Aneurysm, Dissecting ; complications ; Coronary Aneurysm ; complications ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As2 O3 ) on the proliferation of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-O ,and to explore the changes of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway .Methods Human renal cancer cells 786-O was cultured in 96-well plates ,and divided into the control group (n= 45 holes) and the experimental group (n= 45 holes) .After stimulation by 1 μM As2 O3 and saline ,the cells in 15 holes were collected at 0 ,12 ,and 24 h .BrdU assay was performed to quantify DNA synthesis to evaluate the cells proliferation ,the quantitative PCR was used to measure PI3K and Akt relative mRNA expression ,and Western blot was used to quantify the relative expression levels of of intracellular PI 3K and Akt .Results After 12 ,24 h of As2 O3 stimula-tion ,the amount of DNA synthesis in the observation group was gradually lower than that of the DNA synthesis at 0 h(P<0 .05) and significantly lower than that of the control group at 12 h and 24 h(P<0 .05) .At 0 ,12 ,24 h ,the relative expression level of in-tracellular PI3K and Akt mRNA and protein in the observation group had no significant difference (P>0 .05) ,and the relative ex-pression levels of PI3K and Akt mRNA and protein in the control group were increased as the proliferation was gradually increased . Conclusion As2 O3 inhibits human renal carcinoma cell line 786-O proliferation through inhibiting the PI3K-Akt transduction path-way ,and has potential clinical value for the treatment of kidney cancer .

This study aimed to investigate the immune adjuvant effect and mechanism induced by chitosan nanoparticles carrying pJME/GM-CSF. In this study, plasmid DNA (pJME/GM-CSF) was encapsulated in chitosan to prepare chitosan-pJME/GM-CSF nanoparticles using a complex coacervation process. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the type of infiltrating cells at the site of intramuscular injection. The phenotype and functional changes of splenic DCs were measured by flow cytometry after different immunogens were injected intramuscularly. The killing activity of CTLs was assessed using the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The preparation of chitosan-pJME/GM-CSF nanoparticles matched the expected theoretical results. Our results also found that, after pJME/GM-CSF injection, the incoming cells were a mixture of macrophages, neutrophils, and immature DCs. Meanwhile, pJME/GM-CSF increased the expression of MHC class II molecules on splenic DCs, and enhanced their Ag capture and presentation functions. Cell-mediated immunity was induced by the vaccine. Furthermore, chitosan-pJME/GM-CSF nanoparticles outperformed the administration of standard pJME/GM-CSF in terms of DC recruitment, antigen processing and presentation, and vaccine enhancement. These findings reveal that chitosan could be used as delivery vector for DNA vaccine intramuscular immunizations, and enhance pJME/GM-CSF-induced cellular immune responses.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; virology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; immunology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Japanese Encephalitis Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nanoparticles ; administration & dosage ; Spleen ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; virology ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

In order to develop the heroin abstainers' cue-sensitization questionnaire (HACSQ), and evaluate its reliability and validity, during March and April in 2006, the cross-sectional sample survey and cluster sampling were adopted among 939 volunteer participants who were heroin abstainers from 5 compulsive detoxification centers in China. The data were collected by the self-report questionnaires. The reliability analysis included Cronbach's alpha coefficient, split reliability and test-retest reliability, while construction validity was analyzed in the light of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Based upon the exploratory factor analysis, 4 factors were extracted, which were social emotion cue (SEC), direct implement cue (DIC), personnel cue (PC) and indirect implement cue (IIC), and they together explained 64.52% variance. According to the data, test-retest reliability coefficient ranged from 0.57 to 0.63, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.86 to 0.95 across the 4 factors and HACSQ. The adjusted goodness of fit index was 0.75. It was suggested that the HACSQ demonstrated good validities and reliabilities, and may be used as a reliable assessment tool for the cue-sensitization among the heroin abstainers.
China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cues ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heroin Dependence ; Questionnaires/*standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self-Assessment ; Young Adult

We enrolled 60 patients with American Association of Anesthesiologists grade Ⅰ - Ⅱ undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. All patients received combined epidural and spinal anesthesia,and a nerve stimulator was used to guide placement of a femoral nerve catheter. Patients were divided into three groups according to the catheter location on X-ray : psoas muscle group ( n = 18 ), iliacus muscle group (n = 19) and local group (n =23). Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded at rest and with movement at 4, 24 and 48 h postoperatively and sensory blockade of the femoral, obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves was recorded at 24 h.There were no significant differences in femoral nerve blockade among the three groups. Obturator nerve blockade was significantly better in the psoas muscle group than in the iliacus muscle and local groups, and was also better in the local group than in the iliacus muscle group. There was no significant difference in lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blockade between the psoas muscle and iliacus muscle groups, but there was better blockade in both these groups than in the local group. At 4 h postoperatively, VAS pain scores at rest were significantly lower in the psoas muscle group than in the iliacus muscle and local groups, but there were no significant differences in VAS pain scores with movement among the three groups. At 24 and 48 h postoperatively, VAS scores at rest and with movement were significantly lower in the psoas muscle group than in the iliacus muscle and local groups.

Comparison of assays of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and specific insulin in evaluating islet β cell function and insulin sensitivity suggested that there were no significant differences in individuals with different glucose tolerance impairment by two assays. The evaluation of islet β cell function using IRI and insulin sensitivity is still valid in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of point-of-care testing (POCT) for blood glucose monitoring in critically ill patients.Methods Two hundred and forty critically ill patients,of both sexes,aged 20-88 yr,with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score of 1-45,were enrolled.The venous,arterial and capillary blood samples were collected to determine the real-time blood glucose level using glucose oxidase (GOD) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) methods.The blood glucose level measured by central laboratory hexokinase method simultaneously was served as standard level.Error Grid analysis (EGA) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to determine accuracy and consistency,respectively.The accuracy of real-time blood glucose levels within the consistent limits was evaluated.Results 1.The results of EGA showed that 98.7 ％,98.3 ％,98.3 ％(GDH method) and 96.2％,96.6％,96.7％ (GOD method) of the difference between venous,arterial and capillary blood glucose levels measured and the standard level were located in the A and B zones,respectively,and 1.2％,1.7％,1.7％ (GDH method) and 2.9％,3.3％,3.3％ (GOD method) in the D zone.0.8％ (GOD method) of the difference between venous blood glucose levels and the standard level were located in the C zone.2.Bland-Altman analysis showed that the difference between the standard level and glucose level measured in blood samples from the vein,artery and capillary.was-0.1,-0.3,-0.2 mmol/L (GDH method) and-0.9,-1.0,-0.9 mmol/L (GOD method),respectively,and the incidence beyond the upper and lower limits of consistency zone was 4.5 ％,6.7 ％,6.6 ％ (GDH method) and 4.6 ％,5.0 ％,7.1％ (GOD method),respectively.The accuracy of venous,arterial and capillary blood glucose levels within the consistent limits was 94.3 ％,92.1％,93.7％ (GOD method) and 96.6％,95.1％,95.5％ (GDH method),respetively.Conclusion The accuracy of POCT for blood glucose monitored by GOD and GDH methods is good in critically ill patients,but it is possible to overestimate the patient's real glucose level.

Objective To explore the effect of the simvastatin administration on the expression of connective tissue growth factor （CTGF） in fihrotic lungs of rats. Methods The cats were treated with single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin （BLM） or instillation of the same volume of normal saline （NS） as a control. The administration of simvastatin（20 mg/kg）began once a day immediately or 7 days later after intratracheal BLM instillation respectively with the same volume of NS was given as a vehicle control. The rats were killed on day 7,14 and 28 respectively. Pathological alteration of lung tissue was observed hy HE staining and Masson staining. Hydroxyproline（HYP）content in lung tissue was used to determine the severity of pulmonary fibrosis. The expression of CTGF in lung tissue was exanfined by immunohistochem- istry staining and photodeusitometry. Results Histopathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis emerged gradually after the instillation of BLM. The expression level of CTGF was increased in lungs of rats after intratracheal instillation of BLM, compared with the control. The administration of simvastatin immediately or 7 days after intratracheal instillation of BLM, attenuated the histopathological changes of bleomycin- induced puhnonary fibrosis and prevented the increased expression of CTGF in lung tissue on day 28. Conclusion The adntinistration of simvastatin, immediately or 7 days after intratracheal BLM instillation, prevented the up-regulation of CTGF in fibrotic lungs of rats, which ntight be one of the mechanisms of the anti-fihrosis of simvastatin in lungs.

Objective To investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on erythrocyte immunity in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods Twenty-four patients (13 male, 11 female) who developed acute cerebral infarction for less than 3 days were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=12each): Group A receiving traditional treatment and Group B receiving traditional treatment + SGB.The patients ranged in age from 51 to 64 yr and weighed 52-71 kg. All patients received intravenous 5% glucose 25 ml plus citicoline sodium 1.0 g and sodium ozagrel injectio 250 ml daily for 10 days in addition to dehydration and effective control of complications and intracranial pressure. Group B received SGB on one side alternatively with 1% licocaine 10 mi once a day for 10 days. Fasting venous blood samples were taken in the early mornings of the day before treatment (baseline, T1 ) and the 1st, 5th and 10th day of treatment (T2-4) for determination of the plasma MDA concentration and SOD activity, erythrocyte C3b receptor rosette rate (RBC-C3bRR) and RBC immune complex rosette rate (RBC-ICR) and Ne+-K+-ATPase activity in erythrocyte membrane.Results The plasma MDA concentration and RBC-ICR were significantly decreased during treatment es compared with the baselines at T1 in both groups (P＜0.05 or 0.01), but were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (P＜0.05 or 0.01 ).The activities of plasma SOD and Na+ -K+ -ATPase in erythrocyte membrane and RBC-C3bRR were significantly increased during treatment as compared with the baselines at T1 and were significantly higher in Group B than in Group A.Conclusion SGB combined with traditional treatment can increase the activities of plasma SOD and Na+ -K+ -ATPase in erythrocyte membrane, inhibit production of oxygen free radicals and enhance RBC immune function in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Objective To evaluate the intraoperative opioid?sparing effect of different duration transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation ( TEAS ) in video?assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Seventy?five patients, aged 18-64 yr, weighing 40-96 kg, of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective video?assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anesthesia, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=25 each) using a random number table: control group (group C), 30 min of stimulation before induction of anesthesia group ( group B) , and stimulation throughout surgery ( group T) . In group B, the patients received TEAS ( frequency 2∕100 Hz ) on acupoints Xinshu ( BL15 ) , Feishu (BL13), Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (LI4) on the operated side starting from 30 min before induction of anesthesia until the beginning of induction, and the intensity was the maximum current that could be tolerated. The intensity for Neiguan ( PC6) and Hegu ( LI4) was 6-12 mA, and for Xinshu ( BL15) and Feishu ( BL13 ) was 9-18 mA. In group T, the patients received TEAS on the four acupoints mentioned above starting from 30 min before induction of anesthesia until the end of surgery. The patients had the electrodes applied, but received no stimulation in group C. After anesthesia was induced with propofol?sufentanil?cisatracurium, double lumen endotracheal tube was inserted. Propofol was given by target?controlled infusion to maintain BIS value within the range of 40-60. Cisatracurium was infused continuously to facilitate muscle relaxation. The infusion rate of remifentanil was adjusted to maintain analgesia nociception index value within the range of 50-70. The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil ( the intraoperative consumption of sufentanil was converted to the consumption of remifentanil producing the equivalent effect by 1∶ 10) was recorded. Results Compared with group C, the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil was significantly decreased in B and T groups. The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil was significantly lower in group T than in group B. Conclusion TEAS on Xinshu ( BL15 ) , Feishu (BL13), Neiguan ( PC6) and Hegu acupoints throughout surgery and for 30 min before induction of anesthesia significantly reduces intraoperative opioid consumption in the patients undergoing video?assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, while TEAS throughout surgery provides better effect.