ObjectiveCardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its related ischemia reperfusion injury may cause endothelial cell injury.To study the protective effects of sodium ferulate in vascular endothelial function during CPB by testing the changes of vascular endothelial cell( CEC),nitric oxide( NO) and endothelin-1 ( ET-1 ) in children with congenital heart disease.MethodsSixty patients with congenital heart disease,including 28 males and 32 females were studied.The mean age was (19.7 ±10.4) months and body weight (10.5 ±6.1) kg.There were 37 VSD,8 ASD,7 TOF,5 TAPVC and 3 CAVC,among them 26 patients had pulmonary hypertension.They were randomly divided in to two groups:sodium ferulate group ( group S,n = 30),and control group ( group C,n =30) .Sodium ferulate (8 mg/kg) was given intravenously before CPB.Blood samples were taken from the arterial line at following time points:before CPB (TO),bypass 30 min(Tl ),the termination of CPB (T2 ),2h after operation ( T3 ) and 6h after operation ( T4 ),respectively for determination the concentration of vascular endothelial cell (CEC) in the blood,the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 ( ET-1) in the plasma.ResultsThere were no significant difference for the two groups regarding above parameters at TO ( P > 0.05).The level of CEC was significantly elevated after CPB in both groups ( P < 0.05 ) .CEC were lower at T2 in group S than in group C ( P < 0.05 ) .NO was decreased in both groups,but was higher in group S at T2,T3 and T4 ( P < 0.05 ) .The concentration of plasma ET-1 was not significantly different before CPB,but there was a slight decrease at T1,and then it was significantly increased in both groups (P<0.05).But it was lower in group S than in group C at T1,T2,T3 and T4(P<0.05 orP<0.01).ConclusionThere was severe endothelial cell damage during CPB.Sodium Ferulate can effectively antagonize the secretion of ET-1 to promote the formation of NO.Therefore,it reduces CPB-induced endothelial cell damage and protects vascular endothelial function during CPB.

The Medical Healthcare Service Center,located at the Youxian District,Mianyang City of Sichuan Province,successfully rescued the people affected by the Wenchuan earthquake and the Tangjiashan barrier lake with great help from the senior hospitals.We suggest that the community healthcare service center could play an important role in emergency response system.

Objective To explore effects of Naikan cognitive therapy on improving clinical symptoms in patients with convalescent schizophrenia. Methods The 69 convalescent schizophrenic patients with convalescent clinical state were consecutively recruited. All the patients were divided into Naikan cognitive therapy ( NCT) group an control group at random and were pretreated with antipsychotic agent therapy. In NCT group,the patients received NCT for successive 7 days. In control group,the patients only received antipsychotic agent therapy. Pre-and post-treatment positive and negative syndrome scale( PANSS) , Nurses'observation scale for inpatient evaluation (NOSIE) were administered to all subjects. Results ① A significant decrease occurred in PANSS total score, negative symptom score, positive symptom score, compound scale score, general psychopathology score, reaction retardation score and paranoid score in NCT group ( t = 2. 672～7. 370, P < 0. 05). In the post-treatment, PANSS total score, negative symptom score, positive symptom score, compound scale score, reaction retardation score and thought disorder score were significantly lower in NCT group than those in control group ( t ' = 2. 696, P = 0. 009; t = 5. 186, P=0.000; t = 3.757, P = 0.001; t = 2.634,P = 0.011; t ' =2.376, P = 0.021). ②A significant decrease occurred in NOSIE total negative score( 10.43 ± 9. 24 vs 13. 87 ± 8. 03, t = 3. 463 , P = 0. 002) , irritation score(3. 13 ±0.43 vs8.53 ±4.98, t = 6. 139, P=0.000) and retardation score(1.07 ± 1.64 vs 2. 20 ±2.85, t = 2.067, P = 0.048) in NCT group. Conclusion NCT can possibly improve part clinical symptoms of patients with convalescent schizophrenia to a certain extent,especially negative symptom,but need to further prove the effect of NaiKan cognitive therapy.

BACKGROUND:From the biological structure, the posterior cruciate ligament is surrounded by the synovial folds of posterior capsule, arising from the inner side of the medial femoral condyle to the posterior part of tibial intercondyloid spine. The main traditional treatment method for posterior cruciate ligament tibial avulsion fracture is open operation, but it is difficult in anatomic reduction, cannot ful y restore knee joint stability and has a great negative impact on the normal function of posterior cruciate ligament. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of arthroscopic implant internal fixation in the treatment of tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament. METHODS:120 patients with tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given the traditional open surgery, and the treatment group was given the arthroscopic surgery. After 3 months, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores and Lysholm scores were detected in the two groups;the knee joint range of motion was determined before and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Wounds were healed at stage I in al patients with no serious complications. There was no difference in the knee joint range of motion between the two groups before treatment, but the range of motion was increased significantly in both two groups at 3 months after treatment (P<0.05), meanwhile which was higher in the treatment group than the control group (P<0.05). At 3 months after treatment, the excel ent knee function rate was significantly higher in the treatment group (97%) than the control group (88%) according to the Lysholm scores;the IKDC scores were significantly higher in the treatment than the control group in terms of claudication, support, pain, swel ing, and squat (P<0.05). These results indicate that the arthroscopic implant fixation of tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament has better short-term effects to promote recovery of knee joint function, but no serious complications.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for developing severe pneumonia in children under 5 years old with pneumonia. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted 246 children with pneumonia between 2 and 59 months old who were admitted to the department of emergency of the Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2019 to May 2021 were enrolled. The children with pneumonia were screened according to the diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Case information of the children was reviewed to obtain relevant socio-demographic, nutritional status and potential risk factors. The independent risk factors for severe pneumonia were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression respectively. RESULTS: Among the 246 patients with pneumonia, 125 were male and 121 were female. The average age was (21.0±2.9) months, 184 children with severe pneumonia. The results of population epidemiological characteristics showed that there were no significant differences in gender, age and place of residence between the severe pneumonia group and the pneumonia group. Prematurity, low birth weight, congenital malformation, anemia, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, nutritional support, treatment delay, malnutrition, invasive treatment, history of respiratory infection were all related factors affecting the occurrence of severe pneumonia (severe pneumonia group vs. pneumonia group: the proportion of premature infants was 9.52% vs. 1.23%, low birth weight was 19.05% vs. 6.79%, congenital malformation was 22.62% vs. 9.26%, anemia was 27.38% vs. 16.05%, length of ICU stay < 48 hours was 63.10% vs. 38.89%, enteral nutritional support was 34.52% vs. 20.99%, treatment delay was 42.86% vs. 29.63%, malnutrition was 27.38% vs. 8.64%, invasive treatment was 9.52% vs. 1.85%, respiratory tract infection history was 67.86% vs. 40.74%, all P > 0.05). However, breastfeeding, type of infection, nebulization, use of hormones, use of antibiotics, etc. were not risk factors affecting severe pneumonia. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that history of premature birth, low birth weight, congenital malformation, treatment delay, malnutrition, invasive treatment, and history of respiratory infection were independent risk factors for severe pneumonia [history of premature birth: odds ratio (OR) = 2.346, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.452-3.785; low birth weight: OR = 15.784, 95%CI was 5.201-47.946; congenital malformation: OR = 7.135, 95%CI was 1.519-33.681; treatment delay: OR = 11.541, 95%CI was 2.734-48.742; malnutrition: OR = 14.453, 95%CI was 4.264-49.018; invasive treatment: OR = 6.373, 95%CI was 1.542-26.343; history of respiratory infection: OR = 5.512, 95%CI was 1.891-16.101, all P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS Premature birth history, low birth weight, congenital malformation, delayed treatment, malnutrition, invasive treatment, and history of respiratory infection are independent risk factors for severe pneumonia in children under 5 years old.
Infant ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Child ; Female ; Male ; Child, Preschool ; Case-Control Studies ; Premature Birth ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Malnutrition

Objective To investigate surgical exposure,reduction and fixation of the severe Pilon fractures. Methods A total of 11 patients with severe Pilon fractures (Rüedi-Allgwer type Ⅲ or AO/OT type C3 ) were managed by anteriormedial malleolar approach in combination with transfibular fracture or fibular osteotomy approach to reveal the tibiotalar joint.Reduction was performed under direct vision and then the tibia was fixed followed by fibula fixation. Results All patients obtained satisfactory bone reduction including nine patients with Ⅰ stage wound healing and two with Ⅱ stage wound healing.No sclerotin infection occurred.The fractures as well as the osteotomy sites were healed. Conclusions The double operative approaches can completely expose the tibiotalar joint,favor the reduction and fixation of the displaced bone fragments and attain satisfactory short-term reduction and fixation effects in the treatment of severe Pilon fractures.

Objective To compare the efficacy and toxicity of different cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. Methods Seventy-five patients with locally advanced breast cancer were treated with epirubicin (Epi) plus paclitaxel (TAX, ET regimen). Two cycles were used in 39 patients (2 cycles group) and 4 cycles were used in 36 patients (4 cycles group). Results The overall response rate (RR) was 74% (29/39) in 2 cycles group and 94% (34/36) in 4 cycles group. One patient got clinically complete response (CR), 28 cases had partial response (PR),10 with no change (NC) in 2 cycles group, while 21 patients showed CR including 11 patients with pathologically complete response, 13 with PR, and 2 with NC in 4 cycles group. There was no progression to advanced stage in either groups. Axillary lymph nodes were palpable in all 75 patients before ET regimen, lymph nodes became non-palpable in 46% (18/39) cases in 2 cycles group and in 75% (27/36) cases in 4 cycles group. Toxicities including leukopenia, gastroenteric reactions were similar in the 2 groups, though arthralgia, myalgia, and neurotoxicity were more common in 4 cycles group than 2 cycles group. Conclusion Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with ET regimen for 4 cycles were more effective than 2 cycles to down staging locally advanced breast cancer. Toxicities including arthralgia, myalgia, and neurotoxicity were more common in 4 cycles group than 2 cycles group.

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of paraquat poisoning and observe the change in lipid peroxidation of rats treated with different doses of curcumin.

METHODSA total of 50 8-week-old male Wistar rats (clean grade) were randomly divided into high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, high-dose curcumin treatment group, poisoned group, and blank control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in rat serum were measured at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d post paraquat injection.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, other groups had significantly higher MDA levels but lower SOD, GSH-PX, and CAT activities. The high-dose, low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment, and high-dose curcumin treatment groups had significantly lower serum lipid peroxidation levels compared with the poisoned group and among them the high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group had the most significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can significantly decrease serum lipid peroxidation level in rats and inhibit and delay the occurrence and progression of the damage to the body.

Animals ; Catalase ; blood ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of paraquat (PQ) poisoning and to observe the changes in inflammatory cytokines in PQ-exposed rats treated in different ways.

METHODSFifty 8-week-old clean male Wistar rats were randomly divided into high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, high-dose curcumin group, PQ poisoning group, and blank control group. On days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 after PQ exposure, serum levels of transforming growth factor-β₁(TGF-β₁) , tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) , and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. The pathological changes in lung tissue were evaluated by HE staining.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, high-dose curcumin group, and PQ poisoning group had significantly increased serum levels of TGF-β₁, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P<0.05) , and the three cytokines in each group reached peak levels on day 14 after exposure. Compared with the PQ poisoning group, the high-dose curcumin group had significantly reduced serum levels of TGF-β₁, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P<0.05). On day 21 after exposure, there were no significant differences in serum levels of TGF-β₁, TNF-α, and IL-6 between the high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group and the low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group (P>0.05). The HE staining revealed alveolar inflammatory changes on days 1~7 and massive pulmonary fibrosis on days 14~21 in the high-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, low-dose curcumin plus conventional treatment group, high-dose curcumin group, and PQ poisoning group, but the above changes were milder in the high-dose curcumin group than in the PQ poisoning group.

CONCLUSIONFor rats with PQ poisoning, curcumin can significantly reduce inflammatory response and pathological changes in lung tissue and inhibit and delay the development and progression of body injury.

Animals ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and toxicity of two different regimens as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

METHODSForty-eight patients with stage II, III breast cancer as proved by cytology biopsy, were treated with either 5-Fu, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide (FEC) or epirubicin, paclitaxel (ET) regimens for 2 cycles every 3 - 4 weeks. Clinical responses in the breast and lymph nodes were assessed after 2 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients in FEC arm received combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 500 mg/m(2) by 4-hour continuous infusion on D1 and D8, epirubicin (EPI) 50 mg/m(2) by intravenous injection on D1, and cyclophosphamide (CTX) 500 mg/m(2) by intravenous injection on D1 and D8. Patients assigned to the ET arm received EPI 60 mg/m(2) by intravenous injection on D1, paclitaxel (TAX) 150 mg/m(2) by 3-hour continuous infusion on D2. All patients were treated by operation 2 weeks later and radiotherapy was added to some.

RESULTSFor primary tumor in the breast, the overall response rate (RR) was 50.0% (12/24) in FEC arm and 79.2% (19/24) in ET arm. One patient showed clinical complete response (cCR), 11 partial response (PR), 12 no change (NC) after the FEC therapy, while 1 patient showed CR, 18 PR, 5 NC after ET therapy. There was no pathologic complete response or progressive disease, though a higher proportion of RR was observed in stage II than stage III patients in these two groups. Clinically palpable axillary lymph nodes which had been found in all 48 patients before 2 cycles of treatment, 50.0% (12/24) in the FEC patients and 66.7% (16/24) in the ET patients became in-palpable. The major toxicity, including leukopenia, gastroenteric reactions, were similar in both groups, but alopecia was more severe and arthralgia, myalgia, neurotoxicity and flushing of face were the unique features of the ET regimen.

CONCLUSIONNeoadjuvant chemotherapy with two different regimens were effective to the primary tumor and axillary metastatic lymph nodes of breast cancer, and the side effects were tolerable. Higher efficacy and more side effects are observed in ET than in FEC regimen.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Cyclophosphamide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Epirubicin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Taxoids ; Treatment Outcome