[Chronic effects on the prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation treated with amiodarone, segmental pulmonary vein ablation, or amiodarone plus losartan: a prospective cohort study].

Objective: This study was designed to compare clinical efficacy of segmental pulmonary vein ablation (SPVI), amiodarone or amiodarone plus losartan on sinus rhythm maintenance in patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: Patients with lone PAF were treated with amiodarone alone (A, n = 52), segmental pulmonary vein isolation (SPVI, n = 51), or amiodarone plus losartan (AL, n = 51). The primary endpoint of this study was the incidence of symptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmia (> 30 s) documented by 12 lead ECG or Holter during 12 months follow-up period.

Increased pathogenesis and inflammation of airways from respiratory syncytial virus infection in T cell deficient nude mice.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is ubiquitous and leads to various outcomes between immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. This study aimed to compare RSV infection and inflammatory responses between immunocompetent BALB/c mice and immunodeficient nude mice. RSV titers in both infected BALB/c mice and nude mice peaked on the third day post-inoculation, but the nude mice had longer lasting and higher levels of viral replication.

[Inducement effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on apoptosis of human bladder transitional cell carcinoma cell line EJ].

Objective: To explore the effect of Rg3 on inhibiting and inducing apoptosis of bladder cancer cells.

Method: The bladder cancer cell line EJ was treated with Rg3 of various concentrations. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.

[Electron microscopic analysis of biofilm on tracheal tubes removed from intubated neonates and the relationship between bilofilm and lower respiratory infection].

Objective: Mechanical ventilation support is a very important method for the salvage of serious patients. However, it can result in the formation of an adherent matrix of bacteria on the surfaces of implanted materials which is termed "biofilm". Biofilm is dense bacterial communities attached to a solid surface and surrounded by an exopolysaccharide matrix.

[Energy intake of infants at the age of 4-12 months].

Objective: To investigate the total energy intake, the energy from milk and other foods in the infants aged 4 to 12 months and analyze the factors related to the energy intake.

Methods: Totally 132 infants aged 4 months, who were brought for serial measurements to the Department of Primary Child Care, from November 2004 to March 2005 were enrolled into this study and were serially followed up until 12 months of age. The infants were divided into 3 groups, group A, age 4-5 months; group B, age 6-8 months; group C, age 9-12 months.

Fluctuation of circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer by real-time fluorescent quantitative-PCR approach before and after radiotherapy.

Background And Aims: The failure to reduce the mortality of patients with solid tumours is mainly a result of the early dissemination of cancer cells to secondary site, which is usually missed by conventional diagnostic procedures used for tumour staging. The possibility to use easily accessible body fluids as a source for circulating tumour cells (CTCs) detection enables longitudinal observations of the disease. In the study, we evaluated the CTCs in lung cancer following locoregional radiation therapy.

[Anatomical study of anterior approach screw fixation through C2 vertebral body into C1 lateral mass and its primary clinical application].

Objective: To explore the anatomic basis for the anterior approach screw fixation through the C2 vertebral body into the C1 lateral mass and to investigate its primary clinical application.

Methods: Twenty-one adult corpse specimens were anatomically measured. The minimum lateral angle a, the maximum lateral angle beta, and the maximum posterior angle gamma were calculated based on the data from the anatomic measurement.

[Relationship between body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure among 5246 residents in Chongqing area].

Objective: To explore the relationship between body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure among residents in Chongqing area.

Methods: A total of 5246 residents aged 15 and over in Chongqing area were enrolled in this study by use of stratified sampling and cluster sampling methods. Data on blood pressure (SBP, DBP), pulse, height, body weight, waist and hip circumferences as well as questionnaire survey were analyzed.

[Chaotic analysis on cardiac systems of normal pregnant rats and fetuses].

Unlabelled: This investigation was made to explore the chaotic characteristics of cardiac system and differences of autonomic nervous system development of normal pregnant rats and fetuses. The electrocardiograms, chaotic graphics and digital characteristics of heart period signal (HPS) of normal pregnant rats and fetuses by day 21st were evaluated with a computerized HPS extracting and analyzing system.

Results: (1) The mean values of frequency and voltage of fetal rats electrocardiograms were lower than those of pregnant rats significantly (P < 0.

[The structure and viability analysis of corneal epithelial flap in the rabbit cornea after Epi-LASIK].

Objective: To evaluate the changes of ultrastructure and viability in the rabbit corneal epithelial flap after Epi-LASIK (epiploic laser in-situ keratomileusis) surgery and its effect on keratocyte apoptosis and proliferation of peripheral corneal epithelium (out of corneal epithelial flap).

Methods: Fifty-eighty eyes of 29 New Zealand rabbits were used, Epi-LASIK was performed in 28 eyes and Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was carried out in 24 eyes. treated-eyes were randomly divided into four groups and were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5, 7 days after surgery, six eyes without treatment were served as blank controls.

[The expression of ubiquitin in the healing process of incised wounds of rat's skin and its significance to forensic medicine].

Objective: To evaluate the changes of ubiquitin expression in incised wounds of the rat skin.

Methods: The testing rat groups were subjected to incised skin wounds, with normal rat skin used as control. The expression level of ubiquitin was assessed using immunohistochemistry and imaging analysis technique on skin samples taken at 1, 3, 6, 12h, and on day 1, 3, 6, 10, and 14d after injury.

[Expression and clinical significance of chemokine receptor 4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To study the expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) protein and mRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to evaluate the relationship between the expression of CXCR4 protein and the clinicopathology factors, and lymph node metastasis of OSCC.

Methods: The expression of CXCR4 protein in 64 cases of OSCC was examined by immunohistochemical technique (SABC), and the expression CXCR4 mRNA in 40 cases of OSCC studied by in situ hybridization, and its relation to cliniopathological parameter was also analyzed.

Results: CXCR4 mRNA and CXCR4 were positively expressed in OSCC, and the positive expression rate of CXCR4 protein was 62.

[Effect of lipoteichoic acid of Bifidobacterium on survivin and its regulatory genes].

Objective: The aim of this study is designed to explore the anti-tumor effect of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Bifidobacterium on the expression of survivin in colon cancer LoVo cells and its possible regulatory mechanism.

Methods: The changes of survivin mRNA and protein in LoVo cells treated with LTA of Bifidobacterium were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Meanwhile, the expressions of pAKT (the key protein kinase in P13K/AKT signal transduction pathway), p53 and PTEN were measured by Western blot.

[Inhibitiory action of asiaiticoside on collagen-induced arthritis in mice].

The study is to investigate the effect of asiaticoside on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The model of CIA mice was prepared and the change of secondary paw swelling and the arthritis scores were observed. In vitro proliferation of spleen cells was examined using MTT assay.

[Analysis of neutralizing activity of sera from 0 to 6 years old children in Chongqing area against human metapneumovirus].

Objectives: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been identified as one of the most important viral pathogens for acute respiratory tract infections in children. This study was to observe neutralizing activity to hMPV in sera collected from children without respiratory illnesses aged 0 to 6 years and to investigate the correlation between the level of hMPV IgG antibody and neutralizing activity in the same serum.

Methods: Sera of 0 to 3 years old children were collected from patients hospitalized for surgery without documented respiratory illnesses, and sera of 3 to 6 years old children were remainder of serum specimens taken for health checkup.

[Effect of TSPG on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cell into dopaminergic neuron].

Objective: To investigate the effects of total saponins of panax ginseng (TSPG) on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cell (NSC) into dopaminergic neuron.

Method: Isolation, cultivation and identification of human embryonic NSC from cerebral cortex of 7-12 week abortus. By using flow cytometry and MTT assay, the effects of various concentration of TSPG and TSPG cooperating with cytokines( EGF, bFGF) in NSC culture media for 3 days on proliferation of human embryonic NSC has studied.

Signaling adaptor protein Crk is indispensable for malignant feature of glioblastoma cell line KMG4.

Signaling adaptor protein Crk has been shown to be involved in pathogenesis of human cancers including brain tumor where Crk was reported to be overexpressed. In this study, we addressed whether Crk is indispensable for malignant phenotype of brain tumor. In 20 surgical specimens of glioma, mRNA of both CrkI and CrkII was found to be elevated in malignant tumor.

[Proteomic analysis of mitochondrial proteins in hydroxycamptothecin-treated SMMC-7721 cells].

Objective: To investigate the differentially expressed mitochondrial proteins in hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-treated SMMC-7721 cells by comparative proteomic analysis.

Methods: Apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells were induced by using HCPT and their mitochondria were isolated with a mitochondria isolation kit for cultured cells. Three different solubility protein fractions were extracted with ReadyPrep Sequential Extraction Kit and were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE).

[The study on the relationship between Rsa I, Alu I polymorphism of the estrogen receptor beta gene and unknown aetiology hypomenorrhea].

Objective: To study the relationship between estrogen receptor beta gene (ER beta) polymorphism and unknown aetiology hypomenorrhea in Southwestern China .

Methods: One hundred eumenorrhea women were chosen as control group and another 100 hypomenorrhea patients as case group from Southwestern China. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the Rsa I and Alu I in ER beta gene was analysed.

[Inducing liver-derived dendritic cell proliferation by plasmid-IL-3 and CD40L genes in mice in vivo].

Objectives: Try to induce liver-derived dendritic cells proliferation by plasmid-IL-3 and CD40L genes in mice in vivo.

Methods: Rapid tail-vein injection of large amounts of plasmid-carrying genes was performed to transfect genes in mice livers. Liver nonparenchymal cells were isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation.

[The effect of HCV NS5A protein on HCV IRES-dependent translation in HepG2 cells].

Objective: To study the effect of HCV NS5A protein on HCV IRES-dependent translation in HepG2 cells.

Methods: HepG2 cells were co-transfected with a plasmid vector containing a bicistronic transcript carrying Renilla luciferase and firefly luciferase genes separated by HCV IRES sequences, and an expressing vector producing the NS5A protein. The luciferase activity and the mRNA of the luciferase gene were then detected.