Objective To observe the effects of hypoxia on the expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)and matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9)in lung fibroblasts at different time points.Methods Fibroblasts were cultured at hypoxic condition 0,1.5,3,6,12 h respectively.CTGF mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA level were detected in each group by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The concen- tration of CTGF and MMP-9 protein in fibroblasts supernatant were determined using enzyme-linked im- munosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Hypoxia stimulated fibroblasts increased the level of CTGF mRNA with- in 1.5 h,and the levels remained at a plateau up to 6 h,and then decreased by 12 h.The level of MMP-9 mRNA increased significantly within 3 h,and the levels kept the trend for increasing.ELISA revealed that the levels of both CTGF and MMP-9 protein/cell in medium conditioned by fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia were maximal at 12 h.The level of MMP in the CTGF-Ab treated groups was significantly decreased compared to the untreated groups.Conclusions These findings suggest that hypoxia stimulates fibroblasts to release CTGF as a mitogen factor,which initiates the fibrosis cascade and airway remodeling by regulating the balance of extracellular ma- trix synthesis and degradation via MMP-9 which is secreted by fibroblast cells in response to CTGF.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrocardiography ; Endosulfan ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To summarize the experience of nursing the patients with liver transplantation complicated with early portal vein thrombosis treated with post-embolectomic anticoagulation. Method The clinical data of 5 cases of liver transplantation-induced portal vein thrombosis treated with post-embolectomic anticoagulation was reviewed to summarize the curative effect , key points for disease conditions and anticoagulative nursing. Results The anticoagulative effect was not good in only one case. 4 other cases were recovered by embolectomy and postoperative anticoagulation therapy as well as related nursing measures. Conclusion The nursing measures such as close observation of the disease processing, early reasonable anticoagulation, accurate medication, prevention of patent complication are critical for preventing the recurrence of portal vein thrombosis after liver transplantation.

A novel flow injection chemiluminescent enhancement method for the determination of tannic acid based on luminol-KIO4-Mn2＋ system is developed. The method is simple, rapid and effective to determine tannic acid in the range of 3.0×10－8～5.0×10－6 mol/L with a detection limit of 9×10－9 mol/L. The relative standard deviation is 1.5% for the determination of 1.0×10－6 mol/L tannic acid (n=11). The mehtod has been applied to determine the content of tannic acid in Chinese gall with satisfactory results.

Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Polycythemia ; genetics

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To observe the instant analgesic effect of Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture method in treating primary headache and to inherit and carry forward the academic achievements of Gao's acupuncture school in Yanzhao (Hebei Province) area. Methods:Eighty eligible primary headache patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group following their visiting sequence, 40 patients in each group. The observation group was intervened by Yanzhao Gao's Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture, and the control group was intervened by ordinary acupuncture method. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the headache intensity before and after the first treatment session in the two groups, to compare the instant analgesic effect of the two acupuncture methods. Results:After the first treatment session, the VAS scores dropped significantly in both groups (both P<0.05). The change of VAS score after the initial treatment in the observation group was significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). The percentage of patients with headache completely vanished instantly after the first treatment was markedly higher in the observation group than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The two acupuncture methods both can produce a significant instant analgesic effect in treating primary headache, while Yanzhao Gao's Governor Vessel-regulating and collateral-unblocking acupuncture method is superior to ordinary acupuncture method.

China ; epidemiology ; Cleft Lip ; epidemiology ; Cleft Palate ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Objective To assess the utility of single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) in the differential diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy. Methods SFEMG was performed in extensor digitorum communis muscles (EDC) of 3 groups of patients, including 61 ALS patients with findings of cervical spendylosis on MRI, 59 ALS patients with normal MRI of cervical spine, and 55 patients with cervical spendylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy. The parameters of SFEMG between different groups were compared. Results The mean jitter was (81.2± 25.9), (91.6 ± 32. 4) and (40. 9 ± 11.8) μ in ALS patients with finding of cervical spondylosis on MRI, ALS patients with normal MRI of cervical spine, and patients with cervical spondylosis respectively. M50 of the percentage of jitter >55 μs was 73%, 80% and 5% in the 3 groups respectively. M50 of the percentage of block was 10%, 20% and 0 in the 3 groups respectively. Fiber density was 2.9±0.5, 2.9±0.6 and 2. 4 ± 0. 6 in the 3 groups respectively. There was no significant difference in those parameters of SFEMG between the ALS with findings of cervical spondysosis and those with normal MRI. There was significant difference in those parameters of SFEMG between the patients with ALS (the mean jitter: (86. 3± 29. 6) μs; M50 of the percentage of jitter > 55 μs: 80% ; M50 of the percentage of block: 14% ; fiber density: 2. 9±0. 5) and those with cervical spondylosis (t = 14.49, Z = 8.96, 7. 68,t = 5. 83, all P = 0. 000). In 18 patients with ALS, conventional EMG studies showed active and chronic denervation in only 1 region at the first visit. SFEMG was performed in EDC which had normal Medical Research Council Scale and EMG. SFEMG showed increased fiber density in 16 patients, increased jitter in 13 patients and impulse block in 6 patients. Conclusion SFEMG shows significantly increased jitter and block in ALS whether there is MRI findings of cervical spondysosis or not, which can help to differentiate ALS from cervical spondysotic radiculopathy and myelopathy.

Objective To explore the relationship between cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by investigating their electrophysiological characteristics and the incidence of CSR root injury and root injury complicating with CTS.Methods One hundred and twenty-four cases of CSR diagnosed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2013 to February 2014 by electromyography (EMG) were recruited.According to the results of EMG,patients were divided into root injury and root injury complicating with CTS groups.The distal motor latency (DML),motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV),sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV),sensory nerve action potential (SNAP),compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and spontaneous potential (SP) were compared between the two groups.Results There were 81 (65.3％) cases with root injury,11 cases with double sides injury and 29 cases with normal EMG among these 124 patients.The CMAP,DML,MCV,SCV and SNAP were normal in 76 cases,CMAP lowered 5％-12％ in 3 cases,DML extended 3％ and 9％ in 2 cases.There were 14 cases (11.3％) with concomitant CTS (female 10 cases and male 4 cases,double sides CTS 10 cases).Among the 14 cases with concomitant CTS,there were 9 cases with simply sensory nerve conduction abnormality,SCV slowing down 26％-47％,SNAP reducing 58％-86％ or normal,while other 5 cases with motor conduction abnormality as well as sensory nerve conduction abnormality,CMAP reducing 21％-78％,DML extending 27％-39％ in 3 cases,MCV slowing down 32％ and 40％ in 2 cases.Five cases had spontaneous electricity position movement in the abductor pollicis brevis.The incidence of root injury complicating with CTS in C6 (27.4％,9/33),C7 (26.9％,7/26) and C8 (5/7) showed statistically significant difference (x2 =5.96,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions There is a high incidence of root injury and CTS in CSR patients,indicating a possible double crush between CSR and CTS.