Objective To investigate the effects of substrate stiffness on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVEC) during dengue virus infection.Methods Polyacrylamide gels were prepared for cell culture [(0±4) kPa].The proliferation of HUVEC cultured on substrates with differ-ent stiffness was determined by using 3-(4,5-diethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-etrazolium,inner salt ( MTS) assay.The cycle and apoptosis of HUVEC were determined by flow cytometry analysis.Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) strains were propagated and identified by con-ventional assays.The HUVEC were infected with DENV-2 strains at a MOI of 10 and cultured on traditional plastic and hydrogel substrates, respectively.The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected by nitric acid reductase assay and double antibody sandwich ELISA.Results Young′s modulus E value of the hydrogels was (3030 ±0.44) Pa.The proliferation of HUVEC and the expression of NO and ET-1 were enhanced along the increased substrate stiffness.However, no significant differences with the cell cycle and apoptosis were observed between cells cultured on different substrates.Conclusion The stiffness of substrates affected not only the proliferation of HUVEC, but also the release of cytokines during DENV-2 infection.The development of dengue fever was associated with the decreased secretion of vascular active substances as a result of blood vessel injury.The establishment of hydrogel substrates as the model of vascu-lar basement membranes might provide a new way for the in vitro investigation of the pathogenesis of DENV infection.

Objective To assess the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) i-gel used in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 21-64 yr, weighing 4590 kg, undergoing elective laparoscopic gynecological surgery, were randomized into 2 groups ( n = 30 each):LMA i-gel group (group Ⅰ) and LMA Supreme group (group S) . Mallampatti test was performed before operation in both groups. Anesthesia was induced with target-controlled infusion of propofol (target plasma concentration 2.5-4.0 μg/ml) and remifentanil (target plasma concentration 3-6 ng/ml) . After the patients lost consciousness, rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was given to facilitate the LMA insertion. LMA i-gel and LMA Supreme were inserted in I and S groups respectively. A gastric tube was inserted through the drain tube of the LMA. In group S the air was injected into the cuff to make intracuff pressure reach 60 cm H2O after successful LMA insertion. The LMA placement time, the number of attempts of LMA insertion, the number of attempts of gastric tube placement, the airway sealing pressure, the parameters of hemodynamics and ventilation, and complications (sore throat, odynopliagia,hoarseness) were recorded. The fiberoptic laryngoscopy scores were assessed after successful LMA placement. The anesthesia time and recovery time were also recorded. Results There was no significant difference in the anesthesia time, recovery time, LMA placement time, fiberoptic bronchoscopy scores and the parameters of hemodynamics and ventilation between the two group. The success rates of LMA and gastric tube placement were 100% in both groups. The airway sealing pressure was significantly higher, while the incidence of sore throat and odynopliagia was significantly lower in group I than in group S. Conclusion LMA i-gel provides adequate ventilation during operation with fewer complications and can be used effectively for gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

Objective To analyze the effects of dengue virus 2 ( DENV-2 ) infection on the ex-pression of IL-29 in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells ( HUVECs) cultured on hydrogel sub-strates .Methods Primary HUVECs were isolated and cultured on hydrogel substrates .DENV-2 stains were used to infect the primary HUVECs at a multiplicity of infection( MOI) of 10.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the apoptosis and infection rate of HUVECs after 48 hours of culturing .The gene chip profiling was performed to analyze mRNA expression .The expression of IL-29 at mRNA and protein levels were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR analysis and double antibody sandwich ELISA as -say, respectively.Results Compared with 96.36%of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells that were infected with DENV-2 stains, only 4.71%primary HUVECs cultured on hydrogel substrates were infected .The pri-mary HUVECs cultured on hydrogel substrates with or without DENV-2 infection showed no significant differ-ences with the rates of cell apoptosis and infection (P>0.05).A significant difference was observed with the expression of IL-29 at mRNA level between primary HUVECs cultured on hydrogel substrates and the cells cultured in plastic bottles (P<0.05).The results of the real-time quantitative PCR analysis and ELISA as-say showed that IL-29 was highly expressed in DENV-2 infected primary HUVECs cultured on hydrogel sub-strates as compared with those in control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of IL-29 was de-tected in DENV-2 infected primary HUVECs cultured on hydrogel substrates , which was significantly differ-ent from that in DENV-2 infected primary HUVECs cultured in plastic bottles .The successful establishment of hydrogel substrates as the model of vascular basement membranes might provide a new way for the investi -gation of the pathogenesis of DENV infection .

Objective To compare the efficacy of laryngeal mask airway-Advance (ALMA) and laryngeal mask airway-Supreme (S-LMA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Two hundred and forty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 18-64 yr,weighing 50-70 kg,undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy,were randomly divided into2 groups (n=120 each):group S-LMA (group S) and group A-LMA (group A).LMA was inserted after induction of general anesthesia with propofol 2.0-2.5 mg/kg,sufentanil 0.2 μg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg.After LMA was placed,the rim was immediately inflated and positive pressure was applied to the reservoir bag of anesthesia machine circuit to check for leaks.The plateau pressure at which leaks occurred was recorded.BP,HR,SpO2,PErCO2 and Ppeak were monitored during operation.Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed and the placement was scored (0 =unable to see the vocal cords and the ventilation of the lungs was inadequate,4=vocal cords were clearly seen and ventilation was adequate).The rate of successful placement,placement time,the incidence of leaks during operation,duration of anesthesia and surgery,extubation time,emergence time,blood stain on the LMA after being removed,backflow after extubation and postoperatve complacations including sore throat,hoarseness and dysphagia were recorded.The efficacy for airway management and the difficulty of placement were scored.Results There was no significant difference in the rate of successful placement,difficulty of placement scores,blood stain on the LMA after being removed,incidence of backflow,sore throat,hoarseness and dysphogia,anesthesia time,duration of surgery,extubation time and emergence time between the two groups.The placement time was shorter in group S than in group A,but the airway sealing pressure,FOB scores and efficacy for airway management scores were significantly higher and the incidence of leaks during operation was significantly lower in group A than in group S.Conclusion Both A-LMA and S-LMA can provide adequate ventilation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.The efficacy of A-LMA is better.

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical outcomes of swing shoulder and internal fixation in treating proximal humeral fractures.

METHODSFrom June 2007 to June 2012, totally 89 elderly patients with humeral proximal fractures were treated by swing of shoulder or internal fixation, and 81 patients were followed up. In swing shoulder group, there were 38 patients including 13 males and 25 females aged from 62 to 84 with an average of (67.11±6.18) years old; 27 cases were 2-part fractures and 11 cases were 3-part fractures according to Neer classfication. In internal fixation group, there were 43 patients including 16 males and 27 females aged from 60 to 80 with an average of (66.47±5.48) years old; and 29 cases were 2-part fractures and 14 cases were 3-part fractures according to Neer classfication. VAS score and complications were compared between two groups after treatment, and Constant-Murley functional scoring was used to evaluate shoulder function of patients.

RESULTSEighty-one patients were followed up from 13 to 26 months with an average of 18.3 months. There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS score between two groups. After treatment, VAS score in swing shoulder group was (3.11±0.95), and (3.88±1.14) in internal fixation group, and had significant difference between two groups (t=-3.313,P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Constant-Murley scores between swing shoulder group (79.53±3.73) and internal fixation group (77.98±4.11) (t=1.768,P>0.05). Postoperative complications in swing shoulder group was 18.4%(7/38), 39.5%(17/43) in internal fixation group, and had significant differences between two groups (χ2=4.313,P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSwing shoulder for the treatment of proximal humeral fractures in elderly has advantages of low cost, less complications and good recovery of joint function; while internal fixation has a good therapeutic effect but increased complications.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Fractures ; therapy

Objective To explore the prevalence satate of children in burning coal endemic fluorosis in Zhijin county of Guizhou province, provide the scientific basis for the prevention of skeletal fluorosis.Methods One thousand six hundred and sixteen children in school under 16 years old that were sampled in cluster sampling were examined with dental fluorosis,X-ray in the type of burning coal pollution fluorosis areas of Zhijin county Guizhou province.Results Total prevalence rate of dental fluorosis was 96.42%,prevalence rate of skeletal fluorosis was 7.49%, constrictive skeletal fluorosis was main type in Zhijin county Guizhou province.Conclusion Prevalence states of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis are still serious, more effectual preventive and control measure shall be used.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between atrial fibrillation (AF) and serum soluble CD163.

METHODSA total of 336 patients with heart valve disease were included in this study, including 167 with AF and 169 with sinus rhythm. The clinical data were compared between the two grops, and Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with AF.

RESULTSThe levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL - 6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and left atrial diameter (LAD) all differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). Serum soluble CD163 levels in AF patients were significantly higher than those in patients with sinus rhythm (P<0.05). Serum soluble CD163 was positively correlated with TNF (r=0.244, P=0.244), IL-6 (r=0.186, P=0.186), hs-CRP (r=0.183, P=0.183) and LAD (r=0.194, P=0.194) in patients with AF. Logistic regression analysis showed that LAD, IL-6, TNF, hs-CRP and CD163 were all associated with AF. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve of serum soluble CD163 was 0.861 in patients with AF (CI 95%: 0.820-0.901, P<0.01) with a sensitivity and a specificity of 80.8 and 76.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSerum soluble CD163 level may be a risk factor for AF, and an increased soluble CD163 level may indicate active inflammation in AF patients.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; blood ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; blood ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the validity of criteria currently used in China for the classification of symmetric small for gestational age infants (SGA) as compared with its definition.

METHODSThis study included 417 inpatients diagnosed as SGA in authors' hospital from January 1998 to June 2002. Symmetric SGA was diagnosed by the following three criteria: (1) the Ponderal Index (PI), (2) the crown-heel length-to-head circumference ratio (BL/HC) issued in Chin J Pediatr (1988;26:164 - 165), as well as (3) the SGA definition. The definition criterion was considered as the "gold standard". The sensitivity, specificity, false positive and negative values, positive and negative predictive values, exact agreement ratio, diagnosis index, and Cohen's Kappa value were used to evaluate the validity and agreement of the methods of PI and BL/HC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the validity of the diagnosis.

RESULTSOf 417 SGA infants, 376 (90.17%), 376 (90.17%) and 187 (44.84%) subjects were diagnosed as symmetric type with PI, BL/HC and the definition criteria, respectively. (2) The agreement rate and Kappa value between PI and BL/HC was 80.82% and -0.093 (SEM 0.026), respectively. And the agreement rates between PI or BL/HC and the definition criterion were 49.88% and 50.84%, respectively. As compared with the definition criterion, the PI and BL/HC methods had sensitivities of 91.8% - 96.4%, specificities of 9.3% - 25.9%, positive predictive values of 45.8% - 51.1%, negative predictive values of 72.7% - 82.8%, diagnosis indices of 4.9% - 17.7% and Kappa values of 0.070 - 0.167. (3) The areas under the ROC curves in full-term and preterm infants by PI method were 0.635 (95% CI, 0.573 - 0.697) and 0.698 (95% CI, 0.622 - 0.725), respectively. PI cutoffs at 2.47 in full-term SGA, at 2.43 in preterm SGA, and BL/HC cutoff at 1.43 produced the maximum diagnosis indices that were 24.7%, 39.6% and 33.7%, respectively. When the PI at 2.50 (full-term), PI at 2.31 (preterm) and BL/HC values at 1.46, the sensitivity closed mostly to the specificity. The sensitivities and specificities in full-term and preterm infants were 59.4% and 59.3%, 65.3% and 65.5%, and 66.3% and 65.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn the classification of SGA, the results showed a poor agreement between PI or BL/HC and the definition criterion. The results suggested that the current cutoffs of PI and BL/HC might not be appropriate for the diagnosis of symmetric SGA. Low AUC suggested that PI and BL/HC could not give a valid diagnosis at any cutoffs.

Anthropometry ; methods ; Birth Weight ; Body Height ; China ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sex Factors

Nine known compounds, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-4-chromanone (1), 5, 7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-4-chromanone (2), 5-hydroxyl-2-methyl-4-chromanone (3), 1-(2, 6-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxybutanone(4), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6, 22-dien-3beta-ol (5), (22E,24R)-ergost-7, 22-dien-3beta, 5alpha, 6alpha-triol (6), euphorbol (7), beta-sitosterol (8) and 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) -ethanol (9) were isolated and identified in Xylaria nigripes for the first time, and their structures were mainly determined by MS and NMR methods. Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated as the natural product for the first time.
Mass Spectrometry ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Xylariales ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of the nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide 6 (n-HA/PA6) on the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and the feasibility of using both for constructing tissue engineered bone in the calvarias of rats with critical sized defects.

METHODSThe third passage of BMSCs were cultured in osteoblastic medium and seeded on the scaffolds of n-HA/PA6, the proliferation of the BMSCs was tested by MTT (3-{4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl}-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium-bromide) on scheduled dates, and the osteoblastic differentiation of the BMSCs were measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. Furthermore, the scaffolds with or without BMSCs in rat calvarial defects, after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks have been implanted. Histology and scanning electron microscope were used to test the bone healing in the different groups.

RESULTSThe BMSCs seeded on the n-HA/PA6 grew well, the proliferation of cells was not affected by the scaffold, and the staining of ALP was also positive. At 4 week and 8 week after implantation, the n-HA/PA6 with BMSCs showed more new bone formation on the surface of scaffolds, with a better osseointegration of implant and host bone when compared with the group of n-HA/PA6 without BMSCs. However, there was no significant difference between these two groups at 16 week.

CONCLUSIONThe porous n-HA/PA6 has no negative effects on the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of rat BMSCs, and using BMSCs as seed cells and n-HA/PA6 as scaffolds is a good choice for constructing tissue engineered bone due to the enhanced new bone formation and osseointegration.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone and Bones ; Caprolactam ; analogs & derivatives ; Cell Differentiation ; Durapatite ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Polymers ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds