BACKGROUND: The extracellular signal-related kinase(ERK) cascade is activated by its specific upstream kinase MAPK/ERK kinase(MEK) and identified as a critical regulator of cell growth, memory formation and long-term neuronal plasticity.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of ERK activation in establishment and maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment based on the animals.SETTING: Department of Anesthesiology of a university-affiliated hospital.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in the Medical Institute of Anesthesiology of Jiangsu Province from September 2003 to June 2004. Totally 115 male clean SD rats weighting 220 to 300 g were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Xuzhou Medical Colleg e. The rats were raised in separate cages with natural lighting at 20 to 25 ℃, having free access to food and water.INTERVENTIONS: Five days after chronic constrictive injury(CCI) model was established, different doses of U0126 were intrathecally injected according to Mestre' s method. The control group received sterile intrathecal injection of 50 g/L dimethylsulfoxide.hyperalgesia by using von Frey filaments and thermal hyperalgesia stimulator activation and translocation of ERK in spinal cord dorsal horn by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.RESULTS: CCI could increase the activity of EPK in spinal cord dorsal horn. Intrathecal injection of U0126 significantly attenuated CCI-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia.CONCLUSION: Activation and translocation of ERK contribute to formation and maintenance of CCI-induced neuropathic pain.

Objective To explore the effect of the rational-emotive-behavior therapy (REBT) on mood, cognition and activities of dailyliving (ADL) of patients with poststroke depression (PSD). Methods 80 PSD patients were divided into control group (n=40) and observationgroup (n=40). Both groups were given Prozac (20 mg/d) for 8 weeks, and the observation group received REBT (3 times per week, 20min every time) additionally. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Barthel Index(BI) were evaluated before and after treatment. Results After 8-week treatment, the scores of HAMD in two groups reduced significantly(P<0.01), and the scores of MMSE and BI increased significantly (P<0.01). The scores of HAMD were lower in the observation group thanin the control group (P<0.05), and the scores of MMSE and BI were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). TheBI score was related with sleeping disorder in control group (P<0.05). The BI score was both related with sleeping disorder and somatizationin the observation group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the extent of effectiveness on depression between two groups(P>0.05), but there was the trend that the efficacy of the observation group was better than the control group. Conclusion REBT combinedwith antidepressant drugs can better relieve the symptoms of depression and improve cognitive function and ADL of PSD patients. The improvementof somatization and sleep disorders by REBT has a relationship with the enhancement of ADL.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of nerve functional reconstruction on urinary incontinence caused by stroke.MethodsMyoelectricity of pelvic muscles was captured and measured by electrode in vagina or anus.According to the type of urinary incontinence,suitable exercise model and corresponding exercise graph were designed,based on the theory of muscle construction and relaxation.23 patients were involved and the therapies last for 4 weeks.Myoelectricity and the degree of urinary incontinence of before and after the treatment.ResultsThe frequency of patients' urinary incontinence and urinations was reduced and the myodynamia of pelvic muscles improved.ConclusionNerve functional reconstruction is helpful in improving the patients' urination function and their life qualities.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of attention training with conventional cognitive training on cognitive impairment after stroke. Methods52 cases with cognition dysfunction after stroke were divided into the attention training group and conventional cognitive training group. They were assessed with Basic Cognitive Ability Test, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barthel Index, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） before and 8 weeks after training. ResultsAll the patients improved their cognitive function after training, but the attention training group improved more in the digit span test, two-word recognition, and MMSE score than the conventional cognitive training group. ConclusionAttention training is a useful way to improve cognitive function in patients after stroke.

Objective To observe the clinical characteristics of ophthalmic and cerebral artery occlusion after facial cosmetic injection.Methods A retrospective case study. Twenty patients (20 eyes) with ophthalmic and cerebral artery occlusion in Department of Ophtalmology, The Fourth Hospital of Xi'an from February 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study. There were 2 males (2 eyes) and 18 females (18 eyes). They aged from 21 to 41 years, with the mean age of 29.8±1.4 years. The disease courses was ranged from 3.5 hours to 21 days, with the mean of 40 hours. Facial cosmetic injections of all patients were performed at out-of-hospital beauty institutions. The visual impairment was associated with eyelid pain 1 to 10 minutes after injection.There were 12 right eyes and 8 left eyes.The injection materials, 18 patients were hyaluronic acid and 2 patients were autologous fat, respectively. At the injection site, 13 patients were sacral, 4 patients were nasal, and 3 patients were frontal. The concentration and dose of the injected filler were not known. All patients underwent vision, slit lamp microscope, fundus color photography, visual field, FFA, OCT, and brain CT, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination.Results The visual acuity was ranged from no light perception to 1.0. Among the 20 eyes, 3 eyes (15％) were obstructed by simple ophthalmic artery; 5 eyes (25％) were obstructed by ophthalmic artery combined with cerebral artery; 7 eyes (35％) were obstructed by simple retinal artery occlusion (RAO) alone, which including central RAO (CRAO, 4 eyes), hemi-lateral artery obstruction (1 eye) and branch RAO (2 eyes); 1 eye (5％) was CRAO with ciliary artery branch obstruction; 1 eye (5％) was branch artery occlusion with ischemic optic neuropathy; 2 eyes (10％) were CRAO with nasal dorsal artery occlusion; 1 eye (5％) was CRAO, posterior ciliary artery obstruction and right middle cerebral artery occlusion. Among 20 patients, 4 patients (20％) had eye movement disorder and eyelid skin bun; 2 patients (10％) had facial pain and nasal skin ischemic necrosis. MRA revealed 6 patients (30％) of new intracranial ischemic lesions. Among them, 5 patients of hyaluronic acid injection showed asymptomatic small blood vessel embolization; 1 patient of autologous fat injection showed ophthalmary artery occlusion, cerebral artery occlusion, ipsilateral eye blindness, eye movement disorder and contralateral limb hemiplegia.Conclusion Facial cosmetic injection can cause severe iatrogenic complications such as RAO, ciliary artery occlusion, ischemic optic neuropathy, ophthalmic artery occlusion, and cerebral artery occlusion.

Community acquired pneumonia(CAP)has a high morbidity and mortality rate, and can bring a heavy social and economic burden.Its etiology is complex.How to identify high-risk children, early diagnosis, prognosis prediction are the focus of clinical research.Early identification and active intervention of high-risk children who need hospitalization or admission to pediatric intensive care unit by using score scales and biomarkers are crucial to improve the survival rate.This review summarized the assessment of severity and prognosis of CAP in children by different score scales and biomarkers.

To develop a method based on immunoreactions for detection of Ectropis obliqua Nucleopolyhedrovirus (EoNPV), the polyhedra of the virus were purified and used to immunize the mouse BALB/c. The spleen cells from the immunized mice were then fused with the myeloma cell line Sp2/0. A hybridoma cell line which can stably secrete the monoclonal antibody against EoNPV was achieved by using indirect ELISA screening and cloning methods, and was named as 7D3. Meanwhile, the polyhedrin gene was cloned from EoNPV and expressed in E. coli. Western blotting analysis showed that the monoclonal antibody prepared from 7D3 could specifically react with the recombinant polyhedrin. An indirect ELISA method based on this monoclonal antibody for detecting EoNPV in infected tea looper was developed.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Hybridomas ; secretion ; Lepidoptera ; growth & development ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Structural Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

Objective This study was to evaluate the relative applicability of serum cystatin C(Cys C)-based formulas and serum creatinine-based formulas for renal glomerular filtration rate(GFR) of Chinese children with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods Six hundred and nine Chinese CKD patients of less than 18 years old were enrolled from January 2011 to October 2016 in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University.The value for estimated GFR (eGFR) was derived from using the 11 formulas,and 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging was the golden standard of standard GFR(sGFR).SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used to compare the accuracy of each assessment formula and the correlation between GFR markers(Cys C, β2-MG) and sGFR.Results A total of 609 children were enrolled,including 332 patients in CKD stage 1 (211 males and 121 females),165 patients in CKD stage 2(99 males and 66 females),70 patients in CKD stage 3(43 males and 27 females),22 patients in CKD stage 4(13 males and 9 females),and 20 patients in CKD stage 5(16 males and 4 females).All of the formulas either overestimate or underestimate GFR in chil-dren with CKD. In contrast with other formulas,CKD-EPI formula and Filler formula performed better regardless of gender and age difference.Serum β2-MG and serum Cys C all showed a negative relationship with sGFR(respectively r= -0.478 and r= -0.585,P<0.01).Conclusion CKD-EPI formula and Filler formula provide the better approximation to sGFR than other formulas in Chinese children with CKD.Howev-er,we need to try our best to enroll more patients to develop a more accurate GFR estimation formula in Chinese children.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of intrathecal morphine and fentanyl on interferon (IFN)-γ levels in hippocampus and plasma of rats with incisional pain.Methods:Ninety-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats in which intrathecal catheters were successfully inserted, weighing 180-220 g, aged 6-8 weeks, were divided into 4 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: normal saline group (group NS), incisional pain group (group P), morphine and fentanyl group (group MF) and morphine and fentanyl with incisional pain group (group MFP). Incisional pain model was established in group P and group MFP.At 20 min before the model was established, a 50 μl mixture of morphine 5 μg/kg and fentanyl 0.25 μg/kg was intrathecally injected in group MF and group MFP, while normal saline 50 μl was injected intrathecally in group NS and group P. At 24 h before establishment of the model (T 0) and at 1, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after establishment of the model (T 1-5), 6 mice were randomly selected from each group for determination of the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL). The animals were sacrificed and hippocampal tissues and blood samples from the inferior vena cava were collected for determination of IFN-γ levels in hippocampal tissues and plasma (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results:Compared with group NS, MWT was significantly decreased and TWL was shortened at T 1-5, and IFN-γ concentration in plasma was decreased at T 2, 3 and T 5 in group P, MWT was increased and TWL was prolonged at T 1-3 in group MF, MWT was decreased and TWL was shortened at T 1-3 in group MFP, and IFN-γ concentration in plasma was decreased at T 2 in MF and MFP groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group P, MWT was increased, TWL was prolonged at T 1-5, and IFN-γ concentration in plasma was increased at T 2, 3 and T 5 in MF and MFP groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group MF, MWT was decreased and TWL was shortened at T 1-4, and IFN-γ concentration in plasma was increased at T 2 and T 3 in MFP ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in IFN-γ concentration at each time point among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Intrathecal morphine and fentanyl can increase plasma IFN-γ concentration, and improve peripheral immunosuppression.

5-Aminolevulinic acid is the key intermediate of the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway in organisms and has broad application potentials. This review summarized and discussed recent progress in microbial production of 5-aminolevulinic acid, including screening, isolation and mutation of microbes to produce 5-aminolevulinic acid; microbial whole-cell transformation to synthesize 5-aminolevulinic acid depending on the C4 pathway; construction of high-yield 5-aminolevulinic acid producing strains by metabolic engineering. Finally, future research directions in microbial production of 5-aminolevulinic acid were addressed.
Aminolevulinic Acid ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Metabolic Engineering ; Mutation ; Rhodobacter sphaeroides ; genetics ; metabolism