BACKGROUND:Using experimental animals to simulate diseases of human being is the basis of studying etiology and treatment of the diseases, so the diseases of nasal cavity and sinus need suitable experimental animals as models.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the regional anatomy of rhino-sinus in rabbits and its performance through CT imaging, and to discuss the feasibility of applying a rabbit model to the study of animal rhino-sinusitis.
METHODS:Routine coronal and axial scanning images of rhino-sinus of New Zealand rabbits were performed through Discovery CT750 HD. The rhino-sinus anatomy was then observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The nasal septum is located on both sides of the nasal cavity. The lateral wal of rabbit nasal is composed of maxil ary turbinate, middle turbinate, the inside of the middle turbinate and inferior turbinate. The maxil ary sinus cavity is the largest one and ethmoid sinus, sphenoid sinus and frontal sinus are relatively much smal er. Al these sinuses are paired and symmetrical. The rhino-sinus in rabbit is displayed clearly in CT scan. The anatomical location of rabbit is similar to that of human;however, the maxil ary sinus of rabbit is greater than that of human correspondingly, which is suitable for operating and applying to surgical anatomy and imaging analysis. The rabbit model of rhino-sinus can be applied to simulate human rhino-sinusitis.

Objective To develop and manufacture new-type dermabrasive cosmetic instrument and investigate its clinical value.Methods WDJ-CP-I dermabrasive cosmetic instrument was developed by using medical brushless magdyno and then was applied to 296 cases.Results WDJ-CP-I dermabrasive cosmetic instrument had such advantages as small volume,lower noise,long duration of life,simple operation,high-temperature & high-pressure sterilization,safety,high dermabrasive rate,ect.Conclusion WDJ-CP-I dermabrasive cosmetic instrument is a good tool for dermabrasion and is worth popularizing.

Objective To investigate the value of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) coupled with minimally invasive ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGD) for the treatment of severe acute biliary pancreatitis.Methods Hospitalized patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis were recruited from the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Mfiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2010 to June 2015,and divided into conventional CRRT alone group (n =30) and CRRT + PTGD group (n =30).Comparisons of postoperatively symptoms (time required for abdominal pain relief,time consumed for,gastrointestinal decompression),laboratory findings (WBC,PLT,PCT,CRP,AMS,TBIL,ALT,ALB,Lac) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score (APACHE Ⅱ,Balthazar CT,MODS) were carried out between two groups.The occurrence of complications (ARDS,abdominal infection,bile leakage,abdominal hemorrhage,intestinal injury,catheter translocation,catheter dislocation) was observed.The differences in duration of ventilator support,the length of stay in ICU,and fatality rate were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the conventional CRRT alone group,the postoperative symptoms were significantly relieved,and time required for abdominal pain relief and time consumed for gastrointestinal decompression were evidently shortened in the CRRT + PTGD group (P ＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in laboratory findings (WBC,PLT,PCT,CRP,AMS,TBIL,ALT) between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The differences in APACHE Ⅱ,Balthazar CT and MODS score between the two groups also presented statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).The comparisons of the duration of ventilator support [(6.1 ± 1.3) d vs.(9.5 ± 1.4) d] andthe length of stay [(15.7 ± 1.1) dvs.(21.1 ± 2.5) d] between thetwo groups revealed statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CRRT coupled with PTGD for the treatment of severe acute biliary pancreatitis can effectively eliminate the inflammatory mediators and toxins from patients.On this basis,the coupled therapy with gallbladder puncture and drainage is capable of decompressing the biliary tract,improving liver function,effectively relieving clinical symptoms,minimizing the changes of laboratory findings an,d APACHE Ⅱ score,and thereby optimizing the prognosis of patients.

Objective To study the association between Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection and chronic obstructive pulmona-ry disease(COPD).Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 130 patients with Hp positive COPD(Hp positive group)and 130 patients with Hp negative COPD(Hp negative group)from August 2015 to October 2016.The patients in the two groups blood gas analysis and lung function.Results The blood oxygen pressure(PaO2)level 62.5 ± 7.4 mmHg and the oxygen saturation(SaO2)86.3%±9.6% in the Hp positive group were lower than those in the Hp negative group (78.6±10.2 mmHg,92.8%±2.9%),(43.3±10.6 mmHg)in Hp positive group was significantly higher than that in Hp negative group(43.2±11.5 mmHg),the difference was statistically significant(t=14.57,7.39 and 9.55,all P<0.01), (FEV1/FVC)(FEV1/FVC)(FEV1/FVC)and FEV1 were the highest in the Hp-positive group(FEV1)(1.56±0.48 L), the first forced expiratory force(1.74±0.32 L,65.9%±5.3% and 58.2%±5.6%),the difference was statistically signifi-cant(t=3.56,12.42,16.41,all P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.01).Conclusion Hp in-fection was closely related to COPD,which may be an important factor involved in and aggravate COPD disease.

Cinnamaldehyde was shown to have significant anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic actions in studies from both others' and our lab. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays a key role in generation of these pathological states, while PGE, synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is one of crucial biological elements in the process of PGE2 production. And as a downstream inducible terminal prostaglandin synthase of COX-2, mPGES-1 is now regarded as a more promising novel drug target than COX-2 and is attracting more and more attention from both academia and pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of present study was to further investigate the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic molecular mechanisms of cinnamaldehyde based on the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264. 7 in vitro. The PGE2 was identified by using the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the expression of COX-2 and mPGES-1 at mRNA and protein levels was detected by the Real-time PCR and Western blotting methods respectively. The experimental results suggested that cinnamaldehyde could evidently reverse the increased production of PGE2induced by IL-1beta. Moreover, the up-regulated expression levels of mPGES-1 and COX-2 were significatly decreased. Together, these results provide compelling evidence that the down-regulated actions to both the production of PGE2 as well as the expression of mPGES-I might account for, at least in part, the anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects of cinnamaldehyde.
Acrolein ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Prostaglandin-E Synthases ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDWall shear stress is an important factor in the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of wall shear stress in advanced carotid plaques using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics.

METHODSEight diseased internal carotid arteries in seven patients were evaluated. High resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to visualize the plaque structures, and the mechanic stress in the plaque was obtained by combining vascular imaging post-processing with computational fluid dynamics.

RESULTSWall shear stresses in the plaques in all cases were higher than those in control group. Maximal shear stresses in the plaques were observed at the top of plaque hills, as well as the shoulders of the plaques. Among them, the maximal shear stress in the ruptured plaque was observed in the rupture location in three cases and at the shoulder of fibrous cap in two cases. The maximal shear stress was also seen at the region of calcification, in thrombus region and in the thickest region of plaque in the other three cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDetermination of maximal shear stress at the plaque may be useful for predicting the rupture location of the plaque and may play an important role in assessing plaque vulnerability.

Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Computer Simulation ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo study the activity, protein and gene expression of renal HK-ATPase (HKA) in rats subchronic exposed to trimethyltin chloride (TMT).

METHODSIn subchronic toxic test (14-week), 55 female SD rats (age, 6 weeks) were divided randomly into 5 groups: control, low, medium, high and super high dosage, respectively, which drank water with TMT of 0, 8.20, 32.81, 131.25 and 262.50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 14 weeks. Then serum K+ levels were measured; the activities of HK-ATPase (HKA) in kidneys were detected by the method of determinated phosphorus content; Western Blot assay and real-time PCR were used to exam the protein and mRNA expression levels of HKA in kidneys, respectively.

RESULTSThe serum K+ level in super-high dosage group was (5.6 +/- 0.4) mmol/L, which was significantly lower than that [(6.9 +/- 0.3) mmol/L] in control group (P < 0.01). The HKA enzymatic activity of kidneys in low and super high dosage groups was 4.50 +/- 1.45 and 4.55 +/- 0.72 micromolPi x mg prot(-1)h(-1), respectively, which were significantly lower than that (6.55 +/- 0.77 micromol Pi x mg prot(-1) h(-1)) in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen rats were exposed subchronic to TMT, the renal HKA activity could reduce, but the expression levels of HKA protein and mRNA did not decrease.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression ; H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toxicity Tests, Subchronic ; Trimethyltin Compounds ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of combined transplantation of neural stem cells (NSC) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) on the motor function of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage.

METHODSIn three days after a rat model of caudate nucleus hemorrhage was established, NSCs and OEC, NSC, OEC (from embryos of Wistar rats) or normal saline were injected into hematomas of rats in combined transplantation group, NSC group, OEC group, and control group, respectively. Damage of neural function was scored before and in 3, 7, 14, 30 days after operation. Tissue after transplantation was observed by immunocytochemistry staining.

RESULTSThe scores for the NSC, OEC and co-transplantation groups were significantly lower in 14 and 30 days after operation than in 3 days after operation (P < 0.05). The scores for the NSC and OEC groups were significantly lower than those for the control group only in 30 days after operation (P < 0.05), while the difference for the NSC-OEC group was significant in 14 days after operation (P < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry staining revealed that the transplanted OEC and NSC could survive, migrate and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The number of neural precursor cells was greater in the NSC and combined transplantation groups than in the control group. The number of neurons differentiated from NSC was significantly greater in the co-transplantation group than in the NSC group.

CONCLUSIONCo-transplantation of NSC and OEC can promote the repair of injured tissue and improve the motor function of rats with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Animals ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Male ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Motor Neurons ; transplantation ; Myelin Sheath ; transplantation ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; transplantation ; Olfactory Nerve ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; physiology ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of the ingredients from Chinese herbs with the nature of cold or hot on the expression of TRPV1 and TRPM8.

METHODThe effects of ingredients from herbs on primary culture DRG neurons are observed in vitro. The expression quantity of gene is detected by the method of real time PCR. the 2 (-deltadeltaCT) method is applied to analyze the data.

RESULTIngredients from herbs with the nature of cold up-regulate the expression level of TRPV1 and down-regulate that of TRPM8, especially under the temperature condition of 39 degrees C; while ingredients from herbs with the nature of hot up-regulate the expression level of TRPM8 and down-regulated that of TRPV1, which is more significant under the temperature condition of 19 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThe regulatory changes of TRPV1 and TRPM8 mRNA expression induced by the chemical ingredients might be related to the cold and hot natures of the herbs from which the ingredients are extracted. And this could be one of the therapeutic mechanisms for the treatment of Chinese herbal medicines to cold- and heat-related diseases.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; TRPM Cation Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; TRPV Cation Channels ; genetics ; metabolism

AIM:To observe the effect of interleukin-27 (IL-27) on the pathological changes and the expres-sion and activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the colonic tissues of the mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. METHODS:Male C57BL/6 mice (n=48) were randomly divided into control group (given unrestricted diet), DSS group (drinking 3% DSS solution), IL-27 (500 ng) group and IL-27 (1 μg) group (intraperitoneal injection of 500 ng and 1 μg IL-27 on the basis of drinking DSS solution, respectively). After treatment for 12 d, intestinal inflammation in the mice was evaluated, the pathological changes of the colonic tissues were observed by HE staining, and the disease activity index ( DAI) score and histological index ( HI) score were calculated. The colonic tissues were collected for immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blot detections. The serum was prepared for ELISA. RESULTS:Compared with control group, the DAI score and HI score in model group indicated that the colo-nic inflammation was more obvious (P<0.05), the mRNA expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β was increased, the protein levels of NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1 were elevated, and the releases of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum were also increased (P<0.05). Compared with DSS group, the DAI score and HI score in IL-27 (1 μg) group indicated that the colonic in-flammation was obviously attenuated, the mRNA expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β was decreased, the protein levels of NLRP3 and cleaved caspase-1 were suppressed, and the releases of IL-1β 和 IL-18 in the serum were also decreased (P<0.05). No difference of the above indexes between DSS group and IL-27 (500 ng) group was observed except the de-creases in the releases of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum in IL-27 (500 ng) group. CONCLUSION:IL-27 alleviates the inflammation in DSS-induced colitis mice and inhibits the expression and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.