Adult ; Aged ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hemorheology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; blood

Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Sputum ; microbiology

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of cutaneous branches of reverse second and third dorsal metacarpal artery fasciocutaneous flaps for repair of distal- and middle-segment finger soft tissue defects. MethodsA total of 14 patients with distal- and middle-segment finger soft tissue defects complicated by exposure of the phalanx or tendon were repaired by using cutaneous branches of second and third dorsal metacarpal artery fasciocutaneous flaps ranging between 2.0 cm × 4.5 cm and 3.0 cm × 7.0 cm.ResuitsAll of the skin flaps survived after surgery.Follow-up data during a 6-40 month period showed that the flaps exhibited a satisfactory appearance.They were not fat or clumsy,with a 2-point discrimination of 59 mm,and there was good recovery of finger function.The donor site was able to be directly sutured without dermoplasty.Pigmented linear surgical streaks appeared in the donor site.Conclusion The cutaneous branches of Second and third dorsal metacarpal artery fasciocutaneous flaps provide a good approach for the repair of distal- and middle-segment finger soft tissue defects and functional reconstruction because of convenient dissection,little trauma,sufficient use of the dorsal metacarpal artery.

Objective To explore the changes in inflammatory reactions in tail-suspension mice infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae from spaceflight.Methods Tail suspension was used to simulate the physiological effects of microgravity.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control (Con),control+K.pneumoniae T16-169 (Con+T16-169),tail suspension (TS) and tail suspension+K.pneumoniae T16-169 (TS+T16-169) groups.The level of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA in lung tissue and the plasma cytokine concentration were detected by RT-qPCR and xMAP technology,and HE staining was used to represent the morphological changes in lung tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue and plasma concentrations of all experimental groups were increased,and the difference in TS+T16-169 group was the most significant (P<0.01 or P<0.001).HE staining showed that the lung tissues in Con+T16-169 and TS+T16-169 groups were damaged in different degrees,and the damage of TS+T16-169 group was the most serious.Conclusion The K.pneumoniae from spaceflight significantly increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue and plasma concentrations after infecting tail-suspension mice,and induces more serious damages to the lung tissue,which suggests that inflammatory reactions can be increased in tail suspension mice infected by K.pneumoniae from spaceflight.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of the radiologic characteristics of osteoporotic Kummell's disease.

METHODSTotal 16 patients with pathologically confirmed osteoporotic Kummell's diseases were reviewed from May 2010 to May 2012, including 4 males and 12 females with the mean age of 73.4 years (ranged, 67 to 83 years old). Radiologic imagings of all patients, including X-ray, CT and MRI, were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIntravertebral linear clefts could be seen on the AP and lateral X-ray films of vertebrae. Sagittal and axial CT scans demonstrated the vacuum cleft phenomenon with liquid and air was identified within the vertebral body. Sagittal MRI showed the callapsed vertebral segment and the area of fluid signal with clear and intact border within the vertebral body. The fluid signal was low on T1-weighted images and high on T2-weighted images and stir images, which was corresponding to an intravertebral vacuum cleft.

CONCLUSIONThe radiologic characteristics of Kurmmell's diseases can provide valuable evidences for the early diagnosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteonecrosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). More than one-third of patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms, including confusion, headaches, and decreased/disordered taste. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease and the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer's disease patients are at high risk and susceptible to infection with COVID-19, which may cause severe illness and even death. There appears to be an interaction between AD and COVID-19, and on the one hand, patients with COVID-19 seem to be more likely to develop AD. AD patients, on the other hand, may be more susceptible to severe COVID-19. Therefore, understanding the common link between COVID-19 and AD may help to develop treatment strategies. Risk factors common to AD and COVID-19 are aging, ApoE ε4 allele, β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), neuroinflammation, oxidative stress. Here, this article focuses on the relationship between COVID-19 and AD, explores common risk factors and potential pathogenesis, and provides help for early prevention, treatment and recovery.

Objective To report the clinical effect of free transplanting for soft tissue defects pedieled with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch of lateral cirumflex femoral artery.Methods Cu- taneous branches of the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery were found small or abscent in 7 patients.The anterolateral femoral skin flap was pedicled with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch to repair the soft tissue defects of the arm,hand,leg and foot,rather than with the descending ones. The size of the flap ranged from 15 cm?6 cm to 28 cm?13 cm,with part muscle valve,iliotibal tract and lat- eral femoral cutaneous nerve.The fractures were performed with internal or external fixation.Results All of the anterolateral femoral skin flap survived well postoperatively in the 7 cases and had good appearance and sensation at one stage.The function of the repaired extremities recovered well.Conclusion The anterolat- eral femoral skin flap pedicled with high site cutaneous branches of the transuvrse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery has many advantages of good blood supply and large size.The flap was secluding,and can be taken with some muscle and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.When cutaneous branches of the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery is small or abscent,the anterolateral femoral skin flap with high site cutaneous branches of the transverse branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery is an optimal alternative.

In order to explored the change of PML/PML-RARalpha protein during tetraarsenic tetrasulfide (As4S4) treatment, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells from a group of newly diagnosed APL patients were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining with anit-PML monoclonal antibody. The results showed that all samples typically presented many microspeckle signals throughout the nucleus before treatment. The redistribution occurred as early as on the second day after As4S4 treatment, which revealed loss of microspeckles with the presentation of a few large speckles. Anti-PML staining also emerged in the perinuclear cytoplasm. At last, microspeckles and large speckles all disappeared. When the therapy was combining all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) with As4S4, similar results were obtained. However, APL cells from patients treated with ATRA alone performed totally different appearance, presenting microspeckles and large speckles at the same time, followed with entirely large speckles. The conclusion is that As4S4 makes redistribution of PML/PML-RARalpha protein in leukemic cells from APL patients during the treatment, which is quite different from that during the treatment of ATRA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arsenicals ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Nuclear Proteins ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; analysis ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; Tretinoin ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

This study was purposed to investigate the effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) on sensitizing HL-60 cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis and its possible mechanism. The proliferative inhibition of HL-60 cells treated with different concentrations of 2-DG and TRAIL was measured by MTT assay. The cells were treated with 2-DG, TRAIL, and 2-DG combined with TRAIL at the concentration < IC50 value, i.e. 10 mmol/L for 2-DG and 100 ng/ml for TRAIL. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with PI staining; the expression of RIP1, GRP78, and PARP was analyzed by Western blot; the activity of caspase-3 was detected by special detection kit. The results showed that the combined treatment of HL-60 cells for 48 h induced an apoptotic rate of (45.1 ± 4.3)%, which was significantly higher than that of treated with 2-DG or TRAIL alone; at the same time, the combined treatment potentiated the expression of GRP78 and caspase-3 activity, and down-regulated the expression of RIP1. It is concluded that 2-DG can sensitize HL-60 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, which may be correlated with excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response, down-regulation of RIP1, and increase of caspase-3 activity.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Deoxyglucose ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; metabolism ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the preventive effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on the development of alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) in rats and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSOne hundred twenty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a blank control group, with distilled water intragastric infusion (GI); an alcohol group, with alcohol GI; a 5% LBP plus alcohol GI group; and a 10% LBP plus alcohol GI group. Liver pathologic changes were studied together with the activity of serum ALT, AST, GGT, the activity of liver SOD, GSH-PX and the content of liver MDA, GSH, H2O2; CYP2E1 gene and protein expressions were also detected.

RESULTSAt the end of ten weeks, the activity of serum AST [(132.3+/-25.7) U/L, (127.5+/-29.1)U/L] and GGT [(1.9+/-0.5)U/L, (1.8+/-0.7)U/L] of the two LBP groups were all significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [serum AST (245.7+/-32.1) and GGT (4.4+/-0.6)]. At the end of ten weeks, the content of liver MDA [(5.1+/-0.3) nmol/mg, (5.1+/-0.4) nmol/mg] and H2O2 [(135.4+/-23.5) mmol/g, (132.6+/-31.8) mmol/g] of the two LBP groups were significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [MDA (14.5+/-3.2) nmol/mgprot) and H2O2 (328.5+/-45.6)]. The activity of SOD [(206.7+/-13.2)U/L, (203.2+/-18.8)U/L], GSH-PX [(13.5+/-1.4)U/mg/min, (13.6+/-1.5)U/mg/min] and the content of GSH [(65.1+/-11.0)mg/g, (66.6+/-11.1) mg/g] of the two LBP groups were all significantly higher than those of the alcohol group [SOD (116.5+/-13.6)U/mg/min, GSH-PX (7.2+/-1.6)U/mg/min and the content of GSH (30.5+/-10.7)mg/g] (P less than 0.01). At the end of five weeks, levels of CYP2E1 gene and protein expression of the two LBP groups were 0.39+/-0.04, 0.40+/-0.06 and 3.49+/-0.36, 3.29+/-0.30 respectively. At the end of ten weeks, levels of CYP2E1 gene and protein expression of the two LBP groups were 0.41+/-0.05, 0.42+/-0.08 and 3.58+/-0.30, 3.36+/-0.37 respectively. They were all significantly lower than those of the alcohol group [the gene expression (5 week: 0.74+/-0.05, 10 week: 1.02+/-0.08) and the protein expression (5 week: 5.63+/-0.44, 10 week: 7.90+/-0.26)]. There were no typical alcoholic fatty liver pathologic changes observed in the two LBP groups.

CONCLUSIONLBP can effectively prevent AFL. This may be due to its effects in inhibiting the hepatocyte CYP2E1 expression and prevention of lipid peroxidation.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar