Objective To explore the relationship of serum levels of β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) with degree of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the traumatic time.Methods Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control and injury group.The rats in injury groups suffered from TBI after free-falling percussion with different pressure (wild-injury,moderate-injury and severe-injury group).Then serum was collected at 0.5 h,2 h,6 h,and 24 h and subject to β-APP detection by ELISA.All data were analyzed statistically with completely randomized design multiple factor repeated measure of variance analysis and least significant difference (LSD) test.Results The serum levels of β-APP were higher after injury.The serum levels of β-APP were significantly higher in moderate-injury or severe-injury group than those in normal group or slight-injury group (P＜0.05).The serum levels of β-APP were higher in severe-injury group than that in moderate-injury group with no statistical difference (P＞0.05).There was no statistical difference in serum β-APP levels between normal control and slight-injury group (P＞0.05).Conclusion The serum level of P-APP is increasingly higher with traumatic brain injury more serious and could be employed as an indicator of TBI degree.It implies that β-APP has the potential as an early diagnosis marker for TBI.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glucagon ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the fulfillment of improved water measures for endemic fluomsis and to find out the trend of prevalence in Qinghai Province in order to provide scientific basis and technical support for the government to formulate control strategies for endemic fluorosis.Methods Usage and management of reforming water facilities in Huzhu County were generally surveyed.Yanya Village,Caijiabu Town,Huzhu County was chosen as the surveillance spot.The household drinking water was surveyed.The dental fluorosis and urine fluoride content of children aged 8-12 years and adult above 16 years were examined.Skeletal fluorosis of adult was checked.The fluomsis content in drinking water and urine was determined with F-ion selective electrode method.The dental fluowsis was examined with Dean index.Skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to eountry standard(GB 16396-1996.WS 192-1999).Results The rate of water-improving was 60%(36/60)in Huzhu County.The mean of fluoride content in drinking water Was 1.25 mg/L The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years was 90.20%(46/51);that of adult was 88.89%(48/54).The dental fluorosis index of children was 1.77,that of adult was 2.95.The prevalence rate of skeletal fluorosis was 98.15% indicated by clinical data,18.87% by X-ray.The ufine fluorosis content of children was 2.27 mg/L,that of adult was 2.00 mg/L.Conclusion The disease condition of endemic fluorosis in Qinshai is serious,defluofidation is slow in effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of timing of nasojejunal feeding tube placement and enteral nutrition on clinical outcomes in children with acute pancreatitis.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 31 children with acute pancreatitis, who received nasojejunal feeding between January 2008 and July 2013, to investigate the relationship of abdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level with the tolerability of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition. The treatment outcome and incidence of adverse reactions and complications were compared between the early enteral nutrition group ( ≤7 days from the onset of the disease) and late enteral nutrition group (>7 days from the onset of the disease).

RESULTSAbdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level were independent of the tolerable rate of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition. Compared with the late enteral nutrition group, the early enteral nutrition group had a shortened time to normal serum amylase level, significantly reduced incidence of systemic complications, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization expenses, and less weight gain. The tolerable rate of catheterization and success rate of enteral nutrition showed no significant difference between the two groups. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the increase in albumin level after enteral nutrition, duration of enteral nutrition, incidence of adverse reactions, and incidence of local complications.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal symptoms/signs and serum amylase level cannot be used as a measure of whether nasojejunal feeding tube placement and enteral nutrition can be performed. Early enteral nutrition can better improve clinical outcomes in children with acute pancreatitis, and it is feasible.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Pancreatitis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of volatile oil of amomum (VOA) on the expressions of mastocarcinoma-related peptide (PS2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) in helicobacter pyloriassociated gastritis (HPG) and to analyze its potential mechanism.

METHODSEighty patients with HPG were randomly assigned to two groups, 42 patients in the treated group treated with 0.5 mL VOA, thrice per day; and the 38 patients in the control group receiving Western tertiary medicinal treatment. Gastroscopic picture and helicobacter pylori (HP) infection (by quick urease and Warthin-Starry stain) of the gastro-membrane, expressions of PS2 and PAF (by immunohistochemical assay and Western blotting) as well as the contents of aminohexose and phospholipid (by Neuhaus method) in the gastric membrane of all patients were detected before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The clinical efficacy in the two groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 88.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). After treatment, in the treated group, gastric membranous contents of aminohexose and phospholipid was increased, expression of PS2 elevated but that of PAF lowered, all showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P<0.01). In the control group, the expressions of PS2 and PAF changed insignificantly. The radical eliminating rate of HP in the treated group and the control group was insignificantly different between them (76.1% vs. 65.8%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of VOA for anti-gastritis might be related with its action in increasing the expression of PS2 and decreasing the expression of PAF, and thus regulating the hydrophobicity of the gastric membrane.

Adult ; Aged ; Amomum ; Blotting, Western ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oils, Volatile ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Peptides ; analysis ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Platelet Activating Factor ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and cytokines production of spleen cells induced in vitro by murine 4-1BBL gene transfected Hepa1-6.

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3.1(+)-m4-1BBL was transfected into murine hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hepa1-6 by Liposomes. Then the transfected cells were selected in medium containing G418 (400 - 800 micro g/ml) and termed as Hepa1-6-m4-1BBL. The TCV-m4-1BBL was obtained by treating them with mitomycin (MMC). Cocultivation TCV with syngeneic murine spleen cells, then the lymphocytes were tested for cytotoxic activity against Hepa1-6-wt cells and the supernatants were harvested for detecting the cytokines (IL-2, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF).

RESULTSHepa1-6-m4-1BBL cells expressed 4-1BBL protein with highest cell surface level. The 4-1BBL mRNA could still be detected in the cells when cultured 48 h after treated with MMC (80 mg/L). Comparing with TCV-Hepa1-6, the tumor cell vaccine derived from Hepa1-6-m4-1BBL (TCV-m4-1BBL) could induce a more efficient cytotoxic activity of syngeneic murine lymphocyte against its parental tumor cell Hepa1-6 (P < 0.05), but not against non-parental tumor cell H22 and NIH3T3. Higher levels of IL-2, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF were released by the splencytes after stimulated by TCV-m4-1BBL.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest the expression of m4-1BBL by tumor cells is effective in inducing antitumor immune responses.

4-1BB Ligand ; Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factors ; genetics ; physiology

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a pivotal role in early atherosclerosis, vascular remodeling and development of atherosclerotic lesion. The potentially functional MMP-9 gene polymorphism may contribute to the susceptibility of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to investigate the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (-1562C>T, R279Q) of the MMP-9 gene in patients with ACS in the Uygur population of China. METHODS: This case-control study was composed of 361 ACS patients and 432 control subjects, who had undergone coronary angiography. Among the ACS patients, 162 (44.9％) had single-vessel disease, 145 (40.2％) had two-vessel disease, and 54 (14.9％) had three-vessel disease. The genotypes of the two selected SNPs were determined by the method of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR). The relationship between the polymorphism of the MMP-9 gene and the severity of coronary arterial stenosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Analysis of the two SNPs showed that the frequency of CT and TT genotypes in patients with ACS was significantly higher than that in the control group (ACS vs. controls; CT+TT:25.5％ vs. 15.8％, P=0.001). And the -1562 gene allele (C/T) was significantly associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS vs. controls; C allele: 85.7％ vs. 91.5％, T allele: 14.3％ vs. 8.5％, P<0.001). But the frequencies of CT+TT and CC genotypes were not statistically different among ACS patients with one, two and three or more significantly diseased vessels (P=0.55). The R279Q polymorphism site with regard to the association with ACS was not significant (P>0.05). The presence of CT or TT genotypes, assuming codominant effect of the T allele, was independently associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease when adjustment was made for age, body mass index, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus [odds ratio=1.737 (95％ confidence interval, 1.337-2.257), P=0.018]. CONCLUSIONS: MMP-9-1562C>T polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to ACS in the Uygur population of China. However, this mutation apparently is not related to the severity of coronary arterial stenosis. Another SNP (R279Q) polymorphism of MMP-9 is not significantly associated with the risk of ACS.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical application of bioprosthetic valve replacement. METHODS: Fifty two patients, aged 13-73(52.4+/-14.0) years, underwent cardiac valve replacement with biovalves from June 2002 to June 2006 in our hospital. Fifty three tissue valve replacements combined with 8 mechanical valve replacements were performed. Other procedures were also carried out if appropriate, including bidirectional Glenn shunt in 1 patient with double outlet of right ventricle and pulmonary artery stenosis; interruption of accessory pathway in 1 patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; coronary artery bypass graft in 5 with severe coronary artery disease; and atrial or ventricular repair in 4 with congenital septum defects. RESULTS: One patient died in hospital due to multiple organ failure. The hospital mortality rate was 1.9%. The mean follow-up was 25 months. Two patients lost follow-up and the follow-up rate was 96%. Forty one patients returned to NYHA class I, 9 to class II, and 1 to class III. Echocardiography showed the implanted bioprosthesis functioned well without stenosis or regurgitation. There was no structural deterioration with freedom from thromboembolism and anticoagulant hemorrhage in all patients. CONCLUSION The efficacy of biovalves in heart valve replacement is satisfactory.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bioprosthesis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tricuspid Valve ; surgery

Objective To find out the arsenic pollution in Yangzonghai lake and its influence to the surrounding drinking water source and the local food and to provide a scientific basis for arsenic pollution control,drinking water and food safety. Methods Arsenic monitoring were carried out in 10 points of Yangzonghai lake,45 water sources within 5 km of Yangzonghai lake, and locally produced food. Results From September 2008 to December 2009, the water arsenic concentrations of Yangzonghai lake ranged 0.06 - 0.18 mg/L, the average arsenic concentrations were 0.12 mg/L and 0.10 mg/L for 2008 and 2009, respectively, the value of 2009 was higher, and the difference was statistically significant(t = 3.284, P ＜ 0.05). There were no significant difference in the average of arsenic concentration of Yangzonghai lake between the dry and rainy season in 2009(t = 0.905, P ＞0.05). The arsenic concentrations from the No. 3 spring water ranged from 0.12 - 30.36 mg/L. After a peak value early in October 2008, the No. 3 spring water showed a downward trend month by month. In 2008 the average arsenic concentration was 23.92 mg/L, 2009 was 2.41 mg/L, down 89.92% over the previous year, the difference was statistically significant(t = 9.582, P ＜ 0.05 ). In January and February 2009, the average arsenic concentration (11.96 mg/L) was significantly higher than those of March-December(0.50 mg/L, t = 57.759, P＜ 0.05). In Yangzong town, the arsenic concentration in the drinking water and river met the national drinking water health standards. Among 78 samples monitored of the locally produced food in Yangzong town, 77 passed, with a pass rate of 98.72%. Conclusions Arsenic contamination has been effectively controlled. The drinking water and local food production has not been contaminated by arsenic except aquatic products in Yangzonghai Lake. It is recommended to take effective measures to prevent water contamination.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of placement of nasojejunal feeding tube and nasojejunal nutrition feeding in children with acute pancreatitis.

METHODTwenty-two patients (of whom 13 had severe acute pancreatitis and 9 acute mild pancreatitis) who needed nutritional intervention were selected. They were from Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery during the years 2009 - 2012, and they were at high nutritional risk after STONGkid nutrition risk screening. The average age of them was 5 - 15 years (9.1 years ± 2.8 years). Assisted by endoscopy, the nasojejunal feeding tube was placed in 22 of 24 patients (in 2 cases of recurrent pancreatitis the tubes were placed again after extubation). Besides the use of regular fasting, antacids, inhibitors of trypsin secretion, and anti-infective treatment, 23 cases of all children got nasojejunal nutrition treatment as well. The outcome measures included the success rate, complications of endoscope-assisted nasojejunal tube placement. The children's tolerance and nutrition indicators (weight, blood lymphocytes count, erythrocytes count, serum albumin, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen) were observed before and after enteral nutrition therapy.

RESULTMalnutrition evaluation was done 24 times before treatment among 22 patients, incidence of malnutrition was 33% in 22 cases. Placement of nasojejunal tube placement was attempted for a total of 24 times and was successful on first placement in 22 cases, in two cases the placement was successful on the second placement, so the success rate of the first attempt for placement was 92%. No significant complications were observed in any of the cases. Twenty-three of 24 cases were given standardized enteral nutrition (one case was not given enteral nutrition therapy but underwent ERCP due to obstructive jaundice). Twenty-two of 23 cases could tolerate enteral nutrition well, only 1 case was unable to tolerate enteral nutrition due to the pancreas schizophrenia, paralytic ileus. The treatment of jejunal feeding success rate was 96%. The feeding duration was 2 - 74 d (27.0 d ± 18.3 d). The adverse reactions include plugging of the tube in two cases, constipation in two cases, five cases had abdominal pain, diarrhea in 2 cases, vomiting in 2 cases and 1 case of jejunum retention. No case had nasopharynx ulcers, gastrointestinal perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding, re-feeding syndrome and infection etc. Blood erythrocytes count, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen were not significantly changed. Twenty of 23 cases were cured, 2 cases were improved and 1 case was unchanged.

CONCLUSIONEndoscope-assisted nasojejunal tube placement for children with acute pancreatitis is safe and feasible. Nasojejunal nutrition therapy is effective for acute pancreatitis patients who are at severe nutritional risk, especially for the improvement of the nutritional status of children.

Abdominal Pain ; etiology ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enteral Nutrition ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Jejunum ; Male ; Malnutrition ; etiology ; therapy ; Pancreatitis ; therapy ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; etiology