Objective To investigate the roles of adrenomedullin(ADM) and endothelin-1(ET-1) in left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease(CHD) complicated with congestive heart failure(CHF).Methods Plasma ADM and ET-1 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in heart failure stage and recovery period of 18 infants with left-to-right shunt CHD.Also 20 healthy infants acted as control group were measured.Results Plasma concentrations of ADM and EF-1 were significantly higher in heart failure stage of left-to-right CHD infants than those in their recovery period,and both in their heart failure stage and in their recovery period were higher than that in control group(P

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical efficacy in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to December 2012, 15 patients with cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump were treated with full-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage. Among patients, there were 11 males and 4 females with an average age of 41.5 (ranged from 25 to 62) years old. Ten cases were caused by traffic accident and 5 cases were caused by heavy object, 9 cases on left and 6 cases on right. Six patients with smashed wound were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration in-emergency; 9 patients caused by infection and necrosis were treated with debridement and amputation, combined with vacuum aspiration, and full-thickness skin graft were performed at stage II. The skin defect area of residual limbs ranged from 40 cm x 20 cm to 25 cm x 15 cm.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 3 months to 1 year. Full-thickness skin graft of residual limbs were survived,and obtained satisfactory walking function with prosthetic. Residual skin increased thicken, wearproof without rupture and pain.

CONCLUSIONFull-thickness skin graft combined with vacuum sealing drainage in treating cutaneous deficiency of traumatic shank amputation stump could reserve the length of residual limbs, increase survival rate of skin graft with less scar of survival skin, get good wearability and it is conducive to prosthetic wear. It is a simple and easy treatment method.

Adult ; Amputation Stumps ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; methods ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation

To compare the short-and long-term effect of two minimal invasive surgical therapies including keyhole approach endoscopic surgery(KAES)and stereotactic aspiration plus urokinase(SAU)in treating basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(hICH). The clinical data of 117 hICH patients(63 received KAES and 54 received SAU)were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss during surgery,and drainage time were compared between two groups.The residual hematoma volume,hematoma clearance rate(HCR),Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score were recorded at baseline and in the ultra-early stage,early stage,and sub-early stage after surgery.The 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were assessed and the 6-month modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was rated. Baseline data showed no significant difference between these two groups.Compared with the SAU group,the KAES group had significantly longer operation time,more intraoperative blood loss,and shorter drainage time(all <0.001).In the ultra-early stage after surgery,HCR was significantly higher in the KAES group(<0.001),whereas in the early and sub-early stage,HCR showed no significant differences(all >0.05).In the ultra-early and early stage,the GCS and NIHSS scores showed no significant differences between two groups(all >0.05),whereas in the sub-early stage,the NIHSS score was better in the SAU group(=0.034).The 30-day mortality and incidences of serious adverse events showed no significant difference(all >0.05).The good recovery(mRS≤3)at 6-months follow-up showed no significant difference between the two groups(=0.413). Both KAES and SAU are safe and effective in treating basal ganglia hICH.In the ultra-early stage after surgery,KAES achieves better residual hematoma volume and HCR,and patients undergoing SAU quickly catch up.The short-and long-term effectiveness of SAU is comparable or even superior to KAES.
Basal Ganglia ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVETo study the genotoxicity of components of diesel engine exhausts with ethanol-diesel blending fuel. To provide scientific arguments to find more economical and less polluted fuels.

METHODSAmes test, comet assay and GC-MS technique were used to test the genotoxicity and 16 kinds of PAHs on diesel engine exhausts with different proportions of ethanol (E0, E5, E10, E20).

RESULTSBoth Ames test and comet assay were positive. It shows that diesel engine exhausts can lead to mutation and DNA damage, especially in pure diesel oil. But the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level decreased in exhausts of E5. With the increase of ethanol proportion in diesel oil, the content of 16 kinds of PAHs and DNA damage level increased.

CONCLUSIONCompared with pure diesel oil and high proportion of ethanol fuel, E5 can reduce the genotoxicity and the brake specific exhausts of PAHs.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution ; Carbon Monoxide ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Gasoline ; toxicity ; Mutagenicity Tests ; Particulate Matter ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

Chelating ligand method has been used to synthesize baicalin-metal (Ni2+, Co2+, Cu2+) complexes (BMC). The composition and structure of BMC were characterized by the element analysis, ultraviolet spectrum (UV), infrared spectrum (IR), mass (MS) and thermal gravitational analysis (TGA). MTT was used to analyze the effects of BMC on SMMC-7721 cell proliferation. PI staining method and Annexin-V/FITC double staining method were used to analyze the effects of BMC on the cell cycle and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cell. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of BMC on Bcl-2 gene and Bax mRNA, flow cytometry was used to analyze BMC on the expression of Bcl-2 protein and Bax protein. The antineoplastic activity and mechanism of action of BMC was explored comprehensively. The results showed that three new kinds of BMC (molar ratio of 2 : 1) were successfully prepared, the complexes molecular formula are: Na2Ni(C21H16O11)2 x 10H2O, Na2Co(C21H16O11)2 x 8H2O and Na2Cu(C21H16O11)2 x 8H2O. According to the results of cell cycle and apoptosis detection, BMC stopped cells at G0/G1 phase to S phase and G2/M phase. Gene and protein detection showed that under the given concentration and time, BMC can downregulate the expression of Bcl-2 gene in SMMC-7721 cells, and significantly decrease the expression of Bcl-2 protein, at the same time, with the increase of expression of Bax gene, the Bax protein's expression increased significantly. Which indicates that BMC restrain cell proliferation and cell apoptosis by stopping cell cycle, reducing the expression of Bcl-2 and increasing that of Bax; The anti-tumor activities of three kinds of complexes were: baicalin-copper (BC-Cu) > baicalin-cobalt (BC-Co) > baicalin-nickel (BC-Ni) > baicalin (BC), showing the dose-response relationship.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cobalt ; Copper ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Metals ; Nickel ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

