BACKGROUND:For patients in intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation is an effective treatment to survive from acute illness and improve survival rates. However, long periods of bed rest and restricted physical activity can result in side effects. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of early rehabilitation therapy in patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS:A randomized controlled trial was carried out. Sixty patients, with tracheal intubation or tracheostomy more than 48 hours and less than 72 hours, were admitted to the ICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, from May 2010 to May 2012. These patients were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group. In the rehabilitation group, rehabilitation therapy was performed twice daily, and the training time and intensity were adjusted according to the condition of the patients. Early rehabilitation therapy included heading up actively, transferring from the supine position to sitting position, sitting at the edge of the bed, sitting in chair, transferring from sitting to standing, and ambulating bedside. The patient's body mass index, days to first out of bed, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, APACHE Ⅱ score, highest FiO2, lowest PaO2/FiO2 and hospital mortality of patients were all compared between the rehabilitation group and the control group. The differences between the two groups were compared using Student's t test. RESULTS:There was no significant difference in body mass index, APACHE Ⅱ score, highest FiO2, lowest PaO2/FiO2 and hospital mortality between the rehabilitation group and the control group (P>0.05). Patients in the rehabilitation group had shorter days to first out of bed (3.8±1.2 d vs. 7.3±2.8 d; P=0.00), duration of mechanical ventilation (5.6±2.1 d vs. 12.7±4.1 d; P=0.005) and length of ICU stay (12.7±4.1 d vs. 15.2±4.5 d; P=0.01) compared with the control group. CONCLUSION:Early rehabilitation therapy was feasible and effective in improving the outcomes of patients with mechanical ventilation.

Objective To study the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and cholinergic neuron changes in basal forebrain(BFB)and brainstem reticular formation(BSRF)areas after brain con- cussion(BC)in rats.Methods Eighty-four Spragne-Dawley rats weighing 250-310g were used.The BC rat models were reproduced by a self-made simple pendulum impact device,then the rats were ran- domized into one control group and six experimental groups(1 day,2 day,4 day,8 day,16 day,and 24 day groups;n=12 in each group).A Morris Water Maze(MWM)test was used to assess learning and memory function of the rats.Cholinergic neurons in the BFB and BSRF were identified with choline acetyltransferase(CHAT)antibody and quantitated.Results Compared with the control group,the la- tency to find the platform in MWM was much longer on days 1-3 after BC,but there was no statistical difference on days 4-21 after BC.The cell number and the ChAT expression activity of cholinergic neu- rons in the BFB were obviously decreased after BC,and reached the lowest level at 8 days after BC,then increased gradually and nearly reached the normal level at 24 days.The ChAT expression activity in BSRF declined on the first 2 days after BC,then went up gradually,and reached the peak at the 24th day.Conclusion The spatial cognition deficit of BC rats can be detected by MWM in the early period (1-3 days after BC).There are significant changes in the number and ChAT expression activity in BFB and BSRF after BC.The change of cholinergic neurons may be correlated with cognitive deficits in BC rats.

OBJECTIVE: To set up a classification standard of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury, for the purpose of reliable data comparison derived from different laboratories. METHODS: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats was prepared by using a metallic pendulum-striker device. After injury, five variable parameters including the time of apnea and the areflexia, time of corneal reflex, external auditory canal stung reaction, body-righting reflex and needling reaction were determined and scored by using rat coma criterion. These data were judged and classified into mild and moderate head injury by brain patho-anatomy changes. Then the data were used to set up a multivariate discriminate equation. RESULTS: The distinguished probability of mild and moderate TBI according to actual direct measured value and the criterion were 88.9% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION This method is able to classify mild and moderate TBI in rats.
Animals ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Coma/etiology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the preparation of recombinant house dust mite group 1 allergen vaccine (chitosan-pVAX1-Derp1 nanoparticles, pVAX1-Derp1/CS) and to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of intranasally given chitosan-pVAX1-Derp1 nanoparticles on mouse model with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSThe chitosan-pVAX1-Derp1 nanoparticles was prepared by complex coacervation, and its nature was identified and analysed. A total of 40 BALB/c rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the normal group (group A), the AR model group (group B), the chitosan (CS) prevention group (group C), the pVAX1-Derp1 prevention group (group D), and the pVAX1-Derp1/CS prevention group (group E). The nasal cavity of rats in the group B, C, D and E were dripped with phosphate buffered saline (20 µl), CS (20 µl), pVAX1-Der p1 (20 µl), pVAX1-Derp1/CS nanoparticles (20 µl) on the first day and day 8, once daily. Rats in the latter 4 group were sensitized with Der p1 and Al(OH)3 in day 15 and day 22, and challenged with Der p1 to establish AR model from day 36 to day 43, while rats in group A were treated with PBS. Then the level of cytokines in serum was assayed by ELISA, inflammatory reactions in nasal mucosa were analyzed by haematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTSpVAX1-Derp1/CS nanoparticles was successfully constructed, the mean grain size of pVAX1-Derp1/CS was (205.3 ± 12.8) nm, and the zeta potential was (30.5 ± 5.6) mV. In nasal mucosa tissue, group B and C showed significant allergic inflammation, while group D and E showed lighter allergic inflammation. Compared with the group B, the group D and E could effectively reduced serum IgE level and IL-4 level [group B: (120.0 ± 8.8) ng/ml, (248.7 ± 10.6) pg/ml; group D: (109.6 ± 14.5) ng/ml, (192.5 ± 10.2) pg/ml; group E: (88.1 ± 8.3) ng/ml, (165.7 ± 9.7) pg/ml; IgE: t value were 3.5, 6.9, all P < 0.01; IL-4: t value were 10.0, 15.2, all P < 0.01], and increased IFN-γ level [group B: (709.0 ± 26.5) pg/ml; group D: (856.3 ± 37.4) pg/ml; group E: (904.8 ± 37.7) pg/ml; t value were 8.2, 10.8, all P < 0.01)]. IL-10 level of group D [(129.9 ± 16.1) pg/ml] and E [(107.1 ± 11.8) pg/ml] was lower than IL-10 level of group B [(160.6 ± 24.2) pg/ml]. The difference were significantly (t value were 2.9, 5.5, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChitosan can effectively encapsulate pVAX1-Derp 1 and inhibit nuclease degradation of the plasmid, the DNA vaccine has some preventive effect on AR animal model by nasal immunization.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; immunology ; Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; Cytokines ; blood ; Immunization ; methods ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nanoparticles ; administration & dosage ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; Plasmids ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; prevention & control ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

The study was aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of vitamin K(2) (VK(2)) on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cell line MUTZ-1 in vitro. The flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis rate and the change of cell cycle. The expression of apoptosis-related genes bcl-2, survivin and bax were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activity of caspase-3 was detected by chemiluminescence assay. The results indicated that the apoptosis peak on FCM and positive Annexin-V FITC on cell membrane showed that VK(2) induced apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells in a dose-and-time-dependent manner, S and G(2) cell decrement, G(0)/G(1) cell arrest, VK(2) significantly down-regulated the expression of bcl-2 and survivin, but had no effect on the expression of bax, the activity of caspase-3 was significantly increased. It is concluded that VK(2) induces apoptosis of MUTZ-1 cells through activating caspase-3 pathways and the apoptosis-related genes bcl-2 and survivin may play important roles in the process of apoptosis induction.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vitamin K 2 ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate antibiotic resistance, clonal relatedness and carbapenemase genotype among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii collected from 3 comprehensive hospitals in Ningbo city, Zhejiang province.

METHODS28 strains of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were collected from Ningbo Li Hui-li Hospital, Ningbo Li Hui-li Hospital, Ningbo First Hospital, and N ingbo Second Hospital. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these strains were examined by agar dilution and E-test method. Homology of these isolates was analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Genotype of carbapenemases were analyzed by PCR and verified by DNA sequencing.

RESULTS28 strains of Acinetobacter baumanii were highly resistant to all of the antibiotics except polymyxin E. They were classified into 4 clones based on PFGE pattern. Clone A and B had been spreading widely. All of the 28 strains produced carbapenemases which were confirmed as OXA-23 by PCR and sequencing. Metallo-beta-lactamase was not detected in any of the isolates.

CONCLUSIONAll of t hecarbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii collected from Ningbo were producing OXA-23 carbapenemase, suggesting that the transmission of clones had occurred in the 3 hospitals.

Acinetobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Genotype ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the relationship between pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and culprit coronary plaque morphology in patients with unstable angina (UA).

METHODSSixty-eight UA patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were included in this study. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to assay the circulating PAPP-A. Plaque characteristics of culprit lesion were analyzed for UA patients with various PAPP-A levels.

RESULTSPAPP-A level was significantly higher in high-risk UA than in non-high-risk UA [(19.9 ± 20.1) mIU/L vs. (6.9 ± 5.7) mIU/L, P = 0.002]. Optimal threshold of PAPP-A to predict high-risk UA was determined as 11.0 mIU/L with a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 77.5%. Patients with higher PAPP-A level (≥ 11.0 mIU/L) was associated with larger external elastic membrane cross-sectional area, plaque area and more plaque burden compared with patients with lower PAPP-A level (all P < 0.01). Positive remodeling, attenuated plaque and plaque rupture were significantly more often in patients with higher PAPP-A than in patients with lower PAPP-A level (all P < 0.01). PAPP-A ≥ 11.0 mIU/L (OR = 5.921, P = 0.014) and attenuated plaque (OR = 7.541, P = 0.038) were independent risk predictors for high-risk UA.

CONCLUSIONSPAPP-A was associated with instability of culprit plaque in UA patients. PAPP-A ≥ 11.0 mIU/L and attenuated plaque were independent predictors for high-risk UA.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; metabolism ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relative quantification of cytokeratin 19 transcription in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues by fluorescent quantitive real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ((RT-PCR).

METHODSCK19mRNA level was detected by fluorescent quantitive real-time RT-PCR in cancerous and para-cancerous tissues from 31 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. According to the 2(-DeltaDeltaCt) equation, the relative quantification fold of CK19mRNA level was calculated in cancerous tissues compared with para-cancerous tissues.

RESULTSCK19mRNA levels in cancerous tissues were 2.21 folds higher than those in para-cancerous tissues, and the amplicon was specific. CK19mRNA level in cancerous tissue correlated significantly with pathological differentiation degree, the poorer the differentiation was, the higher the CK19mRNA level became.

CONCLUSIONSFluorescent quantitive real-time RT-PCR is accurate and reliable in the detection of relative quantification of CK19 transcription in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

To clarify the association between HLA-DPB1 alleles and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in South Chinese, the allelic types of HLA-DPB1 were detected by sequence based typing (SBT) in 86 patients with CML and 82 healthy individuals from Southern China. The results showed that the frequencies of HLA-DPB1 * 1301 and DPB1 * 20011 were higher in patients with CML in comparison with those of healthy individuals. It is concluded that positive association may exist between certain HLA-DPB1 alleles and CML.
Alleles ; Chi-Square Distribution ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HLA-DP Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DP beta-Chains ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics

Myxoid adrenocortical neoplasms are rare. Surgical resection of the mass is the first-line therapy. Here we reported a total of four patients, aged 44–66 years, diagnosed with myxoid adrenocortical tumor. The clinical characteristics and immunohistochemical features of the tumor are discussed in the current literature.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged