Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

Chinese traditional patent medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis(PBCRBS) originated from traditional Chinese medicine theory and had approved efficacy and safety standards. However, its compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism is not clear. To analyze the compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS, a statistical and bioinformatics analysis was carried out using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TICMISS, V2.0) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The compatibility regularity analysis shows that the most commonly used herb combinations are Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and Honghua (Carthamustinctorius L.). The anti-thrombotic mechanism analysis reveals that 25 ingredients have an effect on 29 thrombosis related molecules which 23 molecules are related to inflammation response. Furthermore, there are 5 inflammation molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF, IL1β) served as major targets. At the same time, Danshen, Chuangxiong and Honghua mainly used as sovereign herb or minister herb in the application of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS probably has an effect on anti-thrombotic activity through inhibiting the inflammatory response. In summary, the most commonly used herb combinations of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS are Danshen, Chuanxiong and Honghua. Inhibiting inflammatory response, especially inflammation related molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF and IL1β), is probably a new starting point to clarify the anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese patent medicine for PBCRBS.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Computational Biology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) has been rarely reported as the primary manifestation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The severe retinal vaso-occlusive diseases usually cause devastating and permanent damage to visual function in spite of vigorous treatment. A 42-year-old Chinese woman presented with abrupt bilateral vision loss. The diagnosis of bilateral CRAO was suggested by the ocular presentation and fluorescein angiography. Laboratory studies showed positive results of antinuclear antibody, anti-Ro/SSA anti-La/SSB; decreased levels of C3, C4 complement and normal levels of antiphospholipides antibodies (APAs). Her visual acuity deteriorated despite systemic steroid and immunosuppressant treatment. Severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy may be an earlier manifestation of SLE without elevated level of APAs.
Adult ; Blindness ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of Wnt5a gene mRNA and Wnt5a, APC, β-catenin proteins in human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) and explore its clinical significance.

METHODSWnt5a mRNA level was measured in 30 patients with CRC and paired non-tumor tissues by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemical staining of Wnt5a, APC, β-catenin was performed in samples of 62 patients with CRC using SP system.

RESULTSThe relative expression level of Wnt5a mRNA in fresh CRC is 0.1232 ± 0.0140, which is significantly higher than that in adjacent colorectal mucosa (0.0497 ± 0.0074, P = 0.02). A low expression of Wnt5a protein was observed in 38 of 62 CRC. Wnt5a protein expression was closely correlated with the tumor types and the degree of tumor differentiation (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P > 0.05). APC protein was decreased in 38 of 62 CRC. The expression of APC was closely correlated with the tumor types (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with the degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P > 0.05). The expression of β-catenin was observed in cytoplasm and/or cell nuclei in 50 of 62 CRC. The positive rate of β-catenin expression was closely correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, depth of myometrial invasion and TNM stages (P < 0.05). There was no apparent relationship with the tumor types (P > 0.05). The expressions of Wnt5a (r = 0.271, P = 0.027) and APC (r = 0.343, P = 0.004) were correlated with that of β-catenin in CRC, respectively, but there was no correlation between the expressions of Wnt5a and APC protein (r = 0.218, P = 0.078) in the tumors.

CONCLUSIONSWnt5a, APC and β-catenin genes might be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of CRC. It is hypothesized that down-regulation of APC and Wnt5a proteins may be one of causes of ectopic expression of β-catenin in CRC.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Genes, APC ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wnt-5a Protein ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves contain mainly phenolic components with antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects. One of the principle components is p-coumaric acid. In this study, the transport behavior of p-coumaric acid, was observed after the administration of pineapple leaf phenols in vitro. Simultaneously, the effect of the phenols on glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides transportation and metabolism in HepG2 cells was also observed. The results showed that the phenols had good transport characteristics. 5 min after the administration, p-coumaric acid of the phenols could be detected, and the content of p-coumaric acid reached the peak concentration after 60 min of the administration. p-coumaric acid of phenols have time-and dose-dependent manner. While promoting glucose transporter (GLUT4) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression, the phenols decreased intracellular lipid content. This reduction of intracellular lipid content was highly correlated with the promotion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) expression, while the reduction of intracellular glucose levels was correlated with glycogen synthesis in the cells.
Ananas ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Objective To provide technical support for market supervision of TCM decoction pieces in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei districts; To facilitate the medical treatment of people in the three districts. Methods A comparative study and analysis on processing procedures of TCM decoction pieces in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei districts was conducted. Results There were some differences in TCM decoction pieces in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei districts. The quality of TCM decoction pieces is easy to be contradictory according to different standards. Conclusion It is badly in need of a unified standard for the preparation of TCM decoction pieces.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of task-oriented bilateral arm training on upper limb function in children with spastic hemiplegia. Methods 27 children within 4-6 years with spastic hemiplegic were randomly divided into control group (n=13) and experiment group (n=14). The children in control group received routine occupational therapy. The bilateral arm task-oriented training was added for children in experiment group. The Peabody development motor scale-2 (PDMS-2) and Upper Limb Physician's Rating Scale (ULPRS) were used to assess the upper limb function before and after 10 weeks intervention. Results After treatment, the scores of grasping function and visual-motor integration in PDMS-2 were significantly higher than those before treatment (P＜0.05), and the scores of experimental group werehigher than that of control group (P ＜0.05), and the difference of the added value between two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.05).The ULPRS scores of both groups increased after treatment (P＜0.05), scores between the treatment group and the control group were not statistically significant (P＞0.05), and the difference of the added value between two groups was not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Conclusion The task-oriented bilateral arm training can promote recovery for upper limb and hand function in children with spastic hemiplegia compared with routine occupational therapy.

Objective To identify heart failure(HF) symptom clusters and their transformation through the progress of disease. Methods A convenient sample of 200 HF patients were recruited in this longitudinal study. The Chinese version of Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Heart Failure(MSAS-HF) was used to collect data before admission,3 months after discharge,and 6 months after discharge. At each time point,symptoms with incidence rate above 15% were chosen for cluster analysis. Results HF symptoms before admission were divided into 4 clusters:emotional and digestive cluster,ischemic cluster,weary cluster,and congestive edema cluster. Symptoms at 3 months after discharge and 6 months after discharge fell into 2 clusters:sickness cluster and weary cluster. Dry mouth was not included in either clusters. Conclusion The distribution and structure of HF symptom clusters had changed a lot at different stages of disease. It suggests that pertinent interventions might be taken according to the pattern of changes of HF symptom clusters through the progress of the disease.

5' nucleotides (5'NT), a purine degradative enzyme, is capable of hydrolyzing nucleotide and acting as a phosphotransferase simultaneously. It has critical role in maintaining nucleotide metabolism balance. The present study was aimed to investigate the expression of 5'NT in bone marrow granulocytes (BMGs) from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and healthy donors comparatively. The BMGs were isolated from bone marrow of 33 patients with AML and 6 healthy donors by using lymphocyte isolating solution. The reactivity of 5'NT was detected by electron microscope and cytochemistry of cytidine monophosphate (CMP). The positive BMG ratio and their index were calculated on the base of ultrastructural observation semiquantitatively. The results indicated that electron microscopy revealed plasma membrane reacting pattern of CMP. Most BMGs from normal donors were CMP negative or exhibited lower active degree. All cases of M(0), M(1), M(2) and t (8; 21) showed high positive percentages and high indexes of BMGs, but no statistic differences between them. APL of t (15; 17) shared lower percentages and indexes than other subtypes. There was no significant difference between APL and normal donors statistically. In conclusions, the results suggested the expression of 5'NT may be associated with BMG differentiation in AML, and APL of t (15; 17) may be a highly differentiated leukemia subtype.
5'-Nucleotidase ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; enzymology ; Child ; Female ; Granulocytes ; enzymology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; classification ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

The study was purposed to investigate the expression of CD73 on bone marrow nucleated cells (BMMNC) in various leukemia subtypes and its relationship with cell differentiation of leukemia. Immunocytochemistry staining and Wright-Giemsa staining of BMMNC from 75 cases of leukemia, 11 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 13 cases of non-leukemic patients and 9 healthy adults were performed, and the CD73(+) ratio in BMMNC and its relationship with differentiation of leukemia cells were analyzed. The results showed that the ratios of CD73(+) in BMMNC of com-B ALL, pre-B ALL and PLL were significantly higher than those in B-CLL (p < 0.05). CD73(+) ratios in AML subtypes of M(1), M(2a), t (8; 21), t (15; 17), M(4) and M(5) were markedly higher than those in MDS respectively, but in M(6) and MDS were lower and had no statistical difference between them. CD73(+) ratios in T-ALL, B-CLL, M(6), MDS, non-leukemia patients and healthy adults were close to each other and all of them were lower than those in B-ALL and other AML subtypes. It is concluded that the expression of CD73 is associated with leukemia subtype, differentiation and development. The higher differentiation of leukemia cells, the lower of CD73 expression in myeloid and B lymphoid leukemia, but T-ALL does not meet this pattern.
5'-Nucleotidase ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; Young Adult