Objective To study the early diagnostic value of procalcitonin(PCT),high-sensitivity C-reactive pro-tein(hs-CRP)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI)in patients in intensive care unit(ICU).Methods 78 ICU patients with suspected CRBSI between April 2013 and April 2015 were selected, blood specimens of patients on the first day of admission and being suspected CRBSI were taken,blood and venous catheter tips were performed culture,patients were divided into CRBSI group and non-CRBSI group according to culture results of blood and venous catheter tips,diagnostic values of PCT,hs-CRP,and IL-6 were compared. Results 28 patients were diagnosed CRBSI.On the day of being suspected with CRBSI,levels of PCT,hs-CRP, IL-6,and white blood cell (WBC)in CRBSI group were significantly higher than non-CRBSI group respectively ([3.35±1 .52]μg/L vs [1 .22±0.44]μg/L;[32.90 ±11 .10]mg/L vs [23.50 ±6.00]mg/L;[423.20 ±171 .70] ng/L vs [257.90±81 .40]ng/L;[12.70±2.70]×109/L vs [11 .20±1 .90]×109/L],P <0.05 ).The receiver op-erating characteristic curve(ROC)analysis showed that area under the curve (AUC)and 95% CI of PCT,hs-CRP, IL-6,and WBC were 0.92(0.85,0.99),0.75(0.62,0.88),0.80(0.67,0.92),and 0.64(0.50,0.72)respectively;sensitivity were 0.82,0.64,0.71 ,and 0.46 respectively;specificity were 0.92,0.94,0.92,and 0.88 respectively. Conclusion PCT and IL-6 have high effectiveness for early diagnosis of CRBSI in ICU patients,and have certain predictive value for early diagnosis of CRBSI.

Objective Thermal injury causes pulmonary edema, which may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, multiorgan failure and even death. The article aimed to study the mechanism of curcumin pretreatment on inflammatory factors in lung tissues and serum endotoxin of rats with dry-heat environment.Methods A total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal control group, dry heat control group, low concentraion group (50mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group), middle concentraion group (100mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group), and high concentration group (200mg/kg curcumin pretreatment group). Rats in normal control group and dry heat control group were given normal saline by gavage, while rats in 3 curcumin pretreatment groups were given curcumin of different concentrations (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg) by gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days. At 8d, all the other 4 groups except normal control group were transferred to the climate cabin (The Simulated Climate Cabin for Special Environment of Northwest of China) with the condition of (41±0.5)℃, (10±1)% relative humidity.The rats were put in the dry-heat environment for 150min, then they were anaesthetized and sacrificed at 150min to collect the blood, lung tissues for further analysis. Observation was made on the pathological changes of lung tissues of rats in each group and the changes of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS.Results Compared with dry heat control group, the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS in normal control group, curcumin pretreatment groups with low concentration, middle concentration and high concentration were significantly higher(P<0.01). The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and LPS in curcumin pretreatment group with low concentration were significantly lower than those curcumin pretreatment groups with middle concentration and high concentration(P<0.05). Compared with curcumin pretreatment group with middle concentration, LPS concentration of curcumin pretreatment group with high concentration decreased significantly (P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the plasma of LPS and inflammatory cytokines of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in lung tissues (correlation coefficient r=0.866, r=0.900, r=0.885, P=0.000).Conclusion Curcumin inhibits bacterial endotoxin in blood, reduces the expression of inflammatory factors, and plays an important role in alleviating secondary multiple organ damage, which means curcumin pretreatment can relieve lung damage caused by heatstroke and reduce the mortality of heatstroke.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of the water extract of Morinda officinalis on the expressions of sex hormones and receptors in bisphenol A （BPA）-contaminated mice. METHODS Totally 60 male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group， model group， and low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups of M. officinalis water extract （20， 40， 60 mg/kg）， with 12 mice in each group. The model group and M. officinalis water extract groups were given BPA intragastrically [50 mg/（kg·d）， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks] to establish the BPA-contamination model of mice. After modeling， each drug group was gavaged with the corresponding drug solution， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last medication， the body weight and testicular weight of the mice in each group were weighed， the histopathological changes in the testis were observed， and the serum sex hormones [luteinizing hormone （LH）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）] contents and the mRNA and protein expressions of LH receptor （LHR） and FSH receptor （FSHR） in the testicular tissues were detected. RESULTS Compared with the control group， the testicular tissues of mice in the model group had structural degeneration， loose connections between spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells， obvious lacunae and reduced number of spermatogenic cells； the mRNA and protein expressions of LHR and FSHR in testicular tissues were significantly down-regulated （P＜0.01）， but there were no significant changes in their body weights， testicular weights， and serum contents of LH and FSH （P＞0.05）. Compared with the model group， the histopathological changes of testicular tissues of mice in each dose group of M. officinalis water extract were improved to different degrees， and the mRNA and protein expressions of LHR and FSHR in testicular tissues were up-regulated to different degrees （P＜0.05 or P＜ 0.01）， and some indicator levels were similar to those of the control group （P＞0.05）. However， there were no significant changes in their body weights， testicular weights， and serum contents of LH and FSH （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The water extract of M. officinalis has a certain improvement effect on testicular injury in BPA-contaminated mice， which might be related to its increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of LHR and FSHR.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the difference of CA IX and P-gp expression level between laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and benign tissues, evaluate the relationship of these two proteins in LSCC, and their correlation with clinical and pathological features. METHOD: Immunohistochemical detection of CA IX and P-gp were performed in 47 cases of LSCC and 20 cases of vocal cord polyps. RESULT: Overexpression of CA IX and P-gp both in LSCC and in vocal cord polyp (P < 0.05) were confirmed, with a correlation between the two proteins in LSCC (r = 0.324, P < 0.05). The expression of CA IX was related to clinical staging and lymph node metastasis in LSCC (P < 0.05). While P-gp was related to clinical staging and histological grading in LSCC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The overexpression of CA IX and P-gp may play a role in LSCC progression.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B ; metabolism ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase IX ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polyps ; metabolism ; Vocal Cords ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To investigate the clinical and imaging differences in acute thrombotic and embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion.Methods The cerebral infarction patients with acute middle cerebral artery trtmk occlusion confirmed by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) within 24 hours of onset were divided into large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) group and the cardioembolism (CE) group according to the TOAST classification criteria.Under the circumstances of not receiving thrombolytic therapy,the infarct volume on DWI,morphological characteristics and the changes of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores both at admission and day 14 were compared.Results A total of 102 cerebral infarction patients with acute middle cerebral artery trunk occlusion were included.The age of the CE group was significantly older than that of the LAA group (67.60 ± 9.62 years vs.62.57 ± 10.18 years,P =0.017),and more patients with coronary heart disease (27.27％ vs.2.90％,P=0.001 ).The infarct volume (31.96 ±39.20 ml vs.65.66 ±84.74 ml,P =0.005),the NIHSS score at admission (6.42 ± 3.38 vs.11.67 ±8.50,P=0.007),and the improvement of the disease (i.e.the difference of NIHSS scores between admission and day 14) (1.55 ± 6.43 vs.5.75 ± 9.28,P =0.027) in LAA group were significantly lower than those in the CE group.However,there was no significant difference in the NIHSS score between the 2 groups at day 14 (4.87 ± 6.61 vs.5.97 ± 3.60,P =0.324).The infarct volume was significantly correlated with the NIHSS scores at day 14 (CE group:r=0.625,P=0.001; LAA group:r=0.295,P=0.014).The LAA group was mostly the multiple lesions (71.01％),and the CE group was mostly the single lesions (54.55％) (P =0.016).Conclusion There were differences in morphology of cerebral lesion between the LAA and CE groups.In the early stage after onset,CE caused middle cerebral artery trunk occlusion was more serious and had larger infarct volume,but some patients could naturally significantly improve within a short time after onset.

Objective To evaluate the function of clinical-diffusion mismatch (CDM) in intraarterial thrombolysis treatment for acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and to evaluate specialty of CDM in predicting the putative penumbra.Methods All 106 acute MCAO patients within 6 hours after onset and examined by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were assigned into two groups:the intraartery thrombolysis group (n =36) and without thrombolysis group ( n =70).Both groups were subdivided into CDM sub-group and non-CDM sub-group based on the criteria of CDM:National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥8 and ischemic volume on DWI ≤25 ml upon admission.NIHSS scores at the day 30 and 3 month after onset,and infarct volumes on T2 weighted imaging (T2 WI)at day 14 after onset were analyzed and compared between each sub-groups.Results The NIHSS scores in the CDM sub-group at both day 30 and the 3 month were significantly lower than the scores in the non-CDM sub-group among the patients having thrombolysis(3.20 ± 2.40 vs 6.76 ± 4.00,t =- 3.330,P =0.002 ; 2.20 ± 1.70 vs 6.05 ± 4.06,t =3.895,P =0.001 ),but not among the non-thrombolysis patients (5.22 ± 2.95 vs 5.66 ± 3.21,t =- 1.756,P =0.084 ;4.34 ± 2.53 vs 5.34 ± 3.42,t =1.234,P =0.353 ).Among the patients having CDM,the thrombolysis group resulted significant lower NIHSS scores at both day 30 and 3 month follow-up than non-thrombolysis group did (3.20 ±2.40 vs 5.22 ±2.95,t =- 2.210,P =0.034;2.20 ± 1.70 vs 4.34 ± 2.53,t =-3.128,P =0.003 ).However,among the patients of non-CDM,there was no difference in the NIHSS score between the thrombolysis group and the non-thrombolysis group at day 30 and 3 month (6.76±4.00 vs 5.66±3.21,t=1.209,P=0.231;6.05 ± 4.06 vs 5.34 ± 3.42,t =1.234,P=0.460).Among the CDM patients,the T2 WI infarct volume in the thrombolysis group was significantly smaller than that in the non-thrombolysis at day 14 onset ( ( 6.29 ± 4.41 ) ml vs ( 60.25 ± 49.23 ) ml,Z =- 4.848,P =0.001 ).Conclusion CDM may predict the putative penumbra with high specificity and can be applied in the therapy of intra-artery thrombolytic for acute MCAO patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the similarity of the mean drug dissolution or release curves by the experimental model of reformatory Weibull. METHODS: Three drugs were taken as the model drugs. With the fiber-optic in site dissolution testing equipment(FODT), the percentages of accumulated dissolution/release changing with time of the control and test preparations of every drug were respectively monitored. The mean percentages were calculated and the dissolution/release curves were drawn. The data were fitted by the reformatory Weibull model. The fitted parameters c, Ti, b, a, and the 95% confidence intervals of every parameters were extracted. The similarity of the mean drug dissolution curves between the control and test preparations was evaluated by the fitted parameters and observation of the dissolution curves. RESULTS: For the sustained-release preparations, there was no significant difference in the parameters c, Ti, b, and a of the test and control samples, and the mean drug release curves were similar. As for the non-modified preparations, whether the dosage forms of the test and control preparations were the same or not, there existed differences in the parameters fitted by the method of reformatory Weibull model. CONCLUSION: The modified method of reformatory Weibull model can be applied in the evaluation of similarity of drug dissolution behavior with satisfactory goodness-of-fit and quantitative result.

Aim To investigate the effects of acteoside (AS) on BRAIN AKT and NFkB in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. Methods Fifty healthy APP/PS1 transgenic mice, half male and half female, and 10 control C57 mice were given the drug by gavage for 60 consecutive days. During the period of administration, and new object recognition experiments were conducted to detect the expression of AKT and NFkB related proteins in the hippocampus and cortex of the mice. Results Compared with model group, AS could significantly improve the nesting behavior of mice and en- hance the interest of exploring new objects in mice with Alzheimer' s disease. At the same time, compared with model group, AS significantly reduced the ratio of NFkB p-p65 /NFkB p65 in hippocampus and cortical tissues, and increased the ratio of p-AKT-308 /AKT and p-AKT473 /AKT. Conclusions AS may inhibit the apoptosis of nerve cells and protect nerve cells through the regulation of AKT and NFkB to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of laparoscopic occlusion of the internal spermatic vein with Hem-o-Lock clips and retroperitoneal ligation of the spermatic vessel (Palomo procedure) in the treatment of primary varicocele.

METHODSWe included in this study 42 varicocele patients treated by laparoscopic occlusion of the internal spermatic vein with Hem-o-Lock clips (Hem-o-Lock group) and another 38 treated by Palomo procedure (Palomo group). We recorded the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, bowel function recovery time, post-operative complications, as well as such seminal parameters as sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm abnormality and the percentage of grade a + b sperm 6 months after surgery. We measured the interior diameter and reflux time of the spermatic vein and the ratio of flow velocity to the diameter using color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), and observed the disappearance and recurrence of clinical symptoms.

RESULTSIntraoperative blood loss was markedly less and the operation time, postoperative hospital stay and intestinal function recovery time significantly shorter in the Hem-o-Lock than in the Palomo group (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications (P>0.05). Six months after surgery, seminal parameters and the results of CDFI were significantly improved in both the Hem-o-Lock and Palomo groups (P<0.05), but with no significant difference between the two (P>0.05). No recurrence was found in either group at 18 months.

CONCLUSIONBoth laparoscopic spermatic vein occlusion with Hem-o-Lock clips and Palomo procedure can improve the semen quality and relieve the clinical symptoms of primary varicocele patients, but the former is even more preferable for its shorter operation time and hospital stay, less intraoperative bleeding, fewer complications, better clinical outcomes, and lower rate of recurrence.

Adult ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Veins ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective To perform prokaryotic expression and preliminary characterization of the recombinant poly-epitope vaccine EgG1Y162-2 (4) against cystic echinococcosis. Methods The recombinant poly-epitope vaccine EgG1Y162-2 (4) against Echinococcus granulosus based on the linker GSGGSG was subjected to structural three-dimensional (3D) modeling using immunoinformatics to analyze the structural changes and evaluate the antigenicity of the vaccine. The pET30a-EgG1Y162-2 (4) recombinant plasmid was generated using double digestion with EcoR I and Sal I, and then transformed into competent cells. Following protein induction with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), the prokaryotic expression proteins were characterized using Western blotting, and the antigenicity of the recombinant protein was analyzed using sera from cystic echinococcosis patients and health volunteers. Results The four EgG1Y162-2 proteins coupled by the 3D structure of the recombinant vaccine EgG1Y162-2 (4) presented independent and effective expression and good antigenicity. The highest protein expression was detected in the supernatant following induction of the recombinant plasmid pET30a-EgG1Y162-2 (4) by 0.2 mmol/L IPTG at 37 °C for 4 h, and a pure protein component was seen following elution with 60 mmol/L imidazole. Western blotting analysis of the recombinant multiepitope protein HIS-EgG1Y162-2 (4) showed a band at approximately 39 kDa, and this band was recognized by sera from cystic echinococcosis patients. Conclusion A recombinant poly-epitope vaccine EgG1Y162-2 (4) against cystic echinococcosis has been successfully constructed, which provides a preliminary basis for researches on recombinant multi-epitope vaccine against cystic echinococcosis.