Background Recombinant hirudin variant Ⅲ(rHV3) can effectively prevent galactose-induced human lens epithelial cells LECs injury,but little is known about the molecular mechanism of its action.Objective The present study was to investigate the effects of rHV3 on the expression of apoptosis-related genes in damaged LECs induced by galactose.Methods The rHV3 was extracted by our research group,and the biological activity of rHV3 was identified by titration of thrombase according to Markwardt's method.Human LECs (SRA01/04) were cultured using 125×10-3 mol/L D-galactose+10% FBS+D/F12 medium to establish the damaged human LECs model.rHV3 was added into the medium of the damaged human LECs model.Human LECs were cultured in D/F12 medium containing 10% FBS as normal control.The expression of apoptosis-related genes,such as aldose reductase (AR),bax,bcl2 and p53,in LECs at the mRNA level was detected using RT-PCR.The abundance ratio of target genes was presented with the absorbance (A) of gene mRNA/GAPDH mRNA.Results Compared to the normal control group,the A values of AR mRNA/GAPDH mRNA,bax mRNA/GAPDH mRNA and p53 mRNA/GAPDH mRNA were significantly elevated in model group (t=3.90E-06,t=8.44E-04,t=5.15E-08,P＜0.01).However,in the rHV3-treated group,the A values of AR mRNA/GAPDH mRNA,bax mRNA/GAPDH mRNA and p53 mRNA/GAPDH mRNA were lower than those of model group (t=5.90E-06,t=1.51E-04,t=3.42E-06,P＜0.01).The bcl2 mRNA/GAPDH mRNA was markedly downregulated in the model group when compared with the normal control group (t=1.86E-05,P＜0.01);while after rHV3 addition,bcl2 mRNA/GAPDH mRNA increased in comparison with the model group (t=8.56E-05,P＜0.01).Conclusion 125×10-3mol/L D-galactose induces the damage and apoptosis of human LECs.rHV3 likely plays a protective function on D-galactose-induced damage of human LECs by inhibiting the polyol pathway and mitochondria-mediated pathway.

Objective To develop an easy-to-use nomogram to assist clinicians in predicting major postoperative morbidity in those non-small-cell lung canccr patients who underwent VATS lobectomy.Methods A perspective multi-center study was developed to analyze the major postoperative complications of 612 non-small-cell lung cancer patients who underwent VATS lobectomy.Muhivariable logistic regression was used to model postoperative morbidity and built the nomogram to accurately predict the major complications.Results There were 606 (99％) survivors and 6 (1％) mortality.A total of 32 patients suffered from major complications.Using logistic regression to predict major complications,preoperative model for ASA score,age ≥70 years and operation time ＞ 150 nin were found to be the significant predictors(P ＜ 0.05) of morbidity and were included in our model.Conclusion We propose a nomogram to enable clinicians to better estimate morbidity in patients with VATS lobectomy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the importance of the specific structure of L-4F, an apolipoprotein A-1 mimetic, in inhibiting atherosclerosis. The study was designed to compare the effect of L-4F and scramble-4F (SC-4F) in preventing low density lipoprotein (LDL) induced endothelial cell dysfunction. L-4F and SC-4F has the same amino acids but different nucleotide sequence.

METHODSBovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) were incubated with single L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml, or LDL 6.2 mmol/L in the absence or presence of L-4F 10 microg/ml or SC-4F 10 microg/ml for 24 h and assayed for (1) changes of superoxide anion (O2-*) generation in BAEC by superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable ferricytochrome C reduction, and (2) the production of nitric oxide (NO) in BAEC by ozone chemiluminescence with VCL3.

RESULTS(1) L-4F and SC-4F themselves had no affect on BAEC O2-* generation. (2) LDL significantly increased O2-* generation in BAEC and LDL-induced O2-* generation was inhibited by pretreatment of LDL with L-4F. However, pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F had no effect on inhibition of LDL-induced O2-* generation. (3) LDL significantly inhibited NO generation in BAEC and pretreatment of LDL with L-4F could inhibit LDL-induced decrease of NO generation, but pretreatment of LDL with SC-4F still inhibited NO generation in BAEC.

CONCLUSIONL-4F can prevent LDL induced endothelial cell dysfunction by maintaining the balance of NO and O2-*, but SC-4F doesn't. It suggests that the specific structure of L-4F may play a crucial role in preventing atherosclerosis and it may provide a new clue for searching a novel approach on prevention and therapeutics of atherosclerosis in the future.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Superoxides ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo analyze the measures and effects of comprehensive noise control in an automobile engine manufacturing enterprise. Methods An automobile engine manufacturing enterprise with noise exposure work-sites was selected as the research subject. The noise hazard status of the enterprise was investigated. The noise hazard exceeded the national standard in work-sites was comprehensively treated. The treatment effect was analyzed. Results A total of 395 work-sites exposed to noise were detected. Among them, 16 work-sites exceeded the national noise standard, with the rate of 4.1%. The work-sites with noise exceeding the national standard were mainly in the machine workshop and the casting workshop, with normalization of equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level to a nominal eight hours working day (L_EX,8h) ranging from 86.8 to 89.2 and 85.2 to 90.2 dB(A), respectively. In addition, the classification of occupational noise exposure of the mold protection group in the casting workshop was level Ⅱ, and classification of occupational noise exposure of other work-sites with excessive national standard was grade Ⅰ. After the enterprise implemented noise control measures such as process reform, equipment replacement, sound insulation, noise reduction, sound absorption, and vibration isolation, the L_EX,8h of nine positions were lower than those before rectification ［(86.7±1.1) vs (83.3±1.3) dB(A), P<0.01］. Conclusion The use of comprehensive control measures can achieve the purpose of reducing noise from the sources, and can be used for reference by relevant enterprises with noise hazards.

BACKGROUNDEndovascular stent-grafting is widely used to treat thoracic aortic dissection. However, little information is available regarding outcome following simultaneous exclusion of multiple tears. This report details eight years of experience using simultaneous multi-tear exclusion for treatment of Stanford type B thoracic aortic dissection resulting in successful aortic remodeling without adverse events.

METHODSFrom September 1998 to January 2006, 29 type B thoracic aortic dissection patients (24 men, 5 women; 27 chronic, 2 acute; mean age 58 years, range 45 - 77 years) were treated by simultaneous multi-tear exclusion in our center. Magnetic resonance angiography was used as the preoperative evaluation method. Different kinds of stent-grafts were used. The patients were followed up with contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography at 6 months postoperatively and yearly thereafter.

RESULTSTwenty-nine surgeries were completed successfully using at least 2 stent-grafts per patient (range: 2 - 6, mean: 2.7). No major procedure-related complications, such as rupture, paraplegia, aortic branch ischemia or cerebral infarction, were observed. During follow-up, favorable remodeling of the aorta was observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe mid-term result of thoracic aortic dissection with simultaneous multi-tear exclusion was satisfactory. With the improvement of stent-grafts, simultaneous multi-tear exclusion should find wider application and become an optimal strategy for thoracic aortic dissection.

Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; pathology ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype in 5 cities of Fujian province and the clinical implications of distinct genotypes in HBV-related liver diseases.

METHODSHBV genotype was determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in patients with chronic HBV infection in 5 cities of Fujian province. The relationship between HBV genotype and its clinical implications was studied by multinomal logistic regression and correspondence analysis.

RESULTSOf the 431 HBV DNA positive patients detected by PCR, 275 (63.8%) belonged to HBV genotype B, 100 (23.2%) to genotype C, 51 (11.8%) to genotype D and D-mixed genotype. Genotype A, E and F were not found. Multinomal logistic regression showed that genotype B was more prevalent in Quanzhou and Sanming cities than in Fuzhou (P = 0.002, P = 0.006), and genotype B appeared significantly more common in asymptomatic carriers (ASC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and severe hepatitis (SH). Genotype C was most prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) (47.0%) than in those with ASC (14.5%) and SH (14.7%) (P = 0.009, P < 0.001). The positive rate of hepatitis B e antigen was higher in patients with genotype C than in those with genotype B and genotype D (56.0% vs. 52.4%, P = 0.008, and 56.0% vs. 30.8%, P = 0.051, respectively). By correspondence analysis, genotype D and D-mixed genotype seemed to be correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The major popular genotypes of HBV were B, C and D in Fujian. (2) Data of our study suggested that the geographic distribution of genotype B and C might be different in some cities of Fujian. (3) Genotype B might have a tendency to lead to SH in younger patients with chronic hepatitis B and the development of LC might be associated with genotype C among the elder patients. (4) Genotype D appeared to associate with development of HCC, which called for further study to confirm.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo establish the Chinese Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) norms in Chongqing, China.

METHODSPEDI (English version) was translated into Chinese and proof read by back-translation. A total of 1 140 children stratified by age were randomly selected from Chongqing and evaluated by the Chinese version of the PEDI. The obtained data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSOf 1 140 questionnaires, 1 075 (94.3%) were valid. The data showed that the raw and scale scores of PEDI increased with age, but the standard scores did not increase with age. The raw, scale, and standard scores on self-care and social function scales were significantly lower than American PEDI norms in some age periods (P<0.05), but the raw, scale, and standard scores on mobility scale were not significantly different from American norms (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe PEDI norms in Chongqing have been successfully established, and can be used to assess the daily function in children, judge the degree of daily function impairment, evaluate the effect of rehabilitation training, and make the rehabilitation plan for disabled children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pediatrics

Aged ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; complications ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Apoplexy ; complications ; etiology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic feasibility of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from partially HLA-mismatched related donors for hematologic diseases.

METHODSThirty patients with hematologic diseases received allo-HSCT from 1 - 3 loci mismatched related donors conditioning regimen consisting of ATG (thymoglobulin, total dose of 10 mg/kg, intravenously on - 4 d to - 1 d), and only 5 (18%) of 28 recipients from HLA-identical sibling donors were treated with regimen containing ATG. Donors were given G-CSF prior to hematopoietic stem cell harvest and CsA, short-term MTX and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were used for GVHD prophylaxis in both group.

RESULTSAll patients were successfully engrafted. There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and grade III to IV aGVHD between the mismatched and matched groups (34% vs 32%, and 13% vs 11%, respectively). 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in mismatched and matched groups were 57% vs 77% (P = 0.14) and 57% vs 69% (P = 0.28), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced disease pre-transplant (P = 0.006) and CMV infection (P = 0.04) were risk factors for OS. OS for patients with stable disease in mismatched and matched groups were 87% vs 81% (P = 0.65) respectively, and for those with advanced disease were 21% vs 71% (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible to perform allo-HSCT from 1 -3 loci HLA-mismatched related donors for patients with stable disease who lack HLA-identical sibling donors. Nevertheless, for patients with advanced disease optimized conditioning regimen and intensive supporting therapy should be administered to obtain better clinical outcomes.

Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; HLA Antigens ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation Conditioning