Objective To investigate the effect of continuous blood purification (CBP) on pro-or anti-inflammatory immune function and prognosis in patients with sepsis. Methods One hundred and two patients with sepsis were randomized into the CBP group (60 cases) and the control group (42 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with conventional therapy, and the patients in the CBP group received at least 72 h CBP treatment additionally. The APACHEⅡ score, SOFA score, the 28 day survival rate and ICU length of stay were recorded and levels of spleen Th1, Th2 were assessed by FACS flow cytometry. Enzyme linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum IL-1, IL-10 and TNF-α before and at 24, 48, 72 h after the treatment. Results The APACHEⅡscore and SOFA score decreased markedly in the CBP group after the treatment (Р <0.05). The period of staying in ICU of patients in the CBP group was shorter than that of patients in the control group (Р < 0.05). There was no significant difference of the 28 day survival rate between the two groups (91.6% vs 71.2%, Р > 0.05). Compared with the control group, levels of IL-1, IL-10 and TNF-α were decreased markedly, and the ratio of Th1 / Th2 was increased significantly at 72 h after the treatment in the CBP group (Р < 0.05). Conclusion CBP can eliminate inflammatory mediators, and help to enhance the immune function, and restore the balance of Th1 / Th2 in patients with severe sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on renal morphology and renal function of rats with streptozotocin diabetes. METHODS: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were normal control group, untreated group and Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. Diabetic nephropathy was induced in rats of the last two groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin after unilateral nephrectomy. Then the rats in the normal control and untreated groups were fed with normal saline while those in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were fed Salvia miltiorrhiza preparation for 8 weeks. The glomerular volume (VG), kidney-to-body weight ratio (KW/BW), urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and creatinine clearance (Ccr) were observed. The expression levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: UAER, Ccr, VG and KW/BW ratio were significantly higher in the untreated group than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the untreated group were also significantly higher as compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.05). UAER, Ccr, VG, KW/BW ratio and the levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in the Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group were obviously lower than those in the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Salvia miltiorrhiza can protect rats with streptozotocin diabetes from diabetic nephropathy by suppressing the over-expressions of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1 and FN in renal cortex.

Objective To compare the odds ratio of waist circumference (WC) and/or body mass index (BMI) on cardiovascular risk factors. Methods Data on a cross-sectional study involving 41 087 adults (19 567 male, 21 520 female) from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were examined. According to the obesity definition of the Chinese Working Group on Obesity for Children (WGOC) (BMI, 24 and 28 kg/m2; WC, male 85 cm, female 80 cm), the study population were divided into 9 groups. The prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors were compared among these 9 groups. Variation and standard β were indexes being used to compare the likelihood of BMI and/or WC on CVD risk factors. Results Within each of the BMI categories, with few exceptions, indices levels on CVD risk factors were significantly increased (decreased for HDL-C levels) with the increase of WC, and vice versa. After adjusting the effects of age, sex, income, education, sedentary activity and dietary factors, the ORs of hypertension in adults with higher WC within each of the BMI categories were higher than adults with lower WC, and the ORs of hypertension in adults with higher BMI within each of the WC categories were higher than adults with lower BMI. Similar trends were found for high fast plasma glucose (FPG) and dyslipidemia. The variation in CVD risk factors explained only by WC and BMI were quite similar,but slightly larger when combined WC with BMI. Standard β was higher on BMI when predicting systolic BP and was higher on WC when predicting TG, TC and HDL-C. Conclusion BMI and WC were independently associated with the risk factors on CVD.To combine the BMI and WC, the results could accurately evaluate the risk of CVD, thus to provide substantive evidence that the WGOC cutoff points for the WC might help in identifying those population under increased risk.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential regulatory role played by the hormone resistin in lipid metabolism and expression of nuclear factor (NF)-kB and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a during hepatic steatosis.

METHODSA non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cell model was established by treating the normal human hepatic cell line, L02, with palmitic acid. Four research groups of L02 cells were generated: C group (control, no palmitic acid treatment), P group (NAFLD model, treated with 20 microg/ml palmitic acid), CR group (C group treated with 50 microg/L recombinant human resistin), and PR group (P group treated with 50 microg/L recombinant human resistin). All treatments were carried out for 72 hours. Oil red O staining was used to detect the intracellular changes in lipid drops. Biochemical assays were used to measure triglycerides (TGs), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in culture medium. The mRNA and protein expression levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2, NF-kB, and TNF-a were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTSThe TG, ALT, AST, and GGT levels were higher in the P, CR, and PR groups than in the C group. The NF-kB mRNA level was also higher in the P, CR, and PR groups (Student's t = 17.64, 22.03, 26.06 respectively) than in the C group, as was the TNFa mRNA level ( t = 5.67, 5.38, 11.64), but the IRS-2 mRNA level was lower ( t = 8.19, 9.23, 20.93) (all, P less than 0.05). In addition, no significant difference in these mRNA levels were found between the P group and the CR group (NF-kB: t = 1.75, TNFa: t = 0.58, IRS-2: t = 2.14; all, P more than 0.05). The detected protein levels of NF-kB, TNFa, and IRS-2 were consistent with the mRNA levels.

CONCLUSIONResistin can promote steatosis in LO2 cells through the NF-kB signaling pathway, thereby contributing to the NAFLD pathogenic process.

Cell Line ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Resistin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEMicrocapsule chemoembolism is a promising treatment of tumors. We describe a deep lingual arterial embolization of tongue carcinoma with microcapsuled carboplatinum.

METHODSLingual artery cast specimens from cadavers were microscopically examined, and 78 patients with tongue cancer were recruited and treated with the deep lingual arterial embolization therapy.

RESULTSMicrocapsule embolism occurred approximately at the fifth or sixth level of the deep lingual artery branches. The five-year survival rate was 88.5% (69 out of 78), and the ten-year survival rate 52.6% (41 out of 78).

CONCLUSIONThe deep lingual arterial embolization of tongue carcinoma with microcapsuled carboplatinum is an effective therapy to treat carcinoma in mid-margin or mid-body of the tongue.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Capsules ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Tongue ; drug effects ; Tongue Neoplasms ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical outcomes of lower cervical spinous process laminar screw technique in open door laminoplasty.

METHODSFrom February 2005 to June 2010,12 patients with cervical myelopathy were treated with open door laminoplasty by lower cervical spinous process laminar screw technique. There was intervertebral disc herniation with degenerative stenosis in 5 patients, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament with osteophyte in 6 patients, cervical traumatic instability with spinal cord injuries in 1 patient. Nerve function, complications, and the cervical canal to body ratio (CBR), range of motion (ROM) and the anteroposterior serial alignment were observed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, X-ray, CT and MRI.

RESULTSThe surgical time was from 1.5 to 2 h with an average of 110 min; blood loss during operation was from 450 to 800 ml with an average of 580 ml. Postoperative complication occurred in 1 case with upper limb pain and 1 case with cerebrospinal fluid leakage. All patients were followed up from 1 to 2 years with an average of 21.8 months. JOA score improved from preoperative 9.5 +/- 1.8 to postoperative 13.6 +/- 2.4 (P < 0.01). X-ray, CT, MRI showed CBR increased obviously (P < 0.01); ROM on flexion-extension and cervical lordosis decreased respectively from (40.0 +/- 10.0) degrees and (65.0 +/- 12.0)% before operation to (15.0 +/- 5.0) degrees and (42.0 +/- 8.0) % at the final follow-up (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLower cervical spinous process laminar screw technique in open door laminoplasty for cervical syndrome is safe and can obtain satisfactory effects, has strong internal fixation and reduce the risk of re-closure.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery

Repeated acute intermittent hypoxia promotes the expression of growth factors and neurotrophic factors, as well as the key molecules for neural protection and plasticity. Hypoxic preconditioning may improve the survival rate of transplant-ed stem cells and protect the neural function. Meanwhile, acute intermittent hypoxia can be an approach to improve re-spiratory function after spinal cord injury. Hyperbaric oxygen may improve the neural tolerance to hypoxia and isch-emia, to protect the structure of cells and tissues, and promote the neuranagenesis. It is important to study the role of hy-poxic and hyperoxic preconditioning in spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts of electroacupuncture on embryo implanted potential and its molecular mechanism in the patients with infertility of different symptom complex.

METHODSAmong the patients with infertility treated with electroacupuncture and in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET), 82 cases of kidney deficiency (group A), 74 cases of liver qi stagnation (group B) and 54 cases of phlegm dampness (group C) were selected. All of the patients in three groups received long-program ovarian hyper-stimulation. Additionally, electroacupuncturecan was applied before controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation (COH) and in the process of ovarian hyper-stimulation. The levels of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) in the serum were determined on the 2nd day of the menstruation (M2), on the day of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) injection and on the day of embryo transplantation in the culture solution in three groups separately. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were observed for the patients in three groups.

RESULTSThe levels of HLA-G in the serum on hCG injection day and in the culture solution on embryo transplantation day in group A and B were significantly higher than those in group C (all P < 0.05). But, there was no significant difference in serum HLA-G levels on M2 day among three groups. The high-quality embryo rate in either group A (73.6%, 352/478) or group B (70.6%, 379/537) was higher significantly than that in group C (54.2%, 208/384) separately, presenting statistical significant difference (all P < 0.01). But there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, fertilization rate and cleavage rate among three groups.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can increase the contents of HLA-G in the body and the level of HLA-G secreted in embryos for the patients in the process of IVF-ET. Eventually, the pregnancy outcome and the pregnancy rate are improved. The clinical effects of electroacupuncture for the patients of kidney deficiency and liver qi stagnation are better than those for the patients of phlegm dampness.

Chorionic Gonadotropin ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; HLA-G Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

Animals ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; complications ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Panax ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo compare the relative risk of waist circumference (WC) and/or BMI on cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODSA cross-sectional data of 41 087 adults (19 567 male and 21 520 female) from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were examined. According to the obesity definition of WGOC (BMI, 24 kg/m2 and 28 kg/m2; WC, male 85 cm and 95 cm for male, 80 cm and 90 cm for female), the study population were divided into 9 groups. The prevalence and odds ratio (ORs) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (hypertension, high fasting plasma glucose and dyslipidemia) were compared among these 9 groups. Stepwise linear regression analyses were used to compare the likelihood of BMI and/or WC on CVD risk factors. RESULTS Both the indexes levels and the odds ratios of CVD risk factors were significantly increased (decreased for HDL-C levels) along with the increase of WC and/or BMI, even when the effect of age, sex, income, education, sedentary activity and dietary factors were adjusted. The variances (R2) in CVD risk factors explained by WC only and BMI only were quite similar, but a little bit larger when WC and BMI were combined. The standard beta was higher of BMI when predicting systolic BP and was higher of WC when predicting TG TC and HDL.

CONCLUSIONSBMI and WC had independent effects on CVD risk factors and combination of BMI and WC would be more predictive. Findings from the present study provided substantive evidence for the WGOC recommendation of a combined use of BMI and WC classifications.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Dyslipidemias ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference