Animals ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Vitamin E ; blood

Obstructive nephropathy ultimately leads to end-stage renal failure. Renovascular lesions are involved in various nephropathies, and most renal diseases have an ischemic component that underlies the resulting renal fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether morphological changes occur in the renal vasculature in hydronephrosis and the possible mechanisms involved. A model of complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (CUUO) was used. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: a normal control group (N) and groups of animals at 1st week (O1), 2nd week (O2), 4th week (O4) and 8th week (O8) after CUUO. Blood pressure was measured, renal arterial trees and glomeruli were assessed quantitatively, and renovascular three-dimensional reconstruction was performed on all groups. Glomerular ultrastructural changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in the obstructed groups (O1, O2, O4 and O8). Three-dimensional reconstruction showed sparse arterial trees in the O8 group, and a tortuous and sometimes ruptured glomerular basement membrane was found in the O4 and O8 groups. Furthermore, epithelial media thickness and media/lumen ratio were increased, lumen diameters were decreased, and the cross-sectional area of the media was unaltered in the segmental renal artery, interlobar artery and afferent arterioles, respectively. In conclusion, renal arterial trees and glomeruli were dramatically altered following CUUO and the changes may be partially ascribed to vascular remodeling. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of renovascular morphological alterations will enable the development of potential therapeutic approaches for hydronephrosis.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the reliability of cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and to verify the possibility in the growth evaluation of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients as a helpful supplementary to the Risser sign.

METHODSCoronal and lateral full-length spine X-ray film and left hand-wrist radiographs of 77 female adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis were selected from January 2010 to October 2010. The interval period between lateral length of the spine and left hand-wrist radiographs did not exceed 3 months. The CVM was assessed by a method developed by Baccetti and co-workers, whereas hand-wrist maturation was assessed by Fishman's method. The results were analyzed by Spearman correlation with patients Risser sign, chronological age, and menarche period.

RESULTSThere were strong correlations between CVM and SMI or Risser sign (r = 0.862 and 0.762, P < 0.01). While in 26 patients whose Risser sign were 0-I, the correlation between CVM and SMI was more pronounced (r = 0.761, P < 0.01), compared with the correlation between Risser sign and SMI (r = 0.641, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCVM is a valid indicator of skeletal growth evaluation and can be used as a helpful supplementary to Risser sign.

Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; growth & development ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

Optically active form of alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (CPB) alcohol, building block of pyrethroid insecticides, was synthesized as its acetate by the combination of anion-exchange resin (D301)-catalyzed transcyanation between m-phenoxybenzaldehyde (m-PBA) and acetone cyanohydrin (AC), and lipase (from Alcaligenes sp.)-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of the resulting cyanohydrin with vinyl acetate. Through optimizing technological conditions, the catalyzing efficiency was improved considerably compared to methods previously reported. Concentrations of CPB acetate were determined by gas chromatograph. The enantio excess (e.e.) values of CPB acetate were measured by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) method. Effects of solvents and temperatures on this reaction were studied. Cyclohexane was shown to be the best solvent among the three tested solvents. 55 degrees C was the optimal temperature for higher degree of conversion. External diffusion limitation was excluded by raising the rotational speed to 220 r/min. However, internal diffusion could not be ignored, since the catalyst (lipase) was an immobilized enzyme and its particle dimension was not made small enough. The reaction rate was substantially accelerated when the reactant (m-PBA) concentration was as high as 249 mmol/L, but decreased when the initial concentration of m-PBA reached to 277 mmol/L. It was also found that the catalyzing capability of recovered lipase was high enough to use several batches. Study of the mole ratio of AC to m-PBA showed that 2:1 was the best choice. The strategy of adding base catalyst D301 was found to be an important factor in improving the degree of conversion of the reaction from 20% to 80%. The highest degree of conversion of the reaction has reached up to 80%.
Alcaligenes ; enzymology ; Benzaldehydes ; chemistry ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; methods ; Lipase ; chemistry ; Nitriles ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; Phenyl Ethers ; chemical synthesis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of the normal subjects with postural sway test and discuss the value of postural sway test in the diagnosis of dizzy patients.

METHODSTotally 112 normal subjects, 72 patients with peripheral vertigo, and 30 patients with central vertigo were examined using a stabilometer (EAB-100, Anima Co., Japan). Items include patterns, length of locus, envelope area, deflection average center displacement, and romberg rate were recorded and compared.

RESULTSThe postural sway was classified into the following five patterns: centripetal, forward and backward, right and left, diffuse, and multicentric. Centripetal pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the normal subjects, while diffuse pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the patients with central vertigo. When the normal subjects closed their eyes, age was linearly correlated with the length of locus, envelope area, rectangel area, and unit area path length (P < 0.05). Sex was not correlated to all of these parameters. The length of locus and envelope area in the patient groups were significantly increased when compared with the normal subjects (P < 0.0167). Romberg rate was not significantly different between the patients and the normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe pattern of postural sway is useful for the diagnosis of vertigo. Age is an important factor that affects the balance function. Sex seems has no influence. Visual input plays an important role in maintaining postural balance. Stabilometer is a useful tool for evaluating balance function, and postural sway test may be a valuable assistant examination.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Dizziness ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance

BACKGROUNDCurrently, various calculation methods for evaluating blood-loss in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are applied in clinical practice. However, different methods may yield different results. The purpose of this study was to determine the most reliable method for calculating blood-loss after primary TKA.

METHODSWe compared blood-loss in 245 patients who underwent primary unilateral TKA from February 2010 to August 2011. We calculated blood-loss using four methods: Gross equation, hemoglobin (Hb) balance, the Orthopedic Surgery Transfusion Hemoglobin European Overview (OSTHEO) formula, and Hb-dilution. We determined Pearson's correlation coefficients for the four methods.

RESULTSThere were large differences in the calculated blood-loss obtained by the four methods. In descending order of combined correlation coefficient based on calculated blood-loss, the methods were Hb-balance, OSTHEO formula, Hb-dilution, and Gross equation.

CONCLUSIONSThe Hb-balance method may be the most reliable method of estimating blood-loss after TKA.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Theoretical ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular types of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a severe food-poisoning and to trace the possible strains.

METHODSReal-time PCR was applied to detect nuc gene as a specific marker for S. aureus, mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance and 5 other genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxins (sea, seb, see, sed, see). Isolates were also performed with 16S rRNA oligonucleotide sequence analyzing by DNAStar MegAlign 5.0 software and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) by BioNumerics Version 4.0 software.

RESULTSThe nuc gene was detected from the 10 isolated strains, sea and seb genes were detected from 7 strains. There were 4 16 S rRNA types and 5 PFGE types found from all the strains.

CONCLUSIONSThree relative S. aureus strains were involved in the severe food-poisoning at least. Molecular subtyping might give a molecular epidemiological evidence and support the source tracing of an outbreak.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxins ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Food Poisoning ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features of hemophilia A (HA), and the factors associated with the factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor development.

METHODSOne huandred and thirteen patients with HA were recruited in this retrospective study, among whom, 85 were treated with FVIII replacement therapy. The FVIII inhibitor levels and factors associated with the inhibitor development were correspondingly investigated in these 85 patients.

RESULTSFVIII inhibitor developed in 28.24% of the 85 severe and moderate patients treated with FVIII. Factors of statistical significance (P < 0.05) associated with the low-titer FVIII inhibitor development were as follows: the first enduring adminstration of FVIII, the situation of the patients, and the high dose FVIII used in severe bleeding or major operation.

CONCLUSIONThe development of FVIII inhibitor by Bethesda assay in Chinese hemophilia A patients is not rare, especially that with low-titer. Most of them are severe and moderate patients. The inhibitor development was associated with the following factors: the first adminstration of FVIII for more than 5 days, the severe or moderate conditions of patients, the high dose FVIII used in severe bleeding or major operation.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Factor VIII ; administration & dosage ; Hemophilia A ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,and to evaluate the relationship between brain reorganization and motor recovery.Methods Nine AIS patients and 9 healthy volunteers were assessed by fMR1 during passive finger clenching at a pace of 1 Hz.The fMRI results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Lateral indices (LIs) and activated regions were calculated,and the relationship between LI and muscle strength was examined.Results In the control group,activation was observed in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the bilateral supplementary area (SMA) during the passive movement.In the AIS group,similar results were recorded dur- ing unaffected hand movement,but the ipsilateral activation areas were greater than those on the eontralateral side during movement of the affected hand.LI results confirmed that movement of the affected hand mainly elici- ted activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere.Conclusion The different fMRI manifestations of patients and nor- mal subjects reflect brain compensation,and fMRI is valuable for studying the correlation between motor function and brain reorganization.

Objective To evaluate the clinical features and clinical outcome of liver, kidney and coagulation injury in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), especially in those elderly COVID-19 patients. Methods Clinical data of 72 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 20, 2020 to April 20, 2020 was collected, including demographic data, clinical symptoms, laboratory testing results, underlying comorbidities, discharge and death, and then conducted the analysis stratified by clinical severity and age. Results Of the 72 COVID-19 patients, 27 were critically ill and 45 were mild.There were 31 elderly patients (≥60 years old) and 41 young patients (< 60 years old).Fever (83.3%), cough (36.1%) and fatigue (23.6%) were the most common clinical symptoms.The median age of the patients was 56.1 years (15-80 years); the mean age of mild and critically ill patients were 47.4 years and 64.6 years, respectively.The proportion of critically ill cases in the elderly group and the young group was 67.7% (21/31) and 14.6% (6/41), respectively.Organ injury in elderly patients included significantly increased aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine D-dimer, and FDP) (P < 0.05).Of the patients, the length of hospital stay of the elderly patients was significantly longer (P < 0.001), and the mortality increased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion Elderly COVID-19 patients have severe liver, kidney and coagulation injury, which may induce longer duration of hospital stay and increased mortality.Therefore, elderly COVID-19 patients may have worse clinical outcome.