A total of 160 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into microalbuminuria(42 cases)and normoalbuminuria(118 cases)groups.Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of microalbuminuria was independently associated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and intima-media thickness(both P

Facing the complicated life phenomemon, both metabonomics and pharmaco-metabonomics take an organic conception of the human body, which conforms to the way of thinking of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The application of metabonomics and pharmaco-metabonomics in the modernization of TCM will deepen the evaluation of the therapeutic effects of TCM, the study of intrinsic quality of TCM syndrome and the treatment by differentiation of syndrome, facilitate the integration of TCM with modern biological science and technology, promote the modernization of TCM, and provide a new space for the development of TCM.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Metabolomics ; Social Change

BACKGROUNDTo date murine models of permanent focal cerebral ischemia have not been well characterized. The purposes of this paper were to compare three different permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) models with or without craniectomy, and to identify an ideal mouse model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODSExperiments were performed on 45 healthy adult male Kunming mice, weighing 28 to 42 g. The animals were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15 in every group) based on surgical procedure: MCAo via the external carotid artery (ECA), MCAo via the common carotid artery (CCA), and direct ligation of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Each day post-ischemia, the animals were scored using an eight-grade neurological function scale, and mortality was also recorded. Seven days post-ischemia, the brains were removed for lesion size determination using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Correlation analysis of lesion volume and neurological score was carried out.

RESULTSMortality in the group receiving direct MCA ligation was lowest among the three groups, and there was a significant difference between the direct MCA ligation group and the two intraluminal occlusion groups (P < 0.05). In all groups, neurological scores gradually increased with prolongation of ischemic duration, peaking after two days, then gradually decreasing. In the direct MCA ligation group, however, neurological scores were relatively stable. There was a significant correlation between infarct volume and neurological score 7 days after MCAo in every group (all r > 0.7, P < 0.05), suggesting good reproducibility of lesion volume in the three groups, but the infarct volume was more constant in the direct MCA ligation group.

CONCLUSIONThe direct ligation model of MCAo provides an optimal means of studying permanent focal cerebral ischemia, and is preferable to the models using intraluminal sutures.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ligation ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; surgery ; Random Allocation ; Reproducibility of Results

Purpose: Despite the high prevalence of postdialysis fatigue (PDF) in maintenance hemodialysis patients, no meta-analysis on the prevalence and risk factors of PDF has yet been published. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of PDF and explore its related factors. Methods: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the four Chinese databases (National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], Chinese Biomedical Literature database [SinoMed], Wanfang Digital Periodicals [WANFANG], and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals [VIP] database) were searched from inception up to July 2022. This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The articles were independently searched by two reviewers, and the relevant data were extracted. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: Thirteen articles with 2,118 participants were included. The pooled prevalence was 60.0%. The meta-analysis results revealed that the ultrafiltration volume, mean arterial pressure after dialysis, and good sleep quality were potentially associated with PDF, whereas only good sleep quality (odds ratio 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.19e0.30) was significantly associated with PDF. Conclusion PDF is common in maintenance hemodialysis patients, which is related to the ultrafiltration volume, sleep quality, and mean arterial pressure after dialysis. However, the mechanism underlying the risk factors and PDF remains unknown. Further research is warranted to investigate the risk factors, intervention, treatment, and mechanism in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

AIM To investigate the effects of diosgenin on autophagy of human osteosarcoma cells.METHODS Human osteosarcoma MG63 and U2OS cells with or without exposure to diosgenin had their proliferation detected by MTT assay,their ultrastructure observed by transmission electron microscopy,their expression of autophagy protein Beclin1 observed by immunofluorescence staining,and their expressions of autophagy molecular markers LC3,Beclin1 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway related proteins detected by Western blot.The MG63 and U2OS cells cotreated with diosgenin and PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002 had the expression of Beclin1 mRNA detected by RT-qPCR.The MG63 and U2OS cells cotreated with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA)had their inhibition rate of proliferation detected by MTT assay,their expression of cleaved-caspase3 protein detected by Western blot,and their expression of caspase3 mRNA detected by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Upon osteosarcoma MG63 and U2OS cells,diosgenin inhibited their proliferation,promoted the generation of autophagosomes,increased the protein expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin1(P<0.05,P<0.01),reduced the protein expression of LC3 I(P<0.01),and inhibited the protein phosphorylation level of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway(P<0.05,P<0.01),whose effects were offset by the intervention with autophagy inhibitors in terms of the reduced proliferation inhibition and down-regulated expressions of caspase3 mRNA and cleaved-caspase3 protein(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells and induce their autophagy leading to their death and autophagy apoptosis,which may be related to the activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and up-regulation of the expression of LC3 Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins.

Objective:To investigate the effect of suramin on inflammatory response in pulmonary tissue and peripheral blood in septic mice .Methods: Twenty-four male C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups , and suramin ( 5 mg/kg ) or normal saline was intravenously injected 30 min before LPS ( 5 mg/kg ) infusion , respectively .The contents of TNF-αand IL-6 in pulmonary tissue and peripheral blood were detected by ELISA .Suramin or saline-pretreated human mononuclear THP-1 cells were treated with 100 ng/mL LPS in vitro.The expression of TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA and the activity of NF-κB were analyzed by quantitative PCR and Western blotting at different time points after LPS treatment , respectively.Results: Compared with the saline group, the TNF-αand IL-6 levels in pulmonary tissue and peripheral blood were significantly reduced in suramin group at 24 h after LPS treatment ( all P <0 .01 );while there was no significant difference at 72 h between two groups ( all P>0 .05 ) . The expression of TNF-α, IL-6 mRNA and the activity of NF-κB was decreased in suramin group at different time points after LPS treatment .Conclusion: Suramin can protect LPS-induced acute lung injury through down-regulation of systemic and pulmonary pro-inflammatory factors , which may be associated with the inhibition of NF-κB activity.

BACKGROUNDSepsis is a leading cause of death in the intensive care units. The late inflammatory cytokine, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), plays a critical role in sepsis. In the present study, we investigated the association between the serum HMGB1 levels and the severity of organ injury in the lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in rats.

METHODSTo produce an animal model of sepsis with different degree of organ injury, animals were treated with three different doses of lipopolysaccharide (4, 8 and 16 mg/kg), and the animals in control group were treated with the same volume of the vehicle (saline). The levels of serum HMGB1 were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 48 hours after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle injection, meanwhile the biochemical and histopathological indicators for the severity of organ injury were assessed.

RESULTSThe level of HMGB1 had a positive, high correlation with the abnormal changes of serum cardiac troponin I, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, as well as the pathologic scores of heart, lung, liver and kidney.

CONCLUSIONSThe level of serum HMGB1 is highly correlated with the severity of sepsis in rats, suggesting that HMGB1 could serve as a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis and management of sepsis.

Animals ; HMGB1 Protein ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVES: To review cases of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the initial clinical factors that may influence the duration of hospitalization. To determine the predictive factors of prolonged hospital stay in adult patients with peritonsillar abscess. METHODS: Subjects were adults hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess. We retrospectively reviewed 377 medical records from 1990 to 2013 in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan. The association between clinical characteristics and the length of hospital stay was analyzed with independent t-test, univariate linear regression and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean duration of hospitalization was 6.2±6.0 days. With univariate linear regression, a prolonged hospital stay was associated with several variables, including female gender, older ages, nonsmoking status, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, band forms in white blood cell (WBC) counts, and lower hemoglobin levels. With multiple linear regression analysis, four independent predictors of hospital stay were noted: years of age (P<0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (P<0.001), ratio of band form WBC (P<0.001), and hemoglobin levels (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In adult patients with peritonsillar abscess, older ages, history of diabetes mellitus, band forms in WBC counts and lower hemoglobin levels were independent predictors of longer hospitalization.
Adult* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Length of Stay* ; Leukocytes ; Linear Models ; Medical Records ; Peritonsillar Abscess* ; Retrospective Studies ; Taiwan

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab on B-lymphocytes and anti-platelet glycoprotein-specific antibodies in patients with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenic (ITP).

METHODSThirty-one ITP patients with a median age of 36 years (range 16 - 56 years) received solely intravenous rituximab at the dose of 375 mg/m(2) once weekly for consecutive 4 weeks. Lab studies included complete blood count, serum concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA. CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD19(+) and CD20(+) cell numbers were assayed by flow cytometry and anti-platelet glycoprotein-specific antibodies (GPIIb/IIIa, GPIb/IX) were assayed by monoclonal antibody-specific immobilisation of platelet antigens (MAIPA) prior to and following rituximab therapy. The response was evaluated according to the response criteria of international working group of ITP.

RESULTSComplete responses were achieved in 12 cases, response in 7 cases, and no response in 12 cases. Responses were sustained 2 to 28 months (median 6 months) with 4 cases relapsed. After 4 weeks of rituximab therapy, GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb/IX disappeared in responded patients, and CD 19(+)/CD20(+) cells were almost depleted in all patients. As expected, the serum concentrations of IgG, IgM, IgA, and the T cell counts were not changed after therapy. Four patients developed infusion-related reaction, 1 impaired renal function, and 3 secondary infections.

CONCLUSIONRituximab is effective and safe, and the adverse reaction is tolerable.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; drug therapy ; Recurrence ; Rituximab ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anatomy of penis and its adjacent organ for phalloplasty.

METHODSAnatomic dissection of penis and perineum was performed on 30 adult male cadavers (60 sides). Observation and measurement were focused on the penile length of different parts, the morphological relationship of infundibular ligament and suspensory ligament with penile radix, and the feature of crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery.

RESULTSThe average length of the penile shaft was 8.13 cm, the penile radix was 7.67 cm and the crus penis was 5.96 - 5.98 cm. The deep penile artery penetrated into the crus penis at its middle 1/3. The infundibular ligament attached to superficial fascia of the penis and extended downward to the scrotal septum to constitute the suspensory structure for both of them. The suspensory ligament attached to the dorsal deep fascia of the penis. Becoming thicker, the rear part of the suspensory ligament connected firmly to the pubic arcuate ligament to constitute a part of suspensory mechanism for the urethra. There was a part of cavernous body, which was free from either ligament or bony attachment, between the penile radix and the crus penis, where the dorsal artery and nerve of penis turned around from the ventral to the dorsal aspect of the penis and the penile dorsal vain penetrated the urogenital septum, draining into intrapelvic venous plexus.

CONCLUSIONSThe divisional measurement of the penis length, the recognition of the suspensory ligaments and the anatomic feature of the crus penis with relation to the deep penile artery are all of significant importance to improve the operation of phalloplasty.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; anatomy & histology ; Perineum ; anatomy & histology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult