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Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of adult ventricle glioma (AVG) and to construct and evaluate a survival-related prognostic nomogram model, which could provide further reference for the clinical management of AVG patients., Methods: The patients covered in the study were selected from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (1973-2016). They all had definite histological diagnosis of AVG. They were assigned randomly to the training cohort and the validation cohort by random number table at a 2/1 ratio. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox regression analysis was employed to determine the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Then, integrating the basic characteristics of patients, the survival-related nomogram predictive model for OS and CSS in the training cohort was constructed, respectively. After that, internal cross validation and external validation of the model were carried out with the training cohort and the validation cohort in succession. The authenticity and reliability of the nomogram model were evaluated by calculating the concordance index (C-index). Calibration plots were constructed to assess the agreement between the predicted values and the observed values in the training cohort and the validation cohort., Results: A total of 369 AVG patients, including 218 males and 151 females, were included. The median age of the patients was 53. According to the WHO classification of gliomas, 66 (17.9%) patients had grade Ⅱ gliomas, 73 (19.8%) had grade Ⅲ gliomas, and 230 (62.3%) had grade Ⅳ gliomas. Regarding the extent of resection (EOR), 59 (16.0%) had gross total resection (GTR) and 145 (39.3%) had subtotal resection (STR) or partial resection (PR). Of all the patients, 167 (45.3%) received postoperative radiotherapy and 143 (38.8%) received postoperative chemotherapy. Patients were randomized into the training cohort ( n =246) and the validation cohort ( n =123), and there was no significant difference ( P >0.05) in the basic clinical characteristics between the training cohort and the validation cohort. In the training cohort, Cox regression analysis revealed that the independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS included age≥65, grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ according to the WHO classification of gliomas, and not receiving radiotherapy. Furthermore, 5 variables, including age, gender, WHO grades, surgery, and radiotherapy, were used to construct the nomogram model for predicting 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year OS and CSS. The results of internal cross validation in the training cohort showed that the C-indexes of OS and CSS were 0.758 and 0.765, respectively. The external validation results of the validation cohort showed that the C-indexes of OS and CSS were 0.733 and 0.719, respectively. Calibration plots for 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year OS in the training cohort showed relatively good agreement, while in the validation cohort the agreement was relatively low. The 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year CSS calibration plots had results similar to the calibration plots of OS., Conclusion: This nomogram predictive model of OS and CSS showed moderately reliable predictive performance, providing helpful reference information for clinicians to make quick and simple assessment of the survival probability of AVG patients., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)

This paper discussed the synergistic anti-tumor effect of Shuangdan Capsules combined with 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) on human liver cancer cell line Huh-7 and tumor bearing mice. The effects of Shuangdan Capsules combined with 5-FU on the activity and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) receptor protein expression of Huh-7 cells were investigated, and the effects of drug combination on tube formation of HUVEC cell were also verified. In addition, the mice model of Huh-7 was established to observe the anti-tumor effect of drug combination and the distribution of tumor blood flow in tumor bearing mice by using molecular imaging. HPLC analysis showed that Shuangdan Capsules mainly consisted of danshensusodium, protocatechuic aldehyde, paeoniflorin, rosmarinic acid, alkannic acid, salvianolic acid B, and paeonol. In MTT experiment, the inhibition rate of Shuangdan Capsules(20 mg·L~(-1)) and 5-FU(1 μmol·L~(-1)) on Huh-7 cells was 60%, and the CI value was 0.59, suggesting that these two drugs had synergistic anti-hepatoma cells effect. The expression of VEGF receptor in Huh-7 cells was inhibited by the combination of these two drugs. In addition, the process of HUVEC was slow, and the number, length and area of the lumen branches decreased significantly. In vivo, Shuangdan Capsules combined with 5-FU inhibited the growth and prolongation of survival of Huh-7 cells in subcutaneous transplanted tumor nude mice; serum expression of CD31 and VEGF in nude mice were decreased, while caspase-3 was increased. Meanwhile, the drug combination significantly inhibited the expressions of MMP2 and VEGF in tumor tissues. Ultrasound showed that Shuangdan Capsules combined with 5-FU also inhibited tumor angiogenesis and reduced blood flow of tumor tissue. The results showed that Shuangdan Capsules combined with 5-FU may inhibit tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting VEGF and MMP2 expressions, thereby blocking tumor growth.

Abstract: Aconitum is one of the most widely used Chinese herbal medicines, and aconitine is the major toxic component in it. Aconitine can induce a variety of arrhythmias, resulting in death. Acute ethanol consumption causes arrhythmia as well. Poisoning cases caused by aconitum medicinal liquor are frequently encountered in the practice of forensic medicine. The molecular mechanisms of myocardial toxicity of these two drugs have much in common, and both of them affect the sodium channel, calcium channel and potassium channel of myocardial cell membrane and so on. This paper analyzes and discusses the possible co-effects of ethanol-aconitine on cardiomyocyte channel proteins, by reviewing researches on the mechanism of cardiotoxicity of ethanol and aconitine in recent years, in order to provide ideas and references for the research on the molecular mechanism of arrhythmia caused by combined poisoning., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation exercise combined with manual reduction in the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo（BPPV）. Method: A total of 186 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were selected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group . The control group was treated with manual reduction, while the experimental group was treated with manual reduction combined with vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV carried out Brandt-Daroff exercises, while patients with horizontal semicircular canal BPPV carried out Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises and position restriction. To analyze the clinical curative effect, DHI score, residual dizziness and recurrence of the two groups. Result: There was no significant difference in total efficiency rate and DHI score between the two groups at the first diagnosis（ P >0.05）. After 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month of follow-up, the total efficiency rate of the experimental group were 90.3%, 91.4% and 93.5% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group（ P <0.05）. Synchronously, the scores of DHI in experimental group were respectively 14.33±5.71, 12.25±4.98 and 9.45±3.70, which were significantly lower than the control group（ P <0.05）. For the experimental group, in the first diagnosis, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month after follow-up, residual dizziness patients were 29 cases, 13 cases, 8 cases and 0 cases. The mean duration of residual dizziness was （5.86±4.71） days, which was significantly lower than that in the control group（ P <0.05）. One month after follow-up, the recurrence of patients in the experimental group were 5 cases, while the control group were 11 cases, significant difference between the two groups（χ²=4.704, P =0.030）. Conclusion: Manual reduction combined with vestibular rehabilitation exercise can significantly improve the therapeutic effect of BPPV, ameliorate the residual dizziness symptoms and reduce the recurrence rate, meanwhile improve the balance function and quality life of patients., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)

Purpose: To study the effects of curcumin on EZH2 mRNA expression in the mandible and femur of ovariectomized osteoporosis rats,and to investigate its protective effect and mechanism., Methods: Thirty female 6-month old SD rats were randomly divided into sham group,OVX group and experimental group. The rats in the experimental groups were given curcumin (110 mg/kg) by intragastric administration after ovariectomy, while rats in the sham group and OVX group were given the same dosage of carboxymethylcellulose sodium solution, once a day for 12 weeks. All rats were sacrificed after the last intragastric administration. The serum samples were collected for detemination of biochemistrical parameters. Micro-CT was used for bone parameters and the morphology of the trabecular bone of the left mandibles and femurs. The expression level of EZH2mRNA in right mandible and femurs tissue was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SPSS22.0 software package was used for statistical analysis., Results: The expression of EZH2mRNA in the OVX group was significantly higher than the sham group (P<0.05). Compared with the OVX group,curcumin increased BMD and improved bone microstructure, decreased serum contents of alkaline phosphatase,and down-regulated the expression levels of EZH2mRNA in bone tissues of rats with osteoporosis (P<0.05)., Conclusions: Curcumin can effectively prevent the lose of bone volume of ovariectomized rats, and repaire bone microstructure. Its mechanism is related with down -regulation of EZH2mRNA.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture combined with phacoemulsification for cataract with glaucoma., Methods: Sixty-eight patients with cataract and angle-closure glaucoma were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 34 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with phacoemulsification. Based on the treatment in the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with tuina and acupuncture at acupoints around eyes; the treatment was given once every other day, and 15-day treatment constituted a course, and 2 courses (60 days) were given. The intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, pain severity, aqueous outflow (F value) and clinical symptoms were observed in the two groups before treatment and after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment., Results: The IOP after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (all P <0.05), while the visual acuity after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (all P <0.05). Compared before treatment, the IOP was significantly decreased after 1 d, 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the two groups, and the visual acuity was significantly increased after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the two groups (all P <0.05). The pain scores and F value after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P <0.05). Compared before treatment, the pain scores and F value after 7 d, 30 d and 60 d of treatment were significantly reduced in the two groups (all P <0.05). After 60 d of treatment, the number of patients who presented general clinical symptoms in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: Based on phacoemulsification, acupuncture and tuina could significantly reduce the IOP and F value, relieve pain and improve visual acuity in patients with cataract and glaucoma.

Objective: To understand the laboratory technicians' abilities in blood slide making and reading in 10 prefectures of Yunnan Province which have passed the provincial malaria elimination evaluation, so as to provide the evidence for improving the malaria elimination surveillance and parasite examination., Methods: Thirty negative blood slides were randomly sampled to evaluate coating, dyeing and clean quality and reading results, and 4 laboratory technicians were sampled to evaluate their reading abilities from each prefecture level and its 2 subordinate counties (districts) respectively, and then the results were analyzed., Results: A total of 869 negative blood samples were evaluated. The coincidence rate was 100%. The proportions of good coating, dyeing and clean quality were 96.09%, 91.71% and 96.89%, respectively. Totally 576 blood slides were used to evaluate the reading ability. The number of correct reading was 505, and the correct rate was 87.67%. Among them, the Plasmodium vivax correct reading rate was 87.76%, the P. falciparum correct reading rate was 87.50%, and the correct reading rate of mixed infections was 47.62%. The laboratory technicians' ability to the mixed infections was significantly lower than the ability to the others ( χ 2 = 37.169, P < 0.05), however, in the laboratory technicians' abilities, there was no significant difference among the center (s) for disease control and prevention, general hospitals and township hospitals ( χ 2 = 2.782, P > 0.05), and the prefecture, county and township levels ( χ 2 = 0.358, P > 0.05) ., Conclusions: The 10 prefectures have passed the provincial evaluation in blood slide making and microscopic examination skill indicators requested, but the medical and public health institutions at all levels still should further improve their laboratory technicians' abilities in blood slide making and microscopic examination skills.

Purpose: To evaluate the osseointegration of domestic porous tantalum-niobium(PTa-Nb) alloy., Methods: A total of 36 adult New Zealand rabbits were selected and divided into 3 groups. Pta-Nb rods(3.5 mm×10 mm) were implanted into the femoral condyle of each rabbit.The rabbits were sacrificed successively at 4,8,12 weeks after operation. X-ray, hard tissue slices stained with toluidine blue, scanning electron microscope(SEM), X-ray energy disperse spectroscopy(XEDS) and push-out test were used to test the osseointegration of PTa-Nb. SPSS19.0 software package was used for statistical analysis., Results: X-ray films showed no obvious inflammation,as well as implants loosing and bone resorption. Density of the bone around implants increased. Hard tissue slices displayed chimeric shape in the implant-bone interface. New bone contacted directly to the surface of PTa-Nb and got more and more closer with the increase of healing time. Osteoid formed in the inner pores at 4 weeks after operation,and more mature bone tissue grew into inner part of PTa-Nb at 12 weeks. SEM showed bone tissue was more denser and closer to the Pta-Nb,which was similar to the results of hard tissue slices. XEDS analysis showed the percent content of the calcium and phosphate of the tissue within PTa-Nb increased gradually in the three groups.The ratio of Ca/P at 8 and 12 weeks was significantly higher than at 4 weeks (P<0.05); Push-out test showed the shear-strength of PTa-Nb implants increased from (8.26±0.75) MPa at 4 weeks to (21.04±1.46) MPa at 12 weeks (P<0.05)., Conclusions: The domestic PTa-Nb alloy has good osseointegration with both bone tissue ongrowth and ingrowth,which may be a high potential biomimetic bone material.

Objective: To analyze the related factors of diabetic nephropathy in inpatients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: A total of 300 patients with T1DM who were treated in the Department of Endocrinology of Anhui Provincial Hospital between 2014 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were divided into two groups according to their urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio: non-diabetic nephropathy group ( n =193) and diabetic nephropathy group ( n =107). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was adopted to analyze the factors related to diabetic nephropathy in T1DM, including the age, diabetic duration, body mass index (BMI) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of the two groups. Results: Age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride and uric acid (UA) of diabetic nephropathy group were higher than those of non-diabetic nephropathy group (all P <0.05). The total bilirubin, hemoglobin (Hb) and albumin in non-diabetic nephropathy group were higher than those in diabetic nephropathy group ( P <0.05). The proportion of women in diabetic nephropathy group was higher than non-diabetic nephropathy group (62.6% vs 42.0%, P =0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes duration ( OR =2.142, 95% CI : 1.011-4.539), HbA1c ( OR =1.262, 95% CI : 1.090-1.462), DBP ( OR =1.048, 95% CI : 1.001-1.096), UA ( OR =1.005, 95% CI : 1.001-1.009) and Hb ( OR =0.952, 95% CI : 0.929-0.975) were independent related factors for diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: Positive controlling of blood pressure, blood glucose, hyperuricemia and correcting anemia may reduce the incidence of diabetic nephropathy in T1DM patients.

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the misdiagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to estimate the associated costs. Methods: During October 2015 to December 2015, eighty patients were diagnosed with BPPV in the outpatient dizziness clinic of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and the clinical data of all the 80 patients were collected including the demographic and clinical characteristics, the history of diagnosis, inappropriate diagnostic tests, costs of the medical tests, transportation and accommodation. All the data were investigated to estimate the misdiagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and the associated costs in Shanghai, China. Results: This study showed that the misdiagnosis rate of BPPV was 60.0% (48/80) and the common inappropriate diagnostic tests for BPPV included Cranial CT and MRI test, cervical MRI, cervical and cerebrovascular investigations et al. There was no significant difference between the misdiagnosis patients (48) and patients without misdiagnosis (32) in gender, age, duration of symptom, involved canal and type of BPPV.Complications were significantly more frequent in the misdiagnosis group than for those without[81.3%(39 /48) vs 34.4%(11 /32)]. The estimated costs for each misdiagnosed individual were 8 502.98 China Yuan (CNY) and one-year economic burden associated with the misdiagnosis of BPPV in Shanghai was 13.184 7-78.862 1 million CNY. Conclusions: Our study suggests that the misdiagnosis rate of BPPV is high and the financial impact on patients and society with this disease is huge. The cost-effective Dix-Hallpike or supine roll test maneuver should be used before applying other expensive medical tests in order to minimize misdiagnosis and the waste of health care resources.

Objective: We aimed to explore the spectrum of causes for patients in department of vertigo and dizziness oriented outpatient, in order to provide a reference for diagnosis and treatment of patients with vertigo or dizziness. Methods: Retrospective analysis were carried out with clinical data of patients in our department of vertigo and dizziness oriented outpatient. The target group under study was diagnosed based on the uniform diagnostic criteria, and re-visiting patients were excluded. Results: This clinical study was conducted on 5 348 cases, who visited our vertigo and dizziness oriented outpatient from December 2012 to July 2015. The ratio of male to female was 1∶1.48, the age range was between 16 and 93. The frequencies of different etiology were: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo 1 902(35.56%), Chronic subjective dizziness 1 329(24.85%), vestibular migraine 624(11.67%), Meniere's disease 378(7.07%), multi-sensory neuropathy 231(4.32%), vestibular paroxysmia 177(3.31%), benign recurrent vestibulopathy 171(3.20%), presyncope 66(1.23%), posterior circulation ischemia 57(1.07%), vestibular neuritis 54(1.01%), sudden deafness complicated vertigo 36(0.67%), other reasons 68(1.27%), unknown 255(4.77%). Conclusions: Our study indicates that the precedent three causes for vertigo or dizziness are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, chronic subjective dizziness and vestibular migraine, followed by Meniere's disease、multi-sensory neuropathy, vestibular paroxysmia and benign recurrent vestibulopathy. Presyncope, posterior circulation ischemia, vestibular neuritis and sudden deafness complicated vertigo are relatively infrequent. There are still a certain proportion of patients undetermined.

To research surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect of different diameters’ polystyrene nanospheres (Ag-coated) substrates, we had prepared a new surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate. It was prepared by using spin-coating and self-assembled to form monolayer and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) order colloidal-crystal films with PS nanospheres of different diameters. Then, a 30 nm Ag film was deposited on the PS arrays with magnetron sputtering. We detected Raman scattered spectrum by means of Roman spectroscopy instrument with Rhodamine R6G as a probe molecule, and the conclusion was drawn that all the substrates of Ag-coated PS nanospheres displayed stronger Raman enhancement. With the increase of the diameter of the microspheres, the degree of fluctuation of polystyrene nanospheres array was continuously strengthened (increasing roughness), and the SERS signal was enhanced gradually. The signal peak reached a maximum when the ball diameter was 600 nm, and then we aquired an optimal SERS substrate. Simultaneously, we found that the SERS spectra of R6G of a high signal to noise ratio was obtained on the substrate, and associated with the benzene ring within a range of CC double bond stretching vibration characteristic spectrum and the inner surface and the outer surface deformation vibration characteristic spectra were significantly enhanced. The single and large-scale Raman scattering substrate presents especial nanostructure of high and low distribution. The depth and the gap between different PS microspheres show the obvious differences, which can significantly improve the surface morphology structure of Ag film and Raman scattering effect of PS nanospheres substrate. The substrate presenting special arrays’ structure has significantly great potential in exploring molecule of chemical and biological filed.

The capture and ligation probe-PCR（CLIP-PCR） with pooling strategy method and microscopy were applied on 100 clinical samples（7 positive and 93 negative samples） from the malaria reference laboratory in Yunnan Province. By calculating the detection rate, sensitivity, specificity, detection time and detection cost, the efficacy of the CLIP-PCR with pooling strategy method in detecting Plasmodium spp. was evaluated. The CLIP-PCR with matrix pooling strategy successfully detected Plasmodium spp. in all the 7 positive samples. Its sensitivity and specificity relative to the microscopy as a gold standard were both 100%. The detection time for all the samples by CLIP-PCR was 5.0 h, 85.0% shorter than that by microscopy（33.3 h）, and the detection cost was 300 yuan, 75.0% less than that by microscopy （1 000 yuan）.

Objective: To assess the malaria transmission risk in the border area of Yunnan Province and provide evidence for adjustment of malaria intervention and elimination strategies., Method: Data concerning malaria prevalence, vector distribution, and institutional intervention capacity were collected in 197 towns of 20 counties in the border area of Yunnan Province during 2012-2014. The malaria transmission potential index （TPI）, intervention capacity index (ICI) and malaria risk index (MRI) were calculated for each town, based on the criteria formulated by a professional committee. The towns were categorized according to the indices aforementioned. The risk map was created with GIS software., Results: Based on the TPI, the 197 towns comprised of 2 grade-I towns (including Nabang in Yingjiang and Banlao in Cangyuan) with high transmission potential, 11 grade-II towns with moderate transmission potential and 184 grade-III towns with low transmission potential. Based on the ICI, the 197 towns comprised of 4 grade-III towns (including Zhongke in Ximen, Zhonghe and Diantan in Tengchong, and Menghan in Jinghong) with a weak control capacity, 20 grade-II towns with a moderate control capacity and 173 grade-I towns with a strong control capacity. Based on the MRI, the 197 towns comprised of 2 grade-I towns (including Nabang in Yingjiang, and Banlao in Cangyuan) with a high transmission risk level, 12 grade-II towns with a moderate level and 183 grade-III towns with a low level distributed in 20 counties., Conclusion: The grade I or II towns with moderate and high transmission risk constitute <5% of the 197 towns in the border area, suggesting a relatively low level of malaria transmission risk in most counties.

Objective: To understand the changes of positive rates of IHA detections of outpatients in schistosomiasis clinic., Results: The data of IHA detections of outpatients in schistosomiasis clinic in Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention were collected and analyzed statistically from 2005 to 2014., Results: A total of 7 113 outpatients were detected by IHA test, and 547 of them were positives with a positive rate of 7.69%. The positive rate of IHA test was on an upward slope before 2008, and the rate reached 14.85% in 2008, which was significantly higher than that in 2005 (5.81%) (χ² = 47.40, P < 0.01), then it was on a declined stage after 2008, and the positive rate decreased to 3.76 in 2014, which was significantly lower than that in 2008 (χ² = 12.29, P < 0.01). The positive rate of outpatients in the 10 ~ < 30 years age group was higher than those in other age groups (all P < 0.012 5), and the male positives were more than the female ones., Conclusions: The schistosomiasis endemic situation has been significantly decreased in Hubei Province. The male and people in 10 ~ < 30 age group are the high risk groups, so the targeted health education should be strengthened.

Stress cardiomyopathy is an atypical myocardial disease induced by emotional or physical stress, with the characteristic of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, transient imaging and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. Sudden cardiac death can occur in severe cases. Clinical symptoms are likely to appear on acute myocardial infarction, but the exact pathological mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we perform a systematic review of the literature on the clinical manifestations, epidemiological characteristics, ECG, imaging and laboratory tests of stress cardiomyopathy, in order to provide the values for forensic pathology diagnosis.

Objective: To establish written and electronic archives of Schistosoma japonicum antibody indirect hemagglutination (IHA) tests., Methods: In the process of schistosomiasis screening by IHA, the written records, electronic records, and serum sample bank were combined to make comprehensive archives., Results: The S. japonicum antibody IHA test archives can preserve the schistosomiasis screening data in the long term and even can trace the source of experiments, and the operation was simple., Conclusion: The archives of S. japonicum antibody IHA tests are simple and useful, and worth of popularization.

Objective: To explore the risk and protective factors of kidney calculi in order to put forward theoretical basis for preventive and control measures., Methods: A 1:1 matched case-control study was performed using data from a hospital in Beijing. The case group included 100 inpatients who were diagnosed kidney calculi using B ultrasonic, X-ray and intravenous pyelography during the survey while other 100 urolithiasis and endocrine disease excluded inpatients who shared the same sex, within five years gap to the case group inpatients were for the control group. A face-to-face survey was conducted with self-made questionnaires which covered demographic characteristics, water issues, dietary habits, genetic and medical history. Epidata 3.0 was used to build the database and SPSS 19.0 for the statistical analysis., Results: In the univariate Logistic regression analysis, ten variables were found showing statistical significance. For the multivariate Logistic regression analysis, variables left in the model were labor intensity (OR=0.622, 95%CI: 0.435-0.889), preferring to drink after dinner (OR=0.316, 95%CI: 0.122-0.815), loving drinking (OR=0.232, 95%CI: 0.084-0.642), drinking tea regularly (OR=1.463, 95%CI: 1.033-2.071), eating more vegetables (OR=0.571, 95%CI: 0.328-0.993), the history of the urolithiasis (OR=2.127, 95%CI: 1.065-90.145)., Conclusion: Drinking tea regularly, urolithiasis history and brain work are the risk factors of kidney calculi while loving drinking and eating more vegetables for the protection.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation in the treatment of acute pulpitis., Methods: The study population comprised 72 patients of acute pulpitis treated from September 2012 to March 2013. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, which included experimental group (37 cases) and control group (35 cases). Venham clinical anxiety, cooperative behavior level and WHO clinical pain level evaluation were conducted for the patients. Wilcoxon and Chi-square test were used respectively for statistical analysis with SPSS 14.0 software package., Results: In the experimental group, 86.5% cases behaved comfortable, while in the control group the rate was only 42.9%. 94.6% of the patients in the experimental group felt painless after therapy. The proportion of that in the control group was 68.6%. There was significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.01)., Conclusions: The technique of nitrous oxide/oxygen inhalation sedation provides a safe and effective way to release pain and anxiety during treatment of acute pulpitis, while the long-term clinical result still needs further investigation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of protocatechuic acid on the mRNA expression of APP in double transfected (human APP gene and presenlin-1 gene) Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (M146L)., Methods: Abeta42 overexpressing cell model was established in vitro by culturing Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing amyloid beta-protein precursor and mutant presenilin (M146L). The MTT assay was used to test cytotoxicity of protocatechuic acid, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out to determine the mRNA expression level of APP., Results: The MTT assay showed that protocatechuic acid at suitable concentrations didn't have cytotoxicity on M146L cell survival. Protocatechuic acid at the concentration of 0.25 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L and 1.0 mmol/L significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of APP., Conclusion: The study suggests that the suitable dose of protocatechuic acid could inhibit the mRNA expression of APP in M146L cell,and its mechanism needs further study.

In the present paper, B3LYP (Becke's three-parameter hybrid method with the Lee, Yang, and Parr gradient corrected correlation functional) and HF (Hartree-Fock) methods at 6-31+G* * (C, H, N, O)/LANL2DZ(Ag) level were used to optimize molecular configurations of thymine. Base on the optimized structure, the normal Raman spectrum (NRS) of thymine and the surface-enhanced Raman spectrum (SERS) of thymine adsorbed on Ag and Ag2 were calculated, which were compared with the experimental values. The calculation results indicated that the result of the DFT for NRS was more approximate to the ever reported experimental date than those of HF results. A better conformity of SERS was found between the HF computed and the experimental results. At the end, detailed analysis of the Raman spectrum and more comprehensive assignments of the vibration mode for thymine were studied by the software of GaussView.

One-dimensional CoPt nanorods were obtained through the galvanic displacement reaction and chemical reduction. The average diameter of the nanorods was measured to be about 166.3 nm and the length was mostly between 1.0 and 5.0 microm obtained from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurement. The IR optical properties of the CoPt nanorods and bulk Pt were investigated by in situ FTIR reflection spectroscopy employing CO adsorption as probe reaction at the solid/gas interface. The results of in situ FTIR indicated that bulk Pt shows a normal IR optical property and the CoPt nanorods display abnormal infrared effects (AIREs). The authors can obtain the same results whether the CoPt nanorods were loaded on glassy carbon (GC) or Au substrates. These results demonstrated that the AIREs were generated mainly by CoPt nanorods and the influence of the substrate materials can be neglected. The study confirmed that one-dimensional CoPt nanorods show AIREs, and throw a new sense to comprehend the anomalous IR properties observed on low-dimensional nanomaterials.

Objective: To investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), its ligand RANKL, and osteoprotegerin, and observe the effects of αD3 on their expressions in male rats at different ages., Methods: Wistar rats at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 24 months (n=15) were examined for mRNA expressions of RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin in the left proximal femur using RT-PCR and for their protein expressions in the right femur using immunohistochemistry. RANK/RANKL and osteoprotegerin expressions were also detected in another 15 rats aged 24 months following intragastric administration of 0.05 µg/kg αD3 (3 times a week for 10 weeks)., Results: Compared with 6-week-old rats, 6-month- and 24-month-old rats showed a 6.2-fold and 7.3-fold increase of RANKL mRNA expression, respectively (P<0.05), and osteoprotegerin mRNA levels increased slightly with age. αD3 treatment resulted in significantly increased expression of RANK in 24-month-old rats with a lowered RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio. RANKL and osteoprotegerin were co-localized in the osteoblasts and chondrocytes. αD3 treatment also caused an increased expression of osteoprotegerin mRNA in 24-month-old rats., Conclusion: The age-related increase of the ratio of RANKL/osteoprotegerin mRNA promotes osteoclast activity and bone turnover. αD3 has favorable effect on osteogenesis and suppress bone absorption in the femur possibly by reducing RANK expression and lowering RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between male osteoporosis and the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL) and osteoprotegerin(OPG)-mRNA in male mandible at different ages., Methods: Between May 2008 and January 2009, bone tissues of the mandible were collected as the experimental material from 46 patients suffering from jaw facial deformity and extraction. The patients with periodontist, systemic disorder and smoking as well as drinking were excluded.They were divided into three groups: young group, whose age was 10-29 years old ;middle age group, whose age was 30-59 years old; aged group, whose age was 60-89 years old. The expression of RANKL mRNA and OPG mRNA was examined by real-time PCR. The data was analyzed using ANOVA followed by least significant difference (LSD) test with SPSS16.0 software package., Results: (1)Compared with the young group, RANKL mRNA level in mandible was 2.1-fold and 5.3-fold higher in the middle age and aged groups, respectively, whereas OPG mRNA level was 3.3-fold and 4.8-fold higher in middle age and aged groups, respectively. RANKL and OPG were positively correlated with age.(2)The ratio of RANKL/OPG in middle age group was lower than that of young group and old group,respectively., Conclusions: (1)The expression of RANKL and OPG increases with age remarkably.(2)Bone formation of the mandible is activated in middle aged group. The formation is over absorption.(3)Bone formation of the mandible in aged group is at low level. Bone absorption exceeds bone formation.

Objective: To investigate the effects of tannic acid pretreatment on cardiovascular function during hemorrhagic shock in rats., Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups of shock and tannic acid pretreatment+shock. (1) In vivo experiment: the model of hemorrhagic shock in rats was reproduced by bleeding to 40 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) being maintained for 120 minutes. Tannic acid in the dosage of 5 mg/kg was injected intravenously 10 minutes before hemorrhagic shock in tannic acid pretreatment+shock group. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), myocardial contractility and vascular reactivity were measured before hemorrhagic shock and at 180 minutes after hemorrhagic shock. In another experiment, the rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock and blood reinfusion were injected with norepinephrine (NE) intravenously at 60,120 and 180 minutes, and the vascular reactivity was observed. (2) In vitro experiment: the heart was harvested after shock and fixed on a Langendorff system. The perfusion pressure was maintained at 100 mm Hg. The effects of tannic acid pretreatment on myocardial contractility was observed., Results: (1)In vivo experiment showed that tannic acid pretreatment significantly increased MAP at 60 minutes and 150 minutes, and left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) at 60 minutes, and the heart rate was obviously slowed at 120 minutes, and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was lowered (all P < 0.05). The vascular reactivity was significantly improved at 120 minutes in tannic acid pretreatment+shock group compared with shock group (P < 0.05). (2) In vitro experiment proved that tannic acid pretreatment significantly slowed heart rate at 90 minutes as well as increased +dp/dtmax at 10 minutes and 20 minutes and -dp/dtmax at 10 minutes (all P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Pretreatment with tannic acid improves cardiovascular function following hemorrhagic shock to some extent in rats.

A benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) was developed for application in estuaries health assessment of the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent waters. Benthic macro-invertebrate samples were collected from 41 stream sites (13 non-degraded stations and 28 degraded stations) in the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent waters in July, 2005. The analyses of the range of index value distribution, Pearson correlation and judgment ability were performed on fourteen candidate metrics. Six biological metrics were selected for the establishment of B-IBI, which were Shannon-Wiener index, the species number, total density, total biomass, Carapace Animals density percentage and Echinoderms density percentage. B-IBI was obtained by sum up all these indices after which were transformed into a uniform score by using the ratio scoring method. Base on 50 percentile of B-IBI value in reference sites, the criteria of health ranking was determined. The proposed criteria of benthic-index of biotic integrity were as follows: B-IBI > 2.48 was regarded as health, 1.86-2.48 sub-health, 1.24-1.86 fair, 0.62-1.24 poor, and B-IBI < 0.62 very poor. Assessing with these criteria, the results showed that among the 41 sites in Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent waters, 7 sites were health, 2 sites were sub-health, 8 sites were fair, 8 sites were poor and 16 sites were very poor. An independent data set sampled in June of 2006 was used to validate the index, the results indicated that final combined index correctly classified 89% of stations in the validation data set.

Based on the characteristics of random and fuzziness, and the shortage and imprecision of datum information of water environmental system, environment background value of sediments and concentration of pollution is calculated by means of triangle fuzzy number and fuzzy risk assessment model of the potential ecological risk index is established. Using this method heavy metal pollution and ecological risk in the Yangtze Estuary and its adjacent waters were analyzed. The result shows that the environment of the foundation of the study area is subject to varying degrees of pollution. The pollution extents are correspondingly Cu, Hg, Zn, Pb, As, Cd. RI by that method and the Hakanson ecological risk method is in similar trend. RI of the estuary, turbidity maximum zone and Hangzhou bay is greater than that at outside of the estuary and sea area nearby Zhousan, and the potential ecological risk rate increases one. The assessment result is good in the validation based on the corresponding period macrobenthic community parameters.

Objective: To study the effects of poly-adenosine diphosphate ribosyl-polymerase (PARP) on vascular hyporeactivity during hemorrhagic shock in rats., Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: shock, 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) pretreatment+shock, and sham operation. Bleeding from the femoral artery to induce hemorrhagic shock model. The blood pressure changes following 3 microg/kg norepinephrine (NE) injection were observed in vivo. The response of vascular rings of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to NE was determined ex vivo. The nitrogen monoxide (NO) contents of plasma and tissue homogenate of SMA were measured using the assay kit based on the nitrate reductase reaction., Results: The maximum increase of mean arterial pressure in response to NE immediately following shock in the shock group was significantly lower than in the sham operation group (P<0.01) and the value at 1 hour after blood reinfusion in the shock group was obviously lower than in the 3-AB pretreatment+shock group (P<0.05) and in the sham operation group (P<0.01). The maximum concentration force in the sham operation group [(0.367 1+/-0.221 3)g/mm] was significantly increased than in the 3-AB pretreatment+shock group [(0.286 4+/-0.153 2) g/mm, P<0.05] and in the shock group [(0.185 6+/-0.111 3)g/mm, P<0.01]. The cumulative dose-response curves of SMA to NE shifted to the left, and the contraction force was markedly increased as NE concentration reaching 10(-6), 10(2+) and 10(-5) mol/L in the 3-AB pretreatment+shock group compared to the shock group (all P<0.05). There were no significant difference on plasma NO content among the three groups. However, the NO contents of plasma and tissue homogenate of SMA in the 3-AB pretreatment+ shock group were slightly lower than in the shock group (P>0.05)., Conclusion: PARP is involved in the vascular hyporeactivity in hemorrhagic-shocked rats.

The NS1 gene of the H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus was amplified by RT-PCR, and the am-plified product was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pCMV-Myc, then it was transfected into A549 cells. After 48 h, the expression of NS1 was detected by Western blot. Fluorescence and electron microscopy and flow cytometry showed that the NS1 gene of H5N1 avian influenza virus could induce apop-tosis in human pulmonary carcinoma cell line A549.

Objective: To investigate the effects of monofluorphosphate and alphaD3 on the bone mineral density of mandibular of ovariectomy rats., Methods: 39 female Sprague-Dawley rats about 90 days of age were randomly divided into the following treatment groups and treated for 12 weeks: SHAM group, OVX group, MFP group, MFP+alphaD3 group. Rats of MFP group received monofluorphosphate by gastric feeding. Rats of MFP+alphaD3 group received monofluorphosphate and alphatD3 by gastric feeding. The femur and the mandibles were collected for histomorphometry and bone mineral density measurement., Results: The bone area, bone thick, and bone mineral density of femur in the OVX group were significantly lower than those of other groups, while the trabecular separation of the OVX group was significantly higher than that of other groups. The bone mineral density of mandible was increased in OVX group and MFP+alphaD3 group compared with SHAM group., Conclusion: Monofluorphosphate and alphaD3 can obviously increase the mass of mandible. The bone mineral density of femur decreased after ovariectomy while it increased in mandibular.

Objective: To investigate the effect of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) on the phagocytic function in cultured human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells., Methods: HTM Cells were cultured and subcultured in vitro. The third to fifth passage of HTM cells were treated with different concentrations of IL-1alpha or vehicle in DMEM/F12 medium. 1000 of 0.85 microm microsphere/per cell were added to each well. The morphological changes of HTM cells were observed by an inverted phase-contrast microscope and electron microscope. The cellular phagocytic function of HTM cells was evaluated by counting the numbers of microsphere in 20 HTM cells using a light microscope., Results: The break of HTM cell membrane was found under the electron microscope. The numbers of microsphere in HTM cells was significantly (P = 0.005) reduced in a dose- and incubation time-dependent manner (F = 3.603, P = 0.046, F = 15.846, P = 0.005, respectively)., Conclusions: IL-1alpha affects the phagocytic function of HTM cells that is correlated to the concentration and the incubation time.

TIR (Translation Initiation Region) efficiency is very important in prokaryotic expression. The TIR's efficiency is highly dependent on SD (Shine-Dalgarno) sequence, distance between SD sequence and start codon, DB (Downstream Box) sequence, TIR's second structure, codon adaptation and so on. In this paper, we designed and implemented the software to optimize DB sequence and 5' rare codons. It generated some optimization sequences by analyzing the target sequence and comparing it with 16S RNA. And the optimization sequences is sorting by number of base pairing, location of base pairing and codon adaptation. We drew up the algorithm and the core of code in this paper.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), a member of IL-1 family, is a naturally occurring IL-1 inhibitor as "receptor antagonist", which blocks biological responses mediated by IL-1. Recombinant human IL-1ra (rhIL-1ra, Kineret) was introduced in clinical trials involving patients with RA. Between 2001 to approximately 2002, rhIL-1 ra was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicine Procedure. Unfortunately, 10,000 to 100,000-fold excess amounts of IL-1ra are needed to relieve disease because minimal IL-1 can induce complete biological responses, and the dosage of 100 to approximately 150mg/day in a RA patient is so big that it greatly influence patients' physical, psychological and economical situation. In this study, IL-1ra mutants were established by site-specific mutagenesis to improve its stability. The sites of mutagenesis included R6 K7-AA,R93 K94-AA and K97 R98-AA. IL-1ra and its mutants were expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) using pTIG-Trx expressing system with the induction of IPTG. The recombinant proteins were purified by Ni2+ chelate chromatography and Sephadex G75 gel filtration chromatography. The activity of mutants is as high as IL-1ra. We characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of IL-1ra and its mutants. The third mutant's half life is 2.26 times than wt IL-1ra. The study has provided some approaches and experience for further research to improve the metabolism stability of IL-1ra.

Human transferrin receptor (TfR) was isolated from homogenates of placental tissues by affinity chromatography on transferrin-Sepharose, and then used to screen human scFv against it from a fully-synthesized phage scFv library. After verifying the specificity, gene fragment of one of the selected scFv was inserted into the plasmid pET22b(+) and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) . Expression of scFv in transformant was induced with 0.5mmol/L IPTG. ELISA assay on HeLa cells showed that scFv protein could recognize and bind to TfR on the surface of HeLa cells. The scFv was purified by one-step affinity chromatography with Ni+ -NTA agarose, and injected into Kunming mouse via tail veins. This scFv was detected in brain tissues 1h later by capillary depletion method, which indicates that scFv protein can permeate through the blood brain barrier by mediation of the TfR receptor. Our works lay the foundation for the treatment of tumors and central nervous system diseases.

Objective: To explore the mechanism of tau hyperphosphorylation and the effect of LiCl on tau phosphorylation and the memory retention deficits in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) rats., Methods: The rats were randomly divided into control, DM, DM + NaCl, and DM + LiCl groups and diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was measured by 32P-labelling. The level of tau phosphorylated and changes of memory retention were examined by Western blotting and step down test, respectively., Results: Compared with control group, the activity of GSK-3 and tau phosphorylation was increased, and the memory retention was impaired in DM group. When the rats were treated with LiCl, the activity of GSK-3 and hyperphosphorylation of tau were significantly arrested (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the memory retention deficit was significantly improved (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The hyperphosphorylation of tau can be induced by activation of GSK-3 in diabetic rats. Lithium protects tau from hyperphosphorylation and may rescue memory retention in the rats by inhibiting GSK-3 activity.

Objective: To investigate the activity and role of tryptase after entrance of amniotic fluid into blood in rats., Methods: Thirty female Wistar rats (20 day pregnancy) were divided into the control group (10, injected with normal saline), amniotic group (10, injected with amniotic fluid), meconium group (10, injected with 1% meconium). After injection, pulmonary tissue was taken out. Tryptase activity was measured by special substrate. The histology of pulmonary tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry (HE)., Results: (1) Dropsy, hemorrhage, and infiltration of neutrophil (PMN), macrophage, leukomonocyte were observed in two experimental groups, but no such changes were found in control group. (2) After injection, tryptase activity in meconium group 176.4 +/- 8.6 and amniotic fluid group 165.4 +/- 7.4 was significantly higher than preexperimental groups 146.8 +/- 8.9 and 147.8 +/- 9.5, respectively (t = 7.58 and t = 4.64, P < 0.01); tryptase activity in control group was 145.3 +/- 10.6 before injection and 146.9 +/- 9.4 after injection, respectively, there was no difference (t = 0.37, P > 0.05). After injection, tryptase activity in meconium and amniotic fluid groups was significantly increased than that in control group (F = 30.66, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The activity of tryptase was significantly increased after entrance of amniotic fluid into blood in rats. Degranulation of mast cells to release tryptase may be the important cause of the pathophysiologic change after entrance of amniotic fluid into blood. These results suggest a role for mast cell activation in the mechanism of amniotic fluid embolism. This method is sensitive and effective for diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism in clinic.

Objective: To investigate the alteration of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and glutamate transporter in the brain cortex of diabetes mellitus (DM) rats and the underlying mechanism., Methods: The rats were randomly divided into control, DM, DM +NaCl, and DM +LiCl groups and diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and the function of glutamate transporter were measured by 32P-labelling. The amount of Abeta was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay., Results: In DM group, the level of Abeta40 increased (P < 0.01), but the function of glutamate transporter was impaired (P < 0.05). The activity of GSK-3 was stimulated (P < 0.05). Compared with DM group, the level of Abeta40 was restored (P < 0.01), and the function of glutamate transporter was enhanced (P < 0.05) in LiCl treated group, accompanied by a decreased activity of GSK-3., Conclusion: Overproduction of Abeta and impaired glutamate transporter exist in DM rats, and increase of GSK-3 may play a crucial role in this process.

Objective: To explore the effects of impact injury of liver on myocardial systolic function and arterial blood gases in rabbits., Methods: A model of hepatic impact injury was reproduced in rabbits by hitting the xiphoid area with two falling steel balls. Myocardial systolic function and arterial blood gases were measured respectively before injury, immediately and 0.5, 1, 2 hours after injury, and before the death., Results: After injury, heart rate (HR), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the maximum change rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall (+/-dp/dt max) descended significantly, while left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) showed no statistically significant change. At the same time, blood pH and HCO(3)(-) fell gradually, and negative base excess (BEecf) showed a significant increase, indicating metabolic acidosis gradually developed. There was no obvious significant difference in partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (PaCO(2)) between the values before and after injury. Partial pressure of oxygen in artery (PaO(2)) decreased gradually, but no significant differences were found between the values of 0.5 hour and 1 hour after injury and that before injury., Conclusion: After hepatic impact injury, myocardial systolic function deteriorates, metabolic acidosis appears.

Aim: To investigate the relation among myocardial angiotension II receptor (AT1/AT2) expression, calpain and cardiac function in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF)., Methods: Message RNA (mRNA) expression of AT1/AT2 receptor in myocardial tissue of 39 patients with CHF due to valvular heart disease and 8 control subjects were analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunoprecipitation was used to assay the protein expression of u-calpain and m-calpain., Results: Pathological changes of myocardial tissue in CHF due to valvular heart disease showed typical myocardial remodeling. AT1 receptor mRNA expression was slightly increased in the patients with mild CHF than in the control subjects, but decreased in the moderate and severe CHF patients. No difference was observed in AT2 receptor mRNA expression among all the groups, but the ratio of AT1/AT2 decreased. The protein expression of u-calpain and m-calpain were positively correlated to the levels of cardiac function in patient with CHD., Conclusion: The expression of AT1 receptor is down-regulated in moderate and severe CHF, the dominant receptor subtype is transformed to AT2. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis or death may be induced via AT2 receptor to activate calpain system, leading the deterioration of cardiac function.

Objective: To investigate the roles of PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten)/PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase) signal transduction pathways in myocardium remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF)., Methods: A small amount of papillary muscle tissue was collected during mitral valve displacement from 39 patients of mitral valve disease with CHF, 12 cases with grade II, 15 cases with grade III, and 12 cases with grade IV cardiac function. 30 cases of healthy persons and 8 cases of heart donors who died of accident were included as controls. Pathological examination was conducted. Immunoprecitipation was used to assay the protein expression and phosphorylation of PTEN, PI3K and Akt (protein kinase B), and protein expression of alpha-skeletal-actin in myocardial tissues., Results: Typical myocardial remodeling was shown in the myocardial tissues from the valvular heart disease patients with CHF. Hypertrophy was dominant in the myocardial tissues at early stagy of CHF, the myocardial tissues in the end stage of CHF was characterized by disordered alignment of myocytes, discontinuity and dissolving of cardiac fiber, destroyed subcellular organs, and hyperplasia of interstitial tissue. The protein expression of PTEN [absorbance value (A) ratio of PTEN and beta-actin] in control group was 3.29 +/- 0.11, grade II cardiac function was 2.56 +/- 0.19, grade III was 1.52 +/- 0.35, grade IV was 0.91 +/- 0.10, PTEN protein expressions in CHF groups were lower than that of control group and negatively correlated to the levels of cardiac function (P < 0.05 or 0.01). On the contrary, The phosphorylation of PI3K (PI3K/beta-actin) in control group was 0.21 +/- 0.04, grade II cardiac function was 0.52 +/- 0.09, grade III was 1.12 +/- 0.29, grade IV was 1.62 +/- 0.54; The phosphorylation of Akt (Akt/beta-actin) in control group was 0.75 +/- 0.13, grade II cardiac function was 1.21 +/- 0.34, grade III was 2.45 +/- 0.71, grade IV was 3.55 +/- 0.80; The protein expression of alpha-skeletal-actin (alpha-skeletal-actin/beta-actin) in control group was 0.20 +/- 0.03, grade II cardiac function was 0.41 +/- 0.04, grade III was 0.82 +/- 0.09, grade IV was 1.56 +/- 0.11, their expressions in CHF groups were higher than that of control group and positively correlated to the levels of cardiac function (P < 0.05 or 0.01)., Conclusion: Both the PTEN and PI3K signal pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of myocardial remodeling in CHF patients with valvular heart disease, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial hypertrophy. PTEN may play a negative regulation role in the process of myocardial remodeling.

Objective: To investigate the regulation of calcium sensitive signal substance calpain in signal transduction of myocardial remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure., Methods: All 39 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis disease were selected and 38 cases of healthy persons were included as controls. Cardiac function parameters were measured by echocardiography. The concentration of angiotension II (AngII) in plasma and myocardial tissues was determined by radio immunoassay (RIA). Western blot was used to assay the protein expression of calpain, cain/cabin 1, cain/cabin 1Delta, and calcineurin (CaN) phosphorylation., Results: The AngII concentrations in the plasma and myocardial tissues in patients with CHF were higher than those in the control group. Meanwhile the AngII concentrations positively correlated to the parameters of the cardiac dilation respectively but negatively correlated to the parameters of cardiac function. Pathological changes of myocardial tissues in CHF with valvular heart disease showed typical myocardial remodeling. The hypertrophy was dominant at early stage of CHF, while at the end stage the characteristics include disordered alignment of the myocytes, the discontinuity and dissolving of cardiomyofibrills, destroyed subcellular organs, and the hyperplasia of interstitial tissue. Compared to the control group, u-calpain, m-calpain, and cain/cabin 1Delta protein expression, CaN phosphorylation in myocardial tissues in CHF groups were highly expressed and their expressions were positively correlated to the severity of CHF. The expression of cain/cabin1 deceased and its expression was negatively correlated to the severity of CHF., Conclusion: The degradation of cain/cabin 1 by calpain may play an important role by causing the activation of CaN signal pathway in myocardial remodeling mediated by renin angiotension system in CHF.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and pulmonary injury in amniotic fluid embolism model of rat., Methods: Seventy female Wistar rats were divided into five groups randomly: control group (6), amniotic fluid group (16), amniotic fluid + dexamethasone group (14), meconium group (20) and meconium + dexamethasone group (14). Different amniotic fluid was injected into jugular vein (dexamethasone was injected at 0.1 mg/100 g after entrance of amniotic fluid into blood) and blood pressure was examined. Pulmonary tissue was taken at 60 minutes. NF-kappaB activity was measured by Western-blot and percentage of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells in pulmonary tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry (HE)., Results: Dropsy, bleeding and neutrophil (PMN), macrophage, leukomonocyte infiltration were seen in four experimental groups. But none was found in control group. NF-kappaB activity in meconium group was 438,698 +/- 13,092, higher than those in amniotic fluid group, 377,982+/- 7,445, and in control group, 267,691 +/- 12 382 (F = 11.3, P < 0.01). With dexamethasone treatment, NF-kappaB activity was decreased, which was 308,826 +/- 13,771 in amniotic group and 339,516 +/- 17,358 in meconium group, respectively (t = 20.4 and t = 13.84, P < 0.01). Percentage of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells was higher in meconium group, 49.1 +/- 7.0, than in amniotic fluid group, 33.3 +/- 2.7, and control group, 13.3 +/- 2.1 (F = 1.17, P < 0.01). With dexamethasone treatment, the percentage decreased significantly to 22.9 +/- 3.0 and 21.4 +/- 3.6, respectively (t = 6.75 and t = 10.1, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: NF-kappaB activity and percentage of NF-kappaB p65 positive cells are increased significantly, which is associated with pulmonary injury after entrance of amniotic fluid into blood and dexamethasone could inhibit NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus to degrade NF-kappaB activity and alleviate pulmonary injury. NF-kappaB may be relevant to the occurrence and development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the changes in systemic and local vascular reactivity following hemorrhagic shock of different severity and the therapeutic effect of alpha opioid receptor antagonist ICI174,864., Methods: Fifty-six Wistar rats were used in two experiments. In experiment I, 32 rats were equally divided into sham operation group, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours hypotension groups. In the latter groups, rats were bled to a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of 40 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and maintained at this level for 1, 2, 3 hours, respectively. The pressor response of blood pressure and the contractile response of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) to norepinephrine(NE, 3 ug/kg) were observed after shed blood was reinfused. In experiment II, 24 rats were divided into shock control, ICI174,864 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg groups. The response of blood pressure and SMA contractility to NE (3 microg/kg) were observed at 1, 2, and 4 hours after ICI174,864 administration., Results: Following hemorrhagic shock, the systemic and local (SMA) vascular responsiveness was significantly decreased significantly and it was time dependent. Shed blood reinfusion alone did not restore the decreased vascular reactivity. ICI174,864 improved the decreased vascular reactivity in dose-dependent manner., Conclusion: Hemorrhagic shock can induce systemic and local vascular hyporeactivity. The decreased vascular reactivity is closely associated with the severity and duration of shock. Loss of systemic vascular reactivity parallels to that of the regional vessel. delta opioid receptor antagonist ICI174,864 has some beneficial effect in improving vascular hyporeactivity.

N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels are critical for pain transduction and modulation. These channels are highly present at the presynaptic terminals of nociceptive neurons in dorsal horn of the spinal cord where they regulate the release of the key pro-nociceptive neurotransmitters such as glutamate and substance P. Consistent with this, the selective blockers of the N-type channels are powerful analgesics, and, mice lacking the N-type Ca(v)2. 2 subunit have higher pain thresholds compared to wild-type. The N-type channels are also present at synapses in the autonomic system and the central nervous system, the inhibition of these synapses is the main reason of the side effects in analgesic therapy with current N-type channel blockers. Recently, a unique splice isoform of the N-type channels was found exclusively expressed at the nociceptive neurons in dorsal root ganglia, which may represent a novel target for pain management.

Objective: To study the effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in combination with hypertonic saline/dextran (7.5% NaCl + 6% Dextran 40, HSD ) on hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema in the rats which were recently brought to high altitude., Methods: Forty-nine SD rats, transported to Lasa, Tibet, which was 3,760 meters above the sea level, were anesthetized one week later with sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema was induced by hemorrhage (50 mm Hg maintained for 1 hour,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) plus intravenous injection of oleic acid (50 microl/kg). They were equally divided into seven groups (n=7): normal control, hemorrhagic shock, hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema (HSPE), HSPE plus TRH (5 mg/kg), HSPE plus HSD (4 ml/kg), and HEPE plus TRH and HSD in combination. Hemodynamic parameters including mean arterial blood pressure(MAP), left intraventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and the maximal change rate of intraventricular pressure rise or decline (+/- dp/dt max) were observed at 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes, blood gases were analyzed at 30 and 120 minutes, and the water content of lung and brain was determined at 120 minutes after drug administration., Results: TRH or HSD used alone or in combination significantly increased MAP, LVSP and +/- dp/dt max (P<0.05 or P<0.01 ), ameliorated acid-base imbalance, and decreased the water content of lung and brain. The effect of the two in combination was superior to either drug used alone., Conclusion: TRH in combination with HSD can be used in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema at high altitude.

Objective: To study the effects of different volumes of fluid resuscitation on hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema at high altitude in the unacclimated rat., Methods: One hundred and twenty-six SD rats transported to Lasa, Tibet, 3 760 meters above the sea level, were anesthetized one week later with sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). Hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema model was induced by hemorrhage (50 mm Hg for 1 hour, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) plus intravenous injection of oleic acid (50 microl/kg). Experiments were then conducted in two parts. Sixty-three rats in part I were equally divided into nine groups (n=7): normal control, hemorrhagic shock control, hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema (HSPE) without fluid infusion, HSPE plus infusing lactated Ringer's solution (LR) with 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2- or 3- fold volume shed blood, and 1 volume of LR plus mannitol (10 ml/kg). Hemodynamic parameters including mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), left intraventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and the maximal change rate of intraventricular pressure rise or decline (+/- dp/dt max) were observed at 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after infusion, blood gases were measured at 30 and 120 minutes after infusion and the water content of lung and brain was determined at 120 minutes after infusion. In part II, additional 63 rats were used to observe the effect of different volumes of fluid resuscitation on survival time of HSPE rats., Results: 0.5 volume of LR infusion significantly improved MAP, LVSP and +/- dp/dt max, prolonged the survival time of HSPE animals (all P<0.01), while it did not increase the water content of lung and brain and had no marked influence on blood gases. One volume of LR infusion slightly improved hemodynamic parameters, prolonged the survival time and increased the water content of lung. More than 1 volume of LR infusion including 1.5-, 2- and 3- fold volume LR deteriorated the hemodynamic parameters and decreased the survival time of shocked animal, meanwhile they apparently increased the water content of lung. One volume of LR plus mannitol (10 ml/kg) infusion did not improve the hemodynamic parameters and blood gases; also it did not decrease the water content of lung., Conclusion: The tolerance to fluid infusion for the unacclimated animal subjected to hemorrhagic shock with pulmonary edema at high altitude is significantly decreased. 0.5-1 volume of LR infusion appears to be beneficial effect on resuscitation at high altitude, while over 1 volume of LR infusion would aggravate pulmonary edema and exacerbate fluid resuscitation effect.