BACKGROUND: Calcium sulfate/poly amino acid compound materials carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs have been proved to have excellent slow release performance based on our preliminary studies on the physical and chemical properties and the release properties of the compound materials.OBJECTIVE: To observe the slow release performance of the calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid) compound material carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs in a rabbit model of spinal tuberculosis.METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were used to make L4-5 spinal tuberculosis models and divided into two groups in a random way following removal of tuberculosis lesions. Calcium sulfate/poly amino acid compound material carrying isoniazide, rifampicin, pyrazinamide or calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid)compound material with no drugs was implanted into the defect in the experimental or control group,respectively. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after implantation, the concentrations of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the defect region, including the bone tissue, adjacent psoas major and inferior vena cava,were measured.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the experimental group, the isoniazid levels in the damaged bone tissue and psoas major were kept in minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 8 weeks after implantation and in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the end of 12 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept in MBC at 2 weeks and in MIC at 8 weeks. The rifampicin levels in the bone tissue and psoas major were kept in MBC at 4 weeks after implantation and in the MIC at 8 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept MIC at 4 weeks.The pyrazinamide levels in the damaged bone tissue and psoas major were kept in MBC at 8 weeks after implantation and in the MIC until 8 weeks after implantation, while its level in the vein was kept MIC at 8 weeks. In the control group,there were no levels of isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the damaged bone tissue, adjacent psoas major and inferior vena cava in comparison with the baseline. These results show that isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide in the defect region can achieve sustained slow release in the rabbit model of spinal tuberculosis after implantation of the calcium sulfate/poly(amino acid) compound material carrying triple anti-tuberculosis drugs. In addition, the local drug concentration and duration in the defect region are better than those in the blood.

Objective Biochemical indicators such as N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide(NT pro-BNP)and high-sensitivity Creactive protein(hsCRP)predict mortality in acute coronary syndrome(ACS).However,little is known about the relationship of these factors with severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with.Methods Three hundred and thirty-one subjects including 246 unstable angina pectoris patients and 85 myocardial infarction patients were recruited and classified into two groups:single-vessel disease group(1-vessel disease,n=93)and multiple-vessel disease group(≥2-vessels disease,n=238)according to selective coronary angiography.Plasma levels of NT pro-BNP and hsCRP were measured and severity of coronary stenosis was determined by Gensini score.Results NT pro-BNP but not hsCRP level was higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in patients with unstable angina pectoris.The patients with multiple-vessel disease had significantly higher NT pro-BNP level but not hsCRP compared with those with single-vessel disease.NT pro-BNP levels increased significantly as left ventricle(LV)function decreased,and only NT proBNP but not hsCRP level was related to Gensini score of severity of coronary stenosis in ACS.Conclusion NT proBNP but not hsCRP level is related to severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients in ACS.

Objective To investegate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the apoptosis related protein FLICE-inhibitory protein(FLIP),Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD)and Caspase-3 in the subatania nigra(SN)of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyd-ropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse models of Parkinson’s disease(PD), and to investigate the role of FADD and FLIP in the pathogenesis of PD and the protective effect of ginsenosides Rg1 on dopaminergic neurons.Methods 45 C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into control group,model group and ginsenoside Rg1 group (n=15).The mice in model group were injected with MPTP by intraperitoneal,the mice in Rg1 group were injected with ginsenoside Rg1 before injecting MPTP,and the mice in control group were injected with normal saline by intraperitoneal. The behavioral changes of the mice in various groups were observed, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting methods were used to observe the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH),FADD,FLIP and Caspase-3 in substantia nigra of the mice.Results Compared with control group,the mice in model group presented with typical symptoms of PD, the TH-positive neurons in the subatania nigra was significantly reduced (P<0.01 ), the number of FADD, FLIP and Caspase-3 positive cells was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the cytoplasm was deeply stained;the protein expression levels of FADD,FLIP and Caspase-3 were significantly increased (P<0.01).Compared with model group,the PD symptoms of the mice in ginsenoside Rg1 group reduced, the number of TH-positive neurons was significantly increased, the number of positive cells of FLIP,FADD and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the cytoplasm was lightly stained;the protein expression levels of FADD, FLIP and Caspase-3 were significantly reduced (P<0.01 ). Nonlinear correlation analysis found that there was a positive relationship between the number of FADD and Caspase-3 positive cells (r=0.791,P<0.05).Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg1 may play a neural protective effect dopaminergic on neurons by modulating the FADD and FLIP expressions in SN of PD model mice.

Plantamajoside is one of the main bioactive compounds in Plantaginis Herba A TLC method was developed identification of plantamajoside in 11 Plantaginis Herba samples using silica gel G as coating substance and a mixture of ethyl acetiate methanol-formic acid-water (18: 3 : 1.5 : 1) as a developing solvent, the established TLC condition displayed a very well separation on the chromatogram of tested Plantaginis Herba samples and the marker compound plantamajoside showed as a distinct light-blue fluorescence spot observed under UV 365 nm. Using the HPLC method, plantamajoside was separated at 30 degrees C on a Promocil C18, (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (17:83) as the mobile phase. The detection wavelength was set at 330 nm and the flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1). The calibration curve of plantamajoside displayed ideal linearity over the range of 0.0499-11.9664 microg (r = 0.9999), and the average recovery of plantamajoside was 100.6% with a RSD of 2.7%. The contents of plantamajoside were in the range of 0.067%-1.80% in Plantaginis Herba The established TLC identification and HPLC were sensitive, reliable and repeatable, which can be applied for the quality evaluation and standard criteria of Plantaginis Herba.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Catechols ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitive effect of exogenous carbon monoxide-releasing molecules 2 (CORM-2) on the activation of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in sepsis.

METHODSRAW264.7 cells were divided into normal control group, LPS group (10 mg/mL LPS, the same concentration below), LPS + inactive CORM-2 (iCORM-2) group, LPS + 50 mmol/L CORM-2 group, and LPS + 100 mmol/L CORM-2 group. TNF-alpha level in the supernatant was determined with ELISA, and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1 and JAK3 were determined with Western blot. Thirty-five male BALB/c mice were divided into normal control group, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, CLP + iCORM-2 (8.0 mg/kg) group and CLP + CORM-2 group (8.0 mg/kg) according to the random number table. Mice in CLP + CORM-2 group were treated the same as mice in CLP group except for administration of CORM-2 after CLP. The plasma levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue were determined with ELISA 24 hours post CLP. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTSCompared with that of normal control group [(1.9 +/- 0.3) pg/mL], the TNF-alpha level [(8.2 +/- 2.7) pg/mL, t = 2.844, P < 0.01] and phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in LPS group increased significantly; while TNF-alpha levels in LPS + 50 mmol/L CORM-2 and LPS + 100 mmol/L CORM-2 groups decreased obviously as compared with that of LPS group [(5.7 +/- 1.4), (3.2 +/- 0.9) pg/mL, with t value respectively 2.104 and 2.363, P values all below 0.05], and it was the same with phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with those of normal control group, plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue significantly increased in CLP group (with t value respectively 2.916 and 2.796, and P values all below 0.05); while plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and the phosphorylation levels of JAK1, JAK3 in liver tissue decreased significantly in CLP + CORM-2 group (with t value respectively 2.115 and 2.398, and P values all below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExogenous CORM-2 can obviously inhibit the phosphorylation of JAKs molecules and then inhibit the activation of JAK/STAT signal pathway in sepsis, and decrease the expression of downstream cytokines to effectively prevent cascade reaction in the inflammatory response after severe infection.

Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Janus Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Janus Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and biomechanical property between unilateral fixator (UF) and Taylor fixator (TF) for treating Gustilo Ⅱ tibiofibula fracture. Methods In this retrospective study ,86 patients with open tibiofibula fracture admitted from January 2012 to August 2015 were divided into an UF group (n= 49) or a TF group (n= 37) according to fixing method ,and their clinical efficacy and biomechanical property were compared. Providing the finite element model was fully proved effective ,the axial stiffness ,bending stiffness and torsional stiffness of UF and TF were tested by this model.Additionally ,the torsional stiffness was measured at every 10° revolving around the model. Results The operation time was shorter in UF group (43.2 ± 11.7) min than in TF group (63.6 ± 9.8) min (P=0.027) ,and blood loss was less in the UF group (32.1 ± 13.8) ml than in TF group (57.6 ± 23.1) ml (P<0.001).All the patients were followed up for 8-31 months (mean:13.8 months). The healing time was shorter in the UF group (4.6 ± 1.7) months thanintheTFgroup(5.7 ±2.1)months(P=0.039).Thecomplicationrateswere4.5％ (9/201)in the UF group ,which was significantly less than that in the TF group (12.0％ ,14/117) (P<0.05) .For biomechanical property ,the axial ,bending and torsional stiffnesses were higher in the UF group [(341.47 N/m ,80 Nm/deg ,and (210-430) N/m ,respectively]than in the TF group[226.83 N/m ,72 Nm/deg ,and (242-287 ) N/m ,respectively ]. Conclusions In the treatment of open tibiofibula fracture ,UF is easier to operate and has better agreement with the biomechanical property and better ability to resist a rotation and a compression ,which is obviously superior to TF.Besides ,UF is better than TF for fracture recovery.

Objective To translate and revise the form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) self-efficacy scale (RASE),and evaluate the revised scale.Methods Totally 101 patients with RA in one hospital were selected for investigation.Through the translation-back to the source scale and the cultural adjustment,the Chinese version of RASE (C-RASE) was formed.Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to acquire the construct validity while the Pearson correlation analysis was used to obtain the test-retest reliability.Results Factor analysis was carried out on 28 items,and the loading was 0.496,0.490,0.482 and 0.493 of item 5,and item 15 on two factors respectively.Exploratory factor analysis was conducted secondarily after deleting items of 5,15,and 17,considering the item contents,and 9 factors were extracted,respectively named for exercise,comprehensive treatment,relaxation,activity,sleep,social relationship,fatigue,cognition and active planning,which could explain 68.36％ of total variation;aud the correlation coefficient between each dimension and total table ranged 0.344 to 0.679 (P＜0.01);The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the C-RASE was 0.751,and the retest reliability was 0.731.After deleting their own items,the Cronbach's alpha value range was 0.730 to 0.756.Conclusion C-RASE has sound reliability and validity and could provides a measurement of the self-efficacy among rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate distribution, drug resistance and risk factors of pathogens isolated from septicemic patients in a hospital in the past 6 years.

METHODSMost of the bacterial isolates were identified with BD Phoenix, and a few isolates were identified manually and with K-B method. Candida isolates were identified with color display plates and K-B method. WHONET5.4 software was used for analysis.

RESULTSThe common bacteria isolated form the blood included E. coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and S. aureu. The gram-negative bacillus from the blood exhibited relatively low resistance to such antibiotics as cefoperazone/sulbactam, imipenem, amikacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ceftazidime, and the incidences of E.coli and K. pneumoniae isolates producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBLs) ranged between 33.3% and 34.9% and between 32.9% and 36.0%, respectively. The gram-positive coccus from blood showed a sensitivity rate of 100.0% to vancomycin and low resistant rates to amikacin and chloramphenicol; the methicillin-resistant rates of S. aureu and coagulase-negative staphylococcus were 26.9%-35.5% and 72.7%-74.3%, respectively. The risk factors of septicemia included hospital stay for over 5 days, venous catheterization, surgeries, puncture, oxygen therapy, urine tract catheterization, and chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONBlood culture can be of importance in patients with septicemia, and the use of antibiotics should be carefully weighed according to the results of bacterial culture and sensitivity tests of the pathogens isolated from the blood.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitive effects of exogenous carbon monoxide-releasing molecules 2 (CORM-2) on expression of tissue factor (TF) in sepsis.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured with trypsin digestion method, which were divided into NC group (with normal treatment), LPS group (with culture of 10 microg/mL LPS), LD group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and DMSO in co-culture), LC1 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 10 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture), LC2 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 50 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture), LC3 group (with 10 microg/mL LPS and 100 micromol/L CORM-2 in co-culture). After culture for 4 hours, TF activity, TF protein expression, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity were examined. Forty-five C57 BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into NC (without treatment, n = 5), CLP (n = 5) and CLP + CORM-2 (with treatment of 8 mg/kg CROM-2 after CLP, n = 5) groups. The serum samples in CLP, CLP + CORM-2 groups were collected at 2, 6, 12 and 24 post operation hour ( POH, 5 mice at each time point) for determination of TF and TFPI levels,which were also examined in NC group.

RESULTSCompared with those of NC group, TF activity increased (P < 0.01) , TF protein expression and NF-KB activity also increased in LPS group. Compared with those of LPS group, above indices were decreased in LC1, LC2, LC3 groups. The serum level of TF in CLP group at 6 POH was higher than that of NC group (80.0 +/- 11.9 pg/mL vs 58.4 +/- 6.9 pg/mL, P < 0.05), peaked at 12 POH, and still higher than that of NC group at 24 POH, while the serum level of TFPI showed no obvious difference in NC and CLP groups. Compared with that of NC group, TFPI levels obviously increased in CLP + CORM-2 group at 6, 12 POH (23.7 +/-3.5 ng/mL, 24.4 +/- 5.0 ng/mL vs 12.4 +/- 2.8 ng/mL, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExogenous CORM can obviously inhibit TF and NF-KB activity,decrease TF protein expression. Meanwhile, it can also decrease serum level of TF, and increase serum level of TFPI, preventing activation of procoagulant system, balancing procoagulant and anticoagulant system in sepsis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Organometallic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThis study is aimed to observe the natural draining state of maxillary sinus, to search for the key draining location (KDL) in the natural ostium, to investigate the relation between maxillary sinus draining and sinus inflammation, and to guide the treatment of maxillary sinus opening in endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

METHODSMethylene blue was used as tracer agent in this study. Fifteen cases with or without light maxillary sinus inflammation (without any treatment) were selected to observe the natural draining state and the key draining location in maxillary sinus fontanel. Eighty-nine cases with chronic rhinosinusitis, but without nasal polyp, were selected, of which the maxillary sinus mucosa restored well 6 months after ESS, to observe the draining state and modes in maxillary sinus. All patients were followed up for 12 months to evaluate the inflammation state of mucosa, and to analyze the relations between the draining mode and mucosa inflammation.

RESULTSThe KDL for maxillary sinus was located in the posterior-inferior portion of the natural ostium, close to the attachment of caudal end of the uncinate process. The draining flowed along it from maxillary sinus to nasopharynx. After conventional transnasal endoscopic operation, 15 cases showed relatively normal drainage, others displayed abnormal state and mode,including reverse draining (maxillary sinus-ethmoid sinus) , multiphase draining (outflow from front, back and lower wall of natural ostium), draining failure (with cilia transporting function of maxillary epithelium mucosae), cistern like change (maxillary sinus and ethmoid sinus formed one operation cavity, secretion accumulated in maxillary sinus) and mucosa disfunction (loss of cilia transporting function of maxillary epithelium mucosae). Inflammation was observed in 33.7% of the patients 12 months after ESS, especially in those with mucosa disfunction, draining failure and reverse draining.

CONCLUSIONSThe KDL for maxillary sinus may be located in the posterior-inferior portion of the natural ostium, close to the attachment of caudal end of the uncinate process, and the drainage mode is not affected by gravity and posture. The KDL lesion after ESS results in abnormal draining of maxillary sinus, and excessively large maxillary sinus opening may aggravate mucosa inflammation of maxillary sinus. The abnormal draining state and mode may be related with the incidence of mucosa inflammation after operation. Preserving caudal end of uncinate process and avoiding injury of KDL would be beneficial to the restoration of mucosa and lessen the incidence of inflammation recurrence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Endoscopy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; pathology ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Young Adult