ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of 1-3-n-Butylphthalide on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following whole brain irradiation in rats.Methods144 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-irradiation group,irradiation group,1-3-n-Butylphthalide group,and irradiation plus 1-3-n-Butylphthalide group.Whole-brain irradiation was given as a single-dose of 10 Gy using 4 MV X-ray.The rats were injected intraperitoneally with 1-3-n-Butylphthalide at 0.3 mg/kg,1.0 mg/kg,3.0 mg/kg once per day.The changes of the BBB were assessed by Evans blue (EB) assay.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. The circulating endothelial cells (CECs) isolated from right ventricular blood were counted.MRI was evaluated with the T1-weighted images,T2-weighted images and MRI enhancement images induced by Gd-DTPA.The data were compared among the groups through Student-Newman-Keuls test.ResultsCompared with the sham-irradiation group,the EB content,the expression of VEGF in the brain tissue and the CECs were significantly increased in the irradiation group (2.81∶ 7.82,P =0.002;5.83∶ 10.26,P=0.003;3.16∶6.14,P =0.002).The signal intensity of T1-weighted images was significantly decreased while T2-weighted images and the enhancement rate significantly increased in the irradiation group (P =0.004 -0.018 ).Compared with irradiation group,the EB content,the expression of VEGF and the CECs were decreased significantly in the irradiation plus 1-3-n-Butylphthalide group ( 7.80∶ 3.86,P =0.007 ; 10.83 ∶ 5.26,P =0.008 ;6.36∶ 3.64,P =0.009 ).However,the changes in the MRI were significantly attenuated ( P =0.008-0.026,and 0.006 -0.038,respectively).Conclusions Following whole brain irradiation,1-3-n-Butylphthalide can decrease the permeability of the BBB in rats via decreasing VEGF expression and decreasing the CECs.

Burn patients often suffer from different degrees of dysfunction, such as residual burn wounds, formation of hyperplastic scar, scar itching, cardiopulmonary dysfunction, limitation of motion, and psychological disorders, which exert severe impact on their daily life. This article reviews various rehabilitation treatments for dysfunction after burn injury to promote rehabilitation of burn patients.
Burns ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; China ; Humans ; Rehabilitation ; methods

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanosomes ; Metaplasia ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; cytology ; pathology ; Oxyphil Cells ; cytology

Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese culture, absorbing the wisdom of the Chinese people. Continuous application of new technologies makes traditional Chinese medicine research advance with the times. After several years of development, high-throughput transcriptome study has become a mature research tool in biology. This paper reviewed the advances in medicine transcriptome study, and compared two sequencing platforms, Roche's GS FLX platform and Illumina's HiSeq 2000 platform. Moreover, this paper introduced medicine transcriptome analysis process, with Panax quinquefolius and Lonicera japonica for examples, showing the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine transcriptome studies. High-throughput transcriptome studies facilitate traditional Chinese medicine research with overall understand of functional genes, give clear elucidation of metabolic pathways, lay molecular foundation for the traditional Chinese medicine research and offer modern interpretation for traditional Chinese medicine theory. However, the current study faces several difficulties, including weak molecular basis, high sequencing cost and staff shortages in data anaysis. In the future, with the development in sequencing technology, the combination of transcriptome and other genomics, such as proteome and metabolome, will lay a solid foundation for the new high-throughput screening and developing model for the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
Biomedical Research ; methods ; trends ; Forecasting ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; Lonicera ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Panax ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; trends ; Transcriptome ; genetics

Objective To describe the clinical features,ancillary tests,treatments and outcomes of adult male patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis.Methods Observational study of clinical data,ancillary tests,treatments and outcomes of 5 adult male patients,admitted to our hospital from August 2014 to May 2016 and diagnosed as having anti-NMDAR encephalitis,was carried out.And the pathologic mechanism was discussed combining with literature review.Results All of the 5 adult male patients were not associated with treatoma,4 patients had significant relevant past medical histories,including purulent meningitis,drug abuse,colon descendens adenocarcinoma after radical resection and idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease (IIDD).For ancillary tests,positive virus antibodies were detected in two patients,and one of them presented positive EBV-DNA in CSF sample;one patient presented elevated thyroid autoantibodies in sera sample;four patients presented atypical abnormal brain contrast enhancement MRI,and three of them exhibited punctiform and/or patchy enhancement in brain parenchyma;one of them showed gliacyte proliferation after necrosis and another one presented demyelination.All patients had favorable outcomes after timely immune therapies.Conclusion Adult male patients who are rarely associated with teratomas may trigger by virus infection,other autoimmune or demyelinating diseases;the earlier application of immune therapies,the better the prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the peptidylarginine deiminase IV (PADI4) and HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in a Chinese population.

METHODSFour exonic SNPs of the PADI4 gene (PADI 4_89*A/G, PADI 4_90*C/T, PADI 4_92*C/G and PADI 4_104*C/T) were genotyped in 67 unrelated patients with RA and 81 healthy controls, using cDNA sequencing and T vector cloning. HLA-DRB 1*01, *04 and *10 subtypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP).

RESULTSThe distributions of the 4 SNPs were different in the two groups, and increased RA susceptibility was significantly associated with the minor alleles of PADI 4_89*G (P was 0.023), PADI 4_90*T (P was 0.004), PADI 4_104*T (P was 0.003), and the haplotypes carrying the 4 minor alleles (P was 0.008). HLA-DRB1 SE alleles are composed of HLA-DRB 1*0101, *0102, *0401, *0404, *0405, *0408, *0409, *0410 and *1001. Individuals carrying the SE alleles were associated with increased RA susceptibility (P was 0.002). Individuals carrying both the SE alleles and minor alleles of the 4 SNPs were more susceptible to RA than individuals carrying neither the minor SNP alleles nor the SE alleles.

CONCLUSIONThe PADI4 SNPs and haplotypes are associated with RA susceptibility in Chinese. HLA-DRB1 shared epitope is also an important risky factor for RA. There may exist certain synergistic effect between the PADI4 minor alleles and the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Epitopes ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Hydrolases ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Arginine Deiminases

OBJECTIVETo study and compare the accuracy and sensitivity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and CT scaning in determination of preoperative stage and vascular invasion by pancreatic and ampullary cancers.

METHODSFourty-two pancreatic cancer patients and 18 ampullary cancer patients were studied. With patients prepared according to conventional endoscopy, Olympus EUM-30 scope 1 set with a side view and 360 degrees rotate and switchable scanning probe [ultrasound frequency (7.5/12 MHz)], was introduced to the descending duodenum through the esophagus. Gas within the duodenum and stomach was aspirated. Then, in order to to facilitate ultrasound transmission, 200 ml deaerated water was injected into the duodenum and 500 ml into the stomach to distend it. The structures of each part of pancreatic head and ampullary together with surrounding vessels were scanned. Then, the scope was withdrawn to the gastric antrum, body and fundus gradually, while the pancreatic body and tail were scanned.

RESULTSBetween Apr. 1996 to May 2004, a total of 42 pancreatic cancer patients and 18 ampullary cancer patients were examined by EUS. Meanwhile, all these 58 patients received preoperative CT scaning. The results of stage and vascular invasion determined by EUS in this series were as following; pancreatic cancer group (n = 42): accuracy in T2-4 stage was 100.0% (5/5), 75.0% (9/12) and 48.0% (12/25), respectively; ampullary cancer group (n = 18): T1-4 stage was 75.0% (3/4), 66.7% (2/3), 75.0% (6/8) and 33.3% (1/3), respectively; the accuracy in N stage: P-group: 80.0% in N1 (4/5), 90.0% in N0 (9/10); A-group: 50.0% in N1 (3/6), 91.0% in N0 (10/11). The sensitivity, specificity of vascular invasion, resectability and unresectablilty determined by EUS and CT as compared with surgical findings during operation was 52.9% (9/17), 93.1% (27/29), 77.1% (27/35) and 81.8% (9/11) for EUS (n = 60), respectively; and 11.8% (2/17), 92.6% (25/27), 62.5% (25/40) and 50.0% (2/4) for CT (n = 58), respectively.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic ultrosonography being one of the best image examinations to determine the stage and vascular invasion for pancreatic and ampullary cancer paitients is able to detect small pancreatic or ampullary cancer less than 2.0 cm in diameter due to its high resolution; but can not detect the secondary multiple distal metastases such as spread into the liver, peritonium or hepatoduodenal ligament, etc. due to its ultrasound depth limitation.

Ampulla of Vater ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Preoperative Care ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

Objective: To investigate the effect of space glucose control (SGC) on the quality of blood glucose management in ICU patients with stress hyperglycemia. Methods: A prospective, cross-controlled, quasi-trial was conducted to observe patients with ICU-induced stress hyperglycemia between January 2018 and January 2019. Patients with conventional blood glucose management served as the control group, and SGC blood glucose management was used as the intervention group. The enrolled patients were interchanged between the two groups every 24 h, and the end point was 96 h. The differences in blood glucose management quality indicators between the two groups were compared, including the average blood glucose level, the highest and lowest blood glucose level, the average blood glucose monitoring interval, and the accumulated insulin dosage. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze the data. The paired t test was used for the normal distributed data. Otherwise, two nonparametric correlation sample tests was used. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 41 patients enrolled in this study during the study period. The average blood glucose value in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(8.60 ±1.42)mmol/L vs (10.02 ±1.49)mmol/L, P< 0.01]. The frequency of hyperglycemia was lower than that of the control group (16.59 ±8.56 vs 18.73 ±7.91, P=0.023). The frequency of blood glucose value in the target blood glucose range was significantly higher than that of the control group (53.07±19.11 vs 29.44±19.60, P< 0.01). However, the frequency of hypoglycemia, the frequency of blood glucose monitoring and the accumulated insulin dosage in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group [1 (0, 5) vs 0 (0, 2), P< 0 01; 1 36 ±0 23 vs 1 89 ±0 28, P< 0.01; and (139.61 ±77.06)U vs (107.49 ±64.41)U, P<0.01]. Conclusions SGC can optimize the control of blood glucose in the target blood glucose range, but it can easily lead to mild hypoglycemia, and to a certain extent increases the workload of medical staff.

Objective: To investigate the levels of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in the blood, urine, and hair samples from residents in the rare earth mining area of a city in China, and to provide a scientific basis for the control of rare earth pollution and the protection of population health. Methods: A total of 147 residents who had lived in the rare earth mining area of a city for a long time were selected as the exposure group, and 108 residents in Guyang County of this city who lived 91 km away from the rare earth mining area were selected as the control group. Blood, urine, and hair samples were collected from the residents in both groups. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the content of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in blood, urine, and hair samples. Results: In the exposure group, the median levels of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium were 0.854, 1.724, 0.132, and 0.839 μg/L, respectively, in blood samples, 0.420, 0.920, 0.055, and 0.337 μg/L, respectively, in urine samples, and 0.052, 0.106, 0.012, and 0.045 μg/g, respectively, in hair samples. The exposure group had significantly higher levels of the four rare earth elements in blood, urine, and hair samples than the control group (P<0.01) . Conclusion The residents in the rare earth mining area of this city have higher content of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in blood, urine, and hair than those in the non-mining area; the content of cerium is highest, followed by lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ischemic postconditioning on the expression of rat myocardium matris metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and relationship between its expression and interstitium and the effect on left ventricular function.

METHODSTwenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): sham control (SC) group, ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) group and ischemic postconditioning (IPTC) group. The left ventricular peak systolic pressure and its derivate (+/- dp/dt) were calculated; The amount of myocardium collagenous were determined; The vitality of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of plasma were detected; The activity of myocardium MMP-2 was measured by Western blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with I/R group, IPTC could lower the expression of MMP-2, ameliorate left ventricular function and increase the content of myocardium collagenous. In the meantime, the vitality of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of plasma were greatly enhanced and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of plasma were reduced in IFC group.

CONCLUSIONProtective effect of IPIC on myocardium may be due to reduce free radical, lower expression of MMP-2 and protect myocardial interstitium. MMPs plays an important role in the myocardial protection provided by IPTC.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism