The process of U(VI) biosorption by freshwater algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa and its absorption mechanism, absorption thermodynamics and absorption kinetics were investigated in this paper. The effects of pH, contact time, initial U(VI) concentration and temperature on biosorption were studied respectively. Research result showed that the absorption effect of U(VI) by Chlorella pyrenoidosa was affected by pH value of solution to a great extent, the absorption reached its balance within 5 min with optimal pH value 6 and max absorption quantity 2.7 mg/g. On the other hand, the absorption quantity of U(VI) by Chlorella pyrenoidosa was positively correlated with the initial concentration of U(VI); and the absorption quantity did not fluctuate remarkably when temperature was varied at the range of 20℃ to 30℃. Research result also showed that the process of U(VI) absorption was congruent with the second order kinetic model, and the correlation coefficient was high reaching to 0.99. It was suggested that the U(VI) biosorption by Chlorella pyrenoidosa was a complicated process consisting of many simultaneous reactions and could be described by Languir model quite well.

The development status of acupuncture and moxibustion in Tunisia is introduced in this article. Although acupuncture and moxibustion only has a history of more than 30 years in Tunisia, it is very popular among the local people. Until now, there is one acupuncture and moxibustion center aided and built with the help of the Chinese government. Acupuncture and moxibustion clinical department has been set in some of the hospitals, and acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice is also carried out in some private clinics. Cost of acupuncture and moxibustion in public hospitals has already been covered by medical insurance. As for education of acupuncture and moxibustion, training courses were set up in medical colleges of Tunisia by Tunisian government which is lectured by Chinese acupuncture experts. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been used to treat many diseases in Tunisia and is warmly welcomed by Tunisian.
Acupuncture ; economics ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Therapy ; economics ; history ; trends ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; economics ; history ; trends ; Tunisia

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and immunoreactivity in experimental acute inflammatory brain injury.

METHODSTen rats were inoculated with pneumococcus to establish the model of bacterial inflammatory brain injury and other 6 rats were used as normal controls. At 24 h after inoculating, the expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue was detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

RESULTThe necrosis of neuron in cerebral cortex and hippocampus was observed after infection. The increase of BDNF mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of experimental animals was demonstrated at 24 h after inoculation: (0.1194 +/- 0.02941 compared with 0.0662 +/- 0.01176)A and (0.1608 +/-0.01854 compared with 0.0680 +/- 0.00946)A (P<0.01), respectively. Compared with controls the expression of BDNF protein in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was enhanced at 24 h of inoculation:(177.04+/-43.66 compared with 79.79+/-7.23)mm(2) (P<0.01) and (81.78 +/-37.47 compared with 42.98 +/-20.44)mm(2) (P<0.01), respectively. Strong positive hybridization and immunoreactivity were observed in the infiltrated inflammatory cell in leptomeninges, subarachnoid cavity, ventricles and brain parenchyma in the brain from the experimental rats.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of BDNF mRNA and BDNF protein increases following brain inflammatory injury, which supports the hypothesis that BDNF may constitute intrinsic neuroprotective mechanism as a part of the inflammatory response.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of and complications arising from low-dose ketamine combined with fentanyl for intravenous postoperative analgesia in comparison with the exclusive use of fentanyl in elderly patients.

METHODSEighty elderly patients were randomized into two equal groups following thoracoabdominal surgery, and received intravenous analgesia with the combination of 0.5 mg/ml ketamine, 5.0 microg/ml fentanyl and 50 microg/ml midazolam (KF group) and with 7.5 microg/ml fentanyl plus 50 microg/ml midazolam (FT group), respectively. The drugs used were diluted in 200 ml normal saline. For analgesic administration, a loading dose (2-4 ml) was given followed by a background infusion (2.5-3.5 ml), with patient-controlled bolus doses of 2.0-3.0 ml with lock-out time of 20 min via PCA pump (Automedical, Korea). The static pain score (VAS), sedation score, and incidences of nausea, vomiting, pruritus and hallucinations were recorded during the initial 48 h after the surgery.

RESULTSThe total analgesic dosage and PCA dosage in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). With similar VAS in the two groups (P>0.05), the sedative effect in KF group was much better than that in FT group (P<0.05) during the initial 48 h postoperatively. The incidences of nausea, vomiting and itching were lower in KF group than in FT group (P<0.05), and no illusion was reported in two groups during the initial 48 h.

CONCLUSIONFor producing comparable postoperative analgesic effect, low-dose ketamine combined with fentanyl can markedly reduce fentanyl requirement in the elderly patients and lowers the incidences of nausea, vomiting and itching in comparison with the exclusive use of fentanyl.

Aged ; Analgesics, Opioid ; administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ketamine ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Midazolam ; administration & dosage ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

Wound combined with total body irradiation (TBI) injury results in impairment of tissue repair and delayed processes of healing, so it has been considered as an important and representative model of impaired wound healing, but the mechanism is not fully clarified. Fibroblasts in wound are the most important cells participating in tissue repair, whereas its radiosensitivity is not high. To understand whether TBI injury has direct damaging effects on fibroblasts in wound, fibroblasts in wound combined with TBI injury and in wound of simple incision injury were isolated and cultured, and parameters associated with tissue repair were determined. The results showed that the abilities of proliferation, attachment and adhesion of fibroblasts isolated from wounds combined with TBI injury significantly decreased as compared with those of simple incision injury, nevertheless, apoptotic ratio of fibroblasts isolated from wounds combined with TBI injury increased significantly. These data suggest that TBI injury may cause direct damaging effects on fibroblasts in wounds, which might be one of the dominant reasons for impairment of wound healing when it is combined with TBI injury.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin ; injuries ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; Wound Healing ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of miR-124 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and tissue specimens and analyze its association with the radiosensitivity of the cells.

METHODSThe expression of miR-124 in CRC cell lines and tissues were detected using qRT-PCR. The effect of miR-124 in modulating cell radiosensitivity was assessed in CRC cells with miRNA-124 overexpression and miRNA-124 knockdown, and bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system were employed to identify the direct target of miR-124.

RESULTSs miR-124 expression was down-regulated in CRC cell lines and tissues. CRC cells over-expressing miR-124 showed an obviously enhanced radiosensitivity, whereas miR-124 knockdown resulted in a reduced radiosensitivity of the cells. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase reporter system verified PRRX1 as a direct target of miR-124, which regulated the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly inhibiting PRRX1.

CONCLUSIONmiR-124 can enhance the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by directly targeting PRRX1, which provides a target for improving the therapeutic effect of radiotherapy of CRC.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luciferases ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; mortality ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnostic imaging ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) in a rat model of renal injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

METHODSForty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into sham operated group, model group, and 3 penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) dose (1, 2 and 3 mg/kg) groups (PHC1, PHC2, and PHC3 groups, respectively). The arterial blood samples were collected to determine the concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 (IL-1), urine creatinine (Cr) and blood urine nitrogen (BUN), and the renal tissues were collected to measure the expressions of ICAM-1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and observe the pathological changes.

RESULTSTNF-α, IL-8, IL-1, Cr, BUN, ICAM-1 and NF-κB in the 3 PHC groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1, Cr and BUN were significantly lower in PHC1 (P<0.05) than in the PHC2 and PHC3 groups, and ICAM-1 and NF-κB were similar between 3 PHC groups (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the 3 PHC groups showed lessened pathological changes in the renal tubules.

CONCLUSIONPHC has protective effects against renal injury induced by hemorrhagic-endotoxin shock in rats, and treatment with 1 mg/kg PHC produces the most significant protective effect.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Animals ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Quinuclidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; blood ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the acute effects of testosterone at the physiological level on PGF2alpha-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSVSMCs from the thoracic aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the explant method. The subconfluent VSMCs were incubated with serum-free medium for 24 hours to obtain quiescent non-dividing cells and then treated with the indicated agents. For the measurement of [Ca2+]i, the VSMCs were loaded with fura-2. Changes of [Ca2+]i were determined ratiometrically with a Nikon TE-2000E system.

RESULTSThe resting level of [Ca2+]i was around 100 nmol/L in the VSMCs. Exposing cells to perfusate containing 10 micromol/L PGF2alpha triggered an immediate and transient peak in [Ca2+]i, which gradually decreased afterwards. Interference at the peak with the physiological concentration (40 nmol/L) of testosterone significantly decreased the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i, compared with ethanol vehicle (104.9 +/- 27.0 s vs 153.5 +/- 40.4 s, P < 0.01). Pretreatment with testosterone at 40 nmol/L for 2 minutes also reduced the peak-to-baseline time of [Ca2+]i significantly in comparison with the ethanol control (120.6 +/- 32.0 s vs 151.4 +/- 27.4 s, P < 0.01), but it had no significant effect on the peak level of PGF2alpha-induced intracellular Ca2+ (390.0 +/- 126.0 nmol/L vs 403.4 +/- 160.7 nmol/L, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTestosterone at physiological concentration inhibits PGF2alpha-induced Ca2+ fluxes, probably via receptor-operated calcium channels by a non-genomic mechanism in VSMCs, which may be involved in the vasodilatory effect of testosterone.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dinoprost ; pharmacology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of glucose-insulin-potassium treatment (GIK) on the levels of inflammatory cytokines in the scalded rats with MODS.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Sprague Dawley rats were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scalding, and MODS model was reproduced with intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin following burn injury. Then the rats were randomly divided into GIK, glucose (G) and control (C) groups, with 40 rats in each group. The serum contents of glucose, lactate acid, TNF-alpha, NO and IL-6 of the rats in the three groups were determined during 1 to 7 PSD, and the mortality rate within 7 PSD was observed.

RESULTSThe serum contents of glucose, lactate acid, TNF-alpha, NO and IL-6 of the rats in the GIK group were obviously lower than those in the other two groups during 1 to 7 PSD (P < 0.01), and reached the lowest level at 6 to 7 PSD (TNF-alpha: 2.37 +/- 0.54 microg/L; IL-6: 0.28 +/- 0.17 microg/L; NO: 29 +/- 9 micromol/L). The content of glucose and lactate acid in G group were obviously higher than those in control group (P < 0.01), but the contents of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and NO content were similar between these two groups (P > 0.05). The mortality in GIK group within 7 PSD was 20.0%, which was evidently lower than that in G (37.5%) and C (47.5%) groups (P < 0.05), while that between G and C groups was similar (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe administration of GIK might ameliorate sepsis by reducing the levels of inflammatory cytokine after burns and endotoxin challenge.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; complications ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glucose ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Multiple Organ Failure ; diagnosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Potassium ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley