AIM: To study changes in IGF-I concentration in serum, IGF-I polypeptide in the wall of pulmonary arterioles during hypoxia and the relationship between their changes and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Morphological change in pulmonary arterioles was determined by image pattern analysis technique, the concentration of IGF-I in the rat serum was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expression of IGF-I polypeptide was observed by immunohistochemical staining on the walls of pulmonary arterioles, and analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS: After exposing hypoxia for 3 weeks, mPAP of rats was elevated(P

0.05).Conclusion PAF-AH-Ala379Val gene mutation is unrelated to bronchial asthma in children.

Objective To explore the prevention and treatment effects of either antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) or postnatal pulmonary surfactant (PS) alone or the combination of both ACS and PS on neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Methods One hundred and forty - three cases of RDS admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit ( NICU ) from Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2007 were selected, and divided into 4 groups:group 1 received both ACS and PS (n =36) ;group 2 only received ACS(n =33) ;group 3 only received PS (n =39) ;group 4 didn't receive both ACS and PS (n =35). The clinical parameters like sex,gestational age,birth weight,mode of dellvery,associated maternal risk factors, the Apgar score,the need of resuscitation at the time of delivery and associated perinatal complications of the babies were analyzed.The relation between the 4 groups regarding the different modes of supplemental oxygen use ( nasal prong and head box), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ,the need of mechanical ventilator (MV) ,the mean NICU days to cure from the RDS and finally the treatment outcomes were compared. Results There were no significant differences between the 4 groups with regards to their general features and clinical parameters( P > 0.05 ). There was a significant difference between the groups regarding the mean hour requirement of the supplemental oxygen ( nasal prong and head box), CPAP and MV. Nasal prong : The mean hour for each group was ( 75.81 ± 15.63 ), ( 130.09 ± 27.32 ),(150.67 ±28.59) ,( 174.32 ± 25.92) h,respectively (P=0.041). Head box: The mean hour for each group was (37.16 ±5.51) ,(55.29 ±11.71 ), (62.69 ±12.39 ), ( 100.75 ± 28.10 ) h, respectively ( P = 0.047 ). CPAP: The mean hour for each group was ( 24.33 ± 4.41 ),(27.44 ±4.47), (26.53±3.13 ), (56.50 ± 5.50 ) h, respectively ( P = 0. 005 ). MV: The mean hour for MV use for each group was ( 56.12 ±15.65 ), ( 110.19 ± 21.59 ), ( 127.79 ± 26.36 ), ( 156.61 ± 12.92 ) h, respectively ( P = 0. 009 ). The mean number of days in NICU to recover for each group was ( 15.89 ± 1.29 ), (21.61 ± 2.30 ), ( 28.31 ± 3.40 ), ( 32.73 ± 4.57 ) d, respectively ( P = 0 ). The complete cure rate for each group was 63.89%, 51.52% ,35.90% ,20. 0% ,respectively. It shown a significant difference (P =0. 005 ) among the 4 groups regarding treatment outcomes. Conclusions ACS and PS combined therapy is the most effective therapy for the prevention of RDS,followed by ACS therapy alone,then PS therapy alone,and no ACS/no PS therapy is the least effective.

