OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rare earth elements(REEs) contents and distribution characteristics in nasopharyngeal carcinoma( NPC) tissue in Gannan region. METHOD: Thirty patients of NPC in Gannan region were included in this study. The REEs contents were measured by tandem mass spectrometer inductively coupled plasma(ICP-MS/MS) in 30 patients, and the REEs contents and distribution were analyzed. RESULT: The average standard deviation value of REEs in lung cancer and normal lung tissues was the minimum mostly. Light REEs content was higher than the medium REEs, and medium REEs content was higher than the heavy REEs content. REEs contents changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma were variable obviously, the absolute value of Nd, Ce, Pr, Gd and other light rare earth elements were variable widely. The degree of changes on Yb, Tb, Ho and other heavy rare earth elements were variable widely, and there was presence of Eu, Ce negative anomaly(δEu=0. 385 5, δCe= 0. 523 4). CONCLUSION The distribution characteristic of REEs contents in NPC patients is consistent with the parity distribution. With increasing atomic sequence, the content is decline wavy. Their distribution patterns were a lack of heavy REEs and enrichment of light REEs, and there was Eu , Ce negative anomaly.
Carcinoma ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Metals, Rare Earth ; chemistry ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Reference Values ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in PC-12 cells, and preliminarily discuss the potential molecular mechanism of mTOR/Akt/FoxO3 signaling pathway.

METHODThe OGD PC-12 cell model was established. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. After the pretreatment with Rg1 with the concentration of 10, 20, 40 micromol x L(-1) for 24 h, the cell viability was observed. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, superoxide dismutase (SOD) ac- tivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were detected by colorimetry assay. mTOR, p-Akt(ser473), p-Akt(tjr308), Akt, p-FoxO3, FoxO3 in cytoplasm and nucleus, and total FoxO3 protein expression were detected by Western blot assay.

RESULTOGD could significantly in- hibit cell proliferation in 4-24 h in a time-dependent manner. After pretreatment for 24 h, Rg1 (20, 40 micromol x L(-1)) could notably elevate the cell viability and SOD viability and reduce the LDH release and MDA content. Besides, Rg1 also inhibited OGD-induced mTOR and p-Akt(ser473) decreases. After treatment for 6 h, OGD could reduce FoxO3 phosphorylation and promote FoxO3 in cytoplasm. This data suggested that Rg1 could protect PC-12 cell injury through mTOR/p-Akt/FoxO3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rg1 could attenuate OGD-induced PC-12 cell injury. Its action mechanism may be closely related to activation of mTOR/p-Akt/FoxO3 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Forkhead Box Protein O3 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy by Qingying Huoxue Decoction (QHD) combined ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in treating patients with early and mid-term primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS Totally 78 patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 39 in each group. All patients received basic treatment and took UDCA (at the daily dose of 13-15 mg/kg). Patients in the treatment group took QHD, one dose per day. The treatment course for all was 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GGT), alkaline phospatase (ALP), TBIL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS Totally 21 (53. 8%) patients obtained complete response in the treatment group, with statistical difference when compared with that of the control group (11 cases, 30. 8%). Levels of GGT, ALP, ALT, AST, and TBIL decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Levels of ALP, GGT, and TBIL were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQHD combined UDCA in treating early and mid-term PBC patients was superior to the effect of using UDCA alone. It also could improve patients' liver function.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; drug therapy ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on long bone fracture healing and to examine caveolin-1 gene expression in the radius defects of rabbits.Methods A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits with 3-mm bone defects at lower 1/3 in both radii were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=6).Daily LIPUS treatment was performed to the right fracture sites at a intensity of 30 mW/cm2 for 20 minutes,while the left sites received sham treatment with power off.To assess the effects of LIPUS on bone defects,X-ray imaging and hematoxylin-eosin staining were applied 7,14,21,28 days after the surgery.Additionally,the immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the subcllular localization of caveolin-1 and semi-quantify the caveolin-1 level,qPCR was performed to detect the mRNA level of caveolin-1,gene Col2a1 and Col10a1,and osteocalcin.Results On day 14,the radiological score of the right radii and mineralized callus area were significantly higher than that of the left ones,both of them were elevated with time flied.Histological examination suggested that the differentiation and apoptosis of chondrocytes along with the formation and bridging of the bone trabeculas appeared earlier in the right radius defects.The immunohistochemical staining showed that on day 7 and 14,the level of caveolin-1 increased with the proliferation and differentiation of condrocytes,and was significantly higher in callus tissues on the right sites.On day 21 and 28,the mesenchymal stem cells migrated to the surface of cartilage matrix started to differentiate into osteoblasts,the level of caveolin-1 decreased,and was significantly lower on the right sites.The result of qPCR indicated that compared with the left sites the caveolin-1 gene expression on the right sites was significantly higher on day 7,while significantly lower on day 21.The mRNA expression levels of Col2a1,Col10a1 and osteocalcin on the right sites were significantly higher on day 7 and 14,but they were significantly lower on day 21 and 28,except for Col10a1 on day 28.Conclusions Advancing endochondral ossification is considered to be a crucial mechanism during long bone fracture healing promoted by LIPUS.The caveolin-1 gene expression first increased in the chondrocytes then decreased in the mesenchymal stem cells during the process.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of sustained lung inflation (SLI) combined with pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 124 premature infants (gestational age <34 weeks and birth weight <2 000 g) diagnosed with NRDS and in need of PS treatment in Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University from July 1, 2016 to October 31, 2018. They were randomly divided into experimental or control group, with 62 cases in each. Infants in the experimental group were treated with SLI using T-piece and intratracheal PS, while those in the control group were given PS only. Blood gas analysis and measurement of fraction of inspiration O₂ (FiO₂) and ratio of partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) over FiO₂ were performed before and 1 h after PS injection. Results of the treatments and incidence of complications were compared. Paired samples t-test, two independent samples t-test, rank-sum test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were 56 participants in the experimental group and 54 in the control group who were eventually analyzed. In the experimental group, the pH value, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂), FiO₂ and PO₂/FiO₂ at 1 h after PS injection were all improved compared with those before treatment [pH value: 7.26±0.09 vs 7.19±0.09, t=3.814; PCO₂: (51.5±12.6) vs (59.8±16.3) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), t=2.610; FiO₂: 26.0 (21.0-31.5)% vs 40.5 (38.5-51.5)%, U=392.000; PO₂/FiO₂: (284.6±117.9) vs (173.4±59.7) mmHg, t=6.427; all P<0.05]. The overall decrement of FiO₂ after PS injection in the experimental group was more significant than that in the control group [-10.0 (-15.0 to -5.0)% vs -5.0 (-8.0 to 0.0)%, U=706.500, P<0.001]. The experimental group had a higher rate of extubation within 24 h than the control group [80% (45/56) vs 71% (32/54), χ²=5.830, P=0.016]. However, no significant differences were shown in total mechanical ventilation time, non-invasive/high-flow nasal cannula ventilation time, the ratio of re-intubation within 72 h, or the incidence of air leak, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis or patent ductus arteriosus between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions SLI combined with PS for NRDS babies can increase the rate of extubation within 24 h and promote the down-regulation of FiO₂ without causing significant complications.

Purpose::It is challenging to prepare military surgeons with the skills of combat damage control surgery (CDCS). The current study aimed to establish a damage control surgery (DCS) training platform for explosive combined thoraco-abdominal injuries.Methods::The training platform established in this study consisted of 3 main components: (1) A 50 m × 50 m square yard was constructed as the explosion site. Safety was assessed through cameras. (2) Sixteen pigs were injured by an explosion of trinitrotoluene attached with steel balls and were randomly divided into the DCS group (accepted DCS) and the control group (have not accepted DCS). The mortality rate was observed. (3) The literature was reviewed to identify the key factors for assessing CDCS, and testing standards for CDCS were then established. Expert questionnaires were employed to evaluate the scientificity and feasibility of the testing standards. Then, a 5-day training course with incorporated tests was used to test the efficacy of the established platform. In total, 30 teams attended the first training course. The scores that the trainees received before and after the training were compared. SPSS 11.0 was employed to analyze the results.Results::The high-speed video playback confirmed the safety of the explosion site as no explosion fragments projected beyond the wall. No pig died within 24 h when DCS was performed, while 7 pigs died in the control group. After a literature review, assessment criteria for CDCS were established that had a total score of 100 points and had 4 major parts: leadership and team cooperation, resuscitation, surgical procedure, and final outcome. Expert questionnaire results showed that the scientific score was 8.6 ± 1.25, and the feasibility score was 8.74 ± 1.19. When compared with the basic level, the trainees' score improved significantly after training.Conclusion::The platform established in this study was useful for CDCS training.

PURPOSE: To develop animal models of penetrating thoracic injuries and to observe the effects of the animal model-based training on improving the trainees' performance for emergent and urgent thoracic surgeries. METHODS: With a homemade machine, animal models of lung injuries and penetrating heart injuries were produced in porcine and used for training of chest tube drainage, urgent sternotomy, and emergent thoracotomy. Coefficient of variation of abbreviated injury scale and blood loss was calculated to judge the reproducibility of animal models. Five operation teams from basic-level hospitals (group A) and five operation teams from level III hospitals (group B) were included to be trained and tested. Testing standards for the operations were established after thorough literature review, and expert questionnaires were employed to evaluate the scientificity and feasibility of the testing standards. Tests were carried out after the training. Pre- and post-training performances were compared. Post-training survey using 7-point Likert scale was taken to evaluate the feelings of the trainees to these training approaches. RESULTS: Animal models of the three kinds of penetrating chest injuries were successfully established and the coefficient of variation of abbreviated injury scale and blood loss were all less than 25%. After literature review, testing standards were established, and expert questionnaire results showed that the scientific score was 7.30 ± 1.49, and the feasibility score was 7.50 ± 0.89. Post-training performance was significantly higher in both group A and group B than pre-training performance. Post-training survey showed that all the trainees felt confident in applying the operations and were generally agreed that the training procedure were very helpful in improving operation skills for thoracic penetrating injury. CONCLUSIONS Animal model-based simulation training established in the current study could improve the trainees' performance for emergent and urgent thoracic surgeries, especially of the surgical teams from basic-level hospitals.
Animals ; Swine ; Reproducibility of Results ; Wounds, Penetrating/surgery* ; Thoracotomy ; Thoracic Injuries/surgery* ; Hemorrhage ; Models, Animal