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 investigate the controlling effects of bionic glue on Paratrioza sinica.

METHODP. sinica and bionic glue were chosen as materials to investigate the adhesive rate, mortality rate, and study the effects of behavior of P. sinica and growth of leaves sprayed with bionic glue.

RESULTSpraying of the bionic glue can significantly increase the adhesive rate of P. sinica with no obviously repellency, and it can be used to control the adults of P sinaca in field with no significant effect on the growth of wolfberry leaves.

CONCLUSIONBionic glue has significant controlling effects on adults of P. sinica, it can be used as an eliminator of adults of P. sinica in field at the beginning of the vegetation season to suppress of the development of P. sinica population.

Adhesives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Hemiptera ; drug effects ; Insect Control ; Insecticides ; pharmacology ; Lycium ; drug effects ; parasitology ; Plant Diseases ; prevention & control ; Plant Leaves ; drug effects ; parasitology ; ultrastructure

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of brain contusion in children and discuss the corresponding treatment strategies.Methods From February 2013 to December 2017,the clinical data of 32 patients(aged 1-14 years)with cerebral contusion and treated in the department of brain of the affiliated hospital of armed police logistics college were collected,including 22 males and 10 females.The age of patients ranged from 1 to 13.5 years,with the average of(6.03 ± 3.96)years.Patients were divided into low age group(1-4 years old,n=14)and high age group(5-14 years old,n=18)according to their age.Data of the brain damage location and distribution,Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)/Children's Coma Scale (CCS), intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral edema, airway condition, traumatic epilepsy and electroencephalogram (EEG) were summarized and analyzed. Results The duration of hospitalization was 17-57 d, with the average of (34.2 ± 11.5)d.All the children were treated with hyperbaric oxygen for 14-51 d,with an average of(36.1±5.1)d.There were no significant differences in the depth of brain damage and the location of brain injury between the two age groups(P>0.05). The coma scores at the admission and the discharge were significantly lower in low age group than those of the high age group (P<0.05). The duration of ICP monitoring was 6-15 d, with the average of (7.5±2.0) d. The ICP level and the resonance index(RI)value of cerebral edema monitoring at the admission was higher in the low age group than those in the high age group(P<0.05).The abnormal time of RI was less in the low age group than that in the high age group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in seizures and EEG classification between two groups (P>0.05). There were 10 cases in each group received the transnasal intubation,and the average days with intubation were longer in the low age group than those of the high age group(P<0.05).Conclusion The clinical manifestations,imaging features,ICP,the degree of brain edema, seizures and airway management in children of different ages are different. The treatment should be carried out as soon as possible,actively and comprehensively,especially in the clinical management for the children of low age.

Objective To investigate whether mild hypothermia can promote neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus and cognitive function recovery after traumatic brain injury ( TBI) through inhibiting apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Methods A total of 66 healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, TBI group and TBI+hypothermia group, with 22 rats in each group. The rat TBI model was established using the fluid percussion device. The rats in TBI +hypothermia group received 4-hour hypothermia therapy immediately after injury, with the target temperature of 33. 5℃. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected into the rats' abdominal cavity to label the mitotic cells. The test of Morris water maze was used to evaluate the rats' spatial learning and memory capabilities. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression levels of BrdU, doublecortin (DCX), neuron specific nuclear protein (NeuN), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase-3) and cleaved caspase-3 expressions in dentate gyrus of hippocampus at 7 days and 28 days after injury. Expressions apoptosis-related proteins including the factor associated suicide ( FAS )/factor associated suicide ligand (FASL), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 expressions were detected by Western blot assay. Results The water maze tests at 28 days after injury showed that compared with TBI group, the escape latency in TBI+hypothermia group was significantly shorter [(24. 2 ± 5. 9)s:(18 ± 4. 1)s], and both the time in the target quadrant and the number of platform crossing were increasedsignificantly[(24.9±6.5)s:(31.7±5.2)s; (1.9±0.8) times:(3.5±1.2)times](P<0. 05). Compared with the sham group, in TBI group and TBI+hypothermia group, the BrdU+ new-born cells in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus were significantly increased at 7 days after injury [(9. 4 ± 4. 1):(33. 4 ± 3. 8);(9. 4 ± 4. 1):(45. 8 ± 5. 6)], the BrdU+ /DCX+ new-born neurons were increased at 7 days after injury [(2. 0 ± 0. 6):(9. 6 ± 1. 6);(2. 0 ± 0. 6):(19. 2 ± 3. 7)], and the BrdU+ /NeuN+mature neurons were increased at 28 days after injury [(2. 6 ± 1. 0) :(17. 2 ± 3. 9); (2. 6 ± 1. 0) :(33. 6 ± 9. 1)] (P<0. 01). TBI group showed more obvious increase than the TBI+hypothermia group (P<0. 01). Moreover, compared with 7 days after injury, the number of BrdU+ cells at 28 days after injury was further increased in TBI +hypothermia group but decreased in TBI group [(45. 8 ± 5. 6) :(58. 8 ± 9. 2);(33. 4 ± 3. 8):(22. 0 ± 3. 5)](P<0. 05 or <0. 01). Compared with the sham group, the caspase-3 +NeuN+ and caspase-3 +NeuN+ apoptotic neurons were significantly increased at 7 days after injury in TBI group [(2. 0 ± 0. 9):(11. 6 ± 2. 6); (2. 6 ± 1. 0):(10. 2 ± 2. 9)] (P<0. 05). Compared with the TBI group, the cleaved caspase-3 +NeuN+ apoptotic neurons were decreased in TBI+hypothermia group [(6. 6 ± 2. 0):(11. 6 ± 2. 6)](P<0. 05). Furthermore, compared with the TBI group, mild hypothermia might down-regulate the expression of FAS, FASL, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 and up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus [(1. 54 ± 0. 15) :(1. 14 ± 0. 12);(1. 06 ± 0. 04):(0. 80 ± 0. 09); (0. 84 ± 0. 03):(0. 62 ± 0. 08); (0. 93 ± 0. 06):(0. 86 ± 0. 09);(0. 71 ± 0. 01):(1. 58 ± 0. 18)](P<0. 05). Conclusions Mild hypothermia might inhibit apoptosis of hippocampal neurons through cleaved caspase-3, FAS/FASL and Bcl-2 pathways, thus improving the neurogenesis and maturation of neurons in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus and facilitating cognitive function recovery in rats. It indicates that the function of hypothermia in anti-apoptosis and neurogenesis and maturity of hippocampal neurons may have a potential role in predicting the prognosis of TBI patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pulmonary dysfunction patterns in patients of scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) and to identify factors affecting the pulmonary function in patients with scoliosis associated with NF1.

METHODSPreoperative pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were evaluated in 100 patients with scoliosis [NF1 group, 36 cases; idiopathic scoliosis (IS) group, 64 cases] from January 2003 to June 2009. According to location of apical vertebra and dystrophic change in patients with NF1, the parameters of pulmonary function [vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV)] were compared between NF1 group and IS group, and between the subgroups of NF1. The correlation between pulmonary function parameters and radiographic parameters of scoliosis was analyzed.

RESULTSThe VC, FVC, FEV1, MMEF, MVV in NF1 group and IS group were of no significant difference (P > 0.05). In NF1 patients, the pulmonary dysfunction was more severe in thoracic subgroup than non-thoracic subgroup (P < 0.05), while there was no difference between dystrophic scoliosis and non-dystrophic scoliosis (P > 0.05). The location of apical vertebra and the severity of scoliosis correlated significantly with the pulmonary dysfunction in NF1 group.

CONCLUSIONSThe pattern of pulmonary dysfunction in scoliosis associated with NF1 is similar with IS. Pulmonary dysfunction is more severe in thoracic scoliosis. The location of apical vertebra and the severity of scoliosis are the risk factors influencing the pulmonary dysfunction.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; complications ; physiopathology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Scoliosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Vital Capacity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of a new synthetic tripeptide [Arg(NO(3))- Lys(OCH(3))- Arg(NO(3))] on L-arginine/NO pathway in the macrophage cell strain RAW246.7.

METHODSThe cultured macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microg/L) treatment were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=6) and treated with distilled water, 1x10(-4) mol/L tripeptide and 1x10(-4) mol/L L-arginine, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) for 24 h, respectively. The macrophages were incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 microg/L) and in the presence of different concentrations of L-arginine (0 to 2 mmol/L), or in normal culture medium (containing 0.5 mmol/L L-arginine) for 24 h with LPS (1 microg/L) and in the presence of tripeptide of 0 to 10x10(-4) mol/L. The changes of [(3)H]-L-arginine transport and NO production from the macrophages were measured.

RESULTNO release from macrophages incubated in the LPS-containing culture medium was 50 folds, and [(3)H]-L-arginine uptake 2.7 folds that in cells in normal culture medium. Tripeptide (1x10(-4) mol/L) inhibited [(3)H]-L-arginine transport and NO production by 67% and 71% respectively. The effect of tripeptide was stronger than L-NMMA (P<0.05). Extracellular L-arginine caused a concentration-dependent increase in nitrite production, which reached the maximum at concentrations above 0.5 mmol/L Km for nitrite production of 0.162+/-0.015 mmol/L and Vmax of 91.2+/-2.3 micromol/(24h.10(6) cells). L-arginine transport and NO production were inhibited by tripeptide, but their dose-dependent pattern of changes was different with EC50 of 0.21x10(-4) mol/L and 1.27x10(-4) mol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of macrophages with LPS induces nitrite accumulation in the culture medium, which is dependent on the presence of extracellular L-arginine. The tripeptide induces dysfunction of L-arginine/NO pathway in macrophages, potently inhibits L-arginine transport and competitively combine the active sites of nitric oxide synthase.

Arginine ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 3 (Wnt3) in rat dental follicles and its protein level in dental follicle cells (DFC) undergoing osteogenic induction and to discuss the effects of Wnt3 on the differentiation of DFC.

METHODSRats at postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 were executed, then the mandibles were immediately removed and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of Wnt3 in dental follicles of postnatal rats. The expression and distribution of Wnt3 in DFC were determined by immunofluorescence. Alizarin red-S staining was performed to assess the mineralization of DFC. Western blotting was used to evaluate Wnt3 and β-catenin protein levels after stimulated by osteogenic medium for 1, 2 and 3 weeks, respectively.

RESULTSImmunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of Wnt3 in rat dental follicles began at day 5 and sustained to day 13. On day 1 and 3, the expression of Wnt3 in dental follicles was negative.Wnt3 was expressed in the cytoplasm of DFC. Alizarin red-S staining indicated that the osteogenic medium stimulated the differentiation of DFC into osteoblastic lineage.Western blotting demonstrated that the Wnt3 protein levels were significantly up-regulated after stimulated with osteogenic medium for 1 weeks compared with the control (2.60 ± 0.04 vs.1.00 ± 0.00, P < 0.05). Then the levels of Wnt3 protein were declined, and at the 3rd week, no significant difference was observed between osteo-induced group and the control (1.00 ± 0.05 vs.1.00 ± 0.00, P > 0.05). The levels of β-catenin were increased in osteo-induced groups compared with the control (1.95 ± 0.05 vs.1.00 ± 0.00, P < 0.05; 9.77 ± 0.65 vs.1.00 ± 0.00, P < 0.05;1.75 ± 0.21 vs.1.00 ± 0.00, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of β-catenin reached to a peak on the 2nd week (9.77 ± 0.65), and then declined.

CONCLUSIONSWnt3 was expressed in the rat dental follicles both in vivo and in vitro and up-regulated during early phase of osteoblast differentiation in DFC.Wnt3 may be involved in early phase of osteoblast differentiation.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dental Sac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Wnt3 Protein ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to subdivide M1 stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with bone-only metastases for prognosis prediction while identifying the treatment effect of locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) and metastasis radiotherapy (MRT) among patients with different risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2006 to October 2016, a total of 226 patients with bone-only metastasic NPC were retrospectively enrolled. All patients developed distant lesions before receiving treatment. All potential prognostic factors were considered and the correlation of the M1 subdivisions with overall survival (OS) was determined by Cox regression hazards model. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to appraise survival condition and log-rank testing was used to compare the differences. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 33.9 months (range, 3 to 126 months). According to multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, the number of metastatic lesions and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA status after palliative chemotherapy (PCT) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Thus, we subdivided patients into three risk groups according to these two factors. Systemic chemotherapy combined with LRRT may benefit patients in low- and intermediate-risk groups but not in the high-risk group. Further aggressive MRT based on systemic chemotherapy showed no survival benefit in any risk group. CONCLUSION: The stratification of NPC patients with bone-only metastasis based on EBV DNA after PCT and the number of metastatic lesions provided promising prognostic value and could aid clinicians in person-specific treatment.
Diagnosis ; DNA ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the biological function of fusion gene HRX-EEN and its role in leukemogenesis, and to provide an ideal animal model for anti-leukemia drug screening.

METHODSHRX-EEN fusion gene was constructed by use of three different DNA fragments, and it was inserted into hCG transgenic vector. G(0) transgenic mice were obtained by microinjection of the recombined DNA into the pronucleus of zygotes, followed by implantation of the injected zygotes into pseudopregnant mice. The integration of the transgene was tested by PCR and its expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe sequence of recombined HRX-EEN gene was confirmed by sequencing. PCR testing revealed a total of 7 G(0) transgenic mice, these mice were then mated with C57 wild type mice. Except mouse No. 35 that died, the others all had their F1 offsprings. From these 6 lines of transgenic mice, HRX-EEN gene was found to be stably expressed in 3 lines by RT-PCR. Up to now, all transgenic mice expressing the fusion gene have no obvious abnormal phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONA transgenic mice model in which the HRX-EEN fusion gene can be stably expressed has been established.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteins ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival trends and patterns of failure in patients with stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy over the last 20 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight hundred and eight patients diagnosed with stage II NPC between January 1990 and December 2012 were involved in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were treated with RT. According to the main imaging techniques and RT technology, we categorized these patients into four calendar periods: 1990-1996, 1997-2002, 2003-2007, and 2008-2012. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS), and distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) were served as the clinical outcome. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 84.7 months, we observed increasing trends in survival and disease control. The 3- and 5-year OS rates increased from 87.1% and 78.7% in the first calendar period to 97.4% and 94.5% in the last calendar period, respectively (p<0.001). Additionally, significant increasing trends could be seen in the PFS and LRFS during the four calendar periods. In the subgroup analysis, the LRFS in patients older than 50 years at diagnosis showed greater improvement than younger patients. However, the rate of distant metastasis was stable and relatively low, as the 5-year DMFS ranged from 90.5% to 94.7% among the four calendar periods. CONCLUSION: The survival rates in patients with stage II NPC showed increasing trends from 1990 to 2012. The advance of RT provided excellent locoregional control and enhanced OS.
Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate