Nitric oxide (NO) is an intra- and intercellular messenger with a broad spectrum of activities in the central nervous system, cardiovascular and immune systems. Mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase(mtNOS), which might be a new form of NOS in mitochondria, has been discovered to be active in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration, energy metabolism and many pathophysiological processes. In this review, the location, properties, physiological and pathophysiological significance of mtNOS were summarized.

A microscopic fluorescence spectrometric analysis ( MFSA) system was set in the laboratory. A novel method for in situ determination of Anthracene ( Ant) adsorbed onto root surface micro-zone of two kinks of mangrove plant, named Kandelia obovata ( K. obovata) and Avicennia marina ( A. marina) by MFSA was established. Fluorescence spectra of Ant adsorbed on root surface micro-zone were obtained by synchronous scanning mode. The signal to noise (S/N) of Ant (5. 3 pg/μm2) adsorbed on K. obovata and A. marina root surface micro-zone increased up to 5. 5 and 6. 8 while wavelength offset (△λ) both were at 60 nm, respectively. The linear dynamic ranges of established method were 5. 3-63. 2 pg/μm2 for K. obovata and 10. 5-52. 6 pg/μm2 for A. marina, with the detection limits of 1. 1 pg/μm2 and 5. 5 pg/μm2 , respectively. The relative standard deviations were both less than 12 . 5% ( n=9 ) , and the recoveries were 98 . 1% -117. 0% and 81. 2%-110. 9%, respectively. The result showed that the MFSA system had ability to obtain quantitative information of fluorescence spectra and fluorescence image of Ant adsorbed onto plant roots surface micro-zone.

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.

Objective To observe the effect of different airway pressure on ventilation, organ perfusion and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) of cardiac arrest (CA) pigs during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to explore the possible beneficial mechanism of positive airway pressure during CPR. Methods Twenty healthy landrace pigs of clean grade were divided into low airway pressure group (LP group, n = 10) and high airway pressure group (HP group, n = 10) with random number table. The model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) was reproduced by electrical stimulation, and mechanical chest compressions and mechanical ventilation (volume-controlled mode, tidal volume 7 mL/kg, frequency 10 times/min) were performed after 8 minutes of untreated VF. Positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) in LP group and HP group was set to 0 cmH2O and 6 cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa) respectively. Up to three times of 100 J biphasic defibrillation was delivered after 10 minutes of CPR. The ROSC of animals were observed, and the respiratory parameters, arterial and venous blood gas and hemodynamic parameters were recorded at baseline, 5 minutes and 10 minutes of CPR. Results The number of animals with ROSC in the HP group was significantly more than that in the LP group (8 vs. 3, P < 0.05). Intrathoracic pressure during chest compression relaxation was negative in the HP group, and its absolute value was significantly lower than that in LP group at the same time [intrathoracic negative pressure peak (cmH2O): -4.7±2.2 vs. -10.8±3.5 at 5 minutes, -3.9±2.8 vs. -6.5±3.4 at 10 minutes], however, there was significantly difference only at 5 minutes of CPR (P < 0.01). Intrathoracic pressure variation during CPR period in the HP group were significantly higher than those in the LP group (cmH2O: 22.5±7.9 vs. 14.2±4.4 at 5 minutes, 23.1±6.4 vs. 12.9±5.1 at 10 minutes, both P < 0.01). Compared to the LP group, arterial partial pressure of oxygen [PaO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 81.5±10.7 vs. 68.0±12.1], venous oxygen saturation (SvO2: 0.493±0.109 vs. 0.394±0.061) at 5 minutes of CPR, and PaO2 (mmHg: 77.5±13.4 vs. 63.3±10.5), arterial pH (7.28±0.09 vs 7.23±0.11), SvO2 (0.458±0.096 vs. 0.352±0.078), aortic blood pressure [AoP (mmHg): 39.7±9.5 vs. 34.0±6.9], coronary perfusion pressure [CPP (mmHg): 25.2±9.6 vs. 19.0±7.6], and carotid artery flow (mL/min:44±16 vs. 37±14) at 10 minutes of CPR in the HP group were significantly higher (all P < 0.05). Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in the HP group was significantly lower than that in the LP group at 10 minutes of CPR (mmHg: 60.1±9.7 vs. 67.8±8.6, P < 0.05). Conclusions Compared to low airway pressure, a certain degree of positive airway pressure can still maintain the negative intrathoracic pressure during relaxation of chest compressions of CPR, while increase the degree of intrathoracic pressure variation. Positive airway pressure can improve oxygenation and hemodynamics during CPR, and is helpful to ROSC.

Objective To compare the efficacy of high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with acute-moderate type Ⅱ respiratory failure,and to explore the feasibility of HFNC in the treatment of COPD with respiratory failure.Methods Patients diagnosed with COPD with acute moderate type Ⅱ respiratory failure (Arterial blood gas pH 7.25-7.35,PaCO2＞ 50 mmHg) admitted to the ICUs from April 2017 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients who were treated with HFNC within the first 4 hours after the admission to the ICUs,and continued for more than 2 hours and for at least 4 hours within the first 24 hours were included in the HFNC group.Those treated with NIV in the same conditions were included in the NIV group.The end point was the failure rates of treatment (changing to respiratory support method in another group or invasive ventilation) and 28-day mortality.Results Eighty-two patients (39 in the HFNC group and 43 in the NIV group) were enrolled.The HFNC group had a treatment failure rate of 28.2％,which was lower than that of the NIV group (39.5％).However,Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups (Log Rank test 1.228,P=0.268).The 28-day mortality rate in HFNC group was 15.4％,which was no different from 14％ in NIV group (Log Rank test 0.049,P=0.824).The number of airway care interventions within the first 24 hours was significantly lower in the HFNC group than in the NIV group [5 (3～8) vs.11 (7～15)],whereas the duration of respiratory support within the first 24 hours was significantly longer in the HFNC group than in the NIV group [16 (9～22) hours vs.8 (4～11) hours] (all P＜0.05).The incidence of nasal facial lesions in the NIV group was 20.9％,significantly higher than that of HFNC group (5.1％,P ＜0.05).Conclusion For COPD with acute moderate type Ⅱ respiratory failure,HFNC has similar therapeutic effects as NIV.HFNC has better therapeutic tolerance and is a new potential respiratory support method for clinical treatment of COPD with respiratory failure.

Purpose: Caspase recruitment domain containing protein 9 (CARD9) has been demonstrated to be a pro-tumor factor in various cancers. However, our previous study found a significant decrease of CARD9 in malignant pleural effusion compared with benign pleural effusion. So we investigated the role of CARD9 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its working mechanism. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of CARD9 in specimens of NSCLC patients. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databasewas also used to analyze the expression of CARD9 in NSCLC and its predicting value for prognosis. Immunofluorescence was used for CARD9 cellular location. Cell growth assay, clonal formation assay, wound healing assay, matrigel invasion assay, and flow cytometry were used to test cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cycle progression of NSCLC cells with CARD9 knockdown or CARD9 overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to identify the interaction between CARD9 and B-cell lymphoma 10 (BCL10). SB203580 was used to inhibit p38 activation. Results: CARD9 was decreased in NSCLC tissues compared with normal tissues; low CARD9 expression was associated with poor survival. CARD9 was expressed both in tumor cells and macrophages. Downregulation of CARD9 in NSCLC cells enhanced the abilities of proliferation, invasion and migration via activated MAPK/p38 signaling, while overexpression of CARD9 presented antitumor effects. BCL10 was identified to interact with CARD9. Conclusion We demonstrate that CARD9 is an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC patients and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion by suppressing MAPK/p38 pathway in NSCLC cells.

Background: Emerging evidences have indicated that the composition of gut microbiota was significantly influenced by central nervous system diseases. The digestion and metabolism disturbances of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) might be strongly associated with ALS; however, this has rarely been evaluated in these populations. This study was to evaluate bacterial and archaeal composition of gut flora and the corresponding metabolism performance of these micro-organisms in fecal samples of patients with ALS. Methods: A comparative study was performed on the intestinal microbiota from eight patients with ALS and eight healthy individuals at Huadong Hospital during November 2017 to April 2018; meanwhile, the metabolite concentrations of human endotoxin, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), NO₂-N/NO₃-N, and γ-aminobutyric acid were also evaluated by spectrophotometry methods. The correlations between intestinal microbiota and metabolite concentration were compared between the two groups using one-way analysis of variance; the relative abundance of beneficial and harmful micro-organisms in fecal samples was also analyzed. Results: In general, the richness and evenness of bacterial and archaeal communities of healthy individuals were healthier than that of patients with ALS. The phylum Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, genus Methanobrevibacter showed an enhancive tendency in patients with ALS, whereas the relative abundance of beneficial micro-organisms (genera Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides) presented a significant decrease tendency in patients with ALS. In addition, the average concentrations of human endotoxin, SCFA, NO₂-N/NO₃-N, and γ-aminobutyric acid in patients with ALS and healthy individuals were 64.2 vs. 65.3 EU/mL, 57.5 vs. 55.3 μg/mL, 5.7 vs. 5.3 ng/mL, and 6.1 vs. 5.4 μmol/L, respectively, indicating that the digestion and metabolism functions of gastrointestinal tract of patients might decline with this disease. Conclusions The relative abundance of beneficial and harmful micro-organisms respectively showed decrease and increase tendency in patients with ALS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphological features of benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) and explore the radiological evidences for the differentiation of SPNs.

METHODSWith SPN Dicom View software, we analyzed and compared images obtained from 23 patients with malignant SPNs and 22 patients with benign SPNs who received CT scanning with or without contrast medium injection.

RESULTSThe enhancement in malignant SPNs group was significantly higher than in the benign SPNs group (P < 0.0001). The irregular enhancement in malignant SPNs group was significantly higher than in the benign SPNs group (P = 0. 0084). The mean range of enhancement was (45.04 +/- 26.76) HU in malignant SPNs group, which was significantly higher than that in the benign SPNs group [(15.70 +/- 17.84) HU, P = 0.033]. The mean peak enhancement value was (136.09 +/- 41.72) HU in malignant SPNs group, which was significantly higher than in benign SPNs group [ (60.60 +/- 60.27) HU, P = 0.007]. The mean enhancement area was (21.69 +/- 21.01)% in malignant SPNs group and (8.61 +/- 10.83)% in benign SPNs group (P = 0.203).

CONCLUSIONThe enhancement range and peak enhancement value as well as the morphologically irregular enhancement of SPNs may provide useful information in the clinical radiological diagnosis of SPNs.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the contribution of white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunar infarcts (LI) to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in an elderly cohort in China. METHODS: Older adults who were initially cognitively normal were examined with MRI at baseline, and followed for 5 years. WMH were classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and LI were classified into a few LI (1 to 3) or many LI (≥4). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination and the Activities of Daily Living scale. RESULTS: Among the 2,626 subjects, 357 developed AD by the end of the 5-year follow-up period. After adjusting for age and other potential confounders, having only WMH, having only LI, and having both WMH and LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with having neither WMH nor LI. Moderate and severe WMH were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with no WMH. Furthermore, patients with many LI had an increased risk of developing AD compared with no LI. CONCLUSIONS: Having moderate or severe WMH and many LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD, with this being particularly striking when both WMH and LI were present.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Aged* ; Alzheimer Disease* ; China* ; Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Strikes, Employee ; Stroke, Lacunar*

Objective To approach the predictive value of continuous monitoring end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2) on the outcome of in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and explored the indicators of termination of resuscitation. Methods A secondary analysis of a multicenter observational study data was conducted. The screening aim was adult non-traumatic in-hospital CPR patients whose PETCO2were recorded within 30 minutes of CPR. Clinical information was reviewed. The mean PETCO2in restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and non-ROSC patients was recorded. The outcome of CPR was continuously assessed by PETCO2≤ 10 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) for 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 minutes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the predictive value of PETCO2≤ 10 mmHg for different duration on the outcome of CPR was evaluated. Results A total of 467 recovery patients, including 419 patients with complete recovery were screened. Patients who were out-of-hospital resuscitation, non-adults, traumatic injury, had no PETCO2value, PETCO2value failed to explained the clinical conditions, or patients had not monitored PETCO2within 30 minutes of resuscitation were excluded, and finally 120 adult patients with non-traumatic in-hospital resuscitation were enrolled in the analysis. The mean PETCO2in 50 patients with ROSC was significantly higher than that of 70 non-ROSC patients [mmHg: 17 (11, 27) vs. 9 (6, 16), P < 0.01]. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of PETCO2during the resuscitation for predicting recovery outcome was 0.712 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.689-0.735]; when the cut-off was 10.5 mmHg, the sensitivity was 57.8%, and the specificity was 78.0%, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 84.6%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 46.9%. The duration of PETCO2≤ 10 mmHg was used for further analysis, which showed that with PETCO2≤10 mmHg in duration, the prediction of the sensitivity of the patients failed to recover decreased from 58.2% to 28.2%, but specificity increased from 39.4% to 100%; PPV increased from 40% to 100%, and NPV decreased from 57.5% to 34.2%. Conclusion For adult non-traumatic in-hospital CPR patients, continuous 10 minutes PETCO2≤10 mmHg may be an indicate of termination of CPR.