Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex)on long-term cogni-tive function after partial hepatectomy (PH)in mice.Methods Forty adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group (group C),group PH,normal saline group (group NS)and group Dex,10 mice per each group.At 2 days after PH,the mice of group C and group PH under-went Morris water maze test,four times per day and a total of 4 days.The mice were euthanized and hippocampi tissue was immediately excised for determination of wet hippocampi weight to dry hipp-ocampi weight (W/D)and total hippocampi water content (TWC).The expression levels of cycteinyl aspirate-specific protease 12 (caspase-12)mRNA and protein of hippocampi tissue were detected re-spectively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)and Western blot.Apoptosis index (AI)of hippocampi tissue was determined by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL)assay.After the mice regained consciousness after operation,animals re-ceived intraperitoneally Dex at a dose of 25 μg·kg-1 ·d-1 for 30 consecutive days in group Dex.Ani-mals of group NS were given intraperitoneally with the same volume of normal saline.After treatment for 30 consecutive days,the mice of group Dex and group NS underwent Morris water maze test,four times per day and a total of 4 days.The mice were euthanized and hippocampi tissue was immediately excised for determination of W/D and TWC.The expression levels of caspase-12 mRNA and protein of hippocampi tissue were detected respectively by RT-PCR and Western blot.AI of hippocampi tissue was determined by TUNEL assay.Results Compared with the first day,the escape latency at the third day,the fourth day and swimming distance were shortened in groups C,NS and Dex (P <0.05);Compared with group C,the escape latency at the third day,the fourth day and swimming distance were prolonged (P < 0.05 ), W/D,TWC and AI were higher (P < 0.05 ), and the expression levels of caspase-12 mRNA and protein of hippocampi tissue were significantly higher (P<0.05)in group PH.Compared with group NS,the escape latency at the third day,the fourth day and swimming distance were shortened (P <0.05),W/D,TWC and AI were lower (P <0.05)and the expression levels of caspase-12 mRNA and protein of hippocampi tissue were significantly lower (P <0.05)in group Dex.Conclusion The treatment of Dex could improve the long-term cognitive function after PH in mice,and the mechanism may be to lighten apoptosis mediated by caspase-12 in hippocampi tissue.

Objective To study the clinical effect of the treatment for knee osteoarthritis by dissolving the phlegm-stasis.Methods The 100 cases of knee osteoarthritis were randomized into the treatment group and control group with 50 in each.The former was treated by oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine while the latter by oral administration of Votalin and vitamin C.One week as one course,two courses in succession.The comparative analysis on symptom score and therapeutic effect of two groups before and after treatment was carried out.Results After treatment,the symptom scores of both groups were significantly lowered(P

BACKGROUND:Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), a main cytokine inducing chondrocyte apoptosis of osteoarthritis, plays a regulatory role in the process of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To compare the rat models of chondrocyte apoptosis induced by different mass concentrations of TNF-α, thus providing theoretical basis for further study on the regulation of drugs on chondrocyte apoptosis. METHODS:Chondrocytes were isolated from the knee cartilage of 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats of clean grade by mechanical l col agenase digestion and were then incubated with different mass concentrations of TNF-αto induce apoptosis. The morphology of chondrocytes was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, cel s were identified using immunohistochemical staining of type II col agen, as wel as the cel viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT and DAPI, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) In vitro, the cytoplasm of chondrocytes was stained brown-yel ow by using immunohistochemical staining of type II col agen. (2) At 48 hours, the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes induced by 10, 20 and 30μg/L TNF-αwas significantly higher than that of the 0μg/L TNF-α(P<0.01), and the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes induced by 40μg/L TNF-αwas significantly higher than that of the 10μg/L TNF-α(P<0.01). (3) The viability of chondrocytes induced by 10, 20 and 40μg/L TNF-αwas significantly lower than that of the 0μg/L TNF-α(P<0.01). In detail, the viability of chondrocytes induced by 20μg/L TNF-αwas lower than that of the 10μg/L TNF-α(P<0.05);the viability of chondrocytes induced by 40μg/L TNF-αwas significantly lower than that of the 10 and 20μg/L TNF-α(P<0.01, P<0.05). (4) These results suggest that 20μg/L TNF-αcan successful y induce the chondrocyte apoptosis model.

Objective To investigate the clinical and epidemiologieal feat ures of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in recent 3 years,aiming to develop the strategies for controlling this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 65 hospitalized patients with epidemic cerehrospinal meningitis from 2003 to 2006.Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results The majority of these 65 patients were juvenile and adult,accounting for 44.6%(29 cases)and 35.4%(23 cases),respectively,while the infant patients account for the smallest percentage,only 6.2%(4 cases).Most cases occurred in spring(from February to April).The clinical features of most patients belonged to common type(72.3%),followed by fulminant type(27.7%).Five cases(7.7%)died,all of whom were fulminant cases.Totally 33 strains of Neisseria meningitidis were isolated,with positive culture rate of 50.8%(33/65 cases).The positive rate of blood culture was 44.6%(29/65 cases)and that of cerebrospinal fluid cuhure was 31.4%(16/51 cases).Isolates of Neisseria meningitidis were still highly sensitive to penicillin,ceftriaxone and cefotaxime.However,the resistance rates of strains to compound sulfamethoxazole,gentamycin and ciprofloxacin were all above 80%.Resuhs of serological typing revealed thai 82.8%(53/64 cases)cases belonged to group C.There were more severe cases and higher death rate in patients infected by group C meningococcus.Conclusions Serogroup C of the meningococcus have become the preponderant strains in Anhui Province.Most of the patients infected hy group C are J uveniles and adults.Penicillin and the third generation cephalosporins are still highly aclive againsl Neisseria meningitidis.

BACKGROUND:Calcium phosphate cement and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 both have bone osteoinductivity. Maybe both of them could promote repair of tendon-to-bone interface damage. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of calcium phosphate cement-II containing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 on tendon-to-bone interface healing after rotator cuff injury . METHODS: Twenty-seven adult healthy rabbits were enroled in the study. The tendon-to-bone interface of the bilateral shoulder joints was taken from three rabbits as normal group, and the bilateral shoulder joints of the other 24 rabbits were subjected to acute rupture of the rotator cuff and tendon-to-bone reconstructive surgery as experimental group (n=12) and control group (n=12). Rabbits in the experimental group were treated with calcium phosphate cement-II, while those in the control group treated with nothing. Specimens were colected at 2, 4, 8 postoperative weeks for biomechanical test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The maximum tensile strength of the rotator cuff in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.001), but lower than that in the normal group (P < 0.001). At postoperative 8 weeks, the rigidity of rotator cuff of the experiment group was higher than the control group (P < 0.001) but lower than the normal group (P < 0.001). These findings indicate that calcium phosphate cement-II can improve the maximum tensile strength and rigidity of rabbit tendon-to-bone interface in the early postoperative period, enhance tendon-to-bone interface binding force, and promote tendon-to-bone interface healing.

Objective To compare the feasibility of multi-slices computed tomography(MSCT)versus coronary angiography(CAG)for identification of myocardial bridges and mural coronary artery(MB-MCA).Methods For 76 patients suspecting coronary heart disease the MSCT and CAG were performed for the coronary imaging.The MB-MCAs were identified on the CT images and angiograms by radiologists and cardiologists separately and independently before and after consulting each other.The data was statistically analyzed using ?2-squrae test.Results Before consulting each other,29 MB-MCA in 27 patients and 2 MB-MCA in two cases were detected using MSCT and CAG by radiologists and cardiologist separately and independently with significant difference statistically(?2=10.52,P

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow stromal stem cel s have multilineage differentiation capacity and can differentiate into transparent chondrocytes under certain conditions, which can provide new thoughts for treatment of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of Tougu Xiaotong Granule containing serum on the cartilage differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cel s. METHODS:Bone marrow stromal stem cel s from Sprague-Dawley rat limbs were cultured in vitro, and those cel s at passage 3 were used in the study. Cel s were divided into six groups:saline serum group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract group, chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract and chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract and chondroinductive group. The Sox9, col agen Ⅱ, and col agen X mRNA and protein expression levels were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After cel s were intervened with drug-containing serum for 14 days, the Sox9, col agen Ⅱ, and col agen X mRNA and protein expression in Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract group, chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract and chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract and chondroinductive group were significantly higher than that in saline serum group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract serum and chondroinductive group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract and chondroinductive group showed significantly higher expression levels than Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract serum group, Tougu Xiaotong Granule alcohol extract group (P<0.01). Sox9 expression in Tougu Xiaotong Granule water extract serum and chondroinductive group were significantly higher than that in the chondroinductive group. Experimental findings indicate that, Tougu Xiaotong Granule containing serum can accelerate bone marrow stromal stem cel s differentiate into cartilage cel s by up-regulation of Sox9 expression.

BACKGROUND:Tougu Xiaotong Capsule has pretty good clinical therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis of early and middle periods. However, the mechanism of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule is not ful y clarified. The RhoA GTPases can regulate chondrocyte apoptosis and hypertrophy.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the Tougu Xiaotong Capsule on the expression of Rac1and Cdc42 in tumor necrosis factor-α-induced in vitro cultured rat articular chondrocytes, and to explore its mechanism of action for combating osteoarthritis.
METHODS:Knee cartilage of the 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats was used to stably establish in vitro culture system of chondrocytes. Passage 3 chondrocytes were identified by toluidine blue staining. Chondrocyte apoptosis was successful y induced by 20μg/L tumor necrosis factor-αand then Tougu Xiaotong Capsule at different dosage (500, 100, 20 mg/L) was given after 24-hour incubation. MTT assay was used to detect cellsurvival, flow cytrometry to measure mitochondrial membrane potential, and western blot assay to determine the protein expression of Rac1, Cdc42, Bax and Bcl-2.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tougu Xiaotong Capsule could reduce tumor necrosis factor-α-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes to improve the survival rate of the cells, and at the same time, could down-regulate the protein expression of Rac1, Cdc42 and Bax and increase the protein expression of Bcl-2 significantly (P<0.05). Tougu Xiaotong Capsule possibly plays a therapeutic efficacy on osteoarthritis by reducing promote apoptosis Rac1, Cdc42 and Bax expression and increasing apoptosis inhibiting gene Bcl-2 expression, thereby to inhibit apoptosis of chondrocytes.

Objective To investigate the profile and antibiotic resistance of bacteria in patients with ascites infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients in order to provide a reference for rational clinical use of antibiotics. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted. The bacteria isolated from ascetic fluid patients admitted from January 1st, 2004 to October 31st, 2015 to ICU of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were identified, and their susceptibility to antibiotics was analyzed. Patients, who were admitted from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2009 were assigned to group A, and patients admitted afterwards were assigned to group B. Results A total of 637 specimens of ascetic fluid were examined, with 185 positive culture (29.0%) during the 12 years, and 203 strains of bacteria were found. Among them 126 strains (62.1%) of gram-negative bacteria (G-), 54 (26.6%) of gram-positive bacteria (G+) and 23 (11.3%) strains of fungi were found. Compared the result of group B with that of group A, the proportion of G- bacteria was increased [71.2% (99/139) vs. 44.2% (27/64)], and that of G+ decreased [17.3% (24/139) vs. 46.9% (30/64)] in group B. The difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 20.34, P = 0.001). The main pathogenic bacteria were G-, and Enterobacteriaceae was the most common pathogenic bacteria in intra-abdominal infection of ICU patients. The isolation rate of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae(35.7%, 10.3%) ranked in the first and third in G- bacteria, respectively. The resistant rate of Escherichia coli against penicillin and third generation cephalosporin were > 95.0% and > 73.3%, and it showed a sensitive rate of 70% to β-lactam/inhibitor, amikacin and minocycline, and a higher sensitivity to carbapenems and tigecycline (11.1%, 0). Forty-eight strains of non-fermentation bacteria were found with a rate of 23.7%. The positive rates of Acinetobacter baumannii in groups A and B were 7.8% (5/64) and 23.7% (33/139), respectively, and they ranked first among non-fermentation bacteria. Twenty strains (62.5%) multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were found. Acinetobacter baumannii showed a resistance rate of 84.6% to cefoperazone/sulbactam, 35.3% to minocycline, and 53.3% to tigecycline. Candida albicans was the most commonly isolated fungus in intra-abdominal infections (87.5%). No strains resistant to common antifungal drugs were isolated. Conclusions G- bacteria was the main pathogen in intra-abdominal infection in patients with ascites. Non-fermenters showed an increasing trend of producing infection, and the proportion of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection increased year by year, and more attention should be taken by attending doctors.

Objective:To assess the value of the ROX index in evaluating the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) in patients with coronavirus infected disease (COVID-19).Methods:This is a retrospective study. The included patients were diagnosed as COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Cancer Center of Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from February 15, 2020 to March 15, 2020. All the patients were treated by HFNC. According to whether the patient subsequently received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation or invasive positive pressure ventilation, patients were divided into the HFNC success group and the HFNC failure group. Parameters in the two groups such as basic characteristics, lactic acid, number of chest radiographs, APACHE II, lymphocyte count, baseline respiratory rate, baseline percutaneous oxygen saturation, baseline PaO 2/FiO 2, baseline ROX index, and ROX index after 2, 6 and 12 h HFNC treatment were analyzed with t test, Chi-square test or rank sum test. Results:A total of 57 cases were included in this study. There were no significant differences in sex, age, comorbidities, lactic acid, quadrants of chest radiograph lung infection, APACHE II, lymphocyte count, and baseline respiratory frequency, transcutaneous oxygen saturation, oxygenation index, and ROX index between the HFNC success group and the HFNC faliure group ( P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that ROX index after 2 h HFNC treatment ( OR=0.069), ROX index after 6 h HFNC treatment ( OR=0.194) and ROX index after 12 h HFNC treatment ( OR=0.036) were all protective factors for the therapeutic effect of HFNC treatment in COVID-19 patients. ROC curve showed that there were significant differences in ROX index after 2 h HFNC treatment, ROX index after 6 h HFNC treatment, and ROX index after 12 h HFNC treatment ( P<0.05). In the evaluation index, the area under the ROC curve of the ROX index after 2 h HFNC treatment was 0.838, the sensitivity was 64.5%, and the specificity was 100%. After 6 h HFNC treatment, the area under the ROX index ROC curve was 0.762, the sensitivity was 64.5%, and the specificity was 92.3%. After 12 h HFNC treatment, the ROX index ROC curve area was 0.866, the sensitivity was 67.7%, and the specificity was 100%. Conclusions:The ROX index can be used to evaluate the efficacy of HFNC in COVID-19 patients in a timely, simple and real-time manner.