[Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatopulmonary syndrome: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To summarize the clinical features and prognosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in children. Methods: The clinical data of a child who had Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS treated at the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in December 2016 was analyzed retrospectively. Taking "Budd-Chiari syndrome" and "hepatopulmonary syndrome" in Chinese or English as the keywords, literature was searched at CNKI, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Database and PubMed up to July 2023. Combined with this case, the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS in children under the age of 18 were summarized. Results: A 13-year-old boy, presented with cyanosis and chest tightness after activities for 6 months, and yellow staining of the skin for 1 week. Physical examination at admission not only found mild yellow staining of the skin and sclera, but also found cyanosis of the lips, periocular skin, and extremities. Laboratory examination showed abnormal liver function with total bilirubin 53 µmol/L, direct bilirubin 14 µmol/L, and indirect bilirubin 39 µmol/L, and abnormal blood gas analysis with the partial pressure of oxygen of 54 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), the partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 31 mmHg, and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient of 57 mmHg. Hepatic vein-type Budd-Chiari syndrome, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension were indicated by abdominal CT venography. Contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (CE-TTE) was positive. After symptomatic and supportive treatment, this patient was discharged and received oxygen therapy outside the hospital. At follow-up until March 2023, there was no significant improvement in hypoxemia, accompanied by limited daily activities. Based on the literature, there were 3 reports in English while none in Chinese, 3 cases were reported. Among a total of 4 children, the chief complaints were dyspnea, cyanosis, or hypoxemia in 3 cases, and unknown in 1 case. There were 2 cases diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS at the same time due to respiratory symptoms, and 2 cases developed HPS 1.5 years and 8.0 years after the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome respectively. CE-TTE was positive in 2 cases and pulmonary perfusion imaging was positive in 2 cases. Liver transplantation was performed in 2 cases and their respiratory function recovered well; 1 case received oxygen therapy, with no improvement in hypoxemia; 1 case was waiting for liver transplantation. Conclusions: The onset of Budd-Chiari syndrome with HPS is insidious. The most common clinical manifestations are dyspnea and cyanosis. It can reduce misdiagnosis to confirm intrapulmonary vascular dilatations with CE-TTE at an early stage. Liver transplantation is helpful in improving the prognosis.

[Association between remnant cholesterol levels and incident diabetic retinopathy in middle-aged and older patients with diabetes].

Objective: To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in middle-aged and older individuals with diabetes. Methods: Based on the Shanghai Nicheng Cohort Study database, the data of 1 255 individuals with diabetes aged 55-70 years at baseline (2013-2014) with complete fundus photographs and serum cholesterol data in Nicheng, Shanghai, were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between baseline RC level and incident DR. Results: The median age of the subjects was 61.9 years, and 60.4% were women. After a 4.6-year follow-up, 79 (6.3%) patients developed DR, including 50 (4.0%) mild non-proliferative DR and 29 (2.3%) referable DR (RDR). Multivariable logistic regression showed that each mmol/L increase of RC was associated with a 40% higher risk of RDR (RR=1.40, 95%CI 1.03-1.90). Compared with the lowest tertile of RC (<0.63 mmol/L), the risk of RDR in the highest tertile (≥0.85 mmol/L) increased by 4.59 times (RR=5.59, 95%CI 1.51-20.73). Conclusion: The RC level may help identify individuals at high risk of incident RDR in middle-aged and older Chinese adults with diabetes.

[Study of development of public health safety literacy scale in China].

Objective: To develop a suitable scale for assessing the public health safety literacy in residents in China. Methods: The initial scale of Chinese public health safety literacy was developed through theoretical conceptualization, item pooling, field verifying and item inclusion and exclusion. Then the initial scale was converted into an electronic questionnaire. A total of 2 809 residents from 4 provinces were randomly selected for field testing. Classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) were used for item reduction. SPSS 23.0 was used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and unidimensional testing. Package R 4.1.1 ltm and mirt were used for the analysis of the psychometric properties of items and generate the ICC, IIC and TIF. Results: The initial scale had 30 items (B1-B30), and the test took 9.8 s to complete one item averagely. According to the CTT, B2 was deleted due to coefficient of total correlation (CITC) <0.3 and the item-dimension correlation coefficient (IDCC) <0.4. B23 was deleted due to CITC<0.3, IDCC<0.4 and difficulty index (W) <0.2. B30 was deleted due to CITC<0.3 and W<0.2. The total Cronbach's α of the scale was 0.923 after deletion. EFA indicated that 14 items should be deleted due to lower factor loadings <0.7. EFA was conducted for remaining 13 items and 2 common factors were extracted, the factor loadings of all items were >0.7, the accumulated variance contribution of the 2 common factors was 63.361%, and the total Cronbach's α was 0.891, showing unidimensionality, IRT was used to test the remaining items. B14 and B20 were deleted due to discrimination coefficient (a) <0.3, difficulty threshold coefficient (b) ∉[-3,3], the small amount of information and the flat, crowded, non-monotonic ICC, and IIC. Finally, the Cronbach's α of the 11-itemed scale was 0.936 with TLI=0.97, CFI=0.99, and RMSEA=0.03. Conclusion: The final scale has good reliability, validity, discrimination, difficulty level and feasibility, and can be applied for the rapid assessment of public health safety literacy in China.

Tau Pathologies Mediate the Associations of Vascular Risk Burden with Cognitive Impairments in Non-demented Elders: The CABLE Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggested that vascular dysfunction might increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying mechanisms still remain obscure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of vascular risk burden with AD core pathologies and investigate the effects of AD core pathologies on relationships between vascular risk burden and cognitive impairments. DESIGN: The Chinese Alzheimer's Biomarker and LifestyLE (CABLE) study was principally focusing on aging, as well as the risk factors and biomarkers of AD initiated in 2017. SETTING: The CABLE study was a large cohort study established in Qingdao, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 618 non-demented elders were obtained from CABLE study. MEASUREMENTS: The general vascular risk burden was assessed by the Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score (FGCRS). Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations of FGCRS with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers and cognition. Casual mediation analyses were performed to investigate the mediating effects of AD biomarkers on cognition. RESULTS: Increased FGCRS was related to higher levels of CSF total tau (t-tau, p < 0.001), phosphorylated tau (p-tau, p < 0.001) as well as the ratio of t-tau and amyloid-ß 42 (t-tau/Aß42, p = 0.010), and lower Chinese-Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (CM-MMSE, p = 0.010) score. Stratified analysis indicated that age modified the associations, with FGCRS being significantly associated with tau pathology (p < 0.001 for t-tau and p-tau) in middle-aged group (<65 years old), instead of older group. The influences of FGCRS on cognitive impairments were partially mediated by tau pathologies (a maximum proportion of 20.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Tau pathology might be a pivotal mediator for effects of vascular risk on cognitive decline. Early and comprehensive intervention for vascular risk factors might be a potential approach to delaying or preventing cognitive impairment and AD.

[Study on the development of public health and safety literacy assessment scale for university freshmen].

Objective: To develop a measurement scale for the public health and safety literacy of university freshmen. Methods: Item pooling was conducted through literature review and in-depth interview with public health experts, and a nominal group was organized to develop the initial items to form the questionnaire. A total of 250 freshmen were randomly selected to complete the questionnaire, and the assessment of psychometric properties were performed to carry out item reduction by using classical test theory and item response theory. Exploratory factor analysis method (EFA) was employed to calculate the item-factor loadings. The data collected from another 318 freshmen were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis method (CFA). Results: The scale contained 3 dimensions and 9 items with all content validity index ≥0.8. The difficulty coefficient of 9 items was 1.18-2.43. The discriminative validity analysis showed that the difficulty index was 0.41-0.78, and the discrimination index was 0.38-0.64. Each of the remaining items had a statistically significant difference in the score value between the top 27% and lowest 27% of respondents (t>3, P<0.05). The item's Cronbach's α was 0.72-0.77, corrected item-total correlation was 0.33-0.60 and the overall α of the scale was 0.77. EFA indicated all item-factor loading were higher than 0.680, and the accumulated variance contribution of the 3 factors was 62.484%. Results of CFA showed that the overall fitness index of the model reached the fitness standard except for the χ2 value. There was no statistical significance in the total score of the scale and the scores of each item among groups with different demographic characteristics (P>0.05). Conclusions: The newly developed public health safety literacy scale had a good reliability,validity,stability and item constancy.It can be used in measurement of the public health and safety literacy of university freshmen.

LINC01116 promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the relative expression of long intergenic non-protein coding ribonucleic acid (LINC) 01116 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and cells and analyze the correlations of LINC01116 expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients and investigate the biological functions of LINC01116 via in vitro experiments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The quantitative Real Time Fluorescence-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the relative expression level of LINC01116 in 73 cases of tissues and cells in GC patients. The patients were divided into LINC01116 high expression group and LINC01116 low expression group, and the correlations of LINC01116 with patient's pathological characteristics were statistically analyzed. In vitro experiments [cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry] were adopted to investigate the influences of LINC01116 on the biological functions of GC cells. RESULTS: According to the results of qRT-PCR, the expression of LINC01116 was upregulated in 54 out of 73 cases of tissues (fold change >1), and it was upregulated in GC cells compared with that in the normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1). The statistical analysis manifested that the highly expressed LINC01116 was positively correlated with the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (p=0.008), lymph node metastasis (p=0.005), and depth of invasion (p=0.007) of the GC patients. The patients with high expression of LINC01116 in the GC tissues had a shorter survival time than those with low expression (p=0.017). After interference in the expression of LINC01116, it was shown in CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay that the proliferative capacity of the cells was decreased. The results of flow cytometry indicated that the cell cycle was arrested at the G1/G0 phase, and the apoptosis rate was increased. CONCLUSIONS: LINC01116 is highly expressed in GC tissues and cells, and highly expressed LINC01116 indicates poor prognosis of the patients, promotes the proliferation, and inhibits the apoptosis of GC cells.

Better view by detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for esophageal observation: a retrospective comparative study.

Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) system has been used to screen gastric lesions. However, the visualization performance of MCE in the esophagus has not been investigated systematically. String method improved the ability of capsule endoscopy (CE) for esophageal observing; however, the string attachment is complicated and cannot be detached with the CE inside the esophagus. We used a modified string, called detachable string attached to MCE. The aim of the study was to compare the observation performance of MCE with and without the detachable string. A total of 238 participants with upper gastrointestinal symptoms and a healthy check who refused esophagogastroduodenoscopy examination were retrospectively divided into the detachable string MCE group and the MCE alone group from June 2016 to May 2018. A suction cap with a thin, hollow string was attached to the MCE system in the detachable string group. Circumferential visualization of the esophagus including the upper, middle, and lower esophagus and Z-line, and esophageal focal lesion, as well as the recording time, safety and tolerability of the procedure, were assessed. The circumferential visualization of the upper, middle, and lower esophagus and Z-line was more efficient in the detachable string MCE group than in the MCE alone group (P < 0.001). In all, 31 esophageal lesions were detected in the detachable string MCE group, which was more than that in the MCE alone group (10, P < 0.001). The mean recording time was 305 seconds in the string MCE group, which was longer than that in the MCE alone group (48.5 seconds, P < 0.001). In seven participants (6.1%) in the detachable string MCE group, the capsule could not be separated from the string. Detachable string MCE showed better performance in terms of observation of the esophagus. Detachable string MCE can be used to screen for esophageal diseases as an alternative method in the future.

[Prevalence of diabetes and its associated factors in Blang ethnic adults].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes and prediabetes in Blang ethnic adults in Menghai county. Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 3 365 Blang ethnic adults (aged 18 and above from 5 administrative villages) was conducted from February 2017 to March 2017 in Menghai county. A questionnaire, physical examination, and blood assays were included in the survey. Finally, a total of 3 237 adults with complete data were selected into this analysis. Results: The standardized prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in Blang ethnic adults were estimated based on the sixth national census in 2010. According to the 1999 WHO criteria, the overall standardized prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes were 8.5% (men: 10.2%, women: 6.8%) and 16.1% (men: 18.0%, women: 14.1%), in which the standardized prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes among the total population was 7.3% (men: 8.7%, women: 5.8%). Multivariable multinominal logistic regression analyses showed that age, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and central obesity were significantly positively associated with both diabetes and prediabetes, with the corresponding odds ratios of 1.74 and 1.37, 2.39 and 2.02, 2.30 and 1.34, 2.55 and 1.73, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes is relatively high in Blang ethnic adults in Menghai county. Improving knowledge of diabetes among the local population is one of key steps in the prevention of diabetes.

[Prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and prediabetes in adults in Jingyuan Ningxia].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and prediabetes in Jingyuan County in Ningxia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 10 639 participants (18-88 years of age) with a multistage sampling was conducted in Jingyuan County between January, 2014 and April, 2015. Questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were included in the survey. Results: Among all the subjects, 10 491 participants (men: 4 826, women: 5 665) with complete data were included in the analysis. The standardized prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 4.2% (men: 3.9%, women: 4.5%) and 8.8% (men: 7.6%, women 10.3%), respectively, in which the standardized prevalence of diabetes was higher in Hui (4.5%) than that in Han (3.5%) (P< 0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that age, family history of diabetes, overweight/obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension were positively associated with prediabetes and diabetes with the odds ratios being 1.60 and 2.14 (age, P< 0.001), 1.40 and 3.32 (family history, P< 0.05), 1.47 and 1.57 (overweight/obesity, P< 0.001), 1.88 and 2.55 (hypertriglyceridemia, P< 0.001), 1.44 and 1.89 (hypertension, P< 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes was relatively low in the rural area in Ningxia. However, it is still essential to take active interventions in people at high risk of diabetes in order to prevent the incident diabetes.

[The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults in rural areas of Ningxia Hui autonomous region].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among adults in rural areas of Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 639 adults enrolled with a multistage method from Jingyuan County. The MS was identified according to Chinese type 2 diabetes prevention guide (2013). Results: Among all the subjects, 17.4% of them met the MS definition with the standardized prevalence of 14.7% after adjustment of sex and age. The prevalence and standardized rate of MS in men were 19.9% and 17.3%, and in women were 15.3% and 13.5%.The prevalence of MS in men was higher than that in women(P<0.001) and increased with aging in both genders. The prevalence and standardized rate of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL-C were 19.5% and 16.7%, 15.0% and 12.9%, 42.0% and 37.1%, 25.8% and 23.1%, 28.5% and 27.7%, respectively. The rate of abdominal obesity was higher in women than in men (20.5% vs 18.2%, P=0.004), whereas the rate of hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL-C were higher in men than in women (all P<0.01). The prevalence of having one parameter of the MS was 68.4%. Conclusion: The prevalence of MS is higher in rural areas of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, suggesting that a series of comprehensive prevention measures should be carried out to prevent and control the MS so as to improve the public health conditions in rural areas.

The motility of esophageal sphincters during liquid and solid bolus swallows: a multicenter normative value study of high-resolution manometry in China.

BACKGROUND: It is gradually accepted that solid bolus swallow needs to be added to the procedure of manometry. The motility differences in the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were not well described. Sierra Scientific Instruments solid-state high-resolution manometry (HRM) system, the most popular HRM system in China, lacks the Chinese normative values for both liquid and solid bolus swallow parameters. METHODS: The esophageal HRM data of 88 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The parameters of both sphincters in resting stage were summarized and those during solid and liquid swallows were compared. KEY RESULTS: Normative HRM values of sphincter parameters in solid and liquid bolus swallows in China were established. The UES residual pressure of solid bolus swallows was lower than that of liquid bolus (0.3±5.5 mm Hg vs 4.8±5.9 mm Hg, P=.000). The time parameters of UES relaxation between two types of bolus swallows were similar. In solid bolus swallows, the intrabolus pressure (IBP) (13.8±5.1 mm Hg vs 10.9±5.7 mm Hg, P=.000) and LES relaxation time (11.0±2.1 seconds vs 8.7±1.3 seconds, P=.000) were higher. The 4-second integrated relaxation pressure between both bolus swallows was similar. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: The function of the UES and LES between solid and liquid bolus swallows is different. Chinese HRM parameters are different from the Chicago Classification (http://www.chictr.org.cn, Number ChiCTR-EOC-15007147).

[A comparison of clinical characteristics between non-erosive reflux disease and reflux esophagitis].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical symptoms of patients with non-erosive reflux disease(NERD) and reflux esophagitis(RE), which is helpful to the differential diagnosis. METHODS: Out-patients who met the criteria of NERD or RE according to the Montreal definition in Gastroenterology Department Wuhan Union Hospital from 2010-2014 were enrolled in our study. Clinical data were comprehensively collected. Incidence of disease, severity, frequency of esophageal and extraesophageal symptoms, and the rates of overlapping with functional dyspepsia (FD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were all studied. RESULTS: Totally 446 subjects were recruited, including 225 patients with NERD and 221 patients with RE. The occurrence rates of esophageal symptoms including heartburn [76.0%(171/225) vs 52.0%(115/221), P<0.01] and acid regurgitation [74.7%(168/225) vs 54.3%(120/221), P<0.05] in NERD group were significantly higher than those in RE patients, with more severe and frequent (P<0.05). Despite the rates of food regurgitation were similar, NERD patients behaved more severely and frequently (P<0.05). Extraesophageal symptoms including throat burning and foreign body sensation in NERD group [40.9%(92/225) vs 27.6%(61/221), 42.2%(95/225) vs 31.7%(70/221), all P<0.05] were also higher than those in RE group, the degree of which was more severe too (P<0.05). RE patients claimed a higher proportion of chronic cough. The incidences of overlapping with IBS in two groups were similar. But there were more patients with FD in NERD group [72.0%(162/225) vs 62.9%(139/221), P<0.05] than in RE group. CONCLUSIONS: The menifestations and degree of esophageal and extraesophageal symptoms in patients with NERD or RE are different, as well as comorbidities such as FD and IBS. These results suggest that NERD and RE are independent diseases.

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid on hippocampal neurons in high-glucose condition: involvement of PI3K/AKT/nuclear factor-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways.

Accumulating evidence suggested that hyperglycemia played a critical role in hippocampus dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the multifactorial pathogenesis of hyperglycemia-induced impairments of hippocampal neurons has not been fully elucidated. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to enhance learning and memory and affect neural function in various experimental conditions. The present study investigated the effects of DHA on the lipid peroxidation, the level of inflammatory cytokines and neuron apoptosis in the hippocampal neurons in high-glucose condition. High-glucose administration increased the level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-6, induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in vitro. DHA treatment reduced oxidative stress and TNF-α expression, protected the hippocampal neurons by increasing AKT phosphorylation and decreasing caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression. These results suggested that high-glucose exposure induced injury of hippocampal neurons in vitro, and the principle mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effect of DHA were its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic potential. DHA may thus be of use in preventing or treating neuron-degeneration resulting from hyperglycemia.

Dietary ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids improves learning performance of diabetic rats by regulating the neuron excitability.

Previous research has demonstrated that diabetes induced learning and memory deficits. However, the mechanism of memory impairment induced by diabetes is poorly understood. Dietary fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), have been shown to enhance learning and memory and prevent memory deficits in various experimental conditions. Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the present study to investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation on spatial learning and memory of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with the Morris Water Maze. The excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons and the related ionic currents was also examined. Diabetes impaired spatial learning and memory of rats. Diabetes decreased the sodium currents and increased the potassium currents, and further led to the reduction of excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, effects which may contribute to the behavioral deficits. Fish oil dietary supplementation decreased the transient currents and Kv4.2 expression in the hippocampus and partially improved learning performance of diabetic rats. The results of the present study suggested that sodium and potassium currents contributed to the inhibitory effect of diabetes on neuron excitability, further influencing learning and memory processing. Dietary fish oil may modulate the membrane excitability and is a possible strategy for preventing the impairments of diabetes on hippocampal function.

Selective upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) transcripts and BDNF direct induction of activity independent N-methyl-D-aspartate currents in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with hippocampal sclerosis.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in many aspects of neuronal biology and hippocampal physiology and pathology, and has been implicated as a potential therapeutic target in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). BDNF total mRNA and its six transcripts were compared in the hippocampal tissue of TLE patients with or without hippocampal sclerosis (HS) by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Excitatory actions induced by BDNF on hippocampal cells were investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Statistically significant increases in three human BDNF mRNA transcripts were observed in TLE patients with HS compared with those without HS (transcripts 2, 3 and 5 exhibited 2.1-, 2.3- and 4.1-fold increases, respectively); there were no significant increases in other transcripts. BDNF directly induced N-methyl-D-aspartate currents in dentate granule cells of TLE patients with HS. These results demonstrated that BDNF transcripts were selectively upregulated in TLE patients with HS compared with those without HS. Moreover, BDNF induced excitability of dentate granule cells in TLE patients with HS.

Molecular cloning, expression, and imprinting status of maternally expressed gene 8 (Meg8) in dairy cattle.

At present, small number imprinted genes have been reported in cattle compare to human and mouse. Maternally expressed gene 8 (Meg8), a non-coding gene, have been identified maternally expressed in mouse and sheep, but its sequences and imprinting status have not been established in cattle. In this study, the full-length of cattle Meg8cDNA sequence was obtained by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method, which has a high homology in exons sequences with the corresponding region of sheep Meg8. The isolation of cDNA sequence showed the presence of multiple splice variants in cattle Meg8 gene. The Meg8 was found to be expressed in all adult examined tissues, including heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, subcutaneous fat and skeletal muscle. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified in exon 6 by Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP), and used to distinguish between monoallelic and biallelic expression in cattle tissues. The expression analysis of Meg8 in a heterozygous cattle showed that only one parental allele was expressed in all examined tissues, suggesting that Meg8 is imprinted in cattle.

Short pulse gastric electrical stimulation for cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study, we investigated the ameliorating effect of gastric electrical stimulation (GES) with a single set of parameters on emesis and behaviors suggestive of nausea induced by cisplatin in dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GES with different parameters on cisplatin-induced emesis in dogs. METHODS: Seven dogs implanted with gastric serosal electrodes were studied in six randomized sessions: one control session with cisplatin (2 mg kg(-1)) and five sessions with cisplatin plus GES of different parameters: GES-A: 14 Hz, 5 mA, 0.3 ms, 0.1 s on and 5 s off; GES-B: increased frequency and on-time; GES-C: increased frequency; GES-D: increased frequency and pulse width; and GES-E: increased frequency and amplitude. Gastric slow waves and emetic responses were recorded in each session. KEY RESULTS: (i) Cisplatin induced emetic responses and gastric dysrhythmia. The peak time of the emetic response was during the fourth hour after cisplatin. (ii) GES with appropriate parameters reduced cisplatin-induced emesis. The number of vomiting times during the 6 h after cisplatin was 7.0 ± 1.4 in the control, 4.7 ± 1.2 with GES-A (P = 0.179), 4.2 ± 1.2 with GES-B (P = 0.109), 7.0 ± 0.8 with GES-C (P = 0.928), 2.1 ± 0.3 with GES-D (P = 0.005) and 4.7 ± 1.5 with GES-E (P = 0.129). However, none of the GES parameters could improve gastric dysrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Gastric electrical stimulation with appropriate parameters reduces cisplatin-induced emetic responses and behaviors suggestive of nausea in dogs. Among the tested parameters, GES with increased pulse width seems to produce better relief of cisplatin-induced emesis.

Sleep deprivation impairs spatial learning and modifies the hippocampal theta rhythm in rats.

Previous work from our laboratory suggests that paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) decreases persistent sodium currents and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons, and this leads to decreases in neuron excitability. Here, we further investigate the mechanisms of rhythmic theta-range activity in the hippocampus by examining the resonance characteristics of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Sleep deprivation (SD) interfered with the rhythmic activity of theta band in the hippocampus, which may be involved in the deficit of the spatial learning ability of rats. Additionally, SD changes the voltage dependence of resonance. The effect of SD on the ion currents may contribute to the alternation of the theta resonance of neurons and further influence the physiological function. These results suggest that changes in neuron resonance lead to changes in the generation of rhythmic theta activity, and may contribute to behavioral deficits associated with theta activity during learning and memory tasks. We suggest the resonant properties of hippocampal neurons are potential targets for preventing deleterious effects of sleep deprivation.

Healing of severe reflux esophagitis with PPI does not improve esophageal dysmotility.

Esophageal dysmotility is frequently associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of reflux esophagitis and esophageal dysmotility and evaluate the effect of prolonged treatment with proton pump inhibitor (lansoprazole 30 mg/day) on esophageal motility in patients with severe reflux esophagitis associated with esophageal motility disorder. Twelve healthy subjects (HS) and 100 patients with reflux disease were involved in the study consisting of two parts: (i) comparison of esophageal motility in HS and patients with non-eroseive reflux disease (NERD), mild esophagitis and severe esophagitis; (ii) effect of 3-6 months lansoprazole therapy on esophageal motility in 23 patients with severe esophagitis, pathologic acid reflux and esophageal peristaltic dysfunction. Results included the following. (i) Esophageal dysmotility was noted in both patients with NERD and erosive GERD. (ii) Severe esophagitis was associated with severe esophageal dysmotility. (iii) Healing of severe esophagitis did not improve esophageal dysmotility. The resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure was 3.9 mmHg (range 1.7-20) before treatment and 4.8 mmHg (range 1.2-18.3) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.23, vs. before treatment), the amplitude of distal esophageal contraction was 28.8 mmHg (range 10.9-80.6) before treatment and 33.3 mmHg (range 10.0-72.5) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.59, vs. before treatment) and the frequency of failed peristalsis was 70% (range 0-100%) before treatment and 70% (range 0-100%) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.78, vs. before treatment). Both esophageal motility disorders and acid reflux play important roles in the mechanism of GERD, especially in severe esophagitis. Esophageal dysmotility is not secondary to acid reflux and esophagitis; it should be a primary motility disorder.