To compare the short-and long-term effect of two minimal invasive surgical therapies including keyhole approach endoscopic surgery(KAES)and stereotactic aspiration plus urokinase(SAU)in treating basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(hICH). The clinical data of 117 hICH patients(63 received KAES and 54 received SAU)were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss during surgery,and drainage time were compared between two groups.The residual hematoma volume,hematoma clearance rate(HCR),Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score were recorded at baseline and in the ultra-early stage,early stage,and sub-early stage after surgery.The 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were assessed and the 6-month modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was rated. Baseline data showed no significant difference between these two groups.Compared with the SAU group,the KAES group had significantly longer operation time,more intraoperative blood loss,and shorter drainage time(all <0.001).In the ultra-early stage after surgery,HCR was significantly higher in the KAES group(<0.001),whereas in the early and sub-early stage,HCR showed no significant differences(all >0.05).In the ultra-early and early stage,the GCS and NIHSS scores showed no significant differences between two groups(all >0.05),whereas in the sub-early stage,the NIHSS score was better in the SAU group(=0.034).The 30-day mortality and incidences of serious adverse events showed no significant difference(all >0.05).The good recovery(mRS≤3)at 6-months follow-up showed no significant difference between the two groups(=0.413). Both KAES and SAU are safe and effective in treating basal ganglia hICH.In the ultra-early stage after surgery,KAES achieves better residual hematoma volume and HCR,and patients undergoing SAU quickly catch up.The short-and long-term effectiveness of SAU is comparable or even superior to KAES.
Basal Ganglia ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of HS3ST3B1 on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication.

METHODSHepG2 cells were classified into 7 groups according to the plasmids transfected: (1) Blank group, no plasmid transfected; 2. Positive control, transfected with pCH9-HBV which permits HBV replication; (3) Negative control, transfected with pCH9-HBV + pcDNA3.1 + pTZU6+1; (4) Treatment A, transfected with pCH9-HBV + pCDNA3.1-HS3ST3B1 + pTZU6+1; (5) Interference A, transfected with pCH9-HBV + pCDNA3.1-HS3ST3B1 + psh1126 (a plasmid to interfere HS3ST3B1 expression); (6) Treatment B, transfected with pCH9-HBV + pTZU6+1; (7) Interference B, transfected with pCH9-HBV + psh1126. The levels of HBV DNA were detected in the above groups by Southern blotting. HBV total RNA of Negative control, Treatment A and Interference A were quantified by Real-time PCR to determine the influence of HS3ST3B1 over-expression on the HBV RNA transcription. The activity of the four HBV promoters [core promoter (cp), x promoter(xp), surface antigen promoter1(sp1), surface antigen promoter2 (sp2)] were assayed by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System. The data was analyzed using one way ANOVA, with P < 0.05 indicating statistically meaningful difference.

RESULTSouthern blot data revealed the level of HBV DNA in Treatment A and Interference A accounted for 10% +/- 2% and 31% +/- 4% of that in control. Compared with control, a statistical difference existed between Treatment A and Control, with F value equalling to 20.8 and P value equalling to 0.034 respectively. A statistical difference also existed between Interfere A and Treatment A, with F value equalling to 24.9 and P value equalling to 0.021 respectively. The level of HBV DNA in Experiment B was raised by 130% +/- 11% as compared to that in Interference B, and the levels of HBV DNA showed a dose-dependent decrease when H7 cells were transfected with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 microg pCDNA3.1-HS3ST3B1 respectively. Statistical differences existed between control and H7 transfected with different dose of pCDNA3.1-HS3ST3B1, with F values equalling to 22.7, 20.3, 26.5 and P values equalling to 0.029, 0.041 and 0.015 respectively. Real-time PCR revealed that the HBV total RNA in Treatment A accounted for 17.0% +/- 2.7% of that in control and there was a statistical difference between Treatment A and control, with F value equalling to 25.6 and P value equalling to 0.018. In addition, HBV DNA in Interference A was restored to 74.0% +/- 3.9% of that in control, and there was also a statistical difference between Treatment A and Interference A, with F value equalling to 21.3 and P value equalling to 0.032. However, the down regulation of HBV total RNA had nothing to do with HBV promoters activity.

CONCLUSIONHS3ST3B1 can inhibit HBV replication and reduce the level of HBV total RNA, but the downregulation of HBV total RNA may not be the result of direct interaction of HS3ST3B1 and HBV promoters.

DNA Replication ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Sulfotransferases ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Replication

Objective To investigate the glucose tolerance and ability of insulin secretion in SD rats in second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods SD rats with pregnancy of 15 d were selected as experimental group(n=6),and another 6 rats of the same batch without pregnancy were served as controls(n=6).Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance trials(IPGTT) were conducted in these two groups.Rat islets were isolated after in situ collagenase digestion through pancreatic duct perfusion,islet morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope,and insulin secretion was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results It was revealed by IPGTT that the levels of glucose at 30,60,90 and 120 min were significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group(P

OBJECTIVETo observe Notch1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and investigate its relation with microvascular angiogenesis in the tumor.

METHODSTissue slices of 40 cases ESCC (cancer group) and 8 cases normal esophagus tissues (normal group) were obtained to analyze the expression of Notch1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using immunohistochemistry and estimate the microvessel density (MVD) in the tumor.

RESULTSNotch1 expression was significantly lower in the cancer group than in the normal group (P<0.05). In the cancer group, Notch1 expression was higher in highly differentiated than in poorly differentiated tumors (P<0.05) regardless of tumor infiltration or lymph nodes metastasis (P>0.05). VEGF expression and MVD were significantly higher in cancer group than in normal group, and showed significant differences between tumors with different differentiation degrees, infiltration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Notch1 expression was inversely correlated to VEGF expression.

CONCLUSIONNotch1 may be an anti-oncogene in ESCC and affects cell differentiation in early stage of the malignancy. Abnormally low expression of Notch1 in ESCC may be one of the upstream factors to induce high expression of VEGF and increased MVD. The Notch1 pathway might play a key role in microvascular angiogenesis in ESCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; metabolism ; Capillaries ; growth & development ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a representative sample of primary and middle school students in Hunan Province.

METHODSA total of 9 495 children aged 5-17 years from Hunan urban and rural schools were enrolled by a cluster sampling and a two-phase design. The students' psychiatric status was assessed using the Investigation Screening Inventory for Child Mental Disorder and a semi-structured interview designed based on the DSM-IV criteria.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 16.22%. Attention-deficit and disruptive behavior disorders were the commonest in the diagnostic categories of psychiatric disorders (10.69%). Regarding specific disorders, the most prevalent was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (5.95%). Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in boys than in girls (20.49% vs 11.16%; p<0.01). The prevalence of attention-deficit and disruptive behavior disorders in boys was higher than in girls (14.76% vs 5.87%; p<0.01). The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in middle school students (12-17 years) was significantly higher than in primary students (5-11 years) (18.38% vs 14.64%; p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders between urban and rural students.

CONCLUSIONSPsychiatric disorders are common among primary and middle school students in Hunan Province. The prevalence of this disorder in boys is higher than in girls. The middle school students have higher prevalence than primary students.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the rabies molecular biology features in animals between high incidence area of rabies and no rabies cases area in Hunan.

METHODSdetect saliva of dogs and brains of dogs and cats by direct immunofluorescence assay, review positive samples by RT-PCR, sequencing extract RNA virus for genetic analysis.

RESULTS12 were detected rabies virus antigen and positive nucleoside acid in 82 dogs from Wugang city also 1 in 17 from Dongkou county; the positive rate: Wugang 14.63 percent, Dongkou 5.88 percent. No rabies virus was detected in 67 samples of dog brains from Fenghuang County. Also none in 28 samples of cat brains. Amplificating N gene of rabies virus from positive samples of dog brain's tissue (No Wg13, Dk13) by RT-PCR, it shows that homology of nucleoside acid between two strain of virus is 99.4 percent; also 99.1 percent of amino acid. The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Wg13 stain and Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.4 percent (98.2 percent) and 86.1 percent (95.1 percent); The homology of nucleoside acid (amonio acid) among Dk13 stain Chinese strain CTN and aG strain is 89.1 percent (98.0 percent), 86.1 percent (94.9 percent).Compare with isolated rabies virus from abroad, the homology between two strains and Indonesia is 92.8 percent and 93.2 percent, the most similar of them. The strains isolated from other countries including Japan, Sri Lanka and India are relatively lower; The sequence of gene Wg13 and Dk13 were taken replacement of amino acid.

CONCLUSIONTwo strains are belong to type I rabies virus, comparing its N gene with current using vaccine strains, both are in same group, and homology are relatively higher.

Animals ; Cats ; Dogs ; Genes, Viral ; Phylogeny ; Rabies virus ; classification ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDType 2 cytokine interleukin (IL)-13 and its decoy receptor, IL-13 receptor (R) alpha2 appear to play a major role in tissue fibrosis of schistosomiasis and asthma. IL-13 is a key regulator of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is known to signal to cells by binding to the IL-13Ralpha1, which then heterodimerizes with IL-4Ralpha. In contrast, IL-13Ralpha2 binds IL-13 with high affinity but does not signal. IL-13Ralpha2 is known to down-regulate granulomatous inflammation and prolong host survival in Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection, but little is known about the location and expression level of IL-13Ralpha2 in the context of S. japonicum infection.

METHODSWe established S. japonicum-infected mouse models. Kinetic serum levels of IL-13Ralpha2 were examined with ELISA. IL-13Ralpha2 mRNA and protein of liver tissues were determined by PCR and immunoblotting analysis, respectively. Detection of IL-13Ralpha2 expression and location in macrophages was performed by TaqMan PCR and fluorescent immunocytochemistry technique, respectively.

RESULTSA marked elevation of mRNA and protein expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was observed in mice during S. japonicum infection. An enhanced expression of IL-13Ralpha2 was further demonstrated in primary macrophages of murine schistosomiasis.

CONCLUSIONSIL-13Ralpha2 in macrophages may be a critical contributor to pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. The data highlight the potential importance of cell signaling and antifibrotic gene therapeutics in T helper 2 cell (Th2)-mediated diseases.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha2 Subunit ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schistosoma japonicum ; pathogenicity ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; immunology ; microbiology

BACKGROUNDEstrogen as well as CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells were shown to have a protective role not only in maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance but also against autoimmune diseases. We aimed to investigate whether the pregnancy levels of estrogen are enough to induce transplant tolerance as to maintain fetal-maternal tolerance.

METHODSWe established H-Y skin graft transplantation in C57BL/6 ovariectomized mice that reconstituted with estrogen. Subsequently, consecutive daily estrogen injection was administrated. Tregs and the cytokines in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA pre- and post-transplant.

RESULTSThe results indicated that pregnancy levels of estrogen could promote Tregs in secondary lymphoid organs and peripheral blood (P < 0.05) but not thymus (P > 0.05). The estrogen-treated recipients accepted H-Y skin grafts for more than 35 days (median survival time (MST): (44.0 ± 1.2) days) compared with estrogen-untreated mice (MST: (23.0 ± 1.6) days) (P < 0.05). It was also observed that estrogen up-regulated the expression of Foxp3, but did not affect CD3(+)CD8(+) effector T-cells in non-transplant mice. While in the presence of H-Y antigens, the expression of Foxp3 was more significant and CD3(+)CD8(+) effector T cells were decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the up-regulated IL-10 and IL-4, and down-regulated IFN-γ could be observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPregnancy levels of estrogen may promote the conversion of peripheral Tregs in secondary lymphoid organs, but show no effect on the natural Tregs production, differentiation and maturity in central lymphoid organs. Furthermore, pregnancy levels of estrogen could significantly prolong the survivals of H-Y skin grafts by the expansion of Tregs, suppression of CD3(+)CD8(+) effector T-cells and immune shift towards Th2 cytokines.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; H-Y Antigen ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Ovariectomy ; Pregnancy ; Skin Transplantation ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

BACKGROUNDTranscatheter Amplatzer occlusion of patent ductus artertiosus (PDA) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgical closure. The goal of this study was to compare long-term clinical outcomes between two procedures, especially on chronic residual shunt, late or very late procedure-related complications, and regression of pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dilation.

METHODSA total 255 patients having isolated PDA with a minimal diameter of >or= 4 mm treated from January 2000 to July 2003 were included in this study and have been followed up until July 2008. The patients were assigned to either the device or surgical closure group according to the patients' and/or their parents' preference. Baseline physical exams, chest roentgenography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography were performed preprocedure and at each follow-up.

RESULTSSeventy-two patients accepted the transcatheter procedure (Group-TC) and 183 underwent surgical operation (Group-SO) for PDA closure, both groups were similar in their demographics and preoperative clinical characteristics. There were no cardiac deaths and late complications such as infectious endocarditis and Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) dislodge in either group. More acute procedure-related complications were recorded in Group-SO (13.7%) compared with Group-TC (1.4%) (P = 0.004). The recovery time was (8.7 +/- 2.3) days for the Group-SO and (1.3 +/- 0.5) days for the Group-TC (P < 0.001). The survival freedom from persistent residual shunt, defined as residual shunt that can not resolve automatically, was 91.3% for Group-SO and 98.6% for Group-TC (P = 0.037 by Log-rank test). There was no significant difference in regression of pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dilation; neither survival freedom from pulmonary hypertension nor abnormal left ventricular end-diastolic volume index were significantly different between the surgical group and the Amplatzer group.

CONCLUSIONSOur study confirmed the long-term safety and efficacy of transcatheter Amplatzer occlusion. In comparison to the time-proven surgical closure, transcatheter Amplatzer occlusion was less invasive and associated with fewer complications and residual shunt, and as effective in the regression of pulmonary hypertension and left ventricular dilation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and Danshen on hippocampal neurons in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) with global ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODSGlobal ischemia-reperfusion model was established in 54 male Z:ZCLA gerbils by occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries. The animal models were randomized into 3 groups to receive treatment with normal saline, NGF, and Danshen 30 min after the reperfusion. At 6 h, 3 and 7 days after the reperfusion, the survival of the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons was observed using optical and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in the neurons.

RESULTSNeuronal apoptosis was not observed in the hippocampus 6 h after the reperfusion, but at 3 and 7 days, the number of apoptotic neurons increased significantly in the CA1 region. Compared with normal saline, treatments with NGF and Danshen both significantly reduced the number of apoptotic neurons at 3 and 7 days. The number of apoptotic neurons showed no significant difference between NGF and Danshen treatment groups at 3 days, but at 7 days, the apoptotic cell number was significantly lower in NGF group (P<0.05). Bcl-2 expression was the highest in NGF group, and its highest expression occurred at 6 h after the reperfusion; Bax expression was detected in saline group, and underwent no significant changes with the passage of time.

CONCLUSIONBoth NGF and Danshen show protective effects against global ischemia-reperfusion injury. NGF has a stronger protective effect than Danshen, and this finding provides experimental evidence for selecting appropriate protective agents in the treatment of ischemic brain damage.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gerbillinae ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Phenanthrolines ; pharmacology ; Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza