BACKGROUND: Vernix caseosa (VC), which is known as a unique human substance, is a biofilm that covers the skin of most human newborns. VC has many biological functions including anti-infective, skin cleansing and skin barrier repair. OBJECTIVE: In the study, we purpose to investigate the novel effect of lipids extracted from VC on the regulation of filaggrin (FLG) expression and anti-inflammation in normal human epidermal keratinocyte (NHEK) cells. METHODS: The lipids were extracted by chloroform/methanol (Folch method) and the major properties of fatty acid methyl esters were determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The relative viability of NHEK cells was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit 8 assay. The related expression of skin barrier protein was accessed with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and Immunofluorescence in NHEK cells with or without poly (I:C). Meanwhile, the changes of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: VC lipids mostly contained saturated and branched chains fatty acids. The expression of mRNA and protein of FLG were significantly increased after the supplement with lipid in NHEK cells. Meanwhile, lipids reversed the inhibition of poly (I:C) on FLG. Moreover, lipids suppressed the over secretion of TSLP and TNF-α induced by poly (I:C). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that lipids extracted from VC has positive effects on the expression of FLG and anti-inflammation, suggesting that lipids of VC may be used for a reference for novel therapeutic method in reducing and remedying skin disease like atopic disease.
Biofilms ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Esters ; Fatty Acids ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Inflammation ; Keratinocytes ; Methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vernix Caseosa

INTRODUCTIONWe report a case of neurogenic pulmonary oedema (NPO) following massive left cerebral infarct, which was initially misdiagnosed as acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

CLINICAL PICTUREThis 52-year-old man presented with acute loss of consciousness with normal brain computed tomography (CT). He was treated as non-ST-elevation AMI complicated with pulmonary oedema based on findings of chest radiograph (bilateral pulmonary oedema), electrocardiogram (marked ST-T changes in leads V3 to V6), and cardiac enzymes [elevated creatinine kinase (CK) and CK-MB]. However, coronary angiogram and serial cardiac enzymes were inconclusive. Anisocoria developed after admission and a repeat brain CT was evident for large left cerebral infarct.

TREATMENTDecompressive craniectomy was carried out.

OUTCOMEMortality.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of NPO can be challenging when it occurs without abnormal findings on preliminary brain CT. It can be mistaken for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema secondary to AMI.

Cerebral Infarction ; physiopathology ; Coma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; Pulmonary Edema ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Taiwan