Animals ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction ; pathology

ObjectiveTo investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 6q in bladder tumor.MethodsD6S404 and D6434 microsatellite markers near 6q21 were tested by PCR-SSLP-stain method on tumor DNA from 31 cases of bladder tumor.ResultsAmong these 31 cases of bladder tumor,LOH was detected in tumor tissues on site for D6S404 (35.5%) and D6S434(22.6%).ConclusionOne or more tumor suppressor gene near 6q21 maybe relevant for the development of bladder tumor.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of low- and high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of benign lesions of the gallbladder. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed in 110 outpatients with pathologically confirmed benign lesions of the gallbladder in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016. All patients were examined with low-frequency ultrasound, and the results were recorded. Then, they were examined with a combination of low- and high-frequency ultrasound, and the results were recorded. The rate of agreement with pathological diagnosis was compared between the two examination methods. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsIn the 110 patients, 83 had the low-frequency ultrasound results in accordance with pathological diagnosis; 102 had the low- and high-frequency ultrasound results in accordance with pathological diagnosis, consisting of 70 cases of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (68.63%) and 32 cases of adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder (31.37%). Eight (7.3%) of the 110 patients were misdiagnosed by the combined examination. The rate of agreement with pathological diagnosis of the combined examination (9273%) was significantly higher than that of low-frequency ultrasound (75.45%) (χ2=12.666, P=0.001). ConclusionsA combination of low- and high-frequency ultrasound helps increase the diagnostic rate for benign lesions of the gallbladder.

pH, affects of different alkaline materials KOH, K 2CO 3, NaOH, Na 2CO 3 on the growth, and NaCl, KCl tolerance of 29 isolates from the saline and alkaline soils in Xinjiang and Qinghai Provinces of China and 1 type strain were studied. Results showed that only a few alkaliphilic actinomycetes were Na +-obligately dependent, and K +-sensitive. Some alkaliphilic actinomycetes were CO 3 2- -sensitive, and NaCl, KCl could inhibit their growth. 4 kinds of alkaline materials had no affect on growth of alkaliphilic Nocardiopsis, and these strains showed high tolerance to NaCl, KCl. So it was presumed that only K + and CO 3 2- obligately dependent alkaliphilic Actinomycetes maybe exist in alkaline environments.

Objective: To investigate the effect of matrine (Ma) on telomerase activity and cell cycle in hepatoma cell line HepG 2 cells. Methods: TRAP ELISA method was used to determine the telomerase activity in HepG 2 cells which were treated with different concentrations of Ma. Plasmid inserted with 800 bp of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter was transiently transfected into HepG 2 cells by lipofect. Different concentrations of Ma were added into culture media 2 h later, and the activity of the hTERT promoter was tested 48 h after transfection. In addition, the percentages of HepG 2 cells in different cell cycle were determined by the flow cytometry on the 24, 48 and 72 h respectively after adding the different concentrations of Ma. Results: The telomerase activity of HepG 2 was suppressed by Ma at the dose of 750 ?g/ml and the expression of hTERT promoter was also inhibited. The percentage of G 0/G 1 stage cells increased and the percentage of S and G 2/M stages cells decreased in both 500 ?g /ml and 750 ?g /ml groups 48 and 72 h after Ma was added. Conclusion: Ma may have inhibitory effect on hTERT promoter expression, which is related to the telomerase activity and cell cycle regulation.

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous small RNA (dsP21-397) transfection on growth of human renal clear cell carcinoma cell lines A-498 and Caki-1. Methods The dsControl(control group) and dsP21-397(experimental group)were transfected into A-498 and Caki-1,respectively. The expression of p21 mRNA was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The expression of p21 protein,CDK4 and Cyclin D1 proteins were detected by Western blot. The cell cycle distribution was examined by flow cytometry(FCM). MTS assay and colony formation assay were used to analyze cell viability and proliferation ability. Results Compared with dsControl,p21 mRNA levels in A-498 and Caki-1 cells increased to 2.55-fold(P<0.01)and 2.18-fold(P<0.01),respectively,after transfection with dsP21-397. The expression of p21 protein was up-regulated while the expression of CDK4 and CyclinD1 were down-regulated. The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase significantly increased after transfection of dsP21-397,and the proportion of cells in S phase and G2/M phase significantly decreased. The activity of A-498 and Caki-1 cells significantly decreased and the number of colonies in the dsP21-397 group was significantly lower. Conclusions dsP21-397 can significantly activate p21 protein expression,down-regulate the cell cycle-associated proteins,and inhibit the growth of renal clear cell carcinoma cells.