The physicochemical properties and functional activities of chitooligosaccharides are more superior than chitin and chitosan, so chitooligosaccharides becomes a new developing kind of functional oligosaccharides worldwide in recent years. Research development of the physiological activities of chitooligosaccharides such as antibacterial activity, antitumor activity, protective effect on bacterial infection in vivo , regulation of plant physiology, proliferation of bifidobacteria and anti-mutagenic activity was reported in China and a-broad, meanwhile, application prospect were forecasted as well in the paper.

Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins ; Src Homology 2 Domain-Containing, Transforming Protein 1

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of Fuhuang Tablets in treating internal hemorrhoid hemorrhage and discussing the design and quality control of clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: According to two-center, randomized, blinded and controlled study, 144 patients with internal hemorrhoids were divided into 2 groups. Seventy-two patients were treated with Fuhuang Tablets (4 tablets t.i.d. per os) and the other 72 patients were treated with Zhining Tablets (4 tablets t.i.d. per os). Symptoms and signs of the patients were recorded and evaluated at the third and seventh day of treatment respectively. RESULTS: At the third day of treatment, the overall response rates of Fuhuang Tablets-treated group and Zhining Tablets-treated group were 58.57% and 27.78% respectively, with statistic difference between the two groups (P<0.05). At the seventh day of treatment, the overall response rates of Fuhuang Tablets-treated group and Zhining Tablets-treated group were 91.43% and 81.94% respectively, with no statistic difference between the two groups. The laboratory test results and life signs of the 144 patients were normal before and after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Fuhuang Tablets are effective and safe in treating internal hemorrhoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND:Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) have been widely used in MRI. It is vital to prepare the superparamagnetic MRI contrast agent with high stability, biocompatibility and tumor targeting in order to prevent the aggregation of Fe 3 O 4 NPs and realize the high-precision diagnose of tumor. OBJECTIVE:To prepare the amphiphilic superparamagnetic composite particles with tumor targeting mediated by folate receptor. METHODS:The stable amphiphilic superparamagnetic composite particles with tumor targeting function were prepared by coating the Fe3O4 NPs with a Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugate, which was synthesized via an esterification reaction between the carboxyl group of the tumor targeting molecule, folic acid and the hydroxyl group of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127. The resultant Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe3O4 composite particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared-spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer and T2-weighted imaging. WST assay was used to characterize their cytotoxicity preliminarily. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugates were prepared via esterification reaction. Then Fe 3 O 4 NPs were wrapped with Pluronic F127-folic acid to result in the superparamagnetic composite particles with wel dispersion and biocompatibility. The size of most superparamagnetic composite particles was less than 200 nm and the size of Fe 3 O 4 core was 10-20 nm from the observation of transmission electron microscopy. The results from the Fourier transform infrared-spectra and UV-vis absorption spectroscop confirmed that folic acid molecules were modified on the surface of the superparamagnetic composite particles successful y. The mass ratio of Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugate was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis as 27.2 wt%in the resultant Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe 3 O 4 composite particles. The saturated magnetic intensity of the superparamagnetic composite particles was 47.35 emu/g by vibrating sample magnetometer and the relaxation rate was 0.025×106 mol/s from MRI. The WST assay showed the negligible cellcytotoxicity of Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe3O4. The superparamagnetic composite particles have potential application as the MRI contrast agents with tumor targeting, and the Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe 3 O 4 composite particles is expected to be used as a MRI contrast agent for tumor targeting.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of transcatheter thrombus-breaking combined with local infusion of reteplase (rPA) in treating severe pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Methods During the period from June 2010 to June 2013 at authors’ hospital, transcatheter thrombus-breaking combined with local infusion of reteplase was carried out in 26 patients (17 males and 9 females) with severe pulmonary embolism. The changes of pulmonary circulation and the cardio - pulmonary hemodynamics after the treatment were analyzed. Results The preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure, arterial blood oxygen partial pressure and the blood pressure were (63.78 ± 6.89) mmHg, (73.23 ± 11.51) mmHg and (87.35 ± 10.92) mmHg respectively, while the postoperative ones were (26.23 ± 10.27) mmHg, (93.48 ± 6.17) mmHg and(127.14 ± 13.15) mmHg respectively, and the differences between preoperative and postoperative ones were statistically significant (P<0.01). All the patients were followed up for 6 - 36 months. Significant stable clinical improvement was obtained in 25 patients, and recurrence was seen in one patient. Conclusion Transcatheter thrombus-breaking combined with local infusion of reteplase can quickly improve the pulmonary circulation and the clinical conditions for patients with severe pulmonary thromboembolism, and it has no obvious complications. This technique carries excellent value in maintaining the stability of hemodynamics.

Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) combined with serum tumor markers in borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) and benign epithelial ovarian tumors (BET).Methods The CT data in 28 patients with BOT and 41 patients with BET,both confirmed by surgery and pathological,were analyzed retrospectively.Their preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125),human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) detection results were collected.The CT images features and serum tumor markers levels were compared between the two groups.Results The difference in the appearance rate of tumor solid composition,thick septum and wall nodule between the two groups had statistical significance (x2 =25.135,5.240,5.066,P＜0.05).The serum CA125 level had statistical difference between the two groups (Z=3.202,P＜0.05),while serum HE4 and CEA levels had no statistically significant difference between the two groups(Z=0.330,1.122,P＞0.05).The optimal critical value,sensitivity and specificity of serum CA125 level in differential diagnosis of two kinds of tumor was 42.45 U/mL,53.6％ and 85.4％.The overall diagnostic rate of solid composition and thick septum for diagnosing the two kinds of tumor was 78.5 ％.The overall diagnostic rate of solid composition,thick septum and CA125 level for diagnosing the two kinds of tumor was 81.2％.Conclusion The appearance of solid composition,thick septum and serum CA125 level increase in epithelial ovarian tumor may help to identify BOT and BET.

Objective To study the effect of glutamate on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein in cultured rat astrocytes. Methods Cultured rat astrocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (C), glutamate group (G), QA group (Q), DCG-IV group (D), L-AP4 group (L) and glutanmte-FMCPG gronp (G+M). Cells were cultured under nomoxic condition (95% air, 5% CO2). RT-PCR and ELISA methods were used to detect the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in cultured astrocytes, respectively. G+ M group was preincubated with lmM MCPG for 30 min prior to the stimulation with glutamate. There were 7 time points at 0,4,8,12,16,24 and 48 h in each group except G+M group. Results The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein did not differ significantly among D group, L group and C group. Different from that in C group, the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein could be enhanced both in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in G group and Q group. Meanwhile, the enhanced expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in G group was completely suppressed by MCPG after 24 h. Conclusion Glutamate can increase the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in cultured astrocytes, which may be due to the activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in astrocytes.

Objective To discuss the value of prenatal ultrasound and MRI in diagnosis of fetal agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC). Methods Sixty-seven fetuses from Hubei Maternal and Children's Hospital performed fetal MRI from July 2013 to December 2014 were included in this study. All fetuses (67 cases) with suspected ACC were studied with a 1.5T MR unit within 3 days after ultrasound examination. Prenatal ultrasound and MRI findings were studied. Results All the 67 ACCs previously suspected on ultrasound were confirmed by MRI. Among the 67 ACCs, 58 cases were complete ACC and 9 cases were partial ACC. Corpus callosum body and/or splenium absence was found in all 9 partial ACC cases. In all cases, on MRI, corpus callosum complete or partial absence was showed on the median sagittal images, and mild to moderate ventriculomegaly and abnormal morphology in lateral ventricle was shown on the axial or coronary images. Conclusions MRI has high value in diagnosis of ACC. When ACC is found or suspected by ultrasonophy, MRI examination is suggested to confirm the diagnosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the imaging features of fetal tuberous sclerosis complex by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging.MethodsRetrospective analysis on the imaging characteristics of the 10 cases of fetuses confirmed as tuberous sclerosis complex who were examined in Hubei Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital in July 2013 to December 2014 by ultrasonography and MRI, which was compared with the pathological data of specimens and follow-up after birth.ResultsEighteen cases were diagnosed as fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma by ultrasonography among all of the 996 fetuses, in which lesions were located on the ventricular wall near septum or elsewhere in the heart cavity on ultrasonography. Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma was characterized by circular, homogeneous high echo (singleton in 4 cases, multiple in 14 cases). Among them no subependymal nodule was found by ultrasonographic. Ten cases of subependymal nodule were found by magnetic resonance imaging, which were diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis complex with cardiac rhabdomyomas, including 3 cases of brain subcortical tubers. The subependymal nodules under the lateral ventricle wall showed characteristic low signal nodules on T2WI, protruding from the ependymal surface. Of 18 cases, only 4 cases of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma were found by MRI. Nine cases of ifnally had termination of pregnancy. Two cases were conifrmed as cardiac rhabdomyoma with intracranial nodules after pathological examination, and 1 case was conifrmed as tuberous sclerosis complex after birth. ConclusionsPrenatal ultrasonography can diagnose fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma successfully, and MRI can diagnose the fetal brain nodules sensitively. Once ultrasonography finds cardiac rhabdomyoma, it may be promising to diagnose fetal tuberous sclerosis complex by ultrasonography combined with MRI.

Objective To study the effective sterilization method of laparoscopic instruments. Methods Using 2 different methods to sterilize the same laparoscopic instruments,and then compared the effects of sterilization. Results The bactericial rate of the 2 methods were both 100%. Conclusion The Huiri sterilizing method only need 40 minutes,which fits the requirement of one by one operation.