Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Fibrolase is a non-hemorrhagic zinc metalloproteinase isolated from southern copperhead snake venom (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) and is capable of degrading fibrin clots resulting from purified fibrinogen or from blood plasma. Alfimeprase, a truncated form of fibrolase, as a clinical agent was successfully completed PhaseII clinical trials.The cDNA of alfimeprase was amplified by recursive PCR, digested with BamHI and HindII, and cloned into pET43.1a, pMALp2X and pMALc2X vectors to generate fusions with NusA, MBP and sMBP(with signal peptide), respectively. Nus/alfimeprase was expressed in soluble form by co-expressing with chaperone FkpA and inducing with1mmol/L IPTG. The fusion protein accounted for about 25 % of total protein following cell lysis. Alfimeprase was successfully purifiesd by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and cleaved by enterokinase. The results demonstrate the fibrinolytic activity of recombinant alfimeprase using fibrin plate assays and fibrinogen hydrolysis.

Objective:To compare the release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides in sporoderm-broken and nonbroken spores of Ganoderma lucidum, and establish a comparatively correct method for the determination and analysis of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs.Method:The release ability of water-soluble polysaccharides was determined on the basis of phenol-sulfuric acid modification in different conditions.Result:The release ability of polysaccharides of sporoderm-broken spores was much grerter than that of nonbroken spores; and the phenol-sulfuric acid modified cation method proved excellent in accuracy and reproducibility, with a relative error less than 1.5%.Conclusion:The spores should be wall-wracked if used as a nutriment, or for extraction and analysis of their effective components. The method can be successfully used for the determination of polysaccharide contents in Chinese herbs or nutriments.

Objective To study the level of serum lipids and body-fat content of high-fat diet induced pbesity rats(DIO).explore the relationship between intracellular caleium and ventrieufar arrhythmia.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into control group(15)and experiment group(45),high-fat diet was administrated for 12 weeks to established obesity model,15 rats were selected into obesity group according to their body weight gain.The standard 2-lead electrocardiograph was used to detect the incidence and scores of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride(BaCl2,0.1 mg/kg)for 1 hour on every 8 rats from different groups respectively.Body-fat content.the level of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipopmtein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipopmtein cholesterol (HDL-C)were measured.The epididymal(EP),retroperitoneal (RE) and mesenteric(ME)white adipose pads was measured to obtain the body fat content.Single ventricular myrocytes of rats were isolated by enzymatic dissociation.The confocal laser scanning microscope was used to record basic intraceUular calcium level([Ca2+]i).Results The body-fat content in obesity group[(7.71±0.74)%] was significantly higher than control group[(4.69±0.37)%](t＝3.650,P＜0.05).The level of serum TC,TGand LDL-C were significantly higher(t＝3.801,2.778,3.536.P＜0.05) in obesity group[(1.26±0.04),(0.58±0.10),(0.51±0.04)mmol/L]than those in control group[(0.92±0.08),(0.29+0.03),(0.31±0.04) mmol/L].The level of serum HDL-C wa8 decreased gradually from control group[(0.53±0.05)mmol/L] toobesity group[(0.52±0.02)mmol/L],but there waft no significant difference between them(t＝0.186,P＞0.05).The incidence of arrhythmia induced by BaCl2(0.1 mg/kg)in obesity group was significantly higher than controlgroup(X2＝5.333,P＜0.05),and the scores of arrhythmla was increased in obesity group(2.5±0.6)too.The fluorescence intensity standing for[Ca2+]i was increased significantly(t＝2.409,P＜0.05)from obesity group(247.96±20.03)to control group (174.25±23.13).Conclusion As the free cytosolic calcium begin to accumulate,the arrhythmia morbidity is increased in obesity rats.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of using an intracavitary convex array probe for detecting the distal extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by transoral carotid ultrasonography (TOCU).

METHODSForty patients underwent examinations with bilateral ICA inspected with an intracavitary convex array probe by TOCU to observe the internal diameter, visible length, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI).

RESULTSEight of the 40 patients were excluded from the observation for the presence of carotid plaques. The examination was terminated in two patients due to sensitive throat and severe pharyngeal reflex. The rest of the patients completed the examination of the internal diameter, visible length, PSV, EDV and RI, which showed no statistically significant differences among them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing intracavitary convex array probe, the distal extracranial ICA disease can be diagnosed with higher accuracy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic results after various kinds of partial laryngectomy for patients with glottic carcinoma of the larynx.

METHODSFrom January 1980 to Mar 2004, 98 patients with glottic carcinoma of the larynx were treated by various kinds of partial laryngectomy. The types of operation varied according to stage of the lesion: vertical or frontovertical partial laryngectomy for T1b, T2 and T1a with invasion of anterior commissura, Tuker's operation or supracricoid partial laryngectomy for T1b, T2 or those with invasion of over half of contralateral cord, and extended vertical partial laryngectomy with resection of arytenoids for T3, or with invasion of ipsilateral arytenoids cartilage without involving postcricoid mucosa or posterior commissura. Totally, vertical partial laryngectomy was carried out for 76 patients, extended vertical partial laryngectomy for 7, supracricoid partial laryngectomy for 3 and Tucker's operation for 12. One stage unilateral neck dissection was performed in 5 patients and postoperative radio-therapy was supplemented to 5 (dose 60 Gy). For laryngeal function restoration, pectoro-hyomyo-flap and cricohyoidoepi glotopexy procedures were also performed for some patients. The clinical data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe 3- and 5-year survival rate was 86.5% (64/74) and 81.7% (49/60), respectively. The total decannulation rate was 94.9% (93/98), though fifteen patients had had symptoms of aspiration. Swallowing function of all patients recovered to the normal level. The phonation of all patients was restored to various degrees and they were able to communicate socially.

CONCLUSIONThe 3- and 5-year survival rates of partial laryngectomy for patients with glottic carcinoma of the larynx are comparable to the results achieved by total laryngectomy, but the quality of life of the patents much better. Complete resection of the tumor and simultaneous preservation of respiratory and vocal function whenever possible by partial laryngectomy is very important for improving patients' life quality. With a suitable size and good blood supply, the sternohyoid muscle flap of unipedical and half-thickness instead of whole thickness is ideal in the reconstruction of laryngeal defect after vertical partial laryngectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Female ; Glottis ; surgery ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical outcome and its influencing factors in patients of congenital basilar invagination (BI) with atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD).

METHODSFrom May 2004 to August 2010, 120 patients who had BI with AAD were surgically treated with direct posterior intraoperative distraction-reduction and fixation technique, 93 patients were successfully followed up by means of questionnaire survey, telephone and clinical evaluation. Pre- and postoperative dynamic cervical X-rays, computed tomographic scans, 3-dimentional reconstruction views and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Pre- and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, distance between odontoid tip and Chamberlain's line and atlantodental interval were measured to evaluate the surgical result. Statistical analysis was performed by means of paired t test and Pearson Correlation analysis.

RESULTSThere were 93 cases were followed up for 24-99 months with an average of 46.5 months. Until the final follow-up, clinical symptoms were improved in 79 patients (84.9%), and were stable in 7 patients (7.5%) and deteriorated in 4 patients (4.3%). Three patients died postoperatively (3.2%). Patients without intramedullary signal intensity change (ISIC) had better surgical outcome. Patients with compression from anterior odontoid tip and posterior bone margin of occipital foramen had the worst surgical outcome (F = 3.987, P < 0.01). Overall, good decompression and bone fusion were shown on postoperative image in 87 patients (93.5%). There were 3 deaths in this series because of basilar artery thrombosis, posterior fossa hematoma and unknown reasons each.

CONCLUSIONSThe direct posterior intraoperative distraction-reduction and fixation technique is an effective simple and safe method for the treatment of BI with AAD. Anterior compression from odontoid tip and posterior compression from bone margin of occipital foramen-atlantal posterior arch play important roles in its developing mechanism. ISIC on MRI is a predictive factor for the worse surgical outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Bone Screws ; Child ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platybasia ; complications ; surgery ; Root Cause Analysis ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Young Adult

Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical features of CPB-4, a heteropolysaccharide obtained from Cynanchum paniculatum.

METHODSugar composition analysis, methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance were used to determine the sugar composition, linkages, main chain, branch chains and branching points.

RESULTCPB-4 is composed of L-arabinose, L-xylose, L-rhamnose and D-galactose in closely molar ratios of 0.8:0.2:0.2:1.0. Its main chain is comprised of 1, 5 linked galactose and side chains are comprised of terminal xylose, terminal arabinose, oligosaccharide of arabinose and oligosaccharide of arabinose, rhamnose and galactose. The branching points are located at C-6 and C-2 of galactose.

CONCLUSIONCPB-4 is a new heteropolysaccharide from C. paniculatum.

Arabinose ; isolation & purification ; Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Methylation ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhamnose ; isolation & purification ; Xylose ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVESTo explore the clinical application of anti-human seminal plasma phospholipase A2 (PLA2) monoclonal antibody (McAb) for male infertility.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), immunocytochemistry(ICC), as well as flow cytometry (FCM) analysis were established using two strains anti-human seminal plasma PLA2 McAb prepared by our laboratory to detect the PLA2 content in human seminal plasma and the anterior head region of spermatozoa, respectively. Then the PLA2 content in male infertile patients were compared with that in normal control with fertility. The seminal routine analysis was performed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA).

RESULTSThe PLA2 content of infertile groups were (31.13 +/- 14.49) ng/ml in azoospermic patients, (17.71 +/- 12.45) ng/ml in oligospermic patients and (16.46 +/- 11.31) ng/ml in patients with normal sperm density, which were all higher than that of normal controls [(8.09 +/- 3.15) ng/ml, P < 0.01]; There was significantly negative correlation between PLA2 content in seminal plasma and sperm density(r = -0.602, P < 0.05), while there was insignificant correlation between PLA2 and sperm motility or percentage of motility. The PLA2 content in the anterior head region of spermatozoon of male infertile groups was significantly lower than that of normal controls by ICC and FCM(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPLA2 in human seminal plasma is closely related to male fertility, and the PLA2 deficiency in the head of spermatozoa may be one of the reasons causing male infertility. The methods detecting PLA2 content in seminal plasma and the head of spermatozoa can provide powerful evidences for exploring the mechanism of male infertility.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; enzymology ; Male ; Phospholipases A ; analysis ; Phospholipases A2 ; Semen ; enzymology