This study is to determine the preventive effect and mechanism of targeting IL-17A on pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis after acute lung injury. Mice were treated with anti-IL-17A antibody on the day 7 and sacrificed on the day 14 after bleomycin lung injury. The pulmonary inflammatory status and the deposition of collagen were measured by HE and Sirius stains staining. The contents of hydroxyproline and collagen were measured by using commercial kits. The survival rate of mice was calculated by Kaplan-Meier methods. The inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by ELISA and the expressions of inflammation-related molecules were detected by Western blotting assay. Targeting of IL-17A could prevent the development of lung inflammation, decrease collagen deposition and the contents of hydroxyproline, and protect against the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which together led to an increase in the animal survival. Moreover, blocking IL-17A decreased the expression ofpro-fibrotic cytokines such as IL-17A, TGF-beta1 and IL-13; increased the expression of anti-fibrotic or anti-inflammatory factors such as IFN-gamma, COX-2, 5-LOX, 15-LOX. Indeed, IL-17A antagonism suppressed the activation of pro-inflammatory p65NF-kappaB but enhanced the activation of pro-resolving p50NF-kappaB. In conclusion, that blockade of IL-17A prevents the development of pulmonary fibrosis from acute lung injury, is because blocking IL-17A may prevent acute inflammation converting to chronic inflammation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban infusion to infarct related vessels on patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: From Jan 2013 to Jun 2014, a total of 30 STEMI patients were enrolled as tirofiban group (tirofiban 500μg was infused to infarct related vessels during emergency PCI), and received intravenous drip of tirofiban 0.1 μg•kg-1•min-1 for 24h after stent implantation; another 31 STEMI patients were regarded as pure stenting group during the same period and they received direct stent implantation during emergency PCI. Computer-assisted Quantitative Blush Evaluator (QuBE) score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during hospitalization and after six-month follow-up and incidence rate of major adverse cardiovascular events were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results: There were no significant difference in baseline data between two groups, P>0.05. Compared with pure stenting group, after six months, there were significant rise in QuBE score [(10.88±5.03) scores vs. (14.70±6.69) scores] and LVEF [(57.19±4.59)% vs. (59.80±5.34)%], and significant reduction in incidence rate of MACE (35.5% vs. 10.0%) in tirofiban group, P<0.05 all. Conclusion: Tirofiban application in infarct related vessels during emergency PCI in STEMI patients can effectively and safely improve myocardial microcirculation perfusion level and it is worth extending.

Objective: To determine the distribution characteristics of waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) of 6–18 years olds in Guangzhou, and to put forward the WC and WHtR appropriate boundary values for 6–18 years olds on the basis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor assessment. Methods: We analyzed the height, weight, WC and its metabolic indication data (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids) of 15 000 children in Guangzhou, aged 6–18, with the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC), and explored the best value point of WC and WHtRfor the prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Results: When the WC percent reached P85, and WHtR reached 0.48, the cardiovascular risk factors of fasting blood-glucose, blood pressure, and blood fat were signiifcantly higher. Conclusion: The 85th percentile value of WC and 0.48 of WHtR are the appropriate boundary values in increasing the cardiovascular disease risk factors in Chinese children and teenagers. WC and WHtR as a relatively simple inspection method, can well predict cardiovascular diseases, and be used in the conventional measuring items among students.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of combined treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue ( GnRHa) and growth hormone ( GH) on the linear growth in mid-and late pubertal girls at great bone ages with central precocious puberty ( CPP) or early and fast puberty ( EFP) , and to determine the relation between C-type natriuretic pep-tide ( CNP) signaling pathway and the accelerative effect of GH on long bone growth in these girls.METHODS:Twenty-two girls were diagnosed as CPP or EFP, whose bone ages were older than 11.5 years with impaired predicted adult height ( PAH) , and divided into GnRHa treatment group ( treated with GnRHa alone, slow-release of triptorelin 60~80 μg/kg every 4 weeks, im) and combined treatment group ( treated with GnRHa and GH, 1 U/kg GH every week for 6~7 times, sc) .The height, weight and pubertal stage were determined every 3 months.At the beginning and after 6 months of the treatment, the bone age was evaluated and the serum concentrations of amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide ( NT-proCNP), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) were measured. Height velocity ( HV) , height SD score for bone age ( HtSDSBA ) , PAH and the serum indexes mentioned above were com-pared at the beginning and the end of the treatment.RESULTS: After 6 months of the treatment, HV, ΔHtSDSBA andΔPAH of the girls treated with GnRHa +GH were statistically higher than those of the girls given GnRHa alone ( P <0.01).Serum concentrations of NTproCNP, P1NP and IGF-1 were not significantly different between the beginning and the end of the 6-month combined treatment.The girls treated with GnRHa alone showed a significant decrease in both serum NTproCNP and P1NP levels (P<0.05) and no significant change of serum IGF-1 level after 6 months of the treatment. CONCLUSION:In the CPP or EFP girls who are in mid-and late puberty and at great bone ages, the combined treatment with GnRHa and GH may accelerate linear growth and improve predicted adult height.This effect of GH is not attributed to the change of serum IGF-1 level, and may be related in part to the acceleration of CNP-mediated long bone growth.

Objective To explore the application of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in the treatment of dysphagia post-stroke. Methods Eighty patients were assigned into control and treatment groups. Both groups accepted routine drug treatments and physical therapy, and all patients underwent VFSS on the 1 st and 28th day of the study. The patients in the treatment group accepted weekly VFSS in addition, and their swal-lowing training schedules were formulated according to the VFSS assessment results. Water drinking tests and de-glutition disorders were adopted to assess the patients' swallowing function before and after therapy. Results In treatment group, where the therapy schedule was adjusted using VFSS every week, the adjustment proportion at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week was 20.6% , 40.7% and 15.8% , respectively. Before treatment there was no difference between the two groups with regard to water drinking, deglutition or VFSS scores. After training the water drinking and deglutition results and the time for iodine to transit the oral cavity and pharynx all improved significantly in both groups. The improvements in the treatment group were significantly greater than in the con-trol group. Conclusions Swallowing training based on videofluoroscopic assessment can significantly alleviate post-stroke dysphagia.

Objective To find the optimal route of eontralateral C7 nerve transfer for brachial plexus avulsion injuries through autopsy. Methods The bilateral brachial plexus were exposed on 30 sides of 15 cadaverie specimens of adult. The C7 nerve root was sectioned at the junction site of trunk and division, and then dissected proximally to the foramina. The max length of anterior and posterior division of C7 was measured. The distance between the roof of C7 and the upper trunk and the lower trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route, prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was measured. Results The max length of anterior and posterior division of C7 was (7.67±1.06) cm and (7.79±1.36) cm respectively. The distance between the roof of C7 and the upper trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route, prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was (6.97±0.56) cm and (10.04±0.94) cm and (16.56±1.24) cm respectively, there were statistical significance among them (P < 0.01). The distance between the roof of C7 and the lower trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route and prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was (6.82±0.92) cm、(9.91±0. 83) cm and (17.64±0.97) cm, with a significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion The best way of contralateral C7 nerve transfer for the treatment of brachial plexus injury was through the vertebral body route from the point of anatomy.

To determine whether the pathological changes caused by injury to the spinal cord can be correlated with values obtained by the Magnetic Motor Evoked Potential (MEPs) technique, we studied spinal cords from 41 adult cats who were divided into 4 groups. The groups ranged from normal cats whose spinal cords were not compressed, to slightly, moderately and severely injured. MEPs were recorded before compression and in 30 minutes, 6 hours, 1 week, 2 week and 4 week after the compression unit was installed. Pathological changes with increased pressure were seen in blood vessels, nerve cells and fibers, Nissl substance and the central canal. A reversal of pathological changes was observed in slight or moderate injury during the 4 weeks of the experiment. Extensive injury, however, caused irreversible changes in the nerve cells with loss of motor function. The latency of MEPs at 30 minutes and 6 hours in the slightly injured group was 0.37 and 0.38 times greater than the baseline and returned to normal levels in 4 weeks. In the moderately injured group, the latency was increased 0.77 and 0.81 times and in the severely injured 1.32 and 1.36 times over the baseline. Recovery in the second group was partial and not at all in the severely injured. Thus, there appears to be good correlation between observed pathological changes, motor functions and MEPs.

Objective To summarize the prevalence,risk factors,and characteristics of testicular adrenal rest tumors(TART) in children and adolescent males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD).Methods During past 4 years,there were 44 males with CAH caused by 21-OHD undergone testicular ultrasound scan in our clinic.We have diagnosed 13 cases of TART and summarized the characterizations.Results The prevalence of TART in our group was 29.5％ with 11 cases of salt wasters and 2 cases of simple virilizers.The median age of TART diagnosis was 10.2 years.The median follow-up period of TART was 3.0 years.History of poor control of CAH was found in every case before diagnosis of TART.The doses of hydrocortisone were increased in 5 cases of TART who refused operations or had small TART,resulting in tumor regression in two of those five patients.Testis-sparing surgeries were performed in 8 patients with symptoms relieved; 7 of those eight patients presented elevated FSH and LH after operations.Conclusions Prevalence of TART in our CAH children and adolescent males was 29.5％.Testicular ultrasound was useful in TART screening.TART should be considered when a CAH patient with poor control,especially in post-pubertal one.Delayed management of TART may lead to impaired testicular function.Increased doses of glucocorticoid may be effective in TART of small size.Testis-sparing surgery should be also considered if necessary.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of cinobufacini injection in treating moderate and advanced primary liver cancer (PLC). METHODS: One hundred patients with moderate and advanced PLC were randomly divided into cino-treated group (50 patients) and control group (50 patients). The quality of life, tumor size, some changes of laboratory tests, and survival time were observed. RESULTS: The progressive rate of cino-treated group (18%) was lower than that of the control group (32%). The quality of life of the cino-treated group (80%) was better than that of the control group (72%), but without statistical significance. The survival rate of >12 months of the cino-treated group (30%) was higher than that of the control group (18%). The patients' liver function such as serum total bilirubin and ALT decreased obviously in the cino-treated group while increased a lot in the control group. The level of AFP increased after treatment with statistical significance in the control group while there was no statistical significance in the cino-treated group. CONCLUSION: Cinobufacini injection can not only inhibit the proliferation of cancer, but also protect liver function, improve quality of life and prolong survival time.

Objective To review our experiences of diagnostic methods and surgical treatment of the left superior vena cava (LSVC) draining into the left atrium.Methods Nineteen patients with LSVC draining into the left atrium were diagnosed and treated surgically from February 1998 to January 2012.All the cases were combined with other congenital heart diseases including patent ductus arteriosus,ventricular septal defect,atrial septal defect,single atrium,triatriatum,partial endocardial cushion defect,anomalous pulmonary venous drainage,right ventricle outflow stenosis,pulmonary valve stenosis,tetralogy of Fallot,double outlet right ventricle,complete endocardial cushion defect,tricuspid atresia.The patients were diagnosed through different methods including echocartiographic examination,cardiac catheterization,computer tomography,and explored during the operation,even postoperatively.All were treated surgically with four techniques including simple ligation to the LSVC,including ligation during a redo procedure; intra atrial rerouting to drainage the flow from the LSVC to the right atrium,atrial septum reconstruction to make the outlet of the LSVC lying in the right side of the patched atrial septal,and bidirectional Glenn shunt to get a physiological result.Results No mortality postoperatively.All the cases were uneventful postoperatively.And the main postoperative course was related only to the main diagnosis of congenital heart disease,not to the left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium.The echo examination result was satisfied before the discharge.The early and long term follow-up(1-11 years) results are excellent,no arrhythmia,no cardiac deficits after echo examination,including stenosis obstruction and residual shunt.No death.Conclusion The diagnostic methods of the LSVC draining into the left atrium are difficult,the only way to make the diagnosis clearly enough before the operation is depending on improving of more and more comprehending to this rare cardiac anomaly,by the pediatric cardiologists,the sinologist,the intensive care unit,and the pediatric cardiae surgeons.The choice of different surgical treatment is depending on the diagnosis and the findings during the operations,and the results are excellent after a suitable choice made.