The effects of ginsenosides on the actions of morphine are summarized. It mainly focuses on the antagonistic effects of ginsenosides on morphine-induced changes of animal behaviors, neural system functions and cell signaling transduction.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Morphine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Morphine Dependence ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

The 1.7 kb full-length hemagglutinin (HA) gene fragment of H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus was amplified by RT-PCR and then cloned into the pFastBacHT donor plasmids. The recombinant plasmid pFastBac-H5 was identified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. Following the transposition pFastBac-H5 into the bacmid in DH10Bac E.coli competent cells, the colonies were identified by blue and white selection. The recombinant bacmid (rBacmid-H5) was verified by PCR analysis. Transfection of rBacmid-H5 DNA into sf9 cells using Cellfectin reagent results in the production of recombinant viral stock. Cells were harvested 72h post infection and analyzed by SDS-PAGE, Western-blot, hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition test;the expressed HA protein (rH5)shows hemaggluting activity and can be inhibited by H5N1 virus immunized chicken sera. On the other hand, immunization of chickens with rH5 protein results in high titers of H5N1 virus specific hemagglutation inhibition antibodies, which proved its biological activity.

Microbiology experiment existing independently from microbiology theoretical curriculum is an indispensable compulsory course in contemporary life science. This article presents the principle applied by the National Excellent Microbiology Course teaching group in Nankai University, which is to strengthen the undergraduates’ basic skills of conducting microbiology experiments. With an aim to enhance the core competitiveness of the undergraduates, we have established the three-level experimental contents. A new multilevel teaching pattern focusing on basic skill training as the cornerstone has been applied to enhance the overall competences of the students and to stimulate their innovation abilities. Students’ experimental accomplishment will also be taken into consideration when their experiment results are evaluated, which helps to standardizing their research ethics.

Objective To summarize the management of scrotal gangrene.Methods Totally,14 male patients (mean age,48 years;age range,27-74 years) with scrotal gangrene were treated from August 2003 to June 2005.Among these patients,scrotal gangrene was complicated by perianal and penile gangrene in 2 cases;by perianal,penile and inguinal gangrene in 10 cases;by perianal,penile,inguinal gangrene and abdominal subcutaneous gangrene in 2 cases.Three cases had concomitantly necrosis of the penis;and 5 ca- ses,orchitis.Bacterial cultures were performed in all 14 cases with the positive results.All patients underwent surgical treatment,including PhaseⅠincisions,aggressive debridement,drainage,irrigation,and scrotoplas- ty.After operation they received antibiotic therapy and supporting treatment.Three cases of penile necrosis underwent complete penis amputation and transplanting the urethra before the anus.Five cases of orchitis un- derwent unilateral orchiectomy.Two cases of abdominal gangrene underwent surgical subcutaneous treatment, including incision,aggressive debridement,drainage,and irrigation.Results Twelve cases undergoing scrotoplasty achieved PhaseⅠhealing.Two cases undergoing urethral fistulation recovered well.Ten cases of penile skin gangrene received penile dermatoplasty 1 month later,and then recovered.Two cases who had al- ready had AIDS died 2 or 3 d after operation.Conclusions The management of scrotal gangrene primarily consists of early and aggressive debridement,antibiotic therapy and supporting treatment.The PhaseⅠde- bridement and scrotoplasty as well as drainage are effective for the treatment of scrotal gangrene.

Objective To develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)system to determine transcriptional level of MexAB-OprM multidrug efflux pump gene and to investigate the impact of androgra- pholide on MexAB-OprM gene transcription in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods The fragments of mexB gene of mexAB-oprM operon and 30S rRNA gene rpsL were amplified and cloned into two plas- mids respectively.These plasmids were used as external standards for real-time PCR.Real-time PCR was applied to measure the mRNA transcripition of mexB and rpsL gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in medium with different concentrations of andrographolide.Results The plasmids for standard curve were constructed successfully.The relative mexB mRNA expressions in 50,100,150 and 200?g/mL andrographolide were 0.04?0.03,0.06?0.07,0.09?0.03 and 0.04?0.03 respectively, which were significantly lower than that in the control(0.24?0.04,P0.05).Conclusion Andrographolide can reduce the transcriptional level of MexAB-OprM,which may he one mechanism for its anti-infection effect.