Procalcionin ( PCT) is a soluble protein liberated into the circulation of patients in response to severe systemic in-fection, in particular by bacterial infection.It is used as the most accurate biomarker for the diagnosis of sepsis.This review briefly de-scribes the induction of PCT, the comparison of PCT and other markers of sepsis, the application of PCT measurement in confirmation or exclusion of diagnosis of sepsis, the assessment of severity and treatment effectiveness of systemic infection, the application of PCT in guiding individual and specific treatment of antibiotics, and the anormaly situation of elevated levels of PCT in patients who do not have sepsis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of tranexamic acid on inflammatory response in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ -Ⅲ and NYHA Ⅰ -Ⅲ patients of both sexes,aged 45-64 yr,with body mass index 16-22 kg/m2,undergoing elective OPCABG,were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n =30 each):control group (group C) and tranexamic acid group (group T).Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of midazolam,fentanyl and pipecuronium.The patients were tracheal intubated and mechanically ventilated.PETCO2 was maintained at 35-45 mm Hg.Tranexamic acid 1 g was infused intravenously over 30 min after induction followed by continuous infusion at 400 mg/h until the end of operation in group T.While equal volume of normal saline was given in gtoup C.Anesthesia was maintained with inhalation of isoflurane and intermittent (i)v boluses of fentanyl and pipecuroninm.Venous blood samples were taken before induction,at the end of operation and 24 h after operation for determination of Hb,platelet count,prothrombin time,international normalized ratio and plasma D-dimer and IL-6 concentrations.The volume of chest tube drainage was collected and recorded at 6 and 24 h after operation.The requirement for transfusion of allogeneic red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma was recorded.The complications during hospital stay were also recorded.ResultsCompared with group C,the plasma concentrations of D-dimer and IL-6 were significantly decreased at the end of operation and 24 h after operation,and the volume of chest tube drainage and the requirement for transfusion of allogeneic red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma were significantly decreased after operation in group T ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).There was no significant difference in Hb,platelet count,prothrombin time and international normalized ratio between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).No complications occurred during hospital stay in the two groups.ConclusionTranexamic acid can reduce inflammatory response in patients undergoing OPCABG.

The PDB culture medium was selected to ferment the endophyte strain, and the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi Penicillium polonicum were studied. Combined application of Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC chromatographies over the ethyl acetate extract of the fermented culture led to the isolation of 6 compounds. By spectral methods, the structures were elucidated as [3, 5-dihydroxy-2-(7-hydroxy-octanoyl)]-ethylphenylacetate (1), (3, 5-dihydroxy-2- octanoyl)-ethyl phenylacetate (2), (5, 7-di- hydroxy-9-heptyl)-isobenzo pyran-3-one (3), 3-(hydroxymethyl) 4-(1E)-1- propen-1-yl-(1R, 2S, 5R, 6S)-7-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] hept-3-ene-2, 5-diol (4), (E)-2-methoxy-3-(prop-1-enyl) phenol (5) and p-hydroxylphenylethanol (6).
Biological Factors ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Fabaceae ; microbiology ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; toxicity ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism

Objective: To study the pharmacological action and clinical curative effect of Linglongqingre microenema. Methods: The actions of relieving fever and calming hypnotism. anti convulsions of Linglongqingre Microenema on rabbit, mouse and rat were observed. Also children's fever illess was treated to judge preliminary curative effect. Results: Linglongqingre Microenema has obvious action of relieving fever, more effective than Chaihu injection, as same as Antipyrine (80mg/kg) on subcutaneous injection. It was used to treat children's feverillness on 38 cases, markedly effective rate 60.53%, total effective rate 86.84%. Among them body temperature of one third case fell over 1.5?C in two hours. Conclusion: Linglongqingre microenema is a new quick effective pharmaceutical preparation which is suitable for emergency treatment of traditional Chinese medicine

Obiective To study the characteristics and the correlation factors of ADR induced by Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole Injection on the purpose of providing reference for clinical rational administration.Methods All ADR cases that induced by Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole Injection reported between January 2006 and August 2009 were retrieved and statistically analyzed.Results Of all 24 ADR patients induced by Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole Injection,the female patients were more than the male,and the senile patients had highest incidence 41.67%.Most ADR events happened within 30min(70.83%).ADR mainly manifested as adverse reactions of skin and appendants(33.33%),followed by central nervous system adverse reaction.Conclusion Great importance should be attached to ADR induced by Ginkgo Leaf Extract and Dipyridamole Injection.Medication monitoring should be enhanced to avoid occurrence of ADR clinically.

Objective To evaluate in vivo tracking of swine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) la-beled with super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in intraportal transplantation by a clinical 1.5T MR.Methods MSCs were isolated from swine and cultured as well as expanded, which were then incuba-ted with SPIO (Feridex I. V.). Prussian blue staining was performed for showing intracelluar irons.To establish a swine model of acute liver necrosis, 0.5 g/kg of D-galactosamine was administrated to 10 pigs. MSCs(labeled cells in six, unlabeled cells in four)were injected into liver via portal veins. MR imaging was performed with a clinical 1.5T MR immediately before and at 6 h, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d after transplantation, respectively. Results Prussian blue staining of SPIO labeled MSCs could be effec-tively labeled and the labeling efficiency was almost 100%. Signal intensity loss in liver by SPIO labe-ling on FFE sequence persisted until 14 days after transplantation. Histological analysis by Prussian blue staining showed homing of labeled MSCs in liver after 14 days, primarily distributing in hepatic sinusoids and liver parenchyma. Conclusion MSCs can be labeled with SPIO in vitro successfully.MRI can monitor magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into liver.

The number of people with physical disabilities is increasing year by year, and the trend of population aging is more and more serious. In order to improve the quality of the life, a control system of accessible home environment for the patients with serious disabilities was developed to control the home electrical devices with the voice of the patients. The control system includes a central control platform, a speech recognition module, a terminal operation module, etc. The system combines the speech recognition control technology and wireless information transmission technology with the embedded mobile computing technology, and interconnects the lamp, electronic locks, alarms, TV and other electrical devices in the home environment as a whole system through a wireless network node. The experimental results showed that speech recognition success rate was more than 84% in the home environment.
Computers ; Disabled Persons ; Humans ; Speech Recognition Software ; Wireless Technology

Objective To investigate the expression of transcription factor Oct 4 in gastric carcinoma and its effects on gastric cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis after Oct 4 gene interfered by lentivirus vector.Methods Real time PCR and Western blot were used to observe the expression of Oct 4 in different differentiated gastric cancer cell lines.Gastric cancer cell lines with high expression of Oct 4 was cultured and infected by siRNA-Oct 4-lentivirus vector.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were observed after Oct 4 gene was interfered.Results Oct 4 was highly expressed in poorly and moderately differentiated gastric cancer cells.Gene interfered with siRNA inhibits the expression of Oct 4 in gastric cancer cells and show significant effects on cell proliferation and mobility as well as apoptosis after down-regulation of Oct 4.Condusions Oct 4 expression is in close relationship with gastric cancer cell proliferation and invasive ability.

Atomic force microscopy has become an important tool for studying biological samples based on its high spatial resolution, high force resolution and the capability of working at physiological conditions. This article reviewed the application of AFM imaging and force measurement in biology and medicine.