Objective To investigate the protective effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on gastric mucosa of rats with hemorrhagic shock. Methods Eighteen healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups, 6 rats for each group: control group, hemorrhagic shock group and rhGH treated group. The animals in control group were subjected to anaesthesia and intubation, without hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation, and all the parameters were determined 4h after intubation. The animals in hemorrhagic shock group and the rhGH treated group were not only given anaesthesia, intubation for carotid artery and internal jugular vein, but also reproduced as hemorrhagic shock-resuscitation model by bleeding from carotid artery and blood transfusion via internal jugular vein. The animals in rhGH treated group were given rhGH (1.5U/kg) when resuscitation began. In the hemorrhagic shock group and rhGH treated group all the parameters were determined 2h after resuscitation. Gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was determined with laser doppler flowmetry (LDF), and the extent of gastric mucosal injury was assessed with optical microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results GMBF of the rats in hemorrhagic shock group was significantly lower than that in control group (260.4?49.6bpu vs. 418.6?57.3bpu, P0.05). The gastric mucosa injuries in the rats of rhGH treated group were greatly improved. Conclusion The rhGH, through enhancing the GMBF, can ameliorate the gastric mucosal ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats with hemorrhagic shock.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and causes of death of 80 dead cases with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:The clinical data of 80 dead patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 11 to February 11, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The laboratory examination indexes (including white blood cells, lymphocytes, procalcitonin (PCT), lactic acid, D-dimmer, fibrinogen degradation products, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (N-proBNP), ultra sensitive-troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and CD4 + T lymphocyte) of the patients at the time of admission were compared with the indexes at the last time before death. Statistical analysis was conducted by using paired t test or Wilcoxon′s signed rank test. Results:The median age was 72 years old of the 80 patients, and 78.75%(63/80) of them were older than 60 years. Thirty-six cases (45.00%) were severe and 44(55.00%) were critical at admission. Fifty-eight cases (72.50%) had underlying diseases. The common underlying diseases were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Comparing the patients′ first laboratory tests at admission with those before death, white blood cells increased (8.01(4.86, 12.29)×10 9/L vs 12.55(8.25, 17.66)×10 9/L), lymphocytes decreased (0.70(0.46, 0.88)×10 9/L vs 0.54(0.39, 0.75)×10 9/L), PCT increased (0.20(0.11, 0.74) μg/L vs 1.00(0.20, 1.99) μg/L), lactic acid increased (2.10(1.40, 3.10) mmol/L vs 3.10(2.60, 4.10) mmol/L), D-dimmer increased (4.33(0.97, 18.98) mg/L vs 15.29(5.17, 53.44) mg/L), fibrinogen degradation products increased (15.90(3.58, 76.60) mg/L vs 63.14(21.23, 110.67) mg/L), N-proBNP increased (1 078.00(347.35, 2 996.50) ng/L vs 3 439.50(1 576.00, 9 281.50) ng/L), ultra-sensitive troponin I increased (0.08(0.03, 0.17) μg/L vs 0.33(0.14, 2.47) μg/L), LDH increased (397.00(327.00, 523.50) U/L vs 624.00(481.00, 854.00) U/L) and CD4 + T lymphocyte decreased (137.00(104.00, 168.00)/μL vs 97.00(67.00, 128.00)/μL). The differences between the two groups were all statistically significant ( W=238.00, 1 053.50, 150.00, 152.00, 192.00, 190.00, 108.00, 57.00, 53.00 and 40.00, respectively, all P<0.05). All patients received antiviral and respiratory-support therapy and the main cause of death was respiratory failure caused by intractable hypoxemia and multiple organ failure. Among them, seven cases died in one day hospitalization, and 66 cases died in seven days hospitalization. Conclusions:Elderly patients with a variety of chronic underlying diseases have poor prognosis. It′s essential to pay more attention and deal with the above clinical characteristics at an early stage to improve the outcome of the COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To explore the effects of insulin therapy on skeletal muscle wasting (SMW) in severely scalded rats and its related mechanism. Methods: Totally 48 male Wistar rats aged 7-8 weeks were divided into simple scald (SS) group and insulin therapy (IT) group according to the random number table, with 24 rats in each group. After weighing the body mass and measuring the blood glycemic level of the tail end with a glucometer, the rats in the two groups were immersed in hot water at 94 ℃ for 12 seconds to make a full-thickness dorsal scald model involving 30% total body surface area. Rats in group IT were subcutaneously injected with 1 U/kg insulin glargine at 8: 00 a day from post injury day (PID) 1 to 7, whilst rats in group SS were given the same amount of normal saline. Rats in the two groups were given 10 mL/kg enteral nutritional emulsion by intragastric infusion at 8: 00 (after insulin administration), 13: 00, and 18: 00 a day respectively from PID 1 to 7. The blood glycemic levels of tail end of rats in the two groups were measured by glucometer before insulin administration on PID 1-4, 6, and 7 and on every morning of PID 8, 9, 11, 12, and 14. The body mass of rats in the two groups on PID 14 without any treatment was weighed. Eight rats from each group were collected respectively on PID 4, 7, and 14 to harvest tibialis anterior muscle (TAM) samples. The mass of TAM on PID 14 was weighed. The ultrastructural changes of TAM myocytes on PID 7 were observed with transmission electron microscope. The apoptotic rates of TAM myocytes on PID 4, 7, and 14 were assessed by the assay of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridinetriphate-biotin nick end labeling, the expressions of cysteine-aspartic protease-3 (caspase-3) of TAM on PID 4, 7, and 14 were detected with immunohistochemistry, and protein expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (ERS) associated proteins glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), and activated caspase-12 of TAM on PID 4, 7, and 14 were detected with Western blotting. Data were processed with completely random design t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, analysis of variance for factorial design, t test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: The blood glycemic level and body mass of rats in the two groups before injury were similar (t=0.204, 0.405, P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in blood glycemic levels of rats between the two groups on PID 1, 6, 9, 11, 12, and 14 (t=0.229, 3.339, 1.610, 0.178, 0.181, 0.079, P>0.05). Compared with those of group SS, blood glycemic levels of rats in group IT were significantly lower on PID 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 (t=7.245, 4.165, 4.609, 4.018, 3.995, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PID 14, the body mass and TAM mass of rats in group IT were (271±19) g and (0.47±0.05) g respectively, both obviously higher than (254±12) g and (0.43±0.04) g of group SS (t=2.159, 2.375, P<0.05). On PID 7, nuclear pyknosis and deformation, chromosome misdistribution, and ER swelling in TAM myocytes of rats in group SS were observed; the apoptotic alterations and ER swelling of TAM myocytes were alleviated in rats of group IT as compared with those of group SS. The apoptotic rates of TAM myocytes of rats in group IT were obviously lower than those of group SS on PID 4, 7, and 14 (t=4.262, 9.153, 9.799, P<0.01). The expressions of caspase-3 in TAM of rats in group IT were obviously lower than those of group SS on PID 7 and 14 (t=10.429, 7.617, P<0.01). Compared with those of group SS, the protein expressions of GRP78 were obviously increased on PID 4 and 14 (t=4.172, 4.437, P<0.05), the protein expressions of activated caspase-12 were obviously decreased on PID 7 and 14 (t=11.049, 11.181, P<0.01), and the protein expressions of CHOP were obviously decreased on PID 4, 7, and 14 (t=13.837, 9.572, 6.930, P<0.01) in TAM of rats in group IT. Conclusions Insulin therapy may reduce skeletal muscle myocytes apoptosis and SMW by alleviating ERS in rats with severe scald.

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy.

METHODSSixty-two patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, hospitalized from March 2011 to June 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Based on whether receiving PRP or not, patients were divided into two groups, group NPWT ( 22 patients hospitalized from March 2011 to December 2012) and combination treatment group (CT, 40 patients hospitalized from January 2013 to June 2015). After debridement, patients in group NPWT were treated with continuous NPWT (negative pressure values from -15.96 to -13.30 kPa), while those in group CT were treated with PRP gel (blood platelet counts in PRP ranged from 1 450×10(9)/L to 1 800×10(9)/L, with 10-15 mL in each dosage) made on the surgery day to fill the sinus tract and wound, followed by NPWT. Negative pressure materials were changed every 5 days until 20 days after surgery in patients of both groups. PRP gel was replenished before changing of negative pressure materials in patients of group CT. The sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, number of patients who had secondary repair surgery, number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract within three months after wound healing, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Data were processed with t test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test.

RESULTSThe sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay in patients of group CT were (16±8), (27±13), and (43±13) d respectively, which were all significantly shorter than those in group NPWT [(29±14), (41±17), and (60±20) d, with t values from 3.88 to 4.67, P values below 0.01]. The number of patients who had secondary repair surgery in group CT was less than that in group NPWT (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients who had recurrence of sinus tract between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with NPWT only, PRP combined with NPWT has great curative effects on patients with sternal osteomyelitis and sinus tract after thoracotomy, for it shortens sinus tract sealing time, wound healing time, and length of hospital stay, and avoids the secondary repair surgery. This method is simple and safe with little injury.

Debridement ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Osteomyelitis ; surgery ; therapy ; Paranasal Sinuses ; pathology ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternum ; surgery ; Thoracotomy ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE To systematically review the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid （TXA） for hemostasis in cancer patients before and during surgery， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical drug use. METHODS Retrieved from PubMed， Embase， the Cochrane Library， CNKI， VIP and Wanfang databases， randomized controlled trials （RCTs） about tranexamic acid （trial group） versus 0.9% Sodium chloride injection， Lactated Ringer’s solution， Compound electrolyte solution or placebo （control group） for cancer surgery were electronically searched from the inception to June 9， 2022. After literature screening and data extraction， the quality of included RCTs were evaluated by bias risk assessment tool recommended by Cochrane system evaluator manual 5.1.0. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis or descriptive analysis， sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis. RESULTS A total of 2 032 patients in 22 RCTs were included for meta-analysis. Results of meta-analysis showed that the blood transfusion rate [RR＝0.59， 95%CI （0.50， 0.69）， P＜0.000 01] and the volume of erythrocyte suspension infusion [MD＝－0.53， 95%CI （－0.92， －0.14）， P＝0.007] in trial group were significantly lower than control group； there was no statistical significance in the incidence of thromboembolic events [RR＝0.44， 95%CI （0.16， 1.17）， P＝0.10] or post-operative mortality [RR＝1.27， 95%CI（0.32，5.08）， P＝0.73] between two groups. Results of descriptive analysis showed that the total blood loss and postoperative drainage volume were still controversial between two groups. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the results were basically stable. The results of publication bias analysis showed that there was little possibility of publication bias in this study. CONCLUSIONS TXA can significantly decrease the blood transfusion， reduce the volume of erythrocyte suspension infusion， whereas does not increase the incidence of thromboembolic events and post-operative mortality in cancer surgery.

Objective: To investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with polylactic acid/polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) on healing of mininature pig deep soft tissue defect caused by fragment injury. Methods: Two male Bama miniature pigs with 11 to 12 months (the same below) were selected by lottery to prepare PRP. The other twenty-seven male Bama miniature pigs were used to reproduce deep soft tissue defect caused by high-explosive ammunition fragment injury on bilateral posterior femoral region. According to the random number table, 27 pigs were divided into control group, material group, and PRP+material group, with 9 pigs in each group. After debridement, wounds of pigs in material group and PRP+material group were filled with PLA/PCL and PLA/PCL+2 mL activated PRP, respectively. Pigs in each group received suture of full-thickness skin to close the wounds. The operative duration was recorded. The length and volume of wounds of pigs in the above groups were measured immediately after surgery. In 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery, 3 pigs in each group were sacrificed to collect femoral wounds tissue on two sides, and PLA/PCL were collected from wounds of pigs in material group and PRP+material group for general observation of wounds tissue and degradation of the material. In 2 and 4 weeks after surgery, wounds tissue was obtained to observe the histological changes by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and expressions of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and angiogenesis were determined by immunohistochemical method. In 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery, wounds tissue was collected to determine mRNA expressions of TGF-β and VEGF by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data were processed with analysis of variance of factorial design, one-way analysis of variance, and least significant difference-t test. Results: (1) There were no significantly statistical differences in length and volume of the wounds of pigs among the three groups (F=0.336, 0.282, P>0.05). The operative duration in control group [(30.9±2.1)min] was significantly shorter than that of material group [(39.7±2.2)min] and PRP+material group[(40.0±2.6)min], t=-11.45, -11.88, P<0.01. (2) There were respectively 10, 7, and 5 wounds tissue with infection in pigs of control group, material group, and PRP+material group. In 1, 2, 4 weeks after surgery, all of the wounds tissue of pigs was infected in control group, while none of wounds tissue of pigs was infected in material group and PRP+material group. In pigs of material group and PRP+material group, materials and tissue were easily separated in 1 week after surgery; some materials were integrated with tissue and showed a tendency of degradation in 2 weeks after surgery; materials were completely embedded with tissue in 4 weeks after surgery. (3) In pigs of control group, erythrocytes and inflammatory cells infiltration in wounds tissue were observed in 2 weeks after surgery, and necrotic tissue and inflammatory cells infiltration in wounds tissue were still observed in 4 weeks after surgery. In pigs of material group and PRP+material group, a large number of erythrocytes and inflammatory cells infiltration were observed in 2 weeks after surgery. Compared with that of material group, wounds tissue of pigs in PRP+material group had no inflammatory cells infiltration in 4 weeks after surgery. (4) Protein expressions of TGF-β in fibroblasts and multinuclear macrophagocytes, VEGF in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, and blood vessel formation in wounds tissue of pigs in PRP+material group were significantly more than those of pigs in control group and material group in 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. (5) The mRNA expression of TGF-β in wounds tissue of pigs in material group was significantly higher than that in control group in 4 weeks after surgery (t=-3.93, P<0.01). Compared with those of pigs in control group and material group, the mRNA expression of TGF-β in wounds tissue of pigs in PRP+material group was significantly increased at each time point (t=9.23, 13.81, 11.73, -7.51, -12.04, -7.80, P<0.01). The mRNA expression of VEGF in wounds tissue of pigs increased significantly in material group compared with that of pigs in control group in 4 weeks after surgery (t=-3.94, P<0.01). Compared with those of pigs in control group and material group, the mRNA expression of VEGF in wounds tissue increased significantly in wound tissue of pigs in PRP+material group at each time point (t=12.33, 3.95, 7.97, -11.36, -2.97, -4.04, P<0.01). Conclusions PRP combined with PLA/PCL can accelerate wound healing of deep soft tissue defect of mininature pigs caused by fragment injury by providing physical scaffold for newborn tissue growth, promoting mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β and VEGF.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Hubei province, and to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC patients with COPD. Methods A total of 246 NSCLC patients admitted to our hospital from 2018 to 2020 were selected and divided into control group (without COPD, n=125) and observation group (with COPD, n=121) according to COPD. The clinical characteristics of chest pain, hemoptysis, emasculation, atelectasis and pleural effusion were compared between the two groups. The values of FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC and DLCO in the two groups were measured by pulmonary function detector. The age, gender, smoking, smoking history, proportion of lung squamous cell carcinoma, TNM stage and other clinical data of all subjects were analyzed by self-made survey scale of our hospital. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of COPD in NSCLC patients. Results Among 246 NSCLC patients, 121 patients (49.19%) were complicated with COPD, including 76 males and 45 females, and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (χ²=4.891, P>0.05). The average age of the observation group (61.02±4.82) was significantly higher than that of the control group (59.76±4.73) (t=2.069, P<0.05). The proportion of chest pain, hemoptysis, emaciation, atelectasis, pleural effusion and fatigue in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The values of FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC and DLCO in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in smoking history, proportion of lung squamous cell carcinoma and TNM score between the two groups (P>0.05). Male (OR=2.982), smoking history (OR=2.623) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (OR=3.147) were risk factors for COPD in NSCLC patients (P<0.05). Conclusions NSCLC patients with COPD are more common in male smokers in Hubei Province, often accompanied by pleural effusion , severe hemoptysis and other symptoms , and their lung function is decreased. Early detection and standardized treatment of COPD in the treatment of NSCLC can improve the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on proliferation and apoptosis of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in vitro, and to explore their possible mechanism.

METHODShUCMSCs from umbilical cord tissue of full-term healthy fetus delivered by caesarean section were isolated and cultured in vitro using tissue attachment method. The 3rd passage hUCMSCs were used in the study. Cells were divided into groups A, B, C, D, and E, which were treated with DMEM/F12 medium containing 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 100.0 µg/mL of LPS respectively. In groups B, C, D, and E, methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium assay was used to detect proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at post treatment hour (PTH) 12, 24, and 48 (denoted as absorption value), with 5 samples in each group at each time point; apoptosis of hUCMSCs at PBH 24 was identified with acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining, with 4 samples in each group; apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs was determined by flow cytometer, with 5 samples in each group. Above-mentioned indexes were determined in group A at the same time points. Data were processed with analysis of variance and LSD- t test.

RESULTS(1) There was no statistically significant difference in proliferative activity of hUCMSCs at PTH 12 among groups A, B, C, D, and E (with t values from -1.67 to 1.33, P values above 0.05). Compared with that of group A, proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was increased in groups B, C, and D at PTH 24 and 48 (with t values from -13.42 to 17.34, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), especially so in group C. Proliferative activity of hUCMSCs was lower in group E at PTH 24 and 48 than in group A (with t values respectively 8.64 and 17.34, P values below 0.01). (2) Obvious apoptosis of hUCMSCs was observed in group E but not in the other 4 groups with AO-EB staining. (3) Apoptosis rates of hUCMSCs in groups A, B, C, D, and E were respectively (3.1 ± 0.6)%, (2.6 ± 0.7)%, (2.9 ± 0.8)%, (3.1 ± 0.4)%, (25.1 ± 2.7)% (F = 272.19, P < 0.01). Apoptotic rate of hUCMSCs in group B, C, or D was respectively close to that in group A (with t values respectively 1.22, 0.57, -0.14, P values above 0.05), but it was higher in group E than in group A (t = -17.63, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONShUCMSCs proliferation may be promoted by low concentration of LPS. hUCMSCs proliferation is inhibited or induced to apoptosis along with the increase in concentration of LPS, and it may be related to activation of different major molecular signaling pathways by different concentrations of LPS.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Endotoxins ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Membrane Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

Enzalutamide (ENZ) is a second-generation androgen receptor (AR) antagonist used for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and reportedly prolongs survival time within a year of starting therapy. However, CRPC patients can develop ENZ resistance (ENZR), mainly driven by abnormal reactivation of AR signaling, involving increased expression of the full-length AR (ARfl) or dominantly active androgen receptor splice variant 7 (ARv7) and ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers. There is currently no efficient treatment for ENZR in CRPC. Herein, a small molecule LLU-206 was rationally designed based on the ENZ structure and exhibited potent inhibition of both ARfl and constitutively active ARv7 to inhibit PCa proliferation and suppress ENZR in CRPC. Mechanically, LLU-206 promoted ARfl/ARv7 protein degradation and decreased ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers through mouse double minute 2-mediated ubiquitination. Finally, LLU-206 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties with poor permeability across the blood-brain barrier, leading to a lower prevalence of adverse effects, including seizure and neurotoxicity, than ENZ-based therapies. In a nutshell, our findings demonstrated that LLU-206 could effectively inhibit ARfl/ARv7-driven CRPC by dual-targeting of ARfl/ARv7 heterodimers and protein degradation, providing new insights for the design of new-generation AR inhibitors to overcome ARfl/ARv7-driven CRPC.