BACKGROUND: Traditionally, cranial perforate-rinse-dram operation and tube drainage were often used in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma in the elderly, recently,instead of which oxygen-exchange therapy through dural puncture via cranium is more and more used.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and safety of the new operation-method using oxygen-exchange in treating the older people with chronic subdural hematoma in comparison with traditional cranial perforate-rinse-dram operation.DESIGN: Retrospective case analysis.SETTING: The Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Clinical College of China Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Eleven male patients (meanly 62 years of age)who had undertaken oxygen-exchange therapy via skull without drain tube in the Department of Neurosurgery, Second Clinical College of China Medical College from January 1997 to December 2004 were enrolled in the study, with an average disease history of 1.5 months. Among them, 10 subjects suffered from head injury to different extent within 7 weeks on average. Main chief complaint was headache, and Unilateral limb asthenia above Ⅳ was found in 5 cases asking for medical service. As shown by CT and MRI, all the subjects were diagnosed as having chronic subdural hematoma located at supratentorium, 5 cases in the right side and 6 in the left side. Volume of hematom was calculated as the following formula: volume of hematom=length×width×number of layers (1 cm thick for one layer). And the range of volume was from 70 mL to 140 mL, and the average value was 105 mL. The hematom in all the cases was found to move to the midline to different extents.METHODS: Patients in lateral recumbent position were undertaken boring at the CT-located thickest area with bone awl of 0.4-0.5 cm under local anesthesia. After boring, 14-size lumbar puncture needle with trochar was used to acupuncture dura mater then moving the needle core so that blood was discharged. Then 10 mL medical oxygen was perfused into the needle guard to cause the blood discharged from hematom again. Oxygen was perfused repetitively, once for 10 mL, till there was no blood flow. Finally, 10 mL oxygen was perfused following moving of trochar and bandaging.Oxygen volume used in each case was recorded. After operation,the volume of normal saline infusion could be increased as large as possible. The duration of infusion was 2 weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement in limb function.RESULTS: All the patients were involved in the result analysis.①Within 24 hours, volume of hematomwas decreased obviously detected with CT, and hematom completely disappeared in 3 cases,which was replaced by oxygen. Three weeks later, all the oxygen was absorbed, the structure of midline was symmetrical and the form of brain ventricles was normal. No pain was found and 5 casesof limb asthenia were also recovered. ②Advantage and disadvantage of foramen-vertebrate oxygen-exchange operation: Advantages were listed as follows: It was simple and spent shorter time,there were few complications, and patients had no limitation in movement after operation. The operation avoided the occurrence of thrombosis of lower limbs. Cranial pressure could not lower quickly. As the pressure resident in envelope, cerebraospinal fluid could not move into the envelope. Along with the absorption of oxygen,hematom was decreased gradually till completely disappeared. Occurrence of clinical symptoms resulting from cerebral blood perfusion was decreased so as to draw rein. The disadvantage of this operation was that it was not suitable for heart disease patients to undertake this operation at bedside, and headache or limb asthenia could not be alleviated immediately.CONCLUSION: The new operation-method of cranial foramen-vertebrate oxygen-exchange to treat chronic subdural hemtoma in the elderly is safe, reliable and feasible through preoperative CT localization.

Objective To observe efficacy of percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) and its correlation with plasma levels of β-endorphine and substance P in patients suffering from protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc (PLIVD). Methods Seventy-eight patients with PLIVD were randomly divided into two groups, one group (40 patients) treated with PLDD and the other (38 patients) treated with lumbar spine traction and physical therapy as control. Their peripheral plasma levels of β-endorphine and substance P were measured before the procedure and one day, one week and four weeks after it, respectively.Meanwhile, the visual analogue scale (VAS)was applied to assess their pain index. Results Plasma level of substance P was (186±66) ng/L and (419±82) ng/L, and (127 +83) ng/L and (322 +47) ng/L,in treatment and control groups, one day and one week after the procedure, respectively, and that of β-endorphine was (313 ±27) mg/L and (187 ±56) mg/L, and (364 + 18) mg/L and (211 +39) mg/L,one day and one week after it, respectively ( all P ＜ 0. 01 ), with its clinical efficacy of 90% (36/40)and 66% (25/38) one week after it, respectively ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . Four weeks after it, plasma level of substance P was (64 ±50) ng/L in treatment group as compare to that in controls (93 ±75) ng/L, and that of β-endorphine was (410 ± 21 ) mg/L and (317 ± 42 ) mg/L, respectively, with efficacy of 95% (38/40) and 84% (32/38), respectively. Conclusions Plasma level of substance P can be reduced and that of β-endorphine can be increased by PLDD in patients with PLIVD, thus relieving their pain.Measurements of substance P and β-endorphine can be used as objective indicators to evaluate clinical efficacy of PLDD.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of nicorandil for treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 40 cases of patients with ARDS admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from October 2012 to October 2014 were enrolled, and they were randomly divided into two groups, 20 cases in each group. The two groups were treated with routine western medicine after admission. On this basis, the observation group was given nicorandil 10 mg, while the control group was given warm boiled water 10 mL, through gastric tubes 3 times a day, the therapeutic course being consecutive 5 days in both groups. The length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), duration of mechanical ventilation after treatment, oxygenation index (OI), alveolo-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference (PA-aO2), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, Glasgow coma score (GCS) before and after treatment, the predicted death rate (PDR) and 28-day mortality were compared between the two groups. The predicitive factors for 28-day mortality were screened by binary logistic analysis.Results The length of stay in ICU and duration of mechanical ventilation of control group were longer than those of observation group, but the difference was not statistically significant [ICU length of stay (day): 14.55±12.71 vs. 9.15±6.00, duration of mechanical ventilation (day): 13.25±12.27 vs. 7.75±5.32, bothP > 0.05]. After treatment, the GCS was higher than that before treatment in control group and observation group (11.95±3.98 vs. 10.75±4.89, 12.95±3.67 vs. 12.20±4.56), while APACHE Ⅱ score, PDR and PEEP were all lower than those before treatment [APACHE Ⅱ: 21.05±8.58 vs. 24.90±5.63, 18.70±11.21 vs. 26.65±7.67; PDR: (47.71±29.49)% vs. (61.00±23.29)%, (36.79±18.49)% vs. (56.12±18.16)%; PEEP (cmH2O, 1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa): 4.40±3.14 vs. 5.75±2.59, 3.80±2.55 vs. 7.55±3.32], but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups before and after treatment (allP > 0.05). After treatment, the OI was significantly higher and the PA-aO2 was significantly lower than those before treatment in the two groups, and the degrees of improvement of the observation group were more remarkable than those of the control group [OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 224.72±85.12 vs. 141.37±45.82, PA-aO2 (mmHg): 132.60±46.64 vs. 204.30±121.2, bothP < 0.05]. The 28-day mortality of observation group was lower than that of control group, but no statistically significant difference was seen [15% (3/20) vs. 25% (5/20),χ2 = 0.156,P > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analyses showed that the PA-aO2 [odds ratio (OR) = 0.958,P = 0.013, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.927 - 0.991], APACHE Ⅱ score (OR = 0.882,P = 0.010, 95CI = 0.803 - 0.970), GCS (OR = 1.399, P = 0.004, 95%CI = 1.111 - 1.761) and PDR (OR = 0.907,P = 0.002, 95%CI = 0.853 - 0.965) after treatment were the independent predictors of 28-day mortality.Conclusion Nicorandil can significantly improve oxygenation, but cannot reduce 28-day mortality in patients with ARDS.

Objective To investigate the role of oxidative stress in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) of peritoneal mesothelial cells in rat model of peritoneal fibrosis and the effect of probucol on peritoneal fibrosis. Methods The rat model of peritoneal fibrosis was induced by 4.25% high glucose peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF). The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:the control group, the saline group, the peritoneal fibrosis group, and the probucol group. A 4 hour peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was performed 4 weeks later. The peritoneal function and net ultrafiltration (UF) volume were determined. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in peritoneal tissue were examined. The histology of peritoneal membrane was evaluated by light microscopy. E-cadherin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical method and Western blot.Results The mesothelial cells were detached from peritoneal membrane in peritoneal firbosis rats. Comparing with the control rats, the thickness of visceral peritoneum, the level of MDA, and the-SMA protein expression were increased while the net ultrafiltration volume, the level of GSH-Px and E-cadherin protein expression were decreased in peritoneal firbosis rats. All these changes were reversed in the rats treated with probucol.Conclusion Oxidative stress plays an important role in transdifferentiation of peritoneal mesothelial cell in the peritoneal fibrosis rats. Probucol can improve structure and function of peritoneum, and partially reverse the EMT by reducing the oxidative stress.

Objective To research the relation of early growth response gene-1(EGR-1) and NF-κB in human T-cell leukemia virus type 1(HTLV-1) Tax protein positive cells. Methods RT-PCR was used to amplify the aimed segments EGR-1 cDNA which was then inserted into an eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.0 to construct pcDNA3.0-EGR-1. The constructed plasmid was transfected into TaxN and TaxP cells by Tfx-50-mediated transfer method, the expression levels of EGR-1, p65 and Tax mRNA in transfected cells were assay by RT-PCR after 48 h post-transfection, the proteins of EGR-1 and p65 were detected by Western blot after 48 h post-transfection too. The constructed plasmid and pNF-κB-luc reporter gene plasmid was co-transfected into TaxN and TaxP cells by Tfx-50-mediated transfer method, and the activity of luciferase was assay after 48 h post-transfection. Results The results showed that the eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.0-EGR-1 was successfully constructed. The mRNA and protein expression of EGR-1 could be promoted significantly by Tax. EGR-1 can promote the mRNA and protein expressions of p65 in TaxP cells, the activity of NF-κB was up-regulated by EGR-1 too. Conclusion EGR-1 maybe involve in adult T-cell leukemia(ATL) by increasing the activation of NF-κB.

Objective: To explore the relationship between smoking and hyperuricemia in Chinese residents. Methods: Based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), residents with blood samples provided in the 2009 round (including information of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, medical history, and laboratory examinations etc.) were selected as the participants in the current analysis. Unconditional logistic regression models were utilized to compute the ORs and corresponding 95%CIs for assessing the relationship between smoking and hyperuricemia. Results: Among the 8 785 subjects, 1 435 had hyperuricemia with a prevalence rate of 16.3%, consisting of 886 men and 549 women with prevalence rates of 21.6% (886/4 110) and 11.7% (549/4 675) , respectively. Compared with never smokers, the adjusted OR (95%CI) for hyperuricemia was 0.83 (0.70-0.98) among current smokers, 0.77 (0.63-0.94) among current smokers with 20-39 years of smoking, and 0.79 (0.65-0.97) among current smokers with 11-20 cigarettes per day. When stratified by gender and compared with non-smoker, the adjusted OR (95%CI) for hyperuricemia among current smokers compared with never smokers was 0.83 (0.70-0.98) among men, while no significant association was found in female current smokers (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.42-1.26, P=0.260). Conclusion In Chinese residents, there is an inverse association between smoking and hyperuricemia prevalence, and this association may be related to duration and intensity of smoking among current smokers. The findings need to be validated in large prospective cohort studies.

Objective To investigate 0-24 months infantile breastfeeding and service requirement of child care clinic in Tianjin Binhai district. Methods A total of 350 cases from June 1,2014 to June 1, 2016 were adopted by questionnaire method about breastfeeding and service requirement. Results In the survey, all of them were breastfeeding, and the 0-6 months breastfeeding rate was 84.4%(295/350). They were divided into three groups: urban, rural and external population, the main of population was urban(64.0%, 224/350). The breastfeeding rate was closely relate to the education of mother, graduate and above almost above 63.7%(223/350);exclusive breastfeeding of three groups were 25.4%(57/224), 25.8%(16/62), 34.4%(22/64) in urban, rural and external population respectively. Generally lower the national level because of the food supplement,4-5 months was 31.8%(21/66), 6-9 months was 65.4%(34/52),10-12 months was 85.0%(51/60). Insufficient breastmilk, mother was ill, working mother, think should be the four main reasons in the weaned process. Conclusions There are still some problems for the ideas and methods of breastfeeding in child care clinic, still need to strengthen the nursing management of breastfeeding.

Aristolochic acid (AA), extracted from Aristolochiaceae plants, plays an essential role in traditional herbal medicines and is used for different diseases. However, AA has been found to be nephrotoxic and is known to cause aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN).AA-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome in AAN with a high morbidity that manifests mitochondrial damage as a key part of its pathological progression. Melatonin primarily serves as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. However, its mitochondrial protective role in AA-induced AKI is barely reported. In this study, mice were administrated 2.5 mg/kg AA to induce AKI. Melatonin reduced the increase in Upro and Scr and attenuated the necrosis and atrophy of renal proximal tubules in mice exposed to AA. Melatonin suppressed ROS generation, MDA levels and iNOS expression and increased SOD activities in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the in vivo study revealed that melatonin decreased mitochondrial fragmentation in renal proximal tubular cells and increased ATP levels in kidney tissues in response to AA. In vitro, melatonin restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells and led to an elevation in ATP levels. Confocal immunofluorescence data showed that puncta containing Mito-tracker and GFP-LC3A/B were reduced, thereby impeding the mitophagy of tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased LC3A/B-II expression and increased p62 expression. The apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells induced by AA was decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that melatonin could prevent AA-induced AKI by attenuating mitochondrial damage, which may provide a potential therapeutic method for renal AA toxicity.

Pulmonary hypertension is a severe disease with a wide spectrum of underlying etiologies, which was characterized by increased pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, and eventually leads to right heart dysfunction and even death with a high mortality rate. Melatonin, as a neuroendocrine hormone, is produced primarily by the pineal gland. Melatonin, a pleotropic molecule, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of various cardiovascular diseases.The effects of melatonin which can attenuate pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary artery pressure have been widely concerned by researchers in recent years. This review summarized the progress of melatonin on pulmonary hypertension.

ObjectiveTo explore the inhibitory effect of water extract of Broussonetiae Fructus on hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） induced by diethyl nitrosamine （DEN） in mice based on homologous phosphatase and tensin homolog/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PTEN/PI3K/Akt） signaling pathway. MethodThe primary HCC mouse model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of DEN solution， and the HCC mice were randomly divided into model group， sorafenib group （0.01 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， low-dose Broussonetiae Fructus water extract group （0.9 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium-dose Broussonetiae Fructus water extract group （1.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose Broussonetiae Fructus water extract group （3.6 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 C57BL/6 mice were selected as a control group and intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Mice were treated with different concentrations of Broussonetiae Fructus water extract when liver cancer-like white nodules appeared. sorafenib group was treated with sorafenib. The control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline. The activities of alkaline phosphatase （ALP）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， and γ-glutamyl transferase （γ-GT） in the serum of mice were detected by the biochemical analyzer. The expression levels of alpha-fetoprotein （AFP） and carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The degree of hepatocyte canceration and hepatocyte injury were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining. The proliferation of HCC cells was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis of HCC cells in mice was observed by erminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labelling （TUNEL） staining. The expression levels of PTEN， PI3K， Akt， and p-Akt proteins related to the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the control group， the activities of ALP， AST， ALT， and γ-GT， as well as the expression levels of AFP and CEA in the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Carcinogenesis and inflammatory cell infiltration were obvious in liver tissue of mice， and a large number of blue collagen fiber hyperplasia was found. The number of Ki67 positive cells was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the expression level of PTEN protein was significantly decreased， while PI3K and p-Akt protein expression was increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the activities of ALP， AST， ALT， and γ-GT， as well as the expression levels of AFP and CEA in the medium-dose and high-dose Broussonetiae Fructus water extract groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The degree of carcinogenesis and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue were reduced， and the collagen fiber hyperplasia was significantly reduced. The number of Ki67 positive cells was significantly decreased， and the number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells was significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. PTEN protein expression was increased， while p-Akt protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionThe water extract of Broussonetiae Fructus has a significant inhibitory effect on DEN-induced primary HCC in mice， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of key protein expressions in the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.