Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and the possible mechanism of fecal transplantation on rats with Clostridium difficile-associated pseudomembranous colitis. Methods A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups including the healthy control group, model group, fecal transplant treatment group and vancomycin treatment group. Rats in three experimental groups were subcuta-neously injected with clindamycin phosphate (10 mg), followed by treatment with toxin producing Clostridi-um difficile (ACTT43255) enema 24 hours later. The rats in fecal transplant treatment group and vancomy-cin treatment group were respectively treated with fecal suspension and vancomycin one day after modeling. The rats were fasted for one day after the last administration and then executed. The levels of potassium ion ( K) , sodium ion ( Na) , albumin ( ALB) , white blood cells ( WBC) , C-reaction protein ( CRP) , interleu-kin-1β ( IL-1β) , interleukin-10 ( IL-10 ) , interleukin-12 ( IL-12 ) and interleukin-17 ( IL-17 ) as well as the percentage of neutrophils ( N%) in serum samples were detected. The colon tissue samples were collect-ed for pathology examination. Results The rat model of pseudomembranous colitis was successfully estab-lished by subcutaneous injection of clindamycin in combination with toxin-producing Clostridium difficile (ACTT43255) enema. The signs of intestinal inflammation including serious weight loss, remarkably short-ened colon length and significantly increased colon wet weight index were observed in rats from the model group (P<0. 05). Compared with the rats from model group, the rats received fecal transplant showed sig-nificantly increased levels of K, ALB, IL-10 and IL-10/IL-12 in serum and decreased levels of WBC, N%, CRP, IL-1β and IL-17 (P<0. 05). Conclusion Fecal transplantation was proved to be an effective ap-proach for the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. The therapeutic mechanism might due to its impacts on serum inflammatory factors.

Objective To establish a new approach based on mathematical morphology that can effectively reduce the drifts in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals. Methods Based on investigation of the characteristic of drifted fMRI signals, a mathematical morphology method for baseline drift correction was presented. Results With both simulated data and real fMRI data, the results of the experiment showed that the mathematical morphology method can effectively correct the baseline drifts. Conclusion Both linear and nonlinear drifts can be removed with the proposed method without any statistical model assumption.

Advance on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Stellera plants have been conducted. The chemical constituents include terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, volatile oils, and other compounds. Pharmacological studies showed that diterpenoids and biflavones showed strong activities, such as antitumor, anti-HIV, and immune regulations. This review hopes to provide a scientific basis for further research and explorations of the medicinal values of the genus.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; classification

Objective To examine the clinical manifestations and pulmonary radiological features in patients with triphosgene poisoning.Methods Clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and CT scans were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with triphosgene poisoning.We focused on the severity,development and repair of pulmonary impairment.Results Plain film and CT scans in five mild cases demonstrated bilateral scattered pulmonary patchy shadows.Of 12 cases with moderate to severe diseases,three showed bilateral multiple pulmonary patchy shadows and nodules with confluence of part of the lesions on plain film and CT scans;bilateral lungs were involved in nine cases with imaging findings of bilateral disseminated pulmonary round or ovary nodules with different size,ill-defined and partly-confluent patchy shadows and thickening of both interlobular septum and the wall of bronchus.Of clinical interests,imaging findings were closely correlated with clinical course and laboratory results.Conclusion Radiological examinations with plain films and CT scans could reveal the severity,evolvement of pulmonary edema in patients with triphosgene poisoning,and these are of clinical benefit in the early management and prognostic evaluation of patients with triphosgene poisoning.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of serum galactemannan(GM) for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in critically ill patients. Methods Study was conducted between February 2007 and July 2008. Included patients on admission ICU who suffer from suspected IPA. GM test and culture were collected 2 weekly. Chnical feature, mycological evidence and optical density index (ODI) were noted. Clinically invasive fungal infection(IFI) were defined proven, probable and possible. The patients were classified into neutropenia, non-neutropenia and treated with immunosuppressive agents, non-neutropenia and non-immunosuppressive agents. To compared of the sensitivity and specificity of GM in different patients. Results 94 patients were included, 4 patients were proven, 29 patients were probable, 34 patients were possible IFI, 27 patients were non-IPA. The positive rate of the GM was 31.9% (30/94). The sensitivity and specificity of GM in proven cases and probable cases are 66.7% and 92.6%. GM assay tended to become positive earlier than the culture 2-10(5.33±2.17)d. We found that differences in patient diagnosis and selection might account for the disparities seen for positive rate for the GM test. There was positive in three of the four patients with proven, the positive rate of GM was 65.5% for probable cases, for possible cases was 17.6%, for non-IPA cases was 7.4% (P=0.001). For patient with neutropenia , treated with immunosuppressive agents and without immunosuppressive agents, the positive rate of GM was 52.9%vs 41.7% vs 34. 6% (P=0.015) ;the sensitivity was 80.0% vs 70. 0% vs 53.8% (P=0.011), the ODI was 1.365 (0.582-6.736) vs 1. 123 (0. 623-6.868) vs 0.554 (0.522-0.823), P=0. 005, respectively. Conclusion These results show that GM test is useful for early diagnosis IPA in critically ill patients. Differences in patient selection and diagnosis might account for the disparities seen for positive rate and sensitivity for the GM test. It has been higher sensitivity and ODI in the patient treated by immunosuppressive agents.

Objective To investigate the spatial learning and memory ability,the changes of indicators of oxidative stress,and their relationship in transgenic APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease(APP/PS1 mice). Methods The spatial learning and memory ability were assessed by Morris water maze test,and the activity or content of SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, and protein carbonyl in brain tissues were measured by ELISA in the APP/PS1 and wild type (WT) mice. Furthermore, the relationship between the learning and memory performances and the indicators of oxidative stress was examined. Results No significant difference in the spatial learning was observed between the APP/PS1 and WT mice (P ＜0. 05). The spatial memory which was measured as the percentage of time traveling in the targeted quadrant to the total traveling time was significantlydeclined in the APP/PS1 mice(29. 02 ± 4. 27) % as compared with the WT mice(47. 39 ± 6. 01) %(t =0. 000 ,P ＜0. 05). The percentage of length of traveling in the targeted quadrant to the total length traveled was significantly lower in the APP/PS1 mice(28. 85 ±3.77)% compared with the WT mice(46. 70 ±5.60)% (t =0. 000,P ＜0. 05). These findings indicated that the spatial learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice was significantly decreased compared to WT mice. There was no significant difference in activity or content of SOD,GSH-PX,and MDA in brain tissues between the APP/PS1 and WT mice (P ＜ 0. 05), while the content of protein carbonyl was significantly elevated in the APP/PS1 mice (2. 67 ±0. 19) than in the WT mice (2. 38 ±0. 15)(t = 0. 008, P ＜ 0. 05). Correlation analysis revealed that the elevated protein carbonyl was negatively correlated with the percentage of length traveled in the targeted quadrant(r = - 0. 639, P ＜ 0. 05) and the percentage of time traveled in the targeted quadrant(r = - 0. 636 ,P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion The spatial memory impairment was negatively correlated with the elevated protein carbonyl in the APP/PS1 mice, suggesting that protein carbonylation caused by oxidative stress might play an important role in the development of memory impairment in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective:To study the effect of chemokines CCL20 and CCL22 combined with skin-induced Treg on survival time of grafted skin.Methods: Skin grafting mice were divided into four groups, three mice per group, namely Treg group, Treg+CCL20 group,Treg+CCL22 group and control group.C57BL/6 mice were used as donor and BALB/c as acceptor, and the Treg cells were isolated from the mice induced by skin allograft.After skin grafted,CCL20 and CCL22 were subcutaneous injection every day,which lasted for 10 day.Survival time of skin in each group were observed and recorded.The Treg colonzation experiments were performed as follows.We firstly isolated Treg with Magnetic cell sorting system( MACS) and then labled them with 99 Tcm.After that we intravenously injected them into the mice.3 hours later,the mice were sacrifced and the radioactivity of organs were detected by GC-2016γradioim-munoassay counter.Results:①After Treg treated the survival time of skin grafted in antigen-induced Treg group was signifiantly longer than control group,when treg were cooperated with CCL20 and CCL22,the skin grafted showed more longer survival time than Treg and control groups( P<0.001 ).②After injection of induced Treg, Treg in autologous and allogeneic skin grafts goups were mainly distributed in autologous and allogeneic skin,accounting for 60% and 98% respectively.When cooperated with CCL20 or CCL22,the Treg were mainly distributed in liver.Conclusion:Chemokines CCL20 and CCL22 synergistically improved the effects of skin antigen induced Treg on survival time of skin graft,which probably related with the Treg colonization into the liver.

Objective To evaluate the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on intraoperative pulmonary function in the patients undergoing urological retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in the mode of protective ventilation.Methods Forty patients of both sexes,aged 30-64 yr,with body mass index of 16-29 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotorny,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:control group (group C) and PEEP group (group P).After induction of general anesthesia,the patients were endotracheally intubated.Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (tidal volume [Vr] 6 ml/kg,respiratory rate [RR] 12 breaths/min,inspiratory/expiratory ratio [I:E] 1:2,fraction of inspired oxygen 50％) was performed from the end of intubation until the onset of pneumoperitoneum.After the onset of pneumoperitoneum,the patients were ventilated (VT 6 ml/kg,RR 22 breaths/min,I:E 1.0:1.5),and the end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide was maintained at 35-45 mmHg in group C.After the onset of pneumoperitoneum,the patients were ventilated (VT 6 ml/kg,RR 22 breaths/min,I:E1.0:1.5,PEEP 5 cmH2O),and the end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide was maintained at 35-45 mmHg in group P.At 5 min before pneumoperitoneum (T1),at 10,30 and 60 min of pneumoperitoneum (T2-4),immediately after the end of pneumoperitoneum (T5),and at 5 min before extubation (T6),arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis.Peak airway pressure and mean airway pressure were also recorded.Dynamic lung compliance,oxygenation index,respiratory index,dead space fraction and alveolararterial oxygen gradient were calculated.Results Compared with group C,mean airway pressure was significantly higher at T2-4,oxygenation index was significantly higher at T3,alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient difference was significantly lower at T3 and T6,and respiratory index was significantly lower at T6 (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the peak airway pressure,dynamic lung compliance and dead space fraction at each time point in group P (P＞0.05).Conclusion PEEP (5 cmH2O) can improve the intraoperative pulmonary function in the patients undergoing urological retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in the mode of protective ventilation.

Objective To compare the differences in the clinical application of Sijunzi Decoction,a classical formula for tonifying qi,in ancient and modern literature,so as to provide a reference for its clinical application and research and development.Methods The clinical application of Sijunzi Decoction in ancient times was analyzed by retrieving the database of Zhong Hua Yi Dian(Collection of Traditional Chinese Medical Books),and the clinical application of Sijunzi Decoction in modern times was analyzed by retrieving the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI).Results In the record of ancient traditional Chinese medicine books,Sijunzi Decoction was indicated for the syndromes characterized by the pathogenesis of"deficiency of nutrient qi and defensive qi,and weakness of zang-fu organs",and was widely used to treat various diseases related to internal medicine,surgery,gynecology and pediatrics,including dysentery,consumptive disease,diarrhea,jaundice,smallpox,metrorrhagia and carbuncle.Moreover,Sijunzi Decoction was used for the management of patients who was weakness due to chronic diseases,elderly and insufficiency of qi,or at the late stage of exogenous cold disease,cholera,and malaria.In the modern clinical practice,Sijunzi Decoction was indicated for digestive system diseases,surgical diseases,tumor-related diseases,pediatric diseases,gynecological diseases,respiratory diseases and hepatobiliary diseases,in particular for chronic gastritis,adverse reactions related to radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tumors,postoperative period of cancer and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.Conclusion The analysis of ancient and modern literatures indicated that the indications of Sijunzi Decoction is expanded from the predominated spleen-stomach system diseases(digestive system diseases)in antient times to multiple system diseases such as surgical diseases,tumor-related diseases,pediatric diseases,gynecological diseases,respiratory diseases and hepatobiliary diseases in modern times.And the pathogenesis of the indications of Sijunzi Decoction is characterized by the"deficiency of nutrient qi and defensive qi,and weakness of the zang-fu organs".

This article introduces a measuring method for invasive blood pressure based on SecWave technology and a testing method of effectiveness based on IBP database and simulator. Besides, quantified indexes are set out for the accuracy evaluation, such as static pressure accuracy, accuracy of dynamic pressure pulse wave recognition, pulse rate and the response time, so as to provide an important reference method of effectively objective evaluation for invasive blood pressure measurements.
Algorithms ; Automatic Data Processing ; methods ; Blood Pressure Determination ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans