Objective To study the conventional MRI and dittusion weighted imaging(DWI) features of Japanese encephalitis(JE)in children.Methods Sixteen patients with JE were included. Conventional MRI and DWI sequences were performed in all patients.Seven patients received MRI within 10 days of onset and 9 after 10 days.The appearances on DWI and T_2 WI were recorded.The ADC values of lesions were calculated,and then were correlated with the corresponding time interval between onset of neurological symptoms and MRI scanning.Results The lesions of JE mainly showed long T_1 and long T_2 signal intensity on MRI.The thalami were the most frequently involved areas,and 15 out of 16 showed thalamic involvement and 6 patients only showed thalamic abnormalities without other lesions.Seven patients within 10 days of onset showed lesions with high signal intensity on both DWI and T_2WI,but whole or partial lesions showed clearer on DWI than on T_2WI,and 2 patients showed extra lesions that were invisible on T_2WI.As for the other 9 patients after 10 days of onset,the lesions showed clearer on T_2WI than on DWI. There was a direct correlations between thalamic ADC values and the disease duration (r=0.84,P

To study the preventive effect of Grifola frondosa on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The rat model of NASH was established by feeding high-fat diets for 12 weeks and intervened with 0.5 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) and 1.0 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) of C. frondosa powder suspensions. The degrees of hepatocyte fatty degeneration and inflammation were observed under the optical microscope with routine HE staining. The NAFLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated. Serum ALT, AST and hepatic TG and CHOL were tested by the biochemical method. The hepatic MDA was examined by thiobarbituric acid method. The hepatic SOD was tested by the xanthine oxidase test. The hepatic GSH-PX activity was determined by the dithio-nitrobenzoic acid method. Hepatic TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The NASH model group induced by high-fat diets showed higher hepatic NAS, ser- um ALT, AST, CHOL and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and lower serum TG and hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) than the normal control group. After being intervened with different doses of G. frondosa, the NASH group revealed significantly lower hepatic NAS, serum ALT and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05) and higher hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.05) than the model group. G. frondosa may prevent the further development of NASH by improving the disorder of lipid metabolism in rats with NASH induced by high-fat diets, relieving the level of oxidative stress and reducing the generation of inflammatory cytokines.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Grifola ; chemistry ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of digestive and absorptive functions in three different models of Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS).

METHODSExperimental mice were divided into four groups, the control group(CG), the rhubarb group (RG), the exhaustion group (EG) and the over-exertion group(OG). Criteria including general physical signs, D-xylose excretion rate, serum amylase activity, velocity of stomach emptying and enterokinesia, serum gastrin content and indexes of organs were determined before and after treatment.

RESULTSDecrease of D-xylose excretion rate and increase of stomach emptying and enterokinesia velocity appeared in all the three PDS models. As compared with CG, changes of all indices in OG were significant, while the decreasing of spleen index and serum amylase activity in EG, and the changes of serum gastrin content and thymus index in RG were insignificantly different.

CONCLUSIONAll the changes in various criteria showed that PDS mice model established by over-exertion was superior to that established by frequently used methods as purging with rhubarb and exhausting by swimming.

Animals ; Digestion ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Intestinal Absorption ; physiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Splenic Diseases ; Syndrome ; Xylose ; urine ; Yang Deficiency

AIMTo study the effect of radix-astragali compound(RC) on muscle atrophy in tail-suspended rats. Muscle weight, fiber type distribution, cross-sectional area (CSA), and activity of myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in rat soleus muscle were investigated.

METHODSThe tail-suspended rats were subjected to a 14 days simulated weightlessness, during which period, RC or saltwater was given via intragastric instillation during tail suspension. The changes of soleus muscle weight were scaled by muscle-to-body weight ratio. The activities of myosin ATPase of muscle fibers were detected by method of Ca(2+) -ATPase.

RESULTSAfter a 14 days tail suspension it was found: in rats treated with RC, soleus muscle-to-body weight ratio rose by 33.33% (P < 0.01), both CSA of type I and II fiber drastically enhanced by(143.03%, P < 0.01; 83.25%, P < 0.01), the percentage of type I fiber significantly declined compared to the untreated rats.

CONCLUSIONRC is able to effectively prevent muscle atrophy caused by tail suspension and restrain the increase in the myosin ATPase activities caused by simulated weightlessness.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hindlimb Suspension ; Male ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; enzymology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Muscular Atrophy ; prevention & control ; Myosins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of FAK on biological characteristics of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell Tca8113.

METHODSLipofect was used to transfect FAK into Tca8113 cell lines. The difference in expression of FAK between the transfected and non-transfected cell lines was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Then by use of transwell room and wash way, the difference in invasion and adhesion ability between the transfected and non-transfected cell lines was tested. MTT method was adopted in finding the change of proliferation.

RESULTSRT-PCR analysis showed that the FAK gene was downregulated by Tca8113 cells. FAK expression was significantly down regulated by the transfection of FAK ASODN (P<0.05). Antisense FAK ODN significantly inhibited proliferation, adhesion and the invasion of Tca8113 cells.

CONCLUSIONFAK plays an important role on biological characteristics of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell Tca8113.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Humans ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transfection

To investigate the influence of Anxin granules combined with tirofiban on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) Patients after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). One hundred and twenty AMI patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients in the two groups were all given Tirofiban 30mins before PCI . The treatment group was added Anxin granules 30 mins before and after PCI. Tissue factor (TF) and von willebrand factor (vWF) were tested at 6 hours after operation. Syndromatology alteration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and bleeding complications were observed at 4 weeks after operation. Both TF and vWF at 6 hours after operation of the treatment group was lower than the control group significantly (P < 0.01), while the condition of myocardial ischemia at 90 mins after operation of the treatment group was better than control group with significance. The syndromatology alteration of TCM especially spontaneous perspiration and hypodynamia of the treatment group were improved significantly compared to control group 4 weeks after operation. All patients in both groups had no bleeding complications and thrombopenia. The study suggests that Anxin granules combined with tirofiba can improve the clinical efficacy and the endothelial function of AMI patients after PCI with no increase in bleeding events.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; metabolism ; surgery ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene on androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe iNOS gene was transfected into androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 cells. The positive cells were selected as the transfected group for amplification, and an empty vector (EV) group and a control group were also set. The mRNA transcription of iNOS was analyzed by RT-PCR. The morphological changes of the cells were observed, the effect of iNOS transfection on the cell growth determined using the MTB method, and the apoptosis of DU145 cells detected by flow cytometry, followed by analysis of the effect of NOS inhibitors on the transfected cells.

RESULTSDU145 cells transfected with iNOS secreted significantly more nitric oxide ([272.50 +/- 15.82] micromol/L) than those of the EV and control groups ([122.00 +/- 18.93] micromol/L and [121.00 +/- 6.98] micromol/L) (P < 0.05). The rate of cell apoptosis was markedly enhanced in the transfected group as compared with the EV and control groups ([42.78 +/- 2.01]% vs [30.65 +/- 1.46]% and [28.96 +/- 1.50]%, P < 0.05). MTP test indicated a slower growth of the DU145 cells in the former than in the latter two (P < 0.05). NOS inhibitors enhanced their growth, but with no significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDU145 cells transfected with iNOS could secrete high-concentration nitric oxide, induce cell apoptosis, and suppress cell proliferation, which may provide a potentially effective gene therapy for advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of urethral dilatation with the renal sheath dilator under the ureteroscope in the treatment of male patients with urethrostenosis.

METHODSEighteen male patients with urethrostenosis underwent urethral dilatation with the renal sheath dilator. Under the ureteroscope, a zebra-guide wire was inserted through the stenosed urethra into the bladder and the stenosis was gradually dilated with the renal sheath dilator, followed by placing a Foley catheter of proper size for 1-4 weeks. For children, the renal sheath dilator was selected according to their age, while for adults, metal dilators (> or = F20) were used following dilatation with the F18 renal sheath dilator. All the patients were followed up for 6-24 months.

RESULTSThe operation was successfully performed in all the 18 cases, with no urethral false passage, urethral perforation or urethra tearing. Sixteen of the patients were cured, and the other 2 received urethroplasty for stenosis recurrence. The maximum flow rate was increased to 13.6-30.2 (18.1 +/- 3.5) mL/s after the operation.

CONCLUSIONUrethral dilatation with the renal sheath dilator under the ureteroscope is a simple, safe and effective method for the treatment of urethrostenosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dilatation ; methods ; Fasciotomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism on the synthesis and release of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), and its relation to sepsis in patients with severe burn.

METHODSVenous blood from 35 patients with burn area equal to or larger than 30% TBSA was obtained on post burn day (PBD) 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 respectively. Eleven volunteers were enrolled as healthy control group (HC).CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism was detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Plasma level of HMGB1 was determined with ELISA. Leukocyte HMGB1 mRNA expression was determined with RT-PCR. Data were processed with chi(2) test, analysis of variance, and t test.

RESULTSAmong the C-159T genotype of CD14 gene in the 35 patients, the distribution frequency of the T and the C allele was respectively 57.2% and 42.8%. Seven cases (20.0%) were homozygous for the C allele (CC), 16 cases (45.7%) were heterozygous (TC), and 12 cases (34.3%) were homozygous for the T allele (TT). Allele and genotype frequencies in cases were testified as reaching the Hard-Weinberg equilibrium. The incidence of sepsis was markedly lower in CC homozygous patients than in TC heterozygous and TT homozygous patients. Only one of the 3 septic patients in CC homozygous type died; 4 of 9 septic cases in TC heterozygous type and 4 of 7 septic cases in TT homozygous type died. Plasma levels of HMGB1 of patients were significantly elevated early on PBD 1 as compared with HC group, and higher values were found in TC heterozygous and TT homozygous patients than that in CC homozygous patients on PBD 14, 21, 28 (with F value respectively 3.5671, 4.2035, 3.8529, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Higher HMGB1 mRNA expression was found in septic patients as compared with non-sepsis patients on PBD 14 (1.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4, t = -2.205, P < 0.05). Plasma level of HMGB1 was also respectively higher in septic patients than in non-sepsis patients on PBD 7, 21 [(44 +/- 29) ng/mL vs. (26 +/- 12) ng/mL, t = -2.355, P < 0.05; (25 +/- 15) ng/mL vs. (10 +/- 6) ng/mL, t = -3.872, P < 0.01)].

CONCLUSIONSCD14C-159T gene polymorphism might markedly influence the synthesis and release of HMGB1, and it is associated with increase in susceptibility of sepsis in patients with severe burn.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sepsis ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of natural killer (NK)-cell on reconstitution of hematopoiesis and immunity in mouse allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT).

METHODSLethally irradiated BALB/c (H-2(d)) mice were transplanted with C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) bone marrow plus peripheral T cells and/or NK cells. Recipients CD34(+) cells and H-2K(b+), CD3(+) and CD19(+) cells were detected by flow cytometry, peripheral white blood cell (WBC) by auto-cytometry, and the survival rates, engraftment, hematopoietic and immune recovery were observed.

RESULTSIn the transplantation with NK cell infusion group, the survival rates, the WBC and CD34(+) cell counts, and the H-2(b+) and CD19(+) cells were significantly higher than that in without NK cell infusion group (P < 0.01). Twenty-eight days after transplantation, the CD3(+) cells in the NK cell infusion group [(33.69 +/- 3.36)%] were lower than that in without [(50.4 +/- 5.06)%] (P < 0.01), and there was no longer difference between these groups 60 days after transplantation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn mouse allo-BMT, alloreactive NK cell enhances engraftment, promotes reconstitution of hematopoiesis and immunity and increases survival rates.

Animals ; Antigens, CD19 ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; immunology ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft Survival ; immunology ; Hematopoiesis ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; transplantation ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; methods ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transplantation, Homologous