The rat model of multi-infarct was adopted in this study to elucidate the protective mechanism of Sailuotong capsule (Sailuotong) in recovery period of multiple cerebral infarction. The effects of Sailuotong on levels of Glu, GABA and the expression of NMDA receptor subtypes including NR1, NR2A and NR2B, were detected. The multi-infarct model rats were established by injecting embolizing microsphere via internal carotid artery, and were given Sailuotong treatment (16.5 and 33.0 mg x kg(-1)) for 60 days. The pathological changes in brain ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope. The levels of Glu and GABA in brain tissue were measured with high performance liquid chromatography. The expression of NMDA receptors including NR1, NR2A and NR2B in neurons was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Compared with the sham rats, abnormal changes were observed in ultrastructures of neurons, neuroglia cells and synapses of model rat brains. Moreover, significant decrease of Glu and GABA, as well as the elevated expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B were detected in brain tissues. Sailuotong (16.5 and 33.0 mg x kg(-1)) could improve ultrastructure of cerebral tissue, facilitate synthesis of Glu and GABA, and down-regulate expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B in neurons. The results demonstrated that Sailuotong could exert neuroprotective effects to some extent in the recovery phase of multiple cerebral infarction by promoting expression of NMDA receptors and synthesis of Glu and GABA.
Animals ; Capsules ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; classification ; metabolism ; Synapses ; metabolism ; pathology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of gut flora and gut-derived endotoxin with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).

METHODSPatients with hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC) were screened for MHE using the number connect test-A (NCT-A) and digital symbol test (DST) and divided into the following groups: HBV-LC with (+) MHE (n = 26) and HBV-liver cirrhosis without (-) MHE (n = 25); in addition, one healthy immediate family member of each patient in the HBV-LC + MHE group was enrolled as a control. Each participant provided fecal and blood samples. PCR amplification and 454 pyrosequencing were used to detect bacterial 16S rRNA in feces. Turbidimetric Limulus amebocyte lysate assay was used to detect level of endotoxin in serum. The significance of inter-group differences was assessed by one-way ANOVA or Student's t-test.

RESULTSThe three groups showed different distributions of gut flora. The differences in the microbial communities' members and distributions were related to disease or health status, but not to the patient's genetic makeup or diet. In particular, the HBV-LC + MHE patients showed significantly lower amounts of different bacterial species and abundance of these species than the other two (non-MHE) groups (P less than 0.05). The healthy control family members had a richer diversity of gut flora than their counterparts with HBV-LC + MHE (P less than 0.05). The HBV-LV + MHE patients also had higher serum levels of endotoxin.

CONCLUSIONDevelopment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with HBV-LC may be related to a gut flora disorder or higher levels of endotoxin in serum.

Pediatric palliative care refers to the comprehensive physical, mental, and psychological care provided to the children with life-threatening diseases, as well as support for their families, aiming to provide the best quality of life for children and their families. In the face of the large population of children in China, the increasing demand for palliative care services and the insufficient development of related service resources are existential problems in the field of palliative care for children in China. This article reviews the implementation and current development status of pediatric palliative care in China.
Child ; China ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway mediates advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tubular cells.

METHODSHuman proximal tubular cells (HK-2 cells) exposed to AOPP-bovine serum albumin (BSA) were examined for expressions of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK using Western blotting. Western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR were used to examine the protein and mRNA expressions of EMT markers E-cadherin and vimentin and endoplasmic reticulum stress marker glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 in cells treated with SB203580 (an inhibitor of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway) prior to AOPP exposure. The cells treated with AOPPs following pretreatment with salubrinal (an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum stress) were also examined for expressions of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 MAPK.

RESULTSAOPP treatment induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in HK-2 cells. AOPP-induced decrease in E-cadherin expression and overexpression of vimentin and GRP78 were partly inhibited by pretreatment of the cells with SB203580. Salubrina partly suppressed AOPP-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in the cells.

CONCLUSIONp38 MAPK signaling pathway, which is regulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress, might mediate AOPP-induced EMT in HK-2 cells.

Objective: A quick assessment tool for screening individuals with depression or anxiety is pertinent in mental-health set up. This study aims to validate the K10 and the K6 to screen patients with non-specific psychological distress in a Malaysian population. Methods: Translation of the questionnaire was done from English to Malay. Face validity was conducted on patients, and a pilot study was performed to assess the reliability of the K10 questionnaire. Fieldwork was conducted to determine the reliability and validity of the K10 questionnaire based on convenience sampling of healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with psychiatric illness. Malay version for K10 was administered to healthy participants (group without psychological distress) and patients on psychiatric clinic follow up (psychological distress). Data collection was done between August 2016 and September 2016. Result: A total of 94 subjects were recruited in the study, of which 32 formed the case group. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for K10 were 0.837(control) and 0.885 (case), as for K6 were 0.716 (control) and 0.859 (case). The total score of the K10 and the K6 clearly differentiated between the control and case groups (p<0.001). The area under the curve for K10 and K6 were 0.84 with 95% CI (0.81, 0.96) and 0.86 with 95% CI (0.77, 0.94) respectively. For K10, at the optimal cut-off score of 17, the sensitivity and specificity were 84.4% and 75.3% respectively while for K6, at the optimal cut-off score of 11, the sensitivity and specificity were 78.1% and 75.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The Malay version of the K10 and the K6 are reliable and valid to be used for screening patients with non-specific psychological distress in a Malaysian population. Kessler psychological distress scale has minimal items and yet this Kessler psychological distress scales have minimal items and yet are an effective screening tool.

Objective To compare the clinical effect of nasal intubation with domestic video intubationscope and Macintosh direct laryngoscope. Methods One hundred patients scheduled for oro-maxillo-facial operation, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I or II, aged 19 ~ 67 years, were randomly divided into the domestic video intubationscope group (group V) and the Macintosh direct laryngoscope group (group M), with 50 cases in each group. Nasal intubation was respectively performed with domestic video intubationscope (Group V) and Macintosh direct laryngoscope (group M). Cormark-Lehane grade (C-L classification), tracheal intubation time, first-time intubation success rate and tracheal intubation complications were recorded.Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) of before induction of anesthesia (T0), after induction of anesthesia (T1), at glottic exposure (T2), at intubation (T3), 1 min after intubation (T4) and 3 min after intubation (T5) were recorded. Results C-L classification in group V was significantly lower than that in group M (P < 0.05), intubation time in group V was significantly shorter than that in group M (P < 0.05), first-time intubation success rate in group V was significantly higher than that in group M (P < 0.05). Compared with T1, MAP was significantly higher at T3~ T4and HR was significantly faster at T3in group V, MAP was significantly higher at T2~ T4and HR was significantly faster at T2~ T3in group M (P < 0.05). Compared with group M, MAP and HR in group V were significantly lower at T2~ T4 (P < 0.05). The incidence of tracheal intubation complications in group V was significantly lower than that in group M (P < 0.05). Conclusions Compared with Macintosh direct laryngoscope,domestic video intubationscope in nasal intubation is better in glottic exposure,it could shorten tracheal intubation time ,increase first-time intubation success rate, maintain stable hemodynamics, has fewer tracheal intubation complications and is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To compare the effect of the domestic infantile type video intubationscope (VIS) and stethoscope in positioning of double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT). Methods 100 cases of patients underwent elective thoracic surgery requiring single lung ventilation were randomly divided into two groups: domestic infantile type video intubationscope group (group V) and stethoscope group (group S), with 50 cases in each. After intubating with a DLT, the positions of DLT were judged and adjusted by VIS (group V) and stethoscope (group S) respectively, and then reviewed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), the positioning time and accuracy were recorded. Results Comparing with the group S, the positioning time of DLT was significantly shorter and the total positioning accuracy of DLT was significantly higher in group V (P < 0.05). Conclusion It is easy and quickly, high accuracy with domestic infantile type video intubationscope in positioning of DLT, which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Sailuotong capsule (Sailuotong) on learning and memory functions of multi-infarct dementia (MID) rats and its mechanism.

METHODAll SD rats were divided into five groups, namely the sham operation group, the model group, the positive group, the low dosage Sailuotong-treated group and the high dosage Sailuotong-treated group. The multi-infarct dementia model was established by injecting the micro-sphere vascular occlusive agent. On the 10th day after the successful operation, the rats were administered intragastrically with distilled water, memantine hydrochloride (20 mg x kg(-1)) and Sailuotong (16.5 mg x kg(-1) and 33.0 mg x kg(-1)) once a day for 60 days respectively, in order to detect the effect of Sailuotong in different doses on the latent period and route length in Morris water maze and the activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissues.

RESULTCompared with the sham operation rats, it had been observed that the latent period and route length of MID rats in Morris water maze were significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the activity of ChAT in brain tissues was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After the intervention with Sailuotong for sixty days, the latent period and route length of MID rats in Morris water maze significantly shrank (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Additionally, Sailuotong decreased AchE activity, while increasing ChAT activity in brain tissues of MID rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSailuotong capsule can improve cognitive dysfunction of MID rats to some extent. Its mechanism may be related to its different regulation of activities of ChAT and AchE in brain tissues.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Cognition Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Dementia, Multi-Infarct ; complications ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application value and feasibility of various cervical screening methods and to explore a rapid and efficient cervical cancer screening program for the women in the rural areas of China.

METHODSWe sequentially conducted human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test by hybrid capture-2 (hc2) with cervical cells, liquid-based thinprep cytology test (TCT), visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), visual inspection with iodine (VILI), colposcopy respectively for the 2499 married women between 30 and 49 years from Xiushui county of Jiangxi province. All the detection methods were performed independently under double-blind design. Women who were diagnosed positive for having any VIA,VILI and colposcopy inspection or for those women who were diagnosed negative for VIA, VILI and colposcopy but with positive result of HPV or TCT test underwent cervical biopsy directly and endocervical curettage (ECC)when necessary. We performed cervical biopsy endocervical curettage within two weeks to observe the sensitive (SE), specificity (SP), negative predict value (NPV) and positive predict value (PPV) of these detection methods when used alone or combined each other, including HPV test, TCT inspection, VIA, VILI, and colposcopy, the pathological diagnosises of cervical tissue were confirmed by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) while the cytological findings were underegone through the updated program of TBS (The Bethesda System) in 2001.

RESULTSA total of 2499 women underwent the screening and found 443 women who were diagnosed as HPV positive, 337 women with abnormal cervical cytology and 27 women with ASC-H, 157 cases with ASCUS; 103 cases with HSIL, 49 cases with LSIL and 1 cervical cancer. According to the pathological findings. There were 181 women diagnosed as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical cancer, including 81 cases with CIN1 37 cases with CIN2,60 case cervical cancer. The sensitivity rates of HPV, TCT, HPV+ TCT, VIA, VILI, VIA+VILI and colposcopy were 96.67%, 89.47%, 97.98%, 56.57%, 36.36%, 63.64% and 39.39%, and the specificity rates were 85.00%, 96.91%, 86.97%, 94.60%, 96.23%, 92.97% and 98.14% respectively.

CONCLUSIONHPV + TCT seemed to be more sensitive than other screening methods in the cervical cancer screening program.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Rural Population ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology

The comparison on evaluating blood stasis syndrome in sleep deprived rats was carried out by using R, G, B image analysis of Tongue and palm as well as auricle, palm surface laser Doppler flow perfusion. The experiment was performed by means of a small platform on the water environment for sleep deprivation. The rats were weekly weighed at fixed time, and their macroscopic signs were observed; and their tongue and palm images of the control and model group were respectively collected by the SLR camera at the 2nd, 4th and 6th week. Then the color saturation analysis was performed by means of proofreading with the standard colorimetric card. At the same time, the laser dopper flowmetry was used to analyze the perfusion of auricle and foot flow in rats. It turned out that there was no significant difference in the R,G,B value of the tongue and palm in rats between normal group and model group at the first stage(at the 2nd week), so were the perfusion of auricle and foot flow in rats. But at the second stage (at the 4th week), the R value of tongue in model group rats was obviously lower than that in normal group(<0.01), and the other value (G,B) of tongue in module rats had a decease tendency, but there was no statistical significance. However, the perfusion of left and right auricle flow in model group rats were dramatically decreased as compared with the normal group(<0.01); there was still no significant difference in the perfusion of the palm between two groups. It was found that R,G,B value in model group had a lower trend as compared with the control group of the tongue and palm images at the third stage (at the 6th week), but no statistically significant difference. The perfusion of left and right auricle flow in model group was constantly decreased as compared with the normal group(<0.01).Right and left foot blood flow was lower than the normal group, but no statistically significant difference. We can safely conclude that the results of the R, G, B values of the tongue in rats could objectively reflect the characteristics of the rats with blood stasis syndrome, which were consistent with the diagnosis of clinical tongue image. As a method of microcirculation evaluation, the surface laser doppler perfusion of auricle can exhibit the characteristics of blood stasis in model rats, but also was more objective and reproducible. Therefore, the combination of R, G, B value of tongue as well as auricle laser doppler blood flow is more beneficial to the objective evaluation of index in the later study of traditional Chinese medicine blood stasis syndrome model.