Objective To observe the sedative effects and analyze the cost-benefit of dexmedetomidine and midazolam for severe patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) in intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. Eighty patients undergoing MV (24 hours < time of MV < 72 hours) with tracheal intubation and necessity of analgesic therapy in ICU from January 2014 to October 2014 in Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College were divided into midazolam group (39 cases) and dexmedetomidine group (41 cases) by random numerical table method. Both groups used intravenous continuous pump infusion of fentanyl 0.7 - 1.5μg·kg-1·h-1 as an analgesic therapy. The analgesic goal was critical care pain observation tool (COPT) score kept at 0 - 3, and the score was taken once per hour; when COPT score > 4, 0.5μg/kg fentanyl was added, when the analgesic goal was reached, the sedative treatment was given. In midazolam group, the patients received midazolam whose loading dose was 0.05 mg/kg intravenous injection (IV) in 2 minutes, followed by continuous IV pump infusion 0.03 - 0.30 mg·kg-1·h-1. In dexmedetomidine group, the patients received dexmedetomidine whose loading dose was slowly intravenous pump infusion of 0.5 - 1.0μg/kg, followed by continuous pump IV infusion of 0.2 - 0.7μg·kg-1·h-1; the sedation goal was richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) at 0 - 2, the score being taken once per hour, and as RASS > 0 point, the dosage of sedative was increased, and as RASS < -2, the dosage of sedative was reduced or discontinued. During the course of study, the heart rate (HR), blood pressure, the amount of sedative and analgesic used, duration of MV, extubation time, ICU stay time, total costs of sedative and fentanyl drugs, total ICU treatment costs and adverse reactions of patients were observed.Results Compared with midazolam group, the total amount of sedative used (mg/kg: 0.03±0.01 vs. 3.35±1.39), the dose of sedative used per hour (μg·kg-1·h-1: 0.66±0.13 vs. 59.78±19.44), the dose of fentanyl used (μg·kg-1·h-1: 0.40±0.21 vs. 0.57±0.26), the total costs of fentanyl used per hour (yuan: 1.41±0.86 vs. 2.00±0.84), the total costs in ICU per hour (yuan: 264.42±99.55 vs. 297.80±138.70) in dexmedetomidine group were significantly less (allP < 0.05); compared with midazolam group, the total costs of sedative in dexmedetomidine group was significantly higher (yuan: 8.97±5.05 vs. 7.78±4.22); the duration of MV [hours: 43.58 (39.83, 53.58) vs. 58.58 (46.17, 65.50)], extubation time [hours: 1.00 (1.67, 0.58) vs. 3.67 (2.00, 5.50)] and the time for staying in ICU [hours: 57.25 (47.33, 67.37) vs. 75.58 (64.67, 90.83)] were significantly shorter in dexmedetomidine group (allP < 0.05); the incidences of adverse reactions in dexmedetomidine group were significantly higher [hypotension: 29.27% (12/41) vs. 7.69% (3/39), bradycardia: 24.39% (10/41) vs. 5.13% (2/39), bothP < 0.05]; the incidence of delirium in dexmedetomidine group was lower [2.43% (1/41) vs. 15.38% (6/39),P < 0.05].Conclusion For ICU patients, dexmedetomidine is an ideal effective sedative, as it may shorten the duration of MV, the time for extubation, the period staying in ICU, reduce the dosage of analgesic used and the cost of treatment in ICU.

Objective To systematically analyze and assess the risk of venous thromboembolism in the patients with rheuma‐toid arthritis(RA) .Methods The related literatures on the venous thromboembolism occurrence in the patients with RA published at home and abroad were performed the electronic retrieval .The obtained data were analyzed by adopting the RevMan5 .1 software . The data unable to merge were analyzed by adopting the descriptive analysis method .Results A total of 10 related papers were in‐cluded .The 3 indicators of venous thromboembolism occurrence rate ,deep vein thrombosis occurrence rate and pulmonary thrombo‐embolism occurrence rate were performed the meta analysis .The RR and 95% CI of the occurrence rates of venous thromboembo‐lism ,deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism were 2 .00(1 .71 ,2 .33) ,2 .31(1 .84 ,2 .90) ,2 .25(2 .23 ,2 .28) respec‐tively .Conclusion The risk degree of venous thromboembolism occurrence in the RA patients is higher than that in the non‐RA pa‐tients .

Objective To analyze the clinical features of intestinal infection in patients with acute leukemia (AL) after chemotherapy. Methods The data of 103 cases of AL patients after chemotherapy from January 2014 to April 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, and categorical variables were compared by using chi-square test. Results A total of 364 cycles of chemotherapy was conducted among 103 patients, of which 66 times (18.13 %) in 59 cycles occurred intestinal infections, including twice intestinal infections in one cycle of chemotherapy in 7 cases. The incidence of intestinal infection was 27.48%(36/131) in group without complete remission (CR), and 9.87%(23/233) in CR group. There was a statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Repeated intestinal infections were found in 46.67%of the patients who accepted multiple cycles of chemotherapy. In the same cycle of chemotherapy, the probability of recurrence of intestinal infection after chemotherapy was 3.7 times than patients without intestinal infection occurred during chemotherapy. The incidence of intestinal infection of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after primary inducing chemotherapy was higher than that of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) (P= 0.019). The incidence of intestinal infection combined with neutropenic was 9.89 % (36/364), and the incidence of intestinal infection was 8.24 % (30/364) in neutrophils > 0.5 × 109/L. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05). After chemotherapy, some patients with intestinal infection occurred acute abdomen, with high mortality rate. Conclusions Intestinal infection may occur in the procession of chemotherapy and myelosuppression. Special attention should be paid on intestinal infection, including reduction of blood stream infection and risk factors, as well as timely intervention.

Objective To study the correlation between thyroid autoantibodies anti‐thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) with recurrent miscarriage to seek the objective data indicator for clinical diagnosis of recurrent miscarriage .Methods A total of 1 016 pregnant women of physical examination and normal thyroid function in the obstetric and gynecologic clinic of our hospital from March 2012 to May 2014 were selected as the research subjects .Among them ,90 cases of abortion were screened out and di‐vided into the primary abortion group(60 cases) and the recurrent abortion group(30 cases) .90 healthy childbearing age women of physical examination were selected as the control group .The positive TPOAb cases were performed statistics and compared among various groups ,the ratio was calculated;the TPOAb level was recorded in each group .At the same time the correlation between TPOAb with recurrent abortion was analyzed .Results The TPOAb positive rate in the recurrent abortion group was 46 .67% , which was significantly higher than 25 .00% in the primary abortion group and 4 .44% in the control group;at the same time the TPOAb positive rate of primary abortion group was also significantly higher than that of the control group ,the difference had sta‐tistical significance (P<0 .05) .The TPOAb concentration level in the recurrent abortion group was significantly higher than that in the primary abortion group and the control group;the TPOAb concentration level in the primary abortion group was also signifi‐cantly higher than that in the control group ,the differences were statistically significant (P< 0 .05) .In the follow‐up of adverse pregnancy occurrence with recurrent abortion as the adverse pregnancy event ,and according to the method of Spearman correlation analysis ,with the increase of TPOAb level ,the occurrence rate of recurrent miscarriage was higher ,which showed the positive cor‐relation(r=0 .764 ,P=0 .000) .Conclusion Monitoring the patient′s TPOAb level can better show the symptoms of recurrent abor‐tion .

We investigated the roles of the crude antigen(CA) of Clonorchis sinensis and excretory secretory products (ESPs) in the polarization of Th1 and Th2 cells.Bone marrow-derived cells were generated from BALB/c mice and isolated into immature DCs;immature DCs were then treated with either CA (CA stimulated group),ESPs (ESPs stimulated group),LPS (positive control group) or PBS (negative control group) for 24 hours.Then the CD4+T cells were isolated from mouse spleen by using anti mouse-CD4 Microbeads,and further cocultured with stimulated DCs for another 72 hours.The purities of DCs and CD4+ T cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the expressing levels of T-bet mRNA and GATA-3 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR.ELISA was used to detect the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines in the supernatant.mRNA levels of T-bet and GATA-3 in the ESPs group were higher than those in PBS-stimulated group (P＜0.05).The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines in the culture were increased in the ESPs group,compared with PBS stimulated group(P＜0.05).IFN-γ but not IL-4 was increased in CA group (P＜0.05).The results implied that CA might play a role in Th1 type immune response,and ESPs likely play roles in both Th1 and Th2 immune responses.

Methods: (i) Animal experiments. This study conducted experiments using specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade male C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice and APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. The animals were divided into three groups: WT group (WT mice, n = 5, receiving distilled water daily), APP/PS1 group (APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, n = 5, receiving distilled water daily), and BSTSD group [APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, n = 5, treated with BSTSD suspension at a dosage of 27 g/(kg·d) for 90 d]. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM). Post-experiment, hippocampal tissues were collected for analysis of pyramidal cell and synaptic morphology through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). (ii) Cell experiments. The HT-22 cells were divided into control group (untreated), Aβ25-35 group (treated with 20 μmol/L Aβ25-35 for 24 h), icariin group (pre-treated with 20 μmol/L icariin for 60 min, followed by 20 μmol/L Aβ25-35 for an additional 24 h), and icariin + LY294002 group [treated with 20 μmol/L icariin and 20 μmol/L LY294002 (an inhibitor of the phosphoinostitide 3-kinases (PI3K) signaling pathway) for 60 min, then exposed to 20 μmol/L Aβ25-35 for 24 h], and cell viability was measured. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of synapse-associated proteins [synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95)] and PI3K signaling pathway associated proteins [phosphorylated (p)-PI3K/PI3K, p-protein kinase B (Akt)/Akt, and p-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)/mTOR]. Results: (i) Animal experiments. Compared with APP/PS1 group, BSTSD group showed that escape latency was significantly shortened (P < 0.01) and the frequency of crossing the original platform was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Morphological observation showed that pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 region were arranged more regularly, nuclear staining was uniform, and vacuole-like changes were reduced after BSTSD treatment. TEM showed that the length of synaptic active zone in BSTSD treatment group was increased compared with APP/PS1 group (P < 0.01), and the width of synaptic gap was decreased (P < 0.01). (ii) Cell experiments. Icariin had no obvious toxicity to HT-22 cells when the concentration was not more than 20 μmol/L (P > 0.05), and alleviated the cell viability decline induced by Aβ25-35 (P < 0.01). Western blot results showed that compared with Aβ25-35 group, the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR in icariin group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the protein expression levels of SYP and PSD-95 were increased (P < 0.01). These effects were blocked by LY294002 (P < 0.01). Conclusion BSTSD and icariin enhance cognitive function and synaptic integrity in AD models and provide potential therapeutic strategies through activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND:Experimental studies have showed that puerarin has an obvious protective effect on osteoporosis in ovariectomized and orchiectomized mice. But the influence of puerarin in the molecular level in the process of osteoblast differentiation is seldom reported.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of puerarin on the mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in osteoblasts.
METHODS:The MC3T3-E1 cells from mice cultured in vitro were randomly divided into control group, puerarin group (10-6 mol/L puerarin) and estradiol group (10-7 mol/L estradiol) to observe the effects of puerarin on the differentiation of osteoblasts. mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase, bone sialoprotein, osteopontin and osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells was determined using RT-PCR method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Puerarin and estradiol both could prolong the expression of alkaline phosphatase that reached the peak at 12 days. Puerarin and estradiol strengthened the mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein at 10 and 12 days, reduced expression of osteopontin at 5 and 12 days, and increased expression of osteocalcin at 10 and 12 days. These results reveal that puerarin can induce the differentiation of cultured osteoblasts by influencing osteoblast differentiation-related protein mRNA expressions, which may be one of the important molecular mechanisms of puerarin for prevention of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE To study the in virto interaction of allicin combined with cefoperazone against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.METHODS The protocol was designed by checkerboard method and the MICs of allicin combined with cefoperazone against the 17 strains of sensitive and 14 strains of drug-resistant P.aeruginosa were determined by broth dilution method,the FIC index was calculated according to MIC results.The combined effects were confirmed by FIC index.RESULTS The percentage of the FIC index less than 0.5,from 0.5 to 1,from 1 to 2,and more than 2 was 41.2-64.3% 35.7-41.2% 0-17.6%,and 0%,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Synergism and additivity of allicin combined with cefoperazone against P.aeruginosa are their main action,there are little autonomy and no antagonism.Allicin can significantly improve the antibacterial activity of cefoperazone against drug-resistant P.aeruginosa.

Background:Acute-on-chronic liver failure( ACLF)is a commonly seen liver failure in China,and lacking an animal model that can effectively simulate the dynamic change of immune status of ACLF. Aims:To establish an animal model that can simulate dynamic change of immune status of ACLF by repeated administration of concanavalin A(ConA). Methods:Mice were randomly divided into normal control group and ConA repeated administration group. Mice in ConA repeated administration group were injected with ConA 15 mg/ kg through retrobulbar angular vein every 48 hours for 5 times,and mice in control group were injected with same volume of 0. 9% NaCl solution. Serum levels of IL-6,IL-10,IL- 12,TNF-α,IFN-γ,MCP-1 in peripheral blood were assessed by CBA assay,and the ratio of IL-10/ TNF-α was calculated. The expression of HLA-DR,number and proportion of CD4+ T cells and the expression of PD-1 of monocytes in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Results:Peripheral blood cytokines changed from predominated proinflammatory cytokines into predominated anti-inflammatory cytokines with the increasing in time of administration in ConA repeated administration group. Compared with control group,HLA-DR expression of monocytes in peripheral blood was significantly decreased(P <0. 05),number and proportion of CD4+ T cells were significantly decreased(P <0. 05), and PD-1 expression was significantly increased( P < 0. 05)in ConA repeated administration group. Conclusions:An animal model of ACLF immune status from systemic inflammatory response syndrome( SIRS) to compensatory antiinflammatory response syndrome(CARS)induced by repeated ConA stimulation is successfully established.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, skeletal muscle pathologies and gene variations of chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO).Methods:Sixteen patients with conformed CPEO, admitted to our hospital from January 1997 to December 2021, were chosen. Their clinical data such as onset age and course of diseases and muscle pathological examination results were collected and their gene variation characteristics were analyzed.Results:The initial symptom in all 16 patients was ptosis of varying degrees; 15 patients were with eye movement disorder, 6 with diplopia, 4 with proximal limb weakness, and 3 with dysphagia and dysarthria. Among the 16 patients, electromyography showed myogenic damage in 7 patients, myogenic combined with neurogenic damage in 1 patient, neurogenic damage in 1 patient, and normal in 7 patients. Skeletal muscle biopsies indicated that 14 patients were with ragged red fibers (RRF), 11 patients had cytochrome C oxidase (COX)-negative muscle fibers, 3 patients had a small amount of degenerated and necrotic myofibers with mononuclear phagocytic infiltration. Immunohistochemical staining indicated infiltration of CD8 and CD68 positive lymphocytes. Ten patients accepted genetic test, indicating 6 patients with single large fragment deletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), 1 patient with mtDNA point mutation, 1 patient with nucleosomal DNA (nDNA) point mutation, and 2 patients without pathogenicity variation clearly associated with clinical phenotype. Electron microscopy in 5 patients showed that abnormal mitochondrial aggregation was noted in 4 patients under the sarcolemma and among the myofibrils.Conclusion:In addition to ptosis and eye movement disorders, a small number of patients with CPEO may be accompanied by dysphagia and limb weakness; and single large fragment deletion of mtDNA is the main mutation form of CPEO.