Objective To investigate the prognostic value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods Sixty-five patients with first-ever acute cerebral infarction and 32 healthy controls were recruited. The neurological deficits in patients with cerebral infarction were evaluated by using Chinese Stroke Scale (CSS).Plasma BNP levels were detected by immunofluorescence technique. Death and recurrent stroke events were followed up. Plasma BNP levels were compared between an event group and a non-event group, and the relationship between plasma BNP levels and poor prognosis was analyzed.Results Plasma BNP levels in patients with acute cerebral infarction was significantly higher than those in healthy controls (238.7 ± 131.6 pg/ml vs 38.7±23.8 pg/ml, P <0.01). Nine patients (13.8%) died, and 8 (12.3%) had nonfatal recurrent stroke during the follow-up period. Compared to the non-event group, the baseline plasma BNP levels in the death/recurrent stroke event group were significantly higher (304.0 ± 134.9 pg/ml vs 214.4 ± 120.9 pg/ml,P < 0.01). There was significant correlation between plasma BNP levels and CSS scores (r = -0.359, P <0.05). After performing multivariate analysis of various risk factors, it found that BNP levels (OR = 3.5, 95 % CI 2.1 to 5.8, P < 0.01), advanced age (OR = 4.1,95% CI 1.7 to 9.2, P <0.01) and CSS scores (OR =2.6, 95% CI 1.6 to 4.3, P <0.01)were the independent predictors of poor outcome. Conclusions The increased BNP levels are the recent death and recurrent independent predictors in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

0.05). According to the HSS system, the score was 89.6 (range, 75-98) averagely one year after operation. No any complications occurred, such as necrosis of the incision, deep infection, the loosening and breakage of the internal fixator. Conclusion The technique with modified dual plating for the complex fractures of the tibial plateau provides satisfactory function of the knee, it has many advantages, such as stable and durable fixation, avoiding the replacement and change of the knee mechanics, as well as diminish the problems about the incision and soft tissue.

Objective To investigate the relationship between some autoantibodies including anti-? 2-glycoprotein Ⅰ (anti-? 2GPⅠ) and chronic liver disease. Methods A cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and post-hepatitis B cirrhosis (PHBC) was studied for the serum anti-? 2GPⅠ levels by ELISA with purified ? 2GPⅠ as antigen. The serum dsDNA, smooth muscle antibody (SMA) and ribonucleoprotein antibody (RNPA) were also detected. Results High positive rate was observed in patients with CHB or PHBC (20.9%, 9/43; 49.3%,35/75) comparing with that in control group (3.1%, 1/32) ( P

Objective To study the relationship between anti-? 2-glycoprotein I(a? 2GPⅠ) and extracellular matrix (ECM) in patients with post-hepatitis B cirrhosis (PHBC).Method The of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and PHBC were studied for the serum a? 2GPⅠ levels by ELISA with purified ? 2GPⅠ as antigen, and we investigated serum level of collagen IV (IV-C)?hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) in these patients.Result High positive rate was observed compared with control group (P

Objective To design a new type of hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL), evaluate its efficacy in vitro, and explore the feasibility in clinical application.Methods CL-1 human hepatocytes were cultured on microcarriers for 5 days, when cell count reached about 4.0 × 109 with cell density of about 4.0 × 107/ml.CL-1 cells cultured on microcarriers in home-made bioreactor constitute the biological part of the HBAL.The abiotic part included blood perfusion and bilirubin adsorption, and blood pump was employed as the circulation driver, which were parts of HBAL.The changes of the concentrations of indirect bilirubin (UBD), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCD), cholic acid (CA), blood ammonia (AA), AST, ALT and LDH were observed under the condition of in vitro circulation.Meanwhile, the function, morphology and the cell activity of CL-1 cells were also observed.Results After in vitro circulation for 24 h, the concentrations of UBD, CDCD, CA and AA significantly decreased from (335.3 ± 6.0) μmol/L, (395.0 ± 5.6) μmol/L, (155.7 ± 4.5) μmol/L, (39.0 ± 2.6) μmol/L at 0 h to (106.0 ± 10.9) μmol/L, (131.8 ± 28.7) μmol/L, (42.2 ± 7.3) μmol/L, (3.5 ± 1.0) μmol/L, respectively.At 48 h, ALT, AST and LDH significantly increased from (25.9 ± 4.2) IU/L, (22.0 ± 3.6) IU/L, (0.28 ± 0.09) μmol/L to (31.0 ± 2.6) IU/L,(31.6 ± 8.0) IU/L, (0.41 ± 0.12) μmol/L, meanwhile the count and vitality of CL-1 cells were significant declined.Conclusions (1) In the new HBAL system, CL-1 cells can keep its viability and function in vitro;and (2) the HBAL appears to be effective in purifying the serum in liver failure simulation model by clearing out non-conjugated bilirubin, chenodeoxycholic acid, cholic acid and ammonium chloride, which seems to be a promising therapeutic option.

Objective To develop a double-regulated replicative adenovirus carrying the Human endostatin gene(hEndo). Methods The plasmid pTPHre-hEndo was constructed by gene engineering technique, carrying human endostatin gene, in which El A gene and E1B gene were driven by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter and hypoxia response element (HRE) promoter,respectively. The pTPHre-hEndo was co-transfected with pBHGE3 in 293 cells to generate recombinant adenovirus AdTPHre-hEndo. Virus titer was measured by the TCID50 method. Virus replication assay was performed to evaluate the selective replication ability of AdTPHre-hEndo. The transgene expression of endostatin was detected by ELISA assay. Results A novel gene-viral therapeutic system AdTPHre-hEndo was constructed by gene engineering technique and its titer was 3. 25 X 1010 pfu/ml.Proliferative test revealed that AdTPHre-hEndo could proliferate selectively in telomerase positive tumors. Furthermore, in comparison with non-replicative adenovirus Ad-hEndo, the transgene expression of endostatin mediated with AdTPHre-hEndo was significantly increased (P < 0. 01).Conclusion The novel gene-viral therapeutic system AdTPHre-hEndo has the capacity to replicate in pancreatic cancer cells and expresses the endostatin efficiently, and may provide a new strategy for pancreatic cancer gene therapy.

Objective To investigate the changes in the abilities of invasion and metastasis in surviving human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells after X-ray irradiation and the related mechanism.Methods The change in radiosensitivity after X-ray irradiation was determined by colony formation assay.The abilities of invasion and metastasis were evaluated by MTF adhesion assay and Transwell invasion and migration assay in vitro.The mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin,vimentin,tumor growth factor (TGF)-β1,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2,and MMP-9 was measured by real-time RT-PCR using SYBR Green fluorescence and Western blot.Results The colony formation assay showed that the surviving A549 cells after X-ray irradiation were more resistant to irradiation (ratio of D0 values =0.94).Their abilities of adhesion,invasion,and migration were significantly increased by 1.46 times,1.40 times,and 1.45 times,respectively.In addition,the surviving cells showed enlarged intercellular spaces and had many long pseudopodi.Compared with those in the control group,the mRNA expression levels of vimentin,TGF-β1,MMP-2,and MMP-9 of surviving cells were increased by 1.37 times,2.37 times,1.80 times,and 1.50 times,respectively,the protein expression levels of the above substances were increased by 1.60 times,1.80 times,1.10 times,and 1.20 times,respectively,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin were decreased by 59.4％ and 74.6％.Conclusions The surviving A549 cells after X-ray irradiation have significantly increased abilities of invasion and metastasis.This may be due to radiationinduced TGF-β1 expression increase that in turn promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and also due to radiation-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression increase.

0.05), while the differences between hepatocarcinoma and cirrhosis as well as hepatocarcinoma and hepatitis B were significant (P

Objective To investigate the efficacy of super selective intra-arterial infusion of verapamil for the treatment of cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).Methods From January 2013 to February 2016,the clinical data of 15 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who had CVS after intracranial aneurysm clipping (n=8) or endovascular treatment (n=7) were analyzed retrospectively.All patients received whole brain digital subtraction angiography (DSA).Microcatheter super selection to spastic arteries was used and verapamil (11.1±3.4 mg) was infused.The findings of whole brain DSA before and after treatments were compared.The blood pressure and heart rate were collected during the treatment and the findings of transcranial Doppler ultrasonography were recorded.The patients were followed up for 6 months and the Glasgow outcome scale (GCS) scores were obtained.Results (1) A total of 20 intra-arterial infusion treatments were performed in 15 cases.They were compared before and after perfusion.CVS was improved on DSA in 14 cases,there was no significant change in on cases.(2) Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography showed that the mean blood flow velocity (mBFV) of the middle cerebral artery was decreased from 181±4 cm/s before the super selective intra-arterial infusion to 126±4 cm/s within 1 hour after treatment.There was significant difference (t=42.46,P<0.01).No complications associated with the use of microcatheters were observed.(3) The right upper arm blood pressure of the patients was monitored in the process of perfusion.The systolic pressure was 138±8 mmHg at the beginning of the perfusion,it was 135±10 mmHg at the end of the perfusion,and it was 137±7 mmHg at 1 h after the perfusion.The heart rate was 83±6/min at the beginning of the operation,it was 79±8/min at the end of the operation,and it was 80±5/min at 1 h after the operation.There were no significant differences (P>0.05).(4) All patients were followed up for 6 months.The GOS score at 6 months:good recovery in 9 cases,moderate disability but could take care of themselves in 3 cases,severe disability and could not take care of themselves in 3 cases,no persistent vegetative state or death.Conclusion Super selective intra-arterial infusion of verapamil can effectively improve the treatment of aneurysmal SAH caused CVS.At the same time,it has no obvious effect on blood pressure and heart rate.

Objective To understand the incidence and clinical characteristics of scabies-associated glomerulonephritis and to investigate its pathogenesis.Methods The patients with scabies from Qijiang District People's Hospital.were collected from the outpatient department and divided into the simple scabies group (A) and glomerulonephritis group (B) according to whether complicating glomerulonephritis.The general clinical indicators and serum C-reactive protein(CRP),complement components C3 and C4,immunoglobulin,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and IL-18 in the early stage of the disease were determined and compared between the two groups.The differences of above indicators were collected and compared between before and after clinical cure in the patients with scabies-associated glomerulonephritis.Results Among 376 cases of scabies,16 cases developed glomerulonephritis.The clinical manifestations included glomerular hematuria and/or mild-moderate proteinuria.The kidney injury manifestations in 12 cases were completely disappeared at 2-6 months after scabies cure.The levels of serum CRP,IgG,TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-18 in the group B were significantly increased and the serum C3 level was significantly decreased compared with the group A,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of serum IgG,hs-CRP,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-18 after cure in 12 cases of clinically cured scabies-associated glomerulonephritis were significantly decreased and the serum C3 level was significantly increased,and the difference was statistically significant compared with the early onset stage(P＜0.05).Conclusion The majority of prognosis in scabies-associated glomerulonephritis is good.Its occurrence is closely correlated with immune and inflammatory reactions induced by sarcoptes mites irffection.