Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum cystatin C in the early renal function impairment in elderly patients wtih chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods Serum cystafin Cwas measured in 60 cases with chronic CHF (CHF group), 40 cases with cardiovascular diseases and compensated heart function (compensated heart function group), and other 20 elderly normal volunteers(controlgroup). The correlation between cystafin C, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and LVEF was evaluated. Results The levels of eystatin C in CHF group [(1.86±0.37)mg/L]was higher than that in compensated heart function group [(1.32±0.56) mg/L]and control group [(1.05±0.43) mg/L], P < 0.01. Cystatin C was positively correlated with BNP (r = 0.528,P< 0.01)and negatively correlated with LVEF (r=-0.463, P<0.01). In CHF group, the level of cystatin C and the incidence rate of renal failure was higher in the patients with BNP≥500 ng/L than those with BNP < 500 ng/L. Conclusions Cystatin C is a marker dearly impairment of renal function in elderly patients with chronic CHF. The more severe the heart failure, the more obvious the glomorular filtration function impairment shows.

Baculovirus has many advantages as vectors for gene transfer. We demonstrated that recombinant baculovirus vectors expressing p35 (Ac-CMV-p35) and eGFP (Ac-CMV-GFP) could be transduced into human kidney 293 cells efficiently. The level of transgene expression was viral dose dependent and high-level expression of the target gene could be achieved under the heterogonous promoter. MTT assay suggested that both Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac-CMV-GFP did not have cytotoxic effect on human embryo kidney 293 cells. Cell growth curve showed the Ac-CMV-p35 and Ac- CMV-GFP transduced and non-transduced cells had similar proliferation rate, so baculovirus-mediated p35expression had no adverse effect on cell proliferation. In addition, baculovirus-mediated p35 gene expression protected human embryo kidney 293 cells against apoptosis induced by various apoptosis inducers such as Actinomycin D, UV or serum-free media. These results suggested that the baculovirus vector mediated p35 gene expression was functional and it could be widely used in molecular research and even gene therapy.

Objective To investigate the method and effect of free autogenous palmaris longus tendon transplantation in the treatment of moderate and severe cicatricial ectropion.Methods The autogenous palmaris longus tendon was obtained through a small lateral proximal wrist band incision (lengths from 4 cm to 6 cm).The graft was properly sutured to the exposed tarsus and the attachments of inner and outer canthus.Local skin flap was rotated to cover the tendon and to repair the wound.Results Six man (8 eyes) with moderate and severe cicatricial ectropion were treated in our department,all case of ectropion were rectified after operation.The eyeballs were well contacted with lower eyelid and no recurrence of eetropion,epiphora and corneal exposure during 6 to 18 months' follow-up.The tension of the lower eyelid was abiding with satisfied effects.Conclusions The palmaris longus tendon is easy to obtain and there is no harm to the donor site.The cicatricial ectropion could be repaired with self-palmaris longus tendon transplantation with lasting effect and the recurrence rate is lower,which is well worthy popularizing.

The exploration of drug toxicity and mechanisms is a vital component in ensuring the safe use of drugs in clinical practice, as this topic has attracted widespread concern. The intestinal flora holds great significance for drug metabolism, efficacy and mechanism, and is an instrumental metabolic organ that facilitates material information transfer and biotransformation. However, an increasing number of studies have shown that intestinal bacteria are closely related to the toxicity of specific drugs. On the one hand, drugs are transformed into toxic metabolites under the influence of intestinal bacteria, thus inducing direct drug toxicity. On the other hand, the composition and function of the intestinal flora are altered under drug influence, resulting in disruption of endogenous metabolic pathways. Consequently, this disruption compromises the intestinal barrier and affects other organs, leading to indirect drug toxicity. This review meticulously compiles recent examples of drug toxicity attributed to intestinal bacteria, explores in depth the contention that metabolic enzymes of gut microbiota may be of great influence on oral drug toxicity, and outlines prospective avenues for future research on gut microbiota and drug toxicity and mechanisms. This not only provides novel perspectives for the judicious clinical utilization of drugs but also offers insights for the safety assessment of innovative pharmaceuticals.

The role of flavonoids of Echinps latifolius (FELT) in Wnt signaling was investigated in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. The therapeutic effects of FELT on AA rats were detected by rat arthritis score and MTT. The effect of FELT gavage treatment on the Wnt signaling key gene β-catenin, C-myc and cyclin D1 in synovium from AA rats was detected by Real-time qPCR, and the effects of FELT gavage treatment on the upstream negative regulation gene SFRP 1,2,4,5 in synovium from AA rats were detected by Real-time qPCR. The results showed that FELT gavage treatment significantly inhibited arthritis score and MTT values in AA rats, significantly inhibited the expression of the Wnt signaling gene β-catenin, C-myc and cyclin D1, significantly up-regulated the expression of the up- stream negative regulation gene SFRP 1,2,4. FELT has a better therapeutic effect for AA rats.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo improve the outcome of the face-lift with a craniofacial contouring procedure.

METHODSThirty-seven patients aged 29-53 years (31 in female, 6 in male) were treated through a bicoronal incision. The facial tissue was lifted through a subperiosteal procedure and the facial skeleton was remodeled in three dimensions by osteotomies.

RESULTSThe results were satisfactory after the 3-12 months of the follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONSThe Face-lift combined with the facial aesthetic sculpturing may be more effective for the aging-face rejuvenating.

Adult ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods

The clinical therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut-embedding for simple obesity was systemically analyzed to provide reference and assistance for its clinical treatment and research. By searching in the CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Pubmed, Springer and Medline databases, clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) of acupoint catgut-embedding for simple obesity published from Jan, 2009 to July, 2013 were collected while Revman 5. 2 software was applied to perform the Meta-analysis. Totally 19 articles were acquired with 1 658 cases involved. The effective rate was selected as primary outcome measure in 19 articles. The Meta-analysis was performed among homogeneous researches. The results indicated that compared with other therapies, pooled OR of acupoint catgut-embedding was 2.45 with 95% CI [1.81, 3.32]; in the test for overall effect, Z = 5.81, implying the efficacy difference of two therapies was significant in the treatment of simple obesity (P < 0.01). In subgroups analysis, in the event of treatment session with more than 3 months, compared with other therapies, pooled OR of acupoint catgut-embedding was 2.61 with 95% CI [1.53, 4.46]; in test for overall effect, Z = 3.51, implying the efficacy difference of two therapies was significant in the treatment of simple obesity (P < 0.01); in the event of treatment session with less than 3 months, compared with other therapies, pooled OR of acupoint catgut-embedding was 2.38 with 95% CI [1.65, 3.44]; in test for overall effect, Z = 4.46, implying in the treatment of simple obesity the efficacy difference of two therapies was significant (P < 0.01). Compared with electroacupuncture, OR of acupoint catgut-embedding was 1.79, 95% CI [1.08, 2.95] (P = 0.02). Compared with acupuncture, OR of acupoint catgut-embedding was 1.89, 95% CI [1.16, 3.09] (P = 0.01), which explained that compared with electroacupuncture and acupuncture, the efficacy of acupoint catgut-embedding was significantly different. In a word, the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut-embedding is superior to other therapies in the treatment of simple obesity.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Catgut ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Obesity ; therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical significance of rotational axis of distal femur on Chinese adults in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODSThere were 86 Chinese adults (106 normal knees) including 47 males (53 knees) and 39 females (53 knees), 54 knees were on left and 52 on right. The CT scan was employed in the distal femur. The scan direction was aligned to be on the plane perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the femoral. The CT images of cross sections across lateral and medial femoral epicondyle were moved to personal computer,lateral angle between anterior posterior line (APL) and surgical transepicondylar axis (STEA) (ATA),lateral angle between posterior condylar line (PCL) and APL (APA), angle between perpendicularity of APL and PCL (A-PA), posterior condylar angle (PCA), condylar twist angle (CTA), angle between clinical transepicondylar axis (CTEA) and STEA (CSA) were measured. These values were divided into different groups according to gender and side, the values of CTA, PCA, A-PA, angle PT (varus of tibia plateau), constant 3, ATA, APA and constant 90° were compared by statistically. A-PA and PCA, and CTA were analysed statistically with the liner regression, the relationship among CTEA, STEA ,PCL, APL and PLP were performed to assess by liner regression.

RESULTSATA was (89.79 ± 1.22)°, APA was (84.84 ± 1.83)°, A-PA was (5.16 ± 1.83)°, PCA was (4.80 ± 1.23)°, CTA was (8.23 ± 1.40), CSA was (3.45 ± 0.68)°. All the parameters had no differences on sex and side,but CSA had difference on male and female. There was no difference among angle PT, PCA, A-PA. There was significant difference in CAT, constant 30 and angle PT, PCA,A-PA. There was no difference between ATA and constant 90°, but there was difference between APA and constant 90°. There was relativity between PCA and CTA, and also PCA and A-PA, CTA and A-PA. There was significant relativity between STEA and CTEA, between STEA and APL, between STEA and PCL, and also between APLP, APL and PCL, but there was no significant relativity between PCL and CTEA.

CONCLUSIONTKA for Chinese, the section of femoral posterior condyle should be external 5° to obtain the optimum rotational orientation. The property is different entirely between STEA and CTEA, the rotational alignment is not performed according to parallel to the CTEA in distal femur. Among STEA, APL, PCL, the STEA is the most reliable mark ofrotational alignment of the distal femur, and the PCL is the less reliable mark.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Female ; Femur ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rotation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Objective: To summarize the methods of preventing and managing the complications in thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods:The participants of this study included 317 patients undergoing lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery between January 2007 and December 2012. Intra-operative complications were observed, and countermeasures were summarized. Results: Complications occurred 28 times (8.8%), including bleeding in 16 cases because of accidental vascular injury (5.0%), accidental injury/break of bronchus in two cases (0.6%), vascular stump errhysis from cutting stapler in four cases (1.3%), lung stump air leakage in three cases (0.9%), lung injury in two cases (0.6%), and diaphragmatic injury in one case (0.3%). Conversion to thoracotomy was conducted in 17 cases, with a conversion rate of 5.4%. Thoracoscopic repair operation was performed in 14 cases that exhibited bleeding, with a success rate of 70% (14/20). No mortality was reported during the operation. Conclusion:Thoracoscopic lobectomy is a highly difficult method in thoracic surgeries. The procedure requires substantial attention on the timely prevention and correct management of intra-operative complications, particularly the injury and bleeding of major vessels, to reduce the rate of conversion to thoracotomy and the incidence of post-operative complications, as well as to promote the surgery in clinics.