Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease ; Zebrafish

OBJECTIVETo discuss whether asiaticosides could effectively reduce the endothelial cell damage as a biochemical modulator, so as to further inhibit the post-stenting intima-media membrane hyperplasia.

METHODHuman aortic smooth muscle cells and aortic fibroblasts were selected and divided into the blank group, the rapamycin group and the asiaticoside group and the rapamycin and asiaticoside group. The expressions of muscle cells and fibroblasts TGF-beta1, Smad7 and I-collagen gene were determined by RT-PCR. The expression quantity of I-collagen protein was assayed by ELISA. The coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) between rapamycin and asiaticoside was calculated. Additionally, 16 Chinese mini-swines were randomly divided into group A and group B. One sirolimus drug-eluting stent of the same type was implanted after the high-pressure pre-expansion of anterior descending artery balloon. After the operation, the group A was intravenously injected with normal saline 30 mL x d(-1). Whereas the group B was intravenously injected with asiaticoside 30 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)(diluted to 30 mL). The expressions of plasma vWF of the two groups were measured at the 7th and 14th days after the operation. At the 28th day after the operation, tissues of the stented vessel segments were sliced and stained to calculate the vessel area, inner stent area, lumen area and neointima area

RESULTCompared with the control group, the combination group showed significant up-regulation in smooth muscle cells and fibroblast Smad7 gene, down-regulation in TGF-beta, and obvious inhibition of I-collagen gene expression (P < 0.01). As for smooth muscle cells, there was no difference in the expression of I-collagen between the combination group and the rapamycin group, with CDI at 0. 83. As for fibroblasts, there was a significant difference in the expression of I-collagen between the combination group and the rapamycin group (P < 0.05), with CDI at 0.77. Plasma vWF of the group B was significantly lower than that of the group A (P < 0.05) at the 7th and 14th days after the operation. At the 28th day after the operation, no difference was observed in vessel area and stent area between the two groups. However, the lumen area in the group B was significantly larger than that of the group A(P < 0.05), and the neointima area of the group B was significantly smaller than that of the group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAs an effective biochemical modulator for rapamycin, asiaticosides could inhibit TGF-beta expression, significantly decrease the synthesis and secretion of extracellular matrix, further inhibit the post-stenting intima-media membrane hyperplasia and reduce the endothelial cell damage by effectively up-regulate the expression of Smad7 protein.

Animals ; Collagen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Coronary Restenosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Swine ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; administration & dosage

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). 40 newly diagnosed MM patients were enrolled, including 9 in stage I, 18 in stage II, 13 in stage III. 25 patients were treated with VAD regimen, and 15 patients with the bortezomib and dexamethasone (BD) regimen. 20 healthy individuals as controls were enrolled in this study. The serum VEGF and IL-17 levels were determined by ELISA. The results indicated that the serum VEGF and IL-17 levels in the patients with MM were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P < 0.01). VEGF and IL-17 levels in stage III was significantly higher than that in stage I and II (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between IL-17 and serum calcium β2-microglobulin or C-reactive protein (P < 0.01), and there was also a positive correlation between VEGF and serum creatinine serum Bene-Jones protein λ or urinary Bene-Jones protein λ (P < 0.01). Serum VEGF and IL-17 levels significantly decreased in MM patients after treatment, and the serum levels of VEGF and IL-17 was much lower in MM patients treated with VAD regimen than those in patients treated with BD regimen. It is concluded that the detection of serum VEGF and IL-17 levels is helpful to evaluation of the clinical stages and the severity of MM.
Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Aerospace medicine has paid more and more attention to abnormal changes of physiological functions induced by weightlessness and studies on their prevention during space flight. In this paper, the effect of space weightlessness on cognitive functions was introduced. We tried to analyze the correlation between the cognitive function changes and relevant Chinese medical syndromes, thus providing a potential available way to prevent and treat weightlessness induced cognitive deficit during space flight.
Aerospace Medicine ; Cognition ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Weightlessness

Agitator is one of the essential factors to realize high efficient fermentation for high aerobic and viscous microorganisms, and the influence of different impeller combination on the fermentation process is very important. Welan gum is a microbial exopolysaccharide produced by Alcaligenes sp. under high aerobic and high viscos conditions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation was used for analyzing the distribution of velocity, shear rate and gas holdup in the welan fermentation reactor under six different impeller combinations. The best three combinations of impellers were applied to the fermentation of welan. By analyzing the fermentation performance, the MB-4-6 combination had better effect on dissolved oxygen and velocity. The content of welan was increased by 13%. Furthermore, the viscosity of production were also increased.
Alcaligenes ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrodynamics ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Oxygen ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; biosynthesis ; Viscosity

Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of delayed cord clamping (DCC) in term infants. Methods The data of the Cochrane library, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI , VIP, Wanfang from 1 January 1970 to 30 April 2013 were searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) of DCC in term infants were included.RevMan 5.1.0 was used in the statis-tical analysis. Results Ten studies involving 1623 participants were included. Meta-analysis based on included studies showed that:compared with immediate cord clamping (ICC), DCC improved the hemoglobin levels at birth (MD=2.19, 95%CI:0.36, 4.02) and increased the incidence of polycythaemia (RR=2.87, 95%CI:1.24, 6.62). Compared with ICC, DCC showed no signi-ficant difference in the phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia (RR=2.46, 95%CI: 0.93, 6.52), the hemoglobin levels within 6 months (MD=0.29, 95%CI:-0.17, 0.75), and the incidence of anemia (RR=0.71, 95%CI:0.45, 1.12). Conclusions DCC can improve the hemoglobin level in term infants after birth. However, the appropriate time of cord clamping has not been deter-mined. It is necessary to undertake further studies with higher quality and larger scale to evaluate the optimal time of cord clam-ping.

Objective To investigate the clinical presentations, pathologic features, and the di-agnosis and treatment of prostate sarcomatoid carcinoma. Methods Two cases of prostate sarcoma-told carcinoma were analyzed with review of the relevant literature. Case 1, a 51-year-old man com-plained of dysuria and perineal discomfort for 2 months, was admitted because of acute urinary reten-tion. His serum PSA was 2.31 ng/ml. Heterogeneous density of the prostate left lobe and bladder neck involvement was shown on CT scan. Prostate sarcomatoid carcinoma was confirmed by transrec-tal prostate biopsy, and patient accepted radical cystoprostatectomy and ideal conduit followed with lo-cal radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Case 2 was a 54-year-old male. This ease was admitted with a history of dysuria and intermittent gross hematuria for 1 month. Hypoechoic lesion was found by ul-trasonography,and heterogeneous density of the prostate was shown on CT scan. His serum PSA was 2.61 ng/ml. The prostate biopsy result showed prostate sarcoma. Radical cystoprostatectomy and ide-al conduit was performed on this case. Results The diagnosis of prostate sarcomatoid carcinoma in the 2 cases was confirmed by postoperative pathology. Under microscope, the neoplasm was mainly composed of epithelial and sarcomatoid mesenchymal cells,with a transitional region of these cells. Im-munohistochemical staining showed that the cells were positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen. Vimentin was negative in the epithelial cells, but was positive in the majority of sarcomatoid cell. Both patients died of multi-metastasis at 43 and 19 months after surgery respectively. Conclu-sions Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the prostate is extremely rare with a high grade of malignancy,and its prognosis is poor. The diagnosis depends on pathological features and immunohistochemical studies. Radical resection combined with endocrine therapy and radiotherapy is considered to be the most relia-ble treatment so far.

Objective To compare the clinical outcome between open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) and standard laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (SLRP).Methods From January,2008 to December,2014,643 cases of RRP and 161 cases of SLRP were retrospectively reviewed.No significant difference was found in age,body mass index,preoperative prostate specific antigen and pathological results of biopsy between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).The operating time,blood loss,transfusion rate,hospital stay,positive surgical margin rate,urine leakage rate,urethra stricture rate,urinary continence recovery at 6 months and 12 months,2-year biochemical recurrence and median biochemical recurrence of the 2 groups were compared.Results The mean operating time was 131.6 ± 34.5 min in RRP group while 171.3 ±35.1 min in SLRP group (P =0.000).The blood loss was 385 ± 142 ml in RRP group and 194±87 ml in SLRP group (P =0.000),respectively.For the transfusion rate,the RRP group was 3.4％ (22/643) while the SLRP group was 2.5 ％ (4/161),there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P =0.548).The urine leakage rates were 12.8％ (82/643) in RRP group and 6.2％ (10/161) in SLRP group (P =0.020).The average hospital stay in SLRP group was 6.7 ± 1.5 d,which was significantly shorter than 7.5 ± 1.3 d in RRP group (P =0.000).A pad-free continence was achieved in 68.7％ (442/643) of the cases in RRP group and in 78.9％ (127/161) of the cases in SLRP group at 6 months after surgery (P =0.011).However,there was no significant difference in pad-free continence between the 2 groups at 12 months after surgery (P =0.376).In RRP group,complete continent rate was 94.6％ (608/643),while in SLRP group,it was 96.3％ (155/161).For the positive surgical margin rate,early biochemical recurrence rate and median biochemical recurrence free survival time,no significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Compared to classical RRP,the blood loss during the surgery,urine leakage rate and hospital stay could be significantly reduced in SLRP.Although the patients undergone SLRP could get quicker urinary continence recovery at 6 months after surgery,the urinary continence recovery at 12 months is identical between the 2 groups.RRP and SLRP could achieve nearly the same oncologic outcome.

Objective To determine the effects of feeding donor human milk versus formula milk on very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI).Methods The Cochrane library,PubMed,EMBASE,Wanfang,CNKI and VIP database were searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compare donor human milk with formula milk in VLBWI and ELBWI from the establishment of database up to February 2014.The quality of the included studies was assessed.Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2.9 software.The results were expressed by mean difference (MD) and 95％CI for continuous variables,RR and 95％CI for categorical variables.Results Only five trials were included:in quality evaluation,two trials were graded B,and the other three were graded C.Meta-analysis showed that,compared with the formula milk,feeding of donor human milk could reduce the risk ofnecrotizing enterocolitis (RR=0.36,95％CI:0.18-0.73,P＜0.01),but not the risks of sepsis (RR=0.92,95％CI:0.50 1.72,P=0.80),retinopathy of prematurity (RR=1.21,95％CI:0.84-1.74,P=0.31) and in-hospital mortality (RR=0.66,95％CI:0.18-2.37,P=0.52).The significantly lower rates in weight gains in neonatal period (MD=-6.58,95％CI:-11.19 to-1.98,P＜0.01) and body length (MD=-0.30,95％CI:-0.41 to-0.20,P＜0.01)were found in donor human milk compared with formula milk.No significant difference in head circumference (MD=-0.16,95％CI:-0.33 to 0.01,P=0.13) was seen in comparison of donor human milk with formula milk.Conclusions Feeding with donor human milk can reduce the risk ofnecrotizing enterocolitis in VLBWI and ELBWI,but its effects on neonatal growth need to be further studied in large scale RCT.

Objective To study the efficacy of T-piece resuscitator on the very preterm infants in the delivery room.Method Very preterm infants (gestational age 28 ～ 31 weeks) who needed positive pressure ventilation during delivery room resuscitation were included in the study between January 2010 and December 2015.Enrolled infants were randomly assigned to self-inflating bag group and T-piece group.Tracheal intubation ratio,duration of mechanical ventilation,continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP),supplementary oxygen through a nasal cannula and total oxygen requirement were compared between groups.The percentages of pneumothorax,sepsis,necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC),bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD),retinopathy of prematurity (ROP),intracranial hemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) between groups were also compared.Data were analyzed using independent sample t test and chi-square test.Result A total of 51 preterm infants were enrolled in this study,with 25 infants in the self-inflating bag group and 26 in the T-piece group.There was no statistically significant difference in the gender,gestational age,birth weight,Apgar scores,delivery mode and antenatal glucocorticoids between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The ratio of intubation in T-piece group was significantly lower than that in self-inflating bag group (15.4％ vs.44.0％,P ＜ 0.05).Further more,duration of mechanical ventilation and total oxygen requirement in the T-piece group were significantly shorter than those in the self-inflating bag group [(4.2±2.8) dvs.(10.1 ±4.3) d,(36.2±14.7) dvs.(47.2±19.2) d,P＜0.05].However,the duration of nasal CPAP and supplementary oxygen through a nasal cannula,the rate of pneumothorax,sepsis,NEC,BPD,ROP,intracranial hemorrhage and PDA did not differ significantly between groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the self-inflating bag group,the use of the T-piece in delivery room decrease the rate of tracheal intubation and the duration of mechanical ventilation and total oxygen requirement.