OBJECTIVE: To observe the time-course expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in cerebral cortex after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: The TBI model of mouse was established. The mice were divided in 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d after TBI, sham and control groups. The permeability of the blood brain barrier was evaluated by measuring the extravasation of Evans blue (EB) dye. The expression of ZO-1 in cerebral cortex in the injured area was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The extravasation of EB dye of injured cortex gradually increased from 1 h, peaked at 1-3 d and approximately decreased to normal at 7 d after TBI. Western blotting revealed that the expression of ZO-1 gradually decreased after 1 h, was at the lowest at 1-3 d, and then significantly increased after 7 d but was still lower than that of normal and sham groups. The result of immunohistochemistry showed that ZO-1 had strong expression in vessel of normal cortex, gradually decreased after TBI, and almost disappeared at 3 d after TBI and gradually recovered to normal level later. CONCLUSION The expression of ZO-1 in the injured cortex after TBI initially decreases and then increases. The negative correlation between ZO-1 expression and EB extravasation after TBI could be used as a new indicator for wound age estimation.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/physiopathology* ; Cerebral Cortex/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Permeability ; Tight Junctions/metabolism* ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/metabolism*

Objective To evaluate the effects and safety of closed tracheal suction system(CTSS)versus open tracheal suction system (OTSS) for mechanically ventilated patients.Methods All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CTSS with OTSS for mechanically ventilated patients home and abroad were identified via manual and computer retrieval.All related data were extracted.Meta analysis was conducted using the statistical software RevMan 5.1 on the basis of strict quality evaluation with the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration.Results Fifty-one related papers were found and 12 RCTs involving 1205 patients in CTSS group and 1179 patients in OTSS group were included.The results of meta analysis showed that CTSS was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of mechanical ventilation (WMD =-0.73,95％ CI-1.07--0.40,P＜0.0001),but the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia and microbial colonization,mortality and length of ICU stay exhibited no difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).However,compared with OTSS,CTSS reduced the incidence of arrhythmia (RR =0.23,95％ CI 0.07-0.74,P =0.01) and minimized the disturbance to heart rate (WMD =-1.97,95％ CI-3.03--0.91,P =0.0003),mean arterial pressure (WMD =-2.01,95％ CI-3.02--1.01,P ＜ 0.0001) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) (WMD =-1.00,95％ CI-1.14--0.86,P ＜ 0.000 01).Conclusions Compared with OTSS,CTSS could reduce disturbance to respiratory and circulatory system by sputum suction and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation.However,CTSS has no advantage in prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia or microbial colonization,nor does it shorten the length of ICU stay or improve the outcome of mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective To systematically review the efficacy of dexmedetomidine or midazolam for sedation in critically ill patients. Methods We searched the PubMed, EMBaes, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database,CNKI and VIP for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam for sedation in severe cases. The quality of the studies was evaluated by the method recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.0 software. Results Six RCTs involving 613 patients were included in our Meta-analysis. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the length of ICU stay was significantly shorter in group dexmedetomidine than in group midazolam. There were no significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, incidences of bradycardia, hypotension and delirium and mortality rate between the two groups. Conclusion Dexmedetomidin can shorten the length of ICU stay and is beneficial for the outcome in critically ill patients.

Objective To observe the intervention with electroacupuncture(EA) through regulating protein kinase(MAPK/ERK) pathway for cerebral ischemia rats.Methods SD rats were randomized into pseudo-operation group,model group and EA group.And the three groups were divided into 2-hour,one-day and 3-day subgroups according to the observation time.Focal cerebral ischemia(FCI) rat models were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) with heat-coagulation method.EA group received EA on Baihui(GV20) and Dazhui(GV14),qd,for 2 hours,one day and 3 days respectively.The learning and memory abilities of the rats in Y maze test and their neuroethological score were observed.Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK) after ischemia in CA1 area and CA3 area.Results In the model group,the neuroethological score was markedly increased,time for arriving the safe area in Y maze was prolonged(P

Finite element method (FEM) is an effective mathematical method for stress analysis, and has been gradually applied in the study of biomechanics of human body structures. This paper reviews the construction, development, materials assignment and verification of FEM model of cervical vertebra, and it also states the research results of injury mechanism of whiplash injury and biomechanical response analysis of the cervical vertebra using FEM by researchers at home and abroad.
Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc/physiopathology* ; Male ; Models, Anatomic ; Soft Tissue Injuries/physiopathology* ; Stress, Mechanical ; Whiplash Injuries/physiopathology*

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of an intelligent three-dimensional ultrasound technique (Smart mid-sagittal planes,Smart MSP) in automatically detecting the fetal cranial mid-sagittal view.Methods Two hundred and forty pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were imaged to display the mid-sagittal view of fetal head using the Smart MSP by six doctors divided into three groups according the different experiences.Another two doctors were then invited to score the images acquired and to compare the successful rates of 6 doctors for acquiring fetal cranial mild-sagittal view according to the doctors' experience.Results The overall successful rate of acquiring the mid-sagittal view was 97.08％ (233/240) with the bipartial diameter plane (BPD plane) as the starting plane and 98.33(237/240) with the trans-cerebellum plane as the starting plane by using Smart MSP program.The successful rates in three groups were similar but the consumed times were different(P ＜0.05).The experienced doctors consumed less time than non-experienced doctors.The scores were also different in three groups.The scores of experienced doctors (group B and C) were significantly higher than that of non-experienced doctors (Group A) (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores between experienced doctors (group B and C) (P＞0.05).Conclusions Smart MSP is a novel and feasible method for the automatic visualization of fetal cranial mid-sagittal plane,which may become an effective tool to screen the fetal midline anomalies in future.

Background Research demonstrated that mitochondrial pathway plays a key role in cell apoptosis.Purendan supermicropowder(PRD),a traditional Chinese medicine,may be a potentially effective therapy for neuron apoptosis in diabetic retina.Objective This study was carried out to investigate the effects of PRD on aldose reductase(AR)activity,neuron apoptosis and mitochondrial pathway in retina of diabetic rat.Methods Thirty-six clean male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,diabetes model group,PRD treatment group randomly and 12 rats for each group.The diabetes models were established by intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg/(kg · d)streptozotocin(STZ)for 3 consecutive days,and blood glucose ≥ 16.7 mmol/L was taken as the standard.PRD solution of 1.8 g/(kg · d)was lavaged in 12 models for 3 months.The eyeballs were enucleated for the preparation of retinal tissue homogenate and slice.AR activity in the retina was detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry,and neuron apoptosis in retina was assayed by TUNEL staining.Western blot was used to assess the expressions of bcl-2,bax,cyt-c and caspase-3 protein in the retina.The use of animals followed the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Committee(Version 1988).Results Statistically significant differences were found in AR activity and AI among the normal control group,diabetic group and PRD groups(F=90.115,165.540,P＜0.01),and those of diabetic group were evidently higher than the normal control group and PRD group(P＜0.01,P＜0.01).The positive TUNEL cells mainly located in inner nuclear layer and retinal ganglion cell layer.The expressions of bax,cyt-c,caspase-3,bcl-2 and bcl-2/bax in retina were obviously different among these three groups(F =51.332,41.262,25.888,38.564,47.870,P＜0.01),and the expression of bax,cyt-c and caspase-3 protein in diabetic group evidently elevated in comparison with the normal control group and PRD group(t ＝ 10.32,11.04,6.91,P ＜ 0.01)and the expressions of bcl-2 protein and bcl-2/bax value were significantly lower in diabetic rats than in the normal control rats(t =18.05,12.23,P＜0.01).AR activity by AI of retina,the expressions of bax,cyt-c and caspase-3 proteins in retina were obviously lower in PRD group than in diabetes model rats(P ＜ 0.01),and the expression of bcl-2 protein and bcl-2/bax value were significantly higher in PRD group than in diabetes group(P＜0.01).Conclusions PRD can protect retina against the damage caused by high glucose by suppressing AR activity by downregulating the expressions of bax,cyt-c,caspase-3 proteins,increasing the expressions of bcl-2 protein in retina of diabetic rats and further inhibiting the mitochondrial pathway and reducing cell apoptosis in retina of diabetic rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of transient receptor potential M4 (TRPM4) on autonomous regulation disorder of cerebral blood flow following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats.Methods A total of 120 clean grade male SD rats were selected.They were divided into sham operation,SAH,negative control,and treatment groups according to the random number table.The dead rats were excluded.A SAH model was induced by using the suprasellar cistern injection method with a stereotaxic apparatus.Isotonic saline 0.2 ml was injected into the rats of the sham operation group and negative control group respectively,and autologous tail arterial blood 0.2 ml was injected into the rats of the SAH group and the treatment group respectively.The isotonic saline solution was continuously pumped into lateral ventricle of rats via implantable micro-pump in the sham operation group and the SAH group respectively,and the concentration of 0.03 mol/L of TRPM4 blocking agent was continuously pumped into the lateral ventricles of rats in the control group and the treatment group respectively.The 4 groups of rats received the regional cerebral blood flow and whole cerebral blood flow detection on day 3,5,and 7,respectively.Results One hundred and six (88.3%) of the 120 SD rats survived to the time point of study,data analyses were performed in the 4 groups (with 21 rats in each group) respectively (n=7 in each time point).There were significant differences in cerebral cortex local and whole cerebral blood flow at day 3,5,and 7 in the sham operation,SAH and negative control groups (all P<0.05).Cerebral cortex local cerebral blood flow (141±18,148±24,and 168±19 PU,respectively at day 3,5,and 7) and whole cerebral blood flow (93±5,85±5,and 85±6 ml/[100 g·min],respectively at day 3,5,and 7 in the SAH group) were decreased significantly compared with the sham operation group (cortex local cerebral blood flow:235±17,220±24,and 224±20 PU),whole cerebral blood flow (141±10,147±8,and 143±8 ml/[100 g·min]),all P<0.05).Cerebral cortex local and whole cerebral blood flow (cortical local cerebral blood flow:183±26,173±26,and 187±15 PU,whole brain:114±10,104±9,and 119±5 ml/(100 g·min) in the treatment group were significantly increased compared with the SAH group (all P<0.05).Conclusion TRPM4 has an obvious effect on improving the autonomous regulation disorder of cerebral blood flow after SAH.

AIM:To investigate the effect of neuropeptide Y(NPY) on intracellular free calcium([Ca2+]i) and Ca2+ sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiomyocytes in rats.METHODS:Cardiomyocytes of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were incubated with NPY at concentration of 100 nmol/L for 24 h.Fluorescent indicator Fluo-4 AM was used to detect [Ca2+]i and Fluo-5N AM was used to detect Ca2+ in sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR).Calcium image was recorded by laser scanning confocal microscope.The SR Ca2+ load was estimated by caffeine-induced Ca2+ transient(CCT).RESULTS:24 h after incubation with NPY,compared with control group,the concentration of [Ca2+]i was significantly elevated(P

Objective To explore the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the risk of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).Methods A case control study was designed.Serum 25 (OH)D concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 214 participants,including 53 H SP patients and 161 status-matched healthy controls.Information concerning demographic data,genetic,background,and environmental exposures was collected using questionnaire.The study participants were divided into four groups according to quartile range of 25(OH)D concentration and logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the relation with HSP risk by estimating odds ratios(OR)and 95％confidence intervals(CI).Results The HSP group had a significantly lower concentration of 25(OH)D than the control group (the median in the HSP group was 11.4 ng/mL;controls:15.36 ng/mL,P＜0.05).When the first interval was set as the reference level,the OR (95 ％ CI) of the second,third,and fourth intervals were:0.468(0.341-0.771),0.442(0.302-0.627),0.339 (0.199-0.501).After adjusting the analysis for the presence of pathogenic related confounding fact OR,the OR(95％CI)of the second,third,and fourth intervals were:0.459(0.333-0.741),0.408(0.317-0.611),0.387 (0.221-0.517).The 25 (OH) D level was inversely correlated with the risk of HSP(P＜ 0.05).Conclusion The risk of HSP was decreased with the increase of serum 25 (OH) D concentration,25 (OH) D may be a protection factor in the pathogenesis of HSP.