Objective To study the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG) on noise-induced cochlear injuries.Methods A total of 45 guinea pigs were divided into three groups: the EGCG+noise exposure group, the normal saline+noise exposure group, and the control group.15 Guinea pigs in each group.For EGCG administration, the guinea pigs were given abdominal injection (25 mg/1 000 g) 1 day before and 1 hour before noise exposure (120 dB SPL, 4 h),where for the control group, the guinea pigs received nothing.The hearing function was detected by the auditory brainstem response (ABR) recording after noise exposure immediately, and at 1,3,7, and 14 days after noise exposure.On the 14th day, the cochlea were isolated, and the cells morphology of basal membrane and vascular stria, the outer hair cell movement protein (Prestin), and the 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) were examined by immunohistochemistry staminy.Results After noise exposure, ABR thresholds in the EGCG group were higher than that of in the control group(P<0.05), but lower than the normal saline group(P<0.05),though the differences between the other two groups became smaller from day 3.Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining showed that the three rows of outer hair cells of the control group with Prestin protein stained were arranged neatlyand lack of cell absent, and 3-NT was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm and epidermis.Compared with the normal saline + noise group, after noise exposure, the outer hair cells of EGCG + noise group were in better shape, and prestin staining was clear.Besides, the basal membrane and vascular stria were slightly damaged, the cells arranged neatly and the 3-NT distribution was decreased.Conclusion Preventive intraperitoneal injection of EGCG may reduce cochlea damage caused by noise.

Aim To study on the protective effects on vein endothelial cell of scallop skite-glycosaminoglycan(SS-GAG)and the mechanism of anti-atherosclerosis action of SS-GAG.Methods The endothelial cell of human umbilical vein had been cultured in vitro, and we established an model of endothelial cell oxidative damage induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (OX-LDL), MTT assay and chemical methods were used to test the influence of SS-GAG on proliferation activity of endothelial cell oxidative damage and analyze nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).Results Oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein (OX-LDL) remarkably inhibited the ability of cell proliferation, decreased nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (P

Herpes simplex virusⅠ(HSVⅠ) regulating the pathway of transcription and translation modify in host cell is a very systematic and complicate system. A clear understanding of the concrete mechanisms of infection will greatly help to comprehend the virus replication and the interaction with the host cell. By the analysis of 2-DE, the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H2 in human fetal liver cell represent distinction after the HSVⅠinfection.Utilization of Northern blot and Western blot technologies verified the expression of hnRNP H2 in different stage of virus infection is varied.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of therapeutic bloodletting at Jing-well points and hypothermia on acute cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.

METHODSSeventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (Sham), TBI group (TBI), bloodletting group (BL), mild-induced hypothermia group (MIH), and bloodletting plus MIH group (BL + MIH) (n = 15). The model of TBI was established by electric controlled cortical impactor (eCCI). The rats of BL group were bloodletting at Jing-well points immediately after injury, twice daily. While the MIH group was settled on a hypothermia blanket promptly after TBI for 6 hours, so that the temperature dropped to 32 degrees. Each of measurement was performed after 48 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate the dynamic impairment of cerebral edema after TBI (n = 3). In addition, mNSS score, measurements of wet and dry brain weight, and Evans Blue assay were performed to investigate the neurologic deficit, cerebral water content (n = 8), and blood-brain barrier permeability (BBB), (n = 4), respectively.

RESULTSMRI analysis showed that the cerebral edema, hematoma and midline shifting of rats in TBI group was more serious than other treatment group. Meanwhile compared with TBI group, the mNSS scores of every treatment group were meaningfully lower (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with BL+ MIH group was superior to the separated BL and MIH group (all P < 0.01). In addition, brain water content of each intervention group reduced to varying degrees (all P < 0.05), especially that of MIH group and BL + MIH group (P <0.01). BBB permeability of each treatment group was also significantly improved (all P < 0.01), and the improvement in MIH group and BL + MIH group was much better than the BL alone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur major finding is that bloodletting at Jing-well points and MIH can reduce cerebral edema and BBB dysfunction and exert neuroprotective effects after TBI. The results suggest that the combination of BL and MIH is more effective than other treatment being used alone.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bloodletting ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

ObjectiveTo Compare the clinical results between microscope and loupes which used in microsurgical discectomy.MethodsA prospective randomized controlled trial of 93 patients who had undergone microsurgical discectomy from January 2007 to December 2010 was performed.Clinical results were assessed by comparing the following parameters between patients who had undergone the surgery by microscope and loupes:length of stay,hospitalization cost,operative time,estimated blood loss,Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and JOA recovery rate,Odom's standard.ResultsForty-nine patients underwent surgery by microscope,and forty-four patients underwent surgery by loupes.Eighty patients received outpatient or telephone follow-up.The follow-up period was 6.17 to 52.90 months with an average of (29.64±13.05) months,and the follow-up rate was 86.02％.According preoperative data,the two groups didn't differ with respect to age,gender,level of radiculopathy,or preoperative JOA score and JOA recovery rate.No statistically significant differences were identified in postoperative JOA score and JOA recovery rate,length of stay,hospitalization cost,length of follow-up,or relapse rate.Statistically significant differences were identified in operative time,estimated blood loss,and follow-up JOA score and JOA recovery rate.Conclusion Microscope can provide relatively more clear and comfortable vision for the surgery.It can short the operative time,decrease blood loss,reduce the potential risk of nerve injury,and retain more normal tissue,which can ensure better clinical results.

BACKGROUNDLumbar pedicle screw fixation and fusion are major procedures for treating discogenic low back pain (DLBP). However, due to its advantages of preserving the segmental motion and biomechanical simulation, artificial total lumbar disc replacement (TDR) is increasingly popular.

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2010, 68 DLBP patients were enrolled. TDR were performed on 34 patients and the other 34 controls underwent the traditional fixation procedure. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were followed including the changes in range of motion (ROM) and interpedicle height (IPH) at the posterior intervertebral body of operated level, in 6 and 12 months, and 3 years, postoperatively.

RESULTSQualitative results showed satisfying improvement in the two groups after 6 and 12 months, respectively, and the inter-group differences were significant (P > 0.05). The results of ROM and IPH have shown significant differences between the TDR and spinal fusion groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith similar clinical improvements as the traditional spinal fusion method, TDR offered significantly better ROM and intervertebral foramen height.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Low Back Pain ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Spinal Fusion

Background: The predictive factors for lateral neck lymph node metastasis (LLNM) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remain undetermined. This study investigated the clinicopathological characteristics, transcriptomes, and tumor microenvironment in PTMC according to the LLNM status. We aimed to identify the biomarkers associated with LLNM development. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with PTMC from two independent institutions between 2018 and 2022 (n=597 and n=467). We compared clinicopathological features between patients without lymph node metastasis (N0) and those with LLNM (N1b). Additionally, laser capture microdissection and RNA sequencing were performed on primary tumors from both groups, including metastatic lymph nodes from the N1b group (n=30; 20 primary tumors and 10 paired LLNMs). We corroborated the findings using RNA sequencing data from 16 BRAF-like PTMCs from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Transcriptomic analyses were validated by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Clinicopathological characteristics, such as male sex, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymphatic invasion, and central node metastasis showed associations with LLNM in PTMCs. Transcriptomic profiles between the N0 and N1b PTMC groups were similar. However, tumor microenvironment deconvolution from RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry revealed an increased abundance of tumor-associated macrophages, particularly M2 macrophages, in the N1b group. Conclusion Patients with PTMC who have a male sex, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymphatic invasion, and central node metastasis exhibited an elevated risk for LLNM. Furthermore, infiltration of M2 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment potentially supports tumor progression and LLNM in PTMCs.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of histologically confirmed endobrnchial tuberculosis(EBTB) and to access their diagnostic value by comparing with the bronchoscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We evaluated retrospectively the CT findings of 25 patients(male : female=5 : 20) with EBTB, and classified them into 3 types by their characteristic features, which are compared with the brochoscopic findings. The 3 types of CT features were as follows ; type 1 : central mass-like lesion with coarse calcific spots associated with atelectasis, type 2: caseous pneumonia with air-bronchogram associated with atelecatasis, type 3 : irregularly distorted and narrowed bronchovascular changes. RESULTS: Comparing the characteristic CT findings with the bronchoscopic findings, they were as follows ; type 1 showed completely occluded lumen by caseous or scar-like tissue with severely swollenmucosa, type 2 showed very thick tenacious mucous plug with anthracotic pigmentation of mucosa, type 3 showed chronic inflammatory change of mucosa with severely deviated or septated bronchial lumen by out-growing caseousgranulation tissue. A tracheal tuberculosis without parenchymal lesion was noted and the bronchoscopy showed caseous materials along the tracheal lumen to the carinal level. CONCLUSION: The characteristic CT findings ofthe bronchial wall and the changes of the adjacent tissues are related to the tracheobronchial tuberculous involvement. CT is useful for diagnosis of the endobronchial tuberculosis.
Adult* ; Bronchoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Pigmentation ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of genetic polymorphism of dendritic cell-specific ICAM-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGNR) and hepatitis C infection.

METHODSPatients with hepatitis C (n = 268) were genotyped and analysed for the repeat sequences polymorphism of DC-SIGNR using PCR and DNA sequencing. HCV virus load and HCV RNA genotypes were analyzed. Inter-group comparison was analyzed using LSD method.

RESULTSNo significant correlation was found between DC-SIGNR genotypes/ alleles and HCV RNA genotypes in patients. HCV-infected patients with 7-repeat (medium) alleles had lower HCV RNA levels compared to patients with 9-repeat (onger) alleles (P = 0.036). HCV-infected patients with 7/7 genotype had lower HCV RNA levels compared to patients with 9/7 genotype (P = 0.025). These findings suggest that optimal attachment of hepatitis C virions to DC-SIGNR may be associated with longer alleles.

CONCLUSIONThe fact that DC-SIGNR polymorphism might affect HCV loads supports the concept that DC-SIGNR contributes to HCV replication efficacy. There is no significant correlation between the genetic polymorphism of DC-SIGNR and HCV-RNA genotypes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; ethnology ; genetics ; virology ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Viral ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Aromatic traditional Chinese medicines have a long history in China, with wide varieties. Volatile oils are active ingredients extracted from aromatic herbal medicines, which usually contain tens or hundreds of ingredients, with many biological activities. Therefore, volatile oils are often used in combined prescriptions and made into various efficient preparations for oral administration or external use. Based on the sources from the database of Newly Edited National Chinese Traditional Patent Medicines (the second edition), the author selected 266 Chinese patent medicines containing volatile oils in this paper, and then established an information sheet covering such items as name, dosage, dosage form, specification and usage, and main functions. Subsequently, on the basis of the multidisciplinary knowledge of pharmaceutics, traditional Chinese pharmacology and basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, efforts were also made in the statistics of the dosage form and usage, variety of volatile oils and main functions, as well as the status analysis on volatile oils in terms of the dosage form development, prescription development, drug instruction and quality control, in order to lay a foundation for the further exploration of the market development situations of volatile oils and the future development orientation.
Databases, Pharmaceutical ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Oils, Volatile ; classification ; therapeutic use ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; statistics & numerical data ; Phytotherapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Plant Oils ; classification ; therapeutic use