Objective: To investigate the changes of urinary S100B protein concentrations and their relationship with brain damage in preterm infants there of . Methods: The urinary S100B protein of 84 preterm infants and 26 full term infants, which were used as control, were measured at 24 h and 120 h after birth. At the same time, routine clinical observations, neurologic patterns and ultrasound screens were recorded. The value of urinary S100B protein and brain damage were evaluated in preterm infants with different gestational age. Results: The differences of urinary S100B protein were statistical significance between the different gestations. The levels of urinary S100B protein were higher in preterm infants, whose gestations were lower than 32 W, than those of other groups. The levels of S100B protein were significantly higher in samples of 27 peri-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) and 3 peri-ventricular leukomalacia(PVL) than those in samples without brain damage( P ＜ 0.05). The S100B levels were significantly higher in urine of 10 preterm infants with polycethemia than those in infants without brain damages. In addition, the S100B levels were different in urine of preterm infants with different prognosis. The S100B levels were significantly higher in urine of infants who died or deteriorated than those of others(P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion: There is an evident trend of decrease in urinary S100B protein concentration with increasing gestational age. It will be helpful to identify preterm infants with PIVH,PVL and high risk of brain damages by measurement of S100B protein in urine early after birth, which indicates further inspection, provides protective treatment and enhances follow up.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of capsule Huoluoshugan on schistosomal hepatocirrhosis.Methods Ninety-six patients with schistosomal hepatocirrhosis were selected and divided randomly into three groups:Huoluoshugan group,interferon-?(IFN-?)group and control group,and treated with capsule Huoluoshugan,IFN-? and routine therapy,respectively.The course of treatment was 6 months in all groups.Before and after the treatment,the symptoms,physical signs,indexes of liver function and hepatic fibrosis,and changes of B-type ultrasonic images were detected for all the patients.Results The indexes of liver function,hepatic fibrosis and B-type ultrasonic image of the patients in Huoluoshugan group improved obviously compared with the control group after the treatment(P0.05).In addition,there was no obvious adverse reactions during the treatment in the patients of Huoluoshugan group.Conclusion Capsule Huoluoshugan can reduce the indexes of hepatic fibrosis and improve the liver function in patients with schistosomal hepatocirrhosis.

Objective To assess the efficacy of radiofrequency therapy combined with ozone injection in the treatment of lumbar disc protrusion. Methods A total of 202 patients with lumbar disk protrusion were included and divided into three groups:radiofrequency (RF) group, ozone (Oz) group, and combination (Co) group. The efficacy was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), Macnab curative effect evaluation, and oswestry disability index (ODI) at 1d, 1m and 6m after treat?ment. Results There were no significant differences in gender, age, the course of disease, preoperative VAS scores and ODI scores (P>0.05). All patients were operated successfully. There were no infection of the intervertebral disc, no compli?cations of spinal cord, nerve and no blood vessel injury. There were no significant differences in preoperative VAS and ODI scores between three groups. The VAS and ODI scores were significantly lower at 6 month and 12 month after operation in Co group combined with those of RF group and Oz group. There were no significant differences in these two scores between RF group and Oz group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in effective rates at 1d, 6 month and 12 month after operation between three groups (P>0.05). But the excellent and good effective rates were higher in Co group than those of RF and Oz groups. There were no significant differences in excellent and good effective rates between RF group and Oz group. Conclusion The therapy of radiofrequency combined with ozone injection is an efficient and mini-invasive tech?nique for the treatment of lumbar disc protrusion and worth promoting.

Objective To investigate the methods of diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and hebetic adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH) secreting pituitary microadenoma. Methods The data of 10 patients with ACTH secreting pituitary microadenoma were retrospectively analysed. ACTH secreting pituitary microadenoma was diagnosed by clinical manifestations, biochemical and imaging findings, and 5 patients underwent bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling ( BIPSS). Transsphenoidal surgery was performed on all the patients under microscope, and the tumor specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Immunohistochemical examination revealed that ACTH was positive in 8 cases and negative in 2 cases. Patients were followed up for 12 to 63 months, 7 cases (70%) were cured, one (10%) achieved remission, and the other two (20%) experienced recurrence. Conclusion BIPSS is helpful in the diagnosis and localization of pediatric and hebetic ACTH pituitary microadenoma, and transsphenoidal surgery is the optimal choice of treatment.

Liver cancer is a common malignant tumor. Although the overall incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer has been decreasing in recent years, the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated liver cancer tends to increase. The health and social issues brought by NAFLD-associated liver cancer have attracted more and more attention, and its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment await further research. This article summarizes the current epidemiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD-associated liver cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of caspase-3 and its inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO in rat lens epithelial cell apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in vitro.

METHODSRat lenses were incubated in modified Eagle's medium containing 2 mmol/L H(2)O(2) to induce apoptosis in vitro. Apoptosis in lens epithelial cells was assessed by transmission electron microscopy and annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) double staining flow cytometry after 12, 24 and 48 h of incubation. The activity of caspase-3 was analyzed by western blotting.

RESULTSObservations under transmission electron microscopy revealed that 2 mmol/L H(2)O(2) could effectively induce lens epithelial cell apoptosis in vitro. Caspase-3 activity increased during cell apoptosis and the peak measurement occurred at 24 h after treatment with H(2)O(2). Cell apoptosis was blocked by caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO.

CONCLUSIONSThe activation of caspase-3 plays an important role in executing apoptosis in H(2)O(2)-treated lens epithelial cells and in the formation of cataract. The caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO may effectively prevent lens epithelial cell apoptosis caused by oxidative injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Caspases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Lens, Crystalline ; cytology ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley