Objective To evaluate the effects of mechanical stretch preconditioning on endotoxininduced damage to human type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells.Methods Human type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell line A549 ceils at the logarithmic growth phase were seeded in 96-well plates at a density of 0.5 × 106 cells/ml (2 ml/well).The cells were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group (group C,n =12);lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (n =36) and 5％ CS + LPS group (n =48).The 5％ CS + LPS group was further divided into 4 subgroups,and A549 cells were exposed to 5％ cyclic stretch for 15,30,60 and 120 min in the 4 subgroups,respectively.LPS with the final concentration of 1 μg/ml was added after the end of mechanical stretch in the 4 subgroups,and A549 cells were incubated for 4 h.The apoptosis in cells was detected using flow cytometry and apoptosis rate was calculated.F-actin expression was determined using immunofluorescence.Results Compared with group C,the early and late apoptosis rates were significantly increased in LPS and 5％CS + LPS groups.Compared with the value at 4 h of LPS incubation in group LPS,the early and late apoptosis rates were significantly decreased,and the reconstruction of F-actin was reduced in 5％CS + LPS group.Conclusion Preconditioning with 5％ cyclic stretch (15-120 min) can mitigate endotoxin-induced damage to human type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells.

AlM:To investigate the prevalence and related high risk factors of retinal vessels disease of native Tibetan among the aged 40 and above in Maqin county, Qinghai province, China.
METHODS:The cluster sampling method was used to investigate the visual acuity and retinal vessel diseases of the native Tibetan among the aged 40 and above in Maqin county.
RESULTS:Totally 2 511 individuals were underwent the survey, among them, 29 cases (37 eyes) were of retinal vessel diseases, the prevalence was 1. 15%, 21 cases (23 eyes) were retinal vein obstruction (0. 84%), 5 cases (10 eyes) were diabetic retinopathy ( 0. 20%), 3 cases ( 4 eyes) were retinal vasculitis (0. 12%). The blindness and low vision of retinal vessels disease were 23 eyes (0. 92%).
CONCLUSlON:All the hypertension, hyperglycemia, erythrocytosis, high altitude and weight are the high risk factors of retinal vessel diseases which are the main eyes fundus disease could grow blind.

OBJECTIVE To enhance the rational usage of antibiotics by comprehensive interventional measures in clinics.METHODS Several interventional measures have been adopted in our hospital since January 2001: to(establish) expert team on antibiotics usage and administration consultation;constitute antibiotics use criteria(suitable) for each clinical specialty;train and examine the usage of antibiotics;censor the distribution of pathogen and drug-resistance variance.Then 10% of the discharged medical records in 2000,2002 and 2004 were drawn out respectively to analyze the usage of antibiotics and the isolation of pathogen from nosocomial infection cases.(RESULTS) The proportion of the patients with prophylactic and remedial indications was increased remarkably((P

Objective To discuss effect on prevention of postpartum hemorrhage of caesarean section by us- ing calcium gluconate combined with oxytocin and misoprostol.Methods 385 cases of caesarean section were select- ed and randomized into O(Oxytocin) group and OM(Oxytocin+ Misoprostol) group and COM (Calcium gluconate+ Oxytocin+Misoprostol)group.Results The mean operative blood loss in O group and OM group and COM group were (300?50.24)ml,(220?30.83) ml,(150?45.52) ml.The amount of the mean operative blood loss of COM group was significantly lower than those of O group and OM group(P＜0.05).The amount of bleeding of 2 hours after delivery in O group and OM group and COM group were (400?45.52)ml,(260?60.43)mi and(210?50.54) ml.The amount of bleeding of COM group was significantly lower than those of O group and OM group (P＜0.05).Conclusion The prevention by used calcium gluconate combined with oxytocin and misoprostol is efficient in reducing the amount of postpartum hemorrhage of caesarean section.The operation of medicine is easy and safe and economic.

Objective To establish an IT-based follow-up platform, and to explore its application effect in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods By constructing a follow-up model and a recurrence risk warning model for ischemic stroke patients, such a follow-up platform was established.Thanks to the retrospective comparative and analysis method, we built a study group comprising ischemic stroke patients discharged since the platform and a control group comprising 228 such patients discharged prior to the platform.These two groups were followed up by means of IT-based manner and traditional paper-based manner respectively at the first,third,sixth,ninth,and twelfth months since their discharge.These patients were analyzed in terms of their medication adherence,activities of daily living and recurrence rate.Results One year after the follow-up,32 cases were lost of contact in the study group and 42 cases from the control group.Medication adherence of the study group was higher than that of the control group at the sixth month (2.72 ±0.62), ninth month(2.86 ±0.37)and twelfth month(2.83 ±0.40)after discharge, with the differences being statistically significant(P <0.05).The recurrence rate of the study group at the ninth months(6.38%)and twelfth months(10.21%)after follow-up was lower than that of the control group,a difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).The difference of BI scores between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusions The IT-based follow-up platform could improve the medication adherence of ischemic stroke patients,and reduce the recurrence rate of ischemic stroke,but the effect of improving activities of daily living was still not significant.

OBJECTIVETo improve the accuracy of preoperative evaluation of cervical lymph node metastasis in thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma.

METHODSForty-two patients with thoracic esophageal squamous carcinoma underwent neck ultrasonography. Enlarged lymph nodes with their long axis greater than 10 mm and a short-to-long axis ratio greater than 0.5 were considered as metastatic.

RESULTSPreoperative neck ultrasonography revealed the enlarged lymph nodes in 16 patients, but only in 5 (31%) cases the nodes were palpable. Among them 9 were classified as metastatic (cM(1-LN)), including 4 patients with palpable nodes. In 5 cM(1-LN) patients surgical intervention was canceled and the remaining 37 patients underwent trans-thoracic esophagectomy. Cervical node metastasis (pM(1-LN)) was confirmed pathologically in 6 surgical patients, 4 with tumors invading the adventitia (pT3) and the other 2 into the surrounding structure (pT(4)) (pT(1), pT(2) vs. pT(3), pT(4), P = 0.020). All 6 pM(1-LN) patients had concomitant mediastinal node metastasis and 4 of them had upper abdominal node metastasis. Statistically significant relationship was detected between cervical and abdominal nodal status (r = 0.536, P = 0.007). In comparison with the results of pathological examination and treatment response, the accuracy and sensitivity were 81% and 95% (P = 0.043), 36% and 82% (P = 0.081), respectively, for palpation and ultrasonography. Five out of 39 (13%) patients had their therapy changed due to ultrasonographic findings.

CONCLUSIONSNeck ultrasonography for cervical lymphadenopathy is of high sensitivity and accuracy, which plays an important role in the preoperative evaluation and therapeutic decision-making.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) on blood lead concentration and oxidative stress of tissue in prenatal and postnatal lead-exposed rats, and evaluate the potential reparation exerted by SAM on paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and long-term potentiation (LTP) in lead-exposed rat.

METHODSPregnant Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, lead-exposed and lead-exposed with SAM treatment groups. Lead-exposed rats drank 1.5 g/L lead acetate solution through pregnancy until weaning and then the pups received 20 mg/kg SAM or saline daily intraperitoneally depending on their group. Control group rats drank tap water throughout the experiment. At the postnatal 44-60 days, all the pup rats were given an extracellular recording measured in dentate gyrus (DG) area of hippocampus. The blood lead concentration and oxidative stress in liver, brain and hippocampus were also detected.

RESULTSThe blood lead concentration in lead-exposed group was higher (159. 3 +/- 10. 9 microg/L) in comparing with those of control group (27.5 +/-3.8 microg/L) and lead +SAM group (33.1 +/-9.5 microg/L) (F=213.5, P<0.01). A significant recovery of liver, brain glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was clearly produced in lead-exposed rats after SAM treatment (P <0.05). Chronic lead exposure during development impaired LTP measured on field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) [(112 +/-2.1)%] compared with control rats [(131+/-4.5)%] and the impaired LTP could be significantly increased by SAM treatment [(120 +/- 2.6)%] (F = 26. 1, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSAM might be beneficial for treatment of lead intoxication, especially in the rescue of learning and memory impairment induced by lead and should deserve more detailed research.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione ; biosynthesis ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maternal Exposure ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; S-Adenosylmethionine ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the efficacy of Fushe Jiedu Decoction combined with red light on viper bites injury limb swelling and the effects on the inflammatory cytokines. Methods Totally 90 patients were divided into control group and experimental group by using random number table method, with 45 cases in each group. The wounds of the control group were sterilized and given anti-snake venom serum, antibiotics, and tetanus immunoglobulin and supplemented with energy to correct water and electrolyte disturbances. The experimental group was treated with Fushe Jiedu Decoction based on the treatment of control group,150 mL each time,orally,twice a day; Red light was applied at the site of the most obvious swelling of the injured limb, 20 minutes each time, twice a day. The treatment lasted for 6 d. The swelling of injured limbs, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 levels before and after treatment in the two groups were observed. Results Compared with before treatment, the swelling of the limbs disappeared significantly in the experimental group at 3 d and 6 d and in the control group at 6 d, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Compared with the control group at the same time point, the swelling of the limbs in the treatment group was significantly better than that in the control group at 3 d and 6 d, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Compared with before treatment, the levels of CRP, 5-HT, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly lower in the two groups, with statistical significance (P<0.05). After treatment, CRP, 5-HT and histamine in the experimental group were significantly better than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Fushe Jiedu Decoction combined with red light has good efficacy for viper bites injury limb swelling, which can reduce inflammatory cytokines levels of patients.

Humans ; Homicide ; Forensic Pathology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the protective effects of Sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group): model group (placebo), positive control group (27 mg/kg of Captopril Tablets), Sapindus saponins groups (27 mg/kg and 108 mg/kg, respectively). Another 8 healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for 8 weeks. Blood pressure of rats was determined by non-invasive blood pressure meter (BP-6). Furthermore, the contents of angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma and myocardial tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the gene expression of receptor angiotensin type 1 (AT1R) in aorta was determined by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and AT1R in heart was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression of p-phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) was determined by Western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. And the histopathological and morphological changes of aorta and heart tissue samples were assessed semi-quantitatively by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) or Masson staining.

RESULTSThirty minutes after single or continuous treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced significantly in Sapindus saponins groups. And the contents of AngII, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, the expression of AT1R mRNA, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 were significantly suppressed dose-dependently (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the Sapindus saponins treatment, compared with those of the model group, the cardiac and aortic pathological changes were ameliorated significantly.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that Sapindus saponins might have protective effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of which might be relevant to the regulation of inflammatory responses mediated by p-p38MAPK signal pathway based on activated Ang II and AT1R.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism