OBJECTIVETo study the effects of skin wound induction gel on the glans scabbing rate, class-A wound healing rate, and wound healing time of circumcision for phimosis in pediatric patients.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 48 six to thirteen years old children with phimosis to an experimental group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 23) to be treated by circumcision. After surgery, the patients in the experimental group received application of skin wound induction gel while those in the control group received that of povidone iodine only to the glans and incision. We recorded and compared the glans scabbing rate, class-A wound healing rate, and wound healing time between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSGlans scabbing was observed in 3 cases in the experimental group and 17 cases in the control group (12.0% vs 73.9%, P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found in the rate of class-A wound healing between the two groups (100% vs 91.3%, P > 0.05). The wound healing time was significantly shorter in the experimental than in the control group ([10.7 ± 1.7] d vs [11.9 ± 2.1] d, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPost-circumcision application of skin wound induction gel to the glans and incision can effectively reduce glans secreta, alleviate inflammatory reaction, and shorten the healing time in the treatment of phimosis in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Circumcision, Male ; Gels ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; methods ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Male ; Phimosis ; drug therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

Objective To study the early prediction of infection in acute pancreatitis in rats by plasma procalcitonin (PCT) and c-reactive (CRP) detection.Methods Eighty SD rats were randomly assigned into acute infected pancreatitis group (I, n=20), pancreatitis control group (C, n=40) and sham-operated group (S, n=20). Blood samples were collected pre- (0h) and post-operatively (12h, 24h and 48h). Plasma CRP was analyzed by ELISA. Plasma and liver PCT was detected by Western blot.Results (1). Ascitic infection occurred in all the group B rats and 16 of 40 rats of group C (analyzed as group C1), and did not occur in the other 20 of 40 rats of group C (analyzed as group C2) and group S. (2). The plasma CRP concentrations elevated gradually after the model setup in group B and C1, which were significantly higher at 48h than those in group C2 and group S. (3). PCT was detected in high levels in plasma and liver tissues in group B and C1 at 48h post-operatively, and they were sighificantly higher than those in group C2 and group S.Conclusions PCT can predict early infection of acute pancreatitis, and detection of PCT combined with plasma CRP may help in the differentiation of acute infected pancreatitis. The liver may be an important organ for synthesis of PCT.

Objective To study the expression of VEGF-C and its receptor in breast carcinoma tissue and in peritumoral tissue,as well as their clinic significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to examine the expression of VEGF-C and VEGFR3 in 70 cases of breast cancer and in its peritu- moral tissue.Results In all 70 cases of breast cancer,the positive expression rate of VEGF-C in breast car- cinoma tissue was 78.6 %,and its rate in peritumoral tissue was 54.3 %.There was a significant stastistic dif- ference between the two groups(P

Coprinus comatus cultivated on cotton seed hull medium decomposed lignocellulose straggly and was high of absolute biological efficiency. Lignocellulose is the main carbon source for the fruiting stage of the fungus. There existed the positive correlation between the degradation rates of the cellulose and hemicellulose in the medium and the activities of extracellular CMCase (carboxymenthelcel lulase), FPase (filter paper cellulase) and HCase (hemicellu-lase), there also existed the positive correlation between the degradation rate of the lignin in the medium and the activity of extracellular laccase, but no correlation between the degradatio rate of the lignin in the medium and the activity of peroxidase. The activity of extracellular amylase was comparatively high at mycelial growth stage, and the protease activity peek was at teh time when the fruitbody matured.

As a novel transdermal drug delivery technology of minimally invasive, safe and efficient, microneedles have received increasing attention. The microchannels formation by microneedles onto the skin is a prerequisite and key for microneedles to deliver drugs. However, there is still a lack of systematic evaluation in skin microchannels. This review summarized influencing factors and evaluation methods in microchannels formation and healing by microneedles, including geometric parameters, materials for preparation, drugs, penetration parameters, differences among the skin of subjects, and presence or absence of occlusion. This review provides reference for other scholars to further study the effectiveness and security of microneedle applications.

OBJECTIVETo determine the contents of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in pancreatic cancer to provide a basis for the clinical use of capecitabine in pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODSThe contents of TP and DPD in pancreatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues from 20 patients were determined by ELISA and the TP to DPD ratios in the cancer and adjacent normal tissue were compared.

RESULTSTP content was 5- to 283-fold higher in tumor tissue (mean 74-fold) than in the adjacent normal tissue (P < 0.01). DPD in the cancer tissue increased significantly. So did the TP to DPD ratio, when compared to that in normal pancreatic tissue (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe increased TP to DPD ratio in pancreatic cancer suggests that capecitabine could be activated by the cancer, these capable of selectively kill the tumor cells.

Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Pancreas ; enzymology ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; surgery ; Thymidine Phosphorylase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether gender is an independent predictor of in-hospital death in hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSThis retrospective study compared baseline characteristics, therapeutic approaches and the occurrence rate of angina pectoris, reinfarction, heart failure and death during hospitalization between 1501 male and 635 female hospitalized patients with AMI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors predicting in-hospital death.

RESULTSIn-hospital death rate was significantly higher in female than male patients with AMI (11.7% vs. 6.3%, P < 0.01). Female patients with AMI were significantly older than male patients [(67.8 +/- 9.2) years vs. (61.1 +/- 11.9) years, P < 0.01] had a higher incidence of hypertension (52.1% vs. 41.1%, P < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (35.4% vs. 17.3%, P < 0.01), cardiac function > or = Killip class III (11.7% vs. 5.1%, P < 0.01) and TC > 4.68 mmol/L (71.3% vs. 55.0%, P < 0.01). Cigarette smoking, however, was more common in males than in females (69.4% vs. 15.7%, P < 0.01). Reperfusion therapy within the first 24 hours after symptom onset, beta-blockers and statins use during hospitalization were significantly fewer in females compared with males (22.2% vs. 31.5%, P < 0.01; 64.6% vs. 71.2%, P = 0.003; 43.1% vs. 48.0%, P = 0.041, respectively). An increased mortality was demonstrated in females during the hospitalization phase of AMI (11.7% vs. 6.3%, P < 0.01). The results of logistic regression demonstrated that age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Killip classification of cardiac function, administration of reperfusion therapy and beta receptor blockers use were significant predictors of in-hospital death in patients with AMI, with odds ratios being 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04 - 1.08), 1.96 (95% CI: 1.32 - 2.90), 1.80 (95% CI: 1.25 - 2.58), 2.86 (95% CI: 2.35 - 3.48), 0.44 (95% CI: 0.30 - 0.66) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.36 - 0.74), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe in-hospital mortality of females is significantly higher than that of males in this patient cohort. Older age, higher risk factor rates, less reperfusion therapy and beta-blockers use contributed to the higher in-hospital mortality in female patients with AMI compared to males.

Aged ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo obtain highly purified tetanus toxin fragment C (TTC) with good immunogenicity.

METHODSThe gene fragment encoding TTC was amplified from Clostridium tetani plasmid DNA by PCR, inserted into the vector pET43.1a (+) and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3)plysS. After purification using Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography, the expressed fusion protein was digested by thrombin and the resultant TTC protein was purified with Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography followed by identification with SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The purifed TTC protein was then used to immunize mice to test its immunogenecity.

RESULTSThe 1373-bp gene fragment encoding TTC was obtained, and the constructed recombinant expression vector pET43.1a (+)-TTC was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3)plysS. SDS-PAGE identified a recombinant fusion protein with relative molecular mass (Mr) of 117 000, which accounted for 22% of the total bacterial protein. The TTC protein with Mr of 50 000 was obtained after purification of the thrombin digestion products of the fusion protein, with a purity reaching 95.5%. Both the fusion protein and TTC protein could be recognized by anti-tetanus toxin antibody as shown by Western blotting. The titer of the anti-serum from mice immunized with the TTC protein was 1:25 600, and the anti-serum could specifically bind to tetanus toxin.

CONCLUSIONHighly purified and immunogenetic TTC protein has been successfully obtained, which provides a good model antigen for studying antigen presentation and immune responses in vivo.

Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Peptide Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Tetanus Toxin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Tetanus Toxoid ; immunology

OBJECTIVESalvia miltorrhiza Bunge (SMB) is a traditional Chinese herb, which is considered to promote blood flow and remove blood stasis. This study examined whether SMB can alleviate injury induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in human kidney proximal tubular cells-2 (HK-2 cells).

METHODSThere were 3 experimental groups: control, H/R injury and SMB-treated H/R injury. H/R injury of HK-2 cells was induced by first covering the cells with and then removing liquid paraffin wax. Different concentrations of compound SMB solution (0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% or 0.20%) were administered to the SMB-treated H/R injury group before the hypoxic injury. After 4, 12 and 24 hrs of hypoxia and 4, 12, 24 and 48 hrs of reoxygenation, morphologic changes of HK-2 cells were observed under an inverted microscope. Cell viability was measured by the MTT method. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture supernatants was assayed using biochemical methods; TNF-alpha levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTSThe number of HK-2 cells was significantly reduced in the H/R injury group after hypoxia, and reached a nadir 24 hrs after hypoxia treatment. Various concentrations of SMB-treated groups showed significantly greater number of HK-2 cells than the H/R injury group. SMB solution (0.10%) produced the best effect. The levels of LDH and TNF-alpha in the H/R injury group were significantly increased, and reached a peak between 24 hrs of hypoxia and 4 hrs of reoxygenation when compared to the control group. Pre-treating with 0.10% SMB resulted in significantly lower levels of LDH and TNF-alpha than in the untreated H/R injury group at various time points of H/R.

CONCLUSIONSSMB has protective effects against H/R injury of HK-2 cells, possibly through inhibition of inflammatory cytokines.

Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; drug effects ; pathology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Objective To study clinical data of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) induced by left main (LM) artery occlusion,and to find out the clinical characteristics.Method From Janurany 1995 to May 2006,there were 15 patients with AMI related with LM obstruction from 1793 AMI patients,in whom primary PCls were performed.All patients were male with a mean age of (60.6?10.4) years old (ranging from 43 to 85 years old).The clinical and interventional data were retrospectively analyzed.Results Cardiogenic shock occurred in 10 patients at admission.Primary PCls were performed with intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) in all patients.Nine patients died during short follow-up,and the mortality was 60%.Three-month follow-up was made in the all survival patients,and one patient died after 4 years.Analysis showed good collateral circulation flow from right coronary artery to left coronary artery before operation affected the short-term prognosis.Conclusions AMI related with left main artery obstruction was critically fatal with high occurrence of cardiogenic shock and high mortality.Prognosis differs at,cording to different degree of collateral circulation.Primary PCI with IABP provides a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes.