ObjectiveTo investigate influence of sedation and analgesia on stress reaction of post-cardiac surgery in infants with congenital heart disease.MethodsForty children with congenital heart disease were randomly divided into 2 groups after cardiac surgery.The analgesia group was given 0.5-2.0 ?g/(kg?h) fentanyl intravenous infusion in 20 children undergoing cardiovascular surgery.The control group was given 5-8 mg/(kg?dose) lbuprofen orally.Midaiolam 0.01-0.20 mg/(kg?h) was used in 2 groups for sedation by intravenous infusion or 0.05-0.10 mg/(kg?dose)by intravenous push intermittently.The effects and adverse effects of sedation and analgesia were observed on 2,8,24,48 h after surgery in each group.The levels of cortisol,growth hormone,insulin and blood glucose were measured,respectively.ResultsThere were significant differences in Ramsay,Comfort value on 2,8,24 h(Pa

Melittin exhibits high antibacterial potency against drug-resistant bacteria. However, the clinical utility of melittin is limited by its serious hemolytic activity. Thus, the need for developing novel melittin analogues with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity has grown. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated 20 novel melittin analogues with varying hydrophobic, polar or positively charged amino acids. The results showed that 8 compounds had antimicrobial activity (MIC: 1-4 μg·mL^-1) against gram-positive pathogens equal to or better than that of melittin, and 16 compounds had low hemolytic activity (HC₅₀ ≥ 11.9 μg·mL^-1). Compounds 13 (MIC: 2-4 μg·mL^-1) and 15 (MIC: 1-2 μg·mL^-1) showed equal or better antimicrobial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium compared to melittin (MIC: 4 μg·mL^-1). Compound 13 (HC₅₀: 24.0 ± 4.3 μg·mL^-1) displayed noticeably decreased hemolytic activity compared to melittin (HC₅₀: 5.3 ± 0.4 μg·mL^-1). This work established a base for further study on the structure-activity relationships and structure-toxicity relationships of melittin.

OBJECTIVESeven cases of autopsy from SARS patients are studied to investigate the pathogenesis and the pathologic changes of the major organs.

METHODSDetailed gross and microscopic examination of the autopsy specimen is performed, including lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and lymph nodes.

RESULTSAll of the lungs are markedly enlarged and consolidated. Microscopically, pulmonary edema is a prominent finding, especially at the early stage of the disease (5 days after the onset). The alveolar spaces are filled with fibrinous exudates and lined with hyaline membrane. In 5 cases that undergo over 3 weeks of the course, the main pattern is organization of intra-alveolar deposit, along with fibroblastic proliferation in the alveolar septa, which leads to obliteration of alveolar space and pulmonary fibrosis. All of the lungs show bronchopneumonia, scattered hemorrhage, and proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells with desquamation. Microthrombi are seen in 6 cases. Fungal infection is noted in 2 cases. One of them is disseminative, involving bilateral lungs, heart, and kidney; the other one is diagnosed in hilar lymph nodes. In immune system, hilar and abdominal lymph nodes are usually congested and hemorrhagic, with depletion of lymphocytes, and accompanied with subcapsular sinus histiocytosis. One of the cases shows enlargement of abdominal lymph nodes, which have reduced number of germinal centers. Spleen exhibits atrophy of white pulps, and even lost of white pulps in some areas. The red pulp is markedly congested and hemorrhagic. In 5 cases, cardiomegale is prominent. Thrombosis (2 cases), focal myocarditis (1 case), and fungal myocarditis (1 case) are observed. In addition, liver shows massive necrosis (1 case) and nodular cirrhosis (1 case).

CONCLUSIONSLung is the major organ affected by SARS, demonstrated as diffuse alveolar damage. It is postulated that viral infection induces severe damage of alveolar epithelial and capillary endothelial cells, leads to pulmonary edema, intra-alveolar fibrin deposit, and hyaline membrane formation. Consequently, intra-alveolar organization and alveolar septal fibrosis causes loss of alveolar spaces, eventually, pulmonary fibrosis and atelectasis. The immune system is often affected, and presented as depletion of lymphoid tissue in lymph nodes and spleen. Secondary infection is a common complication, which should be paid close attention in the management of SARS patients.

Adrenal Glands ; pathology ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology ; Spleen ; pathology

Endothelin-3 (ET-3) is aberrantly expressed in both metastatic melanoma tissues and cultured melanoma cells. Our previous work showed that ET-3 could promote survival of metastatic melanoma cells via its altered expression. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for these gene-induced phenotypes in melanoma cells. An ET-3 gene sequence-specific shRNA vector pLVTHM-ET3-RNAi was constructed and transfected into human malignant melanoma cells A375 and MMRU, and the resultant molecular events and cellular changes were examined. As compared with the empty-vector group, cell proliferation was slowed down, and the growth inhibition rates were 38.9% in A375 cells and 38.4% in MMRU cells after transfection. In addition, cell invasion capability was also inhibited, with a reduction of 62.2% in A375 cells and 54.3% in MMRU cells. The percentage of apoptotic cells was found to increase. Meanwhile, in both cell lines, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) levels were down-regulated together with inhibition of its upstream signaling molecule, NF-κB. Thus, the current results suggested that down-regulated expression of ET3 attenuates the malignant behaviors of human melanoma cells partially by decreasing the expression of SPARC and NF-κB.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Endothelin-3 ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Osteonectin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the morphological features of the lungs obtained from autopsies of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.

METHODSBilateral lungs from 7 patients died from SARS were carefully studied grossly and microscopically. All tissues from these cases were routinely processed and carefully studied.

RESULTSAll lungs from these cases were extremely expanded and became solid. Microscopically, the edema and fibrin exudates in the alveoli was the most common findings, especially in the early phase of the disease. The hyaline membrane was almost always present in the lungs of these cases. The organization of intra-alveolar fibrin exudates along with the interstitial fibrosis led to obliteration of alveoli and consolidation of lungs. The desquamation and hyperplasia of alveolar lining cells was also apparent. Foci of haemorrhage and lobular pneumonia, even diffuse fungal infection were frequently seen in these specimens. Micro-thrombus were easily found in these lungs.

CONCLUSIONSThe lung of SARS from autopsy is characterized by edema, intra-alveolar fibrin exudates, hyaline membrane formation, organization of intra-alveolar exudates and fibrosis, which lead to the obliteration of alveoli and consolidation of lungs.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features of occupational chronic toxic peripheral neuropathy caused by1-bromopropan( 1-BP). METHODS: Clinical data of 4 patients who suffered from occupational chronic toxic peripheral neuropathy caused by 1-BP were collected for retrospective analysis. RESULTS: The 4 male patients were ultrasonic cleaning operation workers in a hardware vacuum coating enterprise. They were exposed to high levels of 1-BP for 9-11 months. The main clinical manifestations were varying degrees of sensory disorder and dyskinesia. The main symptoms were progressive increase of numbness and fatigue in the lower extremities. These symptoms might be accompanied by unsteady gait.Physical examination showed muscle strength weakness in the double lower limbs. The hypalgesia,pselaphesia,topesthesia and pallesthesia decreased in the double lower limbs or 4 limbs. The bilateral achilles tendon reflex mainly showed reduced or disappeared. One case had sensory ataxia. Electroneuromyography examination showed different levels of peripheral nerve damage among the cases. The motor nerve conduction velocity and sensory nerve conduction velocity reduced commonly. The axon and myelin sheath damage were visible. On the basis of GBZ / T 247-2013 Diagnosis of Occupational Chronic Toxic Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Chemicals,these cases were diagnosed as occupational chronic toxic peripheral neuropathy caused by 1-BP. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to high level 1-BP can lead to chronic poisoning with peripheral nervous system damage. The diagnosis can be made based on the 1-BP exposure history,clinical features and the neurogenic damage found in electroneuromyography examination.

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize the analgesic compounds of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb. The EtOAc crude extracts from the aerial parts of Artemisa sacrorum Ledeb were separated by chromatography and the structures of new compounds were elucidated based on spectral analyses. Analgesic activities of the isolated compounds were assessed in rats with hot plate test and paw pressure assay. Two new flavone C-glycosides, named as Sacroroside A and B (Compounds 1 and 2) were isolated from the EtOAc crude extract of the aerial parts ofArtemisa sacrorum Ledeb. They showed significant analgesic effects. In conclusion, Compounds 1 and 2 are new natural products, which show significant analgesic effects in a dose-dependent manner.
Analgesics ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; Molecular Structure ; Pain ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Components, Aerial ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Pressure ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cadmium chloride on the expression of kidney injury molecule-1( KIM-1)in human renal tubular epithelial cells( HK-2 cells). METHODS: HK-2 cells at logarithmic phase were divided into a control group and 5 treatment groups that were treated with 5. 0,10. 0,20. 0,50. 0 and 100. 0 μmol / L of cadmium chloride dissolved in phosphate buffer solution. Cell pathology observation was carried out after 24 hours of cultivation. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay was used to calculate the survival rate of HK-2 cells. The expression of KIM-1 mRNA and protein were detected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis respectively.RESULTS: There were no cellular morphologic change in HK-2 cells in the control group,the 5. 0 and 10. 0 μmol / L groups;the HK-2 cells showed different degree of swellings or vacuoles in the 20. 0 and 50. 0 μmol / L groups; a large number of cells were found dead in the 100. 0 μmol / L group. The cell survival rates of HK-2 cells in the 20. 0,50. 0 and 100. 0μmol /L groups were lower than those of control group,the 5. 0 and 10. 0 μmol /L groups( P < 0. 05). The pairwise comparison among survival rates of the 20. 0,50. 0 and 100. 0 μmol / L groups showed significant difference( P < 0. 05).The expression levels of KIM-1 mRNA and protein in the 20. 0 and 50. 0 μmol / L groups were higher than those of control group,the 5. 0 and 10. 0 μmol / L groups( P < 0. 05). The levels of KIM-1 mRNA and protein in the 50. 0 μmol / L group were higher than those of the 20. 0 μmol / L group( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Cadmium chloride at certain concentration can increase the expression of KIM-1 mRNA and protein in HK-2 cells. Therefore,the expression of KIM-1 could be used as one of the effect biomarkers for cadmium induced kidney tubule injury.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of the bilateral external ears of Uygur adults by directly observing the morphological characteristics of the external ears of Uygur adults and classifying each feature. The frequency distribution of the characteristics was calculated to provide reference for forensic identification. Methods The 210 cases （75 males and 135 females） of bilateral external ear photos of Uygur adults in Xinjiang that met the inclusion criteria were collected. The frequencies of the features of the external ear were recorded and distinguished between the two sexes and the different sides. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Results The shapes of the external ears of males and females were commonly oblique or rectangular （34.67% of the left external ear of males and 41.33% of the right were oblique; 30.37% of the left and right external ear of females were rectangular）, while triangular ears were the rare variants and the least common. Sex and bilateral differences were observed as regards the form of the helix in the subjects. Normally rolled helix was the most common （58.67% males and 61.48% females for the left ear; 60.00% males and 72.59% females for the right ear）. Wide covering scapha helix was the most rare for the male left ear and flat helix was the most rare for the female right ear. Square and free earlobes were the most common （49.33% males and 62.96% females for the left ear; 40.00% males and 54.81% females for the right ear）, whereas triangular earlobes were rarely seen. Single knob tragus （40.00% males and 37.78% females for the left ear; 37.33% males and 33.33% females for the right ear） and projection type of Darwin's tubercle （50.67% males and 40.00% females for the left ear; 48.00% males and 39.26% females for the right ear） were found to be common. Conclusion The characteristics of the bilateral external ears of male and female Uygur adults have differences, which can be used for forensic identification.
Adult ; Ear, External ; Ethnicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Characteristics