Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; Nanostructures ; Silicon Dioxide ; pharmacology

Aspergillosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Aspergillus ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Gas Poisoning ; nursing ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of lean management on emergency biochemistry test turnaround time(TAT) in clinical laboratories.Methods Based on the approaches of standardized operations,5S on-site management,the efficiency evaluation of batch processing and one piece flow,and visual management,the median time of each workflow,the qualified rate of emergency biochemistry test TAT,the unqualified rate in a relatively concentrated period of TAT timeout and the unqualified rate of collected samples were compared before and after optimization.Results The median times (interquartile ranges) of each workflow including sample receipt and storage,result audit and sample storage-result report before and after lean management were 30 (35) min,7 (13) min,17 (8) min and 16(19) min,5(9) min,16(7) min,respectively,and there were significant differences in the former two(all P ＜0.01) but not the third (P ＞ 0.05).The median times (interquartile ranges) of TAT before and after lean management were 63 (51) min and 46 (33) min,respectively(P ＜ 0.05).The qualified rate of TAT increased from 86.00％ to 95.37％ after lean management(P ＜ 0.01).The unqualified rates in a relatively concentrated period of TAT timeout and collected samples decreased from 3.42％ to 1.00％ (P ＜0.01) and from 0.24％ to 0.17％ (P ＜ 0.01),respectively.Conclusion Lean management may improve process efficiency,reduce errors,and shorten emergency biochemistry test TAT in clinical laboratories.

Objective:To construct a esophageal cancer module with Chinese characteristics based on MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) public scale, develop the Perioperative Esophageal Cancer Symptoms Assessment Scale combining above two parts.Methods:The original item pool was formulated through literature review, clinical interviews, and reference of existing symptoms assessment tools. After two rounds of expert evaluation and pilot survey, the preliminary Perioperative Esophageal Cancer Symptoms Assessmment Scale was developed combining Chinese MDASI (MDASI-C). A total of 150 perioperative esophageal cancer patients was assessed using the new scale, the included items were analyzed one by one, the reliability, validity and sensitivity of scale were checked.Results:Feasibility: the scale recovery was 100%, the completion rate of scale was 93.75%, the average completion time was 10 min. Reliability: the value of Cronbach α of the esophageal cancer module, MDASI-C, the combined scale were 0.747, 0.894, 0.883, respectively. Validity: the range of content validity index of items was 0.83-1.00, the scale-level content validity index average value was 0.93. Two common factors, which explained for 67.994% of variance, were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, the validity of criterion had statistical significance ( P<0.05). Sensitivity: the scores of the esophageal cancer module were significantly different among perioperative esophageal cancer patients with different Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ( H value was 9.264, P<0.05). Conclusions:The Perioperative Esophageal Cancer Symptoms Assessment Scale has good feasibility, reliability, validity and sensitivity, it is suitable for symptoms assessment of Chinese perioperative esophageal cancer patients.

OBJECTIVEto investigate the changes of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) in the cerebral cortex following acute bromoxynil intoxication in mice and the protective effect of sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (Na-DMPS).

METHODS30 ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control group (10), exposure group (10) and Na-DMPS protection group (10). The levels of GABA and Glu in the cerebral cortex were measured by RP-HPLC. The glutamine (Gln) level and the glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate decarboxylation enzyme (GAD), γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activity in the cerebral cortex were determined by UV colorimetric.

RESULTScompared with the control group [GABA: (3.41 ± 0.12) micromol/g, Glu (14.00 ± 0.16) micromol/g, Gln (1.25 ± 0.19) micromol/g, GAD (13.50 ± 0.25) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GABA-T (25.51 ± 0.21) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GS(142.19 ± 1.31) U/mg pro], the level of GABA [(3.14 ± 0.14) micromol/g] was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the level of Glu [(17.54 ± 0.40) micromol/g] and Gln [(3.35 ± 0.27) micromol/g] were increased (P < 0.05), the activity of GAD [(11.93 ± 0.15 micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GABA-T [(24.15 ± 0.22) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GS [(140.75 ± 1.01) U/mg pro] was decreased (P < 0.05) in acute intoxication group; Compared with the acute intoxication group, the level of GABA [(3.52 ± 0.30) micromol/g] was increased (P < 0.05), whereas the level of Glu [(14.20 ± 0.32) micromol/g] and Gln [(1.32 ± 0.17) micromol/g] were decreased (P < 0.05), the activity of GAD [(13.01 ± 0.45 micromol × g(-1) × h(-1)], GABA-T [(25.19 ± 0.26) micromol × g(-1) × h(-1), GS [(142.35 ± 1.20) U/mg pro] was increased (P < 0.05); In contrast, the levels of GABA, Glu, Gln and the activity of GAD, GABA-T, and GS in Na-DMPS protection group were not significantly different in comparison with control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONthe central toxic effects of mice with acute bromoxynil intoxication may be related to the changes of GABA and Glu content in the cerebral cortex;Na-DMPS can protect mice from bromoxynil-induced central toxic effects and GABA and Glu abnormal change in the cerebral cortex.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitriles ; poisoning ; Toxicity Tests, Acute ; Unithiol ; pharmacology ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus inside the body could activate the NF-κB signaling pathway and initiate the inflammatory cascade. The lung is one of the earliest organs affected by sepsis associated with acute lung injury. High mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) is an important late-acting pro-inflammatory cytokine involving in the pathophysiology of sepsis. It is also involved in the injury process in the lung, liver and intestine. There has been no report on the involvement of HMGB1 in Vibrio vulnificus sepsis-induced lung injury. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (group A,n=10) and a Vibrio vulnificus sepsis group (group B,n=50). Sepsis was induced in the rats by subcutaneous injection of Vibrio vulnificus (concentration 6×108 cfu/mL, volume 0.1 mL/100g)) into the left lower limbs. The rats in group B were sacrificed separately 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after the infection. Their lungs were stored as specimens, lung water content was measured, and lung pathology was observed under a light microscope. The expressions of the HMGB1 gene and protein in the lungs were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the LSD method for pair-wise comparison between the two groups.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Compared to group A (0.652±0.177), HMGB1 mRNA expression in the lungs of group B was significantly higher at 0 hour (1.161±0.358,P=0.013), 24 hours (1.679±0.235,P=0.000), and 48 hours (1.258±0.274,P=0.004) (P<0.05), and peaked at 24 hours. Compared to group A (0.594±0.190), HMGB1 protein expression at 6 hours (1.408±0.567,P=0.026) after infection was significantly increased (P<0. 05), and peaked at 24 hours (2.415±1.064,P=0.000) after infection. Compared to group A (0.699±0.054), lung water content was significantly increased at 6 hours (0.759±0.030,P=0.001),12 hours (0.767±0.023,P=0.000), 24 hours (0.771±0.043,P=0.000) and 48 hours (0.789±0.137,P=0.000) after infection (P<0.05). Compared to group A, pathological changes at 12 hours in group B indicate marked pulmonary vascular congestion, interstitial edema and inflammatory infiltration. Alveolar cavity collapse and boundaries of the alveolar septum could not be clearly identified. CONCLUSION:Vibrio vulnificus sepsis can lead to injury in rat lungs, and increased HMGB1 expression in lung tissue may be one of the mechanisms for injury from Vibrio vulnificus sepsis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between chronic pyelonephritis (CPN) and immune function, and the therapeutic mechanism of Yishenkang granule (YSKG).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients of CPN were divided into 3 groups randomly, the YSKG group (treated with YSKG), the control A group (treated with Sanjin tablet) and the control B group (treated with western medicine). Serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig), complement 3 (C3), interleukin-2 (IL-2), peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets, and urinary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) were determined before and after treatment with monoclonal antibody assay, agar diffusion method, radioimmunoassay (RIA), and radioimmuno-equilibrium method, and compared with normal control.

RESULTSThere were disorders of T-lymphocyte subsets in CPN, lowering of serum Ig, C3 and urinary sIgA, and increase of blood IL-2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These abnormalities could be normalized after YSKG treatment.

CONCLUSIONFunctional disorders of cellular and humoral immunity exist in CPN patients of chronic stage, YSKG could correct the immune functional disorder, control the recurrence of CPN effectively and alleviate the immunopathological damage.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyelonephritis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

Objective To study the relationship between status of methylation of tumor suppressor candidate 1 gene(TUSC1) promoter and expression of its protein in adolescent papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods Forty cases of adolescent PTC were chosen and the corresponding para carcinoma tissues were taken from July 2010 to Decem-ber 2013 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University surgical specimens of the thyroid gland and were con-firmed by pathology. Male 12 cases,female 28 cases,median age 14 (10-18) years old. Tumor node metastasis (TNM) stageⅠ-Ⅱ13 cases,Ⅲ-Ⅳstage 27 cases;gradeⅠin 15 cases,gradeⅡin 25 cases;lymph node metastasis in 22 cases,18 cases were negative. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and Western blot were applied respectively to examine the methyaltion of TUSC1 gene promoter and its protein expression of 40 samples of adolescent PTC and their matched adjacent non-cancerous epithelium. Results The results of MSP revealed that there was no methylation of TUSC1 gene promoter in adjacent non-cancerous epithelium,while in the adolescent PTC,the hyper-methylation rate was 60%(24/60 cases,χ2=34. 28,P<0. 05). In additional,it was related to the TNM stage,pathological grade and lymph node metastasis (χ2=4. 862,7. 111,5. 625,all P<0. 05). The result of Western blot revealed that the positive expression rate of TUSC1 protein was 100% in adjacent non-cancerous epithelium and 30%(12/40 cases) in adolescent PTC (χ2=14. 118,P<0. 05),which was related to the TNM stage,pathological grade and lymph node metastasis (χ2=5. 215,6. 222, 5. 079,all P<0. 05). There was distinct correlation between methylation of TUSC1 gene promoter and the protein expres-sion (r=-0. 84,P<0. 05). Conclusions Methylation of promoter might be one of the important mechanisms of inactiva-tion of TUSC1 gene,and might play an important role in carcinogenesis and progression of adolescent PTC.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of an inhibitor of NADPH oxidases,diphenylene iodonium (DPI),in preventing radiation-induced lung injury.Methods Totally 48 adult SD male rats were randomly classified into 4 groups:control group (C),radiation group (R),radiation plus DPI group (R + D) and DPI group (D).The radiation induced pulmonary injury model was preformed by using 6 MV X-rays to deliver 8 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days with 40 Gy in total to the thorax of each animal.Rats in R + D group were subcutaneously administered with 0.02％ DPI (1 mg/kg) at 1 h prior to radiation while rats in D group received the same dose of DPI without radiation.DPI was given from 3 d before radiation to 30 d after the first radiation.Rats in C and D groups received the same dose of saline.Animals were sacrificed at 1 month and 6 months after radiation,respectively.The lungs were removed and processed for HE and Masson staining,hydroxyproline content measurement,and TGF-β1 immunohistochemical detection.Results At 1 month post-radiation,rats in R group showed typical alveolitis,the level of hydroxyproline was (0.69 ± 0.05) μg/mg,and the positive area of TGF-β1 expression was (39.97 ± 0.90) ％,while the level of hydroxyproline in R + D group was (0.55 ± 0.03) μg/mg and the positive area of TGF-β1 expression was(33.83 ± 1.55) ％,rats in R + D group showed less severe alveolitis compared with R group(t =5.32,5.93,P ＜0.05).At 6 months post-radiation,rats in R group showed typical lung fibrosis with hydroxyproline level of (1.04 ±-0.02) μg/mg and TGF-β1 expression of (37.80 ± 0.85) ％,whereas the hydroxyproline level in R + D group was (0.85 ± 0.02) μg/ mg,the TGF-β1 expression was(23.93 ± 1.16)％,rats in R + D group showed moderate lung fibrosis(t =15.77,16.68,P ＜ 0.05),rats in C and D group had no noticeable changes.Conclusions Diphenylene iodonium could prevent radiation-induced lung injury by reducing the level of hydroxyproline and the expression of TGF-β1.