Objective: To study the effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Panax notoginseng compound extracts (CSPNE) on Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in rats and its mechanisms. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (18 rats in each group). Rats in model, high- and low-dosage (150 and 75 mg/kg) CSPNE, and Prednisone acetate (3.33 mg/kg) groups were injected with a single dose of Bleomycin hydrochloride through trachea and in control group with the same volume of normal saline. One day after the injection, CSPNE solution of different dosages was respectively ig given to rats daily, while the same volume of normal saline was given to those in the control and model groups. On day 7, 14, and 28 after medication, six rats in per treatment group were randomly killed. Lung samples in every group of rats were measured for lung index, hydroxyproline (Hyp) and malonaldehyde (MDA) contents, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and serum was analyzed for SOD activities and MDA contents. Lungs were incised to make pathological sections which were stained with HE, and the expression of TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen III in lung tissue was analyzed by means of immunohistochemistry technique. Arterial blood gas detection was observed in every group. Results: CSPNE could significantly decrease the lung index and Hyp contents in the lung tissue of rats with PF. It could enhance SOD activities and reduce MDA contents both in serum and lung tissues. It also decreased the expression of TGF-β1, Collagen I, and Collagen III in lung tissues. In the arterial blood gas detection CSPNE was found to make [p(CO2)] lowered, while [p(O2)] increased in the artery of rats with PF. Conclusion: CSPNE has obvious effect of inhibiting PE of rats, and the mechanism may be associated with its antilipid peroxidation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1, reducing the alveolar interstitial collagen deposition, and improving respiratory function as well.

Objective: To investigate the influence of alanyl-glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition on the intestinal permeability in patients with abdominal surgical stress response. Methods: A total of 216 patients undergoing abdominal surgery were randomly divided into three groups, namely, the conventional alanyl-glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition (GLN group), enteral nutrition (EN group) and parenteral nutrition(PN group). The three groups were given isonitrogenic (0.2g · kg-1 · d-1) and isocarloric (125.4 kJ · kg-1 · d-1) support during 3-11 days after operation. The urinary lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratios were observed 6 h after the patients were given 10 g lactulose and 5 g mannitol on one day before and the 7th, 12th day after operation. High pressure liquid chromatography was used to determine the urinary levels of lactulose and mannitol. Results: The mannitol levels had no significant change before and 7, 12 days after operation in the 3 groups, and there were also no significant difference between the 3 groups before and 7, 12 days after operation. The L/M values before and 7, 12 days after operation were 0.025±0.009, 0.038±0.017, and 0.028±0.012 in GLN group, 0.024±0.011, 0.061±0.019, and 0.027±0.014 in EN group, and 0.026 ± 0.012, 0.083 ± 0.021, and 0.047 ± 0.013 in PN group, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the L/M ratios in the 3 groups were all significantly increased 7 days after operation compared with those before operation (P<0.05), and that of PN group was significantly higher than those of EN group and GLN group (P<0.05), and that of EN group was significantly higher than that of GLN group (P<0.05). Twelve days after operation, the L/M ratios in PN group was still significantly higher than that before operation and those in the EN and GLN groups (P<0.05), and that in EN group was similar to that before operation and that in GLN group. Conclusion: The intestinal permeability is greatly increased during the early period after operation. Enteral nutrition is favorable for maintaining the function of intestinal mucosal barrier. Alanyl-glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition can improve the function of intestinal mucosal barrier.

Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of total parenteral nutrition(TPN) combined with enteral nutrition (EN) in treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: A total of 126 patients with SAP were equally randomized into the following three groups: TPN group, EN group, and TPN+ EN group. Peptisorb enteral nutrition was chosen and was given by jejunostomy or nasojejunal feeding tube. The changes of clinical parameters were observed in the 3 groups. Results: The APACHE- II scores, Ranson score, and the concentration of C reactive protein were not significantly different between the 3 groups before treatment. The total bilirubin in TPN group was significantly increased after treatment (P<0.05); the curative rate, mortality rate, plasma albumin, prealbumin, urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, triacylglyceride, and blood glucose underwent no significant difference. Compared with TPN and EN groups, the TPN + EN group had a shorter hospital study, lower rate of infectious complications (P<0.05). Compared with TPN group, EN group had a significantly lower rate of infectious complications (P<0.05). Conclusion: The combined application of TPN and EN can effectively reduce complications and decrease the average hospital stay in SAP patients; the method is more suitable for SAP patients.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Errors ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans

Objective To explore the expression of ribosomal protein L6 (RPL6) in prostate cancer and its clinical sig-nificance. Methods RT-qPCR and Western blot assay were used to measure the mRNA transcription and protein expres-sion levels of RPL6 in prostate cancer tissues (n=80) and adjacent non-cancerous tissues (n=62). The relationship between RPL6 mRNA expression level and clinicopathological factors of prostate cancer was statistically analyzed. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of RPL6 were significantly higher in prostate cancer tissues compared with those of non-cancerous tissues (P<0.05). There were higher serum expression levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and higher Gleason score in prostate cancer tissues. The expression level of RPL6 mRNA was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis and late clinical stage (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in PSA levels between different ages, with or without seminal vesicle invasion and different surgical margin status (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival time showed the significantly lower recurrent rate in patients with high RPL 6 mRNA expression(χ2=4.530,P=0.033). Conclusion The elevated expression of RPL6 may play a role in the development of prostate cancer, and which can be used as a tumor marker to assess the prognosis of prostate cancer.

Objective To investigate effects of volume,distribution and leakage of bone cement in ver- tebroplasty on the adjacent intervertebral bodies using an experimentally calibrated and anatomically accurate fi- nite-element model of elderly L4-L5 vertebral bodies.Methods Computed tomography(CT)scanning was done,at 1 mm intervals,on L4-L5 vertebral bodies of the lumbar spine of an old man cadaver that had no abnormal findings on rnentgenograms.The L4-L5 motion segment data were obtained from the CT scans to establish in computer a three-dimensional finite element model of L4-L5 functional spinal unit(FSU)with the software Ansys 7.0.Compressive load after virtual vertebroplasty on the damaged model,unipedicular and bipedieolar injections and leakage of cement into the intervertebral space,and the resulting endplate and disc stresses of the adjacent vertebral bodies were analyzed in various spatial distributions of the filling material and different loading conditions. An anatomically accurate finite-element model of elderly L4-L5 vertebral bodies was developed.Results The FSU study suggested that changes in stress and strain at adjacent levels were minimal.Furthermore,endplale and disc stresses of the adjacent vertebral bodies were not influenced by bone cement filling volumes or distributions except under bending,whereas asymmetric distribution and leakage of bone cement to the disk increased the stress of adjacent endplates.Conclusion Since asymmetric distribution and significant leakage of cement into the intervertebral space can increase the stresses of endplates of adjacent vertebral bodies and may lead to a fracture, symmetric placement of cement in operation should be achieved and leakage of cement avoided.

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) ( ≤ 2. 0 cm) with liver cirrhosis after contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) examination. Methods Forty five patients with liver cirrhosis received CECT and CEUS examinations before operation or needle biopsy and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathological examination.CEUS and CECT findings of 51 liver space-occupying lesions from 45 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among all 51 lesions detected CEUS and CECT found 49 and 35, respectively. The typical characteristics of SHCC were "fast-in and fast-out" and "fast-in and slow-out". The sensitivity of CEUS and CECT in diagnosis of SHCC was 88. 9% (32/36) and 69. 4 % (25/36) respectively ( x2 = 3. 02, P =0. 08);the diagnostic accuracy was 84. 3 % (43/51 ) and 56. 9% (29/51 ) respectively ( x2 = 1.46, P =0. 22). Among 16 lesions missed by CECT, 12 were detected by CEUS. Conclusions CEUS and CECT show the similar diagnostic rate for typical SHCC ,however, CEUS is more sensitive for atypical lesions. With high time resolution, CEUS have advantages for follow-up study of benign liver lesions.

Objective To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasonography in evaluating cystic renal mass. Methods According to the imaging diagnosing standard, 29 cystic renal mass lesions were studied with contrast enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS), unenhanced ultrasonography (US), contrast enhanced CT(CECT) and then correlated their results with final histopathological results. The data were tested by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve. Results The area under ROC curve of CEUS and US was 0. 721, 0. 997, respectively. There was significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0. 003). The area under ROC curve of CEUS and CECT was 0. 997, 0. 997,respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P= 1. 000). Conclusions CEUS is better than US and similar to CECT in evaluating cystic renal mass. CEUS with the Bosniak classification is useful for evaluating cystic renal mass.

Animals ; Electrical Synapses ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Parietal Lobe ; cytology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND:Impaired balance between osteogenesis and adipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels is a crucial pathological mechanism of osteoporosis. Mechanical loads applied to bone tissue can increase bone formation and improve bone strength, and meanwhile lead to the release of extracelular nucleotides, such as adenosine triphosphate.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of adenosine triphosphate on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:The effect of adenosine triphosphate (10, 50, 250 μmol/L) on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were measured by osteogenic and adipogenic related genes expression, alizarin red staining and oil red O staining. The activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway by adenosine triphosphate was tested using western blot assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Incubation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels with adenosine triphosphate resulted in the dose-dependent increase of osteogenic genes expression and calcium deposition, and inhibition of adipogenic genes expression and lipid droplet formation, but had no effects on cel proliferation. Adenosine triphosphate activated ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and U0126 as an ERK1/2 inhibitor restrained the effect of adenosine triphosphate on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels.