Objective To determine the dynamic change of serum procalcitonin (PCT) level after traumatic brain injury and the rclated clinical significance.Methods Serum levels of PCT and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH) in 137 patients with traumatic brain injury and 20 normal volunteers were measured by electrochemiluminescence assay.Correlation between serum PCT level and severity of traumatic brain injury was evaluated.Results Percentage of serum PCT level at low inflammatory-risk threshold detected from day 1 to day 14 after admission was descended from 80.3％ to 63.5％.Meanwhile,the percentage of serum PCT level at high inflammatory-risk threshold was a rising-fall-rising trend,but the percentages of serum PCT level at median and definite inflammatory-risk thresholds showed sustained increase from 13.9％ to 27.0％ and 0.7％ to 3.7％ separately.Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS),the dynamic change of serum PCT level demonstrated a distinct bimodal pattern in severe injury group,a gradual falling after rising mode in middle injury group which was significantly and positively correlated with GCS (r =0.463,P ＜ 0.05),and a rising-falling-slight rising tendency in minorinjury group.In addition,the GCS in each group only closely related to the positive detections of serum PCT level detected at days 3 and 7 (x2 =10.32,16.31 respectively P ＜ 0.01).Serum ATCH level at day 1 was far higher than that at day 14 in severe injury group and was significantly higher in severe injurygroup compared with minor and middle injury groups (P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05).Conclusions Positive serum PCT may be predictive of the traumatic brain injury and injury degree within 3-7 days after the injury.The dynamic change of serum PCT is associated with the specialized mechanism of traumatic brain injury and neuronendocrine response,and it may be a useful parameter to assess posttraumatic stress response and prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Volar locking plate is the dominant treatment of distal radial fractures, but it is difficult to judge the distance between the plate position and the carpal articular surface, thus leading to screw penetration of the articular surface. Arthroscopy or operative perspective has their pros and cons, there is no simple and effective method of positioning the plate.
OBJECTIVE:To find the optimal position of Volar LCP in distal radius fractures and explore the role of computer simulation in this treatment.
METHODS:The CT data of the wrists in 20 adult patients were col ected to calculate 3D models of the radius by MIMICS software. 3D model of the LCP was calculated by UG in working station. The distance between the plate and the distal radius joint was measured by computer simulation, and the mean value was calculated. A total of 33 Patients with distal radial fractures were divided into two groups:conventional treatment group (regular X-ray and CT) and computer simulation group (preoperative plan based on the computer-measured data).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The safe distance between the screw center and the articular facet was 11.13 mm in males and 10.97 in females. The number of radiation and operating time were shortened significantly in computer simulation group (P<0.05). Experimental findings indicate that, computer simulation is a powerful tool to find the optimal position of volar LCP in the distal radius fractures. The time of the operation and X-ray fluoroscopy are also shortened significantly.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the allergens distribution of 576 allergic rhinitis patients in Qingyang, and to provide basic epidemiologic information for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Skin prick test was done to all the 576 patients with allergic rhinitis with 28 kinds of allergens. RESULT: Four hundred and eighty cases (83.3%) showed positive reaction to at least one allergen of 28 allergens. The most common allergens were Magwort (73.3%), Giant Ragweed (55.0%) Tree II (51.7%), Tree I (48.3%) Dermatophagoides farinae (43.3%) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (36.7%). Moreover. the positivity decreased with age. There was no difference between male and female. CONCLUSION The study shows that Magwort. Giant ragweed and tree II are the most important allergens on Qingyang district.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; analysis ; classification ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mites ; immunology ; Pollen ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the tolerability for safflower peony ointment and determine its safe dosage, by selecting health volunteers and testing from the initial safety dosage, in order to provide basis for formulating administration scheme of the drug in clinical trial phase II.

METHODForty-six healthy volunteers were included in the open, random, dose escalation, self control clinical trial on tolerability for single dosage scheme or multi-dosage. In the single dosage scheme, dosages of test drugs were 2.16 g (four people), 4.32 g (6 people), 6.48 g (6 people), 8.62 g (6 people), 11.46 g (6 people), 15.24 g (including crude drug) for 24 hours, once everyday. In the multi-dosage scheme, dosages of test drugs were 8.62 g (6 people), 11.46 g (including crude drug) once everyday for 7 days.

RESULTThe maximum safe dosage of single administration was 15.24 g (including crude drug) , while that of multiple administration 8.62 g (including crude drug). The occurrence rate of side effect was as low as 2.17%, which was recovered by medicines, without severe adverse event.

CONCLUSIONThe study proves the safe application of single administration and multiple administration of safflower peony ointment in human bodies, which lays a foundation for the application in the clinical trial phase II.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ointments ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

Objective To determine the prevalence and genotype of hepatitis E virus (HEV)among commercial swine population in Eastern and Southern China. Methods Six hundred specimens of swine bile collected from 5 slaughterhouses in Eastern and Southern China from 2007 to 2009 were tested for HEV RNA using nested RT-PCR. PCR products were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Results Forty-seven out of the 600 samples (7.83%) were positive for HEV RNA. Based on the 150 nt fragment within HEV ORF2, data from phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the 47 HEV isolates were identified to be genotype Ⅳ, sharing 75.0%-83.4%, 75.0%-84.6%, 71.9%-80.7% and 88.1%-91.5% nucleotide identities with prototype Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ HEV strains respectively while majority of the isolates clustered within their respective isolation sites. Conclusion HEV was widespread in commercial swine population in Eastern and Southern China that raised a serious concern about the safety regarding the consumption of pork products.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical technique and indication on descending aortic aneurysms.

METHODSFrom January 1996 to June 2006, 41 patients with descending aortic aneurysm underwent operation, including DeBakey type III dissection in 26, false aneurysm in 6, true aneurysm in 4, and residual or newly complicated type III dissection after the surgery of Marfan syndrome in 5. Operations were performed by left heart bypass in 9, femoral-femoral bypass in 7, pulmonary-femoral bypass in 2, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in 23. The whole thoracic descending aorta was replaced in 15, and intercostal arteries were reimplanted in 12.

RESULTSOne patient died of acute renal failure with the hospital mortality 2.4%. Main complications: respiratory dysfunction in 6, renal dysfunction in 6, recurrent nerve injuries in 4, chylothorax in 2, and no paraplegia.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical intervention of descending aortic aneurysm still has its unique advantages and indications; surgical safety is markedly improved by the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo examine the association between CD133 expression and invasion of gastric cancer, and to elucidate whether CD133 can promote the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODSThe CD133(+) and CD133(-) KATO-III( cells were sorted by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS). The invasion ability was detected by Transwell method. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of EMT-related factors in KATO-III( cells before and after CD133 was knocked out by siRNA method. The expressions of CD133 and EMT-related proteins of cancer and adjacent normal tissues in 50 patients with gastric cancer were detected by Western blot, and correlations among protein expressions were also analyzed.

RESULTSAs compared to CD133(-) cells, the number of broken-membrane cells was significantly higher (67.7±10.5 vs. 13.3±6.8, P=0.001) and the invasion ability was stronger (P<0.05) in CD133(+) cells, while the mRNA expression levels of Snail and N-cadherin were significantly higher in CD133(+) cells (0.311±0.015 vs. 0.223±0.016, P=0.040; 0.581±0.020 vs. 0.270±0.018,P=0.004), and the protein expression levels of Snail and N-cadherin were significantly higher in CD133(+) cells as well (0.513±0.015 vs. 0.179±0.023, P=0.030; 0.538±0.028 vs. 0.202±0.032, P=0.020), but E-cadherin mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in CD133(+) cells (0.231±0.009 vs. 0.460±0.015, P=0.040; 0.426±0.030 vs. 0.748±0.027, P=0.040). After CD133 knock-out, the expressions of Snail and N-cadherin were down-regulated (P<0.05) and the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated (P<0.05). As compared to normal mucosal tissues, the protein expression levels of Snail, N-cadherin and CD133 in gastric cancer tissues were significantly higher(0.635±0.119 vs. 0.485±0.116, P=0.029; 0.599±0.114 vs. 0.259±0.108, P=0.020; 0.754±0.154 vs. 0.329±0.134, P=0.001), while the protein expression of E-cadherin in gastric cancer tissues was lower (0.378±0.123 vs. 0.752±0.156, P=0.003). The protein expressions of Snail and N-cadherin were positively correlated with CD133 expression (r=0.278, P=0.048; r=0.406, P=0.003) and the protein expression of E-cadherin was negatively correlated with CD133 expression (r=-0.504, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONCD133(+) cells in primary lesion of gastric cancer have relatively higher invasion ability, which may promote the metastasis of gastric cancer via up-regulation of EMT-related factors.

AC133 Antigen ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the bowel control of the anus-preserving operation for elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal cancer.

METHODSThirty-nine elderly patients over 75 years with low rectal carcinoma (4-7 cm from anal verge) were treated during the study period. The patients were divided into different groups according to the surgical procedures and anastomotic locations. The bowel control and patients satisfaction were compared.

RESULTSThe time of recovering normal defecation frequency was (9.8+/- 2.9) months. There were no differences in bowel control and anorectal manometric findings between the lower anastomosis group and super-lower anastomosis group, the lower anastomosis group and anorectal anastomosis group. The patients in anorectal anastomosis group displayed significantly better bowel control and anorectal manometric findings than those in the super-lower anastomosis group (P< 0.05). The time of recovering normal defecation frequency in colonic J-pouch-anal anastomosis group was (7.7+/- 1.7) months, shorter than (10.6+/- 2.8) months in direct anastomosis group (P< 0.01). The complication rate of I degree incontinence was 36.1%, but there was no difference between the two groups. The anorectal manometric findings were better in J-pouch-anal anastomosis group than those in direct anastomosis group (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONColonic J-pouch-anal anastomosis for lower rectal carcinoma can significantly improve the bowel control in a short term without increasing the complication rate.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Rectal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents contained in ethanol extracts from aerial parts of Emilia sonchifolia.

METHODThe compounds were separated and purified with various chromatographic techniques, and their structures were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTFifteen compounds were separated from ethyl acetate fraction of 90% ethanolic extract and identified as rhamnetin (1), isorhamnetin (2), quercetin (3), luteolin (4), tricin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), 8-(2"-pyrrolidinone-5"-yl) -quercetin (6), 5, -2', 6'-trihydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavone-2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), succinic acid (8), fumaric acid (9), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (10), 4-hydroxy isophthalic acid (11), 3, 4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (12), esculetin (13), isowedelolactone (14) and uracil (15), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds except compound 3 were separated from this genus for the first time.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo optimize the animal model of liver injury that can properly represent the pathological characteristics of dampness-heat jaundice syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODSThe liver injury in the model rat was induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4) ) respectively, and the effects of Yinchenhao Decoction (, YCHD), a proved effective Chinese medical formula for treating the dampness-heat jaundice syndrome in clinic, on the two liver injury models were evaluated by analyzing the serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), malondialchehyche (MDA), total bilirubin (T-BIL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) as well as the ratio of liver weight to body weight. The experimental data were analyzed by principal component analytical method of pattern recognition.

RESULTSThe ratio of liver weight to body weight was significantly elevated in the ANIT and CCl(4) groups when compared with that in the normal control (P<0.01). The contents of ALT and T-BIL were significantly higher in the ANIT group than in the normal control (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the levels of AST, ALT and ALP were significantly elevated in CCl(4) group relative to those in the normal control P<0.01). In the YCHD group, the increase in AST, ALT and ALP levels was significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), but with no significant increase in serum T-BIL. In the CCl(4) intoxicated group, the MDA content was significantly increased and SOD, GSH-PX activities decreased significantly compared with those in the normal control group, respectively (P<0.01). The increase in MDA induced by CCl(4) was significantly reduced by YCHD P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONYCHD showed significant effects on preventing liver injury progression induced by CCl(4), and the closest or most suitable animal model for damp-heat jaundice syndrome may be the one induced by CCl(4).

1-Naphthylisothiocyanate ; toxicity ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Annonaceae ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Body Weight ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Jaundice ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism