Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of carotid stenting for progressive cerebral watershed infarction (PCWI) patients with ipsilateral internal carotid stenosis or occlusion during the progressive stage. Methods The clinical data of 23 PCWI patients with ipsilateral internal carotid stenosis or occlusion treated with carotid stenting during the progressive stage were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 18 were severe internal carotid artery stenosis, and 5 were carotid artery occlusion. Carotid artery stenting were performed in patients with severe internal carotid artery stenosis. The first-stage angioplasty and second-stage stenting were performed in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) were used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurologic deficits. Results Twenty-two of 23 patients were stented successfuly, the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade was 3, and the technical success rate was 95. 7% . None of the patients demonstrated hyperperfusion in the ipsilateral hemisphere. At day 30 postprocedure, the NHISS scores were significantly improved compared with before procedure (4. 41 ± 1. 88 vs. 10. 00 ± 1. 47; t = 11. 234, P < 0. 001). The preprocedural TIMI flow grade was 3 in 12 patients (52. 2% ). Proportion of patients with TIMI flow grade 3 after procedure was significantly increased compared with before procedure (95. 7% vs. 52. 2% ; χ2 = 11. 274, P = 0. 002). The proportion of patients with mRS scores 0-2 at day 90 after procedure was significantly increased compared with before procedure (69. 6% vs. 0% ; χ2 = 24. 533, P < 0. 001). Conclusions Carotid stenting during the progressive stage is safe and it may improve the prognosis in PCWI patients with ipsilateral internal carotid stenosis or occlusion.

Stem cells in bone marrow are considered as an ideal sources of seed cells with the advantage of being isolation and easy proliferated in vitro,which is a prerequisite for the autotransplantation. Studies show that the cells can differentiate into neurons. However,this opinion challenges the traditional conception of cell differentiation and therefore the dispute arises. Here we review the results of research on dedifferentiation of bone marrow cells.

Objective To investigate the application value of lung ultrasonic on severe high altitude pulmonary edema.Methods A prospective, single-blind, case-control study was conducted. Sixty patients with severe high altitude pulmonary edema admitted to Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital from February 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2500-3000 m group, 3000-3500 m group and 3500-4200 m group according to different altitudes,with 20 patients in each group. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score was recorded before and 12 hours and 24 hours after treatment. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) was determined by blood gas analysis, and the oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) was calculated. Bedside ultrasound scanning was used to determine B line number and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and B line score was calculated to reflect lung water content. The correlation between B line score and PaO2/FiO2, PAP and APACHEⅡ scores at each time point was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results None of 60 patients died or exited, all of them were enrolled in the final analysis. There was no significant difference in PaO2/FiO2, PAP, APACHEⅡ score or B line score among different altitudes groups (allP > 0.05). Repeated measurement variance analysis showed that the effects of different altitudes on PaO2/FiO2, PAP, APACHEⅡ score and B line score were not statistically significant (F value was 0.312, 0.014, 1.098, 0.236, andP value was 0.340, 0.791, 0.733, and 0.986, respectively). The PaO2/FiO2, PAP, APACHEⅡ score and B line score in all groups were improved obviously from 12 hours after treatment, and the improvements at 24 hours were more than those at 12 hours (allP < 0.05). Repeated measurement variance analysis showed that the effect at different time points on PaO2/FiO2, PAP, APACHEⅡ score and B line score was statistically significant (F value was 1844.270, 121.690, 1173.175, 19426.968, allP < 0.001). The interaction effects of different altitudes and different time points on PaO2/FiO2, PAP, APACHEⅡ score and B line score were not statistically significant (F value was 0.304, 0.404, 1.172, 1.403, andP value was 0.875, 0.805, 0.327, and 0.591, respectively). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between B line score and PaO2/FiO2 before and after treatment (r value was -0.579, -0.522, and -0.386, allP < 0.01), indicating that the more the B line, the more severe the pulmonary edema, and the worse the oxygenation; with the decrease in B line after treatment, the pulmonary edema was gradually alleviated, and oxygenation was gradually improved. There was a significant positive correlation between B line score and APACHEⅡ score before and 24 hours after treatment (r value was 0.484 and 0.536, bothP < 0.01), indicating that the more the B line, the more severe the patient; with the decrease in B line after treatment, the patient's condition improved after treatment. There was only a weak correlation between B line score and PAP at 24 hours after treatment (r = 0.317,P = 0.014), indicating that PAP was not a sensitive indicator in the degree of pulmonary edema in patients.Conclusions The more the B line in patients with severe high altitude pulmonary edema,the more severe of the pulmonary edema, and the more severe of the patient. There was no significant correlation between the B line score and PAP. Pulmonary ultrasonography can still be used not only in the plain and low elevation areas, but in the high altitude areas, as a reliable method to evaluate the severity of pulmonary edema.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Ca(2+) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-kappa B activation in pancreatic acinar cells and the role of NF-kappa B in LPS-induced acinar cell injury.

METHODSMale rat pancreatic acinar cells were isolated by collagenase digestion, then exposed to varying concentrations of LPS (from 1 to 20 mg/L) in the presence or absence of EGTA. At various time points (30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours and 10 hours) after treatment with the agents, cell viability was determined by MTT. Nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B's subunit p65 was visualized by immunofluorescence staining and nuclei protein was extracted to perform EMSA which was used to assay the activity of NF-kappa B binding to the DNA sequence containing the recognition site of NF-kappa B.

RESULTSLPS induced cell damage in a time- and concentration-dependent manner while EGTA attenuated LPS-induced cell damage (P < 0.05). NF-kappa B p65 immunofluorescence staining had increased intensity in the cytoplasm and indicated that nuclear translocation occurred within 30 minutes and its zenith was reached at 1 hour after LPS (10 mg/L) treatment. Testing of NF-kappa B DNA binding activity showed the same alteration phase as p65 immunofluorescence staining. NF-kappa B activation preceded the pathological alteration of pancreatic acinar cells. The Ca(2+) chelator EGTA inhibited LPS-induced NF-kappa B activation.

CONCLUSIONSNF-kappa B activation is an important early event in LPS-induced injury to pancreatic acinar cells. Ca(2+) is an important mediator in the process of LPS-induced NF-kappa B activation.

Animals ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Pancreas ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore characteristics of flow field around the athletes, change of net flow force, and influences of hip flexion angles at the end of extension kick on the submerged dolphin kick stroke. Methods The body shape data of a swimmer were obtained by three-dimensional (3D) scanning, and the data were reversely reconstructed to obtain the swimmer model. The joints of the swimmer model were separated, and each segment of the athlete was divided into independent rigid body, and simulation of the submerged dolphin kick stroke was realized by controlling movement of each independent rigid body. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package ANSYS Fluent was used as the solver for calculation and solution. Results The vortex structures were shed off from the surface of the swimmer’s body in the area with a large velocity gradient in flow field, and the shedding of vortex structures was different at the stage of extension kick and flexion kick. Propulsion was mainly generated during extension kick phase. At the end of extension kick, the drag decreased as the hip flexion angle increased from 20° to 30°. Conclusions To some extent, increasing flexion angle of the hip joint at the end of extension kick will reduce the drag force and increase the swimming speed in process of the submerged dolphin kick stroke.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the biomechanics of ankle cartilage and ligaments during a typical Tai Chi movement-Brush Knee and Twist Step (BKTS). The kinematic and kinetic data were acquired in one experienced male Tai Chi practitioner while performing BKTS and in normal walking. The measured parameters were used as loading and boundary conditions for further finite element analysis. This study showed that the contact stress of the ankle joint during BKTS was generally less than that during walking. However, the maximum tensile force of the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament and the posterior talofibular ligament during BKTS was 130 N, 169 N and 89 N, respectively, while it was only 57 N, 119 N and 48 N during walking. Therefore, patients with arthritis of the ankle can properly practice Tai Chi. Practitioners with sprained lateral ligaments of the ankle joint were suggested to properly reduce the ankle movement range during BKTS.
Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Male ; Tai Ji