Objective To study the relationship between the cerebral artery stenosis and the carotid artery elasticity in the ischemia stroke patients by echo-tracking technique.Methods Ninety-two ischemia stroke patients were divided into both the mild cerebral arteries stenosis and moderate-severe cerebral arteries stenosis groups.CT angiography was performed to evaluate the stenosis of cerebral artery.The changes of the carotid diameter during cardiac cycles were obtained by echo-tracking technique and the quantitative parameters of pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep),stiffness (β) and arterial compliance (AC) were calculated automatically. Results①There were significant differences (P＜0.05) between the ischemia stroke patient group and the normal adults group in β，Ep and AC.② There were significant differences (P＜0.05) between the mild cerebral arteries stenosis groups and the moderate-severe cerebral arteries stenosis groups in β and Ep.AC was lower in patients with the mild cerebral arteries stenosis groups than that in the moderate-severe cerebral arteries stenosis groups.Conclusions The carotid artery elasticity in ischemia stroke patients were significantly different from normal adults.In the ischemia stroke patients,the stiffer the carotid artery was,the higher the likelihood of moderate-severe cerebral stenosis was.

Objective: To evaluate the value malnutrition-inflammation score(MIS) for the nutritional status in patients with maintenance hemodialysis.Methods: Eighty patients with maintenance hemodiaqlysis were selected in this study.MIS was used to access the nutritional status in these patients.At the same time,the laboratory indexes including serum albumin(ALB),transferrin(TRF),hemoglobin(Hb),serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),C-reactive protein(CRP),serum calcium(Ca) and phosphorus(P) were measured,and Kt/v,urea reduction ratio(URR) and protein catabolic rate(PCR) were calculated.The body composition was also measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis after postdialysis,including body weight(WT),body mass index(BMI),fat mass(FAT MASS),fat-free mass(FFM) and total body water(TBW).Results: The abnormal rates of these nutritional marker were: protein malnutrition(ALB1.8 mmol/L) 70.0%,respectively.All patients were mild or moderate malnutrition by MIS.MIS showed a significant correlation with WT,BMI,ALB,TRF,Hb and CRP(P﹤0.001,P

OBJECTIVETo study the overexpression of Sox9 gene on rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for repairing articular cartilage injury in vivo.

METHODSRabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were transduced with lentivirus vector containing Sox9 gene and then cartilage specific molecule was detected by RT-PCR in vitro. Total 48 knee joints of 24 mature New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups according to different defect treatment. After animals anesthesia,a full-thickness cylindrical cartilage defect of 4 mm diameter and 3 mm deep was created in the patellar groove using a stainlesssteel punch. Meanwhile, the transfected cells were implanted to repair the rabbit model with full-thickness cartilage defects. Cartilage defects tissue was observed with light microscope, electron microscope, HE and immunohistochemistry staining to assess the repair of defects by the complex at 6 weeks or 12 weeks after the implantation.

RESULTSAt 3 days after the transfection, Sox9 gene expression was highest and Sox9 gene expression decreased with the increase of time. At 3 days after the transfection, the expression of collagen type II began and reached the peak at 14 days. It showed that the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells went into chondrogenic differentiation after transfected by Sox9 gene. Histological observation showed that at 6 weeks after the operation, the defects in the experimental group was filled with hyaline like cartilage tissue, 12 weeks after operation,the defects of cartilage and subchondral bone had satisfactory healing. Both at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively, the defects were filled with fibrous tissues in control groups. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining of sections with type II collagen antibodies showed the proteins in the regenerated tissue stained positive for type II collagen and stronger than the control groups. The histological scoring system indicated that the cartilage repair of experiment groups were better than the two control groups with statistical significances.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of Sox9 gene on rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) promote the repair of cartilage defect.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; metabolism ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Osteoarthritis ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rabbits ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tissue Engineering

Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective:To develop the Counseling Skills Rating Scale for Psychological Aids Hotline (CSRSPAH),an instrument to objectively assess the quality of process of counseling or intervention provided by hotline operators,and to test its validities and reliabilities.Methods:A draft of the scale,which consisted of 50 items under 5 dimensions,was designed in line with previous researches and the practice.In pilot study,supervisors at Beijing psychological aids hotline,assessed tape recorded sessions and gave feedbacks on the draft of the scale.The scale had been revised based on the pilot study.Twenty-eight items were deleted,and several items were rephrased.Finally,a scale which consisted of 22 items within 3 dimensions,i.e.counseling process,attitude,and communication skill,was developed.The scoring standards of the scale were also developed.To evaluate the IntraClass Coefficients (ICC) of the CSRSPAH,each of the tape records of 37 callings from 2005 to 2007 were assessed by 7 supervisors independently,using the scale.And the tape records of other 318 callings from 2013 to 2014 were also assessed by supervisors,using the CSRSPAH.The results of the 318 assessed callings were used to test the construct validities with the Confirmative Factor Analysis.The Cronbach a coefficients of the total score and three dimensions,the discriminant indices of every items,and correlations of each items and each dimensions were calculated,based on the 318 assessed callings.Results:One of the items (referral) was deleted due to excessive amount of missing data.Results of cortfirmative factor analysis of the remained 21-item scale revealed that the 3-factor construct structure of the scale was robust.The fitting indices of the confirm factor analysis were,x2/df=675.21/186,CFI =0.92,NNFI =0.91,RMSEA =0.10,SRMR =0.08.The Cronbach α coefficients of the total score,scores of counseling process,attitude,and communication skill,were 0.89,0.68,0.81 and 0.77,respectively.The ICCs of the inter-rater reliabilities of the total score and 3 dimensions of the scale were 0.67,0.59,0.59,and 0.67,respectively.The discriminant indices of all the 21 items ranged from 0.09 to 0.32.The correlation coefficients of scores of each items and scores of 3 dimensions and total scores were greater than 0.30,and reached statistical significance.Conclusion:The validities and reliabilities of the Counseling Skills Rating Scale for Psychological Aids Hotline are acceptable.The scale could be used in assessing the quality of hotline counseling or intervention,and related studies in the future.

ObjectiveTo explore the release of exogenous growth factors from small intestinal submucosa (SIS) in bladder regeneration. MethodsThe release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) from SIS in vitro were evaluated by ELISA and MTT method. The defected bladder walls of rats in experimental group were repaired with porcine small intestinal submuscosa. Partial bladder mucosa and smooth muscle of the rats in control groups were destroyed. At regular intervals, the VEGF and bFGF expression were observed by histological and immunohistochemical methods. ResultsThe concentration of bFGF and VEGF released in vitro from SIS in PBS solution were (121.8±2.683) ng/L and (93.8±3.033) ng/L respectively, and showed proliferation of vascular endothelial cell. In the SIS framework, the capillary and smooth muscle were observed followed histological evaluation. The weak expression of VEGF and bFGF in both experimental and control groups were found in the first week. Since the second week the VEGF and bFGF expression in experimental group began to increase with a peak in the 6th week, and began to decrease after 8 weeks. In the control group, the weak VEGF and bFGF expression were shown during the observation. ConclusionSIS functions as a carrier for exogenous growth factors release in rat bladder regeneration.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus" (GX) on phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) rats combining the methods of network pharmacology and experimental verification. Animal experiment ethical requirements were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (grant number: AHUCM-rats-2021070). Based on the HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis and database, 69 chemical constituents of GX and 163 targets of GX for the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-related cardiovascular diseases were obtained. Then, key targets such as serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cellular tumor antigen p53 (Tp53) were screened. Pathway analysis showed that the targets of GX in the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases were mainly involved in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet activation, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), ras-proximate-1 (rap1) and other signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that apigenin, cucurbitacin D, linolenic acid and kaempferol and other key components had potential binding ability with Akt1, TNF, IL6, VEGFA and Tp53. In the animal experiments, compared to the phlegm and blood stasis syndrome group, GX could significantly improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, blood lipid, vascular endothelial structure disorders and reduce serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, increase serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels, which could restore aortic endothelial function. In addition, the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aorta could be significantly reduced, which could improve the vascular endothelial injury of aorta. Western blot revealed that GX could significantly decrease the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in aorta. This study revealed the mechanism of GX in treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases is consistent with the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. In addition, this study also clarified that the reversal of pathological of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome rats may be related to GX inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which could improve vascular inflammation and vascular endothelial function injury.

ObjectiveThe clinical features, bacteria distribution and antibiotic resistance proifle of blood stream infection(BSI) were investigated in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis for better management of such infections.MethodsThe clinical data of BSI were collected in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis between January, 2012 and December, 2014, and reviewed retrospectively in terms of risk factors, diagnosis and treatment, pathogen distribution and prognosis.ResultsOf the 1 071 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and suspected bacterial infection, 154 (14.4%) were diagnosed as BSI evidenced by blood culture. Of these patients, the leukocyte count in the peripheral blood was higher than 10×109/L in only 48 (31.2%) patients; neutrophil proportion>0.75 in 133 patients (86.4%); serum procalcitonin level>0.5 ng/mL in 74 patients (68.5%). A total of 155 bacterial strains were isolated, including 115 strains of gram-negative bacilli and 40 strains of gram-positive cocci. Most patients (68.8%) recovered and 31.2% died or discharged from hospital voluntarily. All these BSI patients had Child-Pugh grade C liver function. Some patients also had other serious systemic diseases or repeated hospitalization.ConclusionThe prevalence of BSI is high in the decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with poor prognosis. Gram-negative bacilli are the major pathogens of such septicemia. Early diagnosis and proper use of antibiotics based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing are important to improve patient outcome.

Objective:To study the enhancing effect of bFGF-targeted antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (APO)on the chemosensitivity of human laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep2 to Doxorubicin,5-Fluorouracil, and Cisplatin.Methods:bFGF-specific APO was designed,constructed and transfected into Hep2 cells with jetPEI (polyethyleneimine).Expression of bFGF mRNA was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after transfection;immuno- cytochemical method was used to examine the expression of bEGF expression before and after transfection of Hep2;the in- duction of cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry;cell proliferation was then analYzed by MTT assay after treatment with bFGF-specific APO or chemotherapeutic drugs,or a combination of both.Results:bFGF-specific APO inhibited the growth of Hep2 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner,with the peak inhibitory rate being 25.5%.The expression of bFGF mRNA and protein decreased by 52.0% and 41.1%,respectively.The apoptosis rate of Hep2 cells was 20.5% after transfection,bFGF-specifie APO reduced the 50% inhibitory concentration of Doxorubicin,5-Fluorouracil,and Cis- platin in Hep2 cells by 75.5%,83.5% and 65.4%,respectively.Conclusion:bFGF-specific APO can enhance the chemosensitivity of Hep2 cells,which paves a new way for potential biologic chemotherapy of laryngeal squamous carcino- ma.

Objective To report the treatment of type A3 distal tibiofibular fractures with the fibular posterolateral approach and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO).Methods We reviewed 61 patients with type A3 distal tibiofibular fracture (observation group) who had been treated with MIPPO and the fibular posterolateral approach from June 2011 to May 2015.Our control group included 78 patients with type A3 distal tibiofibular fracture who had been treated by traditional open reduction and internal fixation from April 2009 to September 2013.Interval between injury and surgery,surgical time,intraoperative bleeding,hospital stay,postoperative complications,X-ray Lane-Sandhu osteotylus score and limb weight-bearing score one year after operation were compared between the 2 groups.Results All the 139 patients were followed up for more than one year.There were significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of interval between injury and surgery (8.0 ± 3.5 h versus 140.7 ± 52.4 h),surgical time (66.2 ± 7.2 min versus 92.1 ±6.6 min),intraoperative bleeding (59.8 ± 12.8 mL versus 209.5 ±50.4 mL),hospital stay (9.4 ± 1.9 d versus 26.1 ± 15.7 d),postoperative complications,X-ray Lane-Sandhu osteotylus score (3.9 ±0.2 points versus 3.0 ±0.6 points) and limb weight-bearing score (3.9 ±0.1 points versus 3.0 ±0.7 points) one year after operation,favoring the observation group(P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions In the treatment of type A3 tibiofibular fractures,MIPPO plus the fibular posterolateral approach is superior to the traditional open reduction and internal fixation because it can benefit fracture healing by shortening the time for preoperative preparation,surgery and hospitalization,and decreasing the amount of intraoperative bleeding and the incidence of postoperative complications.