OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of aquaporin 4( APQ4) in rat toxic brain edema induced by subacute 1,2-dichloroethane( 1,2-DCE) exposure. METHODS: Thirty-two specific pathogen free healthy adult female SD rats were randomly divided into control( 8 rats),low-dose( 12 rats) and high-dose( 12 rats) groups. The treatment groups were exposed to 1,2-DCE( low-dose: 600 mg / m3; high-dose: 1 800 mg/m3,nose-only) and the control group was exposed to fresh air by dynamic inhalation for 8 hours per day for consecutive 7 days. After exposure,histopathologic changes were examined in the cerebral cortex. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA relative expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2( MMP2),Na-K-Cl cotransporter-1( NKCC1) and AQP4. The Western blotting was used to detect the expression of AQP4 protein in the cerebral cortex. RESULTS: The pathological results showed that the cerebral cortex tissues were loose around the peripheral vessels and the vessels tissue space appeared widen in low-dose exposure group. The pathological change was more serious in high-dose group than low-dose group,with obvious loosen vessels and vacuole. Compared with those of the control group and the low-dose group,the relative expression level of MMP2 mRNA in the high-dose group increased significantly[( 1. 07 ± 0. 41) vs( 1. 56 ± 0. 55),( 1. 21 ± 0. 59) vs( 1. 56 ± 0. 55),P <0. 05],while the the relative expression level of AQP4 mRNA in the high-dose group significantly decreased [( 1. 03 ±0. 25) vs( 0. 81 ± 0. 12),( 1. 00 ± 0. 20) vs( 0. 81 ± 0. 12),P < 0. 05]. The relative expression levels of NKCC1 mRNA in all groups showed no statistical difference [( 1. 03 ± 0. 31) vs( 1. 14 ± 0. 43) vs( 1. 36 ± 0. 50),P > 0. 05]. The relative expression level of AQP4 protein in the high-dose group was lower than that of the control group [( 0. 80 ± 0. 25) vs( 1. 19 ± 0. 42),P < 0. 05]. CONCLUSION: The brain edema induced by subacute inhalation of 1,2-DCE is of mixed types with vasogenic edema as its main symptom. Its pathogenesis is related to the changes of AQP4 expression.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of retrospective electrocardiogram (ECG) -editing technique in dual-source computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography in patients with arrhythmia.

METHODSTotally 73 patients with arrhythmia during dual-source CT coronary angiography were included into this study. A retrospective gating technique and ECG-editing technique (Insert Sync; Disable Sync; Delete Sync; Shift R-peak) were used in patients who needed ECG-editing. Two experienced radiologists evaluated in consensus all pre-editing and post-editing reconstructed images and recorded scores according to the American Heart Association guidelines on coronary segmentation on a per segment basis. Image quality of all coronary segments was assessed using a four-point grading scale from excellent (4 scores) to non-assessable (1 score) .

RESULTSThe overall mean image quality of 34 patients who did not need ECG-editing was 3.42 ± 0.20. In 39 patients who needed ECG-editing, the overall mean image quality before and after ECG-editing was 2.39?0.37 and 3.22?0.24. The mean image quality in every segment between pre-editing and post-editing was also significantly different (P<0.01) .

CONCLUSIONECG-editing technique can remarkably improve image quality of coronary artery segments by reducing or even eliminating the artifact produced by arrhythmia during dual-source CT coronary angiography.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo objectively assess the effect of Qiming Granule in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA).

METHODSIn a multi-center, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial, patients with DR were randomly assigned to the control group (calcium dobesilate capsule) and the test group (Qiming Granule). Changes in the retinal blood circulation time were recorded by FFA after 3 months of medication.

RESULTSSignificant reduction was observed in the retinal arterio-venous circulation time (AVCT) in both groups (P<0.01), the value was 7.635+/-3.149 s before treatment and 5.165 +/-3.382 s after treatment in the treated group, and 7.737+/-3.413 s and 5.313+/-3.472 s in the control group respectively. Qiming Granule also reduced the arm-to-retinal circulation time (ARCT, P<0.05). The value was 17.867+/-3.872 s before treatment and 15.643+/-4.648 s after treatment in the treated group, and 17.217+/-3.833 s and 16.312+/-3.613 s in the control group (P>0.05) respectively. The ARCT in the tested group was reduced, with a statistically significant difference post-medication (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAs a Chinese medicine complex prescription, Qiming Granule may alleviate retinal hypoxia and ischemia by increasing retinal blood flow and improving the blood circulation.

Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Vessels ; drug effects ; physiopathology