Objective To evaluate the effects of the range and the frequency of the compression load on the accuracy for discerning target stiffness differences in ultrasound elastography.Methods Quantitative ultrasound elastography was achieved by integrating two compression force sensors,a laptop computer and a clinical ultrasound elastographic system.The force sensors and the ultrasound probe were assembled in a 3D printed mounting bracket for continuous monitoring of compression loads during ultrasound elastography. Both the force measurements and the elastographic maps were acquired and displayed on the laptop computer in real time.Four targets of the same diameter(10.4 mm),the same depth (3 cm) and different stiffness levels (8,14,45 and 80 kPa) were examined by a HITACHI preirus,L74M linear-array transducer.Each target was evaluated 45 times with two different method(i.e.,freehand elastography and quantitative elastography),yielding 1 80 evaluations.The data were divided into the following three groups:group Ⅰ(80 kPa vs 45,14 and 8 kPa),group Ⅱ(80,45kPa vs 14,8 kPa)and group Ⅲ(80,45 and 14 kPa vs 8 kPa).Area under ROC curves(AUC)were calculated for different stiffness levels.Results In group Ⅲ, quantitative elastography yielded an greater AUC level than that of freehand elastography(P =0.0379).In group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ,two methods yielded the similar AUC levels (P = 1 .000).However,quantitative elastography was able to discern 8 kPa and 14 kPa targets (P <0.001),while freehand elastography was hard to differentiate them(P =0.258).Conclusions In comparison with freehand elastography,quantitative ultrasound elastography is able to improve the accuracy for discerning different target stiffnesses.

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a common abdominal postoperative complication of surgery as well as obstetrics and gynecology. There is a lack of an effective method of modern medicine due to its complex pathophysiological mechanism and the postoperative physiological disorder of patient. Acupuncture has remarkable regulatory effects on gastrointestinal function. Some clinical studies indicated that acupuncture was an effective method to treat POI, which could reduce the duration of POI and the treatment costs of patients in hospital. However, the mechanism and law of acupuncture on treating POI is still unclear. Some clinical studies indicated that the regulatory effect of acupuncture on the gastrointestinal motility was associated with its regulation of the autonomic nerve system and immune system. Based on its effect on regulating autonomic nerve system and immune system, acupuncture would be a potential and safe treatment for POI.

Objective To investigate the effects of the fibrin-derived peptide Bβ15-42 (FgBβ 15-42) on renal inflammation in acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by renal ischemia reperfusion (IR).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham group (the abdominal cavity were closed after separating the renal artery),IRI group (renal arteries of rats were occluded with microvascular clamps for 60 min),negative treated group (rats were injected with 3.6 mg/kg random peptide by tail vein) and FgBβ15-42 treated group (rats were injected with 3.6 mg/kg FgBβ15-42 by tail vein).Rats were sacrificed at 24 h or 48 h after reperfusion.Blood and kidney samples were collected and histological changes and renal function were examed.The mRNA and protein expressions of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were examined by immunohistochemistry,real-time PCR and Western blotting.Results Compared with sham group,Scr and BUN were obviously increased in IRI group (all P ＜ 0.05),pathologic changes of kidney were more serious (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with IRI group,in FgBβ15-42 treated group Scr and BUN were obviously decreased (all P ＜ 0.05),the injury of kidney tubulointerstitial was less serious (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with sham group,there was increased ICAM-1 and IL-1β in IRI group (all P ＜ 0.05),and they all peaked at 24 h.After treated with FgBβ15-42,the expression of ICAM-1,IL-1β were significantly decreased in kidneys compared to IRI group (all P ＜ 0.05).The above indexes had no significant differences between negative treated group and IRI group (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions FgBβ15-42 can protect kidneys against ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.The mechanism may be associated with down-regulated expressions of ICAM-1 and IL-1 β in the kidney.

Objective To evaluate the effects of prone position ventilation (PPV) combined with inhalation of NO on oxygenation of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients.Methods A total of 21 patients with ARDS composed of 15 male and 6 female aged ranging from 2 to 74 years with mean age of 39 ± 17.4 years were hospitalized from September 2008 through January 2011.After application of mechanical ventilation with optimal PEEP,patients still needed the high concentration oxygen inhalation (FiO2 ≥ 60％).They were randomly (random number) divided into three groups for controlled study.Patients of group A were given NO in addition to oxygen inhalation for 4 hours,patients of group B were put in prone position ventilation with oxygen inhalation for 2 hours,then they were returned to the supine position ventilation,and patients of group C were put into prone position ventilation with inhalation of oxygen plus NO for 2 hours,and then they were returned to the supine position ventilation,but they were continued to inhaled NO.The oxygenation indexes of three groups of patients were measured before the intervention,2 hours and 4 hours after the procedure of experiment.Results The oxygenation indexes of three groups of patients were improved in terms of comparison between pre-intervention and 2 hours after intervention,but there was no statistically significant difference found in group A (P ＞ 0.05),the differences in group B and group C were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Compared the oxygen index between pre-intervention and 4 hours after intervention,the differences in group A and group B were not statistically significant (P ＞0.05),but the difference in group C was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions PPV could improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients.PPV with NO inhalation could improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients as well as effectively maintain the oxygenation after patients were returned to the supine position ventilation.Therefore prone position ventilation combined with inhalation of NO improved oxygenation and at the same time reduced the prone position time.

Keloids are a common type of pathological scar as a result of skin healing, which are extremely difficult to prevent and treat without recurrence. The pathological mechanism of keloids is the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts, which synthesize more extracellular matrices (ECMs), including type I/III collagen (COL-1/3), mucopolysaccharides, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, also known as cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2)), and fibronectin (FN) in scar tissue, mostly through the abnormal activation of transforming growth factor-‍β (TGF-‍β)/Smads pathway (Finnson et al., 2013; Song et al., 2018). Genetic factors, including race and skin tone, are considered to contribute to keloid formation. The reported incidence of keloids in black people is as high as 16%, whereas white people are less affected. The prevalence ratio of colored people to white people is 5:1‍‍-‍‍15:1 (Rockwell et al., 1989; LaRanger et al., 2019). In addition, keloids have not been reported in albinism patients of any race, and those with darker skin in the same race are more likely to develop this disease (LaRanger et al., 2019). Skin melanocyte activity is significantly different among people with different skin tones. The more active the melanocyte function, the more melanin is produced and the darker the skin. Similarly, in the same individual, the incidence of keloids increases during periods when melanocytes are active, such as adolescence and pregnancy. Keloids rarely appear in areas where melanocytes synthesize less melanin, such as in the palms and soles. Thus, the formation of keloids seems to be closely related to melanocyte activity.
Adolescent ; Cells, Cultured ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Humans ; Keloid/pathology* ; Melanins/metabolism* ; Melanocytes/pathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Skin/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of the Steward Scale(S Scale)and the Modified Aldrete Scale (A Scale) for resuscitation of children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy with general anesthesia.Methods:A total of 199 underage children who underwent non-intubated gastrointestinal endoscopy with general anesthesia in Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from July to December 2022 were retrospectively included in this study and divided into preschool group (36 cases), low school-age group (75 cases) and high school-age group (88 cases) according to age. S Scale and A Scale were also performed to evaluate the recovery from anesthesia. The vital signs of the children and the time required for reaching the target were recorded, and the scoring efficiency and safety of the two scales were compared.Results:The time required for S Scale to reach the standard (17.50 ± 9.29) min was significantly lower than that of A Scale (20.80 ± 12.61) min, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t = 2.97, P<0.01). In the low school-age group, oxygen saturation (0.989 ± 0.010) of A Scale was higher than that of S Scale (0.980 ± 0.015), the difference was significant ( t = 2.17, P<0.05). The time required for S Scale to reach the standard was negatively correlated with age ( r = -0.385, P<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the time required for A scale to reach the standard and the children′s age ( r = -0.089, P>0.05). Conclusions:Although Steward Scale is more efficient than modified Aldrete Scale in evaluating anesthesia resuscitation in underage children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy with general anesthesia, modified Aldrete Scale is safer than Steward Scale and is more conducive to ensuring the life safety of children.

Objective To establish a quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method for the analysis of human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and to study the tissue distribution of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUCMSCs)in immunodeficient NOG mice after a single intravenous injection.Methods We established a quantitative PCR method for the analysis of human SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and validated the standard curve,linear range,accuracy,precision,and stability.Thirty-six NOG mice(18 male,18 female)were administered 3.5×107 HUCMSCs/kg by single intravenous injection.Six mice were then anesthetized and dissected after blood collection(EDTA anticoagulation)at 6,12,24,and 72 h,and at 1 and 2 weeks,respectively.DNA was extracted from lung,kidney,heart,liver,brain,spinal cord,stomach,small intestine,fat,skin,spleen,testis,uterus,and ovary tissues,and the distribution of HUCMSCs in each tissue was determined by the validated quantitative PCR method for detecting the human-derived SRY gene in mouse tissues.In addition,18 NOG mice(9 male,9 female)were divided into control(n = 6)and treatment groups(n = 12)injected intravenously with 0.9%sodium chloride and 3.5×107 cells/kg,respectively.Acute toxic reactions were observed during the administration period,and four animals were dissected at 72 h and at 2 and 4 weeks after administration to observe the gross organs.Mitochondrial protein expression was detected in paraffin sections of lung tissues by immunohistochemistry to analyze the colonization of HUCMSCs in lung tissues.Results The established RT-qPCR method for human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues met the validation criteria for each index.After a single intravenous injection in NOG mice,HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in the lungs and blood within 1 week after administration,with higher concentrations in lung tissues than in blood.The concentrations of HUCMSCs in lung tissue and blood remained relatively stable within 6～24 h and 6～72 h,respectively,and then decreased over time.The distribution of HUCMSCs in other tissues was not measured at all sampling points.The colonization result showed that HUCMSCs were detected in lungs 72 h after intravenous injection,but not at 2 and 4 weeks.No obvious acute toxicity was observed in NOG mice after single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs.Conclusions The above method for analyzing the distribution of HUCMSCs in mouse tissue is reliable and feasible.HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in lung and blood in NOG mice within 1 week after a single intravenous injection,and mainly colonized lung tissue at 72 h.A single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs has a good safety profile.