Objective To investigate the alterations and molecular mechanism of transient outward potassi- um currents(I_(to)) in ventricular myocytes from diabetic rats and explore the mechanism of predisposition of arrhyth- mias in diabetes.Methods The diabetes model was established by a single injection of streptozocin(STZ,65 mg/ kg,pH=4.5) I.P.in male Sprague-Dawley rats with weight 150-200 g.Ventricular myocytes were isolated by enzymatic perfusion.The currents were recorded with the whole-cell patch clamp technique,and gene expres- sions of channel-forming subunits (Kv4.2,Kv4.3 and Kv1.4) were semi-quantified by the technique of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The I_(to) density (+70 mV) decreased significantly in diabetic rats compared with controls[control:(30.6?3.8)pA/pF(n=9) vs diabetes:(18.9?3.3)pA/pF(n= 29)(P

AIMTo study the microbial transformation of sinenxan A.

METHODSChoose two strains of Fungi (Mucor spinosus AS 3.3450 and Cunninghamella echinulata AS 3.3400) and a strain of bacterium (Proteus vulgaris AS 1.1208) to transform the substrate.

RESULTSThree products were obtained and identified as 10-deacetylsinenxan A1, 6 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A2 and 9 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A3 respectively.

CONCLUSIONSinenxan A is facile to be transformed by microorganisms, the 10-acetyl group of which is an active group.

Acetates ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Culture Techniques ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Mucor ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proteus vulgaris ; metabolism ; Taxus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of CT scanning in preoperative diagnosis of early cervical carcinoma.

METHODSAbdominal and pelvic CT scans (MPR pictures for 50 patients) in 102 cervical carcinoma patients proven by biopsy pathology were retrospectively analyzed and compared with surgical pathologic findings. The pathological stages included > or = Ia in 39 patients, Ib 1 in 35, Ib 2 in 21, IIa in 6, IIb in 1. The tumor detection ability, thickness of cervical tumor invasion, T stage and lymph node stage showed by CT scan were evaluated.

RESULTSCT was not able to detect < or = Ia cervical carcinoma, however, CT was able to detect tumors in 71.4% of > or = Ib 1 stage (45/63) and 71.4% > or = Ib 2 (20/28), it also showed the depth of tumor invasion in 39.7% > or = Ib 1 (25/63). The overall accuracy of CT staging for tumor was 69.6% and the rate of metastatic lymph node detection 63.6% (7/11). With additional MPR pictures of spiral CT, the detection ability, vaginal involvement and objective shape of cervical tumor was improved. The cervical carcinoma in CT scan was found to be as homogeneous in 54.9% of patients (56/102), hypodense or heterogeneous in 42.2% (43/102), lower density nodual in 41.9% (18/43); occasionally as heterogeneous or hyperdensity noduals or irregular border of the cervix. The features of metastatic lymph nodes in CT scan were rounded or spheroid shape of soft tissue noduals with heterogeneous density caused by central necrosis and rim enhancement.

CONCLUSIONCT scanning may be valuable in detection of > or = Ib 1 rather than < Ib 1 stage early cervical carcinoma. The additional MPR pictures of spiral CT is not only helpful in detecting tumor but also in determining the extension of cervical carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Cervix Uteri ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; standards ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture on repair of spinal cord injury and its effect on somatosensory evoked potential ( SEP) in dog models of intervertebral disc prolapse. Methods Nine Beagle dogs were randomly divided into three groups. In the model group and electroacupuncture group, the dog disc prolapse models were made by balloon compression, and in the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was used every day for 14 days after operation. The model group was not treated after surgery. Sham operation was performed in the control group. Each dog was scored according to the Texas Spinal Cord Injury Scale for Dogs (TSCIS) scores before surgery (day 0) and on days 1, 4, 7, 14 after surgery. At the same time, SEP wave was measured using an EMG Evoked Potential Measuring Systerm and its latency and amplitude were analyzed. Results There was a significant difference in TSCIS scores between the model group, electroacupuncture group and control group at 1 day after operation. There was a significant difference between the electroacupuncture and model groups at 14 days after surgery. The amplitude of SEP in the model and electroacupuncture groups was significantly different from that in the control group at 1 day after operation, and there was a significant differ-ence between the electroacupuncture and model groups at 14 days after operation. There was a significant difference in the latency of SEP between the model and electroacupuncture groups at 4 days after operation, and between the electroacupunc-ture and model groups after at 14 days after operation. Conclusions Electroacupuncture can effectively promote healing of spinal cord injury in dogs with intervertebral disc prolapse, improve the TSCIS scores, restore SEP waveform, shorten the latency and enhance the amplitude. SEP can reflect the degree of spinal cord injury to a certain extent, and can be used to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture treatment in these dogs.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment for nonfunctional islet cell tumor (NICT).

METHODSForty-four patients with non-functional islet cell tumor treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University during January 1968 to June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 9 males and 35 females, aged from 7- to 70-years-old. Clinical manifestation: 15 cases (34.1%) of abdominal masses, 17 patients (38.6%) with epigastric or back pain, 5 cases of jaundice, 5 cases (11.4%) for upper abdominal fullness or vomiting, 10 cases (22.7%) of pancreatic tumor noticed by routine health checkups or imaging examinations. Imaging examination: CT scan, sonography, ERCP, MRI, upper GI series were performed in 33 (75.0%), 16 (36.4%), 6 (13.6%), 2 (4.5%), and 10 cases (22.7%) respectively. Operation methods: 39 patients (88.6%) underwent surgical resection and the other 5 patients did not.

RESULTS

COMPLICATIONSpancreatic fistula in 7 patients (15.9%), intra-abdominal bleeding in 4 (9.1%), gastrojejunal anastomosis outlet obstruction in 1 (2.3%), biliary fistula in 2 (4.5%) and incisional infection in 3 (6.8%). Surgery related mortality happened in 2 patients (4.5%), both treated before 1999. Twenty-five patients underwent operation between January 1999 and June 2008 were followed up for 6 to 108 months. All survive except one died 75 months after the surgery for unknown reason.

CONCLUSIONSNo specific clinical manifestation is recognized for non-functional islet cell tumor. Spiral CT is an optimal diagnostic method, while surgery is the first choice for treatment. Middle segmental pancreatectomy has become an alternative surgical protocol for NICT.

Adenoma, Islet Cell ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the therapeutic effect of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) on rhesus monkeys irradiated with 5.0 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-ray, and provide experimental basis for clinical treatment of similar patients. METHODS: Fourteen adult rhesus monkeys were irradiated with ⁶⁰Co γ-ray on both sides at the dose of 5.0 Gy (dose rate 69.2 cGy/min) to establish the acute radiation sickness model. The monkeys were divided into irradiation group (n=5), rhTPO 5 μg/kg group (n=4) and rhTPO 10 μg/kg group (n=5). Two hours after irradiation, the three groups of monkeys were injected with saline 0.1 ml/kg, rhTPO 5 μg/kg（0.1 ml/kg） and rhTPO 10 μg/kg(0.2 ml/kg), respectively. The general signs, survival, peripheral hemogram and serum biochemistry of rhesus monkeys were observed before and after irradiation, and the differences between rhTPO group and irradiation control group were compared. RESULTS: After total body irradiation with 5.0 Gy⁶⁰Co γ-ray, rhesus monkeys successively showed fever, hemorrhage, sharp decrease of whole blood cell counts in peripheral blood and disorder of serum biochemical indexes. Compared with the irradiated control group, a single intramuscular injection of rhTPO 5 μg/kg or 10 μg/kg 2 hours after irradiation could improve the symptoms of fever and bleeding, increase the nadir of peripheral red blood cells and platelets counts, shorten the duration of hemocytopenia, and advance the time for blood cells to return to the pre-irradiation level. The serum biochemical results showed that rhTPO could improve the abnormality of serum biochemical indexes in rhesus monkeys induced by 5.0 Gy total body irradiation to some extent. Compared with the two administration groups, the therapeutic effect of rhTPO 10 μg/ kg was better. CONCLUSION A single injection of rhTPO 5 μg/ kg or 10 μg/ kg 2 hours after irradiation can alleviate the injury of multilineage hematopoiesis and promote the recovery in monkeys irradiated by 5.0 Gy γ-ray. It also improves animal signs and has obvious therapeutic effect on acute radiation sickness.
Humans ; Animals ; Macaca mulatta ; Radiation Injuries