Coal ; Noise, Occupational ; prevention & control ; Steel

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is one of the most common congenital malformations and the most deadly types of congenital disease.Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary hypoplasia are the most important causes of determining the prognosis of CDH.The prenatal evaluation indicators and management of PH is a difficult point and hot issue of present international study.This article reviewed the new progress of pathogenesis,prenatal evaluation predictor,clinical diagnosis and treatment of CDH complicated with PH.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats, and the correlation between the effect and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-ASC-Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Methods: Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=12), an EA-7 d group (n=12) and an EA-21 d group (n=12). Except the control group, the other three groups received 42 consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection of D-gal to establish aging rat models with cognitive dysfunction. The control group received the same amount of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection. Two EA groups were given EA therapy for 21 consecutive days (began from the 22nd day of modeling) or 7 consecutive days (began from the 36th day of modeling) accordingly at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). After modeling/ intervention, all four groups received behavioral evaluations by Morris water maze (MWM) test, novel object recognition (NOR) test and step-down passive avoidance (SDPA) test followed by the Western blot (WB) detection of the expression levels of hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Results: MWM (place navigation test, PNT) results showed that the escape latency in the model group was significantly longer than that in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among the other three groups on the 1st day of the test (P>0.05). From the 2nd day to the 4th day of the test, there was no significant difference between the EA-21 d group and the control group (P>0.05) in the escape latency; the escape latency was significantly shorter in the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). MWM (spatial probe test, SPT) results showed that the time spent in the target quadrant was significantly shorter and platform crossover number was significantly lower in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05). The time spent in the target quadrant was longer in the EA-7 d group than in the model group (P<0.05), but was shorter than that in the control group and the EA-21 d group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swimming speed among the four groups (P>0.05). NOR results showed that there was no significant difference in the recognition ratio between the EA-7 d group and the EA-21 d group (P>0.05), and the recognition ratio was significantly higher in the two EA groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was lower than in the control group (P<0.05). SDPA results showed that the electric shock number was higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and the differences among the other three groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The model group had the shortest step-down latency, followed by the EA-7 d group, the EA-21 d group and the control group in order (P<0.05). The WB results indicated that the expression level of NLRP3 was significantly lower in the control group and the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). The expression levels of ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among these three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the development of cognitive decline in aging rats; 7 consecutive days of EA intervention can partially improve the cognitive impairment in aging rats though the effect is rather limited; 21 consecutive days of EA intervention may improve the learning and memory abilities in aging rats via downregulating the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins in hippocampus.

Antigens ; analysis ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Quantum Dots ; Semiconductors

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of manual acupuncture for memory loss and sleep quality in chronic insomniacs.Methods:A total of 60 eligible participants were enrolled and randomized into either a treatment group or a control group,with 30 cases in each group.The treatment group was intervened by manual acupuncture whereas the control group was given sham acupuncture.In the two groups,the interventions were offered once every other day and three times a week,for 8 weeks in total.Before and after the treatment,Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and eventrelated potentials (ERPs) were used to assess the patients' sleep quality and memory,respectively.Meanwhile,adverse events were monitored and recorded.Results:After 8-week treatment,both the treatment group and the control group showed a significant decrease in the PSQI global score (P＜0.001,P＜0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P＜0.001).The intra-group comparisons of ERPs indicated that,the latencies of N1 and P3 were shortened and the amplitudes of N1 and P3 were increased in the treatment group after the intervention,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05,P＜0.001);in the control group,there were no significant changes in the latency and amplitude after the treatment (P＞0.05).The between-group comparisons of ERPs showed that the treatment group was more effective than the control group in shortening the latency of P3 (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic insomnia coupled with memory impairment.

Animals ; Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Epimedium ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

ObjectiveTo evaluate biomechanical properties of transoralpharyngeal atlantoaxial reduction plate (TARP) prepared from magnesium alloy and titanium alloy for the atlantoaxial dislocation by using three-dimensional finite element analysis and to exam the feasibility of using magnesium alloy for preparation of TARP system so as to provide a theoretical basis for clinical surgery.MethodsA patient with typical atlantoaxial fracture dislocation was involved in the study,and received thin CT scan with clinically used titanium alloy TARP system for obtaining DICOM image data.Three-dimensional finite element analysis software was imported to simulate magnesium alloy and titanium alloy TARP systems for reduction and fixation.Then,stress changes of the atlas,axis,internal fixators and C2/3 zygapophysial joints were determined with three-dimensional finite element analysis and analyzed statistically.Results ( 1 ) The finite element model of atlantoaxial dislocation reduction and fixation had lifelike outline and good geometric similarity.There were 53 586 nodes and 180 784 units.(2) During the simulation of head in neutral position,the stress concentration region was C2/3 zygapophysial joints followed by the anterior arch,posterior arch and lateral mass of atlas respectively,and C2 vertebral arch again.( 3 )Magnesium alloy and titanium alloy TARP systems showed significant difference in stress distribution (P ＜0.05).Conclusions(1)The atlantoaxial model established according to its structure information on CT can be used for biomechanical experiments.(2) For the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation using the existing titanium TARP system,maintaining the integrity of anterior and posterior arch of atlas and confirming the bone fusion in lateral mass can better keep the stability of the atlantoaxis.After atlantoaxial fusion,the increased stress of the zygapophysial joints of the adjacent segments accelerates structural degeneration,which should be closely followed up.( 3 ) Magnesium alloy TARP system for fixation and reduction shows the fall in peak value of the stress concentration region,and improvement of the uniformity of stress distribution as compared with titanium alloy TARP.

Objective To investigate etiology and clinical features of acute pancreatitis (AP) in young patients. Methods In total, 423 patients with AP admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei province during January 2006 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed, 55 cases aged 34 years or less as young group and another 55 cases aged more than 34 years as middle- and elderly-age group. Their etiology, clinical features and illness scores based on some standard criteria were assessed. Results Proportion of varied etiologies of AP in young group was different from that in middle- and elderly-age one (x2 = 17. 107, P = 0. 009) , mainly as biliary and idiopathic pancreatitis in young group and as biliary and alcoholic pancreatitis in middle- and elderly-age one. Incidence of diet-related and idiopathic pancreatitis were higher in young group than that in middle- and elderly-age one ( x2 =4. 853, P = 0. 028 and x2=4. 274, P = 0. 039 ). Scores of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II ( APACHE II ) , Ranson criteria and the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis ( BISAP) were all lower in young group than those in middle- and elderly-age one (t = 5. 381 , P = 0. 000; t = 4. 388 , P = 0. 000 and t=3. 083, P = 0. 003 ) . There was no statistically significant difference in scores of computed tomography severity index ( CTSI) between young group and middle- and elderly-age one (t = ±0. 750, P > 0. 05 ) . Recurrence rate of AP was lower in young group than that in middle- and elderly-age one ( x2 =4. 251, P = 0. 039). Cholecystitis was more complicated in young group, pregnancy was more complicated in young group (x2 =4. 151 , P =0. 042) , and elevated blood glucose was more complicated in middle- and elderly-age one (x2 = 13. 285 , P = 0. 000 ) . Conclusions Etiology of AP varies in young patients with more dietary factors, occurrence of systemic complications and risks for death are lower in young group than those in middle- and elderly-age one, and there was no statistically significant difference in local complications and severity of illness between the two groups.

Objective To investigate the effect of jejunal infusion of amino acids on secretion of gastrointestinal hormone in healthy dogs.Methods Six healthy adult dogs were treated with jejunal fistulas and femoral vein intubation.Twenty-four hours after the operation,solution of 8 different amino acid monomers (experimental group) or normal saline (control group) were infused into the jejunum of the dogs every 24hours.The levels of cholecystokinin (CCK),motilin,and gastrin in the peripheral plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay at the start of infusion (0 minute),and 30,60,90,and 120 minutes after infusion.Results Compared with the control group,the serum CCK level in the phenylalanine group was significantly higher 30 and 60 minutes after infusion [(1.25 ±0.19) ng/L vs.(0.66 ±0.14) ng/L,(1.23 ±0.12) ng/L vs.(0.80 ± 0.03) ng/L,both P ＜ 0.01],while that in the tryptophan group was significantly higher 30 minutes after infusion [(1.08 ±0.26) ng/L vs.(0.66 ±0.14) rig/L,P ＜0.01].The other measurement results showed no statistically significant differences.Conclusions Jejunal infusion of phenylalanine or tryptophan may stimulate the secretion of gastrointestinal hormone to some extent.Aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine and tryptophan) is more potent in triggering the release of CCK than aliphatic (leucine,isoleucine,and methionine) and charged amino acids (aspartic acid,arginine,and glutamate).The mechanism may be related to the properties of the amino acids.

Objective To share our experiences on integrated services in providing fetal diagnosis and postnatal treatment for congenital diaphragmatic hernia(CDH).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 25 pregnancies diagnosed as CDH by both prenatal ultrasound and MRI in Maternal and Children Hospital of Guangdong Province from January 2012 to January 2014.All of the subjects received integral medical management including prenatal management (prenatal diagnosis and consultation), perinatal management (prenatal care and delivery) and neonatal treatment.Results Among the 25 CDH fetuses, 11 were mild, nine were moderate, and five were severe.One severe case, who was diagnosed at 26 gestational weeks, was aborted on demand of the mother.The other 24 cases continued their pregnancy and all delivered after 35 weeks including 13 cesarean sections (one due to twin pregnancy and 12 due to maternal demand) and 11 vaginal birth.The mean gestational age when CDH was diagnosed was (24.5 ± 3.5) weeks, and the 24 women delivered at an average of (37.5 ± 1.4) gestational weeks.The eleven mild cases accepted mask oxygenation.For those 13 moderate or severe CDH cases, all received dexamethasone to promote fetal lung maturity at 32 gestational weeks, seven were intubated before clamp the cord, and the other six did after.These 13 babies accepted high-frequency oscillation ventilation, with a median duration of 58 hours, and some of them treated with inhaled nitric oxide on requirement with a median duration of 52 hours.Except two cases died before operation, the rest 22 cases underwent neonatal surgery.One moderate case died at 48 hours after surgery due to pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure.Another one severe case withdrew treatment at two months old.The other 20 infants recovered fully.Conclusions Integrated management including prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment, provides an effective and streamlined mode for diagnosis and treatment of CDH.Therefore,it might minimize potential medical risks.