Objective To evaluate and compare the diagnostic validity of MRI and DSA in patient suspected with spinal dural arteriovenous fistula(SDAVF). Methods A retrospective review on clinical data of 25 cases diagnosed as SDAVF was done to analyze the characteristics of SDAVF on both MRI and DSA. Results The sagittal or cornoral plane of the T 2 -weighted MRI could best show the extraspinal vascular abnormalities and secondary anomalies, while the orifices of the SDAVF, feeding arteries, draining veins could be satisfactorily demonstrated on the DSA. Conclusions The diagnosis of SDAVF can be made in directly on DSA findings, MRI can delineate the extraspinal vascular abnomalities and secondary anomalies but not the whole picture.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats

BACKGROUND: Abnormal autophagy in chondrocytes often leads to cartilage degeneration, thereby triggering osteoarthritis. Recent studies have found that microRNAs play an important role in chondrocyte autophagy; however, the molecular mechanism is yet unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of microRNA-138-5p (miR-138-5p) in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and autophagy activities, and to reveal its mechanisms. METHODS: Chondrosarcoma cell line SW1353 were cultured in vitro and transfected with negative control miRNA or miR-138-5p mimic. Cell proliferation activity was measured by cell counting kit-8 assay, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3, and 13 mRNA was measured by fluorogenic quantitative PCR. The endogenous LC3 subcellular location was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The miR-138-5p and SIRTI mRNA target sites were predicted using TargetScan 7.1 online tool. Autophagy-related proteins and AMPK signal proteins were detected by immunoblotting assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Cells transfected with miR-138-5p mimic, compared with those transfected with negative control miRNA, showed lower proliferation activity, less LC3 puncta, and reduced expression of SIRT1, LC3-II, p-AMPK, but increased protein expression of p62 and increased mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3, 13. There was a conserved miR-138-5p binding site in the 3’UTR region of SIRT1 mRNA. To conclude, miR-138-5p regulates SW1353 cell autophagy and proliferation through the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway. The up-regulated expression of miR-138-5p promotes the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases from chondrocytes, indicating that miR-138-5p plays an important role in the progression of osteoarthritis.

Animals ; Manganese ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Organometallic Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; chemistry ; metabolism

Objective To assess the vaIue of speckle tracking imaging (STI) in quantifying the regional myocardial strain in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) group.Methods ① Sixty subjects were divided into SLE group and normal group.High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the apical two-chamber view,long-axis view and four-chamber view of the left ventricle (LV).Peak systolic strain of each view of 18 segments were measured by automated functional imaging (AFI) software of 2-DSE.All parameters were compared between the two groups.② Twenty cases were randomly taken from the normal group.The same observer at different times and two observers measure the strain of left ventricular respectively.The results of the measurement between the two groups were compared with unpaired t test and its relevance was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis.ResultsLeft ventricular two-dimensional longitudinal strain gradually increased from the base to apex in the normal group.There were statistically differences between the apical segments and the basal,middle segments of every left ventricular wall (P＜0.05).The same wall segment time to peak myocardial systolic peak strain was consistent.Left ventricular two-dimensional longitudinal strain gradually increased from the base to apex in the SLE group,except for the anterio-septal and anterior wall [ (-18.7±4.2)％,(-16.3±9.4)％,(-18.1±10.5)％ vs (-19.0±9.0)％,(-18.6±7.9)％,(-17.7±1.4)％ ].There was no statistically significant difference between the apical segments and the basal,middle segments of every left ventricular wall(P＞0.05).All parameters of S were significantly higher in the normal group than those of the SLE group.The difference was statistically signoficant (P＜0.05).The time to peak systolic peak strain of every segments was not consistent.The results from the same observer at different times and peak systolic myocardial strain measurements by the two observers were correlated well(P＜0.01).Conclusion The myocardial function assessment by STI technology in the SLE patients is significantly different from that of the normal control:SLE patients with left ventricular myocardial damage can be manifested as reduced regional myocardial systolic peak strain.

This paper introduces some information of the infusion tele-control system based on LonWorks, including its system function, operation principle, software and hardware designs. With high reliability, low cost and convenient operation, this system has a bright future in the market and its application.

To study the toxicokinetics of bakuchiol, hepatic and renal toxicity in rats after single oral administration of Psoraleae Fructus and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, in order to provide scientific evidences for clinical safe medication use. A total of 35 SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups: vehicle (distilled water) control group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, positive control (aristolochic acid A) group, Psoraleae Fructus (40 g x kg(-1)) group( both male and female rats), Psoraleae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (40 +20) g x kg(-1) group (both male and female rats). HPLC-UV method was used to determine the concentration of bakuchiol in rat plasma at different time points after single oral administration. Plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma creatinine (Cr), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) were measured after administration for 24 h. The main toxicokinetics parameters of bakuchiol in rats exert significantly gender difference. When Psoraleae Fructus combination with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve( AUC), C(max), and plasma clearance (CL) of bakuchiol were increased, respectively; CL, half-life (t½) were decreased, and T(max) were prolonged. The biochemical indicators (including ALT, AST, BUN, Cr and KIM-1 level) in different dose of Psoraleae Fructus groups, were found no statistically significant difference when compared with vehicle control group. The level of NAG in both Psoraleae Fructus and compatibility with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma groups were significant increased (P < 0.05). There are obvious effects on toxicokinetics of bakuchiol in rats when Psoraleae Fructus combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Renal toxicity induced by Psoraleae Fructus at high dose was observed after single oral administration and no liver damage in rats was found.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Phenols ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Psoralea ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; toxicity ; Toxicokinetics

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin (Cur)on AngⅡ-induced proliferation and oxidative stress of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).Methods Primary rat VSMCs were cultured and divided into control group,AngⅡ group,AngⅡ+Cur 5μmol/L group,AngⅡ+Cur 10μmol/L group,AngⅡ+Cur 20μmol/L group,and Cur 20μmol/L group.The proliferation of AngⅡ-induced VSMCs was measured by MTT assay.The mRNA and protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)and p47phox were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.Nitric oxide (NO)production was measured by Griess reaction.Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS)was measured by DCFH-DA staining,and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD)and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx)were detected by xanthine oxidase assay and visible spectrophotometer. small interfering RNA (siRNA)was used to silence the expression of p47phox to further explore the mechanism for Cur inhibiting the proliferation of AngⅡ-induced VSMCs and oxidative stress.Results VSMCs activities were not significantly affected by Cur at the concentration between 0 and 80μmol/L.Cur (5,10 and 20μmol/L)significantly inhibited AngⅡ-induced proliferation of VSMCs.Cur had an inhibitory effect on the overexpression of NO,iNOS, p47phox and ROS in VSMCs and upregulated the activities of SOD and Gpx in a concentration-dependent manner. AngⅡ-induced ROS production in VSMCs was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with p47phox specific siRNA.Conclusion Cur can inhibit the proliferation and oxidative stress of AngⅡ-induced VSMCs.

Objective To evaluate the ability of further discriminating diagnosis of the headchest lead electrocardiogram (HCECG) in elderly patients with abnormal Q waves in routine lead electrocardiogram (RLECG) in inferior lead. Methods The 55 male patients, aged 65-88 years,with abnormal Q waves in both lead Ⅲ and aVF were selected and divided into two groups: myocardial infarction (MI) group and non-MI group, according to if the patient had a history of acute MI. All the patients accepted examination of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and ultrasound cardiogram, those with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and myocardial hypertrophy were excluded.The 30 individuals of control group had no abnormal Q waves in lead Ⅱ , Ⅲ and aVF. HCECG and RLECG were recorded simultaneously in respective groups and occurrence rate of Q waves in correlative leads Ⅱ, Ⅲ, aVF and HL3, H0, HR3 were matched and compared, sensitivity and specificity were compared in respective leads. Results There were serious stenosis in 22 patients (100%) in MI group, and there were mild stenosis in 10 (30. 3%) and moderate stenosis in 23 patients (69.7%) in non-MI group. There was no significant difference between HCECG and RLECG in occurrence rate of Q waves in MI group (P＞ 0. 05 ). Non-MI group left anterior axillary line, Ⅱ ,Ⅲ, right anterior axillary line, near the anterior midline, aVF without Q wave and exclusion of old MI diagnostic specificity were 100%, 97.0%(32/33), 97.0% (32/33), 15.2% (5/33), 100%, 39.4%( 13/33)respectively. Conclusions Pseudo-changes are rarely found in HCECG and there is a higher degree of conformity in HCECG with coronary lesions, therefore HCECG may be used to discriminate whether the inferior abnormal Q waves occurred in RLECG are truly abnormal or not.

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Dental Cements ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tooth ; drug effects