BACKGROUND:Colagen materials have good biocompatibility and biodegradability, but also had some problems such as low mechanical strength, poor resistance to degradation exposed in the process of clinical application. Numerous studies have reported that proper crosslinking could improve the disadvantage of colagen materials, regulate porous network structure, sweling and degradation of colagen materials. OBJECTIVE: To optimize carbodimide crosslinking process of colagen sponge and determine the best process conditions. METHODS:Colagen sponge was cross-linked by carbodimide for the preparation of loose and porous colagen sponge. Meanwhile, we optimized the conditions of cross-linking, in which the selected concentration of carbodimide was 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 mmol/L, linking time was 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 hours, and linking temperature was 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35℃. We evaluated the best process conditions of colagen sponge through the aperture, porosity, water absorption, and degradation rate. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The optimal conditions were carbodimide concentration 50 mmol/L, crosslinking temperature 20℃,crosslinking time 6 hours. At this point, the average pore diameter of colagen sponge was 105 μm, the porosity was 79.45%, water absorption was 287.14%, and the degradation rate was 15.04% (2 days). The crosslinking of colagen sponge significantly improved its water absorption and degradation resistance.

Objective: To compare the difference of infrared radiation temperature on body surface of points between healthy people and patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands. Method: The thermaCATMT P30 infrared thermal imaging system was selected to measure the infrared radiation temperature on body surface of eight points in four meridians in 74 patients with hyperplasia of mammary glands and 63 healthy people. Results: The infrared radiation temperatures on body surface of right Youmen (KI 21) in cases with hyperplasia of mammary glands were significantly higher than the healthy people (P=0.009), and the infrared radiation temperatures on left Youmen (KI 21) and other points had no significant difference with healthy people (P>0.05). Conclusion: The infrared radiation temperatures on body surface of right Youmen (KI 21) have significant differences with healthy people. This might occur because of the pathogenesis of hyperplasia of mammary glands and of the specificity of the point Youmen (KI 21).

As one of the primary prevention measures to reduce birth defects , the premarital healthcare service has played an important role in the prevention of communicable diseases , maintaining the harmonious and happy mar-riage, health and other aspects of protection of the next generation .Different countries and regions also design and implement the premarital medical examination system based on their actual situations .This article summarized the practices, characteristics and experiences of premarital healthcare services in some foreign countries and regions through several aspects including model , set projects content , financing and other aspects of the application of the premarital results.Finally, this paper put forwards suggestions on the premarital healthcare services in our country to help healthy the carrying out of the premarital work .

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Drug Combinations ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Urea ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of the matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and membrane-type 1 metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) in lung of rats exposed to paraquat (PQ) and the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 on above expression.

METHODSNinety adult healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the control group (group A, 6 rats), the exposure group (group B, 42 rats) and the group treated by Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 (group C, 42 rats). The group B and C were treated intragastrically with 1ml of PQ (50 mg/kg), and the group A was treated intragastrically with normal saline. The group C was treated intraperitoneally with 1 ml Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 at the dose of 40 mg/kg a day. The group A and B were treated intraperitoneally with 1 ml normal saline day. The expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP was detected on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days after exposure for all groups.

RESULTSAs compared with the expression level (0.305 ± 0.045) of MMP-2 mRNA in group A, the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA in Group B significantly increased, which were 0.654 ± 0.077, 0.623 ± 0.051, 0.637 ± 0.024, 0.533 ± 0.043 and 0.552 ± 0.050 on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). As compared with group A, the the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA on the 1st, 3rd, 7th days in Group C slightly increased, but the expression levels of MMP-2 mRNA on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st days in Group C were 0.523 ± 0.074, 0.567 ± 0.097, 0.514 ± 0.058, 0.359 ± 0.018 and 0.374 ± 0.020, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.01). As compared with the expression level (0.391 ± 0.058) of MT1-MMP mRNA in group A, the expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group B significantly increased, which were 0.796 ± 0.021, 0.762 ± 0.043, 0.590 ± 0.010, 0.803 ± 0.076 and 0.680 ± 0.034 on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). As compared with group A, the expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group C significantly increased, which were 0.594 ± 0.010, 0.653 ± 0.044 and 0.564 ± 0.009 on the 1st, 3rd and 21st days after exposure, respectively (P < 0.01). The expression levels of MT1-MMP mRNA in Group C were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression changes of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP genes of lungs in rats intragastrically exposed to PQ could result in the unbalance the synthesis and degradation of ECM, which may be a cause of lung fibrosis. The Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 could affect the expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP genes to a certain extent, resulting in the reduction of lung fibrosis.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

PNS (Panax notoginseng saponins) is the main medical bioactive component in Panax notoginseng. The medical value of PNS cannot be extended because of its low production. With the deep study of saponins biosynthetic pathway, the control of PNS biosynthesis through metabolic engineering has gradually become possible. In this study, the Squalene synthase (SS) over-expression vector was established. By the way of agrobacterium-mediated method, the vector was transfered and integrated into the Panax notoginseng genome. The result of the PCR detection and the saponin content detection shows that over-expression SS is able to produce high level of Panax notoginseng saponins, and confirms the regulatory function of SS in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng. It provides a theoretical basis and technical basis for the construction of PNS homologous or heterologous efficient expression system in the future.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; cytology ; genetics ; microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; chemistry ; cytology ; genetics ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; cytology ; genetics ; microbiology ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic

When to design clinical trials in the treatment of depression, we should follow some general rules of ordinary clinical trials, and also have to consider the characteristics of depression and test drugs, as well as the influence of these characteristics.Due to the questionable efficacy of active drug in the treatment of depression,placebo control could apply a potent evidence to clarify the absolute efficacy of test drugs.In this ar-ticle, the present situation of placebo control in these studies was intro-duced, we interpreted the general considerations on placebo control of these studies from ethnics and safety aspects, and analysed the factors which may contribute to the drug-placebo difference, and finally provid-ed suggestions about how to design these studies with placebo control, which may help sponsors and drug research units to obtain a systematic understanding of placebo control in these studies.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Dachaihu decoction in treatment of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in the elderly patients with excess-heat syndrome and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods One hundred elderly patients with excess-heat syndrome and SAP admitted to the Department of Neurology of Tianjin Nankai Hospital from August 2015 to September 2016 were enrolled, and they were divided into a control group and an observation group according to the random number table, 50 cases in each group. Both groups were given conventional neurological treatment, while the observation group additionally received Dachaihu decoction (the ingredients of the decoction: bupleurum 15 g, scutellariae 10 g, pinellia 10 g, fructus aurantii immaturus 15 g, radix paeoniae alba 10 g, rhubarb 5 g, ginger 10 g, jujube 2), and according to the individual's symptoms and signs, the above ingredients can be added and/or subtracted, 1 dose per day, divided into two parts, 1 part taken in the morning and 1 part in the evening orally, 14 days as a therapeutic course. The body temperature recovery time, the duration of antibiotic treatment, the changes of Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score before and after treatment of the two groups were observed and the therapeutic effects in the two groups were evaluated. Results The body temperature recovery time (days: 6.56±2.70 vs. 8.08±3.23) and the duration of antibiotic treatment (days: 8.78±2.80 vs. 10.02±2.90) in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (both P ＜ 0.05); with the prolongation of treatment, after treatment, the CPIS and NIHSS score were decreased significantly in both groups, reaching the lowest levels on the 14th day, and the degrees of score descent in observation group were more significant than those of the control group (CPIS score: 0.68±0.59 vs. 1.12±0.96, NIHSS score: 6.38±2.31 vs. 7.44±2.74, both P ＜ 0.05); the total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [92% (46/50) vs. 76% (38/50), P ＜ 0.05]. Conclusion The therapeutic effect of Dachaihu decoction used for treatment of SAP in elderly patients with excess-heat syndrome is favorably effective and safe.

BACKGROUNDNeural tube defects are the most common human birth defects. The causes are multifactorial with complex genetic and environmental factors, although the exact genetic causes are unknown. This research was conducted to study the frequency of Msx2 gene polymorphisms in 59 women with a history of pregnancy with a neural tube defect and in 73 healthy controls. We aimed to determine the effect of this genetic polymorphism on the incidence of neural tube defects in the Han Chinese population.

METHODSWe studied 59 mothers with at least one previous child with a neural tube defect (the case group) and 73 case-control subjects during the same period, from Shanxi Province, China. We analyzed the genotypic distributions and allele frequencies of Msx2 C386T polymorphisms in DNA samples from the case and control groups. A three-dimensional protein model was predicted using Swiss-Pdb Viewer software version 4.0. Disease association was analyzed using chi-square tests.

RESULTSSignificant differences were observed in the genotypes and allele frequencies of the Msx2 C386T allele between the case and control groups (CT: 32% vs. 15%, P = 0.0073 and TT 15% vs. 4%, P = 0.013, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that the C386T mutation is a potential risk factor for neural tube defects (P < 0.05; OR: 3.466; 95%CI: 1.831 - 6.560). Three-dimensional structure prediction revealed that the Msx2 C386T mutation results in a threonine substitution for methionine at position 129 of exon 2, which might lead to structural mutations or dysfunctions in the protein encoded by Msx2.

CONCLUSIONMaternal Msx2 C386T gene polymorphisms were associated with fetal neural tube defects in Han Chinese women in Shanxi Province.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo review the methods involved in airway management of tracheal surgery and to consider the role of extracorporeal circulation.

METHODSA total of 91 tracheal surgeries were performed from January 2008 to February 2012, including 60 cases of tumor, 8 cases of post-traumatic stenosis and 23 cases of post-tracheostomy stenosis. There were 76 male and 15 female patients, aged from 4 to 77 years. Anesthetic plans were made according to the severity and position of stenosis. Rapid sequent induction intubations were conducted on 56 patients, tracheostomy intubations on 25 patients, awake intubations on 3 patients, extracorporeal circulation on 6 patients and emergent sternotmy and tracheostomy on 1 patient. Miniature extracorporeal circulation systems were used in all extracorporeal circulation case.

RESULTSAll patients discharged without major complications. There were 2 cases of massive bleeding during operations, 1 case of post-operative tracheal fistula and 1 case of post-operative incision infection. All these 4 cases were treated properly and got cured. One patient on whom extracorporeal circulation was unable to set up underwent 6 minutes of hypoxia before sterotomy and tracheostomy. All the extracorporeal circulation cases were hemodynamically stable during bypass and none of them need massive transfusion. The miniature extracorporeal circulation system was convenient to use and especially suitable for tracheal surgery.

CONCLUSIONSVarious advanced anesthesia techniques can ensure a safe airway for most tracheal surgeries. However, extracorporeal circulation plays a major role in high risk cases. It is important to set up a miniature extracorporeal circulation circuit that is especially suitable for tracheal surgery.

Airway Management ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Humans ; Trachea ; surgery ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery ; Tracheostomy