Objective To explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) on the serum levels of cytokines in severely burned patients.Methods Thirty-six burn patients were en-rolled in the study and were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the rhGH dosage used,i.e. small(0.3IU?kg -1 ?d -1 ,A),large(0.6IU?kg -1 ?d -1 ,B) dose groups and control group(C,with normalsaline).The rhGH was administered beginning from 3 postburn days(PBDs) and lasted for 20 days.The dynamic changes in the serum levels of TNF-?,IL-6,IL-8 and LPS at different time points were observed.Results When compared with these in C group,the serum levels of TNF-?,IL-6 in A,B groups were decreased,especially in B group with earlier decrease and bigger range(P0.05).Conclusions rhGH might decrease the production of postburn inflammatory mediators.The clinical application of rhGH might be a supplementary measure in preventing and ameliorating postburn SIRS and MODS in severely burned patients.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of double-lumen balloon catheter applied in patients with achalasia of cricopharyngeal muscle. Method Fifty patients with achalasia of cricopharyngeal muscle were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. All the patients received routine drug treatment,swallowing function training,feeding training and low frequency VitalStim electric stimulation. In addition,double-lumen balloon catheter and #14 urinary catheters were applied to patients in the experimental group and control group,respectively. The swallow water tests and video fluoroscopy swallowing study(VFSS) were used to evaluate the treatment effects,the electron-nasopharyngolaryngoscope was used to assess bleeding and swelling of mucous membrane,and VRS-5 was used to assess pain. Result After treatment,the scores of swallow water tests and VFSS were significantly better than those before treatment in both groups(P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). However,the incidence of complications was significantly higher in the control group than that of experimental group(P<0.05). Conclusion Both treatment methods can effectively relieve the achalasia of cricopharyngeal muscle,but modified double-lumen balloon catheter can reduce the incidence of complications.

Objective To understand the clinical distribution situation of streptococcus penumoniae (SP) and drug susceptibility test results to provide a basis for the clinical diagnosis,treatment and prevention of SP infection.Methods Totally 416 nonrepeat strains of SP were isolated during 2010 to 2015.Their identification and drug susceptibility test were performed by using the ATB Express bacterial identification system.The results were interpreted according to the standard of CLSI 2014 edition.Results In these 6 years,SP showed the isolation peak in spring and winter;the detection rate of respiratory tract specimens reached more than 90 ％;the young children and elderly people were predominant;SP maintained high sensitivity to penicillin,amoxicillin,etc.,the difference in the sensitivity rate and non-sensitivity rate had statistical significance(P＜0.05);but SP showed high level non-sensitivity to clindamycin,erythromycin,etc.,the difference in the sensitivity rate and non-sensitivity rate had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).Conclusion Although β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin can still be used as the first choice of therapy,but PISP and PRSP show the increasing trend year by year;therefore the antibacterial drugs should be selected according to the drug susceptibility test results.

Objective To develop a Chinese version of Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying scale (FATCOD) and evaluate its validity and reliability to provide a tool for the field of hospice care and death education used among nurses.Methods FATCOD scale was adopted according to Brislin's translation model for cross-cultural research and its reliability and validity of the new Chinese version was tested in 126 nurses.Factor analysis and correlation analysis were applied to establish the validity and reliability.Results The Chinese version of FATCOD scale consisted of 30 items.The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.828; split-half coefficient of the whole scale was 0.807; the varimax rotation factor analysis of the scale identified twelve principal factors and explained for 69.5％ variances.Conclusions The Chinese version of FATCOD scale is valid and reliable in the sample of nurses,and can be used in the field of hospice care and death education.

Objective:To analyze the clinical outcome and feasibility for patients who underwent total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation (TPTX) for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).Methods:From April 2012 to December 2015,220 SHPT patients underwent TPTX in the department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.The clinical data and effect were assessed retrospectively.Results:All the 220 patients were on permanent dialysis with mean duration of dialysis (7.93 ± 3.75) years.A durable reduction in mean PTH,Ca and P were observed after TPTX (P＜0.01).The mean hospital stay was (7.8 ± 2.8) days.TPTX produced a rapid improvement in clinical symptoms.Incidence of hypocalcemia was 73.46％.Severe complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or inactive dynamic osteopathia,haven't been observed postoperatively.The rate of persistent status (PTH≥300 pg/mL) was 9.1％.One (0.45％) died of infectious shock perioperatively.Conclusions:TPTX was a safe and feasible surgical procedure for patients with SHPT.It was worth of being applied.Not missing the parathyroid during operation was the key point for successful TPTX.Intensive monitoring and maintaining stable normocalcemia were the key point to reduce complication.

Objective: To construct a prediction model for preeclampsia (PE) risk in twin-pregnant women, so as to provide the basis for early screening and prevention of PE. Methods: A total of 467 twin-pregnant women who underwent prenatal examination and delivered at Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital were selected. Sixty cases with preeclampsia (PE) were included in the case group, and 60 women without PE were included in the control group. General information, blood biochemical indicators and uterine artery resistance index (UtA-RI) were collected. A logistic regression model was used to screen predictive factors and establish a nomogram. The Bootstrap method was performed for the internal validation; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis were employed to evaluate the discrimination, calibration and clinical utility of the nomogram, respectively. Results: In the case group, there were 47 individuals (78.33%) aged younger than 35 years, 21 individuals (35.00%) with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 and above, and 33 individuals (55.00%) with in vitro fertilization. In the control group, there were 57 individuals (95.00%) aged younger than 35 years, 8 individuals (13.33%) with pre-pregnancy BMI of 25 kg/m2 and above, and 39 individuals (65.00%) with natural pregnancy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age, pre-pregnancy BMI, method of conception, placental growth factor (PLGF) and UtA-RI as risk prediction factors for PE in twin-pregnant women. The established nomogram had an area under the ROC curve of 0.827 (95%CI: 0.755-0.899), a sensitivity of 0.767, a specificity of 0.733, a good discrimination and calibration, and a relatively high clinical net benefit. Conclusion The nomogram established by age, pre-pregnancy BMI, method of conception, PLGF and UtA-RI has a good predictive value for the risk of PE in twin-pregnant women.

Radiotracer techniques were employed to characterize 65Zn adsorption and desorption in root-cell-wall of hyperaccumulating ecotype (HE) and non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) species of Sedum alfredii Hance. The results indicated that at the end ofa 30 min short time radioisotope loading period, comparable amounts of 65Zn were accumulated in the roots of the two ecotypes Sedum alfredii, whereas 2.1-fold more 65Zn remains in NHE root after 45-min desorption. At the end of 60 min uptake period, no difference of 65Zn accumulation was observed in undesorbed root-cell-wall of Sedum alfredii. However, 3.0-fold more 65Zn accumulated in desorbed root-cell-wall ofNHE. Zn2+ binding in root-cell-wall preparations of NHE was greater than that in HE under high Zn2+ concentration. All these results suggested that root-cell-wall of the two ecotypes Sedum alfredii had the same ability to adsorb Zn2+, whereas the desorption characteristics were different, and with most of 65Zn binding on root of HE being available for loading into the xylem, as a result, more 65Zn was translocated to the shoot.

By using a yeast two-hybrid system, a yeast two-hybrid bait vector was constructed and identified for screening of the HPV18 E6-interacting proteins, and its effects on the growth of yeast cells and the activation of reporter genes were investigated. Total mRNA extracted from Hela cells was reversely transcribed into cDNA. Fragment of HPV18 E6 cDNA was amplified using RT-PCR and directly ligated to the pGBKT7 vector. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing. The recombinant pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 plasmid and empty pGBKT7 vector were transformed into the yeast cell AH109, respectively. After they were cultured respectively in YPDA liquid medium and nutrition-deficient culture medium, their toxicity and transcriptional activation were tested by both the phenotype assay and the color assay. The bait plasmid HPV18 E6 was successfully obtained. After being cultured in YPDA liquid medium for 16h, the A (600 nm) values of two yeast fluids were 0.98+/-0.03 and 0.99+/-0.02, respectively. The recombinant pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 plasmid and empty pGBKT7 vector could grow to white colonies on SD/-Trp/X-alpha-gal plates, while no colony could survive on SD/-His/-Trp/X-alpha-gal, SD/-Ade/-Trp/X-alpha-gal plates, indicating that the bait plasmid pGBKT7-HPV18 E6 was constructed successfully and expressed correctly, and could not activate the transcription of reporter gene alone. The yeast two-hybrid GAL4 system 3 can be utilized to find HPV18 E6 interacting proteins.

AIMTo determine the effect of histamine on ischemia-induced cellular edema and viability reduction in rat hippocampal slices, and the involved subtypes of histamine receptor in this effect.

METHODSIn vitro ischemic injury of hippocampal slices was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The slice injury was determined by real-timely measuring the changes of light transmittance (LT) for the cellular edema in CA1 region of the hippocampal slice, and by detecting the product of 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), formazan, for the slice viability. The effect of histamine at various concentrations on the slice injury was observed, and the blockage by antagonists of histamine receptors was also investigated.

RESULTSHistamine (0.01-10 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited the peak value of LT during OGD in hippocampal slices and improved the reduced viability after OGD. Diphenhydramine (0.1-10 micromol x L(-1)), an H1 receptor antagonist, did not affect the effect of histamine, while cimetidine (0.1-10 micromol x L(-1)), an H2 receptor antagonist, partly abolished the protective effect of histamine.

CONCLUSIONHistamine protects hippocampal slices against ischemia-induced cellular edema and viability reduction; this effect might be mediated via, at least partly, H2 receptor.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cimetidine ; pharmacology ; Diphenhydramine ; pharmacology ; Formazans ; metabolism ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H2 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To explore the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides(ASP) on subacute renal damages induced by D-galactose in mice and its mechanism. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 10 mice in each group. The D-galactose model group was subcutaneously injected with D-galactose (120 mg x kg(-1)), qd x 42; the ASP + D-galactose model group was intraperitoneally injected with ASP since the 8th day of the replication of the D-galactose model, qd x 35; and the normal control group was subcutaneously injected with saline at the same dose and time. On the 2nd day of after the injection, the peripheral blood was collected to measure the content of BUN, Crea, UA, Cys-C; paraffin sections were made to observe the renal histomorphology by HE staining; senescence-associated β-g-alactosidase (SA-β-Gal) stain was used to observe the relative optical density (ROD) in renal tissues; transmission electron microscopy was assayed to observe the renal ultrastructure; the renal tissue homogenate was prepared to measure the content of SOD, GSH-PX, MDA; the content of AGEs and 8-OH-dG were measured by ELISA. According to the result, compared with the D-galactose model group, the ASP + D-galactose model group showed obviously decreases in the content of BUN, Crea, UA, Cysc, AGES, 8-OH-dG, the number of hardening renal corpuscle, renal capsular space and renal tubular lumen, ROD of SA-β-Gal staining positive kidney cells, mesangial cells, basement membrane thickness, podocyte secondary processes fusion and MDA and increases in the number of normal renal corpuscle, ribosome and rough endoplasmic reticulum in podocytes, the activity of SOD and GSH-PX. In Conclusion, A. sinensis polysaccharides can antagonize kidney subacute damages induced by D-galactose in mice. Its protective mechanism may be correlated with the inhibition of the oxidative stress injury.
Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Deoxyguanosine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Galactose ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; anatomy & histology ; drug effects ; injuries ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage