Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; physiology ; Rats

Objective To explore the changes of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) levels in plasma of newborn infants with pulmonary hypertension(PH) and its relationship with pulmonary hypertension,and provide scientific evidence for the decision of treating neonatal PH.Methods Sixteen children with PH and 16 children without PH in ICU from Mar.2005 to Mar.2006 were selected.Ultrasonic cardiogram(UCG) examination was performed for eachpatients.Pulmonary artery pressure(PAP) was measured.The plasma concentrations of H2S,cysteine and PAP of each patient were measured.Results PAP was 4.27-9.73 kPa[(6.49?1.79) kPa] in neonatal PH group,and PAP in control group was normal.The plasma levels of cysteine and H2S in neonatal PH group significantly increased compared with those of control group [(11.94?6.65) ?mol/L vs(6.43?2.08) ?mol/L,t=2.630 P=0.016;(26.99?1.33) ?mol/L vs(24.92?1.36) ?mol/L,t=4.373 P=0].Conclusions Endogenous H2S and cysteine were up-regulated during the development of neonatal PH;it might play an improtant role in the development of PH.H2S possibly depress the PAP by dilating the pulmonary artery to protect the patients with pulmonary hy pertension.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of intra- and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and growth restriction in premature infants, and to illustrate the growth pattern of them in postnatal and infantile period.

METHODSAll premature infants were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the recent 7 years. The criteria for enrollment were (1) gestational age < 37 weeks; (2) single fetus; (3) admitted within the first 24 hours of life; (4) hospitalization period ≥ 14 days; (5) clinical follow-up persisted till ≥ 3 months of corrected gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), EUGR and growth restriction were defined as having a measured growth value (weight) that was ≤ 10(th) percentile of Chinese infants' growth curve in corrected age on admission, discharge and follow-up period. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 statistical software package by chi-square test, rank-sum test, and t test.

RESULTSTwo hundred and thirty nine infants were involved, 134 were boys and 105 girls. The incidence of IUGR and EUGR assessed by weight was 25.5% and 40.6%, respectively. The lower the birth weight was, the higher the incidence of IUGR and EUGR was. The percentile of body weight in the growth curve at discharge was lower than that at birth (Z = -7.784, P = 0.000). The incidence of growth restriction assessed by weight was 20.5%, 15.0%, 8.8%, 17.0%, 10.4%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 7.0% at corrected gestational age of 38 - 40 weeks, corrected age of 28 d, 61 d, 91 d, 122 d, 152 d, 183 d, and 274 d, respectively. The incidences of growth restriction were stable when the corrected age was older than 91 days. The incidence of growth restriction in female premature infants at 183 days' corrected age was higher than that in male children (χ(2) = 6.181, P = 0.017), the incidence was 19.3% and 3.8% respectively. During the follow-up period, most of the average body weight of premature infants whose gestational age was < 32 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1500 g were lower than the 50(th) percentile of the growth curve except the average body weight of boys whose gestational age < 32 weeks at corrected age of 2 and 4 months.

CONCLUSIONSPremature and/or low birth weight infants are at high risk of growth restriction, especially very low birth weight infants. The incidence of growth restriction decreased with growth. Long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Body Weight ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Male ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVETo analyze components of volatile oil from the herb of Pimpinella candolleana.

METHODThe components of volatile oil were investigated by SPME-GC-MS.

RESULTSixty-five compounds were identified which accounted for 92. 17% of total volatile oil.

CONCLUSIONThe main constituents in the essential oil were alpha-zingiberene (24.82%), pregeijerene (16.27%), beta-bisabolene (4. 82%), 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-9-methylene-bicyclo [ 4. 4. 0] dec-l-ene (4.03%), beta-sesquiphellandrene (3.98%), trans-beta-farnesene (3.68%), ar-curcumene (3.54%).

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Pimpinella ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Solid Phase Microextraction ; methods

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the early growth patterns of preterm infants who required prolonged hospitalisation in terms of body weight Z-score, and to explore the influencing factors and predictors of their growth.

METHODSThe criteria of enrolment included preterm birth, singleton pregnancy, hospitalisation within the first 24 hours of life, hospital stay ≥ 28 days and clinical follow-up beyond 91 days of corrected age. Body weight Z-scores and the incidence of underweight infants were reviewed periodically, and the influencing factors and possible predictors of growth analysed.

RESULTSBody weight Z-scores of all infants of gestational age (GA) groups kept decreasing, with a trough seen at 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). At corrected full-term, body weight Z-scores for all birth weight groups achieved birth level and were higher than that at 36 weeks CGA. Body weight Z-scores at 61 days corrected age was (-0.300 × GA [weeks] + 0.210 × birth weight [g] + 0.682 × body weight Z-score) at 40 weeks CGA. The cut-off values for body weight Z-score at birth (cut-off, -1.79; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 91.3%) and 61 days corrected age (cut-off, -1.95; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 97.1%) were selected to predict the risk of being underweight at 183 days corrected age.

CONCLUSIONEarly growth restriction is a practical problem in preterm infants with prolonged hospitalisation. Body weight Z-scores at 40 weeks CGA and 61 days corrected age can be used to predict body weight gain prior to 183 days corrected age in these infants.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Length of Stay ; trends ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

The secondary structure of Capsid protein was predicted by the methods of Chou-Fasman,Garnier-Robson and Karplus-Schultz based on the sepuence of capsid protein gene of Swine Vesicular Disease Virus (SVDV) and hydrophilicity. Surface probility plot and antigenic index for capsid protein were obtained by the methods of Kyte-Doolittle, Emini and Jameson-wolf, respectively, Combining the results according to these methods, the B cell epitopes for capsid protein of SVDV were predicted. The results showed that there are much flexible region such as coil region and turn region in capsid protein of SVDV, there are more predominant B cell epitopes in VP1 than in VP2 and VP3. This study would be helpful for identification of B cell epitopes for capsid protein using experimental methods and research of reverse vaccine of SVDV.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of human coagulation factor IX (hFIX) gene in human umbilical cord blood (CB) CD34+ cells which was transfected with recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV-2).

METHODThe CD34+ cells were transfected with rAAV-2/hFIX and cultured for 21 days for inducing differentiation into myeloid, erythroid and megakaryocytes, respectively. The expression of hFIX was studied at mRNA, protein and biological activity levels. The cytotoxicity of rAAV-2 to CD34+ cells was evaluated by cell proliferation, cell vitality, CD antigen expressions and CFU yields.

RESULTSThe hFIX mRNA was expressed in the cultured cells which was verified by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. An elevated level of hFIX expression and biological activities were detected with a maximum amount of 14.10 ng/10(6) cell x 24 h. During the period of 21 day culture, the cell vitality, cell proliferation, CD antigen expression and CFU yields between the transfected and un-transfected groups had no difference(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe human CB CD34+ cells are able to produce functional hFIX after transduction by rAAV-2/hFIX. The cell proliferation and differentiation capacities of the host CD34+ cells were not affected by rAAV-2.

Antigens, CD34 ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Factor IX ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo observe the serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) changes post acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSThe serum BNP level was determined in 230 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to CCU and in 111 normal cases from October 2002 to October 2003 in Fuwai Hospital. The 230 AMI patients were further divided into various subgroups according to first or recurrent AMI, ST elevations myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST elevations myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) group, infarction location, coronary arteries involved, infarction related arteries (IRA), TIMI blood flow of IRA and primary PCI or not. Serum BNP, CK-MB, TnT and heart function were analyzed.

RESULTSThe serum BNP level was significantly increased in patients with AMI (553.7 +/- 735.1) ng/L than that in normal subjects [(26.4 +/- 27.4) ng/L, P < 0.05]. LVEF was significantly lower, and LVEDd, BNP and LnBNP were all significantly higher in the first time AMI group compared to recurrent AMI group (all P < 0.001). The BNP level were significantly higher in AMI patients with single or triple coronary arteries stenosis than those without coronary stenosis (P < 0.05), in TIMI blood flow 0 - 1 and 2 groups than in TIMI 3 group (all P < 0.001). The CK-MB and TnT were significantly increased while BNP significantly decreased in the patients underwent primary PCI group compared with patients did not receive PCI therapy (all P < 0.05 - 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSerum BNP was significantly elevated in patients after AMI but decreased after successful primary PCI in patients with AMI.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; therapy ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Troponin I ; blood ; Troponin T ; blood

AIMTo observe the effect of rhubarb ethanol-extract on hyperlipidemia and liver fatty in rabbits.

METHODSThirty healthy male white rabbits were divided randomly into five groups, six rabbits in each group. The rabbits in control group were fed with common forage. The rabbits in model group were fed with high lipid forage. The rabbits in three different rhubarb groups were fed with high lipid forage and treated with different level rhubarb ethanol-extract (REE). In the process of experiment, periodically measured serology index of the rabbits and observed common physiology index. The rabbits were killed at the end of tenth week, liver fatty degeneration degree and liver coefficient were measured and compared.

RESULTSREE could decrease serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and increase serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and reduce liver fatty de generation and protect liver cell function. And the dose-effect relation was showed among different dose REE groups.

CONCLUSIONREE can significantly reduce blood lipid, prevent and treat hyperlipidemia and liver fatty.

Animals ; Ethanol ; Fatty Liver ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rheum

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (MDA/IL-24) on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B and normal liver cell line L02 with a different p53 state.

METHODSThe MDA-7/IL-24 gene was transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B and hepatocyte line L02 with a replication-incompetent adenovirus vector. The mRNA expression of MDA7/IL-24 in HepG2, MHCC97L, Hep3B and L02 cells was confirmed using RT-PCR. Protein expression was confirmed using ELISA assay. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to study tumor cell proliferation and cell cycle in vitro. Hoechst and flow cytometry assay after annexin-V and PI staining were performed to indicate the apoptosis effect.

RESULTSExogenous MDA-7/IL-24 gene was expressed in HepG2, MHCC97L, Hep3B and L02 cells. The protein product of MDA-7/IL-24 was confirmed in the supernatant. MTT assay and apoptosis test indicated MDA-7/IL-24 could induce growth suppression and apoptosis of HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B but could not in L02. Cell cycle test revealed MDA-7/IL-24 could block those cancer cells in G2/M but not in the normal cell L02.

CONCLUSIONMDA-7/IL-24 selectively induces growth suppression and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B in vitro independent of the state of p53 gene but not in normal liver cell L02. This indicates MDA-7/IL-24 can be a perfect gene for gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adenoviruses, Human ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53