A combination technique of LC/ESR, LC/MS and spin trapping was used to identify and characterize the carbon-centered free radicals formed from lipoxygenase-catalyzed peroxidation of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid(DGLA). The spin trap, α-[4-pyridyl-1-oxide]-N-tert-butyl nitrone(POBN), could react with short-lived carbon-centered radicals to form relatively stable adducts. Based on the same retention time of POBN radical adduct in LC/UV/ESR and LC/MS, molecular weight of adduct could be confirmed and the structure of adduct could be confirmed by their LC/MS2 fragment pattern. The results showed that free radicals formed in lipoxygenase-catalyzed peroxidation of DGLA, including ~·C_7H_(13)O_2, ~·C_(10)H_(17)O_2 and ~·C_5H_(11), all stemmed from β-scission of DGLA alkoxyl radicals(8-, 11-, 15-LO~·). The results were helpful for further study of biological activities of these radicals in vivo.

According to the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines, a life expectancy of > 10 years is considered an important factor in the treatment of prostate cancer. The Charlson score is used to predict mortality based on comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between age, Charlson score and outcome in patients with cT3a prostate cancer. Between 1987 and 2004, 200 patients, who were with clinical T3a prostate cancer and who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP), were previously detected by digital rectal examination (DRE). Patients were categorized into two age groups (< 65 and >or= 65 years old). Patients were also divided into two groups according to Charlson score ( = 0 and >or= 1). Both age and Charlson score were analyzed regarding their predictive power of patients' outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 70.6 months, and the mean age of patients was 63.3 years. In all, 106 patients were < 65 years old and 94 patients were >or= 65 years old. Age was a significant predictor of overall survival (OS). A Charlson score of 0 was found in 110 patients, and of >or= 1 in 90 patients. Charlson score was not a significant predictor of biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS), clinical progression-free survival (CPFS) or OS. Cox multivariate analysis showed that margin status was a significant independent factor in BPFS, and cancer volume was a significant independent factor in CPFS. Charlson score does not influence the outcome in patients with clinical locally advanced prostate cancer. Age may influence OS. RP can be performed in motivated healthy older patients. However, the patients need to be counseled regarding possible surgery-related side effects, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which are age- and comorbidity-dependent.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this study was to use point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to investigate the relationship between tobacco smoke exposure and the characteristics of the common carotid artery (CCA). The effect of both primary and secondary smoking on CCA properties was evaluated. METHODS:We performed a prospective cross-sectional study across 20 primary care clinics in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia in July 2016. Point of care ultrasound was performed on a convenience sample of Indonesian patients presenting to clinic. The CCA wall stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured during diastole and systole. These measurements were correlated with smoke exposure and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: We enrolled 663 patients in the study, with 426 patients enrolled in the smoking category and 237 patients enrolled in the second-hand smoke category. There was an overall positive correlation with the measured lifestyle factors and the ultrasound-measured variables in the group of individuals who smoked. For all variables, age seemed to contribute the most out of all of the lifestyle factors for the positive changes in CIMT and CCA wall stiffness. CONCLUSION:Our data yielded correlations between CCA properties and cardiovascular risk, as well as between CIMT and arterial stiffness. We were also able to demonstrate an increase in thickness of the CIMT in patients who have been exposed by tobacco through the use of ultrasound. Further large scale studies comparing patients with multiple cardiac risk factors need to be performed to confirm the utility of ultrasound findings of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term efficacy of a 4-week ultrasound curriculum taught by American first-year medical students to general practitioners working in public health care clinics, or puskesmas, in Bandung, Indonesia. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational study of Indonesian health care practitioners from public clinics in Bandung, Indonesia. These practitioners were enrolled in a 4-week ultrasound training course taught by first-year American medical students. A total of six sessions were held comprising of 38 ultrasound milestones. A pre-course and post-course written exam and practical exam was taken by each participant. RESULTS: We enrolled 41 clinicians in the course. The average pre-course exam score was 35.2% with a 2.4% pass rate, whereas the average post-course exam score was 82.0% with a 92.7% pass rate. The average practical score at the completion of the course was 83.2% (SD=0.145) with 82.9% of the class passing (score above 75.0%). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that first-year medical students can effectively teach ultrasound to physicians in Indonesia using a 4-week intensive ultrasound training course. Future studies are needed to determine the amount of training required for proficiency and to evaluate the physicians' perceptions of the student-instructors' depth of knowledge and skil in point of cаre ultrаsound.

BACKGROUNDInterleukin (IL)-1beta may effectively decrease introcular pressure (IOP) when administered by subconjunctival injection in normal rabbit. However, IL-1beta is a large molecular agent and an inflammation factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetrability of IL-1beta, and the concentrations of both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-6 in the aqueous humor of normal rabbits treated with IL-1beta.

METHODSA total of 170 rabbits were used in the study and were assigned to several different treatment groups as follows: 125 of the rabbits were assigned to two groups. In one group, 33 rabbits were injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta and 39 were injected with saline alone. In the other group, 27 rabbits were given eye drops containing IL-1beta (400 ng/ml) and 26 were given saline alone. Aqueous humor (AH) was drawn and the concentration of IL-1beta within the fluid measured. The IOP was measured in another six rabbits after administration of eye drops containing IL-1beta (400 ng/ml). A further 20 rabbits were assigned to 3 groups as follows: eight untreated normal controls; six injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta; and six injected subconjunctivally with saline alone. AH was drawn and the concentration of TNF-alpha in the fluid was measured. Another 19 rabbits were assigned to 3 groups as follows: seven untreated normal controls; and six injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta; and six injected subconjunctivally with saline alone. AH was drawn and the concentration of IL-6 in the fluid measured. Measurement of cytokine concentration was by radio-immunoassay in all cases.

RESULTSThe IL-1beta concentration in the AH was higher in those animals in which it had been administered subconjunctivally (P < 0.01). The IL-1beta concentration in the AH of the animals given eye drops was almost the same as that in the controls (P > 0.05). The administration of IL-1beta in the form of eye drops had little effect upon IOP reduction. Lower TNF-alpha concentrations were seen in the AH after the subconjunctival administration of IL-1beta, but the concentration of IL-6 was the same as in the normal controls.

CONCLUSIONSIL-1beta shows good corneal penetrability after subconjunctival injection into normal rabbit eyes. The IOP reduction induced by IL-1beta is unlikely be associated with an inflammatory response.

Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the differences in clinicopathological characteristics and severity between American and Chinese patients with colorectal Crohn disease(CD).

METHODSBetween March 1985 and September 2004, 68 patients with colorectal CD in Cleveland Clinic Florida (America) and 85 patients with colorectal CD in the 301 Hospital(China) were enrolled in the study. Data of two groups,including demographics, clinical characteristics, extraintestinal manifestations, presenting symptoms, location and pathological characteristics,were compared.

RESULTS60.3% of American patients and 36.5% of Chinese patients were female(P=0.003). 11.8% of American patients and 1.2% of Chinese patients had a family history of CD(P=0.016). American patients had a significantly higher rate of extraintestinal disease (39.7% vs 20.0%), abscess(19.0% vs 0), and anorectal fistulas(51.5% vs 0). American patients had significantly more extensive disease than Chinese patients(pancolitis: 44.1% vs 4.7%, P<0.01). American patients had a significantly higher rate of disease involving the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, anorectal area compared with Chinese patients(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAmerican patients with colorectal Crohn disease seem to have a female predominance, a higher rate of CD family history, to involve the distal intestinal tract more often, and have more severe clinical manifestation and pathological process, as compared with Chinese patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Crohn Disease ; ethnology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; United States ; Young Adult

An 82-year-old man presented with neck pain, right upper limb radiculopathy and right shoulder pain. Physical examination revealed a soft lump over the right shoulder joint, as well as reduced range of shoulder movements. On magnetic resonance imaging, the soft lump was shown to be a cystic mass over the acromioclavicular joint and was related to a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear. This is the classic geyser sign. The pathophysiology and clinical features of the geyser sign, and its imaging features with various imaging modalities, are discussed.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; physiology ; Shoulder Joint ; pathology ; Tendon Injuries ; pathology

Claudin18.2(CLDN18.2)is a tight junction protein that is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors such as gastrointestinal cancer and oesophageal cancer.It has been identified as a promising target and a potential biomarker to diagnose tumor,evaluate efficacy,and determine patient prognosis.TST001 is a recombinant humanized CLDN18.2 antibody that selectively binds to the extracellular loop of human Claudin18.2.In this study,we constructed a solid target radionuclide zirconium-89(89Zr)labled-TST001 to detect the expression of in the human stomach cancer BGC823CLDN18.2 cell lines.The[89Zr]Zr-des-ferrioxamine(DFO)-TST001 showed high radiochemical purity(RCP,＞99％)and specific activity(24.15±1.34 GBq/μmol),and was stable in 5％human serum albumin,and phosphate buffer saline(＞85％RCP at 96 h).The EC50 values of TST001 and DFO-TST001 were as high as 0.413±0.055 and 0.361±0.058 nM(P＞0.05),respectively.The radiotracer had a significantly higher average standard uptake values in CLDN18.2-positive tumors than in CLDN18.2-negative tumors(1.11±0.02 vs.0.49±0.03,P=0.0016)2 days post injection(p.i.).BGC823CLDN18.2 mice models showed high tumor/muscle ratios 96 h p.i.with[89Zr]Zr-DFO-TST001 was much higher than those of the other imaging groups.Immunohistochemistry results showed that BGC823CLDN18.2 tumors were highly positive(+++)for CLDN18.2,while those in the BGC823 group did not express CLDN18.2(-).The results of ex vivo biodistribution studies showed that there was a higher distribution in the BGC823CLDN18.2 tumor bearing mice(2.05±0.16％ID/g)than BGC823 mice(0.69±0.02％ID/g)and blocking group(0.72±0.02％ID/g).A dosimetry estimation study showed that the effective dose of[89Zr]Zr-DFO-TST001 was 0.0705 mSv/MBq,which is within the range of acceptable doses for nuclear medicine research.Taken together,these re-sults suggest that Good Manufacturing Practices produced by this immuno-positron emission tomog-raphy probe can detect CLDN18.2-overexpressing tumors.

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the mechanism of Chinese tuina in treating sciatic nerve crush injury, and to detect the levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is thought to play an important role in nerve regeneration.

METHODSThirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sciatic nerve crush injury and 16 rats (sham-operated group) went through a sham operation. Control group was given no treatment while tuina group received tuina therapy since day 7 post-surgery. Tuina treatment was performed once a day and lasted for 20 days. The sciatic functional index was examined every 5 days during the treatment session. The rats' gastrocnemius muscles were evaluated for changes in mass and immunohistochemistry techniques were performed to detect the levels of tPA and PAI-1.

RESULTSTuina therapy improved the motor function of sciatic nerve injured rats (P<0.05), however, it did not increase muscle volume (P<0.05). Tuina downregulated the levels of tPA and PAI-1 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe present study implies that tuina treatment could accelerate rehabilitation of peripheral nerve injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects of Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (, ZMAD) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) model rats.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups by a random number table, including the normal, model, Rhodiola rosea L. (RRL) and ZMAD groups (10 in each group). Every group was raised in Lhasa to create a HAPC model except the normal group. After modeling, rats in the RRL and the ZMAD groups were administered intragastrically with RRL (20 mL/kg) and ZMAD (7.5 mL/kg) once a day for 2 months, respectively; for the normal and the model groups, 5 mL of distilled water was administered intragastrically instead of decoction. Then routine blood and hematologic rheology parameters were taken, levels of erythropoietin and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were tested, and ultrastructural change in the left ventricular myocardium was observed using transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, ZMAD significantly reduced the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, whole blood viscosity at low/middle shear rates, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoretic time, erythropoietin and 8-OHdG levels, and also increased the erythrocyte deformation index (P<0.05). There was no difference in all results between the RRL and the ZMAD groups. The cardiac muscle fibers were well-protected, mitochondrial matrix swelled mildly and ultrastructure changes were less prominent in the ZMAD group compared with the model group.

CONCLUSIONZMAD has significant protective effects on the blood parameters against HAPC, and also has the beneficial effect in protecting against myocardial injury.