Since the conventional dyes and puncture injection give no satisfactory effect in observing the pulmonary deep lymphatics, the author is inspired to introduce two new kinds of mixture, one is AgNO_3 with India ink, one is Riger's solution with India ink. Injections of the new mixtures directly into the artery, and the following findings are obtained. 1.With the lymphatic vessel related to the pulmonary artery as the main current, the pulmonary deep lymphatic vessels extend themselves to somewhere near the meta-arteriole while the lymphatic capillaries can be found around the inter-alveolar septa close to the terminal arterioles. 2.The pre-lymphovascular fluid pathway is carefully observed, which is described by Professor T. Kihara as of sponge like reticular fibres, around the lymphatic capillary blind sacs under the external base lamina propria of bronchioles. It is convinced that the lymphatic capillary, which is not yet found under the respiratory bronchiole membrane, starts where the final terminal bronchiole branches. 3.The fact that the valve is absent in the lymphatic vessel under the external membrane of both the bronchiole and the arteriole of related to the terminal bronchiolus shows that the lymphatic vessel farther off is capillary. 4.The tube of the pulmonary lymphatic capillary appears, under the microscope, irregular in shape where its endothelial cells, which are thin all over except for the part at the nuclei, have no pericytes and are lacking in the laminae or just have scattered ones. The cells are loosely joined in various ways and in some places they are separated by anchoring filaments.

Pineal arteries and veins of 46 adult human brains were observed and measured with stero-microscope and light microscope.According to the number of branches, the pineal arteries may be classified into four types: single branched, double branched, three branched and multiple branched types. Among them the single and double branched type occur most frequently. (in 54.55% and 34.09％ respectively), the artery originates mainly from the postcromedial choroidal artery (in 69.72％), and the next more frequent origin is the the quadrigeminal artery (in 28.87%). Some pineal arteries have double origins from abovementioned arteries.Most of the starting points of pineal arteries situate in the recess between the superior colliculus and the pineal body, and less of them on the lateral side of the colliculus or beneath the splenium of the corpus callosum. The artery runs frequently forwards or medially towards the gland and enters it at the middle part of its side. Then it gives branches out of or in the capsule to the surface the gland. The branching patterns may be classified into four types and ten subtypes.The arteries vary in length from 0.2～38.4 mm. The mean external diameter of which is 0.30+0.08 mm, and the internal diameter,0.21?0.07mm.On the pineal body there are a pair of venous stems known as choroidal-pineal veins. They begin from the tela choroidea of the third ventricle. After accepting the dorsal and ventral pineal veins on the ventrolateral side of the pineal body, the two venous stems usually unite to form a single vein which converges into the great cerebral vein.

Objective To observe the relationship between cerebral border zone infarction and cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion.Methods 45 patients admitted to our hospital in 2002 were studied retrospectively.They were diagnosied as acute cerebral border zone infarction and classified into anterior border infartion,posterior border infartion and internal border infartion by diffusion weighted MR imaging(DWI). The stenosis or occlusion of cerebral arteries was evaluated by magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) or transcranial doppler(TCD) examinations.Results Cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion was founded in 32 patients(71.1%).The lesions were most located in middle cerebral artery(47.6%),next in internal carotid artery(31%), relatively seldom in anterior cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery(11.9%). No difference of artery abnormity was found between the patients with single border infarction and the patients with mutiple border infarction.But middle cerebral artery stenosis was more frequently seen in the patients with internal border infartion( P

Objective To evaluate the effects of the project of ditching for drain on Oncomelania hupensis snail control and flood prevention security and explore the optimal engineering design plan in Dongting Lake region. Methods A retrospective study was performed on the previous studies about the project of ditching for drain. The reference values of project indices were determined. The outside levee of Nanhu New Distinct of Yueyang City in Dongting Lake region was selected as the study area , and the cross section of marshland perpendicular to the center line of the levee was extracted to research. According to the situa?tions of various water levels,a dynamic simulation was performed on the effect and security of the project of ditching for drain through the software FLAC3D. Results The retrospective study showed that the project would be effective when the relatively subsoil water level decreased by 0.35 m,and the soil water content decreased correspondingly. The dynamic simulation by FLAC3D showed that the minimum safe distances between transverse ditch 1,vertical ditch and levee toe should be 25 m and 13 m respectively. The digging depth of transverse ditch and vertical ditch should be 1.2 m and 1.0 m respectively. If the width of marshland in drought period was less than 500 m,one transverse ditch was efficient. Otherwise,more transverse ditches should be set with the intervals of 300 m. Conclusions The project of ditching for drain is an effective ecological snail elimination method. Optimizing the digging depth of ditches and distances between transverse ditches,vertical ditch and levee toe will en?sure the effects and security of the project.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of malignant breast tumor.Methods 37 patients with malignant breast tumor were scanned by plain scans of MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI.MR findings including shape,border and signal intensity of lesions on plain scans,and the enhanced features after adiministration of Gd-DTPA were analysed and compared with the results of X-ray,B-ultrasound,surgery and pathalogy.Results The correct diagnostic rate of plain scans of MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI was 84.5% and 94.6% respectively.Conclusion MRI is effective medical imaging method in diagnosis of malignant breast tumors.

Objective: To explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion in myocardial protection of rats undergoing long-term fatigue exercise based on observing the classical pyroptosis pathway mediated by nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1).Methods: A total of 50 specific-pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats were bought. Ten unqualified rats were excluded, and the remaining 40 rats were divided into a normal group, a normal + Shenque (CV8) group, a model group, a model + non-meridian non-point group, and a model + Shenque (CV8) group according to the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Except for rats in the normal group and the normal + Shenque (CV8) group, rats in the other three groups were trained with an incline running table exercise protocol to create a long-term fatigue exercise model, 1 h/time, once a day for 5 d with 2 d off, for a total of 8 weeks. Rats in the normal group received no modeling or intervention. Rats in the normal + Shenque (CV8) group were not modeled but received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV8); those in the model group were modeled only without intervention; those in the model + non-meridian non-point group received moxibustion at non-meridian and non-point spots after the modeling; those in the model + Shenque (CV8) group received moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) after modeling. The above moxibustion interventions were performed for 15 min/time once daily, for 5 d with 2 d off per week and a total of 8 weeks. Blood was collected from the femoral artery 4 h after the last exercise, and the serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels were measured. The NF-κB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD) expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Myocardial morphology and pyroptosis were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and electron microscopy. Results: The HE staining results showed that the myocardial cells in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group were disorganized with blurred transverse lines, widened interstitial spaces, interstitial edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The structure of myocardial cells in the model + Shenque (CV8) group was clearly visible, with slightly widened interstitial spaces and occasional infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitium. Compared with the normal group, the serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels were increased, and myocardial NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD expression levels were elevated in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the above indicators did not change significantly in the model + non-meridian non-point group, while all the above indicators were decreased in the model + Shenque (CV8) group (P<0.01). Compared with the model + non-meridian non-point group, all the above biochemical indicators were decreased in the model + Shenque (CV8) group (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopy showed that the mitochondria number was increased in the model group and the model + non-meridian non-point group, some of the mitochondrial lumen was irregularly enlarged, the cell membrane structure was unclear, and chromatin was aggregated. The mitochondria number was increased, the swelling was reduced, and the nuclear membrane structure was more intact in the model + Shenque (CV8) group. Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV8) regulates the NF-κB/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and reduces the pyroptosisin the myocardium of rats with long-term fatigue exercise, thus reducing the myocardial injury caused by long-term fatigue exercise.

In the present study, through a functional strategy, a metagenome library of the marine microbes from the surface water of the South China Sea was screened for beta-glucosidase and six positive clones were obtained. One of these clones, pSB47B2, was subcloned and further analysed in sequence. The result showed that there was an open reading frame for a novel beta-glucosidase, which was nominated as bgl1B. Using pET22b(+) as vector and Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) as host, Bgl1B was overexpressed recombinantly with high yield obtained and substantial enzymatic activity detected. The recombinant protein (rBgllB) was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and further biochemically characterized. The results indicated that, with pNPG as substrate, the optimum pH and temperature for the hydrolytic activity of rBgl1B were about 6.5 and 40 degrees C respectively. Under the optimum conditions, rBgl1B hydrolyzed pNPG with an activity up to 39.7 U/mg, Km and Vmax being 0.288 mmol/L and 36.9 micromol/min respectively. In addition, rBgl1B could also hydrolyze cellobiose, with a Km of 0.173 mmol/L and a Vmax of 35 micromol/min. However, we did not detect evident hydrolytic activity of rBgl1B to lactose, maltose, sucrose, and CMC. The enzymatic activity of rBgl1B to pNPG was stimulated to certain degrees by low concentration of Ca2+ or Mn2+, whereas it exhibited significant tolerance against high Na+. Distinguished from most of the beta-glucosidases derived from fungi, which display the highest activities under acidic conditions, rBgl1B exhibited relatively higher activity and stability at pH between 7.0 and 9.0.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme Stability ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Metagenome ; genetics ; Metagenomics ; methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Seawater ; microbiology ; beta-Glucosidase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of TGF-β1 on CCL3/4 expression and inflammation-related pain during intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). TGF-β1 and CCL3/4 expression patterns in different degenerative human nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues were measured by qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the effects of TGF-β1 on CCL3/4 expression were measured by qPCR, ELISA and immunofluorescence. The roles of NF-κB and MAPK in TGF-β1-mediated CCL3/4 promoter activity were studied using siRNAs, western blotting and qPCR. After establishing an IVDD rat model in vivo, we administered intradiscal injections of TGF-β1. The effects of TGF-β1 on IVDD were determined by MRI and histological analyses, and the effects of TGF-β1 on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) inflammation and pain development were determined by IHC staining and pain-behavior testing, respectively. TGF-β1 and CCL3/4 expression was elevated in degenerative NP tissue. CCL4 expression was significantly inhibited by TGF-β1 treatment. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of the ERK1/2 signaling attenuated TGF-β1-mediated suppression of CCL4 expression. In vivo, TGF-β1 injection inhibited the development of degenerative features in the IVDD model. Moreover, TGF-β1 prevented the inflammatory response and pain development. The results of this study show that TGF-β1 downregulates CCL4 expression through ERK1/2 signaling activation in NP cells. Furthermore, TGF-β1 can prevent degenerative processes, inhibit inflammatory responses in the DRG and prevent pain development in the IVDD rat model. The results of this study indicate that TGF-β1 may represent a therapeutic target for the control of inflammation-related pain associated with IVDD.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration* ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Models, Animal* ; Rats* ; RNA, Small Interfering

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors associated with the severity of pain intensity in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) in Southern China. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absence throughout the world, so a firm understanding of the risk factor associated with NSLBP can provide early and prompt interventions that are aimed at attaining long-term results. METHODS: Participants were recruited from January 2014 to January 2016 and were surveyed using a self-designed questionnaire. Anonymous assessments included Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The association between the severity of NSLBP and these potential risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1,046 NSLBP patients were enrolled. The patients with primary school education, high body mass index (BMI), those exposed to sustained durations of driving and sitting, smoking, recurrent LBP had increased VAS and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores with lower SF-36 scores (p<0.01). Workers and drivers compared with waiters and patients who lifted >10 kg objects in a quarter of their work time for >10 years had higher VAS and ODI scores with lower SF-36 scores (p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression showed lower levels of education, LBP for 1–7 days, long-lasting LBP in last year, smoking, long duration driving, and higher BMI were associated with more severe VAS score. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of NSLBP is associated with lower levels of education, poor standards of living, heavy physical labor, long duration driving, and sedentary lifestyle. Patients with recurrent NSLBP have more severe pain. Reducing rates of obesity, the duration of heavy physical work, driving or riding, and attenuating the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and smoking may reduce the prevalence of NSLBP.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Body Mass Index ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sedentary Lifestyle ; Smoke ; Smoking

Objective To summarize the experience of prevention of biliary tract complications after liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death. Methods Clinical data of 88 cases undergoing liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death in the Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from October 2008 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Eighty-eight cases were eligible for the standards for organ donation after brain death plus cardiac death according to the Ⅲ national system for organ donation in China. According to the standard procedures, donor livers were successfully harvested and transplanted in 88 recipients. The biliary tract was reconstructed using the bile duct end-to-end anastomosis. The length of bile duct in the donors was shortened as possible. Slight tension should be maintained during anastomosis. Neither primary liver graft nonfunction nor rejection reaction occurred. One recipient suffered from bile leakage and recovered after drainage for 3 weeks. Two patients presented with biliary tract stenosis and mitigated after the placement of biliary tract stent. Conclusions The harvesting of donor liver should be in accordance with the standard procedures. The advantages of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be fully utilized to shorten warm and cold ischemia time as possible. Much attention should be diverted to the reconstruction of biliary tract, which contributes to decreasing the risk of biliary tract complications. Favorable clinical efficacy can be achieved in liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death.