To study effect of vitrification state of protective solutions on recovery of red blood cells after lyophilization, four protective solutions composed of isotonic buffers containing 7% DMSO (v/v) and 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (w/v) were adopted. Vitrification state of protective solutions was examined first when white ice crystal appeared in any protective solution during freezing or thawing, if the used solution was not a vitrification solution. Red blood cells were lyophilized in MINILYO45 freeze-dryer after washing, mixing with protective solutions and prefreezing. After lyophilization, the samples were quickly rehydrated by 37 degrees C rehydration solution. The results showed that in vitrification and devitrification experiments, white ice crystal appeared in solution of 20% PVP + 7% DMSO and 30% PVP + 7% DMSO during freezing and thawing; vitrification appeared in solution of 40% PVP + 7% DMSO during freezing, but devitrification appeared during thawing; vitrification appeared in solution of 50% PVP + 7% DMSO during freezing and thawing. After rehydration, the recoveries of red blood cells and hemoglobin in 40% PVP + 7% DMSO group were (81.36 +/- 14.94)% and (77.54 +/- 12.86)%, which were significantly higher than that in 20% PVP + 7% DMSO, 30% PVP + 7% DMSO and 50% PVP + 7% DMSO groups (P < 0.01). The concentration of free hemoglobin in 40% PVP + 7% DMSO group was also significantly lower than that in other three groups (P < 0.01). With increase of PVP concentration in protective solutions, vitrification state and protective effect of these solutions also increased; when concentration of PVP in protective solution was 40% though it was not a vitrification solution, the effect of lyophilization was the best; but when concentration of PVP further increased to 50%, though it was a vitrification solution, the effect decreased. It is concluded that excessive vitrification state could not benefit lyophilization of red blood cells.
Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Freeze Drying ; methods ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Povidone ; pharmacology

Objective The goal of this report was to evaluate the applicability of the da Vinci S surgical system in thoracic surgery.Methods The da Vinci S surgical system consists of a console, a patient cart, and a vision system.The patient cart loading with 3 robot arms and 1 central endoscope arm connects the console which commands the movements of the arm tips.The robot arm tips are introduced via small chest wall ports and attached to the arms of the robot.The surgeon, sitting at the console, manipulates highly sensitive sensors that transfer the surgeon's movements to the arm tips.The so called EndoWrist'technology offers up , down, left, right, and twist, seven degrees of movements, thus exceeding the capacity of a surgeon's hand in open surgery.17 intrathoracic lesion cases, including 12 Myasthenia Gravis, 1 diaphragm hernia, 2 esophageal cancer, 1 pulmonary cancer , 1 pneumothorax, were evaluated for clinical application of the da Vinci S surgical system.Results Out of 17 surgical procedures, 14 procedures were done using the robot from beginning to the end, including 12 thymectomies, 1 diaphragm hernia repair, 1 pulmonary bleb dissection.Only gastric mobilizations, the abdominal part procedures were done using the da Vinci S system, and the thoracic part procedures were done through small incision thoracotomy in 2 cases with esophageal cancer.One resection of left upper lobectomy had to be converted due to surgical problem.The postoperative courses were uneventful.Conclusion The da Vinci operating robot can do nearly all kinds of thoracic operations.Advanced general thoracic procedures can be performed safely and effectively with the da Vinci S robot allowing precise dissection.This benefit becomes evident most elegantly in thymectomies.The robot operation procedures can be done by the doctors with open and assisted thoracopic surgery experiences and other personnels getting trained in a short period of time, but case selection and preparing emergency thoracotomy at any time is needed to ensure the patient safety.

A novel targeting drug carrier (FA-BO-PAMAM) based on the PAMAM G5 dendrimer modified with borneol (BO) and folic acid (FA) molecules on the periphery and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded in the interior was designed and prepared to achieve the purposes of enhancing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transportation and improving the drug accumulation in the glioma cells. 1H NMR was used to confirm the synthesis of FA-BO-PAMAM; its morphology and mean size were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Based on the HBMEC and C6 cells, cytotoxicity assay, transport across the BBB, cellular uptake and anti-tumor activity in vitro were investigated to evaluate the properties of nanocarriers in vitro. The results showed that the nanocarrier of FA-BO-PAMAM was successfully synthesized, which was spherical in morphology with the average size of (22.28 ± 0.42) nm, and zeta potential of (7.6 ± 0.89) mV. Cytotoxicity and transport across the BBB assay showed that BO-modified conjugates decreased the cytotoxicity of PAMAM against both HBMEC and C6 cells and exhibited higher BBB transportation ability than BO-unmodified conjugates; moreover, modification with FA increased the total uptake of DOX by C6 cells and enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX-polymer against C6 cells. Therefore, FA-BO-PAMAM is a promising nanodrug delivery system in employing PAMAM as a drug carrier and treatment for brain glioma.
Biological Transport ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bornanes ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendrimers ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Folic Acid ; chemistry ; Glioma ; Humans

Adolescent ; Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of multidrug resistant protein 2 (MRP2) and glutathione (GSH) cotransport system in hepatic arsenic metabolism in rats.

METHODSThirty healthy Wistar rats were divided randomizedly into five groups. The first group was the control group and the rats in this group were administered with normal saline. In the second, third and fourth group the rats were administered with 4, 10 and 20 mg As(+)3/kg BW of sodium arsenite respectively every other day for two weeks. The fifth group was the benzene-soluble organics (BSO) intervention group and in this group the rats were administered with 2 mmol/kg BW BSO intraperitoneally every day three days before the end of the experiment. The other treatment was the same as in other groups. All rats were sacrificed two weeks after the treatments. Arsenic contents in bile, liver and blood were detected by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and the expression of MRP2 in the membrane of hepatocyte was determined by Western-blot analysis.

RESULTSThe level of total arsenic (including organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic) in bile, liver and blood in all three different dose groups was higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.05). Arsenic levels of bile and liver were increased with intragastric arsenic dose. Blood arsenic levels were not significantly different in three different dose groups. Expression of hepatic MRP2 was increased with intragastric arsenic concentration. A positive correlation between biliary arsenic concentration and MRP2 levels was found in liver (r = 0.986, P < 0.05). For the rats pretreated with BSO, the biliary arsenic was significantly higher than that in the control group but lower than that in the high dose group; the liver and blood arsenic was higher than that in the control group and in the high dose group. Expression of MRP2 pretreated with BSO was decreased.

CONCLUSIONSodium arsenite can induce expression of MRP2 and the up-regulation of MRP2 may play an important role in the bile secretion of arsenite and its metabolites. The function of MRP2 for transportation of arsenic and its metabolites is associated with the intracellular GSH level. BSO inhibits the synthesis of GSH, which weakens the function of the MRP2-GSH cotransport system and makes the liver arsenic increased.

Animals ; Arsenic ; pharmacokinetics ; Arsenic Poisoning ; metabolism ; Bile ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione ; biosynthesis ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study changes to CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood from children with bronchiolitis, and to explore its clinical significance.

METHODSThirty-one children with bronchiolitis and aged under two years were randomly enrolled as the bronchiolitis group, and 25 under two-year-olds with bronchopneumonia were randomly enrolled as the bronchopneumonia group. A further twenty-five children with non-infectious diseases such as hernia and renal calculus served as the control group. The level of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood was measured by multi-color detection and multi-parameter flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe proportion of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood in the bronchiolitis group (8.0%±2.1%) was significantly lower than in the bronchopneumonia (9.6%±2.6%; P<0.05) and control groups (11.3%±2.9%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg level in peripheral blood may be an index of immunological function in infants. A decreased level of CD4(+)CD25(high+)CD127(low) Treg in peripheral blood suggests that Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis and development of bronchiolitis.

Bronchiolitis ; immunology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit ; blood ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

To study effect of pre-freezing temperature and lyophilizer shelf temperature on recovery of human red blood cells after lyophilization and determine solidifying temperature of this lyophilization system, the protective solution composed of 7% DMSO, 40% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and isotonic buffer were adopted to lyophilize red blood cells at different pre-freezing temperatures or shelf temperatures. At first, fresh whole blood was centrifugated, washed and equilibrized to prepare concentrated red blood cells. Then concentrated red blood cells were mixed with the protective solution at 1:3 and pre-freezed at different temperature (-20, -35, -45, -80 or -196 degrees C) before lyophilization in lyophilizer. To study effect of shelf temperature on lyophilization of red blood cells, red blood cells were lyophilized at different shelf temperature after pre-freeze at -80 degrees C. After lyophilization, the samples were quickly rehydrated by 37 degrees C rehydration solution. The results showed the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after pre-freeze at different temperature and lyophilization were > 85% and > 75%, there was not significant difference among these groups, but the concentration of free hemoglobin in -196 degrees C group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.01). With decreasing of shelf temperature, the lyophilizing time was also prolonged. When shelf temperature was > or = -25 degrees C, samples were not fully lyophilized; when shelf temperature was < or = -30 degrees C, the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after lyophilization and rehydration were above 90%; after washed to isotonic state, the recovery rate of hemoglobin of the four groups was similar to each other. In conclusion, only when pre-freezing temperature is between -20 and -80 degrees C and the lyophilizer shelf temperature is < or = -30 degrees C, the effect of lyophilization is better, but the effect of excessively low pre-freezing temperature may even be worse.
Blood Preservation ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Freeze Drying ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo observe the supplementary analgesic effect of electroacupuncture and its influence on the maintenance of anesthesia and the speed of recovery of patients undergoing craniotomy.

METHODSEighty cases of supratentorial tumor resection were randomly divided into group A and group S, 40 cases in each group. All the patients were anesthetized with 2% Sevoflurane. The patients in group A received electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Waiguan (TE 5), Jinmen (BL 63) and Taichong (LR 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Qiuxu (GB 40) from anesthesia beginning to the end of operation, and in group S without electroacupuncture. The end-tidal Sevoflurane concentration, minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), bispectral index (BIS) and the information during anesthesia recovery stage were recorded, respectively.

RESULTSThe end-tidal concentration and MAC of Sevoflurane in group A at all times were significant lower than those in group S (P<0.05, P<0.01) with a Sevoflurane saving of 9.62% on average. The BIS in group A during a few phases were higher than that in group S (all P<0.05). During anesthesia recovery stage, the time of each phase in group A was significantly shorter than that in group S (all P<0.01). No dysphoria and one case with nausea and vomiting were shown in group A, but in group S, 2 patients had dysphoria and 3 patients had nausea and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with Sevoflurane anesthesia can decrease the dosage of Sevoflurane, shorten the recovery time of anesthesia and improve the quality of anesthesia recovery of the patients undergoing resection of supratentorial tumor.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anesthesia Recovery Period ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Supratentorial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of combined vaccination with 200IU dose of HBIG and 20 μg of anti-HBV vaccine for the prevention of HBV vertical transmission in babies delivered by HBeAg + and highly viremic mothers and the HBV markers' dynamic changes in babies during follow-up.

METHODSHBeAg + mothers with HBV DNA ≥ to 1.0 × 6 log(10) copies/ml were enrolled and their babies were followed up until 12 months old. The infants received HBIG 200 IU IM in 24 hrs and on day 15, and 20 μg recombinant anti-HBV vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. The HBV markers and HBV DNA were tested at birth day, and 1, 7, 12 months after birth respectively. The vertical transmission rate at birth and intrauterine infection rate, the HBsAb positive rate and the HBV markers' dynamic changes during follow up were evaluated.

RESULTS(1) 29 out of 127 infants with HBsAg (+) at birth, 11 of which were HBV DNA (+), HBV perinatal transmission rate was 22.83%. 2 infants' HBsAg were positive at month 1 and became negative at month 7 and 10 infants were still HBsAg (+) and HBV DNA (+). HBV intrauterine infection rate was 7.87%. (2) The positive rate of HBeAg and HBcAb in uninfected infants were 96.58% and 98.29% respectively, which declined gradually to undetectable level after immunization. No infants were HBeAb (+). (3) Infants uninfected produced effective HBsAb after vaccination. The level of HBsAb elevated gradually, and the level of HBeAg decreased quickly even to undetectable.

CONCLUSIONThe combination vaccination of 200 IU HBIG with 20 μg recombinant anti-HBV vaccine in the Infants delivered by HBeAg (+) and highly viremic mothers reduced obviously the rate of perinatal transmission of HBV, enhanced largely the production of antibody against HBV surface antigen and dropped the maternal HBeAg and HBcAb in infants or even to negative.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Immunization ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThere is no consensus regarding the performance for endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) at every stage of rectal cancer. Thus, the purpose of our study was to further assess the value of ERUS in the preoperative staging of rectal cancer.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed with 44 consecutive patients (mean age: (63.3 ± 10.2) years) who underwent surgical treatment for endorectal carcinoma and were preoperatively evaluated using Biplane ERUS between September 2008 and December 2010. We compared the ERUS staging with the pathological findings based on surgical specimens.

RESULTSERUS staging agreed with the histologic staging in 39 of the 44 (88.6%) patients: the agreement on the depth of transmural invasion was good (κ = 0.73; 95%CI: 0.60 - 0.86, P = 0.000). The detection sensitivities of rectal cancer with ERUS were as follows: T1 85.7%, T2 87.5%, T3 88.9%, and T4 100.0% with specificity values of T1 97.3%, T2 92.9%, T3 96.2%, and T4 97.6%. ERUS correctly staged patients with T1 95.5%, T2 90.9%, T3 70.5%, and T4 97.7%. The positive predictive value of ERUS was lowest for T4 (75%), but highest for T3 (94.1%) followed by T2 (87.5%) and T1 (85.7%); the negative predictive values of ERUS from high to low were ordered as T4 (100%), T1 (97.3%), T2 (92.9%), and T3 (92.6%). The percentage of total over-staged cases was 4.5% and the under-staged cases was 6.8%. The extent of perirectal lymph node metastases was determined with a sensitivity of 68.4% (13/19), specificity of 80.0% (20/25), and diagnostic accuracy of 75.0% (33/44).

CONCLUSIONBiplane ERUS has a high diagnostic accuracy for tumoral invasion of the rectal wall at every T stage, but relatively low diagnostic accuracy for lymph node metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography