By studying the blood viscosity from 313 healthy people, 90 patients with hypertension, 20 patients with cerebral vascular accident (CVA) and 9 patients with polycythemia Vera (PV). The authors found that: The blood viscosity of the health people is from 3.21-5.19. The blood viscosity of the patients with hypertension is from 3.38-5.82. There was no difference from the viscosity of the health people (p>0.01). The blood viscosity of the patients with CVA is from 4.43-7.13; and of the patients with PV is from 6.31-7.87; Both of them are significantly difference from the viscosity of the healthy people (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively).
Blood Viscosity ; epidemiology ; blood

To study the mechanisms whereby cisplatin suppresses survival of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells.The cytotoxicity of cisplatin in cisplatin-resistant cell line EC109 /CDDP and its parental cell line EC109 was measured by cell viability assay.Western blotting was used to investigate the protein expression of to-tal p53 and phosphorylated p53 at Ser15.Colony formation assay was employed to evaluate the ability of cells to recover from treatments and form colonies.The results indicated that EC109 /CDDP cells were more resistant to cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity than EC109 cells,with the IC50 values of (20.4 ±4.4)μmol /L and (5.7 ±0.1 )μmol /L,respectively.Although cisplatin did not alter the total protein level of p53,it obviously increased the phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15.Cisplatin inhibited survival of both EC109 /CDDP and EC109.Notably,inhibition of p53 by Pifithrin-αsignificantly promoted recovery of cisplatin-treated EC109 and EC109 /CDDP cells to differ-ent degrees.In this respect,p53 protein was found to be activated in response to cisplatin treatment in both EC109 /CDDP and EC109,which may contribute to the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin.

Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome ; diagnosis

Background:\r\n', u'There are two virus known as Nam Dinh Virus, and Colti group B be found in Viet Nam. These viruses have appeared in the South, the Middle and the Highland. They haven\u2019t been reported in the Southern provinces and Can Thoas well. \r\n', u'Objectives: \r\n', u'To identify the circulation of Nam Dinh virus strain, and coltivirus group B strain in Can Tho, Southern Viet Nam, and their existence in nature.\r\n', u'Subjects and method: \r\n', u'Thirty-four mosquito samples (7, 453 individual mosquitoes) from Culex quinque faciatus and Culex pseudovishnui were collected in Can Tho provice, southern Vietnam 2005.\r\n', u'Isolatingviruses on Aedes albopictuc clone C6/36, Vero cells, and using PT- PCR and ELISA Sandwich for identification. \r\n', u'Results:\r\n', u'2 Nam Dinh virus strains, 2 coltivirus group B strains and 1 flavivirus strain (insect flavivirus) were isolated from Culex quinque faciatus, and no virus was isolated from Culex pseudovishnui.\r\n', u'Conclusion: \r\n', u'The identification of the transmission of Nam dinh Virus, and coltivirus group B in Can Tho province by isolating virus from Culex quinque faciatus has shown the evidence for natural vertical transmission of these viruses.\r\n', u'
Viruses ; Coltivirus ; Flavivirus ; Arboviruses ; Culex ;

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of no antibiotic administration to prevent infection during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone-injection for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSSeventy-two patients with lumbar disc herniation but normal body temperature as well as normal results of three routine tests (blood, urine, stool) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in prophylaxis group were given cephalothin V(2.0 g) intravenous 30 min before the operation, and the control group did not use any antibiotics. All the patients were injected with 6-10 ml ozone (40 microg/ml) for medical use into the discs with 21G needles under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by 10 ml ozone into the paravertebral space. Three days later the general examinations and CRP measurement were repeated.

RESULTSNo infection was found in these patients, nor were any significant differences noted in the results of the examinations between the two groups after controlling in patients with above-normal white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage and CRP level.

CONCLUSIONProphylaxis antibiotics is not necessary during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone injection for lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cefazolin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Ozone ; administration & dosage ; Perioperative Care ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo explore whether MG-132 could enhance the anti-tumor activity of obatoclax against esophageal cancer cell line CaES-17.

METHODSMTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of obatoclax and MG-132 in CaES-17 cells. The IC(50) of obatoclax and MG-132 were used to determine the molar ratio (1:2.4) of the two drugs for combined treatment of the cells. The concentrations of obatoclax and MG-132 ranged from 1/8 IC(50) to 4 IC(50) after serial dilution, and their combination index (CI) was calculated using CompuSyn software. The expression of ubiquitin and the cleavage of PARP, caspase-9, phospho-histone H3 and phospho-aurora A/B/C in the exposed cells were examined with Western blotting; the cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry with Annexin V staining, and the percentage of cells in each cell cycle phase was also determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe CI of obatoclax and MG-132 was 0.296 for a 50% inhibition of Caes-17 cells and was 0.104 for a 95% inhibition. The cells treated with obatoclax or MG-132 alone showed increased expression of ubiquitin and cleavage of PARP and caspase-9. Compared with the cells treated with obatoclax or MG-132 alone, the cells with a combined treatment exhibited significantly increased expression of ubiquitin, cleavage of PARP and caspase-9, and expression of phospho-Histone H3 (P<0.05). The combined treatment of the cells also resulted in significantly increased expression of phospho-Aurora A/B/C compared with obatoclax treatment alone. The cells with the combined treatment showed significantly higher percentages of apoptotic cells and cells in sub-G(1) and G(2)/M phases compared with the cells treated with either of the drugs (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONObatoclax combined with MG-132 shows a significant synergistic anti-tumor effect against esophageal cancer CaES-17 cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leupeptins ; pharmacology ; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess value of endovascular graft exclusion (EVGE) with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the treatment of Stanford type B aortic dissection (AD).

METHODSOn the basis of diagnosis with multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT), DSA was performed in 20 Stanford B AD cases for further diagnostic confirmation and EVGE was conducted for treatment. The DSA findings of the cases and the therapeutic effect of EVGE were evaluated.

RESULTSIn the 20 cases of Stanford type B AD, altogether 22 stents were implanted during EVGF with a stent release success rate of 100%. Postoperative examination revealed no obvious leakage or false lumen in 15 cases, and death occurred in 1 case 6 days after the operation due to right renal hemorrhage and infection, and the rest 19 patients were cured and discharged. Follow-up of the patients demonstrated improvement in the clinical symptoms, and MSCT showed that all the dissections were sealed successfully. No severe complications were observed 3 months after the treatment in these patients.

CONCLUSIONDSA can identify the fine anatomy of AD and allowed intraoperative monitoring in EVGE, which is an effective and safe means for treatment of Stanford type B AD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo summarize our 10-year experience with percutaneous fluoroscopically guided removal (PFGR) of metallic foreign body (MFB) in the soft tissue.

METHODSPFGR was performed in 65 patients for removing a total of 368 MFBs from the soft tissues. The MFBs ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 cm in length embedded in the soft tissue for 7 days to 8 years. For superficial MFBs, the MFBs were removed directly with curved forceps under real time fluoroscopy. For deep MFBs, trocar technique was applied using the instruments for percutaneous diskectomy, with the outer cannula inserted toward the foreign body under real-time fluoroscopy followed by MFB removal by grasping forceps.

RESULTSA total of 346 MFBs were successfully removed without any serious complications (success rate 94.0%), including 154 removed directly and 192 MFBs with trocal technique. The time of the procedures and radiation exposure for MFB removal was 30 s to 20 min and 1-6 min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPGFR of MFBs in the soft tissue under fluoroscope is safe and effective. Direct removal using curved forceps is suitable for MFBs in superficial soft tissues, while trocal techniques needs to be utilized for deep MFBs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; methods ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Metals ; Radiography, Interventional ; Young Adult

This report describes a rare case of ophthalmic dirofilariasis in a 68-year-old woman with red and foreign body sensation in the pterygium on her right eye. Slit lamp examination demonstrated a long-slender worm moving in her pterygium. The worm was removed surgically and then identified as Diroflaria repens by sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene. The situation of dirofilariasis in Vietnam has been reviewed. Since the first described case in 2010 there have been thirteen cases reported that suggested the emerging trend of the disease. Most of the documented cases of human dirofilariasis recorded in Vietnam presented with ocular infections and the responsible agent was D. repens. With the increase of reported cases of human, much more attention should be paid on control as well as diagnosis and treatment of dirofilariasis in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether bortezomib and a Bcl-2 inhibitor exhibit synergistic anti-tumor effect in human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of bortezomib in the absence or presence of Bcl-2 inhibitors (obatoclax, AT-101 and ABT-199) in Jurkat cells. The effects of drug treatment on the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, LC3B, p62, ubiquitin, BiP/Grp78, p-JNK, p-p38 and CHOP proteins were examined by Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to determine the effects of bortezomib and Bcl-2 inhibitors (obatoclax, AT-101 and ABT-199) on cell apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of the key regulatory factors of unfolded protein reaction (UPR). A zebrafish xenograft model was used to study the anti-tumor effect of bortezomib, obatoclax and their combination in vivo. RESULTS: Bortezomib or Bcl-2 inhibitors alone inhibited the cell viability of Jurkat cells, but only obatoclax and bortezomib showed synergistic cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effect. Obatoclax, rather than AT-101 and ABT- 199, blocked autophagic flux in the cells evidenced by concomitant accumulation of LC3B-Ⅱ and p62. Both bortezomib and obatoclax alone caused accumulation of polyubiquinated proteins, and their combination showed a synergistic effect, which was consistent with their synergistic cytotoxicity. The dual blockade of proteasome and autophagy by the combination of bortezomib and obatoclax triggered unfolded protein response followed by cell apoptosis. Preventing UPS dysfunction by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) significantly attenuated the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effect of bortezomib in combination with obatoclax. In zebrafish xenograft models, bortezomib combined with obatoclax significantly decreased tumor foci formation. CONCLUSIONS Bortezomib and obatoclax for dual blockade of protein degradation pathways show synergistic anti-tumor effect in human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Apoptosis ; Bortezomib ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Proteolysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Pyrroles