OBJECTIVE To observe the preventive effect on nosocomial infection by the herbal medicine Atractylodes chinensis disinfectant for air sterilization in cardiothoracic surgery.METHODS A.chinensis disinfectant and ultraviolet irradiation were used to disinfect the patients′ rooms of our cardiothoracic surgery department.The total number of germ and fungus in the indoor air before and after using the two methods were collected.The nosocomial infection rates of the same period were also studied.RESULTS A.chinensis disinfectant had strong effect on sterilization of indoor germs and fungi,and the sterilization rate was 92.7%.The comparison between A.chinensis disinfectant and ultraviolet irradiation showed significant difference in their disinfection effects,while no significant difference in their nosocomial infection rates.CONCLUSIONS The herbal medicine A.chinensis disinfectant can achieve good sterilization effect and prevent nosocomial infection.

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between hands pollution and nosocomial infection,and to raise measures to keep hand hygiene.METHODS To evaluate the condition of hand pollution and hand washing,the relationship between hands pollution and nosocomial infection,and measures to improve hand hygiene.RESULTS Most nosocomial infections were transmitted by the hands pollution,bacteria of which were thought to be the main microbial population of nosocomial infection.Handwashing was considered to be the most important intervention to prevent nosocomial infections.However,the present studies indicated that there was not enough handwashing practice among the medical personnel,lacking the consciousness of the importance of hand cleaning,misunderstanding the standard hand cleaning steps,like the length of washing time and the choose of hand disinfectant,and inadequately providing the hospital condition for cleaning work,all these played an important role in declining the efficiency of hand disinfection in hospital.Medical workers could achieve their goal through the improving of the above aspects of work.CONCLUSIONS Hands pollution is closely related to nosocomial infection.Handwashing can reduce nosocomial infections.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the impact of number of retrieved lymph nodes and lymph node ratio(LNR) on the prognosis in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 507 patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Follow-up was available in all the patients.

RESULTSThe total number of retrieved lymph nodes was 5801, of which 1122 had metastasis. There was a positive correlation between metastatic lymph nodes and retrieved lymph nodes(r=0.171, P<0.01). In stage II colorectal cancer there was a significant difference in 5-year survival rate between patients with more than 12 lymph nodes retrieved and those with less than 12 lymph nodes retrieved(P<0.01). LNR also affected the 5-year survival rate of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer(P<0.05). In patients with similar LNR, the 5-year survival rate differed significantly among different regions of lymph node metastasis(P<0.05). LNR influenced the prognosis independent of the number of lymph nodes retrieved.

CONCLUSIONSThe number of retrieved lymph nodes is a prognostic factor for stage II and III colorectal cancer. More than 12 lymph nodes should be retrieved for better staging and prognosis. LNR is also a prognostic factor in stage II and III colorectal cancer. Regions of lymph nodes metastasis should be considered when evaluating the prognosis of patients using LNR.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase reductase (MTRR), the central enzymes in folate metabolism that affects DNA methylation and synthesis, and the risk of Down syndrome in China.

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral lymphocytes of 64 mothers of children with Down syndrome and 70 age matched control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to examine the polymorphisms of MTHFR 677C-->T, MTRR 66A-->G and the relationship between these genotypes and the risk of Down syndrome was analyzed.

RESULTSThe results show that the MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism is more prevalent among mothers of children with Down syndrome than among control mothers, with an odds ratio of 3.78 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.78 approximately 8.47). In addition, the homozygous MTRR 66A-->G polymorphism was independently associated with a 5.2-fold increase in estimated risk (95% CI, 1.90 approximately 14.22). The combined presence of both polymorphisms was associated with a greater risk of Down syndrome than the presence of either alone, with an odds ratio of 6.0 (95% CI, 2.058 approximately 17.496). The two polymorphisms appear to act without a multiplicative interaction.

CONCLUSIONMTHFR and MTRR gene mutation alleles are related to Down syndrome, and CT, TT and GG gene mutation types increase the risk of Down syndrome.

Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase ; genetics ; Folic Acid ; metabolism ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the suppressive role of emodin on the growth and its effect on the proliferation cycle and apoptotic gene of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line Anip 973.

METHODSThe survival rate and the inhibitory rate of Anip 973 cell in vitro were detected by MTT colorimetric assay and cell growth curve assay at different time points under different concentration of emodin; the cell proliferation cycle and the apoptotic rate were examined with flow cytometry analysis, and Caspase-3 protein expression was measured by immunoblotting assay.

RESULTSEmodin inhibited the proliferation of Anip 973 cell at G0/G1 phase, decreased the cell ratio at S phase and activated the Caspase-3 protein. It suppressed the growth of tumor cells and raised the apoptotic rate in a concentration and time depending manner in a certain extent.

CONCLUSIONEmodin could suppress the proliferation of Anip 973 cell, and its mechanism of anticancer effect may be through activating Caspase-3, to induce apoptosis and block cell cycle.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male

Objective To observe the effects of Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules on the expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB; To explore its possible mechanism of treatment. Methods SD rats were injected with STZ (50 mg/kg) into the tail vein to induce diabetes mellitus. After the DR model was confirmed by fundus fluorescein angiography, the rats were randomly divided into model group, Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules group and positive medicine group, and normal rats were set as control group. After the last administration, the blood glucose level and retinopathy in rats were measured. The protein and gene expression of HIF-1α and NF-κB in the retina were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively. Results Compared with control group, the blood glucose in the model group was significantly increased; the retinal capillaries increased; the leakage of fluorescein was obvious; the protein and gene expressions of HIF-1α,NF-κB were significantly increased.After administration of Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules,the model rats decreased blood glucose; retinal microvascular volume decreased; fluorescein leakage area was significantly reduced; protein and gene expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB were decreased. Conclusion Shuangdan Mingmu Capsules can effectively inhibit the neovascularization of DR rats and protect the retina, which may be related to the down-regulation of the expressions of HIF-1α and NF-κB.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of T-614 in treating rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Two hundred and eighty patients with active RA were randomly allocated to 3 groups:T-614 50 mg each day,25 mg each day or placebo.Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline,2,4,6,12, 18 and 24 weeks.Results The ACR response rate was significantly higher in the T-614 treatment group com- pared with the placebo group during the first 6 weeks.After 24 weeks,25 mg/d,50 mg/d dosage group and the placebo group showed 39.1%,61.3% and 24.2% in ACR20,23.9%,31.2% and 7.4% in ACR50 respectively.A time-response in ACR response after 24 weeks was observed,with clear superiority of the 25 mg/d and 50 mg/d dosage groups compared to the placebo,and 50 mg/d dosage group compared to 25 mg/d dosage group(P

BACKGROUND/AIMS: No clinical model exists to predict the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in sustained virologic response-achieving (HCC after SVR) patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). METHODS: We performed a case-control study using a clinical database to research the risk factors for HCC after SVR. A predictive model based on risk factors was established, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated. RESULTS: In the multivariate model, an initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis and post-SVR albumin reductions of 1 g/L were associated with 21.7-fold (95% CI, 4.2 to 112.3; p<0.001) and 1.3-fold (95% CI, 1.1 to 1.7; p=0.004) increases in the risk of HCC after SVR, respectively. A predictive model based on an initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis (yes, +1; no, 0) and post-SVR albumin ≤36.0 g/L (yes, +1; not, 0) predicted the occurrence of HCC after SVR with a cutoff value of >0, an AUC of 0.880, a sensitivity of 0.833, a specificity of 0.896, and a negative predictive value of 0.956. CONCLUSIONS: An initial diagnosis of compensated cirrhosis combined with a post-SVR albumin value of ≤36.0 g/L predicts the occurrence of HCC after SVR in patients with CHC.
Area Under Curve ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Case-Control Studies* ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and explore the signaling mechanism involved.

METHODSMSC culture was performed following the classical whole bone marrow adhering method. The characteristics of MSC were identified by induction of multi-lineage differentiation and flow cytometry for surface marker analysis (CD34, CD45, CD29, and CD90). Following the addition of 50 nmol/L wortmannin, 50 µmol/L PD98059, 30 µmol/L SB203580, 10 µmol/L H89, 20 µmol/L Y27632, 1 µmol/L rapamycin, 10 µmol/L straurosporine, 6 nmol/L Go6976, or 50 µmol/L Pseudo Z inhibitors in the cell culture, the MSC were treated with 20 ng/ml VEGF and the changes of the cell proliferation rate was measured with MTT assay.

RESULTSCultured MSC were capable of multi-linage differentiation and did not express VEGF-R, CD29 or CD90. Treatment with 20 ng/ml VEGF obviously promoted MSC proliferation, and this effect was inhibited partially by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor rapamycin, PD98059, SB203580, Go6976, and straurosporine.

CONCLUSIONSVEGF promotes MSC proliferation in close relation to the AKT-PKC pathway, in which PKC signal pathway may play the central role.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

Despite advances in immunotherapy for the treatment of cancers,not all patients can benefit from programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1)immune checkpoint blockade therapy.Anti-PD-L1 therapeutic effects reportedly correlate with the PD-L1 expression level;hence,accurate detection of PD-L1 expression can guide immunotherapy to achieve better therapeutic effects.Therefore,based on the high affinity antibody Nb109,a new site-specifically radiolabeled tracer,68Ga-NODA-cysteine,aspartic acid,and valine(CDV)-Nb109,was designed and synthesized to accurately monitor PD-L1 expression.The tracer 68Ga-NODA-CDV-Nb109 was obtained using a site-specific conjugation strategy with a radiochemical yield of about 95％and radiochemical purity of 97％.It showed high affinity for PD-L1 with a dissociation constant of 12.34±1.65 nM.Both the cell uptake assay and positron emission tomography(PET)imaging revealed higher tracer uptake in PD-L1-positive A375-hPD-L1 and U87 tumor cells than in PD-L1-negative A375 tumor cells.Meanwhile,dynamic PET imaging of a NC1-H1299 xenograft indicated that doxorubicin could upregulate PD-L1 expression,allowing timely interventional immunotherapy.In conclusion,this tracer could sensitively and dynamically monitor changes in PD-L1 expression levels in different cancers and help screen patients who can benefit from anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.