Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of cerebral blood flow defined bytranscranial color Doppler (TCD) and their correlation with the severity and prognosis of acute ischemicstroke. Methods Fifty-six consecutive patients with the primary onset of acute ischemic strokereceived dynamic examinations with TCD upon admission and on days 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 following theonset, and the mean blood flow velocity and pulsatility index were recorded. Results TCDexaminations upon admission revealed high abnormal rate. The mean blood flow velocity of the middlecerebral artery (VmMCA) on the lesion side was significantly lower than that on the contralateral side andthat of the control group. The blood flow velocity of the anterior cerebral artery (VmACA) on the lesion sidewas significantly increased compared with that on the contralateral side and that of the control group.VmMCA of main stem occlusion group {23.45 [7.55,38.72] cm/s}, central branch infarction group {52.53[45.56,66.93] cm/s}, and cortical branch of cerebral arteries infarction group {38.44[31.67,52.45] cm/s}was significantly lower than that of the control group {66.51 [56.64,71.43] cm/s}. VmMCA graduallyincreased in these patients after the treatment, showing significant difference from that measured uponadmission. The PI of the middle cerebral artery increased after admission, with significant difference fromthat recorded on admission and that of the control group. Conclusion TCD has high diagnostic valuefor ischernic stroke and may help evaluate the severity of the condition and the prognosis of the patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the activities of serum peroxidase capacity,and lipid peroxidation of children from Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) areas of Xinghai county in Qinhai province,and to explore the relationship between antioxidant capacity and KBD.Methods Sixty four KBD and forty six health subjects without KBD were chosen from KBD endemic areas,which included primary schools of Tangnaihai,Xialujuan and Qushian of Xinghai county in Qinghai province,and fifty nine age-matched healthy control subjects without KBD were from a non-KBD endemic area,Nanfan primary school of Chang'an county in Shaanxi province.Twenty patients with KBD and twenty control subjects from KBD areas and non-KBD area were extracted by simple random sampling method.2,3-DAN fluorescence technique was used to test the hair and blood selenium.The biochemical techniques were used to test the indicators of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde(MDA),antioxidant enzyme activities,total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),serum superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT) and glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx).ResultsAll patients with KBD had significantly lower serum GSH-Px activities[ (59.53 ± 25.23)kU/L] and selenium levels in hair[ (67.64 ± 17.28)μg/L] and blood[(36.27 ± 13.29)μg/L],respectively,than that of control subjects from KBD areas [ ( 91.88 ± 22.99 ) kU/L,( 153.32 ± 24.31 ) μg/L,( 63.06 ± 13.66) μg/L ] and nonKBD areas[ ( 122.68 ± 41.74)kU/L,(242.35 ± 38.56)μg/L,(98.93 ± 17.18)μg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].Serum MDA levels in KBD patients[ (4.64 ± 1.11 )μmol/L] were significantly higher than that in control subjects from KBD [(3.31 ± 1.22)μmol/L] and non-KBD areas[ (3.43 ± 1.29)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].On the other hand,T-AOC,SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in both KBD[(19.80 ± 6.64),(55.80 ± 8.14),(16.45 ± 5.61 ) kU/L] and control subjects[ (21.71 ± 8.82),(57.45 ± 6.96),(15.63 ± 9.18)kU/L] from KBD areas than that of control subjects from non-KBD area[ (13.56 ± 5.38),(42.79 ± 8.10),(6.05 ± 2.71 )kU/L,all P ＜ 0.05 ].Hair selenium levels,blood selenium levels and GSH-Px activity of control subjects from KBD areas were,respectively,significantly lower than that in control subjects from non-KBD area(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions These findings strongly confirm the evidence that KBD patients are susceptible to oxidative stress.The results also show the increase in antioxidant enzymes,which could probably be due to adaptive response to pro-oxidant in KBD state.Hence,there seems to be an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems in KBD patients.

To understand Lophatherum gracile plant community's structural characteristics, a survey of community structure and species diversity was conducted through quadrat sampling in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. The results showed that there were 386 species vascular plants, belonging to 117 families and 229 genera. Based on habitat, community structure and species composition, L. gracile were found in three community types: Pinus massoniana community, banboo community, shurb community. Vertical structure was composed of three layers, including tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer. Species in shrub layer was the richness. P. massoniana is the only dominant species of the community, it can not regenerate naturally, the shrub layer has a greater effect on the community of L. gracile in the future. In addition, the banboo community and shurb community is not stable because of human's activity. Therefore, the community characters of L. gracile should be taken care of conservation when the resources are utilized.
China ; Ecosystem ; Pinus ; physiology ; Plants ; Poaceae ; physiology

Objective To explore the plague epidemical trend of nearly a 10 years data in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures. Method The regional distribution and time distribution of animal and human plague, monitoring and plague foci of survey data in Qinghai from 2001 to 2010 were analyzed with Excel software 2003. Results In Qinghai province, a total of 167 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from infected animals and insects in 10 years. Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Delinha, Geermu, and Tianjun, along the Qinghai-Xizang railway. Human plague was occurred every year from 2001 to 2010 except 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In the 10 years, there were 37 plague cases and 16 of these cases died, the mortality was 43.24％. The plague cases were mainly distributed in Nangqian, Qumalai, Chenduo,Zhiduo, Xinghai, Tongde, Tianjun, Wulan and Qilian. And these cases were found mostly in the period from May to October, especially in the period from August to October. Major clinical type of the plague cases was lung-type (62.16％,23/37). Conclusions The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe, animal plague occurred year after year, and human plague outbreaks occasionally. Monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened, and the comprehensive measures of plague prevention and control should be carried out to reduce the incidence and prevalence of plague.

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of metastatic potential of residual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after in vivo chemotherapy and its mechanism.

METHODSNude mouse models of orthotopic HCC in the nude mouse livers was established using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97L cells. Oxaliplatin (10 mg/kg, once per week) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to mice in the trial group. Mice in the control group received 0.2 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride on the same days. On day 7 after the third injection, all mice were sacrificed and tumor fragments of equal volume (2 mm×2 mm×2 mm) from each mouse of the oxaliplatin-treated and untreated groups were reinoculated into the livers of each new recipient mouse correspondingly. The growth, metastasis and molecular phenotype of the reinoculated tumors in both groups were determined.

RESULTSIn the new recipient mice, compared with untreated tumors, oxaliplatin pre-treated tumors grew significantly slower [(2624.59 ± 491.60) mm(3) vs. (3849.72 ± 827.09) mm(3), P < 0.001], but gave more spontaneous metastasis to the lung (10/12 vs. 3/12, P = 0.012). A decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and transcription factor Snail were detected in the oxaliplatin pre-treated tumors by immunohistochemistry, which provided the evidence of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in these tumors.

CONCLUSIONResidual hepatocellular carcinomas after in vivo chemotherapy grow slower but gain enhanced metastatic potential to the lung, associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasm, Residual ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; secondary ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To explore the clinical significance of EEG and CT presentations in the patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods Fifty-six consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted immediately after the onset were enrolled in this study.Thefindings bYCT,EEG,brain electrical activity mapping(BEAM),examinations of somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs)and motor evoked potentials(MEPs)to transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the scores of modified Edinburgh-Scandinavia stroke scale(MESSS)and Barthel Index(BI)were comparatively analyzed in these patients. Results The location of the cerebral foci with EEG abnormalities were basically consistent with the lesions indentified by CT.but the range of the lesions defined by the two modalities showed some discrepancies.There Was statistically significant difference in SEP and MEP between the injured and uninjured sides(P<0.05).There was apositive correlation between MESSS on admission and BI on day 28 in hospital(r=0.58,P<0.05). Conclusion CT and cerebral electrophysiological examination provide valuable assistance in early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To determine effects of T-2 toxin and selenium on expression of aggrecanase in human chondrocyte.Methods Human chondrocytes were treated with T-2 toxin(0,1,10,20 μg/L),and/or sodium selenite(final concentration of selenium 0,0.1 mg/L) for 5 days.Aggrecan expression was determined by Western blotting,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR.ResultsSelenium and T-2 toxin had effects on both aggrecan protein levels and its aggrecanases(include aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 ) mRNA levels(F =0.294,27.71 for aggrecan,F =107.45,362.25 for aggrecanase-l,F =34.68,22.26 for aggrecanase-2,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05),and there was interaction between selenium and T-2 toxin on aggrecan,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 expression(F =79.99,230.76,388.33,all P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,selenium presented significant antagonism to T-2 toxin on aggrecan,aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 expression.Aggrecan expression levels(0.278 ± 0.015,0.235 ± 0.029,0.195 ± 0.028,0.399 ± 0.028,0.299 ± 0.020,0.263 ±0.019) induced by both 1,10,20 μg/L T-2 toxin and 0,0.1 mg/L selenium were significantly decreased than the levels(0.472 ± 0.0358,0.197 ± 0.018,all P ＜ 0.05) in control group(0 mg/L toxin).Selenium partially blocked the effects induced by 1,10,and 20 μg/L T-2 toxin(all P＜ 0.05).One,10,20 μg/L T-2 toxin and 0,0.1 mg/L selenium increased both aggrecanase-1 mRNA levels(0.535 ± 0.033,1.071 ± 0.043,1.454 ± 0.058,1.057 ±0.048,0.555 ± 0.036,0.902 ± 0.045) and aggrecanase-2 mRNA levels(0.596 ± 0.038,0.656 ± 0.033,0.949 ±0.049,0.600 ± 0.040,0.453 ± 0.031,0.164 ± 0.011),when compared with control(0.481 ± 0.023,0.346 ±0.020 for aggrecanase-1 and 0.387 ± 0.020,1.021 ± 0.046 for aggrecanase-2,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Selenium partially blocked 10,20 μg/L T-2 toxins induced upregulation of aggrecanase-1 (all P ＜ 0.05) and aggrecanase-2 (all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions These data suggest a possible molecular mechanism that T-2 toxin could induce cartilage matrix degradation through the upregulation of aggrecanases expression and enzyme activities.Trace element selenium has some protective effect on cartilage proteoglycan degradation induced by T-2 toxins.

AIMTo investigate the preventive effects of the cerebro cellular growth peptide (CCGP) on gentamycin-induced inner ear damage in guinea pigs, and to clarify its mechanism.

METHODSThe hypoacusis severity and enzymatic activity in the cochlear hair cells were examined by brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and histochemistry, respectively. The damaged hair cells was counted in three groups.

RESULTSCCGP reduced the elevated BAEP reaction thresholds. It protected activities of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and lysosome acid phosphatase in the cochlear hair cells. The number of damaged hair cells in the CCGP group was less than that in the gentamycin (GM) group.

CONCLUSIONCCGP can reduce GM ototoxicity. The mechanism may be associated with the protective activity of mitochondrial enzyme, the maintenance of lysosome intactness, energy metabolism of the cochlear hair cells, and reduction of autolysis of hair cells induced by hydrolase over flowing from lysosome.

Animals ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Gentamicins ; toxicity ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess if the modulating effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB on p21(WAF1) was mediated by upregulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC).

METHODSTGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein expressions were measured by reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA, the protein expressions of p21(WAF1) and the downstream TGF-beta signalling including TGF-beta type I receptor (ALK-5 in VSMC), Smurf2, pSmad2/3, Smad4, Smad7 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSPDGF-BB significantly upregulated the expressions of TGF-beta(1) at mRNA (0.79-fold) and protein (1.98-fold) levels in VSMC, significantly inhibited the expression of p21(WAF1) (-67 +/- 12)%, and enhanced the expressions of ALK-5, pSmad2/3, Smad4, Smurf2 protein by 1.21-fold, 0.95-fold, 0.69-fold and 2.55-fold respectively, inhibited Smad7 expression (-65 +/- 9)%, these alterations were partially restored by anti-TGF-beta(1) neutralizing antibody.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggested that PDGF-BB inhibited p21(WAF1) expression in VSMC partially through upregulating TGF-beta(1) expression via PDGF-BB and TGF-beta signalling pathways.

Animals ; Cell Division ; Cells ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism