Objective To investigate the expressions of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors in keloid. Methods Serum and skin tissue specimens were collected from 20 patients with keloid, 20 patients with hyperplastic scar and 20 normal human controls. Fluorospectrophotometer was used to measure the serum level of AGEs, and immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to detect the expressions of AGEs and AGER in skin tissue specimens. Results The serum level of AGEs was (0.713 ± 0.098) AU/ml and (0.699 ± 0.077) AU/ml respectively in patients with keloid and those with hypertrophic scar, significantly higher than that in normal controls (0.179 ± 0.056 AU/ml, F = 283.82, P < 0.01 ). A positive expression of AGEs and AGER was observed in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar, but not in the control specimens. As Western blotting showed, the expressions of AGEs and AGER were higher in tissue specimens of keloid and hyperplastic scar than in the control specimens (F = 18.04, 42.80, both P < 0.05), while no significant difference between keloid and hyperplastic scar tissue specimens was observed (P> 0.05). Conclusion There is a high expression of AGEs and AGER in keloid, which may contribute to the development of keloid.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Guardian for airway management in the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Sixty patients of both sexes,aged 26-64 yr,weighing 48-95 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,with Mallampati grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia,were divided into group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ (n =30 each) using a random number table.In group Ⅰ,the nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA Guardian.In group],the nasogastric tube was inserted through the nostril before operation,and after successful LMA Guardian placement,another nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA Guardian.The hemodynamic parameters,SpO2,end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide and peak airway pressure (Ppeak) were monitored during operation.The fiberoptic laryngoscopy scores were assessed after successful LMA placement,and the nasogastric tube displacement was recorded.The LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at first attempt,airway sealing pressure,occurrence of air leakage of LMA and nasogastric tube drainage were recorded.The bloodstains and gastroesophageal reflux were observed after removal of the LMA.The pH values were tested at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA using pH test papers.The development of adverse reactions in the oropharynx was recorded within 24 h after operation.Results The hemodynamics was stable,the SpO2 and Ppeak were within the normal range during operation,and Ppeak was lower than airway sealing pressure in the two groups (P＞0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups.There was no significant difference between the two groups in the LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at first attempt,airway sealing pressure,score for exposure of oropharynx,development of adverse reactions in the oropharynx,consumption of anesthetics,development of bloodstains within the body of LMA and gastroesophageal reflux,and pH values at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA (P＞0.05).Nasogastric tube drainage:the rate of nasogastric tube drainage through the LMA Guardian was 67％ in group Ⅰ;the rate of nasogastric tube drainage through the nostril was 40％,and the rate of nasogastric tube drainage though the LMA Guardian was 50％ in group Ⅱ.No nasogastric tube displacement was found after operation in group Ⅱ.Conclusion For the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy,insertion of LMA Guardian is easy,and LMA Guardian can assure good airway sealing and adequate ventilation and can be safely and effectively used for airway management in this type of patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined acupuncture and medicine plus ultrashort wave diathermy in treating post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection were randomly allocated to groups A, B and C, 40 cases each. Group A received acupuncture, ultrashort wave diathermy and treatment with anti-infective drugs; group B, ultrashort wave diathermy and treatment with anti-infective drugs; group C, treatment with anti-infective drugs alone. The clinical therapeutic effects and the recurrence rates were compared between the three groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 92.5% in group A, 90.0% in group B and 72.5% in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between group A or B and group C (P<0.05). The recurrence rate was 8.1% in group A, 27.8% in group B and 31.0% in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the recurrence rate between group A and group B or C (P<0.05).Conclusion Combined use of acupuncture and medicine plus ultrashort wave diathermy is an effective way to treat post-stroke complicated urinary tract infection.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) Ⅰ-gel for airway management in the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Sixty patients,aged 26-64 yr,weighing 54-90 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ (Mallampati Ⅰ-Ⅲ),scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery,were randomly divided into Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups (n =20 each) using a random number table.In group Ⅰ,the nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA I-gel.In group Ⅱ,the nasogastric tube was inserted through the nostril before surgery.In group Ⅲ,the nasogastric tube was inserted through the nostril before surgery,and another nasogastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of LMA I-gel after induction of anesthesia.The hemodynamic parameters,SpO2,PET CO2 and peak airway pressure were monitored during surgery.The fiberoptic laryngoscopy scores were assessed and the development of nasogastric tube displacement was recorded after successful LMA placement.The LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at the first attempt,depth of placement,airway sealing pressure,and occurrence of air leakage of LMA and nasogastric tube drainage were recoded.The bloodstains and gastroesophageal reflux were observed after removal of LMA Ⅰ-gel.The pH values were tested at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA by using pH test papers.The development of adverse reactions in the oropharynx was recorded within 24 h after surgery.Results The hemodynamics was stable and SpO2,peak airway pressure and PETCO2 were all within the normal range during surgery,and Ppeak was lower than airway sealing pressure in the three groups.There were no significant differences between the three groups in LMA placement time,success rate of LMA placement at the first attempt,depth of placement,airway sealing pressure,incidence of air leakage of LMA,fiberoptic laryngoscopy scores,time for removal of LMA I-gel,incidences of adverse reactions in the oropharynx,bloodstains within the body of LMA and gastroesophageal reflux,and pH values at the tip of LMA and on the dorsal and ventral sides of the body of LMA.There was no nasogastric tube displacement in Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups.There were 7 patients developing gastric juice outflow from drainage tube of the LMA I-gel and 2 patients developing gastric juice outflow from the nostril gastrictubes in group Ⅱ.Conclusion For the patients requiring insertion of nasogastric tube before laparoscopic cholecystectomy,insertion of LMA I-gel is easy,and I-gel LMA can assure good airway sealing and adequate ventilation.

Objective To study normal flora components of conjunctiva, explore the relationship between normal flora and ocu- lar bacterial infections.Methods The data of 1 198 bacterial cultures of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients were re- viewed and compared with the results of 985 specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis from January 2000 to December 2004.Results Positive culture of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients was 628 in 1 198 specimens (52.4%).These bacteria including gram-positive cocci and gram-neganve bacilli constituted the normal flora of conjunctiva. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant bacteria (51.1%, 341/667) and its prevalence increased during this 5-year period.S.epidermidis and S.aureus were also the most frequently isolated pathogens in specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis.The correlation was statistically significant between the positive rate in normal eye and conjunctivitis or keratitis in terms of these two species, but not statistically significant between normal eye and endophthalmitis.The resistance rate of normal flora of conjunctiva to ampicillin, amikacin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin increased year by year. The resistance rate to gentamicin and the combination of two drugs decreased.The changing resistant pattern was similar in pa- tients with eye infection.Conclusions There is a close relationship between the normal flora S.aureus and S.epidermidis of conjunctiva and the bacterial infection of ocular surface, but no significant correlation between normal flora and the pathogen of endophthalmitis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the underwater decompression schedule for 100 m Trimix conventional diving operations and evaluate its safety through a simulated rabbits Trimix conventional diving.

METHODSAccording to the Haldane theory, the assumed time units, the classification of tissue compartments, the nitrogen super-saturation safety coefficient and the selection of methods used for the calculation of the simulated 100 m Trimix conventional diving schedule were properly selected, and the calculating method for the dive decompression schedule was thus firmly established. In our experiments, five tissue compartments were selected during the calculation of decompression schedule: 5 min, 10 min, 20 min, 40 min and 75 min, and the nitrogen super-saturation safety coefficient was calculated by 1.6. Eight New Zealand rabbits were performed a simulated 100 m Trimix dive program which was established according to the Haldane theory, and eight rabbits for intact group. The tissues wet/dry ratio and ethology were detected and observed before and after the simulated diving to evaluate the safety of decompression schedule.

RESULTSBy using the developed underwater decompression schedule, abnormal ethology changes in rabbits could not be observed after compression and decompression to the surface; and the tissues wet/dry ratio of simulated diving rabbits had no significant changes compared with the intact group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe decompression schedule calculated by Haldane theory seemed to be safe and reliable, the diving breathing gas concentration did not cause oxygen toxicity and nitrogen narcosis among the dive rabbits, and dive efficiency was greatly improved by using enriched oxygen gas in UPTD safety range during decompression.

Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Decompression ; Diving ; Helium ; Nitrogen ; Oxygen ; Rabbits

Objective In the present study,we use GC/MS-based metabolomics approaches to make analysis of serum metabolic profiles of healthy people and the hyperactivity of liver yang type of constitution in patients with essential hypertension.Try to establish the discriminant model,to discover biomarkers (group) of the hyperactivity of liver yang type of essential hypertension,and to explore the essential material basis of Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome theory.Methods Classified according to the guiding principles of Chinese medicine research,the hyperactivity of liver yang type of constitution in male patients with essential hypertension (n=18),as well as health volunteers (n=15) were randomly selected from Guang An Men Hospital clinic,wards and medical center in the first half of 2010,selected patients with essential hypertension requirements are not taking any drugs or Chinese herbs,or stop taking the various drugs more than one week.Extracted Venous Blood of subjects fasting for 12 hours,and serum was separated through centrifugation.Serum samples are stored and at-86℃ refrigerator.Survey and evaluate endogenous metabolism in serum samples of health control group and types of syndrome mentioned above by gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GCMS)analysis.Then,analyze the metabolites with Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis.Further use PCA to analyze the principal component factor loadings matrix analysis,and for variable scatter plot (Loading plot),significant increase or decrease the variables can be found from the figure.The combination of these variables is the lesion biomarkers group.Results Compared with the health control group,13 differentially expressed metabolites in the essential hypertension hyperactivity of liver yang type group can be identified (P＜0.05).8 metabolites were up-regulated expression:Uric acid,citrate,Octadecanoic acid,Hexadecanoic acid,Octadecadienoic acid,Leucine,Cholesterol,Norvaline,and 5 metabolites were down-regulated expression:arachidonate,Oleate,Alanine,Aspartic acid,glycine.Conclusion We are incline to regard that the 13 of EH patient serum differentially expressed metabolites are EH hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome metabolic biomarkers:Uric acid,citrate,Octadecanoic acid,Hexadecanoic acid,Octadecadienoic acid,Leucine,Cholesterol,Norvaline,Arachidonate,Oleate,Alanine,Aspartic acid,glycine.

OBJECTIVETo explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS).

METHODSThirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression.

RESULTSBy one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Adolescent ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; Heart Failure ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Qi

Objective To evaluate the effect of wire-reinforced polyurethane epidural catheters on the success rate of epidural catheterization in the patients undergoing caesarean section.Methods A total of 182 pregnant patients,aged 25-43 yr,with body height of 145-178 cm,weighing 51-100 kg,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,scheduled for elective caesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia,were divided into 2 groups using a random number table:polyvinyl chloride epidural catheter group (group Ⅰ,n =94) and wire-reinfnrced polyurethane epidural catheter group (group 11,n=88).Spinal or epidural puncture was performed at L2,3 or L3,4 interspace,and the corresponding epidural catheter was inserted in each group aficr succcssful puncturc.Thc dcvclopment of difficult insertion,intravascular catheter insertion or paresthesia during puncture or insertion was defined as a failure of epidural catheterization.The occurrence of failed epidural catheterization was recorded.Results The failure rate of epidural catheterization was significantly lower in group 1Ⅱ than in gronp Ⅰ (P＜0.05).Conclusion Wire-reinforced polyurethane epidural catheters can raise the success rate of epidural catheterization in the patients undergoing caesarean section.

There are two serious obstacles to tumor immunotherapy. Firstly, the immune response of the tumor is seriously reduced due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM) and low immunogenicity of tumor. The second obstacle is the dense and complex heterogeneous structures, which seriously prevent the nanoparticles (NPs) from penetrating deeper into tumor tissue. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) induced by doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective method to enhance tumor immune activity. However, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) after ICD induction would increase the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and enhance ITM. IDO1 siRNA would reduce the expression of IDO1 protein, regulate the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and regulate ITM, so as to enhance the ICD effect of DOX. In this paper, a novel charge conversional, particle size reduction and highly penetrable NPs based on a pH sensitive copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-poly-L-lysine-2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (mPEG-PLL-DMA, PLD) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers to achieve deep delivery of tumor tissue. DOX and IDO1 siRNA were encapsulated to achieve efficient tumor immunotherapy. Preparation and cell level experiments showed that PLD material had significant pH sensitivity. Results of 3D tumor penetrable experiment in vitro showed that adding the pH sensitive material PLD significantly improved the permeability of the preparation. In addition, 4T1 tumor model was established for BALB/c mice and all animal experiments were displayed in according with the requirements of the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University. The results of in vivo efficacy experiments and tissue experiments evaluated that IDO1 siRNA significantly improved the ICD effect owing to DOX, so as to significantly inhibit tumor growth.