OBJECTIVETo study the effects of the divided functional recipes of Dahuang Zhechong pill( DHZCP) on atherosclerosis in rabbits.

METHODThe atherosclerotic model was established by the combination of hypercholesterol feeding and immune-injured endothelium in rabbits. Male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into nine groups: normal group, model group, Danshen group (0. 5 g x kg(-1) ), the low-dose(0. 5 g x kg(-1) ) and high-dose( 1.0 g - kg(-1) ) groups of the first divided recipe, the low-dose(0. 75 g x kg-' ) and high-dose(1. 5 g x kg(-1)) groups of the second divided recipe, the low-dose(0. 8 g x kg(-1) ) and high-dose( 1.6 g x kg(-1) ) groups of the third divided recipe. The effects of the divided functional recipes of DHZCP were observed in macropathology, histopathology and ultrastructure. Image analyzing system was used to determine atherosclerotic plaque area, intima thickness(IT) and intima-media thickness(IMT) in rabbit aorta.

RESULTThe divided functional recipes of DHZCP could significantly decreased the deposit of lipid and the atherosclerotic plaque area in aorta intima, relieve the histopathological changes of atherosclerosis, and inhibited the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and collagen to reduce pachynsis of vascular intima. The divided functional recipes of DHZCP also reduced IT, IMT and IT/MT and reversed the contractive vascular remodeling.

CONCLUSIONThe divided functional recipes of DHZCP produce the different anti-atherosclerotic action, among which the first divided functional recipe exhibits more effective action.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cockroaches ; chemistry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microscopy, Electron ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Tunica Intima ; drug effects ; pathology

Most patients with trauma-hemorragic shock, prior to ICU admission, have been resuscitated and stabilized in the emergency room (ER) and/or operation room (OR). Many of them suffer from systemic edema. This extra-vascular fluid is caused by massive infusion of fluid and blood for the maintenance of blood pressure. During the recovery stage, the patients exhibit spontaneous diuresis followed by negative fluid balance. Urine volumes of some patients are more than 10000 ml/d. Do we need to maintain a balance between daily input and output of water at this situation? There are many references in the medical literature and textbooks about fluid resuscitation and the principles in maintaining the balance between input and output of water, but rarely about when and how to restrict it, that is, when and how to permit a negative balance. In this retrospective review, we examined the resuscitation records of 205 patients with systemic edema after trauma-hemorragic shock.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Critical Care ; methods ; Diuresis ; physiology ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Trauma ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Probability ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

OBJECTIVETo sum up our experience in percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in ICU patient with severe brain injury.

METHODSBetween November 2011 and April 2014, PDTs were performed on 32 severe brain injury patients in ICU by a team of physicians and intensivists. The success rate, efficacy, safety, and complications including stomal infection and bleeding, paratracheal insertion, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, tracheal laceration, as well as clinically significant tracheal stenosis were carefully monitored and recorded respectively.

RESULTSThe operations took 4-15 minutes (mean 9.1 minutes ± 4.2 minutes). Totally 4 cases suffered from complications in the operations: 3 cases of stomal bleeding, and 1 case of intratracheal bloody secretion, but none required intervention. Paratracheal insertion, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, tracheal laceration, or clinically significant tracheal stenosis were not found in PDT patients. There was no procedure-related death occurring during or after PDT.

CONCLUSIONOur study demonstrats that PDT is a safe, highly effective, and minimally invasive procedure. The appropriate sedation and airway management perioperatively help to reduce complication rates. PDT should be performed or supervised by a team of physicians with extensive experience in this procedure, and also an intensivist with experience in difficult airway management.

Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Critical Care ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Tracheostomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the management for blunt abdominal trauma victims with probable positive diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) findings.

METHODSData of 76 patients with probable positive DPL findings accepted to ICU in previous 10 years were reviewed. After admission, the patients were evaluated in a settled time according to the protocols of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). Vital signs were continuously monitored and DPL, ultrasound and/or CT scan were repeated when necessary.

RESULTSEighteen (24%) of 76 patients presented positive DPL findings after repeated DPL. Surgical findings confirmed 7 cases of spleen rupture, 3 hepatorrhexis (infra-Glisson capsule), 4 intestinal perforation, 2 gastric perforation, 1 colon perforation and 1 injured mesentery.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with probable positive DPL findings were admitted to ICU with vital signs continuously monitored. Repeated DPL with supplemental ultrasound and/or CT scan can work together to increase the sensitivity and accuracy of the diagnosis, reduce the rate of exploratory laparotomy, ensure patients' safety and provide a reliable basis for therapeutic operations.

Abdominal Injuries ; diagnosis ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Lavage ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo measure the energy expenditure of reading and watching TV for young women.

METHODSAll 30 girls in the college were selected according to questionnaire, medical examination, blood test, liver function and thyroid gland level. Energy expenditure of reading and watching TV was measured respectively by the Cosmid K4b2 portable gas analysis system from Italy. Basic metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured as to analyzing results conveniently.

RESULTSThe energy expenditure in reading was (226.35 +/- 56.07) kJ/h and the heart rate was (69 +/- 5) bmp. For watching TV it was (220.79 +/- 65.69) kJ/h and the heart rate was (68 +/- 5) bmp. BMR was (178.53 +/- 53.51) kJ/h and the heart rate was (62 +/- 6) bmp. RMR was (214.76 +/- 44.56) kJ/h and the heart rate was (65 +/- 6) bpm.

CONCLUSIONSThe energy expenditure in reading should be higher than that of watching TV, however, the difference was not obvious. The expenditure rates might get closer to those of RMR. It might be regarded as an expenditure of very light physical active in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Basal Metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Reading ; Rest ; physiology ; Television

OBJECTIVETo investigate the alternations of thyroid hormone in traumatic patients with severe inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

METHODSFifty traumatic patients with severe SIRS were enrolled and divided into two groups according to whether they presented multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Thyroid hormone measurements were taken, including total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score was calculated according to clinical data. The outcomes of recovery or deterioration were recorded, as well as the length of time from the onset of SIRS to the time thyroid hormones were measured.

RESULTSEuthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) was presented in 45 cases. TT3 level was negatively correlated with APACHE II score (r = -0.330, P<0.05), and TT3/TT4 value was negatively correlated with the duration of SIRS( r = -0.316, P<0.05). TT3, TT4 and FT3 levels in MODS patients were significantly lower than those without MODS (P<0.05). MODS patients got low TT4 or FT4 level more frequently than those without MODS (P<0.05). Compared with the patients in normal TSH group, the patients with decreased TSH had lower T3, T4, recovery rate and higher APACHE II scores, MODS incidence, but there was no difference between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTrauma patients with severe SIRS have high possibility to get ESS, which occurs more frequently and severely in MODS patients. It shows the influences of SIRS on the thyroid axes. With the persistence and aggravation of SIRS, there is a progressive reduction of thyroid hormone.

APACHE ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Euthyroid Sick Syndromes ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; complications ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; complications ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; Wounds and Injuries ; blood ; complications

Myostatin, a member of the TGF-beta family, negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. Mutation of myostatin activity leads to increases muscle growth and carcass lean yield. The bovine myostatin mutation cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and then sub-cloned into the expression vector pET-30a( + ) to form the expression plasmid pET30a (+)-action/ Myostatin. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21. The overexpression product of pET30a (+)-action/ Myostatin was been showed in vitro. Sheep skeletal muscle cell were cultured with the purified myostatin mutation C-terminal peptide. The results of this study suggest that had a powerful activity to stimulate the hyperplasia and proliferation of sheep muscle cells and shows high biochemical activity.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Muscle Development ; genetics ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Myostatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sheep

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of tetrandrine on activity of collagenase derived from human hypertrophic scar for the sake of clarifying the mechanism as tetrandrine acting on scar.

METHODSThe experimental concentration was controlled below that of cell proliferation inhibited, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was adopted to separate collagenase from extracellular matrix, and then activated by trypsin analyzed the activity of collagenase with density scanning apparatus. At the same time quantity of extracellular collagen was measured using improved chloraseptine T oxidizing assay, moreover analyzed correlation between activity of collagenase and quantity of extracellular collagen.

RESULTSIn the concentration below the lever of inhibiting fibroblast proliferation, the total activity of collagenase could be significantly increased by tetrandrine with dosage-dependence associated with quantity of extracellular collagen reduced, which was much greater than that of triamcinolone.

CONCLUSIONIncreasing activity of collagenase on degradation of collagen even in a lower concentration was one of the mechanisms of tetrandrine treating hypertrophic scar.

Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagenases ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo accurately calculate the protein requirements in Chinese young adults using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.

METHODSNine women and ten men received a restricted daily level of protein intake (0.75, 0.82, 0.89, 0.97, and 1.05 g/kg), along with L-[1-13C]-leucine. Subjects' protein requirement was determined by a biphasic linear regression crossover analysis of F13CO2 data. In doing so, a breakpoint at the minimal rate of appearance of 13CO2 expiration specific to each level of dietary protein was identified. This trial was registered with the Chinese clinical trial registry as ChiCTR-ONC-11001407.

RESULTSThe Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) of protein for healthy Chinese young adults were determined to be 0.87 and 0.98 g/(kg•d), respectively, based on the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.

CONCLUSIONThe EAR and RNI of mixed protein are 5% and 16% that are lower than the current proposed EAR and RNI (0.92 and 1.16 g/(kg•d), respectively), as determined by the nitrogen balance method. The respective EAR and RNI recommendations of 0.87 and 0.98 g/(kg•d) of mixed protein are estimated to be reasonable and suitable for Chinese young adults.

Adult ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Breath Tests ; Carbon Dioxide ; analysis ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Requirements ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Young Adult