Objective: To investigate the effect of astragalus on the serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), renal function and the damage of renal morphology in ischemic acute renal failure (IARF). To study the protective mechanism of astragalus in IARF. Methods: The rats were pretreated with astragalus or vehicle for 3 days. IARF was induced by left renal artery clipping for 60 min, after the right kidney was removed. Biochemical parameters for serum HGF,blood urea nitrogen(BUN),creatinine(Cr) were measured and histological analyses of the kidneys were performed by tubular grading. Results: There have no significant difference between the serum HGF levels of I/R controls and the levels observed in sham-operated group (P > 0.05). Serum HGF levels in astragalus treated group was significantly increased than those of I/R control group(P < 0.01) .After 4 h of I/R, serum levels of BUN and Cr were increased in I/ R control rats compare with Sham-operated rats(P < 0.01). Astragalus treatment reduced the levels elevation(P < 0.05). Simultaneously,. I/R-induced severe damage in renal morphology were significantly ameliorated by astragalus treatment(P < 0.01). Conclusions: Astragalus pretreatment can alleviate the damage of renal function in IARF. It is may be one of the mechanisms of astragalus for protecting renal tissue in IARF that astragalus can induce the expression of HGF.

Objective To investigate the effect of ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) on tumor metastasis in a experimental mouse model of hematogenous metastasis after I/R; we also quantitated expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) during I/R.Methods An experimental mouse model of metastasis after partial hepatic I/R was designed to determine the effects of I/R on tumor metastasis to liver.Tumor loads were valued 7 days after operation.In addition,tissue analysis for alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase (AST) and matrix metalloproteinases and 8 h reperfusion were performed.Results After 2 h hepatic reperfusion,ALT and AST in I 45 min group were higher than the sham group and I 30 min group (P ＜0.05).ALT and AST in the sham group were both a little higher than the normal.ALT and AST in the I 45 min group and I 30 min group at 8 h were both higher than those at 2 h reperfusion(P ＜0.05).The tumor load (valued by Hepatic replacement area) and the expression of MMP-9 in ischemic lobe in I 45 min group were greater than that after 30 min group and sham group.(P =0.013,P =0.007).There was no statistical difference on tumor load between the right lobe of sham operated mice and the right lobe (non-ischemic lobe) of mice subjected to I/R(P =0.089).Mouse survival were compared among the groups.Mice in Sham group lived longer than I 30 min group (P =0.041).And there were no statistical significance between I 45 min group and I 30 min group (P =0.055).MMP-9 expression in I 45 min group was higher than I 30 min group(P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Hepatic I/R promotes liver hematogenic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice through induction of MMP-9 expression.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX), as its essential advantages of high efficiency and low cost, is a promising novel biological nitrogen elimination process with attractive application prospects. Over the past two decades, many processes based on the ANAMMOX reaction have been continuously studied and applied to practical engineering, with the perspective of reaching 100 full-scale installations in operation worldwide by 2014. Our review summarizes various forms of ANAMMOX processes, including partial nitritation-ANAMMOX, completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite, oxygen limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification, denitrifying ammonium oxidation, aerobic deammonification, simultaneous partial nitrification, ANAMMOX and denitrification, single-stage nitrogen removal using ANAMMOX and partial nitritation. We also compare the operating conditions for one-stage and two-stage processes and summarize the obstacles and countermeasures in engineering application of ANAMMOX systems, such as moving bed biofilm reactor, sequencing batch reactor and granular sludge reactor. Finally, we discuss the future research and application direction, which should focus on the optimization of operating conditions and applicability of the process to the actual wastewater, especially on automated control and the impact of special wastewater composition on process performance.
Ammonia ; chemistry ; Bioreactors ; Denitrification ; Nitrification ; Nitrites ; chemistry ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; Oxygen ; chemistry ; Sewage ; chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Waste Water ; chemistry

Objective To explore the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and nurses′ psychological capital. Methods By convenient sampling, totally 550 nurses in 5 first-class upper level general hospitals in Zhejiang province were investigated by the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Cheeklist-Civilan Version (PCL-C) and Nurses Psychological Capital Questionnaire Revision (NPCQR), and the results were analyzed. Results 18.35%investigated nurses showed a certain degree of PTSD symptoms and 13.71% showed obvious PTSD symptoms. The positive rate was 32.06%.The overall score of nurses′psychological capital was 78.81 ± 16.54, which was in the middle level, and the dimension scores from high to low were self-efficacy (23.80±5.35), hope (23.36±5.24), resilience (19.66 ±4.29), and optimism (11.99 ± 3.21). The nurses′psychological capital had a negative effect on posttraumatic stress disorder (P<0.01). Conclusions Psychological capital of nurses is a negative predictor of PTSD symptoms, which suggested that managers should pay more attention to the development of nurses′psychological capital to reduce and prevent the occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder,then to improve nursing service quality.

Objective To evaluate the tolerance and safety of sorafenib for elderly patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.Methods Forty cases with advanced renal cell carcinoma were enrolled,26 were males and 14 were females,the average age was 70 years.Recurrence or metastasis was found in 32 patients who had received nephrectomy,22 of the 32 cases had received cytokine therapy before recurrence or metastasis.Primary renal lesions of 8 cases could not be resected,so patients get renal tumor biopsy.Pathological type of all patients was clear cell carcinoma.KPS of all the patients were ≥70 points.Sorafenib was used as first-line treatment,with 400 mg twice per day,until intolerance or disease progression occurred.Results The average treatment time was 7.5 months (3-18 months),CR 0 case,PR 6 cases,SD 29 cases,PD 5 cases.The overall objective response rate and disease control rate were 15.0% (6/40)and 87.5%(35/40),respectively.The median follow-up period was 11 months.The adverse reaction included hand-foot skin reaction(70.0%),alopecia (62.5%),rash(52.5%),diarrhea(37.5%),loss of appetite(32.5%),fatigue(27.5%).Most adverse reactions occurred around the second week after drug therapy initiation,their duration did not equal.And most of these adverse reactions could be released by symptomatic treatment,they did not affect the treatment.Conclusions The types of adverse reactions of sorafenib for elderly patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma are similar to those reported in the literature.Generally the degree of adverse reactions is minor,with good tolerance and safety.

Objective To investigate and analyze risk factors of re-fracture after operation of osteoporotic hip fracture.Methods Two hundred forty-seven patients receiving operation of osteoporotic hip fracture were retrospectively studied and followed up,and all patients were divided into re-fracture group (54 patients) and no-re-fracture group (193 patients).The related factors such as sex,age,body mass index (BMI),affected side,initial fracture site,operation type,perioperative blood loss,postoperative delirium,postoperative bedridden time,medical complications,Charlson comorbidity index,antiostoporosis therapy,hip function scores with Harris and functional independence measurement (FIM) scores were compared by single factor analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results Single factor analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis both showed that the risk factors of re-fracture after operation of osteoporotic hip fracture included age,postoperative delirium,hypertension,diabetes mellitus,cerebrovascular disease,antiostoporosis therapy,hip function scores with Harris and FIM scores (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Risk factors of re-fracture after operation of osteoporotic hip fracture include passive factors of age,postoperative delirium and medical complications,and subjective factors of antiostoporosis therapy,hip function scores with Harris and FIM scores.Patients should receive medical treatment positively,enhance antiostoporosis therapy and rehabilitation training of hip function to prevent re-fracture.

The purpose of this study was to test whether oxygen carriers could decrease tissue injury in a rat model of acute myocardial infarct. The study included 3 groups: SD rats in group II and group III were subjected to permanent occlusion of their left anterior descending coronary arteries; SD rats in group I were subjected to sham-operation. The success of modeling was assartained by ECG. Then the rats were given drug via caudal veins for 2 days. A quantitative evaluation was made with an automatic device for interpretation of cardiac troponin T (cTnT); heart staining was made for the calculation of myocardial infarction size (MIS); and myocardial tissue was taken and subjected to routine pathological hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining for showing myocardial cell injury. cTnT in the sham-operation group was significantly lower by comparison with that in the model group (P < 0.01), and it was slightly lower in the oxygen carriers group than that in the model group, but there was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.18); MIS was significantly smaller in the sham-operation group than that in the model group (P < 0.01), and it was greater in the model rats than that in the oxygen carriers rats (P < 0.05). HE staining of myocardicum in the oxygen carriers group was significantly better than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The evidence suggested that oxygen carriers increased oxygen supply to ischemic myocardium, reduced the myocardial injury, and thus might offer a novel treatment of myocardial infarction.
Animals ; Blood Substitutes ; pharmacology ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin T ; metabolism

