OBJECTIVETo evaluate the dynamic change of Th1/Th2 cytokines in serum, peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) and splenic macrophages (SM) in rats with severe peritonitis, and to observe the therapeutic effects of recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-2) and Shenmai injection (SMI), a Chinese medicinal preparation.

METHODSSevere peritonitis (SP) model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of E. coli and B. frag, and mild peritonitis (MP) model was induced by cecal ligation and punching. Then the following experiments were done: (1) Survival rates of animals after every 6 hrs in the 72 hrs after modeling were recorded, serum and PLF levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs after modeling were measured. (2) Model rats were treated with rIL-12 or SMI, the survival rate was recorded and serum levels of TNF-alpha, INF-gamma, and IL-10 before and after treatment were measured, and (3) amount of these cytokines produced by SM were determined 6 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs after treatment. The survival rates and levels of cytokines were then compared between the groups (model group treated with rIL-12 or SMI, untreated model group, and blank group).

RESULTSSerum and PLF levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha at all the time points in SP rats were significantly lower than those in MP rats while those of IL-10 6 hrs and 12 hrs after modeling were significantly higher in the former than that in the latter (P < 0.05). IFN-gamma secretion of SM in SP rats was significantly higher than that in MP rats 6 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05). Administration of rlL-12 or SMI given before modeling could improve the survival rate of the model rats (P < 0.05) and cause significant increase of the serum level and SM secretion of IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSIONImbalance in promoting/antagonizing inflammatory cytokines and Th2 response dominance appear in SP rats early at the initiating stage, and SM secretion of inflammation promoting factor also reduces. Administration in time of rIL-12 and SMI, may increase the survival rate, and its mechanism may be related with their immuno-stimulating action.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Male ; Peritonitis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Rate ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of internal fixation (including PFNA and PFN) versus hip replacement (including FHR or THA) in the treatment of trochanteric fractures in adults.

METHODSReports of studies using randomized controlled trials (RCT) to compare internal fixationg with hip replacement in the management of intertrochanteric fractures were retrieved (up to January 1, 2013) from the Cochrane Library, PUBMED Data, CNKI (China National Knowledge infrastructure), Elsevier, the Chinese Biomedical Database, Wanfang Data, and manually. Methodological quality of the trials was critically assessed, and relevant data were extracted. Statistical software RevMan 5.0 was used for data-analysis.

RESULTSSeven articles were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that,compared internal fixation with hip replacement,there were statistical significance in the duration of surgery time [WMD = -2.66, 95% CI (-5.25,-0.06), P = 0.05], intra-operative blood loss [WMD = -24.20, 95% CI (-30.38, -18.02), P < 0.000 01], hospital stays time [WMD = -4.72, 95% CI (-5.18, -4.25), P < 0.000 01], bearing load time [WMD = -29.54, 95% CI (-30.77, -28.31), P < 0.000 01], total complications rate [WMD = 0.15, 95% CI (0.11, 0.22), P < 0.000 01], the good rate of Harris scores [WMD = 1.09, 95% CI (0.54,1.32), P < 0.05]. However, there were no statistical significance in the rate of deep venous thrombosis [WMD = 1.09, 95% CI (0.47, 2.55), P > 0.05]. CON- CLUSION: Hip replacement (containing FHR or THA) for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures is superior to internal fixa- tion in regards to the duration of surgery time, the mean duration of hosipital stays, mean post-operative down time, intra-opera- tive blood loss, the rate of post-operative good Harris scores. But there is not enough evidence to show any difference between hip replacement (containing THA or FHR) and internal fixation in regards to the rate of deep venous thrombosis. However, internal fixation for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures is superior to hip replacement (containing FHR or THA) in regards to total complications rate.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans

Recently, the D'Amico classification system is widely used for the risk stratification of prostate cancer (PCa) , although no consensus has been reached for the definition of high-risk PCa. This system defines high-risk PCa as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level > 20 ng/ml, a Gleason score of 8-10, or a clinical stage ≥ T2c. Because high-risk PCa is prone to recurrence and metastasis after treatment, a proper initial therapy plays a crucial role. Currently, radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy are considered to be two most important options for the initial treatment of high-risk PCa although it remains controversial which is better.
Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Risk

In order to discriminate the crude and sweated Dipsaci Radix correctly and rapidly, the crude and sweated Dipsaci Radix were scanned by the NIR spectrometer, and an identifying model was developed by near infrared spectroscopy combined with principal component-Mahalanobis distance pattern recognition method. The pretreated spectra data of 129 crude samples and 86 sweated ones were analyzed through principal component analysis (PCA). The identifying model was developed by choosing the spectrum for 9 881.46-4 119.20 cm(-1) and "SNV + spectrum + S-G" to the original spectral preprocessing with 14 principal components, and then was verified by prediction set, identifying with 100% accuracy. The rapid identification model of the crude and sweated Dipsaci Radix by NIR is feasible and efficient, and could be used as an assistant means for identifying the crude and sweated Dipsaci Radix.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Dipsacaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; methods ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Objective To investigate the effect of Xing-Zhi-Yi-Nao (XZYN) particles on the expressions of Nogo and OMgp proteins in brain of rats after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.Methods A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group,CO poisoning group and XZYN particles treatment group (40 rats in each group).The rats in CO poisoning group and treatment group of acute CO poisoning were established by using an animal chamber,and then received hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Meanwhile,rats in treatment group were further given additional XZYN particles twice a day by gavage.At 1 day,1 week,1 month and 2 months after CO poisoning,the neurobehavioral score of rats was evaluated by a Morris water maze test and a shuttle box test,and the expressions of neurite outgrowth inhibitor (Nogo) and oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMgp) were investigated in rat brain tissue by immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting assay,respectively.Results Compared with those in normal control group((11.6±8.4)s,(41.8±4.4)%,(16.1±2.3)s,and (1.2±0.2)s),the escape latency in CO group was significantly prolonged ((14.1±6.1)s),and the T1/ T total was obviously decreased (23.6±2.4) %,the escape time ((26.3±3.8)s),the active escape latency ((2.3±0.3)s) were notably extended at 1 d (P<0.05).The cognitive dysfunction caused by CO poisoning was more obvious in the later stage of poisoning (from 1 week to 2 months,P<0.05).Compared with those in CO group,the escape latency was significantly shortened (from (3.5±0.6)s to (3.1±0.5)s),the T1/ T total was gradually increased (from (29.7±3.2)% to (36.7±3.2)%),the escape time (from (39.7±5.4)s to (18.1±2.0)s) and the active escape latency were obviously decreased (from (4.3±0.4)s to (2.1±0.2)s) in the later stage (>1 week) in Xing-Zhi-Yi-Nao treatment group (P<0.05).The expressions of Nogo and Omgp proteins in brain tissue in CO poisoning group were gradually increased as time went by.The increased expressions of Nogo and Omgp proteins were still observed at 1 month after CO poisoning.By contrast,XZYN particles could significantly improve cognitive function,reduce the expression of Nogo protein,and there was statistical difference compared with the poisoning group (P<0.05).However,the level of Omgp protein in XZYN treatment group was slightly lower than that in CO poisoning group,but there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion The expression of Nogo and Omgp proteins may be associated with brain injury and demyelination in rats induced by CO poisoning.XZYN particles can down-regulate the expression of Nogo,and pave a way for the treatment of acute brain damage and delayed encephalopathy after CO poisoning.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of monocyte releasing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in severe sepsis (SS) patients, and the regulatory effect of emodin and Shenmai Injection (SMI) on monocyte response.

METHODSocyte (PBMC) sampled from SS patients due to severe abdominal inflammation and healthy controls, PBMC were incubated with or without LPS, respectively. PBMC media pretreated with emodin and SMI, and then the levels of cytokine factors including TNF-alpha and IL-10 in supernatants were determined after stimulated with or without LPS in the two groups. Normal PBMC stimulated with LPS based on incubated with either normal serum or SS serum, and the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in supernatant of normal PBMC and SS serum dealing with emodin or SMI after cultured and stimulated with LPS were determined, respectively.

RESULTSThe levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were significantly higher in SS patients than those in the healthy adults. The contents of TNF-alpha and IL-10 increased in response to LPS in PBMC of healthy adults, and the excretion of TNF-alpha was significantly attenuated whereas IL-10 significantly increased in septic PBMC than basal content. Both of the two traditional Chinese medicines had significantly effect in stimulating PBMC secretion in healthy adults and SS patients. In normal PBMC, emodin attenuated TNF-alpha and IL-10 release in response to LPS, and SMI significantly inhibited TNF-alpha release. As to septic PBMC, emodin significantly stimulated TNF-alpha and IL-10 release and SMI significantly increased the concentration of TNF-alpha in the SS patients. Incubation of normal PBMC with septic serum attenuated TNF-alpha production, whereas increased IL-10 release. Emodin could significantly decrease the level of IL-10, and SMI recovered TNF-alphareleasing and had no effect on IL-10.

CONCLUSIONThe level of TNF-alpha significantly decreased accompanied with an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 significantly increased of PBMC in SS patients. Monocyte exhibits the different response of inflammatory or anti-inflammatory factor which may be one of the reasons of imbalance of immune function in SS patients. Both of emodin and SMI may have regulatory effect on excretion of PBMC in SS patients, but they play a role in different ways.

Adult ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate a new surgical method by using pectoralis minor muscle for its partial transplantation to reconstruct the function of the opposite thumb anastomosed vessels and nerves. Methods The proposed method was evaluated by taking 20 cases of adult cadaveric thoraxes and hands,then compared with the morphology and dimension of both pectoralis minor muscle and palmer muscle to study the feasibility of the new method.Based on the observed data.We selected five suitable cases,in which the opposi- tion function was lost,and then applied the new operation on them with partial transplantation of pectoralis mi- nor muscle anastomosed vessels and nerves according to the results of anatomic study.The follow-up study was conducted to observe the functional recovery of opposition of the thumb.Results The main results can be summarized as follows.First,the anatomical position of pectoralis minor muscle was stable,and every peetoralis minor muscle was provided with self-sustaining artery,vein and nerve.The oppostition process of cadaveric hand succeeded after similar transplantation to clinic operation.Second,follow-up studies conducted 6 - 12 months after the operation showed that all five patients recovered fully.The muscle strength in all five cases re- covered to level four or higher.The shape of palm eminence was satisfactory.Conclusion The surgical method of pectoralis minor muscle transplantation for reconstructing the opposition function of the thumb was based on the clinical and anatomical application.The function of opposition of the thumb reached the satisfacto- ry requirement after the operation.So,the new surgical method can achieve better results than other existing operation methods.

OBJECTIVEApplicate autologous buccal mucosal graft pre-transplantation for urethral reconstruction of complicated hypospadias by staging.

METHODSFrom 1999 to 2003, 40 patients have been treated by method of autologous buccal mucosal graft pre-placing. There were two models: graft onlay and graft-tube for urethral reconstruction, and the 2rd operation was accomplished half year later.

RESULTSAll patients healed without urethral fistula.

CONCLUSIONThe method is valuable for treatment of complicated hypospadias.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Young Adult

D-lactonohydrolase is useful in the procedure of resolution of racemic pantolactone to produce D-pantolactone, but the activity and stability under low pH of the wild type enzyme is not satisfactory enough to be applied to industrial production. The expected properties of wild type enzyme were enhanced by directed evolution. According to the formation of products and pH indicators, a screening system was designed. After three sequential error prone PCR and one round DNA shuffling followed by screening, Mut E-861, the best mutant with improved activity and stability under low pH situation was obtained. Gene analysis of the Mut E-861 mutant indicated that the mutant enzyme had A352C, G721A mutations and a silent mutation of position 1038. Moreover, the activity and stability of Mut E-861 were determined. The results showed that the activity of this mutant was 5.5-fold higher than that of wild type, and the stability under low pH was improved at no expense of D-lactonohydrolase activity. After incubated at pH 6.0 and pH 5.0 the activity of D-lactonohydrolase could be retained 75% to 50%, however, compared with 40% to 20% for wild type.
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA Shuffling ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Enzyme Stability ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Protein Engineering ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the functional aspects of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) gene involved in tumor metastasis.

METHODSTwo human lung giant cell carcinoma cell lines PLA801C (low metastasis potential) and PLA801D (high metastasis potential) were chosen as in-vitro human cancer model systems. Sense and anti-sense expression constructs of PAR-1 gene (pC/PAR1s and pC/PAR1as) were transfected into PLA-801C and PLA-801D cells by lipofection. PAR-1 expression was determined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. MTT growth, flow cytometry analysis, fibronectin adhesion, and matrigel invasion assays were used to study the effect of PAR-1 expression on the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of the transfected cells.

RESULTSAppropriate up-regulation or down-regulation of protein expression of PAR-1 was observed in both transfected cell lines (PLA801C and PLA801D) to express PAR-1s or PAR-1as, respectively. Expression of the sense PAR-1 markedly increased cellular proliferation, adhesion and invasion of PLA-801C cells. In contrast, anti-sense PAR-1 significantly inhibited cell growth, adhesion and invasion capabilities, along with cell arrest at G0/G1 phase of the PLA-801D cells.

CONCLUSIONSSuccessful up- and down- regulation of expression of PAR-1 can be achieved by in-vitro transfection of sense and antisense PAR-1 constructs. PAR-1 may enhance metastasis of lung cancer through its regulation of cellular proliferation, adhesion and invasion. Down-regulation of expression of PAR-1 may provide a new therapeutic strategy against lung carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Giant Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA, Antisense ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, PAR-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection