Objective To investigate the effects of isoflurane preconditioning on renal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and the role of TNF-α plays in the mechanism.Methods Male SD rats were used in the study.The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n =12 each):shame operation group; I/R group; Isoflurane preconditioning group (inhaled 1.5％ isoflurane (1 MAC) for 30 min followed by 10 min washout before I/R).At 2 h reperfusion,blood samples were obtained for urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and creatinine (Cr) content.The level of TNF-α in renal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Observe the pathological changes in H.E.staining slides under microscope.Results BUN concentration and Cr content and the level of TNF-α in I/R group and isoflurane preconditioning group were significantly higher than in shame operation group[ BUN:( 17.69 ±0.99)mmol/L vs (8.37 ±1.12)mmol/L,t =-23.55,P ＜0.01; ( 12.26 ± 1.11 ) mmol/L vs (8.37 ±1.12 )mmol/L,t =- 19.09,P ＜ 0.01 ;Cr:( 103.22 ± 13.42)μmol/L vs (71.48 ± 8.59) μ mol/L,t =-21.45,P ＜0.01;(86.51 ± 11.49) μmol/L vs (71.48 ±8.59) μmol/L,t =-9.87,P ＜0.01 ;TNF-α:(0.51 ±0.07)ng/ml vs (0.43 ±0.00)ng/ml,t =-5.79,P ＜0.01;(0.47 ±0.03)ng/ml vs (0.43 ±0.00)ng/ml,t =-8.86,P ＜0.01 ].BUN concentration and Cr content and the level of TNF-α in Isoflurane preconditioning group were significantly lower than in I/R group [ BUN:( 12.26 ± 1.1 1 ) mmol/L vs ( 17.69 ± 0.99 ) mmol/L,t =15.67,P ＜ 0.01 ; Cr:( 86.51 ± 11.49) μmol/L vs ( 103.22 ± 13.42 ) μ mol/L,t =6.68,P ＜0.01 ;TNF-α:(0.47 ±0.03) ng/ml vs (0.51 ±0.07) ng/ml,t =2.61,P ＜0.05].Therenal I/R injury which located around kidney tubules was increased in I/R group and isoflurane precondi-tioning group compared to shame operation group [ ( 17.26 ± 1.45 ) vs (0.00 ± 0.00 ),t =- 72.38,P ＜0.01;(12.69±1.83) vs (0.00 ±0.00),t =-39.53,P ＜0.01].The renal I/R injury which located around kidney tubules was decreased in isoflurane preconditioning group compared to I/R group [ ( 12.69 ±1.83) vs (17.26±1.45),t =19.87,P ＜0.01].Conclusions Preconditioning with 1.5％ isoflurane 30 min can protect kidney from I/R injury in rats by regulating the level of TNF-α in renal tissues.

Objective:To evaluate the changes of neurocognitive function in early stage in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.Methods:In this study,73 cases of patients with first-episode schizophrenia (research group) and 75 cases of health person (control group) were selected from January 2015 to January 2016 in our hospital.The neurocognitive function was evaluated by neuro-psychological testing tool and the data between two group were compared.Results:Scores of delayed recall,total recall,3 trial,2 trial and 1 trial of research group were lower than those of control group in BVMT-R test,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).In HVLT-R test,the scores of total delay,3 trial and 2 trial of research group were significantly lower than those of control group (P＜0.05).The consuming time of dominant hands and subdominant hands in pegboard tasks were significantly higher in research group than in control group (P＜0.05).Conpletion time of connection test A,color connection 1 and 2 in connection test of research group were significantly higher than those of control group (P＜0.05).Attempt number and correct number in research group in PASAT test were significantly lower than in control group (P＜0.05).Number of search errors in research group was higher than in control group,while number of search correct,search total score and digital sign score were significantly lower than in control group (P＜0.05).Total number of words,color and color / word count in research group were lower than in control group in Stroop color word test,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).WMS-Ⅲ test results between two group had no significant difference (P＞0.05).Conclusion:The neurocognitive function in early stage in patients with first-episode schizophrenia has been extensively damaged.

Abstract: The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique is a technique for the specific and efficient amplification of target fragments at a constant temperature using two pairs of specially designed primers and a strand displacement activity DNA polymerase. LAMP technique is a simple, rapid, specific, sensitive and cost-effective nucleic acid amplification method, and therefore has a promising future in the field rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and grassroots applications. In this review, the basic principles and characteristics of the LAMP technique, the main molecular markers for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, and the use of different molecular markers and various types of novel techniques in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and drug-resistant tuberculosis were described. The LAMP technique has been widely used in the diagnosis of tuberculosis with high sensitivity and specificity, but the technique still has some shortcomings. This paper reviews the progress of its application in tuberculosis in recent years and provides an outlook on its development, with a view to providing a rational research direction for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis in a resource-limited environment.

The longitudinal study sought to examine the dynamic development of cognitive skills for reading among elementary-level students in Mainland China.Two groups of students in first (n=164,mean age=6.65 years at first test) and second grade (n=202,mean age=7.73 years at first test) were followed on orthographic awareness,morphological awareness and rapid automatized naming (RAN) for two years.The children exhibited significant improvement in orthographic awareness,morphological awareness and RAN from grades 1 to 4.More importantly,to the orthographic and morphological awareness,while the children took a leap from grade 1 to 2 and grade 3 to 4,the progress developed at relatively slow rates from grade 2 to 3.In order to assure children's development of orthographic and morphological awareness,evidence-based orthographically and morphologically enhanced instruction is needed for Chinese children in the early elementary years,especially for those at the stage from grade 2 to 3.

Objective To study stress changes in forefoot intermetatarsal region when wearing high-heeled shoes, so as to provide references for quantitative analysis on inducement mechanism of intermetatarsal neuroma and corresponding treatment strategy. Methods Based on the validated foot-ankle-shoe finite element platform, changes of stress levels and tendency in intermetatarsal region were analyzed for both in balanced standing when wearing 0-3 inch (0, 2.54, 5.08, 7.62 cm) high-heeled shoes and walking when wearing 5.08 cm high-heeled shoes in a gait cycle. Results With the increase of heel height, the stresses in intermetatarsal region were significantly increased, and the stress in the third web space of toes when wearing 7.62 cm high-heeled shoes reached 312% of that when wearing flat shoes (0 cm high-heeled shoes). When walking with 5.08 cm high-heeled shoes, the third web space of toes at push-off instance had the largest stress, reaching 90 kPa, which agreed with the most commonly pathogenic site of intermetatarsal neuroma in clinic. Conclusions Wearing high-heeled shoes can obviously increase the stress in intermetatarsal region. Squeezing by upper extrusion of shoes can result in the largest stresses in the third web space of toes region, which is most likely to cause the development of intermetatarsal neuroma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEMost patients with esophageal carcinoma have disease in the locally late stage (stage III) when first diagnosed, with surgery as the first treatment of choice. This study analyzed the clinical data of patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma after radical esophagectomy and investigated prognostic factors.

METHODSThe data of 361 patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma who underwent radical esophagectomy and were hospitalized at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 1997 and March 2004 were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze prognosis, log-rank test was used to compare the groups, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates were 67.7%, 40.6%, 27.5%, 23.4%, and 20.1%, respectively. Based on univariate analysis, the degree of invasion, rate of lymph node metastasis, number of metastatic regions, number of metastatic lymph nodes, postoperative complications, and duration of surgery were prognostic factors. Based on multivariate analysis, the degree of invasion, rate of lymph node metastasis, and postoperative complications were independent factors for the prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSOf all clinical and pathologic factors, the degree of invasion, rate of lymph node metastasis, and postoperative complications were independent prognostic factors for the patients with stage-III esophageal squamous carcinoma after radical esophagectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Complications ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo construct prokaryotic expression vector of pET15b-PEP-1-SOD1 and investigate whether PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein could be transduced into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the effects on hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.

METHODSThe recombinant plasmids pET15b-SOD1 and pET15b-PEP-1-SOD1 were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to express SOD1 and PEP-1-SOD1 with an N-terminal His-tag. The purified SOD1 and PEP-1-SOD1 were incubated with HUVECs and the viability (MTT assay) and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture medium were determined in the hypoxia/reoxygenation injury model. The morphological changes were observed under an inverted phase contrast microscope. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in HUVECs was also determined with the method of thiobarbituric acid.

RESULTSPEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein could be transduced into cultured HUVECs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The intracellular enzymatic activity of PEP-1-SOD1 after 30 min incubation with HUVECs was significantly higher than control group (60.88 U/ml +/- 6.73 U/ml vs. 41.06 U/ml +/- 4.19 U/ml, P < 0.01). The transduced PEP-1-SOD1 protein was enzymatically stable for 24 h within cells. After hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, control HUVECs shrunk, became round-shaped and intercellular space increased, while these morphological changes were not observed in PEP-1-SOD1 transduced HUVECs. PEP-1-SOD1 transduction also markedly increased the viability, decreased LDH leakage into culture media and reduced the content of MDA post hypoxia/reoxygenation.

CONCLUSIONSPEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein could be efficiently transduced into HUVECs in a natively active form, and the delivered enzymatically active PEP-1-SOD1 exhibits cellular protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in HUVECs. The transduction of SOD1 mediated by cell-penetrating peptide, PEP-1, provides a basis for further research on the prevention of ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo.

Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cysteamine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transduction, Genetic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and CT in the prediction of the resectability of esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out in 746 patients with esophageal carcinoma. These patients were divided into CT group (480 cases), EUS group (151 cases) and EUS+CT group (115 cases). Images of EUS and CT were double-blindly reviewed by radiologists. Relationship of EUS and CT images with surgical and pathological findings was examined.

RESULTSResection rates in the EUS group, CT group and EUS+CT group were 93.4%, 91.0% and 93.9%, respectively (chi(2)=1.551, P=0.484). Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in the CT group were 81.7%, 87.4%, 23.3%, 92.0% and 15.4%, respectively; 94.7%, 98.6%, 40.0%, 95.9% and 66.7% in the EUS group; and 96.5%, 99.1%, 57.1%, 97.3% and 80.0% in the EUS+CT group, respectively. When assessing aortic invasion, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 91.3%, 33.3%, 93.1%, 13.5% and 97.7%, in the CT group, respectively; 98.7%, 87.5%, 99.3%, 87.5% and 99.3% in the EUS group, respectively,and 98.3%, 85.7%, 99.1%, 85.7% and 99.1% in the EUS+CT group, respectively. In assessing tracheobronchial invasion, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 91.3%, 20.8%, 95.0%, 17.9% and 95.8% in the CT group, respectively; 96.0%, 20.0%, 98.6%, 33.3% and 97.3% in the EUS group, respectively; and 98.3%, 66.7%, 99.1%, 66.7% and 99.1% in the EUS+CT group. Differences in assessing resectability were significant between CT group and EUS group (chi(2)=15.131, P=0.000), between CT group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=15.662, P=0.000), and between EUS group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=0.502, P=0.346). Differences in assessing aortic invasion were significant between CT group and EUS group (chi(2)=9.764, P=0.000), and between CT group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=6.659, P=0.004), but were not significant between EUS group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=0.076, P=0.581). Differences in assessing tracheobronchial invasion were significant between CT group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=6.659, P=0.004), but were not significant between CT group and EUS group (chi(2)=3.729, P=0.034) and between EUS group and EUS+CT group (chi(2)=1.117, P=0.248).

CONCLUSIONSEUS is a better procedure than CT in the prediction of the resectability and aortic invasion in esophageal carcinoma. There is limited value for EUS and CT in assessing tracheobronchial invasion. Combination of CT and EUS does not improve the prediction of resectability significantly.

Adult ; Aged ; Endosonography ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutation characteristics of spastin gene in Chinese patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and thus provide a basis for the gene diagnosis of HSP.

METHODSMutation of spastin gene was screened by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with DNA direct sequencing in 31 unrelated affected HSP individuals in China, of whom 22 were from autosomal dominant families and 9 were sporadic HSP patients. Co-segregation analysis was carried out after the finding of abnormal SSCP bands.

RESULTSSix cases were found to have abnormal SCP bands, and among them, two missense mutations (T1258A, A1293G in exon 8) and one deletion mutation (1667delACT or 1668delCTA or 1669delTAC in exon 14) were found and all of them were not reported previously. They were all co-segregated with the disease and were localized within the functional domain of spastin gene. Besides, T1258A was seen in two unrelated families.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation rate (18.2%) in autosomal dominant HSP in Chinese patients is comparatively low. Point mutation is the major mutation type and exon 8 may be the mutation hot spot.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary ; genetics ; Spastin

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the learning process of video-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

METHODSOne hundred consecutive patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma were treated by a same team of surgeons, and were divided into 3 groups in chronological order. The former two groups both consisted of 25 patients with thoracoscopy plus laparotomy. The remaining 50 patients were enrolled in the third group with thoracoscopy plus laparoscopy. Clinicopathological data including operative time, blood loss, protection of normal structures, complications, length of ICU stay, postoperative stay, and lymph nodes harvest, were collected and compared between groups.

RESULTSProcedures were accomplished successfully in 96 patients. Only 4 cases were converted to open thoracotomy and none to laparotomy. The median operative time was 310 min and blood loss was 200 ml. The median number of lymph node harvest was 22. The overall complication rate was 50%. Comparison of first two groups revealed that significant differences existed in the preservation rate of arch of azygos vein (P=0.010), bronchial vessels (P=0.038), and exposure rate of thoracic part of left recurrent laryngeal nerve( P=0.048). Comparison of the former and latter 50 patients revealed that significant differences existed in thoracic operative time (P<0.001), blood loss (P=0.025), preservation rate of arch of azygos vein (P=0.001) and bronchial vessels (P<0.001), the number of lymph node harvest in thoracoscopy (P=0.022) and in left recurrent laryngeal nerve chain (P<0.001), and exposure rate of initiate part of left recurrent laryngeal nerve (P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONThe learning curve of MIE is long and beginners should proceed step by step.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Learning Curve ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; methods ; Video-Assisted Surgery ; methods