objective To explore the indication of mechanical ventilation and evaluate the effects of mechanical ventilation with the least delay on the Severe cases of hand-foot-mouth disease(HFMD).Methods Retrospective cohort study was conducted among the severe HFMD cases(n=66)admitted to pediatric intensive care unit(PICU)between July 2008 and september 2009.Sixty-six cases were divided into two groups:42 cases(group A,July 5 to October 31,2008)were ventilated with the common mechanical ventilation,24 cases(group B,April 21 to september 30,2009)were ventilated at least delay when the symptoms of neurogenic pulmonary edema appeared.Then the diffcrences on the survival rate and the mortality in the group A and group B were investigated.Results Twenty out of 42 patients died(47.6%),eighteen were cured(42.6%) and four showed improved signs(9.5%)in group A.Twenty-two out of 24 patients were cured(91.7%),two showed improved signs(8.3%)and no death in group B.The clinical effect of group B was much better tllan group A(P<0.001).Conclusion Early mechanical ventilation would improve the survival rate and decrease the mortality of severe hand-foot-mouth disease.

Objective To explore the clinical features and risk factors of children with severe hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD).Methods The clinical data of 68 children with HFMD associated with brainstem encephalitis were analysed retrospectively from Apr to Sep 2010.Results Among the 68 cases,63cases(92.6％ ) were younger than 3 years.The major symptoms and physical signs of 68 cases included rash (68 cases,100％ ),fever (68 cases,100％ ),fatigue (68 cases,100％ ),irritability (65 cases,95.6％ ),somnolence (42 cases,61.8％ ),vomiting (28 cases,41.2％ ),limb tremor (23 cases,33.8％ ),tendon reflexe hyperactivity (60 cases,88.2％ ),tachypnea or respiratory rhythm abnormality (63 cases,92.6％ ),tachycardia (65 cases,95.6％ ),and hypertension (54 cases,79.4％ ).Twenty-five cases (36.8％,25/68 ) had leucocytosis ( ＞ 12 × 109/L ),and 19 cases ( 27.9％,19/68 ) had hyperglycaemia.X-ray appearances:patchy and pathy shadows in single or bilateral pulmonary were seen in 46 cases( 67.6％,46/68 ).Forty-eight cases were examined by MRI,eight cases displayed ischemic lesions or demyelination.Spinal cord MRI was performed in 3 cases with flaccid paralysis,which showed demyelination.The etiology indicated that 38 cases ( 55.9％,38/68 ) were infected by enterovirus 71,25 cases( 36.8％,25/68 ) were infected by other enterovirus,5 cases (7.3％,5/68) were negative.All the cases were treated by mechanical ventilation with tracheal intubation,in whom 63 cases recovered well,4 cases improved,and 1 case gave up to die.Conclusion Ages ＜ 3 years,enterovirus 71 infection,continual fever,fatigue,somnolence,irdtability,vomiting,limb tremor,tendon reflexes hyperactivity,tachypnea or respiratory rhythm abnormality,tachycardia and hypertension are the high risks of critically ill children associated with severe HFMD.To reduce the fatality rate of HFMD,it is crucial to early judge the high risk factors,and take mechanical ventilations earlier.

Cocrystal separation technology is a technology that utilizes coformers to selectively form cocrystals with target compounds and separate them from mixed systems. Our study used puerarin (PUE), daidzein (DDZ), and genistein (GEN) as model drugs, which have similar structures and are the main isoflavones in Pueraria lobata root. The separation and purification processes in the modern traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of these three components use conventional column chromatography, recrystallization, and other technologies, which have the issues of lengthy separation cycles, high solvent consumption, and inefficient preparation. Different with existing separation technology, our team used the early-found cocrystal separation method to design a step-by-step extraction and separation experiment of GEN-PUE-DDZ ternary mixture. Caffeine and L-proline were added to the mixed system in turn, GEN-caffeine cocrystal and PUE-proline cocrystal were prepared by suspension method. The cocrystals precipitated out of the solution. The purities of the GEN-caffeine cocrystal and the PUE-proline cocrystal could achieve 93% (the purity of GEN) and 99% (the purity of PUE). Besides, the purity of DDZ could also be increased by 6.76 times. This study proposed a simple operating, low cost and wide application range separation method different from the traditional separation method and realized the separation of structurally similar chemical components in TCM, laying a foundation for the application of cocrystal technology in the separation and refining of TCM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Coagulation ; Factor XII ; genetics ; Factor XII Deficiency ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Point Mutation

We propose a novel strategy for multi-atlas-based image segmentation of the prostate on magnetic resonance (MR) images using an ellipsoidal shape prior constraint algorithm. An ellipsoidal shape prior constraint was incorporated into the process of multi-atlas based segmentation to restrict the regions of interest on the prostate images and avoid the interference by the surrounding tissues and organs in atlas selection. In the subsequent process of atlas fusion, the ellipsoidal shape prior constraint calibrated and compensated for the shape prior obtained by the registration technique to avoid incorrect segmentation caused by registration errors. Evaluation of this proposed method on prostate images from 50 subjects showed that this algorithm was effective and yielded a mean Dice similarity coefficients of 0.8812, suggesting its high accuracy and robustness to segment the prostate on MR images.

OBJECTIVEVasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin were previously shown in animal models of adventitia injury. We investigated the contribution of angiotensin II (AngII)/AngII receptors and oxidative stress to vascular contractility and reactivity in this model.

METHODSWistar Kyoto rats were divided into 3 groups: normal (n = 6, no any intervention, only for measuring the serum AngII concentration), vehicle (n = 12, collared), and valsartan (n = 12, collared + valsartan 30 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)). After one week of treatment, adventitia injury was induced by positioning a silicone collar around the right carotid artery for one week. Blood flow and vascular reactivity to serotonin were determined one week after injury, the blood from left ventricle was taken to measure the serum AngII concentration by ELISA, and carotids were harvested for morphometry and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAdventitia injury induced lumen cross-sectional area reduction (-44% vs. -5%), media diameter increase (62% vs. 10%), blood flow reduction [(2.79 ± 0.22) vs. (4.33 ± 0.84) ml/min] were significantly attenuated by valsartan. The increased vascular reactivity sensitivity to serotonin in vehicle group was also significantly reduced in valsartan group. Serum AngII concentration was significantly increased in vehicle group [(45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml vs. (19.83 ± 0.5) pg/ml in normal rats, P = 0.0148] and the expression of AngII type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, AngII type 2 (AT(2)) receptor, as well as p22(phox) in collared arteries were significantly upregulated. Valsartan did not affect the AT(1) receptor expression but further increased serum AngII concentration [(89.73 ± 20.44) pg/ml vs. (45.21 ± 4.52) pg/ml, P = 0.001], and AT(2) receptor expression, while downregulated p22(phox) expressions.

CONCLUSIONSCollar-induced adventitia injury resulted in chronic vasoconstriction and vascular hypersensitivity to serotonin via increased serum AngII level, upregulated AngII receptors expression in the vascular well, and activated local oxidative stress. These changes could be blocked by valsartan suggesting a crucial role of AngII/AngII receptors on vascular contractility and reactivity changes in this model.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Connective Tissue ; pathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study endoglin (CD105) gene expression in breast cancer and its clinicopathologic significance.

METHODSIn 40 patients with breast cancers, CD105 mRNA was detected at center and periphery of tumor and at nearby normal tissue by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe difference in CD105 mRNA expressions between cancer and normal breast tissue was significant (t = 12.08, P < 0.05), and the expression was significantly higher at the tumor periphery than at the tumor center (t = 7.52, P < 0.05). CD105 over-expression was related to lymph node metastases (t = 2.71, P < 0.05), but not to age, tumor size, pathologic grade or pathologic type (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCD105 over-expression may play a crucial role in the progression of breast cancer and lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Endoglin ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective:To explore the relationship between somatic symptoms of major depressive disorder(MDD)and cortisol(COR) rhythm, C-reactive protein(CRP) and other immune-metabolism-related indicators, and understand its mechanism from the perspective of endocrine and immune regulation.Methods:A case-control study was conducted in hospitalized patients with MDD who met DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.According to the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), PHQ-15 ≥10 were classified as the somatic major depressive disorder group(S-MDD group) and 73 patients were enrolled.PHQ-15 <5 was classified as the non-somatic depressive disorder group (NS-MDD group) and 70 patients were enrolled.Plasma cortisol (COR8, COR16 and COR24) levels were measured at 8∶00, 16∶00 and 24∶00 on the same day, plasma CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, serum uric acid (UA), blood glucose (GLU), blood lipid (TC, TG, HDL, LDL) level were detected at 8∶00.Independent sample t test, non-parametric test, chi-square test, repeated ANOVA, covariance analysis, and multivariate Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results:①Time effect, grouping effect and the interaction effect of the time and grouping in the level of COR were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Covariance analysis excluded age as an influential factor, COR16, AUC(total cortisol output/area under the curve, AUC) and COR8-16 in S-MDD group ((90.50±40.57)μg/L, (1 425.12±564.78), (-6.43±5.76))were higher than those in NS-MDD group((68.74±31.51)μg/L, (1 251.57±456.61), (-8.77±5.48)), and the difference was statistically significant ( F=8.971, 4.320, 8.731, P<0.05). ②CRP in S-MDD group ((1.41±1.06)mg/L) were higher than that in NS-MDD group((0.61±0.53)mg/L), and the difference was statistically significant ( F=25.436, P<0.05). The proportion of patients with higher CRP level(CRP≥1 mg/L) in S-MDD group(58%) was higher than that in NS-MDD group(23%), and the difference was statistically significant(χ 2=17.824, P<0.01). ③Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that CRP ( OR=4.953, 95% CI: 2.407-10.193), COR8-16 ( OR=3.451, 95% CI: 1.380-8.633) were main risk factors of somatic symptoms of MDD ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Cortisol rhythm disturbance and high CRP level may be the biological basis of somatic symptoms in patients with MDD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules in protecting rat islet cells in cryopreservation.

METHODPurified rat islet cells microencapsulated with APA and free islet cells were cryopreserved for one month and then thawed for culture in RPMI 1640 overnight. The morphology of the cells was observed and their function assessed by stimulated insulin release test.

RESULTAPA microcapsulation protected the fragile islets from freezing damage by increasing the recovery rate of the cells from 68.6%+/-2.9% to 94.7%+/-1.4% (P<0.05). After incubation with high glucose (16.7 mmol/L) solution, the insulin release from the encapsulated cells after cryopreservation significantly increased in comparison with that of the nonencapsulated cells (22.6+/-1.8 mU/L vs 11.7+/-1.5 mU/L, P<0.05). In high glucose solution containing theophylline, the calculated stimulation index of the encapsulated cells was about 3 times that of the nonencapsulated cells.

CONCLUSIONAPA microencapsulation may significantly increase the post-thaw recovery and improve the function for cryopreserved rat islets.

Alginates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Capsules ; Cell Separation ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Insulin ; secretion ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; secretion ; Male ; Polylysine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of apelin and its receptor (APJ) in the lung tissue of rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline and to explore its significance.

METHODSTwenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and monocrotaline group (n = 15). On the twenty-first day after the rats were intraperitoneally injected 60 mg/kg monocrotaline for monocrotaline group or equal volume vehicle for control group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure was measured by right heart catheterization. Histopathological study of lung tissue was done with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. The concentration of apelin in the plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of apelin/APJ proteins and genes in lung tissue were measured respectively by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling index, content of apelin protein in lung tissue of monocrotaline group were higher than those in control group. APJ protein and gene expression in monocrotaline group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but apelin gene expression in the lung tissue between the two groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONEndogenous apelin/APJ dysfunction may play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline.

Animals ; Apelin ; Apelin Receptors ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism