BACKGROUNDSleep disturbance is common in patients with emphysema. This study aimed to develop a novel model of sleep-related hypoxemia (SRH) in emphysema (SRHIE) with rats, and to explore the inflammatory status of SRHIE in lung, liver, pancreas, carotid artery and whole blood.

METHODSSeventy-five male Wistar rats were assigned to 5 groups with 15 per group according to the exposure conditions. The protocols varied with the degree of hypoxia exposure and severity of pre-existing emphysema caused by cigarette smoke exposure: (1) SRH control (SRHCtrl) group, sham smoke exposure (smoke exposure, exposed to smoke of 15 cigarettes twice everyday, 16 weeks) and SRH exposure (12.5% O2, 3 hours, SRH exposure, divide total hypoxia time (1.5 hours or 3 hours) into 4 periods evenly (22.5 minutes or 45 minutes) and distribute these hypoxia periods evenly into physiological sleep time of rats identified by electroencephalogram, week 9 to week 16); (2) Emphysema control (ECtrl) group, smoke exposure and sham SRH exposure (21% O2, 3 hours); (3) Short SRH in emphysema (SRHShort) group, smoke exposure and short SRH exposure (12.5% O2, 1.5 hours); (4) Mild SRH in emphysema (SRHMild) group, smoke exposure and mild SRH exposure (15% O2, 3 hours); (5) Standard SRH in emphysema (SRHStand) group, smoke exposure and SRH exposure (12.5% O2, 3 hours). ECtrl, SRHShort, SRHMild and SRHStand groups were groups with emphysematous rats. Two days before the end of exposure, 5 rats in each group were randomly selected for arterial blood gas analysis. In the rest 10 rats in each group, we obtained blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for routine tests. We also obtained tissue blocks of lung, liver, pancreas, and right carotid artery for pathologic scoring and measurements of liver oxidative stress (measuring hepatic oxidative stress enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration).

RESULTSEmphysematous groups had higher mean linear intercept (MLI) and mean alveolar number (MAN) values than SRHCtrl group. MLI values in SRHStand group were the highest (all P < 0.05). O2Sat in SRHStand rats when SRH exposure was (83.45 ± 1.76)%. Histological scores of lung, liver, pancreas and right carotid artery were higher in emphysematous groups than SRHCtrl group, and SRHStand group were the highest (all P < 0.05) (SOD and CAT values were lower and MDA values were higher in groups with emphysema than without and in SRHStand group than in ECtrl group (all P < 0.05)). MDA values were the highest in SRHStand group (all P < 0.05). Total cellular score in BALF and White blood cell (WBC) in whole blood were the highest in SRHStand group (all P < 0.05). Lymphocyte ratios were the highest in SRHStand group both in BALF and blood (all P < 0.05). Red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin in emphysematous groups were higher than that in SRHCtrl group, and SRHStand group were higher than ECtrl group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWith a proper novo model of SRHIE with Wistar rats, we have demonstrated SRH may aggravate the degree of emphysematous changes, polycythemia, oxidative stress and systematic inflammation. SRH and emphysema may have a synergistic action in causing systematic damages, and lymphocyte may be playing a central role in this process. Longer duration and more severe extent of SRHIE exposure also seem to result in more serious systematic damages. The mechanisms of all these concerned processes remain to be studied.

Animals ; Emphysema ; complications ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Inflammation ; etiology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sleep ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo screen the protein interacting with retinoic acid receptor variant protein (RAR alpha-V) via the yeast two-hybrid technique (YTHT) and to find out the targets protein and study its biological function.

METHODSThe bait vector of pGBKT7-RAR alpha-V was constructed for screening proteins interacting with RAR alpha-V in K562 cell cDNA expression library via YTHT. The protein-protein interaction was confirmed with re-transformation in yeast and GST pull-down in vitro.

RESULTSThe bait vector was successfully constructed without toxicity, leakage and self-activation. Sixteen proteins were screened by YTHT and eight positive clones were identified by re-transformation in yeast. The interaction between RAR alpha-V and JTV-1 was confirmed by GST pull-down in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSThere are some kinds of proteins interacting with RAR alpha-V in cell. The biological dysfunction caused by certain protein-protein interaction may be involved in the pathogenesis of leukemia.

Gene Library ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; metabolism ; Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVETo assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter intervention for critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS) and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) in neonates.

METHODFrom June 2006 to September 2011, 27 neonates including CPS in 19 patients and PA/IVS in 8 patients underwent transcatheter intervention. All patients had membranous stenosis or atresia without severe Ebstein's anomaly and severe right ventricle and pulmonary valve hypoplasia, without right ventricle-dependent coronary circulation in PA/IVS. The mean age was (16.8 ± 9.9) d. The mean weight was (3.3 ± 0.5) kg. Two of them were premature neonates, the weight was 2.3 kg and 2.5 kg, respectively. The procedural success, early outcome, complication rates, midterm results and pulmonary regurgitation were retrospectively studied.

RESULTTwenty-six patients were successfully treated with transcatheter intervention. Right ventricular pressure fell from (112.0 ± 21.0) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (50.4 ± 15.9) mm Hg (P < 0.001). The ratio of right ventricular pressure and aortic pressure fell from 1.7 ± 0.1 to 0.7 ± 0.3 (P < 0.001). One patient died early of PA/IVS. Complication occurred in 5 patients. Hemopericardium occurred in 3 patients, tachyarrhythmia in 2 patients. Five patients needed prolonged prostaglandin E(1) infusion for 3 to 14 days because of desaturation after the procedure. No patient needed surgery in neonatal period. At a mean follow-up of (33.5 ± 18.3) months (from 6 months to 5 years), 21 patients had no further transcatheter or surgical intervention. Four patients with CPS had moderate to severe residual pulmonary stenosis after the procedure, 3 of them underwent a second balloon dilation at 3 months of follow-up, the other one was waiting for the second balloon dilation. One patient with PA/IVS was waiting for a bidirectional Glenn procedure because of chronic right ventricular failure. Mild pulmonary regurgitation occurred in 18 patients (69.2%), and moderate pulmonary regurgitation in 8 patients (30.8%).

CONCLUSIONTranscatheter intervention for CPS and PA/IVS in neonates is safe and effective. It can avoid neonatal surgery. Some patients may require repeat balloon valvuloplasty in infant period. In most patients surgical or transcatheter intervention could be avoided and mild pulmonary regurgitation was the common finding in midterm follow-up.

Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Atresia ; surgery ; Pulmonary Valve ; surgery ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSETo evaluate the effect of retention sutures on abdominal pressure and postoperative prognosis in abdominal surgery patients.

METHODSThis prospective cohort study included patients who were admitted to Daping Hospital from May 15, 2014 to October 11, 2014. A total of 57 patients were enrolled, including 18 patients in the "U" type retention suture group, 17 patients in the intermittent retention suture group, and 22 patients in non-retention suture group. The demographic data, clinical data and risk factors for abdominal wound dehiscence were recorded. The bladder pressure (IVP) was monitored preoperatively, intraoperatively, and four days postoperatively. Additionally, the incidence of abdominal wound dehiscence and infection 14 days after the operation was recorded.

RESULTSDuring the operation, the IVP decreased and then increased; it was at its lowest 1 h after the start of the operation (5.3 mmHg ± 3.2 mmHg) and peaked after tension-reducing (8.8 mmHg ± 4.0 mmHg). The IVP values in the "U" type retention suture group and intermittent retention suture group were higher than in the non-retention suture group 4 days after operation (p < 0.005). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores were 3.9 ± 2.2, 3.8 ± 2.0, and 3.0 ± 1.0 in the retention suture group, intermittent retention suture group and non-retention suture group, respectively. The VAS pain scores in the "U" type tension-reducing group and intermittent tension-reducing group were higher than in the non-tension-reducing group (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONAlthough retention sutures may reduce the incidence of postoperative wound dehiscence in abdominal surgery patients, they can increase the IVP and postoperative pain.

"The Expert Group on Tumor Ablation Therapy of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, The Tumor Ablation Committee of Chinese College of Interventionalists, The Society of Tumor Ablation Therapy of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and The Ablation Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology" have organized multidisciplinary experts to formulate the consensus for thermal ablation of pulmonary subsolid nodules or ground-glass nodule (GGN). The expert consensus reviews current literatures and provides clinical practices for thermal ablation of GGN. The main contents include: (1) clinical evaluation of GGN, (2) procedures, indications, contraindications, outcomes evaluation and related complications of thermal ablation for GGN and (3) future development directions.
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