Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; urine

Objective To investigate the effect of isoflurane preconditioning on the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB)activity of leukocytes in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods Twenty ASAⅡorⅢpatients of both sexes aged 20-60 yrs undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=10 each):control group(C)and isoflurane preconditioning group(I).Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.08-0.12 mg?kg~(-1),fentanyl 5-10?g?kg~(-1) and vecuronium 0.1 mg?kg~(-1).The patients were mechanically ventilated(FiO_2=100%)after tracheal intubation.Anesthesia was maintained with intermittent i.v.boluses of fentanyl and midazolam in group C or with 2 MAC isoflurane and intermittent i.v.boluses of fentanyl and midazolam in group I before CPB.Systolic BP was kept between 90-120 mm Hg,diastolic BP between 50-80 mm Hg and HR between 60-90 bpm in both groups. Isoflurane was discontinued at the initiation of CPB.Arterial blood samples were taken after tracheal intubation and before inhalation of isoflurane(T_0)at 30 min(T_1),1 h(T_2)and 2 h(T_3)after aortic unclamping for determination of NF-kB activity of leukocytes using electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA).The amount of fentanyl,midazolam,dopamine and sodium nitroprusside(SNP)consumed during operation and the rate of recovery of spontaneous heart beat in both groups were recorded.Results The NF-kB activity was significantly increased after aortic unclamping in C group but there was no significant difference in NF-kB activity before CPB (T_0)and after aortic unclamping(T_(1-3))in I group.The NF-kB activity was significant lower at T_(1-3) in group I than in group C.The total amount of fentanyl consumed was 40-60?g?kg~(-1) in C group and 20-30?g?kg~(-1) in group I. Significantly less amount of dopamine was used in group I than in group C.There was no significant difference in SNP consumption between the 2 groups.The rate of recovery of spontaneous heart beat was significantly higher in group I than in group C(P＜0.01).The amount of dopamine consumed was positively correlated with the highest level of NF-kB activity in both group[r=0.962 in group C;r=0.908 in group I(P＜0.01)].Conclusion Isoflurane preconditioning can attenuate the NF-kB activity of leulocytes in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under CPB.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/complications*

Objective To explore the characteristics viral pathogens in hospitalized children with lower respiratory infection,and to provide reference data for diagnosis and treatment.Methods Nasopharyngeal secretion(NPS) samples were collected from hospitalized patients with lower respiratory infection(LRI) from Dec.2005 to Apr.2006.The NPS samples were detected for 7 respiratory virus antigens including respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),influenza virus A and B(IVA and IVB),parainfluenza virus 1,2,3(PIV 1,2,3) and adenovirus(ADV) by indirect immunofluorescent assay.Results Nine hundred and thirty-five NPS samples were collected from children(597 boys,338 girls) with LRI.The mean age was 7.5 months(range from 1 day to 6 years).Viral pathogens were identified in 516(55.2%) samples.The positive rate of RSV decreased with increasing of age,whereas the positive rate of IV and PIV increased.ADV was only detected in children less than 3 years of age,accounting for 0.6%-6.2%.Conclusions Viral pathogens are the main etiology of LRI in young children in Beijing area from Dec.2005 to Apr.2006.RSV is the most frequent viral pathogens,followed by IV and PIV.

This study aims to investigate the genetic characteristics of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp of the epidemic strains in children with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated diseases. Total DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 134 children with EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (EBV-IM) and 32 children with EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) who were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital from 2006 to 2011. The EBNA3C, BZLF1, and Zp genes were amplified by PCR assay. Typing of EBV was performed according to the size of the amplification product of EBNA3C gene; the amplification products of BZLF1 and Zp genes were subjected to direct sequencing, and sequence analysis was performed using BioEdit 7. 0. 9. The results were as follows: (1) EBV-1 was present in 140 samples (97.2%, 140/144) and EBV-II in 4 samples (2.8%, 4/144). (2) Three BZLF1 genotypes and their 12 subtypes (including 6 newly found subtypes) were detected in this study; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of BZLF1-A and BZLF1-B between the children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.083); BZLF1-A1 was the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; t BZLF1-A mostly had three 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene, and BZLF1-B mostly had 30-bp repeats (P = 0.000), with the number of repeats varying from 1 to 13. (3) Four Zp genotypes were detected in this study, including Zp-P, Zp-V3, Zp-V4, and Zp-V1; there were no significant differences in the frequencies of these Zp genotypes between children with EBV-IM and EBV-HLH (P = 0.272, 0.252, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively). (4) The linkage analysis of BZLF1 gene and its promoter Zp showed that BZLF1-A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000); EBV-I + BZLF1 A1 was highly associated with Zp-V3 (P = 0.000), while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P (P = 0.000). The conclusions are as follows: (1) BZLF1-A1 is the dominant genotype in children with EBV-associated diseases; there are mostly 29-bp repeats in the first intron of BZLF1 gene for BZLF1-A genotype and 30-bp repeats for BZLF1-B genotype. (2) Zp-P and Zp-V3 are dominant Zp genotypes of EBV in children, which shared similar detection rates. (3) BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P; EBV-I+BZLF1-A1 is highly associated with Zp-V3, while EBV-I+BZLF1-B4 with Zp-P.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the metal-ceramic bond strength of a selective laser melting Co-Cr alloy.

METHODSTwelve Co-Cr metal bars were prepared according to the ISO 9693 standard with Vita porcelain fused onto the centre of each bar. Then the sample bars were divided into two groups of six each. The control group was made by traditional cast process (cast group), and the experimental group was processed by selective laser melting (SLM) technology (SLM group). Metal-ceramic bonding strength and fracture mode were assessed using three-point bending test. Fracture mode analysis was determined by scanning electronic microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy. Student's t-test was used to analyze the data in SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe metal-ceramic bond strength value of the cast group was (33.45 ± 2.34) MPa, and that of the SLM group was (31.62 ± 2.34) MPa (t = 0.79, P > 0.05). A mixed fracture mode on the debonding interface of all specimens was observed, while little porcelain was reserved.

CONCLUSIONSThe metal-ceramic system processed by SLM exhibited a bonding strength that satisfies the requirement of clinical application.

To study the relation between drug release and the drug status within curcumin-loaded microsphere, SPG (shirasu porous glass) membrane emulsification was used to prepare the curcumin-PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres with three levels of drug loading respectively, and the in vitro release was studied with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The morphology of microspheres was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the drug status was studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared analysis (IR). The drug loading of microspheres was (5.85 ± 0.21)%, (11.71 ± 0.39)%, (15.41 ± 0.40)%, respectively. No chemical connection was found between curcumin and PLGA. According to the results of XRD, curcumin dispersed in PLGA as amorphous form within the microspheres of the lowest drug loading, while (2.12 ± 0.64)% and (5.66 ± 0.07)% curcumin crystals was detected in the other two kinds of microspheres, respectively, indicating that the drug status was different within three kinds of microspheres. In the data analysis, we found that PLGA had a limited capacity of dissolving curcumin. When the drug loading exceeded the limit, the excess curcumin would exist in the form of crystals in microspheres independently. Meanwhile, this factor contributes to the difference in drug release behavior of the three groups of microspheres.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Curcumin ; chemistry ; Drug Liberation ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microspheres ; Polyglycolic Acid ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To study the changes of anorectal motility and rectal sensation in the elderly patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods The anorectal motility and rectal sensation were investigated by Medtronic PC-Polygraf HR made by Sweden in 35 non-elderly patients versus 19 elderly patients with UC, and 20 non-elderly healthy subjects (HS) and 28 elderly HS were as control group. Results (1) The static pressure, pressure of anal sphincter and the maximal squeeze pressure of anal sphincter in non-elderly patients and elderly patients with UC showed no significant differences compared with those in non-elderly HS and elderly HS group (elderly patients with uc vs. ederly HA:t= 1.311,1.298,1.401;nonederly patients with uc vs. nonederly HS: t=1.294,1.299,1.322all P＞0.05). When abdominal pressure was increased, the net increased pressure of anal sphincter was (2.8±1.1) kPa in the elderly patients with UC, (2.9±1.3) kPa in the non-elderly patients with UC. The pressures were lower in two UC groups than in HS groups [elderly HS group:(3.8±1.2) kPa; non-elderly HS group:(3.9±1.2) kPa,elderly patients with uc vs. ederly HS:t=2.238,nonelderly patients with us vs. nonederly HS:t=2.243 all P＜0.05]. (2)The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and the maximal compliance were (85±30) ml, (180±69) ml, (26. 5±8.8) ml/kpa in elderly patients with UC and (65±15) ml, (170±58) ml, (22.6± 10. 3) ml/kPa in non-elderly patients with UC. They were lower than in each HS group [elderly HS group (95±31) ml, (205±78) ml, (32.9±12.9) ml/kPa; non-elderly HS group:(78±38) ml, (190±50) ml, (30.8± 15.2) ml/kpa, all P＜0. 01]. (3)The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and the maximal compliance in elderly patients with UC were higher than in non-elderly patients with UC (elderly patients with uc vs. elderly HS:t=3. 121,3. 135,3.146,nonederly patients with uc vs. non elderly HS: t= 3.162, 3.141, 3.188 elderly patients with uc vs. nonelderly patients with uc: t = 2. 246,2. 239,2. 240 all P＜ 0. 05). The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance in elderly HS group were higher than in non-elderly HS group (ederly HS vs. t = 2. 328,2. 301 all P＜0. 05). Conclusions There are some anorectal motility disturbances in UC. Higher sensitivity, lower tolerance, lower compliance of rectum and weakened anal automatic control function in UC may be associated with diarrhea and frequent defecation. The rectal sensation threshold to volume stimulus is higher in elderly HS than in non-elderly HS group. The sensibility to volume ectasis of rectum is weakened and the survivability of rectum is increased in elderly patients with UC.

Objective To study the effect of flupentioxl melitracen and pinaverium bromide treatment on the changes of anorectal motility and rectal sensation in the patients of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status. Methods Forty-four patients with IBS-D accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status were divided into group A (flupentioxl melitracen and pinaverium bromide) and group B (pinaverium bromide) by random digits table,and treated for 4 weeks. Twenty-five healthy subjects were included as control group. The anorectal motility and rectal sensation before and after taking medicines were compared. Results When abdominal pressure was increased, the net increased pressure of anal sphincter was (3.0 ± 1.2 ) kPa in group A and (2.9 ± 1.2)kPa in group B. They were lower than that in control group [(3.6 ± 1.6) kPa](P＜ 0.05). The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance were (55 ± 20) ml,( 145 ± 78 ) ml, ( 21.9 ± 12.9 ) ml/kPa in group A, ( 56 ± 38 ) ml, ( 150 ± 50 ) ml, (20.8 ± 11.2) ml/kPa in group B. They were lower than those in control group [(80 ± 38 ) ml, ( 190 ± 50 ) ml, (30.8 ± 15.2 ) ml/kPa](P ＜ 0.01 ). The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance were higher than those before taking medicines. Only the rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold in group B was higher than that before taking medicines. The rectal lowest volume of sensory threshold, the maximal volume of tolerance and maximal compliance in group A after taking medicines were higher than those in group B (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Higher sensitivity, lower tolerance,lower compliance of rectum and weakened anal automatic control function in IBS-D may be associated with diarrhea and frequent defecation. Treatment combining flupentioxl melitracen with pinaverium bromide may preferably improve the aperception functions of rectum in the patients of IBS-D accompanying with depression and/or anxiety status.