Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Objective To compare the effect of injection with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) before serial casting with BTX-A injection alone for the treatment of spastic equinus in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods Sixty patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group with 30 patients in each.Those io the experimental group received a BTX-A injection followed by serial casting,while the controls received BTX-A only.Before treatment and 1 month,3 months and 6 months after treatment,the dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM)of the ankle recorded while the knee in flexion and extension were measured,and gait was evaluated with an observational gait scale.Results Before treatment there was no significant inter-group difference in any of the 3 outcome measures.At 1 montb,3 months and 6 months after treatment,there were significant inter-group differences in all 3 measures,and also significant differences compared with before treatment in both groups.Conclusion Lower muscle tone,greater ankle mobility and better gait patterns can be promoted in CP children with spastic equinus using serial casting combined with BTX-A injection.The improvements may last longer than those after BTX-A injection alone.

Objective Neonatal sepsis (NS) is one of the main causes of neonatal death.Immune therapy is an important way in the comprehensive treatment of NS.This study investigated several databases in order to find the clinical evidence for the immunological treatment of neonatal sepsis (NS),and to explore its clinical application value.Methods Systematic reviews and randomized (or quasi-randomized) controlled trials (RCT) for immunological treatment of NS in newborn infants were searched from the databases of MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane Library.The relevant literatures were statistically analyzed.Results Six systematic reviews (including 37 RCTs) were found to be involved in the therapy,and the drugs included intravenous immunoglobulin (containing high level of IgM),antistaphylococcal immunoglobulins,neutrophile granulocyte,granulocyte colony-stimulating factor,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,pentoxifylline and glutamine.Pentoxifylline could decrease the mortality (Z =2.71,P =0.006 8),shorten the hospitalization (Z =2.01,P =0.044),and reduce the incidence rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (Z =1.67,P =0.095) of the NS infants.No therapeutic effect was found for other drugs in the treatment of NS.Conclusions Current clinical evidence for the immunological treatment of NS indicates that only Pentoxifylline could decrease the mortality,reduce the incidence rate of NEC and shorten the hospitalization of infants with NS.However,current evidence is only a small scale sampling and lacks multicenter studies.Researchers are encouraged to undertake large scale and well-designed multicenter trials to confirm the effectiveness of the immunological treatment of NS.

Objective To investigate the expression of NLRP3 in different time point of HIBD neonatal rats and to search for critical time points and alleviate HIBD dysfunction.Methods 96 newborn rats of 7 days old were randomly divided into HIBD group(n=48) and Sham operation group(n=48).HIBD model was prepared by referring to Rice method.Brain tissue was taken after 6 h,24 h,72 h,7 d.Brain injury was detected by HE stain.The expression and distribution of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were detected by immune fluorescence and Western blot,and IL-1β and IL-18 were detected by ELISA.Results HE staining and immunofluorescence showed that NLRP3 protein (HIBD group (0.63±0.07),Sham group(0.43±0.04)) was increased significantly since 6 h in HIBD group,and its downstream protein Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18 were successive activated.The results showed IL-1β (HIBD group(732.28± 108.42)pg/ml,Sham group(584.58± 36.35) pg/ml) was increased significantly since 6 h in HIBD group;Caspase-1 (HIBD group(0.67±0.09),Sham group(0.30±0.05)),IL-18 (HIBD group(683.84±31.83) pg/ml,Sham group(571.32±50.91) pg/ml) was increased significantly since 24 h in HIBD group(P＜0.05).Conclusion NLRP3 and its downstream inflammatory cytokines IL-1 β and IL-18 are up-regulated when HIBD occurs.The change of NLRP3protein expression in group HIBD is earlier than changes of neuron.NLRP3 signal may mediate and participate in the occurrence and development of HIBD.

Objective To investigate the possible function of integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) signaling in repair of neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia brain damage (HIBD). Methods Postnatal day 10 SD rats were randomly divided into hypoxia ischemia (HI) group and sham control group. Rat brains were collected at 0 h, 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after hypoxia ischemia damage. Immunolfuorescence staining was used to observe the distribution and expression of ILK. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ILK, Akt, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Lentiviral vectors expressing ILK shRNA were constructed to inhibit the expression of ILK in neonatal rats. After intracerebroventricular injections of LV-ILK shRNA lentivirus and LV-control respectively, HIBD model was established. Rat brains were collected at 4 h and 24 h after HIBD. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ILK, p-Akt, and VEGF. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to detect cell apoptosis. Results Immunolfuorescence staining showed that ILK was widely distributed in cortex and hippocampus both in HI group and sham control group. ILK located at cell membrane and cytoplasm. Western blot results demonstrated that ILK protein increased after HI, with a peak at 24 h, and maintained higher level than those in sham control group. The p-Akt protein signiifcantly increased at 4 h after HI, and signiifcantly decreased in the following 24 h, and then increased again, with a peak at 48 h, but the level of p-Akt protein was higher than that of sham control group. The VEGF protein increased at 4 h after HI, with a peak at 12 h, higher than that of sham control group. The expression of Akt protein showed no signiifcant difference between HI group and sham control group. Lentiviral vectors containing RNAi targeting ILK was applied successfully in vivo. At 4 h and 24 h after HIBD model, the expression of ILK, p-Akt, and VEGF proteins in right side brain received LV-ILK shRNA signiifcantly decreased compared with those of right side brain received LV-control at the same time point. And cell apoptosis signiifcantly increased in LV-ILK shRNA group. Conclusions The expression of ILK, p-Akt, VEGF proteins increased after HI. By inhibiting the expression of ILK, the expression of p-Akt and VEGF proteins can be reduced, and cell apoptosis could increase in newborn rats after HIBD. The results suggest that ILK may induce the expression of VEGF through activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and promote cell survival and angiogenesis after HIBD.

Objective:To explore the effects of smoking on lung function and physical fitness of college students.Method:168 college students on September 30, 2020 were selected as the research subjects by convenient sampling. According to whether they had been smoking for more than 3 years in the past or (and) now, they were divided into smoking group (66 cases, 39.3%) and non-smoking group (102 cases, 60.7%). The general demographic data, body composition, health fitness and lung function of all the included subjects were collected, and the health status of the two groups were compared, the relationship between lung function and healthy physical fitness in the smoking group was analyzed, and the influencing factors of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1) and expiratory vital capacity (EVC) were also analyzed. Results:The peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) of male college students in smoking group was lower than that of non-smoking group [(9.37±1.72) vs (10.04±1.69) L/s] ( F=5.051, P=0.026). The standing time with eyes closed and one foot of smoking group was longer than that of non-smoking group [(87.2±49.1) vs (63.6±39.7) s] ( F=9.327, P=0.003). The number of sit ups per minute of female college students in smoking group was less than that in non-smoking group [(39.5±7.5) vs (49.2±12.5) times/min] ( F=5.189, P=0.029). The peak inspiratory flow rate (PIF), FVC, FEV 1, EVC and PEF in the smoking group were positively correlated with grip strength, back muscle strength, number of sit ups, push ups, standing high jump and standing long jump ( P<0.001); through the analysis of relevant data, the estimation formula of lung function and health fitness items was obtained. Conclusion:Smoking is harmful to college students′ lung function and physical fitness.

Transcription factor cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in embryonic cortical neurons is an important modulator of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induced gene expression. Meanwhile, our early researches have indicated that BDNF possesses neuroprotective role for hypoxic neurons against hypoxia. In order todisclose whether the neuroprotective role of BDNF for embryonic rat cortical neurons against hypoxia is fulfilled via nucleoprotein CREB phosphorylation, we used western blotting method to detect the expression of CREB and phosphorylated CREB in experimental groups (with BDNF) and hypoxic control group (without BDNF) with the time changes of exposure to hypoxia. Results indicated that hypoxia and BDNF both could induce phosphorylation of CREB in embryonic cortical neurons. Phosphorylation of CREB in experimental group (with BDNF) was much higher than that in hypoxic control group at the same time points (P<0.01). The expression of phosphorylated CREB reached the highest level at the first hour after being exposed to hypoxia in experimental groups, then phosphorylated CREB decreased slowly and remained at the level for much longer time in experimental groups than in control group. The total amount of CREB in embryonic cortical neurons at the first 0-3 hours after being exposed to hypoxia in experimental groups were the same as that in hypoxic control group. CREB decreased more quickly in hypoxic control group at 5-6 hours after hypoxia. This in vitro research demonstrates that BDNF plays its neuroprotective role for embryonic rat cortical neurons against hypoxia via CREB phosphorylation.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; chemistry ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Neurons ; cytology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Rats

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of radiotherapy on patients with postoperative residual or recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 34 patients with PTC, who underwent surgery and radiotherapy in other hospitals, and treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Cancer Institute & Hospital CAMS from January 2011 to January 2014. Among the 34 cases, 22 were in stage I, 5 in stage II and 7 in stage IVa. The 34 patients received 1.5 times of surgery before radiotherapy in average. All the cases received radiotherapy (mean, 56 Gy; range, 50-70 Gy). The patients were re-operated in our hospital, and the specimens were examined by pathology. The pre- and post-radiotherapy images (CT and B-ultrasound) were compared, and the changes of tumor volume were examined. The objective effect of treatment on the tumor residual focus was evaluated using RECIST, and analyzed by t-test (SPSS 17.0).

RESULTSAll the re-resected lesions after radiotherapy were proved by pathology to be papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) or metastatic PTC in cervical lymph nodes. Among the 34 patients, 22 cases showed mild or moderate cell degeneration and the other 12 cases showed no obvious degeneration. The largest tumor diameter was 27.18 mm before radiotherapy and 27.76 mm after radiotherapy, with a non-significant difference between them (t=-1.618, P>0.05). Among the 34 patients, only 3 patients received reoperation, all other 31 cases had complete resection, and no severe complications were observed except recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in one case.

CONCLUSIONSRadiotherapy has few therapeutic benefit to PTC patients after surgery with residual tumor or local recurrence. It should be used in the PTC patients, in which the tumor invasion involves important organ tissues and is difficult for a single operation to achieve safe resection margin, or in patients who can't bear a surgery because of severe coronary heart disease or others.

Carcinoma ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Postoperative Period ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo establish the theories and methods to determine apparent solubility paraneters of multiple components for the Chinese materia medica (CMM) with HPLC fingerprint.

METHODThe mathematical functional expresses to determine the apparent solubility parameters for multiple constituents were established according to total quantum geometrical average retention time (TQGART) for HPLC fingerprint that characterized the entirety tendencies for all-over chromatographic peaks, validated by the aloe-emodin's solubility parameters which had been determined. The HPLC for the aloe-emodin's solubility parameters were carried out with an Alltech Apollo C18 as column, Acetone: Water as mobile phase, gradient elution,flow rate as 1.0 mL x min(-1), the detection wave-length as 430 nm and the temperature as 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe mathematical functional model between the TQGART of HPLC chromatographic fingerprint and the total quantum apparent solubility parameters was established and used to determine the aloe-emodin's mixture solubility parameter as 36.12 J(1/2) x cm(-3/2), nearly equal to 35.57, 36.07 J(1/2) x cm(-3/2) calculated by ration of peak area ratios and molecular fraction, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe TQGART of HPLC fingerprint can be used to determine simultaneously the apparent or single intrinsic solubility parameters for total quantum or intrinsic solubility parameters for single in multiple constitute systems, by which theoretical and technologic platform to study the compatibility rule and dosage form reform of the single CMM will be established.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; statistics & numerical data ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Models, Theoretical ; Solubility

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of radiotherapy on patients with postoperative residual or recurrent papillary thyroid cancer ( PTC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 34 patients with PTC, who underwent surgery and radiotherapy in other hospitals, and treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Cancer Institute & Hospital CAMS from January 2011 to January 2014. Among the 34 cases, 22 were in stageⅠ, 5 in stageⅡ and 7 in stageⅣa. The 34 patients received 1. 5 times of surgery before radiotherapy in average. All the cases received radiotherapy (mean, 56 Gy; range, 50?70 Gy). The patients were re?operated in our hospital, and the specimens were examined by pathology. The pre?and post?radiotherapy images ( CT and B?ultrasound) were compared, and the changes of tumor volume were examined. The objective effect of treatment on the tumor residual focus was evaluated using RECIST, and analyzed by t?test (SPSS 17.0). Results All the re?resected lesions after radiotherapy were proved by pathology to be papillary thyroid cancer ( PTC ) or metastatic PTC in cervical lymph nodes. Among the 34 patients, 22 cases showed mild or moderate cell degeneration and the other 12 cases showed no obvious degeneration. The largest tumor diameter was 27.18 mm before radiotherapy and 27. 76 mm after radiotherapy, with a non?significant difference between them ( t=-1.618, P>0.05) . Among the 34 patients, only 3 patients received reoperation, all other 31 cases had complete resection, and no severe complications were observed except recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in one case. Conclusions Radiotherapy has few therapeutic benefit to PTC patients after surgery with residual tumor or local recurrence. It should be used in the PTC patients, in which the tumor invasion involves important organ tissues and is difficult for a single operation to achieve safe resection margin, or in patients who can′t bear a surgery because of severe coronary heart disease or others.