Objective To explore the influence of the length of time elapsed from ingestion of paraquat to hemoperfusion on prognosis in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.Methods The investigation was carried out with retrospective analysis.A total of 303 patients with acute paraquat poisoning were admitted to the Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from January 2009 to December 2012.According to the length of time between ingestion and hemoperfusion,patients were divided into three groups,Group A:the time interval between ingestion and hemoperfusion ＜ 4 h ; Group B:4h ≤ the time interval between ingestion and hemoperfusion ＜ 8 h; Group C:8 h≤the time interval between ingestion and hemoperfusion ＜ 12 h.Compared the extent of target organ injury,28-d mortality and the survival time of non-survivors among three groups for determining the influence of the length of time elapsed from ingestion to hemoperfusion on the prognosis of patients.Results Totally 303 patients with average age of 34.8 ± 10.8 years old (ranging from 15 to 72 years),and 117 male and 186 female.The median estimated amount of 20％ paraquat ingested was 50 mL (ranging from 10 to 270 mL,IQR:45 mL).The hemoperfusion was employed (3.6 ±1.2) times (ranging from 2 to 5 times) for every paitient within 24 h after ingestion.The overall mortality rate was 68.6％ (208/304)during a 28 days follow-up period,and only 95 of 303 patients survived.The median length of time between paraquat ingestion and hemoperfusion at the emergency department was 6.6 h (ranging from 1.4 to 11.5 h,IQR:3.5 h).However,it was 7.2 h (ranging from 3.1 to 11.5 h,IQR:2.4 h) in non-survivors and 4.9 h (ranging from 1.4 to 7.6 h,IQR:1.5 h) in survivors.The difference was statistically significant (U =2.014,P =0.043).The difference in 28-day mortality among three groups was statistically significant (x2 =9.27,P =0.009),and the difference in average survival time of non-survivors among three groups was statistically significant (F =3.31,P =0.038).The length of time between ingestion and hemoperfusion and the survival time of non-survivors was a negative correlation (r2 =0.421,P =0.045).The difference in ALTmax,SCrmax,AMYmax and PaO2 min,as the severity indicators of acute liver injury,acute kidney injury,acute pancreas injury and acute lung injury among the three groups were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Employment of hemoperfusion within 4 h after ingestion can attenuate the degree of target organ injury,reducing 28 day mortality of patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

Objective To analyze the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin ( PCT ) for early postoperative bacterial infection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in pediatric patients after living donor liver transplantation recipients admitted to department of critical care medicine of Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University during June 2013 to October 2015.According to the clinical data , all pediatric patients were divided into infection group(n=60) and non-infection group (n=100).Primary disease, PCT post operation day 1 to day 5 for non-infection group and day 1 to day 9 for infection group , temperature , white blood cell , cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, operation time, volume of blood loss during operation were recorded.All parameters above were compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curve was plotted, and the diagnostic value of PCT was evaluated.Results PCT of both groups were elevated after liver transplantation , there was a markedly resolution in non-infection group within 48 to 72 hours.PCT of pediatric patients with bacterial infection was significantly higher than that of non-infected patients , and the difference was of greatly significant (4.62 ±1.39) ng/ml vs (0.85 ±0.19) ng/ml,t=26.56,P=0.00.ROC curve showed that the peak level of PCT might be valuable in the diagnosis of bacterial infection ( AUC=0.985).There was no significant difference of cold ischemia time [(109.92 ±19.22) min vs (108.04 ± 13.20) min, t=1.05, P=0.29], warm ischemia time[(1.49 ±0.17) min vs (1.52 ±0.12) min, t=1.08, P=0.28], operation time[(8.01 ±0.77)vs (8.00 ±1.05) h, t=0.06, P=0.94], WBC[(8.95 ±1.69) ×109/L vs (8.98 ±2.00) ×109/L,t=-0.08, P=0.93]and body temperature[(37.5 ±0.7) vs (37.5 ±0.8) ℃,t=-0.05, P=0.96] on the first day after surgery between infection and non-infection groups.Amount of bleeding in infection group was higher than that of non infection group [ ( 650.87 ± 90.36) ml vs (240.29 ±67.67) ml, t=32.33, P=0.00], there was longer length of ICU stay in the infection group[(11.01 ±1.81)d vs (6.03 ±1.65)d, t=17.78, P=0.00].Conclusion Peak PCT level was a valuable indicator for early postoperative bacterial infection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

A bacterial strain Eml isolated from contaminated soil of Shengli oil field was identified as Rhodococcus ruber according to its phenotype, physiological and chemical properties, and its 16S rRNA gene sequence. This strain could degrade various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as well as alkanes in petroleum, and produce bioemulsifier. The results indicated that strain Eml could produce bioemulsifier efficiently when n-hexadecane was used as sole carbon source. The optimal conditions for the synthesis of bioemulsifier were as followed: 10g/L of n-hexadecane, 1g/L of yeast extract, media initial pH 7, and cultivation was carried out at 30℃ on a rotary shaker at 200 rpm. Under these conditions the surface tension of culture decreased to the lowest value, around 30 mN/m, after 1 day, and the emulsifying capacity was 100% . The concentration of bioemulsifier reached to the highest value, around 68 times of CMC , after 5 days' cultivation. The results also showed that the bioemulsifier produced by this strain should be lipid.

Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; drug therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Thyroxine ; poisoning ; therapeutic use

Since 1970's , lots of studies on biodegradation of chloroanilines (CAS) have been done, especially, in these aspects: spieces and capability of the microbes; metabolic pathway; gene cloning, expression of degradation plas-mid and pivotal metabolic emzymes. It is necessary for us to review the study on biodegradation of chloroanilines in order to summarize some useful results and the problems in this study.

Objective The present study was designed to investigate the efficiency of simvastatin therapy for experimental pul‐monary hypertension (PH) in rat ,and the effects on the number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) . Methods Twenty four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly :model group ,treatment group and control group , 8 rats in each group .Rats were treated with a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline to induce PH (PBS used as control) . The rats in the experimental group were administrated with simvastatin 3 days following subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline .In the 21st day ,the number of circulating EPC ,the right ventricle systolic pressure of rat ,pulmonary vascular structural changes and the quantity of cultured EPC were measured .At the same time ,EPC in each group were cultured in vitro ,then the ability of prolif‐eration and function were analyzed and compared .Results The number of circulating EPC in model group was decreased signifi‐cantly compared to both control and model groups (P< 0 .01) .Compared with model group ,simvastatin treatment markedly de‐creased the RVSP and the ratio of media thickness to eternal diameter (P<0 .01) ,but the ratio of vessel area to total arterial area (VA/TAA) was definitively increased(P<0 .01) .After 7 days of culture in vitro ,both the output of EPC and the ability of prolif‐eration ,conglutination and migration of EPC in treatment group were up -regulated compared with those in model group (P<0 .01) .Conclusion This study confirmed that simvastatin effectively treat experimental PH through improving quantity and func‐tion of circulating EPC .

Objective To evaluate the risk factors for parapneumonic plettral effusion (PPE) in patients with community acquired pnetrmonia (CAP) in the emergency department.Methods A total of 276 patients with CAP were enrolled.Based on the presence of PPE,they were divided into a PPE group and a non-PPE (NPPE) group.Age,gender,vital signs,initial laboratory results,length of stay,28-day mortality,and CURB-65 score were collected.A univariate analysis was performed,and logistic regression analysis was used to determine statistical significance.Results There were 46 patients in the PPE group and 230 in the NPPE group.The univariate analysis indicated that differences in age,gender,white blood cell count,platelet count,and serum alanine aminotransferase were not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05) between the two groups.The differences in hyponatremia,hypoproteinemia,serum procalcitonin levels,and CURB-65 scores were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The logistic regression analysis revealed that hyponatremia,hypoproteinemia,and serum procalcitonin level were independent risk factors.The patients in the PPE group were more likely to be admitted (22.1％ vs 7.5％,P ＜ 0.05) and had longer hospital stays (median 16 days vs 5 days,P ＜ 0.05) than those in the NPPE group.However,there was no difference in 28-day mortality between PPE and NPPE groups (8.6％ vs 8.3％,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion CAP patients with PPE in the emergency department were more likely to be admitted and had longer hospital stays,Hyponatremia,hypoproteinemia,and serum procalcitonin were independent risk factors for pleural effusion.Therefore,to decrease morbidity,as well as economic burden,we should pay more attention and provide earlier treatment to patients with PPE.

Objective To examine neuroinflammation,oxidative damage and neuron loss in the contralateral parie-tal lobecortex of TBI model mice, and to investigate effects of berberine chloride on such secondary damage.Methods TBI model was established by a weight-drop hitting device and mice in berberine group were administered intragastrically with berberine chloride (50mg/kg.day) for 21 days.Immunofluorescence staining was used to assess activity of microglia and astrocyte.Immunohistochemistry was used to assess DNA oxidative damage, neuron loss and expression of COX-2 and iN-OS.Results Activation of microglia and astrocyte, expressions of COX-2 and iNOS and DNA oxidative damage were ob-viously increased by TBI,(19.82 ±1.88)and(16.96 ±1.69)、(13.79 ±4.32)and(8.67 ±0.96)、(27.86 ±5.38) and (16.00 ±7.59)、(31.92 ±6.57)and(24.79 ±2.78)respectively (P<0.01 or P<0.05).Activation of microglia and ex-pressions of COX-2 and iNOS were significantly suppressed by berberine ,(15.49 ±1.88)and(19.82 ±1.88)、(16.83 ± 7.89)and(27.86 ±5.38)、(26.25 ±2.41)and(31.92 ±6.57) respectively(P<0.01 or P<0.05).There was no differ-ence in neuron loss among three groups, (49.05 ±4.38),(48.56 ±3.56)and (47.75 ±4.14) respectively (P>0.05). Conclusions TBI can cause neuroinflammation and oxidative damage but not neuron loss in the contralateral parietal lobe cortex.Berberine chloride can significantly suppress neuroinflammtion in the contralateral parietal lobe cortex after TBI.

Objective To investigate the effects of rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGPCL) wearing 3 years on ocular surface in keratoconus.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 73 patients with keratoconus.Methods From July 2001 to July 2004,73 patients (142 eyes) wearing RGPCL for more than 3 years were collected in Peking University Optometry & Ophthalmology Center.Be- fore and at 1 year,2 years and 3 years of RGPCL wearing,density and morphologic changes of corneal endothelium were examined with non-contact specular microscope.Eye axial length,central and peripheral thickness of cornea were measured with A-scan pachymeter. All eyes were examined with slit-lamp microscope periodically.Main Outcome Measures Corneal endothelial density and morphology, corneal thickness,eye axial length,ocular surface changes.Results Before and at 1 year,2 years and 3 years of RGPCL wearing,aver- age corneal endothelial density was 2901.92?445.20,2862.78?497.13,2854.71?526.80,3015.61?421.22 (cells/mm~2)without significant difference statistically (F=1.571,P=0.20).Morphologic changes were not significant during 3 years.Eye axial length was 25.15?1.50, 24.93?1.36,24.78?1.25,25.39?1.31 (mm) without significant difference statistically (F=2.218,P=0.10).Corneal central thickness was 489.09?59.64,484.02?60.80,496.61?59.74,487.44?54.25(?m)without significant difference statistically (F=0.991,P=0.40).Peripheral thickness changes were also not significant statistically during 3 years.69 eyes with mild conjunctival congestion,12 eyes with corneal fluorescence stain and 6 eyes with corneal epithelial rough were found with slit-lamp microscope during follow-up.Conclusions For the patients with keratoconus,long term of RGPCL wear will not lead to significant ocular changes or severe ocular complications.

Background Though nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) have a critical role in angiogenesis,their effects on corneal neovascularization (CNV) and mechanism need to be further explored.Objective The aim of this study was to explore the effects of NOS and its antagonist,Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on experimental CNV in mice,and investigate the influence of NOS and L-NAME on the tube formation of human retinal endothelial cells (RECs) in vitro.Methods The CNV models were established in the left eyes of 36 male BALB/c mice aged 7-8 weeks by application of the filter paper with NaOH in the center of corneas.The mice were randomized into two groups.L-NAME of 10 g/L (0.5 ml) was intraperitoneally injected 1 week before induction of CNV three times a week for three weeks in the mice of the L-NAME injection,and PBS was used in the same way in the control group.CNV was examined under the slit lamp biomicroscope 2,4,7,14 days after NaOH burn.The expression of CD31 in the CNV was assayed to calculate the ratio of CNV area and total corneal area using whole mount technique.The expression of NOS mRNA in the corneal tissue was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR),and VEGF expression in the human RECs was assayed by Western blot.The vessel formation number of cultured human RECs with or without L-NAME was performed by matrigel in vitro.Grouped t test was used to compare the differences of the parameters between the two groups.Results CNV developed and peaked 2 weeks after the application of NaOH on the mice corneas,and the CNV was obviously less in the L-NAME group compared with the control group.The expression of NOS mRNA in the corneas (NOS mRNA/ GAPDH mRNA)was significantly lower in the L-NAME group than that of the control group 2,4,7 days after CNV induction (t =19.481,t=22.059,t=10.961,all at P＜0.01).The ratio of the CD31 positive area in whole corneal area was 0.59± 0.01 in the L-NAME group,and that of the control group was 0.78±0.10,showing a significant difference between the two groups (t =3.078,P＜0.05).Western blot assay showed that the relative expression of VEGF protein in human RECs was declined in the L-NAME group compared with the control group 0,2,4,7 days,with statistically significant differences in 4 days and 7 days after NaOH burn(t=7.696,t=17.953,both at P＜0.01).The number of vessel network was 46.33±1.86 in the L-NAME group and 64.00±4.51 in the control group,with a significant difference between them (t =3.623,P＜0.05).Conclusions NOS participated in the pathogenesis and aggravation of CNV induced by NaOH.L-NAME arrests CNV formation and human RECs tube formation through down regulating the VEGF expression and NOS activity.