Objective To investigate the effect of L-camitine on renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury (IRI) and Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in rats.Methods Rats were randomly separated into the following experimental groups:control group (group C),IRI group (group I) and L-carnitine group (group L).Rats accepted no treatment of ischemic reperfusion in group C.In groups I and group L,the renal IRI model was established.L-carnitine was injected through the tail vein in group L,while the equal volume of saline was injected in group C and group I.Rats were killed at 3,6,and 24 h after IR.The levels of serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN),the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) in serum were measured.The histopathological lesions were observed in renal tissues after 24-h IR.RT-PCR was used to detect the levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and γ-GCS mRNA.Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the levels and localization of Nrf2 protein in renal tissues after 6-h IR.Results The levels of Cr and BUN in group I and group L were higher than those in group C at 3 h after IR.At 6 h after IR,the levels of Cr and BUN in group L were lower than those in group I (P＜0.01 ).At 24 h after IR,the levels of Cr and BUN in group L were still lower than those in group I though both of them were reduced (P＜0.05).At all time points,the activity of SOD in group L was higher and the content of MDA was lower than those in group I (P＜ 0.05). As compared with group I,the renal histopathological lesions were alleviated in group L at 24 h after IR.At 6 h after IR,levels of Nrf2,HO-1,γ-GCS mRNA and Nrf2 protein in group I were increased as compared with group C,but decreased as compared with group L.Beyond that,the expression of nuclear Nrf2 protein in group L was higher than that in group I.Conclusion L-carnitine can protects the kidney against IRI significantly,which may be due to the up-regulated expression of antioxidant genes by activating the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

The clinical evaluation methods of facial paralysis can be divided into functional evaluation scales,neuro-electrophysiologi-cal tests and computer evaluation systems.The commonly used function evaluation scales include House-Brackmann Grading Scale(HB-GS),Burres-Fisch Facial Nerve Scoring System,Nottingham System,Sunnybrook facial grading System(SFGS),Degree of Facial Nerve Paralysis Hierarchical Scale,Facial Disability Index(FDI)and Facial Clinimetric Evaluation(FaCE)Scale,etc.Neuro-electrophysiological tests mainly consist of facial electromyography (EMG), electroneurography (ENoG), blink reflex (BR), and neural excitatory test (NET), etc.The computer evaluation system based on the sensor is mainly divided into the computer evaluation system based on infrared thermal image technology and the computer evaluation system based on biomedicine image recognition.This article briefly summarized the existing methods of facial paralysis evaluation in terms of sensitivity,stability,accuracy,ease of operation and economics.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acute hypoxia on the cell adhesion molecule close homologue of L1 (CHL1) expression in different brain areas and main organs (heart, lung, kidney) of mice, and provide a basis for the role of CHL1 in hypoxia injury.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into two groups (n=10): normoxia group and hypoxia group. Hypoxia group were treated by acute hypoxia (8% O2, 8 h). Protein expression changes in different tissues were evaluated by Western blot.

RESULTSIn central nervous system, CHL1 protein expressions were down-regulated in cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and brain stem by acute hypoxia and up-regulated in cerebellum. In heart and lung, CHL1 protein expression were down-regulated by acute hypoxia.

CONCLUSIONCHL1 protein expressions were changed in different tissues after acute hypoxia, which suggested CHL1 might play an important role in hypoxia damage regulation.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution

BACKGROUNDThis meta-analysis evaluated the effect of noninvasive, positive pressure ventilation on severe, stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODSPUBMED, CNKI, Wanfang, EMBASE and the Cochrane trials databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials of patients with severe, stable COPD and receiving noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, compared with sham ventilation or no ventilation, were reviewed. The mortality, physiological and health related parameters were pooled to yield odds ratio (OR), weighted mean differences or standardized mean differences (SMD), with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTSEight parallel and three crossover randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis for parallel, randomized controlled trials showed noninvasive positive pressure ventilation: (1) Did not affect the 12- or 24-month mortality (OR 0.82, 95%CI: 0.48 to 1.41); (2) Improved the arterial carbon dioxide tension (SMD -0.88, 95%CI: -1.43 to -0.34); (3) Did not improve forced expiratory volume in one second (SMD 0.20, 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.46), maximal inspiratory pressure (SMD 0.01, 95%CI: -0.28 to 0.29) or 6-minute walk distance (SMD 0.17, 95%CI: -0.16 to 0.50); (4) Subgroup analysis showed noninvasive positive pressure ventilation improved the arterial carbon dioxide tension in hypercapnic patients. Pooled analysis for crossover randomized controlled trials did not show improvement in arterial blood gas or forced expiratory volume in one second with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

CONCLUSIONSNoninvasive positive pressure ventilation improves the arterial carbon dioxide tension but does not improve the mortality, pulmonary function, or exercise tolerance and should be cautiously used in severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 combined with NF-κB P65 nuclear translocation inhibitor SN50 on the tumor cell growth and apoptosis using a nude mouse model of gastric cancer.

METHODSHuman gastric cancer cell strain SGC7901 was transplanted subcutaneously to nude mice to establish tumor models. Model mice were randomly divided into the control group, the LY294002 treatment group, the SN50 treatment group, and the LY294002+SN50 treatment group, with 5 in each group. After being treated for 10 days, the inhibition rate of tumor growth was ascertained by measuring the size of tumor. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression levels of Bcl-2, P53 and Bax proteins and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the apoptosis of tumor cells.

RESULTSOn the 10th day after treatment, the inhibition rate of gastric cancer cellular growth in the LY294002+SN50 group was (49.2±2.5)%, which was significantly higher than that in the LY294002 group(29.4±1.5)% and SN50 group (19.7±1.6)%(P<0.05). In comparison with the other two groups, LY294002+SN50 group exhibited more severe apoptosis, with expression of Bcl-2 decreased and that of P53 and Bax increased more significantly(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLY294002 combined with SN50 inhibits the growth of SGC7901 transplanted tumor and aggravates the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in nude mice model.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of recombinant adenovirus (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases(PI3K)(I()-RNAi-AD which blocks the class I( PI3K signaling pathway on gastric carcinoma cells xenografts in nude mice.

METHODSSubcutaneous tumor models of nude mice were established with SGC7901 cells and randomly divided into PI3K(I()-RNAi-AD group, NC-RNAi-GFP-AD group and control group. The tumor size and the inhibitory rate of tumor growth on days 3, 6, and 9 after cell transplantation were measured. The expression of TNF-α, COX2, P53, PCNA, E-cadherin and nm23/DNPK in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSTumor growth was significantly inhibited in the PI3K(I()-RNAi-AD group(14.2%, 21.0%, and 28.1%) on days 3, 6, 9 compared with NC-RNAi-GFP-AD group(1.3%, 1.9%, and 2.0%, all P<0.05). The expressions of TNF-α, P53, E-cadherin and nm23/DNPK were up-regulated, and the expressions of COX2 and PCNA were down-regulated in the PI3K(I()-RNAi-AD group by immunohistochemical staining(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPI3K(I()-RNAi-AD can inhibit the growth of SGC7901 cell transplantation tumor in vivo in nude mice by inhibiting cell growth, reducing the capacity of tumor invasion and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis.

Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effectiveness of percutaneous US- or CT-guided drainage and laparotomy for patients with infective pancreatic necrosis.

METHODSData of 90 infective pancreatic necrosis patients admitted from January 2008 to December 2009 were included. They were divided into two groups by the different treatment choices. Twenty-seven patients in the percutaneous group received percutaneous US- or CT-guided drainage as first choice. After that a sump suction apparatus was applied for controlled drainage. If no improvement was achieved after 3 days, they would received operation soon. While patients in the laparotomy group received surgical drainage at the time when the diagnosis of infected pancreatic necrosis was confirmed. Continuous drainage was also applied for these ones.

RESULTSThe percutaneous group had a significant low rate of reoperation (7.1% vs. 14.3%, P < 0.05) and postoperative residual abscesses (7.1% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.05). Furthermore, 48.1% of patients in percutaneous group successfully avoid laparotomy. In the regard of complications, the percutaneous group presented lower incidence of both single organ dysfunction (7.4% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.05), intestinal fistula (7.4% vs. 27.0%, P < 0.05) and long-term complications (3.7% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.05). In addition, the percutaneous group costed less medical resources as evidenced by shorter ICU duration (21.2 ± 9.7 vs. 28.7 ± 12.1, P < 0.01), shorter hospital duration (48.2 ± 12.5 vs. 59.6 ± 17.5, P < 0.05) and less expenditure (191 762 ± 5892 vs. 341 689 ± 10 854, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPercutaneous drainage can effectively lower the surgical rates and the rates of complications and reoperations in patients with infective pancreatic necrosis. Besides that, it could also reduce the cost of medical resources.

Adult ; Drainage ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical value of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) image in stereotactic biopsy for brain lesion.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to April 2010, 126 cases (72 male and 54 female, aged from 10 to 82 years, mean 45 years) of brain lesion which were difficult to diagnose were divided into two groups by random number table, 62 cases were executed for MRI-guided frameless stereotactic biopsy (MRI group), 64 cases were executed for MRI and MRS-guided frameless stereotactic biopsy (MRS group). Operation used MRI and Three-dimensional MRS image to locate, and used frameless CAS-R-2 robots to carry out the positioning operating.

RESULTSNo surgery-related deaths and infections. Pathological diagnosis was 106 cases of brain tumors, 6 cases of inflammatory disease, 4 cases of tumor-like demyelinating disease and multiple sclerosis, 3 cases of neurodegenerative disease, 7 cases failed to obtain positive pathological diagnosis. The total rate of positive diagnosis was 94.4%, the positive rate in MRS-guided stereotactic biopsy group was 98.4% (63/64), the positive rate of conventional MRI-guided biopsy group was 90.3% (56/62), and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ(2) = 3.92, P = 0.047). Four cases presented with postoperative complications, the complication rate was 3.2% (4/126); the complications were cerebral hemorrhage associated with aphasia, epilepsy, subcutaneous hematoma, gastrointestinal bleeding, which were improved after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSMRS-guided stereotactic biopsy group has a higher positive rate than MRI-guided stereotactic biopsy group, indicating that this method can improve the positive rate of diagnosis, and thus will help to formulate treatment plan for brain lesion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; methods ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Diseases ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with fever and find out the related factors.MethodsData was collected by the same methods in the past ten years in fifteen hospitals in Jiangsu province and then the data wereretrospectively analyzed.The potentially possible risk factors of fever in SLE were selected and then analyzed by chi-square test,Wilcoxon rank sum test and Logistic regression analysis.ResultsAll 1762 patients were investigated.Seven hundred and twenty-nine had active fever.Age at hospitalization,initially treated patients,photosensitivity,serositis,nervous system involvement,generalized lymphadenopathy/hepatosplenomegaly,white blood cell count (WBC),haemoglobin (HB),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reaction protein (CRP),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),albumin(ALB),serum creatinine (Scr),complement C3,anti-dsDNA antibodies positive rate,anti-Sm antibodies positive rate,SLEDAI score and past therapies were factors associatedwith SLE fever.Logistic regression analysis showed that abnormal WBC count (OR=1.396,95％CI 1.114-1.711,P=0.004),CRP(OR=1.005,95％CI 1.002-1.009,P=0.002),ALT(OR=1.003,95％CI 1.001-1.005,P=0.005),Scr (OR=0.997,95％CI0.995-0.999,P=0.007),HB (OR=0.986,95％CI 0.981-0.992,P=0.000),age (OR =0.984,95％ CI 0.974-0.993,P=0.001 ) and past usage of cyclophosphamide (CTX) (OR =0.557,95％CI 0.382-0.813,P=0.002) were correlated with SLE fever.ConclusionFever is one of the most common clinical manifestations of SLE patients.Leucopenia,elevated CRP levels,liver function abnormalities,anemia,younger age are risk factors for SLE fever,while renal impairment and past usage of CTX are protective factors.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of ginsenoside Rg-1 on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and to explore the possible application on the alveolar bone regeneration.

METHODSTo determine the optimum concentration, the effects of ginsenoside Rg-1 ranging from 10 to 100 μmol/L were evaluated by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo(-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide, alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition. Expressions of runt-related transcription factor 2, collagen alpha-2(I) chain, osteopontin, osteocalcin protein were examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, a certain concentration (10 μmol/L) of the Rg-1 solution significantly enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs (P<0.05). However, concentrations that exceeds 100 μmol/L led to cytotoxicity whereas concentrations below 10 nmol/L showed no significant effect as compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rg-1 can enhance the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs at an optimal concentration of 10 μmol/L.

Adolescent ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cell Shape ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Time Factors ; Young Adult