Objective To study the effect of p38MAPK on the activity and c-myc protein expression in rat acetaldehyde-induced hepatic stellate cell(HSC),and to investigate the alcoholic liver fibrosis related mechanism.Methods The different concentrations of SB203580 as the p38 specific blocker was adopted to conduct the intervention on rat acetaldehyde-induced HSC.The cellular mor-phological change was observed by the microscope.The cell proliferation was detected by MTT,the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),and the expression of c-myc protein was examined by the SABC method.Results (1)after acetaldehyde stimula-tion,HSC was increased in size and proliferated rapidly,but with the added SB203580 concentration increase,the cellular prolifera-tion was slowed down,the cells size was diminished and the deformed cells were increased.(2)The proliferation of acetaldehyde-in-duced HSC was inhibited by different doses of SB203580,and the higher concentration has the more significant inhibiting effect.(3) With the SB203580 concentration increase,the cells at the phase G0 and G1 were increased,while the cells at the phase S were de-creased,at the same time the expression positive rate of c-myc protein was decreased.Conclusion Blocking p38MAPK pathway ac-tivity could inhibit the proliferation of acetaldehyde-induced HSC,which may be related to the down-regulation of C-myc protein ex-pression and blocking the DNA synthesis in cells entering from G0/G1 phase to S phase.

Objective To explore the higher dangerous factors,the early clinical performances and its contents of neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage(NPH).Methods The clinical performances,chest radiograms and autoptical pathological materials of 66 cases of newborns who died of NPH at our neonatal department during 1993 to 2003 were reviewed and analyzed.Results The higher dangerous factors of NPH were premature delivery/low birth weight,serious diseases lead to hypoxia and severe infections.The early clinical performances of NPH were the suddenly aggravation of dyspnea and the increasing of moist sounds.The early X-ray performances were lower penetrance of lung fields extensively and well-distributly with path clouds,the intercostals space usually increased.According to the autoptical(patho)-logy,this X-ray perfomance indicated the edema of the pulmonary with small amount of hemorrhage.Conclusion The patients with the higher dangerous factors and the early clinical performances of NPH,must be diagnosed and interfered it as early as possible to reduce the mortality of NPH.

AIM To observe the protective effect of Ganduqing Granule(GDQ) on acute hepatic injury. METHODS Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups, namely normal control group, model group, Ganduqing large (GDQ Ⅰ), middle(GDQ Ⅱ), small dose(GDQ Ⅲ) groups and Yiganning (YGN) positive group. Acute hepatic injury induced by thioacetamide. The changes of blood serum ALT, AST activity and plasma endotoxin (ET) level and TNF-?, IL-6 levels were measured and livers were taken for pathology examination. RESULTS Plasma ET level and blood serum ALT, AST levels and TNF-?, IL-6 levels were significantly lower than model group ( P

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and Motilium on diabetic gastroparesis (DGP).

METHODSSeventy-two cases of DGP were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with needling method for harmonizing spleen-stomach as main, with Quchi (LI 11), Hegu (LI 4), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Diji (SP 8), and others selected, twice each day, 10 days constituting one course, with an in terval of 2 days; the control group were treated with oral administration of Motilium 10 mg, 3 times each day, 30 min before meals.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 91.7% in the treatment group was better than 77.8% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of the needling method for harmonizing spleen-stomach on diabetic gastroparesis is better than that of Motilium.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Diabetes Complications ; therapy ; Female ; Gastroparesis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore whether the constructed vector of short haprin in vivo can induce human glioma cell line BT325 to produce RNAi duplexes and reverse the expression of MDR1 gene.

METHODSThree 62nt oligonucleotide fragments (shRNA) were constructed according to GenBank MDR1 sequence and were cloned to the retrovirus-delivered vectors. After transfected these vectors directly into the human malignant glioma BT325 cells by lipofectamine 2000 with enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) co-transfecting, the MDR1 gene silence effects were detected by the changing level of mRNA and P-glycoprotein including real time PCR (RT-PCR), Northern blot and Western blot analysis. To assess the multidrug resistance against adriamycin (ADR) and VCR, cell proliferation assays were performed by cell counting kit-8.

RESULTSThe RNAi plasmid vectors were constructed successfully. RT-PCR showed MDR1 mRNA was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Northern blot analysis showed that the gene silence became most intense at 48 hours after transfection. Western blot analysis demonstrated that P-gp expression was reduced at different time to 12.9%, 30.3% and 4.8%, respectively. The chemosensitivity assays indicated that the transfected cells showed an enhanced sensitivity to ADR and VCR. Based on the value of IC(50), BT325 cells had significantly increased sensitivity to the drugs.

CONCLUSIONThe sequence specific RNAi can inhibit MDR1 mRNA and P-gp expression in the glioma cell line. It may reverse multidrug resistance phenotype, therefore, may provide promising therapeutic modalities in the treatment of human glioma.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

Objective The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the health status of Asian immigrants in Canada and the associated factors. Methods Using data from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey, a descriptive analysis was performed to estimate the frequency of health associated factors among different populations. Age-standardization rates was also used to compare the prevalence of chronic conditions among Asian immigrants, other immigrants and native residents. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted Odds ratio (0R) associated with each health outcome and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) after controlling for potential confounding factors. Results After age-standardization, Asian immigrants had a similar prevalence of 1-5 chronic conditions and a lower prevalence of 5+ chronic conditions (3.56%) compared with non-immigrants (5.31%). Asian immigrants were less likely to report any chronic disease (0R=0.49, 95% CI: 0.46-0.51) than non- immigrants (0R=1.00). Recent Asian immigrants were less likely to report any chronic condition (0R=0.34, 95% CI: 0.31-0.37) than long-term Asian immigrants (0R=0.62, 95% VI: 0.58-0.66). After adjusting for socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors, Asian immigrants had a slightly changed risk of four chronic conditions with exception of heart disease. Conclusion Asian immigrants had lower risk of chronic conditions as a whole, however, these health advantages decreased along with increasing length of residence in Canada. Socioeconomic factors and lifestyles cannot fully explain the differences of health status between Asian immigrants and non-immigrant Canadians reported in this paper.

OBJECTIVEIdiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is a common glomerular disease. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Recent studies indicate that transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) is the main cytokine involved in glomerular disease. It plays an important role in the development of INS and in occurrence of glomerulosclerosis. The present study aimed to study changes and significance of TGF beta in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).

METHODSTotally 35 cases with INS (13 males, 22 females) were studied. The age of onset was between 2 years and 1 months and 14 years with an average of 8 years and 3 months. The active stage group had 35 cases and the remission stage groups had 25 cases. The cases in active stage group had first onset of the disease with obvious clinical symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings without use of corticosteroids. The cases in remission stage group were asymptomatic without abnormal laboratory findings. Protein in urine was negative over 4 weeks after oral administration of prednisone for 8 weeks. Twenty five cases were steroid responsive and 10 cases were steroid non-responsive among the 35 cases. Thirty healthy young children were enrolled as control. TGF beta was detected by ELISA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture medium. The TGF beta mRNA gene expression was measured by in situ PCR in PBMC.

RESULTS(1) Concentration of TGF beta(247 +/- 26) ng/L and TGF beta mRNA expression (0.57 +/- 0.18) in active stage of simple type or nephritis type INS were higher than those of remission stage and control (P < 0.01). Concentration of TGF beta[(125 +/- 16) ng/L] and TGF beta mRNA expression (0.30 +/- 0.12) in remission stage were higher than that of control (P < 0.05). (2) The level of TGF beta protein in nephritis type [(275 +/- 26) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in simple type [(220 +/- 18) ng/L] in active stage INS (t = 6.45, P < 0.01). No significant difference in TGF beta mRNA expression was found between the nephritis type (0.58 +/- 0.15) and simple type (0.55 +/- 0.16) in active stage INS, either (P > 0.05). But these two types were different from the control (P < 0.01). (3) Concentration of TGF beta and TGF beta mRNA expression after therapy was clearly lower than that before therapy in steroid responsive group (P < 0.01). Whereas no significant change was seen in steroid non-responsive group. Both indicators were higher in steroid non-responsive group than in steroid responsive group whether before or after therapy.

CONCLUSIONTGF beta may play an important role in the mechanism of INS and its level in PBMC can be used as an immunological indicator for the illness state, therefore, determination of TGF beta level and mRNA may be of some clinical significance.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of Schwann cells transplantation to promote the repair of injured brain stem reticular structure in rats.

METHODSSchwann cells originated from sciatic nerves of 1 to 2-day-old rats were expanded and labelled by BrdU in vitro, transplanted into rat brain stem reticular structure that was pre-injured by electric needle stimulus. Immunohistochemistry and myelin-staining were used to investigate the expression of BrdU, GAP-43 and new myelination respectively.

RESULTSBrdU positive cells could be identified for up to 8 months and their number increased by about 23%, which mainly migrated toward injured ipsilateral cortex. The GAP-43 expression reached its peak in 1 month after transplantation and was significantly higher than that in the control group. New myelination could be seen in destructed brain stem areas.

CONCLUSIONThe transplantation of Schwann cells can promote the restoration of injured brain stem reticular structure.

Animals ; Antimetabolites ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; veterinary ; Brain Stem ; injuries ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; veterinary ; Electrophysiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Schwann Cells ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variation of human breast milk adiponectin (APN) concentration during lactation, analyze the relationship of APN concentrations in human breast milk with APN in infant serum, determine the association between maternal milk APN and infant body proportionality in the first year of life, and the period of greatest human milk exposure.

METHODSubjects included 73 mother-infant pairs from Shanghai International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital. Maternal milk was collected at 2, 4, 13, 26 weeks and infant serum was collected at 26 weeks. The concentration of APN in maternal milk and infant serum were measured with commercially available ELISAs (R&D Systems). Weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ), length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), weight-for-length Z-scores (WLZ) and body mass index Z-scores (zBMI) of infants up to 1 year of age were calculated using World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Then the variation of maternal milk APN was investigated, the correlation between maternal milk APN and infant serum APN was analyzed; multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze covariates correlated with infant body proportionality, meanwhile determined the association between maternal milk APN and infant anthropometrics.

RESULTThe concentration of APN in maternal milk at 2, 4, 13, 26 weeks was respectively (14.62 µg/L, 5.93 - 140.40 µg/L), (7.32 µg/L, 2.04 - 29.35 µg/L), (6.84 µg/L, 2.72 - 15.65 µg/L) and (4.88 µg/L, 1.12 - 13.38 µg/L). Higher milk APN in postpartum 2 weeks was associated with lower infant WAZ at 13, 26 and 52 weeks (P < 0.05). Milk APN in postpartum 4 weeks was inversely related to infant WAZ, WLZ, zBMI at 13, 26 and 52 weeks (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, milk APN in postpartum 13 weeks had significantly negative correlation with infant WAZ, WLZ, zBMI at 13, 26 and 52 weeks (P < 0.01). Milk APN in postpartum 26 weeks also was inversely associated with infant WAZ, WLZ and zBMI at 52 weeks (P < 0.05). After adjusting covariates like birth weight using multivariate regression analysis, milk APN level is the most important influence factor to infant WAZ, WLZ, zBMI at 13, 26 and 52 weeks. There was a positive correlation between maternal milk APN and infant serum APN at 13, 26 weeks.

CONCLUSIONMilk APN concentration declines throughout lactation. Maternal milk APN may play a vital role in the growth and development of breastfed infants, particularly closely associated with infant weight. Infant serum APN clearly correlated with maternal milk APN.

Adiponectin ; metabolism ; Birth Weight ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Mothers ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between children's motor coordination and their physical growth to provide clues for clarifying the causal relationship between them and to effectively enhance the children's physical growth.

METHODTen kindergartens were selected randomly from district of Hongkou, Putuo and Pudong in Shanghai, and 1099 children were included in the analysis. The children's motor coordination was assessed using Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). The relationship between the children's motor coordination and their physical growth were analyzed by Structural Equation Model (SEM). The above relationship by different gender, age and BMI (overweight or not) were analyzed with multi-group SEM.

RESULTSOf 1099 subjects, 561 were boys (51%), and 538 were girls (49%). Of the total subjects, 354 (32.2%) were children aged 3-years old, 441 (40.1%) were children aged 4-years, 276 (25.2%) were children aged 5-years, and 28 were children (2.5%) aged 6-years old. The result of SEM showed that the children's gross motor, fine motor and general motor ability was correlated positively with children's physical growth (P < 0.001), their standardized estimation of structural coefficient were 0.40, 0.36, 0.37 respectively. The result of multi-group SEM showed that there was no significant difference in the SEM between different gender and ages. The fine motor ability was positively correlated with child physical growth (P < 0.001). There was no inter-group difference in the structural model (each P > 0.05). However, there was difference in the structural model between overweight and normal group, of them, only the structural coefficient of gross motor and physical growth were different between the two groups (t = 1.697, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a relationship between children's motor coordination and physical growth. The degree of association between the gross moter and physical growth in overweight children were different from the normal children. Further study on the factors influencing the children's physical growth is needed.

Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Skills ; Surveys and Questionnaires