OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Guilingji Capsule (GC) on the fertility, liver functions, and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of adult male SD rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone.

METHODSTotally 18 adult male SD rats and 36 adult female rats in child-bearing period were selected and randomly divided into three groups according to weight equilibrium principle, i.e., the normal group, the radiated group, and the GC group, 6 males and 12 females in each group. Male rats in the normal group and all female rats were not radiated. Male rats in the radiated group and the GC group received radiation for 4 h per day, lasting for 18 successive days. Rats in the GC group received GC suspension at the daily dose of 0. 15 g/kg by gastrogavage at the same time. Equal volume of normal saline was administrated to other male rats. Then male rats were mated with corresponding female rats from the 14th radiation night to the 18th radiation night in the ratio of 1:2. Male rats were killed following on the next morning of ending the radiation. Female rats were normally fed and then killed before delivery. The pregnant outcomes of female rats in responding groups (the rates of pregnancy and the number of death fetus, birth weight, body length, and tail length) were observed and compared. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), AST/ALT, and LDH levels of the male rats were detected by colorimetry. Histological and morphological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the pregnancy rates of female rats decreased and the number of death fetus increased, the serum LDH level obviously increased in the radiated group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of ALT, AST, and AST/ALT were no significantly changed in the radiated group. The hepatocyte nuclear atrophy and cytoplasm vacuolar degeneration appeared. Compared with the radiated group, the pregnancy rates increased, the number of death fetus dropped, and the serum level of LDH decreased in the GC group (P < 0.05). There was no obvious change in serum levels of ALT, AST, or AST/ALT. The hepatocyte nuclear atrophy and cytoplasm vacuolar degeneration were significantly attenuated. The histomorphological structures recovered to normal basically in the GC group.

CONCLUSIONSThe pregnancy rates could be decreased, the number of death fetus increased, histomorphological structures abnormal, and serum LDH level increased by exposure toy GSM 900 MHz cell phone. GC could prevent and treat the aforesaid lesion. But there was no statistical difference in serum ALT or AST levels.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fertility ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; blood ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Radiation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To summarize our experience in the management of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) during aortic arch surgery.Methods From March 2007 to May 2010,58 consecutive patients,including 24 urgent and 34 selective operations underwent aortic arch surgery.Thirty-nine hemiarch and 19 total aortic arch replacement operations were performed.CPB was established by perfusion through femoral artery (42 cases) and right subclavian artery (RSA) ( 16 cases),of which 4 cases were carried out with antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP).Results The mean CPB time was ( 208.88 ± 136.45 ) min.The mean cerebral circulation arrest was ( 27.36 ± 11.50 ) min.Nasopharyngeal and rectal temperature were ( 16.01 ±2.67)℃ and ( 19.72 ±2.13)℃ respectively before DHCA was initiated.The mean times for cooling and rewarming were ( 50.91 ± 16.89) min and ( 88.97 ± 43.68 ) min.The mean time of intubation was (56.70 ± 45.19 ) h.The time in ICU was ( 5.68 ± 5.31 ) d,and the time of hospitalization was (30.11 ± 22.27 ) d.Acute renal failure,hypoxemia,and paraplegia occurred post-operatively in 4,19,and 2 patients,respectively.Four patients died post-operatively with a mortality of 6.90％.Compared with those received hemiarch replacement operation,the patients received total aortic arch replacement had statistically longer time of CPB([262.16 ±219.97]min vs [182.92 ±53.81] min,t =2.14,P ＜0.05),cerebral circulatory arrest ( [30.47 ± 15.86 ] win vs [25.85 ± 8.48 ] min,t =2.40,P ＜ 0.05 ),rewarming ( [110.00 ± 68.66 ] min vs [78.72 ± 17.31 ] min,t =2.69,P ＜ 0.05 ),and intubation ( [93.95 ± 131.89 ] h vs [38.08 ± 30.70 ] h,t =2.50,P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in the times of these procedures between emergency surgery group and elective surgery group,between RSA and femoral artery cannulation groups.Conclusion It is crucial that the cooling and re-warming procedures during aortic arch surgery should be carried out slowly,gradually,and completely when DHCA was adopted alone.conclusion through right axillary artery or RSA was preferred for ACP,in order to accomplish the body circulation arrest at a relative high temperature,to shorten the CPB time,and to alleviate potential harmful effects of hypothermia.Meticulous management of CPB is one of the most important measures to improve the patients' outcome.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of microneurosurgery by supraorbital key-hole or endonasal transsphenoidal approaches in the treatment of pituitary adenoma and investigate their complications. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 87 patients with pituitary adenoma of which the anteroposterior diameter was less than 3 cm. These patients, admitted to our hospital from May, 2006 to June, 2008, were operated in an endoscope-assisted microsurgical manner via a supraorbital key-hole approach (n=42) or an endonasal transsphenoidal approach (n=45). The efficacy of these two approaches was compared and their complications were observed. Results The excision rate of the pituitary adenoma developing on or around the sella turcica operated through the supraorbital key-hole approach was significantly higher than that through the endonasal transsphenoidal approach(P< 0.05); while that of microadenoma or adenoma developing towards the sphenoid sinus operated through the supraorbital keyhole approach was statistically lower than that through the endonasal transsphenoidal approach (P<0.05). No obvious differences on the improvement of endocrine secretion, visual acuity and field was noted in these two approaches (P>0.05). The incidence rate of epistaxis and unilateral dysosphresia in the supraorbital key-hole approach was significantly lower as compared with that in the endonasal transsphenoidal approach (P<0.05). Conclusion Rarely having such complications as dysosphresia, epistaxis and sphenoiditis, neuroendoscopic surgery through supraorbital key-hole approach is the best way of treating the pituitary adenoma developing on or around the sella turcica and worth to promote in clinic.

