OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Xingnaojing(Traditional Chinese Medicine) injection on brain injury in rats.

METHODSSixty-three healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 21): sham operation group, model group, xingnaojing group. The model of traumatic brain injury model group and Xingnaojing group used the free fall impact injury method, the sham operation group underwent craniotomy, did not cause brain damage. Xingnaojing group in rats after 10 min by tail vein injection Xingnaojing injection 10 ml/(kg x d), model group and sham operation group were intravenously injected with 0.9% sodium chloride solution, three groups were administered continuously for 7 days. At administration of the seventh days compared the S-100B protein in the serum and neuro specific enolase (NSE) level, the water content of brain tissue, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content, and neurological function of rats among groups.

RESULTSCompared with the sham operation group, the nerve defect, brain water content, MDA, S100B protein and NSE levels were obvigusly increased in Xingnaojing group and model group; SOD, GSH-Px content decreased significantly; In Xingnaojing group nerve impairment and brain moisture were significantly lower than those of model group, the serum MDA, S-100B protein and NSE levels were significantly lower than those in the model group, the SOD, GSH-Px activity was significantly higher than that in the model group.

CONCLUSIONXingnaojing injection has protective effects on rat brain injury, and its mechanism may be related to reduce brain edema after traumatic brain injury and inhibit the reaction of oxygen free radical, protect nerve cells.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis(MVT) in the elderly. Methods The clinical features, diagnosis, treatments and prognosis of 10 aged cases with acute MVT were retrospectively analyzed. Results The chief complaints of the 10 cases were different degrees of abdominal pain, which not paralleled with abdominal signs. The accompanying symptoms were nausea, vomiting and bloody stools and so on. All of these patients were misdiagnosised as pancreatitis, appendicitis or intestinal obstruction and so on. diagnosis of two cases was confirmed by ultrasound, 8 by CT. At the same time, 2 cases underwent angiography examination. Of the 8 cases who underwent operation, 5 cases were cured, 3 cases died (1 died of toxic shock and 2 died of multiple organ failure ). Two cases underwent conservative intervention thrombolysis. Conclusions It is essential to improve the knowledge of acute MVT,especially its intricate clinical characteristics, high rates of misdiagnosis and mortality. Early proper diagnosis is crucial. The main treatment is operation and conservative intervention thrombolysis can be performed in the patients whose bowel has not necrosed yet.

OBJECTIVETo understand the process of Cistanche tubulosa.

METHODThe process of seed germination and parasitism was observed using stereomicroscope.

RESULTSeedling of C. tubulosa sprouted after forty day without host root's contact in fields, a tube-like-organ formed and grew auger-type from host root, the tuber apex where touches host root swelled and formed haustorium. Haustorium intruded host root epidermis and vascular bundles, and released brown substances. Then, embryo bud with six or more young leaves formed, finally the swelled tuber-like-organ broken and seed coat shed. Due to the parasitism of C. tubulosa, the host root near stem site swelled, but the other part, shrunk and disappered gradually.

CONCLUSIONSeed of C. tubulosa could germinate indepently in fields. Tuber-like-organ formatin, haustorium formation and bud formation are key steps of C. tubulosa seedling development.

Cistanche ; growth & development ; Germination ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Tamaricaceae ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the proportion of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of the patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and evaluate the potential association of Th17 cells with AML.

METHODSThe cytokines IL-17 and TGF-β1 in the peripheral blood of AML patients before therapy (group 1), AML patients in complete remission (AML-CR, group 2) and healthy donors (group 3) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of Th17 cells of each group was evaluated by flow cytometry. The level of IL-17 mRNA of each group was examined by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 cells and the level of IL-17, IL-17 mRNA in group 1 \[(10.502 ± 1.071) ng/L, (0.935 ± 0.140)% and 0.262 ± 0.510\] and group 2 \[(11.345 ± 0.987) ng/L, (1.091 ± 0.159)% and 0.307 ± 0.031\] was significantly lower than that in group 3 \[(16.852 ± 1.198) ng/L, (2.586 ± 0.235)% and 0.501 ± 0.060\]. The percentage of Th17 cells and the level of IL-17, IL-17 mRNA in group 1 was lower than that in the group 2. But the level of TGF-β1 in the group 1 (29.963 ± 1.588) ng/L and the group 2 (25.163 ± 1.848) ng/L was significantly higher than that in group 3 (13.366 ± 1.565) ng/L. However, the level of TGF-β1 in the group 3 was higher than that of the group 2.

CONCLUSIONTh17 cells might be negatively correlated with the AML development. The overexpression of TGF-β1 in AML patients might suppress the differentiation of Th17 cells.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Prevalence ; Th17 Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of transurethral partial cystectomy with a 2 µm laser in diagnosis and treatment for the bladder submucosal lesions in adults.

METHODSNine patients with suspected pathological diagnosed bladder submucosal lesions in out-patient department were diagnosed and treated transurethral with a 2 µm laser under sacral block between August 2009 and December 2010. The diameters of tumors were 1.5 - 2.5 cm. A 2 µm laser was used to incise the full-thickness bladder wall around the tumors. The entire bladder wall was peeled between the detrusor muscle layer and outer connective tissues. Tumors with bladder wall at the base were removed together and sent for pathological examination. The surgical procedures, intraoperative hemorrhage, intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed, pathological diagnosis and postoperative follow-up were performed.

RESULTSAll operations were successful. Mean operative time was 36.4 minutes (range 25 to 47 minutes), perioperative blood loss was minimal. There was no obturator nerve reflection and no hemorrhage detected after surgery. Postoperative pathological diagnosis included leiomyoma in 3 cases, pheochromocytoma in 3 cases, endometriosis in 1 case and metastatic bladder cancer in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSTransurethral partial cystectomy with a 2 µm laser can diagnose and treat bladder submucosal lesions. The procedures are effective and safe. Patients could get accurate pathological diagnosis without further painful and some bladder tumors can be treated by minimally invasive surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Cystectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo summarize the 5-year follow-up to 2 micron continuous wave laser vaporesection for the treatment of patients with low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and evaluate the safety and clinical effects of the treatment.

METHODSFrom October 2006 to September 2007, 236 cases with low urinary tract symptom secondary to BPH were treated transurethrally under epidural or general anesthesia using the 70 Watt 2 micron laser system. Vaporesection of the prostate was performed with the traditional "U" or the "dividing" method. The 210 cases who met the inclusion criteria in this study were selected for further observation. Baseline and perioperative data were recorded and evaluated in resection time, transfusion rate, catheter-time, improvements in maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), international prostate symptom scores (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and post voiding residual volume (PVR).

RESULTSOut of the 210 cases, 179 cases were followed up to 5 years finally. All the surgical procedures were successfully conducted under epidural or general anesthesia. Mean operation time was (80 ± 22) minutes, and mean retrieved prostatic tissue was (24.9 ± 4.2) g. Resected prostatic tissues could be easily flashed out of the bladder. There were no significant differences in serum sodium concentrations and hemoglobin levels before and after the surgery. Mean catheter time and hospital stay was (114 ± 35) hours and (5.7 ± 1.9) days respectively. Only one postoperative secondary hemorrhage was found and treated with blood transfusion. During the 5-year follow-up, Qmax increased from (8.6 ± 3.5) ml/s preoperatively to (23.6 ± 4.2) ml/s by the end of the follow-up (P < 0.01), IPSS and QoL-Score improved from 25.3 ± 5.2 and 4.1 ± 1.3 to 6.1 ± 3.0 and 1.4 ± 0.8 respectively (P < 0.01), and PVR decreased from (248 ± 89) ml to (15 ± 13) ml. The 3 patients developed urinary incontinence and recovered 3 months later through functional exercises with the help of acupuncture. Five patients were found to have urethral stricture 3 months after the surgery and recovered with the treatment of urethral dilatation (3 cases) or internal urethrotomy (2 cases) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSTransurethral vaporesection of prostate using the 2 micron continuous wave laser system is a safe and effective treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia with obvious improvements in subjective and objective voiding parameters, which were evident at 3 months after the surgery and were sustained throughout the 5-year long-term follow-up.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods

BACKGROUNDThe safety and efficiency of transurethral laser resection of the prostate to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia have been verified. However, this method does still not manage large volume prostates efficiently. To tackle this problem, we have designed a method of "transurethral dividing vaporesection of prostate" using a 2 micron continuous wave laser. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of this method in the management of large prostates (> 80 ml).

METHODSIn this study, 45 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia with a median prostatic volume of (123.7 ± 26.7) ml (range, 80.2-159.8 ml) were treated by the same surgeon under epidural anesthesia. During the surgery, superapubic catheters were needed, and saline solution was used for irrigation. First, the prostate was divided longitudinally into several parts from the bladder neck to the prostatic apex, and then gradually incised transversely chip by chip. Intraoperative blood transfusion rate, postoperative complications, maximum urinary flow rate, International Prostate Symptom Score and quality of life scores were recorded for statistical analysis using SPSS 16.0 software.

RESULTSIntraoperatively, no transurethral resection syndrome was observed, and no blood transfusions were needed. The resected prostatic chips were easily flushed out of the bladder through the resectoscope sheath without the use of a morcellator. Median vaporesection time was (95.0 ± 13.2) minutes (range, 75-120 minutes), and the median retrieved and removed prostatic tissue were (25.2 ± 5.1) g (range, 15.5-34.7 g) and (75.4 ± 16.4) g (range, 43.8-106.1 g), respectively. Median catheter time and hospital stay were (3.3 ± 0.9) days (range, 3-5 days) and (4.8 ± 1.8) days (range, 3-9 days), respectively. After a follow-up of 6 to 12 months, two patients had stress urinary incontinence and three had anterior urethral strictures. Satisfactory improvement was seen in maximum urinary flow rate, International Prostate Symptom Score and quality of life scores.

CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that 2 micron laser vaporesection is a safe treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with large prostates, and the method of "dividing vaporesection" may help improve both surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

To increase the in vivo half-life of human CNTF mutein AX15 (R13K), HSA-AX15 (R13K) fusion protein was constructed by the fusion of the C-terminus of HSA to the N-terminus of AX15 (R13K) via an 11 amino acids linker. HSA-AX15 (R13K) fusion protein was purified to homogeneity by cation exchange chromatography, reverse phase chromatography and gel filtration after expressed in pichia pastoris. TF-1 cell survival bioassay showed the biological activity of AX15 (R13K) was not affected by the fusion to HSA. It was demonstrated that tertian injection of 4.8 mg/kg HSA-AX15 (R13K) fusion protein could produce more potent anti-obesity effects on KM mice than daily injection of 1.6 mg/kg AX15 (R13K). The long-acting form of hCNTF variant has the potential to reduce discomfort by requiring fewer injections and to minimize the side-effects by decreasing the dosage and fluctuation of plasma concentration, and thus has superior clinical application.
Animals ; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Mice ; Mutant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Serum Albumin ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo observe the vaporesection efficiency of the 2 micron laser to the prostatic gland in benign prostatic hyperplasia, and investigate the method of estimating the amount of the vaporesected prostatic tissues during transurethral vaporesection of the prostate using the 2 micron laser system in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSTotal 9 fresh prostatic gland specimens were obtained from patients with BPH under open surgical procedures, and vaporesected under a simulated transurethral environment with the 2 micron laser system immediately after weighted. Energies and time consumptions were noted, collections of vaporesected tissue specimens and the remnants of the prostatic glands were weighted after the procedures. The ratios of the vaporized tissues and the collected tissues to the whole vaporesected tissues were calculated respectively. The vaporesection efficiency of the 2 micron laser to the prostatic tissues was also calculated.

RESULTSAmong the total lost tissues, about (65.6 +/- 1.5) percent of which were that of vaporized, and nearly (34.5 +/- 1.5) percent were resected. Linear correlation between the weight of collected prostatic tissue(x) and the weight of prostatic gland specimens(y) could be defined as a formula of [y = 3.245x - 6.475 (t = 15.097, P = 0.000)].

CONCLUSIONThe amounts of the whole prostatic tissues removed by the 2 micron laser could be calculated from the collected resected prostatic specimens under a simulated transurethral surgical procedure.

Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lasers ; Male ; Prostate ; surgery ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods

OBJECTIVETo summarize the change of bladder tumor cells in irrigating solution after partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to December 2008, a total of 30 patients of bladder cancer, the diameters of tumors from 0.5 to 3.0 cm. The diameter being regarded as the standard, patients were divided into two groups, 10 cases in group A (diameter < 2.0 cm) 20 cases in group B (diameter >or= 2.0 cm). The pre-operative pathologic histology diagnoses of all patients by biopsy were bladder urothelial carcinoma. Partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser was given in operation. Due to the patients in group a with smaller tumors, the tumors were washed out of the bladder through the sheath of cystoscope directly. In group B, the larger tumors were cut into blocks by laser in the bladder, and washed out. After removing the tumors and debris, bladder irrigation was performed with about 150 ml solution for 5 times, then irrigating solution was centrifuged and numbered respectively before cellular pathology examination.

RESULTSIn group A, there were no tumor cells but epithelial cells and red blood cells could be seen in 8 cases. In the other 2 cases, a small amount of integrity and shape broken tumor cells could be seen in the No.1 and No.2 piece. There was no tumor cell in No.3, No.4, and No.5 pieces. In group B, tumor cells can be seen in No.1, No.2 and No.3 pieces in 14 cases, but cell density decreased gradually. There was no tumor cell in No.4, No.5 pieces, and tumor cells can be seen in No.1 to No.4 pieces for another 6 cases, and cell density also decreased gradually, there was no tumor cell in No.5 piece.

CONCLUSIONAfter the surgery, 5 times of bladder irrigation in all cases of partial cystectomy by 2 microm continuous wave laser can reduce the remnants of the bladder tumor cells effectively.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery