CCN1 is a novel extracellular matrix-associated signaling protein which possesses 381 amino-acid residues to compose 4 distinct structural modules with 38 conserved cysteine residues.This protein has a variety of properties in cardiovascular system,affecting the cellular behaviors such as differentiation,proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells and cardiac myocytes,that suggested an essential roles of CCN1 in angiogensis,vascular injury,cardiac development and myocardial infarction.

Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; physiology

Adult ; Cryptococcosis ; physiopathology ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Duodenal Diseases ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male

Objective To find out whether NOTCH receptors can serve as direct downstream targets of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)/Smad4 signaling in endothelial cells.Methods Real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to verify whether the expression of notch1 and notch4 was regulated by TGF-β pathway.Luciferase reporter assay was employed to investigate how the promoter of notch1 and notch4 was regulated by TGF-β.Then, ChIP assay was used confirm whether the promoter of notch1 and notch4 physically interacted with SMAD protein.Results TGF-β1 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) treatment increased the expression of both notch1 and notch4 at the transcriptional level.In addition, SMAD4 was physically associated with the SMAD binding sites on the notch4 promoter, which was largely enhanced under the treatment of TGF-β1 and BMP4.Importantly, TGF-β1 and BMP4 failed to transactivate notch4 in the absence of endogenous SMAD4 or the SMAD binding regions on the notch4 promoter.Conclusion The expression of NOTCH receptor can be directly up-regulated by SMAD4-mediated TGF-β/BMP signaling in cerebrovascular endothelial cells.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of centrally fixed eyeball for assessment of the depth of anesthesia in premature infants undergoing outpatient fundus examination. Methods Fifty eight premature infants undergoing examination of fundus of eyes were enrolled in this study. Their gestational age (from the first day of last menstruation period to birth) + after birth age (from birth to the day when examination of fundus of eyes was performed) = 44-64 weeks. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: Ⅰ group body movement (group M, n = 27) and Ⅱ group centrally fixed eyeball (group E, n = 31). Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane inhalation. The patients were breathing spontaneously. The eyelids were kept open with speculum after induction of anesthesia. The EC50 of sevoflurane concentration which could inhibit body movement or make eyeballs centrally fixed was determined by up-and-down sequential experiment. The initial isoflurane concentration was 3% in both groups. Each time the isoflurane concentration was increased/decreased by 0.5 %. 95 % confidence interval (CI) was calculated. The lowest SpO2, respiratory rate and coughing during maintenance of anesthesia were recorded. Results The EC50 of sevoflurane (95% CI) was 2.9% (2.2%-3.6%) in group M and 3.4%(2.6%-4.6%) in group E. Examination was successfully completed in all patients. No respiratory depression and coughing occurred during examination and no vomiting and coughing were observed during feeding at 1 h after recovery from anesthesia. No body movement occurred in 15 patients whose eyeballs were centrally fixed in group E. Conclusion Centrally fixed eyeball can be used as sign of appropriate depth of anesthesia for fundus examination in premature infants.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of treating infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency with five-step pediatric tuina of Huxiang school. Methods:Using a randomized controlled trial design, sixty eligible kids with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by the five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school, and the control group received conventional tuina treatment. The intervention was conducted once a day, consecutive 5-day treatment as 1 course, at a 2-day interval between courses, successively for a total of 4 courses. Changes in the primary and secondary symptoms of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary symptoms and the general score of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were improved; the improvements in fecal form and frequency, decreased appetite, bloating after meals and fatigue and sluggishness were more significant in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion: The five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school and conventional tuina both can improve the primary and secondary symptoms in infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, while the former one can produce more significant efficacy.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Larynx ; abnormalities ; Male ; Respiratory System Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; therapy

Objective To explore the dynamic changes and significance of heart rate variability(HRV)during the initial phase after acute exposure to Tibet plateau by combining time,frequency domain and non-linear analysis.Methods Eighty-six healthy young men of Han nationality underwent short-term(5 min)heart rate variability(HRV)monitoring at 560 meter above sea level(plain),then were transported to Tibet plateau(3675-meter above sea level)by airplane.There,all subjects were divided into 3 groups,and A gorup(n=12)underwent HRV monitoring on the 2nd day after arrival,B group(n=48)on the 3rd day,C group(n=26)on the 4th day.Results Compared with the data obtained at plain,the standard deviation of normal to normal intervals(SDNN),high frequency(HF)and total power(TP)decreased significantly(P50 ms(PNN50)and normalized high frequency(HFnu)also decreased obviously(P

Objective To compare the image quality of renal artery in-flow inversion recovery MR angiography (IFIR MRA), CTA and contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) and to assess the value of renal artery IFIR MRA. Methods Thirty five patients were prospectively included in this study.Renal artery CTA was performed in 19 patients and renal artery CE-MRA was performed in 16 patients. In addition to renal artery CTA or CE-MRA, all patients underwent renal artery IFIR MRA. Two radiologists separately graded renal artery image quality, renal venous artifact and the visualization of renal artery branches regarding these three different techniques. Wilcoxon signed rank test of paired samples was used to compare the grading results, t test of paired samples was applied to compare the results of renal artery (accessory renal artery) trunk diameter. The consistency evaluation of renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact grades between two radiologists employed Kappa analysis. Results There was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CTA with renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact (P>0.05). There was significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA with renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact (P<0.05). The consistency evaluation results of renal artery image quality and renal venous artifact grades between two radiologists were both good. Kappa value were 0.425 to 1.000. CTA of 19 cases depicted 48 renal arteries (38 renal arteries, 10 accessory renal arteries), IFIR MRA depicted them all. The grades of visualization of renal artery branches about IFIR MRA and CTA were (3.7 ± 0.7) and (3.8 ± 0.6) respectively, renal artery trunk diameter of IFIR MRA and CTA were (4.9 ± 1.3) and (5.0 ± 1.4) mm respectively, there was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CTA (P>0.05).CE-MRA of 16 cases depicted 38 renal arteries (32 renal arteries, 6 accessory renal arteries), IFIR MRA depicted them all. The grades of visualization of renal artery branches about IFIR MRA and CE-MRA were (3.4±0.8) and (2.5±0.9) respectively, and there was significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA (Z=-4.040, P<0.01). Renal artery trunk diameter of IFIR MRA and CE-MRA were (4.7±1.3) and (4.7±1.2) mm respectively, there was no significant difference between IFIR MRA and CE-MRA (P>0.05). Conclusions The image quality of renal artery IFIR MRA was equal to CTA and superior to CE-MRA. It could be considered as an alternative technique for renal artery angiography.

OBJECTIVETo study the possible mechanism of protective effect for Baicalin on Bacillus pertussis (BP) infected brain tissue and the dose-effect relationship.

METHODSBrain tissues slices were divided into 7 groups: (1) the normal group; (2) the model group: infected by 10% BP; (3) the baicalin group, which was pretreated with baicalin, infected by BP and subdivided into 5 sub-groups according to different doses of baicalin used; (4) the glutamic acid group: cultured with glutamic acid; (5) the baicalin plus glutamic acid group; (6) the peroxide group: cultured with hydrogen peroxide; and (7) the baicalin plus peroxide group. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the supernatant of culture was determined and quantitative protein determination was conducted.

RESULTSThe LDH releasing was higher in the model group, glutamic acid group and peroxide group as compared with that in the normal group, 15.10 +/- 4.89 u/g. protein (the same unit below), 15.49 +/- 5.66 and 16.54 +/- 5.47 vs 6.10 +/- 2.87 respectively (P < 0.01). After being pretreated with 0.25 mmol/L baicalin, LDH level decreased significantly to 8.65 +/- 2.43, which was significantly different from that in the model group (P < 0.01), LDH was also decreased in the baicalin plus glutamic acid group (9.93 +/- 2.89) and baicalin plus peroxide group (9.54 +/- 2.82), which was significantly lower than that in the glutamic acid group and the peroxide group respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPretreatment of baicalin has protective effect on BP caused nerve cell injury in rat brain slices, the protection is possibly related with the reduction of glutamic acid and hydrogen peroxide induced damage on nerve cells in vitro.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bordetella pertussis ; Brain ; cytology ; microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley