Objective To study the histocompatibility of domestic new type nitinol alloy ventricular septal defect(VSD) occluder in order to test the feasibility for clinical application.Methods The domestic new type nitinol alloy VSD occluder was inserted into 20 healthy dogs with intravenous balanced anesthesia and tracheal intubation,assisted by animal breathing machine respiration.The dogs were given oral antibiotic and would be killed in several months after operation.According to different slaughter time(1,2,3,6 months),they were divided into 4 sections and including 5 dogs in each section.The occluder sites,the intimal coverage and the change of inflammatory cells were observed through gross anatomy,with the help of the light microscope and electron microscope.SPSS 11.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results The thickness of the endocardial enhanced with the time(P

Objective To study their chemical components of xianglingcao(Crotalaria ferruginea) and identify their chemical structures.Methods The compounds were isolated by chromatography and their structures were identified by spectral analysis and compared with the published data.Results Ten compounds were isolated and identified as vomifolilol(Ⅰ),genistein(Ⅱ),p-hydroxybenzoic acid(Ⅲ),5,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-flavone-7-O-?-D-glycopyranoside(Ⅳ),octadecoic acid(Ⅴ),octacosanol(Ⅵ),?-stitosterol(Ⅶ),?-daucosterol(Ⅷ),stigmasterol(Ⅸ),and ?5,22 stigmasterol-3-O-?-D-glycopyranoside(Ⅹ).Conclusion The ten compounds are obtained from xianglingcao for the first time.

Objective To investigate the clinical features,the radiological characteristics,and the pathological changes of cerebral sparganosis.Methods We retrospectively collectted and summarized the clinical data of 42 patients with cerebral sparganosis from the Iinstitute of Anti-parasitic Diseases of Jiangxi Province and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University during January 2000 to January 2014.The follow-up period of the 42 patients ranged from 4 to 96 months.Results Forty-two cases (30 males and 12 females) with cerebral sparganosis were enrolled in the study.Among the 42 patients,34 cases suffered from seizures,16 cases experienced headaches,and 14 cases had limb weakness.The brain CT scan showed the small and punctuate calcifications scattering around the lesions in 18 cases.The features of enhanced MRI included aggregating ring-like enhancement in 38 cases,tunnel lesions in 14 cases,and lesion migration in 13 cases.Twenty-four of the 42 patients were performed surgery.The brain tissues revealed multiple inflammatory tunnels,in which live or degenerated larvae were identified in 20 cases,but only eosinophilia tunnels were observed in the other 4 cases.The serum and cerebro-spiral fluid specimens from 18 patients without surgery were positive to spirometra mansoni antigen.Their cerebral lesions disappeared and got a favorable prognosis after administration of praziquantel in long term follow-ups.Conclusions There is a high incidence of cerebral sparganosis in Poyang lake basin.The clinical features of cerebral sparganosis mainly include seizure,headache and hemiparesis.The enhanced lesions show knot or tunnel signs on multi-planar MRI which are associated with the multiple inflammatory tunnels of larvae migration.A longterm administration of high dose opraziquantel can also get a good treatment prognosis without the classical surgical therapy for cerebral sparganosis.

Plant samples were collected and investigated periodically. According to the growth of different parts and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation of Scrophularia ningpoensis, the development of S. ningpoensis could be divided into four stages: seeding stage, stem and leaf growth stage, expanding period of root tubers, and dry substance accumulation stage of root tuber. Leaf numbers of S. ningpoensis grew gradually from one at first to 370 at the final stage, main stem leaf were 50 pieces. Leaf size increasesed with the fastest growth at the stem and leaf growth stage, average daily increase amount was 225 cm2. By the middle of August, leaf size reached to 16,270 cm2. Leaf area indexrose sharply in the seeding stage, and remained above 8 among stem and leaf growth stage and expanding period of root tubers, and rapidly reduced to zero in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Leaf area ratio has a tendency of obvious dropping. The net assimilation rate had a small change ranges, two small peak were seeding stage and dry substance accumulation of root tuber. The value of specific leaf area was higher in seeding stage, and in the earlier stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Relative growth rate changed with large ranges, higher in seeding stage, rapid decrease in stem and leaf growth stage, rose in expanding period of root tubers, and declined again in the stage of dry substance accumulation of root tuber. Crop growth rate was higher in the first and last stages, and smaller in interim stage. The growth parameters of S. ningpoensis such as relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, crop growth rate changed along with the growth. The rule of dry matter accumulation was as follows: the dry matter increased slowly during the seeding stage and speeded up in the middle and late stages, and in dry substance accumulation of root tuber increased slower, the growth of dry matter all appeared an "S" curve, and accorded with logistic equation. Cultivation technologies of S. ningpoensis and the relevant management methods could be established according to the growth of different parts of S. ningpoensis and the characteristics of dry substance accumulation in different stage.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; Plant Tubers ; growth & development ; Scrophularia ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic efficacy of a combined treatment modality using transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with main branch intraportal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).

METHODSClinical data was collected retrospectively for patients diagnosed with and treated for HCC plus main branch PVTT at our hospital between January 2007 and January 2010. The total study population (n = 51) consisted of 38 males and 13 females, with an average of 50.1 years (range: 24-73). Among these patients, 26 had been treated with TACE + PEI (group A) and 25 had been treated with TACE alone (group B). Short-term changes in PVTT (i.e. disappearance, shrinkage, and/or stability) and tumor (i.e. complete response, partial response, and/or stable disease) were assessed by using the t-test (continuous variables) or the Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests (categorical variables). Between-group differences in survival time were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test.

RESULTSThe follow-up time ranged from 3-24 months after treatment, and no serious treatment-related complications were recorded for any of the patients (0/51). The time of TACE treatment was significantly longer for the patients receiving the combination therapy (group A: 3.21.4 vs. group B: 2.40.9, t = 2.22, P = 0.032). The patients in group A received between 2-8 PEI treatments. The TACE + PEI combined treatment showed significantly better therapeutic efficacy for PVTT (group A: 19/26 vs. group B: 10/25, X2 = 5.685, P = 0.019). The tumor response was significantly better in patients treated with TACE + PEI at post-treatment month 3 (group A: 20/26 vs. group B: 18/25, X2 = 0.163, P = 0.705) and month 6 (group A: 17/20 vs. 10/19, X2 = 2.58, P = 0.027). Finally, the average survival time was significantly better in patients treated with TACE + PEI (group A: 12.856.02 months (range: 5-23) vs. group B: 8.653.39 months (range: 4-16), t = 3.051, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONTACE + PEI combination therapy for main branch PVTT in HCC patients is more efficacious than TACE alone, and is associated with a longer survival time.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; complications

Pneumocephalus is the presence of air in the cranial vault. The common etiologies of pneumocephalus are brain trauma and cranial surgery. We report a case of a 26-year-old man with brain trauma who developed diffuse pneumocephalus after sneezing. CT scan was performed on arrival, and the image showed subarachnoid hemorrhage without pneumocephalus. On the seventh day after a big sneeze brain CT scan was re-performed, which showed pneumocephalus. After another ten days of treatment, the patient was discharged without any symptoms.
Adult ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumocephalus ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; therapy ; Sneezing ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the affection and clinical significance of CD26/DPP4 on CD4+T cells and its cytokines in patients withCrytococcalMeningitis.Methods Peripheral blood was collected from 36 patients diagnosed withCrytococcal Meningitis in Changhai Hospital and Changzheng Hospital,Shanghai from August,2011 to December,2015,meanwhile 36 health controls’was also acquired.Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)was separated by density gradient centrifuga-tion,CD26+CD4+T and CD26-CD4+T cell groups were classified by Flow Cytometry,the expression level of cytokines was tested by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The correlation between DPP4 activity,CD26+CD4+T (%)and APACHE II score,IL-17,TNF-α,IL-4,IFN-γwas measured by Pearson coefficient.Results CD26+CD4+T(%)between experimental and control groups was 13.35±3.83 vs 8.39±2.14 (t=6.78,P<0.000 1).DPP4 activity was 50.89±17.21 mU/ml vs 73.83±20.24 mU/ml (t=5.18,P<0.000 1),with statistically significant differences.In ex-perimental groups,CD26+CD4+T (%)was positively related with APACHE II score,IL-17,TNF-α(r=0.431,0.564, 0.688,P=0.003 8,0.001,0.004 6).DPP4 activity was negatively interrelated with APACHE II score,IL-17,TNF-α,IFN-γ(r=-0.544,-0.489,-0.678,-0.734;P<0.001).Conclusion CD26/DPP4 may be involved in the pathogenesis of Crytococcal Meningitis through regulation of Th subgroups,and it was the potential therapeutic target and the predicted marker of the disease.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the reversal of multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cell line. The sensitivity of K562 and K562/A02 to adriamycin (ADM) and reversal of drug resistance were determined with MTT method. The concentration of intracellular ADM and P-glycoprotein expression were detected by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activity of MDR1 promoter. The results showed that TPL significantly decreased the resistance degree of K562/A02 cells, inhibited P-glycoprotein expression (mean fluorescent intensity decreased from 123 ± 13 to 39 ± 13) and increased the intracellular concentration of ADM (mean fluorescent intensity increased from 18 ± 5 to 34 ± 6) in K562/A02 cells. Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that TPL inhibited the transcriptional activity of MDR1 promoter by 75%. It is concluded that TPL may effectively reverse the multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cells via modulating P-glycoprotein expression and increasing intracellular ADM accumulation.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate COX-2 expression in patients with gastric cancer and its relationship with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.

METHODSCOX-2 expression and CD34-stained microvessel density (MVD) were detected by immunohistochemical methods in specimens from 96 patients with gastric cancer. The correlations among COX-2 expression, MVD and clinicopathologic features were analyzed.

RESULTSThe COX-2 positive rate and MVD in gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in the normal gastric mucosa (80.2% vs. 13.3%; 32.5+/- 8.3 vs. 13.1+/- 2.4, all P< 0.01). The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the patients with stage III and IV were significantly higher (91.4% and 34.9+/- 8.7 respectively, P< 0.01), than that in the patients with stage I and II. The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the cases with lymph node metastasis were 87.9% and (35.0+/- 8.5) respectively, higher than those in the cases without lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). The Spearman rank correlation test showed a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and tumor MVD (r=0.311, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2 plays an important role in gastric cancer angiogenesis. COX-2 and angiogenesis induced by COX-2 contribute to tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology