BACKGROUND: How to lessen neuronal necrosis to promote recovery of nerve function after ischemic cerebral injury? Cerebral ischemic preconditioning (IP) alleviates ischemic cerebral injury caused by re-ischemia to certain extent. It has been verified that sodium ferulate can lessen the incidence of neuron apoptosis after cerebral ischemia. Whether does sodium ferulate enhance the nerve protection of IP brain to not?OBJECTIVE: To explore the protection of sodium ferulate allied with IP in cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal experiment was designed.SETTING: Neurological Surgery Department of 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College, Department of Physiology of Jiangxi Medical College, Institute of Urinary Surgery of Jiangxi Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiment was perforned in Laboratory Room of Neurological Surgery Department of 2nd affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College from May 2001 to April 2002, in which, 85 Wistar male rats were employed, mass weighted varied from 250-300 g.METHODS: The rats were randomized into 4 groups: ① The control without ischemia (10 rats): Vertebral artery was ligatured bilaterally and common carotid artery was not clipped bilaterally. ② The control with ischemia (25 rats): Vertebral artery was ligatured bilaterally for 48 hours and common carotid artery was clipped for 10 minutes. ③ IP group (25rats): Vertebral artery was ligatured bilaterally for 48 hours and common carotid artery was clipped for 2 minutes, and 24 hours later, the common carotid artery was clipped again for another 10 minutes. ④ Sodium ferulate allied with IP group (Allied group) (24 rats): After IP, the common carotid artery was clipped again for 30 minutes and sodium ferulate (200 mg/kg)was injected intravenously from tail. The control without ischemia was subdivided into two groups of 2 days and 7 days after reperfusion respectively (5 rats for each one). The control with ischemia, IP group and allied group were subdivided into 5 groups of 6 bours, 12 hours, 24 hours,2 days and 7 days after reperfusion successively (5 rats for each one).The rats were sacrificed to collect brains at phase spots in each group.Coronary brain slice was collected 2.2 mm posterior to the optic chiasm and the effects of allied with was observed on neuron count and apoptotic cell count in cortex and hippocampal CA1 in cerebral ischemia reperfusion.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neuron count and apoptotic cell count in cortex and hippocampal CA1.RESULTS: Totally 85 experimental rats all entered result analysis. ①Neuron count in cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1: On the 7th day after ischemia, the counts in IP group and allied group were higher than ischemia control (268±8.5, 244±12.5, 135±5.6, P ＜ 0.01). ② Count of TUNEL positive cell in cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1: The count in allied group was lower than that in IP group and ischemia control (12 hours:1.2±0.8, 15.5±2.1, 39.8±3.9; 24 hours: 1.8±1.6, 39.3±11.8, 191.3±19.1;2 days: 2.8±1.2, 68.3±13.6, 328.4±24.0, P ＜ 0.01), and that in IP group was lower than ischemic control (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: IP lessens apoptotic neuron count in ischemic region.Sodium ferulate allied with IP further intensifies such effect and provides the protection of ischemic reperfusion injury of brain.

Objective To study preliminary the accuracy of clinical target volume (CTV) and internal target volume (ITV) automatically generated by an in-house deformable registration software on fourdimensional CT (4DCT),and evaluate its feasibility of clinical application.Methods Clinic treated one lung cancer patient and one liver cancer patient were selected for the study.CTV was delineated by radiation oncologist according to a single respiratory phase image of 4DCT scanning,and then deformed to the other phases and generated the CTVdefm on each phase image.Differences between the CTVdefm and CTVmanu were then compared.A composite ITVcopm was created by overlapping all the CTVdefm of 10 phases and compared with the ITVMIP which was contoured on the maximum intensity projection (MIP) CT images,including the shape,volume and geometric center position of the ITV contour.Results For the tested lung case,average volume difference between the CTVdefm and CTV was (-2.59 ± 5.02)％ for the all 10 phases,and the vector departure of the two ITV centers was (1.04 ± 0.89) mm.The ITVcomp almost completely matched the ITVMIP on the tested liver case with a volume difference smaller the 1％ and only 1.4 mm vector departure between their geometric centers.Conclusion The validity of the CTVdefm and ITVcomp gained from automatic deformation of manual delineation reference based on 4DCT images were preliminary evaluated and proved to be good enough for clinic planning.

BACKGROUND:Compared with smooth titanium, titania nanotubes cannot only induce mesenchymal stem cels osteogenic differentiation and promote bone integration, but also be used as drug nanocarriers. OBJECTIVE:To prepare dexamethasone-loaded titania nanotube system and to test its drug release characteristics. METHODS:Titania nanotubes were prepared by electrochemical anodic oxidation, and dexamethasone was dripped onto the prepared titania nanotubes. Subsequently layer by layer self-assembly technology was employed to fabricate gelatin/chitosan multilayered structure on the prepared samples. Scanning electron microscope and contact angle test were carried out during the process of building the gelatin/chitosan multilayered structure. The drug release was measured by a ultraviolet spectrophotometer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the scanning electron microscopy, the fabricated titania nanotubes had integral structure with even tube size of about 70 nm and arranged regularly, and the nanotubes were completely covered and sealed by the gelatin/chitosan multilayered membrane. Contact angle test results showed that ever since the fifth layer, contact angles changed alternately and displayed a zigzag profile. Ultraviolet spectrophotometer test results showed that when cultured for 3 hours, the cumulative drug release was about 32.7% and demonstrated an initial burst folowed by sustained release. When cultured for 24 hours, the cumulative drug release about 52.3%. However, after cultured for 7 days, little drug release was detected. And there was about 8.0%-10.0% dexamethasone of initial loading preserved in nanotubes.

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of prostatil combined with diosmin on the elderly patients with chronic prostatitis (CP) and the macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and macrophage inflammatory protein-lα (MIP-lα) in prostate fluid and serum.Methods:126 cases of elderly patients with CP in our hospital fiom January 2015 to September 2016 were selected and randomly divided into two groups.Prostatil combined with diosmin were provided to the patients in observation groups (63 cases) while the control group (63 cases) was treated by prostatil alone.The clinical effect,MIP-2,MIP-1α levels in the prostate fluid and serum before and after therapy as well as the incidence of adverse reactions were observed and compared between two groups.Results:At 12 weeks after treatment,the total effective rate of observation group was 93.7％,which was obviously higher than that of the control group (81.0％,P＜0.05).The MIP-2 and MIP-1α levels in prostate fluid and serum of both groups at 12 weeks after therapy were significantly lower than those before therapy (P＜0.01),which were significantly lower in the observation group than those of the control group at the same time (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Prostatil combined with diosmin could more safely and effectively improve the clinical efficacy in the treatment of elderly patients with CP/CPPS,which might be related to reduce the levels ofMIP-2,MIP-lα in serum and prostatic fluid.

Background The pathogenesis mechanism of diabetic cataract has not been fully elucidated.Researches showed that multiple biological pathways participate in the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract,including oxidative stress.Astaxanthin can inhibit oxidative stress-mediated injury and lipid peroxidation.However,whether astaxanthin has the preventive effects on diabetic cataract is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the preventive effects of astaxanthin on metabolic cataract in type 1 diabetic rats.Methods Thirty-eight 6-week-old SPF male SD rats were used in this study,and 1％ streptozocin was intraperitoneally injected to establish type 1 diabetic models in 30 rats,and 24 successful models were assigned to diabetic model group,low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group.Equal volume of normal saline solution was injected in the same way in 8 rats as the normal control group.Mixture foods containing 50 mg/(kg · day) or 100 mg/(kg · day) astaxanthin with olive oil and fodder were used continuously for 3 months in the rats of low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group,respectively,and mixture food of olive oil with fodder was used in the diabetic model group.Only fodder was used in the same way in the rats of the normal control group.The opacification of lens was examined by slit lamp section radiography system and graded on a scale of 1-5.The specimen of lens were prepared for the hematoxylin & eosin stain.The expression and lation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in the lens was examined using immunochemistry.The contents of oxidative stress-related indicators in the lens,such as AGEs,malonydialdehyde (MDA),catalase (CAT),superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mass fraction of glutathione (GSH),were assayed by ELISA.The experimental process complied with the national standard (Laboratory Animal Requirements of Environment and Housing Facilities [GB14925-2001]).Results The blood glucose levels of the rats were significantly higher in the diabetic model group,low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group than those in the normal control group at 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 weeks after modeling (all at P＜0.05),while the blood glucose levels of rats were not evidently different between low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group at various time points(all at P＞0.05).The rat lenses were transparent in the normal control group with scale of grade 1,and serious lens opacification was seen in the rats of the diabatic model group,with the scale of grade 5,while the rat lenses in the low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group were in grade 3-4.The contents of AGEs in the lenses were (7.23 ±0.50) μg/ml and (7.01 ±0.37) μg/ml,and M DA contents were (1.43 ± 0.22) mmol/L and (1.35±0.16)mmol/L in the low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group respectively,which were significantly lower than (7.61± 0.45) μg/ml and (1.62 ±0.42) mmol/L in the normal control group (all at P＜0.05).GSH contents in rat lenes were (272.70±12.53) ng/L and (283.52±16.17) ng/L,and SOD coneents were (55.45± 6.47) μmol/(min · L) and (56.73±5.12) μmol/(min · L),and CAT concents were (2.91 ±0.41) μmol/(min · L)and (3.02±0.13)μmol/ (min · L) in the low-dose astaxanthin group and high-dose astaxanthin group respectively,which were significantly higher than (241.52 ± 15.13) ng/L,(51.67 ± 5.45) μmol/(min · L) and (2.72 ± 0.27)μmol/(min · L) in the normal control group (all at P＜0.05).The GSH concent and SOD concent in rat lens were lower in the low-dose astaxanthin group than that in the high-dose astaxanthin group (both at P＜0.05).Conclusions Astaxanthin can postpone the pathogenesis and development of diabetic cataract in type 1 diabetic rats by antioxydative stress.

Objective To investigate the relationship between watching television time and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) , type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chongqing City .Methods Population-based cross-sectional study was conducted to investigated the local permanent staff(lived in Chongqing more than 5 years) who were 40 years old or elder in Chongqing City .Results The overall prevalence rate of IGR and T 2DM was 6 .3% ,5 .6% respectively .The average weekly watching TV time of the samples was (12 .3 ± 10 .1) h .After adjusting for possible confounding factors ,the prevalence rate of IGR and T2DM in patients watching TV time >14 h per week was significantly higher than those watching TV time ≤ 7 h per week(Adjust .OR = 1 .528 ,95% CI = 1 .034 - 2 .121 ;OR = 1 .482 ,95% CI = 1 .133 - 2 .047 ,respectively ) .Conclusion Siting and watching TV time were positively correlated with the risk of IGR ,T2DM .So ,we should actively encourage and promote healthy lifestyles to reduce siting and watching TV time .

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of acupuncture on the immune function of sepsis patients.

METHODSNinety sepsis patients were assigned to the control group, the thymosin a1 group, and the acupuncture treatment group according to random digit table, 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated according to the guideline of Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). Patients in the control group received routine treatment. Those in the thymosin alpha1 group additionally received subdermal injection of thymosin alpha1 (1.6 mg), once per day for 6 successive days. Needling at related points such as Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Neiguan (PC6), Guanyuan (RN4), and so on, was performed in patients of the acupuncture treatment group, once per day for 6 successive days. T cell subgroups (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+ /CD8+) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) were detected. The length of ICU hospital stay, hospital readmission rate, and 28-day mortality were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSAfter six days of treatment, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, IgM, and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio of three groups were all significantly increased (P < 0.01). Of them, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgG, IgA, and IgM increased more significantly in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the ICU hospitalization length was significantly shortened, the hospital readmission rate and the 28-day mortality were lower in the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in each index between the thymosin alpha1 group and the acupuncture treatment group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could adjust the immune function of sepsis patients, improve their immunological indicators and prognoses.

Acupuncture Therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prognosis ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives

Objective To explore the effect of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(uNGAL) and urine interleukin-18(uIL-18) on the ill condition and prognosis in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) at inception of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH).Methods Children came from Department of Nephrology,PICU and health examination center in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center were divided into 4 groups:critically ill patients with AKI receiving CVVH group(group A),critically ill patients with non-AKI receiving CVVH group(group B),critically ill patients with AKI didn't recevie CVVH group(group C),and healthy control group(group D).Serum creatinine(SCr),uNGAL and uIL-18 in all patients were analyzed.Results The uNGAL in group A and group C [(161.56 ± 71.44) μg/L,(153.69 ±51.33) μg/L] increased obviously when compared with group B and group D [(33.50 ± l 0.76) μg/L,(16.37 ± 6.20) μg/L] (all P ＜ 0.05).The uIL-18 in group A and group C[(4.16 ±1.13) μg/L,(3.81 ± 1.05) μg/L] was higher than that in group B and group D [(0.25 ± 0.04) μg/L,(0.19 ± 0.15) μg/L] (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significance of uNGAL and uIL-18 between group B and group D(all P ＞ 0.05).The peak level of uNGAL[(241.76 ± 53.60) μg/L vs (196.32 ± 39.28) μg/L] and uIL-18[(5.15 ±0.78) μg/L vs (4.30 ±0.89) μg/L] in critically ill patients with AKI was higher in renal recoveries than in renal non-recoveries(P ＜0.05).The levels of uNGAL and uIL-18 critically ill patients at initiation of CVVH were higher in non-survivors when compared with survivors [(213.50 ± 104.78) μg/L vs (79.91 ± 55.81) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05],[(4.48 ± 2.32) μg/L vs (1.94 ± 1.88) μg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The levels of uNGAL and uIL-18 of critically ill patients with AKI at initiation of CVVH were higher in non-survivors than in survivors [(256.99 ± 49.33) μg/Lvs (127.11 ±38.99) μg/L,P＜0.05],[(5.48±0.67) μg/Lvs (3.65 ±0.98) μg/L,P＜0.05].The levels of uNGAL and uIL-18 at the first diagnosis time of AKI were higher in non-survivors than in survivors (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions uNGAL and urine IL-18 at commencement of CVVH predicts short-term prognosis in critically ill patients with AKI.uNGAL and urine IL-18 can be as a prognostic value in the prediction of the need for renal replacement therapy initiation or mortality in critically ill patients with AKI.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow cell transplantation is a simple and effective treatment to promote angiogenesis. The neovascularization and reestablishment of blood circulation is crucial to the repair of injured but still living neurons as well as to the survival and differentiation of the implanted tissues and cells. However,it is not clearly known whether autologous bone marrow cells implantation could promote neovascularization and facilitate reestablishment of circulation in ischemic regions of the brain.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of autologous bone marrow cell transplantation via the carotid artery on angiogenesis in the ischemic regions of the brain.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experiment based on experimental animals.SETTING: Department of neurosurgery and institute of urinary surgery in a university hospital.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of the Department of Neurosurgery,Second Affiliated Hospital,and the Institute of Urinary Surgery,Jiangxi Medical College during the period from September 2002 to April 2003,using 10 specific pathogen-free male SD rats weighing 250 - 300 g.INTERVENTIONS: Rat models of focal cerebral ischemia model were established and randomized equally into two groups. The rats in the transplantation group were injected with autologous bone marrow cells via the carotid artery and those in the control group normal saline injection. The angiogenesis in the ischemic regions of the brain was observed with immunohistochemical staining for microvessel counting.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The density of microvessels. Immunohistochemical staining for F8.RESULTS: Greater density of the microvessels was found in the ischemic regions after bone marrow cell transplantation than in the control group[(159. 15 ±40.4)/mm2 vs(81.70 ± 32. 18)/mm2,P ＜ 0. 05] . Numerous endothelial cells were found scattered in the ischemic cortex of the transplantation group,but scarcely in the control group.CONCLUSION: Autologous bone marrow cell transplantation via the carotid artery can promote angiogenesis in the ischemic regions of the brain.

Objective To establish the linear regression equation between body height and com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum of sternum m easured by CTvolum e rendering technique (CT-VRT) in southw est H an population. Methods One hundred and sixty subjects, including 80 m ales and 80 fem ales w ere selected from southw est H an population for routine CT-VRT(reconstruction thickness 1 m m ) ex-am ination. The lengths of both manubrium and mesosternum w ere recorded, and the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum was equal to the algebraic sum of them . The sex-specific linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum and the real body height of each subject w ere deduced. Results The sex-specific sim ple linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum (x3) and body height (y) w ere established (m ale:y=135.000+2.118x3 and fem ale:y=120.790+2.808x3).Both equations show ed statisticalsignificance (P<0.05) w ith a 100% predictive accuracy. Conclusion CT-VRTis an effective m ethod for m easurem ent of the index of sternum . The com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum from CT-VRTcan be used for body height estim ation in southw est H an population.