Objective To investigate children′s myelodysplastic hematopoietic cells reaction to interleukin (IL)-15.Methods CD 34 + cells in bone marrow from 18 myelodysplast syndrome(MDS) patients were purified by an immunomagnetic beads sorting system. Apoptosis of hematopoietic precursors was assayed by propidium iodine staining and flow cytometric analysis.Results On 8th cultured day,when IL-15 concentration was between 0-100 ng/ml,it could suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients in a dose-and- time dependent manner. IL-15 in study group significanthy lower than that of control group.Conclusion IL-15 may partly suppress apoptosis of hematopoietic cells in MDS patients.

Objective To assess the feasibility of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasonic cholangiography(3D-CEUSC) in cadaver liver.Methods The 3D-CEUSC was performed in 6 cases of cadaver liver.Image quality of 3D-CEUSC was evaluated.The visualization of branching orders,the degree of visibility and coincidence of morphous were compared with those of cholangiagraphy using fluoroscopy.Results The imaging quality of 3D-CEUSC was inferior to that of cholangiography with significant difference.The three-dimensional biliary tree structures were visualized in all 6 3D-CEUSC.The maximum visualization of branching orders in 3D-CEUSC was (3.67±0.52),which was equal to the results(4.00±0.63)by cholangiography (P=0.465).The degrees of visibility of biliary tree were equivalent with those by cholangiography in the first and second order with significant difference.The coincidence of morphous was excellent compared the images of 3D-CEUSC with direct X-ray cholangiography.Conclusion 3D-CEUSC is a new technique as a useful supplement to cholangiography in evaluation of biliary anatomy and variation before graft harvesting in LDLT.

The effect of agmatine (Agm) on the carotid baroreceptor activity was examined in 24 anesthetized rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus by recording sinus nerve afferent discharges. The results are as follows. (1) By perfusing with 1 mmol/L Agm, the functional curve for the intrasinus pressure (ISP)integral of sinus nerve activiy (ISNA) relation was shifted to the right and downward with decreases in peak slope (PS) and peak integral value of carotid sinus afferent discharge (PIV). By perfusing with high concentrations of Agm (5 and 10 mmol/L), the curves were shifted to the right and downward further with marked decreases of PS and PIV. These results showed that Agm exerted an inhibitory action on the baroreceptor activity in a dose-dependent manner. (2) The Agm-induced decrease in sinus nerve afferent activity was eliminated by pretreatment with IR and α2-AR blocker idazoxan (0.1 mmol/L). (3) Selective α2-AR blocker yohimbine (15 μmol/L) partly abolished the inhibitory effect of Agm on baroreceptor. (4) Preperfusing with Bay K 8644 (500 nmol/L), an agonist of calcium channels, also eliminated the effect of Agm on carotid baroreceptor activity. These results indicate that Agm exerts an inhibitory action on carotid baroreceptor and such an action may be attributed to the reduction in calcium influx in carotid baroreceptor, which is mediated by IR and α2-AR.

AIMTo study the effects of the 50 Hz-filter circuit in a microelectrode amplifier on cardiac action potential waveform and parameters.

METHODSCardiac action potential signals were fed into a microcomputer through a glass microelectrode, a microelectrode amplifier, a differentiator and A/D converter. The cardiac action potential signals were recorded and analyzed with 50 Hz-filter circuit and without it, and the frequency spectrum in the signals was analyzed with the fast Fourier transformation.

RESULTSWhen the 50 Hz-filter circuit was used, the phase 0 of the potential waveform was seriously distorted and prolonged. The maximal rate of depolarization at the phase 0 was cut down, while the other parameters were not effected.

CONCLUSIONThere has already been much 50 Hz element in the action potential waveform. During amplifying the cardiac action potential signal, the 50 Hz-filter circuit should not be turned on. Otherwise, the experiment results will be effected.

Action Potentials ; physiology ; Amplifiers, Electronic ; Animals ; Guinea Pigs ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Papillary Muscles ; cytology ; physiology

The cardiac electrophysiological effects of genistein (GST) were examined in guinea pig papillary muscle using intracellular microelectrode technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Duration of action potential (APD) in normal papillary muscles was decreased by GST (10 100 micromol/L) in a concentration-dependent manner. (2) In partially depolarized papillary muscles, 50 micromol/L GST not only reduced APD, but also decreased the amplitude of action potential, overshoot and maximal velocity of phase 0 depolarization. (3) Pretreatment with N( )-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 5 mmol/L) failed to affect the above effects of GST (50 micromol/L)on papillary muscles. (4) 17beta-estradiol (E(2), 5 micromol/L) or GST (10 micromol/L) alone did not affect action potential, while GST combined with E(2) at the same doses shortened APD significantly. All these results indicate that the effects of GST on papillary muscles are likely due to a decrease of calcium inflow which is not mediated by NO and that GST has a facilitative or synergetic action with E(2).
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Agmatine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Electrophysiology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Isoflavones ; Male ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; physiology ; Phytoestrogens ; Plant Preparations

Objective To evaluate the effect of the intermittent deferomamine(DF) therapy on relieving iron overload caused by transfusion in children with ? thalassemia.Methods Sixteen children who were finally diagnosed as ? thalassemia major were treated with deferomamine for 124 times totally to low the iron overload. The serum iron(SI), serum ferritin(SF) and urine ferritin were detected each time with radio-immunity technique and difference was compared before and after treatment. Meanwhile, weather DF involved children′s liver and renal function was observed in whole procedure.Results Iron overload exists in 16 cases of ? thalassemia major children by a long- term hypertransfusion therapy, with average level SI 33.69?6.72 mmol/L,SF 441.19? 54.70 ?g/L,urine ferritin 8.64?6.79 ?g/L. The difference was significant (paired-samples t test,t =6.173 P 0.05).Conclusion The study suggest that intermittent low-dose DF therapy is effective for iron overload caused by transfusion in ? thalassemia children, without apparent side effects.

Objective To compare the value of conventional ultrasound,hydrosonography and double-contrast enhanced ultrasound in the display capacity of periampullary carcinoma and its relationship with the surrounding tissue.Methods A total of 18 patients with the periampullary carcinoma were diagnosed pathologically or by endoscopic biopsy.Each patient had three imaging modalities by conventional ultrasound,hydrosonography and double-contrast enhanced ultrasound.The display capacity and the relationship between the mass and surrounding tissue were compared with three modalities.Results The display rates of limpid visibilities of carcinoma on conventional ultrasound,hydrosonography and double-contrast enhanced ultrasound were 16.7%(3/18),22.2%(4/18) and 94.4%(17/18),respectively;The display rates of duodenum protrusion on three modalities were 0(0/18),38.9% (7/18) and 72.2% (13/18),respectively,with significant differences among conventional ultrasound,hydrosonography and double-contrast enhanced ultrasound.The double-contrast enhanced ultrasound showed two cases of peripheral vascular invasion and one case of intrahepatic metastasis.Conclusion The double-contrast enhanced ultrasound can increase the display capacity of periampullary carcinoma as a new diagnostic modality for periampullary carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in aged men with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSOne hundred outpatients with diagnosed ED (40 diabetic and 60 non-diabetic) received vardenafil at the initial dose of 20 mg and sustained dose of 10 mg once a week for 8 weeks, and their erectile functions were evaluated by IIEF and EQS.

RESULTSThe scores on IIEF and EQS in the diabetic ED group were 18.9 +/- 0.2 and 25.1 +/- 1.4 after the vardenafil treatment, significantly higher than 8.1 +/- 0.5 and 9.1 +/- 1.3 before the treatment (P < 0.01), and the non-diabetic group scored 21.1 +/- 0.2 and 34.2 +/- 1.2 on IIEF and EQS after the treatment, as compared with the statistically lower scores of 10.1 +/- 0.3 and 10.1 +/- 1.7 before it (P < 0.01). The total rate of effectiveness was 65% in the diabetic and 73.30% in the non-diabetic group, with statistical differences (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONVardenafil can significantly improve erectile function and is well tolerated in the aged males with diabetic ED.

Aged ; Aging ; physiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride

BACKGROUNDThe solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is one of the most common findings on chest radiographs. The objectives of clinical practice are to differentiate malignant nodules from benign nodules in the least invasive way and to make a specific diagnosis. This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between perfusion imaging features and microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in SPNs using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT); and to provide the theoretical basis for SPN blood flow pattern and blood flow quantitative features. Also, the study called for the discussion of the method's clinical application value in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant SPNs.

METHODSSixty-eight patients with SPN underwent multi-location dynamic contrast enhanced (nonionic contrast material was administrated via the antecubital vein at a rate of 4 ml/s) MSCT. Precontrast and postcontrast attenuations on every scan was studied. Perfusion, peak height, and the ratio of the peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta were analyzed. Perfusion was calculated using the maximum gradient of the time-density curves (TDC) and the peak height of the aorta. The quantitative parameters (perfusion, peak height, ratio of peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta) of the blood flow pattern were compared with MVD and the VEGF expression of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe perfusion peak heights of malignant ((96.15 +/- 11.55) HU) and inflammatory ((101.15 +/- 8.41) HU) SPNs were significantly higher than those of benign ((47.24 +/- 9.15) HU) SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Ratios of SPN-to-aorta of malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than those of benign SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the peak height and SPN-to-aorta ratio of malignant SPNs and inflammatory SPNs (P > 0.05, P > 0.05). The precontrast densities of inflammatory SPNs were lower than those of malignant SPNs (P < 0.05). Perfusion values of malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than those of the benign SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). The VEGF positive expressions appeared in 32 patients with malignant SPNs and 2 patients with benign SPNs, and the average value of the MVD was higher in patients with malignant SPNs (36.88 +/- 6.76) than in patients with either benign (4.51 +/- 0.60) or inflammatory (26.11 +/- 5.43) SPNs (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). There were statistically significant correlations between the CT perfusion feature and the MVD. The highest correlation was between the peak height of SPN and the MVD (r = 0.657, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTumor microvessel density and VEGF expression facilitate the exploration of the pathophysiological basis of CT perfusion in SPNs. Multi-slice CT perfusion has shown strong positive correlations with angiogenesis in SPNs.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Perfusion Imaging ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

BACKGROUNDRadiation is a promising treatment for in stent restenosis and restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, which has troubled interventional cardiologists for a long time. It inhibits neointima hyperplasia, vascular remodeling, and increases the mean luminal diameter. The mechanism of intracoronary brachytherapy for restenosis is not well understood. Endogenous gaseous transmitters including nitric oxide and carbon monoxide are closely related to restenosis. Hydrogen sulfide, a new endogenous gaseous transmitter, is able to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular remodeling. This study aimed to clarify the effect of radiation on cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide pathway in rat smooth muscle cells.

METHODSWe studied the effect of radiation on the cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide pathway. Rat vascular smooth muscle cells were radiated with (60)Co gamma at doses of 14 Gy and 25 Gy respectively. Then the mRNA level of cystathionine-gamma-lyase was studied by quantitative reverse-transcription competitive polymerase chain reaction. Hydrogen sulfide concentration in culture medium was determined by methylene blue spectrophotometry. Cystathionine-gamma-lyase activity in vascular smooth muscle cells was also studied.

RESULTS(60)Co gamma radiation at a dose of 1 Gy did not affect the cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide pathway significantly. However, (60)Co gamma radiation at doses of 14 Gy and 25 Gy decreased the hydrogen sulfide synthesis by 21.9% (P<0.05) and 26.8% (P<0.01) respectively. At the same time, they decreased the cystathionine-gamma-lyase activity by 15.1% (P<0.05) and 20.5% (P<0.01) respectively, and cystathionine-gamma-lyase mRNA expression by 29.3% (P<0.01) and 38.2% (P<0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSIONAppropriate (60)Co gamma radiation inhibits the H(2)S synthesis by inhibiting the gene expression of cystathionine-gamma-lyase and the cystathionine-gamma-lyase activity.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gamma Rays ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; radiation effects