Objective To analyze clinical features and sum up experience for the treatment of ischemic bowel disease. Methods Clinical data of 73 patients with the diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsTwenty-eight patients were male and 45 patients were female. The median of age was 65 years (range of 38 to 89 years). Forty-eight patients were associated with hypertension, 23%(17/73) patients had a history of coronary disease and 15% (11/73) had diabetes. Seventy patients presented symptom of abdominal pain and 93% (68/73) had hematochezia. Symptoms relieved by conservative treatment in 96% (63/66) patients. Nine patients underwent a surgery. One patient died of sepsis postoperatively. One suffered from colostomy necrosis and leakage of the rectum segment. Conclusion 1. Elder patients presenting symptoms of abdominal pain and hematochezia, especially with a history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and diabetes should be considered for the possibility of ischemic bowel disease. 2. Most patients with ischemic bowel disease could be successfully treated by conservative therapy. 3. Surgery for patients with chronic relapsing and nonresponsible symptoms was difficult and patients often suffer from high postoperative complications.

AIM:To investigate the protective effects of Pollen Typhae extract on diabetic retinopathy(DR)in rats.

METHODS: Fifty SPF rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group with normal feeding, DR group was given the same amount of normal saline by gavage, experimental group A with Pollen Typhae extract 50mg/(kg·d), experimental group B with Pollen Typhae extract 100mg/(kg·d)and experimental group C with Pollen Typhae extract 200mg/(kg·d). Determination of fasting blood glucose in rats of each group. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of retina of rats in each group. The expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of rats were measured by ELISA. The VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ang-1 protein expression in retina tissue were observed by Western blot. The VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ang-1 mRNA expression in retinal tissue were observed by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the fasting blood glucose, the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum and VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ang-1 protein and mRNA expression in retina tissue in DR group and each experimental group were significantly higher(P<0.05). Compared with DR group, fasting blood glucose decreased in all experimental groups, and the fasting blood glucose of experimental groups B and C was significantly decreased than that of DR group(P<0.05). In addition, the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, the protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ang-1 in retina tissue in experimental group B and group C were significantly lower than those in group DR(P<0.05). The results of HE showed that the structure of retinal photoreceptor cell layer in DR group was obviously destroyed, the cell edema and gap widened, and the retinal histopathology of rat retina in group B and group C were improved in varying degrees.

CONCLUSION: Pollen Typhae extract can down-regulate the level of inflammation and the expression of VEGF, VEGFR2 and Ang-1 in DR rats, so as to improve the retinopathy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of Danxuetong injection (DXT, a combination of Danshen and Xueshuantong injections) against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury following testis torsion/detorsion in rats.

METHODSThirty-two 4-week-old healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number: sham operation, normal saline, single DXT injection, and successive DXT injection. The rat models of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by 2-hour 720-degree torsion/detorsion of the unilateral testis. At 6 weeks after modeling, the rats were killed and their testes were harvested for measure- ment of testicular coefficients, sperm counts, sperm motility, and the levels of total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) , nitric oxide synthase (NOS) , and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the rats of the normal saline group, those of the single DXT injection and successive DXT injection groups showed significant increases in the testicular coefficient (0.11 ± 0.03 vs 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.06, P < 0.05), sperm count ([0.46 ± 0.10] vs [1.44 ± 0.50] and [3.00 ± 1.28] x10(9)/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility ([13.63 ± 14.04] vs [39.63 ± 5.04] and [76.31 ± 3.67]%, P < 0.05), the activity of SOD (72.76 ± 5.58 vs 116.25 ± 8.83 and 133.20 ± 13.84, P < 0.05), and the level of T-AOC (5.58 ± 1.07 vs 13.34 ± 5.81 and 19.21 ± 5.69, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the content of MDA (42.38 ± 8.94 vs 20.94 ± 5.65 and 15.02 ± 1.03, P < 0. 05) in the injured testes.

CONCLUSIONDXT can effectively rid the testis tissue of oxygen free radicals, improve sperm count and motility by antioxidation, and protect the testis tissue of prepubertal rats against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury after testis torsion/detorsion. It also has a protective effect on the contralateral testis, and successive injection has a better effect than single injection of DXT.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; complications ; therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; blood supply ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct two recombinant lentiviral vectors carrying mouse NMNAT1 gene and RNAi targeting NMNAT1.

METHODSAccording to GenBank, the full-length cDNA sequence of mouse NMNAT1, an interfering sequence targeting NMNAT1 and a negative sequence were designed, synthesized and inserted into plasmid pLenti6 lentiviral vector. The viral stock was prepared by cotransfection of plasmids and the packaging plasmid mix to 293T cells. The virus titer was tested by qPCR methods. After infection of Hela cells with these lentiviruses, the expression of NMNAT1 was detected by qPCR and Western blot.

RESULTSAll the recombinant plasmids were confirmed by sequencing. The titer of virus was over 2 X10(8) TU/mL. Hela cells infected with lentiviral vector carrying full length NMNAT1 gene successfully expressed high-level NMNAT1. The expression of NMNAT1 reduced to less than 30% after delivery of lentiviral vector carrying RNAi sequence.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral vectors carrying full length NMNAT1 gene and RNAi sequence targeting NMNAT1 have been successfully constructed.

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Nicotinamide-Nucleotide Adenylyltransferase ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective Effectiveness of two kinds of thermochemotherapy infusion from intraarterial approach were studied in the grafted liver VX2 tumors of rabbit.Methods VX2 tumor model was established in 30 Newzland rabbit's livers.Percutaneous transfemoral hepatic arterial catheterization with fixation of the cathether tip inside the feeding vessel was carried out under DSA guidance.All 30 rabbits were divided into three groups(n=10 in each group),normal temperature 100 ml saline+Adriamycin(ADM)infusion(group 1),60℃100 ml saline+ADM continuous perfusion(group 2)and 60℃100 ml saline+ADM intermittent perfusion(group 3).After the perfusion,the lasting time periods of 43-45℃for tumor tissue of group 2 and 3 together with the concentrations of ADM within tumor's tissue were measured.Results Concentrations of ADM were shown as(12.013?2.237)?g/ml,(17.622?1.368)?g/ml,and(11.519?1.225)?g/ml for group 2, group 3 and group 1 respectively.60℃intermittent perfusion vs 60℃continuous perfusion showed P＜0.05, 60℃continuous pefusion vs normal temperature perfusion also showed P＞0.05. 43-45℃period lasting time (min)for 60℃continuous pefusion vs 60℃intermittent pefusion were(4.1?2.7)min and(11.3?3.3)min respectively,the latter was three times more than the former.There were no differences shown betwen the temperature,respiration and heart rate of group 2 and group 3.Conclusion Intermittent intraarterial perfusion thermochemotherapy is a more effective interventional management among all thermochemotherapies.

BACKGROUNDTertiary hospitals serve as the medical service center within the region and play an important role in the medical and health service system. They are also the key targets of public hospital reform in the new era in China. Through the reform of health system, the public hospital efficiency has changed remarkably. Therefore, this study aimed to provide some advice for efficiency assessment of public hospitals in China by comparing and analyzing the consistency of results obtained by three commonly used methods for examining hospital efficiency, that is, ratio analysis (RA), stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), and data envelopment analysis (DEA).

METHODSThe theoretical basis, operational processes, and the application status of RA, SFA, and DEA were learned through literature analysis. Then, the empirical analysis was conducted based on measured data from 51 tertiary public hospitals in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.

RESULTSThe average values of hospital efficiency calculated by SFA with index screening and principal component analysis (PCA) results and those calculated by DEA with index screening results were relatively stable. The efficiency of specialized hospitals was higher than that of general hospitals and that of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. The results obtained by SFA with index screening results and the results obtained by SFA with PCA results showed a relatively high correlation (r-value in 2009, 2010, and 2011 were 0.869, 0.753, and 0.842, respectively, P < 0.01). The correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results and results obtained by other methods showed statistical significance, but the correlation between results obtained by DEA with index screening results and PCA results was lower than that between results obtained by SFA with index screening results and PCA results.

CONCLUSIONSRA is not suitable for multi-index evaluation of hospital efficiency. In the given conditions, SFA is a stable efficiency analysis method. In the evaluation of hospital efficiency, DEA combined with PCA should be adopted with caution due to its poor stability.

China ; Hospitals, Public ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Principal Component Analysis ; Stochastic Processes

BACKGROUNDWallerian degeneration is a self-destructive process of axonal degeneration that occurs after an axonal injury or during neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have found that the activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthase enzyme, nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1 (NMNAT1) can affect the rate of Wallerian degeneration in mice and drosophila. NMNAT1 protects neurons and axons from degeneration. However, the role of NMNAT1 in neurons of central nervous system is still not well understood.

METHODSWe set up the culture of primary mouse neurons in vitro and manipulated the expression level of NMNAT1 by RNA interference and gene overexpression methods. Using electroporation transfection we can up-regulate or down-regulate NMNAT1 in cultured mouse dendrites and axons and study the neuronal morphogenesis by immunocytochemistry. In all functional assays, FK-866 (CAS 658084-64-1), a highly specific non-competitive inhibitor of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase was used as a pharmacological and positive control.

RESULTSOur results showed that knocking down NMNAT1 by RNA interference led to a marked decrease in dendrite outgrowth and branching and a significant decrease in axon growth and branching in developing cortical neurons in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings reveal a novel role for NMNAT1 in the morphogenesis of developing cortical neurons, which indicate that the loss of function of NMNAT1 may contribute to different neurodegenerative disorders in central nervous system.

Animals ; Axons ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendrites ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Morphogenesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nicotinamide-Nucleotide Adenylyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo construct and identification of a lentiviral vector for RNA interference (RNAi) targeting STUB1 gene.

METHODSA pair of complementary small hairpin RNA (shRNA) oligonucleotides targeting STUB1 gene was designed, synthesized and inserted into linearized pMagic 4.0 vector. The recombinant plasmid was identified by double restriction digestion with Age I/EcoR I and DNA sequencing.

RESULTPCR and DNA sequencing showed that the shRNA sequence was successfully inserted into pMagic 4.0 vector. The pMagic 4.0 vector was successfully packaged into lentivirus particles.

CONCLUSIONA lentiviral shRNA expression vector and particles targeting STUB1 gene has been successfully constructed for the further study of the STUB1 gene.

Gene Targeting ; Genetic Vectors ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

Objective Carotid atherosclerotic plaque is regarded as an important risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease.This study analyzed the factors influencing the number of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods We selected 194 patients with crerbral infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology of Second Hospital Affiliated to Lanzhou University from December 2015 to December 2016.Neck vascular color Doppler ultrasound test was performed,and the number of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in each patient was counted.According to the number,we divided them into three groups:single,double and multiple.The patients'sex,age,hypertension,hyperlipemia,diabetes and history of ischemic stroke were recorded. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing plaques.Results Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that gender,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,and history of cerebral infarction were risk factors for single carotid artery plaque;hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus were risk factors for double carotid artery plaque;and gender,diabetes,and history of cerebral infarction were risk factors for multiple carotid artery plaque.Conclusion Different numbers of plaques may have common risk factors but different numbers of plaque morphology have their own risk factors.

OBJECTIVETo study the activity, protein and gene expression of renal HK-ATPase (HKA) in rats subchronic exposed to trimethyltin chloride (TMT).

METHODSIn subchronic toxic test (14-week), 55 female SD rats (age, 6 weeks) were divided randomly into 5 groups: control, low, medium, high and super high dosage, respectively, which drank water with TMT of 0, 8.20, 32.81, 131.25 and 262.50 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 14 weeks. Then serum K+ levels were measured; the activities of HK-ATPase (HKA) in kidneys were detected by the method of determinated phosphorus content; Western Blot assay and real-time PCR were used to exam the protein and mRNA expression levels of HKA in kidneys, respectively.

RESULTSThe serum K+ level in super-high dosage group was (5.6 +/- 0.4) mmol/L, which was significantly lower than that [(6.9 +/- 0.3) mmol/L] in control group (P < 0.01). The HKA enzymatic activity of kidneys in low and super high dosage groups was 4.50 +/- 1.45 and 4.55 +/- 0.72 micromolPi x mg prot(-1)h(-1), respectively, which were significantly lower than that (6.55 +/- 0.77 micromol Pi x mg prot(-1) h(-1)) in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen rats were exposed subchronic to TMT, the renal HKA activity could reduce, but the expression levels of HKA protein and mRNA did not decrease.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression ; H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toxicity Tests, Subchronic ; Trimethyltin Compounds ; toxicity