Objective To test the role of a bioartificial kidney which consisted of a continuous vein-vein hemofiltration (CVVH) system and renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs)device, also called the renal tubule assist device (RAD),in endotoxin shock.Methods Female crossbred pigs 25 to 30 kg received with 3×1011 bacteria / kg body weight of E.coli intraperitoneally followed by treatment with a sham RAD without cells (n=7) or a RAD with cells (n=7). Data on blood pressure, cardiac output, renal blood flow and systemic marker of inflammation (IL-6) were measured.Results Cardiac outputs and renal blood flows were higher in the RAD group with cells than in the sham RAD group after E.coli infusion (P＜0.05). Plasma IL-6 levels were lower in the cell RAD group than in the sham RAD group after bacterial administration (P＜0.05). A significant difference on survival time was also observed between the two groups,with(9.07 ± 0.88) h in the cell RAD group vs. (5.10 ± 0.46)h in the sham RAD group, P＜ 0.01.Conclusion The bioartificial kidney containing PTCs can improve cardiovascular function,reduce cytokine levels,and prolong survival time.

Objective To study the expression and its significance of Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) and Collagen type Ⅰ (Col- Ⅰ) mRNA in hepatic tissue in mice exposed to arsenic in drinking water. Methods Fifty mice were divided into control group, sodium arsenite group(iAs3+ group, 300 mg/L) and sodium arsenate group (iAs5+ group, 300mg/L) at random. The mice were sacrificed after 10 months for liver function test (ALT, AST and GLB examined by automatic biochemical analyzer) and pathologic examinations. Masson staining and immunohistochemical SABC methods were used. Through the result of Masson staining fibrosis semi-quantitative analysis of the fibrosis number was carried out in the per unit area. Using immuonhistochemical SABC methods, the expression of PDGF and Col- Ⅰ was detected. Results ①Serum ALT was statistically significant among control group [(36.67±3.51) U/L], iAs3+ group[(61.46±13.85) U/L] and iAs5+ group[(43.31±4.21) U/L, F= 6.56, P < 0.05], especially between the control and iAs3+ group (P < 0.05) ;Serum AST had a statistical significance among control group [(135.00 ± 20.42)U/L], iA3+ group [(510.86 ± 59.01)U/L] and iAs5+ group[(258.93 ± 22.40) U/L, F= 83.36, P < 0.05] ;Serum GLB had no statistical significance among control group [(20.86 ± 0.61)g/L], iAs3+ group [(26.94± 3.73)g/L] and iAs5+ group[(24.59 ± 5.27)g/L, F = 2.80, P < 0.05]. ②Masson staining revealed notable liver cell necrosis, regeneration, infiltration of inflammatory cells in portal area. Masson staining Semi-quantitative results showed significantly increasing size of fibrosis in model group. Compared with control group(0.069 ± 0.013) and iAs5+ group(0.143 ± 0.122), fiber hyperplasia of iAs3+ group(0.192 ± 0.108) had statistical significance (F = 1.91, P < 0.05). ③Immunohistochemistry results showed higher expression of PDGF in the portal area, sepetal and preisinus cells in model group. The heavy expression of Col- Ⅰ distributed in the surrounding of blood vessels and bile duet and along portal wall extensting to the liver in model group. Semi-quantitative results showed that PDGF among control group(202.79 ± 7.46), iAs3+ group(174.38 ± 7.71) and iAs5+ group(177.64 ± 7.81) had a statistical significance(F= 102.91, P < 0.05);Col-Ⅰ had a statistical significance among control group(200.11 ± 7.46), iAs3+ group (176.47±10.20) and iAs5+ group (177.378 ±7.948, F = 78.51, P < 0.05). Conclusions Exposed in oral drinking arsenic, mice can develop hepatic injury and hepatic fibrosis. The PDGF and Col-Ⅰ play significant effects on the process of hepatic fibrosis caused by oral drinking arsenic exposed mice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of diagnosis and treatment program of integrative medicine (IM) on level 2 hypertension in the young and middle-aged patients and their ambulatory blood pressure.

METHODSA randomized, placebo parallel and controlled, multi-center clinical trial was performed. Totally 199 young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (99 cases) and the control group (100 cases). All received combined hypotensive treatment program by taking Nifedipine Sustained Release Tablet and Hydrochlorothiazide as basic drugs. Patients in the treatment group additionally took Western medicine (WM) combined Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily), while those in the control group additionally took WM combined simulative agents of Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily). The treatment course was 8 weeks for all, and 24-week follow-ups performed. 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and casual blood pressure, and their efficacies were compared between the two groups, and safety assessed as well.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, daytime and night casual blood pressure, as well as 24 h ambulatory blood pressure were all obviously improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). Average diastolic and systolic blood pressures at night decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in total efficacies of daytime casual blood pressure or ambulatory blood pressure (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJiangyabao serial drugs combined WM in treating young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients showed obvious effect in improving night blood pressure, especially for night diastolic blood pressure.

Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Integrative Medicine ; Middle Aged ; Nifedipine

Objective To assess the safety of intrathecal administration of betamethasone.MethodsTwenty-four adult white rabbits of both sexes were randomly divided into four groups with 6 rabbits in each group.Group Ⅰ (blank control group)in which nothing was injected intrathecally;group Ⅱ(NS control group)in whichnormal saline(NS)0.2ml was injected into the subarachnoid space through great occipital foramen once a weekand the animals were killed at the end of the 3rd week;in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ betamethasone 200 ?g or 400 ?g in 0.2ml was injected intrathecally once a week instead of NS.The animals were anesthetized and killed by intra-aorticinjection of NS and 2% glutaraldehyde.The cervical section of the spinal cord(C_(1-6))was immediately removedand fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde for microscopic examination.Results No neural histo-pathologic changes shownby microscopic examination were observed in group Ⅰ and Ⅱ.In group Ⅲ and Ⅳ microscopic examination showeddifferent degrees of swelling and demyelination of the nerve fibers and edema and vacuolization ofmitochondria.Conclusion Intrathecal betamethasone can damage the spinal cord.

To understand the distribution and accumulation rules of polydatin, resveratrol, anthraglycoside B, emodin and physicion in different tissue structure of rhizome and root of Polygonum cospidatum, the content of 5 active compounds were analyzed simultaneously by HPLC, based on plant anatomy and histochemistry. The rhizome and root consist of different tissues, with an increased diameter, the proportions of the secondary xylem and phloem have increased. Resveratrol and polydatin mainly distributed in the pith, the secondary phloem and periderm of rhizome, and the secondary phloem and periderm of the root, while emodin and anthraglycoside B concentrated in the secondary structure and pith of rhizome mostly. In different thickness of the measured samples, the total contents of 5 compounds were correspondingly higher in thinner rhizome and root than those in the coarse ones.
Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of measures on controlling of schistosomiasis in Jurong city Jiangsu province and provide a scientific basis for doing a better job in prevention and control of schistosomiasis.MethodsMonitoring data from 2005 to 2010 was analyzed,including the effect of spraying drugs,changing environment,coupled with health education measures in eradicating oncomelania.Oncomelania areas,positive detection rate of schistosomiasis,and the awareness rates of prevention knowledge of schistosome were observed longitudinally.Correlation of coverage rate of snail controlling and resident positive rate of schistosomiasis was studied.ResultsThere were no infected snails from 2005 to 2010.The densities of living snails and areas with snails decreased year by year.Residents' positive detection rate of schistosomiasis decreased from 0.34％(36/10 551 ) to 0.00％(0/12 372) from 2005 to 2010.The rates of students,and citizens' knowledge of schistosome on prevention of the disease increased from 88.28％(128/145) and 86.44％(204/236) to 96.58％(141/146) and 92.83％(246/265) from 2005 to 2010,respectively.There was a negative correlation between oncomelania areas and drug coverage areas(r =- 0.910,P ＜ 0.05 ); there was no correlation between oncomelania areas and coverage rate of snail control by environmental modification (r =- 0.404,P ＞ 0.05 ); there was no correlation between positive rate of schistosomiasis in resident and coverage rate of snail control with molluscisides,and coverage rate of snail control by environmental modification (r =0.107,- 0.496,all P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionsSnails areas in Jurong city is decreased year by year.Residents' positive detection rate of schistosomiasis infection is maintained at a low level.The effects of oncomelania-controlling,health education,and chemotherapy are remarkable.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and the mid-term effects of unilateral pedicle screw fixation and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treating lumbar degenerative diseases.

METHODSFrom August 2005 to May 2010, 56 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases underwent lumbar posterolateral fusion,their clinical data were retrospective analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups (unilateral group and bilateral group) according to fixation methods,27 patients in unilateral group who were underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation, including 18 males and 9 females with a mean age of (57.5 ± 7.1) years old (ranged from 41 to 66 years); and 29 patients in bilateral group who were treated with bilateral pedicle screw fixation (on the basis of the above, with contralateral vertebral pedicle screw fixation), including 19 males and 10 females with a mean age of (54.6 ± 5.1) years old (ranged from 43 to 68 years). The clinical data such as operation time, blood loss volume, hospitalization time and cost were compared between two groups. JOA score system was used to evaluate the neurological function. And fusion status and cage-related complication were also analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 36 to 60 months with an average of 45.8 months. No iatrogenic nerve, blood vessels or organs injury were found during operation. Operation time, blood loss volume, hospitalization time and cost in unilateral group were better than that of bilateral group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in JOA score between two groups (P > 0.05). Two patients in unilateral group developed with cage related complications, 1 case was cage displacement and 1 case was cage subsidence, while 2 patients in bilateral group developed with complications of no-fusion, and there was no significant differences between two groups (P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONUnilateral pedicle screw fixation is a satisfactory method and can obtain good effects in treating lumbar degenerative diseases in mid-term, however, the indications should be well considered.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

Background Fundus photography is a traditional method for detecting local retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects,but the evaluation of its result depends on the observer's experience.The spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) exhibit the defects of RNFL very clearly.Objective This study was to evaluate the diagnosis value and correlation between topographic profiles of localized RNFL defects determined by spectral domain and time domain OCT with fundus photography.Methods Forty-one normal eyes of 41 subjects and 55 eyes of 55 glaucomatous patients with localized,wedge-shaped RNFL defects identified by two glaucoma specialists in fundus photographs were enrolled in the clinical study.The angular location and width of RNFL defects determined on the images of fundus photography,Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT were analyzed respectively using Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis.This study followed the Helsinki declaration and was approved by Ethic Committee of Shenzhen Eye Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual before the clinical examination.Results Seventy-five RNFL defects were identified in 55 eyes by two glaucoma specialists unanimously with the defect position at superior-temporal and inferior-temporal quadrants.The sensitivity of Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT to determining RNFL defects were 88.0% and 69.3% respectively and their specificities were 92.7% and 97.6% respectively.The angular locations of RNFL defects by Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT were highly correlated with those by fundus photography(r=0.993,r=0.992,P＜0.001);while the angular widths of RNFL defects by Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT were moderately correlated with those by fundus photography(r=0.420,r=0.432,P=0.019,P=0.002).No significant differences were found in the defect width of RNFL between Cirrus HD-OCT or Stratus OCT and fundus photography(Cirrus HD-OCT:P=0.114;Stratus OCT:P=0.074),and significant difference was found in that between Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT(P=0.002).Conclusion Spectral domain OCT and time domain OCT can localize RNFL defects with high sensitivity and specificity.The measure value of Cirrus HD-OCT and Stratus OCT for RNFL defects shows a good diagnostic agreement with fundus photography.

Background and Objectives: Stroke is the most common neurological disease in China and regulation of lipid levels is important for secondary prevention. This study aimed to investigate the practice of lipid lowering agents immediately after and one month following ischemic stroke in China, and to determine the factors affecting the practice. Methods: A total of 857 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled from 11 hospitals in the Qingdao area, Northern China. Data pertaining to the patients’ demographic, clinical data, and treatment before and after the stroke were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with the treatment at two time points: at the acute stage and at one month follow-up. Results: The frequency of lipid lowering therapy was 50.3% (431/857) at acute stage and 41.5% (306/738) at one month. Lipid lowering therapy at acute stage was independently and positively associated with a history of hyperlipidemia((P=0.002, OR (95%CI): 3.784 (1.610-8.898)) and excess alcohol consumption (P=0.005, OR (95%CI): 1.928 (1.214-3.062)), partial anterior circulation infarct classifi cation (P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 1.974 (1.370-2.767)), and low-density lipoprotein levels ((P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 1.426 (1.170-1.739)). Lipid lowering therapy at one month follow-up was independently and positively associated with lipid lowering therapy at acute stage ((P=0.000, OR (95%CI): 18.275 (11.476- 29.101)), and negatively with the Modifi ed Rankin Scale ≥4 at follow-up ((P=0.030, OR (95%CI): 0.568 (0.341-0.948)). Conclusions: Lipid lowering therapy was found to be used in about half of patients during acute and early secondary prevention of ischemic stroke in the Qingdao area of Northern China. There should be more education efforts to the health care professionals and public to increase its use.