As an inhibitory amino acid similar to gama-aminobutyric acid,taurine can activate the corticostriatal pathway as an endogenous ligand for glycine receptors,establishing equilibrium between the excitatory and inhibitory processes in the brain.In mammalian brains,taurine concentrations increase during the developmental period of the brain until weaning,and subsequently decline reaching stable concentrations in adulthood.With abilities of anti-oxidative stress,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis,taurine can improve the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,promote the proliferation and differentiation of neurons and affect brain development,It needs more investigations to prove when and how taurine supplementation during gestation,baby,children or adult can assist the development of the brain and prevent the damage of the brain from hypoxic and ischemic damage.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; Heart Atria ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; agonists

The recombination clones contained CFP, LTB-ST foreign gene were screening by PCR using individual bacterial colonies as template, the aimed band was amplified from positive clones, the result was as well as plasmid PCR. The selecting of agrobacterium transformed with recombination plasmid could also use this method of PCR screening of individual bacterial colonies. The result of individual bacterial colonies PCR was as well as that of PCR using bacterial solution as template. It showed that the method individual bacterial colonies PCR was an efficient, easy one that characterized recombination clones.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture compound anesthesia(ACA)for traditional thyroidectomy. Methods:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)studying the use of ACA for traditional thyroidectomy were retrieved from PubMed,Excerpta Medica Database(EMBASE),Cochrane Library,Web of Science,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Chongqing VIP Database(CQVIP),Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database(Wanfang),and China Biology Medicine Disc(CBM)from inception to September 30,2021.Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias and quality of the studies.Anesthesia effectiveness was the primary outcome,while the secondary outcomes included various pain scales,vital signs,analgesic consumption,and adverse events.Review Manager 5.3 was used for meta-analysis.Weighted mean difference(WMD),standardized mean difference(SMD),and confidence interval(CI)were used for statistical descriptions. Results:A total of 16 papers were included,involving 1228 patients.Meta-analysis showed that anesthesia effectiveness was significantly improved after adding acupuncture as an adjunct[SMD=0.62,95%CI(0.40,0.83),P<0.0001,I2=36%].Besides,ACA can also moderate vital signs and reduce the feeling of pain[SMD=-1.61,95%CI(-2.61,-0.61),P<0.00001,I2=95%],analgesic consumption,and adverse events.Subgroup analysis of the electroacupuncture(EA)group further revealed that the effectiveness of low-frequency EA[WMD=0.43,95%CI(0.30,0.55),P<0.00001,I2=15%]and the entire operative stimulation of EA[WMD=0.55,95%CI(0.33,0.77),P<0.00001,I2=0%]was significantly better than high-frequency EA and short-time stimulation of EA during the operation.Further,no significant difference existed between conventional analgesia and acupuncture analgesia. Conclusion:ACA is beneficial to traditional thyroidectomy regarding efficacy and safety when acupuncture is applied as an adjunct.However,additional high-quality studies with larger sample sizes are needed to verify the findings.

AIM:To observe and analyze the change of visual field and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of primary open-angle glaucoma ( POAG ) after the Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation.
●METHODS:A total of 14 patients (24 eyes) with POAG were underwent Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure ( lOP ) , mean defect ( MD) , pattern standard deviation ( PSD ) , retinal nerve fiber layer thickness ( RNFLT ) , and corneal endothelial cell number were collected preoperatively. Visual acuity and lOP were collected in 1wk, 1 and 3mo postoperatively respectively. Also, MD, PSD, RNFLT, and corneal endothelial cell number were collected preoperatively and 3mo postoperatively respectively. Complication, the additional treatment, success rate were analyzed.
●RESULTS:There was no significant difference (P>0. 05) in visual acuity preoperative and postoperative 1wk, 1, 3mo. Visual acuity did not significantly reduce after operation. Compared with preoperative, there was significant decreased (P<0. 05) in lOP after 1wk, 1, 3mo postoperative, respectively. lOP keep stead in postoperative 3mo. The reduction of RNFLT had significant difference (P<0. 05) between preoperative and postoperative 3mo. Compared with preoperation, MD and PSD had no significant difference ( P > 0. 05 ) after postoperative 3mo. Corneal endothelial cell number decrease had significant difference (Z=-2. 585, P=0. 01) between preoperative and postoperative 3mo. Success rate: complete success: 79. 2% ( 19 eyes ); partial success:8. 3% (2 eyes);failure:12. 5% (3 eyes).
●CONCLUSION: Ex-press glaucoma shunt implantation could efficiently decrease the lOP in POAG patients. Although it results in reduction of RNFLT in short time. The visual acuity and visual field keep stable after operation. lt is a safe and effective device for treating primary open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of Ghrelin and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) in the serum and the intestinal tissue of sepsis model rats, and to evaluate the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) on the expression of HMGB1 and Ghrelin.

METHODSForty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the sham-operation (sham), the cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), the CLP + EA at Zusanli (ST36) group (EA), and the CLP + Ghrelin receptor blocking agent + EA group (GHSRA), 12 in each group. A sepsis rat model was prepared by CLP. The incision of the abdominal wall was immediately sutured along the ventral midline for rats in the Sham group. In the EA group EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed 20 min after CLP surgery with the constant voltage (2 - 100 Hz, 2 mA) for 30 min. In the GHSRA group, Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp79, Leu11]-substance P (700 nmol/kg), was administered through intravenous injection immediately after CLP, and 20 min later, EA at Zusanli (ST36) was performed in the same way as for rats in the EA group. Blood samples were withdrawn 12 h after CLP. The serum levels of Ghrelin and HMGB1 were detected using ELISA. Ghrelin expressions and the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cell in the jejunum were determined by immunohistochemistry. HMGB1 contents of the jejunum tissue were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSCompared with the Sham group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased and levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly decreased in the CLP group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CLP group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly decreased, but levels of Ghrelin and the expression rate of immunopositive cells significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with the EA group, the number of serum immunopositive cells and the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum tissue significantly increased in the GHSRA group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference in levels of Ghrelin between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum level of HMGB1 was negatively correlated with Ghrelin in the Sham group, the CLP group, and the EA group (r = -0. 528, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEA at Zusanli (ST36) could inhibit the expression of HMGB1 in the jejunum of septic rats, and promote the expression of Ghrelin. The expression of HMGB1 was inhibited by Ghrelin receptor blocking agent, which suggested that the anti-inflammation of EA at Zusanli (ST36) might be associated with Ghrelin.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Ghrelin ; metabolism ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the role of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating and guiding radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its feeding vessels. Methods From January 2006 to June 2007, 71 patients with 75 hypervascular HCC in Peking University Cancer Hospital who underwent RFA were included in the study. The diagnosis was conifrmed by ultrasound guided biopsy for all patients. These patients were not suitable for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or had poor responds to TACE. They were divided into two groups, which included group percutaneous artery ablation (PAA) combining RFA and group RFA. There were 38 patients with 39 HCC in group PAA combining RFA and CEUS were used to identify the range of HCC inifltration. Firstly, PAA of the feeding vessels was conducted under the guidance of color doplor lfow imaging (CDFI). Then CEUS was performed to evaluate HCC perfusion after blocking the feeding vessels. Finally, the rest of the tumor was ablated by RFA. In group RFA, there were 33 patients with 36 HCC, who did not undertake PAA before RFA. Generally, the RFA was planned based on tumor size and location, and the ablation started with deep part of HCC or portion close to nearby organs. Contrast CT was used as a post-RFA imaging for follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months post-RFA. T test was used to compare the difference in focal lesions number between two groups, andχ2 tests were used to compare the difference in necrosis rate between two groups after treatment. Results In group PAA combining RFA, post-PAA CEUS showed intratumor perfusion decreased more than 70%in 31 HCC (79.5%, 31/39). Of them, 13 HCC (33.3%, 13/39) showed complete perfusion defect with clear margin, called“solar eclipse sign”. The rest 8 HCC (20.5%, 8/39) showed 40%-70%of perfusion defect. In group PAA combining RFA, CDFI showed 35 (83.3%, 35/42) feeding vessels were blocked, and 3 vessels (7.1%, 3/42) showed signiifcant decreased lfow signal after PAA. There were average 3.18±1.42 ablations per HCC in group PAA combining RFA, and 4.32±1.56 in group RFA. The number of ablations per HCC in group PAA combining RFA was signiifcantly less than group RFA (t=2.524, P=0.015). The tumor necrosis rate at 1 month post-RFA in group PAA (92.3%, 36/39) combining RFA was signiifcantly higher than that of group RFA (66.7%, 24/35) (χ2=8.264, P=0.001). Conclusions With CEUS, PAA can effectively block the feeding vessels of HCC, enhance ablated necrosis in the tumor and signiifcantly increase necrosis rate post-RFA for large hypervascular HCC. CEUS-assisted PAA can improve efifciency of RFA with less ablation number and better result.

Objective To investigate the correlation of hepatitis B patients in Fuzhou between resistance patterns in HBV P region and genotype,HBeAg,the hepatitis B process.Methods This was a retrospective study.The serum and clinic data of 1 115 hepatitis B patients were collected from the inpatient and outpatient Center for Liver Diseases in First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between October 2011 and January 2015.HBV DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Sanger method to detect HBV genotype and resistance mutations in P region,HBeAg and HBeAb concentration were detected by chemiluminescent assay.The relationship between P region resistance mutations pattern,HBV genotype,serum HBeAg and the hepatitis B process was analyzed.The x2-test was used to compare the resistance rate and positive rate.Results There were significant differences between 14 kinds of resistance loci and the genotype distribution(x2 =30.788,P =0.004),the C/B genotype ratio of three common resistance loci (rtM204V/I,rtL180M,rtA181T/V) were 85/82,49/25 and 27/9,respectively,which in genotype C was higher than genotype B.The resistance ratio of hepatocellular carcinoma,liver cirrhosis,chronic hepatitis B,hepatitis B carriers was 31.4％ (11/35),37.6％ (65/173),27.3％ (146/535) and 21.8％ (43/197),respectively,which showed significant difference between the four clinical diagnosis (x2 =11.858,P =0.008).The highest percentage of resistance was liver cirrhosis,followed by hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis B.There was significant difference in the distribution of HBV genotype between HBeAg (+) group and HBeAg (-) group (x2 =11.093,P =0.001),the HBeAg positive rate in genotype C [37.53％ (295/786)] was higher than in genotype B[35.62％ (280/786)].However,the total resistance rate between HBeAg (+) group and HBeAg(-) group was not significantly different[23.7％ (136/573) and 24.6％ (52/211),respectively,x2 =0.07,P =0.791].Conclusions HBV genotype was related to the resistance rates,HBeAg levels and the progress of hepatitis B.The resistance rate and HBeAg positive rate of genotype C were higher than those of genotype B,and clinical outcomes were worse in genotype C.HBV resistance rates and HBeAg levels were related to the progress of hepatitis B,the higher the resistance rates,the worse clinical outcomes.

Adult ; Behcet Syndrome ; complications ; Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Pericardial Effusion ; complications

Objective To investigate the application of polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism analysis(PCR-SSCP)to the screening of gene mutation of exon 13 of the LDLR gene in familial hypercholesterolemia(FH).Methods Peripheral blood DNA of 16 clinically diagnosed FH patients was extracted and the exon 13 coding region of the LDLR gene was amplified by PCR.PCR products were separated by optimized SSCP electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining.DNA fragments with abnormal mobility were sequenced to determine the nature and position of mutations.Results The SSCP electrophoresis conditions were optimized as 8%polyaerylamide(degree of cross linking 49:1)gel without glycerin at a electrophoresis temperature of 10℃ or 8%polyacrylamide gel with 5%glycerin at room temperature,gel thickness of＜0.4 mm,and a voltage of 5 V/cm.DNA fragments were well resolved with the conditions and sequencing of the abnormal bands resuhed in detections of missense mutations of A606T,D601N,Y601D and G636V together with a synonymous mutation of 1959C→T in 4 patients and a sole synonymous mutation of 1959C→T in other 4 patients.Conclusion PCR-SSCP is an effective method for the screening of exon13 mutations of LDLR gene in FH patients.