[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract ( GBE) on diabetic retinopathy ( DR) and its possible mechanism in rats .METHODS:Goto-Kakizaki ( GK) rats were used as a DR model, and were treated with different doses of GBE.Normal Wistar rats were used as the control.Blood glucose and retina barrier injury were analyzed, respectively.Ganglion cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.Moreover, the protein expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2( Nrf2) , ERK, Bcl-2 and P53, and ERK phosphorylation were examined by Western blot.RESULTS:GBE reduced blood glucose in the DR rats, attenuated retina barrier injury, and decreased the apoptosis of ganglion cells. Furthermore, the expression of Nrf2 and Bcl-2, and phosphorylation of ERK were increased after GBE treatment, whereas P53 expression was decreased.CONCLUSION:GBE protects ganglion cells against apoptosis in DR rats, which may be through activation of Nrf2/ERK pathway and regulating Bcl-2 and P53 expression.

Purpose To explore the relationship between the change of space anterior to right portal vein and the pathological staging in liver ifbrosis/cirrhosis. Materials and Methods Plain and contrast enhanced CT scan were performed in patients with biopsy proven liver ifbrosis/cirrhosis including S1 in 17 patients, S2 in 13 patients, S3 in 15 patients, S4 in 21 patients and cirrhosis in 22 patients. Twenty subjects were included as control group. The width of anterior space of right portal vein was measured on contrast enhanced CT and correlated with ifbrosis staging. The receiver operating characteristic curve was created for cirrhosis diagnosis. Results The width of anterior space of right portal vein enlarged in patients with S3 ifbrosis to cirrhosis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). It was signiifcantly bigger in group S4 compared to other groups (P<0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed significant positive correlation between the width of anterior space and liver fibrosis staging (r=0.704, P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed the area under curve (AUC) of 0.897 with the optimum width of ≥10 mm. Conclusion The change in the space anterior to the right portal vein is positively correlated with live ifbrosis staging. CT measurement helps early diagnose and assess the severity of liver ifbrosis and cirrhosis.

The pathogenesis of HBsAg (+)/HBsAb (+) double positive hepatitis B virus infection was investigated by simulating HBsAg/HBsAb coexistence in vitro and establishing HBsAg/HBsAb double positive model in vivo. Eukaryotic expression plasmids PCI-SY, PCI-adw, PCI-adr, PCI-ayw, which expressed S gene product of different serotypes, were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells. Recombinant proteins were purified from the transfected cells. At the same time, HBsAg mouse antiserum was obtained by immunizing mice with PCI-SY plasmid. HBsAg/HBsAb coexistence was simulated using these antigens and antiserum. Furthermore, the expression plasmids expressing different serotypes of S gene product including PCI-adw, PCI-adr, and PCI-ayw were injected into mice via tail vein. HBsAg and HBsAb in mice sera were tested at the first and 7th day respectively after antigen plasmids injection. Both in vitro simulation and in vivo animal models demonstrated that HBsAg antigen and HBsAb of the same serotypes could not coexist, but HBsAg antigen and HBsAb of different serotype could coexist. HBsAg/HBsAb double positive hepatitis B virus infection could be due to infection of viruses of different serotypes.

HPV16 L2E7 is a fusion protein used for therapeutical vaccine targeting HPV virus. To increase its expression in Escherichia coli, we optimized the codon usage of HPV16 l2e7 gene based on its codon usage bias. The optimized gene of HPV16 sl2e7 was cloned into three different vectors: pGEX-5X-1, pQE30, ET41a, and expressed in JM109, JM109 (DE3) and BL21 (DE3) lines separately. A high expression line was selected with pET41a vector in BL21 (DE3) cells. After optimization of the growth condition, including inoculation amount, IPTG concentration, induction time and temperature, the expression level of HPV16 L2E7 was increased from less than 10% to about 28% of total protein. HPV16 L2E7 protein was then purified from 15 L culture by means of SP Sepharose Fast Flow, Q Sepharose Fast Flow and Superdex 200 pg. After renaturing, HPV16 L2E7 protein with ≥ 95% purity was achieved, which was confirmed via SDS-PAGE gel and Western blotting. The combined use of purified HPV16 L2E7 and CpG helper has shown clear inhibition of tumor growth in mice injected with tumor cells, with six out of eight mice shown no sign of tumor. This study lays a solid foundation for a new pipeline of large-scale vaccine production.
Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Codon ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; Genetic Vectors ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Mice ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; prevention & control ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo visualize epicardial and intramyocardial coronary blood flow by using a noninvasive echocardiography system.

METHODSIn five juvenile swines, coronary flow imaging was used to visualize the different segments of epicardial coronary and intramyocardial arteries. Pulsed-Doppler spectrums were recorded and analyzed. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) and intramyocardial coronary blood flow signals were recorded at baseline and during dipyridamole administration.

RESULTSEpicardial and intramyocardial coronary arteries could be visualized by coronary flow imaging. The systolic component of coronary flow in the right coronary artery (RCA) was greater than in the LAD. The intramyocardial blood flow was characterized by persistent retrograde blood flow velocity during systole. Vasodilation with dipyridamole produced exaggerated differences in the phasic pattern of coronary blood flow in epicardial and intramyocardial vessels.

CONCLUSIONColor Doppler coronary flow imaging provides a noninvasive method to study the coronary blood flow.

Objective To design a smoke purifier for laparoscopic surgery, and to test its application in reducing the use of carbon dioxide gas and reducing the concentration of harmful substances in laparoscopic surgery exhaust gas. Methods From April to September 2017, a total of 136 cases of hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection were divided into control group and experimental group by random number table method, with 68 cases in each group. Independent negative pressure suction pipeline was applied in the control group for direct suction. In the experimental group, the surgery exhaust gas first passed laparoscopic surgical smoke purifier, the intake pipe of which was transformed from an aseptic transfusion device. Gas would emit a sound alert when passing the double-valve one-way valve. After passing KP100 grade, KN100 grade filter element and a certain amount of protective coal pellet activated carbon, the smoke would be managed by the independent negative pressure suction pipeline. The amount of carbon dioxide gas used in the two groups and the concentration of harmful substances in the smoke of the experimental group before and after the operation were recorded. Results The amount of carbon dioxide gas used in the control group was (656.95±70.11) L, which was higher than that in the experimental group (613.70±75.63) L, and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.01). In the experimental group, PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0, formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) before the application of purifier were (206.90±30.48) μg/m3, (195.74±27.23) μg/m3, (220.22±37.60) μg/m3, (0.52±0.02) mg/m3 and (4.35±1.79) mg/m3, which were all higher than those after the application of purifier (4.26±1.02) μg/m3, (6.54±2.05) μg/m3, (7.89±3.38) μg/m3, (0.34±0.01) mg/m3and (0.31±0.17) mg/m3respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusions The purifier can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide gas used in laparoscopic surgery, reduce the harmful substances in surgical exhaust gas and reduce the harm to the environment and medical staff.

Objective:To analyze the imaging features of acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood (ANEC), and try to investigate its potential clinical value.Methods:The clinical and imaging findings of 22 children from Wuhan Children′s Hospital diagnosed with ANEC were retrospective analyzed, from January 2013 to October 2018. All children were presented with hyperpyrexia and rapidly developed into rapid neurological deterioration after prodromic infection. In the initial imaging examination, all patients underwent head MRI, and 6 cases underwent additional head CT. During MRI follow-up, 4 cases were lost, 6 cases were followed up only once (<14 days), and 12 cases were followed up 1 to 2 times at short-term and 1 to 4 times at long-term (>14 days).The presence of hemorrhage and encephalomalacia in thalamus, brainstem, white matter and basal ganglia was carefully investigated throughout the follow-up.Results:For the imaging manifestations of ANEC, bilateral thalamus were involved in all children. Other symmetrical lesions included white matter (14 cases), basal ganglia (15 cases), brainstem (16 cases), cerebellum (9 cases), corpus callosum (2 cases) and hippocampus (1 case). There were 3 children with asymmetric lesions, which were found in white matter (2 cases) and cerebellum (1 case).In the acute phase, the most typical head MRI showed "tricolor pattern"(high signal intensity in the center with surrounding low-signal, and hyperintense signals in the periphery of thalamus) or "bicolor pattern"(low signal in the central thalamus with surrounding hyperintense signals) of the thalamus on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging. Hemorrhage and encephalomalacia on MRI may suggest poor clinical outcome.Conclusions:ANEC is a rapid progressive encephalopathy with typical imaging features. Hemorrhage and encephalomalacia on MRI may be associated with poor prognosis.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and imaging features of pediatric neuroglial heterotopia (NGH) in different locations.Methods:The clinical and preoperative imaging data of 9 patients (6 boys and 3 girls, median age 3 months, range from 1 to13 months) with NGH confirmed by pathology were retrospectively reviewed in Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from October 2009 to December 2020. All patients underwent preoperative CT or/and MR examination. Follow-up was performed in 12 to 60 months after operation, with a median follow-up time of 24 months. The location, range, size, density/signal intensity of the lesions were reviewed.Results:Of all 9 cases, three cases were located in nose (2 extranasal type and 1 mixed type), with the maximum diameter of 13, 13 and 15 mm; there were 3 lesions in tongue, all of which were located on the dorsum of tongue, with the maximum diameter of 13, 18 and 23 mm; there were also 2 cases located in nasopharynx, maximum diameter of 15 and 22 mm, respectively. One case was in sacrococcygeal area, with the maximum diameter as 18 mm. All lesions presented as solid masses with well-defined margins, displaying slightly low density compared to grey matter. The CT value ranged from 25 to 47 HU. Compared to grey matter or spinal cord, MRI demonstrated isointense or slight hypointense on T 1WI and slight hyperintense on T 2WI. All masses presented homogenous density or signal intensity, with mild homogenous enhancement. During postoperative follow-up, no recurrence was found in 8 cases. One case of nasal NGH with gradeⅡcleft lip recurred at 1 month follow-up after surgery, and no recurrence was found after the second surgery. Conclusions:The NGH in children has typical imaging features, and is mostly located at the extracranial midline structure.It presents as solid mass, with quasi-circular morphology, well-defined margins and homogeneous density or signal intensity similar to gray matter or spinal cord. The postoperative recurrence rate is low.

Objective To explore the application of space sand as filling material in the prevention of pressure sore in the lateral position surgery in Neurosurgery Department.Methods A total of 130 cases of lateral decubitus position surgery in Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from October 2016 to March 2017 were selected and randomly divided into control group (n=65) and observation group (n=65) by random number table method.The control group used traditional gel position pad for lateral decubitus position,while the observation group used self-made space sand position pad for lateral position.The incidence of pressure sores of patients with lateral decubitus surgery of two groups were compared.Results The incidence of pressure sores in the control group was 12.31％,while it was 3.07％ in the observation group.The difference was statistically significant (x2=3.900,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The use of space sand position pad can effectively prevent the occurrence of pressure sore in the lateral decubitus position in Neurosurgery Department.

Objective To find an effective and convenient restraint band for the upper limb of the non-compression side for the patients in the lateral decubitus operation in the Neurosurgery Department. Methods From August 2017 to March 2018, patients in the lateral decubitus operation in the Neurosurgery Department,who from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, were selected as the research objects. The self-made posture restraint belt was made of professional exercise shoulder, forearm sheath, binding band and magic stick. By using random number table produced by SPSS 22.0 edition, 160 patients who underwent lateral decubitus operation in the Neurosurgery Department were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 80 cases in each group. In the control group, the conventional shoulder straps and wrist restraint bands were used, while the self-made lateral decubitus upper limb restraint band was used in the observation group. The differences of the time of lateral decubitus placement, the incidence of pressure sore in the non-compression side of the upper limb and the efficiency of restraint were observed and compared between the two groups. Results The time of lateral decubitus placement (365.97±42.08) s and the incidence of pressure sore in the non-compression side upper limb (10.0%) were higher than those of the observation group[ (302.69± 38.25)s, 1.3%]. The differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The efficiency (100.0%) of the non-compression side upper limb restraint in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (91.3%). The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusions The self-made upper limb restraint band for neurosurgery lateral position can effectively expose the surgical field, improve the comfort degree of patients, and improve the efficiency of posture placement and restraint.