Objective To investigate the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on the healing of skin ulcers using Balb/c mice. Methods Wounds with a diameter 6 mm were created on each side of the backs of BalB/c mice ( n = 150) using a punch bioptome. The mice were assigned randomly into a control group ( wounds healed naturally), a laser group (wounds treated with a He-Ne laser for 10 min daily) and a CAP group (wounds treated with CAP for 10 min daily). Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (PODs) 4, 7, 10 and 14 in terms of percent wound closure. Ten mice per group were sacrificed on each of the evaluation days. Both wounds were removed and a histological examination was conducted. A scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) in the wounded tissue was detected by using immunohistochemical methods on POD 7. The results were quantified using an HPIAS-1000 system. Results Compared with the control group, the average percentage of wound healing was significantly greater in the CAP group on PODs 7 and 10. The average scores on the histological examination were significantly higher in the CAP group on PODs 7, 10 and 14. Compared with the other two groups, the expression of VEGF was up-regulated significantly in the CAP group.Conclusions CAP can positively affect the wound healing process. This might be related to the up-regulation of VEGF in the wounded tissues.

Objective To observe the changes of neuron-specific enolase(NSE),S-100 protein and TBC in the blood of newborn rats at early stage of bilirubin encephalopathy,and the protective effect of mild-hypothermia on the brain.Methods 42 Wistar rats(7-day postnatal) were divided randomly into the group C(control group,n=10),group M0(normal-temperature group,n=17) and group M1(mild-hypothermia group,n=15).The rats of the group C received physiological saline 0.5 ml,the rats in the groups of M0 and M1 were injected with bilirubin intraperitoneally(200 mg/kg) to establish the model of bilirubin encephalopathy.The changes of the content of NSE and S-100 protein in the blood of newborn rats,and the protective effect of mild-hypothermia on brain were observed.Results The animals with established bilirubin encephalopathy shown significant changes of neurobehaviour and pathological examination.Values of NSE and S-100 protein of the group M1 decreased after the treatment of mild-hypothermia,and there was a significant difference compared with group M0( P<0.01).Conclusion The mild-hypothermia has protective effect on brain of newborn rats with bilirubin intraperitoneally.

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant murine interleukin-23(rIL-23)on systemic candidiasis in a murine model.Methods A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed murine model of systemic candidiasis was established.The mice were divided into control group and rIL-23 treatment group.Colony forming units(CFU)of the kidney and spleen were determined by using plating dilution method.The histopathological changes and degree of infection of the kidney and spleen were graded.Meanwhile,the levels of interferon gamma(IFN-γ)in the spleen were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results On the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after Candida albicans infection the number of CFU of the fungi in the kidney in the control group was significantly greater than that in rIL-23 treatment group(P＜0.01).The number of CFU of the fungi on the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after Candida albicans infection in the spleen in control group was also greater than that in rIL-23 treatment group,but without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).The scores of histopathological changes in the kidney in rIL-23 treatment group were lower than those in control group(P＜0.01),and the degree of infection was milder in rIL-23 treatment group.The scores of histopathological changes in the spleen in rIL-23 treatment group were also lower than those in control group,but without statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).The levels of IFN-γ in the spleen on the 2nd,3rd and 7th day after infection in rIL-23 treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion rIL-23 has protective effect on murine systemic candidiasis.

In this study, the sterilizing effect of atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasmas (APNPs) on Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) was preliminarily examined and the possible mechanisms were explored. N. gonorrhoeae FA1090, FA19 and MS11 were treated by APNPs and their survival rate was analyzed by using CFUs counting and structurally studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy. The morphological changes of bacterial cell membrane and wall were studied under TEM. Our results showed that APNPs had strong sterilizing effect on N. gonorrhoeae. The survival rate of MS11 in N. gonorrhoeae liquid medium was 60.65% after disinfection with the APNPs for 5 min, whereas, the survival rate of FA19 was 92.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 96.40%. The survival rate of MS11 was 21.13% after exposure to APNPs for 6 min, whereas the survival rate of FA19 was 31.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 91.00%. N. gonorrhoeae was structurally damaged after treatment with APNPs. It is concluded that APNPs is able to effectively and quickly kill the N. gonorrhoeae, and the killing effect is related to the architectural damage of cell membrane.

Objective To observe the effects of electro-acupuncture and functional training on gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy. Methods 137 children with cerebral palsy were divided into observation group (n=81) and control group (n=56). The observation group received electro-acupuncture and functional training, and the control group received functional training only. Results The scores of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) increased in both group after treatment (P<0.01), and it was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture and functional training is superior to functional training in gross motor function.

To identify the genomic species of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, evaluate the difference between two molecular epidemiological methods and examine the relationship between sex partners and genotypes of bacteria, 24 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from the outpatients with gonorrhea were identified by using the Opa genotyping and NG-MAST genotyping and the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes was studied. Twenty-four strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae fell into 10 ST genotypes by NG-MAST genotyping, whereas these strains were classified into 12 OT Opa genotypes by Opa genotyping. A new epidemic strain of ST genotype (217-86% homologisation 178) in China was identified. It is concluded that genotypes of each pair of strains from a pair of patient/ sex partner besides 45/46 are the same, indicating that contagious infection take place between patient and the sex partner. Opa genotyping was more effective than NG-MAST genotyping in identifying the genomic species of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. ST genotype could be further classified into different Opa-types.

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice. Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse (n=80) by using a punch biopsy. The mice were assigned randomly into two groups, with 40 animals in each group: a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma; a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally. Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 4, 7, 10 and 14 (n=5 per group in each POD) by percentage of wound closure. The mice was euthanized on POD 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35 (n=1 in each POD). The wounds were removed, routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned and HE-stained. A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds. The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group, earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7, and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD 7 (P<0.05). The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group (P<0.05). The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10 (P<0.05 for all). The count of bacterial colonies was 10(3) CFU/mL on POD 4 and <20 CFU/mL on POD 7, significantly lower than that in control group (10(9) CFU/mL on POD 4 and >10(12) CFU/mL on the POD 7) (P<0.05). It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colonization.

In this study,the sterilizing effect of atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasmas (APNPs)on Neisseria gonorrhoeae(N.gonorrhoeae)was preliminarily examined and the possible mechanisms were explored.N.gonorrhoeae FAI090,FA19 and MS11 were treated by APNPs and their survival rate was analyzed by using CFUs counting and structurally studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy.The morphological changes of bacterial cell membrane and wall were studied under TEM.Our results showed that APNPs had strong sterilizing effect on N.gonorrhoeae.The survival rate of MS11 in N.gonorrhoeae liquid medium was 60.65% after disinfection with the APNPs for 5 min,whereas,the survival rate of FA19 was 92.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 96.40%.The survival rate of MS11 was 21.13% after exposure to APNPs for 6 min,whereas the survival rate of FA19 was 31.60% and the rate of FA1090 was 91.00%.N.gonorrhoeae was structurally damaged after treatment with APNPs.It is concluded that APNPs is able to effectively and quickly kill the N.gonorrhoeae,and the killing effect is related to the architectural damage of cell membrane.

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice.Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse (n=80) by using a punch biopsy.The mice were assigned randomly into two groups,with 40animals in each group:a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma; a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally.Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 4,7,10 and 14 (n=5 per group in each POD) by percentage of wound closure.The mice was euthanized on POD 1,4,7,10,14,21,28 and 35 (n=1 in each POD).The wounds were removed,routinely fixed,paraffin-embedded,sectioned and HE-stained.A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds.The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group,earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7,and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD7 (P＜0.05).The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group (P＜0.05).The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10 (P＜0.05 for all).The count of bacterial colonies was 103 CFU/mL on POD 4 and ＜20 CFU/mL on POD 7,significantly lower than that in control group (109 CFU/mL on POD 4 and ＞1012 CFU/mL on the POD 7) (P＜0.05).It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colonization.

To identify the genomic species of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, evaluate the difference between two molecular epidemiological methods and examine the relationship between sex partners and genotypes of bacteria, 24 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from the outpatients with gonorrhea were identified by using the Opa genotyping and NG-MAST genotyping and the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes was studied. Twenty-four strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae fell into 10 ST genotypes by NG-MAST genotyping, whereas these strains were classified into 12 OT Opa genotypes by Opa genotyping. A new epidemic strain of ST genotype (217-86% homologisation 178) in China was identified. It is concluded that genotypes of each pair of strains from a pair of patient/sex partner besides 45/46 are the same, indicating that contagious infection take place between patient and the sex partner. Opa genotyping was more effective than NG-MAST genotyping in identifying the genomic species of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. ST genotype could be further classified into different Opa-types.