Objective:To investigate the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3-loaded polylactic acid microspheres on myocardial injury in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus as well as its regulatory effects on the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3)-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1)-gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling axis. Methods:25-Hydroxyvitamin D 3-loaded polylactic acid microspheres were prepared by W/O emulsification and solvent volatilization method. The morphology of the microspheres was observed by scanning electron microscope, the diameters of the microspheres were detected by laser particle size analyzer, and the cumulative release rate was calculated. Pregnant rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin to establish a rat model of gestational diabetes mellitus and were randomly divided into the model group, the control group, and the microsphere group, with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 pregnant rats were taken as the sham operation group. In the microsphere group, a total of 100 μl of microsphere suspension was injected at 4 points along the edge of the left ventricle, while the control group was injected with an equal amount of blank microspheres in the same way, and the sham operation group and the model group were injected with an equal amount of physiological saline in the same way. Samples were taken at 21 d of gestation for subsequent experiments. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of the rat model were detected. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and serum creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) levels were detected by a fully automated biochemical analyzer. Interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and malondialdehyde levels in myocardial tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD was detected by Western Blot. Results:The scanning electron microscope observation showed that the microspheres were regular spherical with uniform size, compact surface and no cracks. The diameter of the microspheres was (13.48 ± 2.04) μm, and the particle size distribution was concentrated and homogeneous. The release of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3-loaded polylactic acid microspheres was slow in the first 5 days, and then the cumulative release rate increased significantly, and the cumulative release rate reached more than 80% on the 28th day, and then stabilized. Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of FBG, HOMA-IR, cTnI, CK-MB, IL-1β, TNF-α, malondialdehyde as well as the protein expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were increased in the model group, and the activities of FINS, SOD and GSH-Px were decreased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model and control groups, the levels of FBG, HOMA-IR, cTnI, CK-MB, IL-1β, TNF-α, malondialdehyde, and protein expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD were decreased in the microsphere group, and the activities of FINS, SOD, and GSH-Px were increased (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:The 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3-loaded polylactic acid microspheres can reduce blood glucose level and insulin resistance, reduce myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress injury, and alleviate myocardial injury in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus, possibly by inhibiting the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling axis.

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical effects between plaster fixation and cannulated screw for the treatment of Jones fracture.

METHODSFrom 2006 to 2010, 41 patients with Jones fractures were divided into 2 groups. In Group A, there were 14 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 21 to 62 years, with an average of (32.3 +/- 8.7) years; the course of disease ranged from 2 h to 3 d; the patients in Group A were treated with plaster fixation. In Group B, there were 9 males and 10 females, ranging in age from 24 to 59 years, with an average of (28.8 +/- 7.9) years; the course of disease ranged from 0.5 h to 2 d; the patients in Group B were treated with cannulated screw fixation. The patients in two groups were followed up from a long time and the long-term effects were studied.

RESULTSAll the 41 patients were followed up, from 3 months to 2.5 years, with a mean of 11.3 months. All the patients in both groups were healed. The patients in Group B got postoperative wound healing with A degree at the first stage without complications. In accordance with the Maryland Foot Score, the therapeutic effect in Group B was better than that of Group A. The healing time in Group B was shorter than that of Group A.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous minimally invasive treatment with micro-cannulated screw is an ideal method for the treatment of the Jones fracture.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; injuries ; surgery ; Middle Aged

Giardia lamblia is recognized as one of the most prevalent parasites in dogs. The present study aimed to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid and specific detection of G. lamblia from dogs. The fecal samples were collected and prepared for microscopic analysis, and then the genomic DNA was extracted directly from purified cysts. The concentration of DNA samples of G. lamblia were diluted by 10-fold serially ranging from 10(-1) to 10(-5) ng/microl for LAMP and PCR assays. The LAMP assay allows the amplification to be finished within 60 min under isothermal conditions of 63degrees C by employing 6 oligonucleotide primers designed based on G. lamblia elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1alpha) gene sequence. Our tests showed that the specific amplification products were obtained only with G. lamblia, while no amplification products were detected with DNA of other related protozoans. Sensitivity evaluation indicated that the LAMP assay was sensitive 10 times more than PCR. It is concluded that LAMP is a rapid, highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification technique for detection of G. lamblia, which has implications for effective control and prevention of giardiasis.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Dogs ; Feces/parasitology ; Giardia lamblia/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Giardiasis/diagnosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/*methods ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/*methods ; Pets ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Veterinary Medicine/*methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; therapy ; Young Adult