fixing angle and height, constant time for pump inflation and discharge as well as temperature-controlled heating, and thus is worthy promoting clinically.

OBJECTIVETo study the ultrastructural changes of the rat convoluted seminiferous tubule after alcohol consumption.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar mature male rats were divided into two groups randomly: control group (A) and experimental one (B). 6 ml/(kg x d) of 50 degrees alcohol was perfused through the gastric tube for 39 days in Group B; and 6 ml/(kg x d) of normal saline was supplemented in Group A. The ultrastructure of the rat convoluted seminiferous tubule was observed by transmission electron microscope at day 14, 27 and 40.

RESULTSIn Group A, the pykno-basement membrane was unstriated and uniform, Sertoli cells showed cytoplasmic profusion, with big nucleus, well-distributed nucleoplasm, distinct nucleolus, more mitochondria and plain hierarchical tight-junction. And the ultrastructure of the rat convoluted seminiferous tubule in Group B began to change at the end of the first spermatogenic cycle (D 14) and changed more and more evidently with the ethanol administration, mainly as follows: (1) more lysosomes and vacuolisation found in Sertoli cells, and organelles decreased and blurry; (2) more and bigger vacuoles among the spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and basement membrane; (3) obvious apoptosis of spermatogonia and apoptotic bodies aggregated near the membrane; (4) more cytoplasm and vacuolisation in the sperm of the convoluted seminiferous tubule, and disarranged, deleted or clustered mitochondria in the sperm tail; (5) blurry and rigid tight-junction; (6) thickened, wrinkled or broken basement membrane and under-basement

CONCLUSIONAlcohol can cause ultrastructural changes of the basement membrane, tight-junction and Sertoli cells of the membrane. rat convoluted seminiferous tubule and apoptosis of spermatogonia.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Basement Membrane ; drug effects ; pathology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVEHemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by defects in factor VIII (FVIII) gene. In the present study, the frequencies of the microsatellite alleles at introns 13 and 22 in the factor VIII gene were analyzed in the group of Han nationality in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to explore their diagnostic value for hemophilia A. These two sites were also used to detect the carriers in 13 hemophilia A families.

METHODSNinty-one individuals of Han ethnic group in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (135 X chromosomes) and 13 HA families were subjected to molecular studies. First, these two fragments were PCR amplified simultaneously. Then, silver staining was used later to show their polymorphisms. The investigators selected one sample at random to obtain its lengths of the PCR products at these two sites by ABI310 PCR amplifier. After counting its repeated numbers of (CA) according to the documents concerned, the repeated numbers of the other samples could be counted easily.

RESULTSIn the 91 individuals, 6 and 4 alleles were detected at these two sites, respectively. At intron 13 the allele frequencies ranged from 0.0002 to 0.5408 and polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.5899. At intron 22 the allele frequencies ranged from 0.0444 to 0.4963 and its PIC was 0.5359. The actual heterozygosity for intron 13 and intron 22 were 0.6364 (28/44) and 0.5227 (23/44), respectively. In 13 hemophilia A families with positive history, 9 of them were diagnosed by this method and the diagnosis rate was 69%.

CONCLUSIONWith high PICs, (CA)n at intron 13 and intron 22 were two valuable sites in the diagnosis of hemophilia A in the population of Han ethnic group in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Compared with some other HA restrictive fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), intron 22 (GT)n (AG)n was more informative.

Alleles ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Silver Staining

Contagious ecthyma (also known as orf) is an acute skin zoonosis caused by orf virus (ORFV), which affects sheep, goats and humans. As one of the typical species of the Parapoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family, orf virus has distinctive and unique characteristics of these species. A range of immuno-modulatory/pathogenesis -related genes acquired by virus that function is to limit (at least transiently) the effectiveness of host immunity during its evolution. This review is aimed to describe the latest progress on the molecular characteristics of ORFV, and upon which we analyzed molecular mechanism of the immune escape designed and a set of strategies developed for ORFV to effective against immune clearance of the host. Known as an essential component in evolutionary system, host is regulated by ORFV for using in population evolution. By the ORFV evolutional immune regulation components and its effect approach, we can understand the viral biological characteristics of ORFV, and it is helpful for us to further study the counter-measures of this disease.
Animals ; Ecthyma, Contagious ; immunology ; virology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Immune Evasion ; Orf virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; immunology