BACKGROUND:The bispectral (BIS) index is a processed electroencephalogram (EEG) parameter with extensive validation and demonstrated clinical utility. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between the BIS index and the prognosis of patients with coma in the ICU. METHODS:A total of 208 patients with coma in the ICU were enrolled in this study. According to the BIS value, the patients were divided into four groups:group I, BIS value 0 to 20; group Ⅱ, BIS value 21 to 40; group Ⅲ, BIS value 41 to 60; and group IV, BIS value greater than 60. The difference in BIS values with the differences in prognosis of patients with coma was compared between the four groups, and the prognosis of patients with coma was stratified into consciousness, coma, vegetative state, and brain death. Subsequently, the best cut-off score of BIS values calculated for determining the correlation between BIS value and mental state was proposed. RESULTS:There are no significant differences in the age and APACHE Ⅱ scores between the four groups (P>0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between BIS value and mental state (r=–0.749, P=0.00). According to the ROC curve, as BIS value was greater than 42.5, there were higher sensitivity and specificity in conscious-coma patients. CONCLUSION:BIS value is correlated with the prognosis of patients with coma in ICU, and BIS value can be a useful marker for estimating the prognosis of comatose patients.

AIM: To better reveal the changing process of macula area after photodynamic therapy (PDT), the changes of tomographic imaging on macular fovea optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) scan at different follow- up time points after treating age-related macular degeneration ( AMD) by PDT were investigated.
METHODS: This cohort study included 30 eyes of 26 patients diagnosed as AMD. The dosage of verteporfin was calculated according to manufacturer's instruction. All participants got FFA, ICG, OCT scan and best corrected visual acuity before and followed up for 2wk, 1, 2, 3mo after PDT. The standard five lines combined with 6 lines OCT scan covered key parts of lesion and the scan locations before and after were kept the same. The bilaminar foveal thickness (BFT), outer high reflectivity band thickness ( OHRBT ) , and the total area of intraretinal fluid ( IRF ) and subretinal fluid ( SRF ) were measured at different time points. The relationship between the changes and follow up time was analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS for windows version 13. 0.
RESULTS: There months after treatment, an improvement of 2 lines or better on the Snellen chart was achieved on 22 eyes, visual acuity of 3 eyes without significant change, 3 eyes got decreased, 2 cases lost follow up. The average macular thickness of improved 22 eyes before treatment was 722. 5±55. 6μm, 2wk after treatment, 708. 3±45. 3μm, 1mo, 584. 4±49. 3μm, 2mo, 430. 7±50. 2μm and 180. 6 ±36. 3μm at 3mo. The OHRBT before and after treatment respectively were 302. 3 ±50-2μm, 277. 5±42. 3μm, 202. 7±40. 1μm, 180. 6±35. 7μm, 100. 8±22. 9μm. The total area of both IRF and SRF was estimated as 0. 34±0. 12mm2 , 0. 25±0. 07mm2 , 0. 10±0-05mm2 , 0. 08±0. 04mm2 , 0. 05±0. 01mm2 .
CONCLUSION:SRF and retinal edema of patients with AMD were absorbed 1mo after PDT, and the BFT, OHRBT were significantly tend to be thin.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Shennong No. 33 (SN33) in treating multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) by APACHE II and APACHE II scoring.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-nine patients of MODS were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 72) and the control group (n = 57), they were treated with comprehensive therapy and to the treated group, SN33 was given additionally. The changes of APACHE II and APACHE III scores and blood endotoxin level were observed at the time points of within 24 hrs after hospitalization, and the 3rd, 5th and 7th day.

RESULTSIn the treated group, 50 patients survived and 22 died, while in the control group, 25 survived and 32 died. The APACHE II and APACHE III scores of the survivors were higher than those of the decedent (P<0.05), which in the treated group was lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The blood level of endotoxin in the treated group was also lower than that in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSN33 in treating MODS could improve patients' condition, lead to the lowering of APACHE scores. APACHE scoring system could be applied as the criteria for evaluating the condition and prognosis of critical patients, and the APACHE III scoring is more accurate.

APACHE ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absorption of the water soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhiza and establish methods to determine Danshensu in rat serum after ig compound Salvia recipe.