Objective To investigate the expression of GOLPH3 in the tumor tissues of patients with gliomas and evaluate its clinical significance. Methods Seventy-six patients with brain gliomas (13 with grade Ⅰ, 27 grade Ⅱ, 25 grade Ⅲ and 11 with glioblastoma) performed surgical excision in our hospitals from July 2008 to December 2009 were chosen and 9 cases of normal brain tissues from patients performed decompression operation resulting from cerebral hernia were selected as the controls in our experiment. RT-PCR and Western-blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of GOLPH3. Results The results investigated by RT-PCR and Western-blotting were consistent,revealing that the mRNA and protein expression rate of GOLPH3 in glioma tissues was not significantly different between different grades of tumors (P＞0.05), but their expression value was obviously significant between different grades of tumors and increased in a grade-dependent manner (P＜0.05). And minimal mRNA and protein expressions of GOLPH3 were found in the tissues of controls. The up-regulative protein expression of GOLPH3 was positively correlated to the malignancy-grade of the gliomas (r,=0.961, P=0.000). Conclusion The mRNA and protein expressions of GOLPH3 are noted with positive correlation to the pathological grades of the gliomas, indicating th at GOLPH3 may play an important role in the generation and development of gliomas.

OBJECTIVETo study the combined effect of gestational age and birth weight on metabolites related to inherited metabolic diseases (IMD).

METHODSA total of 3 381 samples ruled out of IMD by follow-up were randomly selected from 38 931 newborns who participated in the neonatal IMD screening during 2014-2016. The 3 381 neonates were categorized into seven groups according to their gestational age and birth weight: extremely preterm appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) group (n=12), preterm small-for-gestational age (SGA) group (n=18), preterm AGA group (n=219), preterm large-for-gestational age (LGA) group (n=18), full-term SGA group (n=206), full-term AGA group (n=2 677), and full-term LGA group (n=231). Heel blood samples were collected from each group on postnatal days 3-7 after adequate breastfeeding. Levels of 17 key IMD-related metabolic indices in dried blood spots were measured using tandem mass spectrometry. Spearman′s correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationships between 17 IMD-related metabolic indices and their influencing factors, while covariance analysis was used to compare the metabolic indices between these groups.

RESULTSAfter adjusting the influencing factors such as physiological and pathological status, compared with the full-term AGA group, the extremely preterm AGA, preterm SGA, and preterm AGA groups had significantly reduced levels of leucine\isoleucine\hydroxyproline and valine (P<0.05); the preterm AGA group had a significantly decreased ornithine level (P<0.05); the extremely preterm AGA and preterm AGA groups had a significantly reduced proline level (P<0.05). Besides, the phenylalanine level in the extremely preterm AGA and preterm AGA groups, the methionine level in the preterm SGA group, and the tyrosine level in the preterm AGA group all significantly increased (P<0.05). The increased levels of free carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and propionylcarnitine were found in the preterm SGA and preterm AGA groups. The oleylcarnitine level also significantly increased in the preterm SGA group (P<0.05). Most carnitine indices showed significant differences between the SGA group and the AGA/LGA group in both preterm and full-term infants (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLow gestational age and low birth weight may result in abnormal results in IMD screening. Therefore, gestational age and birth weight should be considered to comprehensively judge the abnormal results in IMD screening.

Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; metabolism

Objective To compare the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and GRACE score in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods A total of 246 patients with chest pain to hospital time < 24 hours were followed up to 30 days. Admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide was measured by point-of-care. Endpoints included death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia and new onset of congestive heart failure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate prognostic value of BNP and GRACE score. The logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic contribution of BNP level and GRACE score. Results The mean age was (67. 6 ± 12. 0) years (61. 8% males) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed in 135 patients (54.9% ). During the follow up, 34 endpoints ( 13. 8% ) were recorded including 9 deaths (3.7%). The systolic blood pressure [(121 ±29)mm Hg vs. (130±23)mm Hg, P=0.034; 1 mm Hg=0. 133 kPa] was significantly lower while the heart rate and plasma creatinin were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group. TNI and CRP levels were similar between the two groups. The BNP level at admission (median 883.5 ng/L vs. 216.5 ng/L) and GRACE score (median 164.5 vs. 142.0) were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group (all P <0. 05). The prognostic criteria for BNP level (area under cure, 0.704) was 194.5 ng/L determined by ROC(P=0. 043). For GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0. 742 ( P = 0. 003 ) and the cut-off point was 158. In the logistic regression model, BNP concentration ( > 194.5 ng/L, OR =3. 174) and GRACE score ( > 158, OR = 4. 031) were independent predictors of endpoints in patients with ACS. Conclusion Both BNP level at admission and GRACE score were independent predictors for endpoints at 30 days in patients with ACS.

OBJECTIVE Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system and is associated with a very poor prognosis. No further improvements in outcomes have been reported since radiotherapy-temozolomide therapy was introduced.Therefore,de-veloping new agents to treat GBM is important. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of evodiamine (Evo) on GBM cells, and to determine the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS U251,LN229,HEB and PC12 cells were treated with various concentrations of evodiamine for 24 and 48 hours,cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The U251 and LN229 cells were treated with evo-diamine(0-10 μmol·L-1)for 24 h,and then stained with Hoechst 33258.An Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit was used to detect apoptosis in the cells.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)production was detected using dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining. The changes in mitochondrial mem-brane potential (MMP) were assessed by JC-1 after cells were treated with evodiamine. The expres-sion levels of p-PI3K,PI3K,p-Akt,Akt,Bax,Bcl-2,p-p38,p38,p-JNK,JNK,p-ERK,ERK,Cytochrome c, Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-3, PRAP, and cleaved PARP were measured by Western blot analy-ses. RESULTS According to MTT assay results, Evo significantly inhibited the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that Evo induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.Moreover,Evo induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption. Finally, Evo induced apoptosis in cancer cells by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling and inducing MAPK phos-phorylation(p38 and JNK,but not ERK)to regulate apoptotic proteins(Bax,Bcl-2,Cytochrome c,Cas-pase-3, and PARP). CONCLUSION In summary, Evo inhibits cell proliferation by inducing cellular apoptosis via suppressing PI3K/AKT and activating MAPK in GBM;these results indicate that Evo may be regarded as a new approach for GBM treatment.

Objective To evaluate the performance of diluted thrombin time (dTT) assay for detecting Dabigatran levels and observe whether this assay may meet the requirements of clinical laboratory.Methods According to EP15-A2,EP6-A,EP7-A and C-24 documents of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI),the precision,trueness,analytical measurement range,carryover rate and anti-biological interference of dTT assay were evaluated and the stability of specimen for dTT assay was observed.Results Both the within-day and between-day coefficient of variation (CV) of dTT assay for detecting Dabigatran levels were consistent with manufacturer's stated CV.Compared with target values of Dabigatran,the relative bias of 3 levels of proficiency test materials from College of American Pathologists (CAP) were less than 10％.The results meet linear verification when Dabigatran concentration was between 30.92 and 249.13 ng/mL.The carryover rate was-0.84％.There was no interference for Dabigatran levels by dTT assay for detecting Dabigatran when Hb≤3 g/L,triglyceride≤873 mg/dL,heparin≤2.2 IU/mL and FDP≤29 mg/L.The results of stability showed that plasma specimens for dTT could not be stored at room temperature more than 4 hours,at 4 ℃ more than 4 days,at-20 ℃ exceed 1 month,while at-80℃ the plasma specimens could be stored at least 6 months for dTT assay.Conclusion The precision,trueness,analytical measurement range,carryover rate,anti-biological interference of dTT assay may meet the requirement of clinical laboratory.The stability of the specimen can fulfill the clinical requirements.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and prognosis analysis of localized retroperitoneal Castleman disease (CD), and to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal Castleman disease with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP).

METHODSThe clinical data of retroperitoneal CD with PNP from January 1993 to May 2009 were compared with CD without PNP retrospectively, including clinical features, tumor site, lab examination, surgical treatment, pathologic subtype and results of surgery.

RESULTS(1) Retroperitoneal Castleman disease more likely originated in para-kidney and iliac fossa with middle age of 36 years old, especially in left retroperitoneum. Of the 20 cases, 18 tumors (90%) were hyaline vascular variants and 2 were mixed variants. There was no statistical difference in gender, age, tumor site and pathological subtype between two groups. (2) Retroperitoneal CD with PNP more likely complicated with bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) and high level of serum CEA/CA242. (3) Retroperitoneal Castleman tumors had clear margin, intact envelop and were easily resectable, however the biological behavior of CD with PNP might tend malignant changing, invade adjacent blood vessel or seed locally, and eventually relapse after operation. (4) The 5-year survival rate of retroperitoneal CD with PNP was 42.8%, significantly lower than those without PNP. The average survival time was 30 months. Bronchiolitis obliterans and radical resection were the key effect in prognosis of retroperitoneal CD.

CONCLUSIONSRetroperitoneal CD with PNP has distinctive clinical features. Early diagnosis, prompt removal of tumor and termination secretion of causative antibody are critical to the management of this disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Castleman Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; Pemphigus ; complications ; Prognosis ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo summarize the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of asymptomatic aortic dissection (AD).

METHODSTen patients of asymptomatic AD were treated from January 2002 to June 2006. The patients were followed up and their data were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTSTwo patients of type A AD treated by open surgery and the 6 patients of type B AD received endovascular stent-graft repair were successfully treated, and no in-hospital death and severe complication occurred. Furthermore, all of them survived during follow-up. One of the 2 patients of type B AD received medical treatment still survive, but the other suddenly died during follow-up. The most possible cause of his death was fatal aorta rupture.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of asymptomatic AD could be missed or mistaken easily because of its asymptomatic. Keeping a high clinical index of suspicion is crucial in establishing the diagnosis of asymptomatic AD. The asymptomatic AD also has high risk of fatal aorta rupture associated with re-dissection and aneurysmal dilatation. Therefore, type A and B asymptomatic AD should be treated by open surgery or endovascular repair respectively if possible. Endovascular stent-graft repair is a safe and effective method for the treatment of type B asymptomatic AD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Aortic Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome