Animals ; Cell Death ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis

Objective To explore the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicting cardiac events after noncardiac surgery in the aged patients. Methods The level of BNP， the score of Goldman analysis and the cardiac risk grade of ACC/AHA guideline were analyzed in 274 aged patients for cardiac outcome after noncardiac surgery. Results Preoperative BNP concentration>100 pg/ml，score of Goldman≥13，and the high or moderate risk grade by ACC/AHA guideline were related with cardiac events. There was no significant difference in the index such as sensitivity，specificity, accuracy，positive predictive value and negative predictive value for cardiac events between BNP level and cardiac risk grade. Compared with the score of Goldman, BNP was more sensitive （100% vs 55.6%）and negatively predictive （100% vs 96.3%） for cardiac events. Conclusion The risk of cardiac events after noncardiac surgery could be predicted with the level of BNP before operation in the aged patient.

Objective To establish sensitive and selective method and study on its relative bioavailability in healthy volunteers by LC - MS/ MS. Method A single oral dose of two different dosage losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (50 mg/12.5 mg) tablets was administrated to 20 healthy volunteers in a randomized cross - over design. Plasma concen-tration of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide were determined by HPLC -MS/MS method, and relative bioavailability was evaluated by DAS 1.0.Results Main pharmacokinetic parameters for losartan were as follows: tmaxwere (1.09±0.56) hand (1.12±0.55)h, Cmax were (118.9±68.9) and (110.2±51.0)ng- mL-1, t1/2were(3.15±0.76) and(2.96±0.71)h, AUC0-twere (226.2±65.0) and (241.9±77.4)ng· h · mL-1, AUC0-∞were (250.5±68.7 ) and (265.7±81.5 )ng · h · mL-1 for the test and reference drugs. Main pharmacokinetic parameters for hydrochlorothiazide were as follows: tmax were (1.93 ±0.54) hand (2.25±0.60) h, Cmaxwere (73.2±11.0) and (74.5±17.4) ng·mL-1, t1/2were (9.45±3.57) and (8.33±2.58) h, AUC0-t, were (401.8±138.3)and (390.6±149.3) ng · h · mL-1, AUC0-∞ were (438.2±146.8) and (415.5 ± 156.1) ng · h · mL-1 for the test and refer-enee drugs. The relative bioavailabilities were (96.5 ± 21.2 ) % and ( 106.8 ± 22.9 ) % for losartan and hydrochloroth-iazide, respectively. Conclusion The test and reference drugs of losartan/hydroehlorothiazide are bioequivalent.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects of pioglitazone on morphological changes and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF b)-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro, and to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of pioglitazone.

METHODSCultured rat HSCs were divided into a no-treatment control group, a TGF b-treated group, and a TGFb plus different dosage pioglitazone-treated group. The morphological changes of the cultured HSCs were observed. The expression of CTGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The level of collagen type III in the culture supernatant was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSTGFb induced morphological changes, and increased the expressions of CTGF and collagen type III of the HSCs (P less than 0.05). Pioglitazone prevented the TGFb induced morphological changes of the HSCs. The expression of CTGF and the levels of collagen type III in the pioglitazone group were lower than the TGF b-treated group (P less than 0.05). This prevention effect was dose-dependent (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPioglitazone blocks the excretion of CTGF and collagen type III of cultured HSCs, preventing the development of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; secretion ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of a modified technique for repairing secondary defect of unilateral cleft lip.

METHODSThe incision line was designed along the oral-nasal contour line. The lateral crus of nasal alar were rotated and repositioned in order to reconstruct the nasal sill and base. V-Y plasty was performed with a muco-cartilage flap inside the nasal cavity to reset the alar cartilage backwards and correct the nasal deformity.

RESULTSSatisfactory results were achieved in all 69 patients with this modified technique. The post-operative scar was inconspicuous.

CONCLUSIONSThis modified technique with advantages of contour line incision and alar cartilage backward re-reposition is a good option for the repair of secondary defect of unilateral cleft lip.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cleft Lip ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; abnormalities ; Male ; Nose ; abnormalities ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with sleep bruxism (SB). Twelve patients with SB were included in an open, single-intervention pilot study. rTMS at 1 Hz and an intensity of 80% of the active motor threshold was applied to the ‘hot spot’ of the masseter muscle representation at the primary motor cortex bilaterally for 20 min per side each day for 5 consecutive days. The jaw-closing muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity during sleep was recorded with a portable EMG recorder at baseline, during rTMS treatment and at follow-up for 5 days. In addition, patients scored their jaw-closing muscle soreness on a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS). Data were analysed with analysis of variance. The intensity of the EMG activity was suppressed during and after rTMS compared to the baseline (P 5 0.04; P 5 0.02, respectively). The NRS score of soreness decreased significantly during and after rTMS compared with baseline (P,0.01). These findings indicated a significant inhibition of jaw-closing muscle activity during sleep along with a decrease of muscle soreness. This pilot study raises the possibility of therapeutic benefits from rTMS in patients with bruxism and calls for further and more controlled studies.

Acetamides ; Aminopyrine ; Animals ; Breath Tests ; methods ; Carbon Isotopes ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Phenylalanine ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo determine the change of P-selectin in avulsion-injured vessels.

METHODSDifferent stretch forces of 60, 70, 80 and 90 g were applied to a vascular injury model. The expression changes of P-selectin were evaluated by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of P-selection mRNA in the injured vessels increased with the stretch force.

CONCLUSIONThe result associated with our previous study indicated that P-selectin may be involved in thrombosis.

Animals ; Endothelium, Vascular ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Vascular System Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analysis the efficacy and safety of lamivudine (made in China) therapy for 52 weeks in adolescent patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSOne hundred and five teenage CHB patients were treated with lamivudine 100 mg once daily for 52 weeks. Patients with elevated ALT at baseline were in group 1 and those with normal ALT were in group 2. The changes of HBV DNA, HBV seromarkers and ALT at the end of 12, 24 and 52 weeks after lamivudine therapy were compared with those at baseline. Adverse events were recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSAt the end of 52 weeks of lamivudine therapy, HBV DNA-ve, HBeAg loss and anti-HBe seroconversion were observed in 92.0%, 24.4% and 22.0% in group 1 patients and 76.1%, 14.2% and 14.2% in group 2 patients respectively. No significant differences were found between two groups. At 12, 24 and 52 weeks, normalization rates of ALT were 59.0%, 66.7% and 76.0%, normal ALT with undetectable HBV DNA were 44.9%, 64.1% and 70.7% at the same time. During 52 weeks lamivudine treatment 26 mild adverse events were observed in 18 patients.

CONCLUSIONLamivudine can inhibit HBV replication rapidly and normalize ALT in majority adolescent CHB patients. HBeAg loss or seroconversion of anti-HBe was observed in some of these patients. All patients in this study were safety and well tolerated.

Adolescent ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the methods for repair of facial and cervical scars after burn.

METHODSOne hundred and two patients with facial and cervical scars as a result of burn injury were repaired by unilateral or bilateral deltopectoral flaps after expansion with pedicles. First, facial scars were excised and contractures were released to restore eye, mouth and nose to normal anatomical position. The facial scar flaps were overturned to join with the pedicles of deltopectoral flap for closing the wounds. The residual wounds were repaired by delayed flaps without pedicles 3 weeks later.

RESULTSAmong 102 patients, the flaps survived well in 94 cases, and blood supply insufficiency was found in distal end of unilateral flap in 7 cases (depigmentation after primary healing ). Necrosis of unilateral flap occurred in one patient, and it healed after skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONExpanded deltopectoral flap is efficacious procedure for repair of massive cervical and facial scars.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; complications ; Child ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; surgery ; Face ; pathology ; Facial Injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; pathology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Thorax ; Young Adult