Objective To investigate the value of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) coupled with minimally invasive ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGD) for the treatment of severe acute biliary pancreatitis.Methods Hospitalized patients with severe acute biliary pancreatitis were recruited from the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Mfiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from June 2010 to June 2015,and divided into conventional CRRT alone group (n =30) and CRRT + PTGD group (n =30).Comparisons of postoperatively symptoms (time required for abdominal pain relief,time consumed for,gastrointestinal decompression),laboratory findings (WBC,PLT,PCT,CRP,AMS,TBIL,ALT,ALB,Lac) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score (APACHE Ⅱ,Balthazar CT,MODS) were carried out between two groups.The occurrence of complications (ARDS,abdominal infection,bile leakage,abdominal hemorrhage,intestinal injury,catheter translocation,catheter dislocation) was observed.The differences in duration of ventilator support,the length of stay in ICU,and fatality rate were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the conventional CRRT alone group,the postoperative symptoms were significantly relieved,and time required for abdominal pain relief and time consumed for gastrointestinal decompression were evidently shortened in the CRRT + PTGD group (P ＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in laboratory findings (WBC,PLT,PCT,CRP,AMS,TBIL,ALT) between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The differences in APACHE Ⅱ,Balthazar CT and MODS score between the two groups also presented statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).The comparisons of the duration of ventilator support [(6.1 ± 1.3) d vs.(9.5 ± 1.4) d] andthe length of stay [(15.7 ± 1.1) dvs.(21.1 ± 2.5) d] between thetwo groups revealed statistical significance (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CRRT coupled with PTGD for the treatment of severe acute biliary pancreatitis can effectively eliminate the inflammatory mediators and toxins from patients.On this basis,the coupled therapy with gallbladder puncture and drainage is capable of decompressing the biliary tract,improving liver function,effectively relieving clinical symptoms,minimizing the changes of laboratory findings an,d APACHE Ⅱ score,and thereby optimizing the prognosis of patients.

OBJECTIVETo characterize DNA-PKcs and Ku70 expressions in hepato- and cholangio-neoplastic tissues and the association with the degree of malignancy and invasiveness of the tumors.

METHODSThe expression of DNA-PKcs and Ku70 was examined in 47 cases of hepato- or cholangio-neoplasm by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSKu70 was expressed in all of the neoplastic tissues examined and with a little variation in levels. The highest expression was observed in adenocarcinomas and adenomas. There was no statistically significant association between Ku70 expression level and the degree of their malignancy extent or invasiveness. In contrast to Ku 70, a wide variation in expression levels of DNA-Pkcs was observed among different types of neoplastic tissues. The highest ratio of positive expressing cells was detected in hepatocellular carcinomas (92.1%), which was significantly higher than that in cholangioadeno carcinomas (65.3%) and biliary cystadenocarcinomas (51.9%). Low or no expression level was detected in papillary adenoma cases. DNA-PKcs expression of invasive adenomas and adeno-carcinomas (61.2%) was significantly higher than that of non-invasive adenomas and adeno-carcinomas (30.4%). There was no expression observed in the normal tissues adjacent to the tumors.

CONCLUSIONDNA-PKcs is expressed in hepato- and cholangio-neoplasms and its variable level of expression is associated with the types of the tumor and their degree of malignancy and invasiveness. DNA-PKcs could be recognized as a new biomarker for liver neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Nuclear ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; enzymology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; DNA-Activated Protein Kinase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ku Autoantigen ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) decoction on serotonine (5-HTs), melatonin and the activity of the rate-limiting enzymes ANNAT and HIOMT in cultured human melanocytes and in melanocytes co-cultured with keratinocytes.

METHODSCCK-8 assay was used to assess the proliferation of melanocytes and melanocytes co-cultured with keratinocytes after treatment with the serum from rabbits fed with LWDH decoction. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine 5-HT and melatonin contents, and real-time fluorescent PCR was employed to evaluate the ANNAT and HIOMT activities in the cell cultures.

RESULTSThe serum from rabbits fed with LWDH Decoction at low doses did not affect the proliferation of melanocytes co-cultured with keratinocytes, but at the concentrations of 20%-40%, the serum significantly inhibited the proliferation of melanocytes, and the effect was optimal with a concentration of 40% (P<0.05). 5-HT and melatonin contents in the cell culture decreased as the serum concentration increased (P<0.05), which was the most obvious with a serum concentration of 40% (P<0.01). Exposure of the cells to low and moderate doses of the serum caused a dose-dependent decrease in AANAT activity (P<0.05), but the serum produced no significant changes in the level of HIOMT mRNA expression in the cells.

COUCLUSIONSThe serotoninergic/melatoninergic system mediate the regulation of melanin metabolism by LWDH Decoction, the mechanism of which may involve 5-HTs, melatonin and ANNAT.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; metabolism ; Melanocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Melatonin ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Serotonin ; metabolism ; Serum ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDCockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare human genetic disorder characterized by increased UV sensitivity, developmental abnormalities and premature aging. Cells isolated from individuals with CS have a defect in transcription-coupled DNA repair. Despite the repair defect, there is no any increased risk of spontaneous or UV-induced cancer for CS individuals. The strategy of RNA interfering was used here to explore the potential radiosensitizing and anticancer activity of targeting CS group B (CSB) gene.

METHODSThe vectors encoding CSB-specific siRNAs were constructed by inserting duplex siRNA encoding oligonucleotides into the plasmid P(silencer TM 3.1). The cell lines expressing the CSB-siRNA were generated from HeLa cells transfected with the above vectors. Colony-forming ability was used to assay cell survival. Cell cycle was analyzed by FACScan flow cytometry. The apoptosis was measured by detecting the accumulation of sub-G(1) population as well as by fluorescence staining assay. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to semi-quantify mRNA expression. Protein level was detected by Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSTwo constructs encoding CSB-specific siRNA were generated, both of them resulted in remarkable suppression on CSB expression in HeLa cells, and led to an increased sensitivity to (gamma-ray and UV light. siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB decreased cell proliferation rate, increased spontaneous apoptosis as well as the occurrence of UV- or cisplatin-induced apoptosis by 2 to 3.5 fold. A significant S phase blockage and a remarkable reduction of G(1) population were induced in control HeLa cells at 18 hours after being exposed to 10 J/m(2) of UV light. The S phase blockage was also observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells, but the extent of increased S phase population was lower than that in the UV-irradiated control cells. No or a relative weak reduction on G(1) phase population was observed in UV-irradiated CSB-siRNA transfected HeLa cells. In addition, siRNA-mediated silencing of CSB promoted the elimination of G(2)/M phase cells after UV light radiation.

CONCLUSIONSsiRNA-mediated silencing of CSB causes cells to proliferate more slowly, sensitize cells to genotoxicants, and modify UV radiation-induced cell cycle changes. siRNA-mediated inactivation of CSB could be an attractive strategy for ameliorating cancer therapy, which can be fulfilled via the combination of gene therapy and sensitization of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Cell Cycle ; radiation effects ; Cell Proliferation ; radiation effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Cockayne Syndrome ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Therapy ; HeLa Cells ; radiation effects ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Radiation Tolerance ; Ultraviolet Rays

BACKGROUND: Sagittal imbalance makes significant effect on spinal biomechanics, and choosing osteotomy for ankylosing spondylitis depends on its biomechanics characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis treated by osteotomy on software, and to analyze its biomechanical properties, thus providing theoretical basis for clinical practice. METHODS: A 3D finite element model of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis was established based on CT data, and the predetermined angle of the osteotomy at L2was measured. Afterwards, vertebral column decancellation and vertebral column resection were stimulated, and then the biomechanical parameters were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The 3D finite element models of kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis treated by vertebral column decancellation or vertebral column resection at L2were established successfully. (2) Finite element analysis on Ansys workbench 15.0 showed that the vertebral column decancellation (948 874, 1 564 477 nodes) and vertebral column resection (931 969, 1 548 812 nodes) were meshed and analyzed by 10-node tetrahedron solid element. (3) After loaded, the stress values of the vertebral column decancellation were higher than those of vertebral column resection; the equivalent stress on the screw was 40.946, 67.26, 493.64, 304.05, 75.359, and 146.31 MPa; the equivalent stress on the titanium rob was 391.01 MPa. (4) These results suggest that both two methods can reconstruct the sagittal balance, but vertebral column decancellation exhibits significantly higher stress values. Indeed, the incidence of internal fixation failure and complications in vertebral column decancellation is higher than that in vertebral column resection at the same segment and angle.

Isotemporal substitution model is a powerful tool to explore the real association between physical behavior and health outcomes, which has the potential of the application in large-scale cohort study. This paper systematically introduces the principle of isotemporal substitution model and its implementation method in specific analysis to provide analytical ideas for the epidemiological research related to physical behavior in China. The baseline data of Regional Ethic Cohort Study in Northwest China conducted in Shaanxi province were used to analyze the relationship between physical behavior and cardiovascular disease with single-factor model, partition model and isotemporal substitution model. The advantages and disadvantages of different models were compared, and the advantages of isotemporal substitution model in quantifying physical activity health risk were introduced. Isotemporal substitution model could qualify physical behavior and health outcomes, which has wide application value in epidemiological research.
Humans ; Cohort Studies ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between blood pressure control status and patients' knowledge on hypertension prevention and control among hypertensive patients.

METHODSA total of 726 hypertensives were selected from four community health service centers (2 urban and 2 rural) in Beijing. All subjects were investigated by questionnaires and their blood pressures were measured at the same time.

RESULTSThe rate for blood pressure under control (< 140/90 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in the rural and urban patients were 46.4% and 23.9% respectively. The control rate increased with the increase of patients' knowledge on prevention and control of hypertension in both urban and rural patients. The cumulative effect of knowledge on hypertension control status could contribute 30.0% to the difference in hypertension control rate between rural and urban patients.

CONCLUSIONPatients' knowledge on hypertension control was significantly related to the rate on hypertension control. Health education should be helpful to improve the rate on hypertension control.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; China ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; education ; Patient Education as Topic ; organization & administration ; Rural Population ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome ; Urban Population

Objective:To summarize the patient profiles and therapeutic efficacies of ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantations at 19 domestic transplant centers and provide rationales for clinical application of ABOi-KT.Methods:Clinical cases of ABO-incompatible/compatible kidney transplantation (ABOi-KT/ABOc-KT) from December 2006 to December 2009 were collected. Then, statistical analyses were conducted from the aspects of tissue matching, perioperative managements, complications and survival rates of renal allograft or recipients.Results:Clinical data of 342 ABOi-KT and 779 ABOc-KT indicated that (1) no inter-group differences existed in age, body mass index (BMI), donor-recipient relationship or waiting time of pre-operative dialysis; (2) ABO blood type: blood type O recipients had the longest waiting list and transplantations from blood type A to blood type O accounted for the largest proportion; (3) HLA matching: no statistical significance existed in mismatch rate or positive rate of PRA I/II between two types of surgery; (4) CD20 should be properly used on the basis of different phrases; (5) hemorrhage was a common complication during an early postoperative period and microthrombosis appeared later; (6) no difference existed in postoperative incidence of complications or survival rate of renal allograft and recipients at 1/3/5/10 years between ABOi-KT and ABOc-KT. The acute rejection rate and serum creatinine levels of ABOi-KT recipients were comparable to those of ABOc-KT recipients within 1 year.Conclusions:ABOi-KT is both safe and effective so that it may be applied at all transplant centers as needed.