Objective To explore the application of B-mode intra- and post-operative ultrasound in patients with traumatic brain injuries. Methods B-mode intra- and post-operative ultrasound were performed 35 times in 24 patients, including 7 times of intra-operation in 7 patients and 28 times of post-operation in 17 patients. Results During operation epidural hematomas in 3 cases as well as intracranial hematomas in 2 cases, subdural hematomas in 1 case, diffused brain swelling in 1 case were found. After operation epidural hematomas were examined in 4 cases as well as subdural hematomas in 1 case, delayed intracranial hematomas in 6 cases, scattered contusion and laceration of the brain in 12 cases, acute obstructive hydrocephalus in 1 case, and subdural hydroma in 4 cases. Six cases underwent operations again because of delayed hematomas, contusion and laceration of the brain. B-mode ultrasound was compared with CT scan and the total coincidence rate was 85.4%.Conclusions B-mode ultrasound is helpful to examine delayed hematomas and other emergent complications. It may save time and may improve rescue rate and has a good coincidence with CT scan. B-mode ultrasound may be widely used as a routine way in neurotrauma ICU.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the curative effect of primary depression treated with the main points of Back-shu points of Five-zang and Geshu (BL 17) according to the differentiation.

METHODSSixty cases of primary depression were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (31 cases) and a western medication group (29 cases). In acupuncture group, Back-shu points of Five-zang and Geshu (BL 17) were applied as the main points, Taichong (LR 3) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added for stagnation of liver qi and spleen deficiency; Shenmen (HT 7) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were added for deficiency of both heart and spleen according to the differentiation. In western medication group, Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule was taken by oral administration for 20 mg, once a day. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks in both groups. After 2, 4, and 6 weeks treatment, the clinical curative effects of both groups were assessed by Hamilton Depression (HAMD) Rating Scale, HAMD Factor Analysis and Asberg Side Effect Scale.

RESULTSAfter 6 weeks treatment, the total effective rate was 67.7% (21/31) in acupuncture group and 65.5% (19/29) in western medication group, indicating the close curative effects(P > 0.05). After 2, 4, and 6 weeks treatment, the HAMD score, scores of anxious somatization, sleeping and retardation factors were significantly reduced (all P < 0.01) in two groups, through the comparison at different time points between two groups, scores of anxious somatization, sleeping factors in acupuncture group were superior to those in western medication group (both P < 0.05), but score of retardation factor in western medication group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The Asberg Side Effect Scale in western medication group arrived at peak at thesecond week, and then reduced slowly; the side effect in acupuncture group was low and steady, and lower than that in western medication group after 6 week treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe curative effect of depression with acupuncture based on differentiation is equal to that of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule with oral administration, while the side effect is milder than that of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Depression ; psychology ; therapy ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the prevalence and treatment of oral mucositis caused by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and/or molecular targeted therapy in the patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Methods A retrospective study of the incidence and treatment of oral mucositis was performed in 179 patients (155 male and 24 female; 124 patients at stage Ⅲ and 55 patients at stage Ⅳ) receiving concurrent chemotherapy and (or) molecular targeted therapy between November 2007 and November 2010. Grade Ⅰ , Ⅱ , Ⅲ and Ⅳ oral mucositis occurred respectively in 49, 50, 67 and 13 patients. All the patients received oral mucositis prophylaxis. After the occurrence of oral mucositis, conventional treatment of mucositis combined with quinolone antibiotics were applied. Results Of the patients, 99 patients with grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ and 4 patients with grade Ⅲ oral mucositis were effectively managed by conventional treatment; 76 patients with grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ oral mucositis were also significantly controled by conventional treatment plus antibiotics. After the treatments, all patients with oral mucositis were under control, with the decrease in the grade of oral mucositis, the reduction of oral pain and the improvement in ability to eat None of them had radiation treatment breaks. Conclusions Combined modality therapy can effectively control chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ oral mucositis were cured by conventional treatment and quinolone antibiotics play a key role in the treatmeats for grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ oral mucositis.

PURPOSE: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines (TGF-β1, COL1A1, α-SMA) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. CONCLUSION: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; Carrier Proteins ; Cholesterol ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Fibrosis ; Hepatocytes ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mice* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVETo explore and evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and the short-term outcome of minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to October 2009, 67 patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE group), while 38 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group: via right thorax, abdomen, left neck). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical data of the two groups were comparable. No significant differences was found in demographics between the two groups. Median blood loss in MIE group was less than that in OE group (chest: 112.3 ml vs. 175.3 ml, P = 0.035, abdominal: 31.4 ml vs. 100.5 ml, P = 0.026). More patients in OE group were transferred to ICU (P = 0.042) and more obvious pain (P = 0.005). The rate of pulmonary infection and intestinal obstruction in OE group were higher than MIE group (P = 0.046 and 0.045). There were no differences in the number of lymph node dissection for two groups, the average was 20.9 and lymph node metastasis rate was 26.9% in MIE group. Mean follow up was (14.0 ± 2.2) months (range, 2 to 29 months). Recurrence rate and survival rate were no differences.

CONCLUSIONThe Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and reliable short-term effect, and can achieve radical tumor resection, which may lead to better future of surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cell biological mechanism of koumine-induced apoptosis of human colonic adenocarcinoma cells.

METHODSThe effects of LoVo cell koumine on the membrane potential, mitochondrial membrane potential, concentration of cytosolic free calcium, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and gap junctional intercellular communication was observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONKoumine lowered the membrane potential and mitochondrial membrane potential of LoVo cells and decreased the concentration of free cytosolic calcium, which was increased to a level higher than the basal one after addition of EDTA. Koumine also increased the reactive oxygen species and enhanced the gap junctional intercellular communication of LoVo cells. These findings may explain the possible mechanisms of koumine-induced LoVo cell apoptosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Indole Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Dioscin has a wide range of biological effects and broad application prospects. However the studies concerning the toxicology and mechanism of dioscin is small. This article is to study the hepatotoxicity of dioscin and the effect of dioscin treatment on expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mRNA and CYP1A mRNA and protein in HepG2 cells in vitro. Dioscin 0.5-32 µmol · L(-1) exposed to HepG2 cells for 12 h, cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay and the release rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was to evaluate cell membrane damage. HepG2 cells morphologic changes were quantified by inverted Microscope, and the effect on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of CYP1A and AhR was evaluated by RT-RCR. The protein expression of CYP1A1 was detected by western blot. The cell viability was significantly inhibited after HepG2 cells were exposed to dioscin 0.5-32 µmol · L(-1). Compared with the control, the LDH release rate and ROS were significantly increased. The expression of CYPlA and AhR mRNA was increased. The expression of CYP1Al protein was increased after dioscin treatment, and resveratrol, an AhR antagonist, could downregulate the expression of CYP1A1. It follows that large doses dioscin has potential hepatotoxicity. The possible mechanism may be dioscin can active aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and induce the expression of CYP1A.
Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; secretion ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; genetics

To research the effect of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata compatibility on cardiac toxicity in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, and explore the endogenous markers and molecule mechanism. Different compatibility of Shenfu decoction were given to male Wistar rats at dosage of 20 g · kg(-1) for 7 days, collected the serum, and analyze the endogenous metabolites effected by Shenfu formulation by principal component analysis and partial least-squares analysis. Results showed that content of glutathione, phosphatidylcholine and citric acid decreased in mixed-decoction group, while ascorbic acid, uric acid, D-galactose, tryptophan, L-phenylalanine increased. The results showed cardiac toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in Shenfu mixed-decoction. Shenfu co-decoction group showed a similar or weaker trend compared with control group, but most of them do not have a statistically significant. The results indicated the scientific basis of Shenfu compatibility by comparison of co-decoction group with mixed-decoction group. Shenfu compatibility can reduce cardiac toxicity induced by Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, and citric acid, glutathione, phosphatidyl choline, uric acid might be regarded as potential markers of cardiotoxicity.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Cardiotoxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Glutathione ; blood ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo analyze effects of different thread helix angles and densities on the primary stability of immediately loaded implants using the three-dimensional finite element model analysis.

METHODSFive models of three-dimensional finite element (0.8 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm, double-threaded, and triple-threaded) were created using the commercial codes of Pro/E software, Hypermesh software, and ABAQUS software. In conditions of horizontal and vertical loading, the micro-motion of the finite element models with different thread helix angles and densities were computed with ABAQUS software.

RESULTSConcerning different thread helix angles, the micro-motion of single-threaded implant was the minimum and that of the triple-threaded was the maximum with vertical and horizontal loading. The micro-motion of doubled-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 1.6 mm and the micro-motion of triple-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 2.4 mm with vertical and horizontal loading.

CONCLUSIONSThe thread helix angle and density of implants can greatly affect the vertical interfacial micro-motion. With increasing thread pitchs, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread helix angle, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread density, the resistance of implant to the vertical load is weakened.

Dental Implants ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Denture Retention ; Finite Element Analysis

BACKGROUNDDNA analysis has shown a lack of significant compatibility between couples affected by unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) compared with normal fertile couples, [8] although one study that made use of a PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) method did observe evidence of significant compatibility in the HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles between patients and aborted fetuses. [9] This study was designed to investigate whether URSA were associated with particular DQ alleles or promoter alleles.

METHODSThirty-two patients with URSA and 54 women who had had at least one successful pregnancy were included in this study. HLA-DQ genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The HLA-DQB1 promoter was detected by the SSO and sequence-specific primer (SSP) methods. The DQA1, DQB1, and DQB1 promoter (QBP) gene frequencies in the patients were compared with the gene frequencies in normal controls. The data were analyzed statistically with the chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSThe results showed that the frequency of DQB1 * 0604/0605 was significantly higher and the frequency of DQB1 * 0501/0502 was significantly lower in the patient group as compared with the normal controls. In addition, the frequencies of the DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605 and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes were overrepresented in the patients relative to the controls. Our results did not show any differences between URSA patients and the controls with regard to DQA1 and QBP allele frequencies.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that URSA is associated with the HLA-DQB1 coding region, and is not associated with its upstream regulatory region. The DQB1 * 0604/0605, DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605, and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes may confer susceptibility to URSA, while the DQB1 * 0501/0502 allele may protect women from URSA.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy