BACKGROUND: Caspase-3 is a cysteine proteinase that can promote cell apoptosis. Ciliary neurotrophic factor has many kinds of biological activities, such as protecting various neurons from injury, especially motorial neurons, thereby reducing the occurrence of nerve cell injury.OBJECTIVE: To observe the Influence of ciliary neurotrophic factor on spinal cord caspase-3 expression in different ages rats following sciatic nerve injury, aiming to make further investigation about the changing regularity and modulating character of peripheral nerve damage at various ages rats.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment.SETTING: Ultrasound Department and the 5th Research Institute of Daping Hospital, Field Surgery Research Institute of the 3rd Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Field Surgery Research Institute of the 3rd Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from April 2000 to December 2001. Altogether 810 wistar rats including infant rats with body mass of 30-100 g (birth age of 20 days), adult rats of 200-350 g (birth age of 4 m), elder rats of 400-800 g (birth age of 18-24 m),were selected with 270 rats in each age stage. Female and male does not limit.METHODS: [1] Experimental animal grouping: Various age rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=18), ciliary neurotrophic factor group(n=126) and physiological saline group (n=126), rats in ciliary neurotrophic factor group and physiological saline group were subdivided into 1 day, 3days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks subgroups. [2] Animal model preparation: In Ciliary neurotrophic factor group and physiological saline group, rats were cut off a piece of sciatic nerve of 2 mm long, both ends connected with silica tube for constructing neuranagenesis cab, in which 15 μL recombined ciliary neurotrophic factor (25 mg/L) was injected in ciliary neurotrophic factor group, and 15 μL physiological saline in physiological saline group. [3] Preparation and examination of specimen:Six rats were randomly selected from each group, lumbar L3-5 spinal cord were obtained for carryingonnation, caspase-3 activity examination and Western blotting examination.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] Expression of spinal cord caspase-3 with IHC assay. [2] Distribution and expression intensity of spinal cordcaspase-3 by Western blotting technique. [3] Changes in caspase-3 activity.RESULTS: Altogether 810 rats completed the experiment, all data was entered the final result analysis. [1] Expression of spinal cord caspase-3 with IHC assay: After injury, neuronal caspase-3 expression became strengthened at injured side of various age physiological saline groups, which obviously increased at posttraumatic 2 weeks and 4 weeks, but less expressed at 8 weeks and 12 weeks; while in ciliary neurotrophic factor group, posttraumatic caspase-3 expression was mostly obvious at 2 weeks and 4 weeks. [2] Distribution and expression intensity of spinal cordcaspase-3 by Western blotting technique: Caspase-3 expression was not significant difference between various age subgroups in normal group(P ＞ 0.05). Comparing to the same age normal group and non traumatic group, caspase-3 expression was strengthened at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks in various age physiological saline group and ciliary neurotrophic factor group damages (P ＜ 0.05-0.01); in ciliary neurotrophic factor group, caspase-3 showed weaker expression at 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks in infants; 2weeks and 4 weeks in adults, 4 weeks in elders comparing to corresponding physiological saline group, difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05-0.01).The comparison between untraumatic side of each group and normal group showed no statistical difference (P ＞ 0.05). [3] Changes in caspase-3 activity: In child, adult and elder physiological saline groups, caspase-3 activity was increased in traumatic spinal cord, moreover caspase-3 activity was higher than elder and adult group at various age point (P ＜ 0.05-0.01); in child, adult and elder ciliary neurotrophic factor groups, caspase-3 activity is lower than physiological saline group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). After damage,caspase-3 activity at traumatic side in physiological saline group and ciliary neurotrophic factor group was difference from normal group but without significant meaning (P ＞ 0.05), except the expression in child posttraumatic 12 weeks group was lower than normal group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: After sciatic nerve damage, caspase-3 protein expression and activity were found to be increased in spinal cord of different age groups rats which can be reduced by extragenous ciliary neurotrophic factor, which playing protective role on spinal cord nerve cells, such protection would gradually attenuated in child group, adult group to elder group in turns.

This paper introduces a novel animal behavior monitoring system, in which a acoustooptic shielded room, computer multimedia technology, image acquisition technology, signal analysis technology are involved. This system can implement long-term non-interference automatic monitoring of the experimental animal with features of accurate recording, complete and objective analysis, and convenient and effective statistics. Applied widely to the animal model for post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the system is designed to be used for other biomedical studies.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on hippocampal structure in splenic asthenia pedo-rats.Methods A total of 15 SD male rats were randomly assigned to normal control group(n=5),model group(n=5) and EA group(n=5).Splenic asthenic syndrome model was established by intragastric administration of rhubarb and intraperitoneal injection of Reserpine for 14d.EA(1mA,3Hz/15Hz) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) for 20min,once a day for 14 days.The cellular structure of hippocampus was observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope.Results Optical microscopic observation showed that in normal control group,the cellular nucleus was distinct,and the granular cell layer well-arranged and tight.In model group,the intracellular space was widened,and the granular cell layer was out of order in the arrangement.In EA group,the cellular nucleus and the granular cell layer were nearly normal.Results of the electronic microscope showed that cells in model group had a karyopyknosis with irregular appearance and clear incisure,and some of them presented dissolving and necrotic phenomena;and those in EA group were milder in injury,had nearly-normal nucleus with visible nucleoli and relatively-intact nuclear membrane.Regarding the cellular plasma,in comparison with rich normal organelles of control group,the mitochondria in model group were swelling,with vague,dissolved and broken cristae,while in EA group,majority of the organelles were well-kept,and slightly dissolved mitochondrial cristae found.In regard to the synaptic structure,in comparison with control group,synaptic apomorphosis and swelling mitochondria were found in model group.While in EA group,milder swelling and hydropic degeneration were seen.Different from the distinct pre-and post-synaptic membrane and synaptic vesicles of control group,the synaptic clefts and vesicles of model group were vague in the profile;while those in EA group were nearly-normal.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively relieve splenasthenic syndrome induced pathohistological changes of neurons of the hippocampus in the rat.

The aim of this research was to study the immunoprotections of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) DNA vaccines SjRPS4 and SjRPL7 in mice. Fourty Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D), and the pcDNA3.0/SjRPS4 and pcDNA3.0/SjRPL7 plasmid DNA vaccines were prepared for experiment. Mice in group A were intramuscularly injected with 100μL normal saline, whereas mice in group B were injected with 100 (g naked plasmid pcDNA3.0 into the quadriceps. Mice in groups C and D were injected with 100μg/100μL eukaryotic recombinant plasmids pcDNA3.0/SjRPS4 and pcDNA3.0/SjRPL7 into the hind leg muscles respectively. The initial injections were followed by two sets of boosters at 2 weeks intervals. In addition, levels of the specific antibodies were detected 2 weeks after the last immunization and all mice were percutaneously infected with 20( 1) S. japonicum cercariae on abdomen. Fourty-two days after the infection, all mice were killed to detect the worm reduction rate and the egg reduction rate. Significant differences of worm burden reduction rates, LEPG reduction rates, IEPG reduction rates and intrauterine eggs reduction rates were observed in both test group (group C and D), comparing with the control groups (group A and B). Results indicated that the DNA vaccines of pcDNA3.0/SjRPS4 and pcDNA3.0/SjRPL7 could induce strong protective immunity against S. japonicum in mice.

Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Scaffolds are an important part in bone tissue engineering. However, no perfect scaffolds have been developed for bone tissue engineering yet.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the repair of rabbit radial defects by poly (L-lactic acid)/tricalcium phosphate(PLLA/TCP) scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping(RP) technology so as to find a new carrier for growth factors.DESIGN: A completely randomized controlled study was conducted. SETTING: Orthopaedic institute of a military medical university.MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the General Orthopedic Institute,Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, from May 2001 to February 2002. Twenty clean New Zealand rabbits with body mass of(2.5 ±0. 5) kg for this study were obtained from the Experiment Animal Center of Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. The animals were divided into experiment group and control group with 10 rabbits in each group.INTERVETIONS: PLLA/TCP scaffolds prepared by RP technology and loaded with or without bovine bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) were used to repair the rabbit radial defects of 15 mm.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcomes: ① microscopic observation results of transplanted materials of the two groups; ② degradation rate of scaffolds. Secondary outcomes: ① gross observation; ② radiographic results; ③ bone density.RESULTS: At week 12, bone defect healing in experiment group was good. X-ray examination showed continuous bone callus and partial molding of different degrees. Degradation rate of scaffolds was 39.6%, and bone density in the defected part reached 70% of the normal level. All the indexes of experiment group were superior to those of control group, and no healing was found in the defected area in control group.CONCLUSION: PLLA/TCP scaffolds prepared by RP technology and loaded with bovine BMP can repair radial defects of 15mm in rabbits.

Objective To evaluate the pulmonary protection of dexmedetomidine during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer.Methods Thirty patients of both sexes,aged 40-70 yr,weighing 50-80 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective radical operation for lung cancer,were randomized into 2 groups (n =15 each):dexmedetomidine group (group D) and control group (group C).Before induction of anesthesia,a loading dose of dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg was infused over 10 min,followed by continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine at a rate of 0.6 μg· kg-1 · h-1 until the chest was closed in group D,while the equal volume of normal saline was given in group C.Immediately after induction of anesthesia,at 30 and 60 min of one-lung ventilation,and at the end of operation,arterial blood samples were collected for determination of the serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8,and for blood gas analysis.Oxygenation index was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the serum concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly decreased,and oxygenation index was increased in group D.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can mitigate inflammatory responses during one-lung ventilation and improve pulmonary function,thus providing pulmonary protection in patients undergoing radical operation for lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the short and longterm effect of the treatment on acute coronary syndrome(ACS) with percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting.Methods 65 patients suffering from ACS were treated with angiography to illuminate the features of lesions and proceeded with percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting when the angina was not completed controlled with internal medicine.All patients were treated with a new anti-thrombotic regimen,including aspirin,ticlopidine or clopidogrel, and low-molecular-weight heparin.Results The rates of success for patients and lesions were 96.9% and 82.7% respectively.One patient died without myocardial infarction or emergency bypass surgery.56 patients had no symptom of angina after procedure,and 5 patients had non-typical chest pain which disappeared within 2~3 days.During the 3~54 month follow-up,one patient died,one patient developed myocardial infarction and 4 patients underwent target vessel revascularization(repeated angioplasty 2 and bypass surgery 2).Conclusions With the widespread use of aspirin-ticlopidine-low molecular heparin regimen,ACS patients can undergo PTCA and stenting with high success rate,excellent immediate efficacy and long-term efficacy.

Objective To explore the correlation between the joint detection of cholinesterase(CHE),alpha-L-fucosidase(AFU) and alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)and primary hepatic cancer(PHC).Methods 56 cases of patients with PHC(PHC group),52 cases of patients with liver cirrhosis(LC group)and 60 cases of healthy individuals(control group)were enrolled in this study,and serum levels of CHE,AFU and AFP were detected and statistically analysed.Results Serum levels of CHE in patients with PHC were negatively correlated with levels of AFU and AFP(correlation coefficient was -0.889 and -0.797 respectively,P <0.05),the ser-um levels of CHE in patients with LC were also negatively correlated with levels of AFU and AFP (correlation coefficient was-0.598 and -0.653 respectively,P <0.05).The positive rates of joint detection of CHE,AFU and AFP in PHC group and LC group were higher than that in the control group,had statistically significant differences(P <0.05 ).Conclusion CHE,AFU and AFP are sensitive indicators of liver lesions,and the joint detection could provide reference value for diagnosis and monitoring pro-gression of PHC.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) combined with real-time three dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE)in guiding transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(TCASD)without X-ray.Methods Eleven patients with atrial septal defects(ASD)underwent the procedure of TCASD guided by TTE combined with RT-3DE.The position of the catheter and transporting sheath,the location and deploying of ASD occluder(ASO)were monitored by muhisection echoscan.especially in RT-3DE.The results were compared with those guided by conventional method(TTE and X-ray).Results All the operations were held successfully.The complications of cardiac tamponade,shedding of occluder,residual shunt,atrioventricular valve regurgitation,embolism and arrhythmia were not observed.Compared with the conventional procedure of the control group,the operation time was significantly prolonged[(65.76±14.15)min versus(45.50±20.88)min,P＜0.000)].Conclusions TCASD was tested to be safe and efficient guided by TTE combined RT-3DE without X-ray,especially for children and pregnant women.It may be expected used widely in the future independently from X-ray.