Objective To explore impact of BMI on the clinical efficacy of treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus after the laparoscopic gastric bypass. Methods Twenty patients were randomly selected from type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with BMI of 25 ~28 kg/m2 after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in our hospital from 2010 to 2013,20 patients from type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with BMI of 28~35 kg/m2 and 20 patients from type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with BMI≥35 kg/m2 . Accordingly,the total of 60 patients were divided into low BMI group,middle BMI group and high BMI group. The difference of the rate of blood glucose control and other indicators between three groups were compared and analyzed. Results The rate of blood glucose control in low BMI group was 75%,middle BMI group was 85%, and high BMI group was 90%. There was no statistical difference of the rate of blood glucose control between three groups at 12 months after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. The blood glucose and weight obviously improved in all patients,and fasting insulin and postprandial ser-um insulin decreased at 12 months after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Conclusion All the patient of type 2 diabetes mellitus with dif-ferent BMI in three group can acquire satisfying clinical therapeutic effect after the laparoscopic gastric bypass.

OBJECTIVEA multi-center randomized phase III clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy, clinical benefit response (CBR) and toxicity profile of germcitabine (GEM) or GEM plus cisplatin (CDDP) for locally advanced (LAPC) or metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC).

METHODSFrom July 2000 to May 2001, 42 untreated patients with LAPC or MPC were collected and randomized into two groups: Arm A-GEM 20 patients and Arm B-GEM + CDDP 22 patients. Eligibility criteria were: cytologically and pathologically proven pancreatic carcinoma, Karnosky performance status (KPS) 60 - 80, age 18 - 75 yrs, adequate hematological, renal and liver function, measurable disease, and controllable pain. For Arm A patients, weekly dose of GEM 1 000 mg/m(2)/w for 7 times followed by a week rest. Then weekly GEM at the same dose for 3 times every 4 weeks. Arm B patients were given weekly dose of GEM 1 000 mg/m(2)/w for 3 times every 4 weeks combined with CDDP 60 mg/m(2) on D15 for 3 cycles.

RESULTSThirty-four patients were available for objective response (Arm A 16 and Arm B 18) and 36 (Arm A 16 and Arm B 20) for CBR evaluation. In Arm A and Arm B, PR 1 (6.3%) and 2 (11%), MR 4 (25%) and 3 (16.7%), SD 7 (43.8%) and 8 (44.4%), PD 4 (25%) and 5 (27.8%), PR + MR 31.3% and 27.8%, PR + MR + SD 75% and 72.2% were observed. Positive CBR was 14/16 (87.5%) in Arm A and 14/20 (70.0%) in Arm B. The negative results was 2/16 (12.5%) in Arm A and 6/20 (30.0%) in Arm B. The median time of disease progression was not yet available at present. The 3-month survival rate of both Arm A and B was 100%, the 6-month survival rates of Arm A and B were 81.3% and 61.6% and the 12-month survival rates of Arm A and B was 31.3% and 11.1%, with median survivals of 273 and 217 days. The incidence of hematological and non-hematological toxicity of Arm A was lower than that of Arm B without statistical significance. The toxicity ranging from being mild to moderate was manageable.

CONCLUSIONGEM or GEM plus CDDP is able to lead to a moderate objective response rate, also significantly improve the quality of life in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, prolonging the survival time with tolerable toxicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; analysis ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Deoxycytidine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the relationship between workplace bullying and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in nursing staff, and to analyze the role of psychological capital between workplace bullying and PTSD. Methods: From December 2014 to June 2015, convenience sampling was used to collect 496 nurses from 5 grade A tertiary hospitals in a province of China. Their workplace bullying, psychological capital, and PTSD status were assessed using the Negative Acts Questionnaire, Psychological Capital Questionnaire, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale, respectively. The correlation between variables was analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: Among these nurses, the scores of negative acts, psychological capital, and PTSD were 37.15±12.83, 78.81±16.54, and 34.56±12.52, respectively. The score on each dimension of negative acts was positively correlated with that on each dimension of PTSD (P<0.01) ; the score on each dimension of psychological capital was negatively correlated with that on each dimension of PTSD and negative acts (P<0.01). Negative acts had a positive predictive effect on PTSD (β=0.539, P<0.01) , which was reduced after inclusion of psychological capital (β=0.513, P<0.01). The path coefficient was 0.62 for the effect of negative acts on PTSD, -0.18 for the effect of negative acts on psychological capital, and -0.11 for the effect of psychological capital on PTSD (P<0.05) . Conclusion Workplace bullying is a predictive factor for PTSD, and psychological capital plays a mediating role between workplace bullying and PTSD. The manager should reduce workplace bullying to improve the psychological capital in nursing staff and to prevent and reduce PTSD.