Objective To compare the efficiency between mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for monotherapy of renal calculi in infants less than 3 years.Methods Forty-six infants were treated with either SWL (22 infants) or MPCNL monotherapy (24 infants).The mean age was (22.6 ± 8.7) months vs (23.5 ± 6.6) months and the stone size was (21.4 ± 3.5) mm vs (21.7 ± 1.7) mm,and there were no significant difference.Results For MPCNL,mean operating time was (76.2 ± 23.4) min and mean hospital stay was (14.13 ± 5.8) d.The stone-free rates were 84.0％ (21/25) after first session and 96.0％ (24/25) after second-look procedure.Postoperative fever happened in 4 (16.0％) cases.Hemoglobin drop was (8.5 ± 4.4) g/L and no one needed blood transfusion.For ESWL,the stone-free rate were 31.8％ (7/22) after first session and 86.3％ (19/22) after second session for 11 infants (50.0％).Mean hospital stay was (6.6 ± 2.3) d and 10 cases (45.5％)had complications.Hemoglobin drop was (10.6 ± 12.7) g/L.MPCNL was lower than ESWL in complications rate and re-treatment rate,and the stone-free rate was higher,but the hospital stay and operation time was longer (P ＜ 0.05).GFR revealed improve or stable after operation in both groups.Conclusions For a higher success rate,lower complication rate and re-treatment rate,MPCNL was an effective option for the management of relatively larger stones in children (even in infants).

Objective To review the experience of colon interposition in the treatment of benign esophageal stricture.Methods 58 patients who had undergone colon interposition for esophageal replacements were studied retrospectively,including 53 patients with corrosive burn esophageal strictures,3 traumatic esophageal strictures and 2 congenital esophageal strictures.The interposition colon for all patients went through substemum paths.Results There was no postoperative death in the duration of hospital stay.14 cases developed postoperative complication including 2 total colon necrosis,7 anastomotic leak,2 anastomotic stricture and 3 recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.52 patients were followed-up(ranged 1 to 16 years),40 cases were extremely satisfied(1 grade),9 very satisfied(2 grade),2 satisfied(3 grade)and 1 unsatisfied(4 grade).Conclusion Colon interposition is an ideal procedure for esophageal benign stricture.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the biological characteristics of a human specifically targeted antimi- crobial peptide C16LL-37 against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).

METHODSIn this study, an antimicrobial peptide LL-37, a peptide derived from CSP(C16) (S. mutans competence stimulating peptide), and recombinant peptide C16LL-37 were synthesized by Fmoc-chemistry-based strategy. The selectivity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 were identified by the colony counting method on microbial culture plates. After treatment of C16LL-37 at 32 µmol · L⁻¹, the morphological changes in S. mutans were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the hemolytic activity and antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions.

RESULTS1) The minimum inhibitory concentration of C16LL-37 was 16 µmol · L⁻¹, and the minimum bactericidal concentration was 64 μmol ·L⁻¹. 2) The survival rate of S. mutans was 3.46% after C16LL-37 treatment at 64 µmo-L⁻¹ for 30 min, whereas it was 0% at 64 µmol · L⁻¹ for 60 min. The survival rates of four other kinds of bacteria were more than 60% at any time (P < 0.05). 3) The morphological change in S. mutans was observed after C16LL-37 treatment at 32 µmol · L⁻¹ by using SEM. S. mutans presented an irregular shape, rough surface, and evident splitting. 4) The hemolysis rate of C16LL-37 (≤ 64 µmol · L⁻¹) was less than 0.33%. 5) This study showed no significant in- fluence on the antibacterial activity of C16LL-37 under different conditions, such as temperature, pH, salinity, and trypsin at low concentration (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONC16LL-37 exhibited obvious specificity for S. mutans, strong antibacterial activity, low toxicity, and high stability. Thus, C16LL-37 has good potential in caries research and clinical application.

Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; Dental Caries ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Peptides ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effect of ambroxol pretreatment on the inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation during one-lung ventilation (OLV) .Methods Forty-five ASA I or II patients aged 37-64 yr weighing 53-65 kg undergoing thoracotomy under general anesthesia were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 15 each): group A two-lung ventilation (TLV); group B OLV and group C ambroxol 1 mg/kg + OLV. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam, fentanyl, propofol and atracurium and maintained with propofol infusion and intermittent iv boluses of fentanyl and atracurium. The patients were mechanically ventilated (VT8-10 ml/kg, RR 12 bpm during TLV, VT 6-7 ml/kg, RR 16 bpm during OLV, I: E 1:2, FiO2 100% ). In group C ambroxol 1 mg/kg in normal saline ( NS) 100 ml was infused at 25 min before OLV (infusion rate 4 ml/min) , while in group A and B equal volume of NS was infused instead of ambroxol. Blood samples were obtained from radial artery before induction of anesthesia and OLV (T0.1 ) and at 0.5, 1, 2 h of OLV (T2-4 ) and 1, 2 h of TLV (T5,6 ) and at 24 h after operation (T7) in group B and C for determination of serum SOD activity and TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations and WBC and neutrophil granulocyte counts. The same indexes were detected in group A at the corresponding time points.Results Serum SOD activity was significantly lower and serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations and WBC and neutrophil granulocyte counts were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Serum SOD activity was significantly higher and serum TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations and WBC and neutrophil granulocyte counts were significantly lower in group C than in group B. Conclusion Pretreatment with ambroxol 1 mg/kg can inhibit inflammatory response and lipid peroxidation during OLV.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the surgical management and its result of the cervical esophageal cancer.METHODS Forty six patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma who received surgical treatment in our hospital were included in this retrospective study.The removed hypopharynx and cervical esophagus were repaired with laryngotracheal flap in 5 cases,free myocutaneous flap in 4 patients and free jejunum in 2 patients.The inversion stripping esophagectomy without thoracotomy were performed in 35 patients.RESULTS During the early postoperative period,complications included recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis in 2 cases,anastomotic fistula in 3 cases,anastomotic stenosis in 5 cases,Long-term postoperative gastro-esophageal reflux occurred in 19 cases.The 5-year survival rate was 28.7%. CONCLUSION The surgical treatment for cervical esophageal carcinoma should be decided by the location of the tumor,the extent of the cancer involved and lymph node metastasis.

Objective To use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1),and to analyze its diagnostic value for prostatic carcinoma.Methods The possible difficulties and the way to solve the difficulties with ELISA spot were explored first.Three agents which could segregate idio-antigen and one technique which could depurate proteinum were designed and developed.The non- idio- proteinum cross reaction problems were solved and the routine method to measure TSP-1 with ELISA was set up successfully.The serum TSP-1 was measured in 14 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 18 patients with prostatic carcinoma.Results The TSP-1 values were (73.77±12.72)% and (121.86±-19.47)% in prostatic carcinoma group and benign prostatic hyperplasia group,respectively (t= 8.44,P＜0.01).The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of TSP-1 and prostate specific antigen (PSA) for prostatic cancer were 92.7%,88.9% and 85.7%,66.7%,respectively (P＜0.01).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of TSP-1 and PSA were 0.9663 and 0.7421 (P＜0.05).Conclusions The determination of TSP-1 with ELISA is feasible.TSP-1 is an ideal diagnostic parameter for prostatic carcinoma and it may distinguish BPH from malignant prostatic disease more exactly than PSA.

The American Transplant Congress (ATC) is an influential academic congress in the field of organ transplantation. In this article, the hotspots of liver transplantation in 2020 ATC were summarized, including the latest research progress in donor liver procurement and quality assessment, donor liver preservation and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma and other hepatic malignancies, complications after liver transplantation, transplantation immunology, perioperative management and donor-derived infection, pediatric liver transplantation and cell therapy, etc.

Objective:Methamphetamine(METH)is an illicit psychoactive substance that can damage various organs,with the urinary system being one of its significant targets.This study aims to explore the role of microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4(MARK4)in METH-induced acute kidney injury(AKI). Methods:A total of 10 healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group and a METH group,5 mice in each group.The METH group was administered METH(20 mg/kg,intraperitoneally,once daily for 3 consecutive days),while the control group received an equal volume of physiological saline.The mice were executed 24 hours after the final injection,and the success of the AKI model was detected by blood serum creatinine,blood urea nitrogen,and renal HE staining.Proteins differentially expressed between kidney tissues with METH-induced AKI and normal kidney tissues were screened by proteomics techniques and subjected to gene ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)and bioinformatics analysis.The accuracy of proteomic data was validated using Western blotting,and the expression levels of MARK4 and cleaved caspase-3 in mouse kidneys were measured.We further explored the role of MARK4 in METH-induced AKI.Firstly,a METH toxicity model was established in BUMPT cells to screen the appropriate concentration and time of METH treatment;the viability of BUMPT cells after METH treatment and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 were detected by interfering with MARK4 expression through inhibitors. Results:The proteomic analysis of kidney tissues from METH and control groups screened for a total of 17 differentially expressed proteins,of which 11 were up-regulated and 6 were down-regulated(all P＜0.05).The expression levels of MARK4 and cleaved caspase-3 were elevated in the kidneys of METH-treated mice(both P＜0.05).The activity of BUMPT cells gradually decreased with increasing METH treatment concentration(all P＜0.05),where the viability of BUMPT cells decreased to about 60％after METH treatment at 4 mmol/L.Compared with the control group,expression levels of MARK4 and cleaved caspase-3 were increased with higher METH concentrations and longer exposure times in a concentration-and time-dependent manner(all P＜0.05).Inhibition of MARK4 expression improved METH-induced decrease in BUMPT cell activity,down-regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3,and decreased the apoptosis of BUMPT cells induced by METH. Conclusion:MARK4 is highly expressed in a mouse model of METH-induced AKI,and MARK4 mediates METH-induced AKI by regulating cell apoptosis.

Objective : This experiment was carried out to study the effects of chronic inflammatory pain on the gut flora of mice by 16S rRNA high⁃throughput sequencing. Methods : Twelve specific pathogen free (SPF) C57BL/ 6J mice were randomly divided into CFA group and mock group , with 6 mice in each group. Chronic inflammatory pain model was established by intraplantar injection of CFA in the right posterior pelma of C57BL/6J mice. In the control group , normal saline was injected by intraplantar injection in the same position. Two weeks later, the mice were euthanized , and the feces in the colon were collected. The feces of two mice in the same group were mixed , detected and analyzed by 16S rRNA high⁃throughput sequencing technology. Results : Compared with mock group , the abundance and diversity of gut flora in CFA group decreased. The abundance of Firmicutes and TM7 increased at the phylum level , the abundance of Aerococcus , Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio increased significantly at the fami ⁃ ly and genus level , while the abundance of Psychrobacter, Prevotella , Oscillospira and Bifidobacterium decreased significantly compared to mock group. In addition , many biomarkers were found from the level of the phylum to the genus. Conclusion The gut microflora structure , especially the dominant flora , has changed significantly in mice with chronic inflammatory pain , which can provide basis for the treatment of microecological imbalance caused by chronic inflammatory pain and the improvement of patients ′ negative emotions through“ gut brain axis”.