OBJECTIVE: To prepare lipid microbubbles as well as to evaluate their characteristics and efficacy. METHODS: Octafluoropropane-containing lipid microbubbles were prepared by high speed shearing method. Orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize the prescription. The resultant microbubbles were characterized, in terms of morphology, concentration, size, distribution and the octafluoropropane content. Moreover, the contrast effect of the microbubbles in New Zealand rabbit's kidney and liver was studied. RESULTS: The average concentration of microbubbles was (2.99±0.19)×109 their average size was (2.46±0.05) μm, and 97% of them were smaller than 7 μm. Octafluoropropane content was (387.81±35.28) μg·mL-1. With the help of the lipid microbubbles, satisfactory ultrasound contrast images of rabbit's kidney and liver were got. CONCLUSION: The microbubbles prepared by high speed shearing method have regular morphology, and their size distribution is small and even. It can be used as an excellent ultrasound contrast agent which can enhance significantly the yield of ultrasound examination and thus allow better imaging. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

AlM:To observe the efficacy of using botulinum toxin A in the treatment of blepharospasm.
METHODS: Totally 113 patients with blepharospasm were managed with a local injection of botulinum toxin A, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated.
RESULTS:Fifty-nine cases ( 52. 2%) had a complete remission of symptoms, 49 patients ( 43. 4%) presented with obvious relieved spasm, 4 cases ( 3. 5%) were partially relieved and the 1 patient ( 0. 9%) remained unchanged. The total effective rate was 99. 1%. The time of beginning effect was 1-14d. The recover time was mostly in 14d. The average of therapeutic effect lasted 1-9mo. Adverse reactions such as mild palpebra dysraphism, palpebra ptosis and local subcutaneous blood stasis were found in 23 patients, and the symptoms disappeared in 2-4wk.
CONCLUSlON:Botulinum toxin A can effectively control medium and severe blepharospasm by injecting a little dose on local muscle.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical results of an interspinous stabilization system (Wallis) in treating lumbar degenerative disease in the short-term.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to June 2010,48 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who were treated with interspinous stabilization system, the data of patients were analyzed retrospectively. In all of the 48 cases, there were 30 males and 18 females with an average age of 54.2 years (ranged, 40 to 68 years). Forty-four cases were with single segment and 4 cases with two segments. Of them, 4 cases were in L3, 4, 40 cases were in L4, 5, 4 cases were in L3, 4 and L4, 5. The radiographic data of patients were analyzed. Clinical effects were evaluated by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score system and low back pain disability questionnaire (Oswestry) and Odom method.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 1 to 2 years with an average of 18 months. According to Odom's criteria, 20 cases obtained excellent results, 24 good, 4 fair. JOA score increased from 12.4 +/- 2.7 preoperatively to 26.1 +/- 2.0 postoperatively (P < 0.01). Oswestry score decreased from 14.1 +/- 2.9 preoperatively to 5.5 +/- 1.8 postoperatively (P < 0.01). The posterior height of intervertebral space and height of nerve root canal increased compared with that of preperative height.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of lumbar degenerative disease with interspinous stabilization system can obtain satisfactory effects in the near future. It can retain dynamic stable of corresponding segments, expand volume of vertebral canal, and is safe and feasible.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

Objective :To explore correlation between serum vitamin D level and cardiac diastolic function in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and normal left ventricular systolic function .Methods :A total of 177 EH patients with normal left ventricular systolic function in our department were divided into vitamin D no deficiency group (≥20ng／ml ,n＝62) and vitamin D deficiency group (＜20ng／ml ,n＝115) ,according to serum vitamin D level .The relationship between serum vitamin D level and cardiac diastolic function was analyzed .Results :(1) Compared with vitamin D no deficiency group , there were significant reductions in blood calcium level [ (2.38 ± 0.12) mmol／L vs.(2.32 ± 0.15) mmol／L] ,mitral early diastolic peak flow velocity [E ,(0.73 ± 0.15) m／s vs.(0.66 ± 0.14) m／s] ,ratio of E to late diastolic peak flow velocity (A) [E／A ,(0.86 ± 0.26) vs.(0.76 ± 0.20)] in vitamin D deficiency group , P＜0.05 or ＜0.01 ;(2) Among the total 177 patients ,serum vitamin D level was significant positively correlated with E and E／A ( r＝0.200 ,0.193 , P＝0.008 , 0.01) ;according to age stratification ,serum vitamin D level was significant positively correlated with E and E／A in ≥60 years patients (r＝0.175 ,0.223 ,P＝0.037 ,0.007) ;according to gender stratification ,serum vitamin D level was signifi‐cant positively correlated with E and E／A in male patients ( r＝0.268 ,0.221 , P＝0.003 ,0.014) ;(3) After correcting age and gender ,Logistic regression analysis indicated that serum vitamin D level was significant positively correlated with E and E／A (β＝3.418 ,1.738 , P＝0.002 ,0.023).Conclusion :Serum vitamin D level is significant positively correlated with cardiac diastolic function in EH patients with normal left ventricular systolic function .

Animals ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; transplantation ; Swine

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the mortality of injuries among children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 in China from 1990 to 2019, and to provide the theoretical basis for the formulation of policies related to injury prevention. METHODS: The mortality data of children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 years in China between 1990 and 2019 were obtained from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, and the change in mortality between 1990 and 2019 was described. Age-period-cohort analysis was utilized to determine the age effect, period effect and cohort effect for road injuries, drowning and self-harm. RESULTS: Injury mortality of Chinese children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 years decreased from 46.22 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 40.88-52.12] per 100 000 to 20.36 (95%UI: 17.58-23.38) per 100 000 between 1990 and 2019. Sub-group analysis revealed a pattern that was basically consistent with the overall trend. From 1990 to 2019, drowning declined from the first leading cause of injury death among children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 years in China to the second while road injuries became the one which caused the most death among them, and self-harm was the third leading cause of injury death. The top three causes of injury death in each subgroup were basically the same as the overall, but the order was different in each subgroup. Age-period-cohort analysis showed that the death risk of road injuries, drowning, and self-harm all decreased with period and cohort. Aside from that, the death risk of road injuries showed a U-shape trend, which decreased at first but increased soon afterwards, with the increase of age, while the death risk of drowning decreased with age and the death risk of self-harm increased with age. CONCLUSION In China, the injuries mortality among children and adolescents aged 5 to 24 years has decreased over the last three decades. However, specific cause-related injury deaths, manifested differently in different sub-groups. Targeted policies and intervention should be proposed to reduce the mortality of children and adolescents in accordance with the characteristics of injuries death in different genders and age groups.
Adolescent ; Asians ; Cause of Death ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Drowning ; Female ; Global Burden of Disease ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Wounds and Injuries

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, the sun-dried mature fruit of Ligustrum lucidum, is cool, plain, sweet, and bitter, which can be used as both food and medicine, with the effects of improving vision, blacking hair, and tonifying liver and kidney. It takes effect slowly. However, little is known about the genetic information of the medicinal plant and it is still a challenge to distinguish Ligustrum species. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was obtained by genome skimming and then compared with that of five other Ligustrum species, which had been reported. This study aims to evaluate the interspecific variation of chloroplast genome within the genus and develop molecular markers for species identification of the genus. The result showed that the chloroplast genome of L. lucidum was 162 162 bp with a circular quadripartite structure of two single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats. The Ligustrum chloroplast genomes were conserved with small interspecific difference. Comparative analysis of six Ligustrum chloroplast genomes revealed three variable regions(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, and ycf1b), and ycf1a and ycf1b can be used as the species-specific DNA barcode for Ligustrum. Phylogeny analysis provided the best resolution of Ligustrum and supported that L. lucidum was sister to L. gracile. This study clarified the genetic diversity of L. lucidum from provenance, which can serve as a reference for further analysis of pharmacological differences and breeding of excellent varieties with stable drug effects.
Fruit ; Genome, Chloroplast ; Ligustrum/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Breeding

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty (SILS-TEP) with self-made port for repairing of inguinal hernia.

METHODSSILS-TEP was performed in 7 inguinal hernia patients (9 sides) with conventional laparoscopic instruments and self-made port, which composed of a wound retractor, surgical gloves and 3 ordinary trocars. The clinical data and follow-up results of 7 cases were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThe self-made port was applied for SILS-TEP uneventfully without the need of additional ports in all 7 patients (9 inguinal hernias). The median operating time was 90. 0 (70-125) min, intraoperative blood loss was 10. 0 (5. 0-20. 0) mL and postoperative hospital stay was 2.0 (2. 0-4. 0) d. The median pain scores of visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 h,12 h, 24 h and 14 d were 3(2~4), 2(1~2), 1(0~2) and 0(0~1), respectively. There were no intraoperative complications reported, and all patients were satisfied with wound healing. No hernia recurrence was observed during the 3-months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONOur initial experiences show that SILS-TEP with self-made port is a safe and feasible surgery, which can simplify the procedure with available equipments and reduce the cost, therefore can be applied in grass-root hospitals.

Hernia, Inguinal ; surgery ; Herniorrhaphy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo compare the safety and efficacy of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with laparoscopic assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) for gastric cancer by meta-analysis.

METHODSThe literature on comparative studies of TLDG and LADG up to June 2014 were extensively retrieved from database PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Biosis Previews. The operation time, blood loss, time to flatus, time to first oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative morbidity, times of analgestic requirement, pain score, and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) on postoperative day 1 and 7 were analyzed. The statistical analysis was performed with RevMan 5.1 software.

RESULTSSeven studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. A total of 1783 Patients were included for meta-analysis, among whom 727 cases underwent TLDG and 1056 underwent LADG. Comparing with LADG, TLDG experienced less blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD)=22.86 ml，95% confidence interval (CI): 12.0-33.72, P<0.01)], less times of analgesic requirement (WMD=0.58, 95% CI: 0.35-0.81, P< 0.01)，less pain score on postoperative day 1 and day 3 (day1: WMD=0.60, 95% CI: 0.20-0.99, P < 0.01; day3: WMD=0.36, 95% CI: 0.24-0.48, P < 0.01), earlier beginning to take diet (WMD=0.66, 95% CI: 0.13-1.19, P=0.01). The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, overall morbidity and anastomosis-related morbidity, and the level of CRP on postoperative day 1 and 7 were similar between two groups (Ps>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTLDG is a safe and feasible procedure with less blood loss, less pain, and quicker recovery than those of LADG.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective: To review the diagnosis of chronic wound biofilms and discuss current treatment approaches. Data sources: Articles included in this review were obtained from the following databases: Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and the Web of Science. We focused on research published before August 2019 with keywords including chronic wound, biofilm, bacterial biofilms, and chronic wound infection. Study selection: Relevant articles were selected by carefully reading the titles and abstracts. Further, different diagnosis and clinical treatment methods for chronic wound biofilm were compared and summarized from the selected published articles. Results: Recent guidelines on medical biofilms stated that approaches such as the use of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy are the most reliable types of diagnostic techniques. Further, therapeutic strategies include debridement, negative pressure wound therapy, ultrasound, antibiotic, silver-containing dressing, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and others. Conclusion This review provides the identification and management of biofilms, and it can be used as a tool by clinicians for a better understanding of biofilms and translating research to develop best clinical practices.