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 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

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.

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.

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

According to the 2010 Chinese pharmacopeia, salt processed and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were pre- pared. HPLC-DAD analysis of the content of the bark and leaf of Eucommiae Cortex showed that the bark of Eucommiae Cortex mainly contained lignans such as pinoresinol glucose and iridoid including genipin, geniposide, geniposidic acid, while the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex consisted of flavonoids such as quercetin and phenolic compound such as chlorogenic acid. The content of pinoresinol diglucoside in the bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 18 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of pinoresinol diglucoside in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex decreased approximately by 30% and 85%, respectively. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in the bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 3 times, 23 times, 28 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in salted Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 25%, 40% and 40%, respectively. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 98%, 70%, 70%, respectively. The content of caffeic acid in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 3 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of caffeic acid was decreased by about 50% in the salted Eucommiae Cortex. While the content of caffeic acid in charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex was decreased approximately 75%; the content of chlorogenic acid in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 1/6 of that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of chlorogenic acid in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex decreased by 40% and 75%, respectively; the content of quercetin in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was only 1/40 of that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of quercetin in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 60% and 50%, respectively.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the clinical and functional outcome of biological reconstruction by using pasteurized autograft and massive allograft after en-bloc resection of primary femoral diaphyseal sarcomas.Methods Retrospectively reviewed 19 consecutive patients with primary femoral diaphyseal sarcomas between Feb.2005 and Dec.2013.There were 11 males and 8 females with the mean age of 18 (2-38) years old.Thirteen patients were diagnosed as osteogenic sarcoma (OS),while five Ewing' s sarcoma (EWS) and one malignant fibrous histocytoma (MFH).All patients were treated with wide local excision,and 9patients were reconstructed by intercalary femur segmental allograft and 10 by pasteurized autograft.The median length of the resected bone was 16.9 (9-24) cm.15 segmental grafts were fixed by using plates including 10 intramedullary free vascularised fibular graft constructs,the other 4 segmental grafts were fixed by intramedullary nails.The average operation time for pasteurized autograft construct was 5.1 hours,while the time for intercalary allograft construct was 4.22 hours.Of 38 host-donor junctions,there are 28 diaphyseal junctions and 10 metaphyseal junctions.Results The average operation time for pausterized autograft construct tended to be longer than intercalary allograft (5.1h Vs 4.22h),although the difference did not reach the significance.Bone union occurred at a median of 10.3 months and 7.25 months at diaphyseal and metaphyseal junction for pasteurized autograft-host construct; 13.8 months at the diapyhseal junction and 11.5 months at the metaphyseal junction for allograft-host construct.Bone healing time of diaphyseal junction and metaphyseal junction between these two constructs were significant difference.Eight of 19patients (42.1％) developed complications:5 bone unnunion/fracture (including 1 subsequently developed local recurrence),1deep infection and 2 local recurrence (including 1 soft tissue recurrence).The mean overall follow-up was 33.5 months (3-107),five patients died of lung metastases,the cumulative patient survival was 76.5％ at 2 years and 61.2％ at 5 years determined by Kaplan-Meier method.All living patients except the MFH patients who received amputation,had a mean MSTS score of 83.7％ (70％-95％).Conclusion Although the reconstructive procedure with pasteurized autograft is more complicated and needs longer operation time than allograft reconstruction,the bone healing time with autograft is significant shorter than allograft.Our observations suggest the pausterized autograft shell with intramedullary free fibular graft is strongly recommeded.