BACKGROUND: It is now know that the clinical presentations of subcortical arterioselerotic encephalopathy(SAE) could be mainly manifested by hypertension,stroke and chronic developed dementia,but there are very a few explorations on its definite pathogenesis and earlier assessment.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of CT classification of SAE with intellectual and neuropsycholohical disturbance,so as to explore the significance of CT classification of SAE to the assessment of SAE.DESIGN: Clinical case analysis based on patients.SETTING: A department of internal medicine in a military general hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: From January 1999 to December 2002,totally 68 elders Guangzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA,included 65 males and 3 females,aged from 64 to 93 years old with the average age of(75. 8 ± 8. 1 )years old took part in the study.METHODS: Low-density focus around ventricle were observed with skull CT scanning and classified according to GOTO classification. Meanwhile the intellectual test and neuropsycholohical test were carried out,and the correlative analysis was conducted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intellectual test,neuropsycholohical test,skull CT scanning,and analysis of correlation of CT classification with scores of intellectual test and neuropsycholohical test.RESULTS: Of 68 patients,91% (62/68) was proved to have different degree intellectual obstacle,100% was found to be vascular dementia; and low-density focus around ventricle were proved to be existed in all patients with skull CT scanning,GOTO classification indicated that type Ⅰ was found in 22 patients,type Ⅱ in 32 patients and type Ⅲ in 14 patients; skull CT classification was negatively correlated with the scores of intellectual test and positively correlated with scores of neuropsychiological test,with the correlative coefficient of -0. 83 and 0.75 respectively( P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: GOTO classification of skull CT of SAE is related to intellectual obstacle and neuropsychiological disturbance in elder SAE.

BACKGROUNDCathepsin S and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin C are implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, especially in the plaque destabilization and rupture leading to acute coronary syndrome. However, whether circulating cathepsin S and cystatin C also change in association with coronary plaque morphology is unknown yet.

METHODSWe recruited 98 patients with unstable angina (UA, n = 6) or stable angina (SA, n = 2) who had a segmental stenosis resulting in > 20% and < 70% diameter reduction in one major coronary artery on coronary angiography. Thirty-one healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate plaque morphology. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were measured as well.

RESULTSAt the culprit lesion site, plaque area ((7.85 +/- 2.83) mm(2) vs (6.53 +/- 2.92) mm(2), P = 0.027), plaque burden ((60.92 +/- 11.04)% vs (53.87 +/- 17.52)%, P = 0.025), remodeling index (0.93 +/- 0.16 vs 0.86 +/- 0.10, P = 0.004) and eccentricity index (0.74 +/- 0.17 vs 0.66 +/- 0.21, P = 0.038) were bigger in UA group than in SA group. Plasma cathepsin S and cystatin C were significantly higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.01). Plasma cathepsin S was higher in UA group ((0.411 +/- 0.121) nmol/L) than in SA group ((0.355 +/- 0.099) nmol/L, P = 0.007), so did the plasma cystatin C ((0.95 +/- 0.23) mg/L in UA group, (0.84 +/- 0.22) mg/L in SA group; P = 0.009). Plasma cathepsin S positively correlated with remodeling index (r = 0.402, P = 0.002) and eccentricity index (r = 0.441, P = 0.001), and plasma cystatin C positively correlated with plaque area (r = 0.467, P < 0.001) and plaque burden (r = 0.395, P = 0.003) in UA group but not in SA group.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma cathepsin S and cystatin C increased significantly in UA patients. In angina patients, higher plasma cathepsin S may suggest the presence of vulnerable plaque, and higher plasma cystatin C may be a clue for larger atherosclerotic coronary plaque.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cathepsins ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo test whether in the absence of actin, actin-binding proteins such as caldesmon, calponin, and tropomyosin interact with the myosin of unphosphorylation, Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation (CDP), and Ca2+-independent phosphorylation (CIP) and stimulate myosin Mg2+-ATPase activities.

METHODSMg2+-ATPase activities were measured to evaluate the effects of caldesmon, calponin, and tropomyosin on the myosin in unphosphorylation, CDP by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and CIP by MLCK.

RESULTS(1) At different incubation-time, i.e., 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes, the highest Mg2+-ATPase activity was observed when myosin was in the state of CDP, the medium was CIP of myosin, and the lowest was the unphosphorylated myosin. (2) In the absence of caldesmon, calponin, and tropomyosin, the Mg2+-ATPase activities from high to low were in the following order: CDP, CIP, and unphosphorylated myosin. However, in the presence of caldesmon, calponin, and tropomyosin, the order of relative value of Mg2+-ATPase activities from high to low was unphosphorylated, CIP, and CDP of myosin respectively compared to the corresponding controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe results propose that caldesmon, calponin, and tropomyosin are capable of stimulating Mg2+-ATPase activity of smooth muscle myosin in Ca2+-independent manner, since Ca2+ is not obligating for the stimulating effects of the three proteins. The common characteristic of the three proteins is that when myosin activities are low, their activations are relatively strong and this property might be involved in smooth muscle tension keeping.

Animals ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Chickens ; Microfilament Proteins ; Muscle, Smooth ; enzymology ; Myosins ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Tropomyosin ; pharmacology

Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) is a multifactor syndrome, which involves vascular disease, neuropathy, metabolic control, nutrition, endocrine disorders, psychogenic factors, and anti-diabetes drugs. Among all these factors, vascular disease plays a very important role. In the development of diabetic vasculopathy, some vasomotion factors and growth factors undergo conspicuous changes, which may be significantly correlated with the development of diabetic erectile dysfunction.
Angiotensins ; metabolism ; Diabetes Complications ; complications ; Endothelins ; metabolism ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; metabolism ; Epoprostenol ; metabolism ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Penis ; physiopathology ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo prepare a lymph node-targeted ultrasound/fluorescence bi-functional imaging contrast agents, and observe its effectiveness both on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and vivo near infrared fluorescence (NIR) imaging through animal experiments.

METHODSThe chimeric lymph node-targeted ligand (phosphatidylserine) and near-infrared fluorescent substance were assembled to form bi-functional contrast microbubbles. The morphology and size distribution were detected by optical microscope and Malvern potential tests. Five normal New Zealand white rabbits were subcutaneously injected with the prepared contrast agent in bilateral footpads, and the imaging effectiveness of lymph nodes and lymphatic vessel were observed by CEUS and NIR technique. Then blue dye was subcutaneously injected at the same site, and the rabbits were sacrificed for lymph nodes pathological examination.

RESULTSLipid ultrasound microbubbles,with a mean size of 3-5 Μm in diameter, appeared to be uniform in distribution and regular in configuration. The images of inflow lymphatic vessel and relevant lymph node were quickly showed up after the subcutaneous injection by CEUS, which was identical to the result detected by NIR. Biopsy confirmed that all the blue-stained lymph nodes could be displayed by NIR.

CONCLUSIONSThe self-made bi-functional contrast agent has a good imaging ability in CEUS and NIR imaging. It may be a better agent as lymph node tracer.

Animals ; Contrast Media ; chemistry ; Fluoresceins ; chemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography

Gene therapy is currently investigated in animal studies for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), and is affording an conspicuous therapeutic possibility for the treatment of ED, especially in L-arg-NO-cGMP pathway, ion channel, the protection of nerves and endothelia in erectile tissues. However there still exist so many problems for gene therapy to be effectively applied to the clinical treatment of ED. This review aims to examine the experimental efforts in recent years and tries to give a brief introduction to the new approaches in the field of ED researches.
Animals ; Cell Communication ; genetics ; Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; Genetic Therapy ; Ion Channels ; genetics ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; genetics ; Rats ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

Neurotrophins play significant roles in the development, differentiation and regeneration of many neurons. The abnormal changes of neurotrophins are one of the nosogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Erectile dysfunction (ED) in diabetes is multifactorial and one of the most important causes is the injury of pelvic splanchnic nerves. Neurotrophins therapy shows exact effects on ED with pelvic splanchnic nerves injured. Recent researches indicates that the same treatment has the similar therapeutic effects on the ED animals with diabetes. Neurotrophins therapy develops a new way for us to cure the ED with diabetes.
Animals ; Diabetes Complications ; complications ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factors ; physiology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of reducing the incidence of CAUTI by spraying the long-acting antibacterial material JUS on the surface of catheter and urethral orifice.

METHODSSixty male patients, aged from 68 to 79, with indwelling catheter after TURP were divided randomly into two groups (control group and treated group), each consisting of 30 patients. For the control group, their urethral orifice was treated conventionally twice a day; while for the treated group, in addition to the conventional treatment of their urethral orifice, the catheter and their urethral orifice were sprayed with the long-acting antibacterial material JUS twice a day.

RESULTThe number of cases of urinary tract infection in the treated group during catheterization was evidently less than those of the control group (P < 0.01), so the difference was of remarkable significance.

CONCLUSIONThe long-acting antibacterial material, after spraying on the wall of catheter and urethral orifice of the patients with indwelling catheter, may form a layer of physically antibacterial molecular film to prevent the formation of a bacterial biological film and effectively reduce the incidence of CAUTI.

Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Occlusive Dressings ; Postoperative Care ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; nursing ; Urinary Catheterization ; nursing ; Urinary Tract Infections ; prevention & control

The aim of this study was to evaluate the homing capabilities of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from human placenta tissues (PT). Single cell suspension of human PT was prepared by mechanical method. The expression levels of homing-related adhesion molecules (HRAM) including CD11a, CD49d, CD44, CD49e, CD62L and CD54 on CD34(+) cells and the percentages of CD34(+) cells and their subpopulations in nucleated cells (NC) from fresh human PT, umbilical cord arterial blood (UCAB) and umbilical cord venous blood (UCVB) were detected by using flow cytometry. The results showed that the percentage of CD34(+) cells and CD34(+)CD38(-) cells in placenta were higher than those in UCAB and UCVB. There were no significant difference in percentage of HSPC between UCAB and UCVB. Placenta-derived CD34(+) cells strongly expressed CD11a, CD49d, CD44, CD49e and CD54, among which expression levels of CD49e and CD54 on placenta-derived CD34(+) cells were significantly higher than those on UCAB and UCVB-derived CD34(+) cells. While the percentage of CD34(+)CD62L(+) cells in placenta was only lower than that in UCVB. It is concluded that human placenta is rich in HSPC. Moreover, the expression levels of most HRAM in CD34(+) cells from PT are higher than those from UCAB and UCVB or are close to them. It suggested that HSPCs derived from PT might have stronger homing capabilities than those from UCB.
Antigens, CD34 ; biosynthesis ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; biosynthesis ; Integrin alpha5 ; biosynthesis ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; Placenta ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of androgen on microstructure and mechanics nature of bone in orchiechtomied (ORX) male rats and reveal its mechanism by using the Micro CT analysis, bone biomechanics test, bone histomorphometric parameter test, and total body bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiomery (DXA).

METHODSThirty 12-month-old male Wister rats were randomly divided into three groups including ORX, sham-operated (Sham) and androgen (AD) group, ten rats in every group. Total body BMD was measured by DXA. Femurs and vertebrae were then harvested at the 12 th week after ORX for micro-computed tomography (Micro CT), histology and biomechanical were tested.

RESULTSThe administration of testosterone may reverse the decreasing BMD of total body and may prevent the decreasing weight. The biomechanical values of Maximum load, Enery, Maximum stress, Elastic Modulus of AD group significantly enhanced compared with ORX group (P < 0.05). The results of histomorphometric parameters showed that cancellous bone volume, osteoblast-osteoid interface, linear extent of bone formation, mineralizing surfaces, mineral apposition rate increased in the therapy group.

CONCLUSIONAndrogen can accelerate cancellous bone formation and bone turnover, improve bone microstructure and enhance bone intensity and BMD.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Osteoporosis ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar