Nanomaterials appear to be promising for a number of applications in in-vitro diagnostics, mainly due to the biocompatibility, specific surface and conduction activity. The use of nanostructures as diagnostic tools has the advantage of very low limit of detection achievable, high sensitivity, strong selectivity and the possibility to fabricate point-of-care diagnostic devices. With the problems of nanotechnology solved, nanomaterials had already put a broad impact in the field of clinical medical examination.
Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology

BACKGROUND:There are many animal models used for studying discogenic pain, but percutaneous puncture annulus is rarely reported. Minimal y invasive approach to establish a discogenic pain model in Spraque-Dawley rats could reduce the interference factors of surgical trauma.
OBJECTIVE:To establish a Spraque-Dawley rat model of discogenic pain by percutaneous puncture annulus, with easy operations, high stability and obtaining large-scale productions, and to confirm the model by the results of behavior, MRI and molecular biology.
METHODS:Eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, of specific pathogen free level, were randomly divided into three groups, model group (n=44), control group (n=10) and sham group (n=34). In the model group, the annulus was percutaneously punctured under X-ray guidance;while rats in the sham group were punctured at the paravertebral tissue, rather than the annulus.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The 50%mechanical withdrawal threshold of both hind paws in model group were reduced compared with control group and sham group. In the model group, the L 5/6 intervertebral disc degeneration was apparently visible, and the degree of degeneration was aggravated along the time. In the model group, the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide in dorsal root ganglion of rats began to increase at 3 days post-operation and reached the peak at 21 days post-operation, then remained at high levels until the 35th day post-operation. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-αin dorsal root ganglion of rats increased at 3 days post-operation and reached the peak at 14 days post-operation, then remained at a higher level until the 35th day post-operation. The experiment result verifies that the discogenic pain model of Spraque-Dawley rats induced by percutaneous puncture annulus has the advantages of good stability and less trauma. The model can be used to study discogenic pain.

Objective To assess the value of combination of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)and dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in astrocytoma grading.Methods SWI and DSC scans were performed in 82 patients with pathologically confirmed astrocytoma.The patient group consisted of grade Ⅱ (15),grade Ⅲ (10),and grade Ⅳ (57).The intratumoral susceptibility signal intensity (ITSS) and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) max were used to determine the grade of astrocytomas by Kruskal Wallis test,Welch test,Spearman correlation coefficients,Pearson correlation coefficients,and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC)statistic methods.Results There were no ITSS in 14 cases of low-grade astrocytomas,the degree of ITSS were grade 1 to 3 in anaplastic astrocytomas,the degree of ITSS were grade 3 in all of the glioblastomas,the degree of ITSS were significant difference in all grades (H =71.96,P ＜ 0.01).rCBV max in grade Ⅱ,grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ astrocytomas were 1.26 ± 0.42,3.59 ± 2.09 and 8.34 ± 1.16 respectively,rCBV max were significant difference in all grades (F' =681.72,P ＜ 0.01).ITSS showed significant correlation with rCBV max (r =0.72,P ＜0.01) and tumor grades (r =0.89,P ＜0.01),and rCBV and tumor grades showed significant correlation (r =0.78,P ＜ 0.01).Area under the ROC curve application SWI,DSC,SWI and DSC in differentiation of the grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ astrocytomas were 0.99,0.93,1.00,differentiate grade Ⅲ from grade Ⅳ were 0.70,0.94,0.94,and differentiate high-grade from low-grade astrocytomas were 1.00,0.99,1.00.Conclusions ITSS is helpful to determine the grade of astrocytomas.The use of SWI in combination with DSC may improve the diagnostic accuracy of astrocytoma grading.

Objective To investigate the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its macrovascular complications. Methods Serum CRP levels were assayed by ELISA, which were determined in type 2 DM patients with or without macrovascular complication (88 and 64 cases respectively), non-DM patients presenting with macrovascular disease (72 cases), as well as impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (62 cases) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (70 cases) patients and normal controls (80 subjects). Results In general, CRP levels in IGT patients, type 2 DM patients and non-DM patients presenting with macrovascular disease were higher than those of normal controls (P

Aim: To search for novel α_1-adrenoceptor(α_1-AR) antagonists. Methods: On the basis of hybridization principle with silodosin as the lead compound, twelve 5-[2-[4-[ ( substituted phenoxy) alkyl] piperazin-1-yl] propyl] indoline compounds were designed and synthesized by maintaining indoline while incorporating the 1-[(substituted phenoxy) alkyl] piperazine group. Results: The structures of synthesized target compounds were confirmed by the elemental analysis, IR, ESI-MS and ~1H NMR. Preliminary pharmacological test showed that pA_2 values of six target compounds were greater than 7. 50, which suggested that the compounds possessed considerable α_1-AR antagonic activity. Conclusion: 5-[2-[4-[ ( substituted phenoxy) alkyl] piperazin-1-yl] propyl] indoline compounds is potentially a new candidate for α_1-AR antagonist.

Objective To evaluate the impact of the re-modified Sugiura procedure on portal hemodynamics and liver function in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.Methods Forty patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent the re-modified Sugiura procedure in the Yichang Second People's Hospital from June 2006 to October 2014 were studied.Changes in the free portal pressure (FPP),portal venous flow (PVF) and liver functions before and after operation were analyzed.Results (1) The FPP at different phases of the operation (after opening the abdomen,after splenectomy,and after devascularization) were (43.2 ± 1.8) cmH2O,(34.8 ± 1.6) cmH2O and (35.2 ± 1.7) cmH2O,respectively.There were significant differences in FPP between the phases of after splenectomy and after opening the abdomen,as well as after devascularization and after opening the abdomen (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in FPP between after devascularization and after splenectomy (P ＞ O.05).(2) The PVF,which were measured with Doppler sonography at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months),were (1 420.4 ± 137.7) ml/min,(1 205.2 ± 126.7) ml/min,(875.8 ± 118.0) ml/min and (893.8 ± 114.7) n1/min,respectively.There were significant differences in PVF between postoperative 10 days and preoperative 1 day,between postoperative 6 months and postoperative 10 days,as well as between postoperative 18 months and preoperative 1 day (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in PVF between postoperative 18 months and postoperative 6 months (P ＞0.05).(3)The liver functions were evaluated using the Child-Pugh score at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months).There were no significant differences among the time points,(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The re-modified Sugiura's procedure durably,appropriately and effectively reduced the PVF and FPP,but it did not have any negative effects on the liver functions of patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND:Primates are considered to be the most appropriate animal model of lumbar intervertebraldisc degeneration, but the disc degenerated characteristics of monkeys were rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To verify the degenerated regularity and characteristics of lumbar intervertebral disks in rhesus monkeys with magnetic resonance T2 mapping and T1ρimaging technology. METHODS:The sagittal lumbar intervertebral disc magnetic resonance T2 weighted imaging,T2 weighted mapping imaging and T1ρweighted imaging of 63 adult rhesus monkeys were acquired on 1.5T magnetic resonance equipment. The T2-map value and T1ρvalue of lumbar intervertebral disc regions of interest were calculated on the post-processing workstation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) This study obtained 425 better magnetic resonance images of lumbar intervertebral disks in adult rhesus monkeys. T2-map value and T1ρvalue of nucleus pulposus were most consistent by different persons, and the Kappa coefficient was more than 0.93. (2) The T2-map value and T1ρvalue of nucleus pulposus were both negatively correlated significantly with Pfirrmann grades (r=-0.842, P<0.01;r=-0.896, P<0.01). The T1ρvalue and T2-map value of nucleus pulposus were significantly statistical y different between Pfirrmann grades I-IV (P<0.001, P<0.001). The T1ρvalue of nucleus pulposus was negatively correlated significantly with Pfirrmann grade II-III (r=-0.517, P<0.01) and Pfirrmann grade IV-V (r=-0.499, P<0.01). The T2-map value of nucleus pulposus was also negatively correlated significantly with Pfirrmann grade II-III (r=-0.617, P<0.01) and Pfirrmann grade IV-V (r=-0.652, P<0.01). (3) The T2-map value of L1-2 and L2-3 segments nucleus pulposus were significantly lower than that in L6-7 and L7-S1 segments (P<0.05). (4) There were significant differences in age among the T1ρvalue and T2-map value of nucleus pulposus (r=-0.702, P<0.001, r=-0.730, P<0.001). (5) It is concluded that magnetic resonance T2 mapping and T1ρimaging technology can objectively and sensitively assess the degenerated process of nucleus pulposus in rhesus monkeys. The degeneration in upper lumbar segments (L1-2 and L2-3) was earlier and more severe than that in lower lumbar segments (L6-7 and L7-S1) in rhesus monkeys. Age is one of the most important factors in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of adult rhesus monkeys.

Objective To explore the effects of extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression at different glucose-lowing rates,and the influence of glucose-lowing rate on cardiomyocyte injury and inflammatory secretion function,as well as its mechanism.Methods Cardiomyocytes of Wistar neonate rat were maintained in medium supplemented with 25 mmol/L glucose for 72 h.Then the medium was changed to different concentrations of glucose and all cells were divided into five groups.Group A was control group whose medium supplemented with 25 mmol/L glucose.Medium of group B,C,D,E was supplemented with 20,15,10,5 mmol/L glucose (glucose-lowing rate was 5,10,15,20 mmol/L) respectively.Survival rate of cardiomyocyte was measured by CCK8 kit.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry instrument and laser confocal microscope after Annexin V-PI.TNF-α was measured by ELISA.ERK1/2 protein and phosphorylation were measured by Western blot.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis and TNF-α levels were measured again after U0126 was added.Results At the same time point,along with the glucose-lowing rate increased,survival rate of cardiomyocyte in group A was increased and those in group C,D,E were decreased (P＜ 0.05).TNF-α concentration was increased in group B,C,D and decreased in group E.After 24 h,apoptosis rate decreased in group B and increased in group C,D,E (P＜0.05).ERK1/2 phosphorylation level increased in group B,D,and E(P＜0.05).The ERK1/2 phosphorylation level in group B was the lowest.After U0126 was added,survival rates of cardiomyocyte in all groups were increased (P＜0.01) while TNF-α concentrations were decreased (P＜0.05).In every group,survival rate of eardiomyocyte after 48 h was lower than that after 3 h and 24 h,while TNF-α concentration was higher (P＜0.05).Conclusion Influence of glucose-lowering rate for cardiomyocyte apoptosis and TNF-o is caused by ERK1/2 pathway.In the glucose-lowering course,ERK1/2 pathway promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis and TNF-α secretion is related with not only osmotic pressure,but also ERK1/2 signal pathway activation as well.

Objective To investigate the total number, reasons, and distributing characteristics of vagrant psychosis patients in Xi'an. Methods The colony random sample in 4 objective research units from 2005 to 2010 in Xi'an, Shaanxi were included. Databank was set up according to the total number of vagrant psychosis patients based on basic information. Grading statistics was used. Results Total number of vagrant psychosis patients and salvation needs increased year by year in Xi'an. Home return and social assistance were the main approaches for distributing characteristics of medical assistance. Conclusion The total number of vagrant psychosis patients is relative large. Such number is increasing year by year in Xi'an. A better treatment and diagnostic system for vagrant psychosis patients should be set up governmentally as quickly as possible.

OBJECTIVETo compare the perioperative complications between Ivor-Lewis approach and McKeown approach in minimally invasive esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction for the treatment of middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.

METHODSRetrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 288 patients with middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent completely minimally invasive esophagectomy by one surgical team in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from December 2010 to March 2014. Among the 288 patients, 103 patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy and intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis using a transoral anvil(Orvil)(Ivor-Lewis group, 2-incision) and 185 patients underwent combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy and cervical anastomosis(McKeown group, 3-incision). Patients were stratified by surgical approach and perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no statistical differences between two groups in intra-operative blood loss, conversion to open, extubation time, time to resume oral intake, postoperative hospital stay, the median number of lymph nodes resected. The operation time of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly shorter than that of McKeown group [(283.4±32.0) min vs. (303.6±43.7) min, P=0.003). The hospital cost of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly higher than that of McKeown group [(76 492±18 553) yuan vs. (68 923±17 331) yuan, P<0.01]. There were no statistical differences between two groups in chylothorax, delayed gastric emptying, atrial fibrillation, postoperative bleeding, admission to ICU, short-term postoperative mortality (P>0.05). The total postoperative complication morbidity of Ivor-Lewis group was significantly lower than that of McKeown group(16.5% vs. 31.4%, P<0.01). Ivor-Lewis group had lower pulmonary complication(8.7% vs. 25.9%, P<0.01), anastomotic leakage(1.9% vs. 13.0%, P<0.01), anastomotic stricture (0% vs. 4.9%, P<0.05), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury(1.0% vs. 7.0%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIvor-Lewis approach is associated with less postoperative complications, but higher cost as compared to McKeown approach in the treatment of middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies