To evaluate the effect of Vitamin E on mitoc bond rial function of cold exposed rats male weaning rats were divided randomly into three groups. The group A was supplemented with 30 mg ?-tocopherol and 15?g sodium selenite per 100gm basal diet. The group B and C were fed basal diet on- ly. The group A and B were kept at the cold room (-2?1℃) and the group C kept at room temperature. Liver mitochondria were isolated for measurement of its respiratory function. Succinate was utilized as substrates of oxidative phosphorylation. Respiration rates of state 3 oxygen uptake and therefore ATP synthesis were found to increase with Vitamin E supplemented diet. Significantly less decline of ADP/O ratios and RCR was observed for group A than that of group B. These results suggest that Vitamin E has the effect of maintaining the physiological intactness of mitochondria of the cold exposed rats, and therefore may enhance the metabolic conservation of energy with the consequence of increasing the ability of cold tolerance of the cold exposed animals.

Objective To investigate clinical features of lower motor neuron lesion (LMNL) caused by the single level lower thoracic disc protrusion (LTDP),and to observe clinical outcomes of surgical treatment.Methods Between January 1997 and December 2009,17 patients with LMNL caused by single level LTDP underwent en bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation in our hospital.MRI and CT scans were taken to confirm lesion levels:T10-11 in 4 patients of whom 3 had patellar clonus and ankle clonus,T11-12 in 5 patients of whom 4 had ankle clonus,and T12L1 in 8 patients who only had positive Babinski sign.The neurologic status was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system.The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior was assessed using the Manual Muscle Test (MMT).Sagittal Cobb angle and cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximal compression in MRI were also observed.Results All patients were followed up for 22 to 76 months (average,48.6 months).The mean JOA score increased from preoperative 5.88±1.11 to 9.53±0.94 at final follow-up (t=16.143,P＜0.05).The muscle strength of the tibialis anterior recovered to more than grade 4 in all patients.Postoperative Cobb angle was unchanged compared with that before operation.MRI indicated that the cross-sectional area of the dural sac at the level of maximum compression increased from preoperative 35.8±7.3 mm2 to postoperative 132.9±6.5 mm2 (t=70.78,P＜0.05).Conclusion LMNL can be caused by LTDP.The eu bloc resection of the superior articular process,Cave-in 360° circumferential decompression and internal fixation can provide a satisfactory decompression effect and marked recovery of neurological function.

Objective To establish an animal model of severe blast lung injury in baby rabbits,and to provide a way to study the char-acteristic and treatment of blast lung injury in minors.Methods Randomly selected sixteen 4-weeks old New Zealand white rabbits,and the blast lung injuries were made by BST-Ⅰ biological shock tube with different drive pressure (4.0 MPa and 4.5 MPa)respectively.Then compared the injury severity of the 4.0 Mpa group and the 4.5 MPa group.Selected forty-eight 4-weeks old New Zealand white rabbits and di-vided them into the control group (8 rabbits)and the blast lung injury group (40 rabbits)Rabbits in the blast lung injury group were injured with 4.5 MPa drive pressure.Observed the vital signs,physiological index,gross anatomy of the lung,pathology,and pulmonary water content at the time of injury immediately (0 hour),2 hours,4 hours,6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,48 hours and 72 hours after the injury.Results Rabbits inthe 4.0 Mpa group and the 4.5 MPa group were all alive.The overpressure of blast wave of the 4.0Mpa group was (328.16 ± 4.78)kPa,rate of severe pulmonary defense was 12.5%,and the AIS score was (3.38 ±0.52)points.In the 4.5 MPa group,the overpressure of blast wave was (395.04 ±11.74)kPa,rate of severe pulmonary defense was 87.5%,and the AIS score was (4.13 ±0.64) points.Rabbits in the control group and the blast lung injury group were all alive.The spirits of rabbits were drooping immediately after inju-ry,and it last about 0.5 hour.Then the breathing and heart rate was accelerated,pulmonary water content was increased significantly,and there were extensive hemorrhage and edema in the lung.Most of the rabbits suffered severe lung injury,and the AIS score was (3.98 ±0.55) points.Lung tissue rupture,hemorrhage,edema,and inflammatory cells infiltration were the main pathological manifestations under light microscopy. Conclusion The model of severe blast lung injury in baby rabbits could be established with BST-Ⅰbiological shock tube and drive pressure of 4.5 MPa.It is relatively simple,easily controllable and highly repeatable,which can be used as a feasible model for the study of blast lung injury.

To study the pharmacokinetic process of Danshensu in cerebal ischemia injury model rats and the correlation with its anti-cerebral ischemia effect. In this study, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established, in which all of the rats were intravenously injected of Danshensu at a single dose of 40 mg x kg(-1). The HPLC-DAD method was applied to determine the plasma concentration of Danshensu at different time points and draw the drug-time curve. Meanwhile, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were determined to draw the time-effect curve. The DAS 3.2. 6 software was used to process the data, analyze their correlation, compare the pharmacokinetic difference between model and normal rats after the administration of the same doses of Danshensu and the changes in pharmacodynamic indicators of model rats after the administration, and evaluate the effect of Danshensu in treating the cerebral ischemia disease. According to the results, the pharmacokinetic processes of Danshensu in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and normal rats were consistent to the two-compartment model. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were: t1/2alpha were (0.267 +/- 0.026), (0.148 +/- 0.020) h;t1/2beta were (1.226 +/- 0.032), (1.182 +/- 0.082) h; AUC0-infinity were (42.168 +/- 4.007), (26.881 +/- 1.625) mg x L(-1) x h. After the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the activity of SOD decreased and the activity of LDH increased. Danshensu could inhibit the decrease in the SOD activity and the increase in the LDH activity within a certain period of time. This indicated that Danshensu could stay longer in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats than in normal rats and eliminated more slowly, which reflected the rationality of Danshensu in the clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia diseases. Danshensu's effect against the cerebral ischemic injury may be related with its level in vivo. Its plasma concentration is positively related to the SOD activity and negatively related to the LDH activity.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

AIM:To investigate the effect of sodium hydrosulfide(NaHS)on cardiac function and activity of renin-angiotensin(Ang)-aldosterone(ALD)system(RAAS)in the rats with chronic heart failure(CHF).METHODS:The CHF rat model was established by abdominal aortic coarctation.SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group(n=6).The left ventricular end-diastolic di-ameter(LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were measured before and after treatment by echocardiography in each group.The levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in the plasma were measured by ELISA.The expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R)at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium tissues was determined by qPCR and Western blot,respectively. RESULTS:After treatment with NaHS,compared with model group and before treatment,LVEDD and LVESD in low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group were decreased significantly, while LVEF was increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with low dose of NaHS group,LVEDD and LVESD were decreased,while LVEF was increased in high dose of NaHS group(P<0.05).Compared with sham operation group,the levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in the plasma of model group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the expression of ACE and AT1R at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium tissues of model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with model group,the plas-ma levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group were significantly decreased (P<0.05),and the myocardial expression of ACE and AT 1R at mRNA and protein levels was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05).The plasma levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD,and the myocardial expression of ACE and AT 1R at mRNA and protein levels in high dose of NaHS group were significantly lower than those in low dose of NaHS group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:NaHS inhibits the activation of RAAS,thus improving the cardiac function of CHF rats,and the effect of high-dose NaHS is better than that of low-dose NaHS.

Objective The left ventricular myocardial strain of acute myocardial infarction on cardiac magnetic resonance cine imaging was measured by feature tracking technique. The relationship between left ventricular myocardial strain and the transmural extent of Myocardial Infarction was evaluated. Methods 74 patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction were included. All theses patients received primary PCI within 12 hours. After 2 to 5 days. ECG gated steady-state free precession sequences were collected. Gadolinium contrast enhanced imaging was performed on short axis. 20 patients repeated same scan after 3 to 5 months. TomTec 2D CPA and Segment software were used to analyze the images. The peak values of the regional myocardial strain indexes. The transmural extent of myocardial infarction of segment in left ventricular was measured. Results There was no significant difference of longitudinal strain in non-infarction,non-transmural infarction and transmural infarction segments at the basal and middle segments. The circumferential strain peak and the radial strain peak of non-transmural infarction segments were lower than those of the non-infarction segments. The circumferential strain of transmural infarction segments were the lowest(basal level:-14.24％±9.05％,P<0.05;middle level:-12.71％±8.92％,P<0.05;apical level:-13.81％±11.13％, P<0.05). GLS was improved while LVDd was increased when compared the acute phase of myocardial infarction to that of 3-5 months after primary PCI. The circumferential strain and longitudinal strain of the non-transmural infarction segments was improved. The circumferential strain and radial strain of the transmural infarction segments 3-5 months later was improved as compared to the acute phase. Conclusions There was differences in myocardial strain in non-infarction,non-transmural infarction and transmural infarction segments from patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who had accepted primary PCI. The circumferential strain and longitudinal strain of the non-transmural infarction segments were improved after 3-5 months. The circumferential strain and radial strain of the transmural infarction segments after 3-5 months was improved as compared to the acute phase. Cardiac Magnetic resonance could combine feature tracking technique with gadolinium contrast delayed enhancement technique,giving both function and tissue characteristic evaluation to the myocardial damages after acute myocardial infarction.

Objective To objectively study the current progress of China Healthcare Improvement Initiative, and its effectiveness and shortcomings for further improvement. Methods Questionnaires were customized by expert consultation and pre-investigation, and distributed by the National Health Commission in April 2018 to the hospitals.Data of 5 469 hospitals were recovered and analyzed with a statistics software for descriptive analysis.Results Implementation progress of the five working systems varied with regions, and rooms of improvement were found in such aspects as outpatient appointment, clinical pathway management and social work system.In 2017, the proportion of outpatient appointments of 5 469 hospitals averaged 19.1%.Progress of the ten major service models also varied, as defects were found in such service models as continuous medical service, intelligent service, and interconnection service.In 2017, only 6.7% of the 5 469 hospitals had put in place hierarchical integrated clinical pathways within their medical alliances.Conclusions Improvement of the medical services calls for not only the efforts of medical institutions themselves, but also top-level design by the local health authorities. In particular, an online information platform should be established for the whole region, to unify the information standards and processes, and corresponding mechanisms and system support are needed.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between chronic tonsillitis and thyroid autoimmunity by detecting thyroid autoantibodies and analyzing the morbidity of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) in patients with recurrent chronic tonsillitis.Methods:122 female patients with chronic tonsillitis (female inflammatory group) and 105 male patients (male inflammatory group) were selected as the research objects.172 female patients (female non-inflammatory group) and 146 male patients (male non-inflammatory group) of the same age and with no chronic tonsillitis were selected as the control group.Retrospective analysis was performed.The differences of the positive rates of thyroid autoantibodies including thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb),thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb),and thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) between the two groups were detected and comparatively analyzed.The morbidity of autoimmune thyroid diseases such as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT),Graves disease (GD) and other autoimmune diseases was further analyzed and comparatively analyzed between the two groups.The difference of abnormal thyroid function between the two groups was compared.Results:The positive rates of TgAb and TPOAb in male and female inflammatory groups (male:14.3％,30.5％;female:30.3％,40.2％) were significantly higher than those of the non-inflammatory group (P＜0.05);the positive rates of TRAb in male and female inflammatory groups (male:2.9 ％;woman:4.1％) were not significantly different from that of the non-inflammatory group.The prevalence of CLT in male and female inflammatory patients (male:16.2％;female,25.4％) was significantly higher than that in the corresponding non-inflammatory group (P＜0.01);the prevalence of GD in the male and female inflammatory patients (male:2.9 ％;female:4.1％) was not significantly different from that in the non-inflammatory group.The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the male and female inflammatory patients (male:21.9 ％;female:27.9 ％) was significantly higher than that in the non-inflammatory group (P＜0.01).The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the female inflammatory group (6.6％) was significantly higher than that in the female non-inflammatory group (P＜0.05).The prevalence of subclinical hyperthyroidism and clinical hyperthyroidism in male and female inflammatory patients and the prevalence of hypothyroidism in the male group were not significantly different from those in the non-inflammatory group.Conclusions:The positive rate of thyroid autoantibodies,the prevalence of CLT and the abnormal rate of thyroid function in patients with chronic tonsillitis are significantly higher.Chronic tonsillitis may be a risk factor for autoimmune thyroid damage.

Sporadic malignant pheochromocytoma, a rare disease with poor prognosis, is always difficult to treat due in part to lack of effective agents. We presented three patients with advanced malignant pheochromocytoma treated by sunitinib, which indicates that sunitinib is an effective agent for this malignancy.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pheochromocytoma ; drug therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDInterleukin-13 (IL-13) has been implicated to be responsible for recruitment of inflammatory cells from the blood to the lung, regulation of matrix metalloproteinase and induction of mucin production and secretion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and investigated its association with common polymorphisms of IL-13 gene in a case-control study.

METHODSWe genotyped 160 cases and 175 control subjects in a local hospital using Mass-Array(TM) Technology Platform then tested the association of four SNPs in IL-13 (rs1295685, rs1800925, rs1881457, rs20541) with COPD, and then determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and controls.

RESULTSAssociation was found between IL-13 gene SNPs (rs20541 and rs1800925) and an increased risk of COPD. By linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, two blocks (rs1881457 and rs1800925; rs20541 and rs1295685) were found. The risk of COPD was found associated with the IL-13 gene polymorphism among southern Chinese Han population. Plasma IL-13 level was increased in COPD patients compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism of the IL-13 gene is associated with an increased risk of COPD in southern Chinese Han population. Plasma IL-13 levels were found elevated in patients with COPD.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-13 ; genetics ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; genetics