Objective To establish a rapid method having great capability for enrichment and anti-interference, higher sensitivity and good precision for determination of trace silver in drinking water. Methods The conditions of determination such as the definition of peak potentials, the selection of auxiliary electrolytes, the selection of kind and amount of oxidants and anti-interference test were carried out by MP-1 potentiometer using glass-carbon electrode. Results The lowest detection limit, average recorery rate and average relative standard deviation were 0.004 ug/ml, 100.3% and 2.73% respectively. Conclusion This method was suitable for determination of trace silver in drinking water.

Objective To investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) pretreatment on the acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and the underlying mechanism. Methods Thirty-two male SD rats weighing 180-220 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each): group Ⅰ control (C);group Ⅱ EPO;group Ⅲ LPS and group Ⅳ EPO + LPS. EPO 3 000 U/kg was given IP in group Ⅱ , LPS 6 mg/kg was given iv in group Ⅲ . In group Ⅳ EPO 3 000 U/kg was given IP at 30 rain before iv LPS 6 mg/kg, The animals were killed at 4 h after LPS administration. Lung tissue specimens were obtained for microscopic examination. Wet/dry ratio (W/D), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) content in lung tissue were determined. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine (NT) in lung tissue was determined by Western blot. Results W/D ratio, MPO activity, MDA and NO content were significantly increased and iNOS and NT expression was significantly up-regulated in LPS group as compared with control group. EPO pretreatment significantly attenuated the LPS-induced changes in group EPO + LPS. Conclusion EPO pretreatment can ameliorate the acute lung injury induced by LPS by down-regulating iNOS expression and reducing NO production.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) with large tidal volumes can increase lung alveolar permeability and initiate inflammatory responses,resulting in ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).The mechanisms of the injurious effects of MV and the genetic susceptibility remain unclear.VILI-related genes such as cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61)have been demonstrated to play a detrimental role in the aggressive ventilation strategies.In the present study,we investigated the involvement of Cyr61 in the VIM and the underlying mechanism.A549 cells were exposed to cyclic stretch of varying durations and then the mRNA and protein levels of Cyr61 were measured by real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively.Additionally,after exposure ofA549 cells to cyclic stretch for 5 min to 1 h,the expression levels of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) and IL-8 were detected by ELISA and Western blotting.Thereafter,Cyr61 expression was depressed in A549 cells with the siRNA pGenesill.1-Cyr61-3 before the cyclic stretch,and IL-8 secretion and the activation of NF-κB pathways were probed by ELISA and Western blotting,respectively.Moreover,a NF-κB inhibitor (PDTC) and an activator (TNF) were used before mechanical stretch.Realtime PCR and ELISA were performed to detect the mRNA and protein of IL-8,respectively.The results showed that the mechanical cyclic stretch led to increased Cyr61 expression at mRNA and protein levels in A549 cells.Additionally,cyclic stretch also mobilized NF-κB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and increased IL-8 secretion in A549 cells.The inhibition of Cyr61 blocked the NF-κB activation and IL-8 secretion in response to cyclic stretch.Inhibition of NF-κB attenuated the mRNA and protein expression of IL-8 in A549 cells transfected with Cyr61 siRNA.It was suggested that Cyr61/NF-κB signaling pathway mediates the upregulation of IL-8 in response to cyclic stretch in A594 cells.These findings support the hypothesis that Cyr61 plays a critical role in acute lung inflammation triggered by mechanical strain.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method and results of disk reposition in the treatment of traumatogenic TMJ ankylosis.

METHODSIn 19 cases of traumatogenic ankylosis of TMJ, the dislocated disks were repositioned during anthroplasty. In the operation, the dissection of dislocated disk was performed carefully around the TMJ. The disk was repositioned to its anatomic location over the top of condylar stump, then the lateral aspect of the disk was sutured to the soft tissue of zygomatic root.

RESULTSAt the last follow-up examination, interincisal opening distance ranged from 24 to 43 mm in all cases (mean 32.63 mm), which approached or reached the normal level. No recurrence and TMJ symptom were found during the period of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe disk repositioning in treatment of traumatogenic TMJ ankylosis is a feasible and effective approach to reconstruct the structure and function and prevent recurrence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankylosis ; surgery ; Arthroplasty ; methods ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Temporomandibular Joint ; injuries ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the related issues concerning salvage surgery for stomal recurrence (SR) after total laryngectomy.

METHODSA retrospective study was conducted to analyse the clinical data from 36 patients suffering from SR after total laryngectomy, who were treated by salvage surgery from January 1990 to January 2006. Some related issues concerning salvage surgery for SR were studied and analysed, which include preoperative evaluations, surgical approaches and techniques, management of perioperative complications and outcomes of treatment.

RESULTSAfter careful preoperative evaluations and predictions, a complete resection of tumor was achieved in 33 out of 36 SR patients. Two patients sacrificed because of ruptures of major vessels including the common carotid eaters and the innominate artery 3 weeks and 2 months after the operation. The overall 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival of this group of patients were 68.8%, 42.8% and 12.5%, respectively. Besides, postoperative complications comprise 23 cases of hypothyroidisms, 6 cases of wound infection and saliva leakage, 8 cases of donor site complications (including dehiscence of wound in 3 cases, chest wall hematomas in 4 cases, and tumor seeding in 1 case), and hypopharyngeal stenosis in 4 cases, all of which were properly and promptly managed with uneventful outcomes.

CONCLUSIONSSR after total laryngectomy is a dangerous and complicated status with poor prognosis. For the purpose of saving or elongating the patients's lives, the salvage surgery needs to be done on the condition that indicated candidates are properly selected, preoperative evaluations carefully conducted, and perioperative abnormal conditions unerroneously delt with.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy

OBJECTIVEThe mechanism by which M.tuberculosis persists and survives in host macrophage is not fully understood, however, the M. tuberculosis chromosome-encoded TA loci perform functions possibly of signaling to these processes. To explore the biological functions of M. tuberculosis chromosome-encoded TA loci, the Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes of M.tuberculosis H37Rv strain were cloned and expressed.

METHODSThe hypothetical proteins Rv1494 and Rv1495 were bioinformatically analyzed by means of Bioedit software, Dnaman software and Pfam database. The complete open-reading frame sequences of Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes were amplified by PCR using M.tuberculosis H37Rv genomic DNA as the template, and the PCR products were cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET32a(+), respectively. After induction of expressions in E.coli host strain BL21 (DE3), the recombinant proteins were purified and detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSAccording to bioinformatic analysis, the hypothetical proteins of Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes shared some homologies with mazEF family, one of E. coli chromosomal TA loci (homology at 26% and 29.5%). Sequence analysis showed that the inserted target genes and its reading frames were completely correct. The recombinant plasmids were induced with IPTG to effectively express the fusion proteins with relative molecular mass coincident with prediction. The specific positive signals were identified from the immunoblots.

CONCLUSIONFor the first time, the Rv1494 and Rv1495 genes of M.tuberculosis H37Rv strain were cloned and its prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed successfully in this experiment, which may facilitate further functional study of this mazEF-like gene pair.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Aged ; Bronchial Arteries ; pathology ; Bronchial Diseases ; complications ; Female ; Fistula ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of increasing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) flow volume in improving outcome of patients with carotid artery stenosis performed coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure.

METHODSFifty-one patients data collected from January 2006 to March 2008 and divided into two groups (A and B) based on the degree of the carotid artery stenosis diagnosed by ultrasound. Group A included 15 cases with one or both carotid artery stenosis more than 50%, 14 male and 1 female, aged (68.5 +/- 7.7) years old, 14 with hypertension, 2 with diabetes, 6 with myocardial infarction, 3 with cerebral infarction. Group B included 36 cases with stenosis less than 50%, 34 male and 2 female, aged (62.4 +/- 10.2) years old, 28 with hypertension, 7 with diabetes, 20 with myocardial infarction. Increasing CPB flow volume in A group to compare cerebral blood flow (CBF) within procedure in both groups.

RESULTSCPB flow volume in group A was much higher than it in group B (P = 0.001). Mean arterial blood pressure in group A was (67.0 +/- 9.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), higher than group B (59.0 +/- 7.1) mm Hg (P = 0.009). There was no significant difference of CBF within procedure and neuropsychologic performance in both group as result.

CONCLUSIONFor the patients presenting with carotid artery stenosis undergoing the procedure of CABG with CPB, increasing CPB flow volume could improve significantly diseased side cerebral blood flow and might reduce neurological complications.

Aged ; Brain ; blood supply ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; methods ; Carotid Stenosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Prognosis ; Regional Blood Flow ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate survival outcomes of salvage surgery preformed for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma that recurred or progressed after radiotherapy alone.

METHODSA review of 72 patients who underwent salvage laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer failed in initial radiation therapy between 1996 and 2005 was performed. The tumor persistence occurred in 50 cases and recurrence in 22 cases. All patients received salvage total laryngectomy and radical neck dissection. Survival analysis was performed by using Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTSThirty patients developed a postoperative complication after salvage surgery. Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred in 15(20.8%) patients. During 5 years after salvage surgery, the rates of tumor recurrence, distant metastasis and second malignancy were 34.7%, 22.2% and 6.9%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall 3 year and 5 year survival rates of those patients after operation were 45.8% and 36.1%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that N restage, tumor persistence/recurrences after radiotherapy, surgical margin status, level of tumor invasion, pathologic N stage, extracapsular nodal spread and invasion of nonlymphotic structures were significantly associated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed the most significant prognostic factors were tumor persistence or recurrence after radiotherapy, surgical margin status and level of tumor invasion.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical salvage remains the gold standard for management after failure of initial radiation therapy. The extent of tumor invasion must be assessed sufficiently before operation, and the surgical margin status must be identified in operation by using a frozen sectioning approach, especially in patients with tumor invasion to muscle/cartilage and tumor persistence after radiotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure ; Young Adult

Tracheal intubation with Macintosh laryngoscope (MAC) might result in severe cardiovascular complications. The results of conducted studies investigating the effects of videolaryngoscopies on hemodynamic response of tracheal intubation are conflicting. We know little about the effects of videolaryngoscopies on cardiac output changes during tracheal intubation. We compared cardiac output (COP) and hemodynamic responses in normal blood pressure (n=60) and hypertensive patients (n=60) among 3 intubation devices: the MAC, the UE videolaryngoscopy ® (UE), and the UE video intubation stylet ® (VS). Cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded using LidcoRapid (V2)® preinduction, preintubation, and every minute for the first 5 min after intubation. We assessed oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures injury as well. Intubation time was significantly shorter than MAC groups (P<0.001) only in UE group of normotensive and hypertensive patients. In normotensive patients, there were no significant differences in any of COP variables or hemodynamic variables among the three devices. In hypertensive patients, SBP and DBP in the MAC group were significantly higher (P<0.05 or <0.01) than the UE and VS groups at 1, 2 and 3 min after intubation, but there were no significant differences in CI, SVI and HR among the three devices. There was no significant difference in oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures injury among all groups. It was concluded that both the UE and VS attenuate only the hemodynamic response to intubation as compared with the MAC in hypertensive patients, but not in normotensive patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cardiac Output ; physiology ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Laryngoscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Larynx ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oropharynx ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Video-Assisted Surgery ; methods ; Young Adult