OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in the early phase on the atherosclerosis and the level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1). METHODS: Twenty-eight rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups: Group A, sham operation (n=7); Group B, ovariectomized without estradiol (n=7); Group C, ovariectomized with low-dose estradiol (n=7); and Group D, ovariectomized with high-dose estradiol (n=7). All rabbits were given 1% cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Levels of blood lipid, estradiol, and PAI-1 were measured before the operation and at the end of the 4th and 12th weeks. Twelve weeks later, we took the aortas for pathological analysis and calculated the areas of atherosclerotic plaque. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the estradiol level of Group B was significantly lower than that of Group A, and that of Group D was obviously higher than Group A. There was no significant difference between Group C and A. The concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Group B significantly increased compared with Group A (P<0.01). The levels of TC and LDL-C of Group C and D were significantly lower than those of Group A. Whereas the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in Group B were lower than those of Groups A, C and D (P<0.01). In contrast to Groups A, C and D, the level of PAI-1 was significantly higher in the Group B (P<0.01), without significant differences among Groups A, C and D. The area of atherosclerotic lesion of aorta in Group B was significantly bigger than that of Group A, C and D. The areas of aortic atherosclerotic plaque in Group C and D were obviously smaller than those of Group A (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Transdermal estrogen replacement therapy in the early phase can improve the metabolism of the serum lipids, reduce the level of PAI-1, and probably provide the protective effect on the atheroma formation.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Estradiol ; administration & dosage ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Female ; Ovariectomy ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; blood ; Rabbits ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of immunoglobulin on the neuronal expression of IL-1beta and IL-1ra and the neuronal death at hippocampus in rats with convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazol.

METHODSThe epilepsy model was established by injecting intraperitoneally pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) into Wistar rats. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into three groups, normal control group, PTZ plus intravenous immunoglobulin (PTZ-IVIG); PTZ plus normal saline (PTZ-NS). Neuronal death was assessed by light microscopy with the hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and with in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). IL-1beta and IL-1ra expressions were examined by histochemistry.

RESULTSThe ratio of IL-1beta/IL-1ra at hippocampal CA(1) region in PTZ-IVIG group (0.5 +/- 0.1) was significantly lower than that in PTZ-NS group (1.9 +/- 0.5, t = 12.9, P < 0.05). Apoptotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group, compared to PTZ-NS group (t = 27.1, P < 0.05). The numbers of positive cells were 16.4 +/- 3.3/1000 microm(2) in the former and 41.7 +/- 3.5/1000 microm(2) in the latter. Necrotic cell numbers at the hippocampal CA(1) region were significantly decreased in the PTZ-IVIG group (19.0 +/- 2.6/1000 microm(2)), compared to PTZ-NS group (42.3 +/- 4.9/1000 microm(2), t = 20.9, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONImmunoglobulin could inhibit neuronal death induced by convulsion and its possible mechanism might be the regulation of IL-1 system in neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; pharmacology ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Pentylenetetrazole ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; immunology ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the change of the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) leve in human detrusor muscle(DM)in bladder outlet obstruction(BOO)due to benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and its implication.Methods Fifty-four patients with BPH were divided into two groups:the obstructive DM stability and instability groups;and 15 men with bladder tumor who underwent operation in the same period were enrolled in the control group.The bFGF mRNA level in DM was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the bFGF protein level was measured by immunohistochemical staining method.Results The bFGF-mRNA expression level of bladder smooth muscle cells was significantly lower in the control group than that in the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(all P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions The expression level of bFGF mRNA in bladder DM is elevated in BOO due to BPH,but there is little or no correlation between the increased expression of bFGF mRNA and detrusor muscle instability.

Objective To improve the analysis efficiency and interactive experience of the Military Electronic Health Records System(MEHRS)and to realize quick response of ad-hoc queries and statistics in the MEHRS with big data columnar storage and processing technologies.Methods We carried out requirement analysis and functional design of the ad-hoc queries and statistics subsystem of the MEHRS,proposed a three-tier architecture which included the archive storage layer,statistical pretreatment layer and statistical application layer.After the selection and evaluation of big data processing technologies,CarbonData columnar storage was used to store preprocessed data and executed statistics with Spark SQL on the basis of medical business data modeling and preprocessing.Results Five testing tasks were executed on two million archives in the following two subsystems:one with modeless and non-preprocessed MongoDB storage,the other with modeled and preprocessed CarbonData storage.The latter could finish these tasks within seconds and was dozens of times more efficient than the former statistically.Conclusion This study designs and implements a big data technology proposal that satisfies the quick response of ad-hoc queries and statistics in the MEHRS, providing powerful and flexible technical support for big data statistical analysis.

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family originating from the Mediterranean region. In Vietnam, there are some varieties of artichoke which are extensively cultivated and propagated in highland areas, however, there have been limited detailed scientific publications on the chemical composition and biological activity of artichoke grown in Vietnam. Therefore, this study provides a detailed description of the extraction, isolation, and structural determination of 20 natural secondary metabolites present in harvested artichoke. The antioxidant activity of the extract and the 9 isolated compounds are tested in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and ex vivo malondialdehyde model. Among the selected compounds, 1-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, cynarin, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid, cynaroside, and scolymoside exhibited strong radical scavenging activity with IC50 values ranging from 5.7 to 61.6 µM. In the malondialdehyde assay, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (or cynarin) showed the strongest activity with an IC50 value of 24.7 µM, followed by 1,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid (66.8 µM), and 4,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid (127.3 µM). This outcome contributes to establishing a database on the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of the Vietnamese artichoke.

OBJECTIVETo explore the prognostic factors for very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) patients treated mainly with Chinese Kidney (Shen)-invigorating drugs (CKID) combined with anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) or anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG).

METHODSTwenty-seven VSAA patients were treated with CSID+ALG/ATG therapy in conjunction with cyclosporine A, androgen, hemopoietic growth factor, etc. The relationship of the effectiveness and some factors (age of patients, course of illness, blood and bone marrow figures, etc.) were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the 25 evaluated VSAA patients who had been followed up for over 1 year, 9 patients (36.0%) were basically cured, 5 (20.0%) remitted, 6 (24.0%) were markedly improved, and 5 (20.0%) were treated in vain, with the total effective rate of treatment being 80.0% (20/25). Better clinical therapeutic effects were shown in patients newly diagnosed with VSAA, of male sex (P=0.037), >20 years old (P=0.045), with an illness course [Symbol: see text] month (P=0.048), with peripheral neutrophil count >0.1 × 10(9)/L (P=0.023), and with reticulocyte count >10 × 10(9)/L (P=0.002). Platelet count (P=0.620) and bone marrow lymphocyte percentage (P=0.736) showed no correlation with the therapeutic effectiveness. Multi-factor analysis by the Kaplan-Meier procedure on the factors influencing survival showed that rather longer survival times occurred in patients > 20 years old, with peripheral neutrophil count [Symbol: see text] 0.1 × 10(9)/L, reticulocyte count [Symbol: see text]10 × 10(9)/L, and platelet count > 10 × 10(9)/L (all P=0.0001). Bone marrow lymphocyte percentage and the initiation time of ALG/ATG application (from onset of the illness) showed no significant influence on patients' survival time (P=0.085 and P=0.935, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSCSKD+ALG/ATG therapy for treatment of VSAA could enhance the current clinical therapeutic effects and elevate patients' survival rate. Conditions including male sex, age >20 years, illness course [Symbol: see text]1 month, neutrophil count >0.1 × 10(9)/L, and reticulocyte count >10 × 10(9)/L are the likely effective indices for predicting favorable therapeutic effectiveness in newly diagnosed VSAA patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Animals ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Horses ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Analysis ; Sus scrofa ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Cystic dilatation of the biliary tree, so called choledochal cyst, is an uncommon disease and is not uncommonly associated with carcinoma. The most symptoms on. presentation are abdominal pain, weight loss, jaundice, and palpable mass. The prognosis of these lesions is dismal. Recently we experienced a case of carcinoma arising in a choledochal cyst in 27-year-old male complaining jaundice and fever. ERCP revealed marked dilated the CBD and obstruction of the proximal portion of the CHD. A computerized tomographic scan and percutaneous cholangiogram showed cystic dilatation of both intrahepatic ducts and solid mass in the left hepatic duct. The patient was treated with surgical resection. Pathologic studies disclosed an adenosquamous carcinoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Biliary Tract ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Dilatation ; Fever ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Prognosis ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of camosine on the injury of rat vascular endothelial cells(VECs) induced by hypoxia.

METHODSThe model of the injury of rat VECs induced by hypoxia was established. The effect of camosine on injury of VECs activity induced by hypoxia was determined by MTT assay. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in cell medium were measured with corresponding kit. The cell structure was observed under microscope after Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 staining.

RESULTSAfter culturing VECs with camosine (10 to 20 mmol/L) for 6 hours, the decrease in VECs activity induced by 12 and 24 hour hypoxia was inhibited. The release of LDH was also inhibited, and the integrity of cell structure remained.

CONCLUSIONCamosine has the protective effect on hypoxia injured VECs.

Animals ; Carnosine ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Male ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the better clinical methods for the management of deep facial burn with optimal quality. Methods Fifty-four patients with deep facial burns were enrolled in the study and were divided into delayed skin grafting group (n=48) and early escharectomy group (n=6). In delayed grafting group, after the erosion of new born granulation tissue to the basal layer with blade holder or with peel or eschar shaving method at 3 postburn weeks (PBW) according to the eschar separation and granulation growth status, the whole face of the patients were divided into 10 regions and were then covered by split thickness auto skin. The same treatment was performed on the patients in early escharectomy group at 1 PBW. Physical therapy and plastic surgery were applied after skin grafting, and the patients were followed up from 3 month to 11 years. The first operation time, postburn facial operation time, operation times to repair the whole face, blood content of Hb, the amount of blood transfusion and hemorrhage and the prognosis were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no difference between the two groups in regards to the first operation time, the total operation times,blood concentration of Hb before and after operation,and the amount of blood transfusion during the operation (P > 0.05). The operation time in delayed grafting group (21.9 +/- 3.2) d was obviously later than that in early escharectomy group (12.6 +/- 1.3) d, (P < 0.05). And there was evidently less amount of hemorrhage during operation(98 +/- 52) ml/100 cm2 than that in early escharectomy group (331 +/- 121) ml/100 cm2 (P < 0.01). The facial appearance of the patients in delayed grafting group was plump with more elasticity and richer expression compared with those in early grafting group. There exhibited different degrees of microstomia and both eyebrow defect in both groups during and after 1 postoperative year. In addition, mild to moderate ectropion and hypertrophic scar on the conjunction of grafted skin could appear in 80% of these patients. These deformities might be corrected by several times of plastic surgery.

CONCLUSIONBased on the principle of arranging skin grafts according to the cosmetic and functional area units, split thickness skin grafting can provide satisfactory results for the repair of deep burn injury involving whole face when the wounds were treated with eschar peeling, tangential excision, escharectomy, granulation tissue scaling, or early escharectomy. In comparison with early escharectomy, eschar peeling, tangential excision, escharectomy, or granulation tissue scaling can get better results with less bleeding, full and round facial appearance, more elasticity of grafted skin and richer facial expression appearance after the operation. Meanwhile, effective physical therapy and scheduled plastic surgery after skin grafting can also be very important in achieving cosmetic results in the repair and reconstruction of whole facial deep burn.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Facial Injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Wound Healing

Inherited afibrinogenemia is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disease characterized by complete absence of fibrinogen in blood. To identify the genotype in a Chinese family with inherited afibrinogenemia, the samples of peripheral blood were collected from 6 members of 3 generations. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (Fg, clauss) were tested. Fg was also analyzed by using immunoturbidimetry method. DNAs of six members were extracted by using a DNA extract kit. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the three fibrinogen genes were amplified by using PCR and analyzed by direct sequencing. The results showed that the parents of proband were 3 degree consanguinity. A homozygous c.934_935insA in FGA was found in proband which results in the change of protein p.Ser312fsX42. The parents, grandmother, maternal grandmother and father's sister were all detected with heterozygous mutation which was same as that in proband. In conclusion homozygous c.934_935insA in FGA is a cause of inherited afibrinogenemia and a novel mutation being reported.
Afibrinogenemia ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Exons ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Frameshift Mutation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree