OBJECTIVETo explore prospectively the relationship between the state of perimesencephalic cistern and the degree of deformation of the midbrain on CT scanning and the outcome of the patients with acute craniocerebral injury.

METHODSThe CT scan features including the states of perimesencephalic cisterns, the deformations of the midbrain and the ratios of the occipitofrontal diameter and the transverse diameter of the midbrain of 132 cases were measured. The GOS of the patients 3 months after trauma were regarded as outcome.

RESULTSThe rate of unfavorable outcome (dead, vegetative status, severe disability) was significantly correlated with perimesencephalic cistern narrower than 1 mm (P<0.05), especially narrower than 0.5 mm (P<0.005), deformed midbrain (P<0.005) or abnormal ratio (<0.9 or >1.1) of the occipitofrontal diameter and transverse diameter of the midbrain (P<0.01). But the patient's perimesencephalic cistern wider than 1mm and the patients without deformed midbrain got favorable outcome (moderate disability/good recovery).

CONCLUSIONSThe state of the compressed perimesencephalic cistern (<1 mm) and the deformation of the midbrain may significantly indicate unfavorable outcome of the patients with acute craniocerebral injury.

Acute Disease ; Brain Stem ; injuries ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Mesencephalon ; diagnostic imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the risk factors of severe hemolysis during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods The clinical data of adult patients undergoing ECMO after cardiac surgery admitted to Fuwai Hospital from December 2010 to October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, renal function, primary disease, operation data, ECMO related data and outcomes were recorded. Patients were divided into normal free hemoglobin (FHB) group (FHB ≤ 500 mg/L) and severe hemolysis group (FHB > 500 mg/L) according to the FHB level during ECMO support. The parameters before and after ECMO support were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was used to identify the independent risk factors of severe hemolysis. Results A total of 81 patients including 19 patients with severe hemolysis was enrolled, and 62 in normal FHB group. There was no difference in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, clamping time, lactate level before ECMO, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intra-aortic balloon pump use and central catheter insertion between two groups. The maximums of serum creatinine (SCr) and FHB levels were higher in severe hemolysis group as compared with those in normal FHB group [maximal SCr (μmol/L): 281.02±164.11 vs. 196.67±87.31, maximal FHB (mg/L): 600 (600, 700) vs. 200 (100, 300)], the incidence of clots in circuit or oxygenator, infection, and hemofiltration in severe hemolysis group was increased [26.3% (5/19) vs. 4.8% (3/62), 31.6% (6/19) vs. 12.9% (8/62), 36.8% (7/19) vs. 14.5% (9/62), all P < 0.1]. As well as outcomes including the rate of site of surgery or intubation bleeding and acute renal failure [ARF, 57.9 % (11/19) vs. 30.6% (19/62), 94.7% (18/19) vs. 41.9% (26/62)], and the survival rate was lowered [10.5% (2/19) vs. 51.6% (32/62), all P < 0.05]. As result of univariate analysis, clots in circuit or oxygenator, infection and hemofiltration were associated with severe hemolysis. It was showed by logistic regression analysis that the clots in circuit or oxygenator was a risk factor of severe hemolysis during ECMO [odds ratio (OR) = 6.262, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.244-31.515, P = 0.026]. Conclusions The clots in circuit or oxygenator were independent risk factors of severe hemolysis during ECMO. Severe hemolysis can induce the increase of the rate of bleeding in the operation site or intubation and the rate of ARF, and decrease of the survival rate.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of deep hypothermia on the neuronal ultrastructure and nervous system of monkey after selective cerebral profound hypothermia and blood flow occlusion.

METHODSBrain-local extracorporeal circulation was established by right internal carotid artery deep hypothermic perfusion and homolateral external jugular vein backflow, brain blood flow was recovered from circulatory arrest 60 - 80 minutes late and monkey came back naturally.

RESULTSIn all 7 monkeys, 5 were succeeded in being build up the models except for 2 because of technic problems, and 4 of them lived up for ever. The function of nervous system grade, essential organ and neuronal ultrastructure were normal.

CONCLUSIONSelective cerebral profound hypothermia can increase the ability of brain to endure hypovolemia and hypoxidosis and prolong the time of blood flow occlusion.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Haplorhini ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) gene polymorphisms with coronary atherosclerotic disease (CAD) in Chinese Han population.

METHODSA population based case-control association study was carried out in 541 patients with CAD and 649 healthy controls from Chinese Han population. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ABCG1 gene were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Logistic regression was used to compare the genotypic and allelic frequency difference.

RESULTSThe frequency of allele C of rs225374 was significantly higher in the CAD patients than that in the healthy controls (OR=1.186, 95%CI: 1.009-1.394, P=0.039), while the difference was also significant in the male subgroup (OR=1.236, 95%CI: 1.014-1.506, P=0.036). A statistically higher frequency of rs1044317 allele A was found in the CAD patients in comparison to the healthy controls (OR=1.187, 95%CI: 1.009-1.397, P=0.039). In case-only association study, rs225374 showed significant association in the high Gensini score group compared with the low Gensini score group (OR=1.303, 95%CI: 1.024-1.657, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONThe two SNPs of the ABCG1 gene might be associated with the susceptibility and severity of CAD in Chinese Han population.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Based on the interaction between supramolecule of traditional Chinese medicine and enterobacteria, the material basis of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was explored. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to characterize the morphological differences of Rhubarb single decoction, Coptis single decoction and Rhubarb and Coptis co-decoction. An in vitro antibacterial model (E. coli, E. faecium and B. subtilis) was established to evaluate the damage effect of the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma on enterobacteria. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the changes of chemical components of single decoctions and co-decoctions. The co-decoction of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was turbid after decocting. The spherical particles of 300-400 nm were observed under SEM, and the co-decoction was more uniform and stable than that of single decoction. The interaction between supramolecules formed after the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma and enterobacteria was significantly different from that of single decoction. In the process of interaction between supramolecules and enterobacteria, the spherical state was maintained, and the medicinal ingredients in Coptidis Rhizoma or Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were blocked, which could effectively alleviate the damage to enterobacteria. This study provided a reference for subsequent studies on the regulation of intestinal flora homeostasis by the combination of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma.

The effect of different concentrations of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and Zn²⁺ on the self-assembly of metal complexes was investigated by forming metal complexes, and the properties and assembly mechanisms of the formed carrier-free supramolecular hydrogel were characterised. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and zeta potential were used to characterise the microscopic morphology and stability of the GA-Zn complex hydrogel, which had spherical-like particles of about 1 μm with good stability; the rheometer was used to detect its materialistic properties, which showed excellent stability, self-healing property and reversibility; through in vitro bacterial inhibition, it was found that the GA-Zn carrier-free supramolecular hydrogel has enhanced bacterial inhibition function after assembly. The hydrogel was also found to possess both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant efficacy when evaluated using LPS and H₂O₂ induced RAW 264.7 cell damage models, respectively. The above results suggest that GA-Zn hydrogel not only has good materialistic properties, but also possesses good antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which has the value of clinical research as a carrier-free multi-functional antimicrobial dressing, and the present study provides a reference for the discovery of novel biomedical materials from active molecules of natural traditional Chinese medicine.

Taking berberine (BBR) as an example, to study whether the supramolecular hydrogel formed by berberine and lotus root starch (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn; LRS), a natural polysaccharide, affects the inhibition to Staphylococcus aureus and the ability of biofilm clearance. The chemical structure and rheological properties of BBR@LRS gel were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and rheometer. The in vitro release of supramolecular hydrogel was observed at pH = 1.2 and pH = 7.4. Broth dilution method and biofilm clearence experiment were used to observe the bacteriostasis and biofilm clearance respectively. Cytotoxicity test and in vitro hemolysis test were used to evaluate the biosafety preliminarily. The results showed that the LRS polysaccharide hydrogel could encapsulate BBR, and there was an interaction between them. The BBR@LRS gel had good rheological properties and biosafety, and played a role in solubility enhancement and slow release of BBR, which was stronger than BBR in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and clearing biofilm. This study provides reference for the effect of natural polysaccharide supramolecular hydrogels on biological functions of active components of traditional Chinese medicine.

Aim To study the main active components and potential mechanism of selenshenzhi prescription a-gainst esophageal cancer by network pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments.Methods The com-mon target was extracted from TCMSP,OMIM and GeneCards databases,and the PPI network was con-structed using STRING database.DAVID database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis,and a network was constructed based on STRING and DAVID database for in vivo and in vitro experimental verifica-tion.Results Prediction results showed that a total of 100 active ingredients and 749 related targets were ob-tained,and 168 common targets were obtained between selenoshenzhi recipe and esophageal cancer,which were involved in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and proteoglycan signaling pathways in cancer.Selenshenz-hi prescription was used to conduct preliminary verifi-cation of related targets for human esophageal cancer EC9706 based on in vitro experiments.The results showed that selenshenzhi prescription could significantly inhibit the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells and induce the apoptosis of EC9706 through the expression of Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3 and other key apoptotic pro-teins.Lastly,the core target and pathway of selensh-enzhi prescription were preliminically verified based on in vivo animal experiments on nude mice with esopha-geal cancer.The results showed that selenshenzhi pre-scription could significantly inhibit tumor proliferation,promote tumor cell apoptosis,and induce tumor apop-tosis by regulating the expression of key proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Conclusions Selensh-enzhi prescription can control the occurrence and de-velopment of esophageal cancer through the synergistic effect of multi-components,multi-targets and multi-pathways,and provide a theoretical basis for further clinical investigation of the mechanism of selenshenzhi prescription in the treatment of esophageal cancer in the future.

Bone Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Cyst ; etiology ; surgery ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo compare different methods commonly used for titering adenovirus and analyze the advantages and limitations of each method.

METHODSFour recombined adenoviruses (Ad-G-AT2R-EGFP, Ad-CMV-EGFP, Ad-mif-shRNA-EGFP and Ad-CBA-GFP) were amplified and purified, and each was titered by optical absorbance, real-time PCR, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled method, immunoassay, and cytopathic effect (CPE). The results were then comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the titer amounts derived from GFP-labeled method, immunoassay, and cytopathic effect method (P>0.1). A positive correlation was noted in the titer amounts determined by real-time PCR and immunoassay (r=0.965), even though the value (vg/ml) obtained by real-time PCR was 10 times higher than that by immunoassay (ifu/ml).

CONCLUSIONGFP-labeled method and immunoassay allow rapid determination of the adenoviral titer. Real-time PCR can not directly determine the real infectious titer of the adenovirus, but the result is well correlated to that of immunoassay and reflects, though indirectly, the actual infectious titer of adenovirus. Considering the procedural convenience and shorter time consumption, real-time PCR is still a practical method for adenoviral titration.

Adenoviridae ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; physiology ; Capsid Proteins ; metabolism ; DNA, Viral ; isolation & purification ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Viral Plaque Assay ; methods ; Virus Replication