Backgroud and Objective Proline-rich tyrosine kinase2(Pyk2) is a Ca~(2+) sensitive,non-receptor tyrosine protein kinase.Previous reports showed Pyk2 involved in development of left ventrieular hypertrophy. The present paper aimed to study the effects of valsartan on ventricular hypertrophy and its effect on the expression of Pyk2 in myocardium in renovascular hypertensive rats(RHR).Methods Two-kidney and one-clip(2K1C) renal hypertensive model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by chronic partial occlusion of left renal artery,and ran- domized to receive valsartan (30 mg/kg?d) or without treatment for 4 or 8 weeks.Left ventricular mass to body mass ratio was measured.Pyk2 protein expression and phosphorylation was detected by Western blotting.Results Blood pressure,left ventricular mass to body mass ratio,Pyk2 activity in myocardium of RHR were increased gradu- ally.Valsartan reduced BP and prevent myocardial hypertrophy(P

Background: Current treatments for scoliosis have some defects and complications. To study spinal deformities and test novel scoliosis treatments, many animal models of scoliosis have been developed. These models applied a single load to the spine and could not precisely modulate the spinal growth in different dimensions. In this study, we applied posterior tethering in various directions with the application of nickel?titanium (NT) coil springs in dog's spine to modulate spinal growth in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes and create a scoliosis model possess curves that mimic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) three dimensionally. Methods: Scoliosis was surgically induced in eight 8?week?old female dogs (weight: 1.95–2.30 kg) using bone screws and NT coil springs. The deformity was induced through the placement of posterior NT coil springs that tethered the spine by bone screw fixation. All dogs were monitored with serial radiographs to document changes in deformities. Results: All experimental animals developed scoliotic curves convex to the left in the lumbar segment. The mean coronal Cobb angle was 18.0° immediately postoperatively and 54.5° at 22 weeks. The mean lordosis increased from 6.2° postoperatively to 35.0° at final follow?up. Apical axial rotation increased from 4.5° postoperatively to 31.2° at 22 weeks. Conclusions: With the application of NT springs in dogs that allowed posterior tethering in various directions, lumbar spinal deformity was achieved in three planes: coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes. Notably, the lumbar spine in surgically treated dogs developed lordoscoliosis with obvious rotation and the curves mimic AIS three dimensionally well. This method allows lumbar scoliosis to develop without deep dissection of muscle and maintains the essential anatomical elements along the spinal curve. Moreover, the spinal growth modulation technique could yield information that would provide a basis for developing novel early?stage treatments for children with scoliosis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and security of cypher stent(sirolimus-eluting stent)in the treatment of old patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods From November 2002 to May 2005,328 elderly CHD cases(age:60-86 years)were treated with 415 Cypher stents.Among the 328 patients,66 had ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,21 had non ST-segment elevation of myocardial infarction,149 had unstable angina and 92 had stable angina.As for lesion characteristics,diffuse disease was found in 91 case(26.1%),bifurcation lesions in 68 cases(19.6%),chronic total occlusion lesions in 56 cases(16.0%),in-stent restenosis in 14 cases and ostial lesions in 15 case.The immediate angiographic outcome,major cardiac event(MACE) and angiographic follow-up at 6 months were assessed.Results Stent implantation was successfully achieved in 99% patients with CHD.Acute and sub-acute stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients,late stent thrombosis with AMI occurred in 2 patients,1 died during the 6 months follow-up.The MACE rate during hospitalization was 0.6% and 3.6% during 6 months follow-up.Angiographic follow-up in 84 patients at 6 months showed that in-stent restenosis rate(ISR)was 8.3%(restenosis within the stents was 2.4%).The target vessel revascularization(TLR)rate was 5.9%.Conclusions Cypher stent implantation in CHD is safe and effective,the ISR rate and TLR rate are significantly lower than those of bare metal stents.

Objective To evaluate the effect of PTH gene polymorphisms on bone mineral density (BMD) at multiple skeletal sites in normal females.Methods PTH gene phenotype was determined by PCR-RFLP of restriction enzyme Bst BⅠin 596 females aged (46.3?13.7) years (20-80 years),and PCR products with or without enzymolytic site were considered as genotype B or genotype b respectively.BMDs of the anteropesterior spine (AP) and supine lateral spine (Lat) of lumbar vertebrae (L_1-L_4),femoral neck (FN),total hip (T-hip), Ward's triangle (Ward),Trochanter (Troch),forearm [radius+ulna ultradistal (RUUD) and total area of radius + ulna (RUT) ] were measured by DEXA (QDR4500A).Results (1) Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evident for PTH polymorphisms.The frequencies of genotype were BB 0.784,Bb 0.208,bb 0.008 and frequencies of alleles B,b were 0.888 and 0.112 respectively in 596 normal females.Frequencies of BB,Bb,bb genotypes were 0.781,0.210,and 0.009 respectively in 347 postmenopausal women and their frequencies of alleles B,b were 0.886,0.114.No significant difference was found between post- and premenopausal women in genotype frequen- cy.(2) Comparing their BMDs of AP,Lat,FN,T-hip,Ward,Troch,RUUD and RUT,there was no significant difference between BB and Bb genotypes of pre- and postmenopansal women groups.(3) Logistic regression analysis failed to show any statistical difference between normal and osteoporosis women with regard to PTH phenotype.Conclusion PTH gene polymorphism has little effect on BMD in normal females.

OBJECTIVEThis review discusses the experimental and clinical studies those show the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and the possible role of connexin 36 in epileptic seizure.

DATA SOURCESAll articles used in this review were mainly searched from PubMed published in English from 1996 to 2012.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and reviews were selected if they were related to the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and its role in epilepsy.

RESULTSThe distribution of connexin 36 is developmentally regulated, cell-specific and region-specific. Connexin 36 is involved in some neuronal functions and epileptic synchronization. Changes in the connexin 36 gene and protein were accompanied by seizures. Selective gap junction blockers have exerted anticonvulsant actions in a variety of experiments examined in both humans and experimental animals.

CONCLUSIONSConnexin 36 plays an important role in both physiological and pathological conditions in the central nervous system. A better understanding of the role of connexin 36 in seizure activity may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating epilepsy.

Animals ; Central Nervous System ; metabolism ; Connexins ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; Humans ; Seizures ; metabolism

Coal ; Dust ; analysis ; Gases ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects by comparing three different fixation methods: tension band, hollow lag screw and anatomical plate.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to January 2012, 82 patients with olecranon fractures who underwent surgical treatments were followed-up. All the patients were divided into three groups: tension band fixation group (group A), hollow lag screw fixation group (group B), anatomical plate fixation (group C). In group A, there were 35 patients, including 19 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 32 to 49 years old, with an average of (43.6 ± 8.7) years old, and the patients were treated with tension band fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 5 cases of type I, 3 cases of type II A,19 cases of type II B, and 8 cases of type II C in group A. Among 20 patients in group B, there were 13 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 27 to 50 years old, with an average of (41.5 ± 9.3) years old. The patients in group B were treated with hollow lag screw fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 4 cases of type I, 4 cases of type II A, and 12 cases of type II B in group B. In group C, there were 27 patients totally, including 15 males and 12 females, ranging in age from 30 to 55 years old, with an average of (38.2 ± 6.2) years old. The patients in group C were treated with anatomical plate fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 4 cases of type II B, 13 cases of type II C, and 10 cases of type II D in group C. The Fracture healing time, complications and functional recovery were retrospectively observed and recorded.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 8 to 24 months, with an average of 15 months. The average healing time of patients in group C was the longest among three groups. The flexion-extension and rotation activities of elbow joint in group B and C were better than that in group C. According to Broberg & Morrey score system, the therapeutic effects of patients in group A and B were better than that of group C. In group C, 2 patients had incision infections, 6 patients complained of foreign body sensation, 1 patient got a delayed fracture healing, and 1 patient had the heterotopic ossification. There were no occurrences of incision infections in group A and B; internal fixation loosening occurred in 3 patients in group A and 2 patients in group B; delayed fracture healing occurred in 2 patients in group A and 2 patients in group B; and skin bursa formation occurred in 6 patients in group A and 1 patient in group B.

CONCLUSIONAll the three ways are effective methods for the treatment of olecranon fractures. Fixation methods should be selected depending on the type of fracture.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery

The structure of fibrauretin made by our lab was modified. Fibrauretin was demethylated at 9-site under high temperature pyrolysis at 160℃-180℃ and was reacted with a series of acid chlorides. Twele derivatives of fibrauretin were obtained. The structure of each derivative was determined by1H-NMR and13C-NMR. The derivatives were 9-O-benzoyl-fibrauretin, 9-O-( 2-methylbenzoyl)-fibrauretin, 9-O-( 4-methylbenzoyl)-fibrauretin, 9-O-(3, 5-dimethylbenzoyl)-fibrauretin, 9-O-(4-(chloromethyl) benzoyl)-fibrauretin and other derivatives. The 12 derivatives are all new chemical compounds. Taking ATCI as substrate,the inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from the head of flies of the fibrauretin and its derivatives were screened. The results showed that most of the derivatives had improved their inhibitory activity on AChE through esterification reaction. Compounds 9-O-(4-methylbenzoyl)-fibrauretin, 9-O-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-fibrauretinand 9-O-(4-(chloromethyl)benzoyl)-fibrauretin had significant inhibitory effect on AChE,and the inhibitory activity was stronger than the that of donepezil.

Colon cancer associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) is a kind of long non-coding RNA (IncRNA) found re-cently, which is aberrant overexpression in colorectal cancer, and it can promote cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. CCAT1 involves in the regulation of multiple pathophysiological processes, especially the formation and progression of gastrointestinal cancer, through the interaction with microRNA (miRNA) or protein by regulation mechanism like endogenous competition, and it is expected to serve as a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target.

OBJECTIVETo prepare polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated microbubble ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) and evaluate its effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma.

METHODSPerfluorocarbon (PFC) -containing microbubble UCA (ST68-PFC) were prepared by sonication-based on surfactants (Span 60 and Tween 80). Subsequently, the resulting ST68-PFC microbubbles were coated using oppositely charged polylysine (PLL) and alginate (Alg) by microbubble-templated layer-by-layer self-assembly technique via electrostatic interaction. The enhancement effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma were assessed.

RESULTSThe obtained microbubble UCA exhibited a narrow size distribution. The polyelectrolytes were successfully assembled onto the surface of ST68-PFC microbubbles. In vivo experiment showed that polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated UCA effectively enhanced the imaging of rabbit's liver parenchyma.

CONCLUSIONSThe novel microbubble UCA obtained via layer-by-layer self-assembly, when enabling more functions, has no obvious difference in enhancement effects compared with the premodified microbubbles. The polymers with chemically active groups (such as amino group and carboxyl group) can be used as the outermost layer for the attachment of targeting ligands to microbubbles, which allows the selective targeting of the microbubbles to desired sites.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Animals ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fluorocarbons ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Microbubbles ; Polylysine ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography