Objective To investigate the effects of methylprednisolone(MP) on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and airway inflammation in murine models of asthma. Methods Thirty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into asthma group,MP group and control group(n=10).Murine models of acute asthma were established by ovalbumin(OVA) via peritoneal injection and intranasal instillation.The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed with HE staining,and cell quantitation was conducted in bronchalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).The expression of MMP-9 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry and gelatin zymogram,and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,there were more significant airway spasm and more infiltration of inflammatory cells in histologic examination,and there was higher eosinophil cell quantitation in BALF in asthma group(P

Objective To investigate the value of fluid resuscitation strategy in septic shock patients by pulse indicator continuous cardiac out ( PiCCO ) .Methods 42 septic shock patients were divided into the PiCCO group(n=26) and the control group(n=16).All patients measured heart rate(HR),mean artery pressure(MAP), central venous pressure(CVP);CI,GEDVI,SVRI,EVLWI,CVP as indicator of fluid resuscitation after 0h,6h,24h of the diagnosis were measured respectively in PiCCO group;CVP as guiding volume resuscitation was measured in the control group .The effect of fluid resuscitation was compared between two groups .To analyse the relationship between CVP,GEDVI and CI in PiCCO group .according to CVP increase 2mmHg ,GEDVI whether elevated 10%.Results After 6h EGDT treatment bundle HR ,MAP,APACHEII score and clearance rate of lactic in PiCCO group improved more than those in control group [(101.3 ±7.8) and (119.4 ±7.2),t=-7.520,P<0.05;(71.8 ±7.6) and (51.5 ±8.9),t=7.873,P<0.05;(17.0 ±3.4) and (22.7 ±4.1),t=-4.978,P>0.05;(53.6 ±11.5) and (-16.5 ±5.2),t =9.283,P <0.05].There were no differences in 28-Day mortality between two groups (t =-2.162,P>0.05),but ICU hospitalization time decreased in PiCCO group [(13.8 ±2.6) and (23.3 ±2.2),t=-5.075,P<0.05].Changes in GEDVI was positively correlated with Changes in CI (r=0.799,P<0.05),while changes in CVP was poorly correlated with CI (r=-0.446,P>0.05).Conclusion Hemodynamic monitoring by PiCCO directed fluid resuscitation strategy can elevate reversal rate .Compared with pressure index CVP ,GEDVI is a sensitive indicator of cardiac preload .Correlation between CVP and GEDVI can reflect cardiac function ,Especially for septic shock patients with cardiac depression .

Objective To evaluate the effect of isoflurane anesthesia on noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs.Methods Forty-eight healthy adult male guinea pigs,aged 3 months,weighing 400-500 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =12 each) using a random number table:control group (C group),isoflurane group (I group),noise-induced hearing loss group (N group),and isoflurane + noise-induced hearing loss group (I + N group).Isoflurane was inhaled for 140 min at a concentration of 1％ in I and I + N groups.N and I + N groups were exposed to the noise of 4 kHz center frequency and 118-122 dB sound pressure level for 120 min starting from 20 min after administration.Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was recorded at 10,40,70,100 and 120 min of exposure to noise and cochlear blood flow (CoBF) was recorded before administration and at 10,40,70,100 and 120 min of exposure to noise.Auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold was recorded before administration and at 1 h,72 h,and 10 days after the end of exposure to noise.Arterial blood samples were obtained and the plasma noradrenaline (NE) concentration was detected by HPLC before exposure to noise and immediately after the end of exposure to noise.Results Compared with group C,MAP and the change rate of CoBF were significantly decreased,and the plasma NE concentration was increased immediately after the end of exposure to noise in I group,and MAP was increased,the change rate of CoBF was decreased,and the plasma NE concentration immediately after the end of exposure,and ABR threshold after the end of exposure were increased in N and I + N groups.Compared with N group,MAP was significantly decreased,the change rate of CoBF was increased,the plasma NE concentration immediately after the end of exposure,and ABR threshold at 1 and 72 h after the end of exposure were increased,and no significant was found in ABR threshold at 10 days after the end of exposure in I + N group.Conclusion Isoflurane anesthesia exerts temporary but not permanent protective effects against noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs and partial inhibition of activation of sympathetic nerve and increased CoBF may be involved in the mechanism.

4.0 cm~2),slight group(2.5-4.0 cm~2),moderate group(1.5-2.5 cm~2)and severe group(

Objective To analyze the hospitalization expenses of cancer patients covered with byitem payment and quota payment packages,and probe into the impacts on such expenses for the two payment packages.Methods Inpatient records of 600 cancer patients were sampled by random from the medical insurance databases of Zhengzhou and Fuzhou to learn their hospitalization expenses and impact factors.Results Under the by-item payment package,the expenses of urban workers’ medical insurance were found higher than those of urban residents' medical insurance,with a per capita expense of RMB 32747.70 ± 32035.01 and 23035.83 ± 22875.65 respectively.Under the quota payment package however,there were no significant differences between expenses of the two kinds of inpatients,with a per capita expense of RMB 66043.41±47562.09 and 66576.54±73417.29 respectively.Conclusion There are gaps of reimbursement level between the two basic insurance schemes,which may not disappear in a short time.Under the by-item payment package,the gap exists in the difference of perreimbursement amount; under the quota payment package,the gap is negligible between the two populations under different insurance schemes.It is recommended to make reasonable use of these different payment schemes to minimize the relative gaps in medical service accessibility caused by the difference in reimbursement level.

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effects of psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside, three active components of psoralea fruit, glossy privet fruit and tuber fleeceflower root respectively, on Aβ25-35induced self-renewal and neuron-like differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSEmbryonic NSCs werein vitro isolated and cultured from Kunming mice of 14-day pregnancy, and randomly divided into the control group, the Aβ25-35 group, the Aβ25-35 +psoralen group, the Aβ25-35 +oleanolic acid group, and the Aβ25-35 + stilbene glucoside group. The intervention concentration of Aβ25-35 was 25 µmol/L, and the intervention concentration of three active components of Chinese medicine was 10(-7)mol/L. The effect of three active components of Chinese medicine on the proliferation of NSCs was observed by counting method. The protein expression of Tubulin was observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The ratio of Tubulin+/DAPI was caculated. Results Compared with the control group, the sperical morphology of NSCs was destroyed in the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin /DAPI all decreased (P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared with the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin + /DAPI all increased in the three Chinese medicine treated groups (P <0. 01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONS25 µmol/L Aβ25-35 could inhibit self-renewal and neuron-like differentiating of NSCs. But psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside could promote self-renewal of NSCs and neuron-like differentiation.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; physiology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; Peptide Fragments ; physiology ; Pregnancy

Objective This study is to investigate the set-up accuracy of thermoplastic mask used for immobilization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients being treated by Intensity Modulated Radia- tion Therapy (IMRT).Methods Nineteen patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T1- T2N0M0),treated by fractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy,underwent repeated CTs during their 6-week treatment course.We evaluated their anatomic landmark coordinates in a total of 85 repeated CT data sets and respective x,y and z shifts relative to their position in the 19 treatment-planning reference CTs.Results The translation in x,y,and z-axes with their mean value derived from both positive and negative set-up errors was-0.84 mm(x-axis),+0.65 mm(y-axis) and +0.01 mm(z-axis).Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89?0.69) mm,(0.82?0.79) mm,(0.95?1.24) mm in x,y and z-direc- tions,respectively.The mean total magnitude vector and 95% CI of isocenter motion were 1.87 mm and 4.65 mm.The data measured over the 6-week fractionated course of treatment revealed a slight deterioration of isocenter accuracy.The 95% CI,considered by us to be a valuable parameter for characterizing the sys- tem,of 4.17 mm for measurement within the first 3 weeks increased to 5.12 mm in the last 3 weeks of treat- ment.Conclusions The sequential CT scanning is a pronounced valuable method of evaluating the quality of departmental specific patient positioning procedures.The thermoplastic mask is eyed as well suited tool for immobilization and repositioning of NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacies of portal vein stenting and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined therapy performed with or without endovascular implantation of iodine-125 (125I) seeds strand in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and main portal vein tumor thrombus (MPVTT).

METHODSOne-hundred-and-six patients with HCC complicated by MPVTT who were treated with portal vein stents and TACE, either with (Group A, n=56) or without (Group B, n=50) endovascular implantation of 125I seeds strand, between July 2005 and April 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival, stent patency, and procedure-related adverse events were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe technical success rate was 100% for placement of 125I seeds strands and stents in the obstructed main portal vein. No serious procedure-related adverse events were recorded. Group A had significantly higher median survival (335 days vs. group B: 146 days; P=0.001, hazard ratio (HR)=2.244). Additionally, group A had significantly higher median stent patency (400 days vs. group B: 190 days; P=0.005, HR=2.479).

CONCLUSIONThe combination therapeutic strategy of portal vein stenting and TACE with endovascular implantation of 125I seeds strands improves the survival of HCC patients with MPVTT complication.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Venous Thrombosis ; complications ; therapy

Objective To compare the efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT, 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy (BS), and combination of the two techniques (PET/CT + BS) for detecting bone metastasis by ROC curve analysis. Methods All 296 patients with various cancers, who underwent both 99Tcm-MDP BS and 18F-FDG PET/CT within two months, were retrospectively analyzed. These images were interpreted according to 5-point scale (0: definitely negative, 1: probably negative, 2: equivocal, 3: probably positive, 4:definitely positive for bone metastasis), and the scale of PET/CT + BS was the sum of PET/CT and BS. In light of the confirmed diagnosis derived from pathology or follow-up, ROC curve analysis was performed.The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was compared by z-test. Results Of 296 cases, 61 (20.6%) were confirmed as bone metastases and 235 (79.4%) were negative. The AUC were 0. 919 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) :0. 867 - 0. 971) for BS, 0. 949 (95% CI: 0. 906 - 0. 991) for PET/CT, and 0. 994 (95% CI: 0.988-0.999) for PET/CT + BS, rctrospectively. The AUC of PET/CT + BS was statistically significantly larger than that of BS (z=2. 866, P=0.004) or PET/CT (z =2.027, P=0.043), while the AUC of PET/CT was larger than that of BS, but no statistically significance (z = 0. 881, P = 0. 378) was showed. The optimal sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value(NPV) were 90. 2% (55/61), 85. 1% (200/235), 86. 1% (255/296), 61. 1% (55/90), 97. 1%(200/206) for BS, 88.5% (54/61), 97.0% (228/235), 95.3% (282/296), 88.5% (54/61), 97.0% for PET/CT, and 98.4% (60/61), 95.7% (225/235), 96.3% (285/296), 85.7% (60/70) for PET/CT + BS,respectively. The specificity (χ2 = 19.862, P<0. 001), accuracy (χ2 = 23. 361, P<0.001) and PPV (χ2 =11. 791, P =0.001) of PET/CT + BS were significantly higher than those of BS, the sensitivity of PET/CT +BS was significantly higher than that of PET/CT (χ2 =4.167, P=0.031). Compared with BS, PET/CT had a higher specificity (χ2 = 19.600, P<0. 001), accuracy (χ2 = 13. 755, P <0. 001), PPV (χ2 = 13. 608, P <0. 001), but their sensitivity showed no statistically significant difference (χ2 = 0, P = 1. 000). Conclusions The efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT for detecting malignant bone metastasis was superior to that of 99Tcm-MDP BS alone. The detection ability can be obviously improved by combination of the two techniques.

The aim was to construct and identify the mammalian expression vector of pCAG-IRES-SHIP-GFP and to detect whether it could express in human acute leukemia cell line K562.The cDNA fragment of SHIP obtained by RT-PCR was inserted into pCAG-IRES-GFP.The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction enzyme digesiton,PCR and DNA sequecing.pCAG-IRES-SHIP-GFP was transfected into K562 cells with lipofectamine 2000.The expression of SHIP was determined by GFP fluorescence and Western blot analysis.FQ-PCR was used to quantitate SHIP mRNA.The expression of p-Akt,Akt were determined by Western blot.PI were tested by flow cytometry and MTT to verify whether exogenous SHIP could inhibit proliferation of K562 cells.The results showed that the correct constrution of the recombinant plasmid pCAG-IRES-SHIP-GFP has been shown by restriction enzyme digestion,PCR and DNA sequencing.pCAG-IRES-SHIP-GFP could express SHIP protein in K562 cells.The K562 cells viability after transfected with SHIP gene droped down.Western blot analysis showed that phospha-Akt308 and Akt473 were reduced to 38.7% and 68% respectively.It was concluded that the vector of pCAG-IRES-SHIP-GFP has been successfully constructed and it can be expressed in K562 cells.The expression of exogenous SHIP gene can lead to apoptosis of K562 cells by down-regulating the p-Akt expression.What found here might be one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of leukemia.