Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Mouth ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries ; therapy

OBJETCTIVE:To establish a method for the content determination of ethacridine lactate in Compound ethacridine ointment. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 with mobile phase of 0.1% Octanesulfon-ic acid sodium solution-acetonitrile(70∶30,V/V)at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 270 nm,the column temperature was 30℃,and the injection volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:The linear range of ethacridine lactate was 10.002-50.010μg/ml(r=0.999 9);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were less than 1%;recovery was 98.96%-100.36%(RSD=0.49%,n=9). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,accurate and reproducible,and can be used for content determina-tion of ethacridine lactate in Compound ethacridine ointment.

Objective:To summarize the experience of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG) in the treatment of bladder cancer secondary to renal transplantation.Methods:The clinical data of 5 patients who underwent BCG bladder irrigation after secondary bladder cancer after kidney transplantation in Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019 were analyzed. There were 1 male and 4 female cases. During the period of immunosuppression after transplantation, 1 case developed secondary high-level non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), 3 cases developed secondary low-grade NMIBC, and 1 case developed secondary glandular cystitis (4 cases). The mean age of the 5 patients with secondary bladder cancer was 59.7±4.0 years. Case one with high level NMIBC was treated with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and postoperative irrigation of epirubicin. Case 3 and 5 with low-level NMIBC accepted regular postoperative irrigation of gemcitabine. No irrigative therapy was performed in case 2. Bladder cancer recurred in case 1, 2, 3 and 5 after 20.1±9.7 months. TURBT was observed in all the 4 patients, among which 3 were of high grade NMIBC and 1 was of low grade NMIBC. Four patients were irrigated with BCG 2 weeks after operation. Postoperative pathology indicated low-level NMIBC in case 4, and BCG was irrigated 2 weeks after the operation. During perfusion therapy, immunosuppressive agents were continued.Results:During BCG perfusion, 4 of the 5 cases showed BCG related local inflammation, among which 2 cases presented symptoms of bladder irritation, 1 case presented hematuria, and 1 case presented hematuria with low fever. Patients with frequent urination, pain in urine, hematuria and other symptoms improved after drinking plenty of water, taking bed rest and taking levofloxacin (0.5g/ day ×7 days). Patients with low fever were treated with antipyretic treatment. No antituberculous agents were used prophylactically during BCG perfusion. There were no symptoms of tuberculosis infection or sepsis. The function of transplantated kidney was normal and no tendency of rejection. The 5 patients were followed up for 7-24 months, 1 patient was lost to follow-up after 7 months of BCG bladder perfusion, and no tumor recurrence or metastasis was found in 5 patients during the follow-up.Conclusions:The use of immunosuppressive agents does not reduce the biological activity of BCG, and BCG does not increase the risk of systemic toxicity or affect the function of transplanted kidneys in immunocompromised patients. BCG is a treatment option for bladder cancer secondary to renal transplantation.

Objective To purify Shiga toxin Ⅱ (STX Ⅱ) of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157: H7 by affinity chromatography, and characterize its biological function. Methods The immno-affinity chromatography column was prepared by STX Ⅱ A subunit-specific antibody S1D8 coupling to Sepharose 4B matrix. The purity and specificity of STX Ⅱ molecule secreted by EHEC O157:H7 were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot, respectively. The purified toxin was serially diluted and the toxic activities to Vero cell line and mice were observed. The 50% cytotoxic dose (CD50) for Vero cell line and 100% lethal dose (LD100) for mice were calculated. The protection effect of anti-STX Ⅱ polysera to the mice against the purified toxin challenge was also observed. Results STX Ⅱ was successfully purified from culture supernatant of EHEC O157:H7 using affinity chromatography scheme. The relative molecular weights of STX Ⅱ A and B subunits were 32 000 and 7 500 confirmed by SDS-PAGE, respectively. The purified toxin could react with monoclonal antibodies against STX Ⅱ A and B subunits, respectively.The toxin was cytotoxic to Vero cell with CD50 of 20 ng/L and lethal to mice with LD100 of 5 ng.The toxin could be neutralized by anti-STX Ⅱ polysera in vivo. Conclusion STX Ⅱ is successfully purified and its toxic effects are confirmed in both cell line and mouse model.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of region of interest (ROI) on measurement of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained in diffusion-weighted (DW) MR sequences between spinal tuberculosis and malignancy, selecting the more reasonable and effective measurement of ADC value. We collected the conventional MR sequences and diffusion-weighted imaging data of thirty-two patients with spinal tuberculosis or malignancy confirmed clinically and pathologically from August 2009 to June 2010. Using the conventional MRI as a guide, the signal intensity (SI) and ADC value were calculated by selecting single ROI and the same area multi-ROI within whole lesion at the largest slice of lesion respectively. Using ADC value defined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis as threshold, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ADC value for diagnosing spinal tuberculosis were compared. The results showed that the mean of ADC value at signal ROI was lower than that at the multi-ROI. There was no significant difference between the ADC value of single ROI and multi-ROI. The ADC values from spinal tuberculosis and spinal malignancy obtained in single ROI or multi-ROI showed significant differences. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ADC value for differentiating tuberculosis from neoplastic infiltration at signal ROI is lower than that at the multi-ROI. In conclusion, the ADC acquired multi-ROI can describe preferablywater molecular diffusion and is more useful in differentiating spinal tuberculosis from malignant bone marrow lesions.
Adult ; Algorithms ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; diagnosis

Objective:To evaluate the role of TANK-binding kinase-1 (TBK1) in renal fibrosis in mice with acute kidney injury (AKI) and relationship with endoplasmic reticulum stress.Methods:Twenty-four male wild-type C57BL/6 mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group CON), group AKI, control plus TBK1 inhibitor group (group CON-GSK) and AKI plus TBK1 inhibitor group (group AKI-GSK). In group AKI and group AKI-GSK, folic acid 250 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected to prepare AKI model.From the first day after folic acid injection, 1% dimethyl sulfoxide 20 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected every other day in group AKI, and GSK8612 1.5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected every other day in group AKI-GSK, 7 times in total.In group CON and group CON-GSK, 1% dimethyl sulfoxide 20 ml/kg and GSK8612 1.5 mg/kg were intraperitoneally injected, respectively, every other day for 7 times in total.On the 14th day after injection of folic acid, the eyeball blood samples were taken to determine the concentrations of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr), and the kidney tissues were also extracted, and the pathological results of renal tissue were observed by Sirius red staining, Masson staining and HE staining.The area of renal fibrosis was measured and the tubulointerstitial injury score was calculated.The expression of fibronectin, type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin was detected by immunofluorescence.The expression of phosphorylated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (p-PERK), phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α), activated transcription factor 4 (ATF4), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), phosphorylated inositol-requiring kinase 1α (p-IRE1α), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), apoptosis-regulating signal kinase 1 (ASK1), caspase-12 and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (p-JNK) was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with group CON, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations, area of renal fibrosis and renal tubulointerstitial injury score were significantly increased, and the expression of fibronectin, type I collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, p-IRE1α, TRAF2, ASK1, caspase-12, and p-JNK was up-regulated in group AKI and group AKI-GSK ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the indexes mentioned above in group CON-GSK ( P>0.05). Compared with group AKI, the serum BUN and Cr concentrations, area of renal fibrosis, and tubulointerstitial injury score were significantly decreased, and the expression of fibronectin, type I collagen, α-smooth muscle actin, p-PERK, p-eIF2α, ATF4, CHOP, p-IRE1α, TRAF2, ASK1, caspase-12, and p-JNK was down-regulated in group AKI-GSK ( P<0.05). Conclusions:TBK1 is involved in the process of renal fibrosis in mice with AKI, and the mechanism may be related to the promotion of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of cerebral-placental-uterine ratio(CPUR)in predicting late-on-set fetal growth restriction(FGR).Methods:From May 2020 to May 2021,1255 women with singleton pregnancy who underwent prenatal examinations at the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital were selected for fetal growth and Doppler measurements at 35-37 +6 weeks of gestation.Pregnant women with birth weight of newbo-rns＜the 10th percentile were the FGR group.The pulsatility index(PI)of uterine artery(UtA),umbilical artery(UA)and fetal middle cerebral artery(MCA)were analyzed separately and in combination.ROC curve was used to analyze the cerebral-placental-uterine ratio(CPUR),cerebral-placental ratio(CPR),cerebral-uterine ratio(C-UtA)for predicting late-onset FGR;and to evaluate the sensitivity,positive and negative predictive value and of CPUR in the prediction of late-onset FGR.Results:The area under the curve(AUC)of CPUR,CPR,C-UtA and mean UtA-PI for FGR grope were 0.88,0.86,0.84 and 0.72.Under certain cut-off values and 87% specificity,the specificity of CPUR,CPR,C-UtA and mean UtA-Pifor predicting FGR group was 43.2%,46.6%,39.8% and 23.9%,respectively.The positive predictive values of CPUR,CPR,C-UtA and mean UtA-PI,UA-PI for predicting FGR group were 90.5%,71.9%,83.3%,63.6%and 5.2%,respectively.Conclusions:CPUR is more effective in predicting late onset FGR than CPR,C-UtA and mean UtA-PI.It can effectively increase the detection rate of fetal growth restrictionand reduce the FGR risk.

ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of TCM constitution distribution in hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with dysplastic nodules （DN）， and to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of precancerous lesions of liver cancer. MethodsThis study was conducted among 113 hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with DN， 105 hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with regenerative nodules （RN）， and 70 hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma （sHCC） who were hospitalized in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2015 to March 2023. Related data were collected， including age， sex， liver function Child-Pugh class， TCM constitution type， and laboratory markers. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups； the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups， and the Bonferroni correction method was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsThe main TCM constitution types of hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with DN were Qi-deficiency constitution （27 patients， 23.89%）， blood-stasis constitution （26 patients， 23.01%）， and phlegm-dampness constitution （23 patients， 20.35%）. There were significant differences between the three groups in the proportion of patients with phlegm-dampness constitution or damp-heat constitution （χ²=6.822 and 6.383， both P<0.05）； the hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with RN had the highest proportion of patients with phlegm-dampness constitution （30.48%）， followed by those with DN （20.35%） and those with sHCC （14.29%）， while the hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with sHCC had the highest proportion of patients with damp-heat constitution （27.14%）， followed by those with DN （16.81%） and those with RN （12.38%）. There were significant differences between the hepatitis B cirrhosis DN patients with different TCM constitution types in sex， age， Child-Pugh class， prealbumin， albumin （Alb）， aspartate aminotransferase， total bilirubin （TBil）， total bile acid， and alpha-fetoprotein （all P<0.05）. Compared with the male hepatitis B cirrhosis DN patients， female patients showed a significantly higher proportion of patients with Qi-deficiency constitution （χ²=4.895， P=0.027）. Among the patients with Qi-deficiency constitution， the patients with Child-Pugh class A liver function accounted for a significantly lower proportion than those with Child-Pugh class B liver function （χ²=6.380， P=0.012）， while among the patients with phlegm-dampness constitution， the patients with Child-Pugh class A liver function accounted for a significantly higher proportion than those with Child-Pugh class B liver function （χ²=8.515， P=0.004）. The patients with phlegm-dampness constitution had significantly higher levels of prealbumin and Alb than those with the other four constitutions （all P<0.05）， as well as significantly lower levels of TBil and total bile acid than those with damp-heat constitution （P<0.05）； the patients with Yin-deficiency constitution had a significantly lower level of Alb than those with qi-deficiency constitution， blood-stasis constitution， or phlegm-dampness constitution （all P<0.05）； the patients with Yin-deficiency constitution had a significantly lower proportion of patients with abnormal alpha-fetoprotein than those with non-Yin-deficiency constitutions （χ²=4.448， P=0.035）. ConclusionHepatitis B cirrhosis patients with DN mainly have the TCM constitution types of Qi deficiency， blood stasis， and phlegm dampness. The patients with phlegm-dampness constitution seem to have a low probability of carcinogenesis， while those with damp-heat constitution and Yin-deficiency constitution have a relatively high risk of carcinogenesis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Zishen Huoxue prescription on promoting neurogenesis in hippocampal CA1 region of vascular dementia （VD） rats by regulating mitophagy. MethodThe 2-VO method was used to establish the VD rat model and 60 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， donepezil hydrochloride group， and Zishen Huoxue prescription low-dose（8.9 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose（17.8 g·kg^-1） and high-dose（35.6 g·kg^-1） groups. Morris water maze test was performed to detect the escape latency and the number of crossing platform in each group. The expression of phosphatase and tensin homology-induced kinase 1 （PINK1） and Parkinson protein （Parkin） mRNA in hippocampal CA1 region was detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）. Western blot was used to determine the expression of mitochondrial autophagy signaling pathway-related proteins Parkin， prohibitin 2 （PHB2）， mitofusin 2 （Mfn2） and dynamin-related protein 1 （Drp1） in hippocampal CA1 region. The neurogenesis in hippocampal CA1 region was tested by Brdu method. ResultCompared with the conditions in the sham operation group， the learning and spatial memory abilities of the model group were decreased （P<0.05）， with damaged mitochondrial structure and autolysosome formation in the hippocampal CA1 region. The expressions of Parkin， Pink1 mRNA and Parkin， PHB2， and Drp1 proteins were up-regulated （P<0.05）， while the expression of Mfn2 protein and the neuronal regeneration in hippocampal CA1 region were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.05）. Compared with the conditions in the model group， Zishen Huoxue prescription enhanced the learning and spatial memory abilities of VD rats （P<0.05）， increased the number of autophagosomes in hippocampal CA1 region and improved the mitochondrial structure. The expression of Parkin， Pink1 mRNA and Parkin， PHB2， and Drp1 proteins in hippocampal CA1 region was up-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）while the expression of Mfn2 protein was down-regulated（P<0.05， P<0.01）. The number of new neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was also increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe promoting effect of Zishen Huoxue prescription on the neurogenesis in hippocampal CA1 region of VD rats was related to the mitophagy mediated by Pink1/Parkin signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and predictive indicators of stellate ganglion block （SGB） as an adjunctive intervention for chronic subjective tinnitus and accumulate experience for the application of SGB in the clinical treatment of tinnitus. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted on the data of chronic subjective tinnitus patients who received SGB intervention， with unsatisfactory outcomes otherwise. Pure tone audiometry （PTA）， tinnitus loudness evaluation and Pittsburgh sleep quality index （PSQI） were used. The tinnitus handicap inventory （THI） scores were compared before and after SGB intervention. Correlation analysis and linear regression equations were employed to identify the potential indicators predicting the effectiveness of SGB intervention. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 24.0 software. ResultsBy April 2023， a total of 107 patients with chronic subjective tinnitus had undergone SGB intervention， including 67 male and 40 female， with a mean age of （45.32±11.40） years old and an average tinnitus history of （20.32±24.64） months ［16 （12~20）］. Only 7 patients （6.54%） quitted the intervention for personal reasons， which demonstrated good compliance with the intervention. No patients experienced adverse reactions such as infection at the injection site， hematoma， nerve injury， local anesthetic intoxication and so on， which revealed good safety. After SGB intervention， THI scores decreased to below 36 points in 77 patients and decrease by 10 points or more in 12 of the remaining patients， with a total effective rate of 89%. A paired sample t-test showed a significant difference in THI scores before and after SGB intervention （t=15.575， P<0.001）， indicating good improvement. Pearson correlation analysis suggested that pre-intervention THI scores and subjective tinnitus loudness were significantly positively correlated with the improvement level of THI scores （P<0.05）. Further stepwise linear regression analysis found that "pre-intervention THI scores" had statistical significance （P<0.001）， with a regression coefficient of 0.308， predicting a 17.4% improvement level in THI scores. ConclusionsDue to its good and safe short-term effects， SGB intervention can be used as a supplementary option for chronic subjective tinnitus when other interventions are not ideal， especially for patients with higher THI scores. However， further research is needed to clarify the long-term efficacy and underlying mechanisms， in order to establish a more solid theoretical basis for SGB intervention in the treatment of subjective tinnitus.