The aim of this study was to obtain the alginate gels which could have proper compressive strength and excellent permeability for cell proliferation and could have more promising potentials in the application of tissue engineering. Through the reaction of the carboxyl of the alginate and the amino of methacrylic acid, methylacrylic was generated into alginate long chain which could be enhanced by the polymerization of double bond under thermal reaction condition. And then alginate gel beads were prepared using the mixture of calcium chloride and barium chloride solution as cationic crosslinker, and the compressive modulus and permeability of the prepared alginate gel beads were investigated. When the ratio of barium ions to calcium ions was 5:5, the compression modulus was 189.7 kPa, and it showed the best permeability for trypsin with molecular weight of 24 kDa and entrapment effect for bovine serum albumin with molecular weight of 67 kDa. Compared to compositions of other ratios, the alginate gel beads made in 5:5 mixture indicated excellent compressive modulus and permeability. These results indicated that the alginate hydrogel beads with the ratio of barium ions to calcium ions being 5:5 have a potential application in tissue engineering as a support material and encapsulating materials in cell culture.
Alginates ; chemistry ; Barium Compounds ; chemistry ; Calcium Chloride ; chemistry ; Cations ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorides ; chemistry ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; Gels ; chemistry ; Metals ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; chemistry ; Tissue Engineering

Objective To investigate the prevalence of healthcare-associated infection (HAI)in a hospital in 2013-2015,and provide reference for the improvement of HAI management.Methods Prevalence rates of HAI among patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in 2013 -2015 were investigated with cross-sec-tional survey method,prevalence rates of HAI and constituent ratios of HAI sites in patients of different genders and different age groups were analyzed.Results In 2013 -2015,29 605 patients should be investigated,29 581 (99.92%)were actually investigated.Prevalence rates of HAI in 2013-2015 were 2.83%,2.14%,and 1 .73%,re-spectively,difference was significant(χ2 =27.521 ,P <0.01),which showed a downward trend year by year.Preva-lence rates of HAI in male was significantly higher than that of female (2.47% vs 1 .98%,χ2 =7.954,P <0.01). The prevalence rates of HAI in the age dimension was roughly U-shaped distribution in 2013 -2015.Prevalence rates of HAI in ≥70 age group was the highest(4.15%),in 0 -30 age group decreased with age,in > 30 age group increased with age.The top three sites for prevalence of HAI were lower respiratory tract (45.67%),upper respiratory tract (9.92%),and urinary tract (8.52%).Conclusion The prevalence rates of HAI decreased year by year in 2013-2015,which suggests that HAI prevention and control measures are effectively implemented.

Objective To evaluate the differential diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT between pancreatic lymphoma (PL) and pancreatic carcinoma (PC).Methods The 18 F-FDG PET-CT data of 16 patients who were pathological diagnosed with PL were retrospectively reviewed and compared with those of 32 consecutive pancreatic cancer patients who were pathologically diagnosed and randomly enrolled.The age,location,diameter and the maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) of pancreatic lesions,pancreatic ductal dilatation,distal pancreatic atrophy,serum CA19-9 level and extrapancreatic organs involvement were analyzed.Results The 16 patients with PL included 8 men and 8 women,the mean age was (46 ± 17)year,and 11.1％ (1/9) patients had elevated CA19-9.The 32 patients with PC included 15 men and 17 women,the mean age was (61 ± 12)year,and 81.3％ patients had elevated CA19-9.There were no significant differences on gender between the two groups,while the mean age of PL patients was younger than that of PC,elevated CA19-9 was less common than that in PC,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).There were 12 cases of diffusive large B cell lymphoma,2 cases of B lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukaemia,1 case of follicular lymphoma and 1 case of dysplastic large T cell lymphoma in 16 PL patients.There was no significant difference on the site of pancreatic lesions between the two groups,but long diameter of PL lesions was larger than that of PC [(6.6 ± 3.3) vs (4.3 ± 1.8) cm,P =0.038].Dilated pancreatic duct and distal parenchyma atrophy in PL were less than those in PC (3/16 vs 17/32,1/16 vs 13/32),and SUVmax of PL lesions was significantly higher than that of PC (12.0 ± 5.5 vs 8.6 ± 3.8),indicating that the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The cut-off value of SUVmax was 9.95,and Youden's index was 0.406 with the sensitivity and specificity of 68.8％ and 71.9％ for differentiating PL from PC.The incidence of extrapancreatic lesions including bone marrow and kidney and spleen infiltration was significantly more frequent in patients with PL than that in patients with PC(56.3％ vs 6.25％,43.8％ vs 3.1％,50.0％ vs 6.3％),while the incidence of liver metastases was significantly lower than that in PC (12.5％ vs 5.0％),indicating that the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜0.01).There were no significant differences on the incidence of other extrapancreatic lesions.Conclusions PL should be considered in relatively younger patients and manifested as a bulky mass with significant FDG uptake and extrapancreatic involvement of bone,kidney and spleen but without distinct pancreatic ductal dilation or distal parenchymal atrophy or liver metastasis.

Objective:To investigate the effects of cyclic tensile stress on the function and degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells.Methods:The human primary nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured. The cyclic tensile stress (100 000 μ?, 10% tensile strain, 0.1 Hz, 8 640 cycles) was loaded on the cells for 24 h. The proliferation of the cells was examined by MTT method. The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected through flow cytometry. Gene expression profile chip was used to detect the differentially expressed genes between the tensile stress group and control group. The function of these gene was analyzed by bioinformatics. The expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β, matrix degrading enzymes and extracellular matrix molecules were examined by qRT-PCR.Results:The cyclic tensile stress significantly promoted proliferation and cell cycle of nucleus pulposus cells. The cell percentage of S phase ( t=5.336, P<0.05) and G2/M phase ( t=7.288, P<0.01) was significantly different between the tensile stress group and control group. The cyclic tensile stress inhibited apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (8.56%±0.48% vs 10.63%±0.32%, t=4.474, P<0.05). A total of 866 differentially expressed genes were detected. Gene ontology analysis showed the roles of these genes in cells including focal adhesion, extractable matrix, membrane raft, condensed chrome kinetochore, cytoskeleton, etc. The cyclic tensile stress significantly affected the mRNA expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β genes, matrix proteinase and extracellular matrix molecules. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of inflammatory related factors IL15 ( t=5.379, P<0.05), IGF1 ( t=5.454, P<0.05) and IGFBP7 ( t=13.57, P<0.01) were significantly decreased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of TGF-β genes TGFB1 ( t=6.931, P<0.05), TGFB2 ( t= 15.56, P<0.01) and TGFB3 ( t=7.744, P<0.05) were significantly increased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of matrix proteinase ADAMTS3 ( t=5.241, P<0.05) and MMP19 ( t=24.72, P<0.01) were significantly decreased, and TIMP3 ( t=8.472, P<0.01) increased in the tensile stress group; The mRNA expression of extracellular matrix molecules COL2A1 ( t=5.871, P<0.05), FLRT2 ( t=5.216, P<0.05) and FN1 ( t=4.289, P<0.05) were significantly increased. Conclusion:The cyclic tensile stress promoted cell cycle and proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells. The cyclic tensile stress may affect the function and degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells by regulating the expression of inflammatory related factors, TGF-β, matrix degradation enzymes and ECM molecules.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiorgan autoimmune disease, and lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, and the diagnosis and treatment of LN is closely related to the prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Recently, promising LN biomarkers have been discovered that will be expected to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of lupus kidney.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of CT-guided puncture biopsy combined with serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and abnormal prothrombin (PIVKA-Ⅱ) in serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) negative primary liver cancer (PHC).Methods:Eighty patients with AFP negative PHC treatment in Fuyang Women and Children′s Hospital from January 2018 to March 2021 were selected as AFP negative PHC group, and another 85 patients diagnosed with benign liver tumor during the same period were selected as the control group retrospectively. The patients of the two groups underwent CT-guided biopsy and the levels of GGT and PIVKA-Ⅱ were detected. The single diagnostic value and combined diagnostic value of AFP negative PHC were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:Seventy-five of the 80 patients in the AFP negative PHC group were confirmed as liver malignant lesions by biopsy, with a coincidence of 93.75%, and 84 of the 85 patients in the control group were confirmed as liver benign lesions by biopsy, with a coincidence of 98.82%. The levels of AFP, GGT and PIVKA-Ⅱ in AFP negative PHC group were significantly higher than those in the control group: (175.67 ± 39.58) μg/L vs. (18.74 ± 7.42) μg/L, (1 245.37 ± 255.41) U/L vs. (486.63 ± 89.05) U/L, (385.49 ± 30.27) AU/L vs. (25.84 ± 7.66) AU/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum AFP was positively correlated with GGT and PIVKA-Ⅱ ( r = 0.858 and 0.429, P<0.05). The results of ROC curve showed that the area under curve of CT-guided biopsy combined with GGT and PIVKA-Ⅱ in the diagnosis of AFP negative PHC was 0.877, the sensitivity was 91.19%, the specificity was 87.34%. Conclusions:CT-guided biopsy combined with GGT and PIVKA-Ⅱ detection of AFP negative PHC can effectively improve the diagnostic value.

Objective To explore the complications in the nursing work of implanted venous portand its causes, so as to explore the preventive methods. Methods We collected the clinical data and the nursing data of 102 patients with implanted venous port in our department from November 2013 to November 2015. Nursing records during the maintain period were recorded, common complications were summarized, the reasons were analyzed, and nursing interventions were explored and made. Results Among 102 patients, the following-up time was 7-31 months, and the median follow-up time was 19 months. There were 38 cases ( 37. 25%) of complications occurred 2 weeks after operation and 11 cases ( 10. 89%) of complications occurred during discharge maintenance, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0. 05 ) . The common complications included the sweeling of neck and limps, incision complication and blochage in catheter. Conclusions The incidence of complications within 2 weeks after implanting surgery is higher than that during the maintain period. Among all the complications, catheter associated thrombosis, damaged base and ectopic catheter are the most serious and they can cause the discontinue use of port. By following the recommended operating procedures during the implementation of nursing work, bettering the health education, and improving the patients′understanding of implanted venous port, we can reduce the incidence rate of complications, and ensure the safety use of venous port.

Scutellariae Radix， Coptidis Rhizoma， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex are three commonly used Chinese herbal medicines， and their application in classic famous prescriptions cannot be fully explained by the triple energizer classification method. This study reviewed the ancient materia medica works and elaborated on the functions of the three herbal medicines before the Song dynasty and after the Jin dynasty. The works before the Song dynasty mainly introduced the diseases treated by the three herbal medicines according to the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica（《神农本草经》）， and the works after the Jin dynasty mainly expounded the indications of the three medicines in the Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica according to the new medical theory. Although all the three herbal medicines can treat heat syndrome， digestive system diseases， skin and mucosa diseases， they act on different targets. Scutellariae Radix can regulate Qi stagnation and reverse caused by the fire syndrome. Coptidis Rhizoma can treat excess fire and purulent bloody stool caused by the deficiency of Zang-fu organs. Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex mainly treats the diseases of the intestine and reproductive system and can kill parasites. In addition， this paper summarized the descriptions about the functions of Scutellariae Radix in eliminating blood blockage， Coptidis Rhizoma in protecting the intestine， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in clearing the liver in ancient books. According to the sentences in the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases（《伤寒杂病论》）， the application of Scutellariae Radix in Chaihu prescriptions， Coptidis Rhizoma in Baitouweng Decoction， and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex in Zhizi Baipi Decoction confirms to the indications of the three medicines in the materia medica works before the Song Dynasty. The existing clinical and pharmacological research results confirm the indications of the three herbal medicines in the ancient works. The clinical application of the three medicines should refer to the materia medicia works before the Song dynasty， so as to achieve precise medication.

Proteolytic processing of viral polyproteins is indispensible for the lifecycle of coronaviruses. The main protease (M(pro)) of SARS-CoV is an attractive target for anti-SARS drug development as it is essential for the polyprotein processing. M(pro) is initially produced as part of viral polyproteins and it is matured by autocleavage. Here, we report that, with the addition of an N-terminal extension peptide, M(pro) can form a domain-swapped dimer. After complete removal of the extension peptide from the dimer, the mature M(pro) self-assembles into a novel super-active octamer (AO-M(pro)). The crystal structure of AO-M(pro) adopts a novel fold with four domain-swapped dimers packing into four active units with nearly identical conformation to that of the previously reported M(pro) active dimer, and 3D domain swapping serves as a mechanism to lock the active conformation due to entanglement of polypeptide chains. Compared with the previously well characterized form of M(pro), in equilibrium between inactive monomer and active dimer, the stable AO-M(pro) exhibits much higher proteolytic activity at low concentration. As all eight active sites are bound with inhibitors, the polyvalent nature of the interaction between AO-M(pro) and its polyprotein substrates with multiple cleavage sites, would make AO-M(pro) functionally much more superior than the M(pro) active dimer for polyprotein processing. Thus, during the initial period of SARS-CoV infection, this novel active form AOM(pro) should play a major role in cleaving polyproteins as the protein level is extremely low. The discovery of AOM(pro) provides new insights about the functional mechanism of M(pro) and its maturation process.
Coronavirus ; metabolism ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polyproteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; SARS Virus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins

H 1-antihistamines are widely used in the treatment of various allergic diseases, but there are still many challenges in the safe and rational use of H 1-antihistamines in pediatrics, and there is a lack of guidance on the prescription review of H 1-antihistamines for children.In this paper, suggestions are put forward from the indications, dosage, route of administration, pathophysiological characteristics of children with individual difference and drug interactions, so as to provide reference for clinicians and pharmacists.