BACKGROUND: For the purpose of keeping the merits of traditional actual cautery, we improved traditional actual cautery and developed a pistollike electrocautery which has the function of heating and spraying oilpreparation (it has been issued national patent, patent number: 17634; patent number of medical electrocautery: 872106187). OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of unique electrocautery of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on treating chronic tonsillitis as compared with cautery.DESIGN: Random sampling and case-controlled study.SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Surgical Department of Liaoning Oncology Hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 80 patients with hypertrophy of tonsil were selected from the Department of Otolaryngology of the Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1989. Inclusion criteria: degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy, without other serious cardiovascular and cerebral diseases, and consent. Exclusion criteria: attempted cauterization, cease of treatment, incomplete case history having complication, and not acceptance. Totally 40 patients were coincidence with the criteria including 22 males and 18 females aged from 5 to 40 years.METHODS: Mild and potent cauterization was adopted according to whether there was chronic congestion in tonsil. For patients with degree Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with large size cautery was adopted at 700-800 ℃, if with chronic congestion,potent cauterization with large or middle size cautery at 500-600 ℃ and mild cauterization was adopted; For patients with degree Ⅱ of hypertrophy of tonsil without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with middle size cautery was adopted at 700-800 ℃, if with chronic congestion, mild cauterization with middle or small size cautery was adopted at 500-600 ℃; for patient with first degree of hypertrophy of tonsil without obvious congestion, potent cauterization with small size cautery was adopted at 600-700 ℃, if with chronic congestion, mild cauterization with small size cautery was used at 500 ℃. Cauterization of TCM was not of rather good therapeutic effect on degree Ⅰ of tonsil hypertrophy than on degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of hypertrophy of tonsil. Regardless of which degree of hypertrophy of tonsil and congestion, mild cauterization should be adopted at low degree of heat if there was pain radiating to the ear region or pharyngopalatine arch becoming surface-like structure. The average interval between each cauterization was 2-3 days.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Size of tonsil and histological changes of patients with degrees of Ⅱ and Ⅲll tonsil hypertrophy after cauterization.RESULTS: Totally 40 patients with degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy were treated with cautery without any loss. ① Tissues were thickened after each cautery, 38 cases received only 4-10 times of cauterization, and half of the total number of the patients received 7-8 times of cauterization (9/22.5%, 9/22.5%). ② Electrocautery could reduce course of treatment to 1/4 of that of actual cautery. Degree of hypertrophy of tonsil was of no direct ratio to cauterizing times in that 22 patients with degree Ⅱ of hypertrophy of tonsil received 4-10 times of cauterization; while 18 cases of patients with degree Ⅲ of hypertrophy, 2 patients received 13 times of cauterization, the other received 7-10 times of cauterization. ③ A patch of black and brown cauterized scab was formed after each electrocautery on the surface of tonsil; superfical layer was of faveolate structure with different sized eosin dyed mesh; the deep layer was of dull grey oblique and interdigitating cord like structure with necrotic tissues without being dyed and survival lymphocyte in the space between cord, the lymphocyte had the changes of karyo pyknosis and nuclear fragmentation or disappearing of red dyed nuclear. Compared with actual cautery, cauterization of necrotic layer was obviously thickening and easy to exfoliate in electrocautery of TCM. ④ After 24 hours of cauterization, necrotic tissues migrated to normal lymphatic area presented with such inflammatory changes as vascular dilation, widening of lymphocyte space and infiltration of neutrophil. The degrees of above mentioned changes between electrocautery of TCM and actual cautery achieve no significant difference and the inflammatory changes disappeared in 4-5 days.CONCLUSION: Because of high temperature, few cauterized times and short course, electrocautery of TCM has a remarkable effect on degrees Ⅱ and Ⅲ of tonsil hypertrophy; however, various textures, degrees of hyperemia, ages and co-operations can cause different cauterized times.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of the variety of serum levels of soL-CXCL16 and NT-proBNP peripercutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods A total of 77 cases received PCI were selected to research group.And the contemporaneous 30 healthy persons were chosen to control group.The serum levels of soL-CXCL16,NT-proBNP and cTnT were detected by ELISA.The relationships of soL-CXCL16 and NT-proBNP to cTnT were detected by Pearson linear correlation analysis.Results Compared to pre-PCI,the serum levels of CXCL16 were rising to the peak point at 0.5 h post-PCI,and were decreasing from 2.0 h post-PCI,then the serum levels of CXCL16 were declining to the levels of pre-PCI at 24.0 h post-PCI (P＜0.05).And the serum levels of NT-proBNP were rising from 0.5 h post-PCI,and the peak point was at 24.0 h post-PCI (P＜0.05).The postive relationships of the serum levels of CXCL16 and NT-proBNP to the serum levels of cTnT were confirmed by Pearson linear correlation analysis(P＜0.01).Conclusion Monitoring of soL-CXCL16 and NT-proBNP for patients with percutaneous coronary stenting could provide foundation for prognosis evaluation of PCI.

Objective To analyze the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal obstruction patients caused by intra-abdominal hernia with no abdominal surgery history ,in order to raise awareness .Methods Clinical data of 23 intestinal obstruction patients caused by intra-abdominal hernia with no abdominal surgery history were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical manifestations ,type,and risk factors were analyzed .And its diagnosis and prevention was dis-cussed.Results 23 patients were caused by intestinal blood circulation disorders ,in which there were 11 cases small intestine mesentery hernia ,2 cases duodenal hernia ,2 cases pericecal hernia ,3 cases omentum hernia ,1 case obturator hernia,2 cases congenital dysplasia and intestinal mesenteric torsion induced small hernia ,2 cases formation of intra-abdominal pressure alone belted intestine ,8 cases of intestinal necrosis .22 patients were cured after surgery ,1 case died,12 cases had postoperative complications .The incidence rate of postoperative complications of patients with in-testinal necrosis was 59.3%( wound infection 37.1%, pneumonia 22.2%), which was significantly higher than 11.8%of patients without intestinal necrosis (wound infection 5.9%,pneumonia 5.9%)(χ2 =3.861,3.861,all P<0.05).Conclusion The intestinal obstruction caused by intra-abdominal hernia with no abdominal surgery history is closed loop obstruction , preoperative diagnosis is difficult , with the rapid progression of the disease , and intestinal strangulation ,intestinal necrosis can occur in the short term whithout timely surgical treatment .Therefore ,early diagno-sis and prompt surgical treatment is the key to the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal obstruction caused by intra -ab-dominal hernia with no abdominal surgery history .

Objective To choose the optimal b-values for the DWI of gastric cancer(GC),and investigate the value of DWI in the diagnosis of GCs.Methods MRI examinations(T_1WI,T_2WI,and DWI)were performed on 31 patients with gastric cancer.Three diffusion-weighted sequences were designed with different b values,including 300 s/mm~2(low),600 s/mm~2(intermediate),and 1000 s/mm~2(high). Free water grade was used to evaluate the suppression of content in gastric lumen.Background contrast grade was used to evaluate the discriminating ability of different sequences between GC and nearby tissues.The ADCs of GCs,nearby gastric wall region,and free water in gastric lumen were measured.SNRc_(Ca),CNR_(Ca-Gw) and SIRc_(Ca-Gw)of high b-value DWI and routine MRI sequences were evaluated and compared.Results The signal intensity of free water in gastric lumen decreased as b-value increased,and the SIR were 8.11? 0.77(b=300 s/mm~2),2.70?0.35(b =600 s/mm~2),and 1.13?0.22(b=1000 s/mm~2)(F= 55.368,P

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.

We investigated the pathogen of an outbreak of lung infection with unknown causes.By epidemiological analysis,we used real-time PCR,ELISA,gold dipstick,VITEK2 and MALDI-TOF-MS to identify suspicious bacteria.We made use of serum plate agglutination test to confirm the suspicious bacteria and the patient serum.We isolated 2 strains of Cryptococcus albidus from environmental samples.There has been specific agglutination between suspicious bacteria and patient serum.This pneumonia may be related to the infection of Ccryptococcus albidus.

Objective To investigate the relationship of pathological response of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the imaging findings in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.Methods Forty- five patients with pathologically confirmed breast carcinoma who finished courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had breast MRI prior to operation.Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scans were performed on a 1.5 T scanner using 3D SPGR sequence before and repeated 6 times after administration of Gd-DTPA. Pathological response was assessed by a pathologist according to Miller & Payne five points classification blinded to breast MRI results.Grade 5 was defined as pCR(pathological complete response).Grade 4 and 5 were defined as major histopathological response(MHR).The type of time signal intensity curve(TIC) (three types),pattern of residual enhancement of each breast cancer were recorded and correlated with pathological findings.Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.Results Grade 5 responses were achieved in seven patients;grade 4 in sixteen patients;grade 3 in sixteen patients and grade 1—2 in six patients.70.0%(14/20)of type Ⅰ time signal intensity curve correlated with MHR,while all 6 type Ⅲ curves showed non-MHR response.The type of time signal intensity curve and pathological response grades had statistically significant correlation(P=0.001).18 of the 23 cases with MHR exhibited residual enhancement,while the remaining 5 cases showed no enhancement.Of the 18 MHR cases with residual enhancement,11 showed non-mass-like enhancement and 7 showed mass-like enhancement.The mass(non- mass)morphological pattern in dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI had statistically significant differences in pathological response(P=0.012).Conclusions Pathological response of breast carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be characterized using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI by identifying patterns of residual contrast enhancement and kinetic curve.Favorable pathological responses correlated with Type Ⅰ TIC,non-enhancement,and non-mass-like residual enhancement.

AIM To explore the effects of Zishui Qinggan Decoction on the mouse model of depression induced by chronic restraint stress(CRS)via ERK/GSK3β/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.METHODS Except for those of the blank group,the mice of other groups were induced into depression models by CRS,and divided into the model group,the fluoxetine hydrochloride group(10 mg/kg)and the low,medium and high dose Zishui Qinggan Decoction groups(8.835,17.670 and 35.340 g/kg)for the corresponding drug intervention and simultanous CRS treatment.The mice had their sugar water preference experiment and behavior experiment on the 7th and 14th day after administration;the observation of the hippocampal morphological changes by HE staining,the detection of the superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)level in serum by kits,the detection of levels of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)by ELISA,the detection of the hippocampal mRNA expressions of BDNF,TNF-α and IL-1β by RT-qPCR method,and the detection of the hippocampal protein expressions of ERK1/2,p-ERK1/2,GSK3β,p-GSK3β,CREB and BDNF by Western blot method 14 days after administration.RESULTS Compared with the model group,after 14 days of administration,both fluoxetine hydrochloride group and medium-dose Zishui Qinggan Decoction group displayed increased preference rate of sugar water(P<0.01),shortened immobility time of tail suspension and forced swimming(P<0.01),improved hippocampal damage of nerve cells,decreased levels of serum MDA,TNF-α and IL-1β(P<0.05,P<0.01),increased SOD activity and 5-HT level(P<0.05,P<0.01),decreased hippocampal mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β(P<0.01),and decreased expressions of BDNF mRNA and p-ERK1/2,p-GSK3β,CREB and BDNF proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION Zishui Qinggan Decoction can improve the depression-like behaviors in mice exposed to CRS,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of hippocampal ERK/GSK3β/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of WAVE1 and p22phox in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and the relationship of WAVE1 with oxidative stress.

METHODSReal-time PCR was used for detecting WAVE1 and p22phox expression in PBMCs in 41 children with ALL and 10 normal controls. Plasma activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured by the xanthine oxidase method. Plasma activity of GSH-Px was measured by the DTNB reaction test.

RESULTSThe expression of WAVE1 and p22phox was significantly higher in the active ALL groups (newly diagnosed and relapse ALL) than that in the normal control and the complete remission (CR) ALL groups (<0.01). The CR ALL group showed increased WAVE1 and p22phox expression than those in the normal control group (<0.05). Plasma activities of SOD (22.62+/-7.39 U/mL) and GSH-Px (91.73+/-28.88 micromol/L) in the active ALL group were significantly lower than those in the normal control (166.35+/-27.93 U/mL and 490.94+/-39.38 micromol/L, respectively) and the CR ALL groups (107.11+/-28.57 U/mL and 267.56+/-82.64 micromol/L, respectively) (<0.01). WAVE1 expression was positively correlated with p22phox expression (r=0.34, <0.05) but negatively correlated with plasma activities of SOD and GSH-Px ( r=-0.336 and-0.408, respectively; <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWAVE1 and p22phox expression in PBMCs increased and was associated with the disease course in children with ALL. Oxidative stress may be involved in the regulation of WAVE1 expression in ALL children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; Oxidative Stress ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of acute heat stress on the expression patterns of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens of adult male mice.

METHODSThirty-two 8-week-old male mice were randomly divided into a control and 3 heat stress groups. After a week of pretreatment, the latter 3 groups were exposed to heat stress at (39 +/- 0.5) degrees C for 0.5, 1 and 3 hours, respectively, followed immediately by collection of the blood and determination of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) concentration. Sperm suspension was made from one epididymis for the detection of sperm concentration and abnormal acrosome rate, while the testis, epididymis and vas deferens on the other side were harvested for immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSHeat stress induced different degrees of decrease in epididymis indexes and sperm concentration and a dramatic increase in GOT concentration (P < 0.01), but caused no significant changes in the body weight, testis indexes and abnormal acrosome rate in the mice (P > 0.05). There was a tendency of gradual descent in sperm concentration and ascent in abnormal acrosome rate with the increasing time of heat stress. The most decrease in body weight, testis indexes and epididymis indexes was observed in the 0.5 h group. Immunohistochemical results showed that HSP70 was expressed in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens, mildly in the Leydig cells of the testis and distributed in the nuclei of the Leydig cells, spermatoblasts and spermatocytes. In the epididymis, HSP70 was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm of principal and ciliated cells, but not in the basal and clear cells, while in the vas deferens, it was observed mainly in the cytoplasm of the basal cells, but not in the principal cells. With the increase of heating time, the HSP70 expression was markedly elevated in the testis and epididymis, but not so obviously in the vas deferens.

CONCLUSIONAcute heat stress was harmful to the reproductive system of adult male mice. The region- and cell-specific patterns of HSP70 expressions in the testis, epididymis and vas deferens suggested that HSP70 might play an important role in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. The dramatic increase of HSP70 expression after heat stress might be responsible for the prevention of cells from high temperature.

Animals ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat Stress Disorders ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Testis ; metabolism ; Vas Deferens ; metabolism