Objective To investigate the value of CT findings in predicting the need for surgery in patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO).Methods Seventy patients with SBO were classified into non-operation and surgery groups according to the clinical treatment.The CT findings were retrospectively compared between the two groups,and the predictive value for surgery of useful CT findings was analyzed.Results Thirty three of 70 patients were cured with non-operative treatment and other 37 with surgery.The incidences of complete collapse of transitional zone,mesenteric edema,ascites,engorgement of mesenteric veins,decreased enhancement of bowel wall,decreased enhancement of mesenteric arteries and veins in surgery group were statistically higher than those in non-operation group,with odds ratios for surgery of 10.56,5.13,4.72,5.45,5.77,3.02 and 6.59,respectively.The diameter of dilated bowel,bowel wall thickness,and the incidence of target sign,intestinal pneumatosis,displacement,convergence and tortuosity of mesenteric vasculatures were not statistically different between the two groups.Conclusion Multiple CT findings of SBO are useful to predict the need for surgery,and may provide important information for clinical management of SBO.

Objective To observe the protective and anti-apoptosis effects of Rannasangpei (RNSP) on brain ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established and the groups were divided as sham group, MCAO group, vehicle + MCAO group and RNSP + MCAO group. Neuronal deficient signs, brain infarct area, the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of caspase-3 were evaluated by neuronal deficient score, TTC (2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride) staining and Western blot respectively. Results Compared with those parameters in sham group, the neuronal deficient signs, infarct area and caspase-3 expression increased evidently while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax decreased markedly in MCAO group. But in RNSP+MCAO group, the neuronal deficient signs, infarct area and cas?pase-3 expression decreased greatly while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax increased markedly compared with those parameters in MCAO group. Conclusion RNSP may have protective effects on brain ischemia and reperfusion, which is related to its an?ti-apoptosis role indicated by upregulation of Bcl-2/Bax ratios and downregulation of caspase-3.

Objective The chief aim of the present work is to investigate features of sternum of Chinese adults and to establish the sex determination method to evaluate its effect based on 3D recombinant morphology indicators. Methods Based on chest spiral CT scans, 2D images of multi-level recombination and 3D model of volume rendering, the experiment concludes an sex determination equation from 8 measurement indicators of the sternum and 3 ratio indicators. The 8 measurement indicators include full-length, handle length, body length, maximum width of the handle, maximum width of the body, maximum thickness of the handle, maximum thickness of the body, and thickness of the upper body. Results According to the 11 indicators of sex differences in statistics (P<0.05), especially indicators of the full-length, body length, maximum width of the handle and maximum thickness of the body, the body's sex is easier to be determined. All indicators equations, length indicators discriminant equations and stepwise discriminant equations have higher reliable rate (88.6%) which was consistent with the recent foreign research reports. Conclusion The method of sex determination based on multislice spiral CT 3D recombinant techniques is practicable and has an relatively high accuracy. It is expected to be applied to researches in age estimation by sternum and other virtual bones.

Objective To improve the processing protocol of the frozen erythrocyte ( RBC) washing machine of the dialysis type to enhance its efficiency of treating the 2 U frozen RBCs .Methods The frozen RBC washing machine for dialysis was used to deglycerolize the 2 U frozen RBCs after thawing .Measures including adjustment of the Pump speed , washing buffer adding and solution osmolarity were taken to decrease the processing time .Hemoglobin(Hb) content, Hb recovery, residual glycerol, free Hb content, deforming ability, and apoptosis of the deglycerolized RBCs were assessed to evaluate the efficiency of the improved protocol .Results As for the cells processed respectively by the previous and improved protocols, contents of Hb were (35.03 ±4.20) g and (53.82 ±2.08) g, respectively; Hb recoveries were (61.10 ±8.46)% and (80.22 ±3.73)%,respectively.Osmolarities representing residual glycerol were (307.00 ± 14.50)mOsm and (322.00 ±29.00)mOsm.Free Hb values were (0.74 ±0.04) and (0.80 ±0.08)g/L.The processing time was (1.64 ±0.31) and (1.04 ±0.16) h,respectively.There were significant differences in Hb content , Hb recovery, and deforming ability between the cells processed by the two protocols respectively .However , there were no significant changes in glycerol contents , free Hb, and apoptosis extent between the cells processed by the two protocols .Conclusion The innovated protocol can improve the quality of washed frozen RBCs , decrease the processing time and enhance the efficiency of the machine.

Objective To evaluate the storage performance of storage bags for apheresis platelets produced by Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co .,Ltd ( experimental bags ) with Trima set platelet storage bags produced by the U .S. Gambro BCT as the control .Method One unit of apheresis platelets was divided into two equal parts , added to control blood bags and experimental blood bags respectively .All samples were stored at ( 22 ±2 )℃ with consecutive oscillation . The platelets′count, mean volume, aggregate activity (ADP, THR), pH, glucose, lactate concentration, lactate dehydro-genase concentration , hypotonic shock reaction , expression of CD62P and phosphatidyl serine on surface of cell membrane were detected at 0,3,5 and 7 d respectively.Results There was no significant difference in platelet quality after five days of storage between the experimental group and the control group (t-test, P>0.05).Conclusion Two types of platelet stor-age blood bags have similar storage performance for apheresis platelets .

Objective To determine the relationship between serum soluble Klotho (sKL) level and adverse outcome in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods One hundred and twenty nine cases of MHD patients were collected prospectively.Serum sKL was detected by ELISA.Abdomen lateral plain was used as a criterion to determine the abdominal aortic calcification.The abdominal aortic calcification score (AAC) was calculated.Cox regression analysis was used to determine the risk factor of cardiovascular death (CVD) in MHD patients.Kaplan-Meier showed the relationship between sKL and CVD in MHD patients.Results There were 27 cases (20.9％) of allcause death and 19 cases (14.7％) of cardiovascular death.The median sKL was 612.6(379.2-816.6) nig/L,and log[iPTH] was an independent factor of sKL concentration.Low sKL had high AAC and CVD death rate.Kaplan-Meier method showed that the all-cause death rate was similar between two groups,and CVD death rate increased significantly in low sKL patients (P=0.036).Cox regression indicated that lower sKL level was associated with high CVD death rate [OR=0.352,95％CI(0.127-0.977),P=0.045].After adjustment for the general condition,biochemical indicators,the relationship still existed [OR=0.331,95％ CI (0.117-0.933),P=0.037].In no or mild vascular calcification patients (AAC ≤4),compared with high sKL patients,low sKL patients had no significant difference rate in all-cause mortality.The CVD mortality was significantly higher in high sKL (P=0.035) compared with low sKL.In severe calcification group (AAC ＞ 4),all-cause death and CVD death rates were similar between different sKL groups (P=0.991 and 0.522,respectively).Conclusions Lower sKL has the high CVD death rate and sKL level decreasing is an independent risk factor for CVD death in MHD patients.The lower sKL concentration in MHD patients with no or mild calcification may predict CVD mortality.This study suggests that sKL levels may be helpful in predicting the outcome of patients with MHD.

Objective To explore the effect ofhypoxia on CXCR4 expression in N9 microglia cells and the role of CXCR4 in hypoxia-induced N9 cell migration.Methods N9 microglia cells were cultured in normoxia and hypoxia conditions; total cell RNA and protein were prepared,real-time PCR was used to detect the CXCR4 mRNA expression,and Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expressions ofhypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and CXCR4.After cells were transfected with siRNA targeting HIF-1α or CXCR4,the CXCR4 expression was detected again.The migration ability of N9 cells in normoxia and hypoxia conditions were detected by Transwell assay.After cells were treated with CXCR4 siRNA,the migration ability of N9 cell in hypoxia was measured again.Results As compared with cell cultured in normoxia condition,the CXCR4 expression was significantly increased as compared with cells cultured in hypoxia condition (P＜0.05); however,the hypoxia-induced CXCR4 up-regulation was prevented by HIF-1α silencing.The migration ability of N9 cells in hypoxia condition was significantly higher than that of cells cultured in normoxia condition (number of transmembrane cells:(63.00±5.57) and (20.33±2.08),respectively,P＜0.05); however,the N9 cell migration ability promoted by hypoxia was obviously inhibited by CXCR4 silencing (number of transmembrane cells:63.00±4.00 in si-Control cells and 19.33±3.21 in CXCR4 siRNA cells,P＜0.05).Conclusion Hypoxia can promote the migration ability of N9 cells through inducing CXCR4 expression.

Objective To investigate the role of Notch signaling in hypoxia-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in N9 microglia by inhibiting Notch signaling with a γ-secretase inhibitor,DAPT.Methods N9 cells cultured in vitro were divided into normoxia group,normoxia+10 μmol/L DAPT treatment group,hypoxia group and hypoxia+10 μmol/L DAPT treatment group;10 μmol/L DAPT was added to the media of treatment groups;normoxia group and hypoxia group were added the same amount of solvent.Then,cells in the hypoxia group and hypoxia+10 μmol/L DAPT treatment group were changed into hypoxia conditions (3％ O2) for 12 h.The mRNA and protein were extracted among the four groups;real-time PCR was used to observe the mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-6,IL-1 β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,Western blotting was applied to detect the protein levels of N1ICD,Hes1 and Hey1,and ELISA was used to determine the secretion levels of IL-6,IL-1 β and TNF-α among four groups.Results DAPT had an inhibitory effecton mRNA expression and protein secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α,and the inhibition effect gradually increased with the increase of DAPT doses.As compared with those in the normoxia group,the mRNA and protein secretion levels of IL-6,IL-1 β and TNF-α and Notch signaling molecules N1ICD,Hes1,Hey1 protein levels were significantly increased in the hypoxia group (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the hypoxia group,the mRNA and secretion levels of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α and Notch signaling molecules N1ICD,Hes1,Hey1 protein levels were significantly decreased in hypoxia+DAPT group (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the mRNA and protein secretion levels of IL-6,IL-1β and TNF-α and Notch signaling molecules N1ICD,Hes1,Hey1 protein levels between normoxia group and nomoxia+DAPT group (P＞0.05).Conclusion Notch signaling mediates hypoxia induced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in microglia.

Objective To explore the role ofperoxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ in hypoxia-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokine and migration of N9 microglia cells by activating PPAR-γsignaling with pioglitazone and its mechanism.Methods N9 microglia cells cultured in vitro were divided into normoxia group,hypoxia group,pioglitazone+hypoxia group and T0070907 (PPAR-γ pathway inhibitor)+pioglitazone+hypoxia group.Total cell RNA and protein were prepared,Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α).Real-time PCR was used to detect the interleukin (IL)-1 β,IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expressions.The migration ability of N9 cells was detected by Transwell assay.The HIF-1α protein expression in N9 cells was detected by immunofluorescence.Results As compared with cells from normoxia group,cells from the hypoxia group had significantly increased HIF-1α protein expression,markedly enhanced migration ability and significantly increased mRNA levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the cells from the hypoxia group,the HIF-1α protein expression,migration ability and IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the cells from pioglitazone+hypoxia group (P＜ 0.05).T0070907+pioglitazone+hypoxia group had significantly increased HIF-1α protein expression,migration ability and IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-o mRNA levels as compared with pioglitazone+hypoxia group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Activation of PPAR-γ pathway could inhibit the hypoxia-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokine and migration ability of N9 microglia cells via down-regulation of HIF-1α protein and IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expressions.

Objective To improve the protocols of red blood cells ( RBCs) processing devices ( automatic medical RBC centrifuge, type:BBS926).Methods RBCs separated from 400 ml of whole blood collected from healthy donors were frozen at -80℃.After thawing , the cells were processed by the washing device .Based on the original protocol ( protocol 1), a modified protocol (protocol 2) was established and used to evaluate the quality of the frozen RBCs .In the test group (protocol 2), the amount of washing buffers and the washing steps were revised to form the optimized protocol .RBCs processed with the two protocols were evaluated by different assays .Results The indexes from the standards for frozen-thawed RBCs: the amount of hemoglobin ( Hb) of RBCs from protocol 1 and protocol 2 was 37.55 ±3.58 and 42.18 ±3.35 g(P<0.05),respectively;the amount of free hemoglobin(FHb) was 0.51 ±0.08 g/L and 0.53 ±0.07 g/L (P>0.05);the residual amount of white blood cells (WBCs) was (1.90 ±0.99) ×107 and (1.92 ±1.04) ×107(P>0.05);The osmolarities were 334 ±8.03 mOsm and 327 ±9.06 mOsm(P>0.05);both the bacteria and fungi tests were negative for the RBCs processed with the two protocols .Among other indexes ,the hemolysis rate for RBCs from protocol 1 and protocol 2 was (12.44 ±8.24)%and (12.02 ±5.78)%(P>0.05), the deformation index was 21.40 ±1.41 and 21.42 ±1.45 (P>0.05), the RBC recovery was(72.02 ±3.70)%and (77.18 ±5.58)%(P<0.05),the cell apopto-sis rate was(1.12 ±0.54)%and (1.10 ±0.61)%(P>0.05),and the processing time was (79.00 ±0.71)min and (79.60 ±0.55)min (P>0.05).Conclusion The RBCs processed by the two protocols meet the national standards for frozen-thaw RBCs.Hb amounts and cell recoveries of the RBCs are enhanced by treatment with protocol 2.Protocol 2 proves to be better than protocol 1.