BACKGROUND:Poly-L-lactide sternal coaptation pins have been gradual y used in clinic, but there are stil few reports about the clinical effects of poly-L-lactide sternal coaptation pins in sternal fractures and sternal fixation after heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the clinical effects of poly-L-lactide sternal coaptation pins in coronary artery bypass grafting.
METHODS:Total y 150 patients who had received coronary artery bypass graft were enrol ed. Ninety-five out of 150 patients received sternal fixation using steel wires as control group, and the other 55 patients underwent sternal fixation using steel wires and poly-L-lactide sternal coaptation pins as test group. Pethidine dosage, incidence rates of pulmonary complications and wound infection, postoperative hospitalization days and hospital costs were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the fol ow-up period (3-8 years), there was no sternal infection and nonunion in the two groups. In the test group, pethidine dosage and hospitalization days were fewer than those in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the incidence rates of complications and wound infection and hospital costs between the two groups (P>0.05). These findings indicate that poly-L-lactide sternal coaptation pins are feasible in the coronary artery bypass grafting.

AIM: To investigate the angiogenesis effect and protective mechanism of cordycepin on rhesus macaque choroid- retinal endothelial ( RF/ 6A) cell line cultured in high glucose condition.
METHODS: Cultured RF/ 6A cells were divided into normal control group, high glucose group and high glucose (HG) + different concentration cordycepin groups (HG+ 10μ g/ mL group, HG+ 50μ g/ mL group, HG+ 100μ g/mL group). The cell proliferation was assessed using cholecystokinin octapeptide dye after treated for 48h. The cell migration was investigated by a Transwell assay. The tube formation was measured on Matrigel. Furthermore, the impact of cordycepin on high glucose - induced activation of VEGF and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) was tested by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, cell viability markedly increased in high glucose group ( P <0. 05). Cordycepin inhibited RF/ 6A cell proliferation in a dose- dependent fashion: 10. 2 ± 0. 9%, 23. 4 ± 1. 5% and 31. 1±1. 2% inhibition as the concentrations of cordycepin were 10, 50 and 100μ g/ mL, respectively. The difference had statistically significant (P<0. 05) compared with high glucose group. The number of cell migration were 55. 6±2. 70, 87. 4 ± 2. 40, 65. 4 ± 2. 7, 57. 8 ± 2. 38, 62. 4 ± 2. 77 in normal control group, high glucose group and HG+10μ g/mL group, HG + 50μ g/ mL group, HG + 100μ g/ mL group respectively. Migration of RF/ 6A conspicuously increased in high glucose group ( P < 0. 05) compared with normal control group; while showing a gradually reducing trend with the increase of cordycepin dose and a statistically significant difference compared with high glucose group (P<0. 05). The number of tube formation were 18. 7±2. 08, 25. 7 ± 1. 52, 19. 9 ± 1. 57, 16. 3 ± 2. 51, 5. 67 ± 1. 72 in the abovementioned group. Similarly showing a gradually reducing trend with the increase of cordycepin dose and a statistically significant difference with high glucose group (P< 0. 05). In addition, the number of tube formation of RF/ 6A in high glucose group significant increased compared with normal control group ( P < 0. 05 ). The expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 dramaticlly increased in high glucose group vs normal control group, oppositely gradually decreased with the increase of cordycepin concentrations, and had a statistically significant difference vs high glucose group (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Cordycepin can suppress the proliferation, migration and tubu formation of RF/ 6A in high glucose condition, might via inhibiting expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2.

With the advanced development of information technology, there is a huge impact on various industries for the arrival of big data. In the biomedical field, innovative genome sequencing technology enables low-cost, high-throughput, and high-speed to become a reality, which leads to an explosive growth in data and also appeared in an urgent need to process those massive biological information. High performance computing (HPC) along with effective methods is one of the best ways to deal with the problem of big data in biomedical field which could serve the biomedical development best. We discussed the issues faced in biomedical big data processing and concluded that the bioinformatics is an indispensable component of biomedical technologies.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Computational Biology ; Computing Methodologies ; Humans

Purpose To explore the multislice spiral CT (MSCT) features of renal chromophobe carcinoma, and to improve the understanding and diagnosis of the disease. Materials and Methods MSCT features of 17 patients with renal chromophobe carcinoma confirmed by surgical pathology were retrospectively analyzed, plain MSCT and multi-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced scan were applied to these patients. Results Single substantive round or oval-shaped soft tissue mass was demonstrated in 17 cases. The lesions were all uniform density on plain MSCT, and mild to moderate homogeneous enhancement in 11 cases on enhanced MSCT, including 9 cases with significant enhancement above the renal medulla and below the renal cortex, and 2 cases with similar enhancement to renal medulla in corticomedullary phase. On nephrographic phase the lesion showed significant lower density than renal medulla. Heterogeneous enhancement presented in 6 cased, including 1 case with small necrosis and 1 case with stellate scar lesion in low-density. Conclusion Renal chromophobe carcinoma demonstrates a round solid mass of uniform density on plain MSCT, and mild to moderate homogeneous and heterogeneous, which can provide the reference value for preoperative diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and mutations of guanosine triphosphate eyclohydrolase (GCH) Ⅰ gene in patients with dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD). Methods Five families with 18 affected family members and 17 patients with sporadic DRD were examined. Patients were allocated into 3 groups according to onset time, either in childhood, or in adolescence or adult. Interview, physical examination, psychologic testings and CT/MR scan were performed. Mutation screening was performed on 26 patients and 1 normal family nember. Thirty-five healthy control subjects were matched for age and sex. Statistical analysis were conducted with the use of SPSS 13.0 computer software. Results(1)Most of patients started with dystonia. The main clinical manifestation was dystonia too. There was no difference among 3 groups.(2) There were significant differences in diurnal fluctuation among 3 groups(15/15,6/6,7/14, χ2=13.125,P=0.001). Diurnal fluctuation negatively correlated with age (r=-0.720, P<0.01).(3)The differences in postural tremor were also found among 3 groups (7/15,5/6,1/14, χ2=8.073, P=0.018). Postural tremor positively correlated with age (r=0.399, P=0.018).(4)There were differences in exaggeration of tendon among three groups(11/15,1/6,4/14, χ2=8.309, P=0.016). Exaggeration of tendon reflexes negatively correlated with age (r=-0.429, P=0.010).(5)The scores of Hamilton Depression Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale in patients were higher than those in controls.(6)DNA sequencing revealed a heterozygous A224G missense mutation(Tyr75Cys)located within exon 1 in one autosomal dominant inheritance family. Conclusions The manifestations of DRD varies. The clinical course is closely correlated with age. A missense mutation(A224G)in coding region of the GCH 1 gene probablyleads to the occurrence of DRD.

Aim To explore the effect and mechanism of resveratrol (Res) on proliferation and differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.Methods 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured and treated with resveratrol in different dosages.Cell proliferation was analyzed by WST-1 method. Oil red O staining method and spectrophotography were applied to analyze the degree of differentiation. Real-time PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expression of adiponectin and leptin. Western blot was applied to detect the expression of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1),peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCTTA enhancer binding proteinα (C/EBPα).Results Res inhibited proliferation of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a time-dose dependent manner.The expression levels of adiponectin and leptin mRNA were decreased, and Res also inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to differentiate into mature adipocytes. Res increased the expression levels of Sirt1 and decreased the expression levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα.Conclusions Resveratrol can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.The underlying mechanisms may include enhancing expression of Sirt1 and inhibiting expression of PPARγ,C/EBPα which are related to cell differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-immune inflammation efficacy and toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii decoction, in order to provide experimental basis for studies on its "efficacy-toxicity" correlation.

METHODThe delayed hypersensitivity model was established by dinitrofluorobenzene in mice. Different doses of T. wilfordii decoction was administered for 5 consecutive days. The ear swelling inhibition ratio and the toxic action were observed. After the final administration, the biochemical indexes of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-2, ALT, AST, PA, TBA, TBIL in serum were detected, and the visceral indexes of heart, liver, spleen and kidney were measured.

RESULTThe DNFB-induced ear swelling could be notably inhibited by multiple oral administration of T. wilfordii decoction, with the ED50 and its 95% confidence limit of 0.34 (0.21-0.42) g x kg(-1). The contents of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-2 in serum decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The activities of serum AST, ALT, TBA, TBIL and the PA content reduced.

CONCLUSIONT. wilfordii decoction shows a significant anti-immune inflammation efficacy within the dosage range between 0.59 and 2.34 g x kg(-1) in a dose-dependent manner. With a certain hepatotoxicity, high dose (2.34-4.68 g x kg(-1)) of T. wilfordii decoction can cause substantial liver injury, with a dose dependence in liver function index. Therefore, the efficacy and toxicity of T. wilfordii is dose dependent, which provides reference for preventing adverse drug reactions in clinic and developing early-warning schemes and ensure the clinical medication safety of T. wilfordii.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Drug Dosage Calculations ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Edema ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury Poisoning ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of major causes of blindness in elder people.Intraocular injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -A regimen has made big breakthrough for the treatment on choroidal neovascularization of wet AM D,while long-term follow-up and necessary retreatments are the key issues to remain obtained visual acuity.Multiple strategies of wet AMD have been used in following-up and retreating based on the visual acuity,optical coherence tomography (OCT),ophthalmoscope and fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) in abroad.However,there also are major differences in the patient' s composition,treatment habits and distribution of medical sources in China from Western.So we suggest to standardize the follow-up and retreatment strategies about intravitreal injection of VEGF-A for wet AMD as to achieve a better effectiveness.OCT-guided individual follow-up and retreatment strategies should be very helpful for maintaining a long-term efficacy,minimizing the treatment time and reducing medical cost.