METHODUsed liquid-liquid extraction to deal with the serum, then determined the sample by high-performance liquid chromatography. The conditions for HPLC were as the following: the mobile phase, CH3OH-CH3CN-0.5% CH3COOH (2.5:3.5:94) with a flow rate of 1.0 mL.min-1; detection wavelength, 281 nm; internal standard, 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid.

RESULTDanshensu and an unknown compound whose reserved time was little shorter than protocatechuic aldehyde were found in the rat serum after ig compound Salvia recipe, while protocatechuic aldehyde weren't found in the serum.

CONCLUSIONDanshensu can be absorbed into blood after ig compound Salvia recipe.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Lactates ; blood ; Male ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

The opening of laboratories in universities is one of important parts in teaching reform and it is necessary for bringing up high-qualified students.Combined with the practical teaching,we have a primary discussion with the problems of the laborato- ry opening and put forward some suggestions and measures.

Objective?To observe the clinical effect of FURS combined with ultrasound guided all seeing needle treatment of low pole renal calculi.?Methods?From January 2016 to January 2017, 63 patients with low pole renal calculi were enrolled in this study. 16 patients with multiple stones and 47 cases with single stones were treated by FURS combined with ultrasound guided all seeing needle. We retrospectively analyzed all the patients clinical data, including the operation time, bleeding volume, stone clearance rate, the incidence of postoperative complications, then assess the safety and effectiveness of the surgical approach.?Results?The operation time was 30 ~ 60 min, the average time was 45 min, postoperative complications in 3 cases, 2 cases of pain; no blood transfusion; 2 cases of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Postoperative hospital stay wad 2 ~ 3 d, an average of 2 d, postoperative residual stone in 3 cases, 2 weeks after the treatment of external lithotripsy, 1 case of stone clearance rate of 100.0%.?Conclusion?Retrograde FURS combined with ultrasound guided visual puncture for renal calculi is safe, effective and feasible.

OBJECTIVETo express and purify Schistosoma japonicum ribosomal protein S4(SjRPS4) in Escherichia coli, and assess its value in immunodiagnosis of Schistosomiasis japonica.

METHODSGene fragment of SjRPS4 was amplified by screening the cercaria cDNA library of Schistosoma japonicum. The target gene was cloned into the expressive vector pQE30 and transformed into E. coli M15. The recombinant protein expression was induced by isopropylthio-β-D-galactoside (IPTG). This fusion protein was purified by Ni(2+)-NTA chromatography and identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot and ELISA.

RESULTSThe plasmid pQE30/SjRPS4 was constructed successfully and expressed a SjRPS4 fusion protein in E. coli as showing a single special band on SDS-PAGE gel at Mr 30 × 10(3) position. It reached a purity of above 90% after purification. The Western blot result confirmed that the recombinant protein could specifically react with the serum samples from patients of schistosomiasis. Detecting the serum of Schistosomiasis japonica patients by ELISA, the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA method were 90.91% (70/77) and 92.59% (25/27), the positive rate of recombinant protein expression was 67.30% (70/104). There was no cross-reaction with paragonimiasis patients' serum.

CONCLUSIONProtein SjRPS4 was successfully cloned and expressed, and it was confirmed that SjRPS4 antibodies were valuable in the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis japonica.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Antigens, Helminth ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Ribosomal Proteins ; genetics ; Schistosoma japonicum ; genetics ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic mechanisms of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for experimental peripheral neuropathy induced by Campilobacter jejuni (Cj) lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODForty healthy Wistar rats weighing 205 - 230 g were divided into IFN-beta, IVIG, IFN-beta plus IVIG and control groups. After the immune neuropathy was induced in the rats by Cj LPS, IFN-beta (1.3 microg/kg) was given by subcutaneous injection to the rats every other day for 6 weeks; IVIG [400 mg/(kg x d)] was given to the rats for five days, every other week for two times and IFN-beta [1.3 microg/(kg x d)] and IVIG [400 mg/(kg x d)] were given to the rats on the same days. Meanwhile, the control group was given PBS. The sera were collected in the 2nd, 4th and 6th week after therapy, the titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 and TNF-alpha in sera of immunized rats were measured by ELISA; histological study of sciatic nerve was performed and IgG on sciatic nerve was detected by immunohistochemistry in the 6th week.

RESULTS(1) There were no significant differences in titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 and TNF-alpha among the 3 therapeutic groups and control group after therapy for 2 weeks (P > 0.05). (2) The titers of anti- GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the control group were much higher than those of the IFN-beta group, the IVIG group or the IFN-beta and IVIG group after therapy for 4 weeks (P > 0.01) and there were no significant differences in titers of antibody among the 3 therapeutic groups (P > 0.05); the titers of MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the IFN-beta and IVIG group were lower than those of the IFN-beta group or the IVIG group (P < 0.05). (3) The titers of anti-GM(1) IgG, MMP-9 or TNF-alpha in the control group were much higher than those of the IFN-beta group, the IVIG group or the IFN-beta with IVIG group after therapy for 6 weeks (P > 0.01); the IFN-beta with IVIG group had much lower levels of all indexes than the IFN-beta group or the IVIG group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIFN-beta and IVIG showed therapeutic effects on immune peripheral neuropathy through inhibiting the humoral and cellular immunity simultaneously in the peripheral neuropathy induced by CJ LPS, treatment with combined IFN-beta and IVIG was more effective.

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Immunotherapy ; Interferon Type I ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; Sciatic Nerve ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of glutamine on intestinal epithelial apoptosis by examining changes regarding Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expressions in the small intestine of young rats with endotoxemia and to explore the protective mechanism that glutamine may have.

METHODSA total of 120 18-day-old rats were randomly assigned into Endotoxemia, Glutamine-treated and Control groups (n = 40 each). The endotoxemia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (4 mg/kg of O55B5 Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide). Rats in the Glutamine-treated group were intraperitoneally injected with N (2)-L-alanyl-L-glutamine (2 g/kg) along with endotoxin. Rats in the Control group were intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. The entire ileum was collected at 2, 4, 6, 24, and 72 hrs after injection. Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expressions were detected by semi-quantities reverse transcriptase chain reaction.

RESULTSBcl-2 mRNA was not expressed in the Control and the Endotoxemia groups but increased in the Glutamine-treated group at each time point. Bax mRNA expression was weak in the Control group, and significantly increased in the Endotoxemia group at each time point. The Glutamine-treated group showed noticeably reduced Bax mRNA expression at 2 hrs post-injection while other time points were similar to the Control group. The ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression at each time point in the Endotoxemia group was significantly higher than that in the Control group while the Glutamine-treated group demonstrated significantly lower ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression than both.

CONCLUSIONSGlutamine treatment increased Bcl-2 mRNA expression and decreased Bax mRNA expression, as a result, the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression decreased. The effects of glutamine resulted in a suppression of intestinal epithelial apoptosis and maintained the integrity of the gut barrier structure.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Endotoxemia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Glutamine ; pharmacology ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness, safety and possible mechanism of recombinate human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.

METHODSThirty-four patients (totally 76 cycles) with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia received subcutaneous injection of rhIL-11 at the dose of 25 microg.kg(-1).d(-1) for 4 to 16 days. Serum IL-11 level was measured by ELISA, and IL-11 R alpha expression was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mean baseline platelet count before chemotherapy was (135.0 +/- 54.3) x 10(9)/L for the 1st cycle and (259.4 +/- 64.5) x 10(9)/L for the 2nd cycle. The time to administer rhIL-11 was 7 to 16 days (median 12 days) in the 1st cycle and 4 to 10 days (median 6 days) in the 2nd, respectively (P < 0.05). The duration of post-chemotherapy platelet count below 50 x 10(9)/L was 7 to 13 days (median 10 days) for the 1st cycle and 3 to 8 days (median 5 days) for the 2nd, respectively (P < 0.05). Platelet count reached 300 x 10(9)/L or above in 30 chemotherapy cycles. The maximum platelet count was found to appear at D10 to D 17 (median D14), and negatively correlated with the pre-chemotherapy serum IL-11 level after administration of rhIL-11. Major adverse reactions included edema, headache, muscle and joint pain.

CONCLUSIONrhIL-11 is effective and safe for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, with a relatively slow but sustained effect on the recovery of platelet count. Pre-chemotherpy serum IL-11 level might predict the efficacy of rhIL-11.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Interleukin-11 ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome