Objective:To study the influence of morphine on the expression of nestin in the ependymal epithelia,central gray and hippocampal formations in mice.Methods:Twenty health mice were evenly randomized into control group and experiment group.Mice in the control group were injected with normal saline(0.1 ml daily)and those in the experimental group were injected with morphine (0.1 ml,1 mg daily).Thirty days later,the mice brain samples were harvested and made into paraffin sections.Immumohistochemical ABC technique was used to observe the expression of nestin under light microscope.The images were analyzed with the image analytical system.Results:In the control group,the ependymal epithelia,the central gray,the periventricular gray substances and the hippocampal formations had weak expression of the nestin,with a mean gray scale of 150.98?13.31;there were 5 kinds of nestin-positive cells:(1) the basal cells of ependymal epithelium,(2)cells distributed in the periventricular gray substance and the deep lamella of central gray, (3)cells distributed in the superficial lamella of central gray,the subiculum,the parahippocampal gyrus and the cortex inⅡ,Ⅲlayers of the entorhinal area,(4)cells frequently seen in the rectum of midbrain and the subiculum,and(5)cells distributed in the tectum of midhrain,the hippocampus,gyrus dentatus,parahippocampal gyrus and the cortex in V layer of the entorhinal area;the density of nestin in the subiculum and entorhinal area was(7.20?1.23)mm~2.In the experiment group,the ependymal epithelia,the central gray,the periventricular gray substances and the hippocampal formations had positive expression of the nestin,with the mean gray scale being 133.03?22.28;the density of the above-mentioned 5 kinds of cells increased;the density of nestin in the subiculum and entorhinal area was(10.50?1.43)mm~2.The mean value of gray scale and nestin-positive neurons were significantly different between the 2 groups (P

Paeoniflorin is the main active ingredient of Chinese herbaceous peony. This study is to investigate the protective effect of paeoniflorin (Pae) on acute brain damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. The mice were randomly assigned to the normal control, model control (LPS), as well as groups of paeoniflorin and lipopolysaccharide (Pae + LPS). Then the mice were administered intraperitioneally with normal saline or Pae (10, 30 mg · kg(-1)) once daily for 6 d. One hour after intrapertioneally treatment on the seventh day, each group were injected LPS (5 mg · kg(-1)) to establish the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide inflammation model except the normal group. The mice were sacrificed after 6 h and the brain homogenates were prepared and measured. The malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), succinatedehydrogenase (SDH), Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase were dectected by the colorimetric method. The levels of HO-1 and Nrf2 protein in subcellular fractions of brain tissue were detected by Western blot. The results demonstrated that the administration with paeoniflorin reduced the levels of the MDA production; significantly increase the activities of antioxidant enzyme (SOD and GSH-PX). In addition, paeoniflorin could enhance the total antioxidant capacity, decrease the level of H2O2, and increase the activities of SDH, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase. Furthermore, paeoniflorin can increase the expression of HO-1 and activate the nuclear transfer of Nrf2. Taking together, these findings suggest that paeoniflorin alleviate the acute inflammation in mice brain damage induced by LPS, which is related with its antioxidant effect and improvement of energy metabolism.
Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism

AlM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of treatment of dacryocystitis combined with canalicular obstruction by endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with canalicular intubation.
METHODS: A total of 27 cases of dacryocystitis combined with canalicular obstruction were treated by endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with canalicular intubation. Canalicular obstruction was treated by laser under dacryoendoscopy and antegrade intubation.
RESULTS: For 27 cases, operations were successful, with no complications. All patients were followed up for 6mo, 25 were cured, 2 were effective with no failed. The cure rate was 93%.
CONCLUSlON:Treatment of dacryocystitis combined with canalicular obstruction by endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with canalicular intubation has clear field, minimal invasion, quick recovery, exact effect and less recurrence, so it is worthy of promotion.

Objectives To study the level and development of serum specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV)of different populations in SARS pestilence district after SARS outbreak in a general hospital.Discuss SARS sub-clinical infection and protective action of the IgG antibody.Methods Seroepidemiology method,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and indirect immunfluorescence assay(IFA)were employed to investigate the changing level of serum antibody to SARS-associated coronavirus in non-SARS population in SARS pestilence district during and after SARS outbreak.The development of IgM and IgG antibody in patients with SARS in 6 weeks after the onset of SARS was studied qualitatively.The level changing of IgG antibody in con- valescent patients with SARS in 82 weeks after the onset was observed dynamically.Results The ELISA test outcome of IgG antibody was negative in 200 non-SARS people who were random samples of normal mass in SARS pestilence district and common community.The positive rate was 0.41% in 487 SARS high risk population tested by ELISA,but showed negative when retested by IFA.The A value level of IgG antibody existed significant difference in non SARS mass during and after SARS outbreak and the later's was higher them the former's(P

The effects of adrenomedullin (ADM) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) were investigated in cultured hippocampal neurons. Changes in [Ca(2+)](i) were detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy using Fluo 3-AM as the calcium fluorescent probe. [Ca(2+)](i) was represented by relative fluorescent intensity. The results showed that: (1) ADM (0.01-1.0 micromol/L) decreased the resting [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner. (2) Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) significantly inhibited the effects of ADM. (3) ADM significantly reduced the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced by high K(+). (4) ADM markedly inhibited the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3))-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i), while did not influence ryanodine-evoked increase in [Ca(2+)](i). These results suggest that ADM reduces [Ca(2+)](i) in cultured hippocampal neurons through suppressing Ca(2+) release from IP(3)-sensitive stores. Although ADM does not alter resting Ca(2+) influx, it significantly suppresses Ca(2+) influx activated by high K(+). These effects may be partly mediated by CGRP receptors. ADM in the CNS may act as a cytoprotective factor in ischemic/hypoxic conditions.
Adrenomedullin ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo describe the experience of the China CDC in rebuilding reporting capacity and response to the Sichuan earthquake through use of mobile phones.

METHODSSoftware engineering and business modeling are used to design and develop a cell phone-based reporting system. The PDA-based system used by the Field Adapted Survey Toolkit (FAST) was deployed

RESULTSApproximately one week after deployment of the mobile phone-based reporting system, the cumulative reporting rate reached the same level (81%) as the same period in 2007. In the Sichuan provincial pilot investigation for infectious disease, 1339 records were collected using PDAs developed and deployed by FAST.

CONCLUSIONThe mobile-based system is recognized as a quick and effective response solution to this public health challenge. Our experience suggests that mobile-based data collection tools provide faster, cleaner, standardized, and shareable data for critical decision making. This system could be adapted as complementary to national infectious disease reporting systems after natural disaster occurrences.

Cell Phone ; China ; Communicable Diseases ; epidemiology ; Disease Notification ; methods ; Earthquakes ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Population Surveillance ; methods

OBJECTIVETo find out how GATA-1 and GATA-2 behave in the bone marrow of patients with Monge's disease.

METHODSThe levels of mRNA in mononuclear cells (MNC) and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 in the bone marrow of patients with Monge's disease and controls were determined by RT-PCR and immune cytolysis chemical method.

RESULTS(1) All patients and controls expressed GATA-1 mRNA (Monge's disease 1.033 +/- 0.146, Control 0.458 +/- 0.076) and GATA-2 mRNA (Monge's disease 0.451 +/- 0.073, Control 0.185 +/- 0.074). All patients expressed both GATA-1 (positive cell counts 77.3 +/- 33.3, positive score 135.4 +/- 75.4) and GATA-2 ( positive cell counts 29.4 +/- 11.4, positive score 48.4 +/- 19.7). All the controls expressed GATA-1 (positive cell counts 18.1 +/- 11.3, positive score 24.2 +/- 13.4) while 12 of 20 controls expressed GATA-2 ( positive cell counts 5.4 +/- 3.0, positive score 7.3 +/- 4.2). The expression of mRNA and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 in Monge's disease were higher than in controls (P < 0.01). (2) There was a positive correlation between GATA-1 and Hb (P < 0.01), as did between mRNA and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2. (3) Both the proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 located only in the cytoplasm but not the nucleus.

CONCLUSIONSTwo of inherent genes, GATA-1 and GATA-2 which were expressed at higher levels in patients with Monge's disease than in controls might play significant roles in the pathogenesis of Monge's disease.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; GATA1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; GATA2 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Polycythemia ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yangxincao Capsule (YXCC) in regulating lipids.

METHODSSixty rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, the normal control group (A), the hyperlipidemia model group (B), the high, middle and low dose YXCC treated groups (C, D and E), and the Shanzhajing (SZJ) treated group (F) for positive medicine control. Except for the rats in the normal control group, the other 50 were daily fed with fatty emulsion for 10 days to establish hyperlipidemic model. From the I th day on, in the same time of continually feeding with fatty emulsion they were administered with water, high (1.08 g/kg), middle (0.54 g/kg), low dose (0.27 g/kg) of YXCC and SZJ (5.4 mg/kg) respectively for 10 days, while to rats in Group A equal volume of water was given. At the 21th day, after rats were fasted for 16 h, their blood was extracted from post-orbital vein to detect the level of serum lipids, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein (apo) and lipid metabolic enzyme.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) increased remarkably, and the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) dropped obviously in Group B. While in the four treated groups the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly reduced, HDL-C and its sub-components 2 and 3 (HDL2-C and HDL3-C), as well as the ratio of HDL-C/TC were raised. Besides, the content of apo-Al was increased and apo-B was decreased significantly in Group C and D, activity of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) increased in the three YXCC treated groups, all showed statistical significance (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) as compared with those in Group B.

CONCLUSIONYXCC could remarkably modulate the lipid metabolic disorder in hyperlipidemic rats, and has a certain bi-directional regulating function on lipoprotein, inferring that it could reduce the risk of occurring coronary artery diseases. The mechanism of regulating lipid metabolism might be related with the increasing activity of LCAT, LPL and eliminating of cholesterol by the elevated level of HDL2-C.

Animals ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the different effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies for treatment of patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome.

METHODSEighty five patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome were randomly devided into continuous wave group (n=41) and rarefaction wave group (n= 44). The same acupoints were selected in both groups, and the major acupoints were the tenderness point around affected area in both groups. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the tenderness score of each patient in both groups. The effectiveness was evaluated by the tenderness score.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 82. 9% in continuous wave group, and 84. 1% in rarefaction wave group, with no significant difference in statistical analysis (P>0.05). The healing rate was 56. 8% in rarefaction wave group, better than 31. 7% in continuous wave group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were significantly reduced after electroacupuncture treatment in both groups (both P<0.001). There was significant difference in decreasing the VAS score between two groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the rarefaction wave group was better than the continuous wave group.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture of rarefaction wave is better than the electroacupuncture of continuous wave, therefore, it is a better treatment for refractory tennis elbow syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tennis Elbow ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the birth rate, mortality, complications, related factors of preterm infants at Beijing Haidian Maternity and Children's Hospital in 2007, so as to establish the foundations for a more systematic and effective program for clinical treatments.

METHODSData of all the neonates born at Beijing Haidian Maternity and Children's Hospital during the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 were recorded for statistical analysis. All near-term infants of 35 - 37 weeks of gestational age were taken into observation group. Within 24 hours after birth, blood routine examination, urine and stool routine examination, blood gas analysis and electrolytes, blood glucose monitoring (at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours), chest radiography examination, skull and heart color Doppler ultrasonographic examination were conducted. Full-term infants who were born on the first day of every month were randomly selected as a comparison group (totally 350 cases) for statistical analysis. Complications of the two groups were recorded in detail. Factors such as the ages of parturients, maternal infections, pregnancy-induced hypertension, diabetes, anaemia, premature rupture of membranes, abnormal aminotic fluid, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal placenta, and twin were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSOf the 12,286 infants born during the study period, 333 were late-preterm infants; the birth rate of late-preterm infants was 2.71%. Among the complications in late-preterm infants, the hyperbilirubinemia topped at 33.6%, followed by respiratory distress (16.8%), hypoglycemia (9.0%), intracranial hemorrhage (8.1%), anemia or erythrocytosis (5.7%), and digestive system disease (5.4%). Late-preterm infants have higher rate of the hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, anemia or erythrocytosis and digestive system disease (P < 0.05). The length of hospital stay of late-preterm infants, which is 5.1 d +/- 3.90 d, was significantly longer than those of full-term infants which was 3.2 d +/- 1.61 d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe proportion of late-preterm infants was 2.71% of all live born infants at Beijing Haidian Maternity and Children's Hospital from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The occurrence rate of complications and mortality rate were higher than those of full-term infants. Late-preterm infants also have longer hospital stay. Hyperbilirubinemia is a common complication for late-preterm infants. Pregnancy-induced hypertension, anemia, premature rupture of membranes and twins are the major causes of higher morbidity and mortality of late-preterm infants. Pediatricians should pay much more attention to late-preterm infants, and should accept them for further observation and treatments.

Birth Rate ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; Male ; Prospective Studies