OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in the hippocampus of epileptic rats and to study its effect on vitamin E levels in rats following status epilepticus (SE).

METHODSRat model of SE was induced by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine. The rats receiving an injection of normal saline were used as a control group. The expression of LPL in the hippocampal tissue was determined using immunofluorescent methods and the level of vitamin E was examined by the colormeric method 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after SE.

RESULTSLPL was expressed in the control and SE groups. In the SE group, the LPL expression began to increase 24 hr after SE (P<0.05), reached a peak 3 days after SE (P<0.01), and kept at a high level 7 days after SE (P<0.01). By 14 days, the LPL expression was reduced to the level similar to the control group. The level of vitamin E began to decline 12 hrs after SE (P<0.01), and decreased to a nadir 24 hrs after SE (P<0.01). At 3 and 7 days after SE, the levels of vitamin E were still significantly lower than the controls (P<0.05). By 14 days, the vitamin E level increased to the level similar to the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe over-expression of LPL in the hippocampus may play an important role in the oxidative stress mechanisms following SE by regulating the uptake of vitamin E.

Animals ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; analysis ; physiology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Status Epilepticus ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; analysis ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine-threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in carbon monoxide (CO)-induced up-regulation of the mitofusin-1 (Mfn1) expression in endotoxin-challenged rat alveolar macrophages.Methods Alveolar macrophages obtained from the rats aged 12-20 weeks were subcuhured and seeded in 96 well plates at a density of 4× 104 cells/ml.After being cultured for 24 h,the cells were divided into 4 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),endotoxin group (group L),lipopolysaccharide (LPS) +CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) group (group L+C) and LPS+CORM-2+PI3K inhibitor LY294002 group (group L+C+LY).Cells were cultured normally in group C.Cells were stimulated by using LPS 10 μg/ml in L,L+C and L+C+LY groups.In group L+C,CORM-2 100 μmol was given at 1 h before stimulation with LPS.In group L+C+LY,LY294002 20 μg and CORM-2 100 μ mol were given at 1.5 and 1.0 h before stimulation with LPS,respectively.The cells were continuously incubated for 24 h after the end of treatment.The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The expression of PI3K,phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and Mfn1 in cells was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the concentration of TNF-α was significantly increased,and the IL-10 concentration was decreased in L,L+C and L+C+LY groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group L,the concentration of IL-10 was significantly increased,the TNF-α concentration was decreased,and the expression of PI3K,p-Akt and Mfn1 was up-regulated in group L+C (P＜0.05).Compared with group L+C,the concentration of IL-10 was significantly decreased,the TNF-α concentration was increased,and the expression of PI3K,p-Akt and Mfn1 was down-regulated in group L+C+LY (P＜0.05).Conclusion PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is involved in CO-induced up-regulation of Mfn1 expression in endotoxin-challenged rat alveolar macrophages.

Objective To find out the potential risk factor of plague in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of plague. Methods Rodents were captured by rat traps/cages at night and identified into species in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area from 2001 to 2009. Flea was counted and serum antibodies against plague F1 of rats, cats and dogs were detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Plague surveillances were performed in human beings and rats. Results The rodents captured belonged to 9 species, 2 families, 2 orders and 1 classes. The average indoor rodent density was 1.16% (961/82 558), and was 1.12% (1345/119 671) outdoors. Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species,accounting for 50.37%. The proportion of R. Flavipectus was 3.80% in 2004, 4.50% in 2008 and 10.12% in 2009,showing an increasing trend year by year. There were three kinds of mice infected fleas in Wanzhou, which including Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Ctenocephalides felis. The average rate of flea infected mice was 1.18%(82/6959) and the total flea index was 0.036. No F1 antibody against plague was detected in 6959 dogs and 160 cats serum samples. Conclusions No plague is found in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. But R.Flavipectus, Xenopsylla cheopis and Leptopsylla segnis are dominant species in Wanzhou section, and the proportion of which shows an increasing trends year by year. There is a potential risk of plague outbreaks in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

Objective To explore the applicability of pubertal development scale in estimating sexual maturation among urban Chinese adolescents.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2562 students of 4th to 12th grade in Shanghai,selected by stratified cluster sampling method.Self-reported pubertal maturation level was obtained by Pubertal Development Scale (PDS).Meanwhile,visual depiction of Tanner stages of breast,genital and pubic hair development were rated by a trained rater of the same gender,Results In 2562 students,the correlation between self-reported PDS and assessment from the raters were substantial,both in boys and girls (Pearson' s correlation coefficients:0.822 and 0.814,respectively).The overall agreement of pubertal development stages based on PDS and the rater' s assessment were 35.24％ and 51.42％ for boys and girls,respectively,with Kendall' s correlation coefficients as 0.713 and 0.685,respectively.Adolescents who were older,had relatively higher level of pubertal stages or adolescents from the richer families,tended to underestimate their actual level of pubertal maturation while those male subjects and overweight or obese subjects were even more likely to be so.Conclusion Using the self-reported PDS,we could conveniently obtain the necessary information regarding sexual maturation among the urban adolescents.It seemed especially useful in the related epidemiological survey when physical examination was precluded by cost,privacy and other concerns.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the beneficial effects of application of a self-designed reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO) combined with comprehensive rehabilitation training on bladder and bowel function in paraplegic patients sustaining spinal cord injuries (SCI).

METHODSTwelve paraplegic patients with complete spinal cord injury at the levels between T(4) and L(1) received the RGO with a comprehensive rehabilitation exercise program carried out before and after fixing. Cold water and colon excretion tests were performed before and 3 months after application of the RGO, and the bladder volume, residue bladder volume, and bladder and bowel pressures were measured in these patients.

RESULTSThe 12 paraplegic patients all showed positive results in cold water test before and after RGO application. Before RGO application, 11 of these patients were positive for urine bacteria and only 1 patient was still positive 3 months after the application. The bladder volume and bowel pressure of the patients were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the residue volume and pressure of the bladder were significantly reduced 3 months after RGO application (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRGO combined with comprehensive rehabilitation training can effectively improve the bladder and bowel function and the quality of life of patients with complete spinal cord injury, suggesting much clinical value for its extensive application.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthotic Devices ; Paraplegia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Urinary Bladder ; physiopathology ; Walkers ; Young Adult

A cDNA sequence coding for ovine inhibin N terminal 1-33 AA residue fragment (INH) was inserted between BamHI\SacI sites in plasmid pRSET-A to generate plasmid pR-INH. By utilizing a pair of isocaudamer BamHI and Bgl II sites and another downstream Hind III site, following simple double digestions and combination ligation of the resultant products, 2 to 6-repeat INH genes were constructed respectively. Each plamids containing 3 to 6 repeated INH fragment genes, pR-3INH, pR-4INH, pR-5INH and pR-6INH, directed expression of the target proteins in E. coli. BL21 (DE3) under induction of ITPG, which respectively accounted for 6%, 6%, 7% and 8% of the total bacterial protein. The expressed target proteins were all in the form of inclusion bodies. The above results implied that utilization of isocaudamer restriction disgetion sites in expression plasmid is capable of rapidly and correctly constructing repeat fragment polymer of short peptides, which may become a new method in construction of high immunogenic recombinant vaccines of short peptides.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Inhibins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Peptide Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; genetics ; Sheep

HPLC-ELSD was applied to explore the absorption mechanism of pulchinenosides (B3, BD, B7, B10, B11) in rats. The experimental results showed that the absorption rate constant, Ka value (B3, BD) and Permeability coefficient, Peff value (B3, B7) displayed significant difference (P <0.05) in various intestinal segments, The Ka value and Peff value of PRS was different from each other with the highest absorption in duodenum (duodenum > jejunum > colon > ileum); The PRS displayed excessive satuation as the concentration increased over 0.05-2.5 g · L(-1). There were no obvious linear correlations between Peff values and concentrations in duodenum (0.6007 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.7727); Ka and Peff value declined when the PRS was perfused with P-glycoprotein promoter digoxin, on the other hand, inclined when perfused with P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil with significant difference among PRS B3, BD, B7, B11 (P <0.05). All the above results demonstrated that B3, BD, B7 were greatly influenced by absorption sites, duodenum was the main absorption site; PRS didn't entirely transported in a concentration dependent manner, and the transporter-protein involved the transportation, so the intestinal absorption of the five pulchinenosides was not entirely passive diffusion; and PRS might be the substrates of P-glycoprotein.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; physiology ; Animals ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Oleanolic Acid ; pharmacokinetics ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the reason and treatment of the complications of 61 cases of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in order to improve survival rate of ECMO treatment.

METHODSECMO records from January 2007 to December 2014 in Shanghai Chest Hospital were investigated retrospectively focusing on complications. There were included 43 male and 18 female patients, age 3 to 66 years. Indications for ECMO included post-operative low cardiac output, viral myocarditis, bridge to heart transplantation, acute respiratory distress syndrome and myocardial infarction. There were 49 cases of veno-arterial ECMO and 12 cases of veno-venous ECMO.

RESULTSECMO duration was 2 to 61 days. Among 43 patients, 37 patients weaned from ECMO successfully and 28 survived to discharge. Various complications occurred to 56 patients, including oxygenator plasma leakage(4 case times), circuit emboli (7), hemolysis (4), bleeding (34), infection (8), acute kidney injury (35), lower limb ischemia (8) and neurologic complications (6). There were 49 cases times of complications in survivors, while 61 cases times in death group. Bleeding (10 time cases) and acute kidney injury (33 time cases) happened in the death group. Progresses in ECMO technique had influences on complications in some parts. For instance, incidence of lower limb ischemia was 6/7 in cutdown cannulating group, but reduced to 2/42(4.8%) when semi-open technique was applied.

CONCLUSIONSComplications in ECMO are relative to patients' outcome intimately. Appropriate prevention and treatment of complication play a major role in the success of ECMO support. The incidences of certain complications reduce significantly due to progresses of equipment and medical experiences.

Acute Disease ; Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Transplantation ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis ; virology ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Aim To demonstrate that bigelovii E,one of the triterpenoid compounds isolated from Salicornia bigelovii Torr. ,induced apoptosis and inhibited prolif-eration of human breast cancer cells MCF-7. Methods MTT and Clonogenic were used to detect the anti-proliferative effect of bigelovii E on human tumor cells. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to observe the chan-ges of cell morphology in the treatment with bigelovii E. The effect of bigelovii E on cell apoptosis,cell mi-tochondrial membrane potential and the ROS level was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of mito-chondrial apoptotic pathway and its regulated proteins were analyzed by Western blot. Results Bigelovii E was most sensitive to MCF-7;bigelovii E had lower toxicity to normal cells HLF1;bigelovii E inhibited the colony formation of breast cancer MCF-7;the apoptosis pattern induced by bigelovii E was detected by Hoechst 33258;Western blot showed that bigelovii E could down-regulate the phosphorylation of mTOR,p70S6K and 4-EBP,up-regulate the expression of Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 proteins,promote the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway,reduce the mitochondrial membrane poten-tial,and induce ROS,leading to mitochondrial func-tion damage,and ultimately inducing apoptosis. Con-clusion Bigelovii E regulates mitochondrial apoptosis pathway through mTOR pathway,induces apoptosis and has a good anti-tumor effect.

OBJECTIVETo study the prevention and treatment on the donor site sequelae after autologous breast reconstruction with extended latissimus dorsi flap.

METHODS88 patients received breast reconstruction with extended latissimus dorsi flap between May 1999 and Nov 2004 were concerned. We analyzed the donor site sequelae by objective and subjective evaluation and we assessed the functional condition. Results Dorsal hematoma developed in 1 patient. There are 7 patients with dorsal seromas and 2 of them developed capsules; 5 patients with mild skin exfoliate and 1 patient with dry skin necrosis, 2 winged shoulders. No infection and no hypertrophic scars appeared in donor site. There is no significant functional limitation and no influence in daily life.

CONCLUSIONSThe main complication after autologous breast reconstruction with extended latissimus dorsi flap was seromas and it can be controlled to decrease. There is no severe complication. It's a worthy method in autologous breast reconstruction in oriental people.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; pathology ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Wound Infection ; complications ; Young Adult