OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the methods and therapeutic effects of trans-fibular anterior-lateral approach combined with external fixation in the treatment of Gustilo III distal tibiofibula fractures.

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2010,9 patients including 7 males and 2 females with the mean age of 40 years(ranging from 29 to 51 years). All patients received internal fixation of fibula after debridement on the first phase, external fixator were used to fix tibia across ankle joint, and removed after successful skin graft; The second phase tibia was used to fix through the lateral incision used in phase I. Early functional exercise was encouraged ,the union condition and functional results of the ankle joint was evealuated. The criteria of the AOFAS Foot and Ankle Surgery was used to evaluate the effects.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up,and the duration ranged for 8 to 37 months(averaged 21 months). Nine patients were achieved bony union, the average healing time was 24 weeks. No plate rupture or screw loosening was found. According to the AOFAS Foot and Ankle Surgery evaluation system, 3 cases got excellent results, 4 good cases and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONTrans-fibular anterior-lateral approach combined with external fixation for Gustilo III distal tibiofibula fractures can receive satisfactory reset, debond ankle joint eralier and imporove the clinical effects.

Adult ; Female ; Fibula ; Fracture Fixation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Tibia ; Treatment Outcome

AIM:To observe the pathological changes of the lower segment of nasolacrimal duct mucosa in rabbits at different stages after retrograde lachrymal dilated drainage tube implantation.
METHODS:Totally 14 New Zealand rabbits were used in the present study. One side of nasolacrimal duct was obstructed to produce an experimental model and operated the reverse implantation of nasolacrimal duct intubation. Histological changes of the lower segment of nasolacrimal duct mucosa were observed by routine light microscope at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14wk after the operation.
RESULTS: Compared with the control side, the group of 2 and 4wk after surgery presented the inflammatory cytokine. The group of 12wk after the operation presented isolated granuloma. Group 12 and 14wk presented scattered granuloma. The size of the granulomas was smaller and the density of epithelioid cell and fibroblast were lower in group 12wk than those in group 14wk by HE and Masson trichrome stain.
CONCLUSION:Recurrent Silicone Tube is used to treat nasolacrymal duct obstruction. Nasolacrimal duct can be narrowed and blocked again by granuloma, progressive fibrosis and adhesion of surrounding tissues when tube is in the duct more than 12wk.

BACKGROUNDComputer-aided diagnosis (CAD) of lung cancer is the subject of many current researches. Statistical methods and artificial neural networks have been applied to more quantitatively characterize solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). In this study, we developed a CAD scheme based on an artificial neural network to distinguish malignant from benign SPNs on thin-section computed tomography (CT) images, and investigated how the CAD scheme can help radiologists with different levels of experience make diagnostic decisions.

METHODSTwo hundred thin-section CT images of SPNs with proven diagnoses (135 small peripheral lung cancers and 65 benign nodules) were analyzed. Three clinical features and nine CT signs of each case were studied by radiologists, and the indices of qualitative diagnosis were quantified. One hundred and forty nodules were selected randomly to form training samples, on which the neural network model was built. The remaining 60 nodules, forming test samples, were presented to 9 radiologists with 3 - 20 years of clinical experience, accompanied by standard reference images. The radiologists were asked to determine whether a nodule was malignant or benign first without and then with CAD output. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTSCAD outputs on test samples had higher agreement with pathological diagnoses (Kappa = 0.841, P < 0.001). Compared with diagnostic results without CAD output, the average area under the ROC curve with CAD output was 0.96 (P < 0.001) for junior radiologists, 0.94 (P = 0.014) for secondary radiologists and 0.96 (P = 0.221) for senior radiologists, respectively. The differences in diagnostic performance with CAD output among the three levels of radiologists were not statistically significant (P = 0.584, 0.920 and 0.707, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThis CAD scheme based on an artificial neural network could improve diagnostic performance and assist radiologists in distinguishing malignant from benign SPNs on thin-section CT images.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; ROC Curve ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Be subjected to study the application in the hypersaline organic wastewater treatment,A moder-ately halophilic bacterium YS-1 was isolated from the salty water of a Ludaokou salina of Weihai in China.The polyphasic taxonomy study was processed through identifying its morphological features by AFM,researched the features of culture and measured physiologic-biochemical index,analyzed 16S rDNA se-quence homology Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA gene sequences showed that the closest relative of the strain was Halomonas sp.(AB167061).Experimented of intensifying hypersaline organic wastewater treatmented processing in the SBR demonstrate a significant result.The wastewater salt content of initial wastewater was 12% and initial CODcr was 1494 mg/L.After 72 h,the removal efficiency of CODcr achieved 90.0% and after 120 h,it achieved 98.1%.The experiments also showed the hypersaline organic wastewater treatment and presented the feasibility of acclimating of halophilic bacteria and running of proc-essing system.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Liangge San to the expression of CD14 and scaverger receptor(SR) in the kupffer cells of liver and the pathological changes of liver tissue of endotoxemia-mice.

METHODThe model was established with intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and at the same time different dose Liangge San were given. The expression of CD14 and scaverger receptor were detected with immunohigtochemistry at the 2nd, 4th, 8th hour ofter injury and analyzed with computer image system, and the pathological changes of liver tissue were also observed.

RESULTAt the three different hours, the expression of CD14 and scaverger receptor in macrophages of liver of LPS-injury group showed significant increase and significant decrease respectively, compared with that of the blank-control group (P < 0.01). The expression in dexamethasone group and Liangge San different dose groups were intermediate between those in injury group and those in control group. Compared with expression of LPS-injury group, those of dexamethasone group and Liangge San different dose groups showed significant differences (P < 0.01), especially that of Liangge San high dose group. Liver cells showed vacuole change. Changes of CD14 and SR expression were paralleled with the severity of liver damages of the mice.

CONCLUSIONLiangge San can inhibite the up-regulation of CD14 expression and down-regulation of scaverger receptor expression in a dosage-dependent manner and also alleviate the damages of liver induced by LPS.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endotoxemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Kupffer Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Receptors, Scavenger ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the value of positron emission tomography(PET)-CT imaging combined with continual detection of CA_(125)in serum for diagnosis of early recurrent ovarian epithelial carcinoma.Methods Twenty six patients received PET-CT imaging,who were all diagnosed as primary epithelial ovarian cancer of stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ and had complete remission after cytoreductive surgery and multiple courses of chemotherapy in Shandong Provincial Cancer Hospital.After a steady period,all patients experienced progressive rising of CA_(125)values 3 times in 2 months.But no positive lesion was found by CT, or although suspicious positive focus was found,the recurrent and(or)metastatic extent was not definite. Out of 26 patients,16 were delivered rechemotherapy and(or)radiotherapy,and 10 received re- cytoreductive surgery.Results(1)Of 26 patients,the value of CA_(125)was more than 35 kU/L in 17,and in 14 of 17,pelvic or abdominal cavity recurrence was diagnosed by CT and PET-CT,and 4 showed simuhaneously distant metastasis on PET-CT.In the remaining 3 patients of which CT findings were negative,2 had pelvic and abdominal cavity recurrence,and one had bone metastasis on PET-CT.Of 9 patients with progressive rising CA_(125)levels but the value was less than cut-off(

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of applying sirolimus-eluting stents in emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods In total,220 patients with AMI were enrolled in this study at Shanghai Tongji Hospital, divided into two groups,one with bare-metal stent and the other with sirolimus-eluting stent.Cardiovascular fatality,major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) were observed one and six months after PCI in the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in overall fatality and MACE in the 1~(st) or 6~(th) months after PCI between the two groups.Three cardiogenic deaths occurred in bare-metal stent group with a fatality of 2.8 percent,and five deaths in sirolimus-eluting stent group with a fatality of 4.5 percent in six months after PCI.However,rate of restenosis in those with sirolimus-eluting stents was significantly lower than that of bare-metal stents (6.0 percent vs 16.1 percent,P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of activating blood circulation drugs or activating blood circulation and detoxication drugs on indices of platelet activation, inflammation, and coagulation status correlated with blood-stasis and toxin in acute myocardial infarction rats.

METHODSTotally 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the activating blood circulation group, the activating blood circulation and detoxication group, and the metoprolol group, 20 in each group. Rats in the activating blood circulation group were administered with Xiongshao Capsule at the daily dose of 0.39 g/kg. Rats in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group were administered with Xiongshao Capsule (at the daily dose of 0.39 g/kg) and Huanglian Capsule (at the daily dose of 0.135 g/kg). Rats in the metoprolol group received metoprolol at the daily dose of 2.25 mg/kg. And rats in the rest two groups were administered with normal saline. All medication lasted for 3 successive weeks. After the last administration, the rat model of acute myocardial infarction was prepared by ligation of left anterior descending artery. No ligation was given to rats in the sham-operation group. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after modeling. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), platelet α granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140), 11 dehydro-thromboxane B2 (11-DH-TXB2), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), antithrombin III (AT-III), and D-dimer (DD) were detected by ELISA. The mRNA expression of TNF-α was tested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSPlatelet activation parameters were significantly increased in the model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, all indices (except GMP-140 in the metoprolol group) obviously decreased in each medicated group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, β-TG and 11-DH-TXB2 were superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to that of the metoprolol group (P < 0.05). But 11-DH-TXB2 was also obviously superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to that of the activating blood circulation group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, an obviously hypercoagulable state was obviously shown in the AMI model group, with significantly increased FPA and DD (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and significantly decreased AT III (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the FPA level significantly decreased in each medicated group (P < 0.01), and the AT III level significantly increased in the activating blood circulation group and the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (both P < 0.01). The level of DD obviously decreased in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (P < 0.01). Besides, the 3 indices were superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to those of the metoprolol group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the serum TNF-α level and myocardial TNF-α mRNA expression were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, not only the serum TNF-α level was significantly decreased, but also the TNF-α gene expression in the myocardial tissue was improved in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of activating blood circulation and detoxication drugs could play an effective role in treatment of coronary heart disease by fighting against platelet activation, improving the hypercoagulable state, and inhibiting inflammation, which was significantly better than using activating blood circulation and removing stasis drugs alone.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of EPHA2 in regulating apoptosis, proliferation and vasculogenic mimicry of osteosarcoma cells, by gene silencing through RNA interference.

METHODSEPHA2-siRNA plasmids were achieved by gene cloning. The plasmids were transfected into human osteosarcoma cells (MG63). The expression level of EPHA2 protein was measured by Western blotting. The proliferation, apoptosis and vasculogenic mimicry features of osteosarcoma MG63cells were assessed by light microscopy, MTIP assay, flow cytometry, annexin V-FITC/PI and HE staining, respectively.

RESULTSThe EPHA2-siRNA plasmid was confirmed by DNA sequencing. After treatment with Sequence-specific siRNA targeted EPHA2, the protein level of the transfected group decreased significantly. As compared to non-siRNA transfected cells, the transfected group showed lower proliferation, higher and earlier apoptosis and less osteosarcoma-generated vasculogenic mimicry.

CONCLUSIONEPHA2 gene may be involoved in apoptosis and proliferation of osteosarcoma cells, and may be necessary for vasculogenic mimicry. Down-regulation of EPHA2 expression by sequence-specific siRNA may be considered as a new option in the treatment of EPHA2 over-expressing cancer including osteosarcoma in future.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, EphA2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection