OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sub-acute oral effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles on the oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in blood, liver, intestine, and colon in rats. METHODS: Twenty four 4-week-old clean-grade Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly devided into 4 groups by body weight (n=6, control, low, middle, and high), in which the rats were orally exposed to TiO₂ nanoparticles at doses of 0, 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight/day for 28 consecutive days separately. Food intake, body weight and abnormal behaviors during the experiment were recorded. The rats were euthanized on the 29th day. The blood was collected via abdominal aortic method and centrifuged to collect the serum. Tissues from liver, intestine and colon were collected and homogenated. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microwell plate methods were used to detect oxidation/antioxidation biomarkers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total mercapto (T-SH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), malomdialdehvde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the serum, liver, intestine and colon in the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, no significant differences in body weight, food intake and organ coefficients were observed in all the three groups after TiO₂ gavage. No significant changes in GSH, GSH-Px, T-SH, and IL-6 were observed. Compared with the control group, significant increase of SOD activity in serum in high dose group, signi-ficant increase of GSSG concentration in intestine in middle and high dose group and significant increase of MDA concentration in liver in low and high dose group were observed. Compared with the control group, a significant increase of TNF-α in liver in middle and high dose group was observed. CONCLUSION TiO₂ nanoparticle can increase antioxidant enzymes activities in blood, increase oxidative biomarkers in liver and intestine, increase inflammatory cytokines in liver in rats after a 28-day sub-acute orally administration. Among blood, liver, intestine, and colon, liver is most sensitive to the toxicity induced by TiO₂ nanoparticles, followed by intestine, blood, and colon in sequence.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; Nanoparticles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium

AIMTo analyze the response factors of different quinolone antibiotics detected by evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD).

METHODSThe response factors of five different quinolones (enoxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin and gatifloxacin) detected by ELSD were determined by using a YMC-Pack ODS-AM cloumn (150 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microns) as analytical column and 0.5% triethylamine (adjusting pH 2.5 with trifluoroacetic acid)-acetonitrile (48:12) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL.min-1, the temperature of the drift tube was set at 117 degrees C, and the flow of carrier gas at 3.0 L.min-1. Detector responses (A) and the amount of injection of each substance (m) were fitted to the logarithmic regression: log A = b log m + log a.

RESULTSThe linear regression equation obtained were: enoxacin: Y = 1.0799X + 2.7611, r2 = 0.9996; levofloxacin: Y = 1.0913X + 2.7235, r2 = 0.9997; ciprofloxacin: Y = 1.0828X + 2.7523, r2 = 0.9994; lomefloxacin: Y = 1.0891X + 2.7391, r2 = 0.9993; gatifloxacin: Y = 1.0878X + 2.7392, r2 = 0.9995. The differences between them were negligible.

CONCLUSIONDifferent quinolones can give the same responses with ELSD detection. So, the HPLC-ELSD methods can be applied to the determination of new substances by using another substance as reference.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ciprofloxacin ; analysis ; Enoxacin ; analysis ; Fluoroquinolones ; analysis ; Levofloxacin ; Light ; Linear Models ; Ofloxacin ; analysis ; Quinolones ; analysis

Objective To study the influence and dose effect of ultrasound on the contraction of uterine smooth muscle in rats.Methods Estradiol benzoate was injected into rats three days before conducting an in-vitro experiment.Their uteri were resected and irradiated with ultrasound(0.8 MHz,3 W/cm~2,0-40 rain).The contrac- tion frequency and amplitude were recorded using an MS-302 biological experiment system.Results It could be seen that the contraction frequency and amplitude,and general contractile activity were significantly increased during ultrasonic irradiation(P＜0.01).The increased contraction frequency and amplitude lasted for ten minutes,and then the normal contraction pattern resumed.The contraction frequency as well as the percentage change in eontraction fre- quency were highest during the first 15 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation;the contraction amplitude as well as the per- centage change in amplitude were highest during 40 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation.Contraction activity was at its highest for 30 minutes,but the percentage change in activity was highest for 20 minutes.Conclusions Ultrasound can induce uterine smooth muscle contraction in rats.This biological effect is related to the irradiation time.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects and postoperative complications of arthrotomy and arthroscopy in repair of 170 menisci in 168 cases.Methods One hundred and sixty-eight patients with meniscus injury were repaired by arthrotomy or arthroscopy.They were 121 males and 47 females.There were 77 left knees and 91 right knees;117 medial menisci and 53 lateral ones.Their average age was 25.5?8.4 years old.Arthro- scopic repair methods included puncture and grinding,bio-absorbable meniscus arrow fixation,Outside-In suturing, Inside-Out suturing,Elite scuff instrument repairing,T-Fix fixation and FasT-Fix fixation techniques.The clinical results were assessed on the basis of symptoms,physical signs,Tegner scores and Lysholm scores of the cases. Postoperative complications were also investigated.Re-arthroscopic exploration was done for patients with obvious symptoms and physical signs.Results The average folluw-up time was 49.3?28.8 months.Their mean pre- operative Tegner score was 3.3?2.3,and their postoperative one 6.8?2.1 (P＜0.05).Their preoperative Lysholm score was 30.1?18.2,and their postoperative one 87.5?22.5 (P＜0.01).There were significant differences in Tegner and Lysholm scores before operation and after operation.Ninety-eight repaired menisci were rated as excellent(57.7%),57 as good (33.5%),10 as fair (5.9%),and five as poor (2.9%).The total ex- cellent and good result was 91.2%.Of the 19 patients with obvious symptoms and physical signs,re-arthroscopic exploration found no healing in five and partial healing in six.Postoperative complications included pain at the Outside-In suture nodes in three cases,referred pain at posterior articular capsule resulted from failed Outside-In meniscus anterior horn suturing in one case,and twinge at the meniscus arrow site in the posterior capsule in five cases.No serious lesion occurred at blood vessels or nerves.The postoperative complication incidence was 5.3%. Conclusion The eight methods of arthrotomy and arthroscopy to repair injured menisci investigated in our study can have a high successful rate and low perioperative and postoperative risk.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestation and the characteristics of laboratory examinations of invasive Scedocporium infection.Methods The clinical data of 8 patients infected with Scedosporium from January 2011 to April 2017 were collected and retrospective analysis combined with related literatures was performed.Results Among the 8 patients,6 strains of S.apiospermum,1 strains of Peudallescheria boydii and 1 strains of S.prolificans were detectable.The predisposing factors of Scedosporium infection were trauma,environmental exposure and hypoimmunity.The septahypha in specimens could be direcdy observed under microscopic examination with positive rate 100％.The growth speed of cultured colony was relatively fast and the invasiveness was strong.The colony of Scedosporium displayed various forms from white cashmere to black yeast sample.The color was gradually become dark from the center of colony with lengthening time of cultivation.Scedosporium could be identified by microscopic morphology combining culture technique.Conclusion The course of invasive Scedosporium infection may progress rapidly with serious and dangerous illness state.The most common infection of Scedosporium should be induced by S.apiospernum.The knowledge and understanding for Scedosporium infection should be strengthened to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment.

PURPOSE: The urodynamic effects of intravesical PGE2 instillation on bladder function and detrusor overactivity (DO) during the filling phase were investigated in rats by measuring intraabdominal and intravesical pressures simultaneously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Continuous cystometry was performed inconscious, female and male Sprague- Dawley rats. We investigated pressure-, volume-, and DO-related parameters. RESULTS: Intravesical instillation of PGE2 increased all pressure-related parameters and decreased volume-related ones, compared to the control cystometric ones. However, among the total number of intravesical pressure rises (IVPRs) above 2 cmH2O during the filling phase, only 33% in female rats and 38% in male rats after PGE2 instillation were identified as true DO during the filling phase. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the rat model with intravesical PGE2 is inappropriate for observing the effects of some drugs or mechanisms on DO, because only approximately 30% of IVPRs were confirmed as true DO. However, this model of intravesical PGE2 instillation has some advantages for the observation of changes in pressure and volume parameters rather than in DO-related ones.
Administration, Intravesical ; Animals ; Dinoprostone ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats ; Urinary Bladder ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: We investigated bladder function, with a special focus on nonvoiding contractions (NVCs), in awake rats with chronic chemical cystitis and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by use of simultaneous registrations of intravesical and intraabdominal pressures. In addition, we tested the effects of tolterodine on the NVCs in these models. METHODS: A total of 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. In eight rats, chemical cystitis was induced by intravesical instillation of HCl. Twelve rats were subjected to sham instillations or partial BOO. Four weeks after intravesical instillation or 2 weeks after partial BOO, cystometrograms were obtained by use of simultaneous recording of intravesical and intraabdominal pressure in all unanesthetized, unrestrained rats in metabolic cages. RESULTS: A total of 17 rats survived. In the rats with acute injury by HCl, 50% showed detrusor overactivity (DO), which was not seen in the sham group. The cystitis group had lower DO pressure without a difference in DO frequency compared with the BOO group. After the administration of tolterodine, the cystitis group showed no difference in DO frequency or pressure, whereas the BOO group showed decreased values for both parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that toleterodine produced no effect on DO during the filling phase in rats with chronic chemical cystitisbut decreased the frequency and pressure of DO in rats with BOO. Clinically, studies are needed to improve the treatment effect of anticholinergic drugs ininterstitial cystitis patients with overactive bladder.
Administration, Intravesical ; Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Contracts ; Cresols ; Cystitis ; Female ; Humans ; Phenylpropanolamine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylamides ; Tolterodine Tartrate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the diagnosis and arthroscopic treatment of osteochondral lesion of talus (OLT).

METHODSFrom 2000 to 2005 the data of 34 patients of OLT of the talus were retrospectively studied, including the symptom, physical examination, image, arthroscopic treatment All patients took X-ray and MRI examination before the arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic debridement was performed for all patients, in addition to drilling in 5 cases, and microfracture in 18 cases. Before operation, ankle-hindfoot score of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) was 71 +/- 8, and the score of pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) was 7.5 +/- 1.3.

RESULTSWeight-bearing pain of the ankle joint aggravated after exercise was the predominant complaint of OLT. X-ray examination was negative in 13 cases, and all lesions were detected by MRI, which was significantly better than X-ray (chi2 = 16.07, P < 0. 001). Thirty-one patients were followed up for an average of 28 months. The average post-operative AOFAS was 91 +/- 9 (t = 9.147, P < 0.001); And VAS was 2.4 +/- 2. 3, which was significantly lower than that in pre-operation (t = 10.853, P < 0.001). Of the 31 patients, 27 (87.1%) had good or excellent results.

CONCLUSIONSMRI could improve the accuracy of diagnosis. The results of arthroscopic treatment for OLT are satisfactory.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Talus ; injuries ; Treatment Outcome

An acute myeloid leukemic HB-1 cell line was cloned and established from the spleen cells of irradiated CBA/N mice. Acute myeloma leukemia-like syndrome would be induced in normal CBA/N mice after intravenous injection of HB-1 cells, and the death of mouse happened within about two weeks. In general, leukemic cells transplanted into the mice would infiltrate into the hematopoietic organs, lungs, kidneys and liver. An interesting observation in our study was that HB-1 cells were present not only in the lung, kidney, and liver but also in the cerebrum and cerebellum. It was beyond our expectation that the leukemic cells could go through the blood-brain barrier in most circumstances. On the basis of the observation, we expect that HB-1 cells could be used as a very useful model to elucidate the mechanism of infiltrating the blood-brain barrier for certain type of cells.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; physiopathology ; Brain ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; Leukemia, Experimental ; pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred CBA ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Transplantation

Objective Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a cardiopulmonary supportive therapy. Since 2004, our institution has adopted venoarterial ECMO for adult patients who otherwise could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass and patients experiencing postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and/or pulmonary dysfunction unresponsive to conventional treatment algorithms. In this study, we reviewed our experience with ECMO support and tried to identify measurable values which might predict in-hospital mortality. Methods From January 2004 through December 2008, 50 of 21,298 adult patients received VA ECMO. We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of these 50 consecutive patients. Demographics, preoperative measurements, clinical characteristics at the time of ECMO implantation, ECMO related complications and in-hospital mortality were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate predictors of mortality. A p value ≤0. 05 was accepted as significant. Results Mean ECMO duration was ( 110 ± 17 ) hours. 38 patients were weaned from ECMO and 33 patients survived upon discharge. The overall survival was 66%. In univariate analyses, duration of ECMO support, receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to ECMO setup, ECMO setup in ICU, pre-ECMO plasma lactate level, infection, lower limbs ischemia, renal failure, experiencing at least one ECMO related complications were all associated with in-hospital death. In a multiple logistic regression adjusted for other factors mentioned above, blood lactate level before initiation of ECMO was a risk factor associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 1. 27 95% CI 1. 042-1. 542 ). To evaluate the utility of pre-ECMO lactate in predicting mortality, a conventional receiver operating characteristic curve was produced. Sensitivity and specificity were optimal at a cut-off point of 12.6 mmol/L, with an AUC of 0. 752. The positive and negative predictive values were 73.3% and 83.9% respectively. Conclusion ECMO is a justifiable alternative treatment for postoperative refractory cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction which could rescue more than 60 percent of otherwise fatal patients. Patients with pre-ECMO lactate above 12.6mmol/L are at higher risks for in-hospital death. Evidence based therapy for this group of high risk patients is needed.