BACKGROUND: As a reliable marker of inflammation, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in atherogenesis. Recently, it is assumed in researches of recent years that chronic inflammation mediated by ICAM-1 is involved in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy probably, but there are still some objections reported. Tanshinone ⅡA is a kind of liposoluble extract from danshen(Radix Salviae Mitiorrhizae) . It is verified in animal experiment that it can inhibit hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between ICAM-1 and hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy and the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on expression of ICAM-1.DESIGN:A randomized controlled observation was designed.SETTING: Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in the Laboratory of Emergency Department of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from October 2002 to January 2004. Ten male WKY rats(10 WKY rats) of 12-week-old and 20 rats with spontaneous hypertension(20 SHR rats) were employed and divided into the control group(10 WKY rats), hypertension group(10 SHR rats) and tanshinone ⅡA group(10 SHR rats).injected from caudal vein for treatment and distilled water at the same dose was injected in the other two groups. Twelve weeks later, the rats were sacrificed and myocardium was collected for specimen preparation. Haematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining, VG staining, immunocytochemical staining and myocardial ED1 labeling were applied to determine myocardial macrophage infiltration degree. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were used to determine the expressions of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Degree of macrophages infiltration and the expressions of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein in myocardium in each group.RESULTS: Twelve SHR and 10 WKY rats were employed in the experiment pared with the control group, ICAM-1 mRNA and protein expressions in hypertrophic myocardium were increased significantly in hypertension group (0.176±0.087,0.537±0.195;0.104±0.011,0.173±0.027, P ＜0.01or P ＜ 0.05) . Infiltration of macrophage was significant(0. 62 ±0.07,non Ⅱ A group, the expressions of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein were decreased significantly(0. 537 ±0. 195, 0.291 ±0. 106; 0. 173 ±0.027, 0. 125± 0. 014, P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0. 05); the amount of macrophages infiltration was decreased(1.85 ±0. 23, 1.16 ±0. 17, P ＜ 0.05) and the degree of cardiomyocytic hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis was remarkably relieved.CONCLUSION: Excessive expression of myocardial ICAM-1 and its mediated inflammatory cellular infiltration plays an important role in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. The inhibition of tanshinone ⅡA on left ventricular hypertrophy may be contributed to decreased expression of ICAM-1 and alleviated inflammatory cellular infiltration in myocardium.

Objective To explore the performance of the novel nitric oxide(NO) electrochemical microsensor based on Au nano-particles(nano-Au) modified glass-fiber .Methods With columnar glass-fiber as the substrate material ,the in-situ chemical seed-growth technology was adopted to fabricate one kind of electrochemical microsensor based on gold nanoparticles pole electrodes and the amperometric response method was used to investigate the various properties of the NO microsensor .Results This microsensor had high sensitivity response to NO ,its linear range was 7 .2 nmol/L -11 .7μmol/L(r=0 .998) with a detection limit of 3 .6 nmol/L .Conclusion A novel electrochemical microsensor based on nano-Au pole electrode was fabricated .The NO microsensor posseses high sensitivity ,wide linear range ,good reproducibility and excellent anti-interference ability .

Objective To analyze CT findings correlated with pathologic findings in ectopic pancreas of the stomach.Methods CT scans of 15 surgically proven cases of ectopic pancreas of the stomach were reviewed,and enhanced CT scan was performed in 11 cases.CT findings were correlated with the pathologic findings.Results All cases had single lesion,and all lesions showed homogeneous density on plain scans without cystic or malignant changes.The size ranged from 1.3 to 3.1 cm,with mean diameter of (1.9? 0.2)cm.The lesions were round or oval in shape with broad base against the gastric wall.Two showed central umbilication sign.Only 2 cases were correctly diagnosed prior to operation and the rest were misdiagnosed or diagnosed indistinctly.The locations were in the gastric antrum in 11 cases,in the body in 3,and in fundus in one;The ectopic pancreas located in the greater curvature in 10,and in the lesser curvature in 5.Homogeneous or inhomogeneous strong enhancement similar to the pancreas was seen in 8 cases and they consisted mainly of pancreatic acini with the same histologic features as the pancreas.Three cases showed poor enhancement and consisted mainly of ducts and hypertrophied muscle,pancreatic acini were a minor component.Conclusion Ectopic pancreas of the stomach showed characteristic locations with the findings of snhmucosal diseases.Different enhancing patterns were correlated with their pathologic findings.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of focused ultrasound for patients with white lesions of the vulva,as well as its safety and feasibility.Methods Clinical data of 941 patients with white lesions of the vulva treated with focused ultrasound from June 2003 to December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed.The mean age of the patients was 40.8 years(18-70 years)and the median course of the disease was 6.2 years(3 months-45 years).Meanwhile,pathological diagnosis was performed in all the patients before treatment,in which 498 cases were squamous hyperplasia,342 cases were lichen sclerosus and 101 cases were lichen sclerosus with squamous hyperplasia.Patients were followed up and therapeutic effects of focused ultrasound was evaluated at 6 and 12 months after the treatment,respectively.The symptoms of pruritus in the vulva and the changes in the color and elasticity of the vulvar lesions were observed.Results Of all the patients,900 were followed up after the treatment,and the ratio of effectiveness was 94.9%.Only 46 patients(5.1%)had no response to the therapy.Of the effective patients,434 cases were completely cured(48.2%),and 420 cases were improved(46.7%).Pruritus of vulva recurred in 101 patients (11.2%)one year after treatment;however,these patients still had a response to the second or third treatment.Conclusions Focused ultrasound therapy is a highly effective instrument in treatment of white lesions of the vulva.It can not only relieve the symptoms of itching,but is also helpful in recovering the color and elasticity of the vulva.

Acrylic Resins ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Breast Implantation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of strychnos alkaloids on the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells.

METHODSStrychnos alkaloids free of strychnine and brucine were extracted from Strychnos nux vomica, and the effects of Strychnos alkaloids on the survival of HEK293 and PC12 cells were evaluated using MTT assay. In vitro cultured adult rat neuroprogenitor cells isolated from the hippocampus were treated with different concentrations of Strychnos alkaloids for 2 days, and the cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation assay.

RESULTSAt the concentration above 0.5 mg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced toxic effect against HEK293 cells (P<0.0001), while for PC12 cells, Strychnos alkaloids inhibited the cell survival at the concentration as low as 5 microg/ml (P<0.0001). After 2 days of exposure to 50 microg/ml Strychnos alkaloids, the neuroprogenitor cells showed significantly decreased number of BrdU-positive cells (P<0.01), but the total cell number remained stable when compared with that of the control cells (P>0.05), whereas at the concentration of 100 microg/ml, Strychnos alkaloids produced obvious cytotoxicity against the neuroprogenitor cells.

CONCLUSIONStrychnos alkaloids can significantly inhibit the proliferation of adult rat neuroprogenitor cells, and this effect is probably selective, suggesting the potential of Strychnos alkaloids as a new drug for treatment of neurocytoma.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Neurons ; cytology ; PC12 Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Strychnos ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs22833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene with the susceptibility to Kawasaki disease (KD) and its clinical characteristic in children.

METHODSA case-control study was performed in this study. One hundred and eighty-eight children with KD and 197 normal children served as controls were enrolled. The genotypes of two SNPs rs22833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene were detected using PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the genotype (AA, AG and GG) and allele frequencies of SNP rs2833188 between the KD and control groups. Significant differences in the genotype (CC, GC and GG) frequency of SNP rs2833195 were noted between the KD and control groups (P=0.017). The frequency of C allele in the KD group was higher than in the control group (P=0.015). The polymorphism of SNP rs2833188 was associated with the occurrence of rash (P=0.011), and the polymorphism of SNP rs2833195 was associated with the occurrence of conjunctival hyperemia (P=0.021).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism of rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene is associated with the susceptibility to KD. The polymorphisms rs2833188 and rs2833195 in TIAM1 gene may be associated with some clinical characteristics in children with KD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage in children undergoing adenoidectomy, and to discuss its possible causes.

METHODSIncluded in this study were children who underwent adenoid and/or tonsil surgery at Shenzhen Children's Hospital between January 2004 and November 2009. The change of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) were retrospectively analysed. The blood loss was estimated by the change of Hct.

RESULTSThere were 2078 cases that accomplished the inclusion criteria in the period of study. Ten children bled 0.5 - 4.0 hours after surgery, without superfluous hemorrhage during the operation and post-tonsillectomy. This represented an incidence of 0.48%of immediate postoperative haemorrhage among the 2078 procedures analyzed. Statistical differences were found between boys (0.21%) and girls (1.10%, χ² = 5.597, P < 0.05). The change of Hb and Hct was positively correlated (r = 0.95, P < 0.01), the blood loss was positively correlated with the bleeding time (r = 0.66, P < 0.05). The causes of postoperative hemorrhage were coagulation system deficits, chronic nasopharyngitis, deficient hemostasis and immoderate ravage. To control the postoperative hemorrhage, 2 postnasal packing under topical anaesthesia and 8 electrocautery under general anaesthesia were applied.

CONCLUSIONSPoor operative technique and deficient hemostasis are the major causes of primary hemorrhage. Prompt operation to control the postoperative bleeding should be done 2 hours after bleeding under general anesthesia in order to avoid severe complications.

Adenoidectomy ; adverse effects ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tonsillectomy ; adverse effects

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoints, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion with different moxibustion methods on skin surface and inside temperature, and to provide references for the clinical standardization of moxibustion amount. Methods: The 42 big-ear white rabbits were divided into 6 groups according to the random number table method, a 1-cone direct moxibustion group, a 2-cone direct moxibustion group, a 3-cone direct moxibustion group, a 1-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, a 2-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a 3-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Shenque (CV 8), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) were used in each group, but the moxibustion methods, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion were different. Rabbits in each group received moxibustion once every other day for 5 times in total. During the intervention, a thermoelectricity coupled probe and a temperature recorder were used to record the real-time acupoint skin temperature and the temperature at different time points, so as to observe, analyze and process the real-time changes in the temperature difference between the surface and inside of acupoint skin. Results: For herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion, the best temperature for cone changing was (46.38±0.51) ℃ when the highest surface temperature was (49.20±0.52) ℃; the multi-factor comparison of acupoint × cone number × time and acupoint × moxibustion method × time showed that time × acupoint, time × moxibustion method and cone number × acupoint had interactive effects (all P<0.05). Comparing skin temperature differences between different cone numbers at the same acupoint, Shenque (CV 8) on the 1st and the 5th days, Shenshu (BL 23) on the 3rd and the 7th days, Zusanli (ST 36) on the 1st and the 9th days of experiment showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The skin temperature comparison of different moxibustion methods at the same acupoint all had statistical differences (all P<0.05), except for Shenque (CV 8) before moxibustion, Shenshu (BL 23) before moxibustion and on the 5th day; Zusanli (ST 36) only showed statistical differences on the 5th and 7th days (both P<0.05). The skin temperature differences of different acupoints after moxibustion in the 1-cone, 2-cone and 3-cone groups were statistically different (all P<0.05); direct moxibustion and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at different acupoints were all statistically different (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Cone changing temperature under the same specifications of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was confirmed. Temperature difference between surface and inside of different acupoint skin at the same maximum temperature was significantly different due to the cone numbers and moxibustion methods, which showed the highest at Shenshu (BL 23), the second at Shenque (CV 8), and the lowest at Zusanli (ST 36). The influence of acupoint factor should be considered to determine the quantitative indicators of moxibustion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in the degeneration of the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum (LF) in the lumbar spine.

METHODSSurgical specimens of degenerative hypertrophied LF were obtained from 11 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS, mean age 57.8 years), with those from 10 age-matched patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH, mean age 53.5 years) as the normal controls. The thickness of the LF was measured preoperatively by axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the facet joint level. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression of PDGF β and PDGF-BB in the LF. The mRNA and protein expressions of PDGF-BB in the LF were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe thickness of the LF was 5.30±1.12 mm in the degenerative group and 2.80±1.53 mm in the control group, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). PDGF-β and PDGF-BB were positive in the fibroblasts in hypertrophied LF. The mRNA and protein expressions of PDGF-BB were significantly higher in the degenerative group than in the control group (P=0.013 and 0.023, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of PDGF-BB in the hypertrophied LF suggests its important role in the development of hypertrophy of LF in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; metabolism ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ligamentum Flavum ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; metabolism ; Spinal Stenosis ; metabolism ; pathology