OBJECTIVETo study the effects of the extract from bergamot and boxthorn on the skin and the hair growth in mice.

METHODThe skin on the back of mice was shaved topically and smeared with bergamot and boxthorn extract for 42 days. Then the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and collagen in the mice were measured. The growth of hair was also observed.

RESULTCompared with control group, the extract from bergamot and boxthorn obviously increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and the content of collagen (P < 0.001), and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) in the skin of mice. It also significantly promoted the growth of hair (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe extract from bergamot and boxthorn plays an active role in skin and the promotion of hair growth.

Animals ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hair ; growth & development ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Aging ; drug effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ankle Injuries ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the related risk factors of cerebral hemorrhage complicated with stress ulcer (SU). Methods The clinical data of 1 185 patients with cerebral hemorrhage admitted to Department of Emergency Medicine of Nanjing General Hospital from March 2006 to March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether patients complicated with SU or not. Data was collected within 8 hours after admission in two groups including gender,age,amount of bleeding,the bleeding site (basal ganglia,thalamus, brainstem,brain lobe,ventricle,subarachnoid,and cerebellum),disturbance of consciousness,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score,systolic blood pressure(SBP),history of hypertension,and history of cerebral hemorrhage. The statistically significant risk factors found using univariate analysis was selected and was analyzed to find independent risk factors with multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve)was plotted to analyze the independent risk factors and evaluate their power of test. Results 1 185 patients with cerebral hemorrhage were enrolled in the study,293 cases occurred SU,accounting for 24.7%,and 892 cases without SU,which accounted for 75.3%. As shown by univariate analysis,risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage complicated with SU included age,amount of bleeding,the bleeding site,disturbance of consciousness,APACHEⅡscore,SBP. As to the site of bleeding,brain,thalamus,brainstem hemorrhage complicated with SU were higher proportion,45.3%(43/95),39.1%(63/161),36.9%(48/130),which were significantly higher than those of the lobes of the brain 〔26.2% (33/126)〕,cerebellum 〔18.8% (15/80)〕,basal ganglia〔16.1%(78/485)〕,arachnoid the inferior vena cava 〔12.0% (13/108)〕. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that amount of bleeding 〔odds ratio (OR)=3.305,P=0.001,95%confidence interval (95%CI)2.213-48.634〕,the bleeding site (OR=1.762,P=0.008,95%CI 0.123-2.743),SBP (OR=1.223,P=0.034,95%CI 0.245-2.812) were independent risk factors of cerebral hemorrhage complicated with SU. The area under the ROC curve (AUC)of amount of bleeding and SBP were 0.846 and 0.597,suggesting that amount of bleeding has moderate diagnostic value and SBP has low diagnostic value. Conclusions Cerebral hemorrhage patients with large amount of bleeding,the bleeding site in the ventricle,thalamus or brainstem,high SBP are of great risk. We should lower blood pressure and give preventive treatment for SU as soon as possible.

Background To optimize the culture method of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells is very important for the study of retinal angiogenesis disease.Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells have been successfully cultured in previous studies,but further improvement of the culture method to harvest higher yields and purity cells is still needed.Objective This study was to design a modified method to isolate and purify human retinal microvascular endothelial cells much easily and quickly,and to compare the expression of specific markers of vascular endothelial cells,factor Ⅷ and CD31/CD34 in the cells.Methods The use of human donor eyeballs was approved by the Ethic Commission of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center of Sun Yat-sen University.The retina tissue from healthy donor was isolated and digested by the two-step digestion method with 2％ trypsin and 0.133％ collagenase Ⅳ.Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells were collected and plated in 60 mm dishes coated by 0.1％ fibronectin and cultured in endothelial cell-specialized medium supplemented with 10％ fetal bovine serum,0.3 mg/L β-endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and 100 ng/L sodium heparin.During the culturing,the growth situation of the cells was monitored by morphological observation,and immunohistochemical staining was performed to probe vascular endothelial cell-specific membrane protein CD31,CD34 and factor Ⅷ for identification of the cell purity.Results Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells were isolated successfully from the retina by the twostep digestion method.The primary cultured cells adhered to well 72 hours later and achieved confluence with the typical cobblestone appearance 9 to 10 days after cultured.The cells exhibited the blue nuclei and reddish cytoplasm by regular haematoxylin and eosin stain and showed a strong positive response for CD31,CD34 and factor Ⅷ by immunohistochemistry.The positive dye of CD31 and CD34 was lower than Ⅷ factor in both endothelial cells.Conclusions Modified culture method of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells can improve cell culture result and purify target cells.

Dietary restriction (DR) can delay senescence,prolong lifespan of mammals and improve their learning-memory activity.The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of DR on hypolipidemic action and liver function of mice with hyperlipidemia.To investigate these effects,hyperlipidemia mouse models were established with high-fat diet (HFD) (34％ of energy),then randomly divided into HFD group,DR30％ group and DR50％ group.Mice in DR30％ and DR50％ group were respectively supplied with HFD as much as about 70％ and 50％ of the consumption of HFD in the mice of HFD group.Rats in control group were fed routinely.After DR for 5 weeks,the average body weight,liver weight,liver index,serum lipids and glucose levels in both DR groups decreased significantly as compared with the HFD group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),so did alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C in the DR50％ group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Histopathology examination of liver tissues further proved ameliorative effect of DR on liver function.Western blotting showed that DR significantly increased the expression of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) in liver and adipose,while notably decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors-gamma (PPARγ) in adipose (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The increase of SIRT1 and decrease of PPARγ may be a mechanism by which DR reduces blood lipids and ameliorates liver function.

Objective To probe into the clinical curative effect of laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocele.Methods The clinical data of the 26 eases of laparoscopic high ligation of apermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocde were reviewed and analyzed in the last two years in this hospi- tal.Results All the 26 cases had been conducted smoothly with the operation time 25～50min,an average of(28?3)min.After 3～24 months being followed-up,all the symptoms and signs disappeared with no relapse and testicle a- trophy.Eight wives of the patients who had been operated on got pregnant.Conclusion With soon recovery and small wound,it was safe to adopt laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocele, especially for critical two-sided varicocde.

BACKGROUND:Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) has been used to monitor the effectiveness of precordial compression (PC) and regarded as a prognostic value of outcomes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study was to investigate changes of PETCO2 during CPR in rats with ventricular fibrillation (VF) versus asphyxial cardiac arrest. METHODS:Sixty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into an asphyxial group (n=32) and a VF group (n=30). PETCO2 was measured during CPR from a 6-minute period of VF or asphyxial cardiac arrest. RESULTS:The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after PC in the VF group were significantly lower than those in the asphyxial group (12.8±4.87 mmHg vs. 49.2±8.13 mmHg,P=0.000). In the VF group, the values of PETCO2 after 6 minutes of PC were significantly higher in rats with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), compared with those in rats without ROSC (16.5±3.07 mmHg vs. 13.2±2.62 mmHg,P=0.004). In the asphyxial group, the values of PETCO2 after 2 minutes of PC in rats with ROSC were significantly higher than those in rats without ROSC (20.8±3.24 mmHg vs. 13.9±1.50 mmHg,P=0.000). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of PETCO2 showed significant sensitivity and specificity for predicting ROSC in VF versus asphyxial cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS:The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after CPR may be helpful in differentiating the causes of cardiac arrest. Changes of PETCO2 during CPR can predict outcomes of CPR.

BackgroundHuman retinal gliocytes play an important role in proliferative diseases,which are the basis of in vitro studies.Researchers have cultured human retinal gliocytes in the past.In our study,we found that the cells we cultured presented a unique shape different from those by other researchers.ObjectiveThis study was to design to produce a new culture and purification method for retinal gliocyte in vitro.Methods Retinal tissue was isolated from human eyeballs and digested using the two-step digestion method (2％ pancreatin and 0.133％collagenase Ⅵ) to harvest the retinal glio cytes.The cells were collected and cultured in endothelial cell-targeted nutrient culture containing 10％ fetal calf serum and supplemented with β-endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and sodium heparin,and the culture dishes were coated with fibronectin(FN) to promote the attachment of retinal gliocyte.During the culturing process,the gliocytes were identified by the observation of morphological characteristic and regular histological examination.The identification of the cells also was performed by immunochemistry targeting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),Vimentin,neuron specific enolase ( NSE ),S-100,CD34,and Ⅷ factor.Results Retinal gliocytes were isolated successfully from the human retina by the two-step digestion method.Primary cultured cells attached after 72 hours and achieved confluency between day 9 and 10 that were aligned petaliform in shape.Regular histological examination after H&E staining showed blue cell nuclei and light red cytoplasm.The target cells presented with strong responses for GFAP and Vimentin and no response for NSE,S-100,CD34 and Ⅷ factor.ConclusionsLarge amount of purified human retinal gliocytes can be obtained by two-step digestion and cultured in endothelial cells-targeted culture medium supplemented with β-ECGF and sodium heparin in plates coated with FN.The cultured cells expressed markers for retinal gliocytes.However,specific features of these cells remain to be further elucidated.

OBJECTIVETo define cut-off values of plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) for the diagnosis of congenital heart failure (CHF) and evaluate the importance of plasma NT-ProBNP measurement in the assessment of cardiac function prior to heart surgery in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).

METHODSPlasma levels of NT-proBNP were measured in 120 infants with CHD before heart surgery and in 100 age-matched healthy infants between June 2010 and June 2013. The data were stratified based on the presence or absence of CHF in the whole group of CHD infants and on age (i.e., <1 year and ≥1 year) and time (i.e., before surgery) within the subgroup of CHF infants.

RESULTSOf the 120 infants with CHD, 41 met the criteria for CHF defined in the Ross Classification for Heart Failure in Infants.The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP were ≥498 ng/L for infants of all ages, 557 ng/L for <1 year age group and 452 ng/L for ≥1 year age group, respectively, in the 41 CHF patients. In CHF infants, plasma NT-proBNP was significantly decreased after protecting of cardiac function (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP for CHF differ between infants <1 year and infants ≥1 year. Moreover, plasma NT-ProBNP can be used as an additional parameter in the preoperative assessment of cardiac function in CHD infants.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of fixation of Kirschner needle and thread cancellous bone screw through the sinus tarsi interstice for the treatment of calcaneal fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to December 2012,20 patients with calcaneal fracture were treated by minimally invasive Kirschner wire and threaded cancellous bone screw fixation and bone graft,including 12 males and 8 females with an average age of 39 years old ranging from 21 to 65. Among them, 8 cases were left foot, 12 were right foot. According to Sanders's classification, 8 cases were type II, 10 cases were type III, 2 cases were type IV.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 16 months with an average of 12 months. The incision were healed. Böhler angle were increased from preoperative (17.75 +/- 4.22) degrees to postoperative (26.85 +/- 7.37) degrees (t = 4.308, P = 0.000). Gissane angle were reduced from preoperative (137.05 +/- 24.91) degrees to postoperative (113.75 +/- 13.17) degrees (t = 7.083, P = 0.000). At 3 months after operation, the scores of AOFAS were 85.50 +/- 7.99; the results were excellent in 5 feet and good in 11 feet, fair in 3 feet, and poor in 1 foot.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive fixation of Kirschner needle and thread cancellous bone screw fixation is a simple operation, it can get reliable fixation, easy to remove, low cost, less postoperative complications, and it is a good treatment of calcaneal fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Bone Wires ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged