To establish an EDTA complexation extraction pretreatment combining with GFAAS method for the determination of residual aluminium ion in Huoxiang zhengqi pellets without digestive treatment, systematical investigation was made on sample preparation, and EDTA was used for the complexation extraction of residual aluminium ion in samples. The pH, concentration and volume of extraction solution, the temperature and time of microwave extraction, and graphite furnace temperature program were investigated. The results were compared with the microwave digestion. It was showed that, 0.1 g of sample weight was added in 20 mL 0.05 mol x L(-1) EDTA solution (pH 3.5), followed by heating at 150 degrees C for 10 min in the microwave extraction device. The determination of GFAAS was performed at optimized detection wavelength (257.4 nm) as well as graphite furnace temperature program, the detection limits and quantification limits were 2.37 μg x L(-1) and 7.89 μg x L(-1), respectively. The precision (RSD) was less than 2.3%. The average recovery was 96.9% -101%. The present method is easy, rapid and accurate for the determination of residual aluminium ion in Huoxiang zhengqi pellets.
Aluminum ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; methods ; Temperature

Anesthetics are used extensively in surgeries and related procedures to prevent pain. However, there is some concern regarding neuronal degeneration and cognitive deficits arising from regular anesthetic exposure. Recent studies have indicated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) are involved in learning and memory processes. Genistein, a plant-derived isoflavone, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects. The present study was performed to examine the protective effect of genistein against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neonatal rats were exposed to isoflurane (0.75%, 6 hours) on postnatal day 7 (P7). Separate groups of rat pups were orally administered genistein at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight from P3 to P15 and then exposed to isoflurane anesthesia on P7. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and FluoroJade B staining following isoflurane exposure. Genistein significantly reduced apoptosis in the hippocampus, reduced the expression of proapoptotic factors (Bad, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3), and increased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. RT-PCR analysis revealed enhanced BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels. Genistein effectively upregulated cAMP levels and phosphorylation of CREB and TrkB, leading to activation of cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB signaling. PI3K/Akt signaling was also significantly activated. Genistein administration improved general behavior and enhanced learning and memory in the rats. These observations suggest that genistein exerts neuroprotective effects by suppressing isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and by activating cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB-PI3/Akt signaling.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Body Weight ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cognition Disorders ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Genistein* ; Hippocampus ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Isoflurane ; Learning ; Memory* ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Spatial Learning*

Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; pathology ; Bone Diseases, Developmental ; diagnosis ; Female ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Scoliosis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo immunopurify human endometrial endothelial cells (HEEC) from fresh surgical specimens of endometrial cancers and normal endometrial tissues, and investigate their biological characteristics.

METHODSEndothelial cells of endometrial cancers and normal endometrial tissues were isolated using anti-CD31 conjugated magnetic microbeads. The isolated endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and their origins were identified. Their angiogenic characteristics were observed by MTT, wound healing, Transwell cell invasion and tube formation assays.

RESULTSFlow cytometry revealed that the immunopurification technique yielded endothelial cell purity of > 95% in all samples. All purified HEEC were characterized as endothelial cells on the basis of expression of the classical endothelial markers vWF and CD31 as shown by immunofluorescence examination. Although the tumor-associated HEEC didn't show more rapid proliferation than normal HEEC, they exhibited enhanced migration ability (P = 0.006), potent invasiveness (P = 0.033), and elevated tube formation in vitro (P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONSHuman endometrial endothelial cells can be efficiently isolated from endometrial cancer and normal endometrial tissues by immunomagnetic methods. Tumor-associated HEEC exhibit enhanced migratory ability, potent invasiveness, and elevated tube formation in vitro.

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and early results of radical resection of esophageal carcinoma using single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to December 2010, 6 patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent radical resection by single-port thoracoscopy combined with laparoscopy in the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army. With the patients at a supine position, laparoscopy was performed to complete stomach mobilization and abdominal lymph node dissection. Thoracoscopy was then carried out with the patients lying on the left to mobilize the esophagus and dissect thoracic lymph nodes. Finally, the stomach was pulled into the thoracic cavity via the hiatus of the diaphragm to construct a tube-like stomach, which was then anastomosed to the esophagus using the OrVil system.

RESULTSNo patient was converted to open surgery during the operation. The total operative time ranged from 200 to 320 min. The mean laparoscopic time was 75(range, 45-90) min, and the mean thoracoscopic time 160(120-240) min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 220(160-300) ml. The mean lymph node retrieval was 12(9-18). No anastomotic fistula, chylothorax, lung infection were found postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONAfter esophageal resection using single-port thoracoscopic and laparoscopy, reconstruction using OrVil system is safe and feasible.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracoscopy ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is a difference in cerebellar development between appropriate -for-gestational-age (AGA) infants and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. METHODS: A total of 165 AGA infants and 105 SGA infants, with a gestational age of 26-40 weeks, were enrolled in this study. Within 24-48 hours after birth, ultrasound examination was performed to measure the transverse diameter of the cerebellum, the height of the vermis, the area of the vermis, the perimeter of the vermis, and the area and perimeter of the cerebellum on transverse section. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between cerebellar measurements and gestational age. RESULTS: In both AGA and SGA infants, all cerebellar measurements were positively correlated with gestational age (r=0.50-0.81, P<0.05). In AGA and SGA infants, there were no significant differences in the measurements between the 25-27 weeks, 28-30 weeks, and 31-33 weeks of gestational age subgroups (P>0.05), while in the 34-36 weeks and 37-40 weeks subgroups, the SGA infants had significantly lower measurements than the AGA infants (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The SGA infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks have intrauterine cerebellar development similar to AGA infants, but those with a gestational age of ≥34 weeks have poorer intrauterine cerebellar development than AGA infants.
Cerebellum ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDThe mortality of stroke patients is strongly affected by medical complications. However, there are limited data investigating the effect of in-hospital medical complications on the dependency of stroke patients worldwide. We prospectively and systematically investigated the effect of medical complications on dependency of patients at 3, 6 and 12 months after stroke using the China National Stroke Registry (CNSR).

METHODSThis prospective cohort study collected data of patients age > 18 years with acute ischemic stroke in 132 clinical centers distributed across 32 provinces and four municipalities (including Hong Kong region) of China, from September 2007 to August 2008. Data on medical complications, dependency and other information were obtained from paper-based registry forms. Medical complications associated with stroke outcomes were assessed using multivariable Logistic regression.

RESULTSOf 11 560 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 1826 (15.80%) presented with in-hospital medical complications. In-hospital medical complications were independent risk factors for dependency of patients at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.367, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.021 - 2.771), 6 months (adjusted OR 2.257, 95%CI 1.922 - 2.650), and 12 months (adjusted OR 1.820, 95%CI 1.538 - 2.154) after acute ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that the short-term and long-term dependency of acute ischemic stroke patients is significantly associated with in-hospital medical complications in China.

Aged ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; epidemiology ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Registries ; statistics & numerical data ; Stroke ; complications ; epidemiology

Practice teaching and supervision has become an important part of hospital social work practice, and the handling and response to internship dilemma is the problem that every institution supervisor needs to think a-bout. Based on qualitative interview and text analysis, starting from the needs of intern, this paper found that students of social work major mainly faced the following dilemma in the process of hospital practice: role adapta-tion, the dilemma of professional practice, the dilemma of ethical relationship and practice burnout and so on. Combined with their own supervision experience, this paper put forward coping methods.

As an important part of the medical supply-side reform, grading diagnosis and treatment is the core objective of various medical services carried out by medical institutions at all levels. This paper proposed that tertia-ry hospitals should promote the construction of grading diagnosis and treatment from three aspects of multi-sited practice of physicians, construction of medical alliance and functional orientation planning. On this basis, this pa-per mainly discussed the service function of medical social work involved in grading diagnosis and treatment mode in tertiary hospitals.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN) is a chronic complication resulted from peripheral nerve injury in the late stage of diabetes. It involves a variety of pathological changes such as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis of Schwann cells(SCs). DPN is the main factor leading to lower limb disability or amputation in diabetic patients, with high incidence, long disease course, and poor prognosis. The modern medicine treatment of DPN mainly focuses on controlling blood glucose and improving microcirculation and nerve nutrition, which can only mitigate the clinical symptoms and not fundamentally reverse the pathological changes of peripheral nerves. Autophagy is a self-clearing mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis by removing excess metabolites. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), featuring the holistic concept and syndrome differentiation, can treat chronic diseases in a multi-target, multi-pathway, and wide-range manner. Modern studies have shown that the occurrence and development of DPN are related to a variety of pathological changes, and autophagy is a key mechanism associated with DPN. The environment with persistent high glucose can lead to the inhibition or over-activation of peripheral nerve cells, which causes irreversible damage of nerve cells and the occurrence and development of DPN. Therefore, restoring autophagy balance and reducing nerve damage is one of the key ways to treat DPN. The recent studies have confirmed that some active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines and TCM compound prescriptions can inhibit the oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial damage, inflammation, and apoptosis of SCs in DPN by regulating the autophagy pathway, thus playing a role in the prevention and treatment of DPN. However, the systematic induction in this field remains to be carried out. This paper reviewed the relevant literature, explained the mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of DPN by regulating autophagy, and summarized the potential targets of TCM in the treatment of DPN, with a view to providing new ideas for clinical research and drug development.
Humans ; Autophagy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies/complications* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oxidative Stress ; Schwann Cells/pathology*