Objective To explore the effects of early glucocorticoids (GC) therapy on the outcome of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods The clinical data of all ARDS patients admitted from January 2008 to December 2011 in Chengdu Military General Hospital of Chinese PLA were retrospectively analyzed. The adult patients whose diagnosis was in accord to the Berlin ARDS diagnostic criteria published in 2012 were enrolled, and based on whether using glucocorticoid or not, they were divided into GC group and non-GC group. All the patients in GC group received low dosage of intravenous GC within 48 hours after the onset of ARDS, including different kinds of GC, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone (hydrocortisone dosage < 5 mg·kg-1·d-1, the dosage of former two kinds of GC being converted to that of hydrocortisone), and the therapeutic course of the two groups was 7 to 21 days. The patients in non-GC group received no GC therapy after the occurrence of ARDS. The duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and totally in hospital, medical cost and 28-day survival rate were compared between the two groups. Results One hundred and seventeen patients with ARDS were collected, including 56 cases (47.86%) in GC group and 61 cases (52.14%) in non-GC group. The duration of mechanical ventilation in GC group was significantly shorter than that in non-GC group [days:0 (0, 2.50) vs. 2.00 (0, 2.50), Z=2.015, P=0.044]. The 28-day survival rate in GC group was significantly higher than that in non-GC group [71.43%(40/56) vs. 50.82%(31/61),χ2=5.198, P=0.023]. There were no significant differences in the length of ICU stay [days:7.50 (2.00, 11.00) vs. 4.00 (1.00, 9.00), Z=1.879, P=0.060] and stay totally in hospital [days:16.00 (10.00, 27.75) vs. 15.00 (7.00, 28.00), Z=0.592, P=0.552] between GC group and non-GC group. However, the medical cost in non-GC group was significant lower than that in GC group [10 thousand Chinese yuan:3.15 (1.51, 5.78) vs. 4.39 (1.66, 10.88), Z=2.204, P=0.028]. Conclusion The early GC therapy may improve the outcome of patients with ARDS, especially beneficial to the 28-day survival rate.

Objective To observe whether rabbit blood leptin can leak into the brain after craniocerebral trauma (CCT),and to dynamically detect serum levels of leptin,growth hormone (GH),and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1),and leptin level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after CCT.Methods The FITC labeled leptin was injected into blood vessels of 15 adult male rabbits after anesthesia.Then 9 rabbits underwent unilateral fluid percussive impact,while 6 rabbits underwent sham operation.Thirty minutes postoperatively,brain tissue was taken to make frozen sections which were used to observe fluorescence labeled leptin range.Thirty three adult male rabbits were randomly divided into serum group,serum-control group,CSF group and CSF-control group.Rabbits in serum group and CSF group received fluid percussive impact,while rabbits in serum-control group and CSF-control group were drilled a 7 mm window in skull.Rabbits in serum group and serum-control group were phlebotomized 2 ml at 1 d,3 d,7 d and 14 d after operation,and rabbits in CSF group and CSF-control group were extracted CSF 0.5 ml at the same time points.Then serum levels of leptin,GH,and IGF-1,and leptin level in CSF were tested by ELISA.Results The fluorescence imaging could be seen in the injured brain tissue of rabbits with CCT,which was more than those in brain tissue of rabbits receiving sham operation.Serum leptin levels of rabbits in serum group at each time point were higher than those in serum-control group.Serum levels of GH and IGF-1 and leptin level in CSF were higher in rabbits with CCT than those in rabbits without CCT at 1 d,3 d and 7 d after operation.Conclusion The blood leptin can leak into the brain after CCT,which can cause increase of blood GH and IGF-1.And the latter may be the endocrine factors promoting fracture healing after CCT.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of evaluating complete ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of the testis by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with microbubbles (MB) targeted to P-selectin (MBp) in rabbits.

METHODSWe randomly divided 30 healthy adult rabbits into five groups of equal number (control, 0.5 h IRI, 1 h IRI, 2 h IRI, and 4 h IRI), prepared phospholipid MB and MBp, and performed contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the bilateral testes with MB or MBp at an interval of 20 min at different times after IRI. When MB or MBp disappeared completely in the healthy testis at 4 to 5 min after intravenous injection, we recorded the power of the first frame (F-P) in the IRI testes followed by immunohistochemical staining of the testis tissue.

RESULTSCEU with MBp achieved a significantly higher F-P than that with MB in all the IRI groups (P < 0.05), which was (8.34 +/- 1.20) versus (1.87 +/- 0.25) 10(-5) AU at 2 hours, but there was no significant difference between MB and MBp in the control rabbits (0 AU, P > 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed a significantly time-dependent increase in the expression of P-selectin in the vascular endothelial cells of the IRI testes, but not in those of the control.

CONCLUSIONContrast-enhanced ultrasonography with MBp can be used to evaluate the inflammatory reaction of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Antibodies ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Microbubbles ; P-Selectin ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; diagnostic imaging ; Testis ; blood supply ; Ultrasonography

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis(Epi-LASIK)and laser in situ keratomileu- sis(LASIK)on high myopia patients.Design Prospective,case-controlled study.Participants 62 patients(123 eyes)with high myopia. Methods 62 patients(123 eyes)underwent Epi-LASIK or LASIK surgery for high myopia:28 patients(56 eyes)underwent Epi-LASIK and 34 patients(67 eyes)underwent LASIK.The differences in postoperative uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA),best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),refraction,and root mean square(RMS)of high-range wavefront aberration were compared one-week,one-month, three-months and six-months postoperatively.Main Outcome Measures UCVA,BCVA,refraction,and RMS of high-range wavefront aberration.Results There was no serious complication during and after the operation.The recovery of postoperative UCVA after Epi-LASIK was slower than that of LASIK.One week postoperatively,the proportion of UCVA≥0.8 of Epi-LASIK(46.4%)was less than that of LASIK(77.6%)(P=0.0003).No significant differences were found in those of Epi-LASIK(85.7%,94.6%,91.1%)and those of LASIK(92.5%,95.5%,94.0%)one-month,three-months and six-months postoperatively(P=0.590,0.822,0.530).BCVA was same after Epi-LASIK and LASIK.The proportion of mean spherical equivalents within?0.50D for Epi-LASIK(42.9%,51.8%,60.7%,64.3%)had no difference with those for LASIK(53.7%,59.7%,71.6%,73.1%)one-week,one-month,three-months and six-months postoperatively (P=0.230,0.378,0.200,0.290).The postoperative RMS increased after both surgeries,especially after LASIK.At postoperative one-month,three-months and six-months RMS of Epi-LASIK(1.51?0.77)?m,(1.32?0.76)?m,(1.18?0.71)?m were much higher than the (0.87?0.27)?m preoperative ones(P=0.016,0.019,0.026).At postoperative one-month,three-months and six-months RMS of LASIK (2.41?0.81)?m,(2.17?0.63)?m,(1.89?0.87)?m were also much higher than the preoperative(0.91?0.22)?m(P=0.011,0.008,0.006). There were significant differences between the RMS of Epi-LASIK and LASIK one-month,three-months and six-months postoperatively (P=0.039,0.035,0.033).The I grade haze was found in two eyes after Epi-LASIK.Conclusion Epi-LASIK has better visual quality re- sult than LASIK on correcting high myopia.(Ophthalmol CHN,2007,16:336-339)

OBJECTIVETo constitute a composite skin substitute that can proliferate well with epidermal stem cells and fibroblasts on collagen sponge.

METHODSEpidermal stem cells were selected by rapid attachment to collagen IV for 10-15 min and cultured on 3T3 feeder layers. Collagen was extracted from rat tail. The matrix lattice was fabricated by freeze-dryer and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Fibroblasts were inoculated on collagen sponge and cultured for 4 days prior to inoculation of epidermal stem cells to construct composite skin substitute. The composite skin substitute were examined by means of histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microcopy, the histologic appearance was similar to that of normal epidermis.

RESULTSThe epidermal stem cells formed large colonies at 7-8 days, expressed K19 antigen. The percentages of cells at G0/G1 phase of cell cycle and the percentage of alpha6 briCD71dim cells in ESC groups were higher than those in the control group. The skin substitute had epidermis and dermis, the histologic appearance was similar to that of normal skin. The artificial skin expressed keratin antigen by immunocytochemical methods.

CONCLUSIONSEpidermal stem cells proliferated well and differentiated properly on this artificial skin dermis which contained fibroblasts. It seemed that the composite skin to be a good equivalent.

3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Skin, Artificial ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering

AIM:To explore the effect of Penthorum chinense Pursh and Puerariae flos-containing serum on L-02 liver cell injury induced by alcohol and its possible mechanism. METHODS:After preparing drug-containing serum, the L-02 cells cultured in vitro were divided into 6 groups:blank control group, model group, 1∶1 group, 2∶1 group and 1∶2 group of combination of Penthorum chinense Pursh and Puerariae flos, and tiopronin group. The viability of the L-02 cells was measured by MTT assay. The activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) were detected by enzyme label methods. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. RE-SULTS:Compared with control group, the levels of ALT, AST and MDA were increased significantly, and SOD was de-creased in model group ( P <0.01). Compared with model group, these indexes in all treatment groups were opposite (P<0.01). Compared with control group, the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 at mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased, the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, these indexes in combination groups were opposite (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:The therapeutic effects of Pentehorum chinensa Pursh and Puerariae flos-containing serum may affect the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, Nrf2 and HO-1, and reduce the inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress in alcohol-induced L-02 liver cells, which plays a role in attenuating alcoholic liver injury.

Programmed cell death-1 ( PD-1 ) is a member of the CD28/cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) family, expressed on activated T cells, B cells and macrophages.Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) can inhibit T cell proliferation , activation and cytokine secretion , and participate in the negative feedback regulation of T cell receptor signals.In a normal body, PD-1/PD-Ls signaling pathway plays an important role in maintaining immune tolerance,but can inhibit T cell immune response and promote tumor immune escape in case of tumor .The relationships between the expression and prognosis of PD-1/PD-L1 in soft tissue sarcoma ( STS ) and its biological significance , influencing factors of PD-1/PD-L1 expression , and research progress in related drugs and clinical applicability in STS are reviewed.

To explore the effect of leech on lipid metabolism and liver function in hyperlipidemia rats and the possible mechanism, biochemical analyzer was used to examine the regulation of leech on levels of serum triglycerides(TG), total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C). The levels of ALT and AST in serum were detected by ELISA. The proteins expression of ACAT-2, Fas and HMGCR in liver tissue was detected by Western blot. The weight of body and liver were weighed, and liver index was calculated. Oil red O staining was used to observe the lipid accumulation in liver tissue of rats by light Microscope. The results showed that leech could decrease the levels of TC, LDL-C obviously, and increase HDL-C, decrease the levels of ALT, AST and the liver index, down-regulate the proteins expression of ACAT-2, Fas and HMGCR. And oil red O staining indicated that the lipid accumulation was less in the liver tissue of the rats intervented by leech. These data indicated that leech may affect the expression of ACAT-2, Fas and HMGCR in liver tissue to reduce the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acid, and promote the cholesterol transforming, then regulate lipid metabolism to decrease the levels of serum lipid, and reduce lipid accumulation in liver tissue and ease liver injury of rats, then slowing down the process of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) in hyperlipidemia rats.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; metabolism ; Hyperlipidemias ; therapy ; Leeches ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; therapy ; Rats ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of ricin temperature response gel on breast cancer and its regulatory effect on immune function in rats.

METHODSRicin was purified by chromatography and identified by immunoblotting. The rat subcutaneously transplanted breast cancer model was established. Forty model rats with a tumor diameter of about 3.0 cm were subjected to the study. They were randomized into four groups equally: the model group and three treated groups (blank gel, ricin, ricin-gel) were administered with blank gel, ricin, and ricin temperature response gel via percutaneous intratumor injection, respectively. The tumor was isolated 10 days later for the estimation of tumor inhibition rate (TIR) by weighing, pathologic examination, and detection of tumor apoptosis-associated genes bcl-2 and bax with semiquantitative RT-PCR. Also, peripheral blood was obtained to test T-lymphocyte subsets, the killing function of lymphocytes, and the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). The outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTSThe TIR in the ricin-gel group was 61.8%, with the pathologic examination showing extensive tumor tissue necrosis. Compared with the model group, after ricin temperature response gel treatment, bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, bax expression was up-regulated, CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood were increased, the killing function of lymphocytes was enhanced, and the contents of TNF-α and IL-2 were elevated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIntratumor injection of ricin temperature-responsive gel showed significant antitumor effect on breast cancer and could enhance the immune function in the tumor-bearing rat.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gels ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunomodulation ; drug effects ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; metabolism ; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ricin ; administration & dosage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Temperature ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology ; metabolism

Objective To study the mechanism of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL)-induced apoptosis of glioma U87 cells.Methods Human glioma U87 cells were treated with human recombinant soluble TRAIL(rsTRAIL),and the cell apoptosis was detecmd with flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining.Flow cytometry with DiOC6 staining was used to assess the changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential(△ψm).The relative activity of caspase-3,-8 and-9 Was measmed by colorimetric assay,and the concentration of cytoplasmic cytochrome C(cyt C) determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbem assay.The effects ofcaspase-8 inhibitor(Z-IETD-fmk)on rsTRAIL-induced apoptosis,△ψm,caspase-3,-8 and-9 activities and cyt C concentration were observed. Results RsTRAIL tinle-dependently induced apoptosis and progressive collapse of △ψm in glioma U87 cells,resulting also in caspase-3,-8 and-9activation and elevated cytC concentration.Caspase-8 inhibitor partially antagonized these biological effects induced by rsTRAIL in U87 cells.Conclusion TRAIL initiates a cascade of mitochondrial events by activating caspase-8 and induces apoptosis of glioma U87 cells.