Objective This paper aims to characterize the tensile and compressive behaviors of skin tissue under different temperatures and to study the effect of temperature and corresponding dermal collagen denaturation on the mechanical properties of skin tissue.Methods The uniaxial tensile and compressive tests of fresh pig ear skin under different temperatures have been performed by using two specifically-designed hydrothermal experimental systems.Results In tensile tests,the skin stiffness decreases with increased temperature,while a contrary trend is observed in compressive tests.Conclusion The results show that temperature has a great influence on both tensile and compressive properties of skin tissue,but the mechanisms are different.The variation of skin tensile properties is caused by the thermal denaturation of skin collagen with increased temperature,while the variation of skin compressive behavior of skin tissue may be due to the hydration change with thermal denaturation.

Objective To test the hypothesis that collagen is a significant determinant of skin viscoelasticity,with particular attention paid to the thermomechanical properties of skin under dynamic loading.Methods Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to detect the denaturation of dermal collagen and assess its thermal stability.The DSC results obtained with various heating rates were used to derive the Arrhenius parameters in burn damage integration,which were subsequently used to calculate the degree of denatured collagen in the skin.The dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) was employed to evaluate the changes in skin viscoelastic properties as a function of temperature and collagen damage.Results The results showed remarkable changes in storage modulus,possibly due to the release of water,whilst there was no significant change in loss factor.Conclusion These results suggest that at a fixed frequency the denaturation of collagen molecules has a large effect on the viscoelastic behavior of skin tissue.

Objective To explore effects of doctor-nurse integrated care management model on fast track (FT) perioperative management of colorectal cancer patients.Methods Between January 2014 and September 2014,112 colorectal cancer patients (innovation group) underwent doctor-nurse integrated care and FT management in West China Hospital were analyzed retrospectively;who were compared with 96 patients (control group) underwent FT management from the same period of 2011.Early postoperative rehabilitation indicators,length of hospital stay,30d readmission rates,total hospitalization costs and patients satisfaction were compared.Results Innovation group of patients for the first time of post-operative flatus,defecation,oral feeding,ambulation,gastric and drainage tubes removal time were all earlier than those in control group,P ＜0.05,while the difference of urinary catheter tube removal time between the two groups was not statistically significant,P ＞ 0.05;the length of hospital stay in innovation group(6.05±2.05) d was significantly shorter than that in control group (7.85±3.22) d,P ＜ 0.05;preoperative hospital stay in innovation group was (1.35±0.45) d,shorter than that in control group (2.56±0.63)d,P ＜ 0.05;the patients satisfaction points in innovation group was (94.t2±3.12) points,which was higher than that in control group (86.36±5.51) points,t=2.589,P ＜0.05.Conclusion Doctor-nurse integrated care management model can improve postoperative rehabilitation effects,can reduce average hospital stay,total hospitalization costs and improve patients satisfaction.

Objective To study the influence of preoperative nutritional status for postoperative recovery effect of patients with colorectal cancer. Methods Selected 395 patients with colorectal cancer from Feb 2008 to Jan 2009, evaluated their preoperative nutritional status by NRS-2002, and then divided them into three groups according to the NRS-2002 values. Compared the indexes which indicated postoperative recovery effect among the three groups. Results The nutritional risk level were related with the time of postoperative pulled out the catheter and plasma drainage, the time of consumption, exhaust and defecation and the length of hospital stay. There was no significant correlation between the nutrition risk score and the time of pulled out the stomach robe and getting out of bed. Conclusions There were some influence of preoperative nutritional status on postoperative recovery effect of patients with colorectal cancer, nurses should emphases the preoperative nutrition evaluation and then carry out related nutritional support and associated nursing cares.

Objective To explore the establishment of the coherent health service system for patients undergoing surgery in this region to optimize health care resources.Methods Using the Quantitative-qualitative research to investigate the conditions and needs of the regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals,and it is about two-way referral,the follow ups after discharge,remote consultation,the conditions and needs of the remote training and the knowledge to the obstacles of carrying out the regional network service.Results The doctors and nurses in the research said,it was difficult to achieve the up referral in two-way referral,and there was financing obstacles for remote consultation and training,furthermore,the effects of the remote training was uncertain.Conclusions The regional network of health service between the third-grade class-A hospital and its collaborative hospitals is still weak,and we need to intensify the development of the regional network service.

AIM: To facilitate the suicide gene delivery into neoplasm, a chimeric gene of HSV-tk and green fluorescent protein (gfp) was constructed. METHODS: Molecular cloning technique was used to construct this kind of eukaryotic vector. The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), which could coordinate expression of two genes in a single vector, was optioned. By using liposome-mediated transfection, eukaryotic expression vector tgCMV/hytk-IRES-gfp was transfected into human bladder carcinoma cells EJ. RESULTS: A bicistronic eukaryotic vector carrying gfp and hygromycin phosphotransferase-thymidine kinase fusion (hytk) gene was constructed. The results of PCR and microscopy detection show that the hytk-IRES-gfp gene was successfully transferred into EJ cells. There were no differences in the growth pattern or the morphology between EJ and EJ/hytk-GFP cells. In vitro experiments demonstrated dose- and time-dependent cell killing by transduction of the hytk-IRES-gfp gene followed by GCV treatment. The IC50 (the concentration required to elicit 50% growth inhibition) was 2.16 mg/L in treatment with GCV for 72 hours. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that this new kind of eukaryotic vector could serves as a new tool and method for neoplasm gene therapy.

Objective To investigate the application effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor in perioperative preemptive on-demand analgesia of the patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy under enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS).Methods The clinical data in 206 cases of gallstones undergoing selective COX-2 inhibitor for preemptive analgesia (new type analgesic group) from June to December 2015 and 198 cases of gallstones undergoing tramadol postoperative analgesia (traditional analgesia group) in the biliary surgery department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retrospectively analyzed.The intraoperative anesthesia schemes in the two groups were consistent.The same pain resolution scheme was adopted after operation.Then the VAS pain score,pain relief drug use rate,adverse reactions,analgesic satisfaction and hospitalization time were compared between the two groups.Results The VAS scores at postoperative 2,6,12,24 h in the new type analgesia group were lower than those in the traditional analgesia group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05);the analgesic drug use rate in the new type analgesia group was lower than that in the traditional analgesia group (14.56％ vs.44.95％,P＜0.05),and the use rate of tramadol hydrochloride and pethidine hydrochloride was lower than that in the traditional analgesia group (P＜0.05).The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the new type analgesia group was lower (2.43％ vs.36.36％,P＜0.05).The incidence rate of nausea and vomiting in the new type analgesia group was lower than that in the traditional analgesia group (P＜0.05),and the incidence rate of other complications had no statistically signifiwas higher than that in the traditional analgesia group (P＜0.05);the average hospital stay and postoperative hospital stay had no statistical difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion COX-2 inhibitors can effectively reduce perioperative pain degree in the patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy,reduces the use frequency of analgesic drugs,shortens the hospital stay time and increases the patient satisfaction.cant difference (P＞0.05).The perioperative patient analgesia satisfaction the in the new type analgesia group

To meet community demands with optimal Chinese and conventional medical treatment, the University of Hong Kong is promoting integrative medicine by developing Chinese medicine programmes that train students of both Western and Chinese medicine. The programmes emphasize multi-disciplinary training and interaction between the two therapeutic approaches, enabling students to establish reliable, consistent, and respectful mutual cooperation in their future careers.
Education, Medical ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in excess deaths worldwide. Conventional antiviral medicines have been used to relieve the symptoms, with limited therapeutic effect. In contrast, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is reported to exert remarkable anti-COVID-19 effect. The current review aims to: 1) uncover the main pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19; 2) verify the bioactive ingredients and pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule by network analysis; 3) investigate the compatibility effect of major botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule; and 4) clarify the clinical evidence and safety of the combined therapy of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs. Numerous bioactive ingredients in Lianhu Qingwen, such as quercetin, naringenin, β-sitosterol, luteolin, and stigmasterol, were identified to target host cytokines, and to regulate the immune defence in response to COVID-19. Genes including androgen receptor (AR), myeloperoxidase (MPO), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin (INS), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) were found to be significantly involved in the pharmacological actions of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule against COVID-19. Four botanical drug pairs in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule were shown to have synergistic effect for the treatment of COVID-19. Clinical studies demonstrated the medicinal effect of the combined use of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule and conventional drugs against COVID-19. In conclusion, the four main pharmacological mechanisms of Lianhua Qingwen Capsule for managing COVID-19 are revealed. Therapeutic effect has been noted against COVID-19 in Lianhua Qingwen Capsule.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Pandemics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of total flavones from Artemisia anomala (TFAS) on activation of macrophages, cell oxidative stress, auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD, platelet aggregation and isolated vascular tension.

METHODLPS and IFN-gamma induced activation of macrophages and oxidative stress in rats; H2O2 and nitrite induced auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD; ADP, AA and collagen induced platelet aggregation in vitro in mice; PE stimulates isolated vascular tension; nitrite content of macrophages was measured by Griess assay; MTT assay and FRAP assay was applied for cell viability and total cell antioxidant capacity; auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD was measured by Western blot and colorimetric methods; platelet aggregation was detected by turbidimetry; and aorta ring relaxation was recorded by isolated vascular function experience devices for rats.

RESULTTFAS demonstrated dose dependence (25, 50, 100, 200 mg x L(-1)) on inhibiting induced macrophages NO production from generating, while increasing cell viability and total anti-oxidant capacity. Auto-nitration of CuZn-SOD was suppressed by TFAS in dose dependence (0.5, 5, 50 mg x L(-1)). TFAS showed an inhibitory effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation at 50 mg x L(-1) and an endothelium-dependent relaxation effect on PE-induced vasoconstriction at 1 g x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONTFAS shows effect on anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-nitration, anti-platelet aggregation and vasodilatation in experiment in vitro, which may inhibit vascular inflammatory by regulating multiple target points. It is among material bases for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Aorta ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiology ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; drug effects