[Isolation of human metapneumovirus from children with acute respiratory tract infection in Chongqing, China].

Objective: To isolate and characterize the newly discovered human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Chongqing, China and elucidate the clinical manifestations of hMPV infection.

Methods: Eighty-six patients hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infection in Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences from December 2004 to July 2005 were enrolled in the present study. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected for screening for common respiratory viruses by direct immunofluorescence assay, including respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus types A and B, parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3 and adenovirus, and for inoculating onto Vero-E6 and LLC-MK2 cells for hMPV isolation.

[Time varied stress effects on the shape-alteration of myoblast in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of time varied stress on the shape-alteration of myoblast in rats and to provide a theoretic base to determine the mechanics of myoblast in orthodontic therapy.

Methods: Based on the pulsatile mechanical system our group founded, this study loaded different strain (2.5 kPa, 5.

[Clinical and epidemiological features of the five kinds of new epileptic syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the clinical and epidemiological feature of the five kinds of new epilectically syndrome.

Method: A retrospective study was conducted, by computer inquiry and manual retrieval, on 5300 patients with complete history records who had been followed up regularly in the epilepsy center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University in the past 20 years to discover the cases that could be diagnosed as with the five kinds of new epileptic syndromes.

Results: Survey was finished in 4894 of the 5300 patients.

[Primary clinical study on using end-to-end neurorrhaphy following rapid nerve expansion to repair facial nerve defect].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of end-to-end neurorrhaphy following rapid expansion of the nerve in repairing facial nerve defect.

Methods: From August 2000 to February 2005, 9 patients suffering from facial nerve defect were treated by the surgical method. The defect was caused by traffic injury(4 cases) , by cutting injury (2 cases) and falling wound (1 case).

Upregulation of PHLDA2 in Dicer knockdown HEK293 cells.

It has been reported that RNAi-dependent chromatin silencing in vertebrates is not restricted to the centromeres. To address whether RNAi machinery could regulate the chromatin structure of imprinted genes, we knocked down Dicer in HEK293 cells and found that the expression of PHLDA2, one of the several genes in the imprinted gene domain of 11p15.5, was specifically upregulated.

Double spectral theorem and two type magnitude-squared coherence functions.

Studying frequency domain representation for the coherence between two signals is an important basic theoretical problem in the fundamental theories of signal processing. However, the old magnitude-squared coherence function (OMSCF) has been proved identical to 1, so that to cannot be used to extract any coherence information. Here, we will prove a core theorem in frequency domain coherence theories in signal processing, called as the double spectral theorem (DST).

The new magnitude coherence functions and their properties sensitive to phase.

Because magnitude-squared coherence function (MSCFs) could lose some phase information, based on the core theorem for the frequency domain coherence in signal processing, called as double spectral theorem, we present the two types of new magnitude coherence functions (MCFs) in order to extract the coherence between two signals and give the conditions that they are equal to 0 or +1 or -1. Here, we further study their properties sensitive to initial phases of two signals and phase difference between two signals. Studying demonstrated that the two type MCFs not only reflect frequency domain coherence of two signals, but also reflect the phase relationship between two signals.

Double Spectral theorem and Two Type Magnitude Coherence Functions.

Studying frequency domain representation for the coherence between two signals is an important basic theoretical problem in the fundamental theories of signal processing. However, magnitude-squared coherence function (MSCFs) could lose some phase information. Based on the core theorem in the frequency domain coherence theories, called as double spectral theorem (DST), we presented the two types of new magnitude coherence functions (MCFs), called as the same type magnitude coherence function (SMCF) and the difference magnitude coherence function (DMCF) respectively, which had been mathematically derived from DST and the conditions that they are equal to 1 or -1 or 0 were theoretically derived from DST.

The new magnitude-squared coherence functions and their properties sensitive to phase.

Based on the core theorem of the frequency domain coherence in signal processing, called as double spectral theorem, we presented the two types of new magnitude-squared coherence function (MSCFs) in order to extract the coherence between two signals and gave the conditions that they are equal to 1 or 0. Here, we further studied their properties sensitive to initial phases of two signals and phase difference between two signals. Studying demonstrated that the two type MSCFs not only reflect frequency domain coherence of two signals, but also reflect phase relationship between two signals.

Effect of mid-late mouse fetus' microenvironment on the growth of tumor cells after intrauterine transplantation.

Successful intrauterine transplantation (IUT) of stem cells for treatment of fetal defects in some animal models of human diseases has prompted us to study the mechanisms of transplantation, immunological tolerance and embryonic environment. The objective of this study was to determine whether intrauterine transplantation of tumor cells would affect the survival and growth of the tumor cells themselves as well as fetus development. A total of 2 x 10(6) H(22) cells or S(180) cells were transplanted into the amniotic or abdominal cavity of NIH mice on D9-D12 or D13-D18 of gestation.

[Progress of the study on endotoxin tolerance mechanisms].

Endotoxin tolerance has been attracted for more than 50 years, but so far its molecular mechanisms remain to be resolved. TLR4, the major receptor for LPS, was found to be involved in LPS signaling transduction and to have a close relationship with endotoxin tolerance. Quantitative, structural and functional changes of receptors, adaptor proteins and transcription factors in TLR4 signaling pathways might have effects on the decrease in proinflammatory cytokines, increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines and activation of special signaling pathways (such as PI3K pathways) as well as some negative regulation factors (SHIP1,SOCS, FLN29, et al) during the development of endotoxin tolerance.

[Immune response to HSP70-HBcAg(18-27) complex in HBV transgenic mice].

Objectives: To study the cellular immune response to HSP70-HBcAg(18-27) complex in HBV transgenic mice.

Method: HSP70-HBcAg(18-27) complex was reconstituted in vitro, then it was injected into HBV transgenic mice to observe the cellular immune response. At the same time, we investigated whether HSP70-HBcAg(18-27) complex could generate antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in spleen cells.

[Investigation of entecavir medication of chronic hepatitis B patients in the Chongqing area who failed lamivudine treatment].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) in treating lamivudine refractory chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: This was part of a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized (4:1) and placebo-controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of ETV (1.0 mg once q.

[Screening of differentially expressed genes in rats with cardiomyopathy after bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation].

Objective: Earlier studies have confirmed that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can transdifferentiate into myocytes and improve heart function in 2 weeks. But the mechanism is not clear. In this study, the mechanism of improvement of heart function after transplantation of MSCs was examined with suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH).

[Study on allergenicity of fresh HAM for type I hypersensitivity].

To investigate whether human amniotic membrane (HAM) preparations have the possibility to type I hypersensitivity and its allergenicity. In systemic active allergic test model, 30 guinea pigs were equally divided into three groups. Each 10 guinea pigs were immunized with fresh HAM homogenate, albumen solution (positive control) and PBS (negative control).

Development of a novel quantitative real-time assay using duplex scorpion primer for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis.

A novel quantitative real-time PCR method using the duplex scorpion primer for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was developed and validated. The assay employs a duplex primer; its most important feature is the intramolecular probe-target interaction. The assay had many prominent characteristics.

Wnt signaling and human diseases: what are the therapeutic implications?

Wnt signaling plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. De-regulation of these signaling pathways has been implicated in many human diseases, ranging from cancers to skeletal disorders. Wnt proteins are a large family of secreted factors that bind to the Frizzled receptors and LRP5/6 co-receptors and initiate complex signaling cascades.

[The effectiveness of endoscopic variceal ligation in patients with different grades of liver function].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in patients with different grades of liver function.

Methods: MELD scores were determined for 156 patients before their EVL operations. After the EVL these patients were followed-up and their survival rates were analyzed.

High-fat- and lipid-induced insulin resistance in rats: the comparison of glucose metabolism, plasma resistin and adiponectin levels.

Aims: In animal models, both an acute elevation in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) via intravenous infusion of a lipid emulsion and a chronic elevation in plasma FFA via high-fat feeding have been shown to induce skeletal muscle and liver insulin resistance. However, there have been very few studies comparing the effects of high-fat- and lipid-induced insulin resistance on glucose metabolism and adipocytokines.

Methods: In the current study, we used lipid infusion and a high-fat feed in combination with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique to assess the impact of acute and chronically elevated FFA levels on overall glucose metabolism and insulin action; two adipocytokines, resistin and adiponectin, were used.

Expression of tumor antigens and heat-shock protein 70 in breast cancer cells after high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation.

Background: Previous results have shown that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation can potentially activate a host antitumor immunity. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the tumor antigens expressed on breast cancer cells may be preserved after HIFU treatment, and to explore the potential mechanisms regarding the enhanced antitumor response.

Methods: The primary lesion in 23 patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer were treated with HIFU, then submitted to modified radical mastectomy.

Changes and relations of circulating visfatin, apelin, and resistin levels in normal, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetic subjects.

Visfatin and apelin are two novel adipocyte- secreted hormone proposed to link obesity with insulin resistance. In this study we investigated whether plasma visfatin and apelin levels were altered in normal, impaired glucose tolerance, and type 2 diabetic subjects. We also assessed the association between plasma visfatin, or apelin and body composition, metabolic parameters, and resistin concentrations in these subjects.

Protein kinase C-beta 1 gene variants are not associated with autism in the Irish population.

Some evidences indicate that protein kinase C-beta 1 (PRKCB1) gene may be a predisposition locus of autism. A recent study reported evidence of association between autism and two haplotypes made up of six noncoding single nucleotide polymorphisms in the PRKCB1. To attempt replication of their findings, we examined the same six single nucleotide polymorphisms of PRKCB1 in 171 Irish autism trios.

[Efficacy of adriamycin, etoposide plus ifosfamide on small cell lung cancer--a retrospective analysis of 69 cases treated in Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Bordeaux].

Background & Objective: Combined chemotherapy is the major therapeutic principle for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Adriamycin, etoposide plus ifosfamide (AVI) regimen has been used to treat SCLC for more than 10 years in Service of Respiratory Diseases, CHU de Bordeaux. This study was to analyze retrospectively the efficacy of AVI regimen on SCLC, and observe the adverse events.