Child ; Crush Syndrome ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Edema ; complications

The purpose of this study is to identify the electrical activity of neuron, the existence of the transition from bursting pattern to spiking pattern and the ion mechanism of the bursting pattern. The intracellular electrical activity patterns of single neurons in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of crayfish were recorded when the extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](o)) or calcium-dependent potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium concentration ([TEA](o)) were changed, using intracellular recording method. These single neurons were also functionally isolated from the ganglion by application of atropine and picrotoxin which could block the inhibitory acetylcholine synapses and glutamatergic synapses respectively. When [Ca(2+)](o) was decreased by increasing EGTA, the membrane potential of the neuron was increased, and the electrical activity patterns were changed from the resting state with lower potential value (resting state of polarization) to the bursting pattern firstly, and then to the spiking pattern, at last to the resting state with higher potential value (resting state of depolarization). When [TEA](o) was increased, the membrane potential of the neuron was increased, and the electrical activity pattern was changed from the resting state with lower potential value (resting state of polarization) to the bursting pattern firstly, and then to the spiking pattern. The duration of the burst of the bursting pattern was increased. When [Ca(2+)](o) was increased or [TEA](o) was decreased, an inverse procedure of the electrical activity pattern was exhibited. On one hand, the results indicate that a single neuron can generate various electrical activity patterns corresponding to different physiological conditions, and the regularity of the transitions between different electrical activity patterns. On the other hand, the results identify that the initiation and termination of the burst in bursting pattern are determined by calcium-activated potassium conductance, which is adjusted by intracellular calcium concentration influenced by inward calcium current. It may be the ionic mechanism of generation of the bursting pattern in a single neuron.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Astacoidea ; physiology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Ganglia, Invertebrate ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the response in THP-1 treated with Rv3671c protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis).

METHODSThe gene encoding Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis was cloned into pET-28a vector and then expressed in Escherichia coli. The Rv3671c was purified with Ni-NTA affinity and ion exchange chromatography. The detection of protein concentration was by Lowry method.THP-1 cell was stimulated with Rv3671c protein and cells were analyzed by Hochest staining under fluorescence microscopy to assay cell death (apoptosis and necrosis). TNF-α and IL-1β were detected by ELISA at each stimulating time.

RESULTSThe Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. The purity of recombinant Rv3671c protein was 95%, and the protein concentration was up to 0.4 mg/ml. The nucleus of THP-1 was isolated and necrosis-like under fluorescence when cells were stimulated by Rv3671c protein. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in supernatant were 19 000 and 16 500 pg/ml respectively, and were significantly higher than control cells with the levels of 2100 and 3800 pg/ml separately.

CONCLUSIONThe necrosis of THP-1 cells could be stimulated by Rv3671c protein of M.tuberculosis and it was probably associated with high cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β levels.

Bacterial Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Hemangioma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Skin Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury on leptin and orexin-A levels in peripheral blood and central secretory tissues, and investigate the roles of leptin and orexin-A in acute inflammatory responses.

METHODSAn intestinal I/R injury rat model was established, and the rats were grouped according to duration of the reperfusion time following a 60-min ischemia. Radioimmunoassay was used to examine the protein levels of leptin in the serum and adipose tissue, and the protein levels of orexin-A in the plasma and hypothalamus. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was also performed to detect the mRNA expressions of adipose leptin and hypothalamus orexin-A.

RESULTSCompared with that before injury, serum leptin level of 60-min ischemia with 30-min reperfusion (I60'R30') group decreased significantly and that of I60'R360' increased significantly. Compared with the sham-operation group (sham) after injury, serum leptin level of I60'R360' group increased significantly, and adipose leptin protein levels of I60'R30' and I60'R90' groups decreased significantly, whereas that of I60'R360' group increased obviously. Compared with sham group after injury, adipose leptin mRNA expressions of I60'R30', I60'R240' and I60'R360' groups all increased significantly, while that of I60'R150' showed significant decrease. No significant changes were noted in the protein levels of orexin-A either in the plasma or hypothalamus after I/R injury. In comparison with sham group after injury, hypothalamus orexin-A mRNA expressions of I60'R30' and I60'R90' groups showed gradual but significant decrease, and till 150 min of reperfusion, the expression reached its lowest, followed then by slow recovery at 240 and 360 min, though still remaining significantly lower than that of sham group.

CONCLUSIONLeptin and orexin-A have a time-dependent response to intestinal I/R injury, but the former appears to exhibit a faster response, and they may play a certain role in the metabolic disorders of acute inflammation.

Animals ; Female ; Inflammation ; blood ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Intestine, Small ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Leptin ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; blood ; genetics ; Orexins ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the synergistical killing effect of docetaxel combined with ABT-737 on human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 by inducing apoptosis and further to determine the mechanism underlying such effect.

METHODSPC-3 cells were treated with various concentrations of docetaxel or (and) ABT-737. Cell viability was determined using MTT assay. Apoptosis was assessed by fluorescence microscopy analysis of cells with condensed and segmented nuclei following staining with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Cellular DNA was stained with propidium iodide and flow cytometric analysis was performed to analyze the cell cycle distribution. Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 protein changes were detected by Western blot. The activity of caspase-3 was measured using a colorimetric assay.

RESULTSDocetaxel (20 nmol/L) combination with ABT-737 (400 nmol/L) for 48 hours, the cell viability was decreased to 19.7% ± 3.2% to compare with 44.2% ± 4.4% (t = 4.45) of docetaxel and 93.2% ± 1.8% of ABT-737 separately and there was a synergistic effect between the two drugs (CI = 0.8). Apoptosis rate of the combination group was higher than other two drugs. Docetaxel increased the cell number arrested in G(2)/M phase compared with control group (P < 0.05), but the combination treatment resulted in a significant arrest in the G(0)/G(1) phase. The combination treatment could significantly reduced the Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression (F = 369.53, 57.89 and 32.77, all P < 0.05) and enhanced the activity of caspase-3 (419.7% ± 15.6%) (F = 207.33, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of ABT-737 with docetaxel can synergistically inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells through inducing apoptosis, which may be associated with cell cycle arrest, down-regulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression and activation of caspase-3.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Biphenyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Male ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein ; metabolism ; Nitrophenols ; pharmacology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Taxoids ; pharmacology ; bcl-X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effect of family support service intervention on improving the rehabilitation of patients with severe mental disorders in community and the mental health status and family burden of family members. Methods Using multi-stage random sampling method, 100 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of severe mental disorders were randomly selected from two communities, and then 100 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of severe mental disorders were randomly matched according to gender, age and diagnosis in other communities into the control group. The control group and intervention group were set up strictly according to the inclusion criteria of patients and their families. Results The average age of the 200 groups was (48.27±12.67) years, and the average age of the family members was (63.61±13.19) years. After intervention, the activity dailyliving scale (ADL) scores of the control group were higher than those of the intervention group at all time points (all P<0.05). After intervention, the social disability screening schedule (SDSS) scores of the control group were higher than those of the intervention group at all time points (all P<0.05). After intervention, there was no significant difference in the morningside rehabilitation status scale (MRSS) score between the intervention group and the control group at all time points (all P>0.05). After intervention, the SCL-90(self-reporting inventory) scores of the mental health of the family members in the control group were higher than those in the intervention group at all times (all P<0.05). After intervention, the family burden scale of diseases (FBS) scores of the control group were higher than those of the intervention group at all time points (all P<0.05). Conclusions The intervention measures did improve the rehabilitation effect of severe mental disorder patients in community and the psychological and family burden of family members. A professional family support service team should be established.

OBJECTIVETo report the results of repair of skin defects in the extremities with arterialized venous flap harvested from the lateral aspect of the dorsum of the foot.

METHODSSix cases of skin and soft tissue defects over the foot and hands were resurfaced by free arterialized venous flaps, including five patients with skin defects of the hands, and one with defects at the dorsum of the foot. The flaps were harvested from the lateral aspect of the dorsum of the foot with the sizes ranging from 2 cm multiply 5.5 cm to 6 cm multiply 11 cm. Two veins at the proximal margin of the flap were retained, one of which was anastomosed to a recipient bed artery to provide arterial inflow and the other was anastomosed to a recipient bed vein for venous outflow.

RESULTSAll flaps demonstrated mild edema and survived completely. Blisters appeared on four flaps. Using this technique, we achieved good functional and cosmetic results in this series.

CONCLUSIONSDorsalis pedis arterialized venous flap with rich vascular communications could enhance peripheral perfusion and decrease congestion of venous flaps, thereby improves reliability and utility for extremity reconstruction.

Humans ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surgical Flaps ; Veins

Both severed legs were replanted in a 41-year-old man. Bilateral tibia and fibula were shortened by 4 cm equally. Tibial fixation was performed with reconstruction plate. Four weeks after the replantation, active and passive exercises were initiated in both of the knee joints. Four months after surgery, the patient was capable of walking independently for 20-30 m without the aid of crutches. After 28 months' follow-up, plantar sensitivity was defined as S3. This patient was satisfactory with the cosmetic and functional results.
Amputation, Traumatic ; surgery ; Fibula ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Replantation ; Tibia

The degloving injuries of the digits and palm remain a persistent challenge. We used an antero- lateral thigh flap to treat an 18-year-old, right-handed male worker with degloving injuries of the index, middle and ring fingers. The flap was designated to wrap the entire circumference of three fingers sustaining degloving injury and to form mitten-hand. The total lengths of the distal phalanxes of three fingers were retained almost complete. The donor defect was covered with split-thickness skin graft. Three months after the first operation, roentgenograms revealed terminal phalanxex resorption in three injured fingers, and the surgical syndactyly between the middle and ring finger was separated at the same time. One month later, the syndactyly between the index and middle fingers was also separated. Good coverage of the soft tissue defects with good function and appearance was achieved. Therefore, we considered that the length of the degloved finger could be preserved using free flap.
Adolescent ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Surgical Flaps