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and hypertension accompanying atherosclerosis in Li people in Hainan province. MethodsTwo hundred and sixty patients with hypertension accompanying atherosclerosis were selected as hypertension plus atherosclerosis group, while two hundred and seventy-six healthy people were regarded as healthy control group. ACE I/D gene polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of DD, DI and Ⅱ were investigated. The carotid intimal-medial thickness(IMT)was measured by high-resolution ultrasound technique and mean IMT (MIMT) was calculated. Results(1) In the hypertension plus atherosclerosis group, the genotype frequencies of DD, DI and Ⅱ were 15.0%, 37.3%, 47.7%,respectively, and the allele frequencies of D and I were 33.70% and 66.30%, respectively. In the healthy control group, the genotype frequencies of DD, DI and Ⅱ were 17.8% , 40.6% and 41.7%,respectively, and the allele frequencies of D and I were 38.0% and 62.0%, respectively. There were no significant differences both in the genotype frequencies of DD, DI and Ⅱ, and in allele frequencies of D and I between the two groups (P>0. 05). (2) The age,total serum cholesterol(TC),triglyceride (TG), systolic pressure(SBP), diastolic pressure(DBP), apolipoprotein A(apoA) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels were significantly higher in the hypertension plus atherosclerosis group than in the control group(P<0. 05). The high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) level was significantly lower in the hypertension plus atherosclerosis group than in the control group(P<0. 05). Logistic regression analysis showed that TG (OR = 2.14), apoA(OR = 360. 39), SBP(OR = 1.21), DBP (OR=1.08) and ACE DD genetype (OR = 0. 30) had correlation with hypertension plus atherosclerosis(all P<0. 05). The MIMT level was significantly higher in ACE DD subset than in DI and Ⅱ subset (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe ACE DD genotype increases the susceptibility of carotid atheroselerosis, which is the risk factor for hypertension accompanying atherosclerosis in Li people in Hainan province. It may be an early predictive factor in atherosclerosis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of determining the chemical composition of kidney stones using gemstone spectral imaging ( GSI ).Methods One hundred and sixty eight extracted human kidney stones immersed in a 10 cm deep water tank underwent CT (Discovery CT750 HD) scans with GSI mode and conventional polychromatic imaging ( CPI,120 kVp) mode.All GSI data were transferred to Workstation AW 4.4 to acquire monochromatic images of 50 keY,effective atomic number (Zeff) mapping images,water (calcium)-based images and calcium (Water)-based images with GSI Viewer.CT numbers of stones were measured and compared at 50 keV monochromatic images and 120 kVp polychromatic images,the mean Zeff,calcium density and water density were measured at Zeff mapping images,Calcium (Water) -based images and Water (Calcium)-based images,respectively.The mean Zeff,spectral HU curve slope and calcium water ratio (CWR) were compared with ANOVA and Wilcoxon test.The composition of kidney stones was determined by infrared spectrometer after CT examination.According to the result of stone composition determined by infrared spectroscopy,108 pure kidney stones were divided into five groups:Uric acid stones ( UA,n = 13 ),struvite stones ( STR,n = 24),cystine stones ( CYS,n = 14),calcium phosphate stones ( CaP,n = 18),and calcium oxalate stones ( COX,n = 39).ResultsThe mean Zeff,CWR,the mean CT numbers at 50 keV images,120 kVp images and spectral HU curve slope of each group were listed as the following:UA [ 7.4 ± 0.4,0.0085 ± 0.0021,( 503 ± 168 ) HU,(495 ± 106 ) HU and - 0.77 ] ; STR [ 11.8 ± 0.9,0.1743 ± 0.0677,( 1056 ± 290 ) HU,( 799 ± 165 ) HU and 18.72 ] ; CYS [ 11.2 ± 0.6,0.1253 ± 0.0297,( 740 ± 172 ) HU,( 565 ± 129 ) HU and 12.79 ] ; CaP [ 16.0 ± 0.4,0.6781 ± 0.0952,( 2567 ±178 ) HU,( 1602 ± 200 ) HU and 37.14 ] ; COX [ 15.4 ± 0.4,0.5683 ± 0.0759,( 2267 ± 385 ) HU,( 1489 ±284) HU and 36.36 ],there were significant differences among groups ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The differences in the mean Zeff,CRW,spectral HU curve slope were statistically significant among the five groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Spectral CT imaging provides a new method to characterize the kidney stones with the information orovided by mean Zeff,CRW and the CT numbers at 50 keV.

During the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, our hospital was a designated hospital for the treatment of COVID-19, and established the infection control system in the department of anesthesiology according to the clinical practice. The relevant staff of our hospital strictly followed the rules and procedures for operation, and no staff members were found to be infected by emergency surgical anesthesia performed in COVID-19 patients. The experience is summarized as follows: timely establishment and unified command of the emergency infection control management team in the department of anesthesiology; scientific formulation and dynamic improvement in comprehensive, systematic and feasible infection control strategies, norms and procedures; clear division of responsibilities and adequate management and supervision of infection control management team members; carrying out strict training of infection control, establishing a good awareness of infection control in the operating room, and implementing standard infection control procedures from the medical staff of the department to the cleaning staff.

In recent decades, event-related potentials have been used for the clinical electrophysiological assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOCs). In this paper, an oddball paradigm with two types of frequency-deviant stimulus (standard stimuli were pure tones of 1000 Hz; small deviant stimuli were pure tones of 1050 Hz; large deviant stimuli were pure tones of 1200 Hz) was applied to elicit mismatch negativity (MMN) in 30 patients with DOCs diagnosed using the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). The results showed that the peak amplitudes of MMN elicited by both large and small deviant stimuli were significantly different from baseline. In terms of the spatial properties of MMN, a significant interaction effect between conditions (small and large deviant stimuli) and electrode nodes was centered at the frontocentral area. Furthermore, correlation coefficients were calculated between MMN amplitudes and CRS-R scores for each electrode among all participants to generate topographic maps. Meanwhile, a significant negative correlation between the MMN amplitudes elicited by large deviant stimuli and the CRS-R scores was also found at the frontocentral area. In consequence, our results combine the above spatial properties of MMN in patients with DOCs, and provide a more precise location (frontocentral area) at which to evaluate the correlation between clinical electrophysiological assessment and the level of consciousness.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Auditory Perception ; physiology ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; physiopathology ; Consciousness Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Electroencephalography ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Wavelet Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of total ginsenosides (TG) extract from Panax ginseng on neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation and their underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The migration of NSCs after treatment with various concentrations of TG extract (50, 100, or 200 µ g/mL) were monitored. The proliferation of NSCs was examined by a combination of cell counting kit-8 and neurosphere assays. NSC differentiation mediated by TG extract was evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining to monitor the expression of nestin and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2). The GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway in TG-treated NSCs was examined by Western blot assay. The NSCs with constitutively active GSK-3β mutant were made by adenovirus-mediated gene transfection, then the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs mediated by TG were further verified. RESULTS: TG treatment significantly enhanced NSC migration (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and increased the proliferation of NSCs (P<0.01 or P<0.05). TG mediation also significantly upregulated MAP2 expression but downregulated nestin expression (P<0.01 or P<0.05). TG extract also significantly induced GSK-3β phosphorylation at Ser9, leading to GSK-3β inactivation and, consequently, the activation of the GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In addition, constitutive activation of GSK-3β in NSCs by the transfection of GSK-3β S9A mutant was found to significantly suppress TG-mediated NSC proliferation and differentiation (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION TG promoted NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation by inactivating GSK-3β.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Panax ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Rats ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

Cultivated ginseng in the farmland would become the mainly planting mode of Panax ginseng. However,there are relatively few cultivation ginseng varieties for farmland in China. Correlative analysis of qualitity and agronomic traits of P. ginseng cultivation in the farmland could provide a reference for the selection of excellent germplasm and new variety breeding of P. ginseng. In this study,the main index of saponin and agronomic traits of 4-6 years' samples were analyzed by UPLC and measured. The results show that there was significant difference in agronomic indexes of Damaya. The coefficient of variation of the root length( CV = 41. 97%) and fresh weight( CV = 31. 81%) were maximum,and the coefficient of variation of the stems thickness( 16. 72%) and root thickness were minimum. There was a significant correlation between yield and root thickness( P<0. 05). There was significant difference in drug yield of different harvest years( P<0. 05),and the yield of 6-years was 31. 52%-39. 69% higher than 4-years. However,there wasn't significant difference in total ginsenosides between 4 and 6 years old P. ginseng,but there was significant difference in ginseng Rg2,Rc and Rb2( P<0. 05),and the ginsenoside contents of different harvesting years were accorded with the criterion standards of 2015 Chinese Pharmacopoeia. There was no significant correlation between the saponin and the agronomic trait,while there was positive correlation with root thickness( P < 0. 05). Therefore,the stem diameter was positive correlation with yield of P. ginseng. Selection of the stem thickness of seedlings is beneficial to the increase of the yield and breeding of P. ginseng.
China ; Crop Production ; Ginsenosides/analysis* ; Panax/chemistry* ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/growth & development* ; Plant Stems/growth & development*