Objective To evaluate pressure-flow study in assessment of dysuresia symptom in elderly male patients. Methods A total of 125 elderly male patients with dysuresia and prostatic enlargement underwent urodynamic examination.Their age ranged from 56 to 83 years with a mean of 68 years.If the patients urinated smoothly with satisfying urinary flow curve,the pressure-flow study would be performed on them.According to the results,the patients were classified as 3 groups:BOO,equivocal BOO and non-BOO groups.Their detrusor contractive function was classified as strong,normal,weak or very weak. Results Of the 125 patients undergoing urodynamic test,87 obtained definite pressure-flow study findings.Of the 87 patients,39 were with BOO,18 with equivocal BOO and 30 without BOO.In the BOO,equivocal BOO and non-BOO groups,detrusor pressure at maximum flow was (99.2?34.3) cmH 2O (1cmH 2O=0.098 kPa),(46.9?9.9)cmH 2O and (30.8?10.0)cmH 2O,respectively;intravesical opening pressure was (99.4?39.6) cmH 2O, (43.7?9.9) cmH 2O and (29.9?9.7) cmH 2O, respectively; minimum voiding detrusor pressure was (61.3?27.5) cmH 2O, (33.9?14.1)cmH 2O and (22.1?12.5)cmH 2O,respectively;and maximum detrusor pressure was (113.0?42.1)cmH 2O,(55.8?14.9)cmH 2O and (38.4?11.3)cmH 2O,respectively.The detrusor function was normal or strong in 74.4% (29/39) of patients with BOO,27.8%(5/18) of patients with equivocal BOO and 26.7% (8/30) of patients without BOO.All these parameters of the BOO group were higher than those of the equivocal BOO group and non-BOO group (both P

Objective To evaluate the bladder functions by urodynamic studies in diabetic patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods Urodynamic studies were performed in 42 diabetic patients (24 men and 18 women;age range,38-78 years).The diabetic history of the patients was from 1 month to 25 years. Results Of the 41 cases who underwent all items of urodynamic examination,38 cases (93%) had abnormal findings and 3 (7%),normal.The detrusor was underactive in 14 cases (34%) and areflexia in 10 (24%);BOO was found in 13 (32%).One female patient had stress urinary incontinence. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of bladder dysfunction in diabetic patients with LUTS.It is necessary to perform urodynamic studies in diabetic patients before initiation of therapy,especially in patients who are assigned to undergo bladder and urethral surgery.Preoperative urodynamic studies can contribute to the surgical success rate.

Objective To investigate the value of plasma H-FABP level and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE Ⅱ) in severity and prognosis estimation for patients with acute pumonary embolism(APE).Methods Totally 160 APE patients were hospitalized from January 2010 to January 2015 and enrolled in this study.According to the severity of the disease,these patients with APE were divided into low-risk group,moderate-risk group and high-risk group.According to clinical prognosis,these patients with APE were divided into survival groups and death groups.Plasma levels of H-FABP were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and APACHE Ⅱ score were analyzed.The differences of Plasma H-FABP levels and APACHE Ⅱ score were compared and which the relationship with severity and the prognosis of APE were also assessed.Results With the increased severity in patients,the H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05);the H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score were significantly higher in death group as compared with survival group(P ＜0.05).The H-FABP levels and APACHE Ⅱ score were positive correlated(r =0.71,P =0.000).ROC curves analysis results showed that the area under curve of H-FABP was 0.854 (95 ％ CI:0.784-0.927),and optimal operating point (OOP)was 13.3 μg/L,which had 81.0％ sensiticity and 79.4％ specificity;ACU of APACHE Ⅱ was 0.861 (95％ CI:0.812-0.932),and OOP was 19.2,which had 77.8％ sensiticity and 80.4％ specificity.The AUC was 0.914 (95％ CI:0.825-0.948),and the sensitivity was 88.9％,specificity was 87.6％ when the two cutoff values were both achieved,which were higher than the single H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score.Conclusion The H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score can effectively assess severity and prognosis of APE patients,meanwhile,it provide an objective basis for the clinical individual treatment and reducing the mortality rate of APE patients.

BACKGROUND:Recently,the development of tissue-engineered technique lms broadened the study of artificial esophagus.Some investigators have inoculated esophageal epithelial cells cultured in vitro onto compound polymer material and successfully constructed tissue-engineered esophagus.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the feasibility of tissue-engineered artificial esophagus by combining dog esophageal epithelail cells and an acelhilarized porcine thoracic aorta allogenic matrix.DESIGN:An experimental observation.SETTING:Central Laboratory,Taishan Medical College.MATERIALS:This study was carried out in the Central Laboratory.Talshan Medical College from June to December in 2004.Three hybrid dogs,24-hour-old,were provided by the Laboratory Animal Center,Taishan Medical College.The protocol was performed in accordance with ethical guidelines for the use and care of animals.The experimenhal instruments and reagents were as follows:CO2 incubator(MCO-15AC,SANYO),hypothermal high-speed centrifuge(RC-26,Dupont),trypsin,transferrin,type Ⅱ collagenase(Gibco),dulbecco's modified eagle's medium(DMEM),DispaseⅡ isolated enzyme,and rat monoclonal anti-keratin antibody(Sigma).METHODS:Acellularization of porcine aortas was performed by a method of enzyme-detergent.Esophageal epithelial cells of hybrid dogs were in vitro isolated,cultured and proliferated.Next,they were inoculated onto an acellularized porcine thoracic aortas allogenic matrix seaffold.Three and seven days later,the growth of esophageal epithelial cells on the acellularized matrix was observed under an electron microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Morphology of esophageal epithelial cells cultured in vitro;Biocompatibility of acellular matrix and dog esophageal epithelial cells.RESULTS:The acellularized procedure resulted in an almost complere removal of the cells and the loose three-dimensional matrix.The acellular matrix could be reseeded with expended esophageal epithelial cells in vitro.and esophageal epithelial cells had the potential of spread and proliferation.CONCLUSION:Acellular matrix possesses satisfactory biocompatibility for allogenic esophageal epithelial cells.Tissue-engineered artificial esophagus can be generated in vitro by a combination of esophageal epithelial cells and allogenic aceilularized matrix.

Objective To study the transcriptional regulation of vp1667 by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.Methods Total RNAs were extracted from Δhns and WT strains.Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to calculate the transcriptional variation of vp1667 between Δhns and WT.Primer extension assay was also employed to detect the transcription start site and the promoter activity (i.e.the amount of primer extension products) of vp1667 in Δhns and that in WT.The promoter DNA region of vp1667 was amplified, purified, and cloned into the corresponding restriction endonuclease sites of pHRP309 that harbors a gentamicin resistance gene and a promoterless lacZ reporter gene.The recombinant pHRP309 plasmid was transformed into Δhns and WT, respectively, while β-galactosidase activity in cellular extracts was measured using a β-galactosidase enzyme assay system.The over-expressed His-H-NS was purified under native conditions with nickel loaded HiTrap Chelating Sepharose columns.The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and DNaseⅠ footprinting were then applied to analyze the DNA-binding activity of His-H-NS to vp1667 promoter region in vitro.Results and Conclusion The primer extension assay detected one transcription start site for vp1667, which was located at 28 bp upstream of vp1667, and its transcribed activity was under the negative control of the H-NS.The EMSA and DNaseⅠ footprinting assay results showed that His-H-NS was unable to bind to the promoter-proximal DNA region of vp1667, suggesting that H-NS indirectly inhibits the transcription of vp1667.

AIM:To study the effects of adiponectin on H 2 O2-induced cell injury and tau hyperphosphorylation in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.METHODS:Cell viability was determined by MTT assay .H2 O2-induced cell in-jury and morphological changes in the SH-SY5Y cells with or without adiponectin treatment were observed .The level of tau phosphorylation as well as the activities of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and of glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β) were examined by Western blotting . RESULTS: Adiponectin significantly attenuated H 2 O2-induced cell injury (P<0.01).Adiponectin upregulated the activity of PP2A and decreased phosphorylation levels of tau under the stimula-tion with H2O2(P<0.01).Okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of PP2A, blocked the protective effects of adiponectin (P<0.01).Adiponectin increased the phosphorylation level of GSK-3βat Ser9 site under H2O2stimulation (P<0.01).CON-CLUSION:Adiponectin protects SH-SY5Y cells against H2O2-induced cell injury and decreases tau hyperphosphorylation by activating PP2A and inactivating GSK-3β.

Objective To explore changes in circulating endothelial cells(CECs)numbers in neonatal hypoxemia and its clinical significance.Methods Hladovec method was used to measure the quantity of CECs in 40 cases of neonatus with different degree of hypoxemia(hypoxemia group),and 20 matched healthy newborns were enrolled as control group.Results The numbers of CECs in hypoxemia group were much more than those in control group,and the difference was statistically significant.Meanwhile,there were significant differences in CECs numbers between moderate group and mild group(t =13.43,P <0.05),as well as moderate group and severe group(t=7.698,P <0.05).Conclusion The quantity of circulating ECEs in hypoxic neonatus is correlated with the hy-poxic severity,which may be used as early diagnostic indicator for hypoxemia,and could provide new scientific evidences for early diagnosis,illness judgment and curative effect evaluation.

Objective To investigate the regulation of swimming motility by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus(VP). Methods VP was inoculated into the semi-solid swimming agar plate containing 1% Oxoid tryptone, 2% NaCl, 0.5%Difco Noble Agar, and 0.1% arabinose followed by incubation at 37℃ for 4.5 h before the diameters of bacterial lawns were measured.Total RNAs were extracted from the wild-type (WT) strains and the hns null mutant (Δhns), and the quantitative real-time( RT)-PCR( qRT-PCR) was carried out to calculate the transcriptional variation of flaA between WT andΔhns strains.The entire promoter DNA region of flaA was amplified and cloned into the lacZ fusion vector pHRP309 containing a promoterless lacZ gene. The recombinant lacZ reporter plasmid was transformed into WT and Δhns, respectively, to measure the β-galactosidase activities in cellular extracts using the β-galactosidase enzyme assay system. Results and Conclusion The phenotype results showed that swimming motility of VP was enhanced by H-NS.The qRT-PCR and LacZ fusion results indicated that the transcription of flaA was positively regulated by H-NS.Collectively, H-NS promotes the swimming motility of VP, at least partly, by activating the transcription of flaA.

Objective To evaluate the effects of 3 molluscicides namely 5%niclosamide ethanolamine granules,4%“Luo-wei”(Tea-seed distilled saponins,TDS)and 50%wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt(WPN)by spraying and pou-drage methods in marshland and lake regions in dry season. Methods An environment with a high snail density was chosen as the experimental field,then the spraying and poudrage experiments were carried out in the field to assess the molluscicidal effects of 5%niclosamide ethanolamine granules,TDS and WPN delivered by spraying and poudrage methods with a concentration of 30, 6 and 2 g/m2,respectively,and the molluscicidal effects of the 3 drugs by the two methods were evaluated and compared in differ-ent time. Results After the delivery for 15 d,the adjusted snail death rates of the 5%niclosamide ethanolamine granules,TDS and WPN in the spraying experiment were 79.00%,82.29%and 84.83%,respectively,and those in the poudrage experiments were 97.42%,95.27% and 96.62%,respectively. Conclusion The molluscicidal effect of poudrage method is better than the spraying method,and the former is worthy of further extension and application in the marshland in dry season.

Objective Both underuse and overuse of anticoagulant therapy may lead to severe adverse effects. Emerging portable monitering devices, which provides reliable and accurate measurements, were reported to be potential alternatives to tra-ditional monitering recta-analysis regimens. This study was intended to evaluate the effects of serf-monitoring or serf-management (self-testing and serf-dosing) of anticoagulant as compared with that of traditional monitoring. Methods Relevant trials reported before October 2008 were identified in a number of electronic database and analyzed with software RevMan 4.2. The primary out-comes included death from any cause, major bleeding event, thromboembolic event and the proportion of patients whose interna-tional normalized ratio (INR) were within the therapeutic range. Results Seventeen RCT of serf-monitoring were identified.Pooled estimates revealed significant reductions in the thromboembolic events (odds ratio 0.46, 95% CI0.33 -0.64), all-cause mortality (0.61,0.40 -0.93), and major haemorrhage (0.80, 0.58 - 1.10) with self-monitoring as comparing with traditional monitoring. No difference was noted in minor haemorrhage. 15 trials reported improvements in the mean proportion of patients whose INR were within target range. Conclusion Self-management regimen is superior to traditional monitoring in the outcomes of oral anticoagulation. Patients capable of self-monitoring and serf-adjusting have fewer thromboembolic events and lower mortali-ty than those undergoing self-monitoring alone. However, self-monitoring requires education and training for patients.