Objective:To observe the lipid-lowering effect of different transdermal absorption enhancers applied to the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in hyperlipidemia model rabbits, and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods:Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not treated. After the model was prepared, rabbits in the non-transdermal absorption enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal absorption enhancer; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, serum was collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the liver tissues were isolated for immunohistochemistry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western-blotting (WB) detection. Results: Serum ELISA results showed that leptin was significantly decreased in the model group compared with the blank group (P＜0.05); compared with the model group, leptin was significantly increased in the non-transdermal absorption enhancer, the laurocapram and the borneol groups (all P＜0.05); compared with the non-transdermal absorption enhancer group, leptin was significantly increased in the laurocapram group and the borneol group (both P＜0.05); there was no significant difference in leptin between the laurocapram and the borneol groups (P＞0.05). The qPCR results of rabbit liver tissues showed that the mRNA expressions of leptin, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the model group were significantly lower than those in the blank group (all P＜0.05); compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of leptin, leptin receptor (LR), JAK2 and STAT3 in the non-transdermal absorption enhancer, the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly increased (all P＜0.05); compared with the non-transdermal absorption enhancer group, the mRNA expressions of leptin, LR, JAK2 and STAT3 in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly increased (all P＜0.05); compared with the laurocapram group, the mRNA expressions of leptin, LR, JAK2 and STAT3 in the borneol group were significantly increased (P＜0.05). The trend of immunohistochemistry and WB detection results was basically consistent with the qPCR assay results. The immunohistochemistry and WB detection results of phosphorylated JAK2 (phospho-JAK2) and phosphorylated STAT3 (phospho-STAT3) were basically consistent with those of JAK2 and STAT3. Conclusion: The molecular expression of Leptin/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in the hyperlipidemia model rabbits was decreased. The molecular expression of Leptin/JAK2/STAT3 pathway was significantly increased after the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion. The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal absorption enhancers, in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion could more obviously up-regulate the factors of the Leptin/JAK2/STAT3 lipid-regulating pathway than the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion alone.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of an early application of Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

METHODSForty patients of SAP-ARDS were equally randomized into the early-treated group (ET) and the late-treated group (LT), CQCQD was administered to them immediately and 3 days later after hospitalization respectively. Baseline materials in the two groups at the entry were insignificantly different (P > 0.05), and the same conventional Western medical therapy were available to them all. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Heath Evaluation II (APACHE I) scores, the incidence and sustained time of complications, the occurrence of infection, requirement of operation shifting on day 7, as well as the duration resided in hospital and mortality in patients were observed and compared.

RESULTSComparisons of the above-mentioned clinical indexes between groups showed that the APACHE II score was lower (5.1 +/- 2.0 scores vs 9.3 +/- 4.3 scores, P < 0.01); the incidence of shock was lesser (1/20 vs 7/19); the duration of ARDS, renal failure, cardiac insufficiency, hepatic dysfunction, cerebropathy and enteroplegia, as well as the duration in hospital and the requirement of operation shifting were all shorter significantly (P < 0.05) in the ET group than those in the LT group, but no statistical difference (P > 0.05) was shown in terms of the infection incidence and the mortality.

CONCLUSIONAn early application of CQCQD in the treatment of SAP could shorten the duration of complications and the couse of disease, lower the requirement of operation shifting. But further study with large samples for explore its impact on the infection incidence and the mortality is needed.

Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; complications ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of MTS1 gene beta promoter transcriptional activation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines and identify the fragment with transcriptional activation.

METHODSSeven pGL3 recombinant plasmids with the same 3'-end transcriptional start site but the different 5'sequences were constructed by gene recombinant technique and transfected into Jurkat cell line which is biallelic deletion of MTS1 gene by transient transfection. Luciferase report gene was detected to observe beta promoter transcriptional activation.

RESULTSSeven pGL3 recombinant plasmids containing different fragments of beta promoter were obtained, all of them showed transcriptional activation in Jurkat cell line. Among them, the 0.38 kb fragment cut by SacII-SacI is fundamental in transcription.

CONCLUSIONMTS1 gene beta promoter can be activated in Jurkat cell line.

Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

AIM:To study the dynamic alteration of low-density lipoprotein receptor ( LDLr) expression after exposure to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs).METHODS: HTFs were stimulated with HGF at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160μg/L) for 12, 24, and 48 h.The viability of HTFs was analyzed by MTT assay .The expression of LDLr at mRNA and protein levels were analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blot .RESULTS:The expression of LDLr at mRNA and protein levels was positively correlated with the viability of HTFs.HGF promoted the viability of HTFs in a time-and concentration-dependent manner .At the same time , HGF pro-moted the expression of LDLr in the same manner .CONCLUSION:Exposure of HTFs to HGF induces LDLr expression at high level , suggesting that over-expression of LDLr on the HTFs may be a target receptor for controlled drug delivery , par-ticularly in anti-scarring therapy after glaucoma filtration surgery .

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between periodic limb movement index (PLMI) and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), apnea index (AI), hypopnea index (HI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂) in sixty-four children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).

METHODSBetween March 2008 and May 2009, sixty-four children suspected of OSAHS underwent overnight polysomnogram monitoring in our medicine sleep center. OSAHS was diagnosed according to the general criterion. Sixty-four children were divided into two groups. Thirty children were diagnosed as OSAHS and 34 children were diagnosed as primary snoring (PS, 32 children) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS, 2 children). The difference of PLMI and periodic limb movement index during sleep associated with arousals (PLMI-arousal) were compared between the two groups. Besides this, the correlation between PLMI, periodic limb movement index during sleep associated with arousals and AHI, AI, HI and LSaO₂ were also analyzed in all SDB children. Furthermore, all SDB children were divided into two groups according to PLMI (< 5 events/h vs ≥ 5 events/h). AHI, AI, HI, LSaO₂ and sleep structure were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) The difference of PLMI and PLMI-arousal between the children with OSAHS and children with other SDB types (PS and UARS) were not significant (z value, -1.279, -1.490; P value, 0.201, 0.136, respectively). (2) The increased sleep stage I was significant as being compared between the two groups (< 5 events/h vs ≥ 5 events/h, t = -2.16, P < 0.05). However, other sleep stages and sleep efficiency were not significantly different (P value, all > 0.05). (3) The difference of HI, AI, AHI, arousals index (ArI) and LSaO₂ were not significant between the two groups (< 5 events/h vs ≥ 5 events/h, P value, all > 0.05). (4) PLMI and PLMI-arousal were not correlated with AHI, HI, AI, AHI and LSaO₂ (Spearman rank correlation analysis).

CONCLUSIONSPLMS may be independent of SDB and PLMS had a little influence on sleep structure.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Extremities ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Movement ; Polysomnography ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the similarities and differences of the clinical manifestations between the children with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), and to explore the clinical features and characteristics of sleep respiratory parameters.

METHODSUsing the double-blind method, all children were diagnosed as UARS or OSAHS through the polysomnography test and the results of all children were analyzed by a sleep technician and an otolaryngologist. Another ENT doctor recorded their clinical and physical examination in detail.

RESULTSPolysomnography showed that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest oxygen in 253 children with OSAHS were 3.60[2.00;7.55] times/h and 0.90[0.85;0.91], and were 0.90[0.50;1.10] times/h and 0.95[0.92;0.96] in 102 children with UARS, the difference of the two groups by rank test was statistically significant. The proportion of UARS and OSAHS was more common during preschool period than during school-age period. The chief complaint in two groups was sleep snoring, and the main symptoms were sleep restless, attention deficit/hyperactivity and breath with mouth open. The incidence rate of above symptoms were as follows, 94.1%, 72.5%, 62.7% and 37.3% in children with UARS, 92.9%, 78.7%, 57.7% and 45.5% in children with OSAHS. The difference was not significant by chi-square test (P>0.05). Tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy were also observed in the two groups, the difference was not significant (chi2 = 0.27, P= 0.87). However, the children with OSAHS were more apt to have the sleep apnea than with UARS, the difference was statistically significant (chi2 = 34.07, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestations of two groups are similar, the difference between UARS and OSAHS can not be determined by the patient's clinical performance. Sleep apnea can be more easily observed in children with OSAHS than that in UARS, the final diagnosis is based on polysomnography.

Adolescent ; Airway Resistance ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology ; physiopathology

Objective: To observe the effects of laurocapram and borneol as transdermal penetration enhancers applied to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver lipids, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods: Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with a normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not given any intervention. After the model was prepared successfully, rabbits in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal penetration enhancers; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum was isolated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase. The liver tissues were isolated, and total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured by enzymatic methods. One-step method was applied for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) detection, and transmission turbidimetry was for apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) detection. Results: The serum concentrations of the drugs in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (both P<0.05); all drug penetrations in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the laurocapram group (both P<0.05), except for tanshinone ⅡA. Compared with the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group, the HSL was significantly increased while the HMG-CoA reductase was significantly decreased in the laurocapram and the borneol groups (both P<0.05); between groups, the HSL in the borneol group was significantly higher than that in the laurocapram group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in rabbit liver were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); between groups, the TG and TC in the laurocapram group and the LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05), and the TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the laurocapram group (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly decreased in the model group (both P<0.05), while compared with the model group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly increased in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups (all P<0.05). Between groups, the Apo-A1 in the laurocapram group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05).Conclusion: The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal penetration enhancers, in herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can promote the penetration of the drugs in the herbal cake, increase the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1, improve the metabolism of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase, and also simultaneously reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the liver. The transdermal penetration enhancement effect of borneol is slightly better than or equivalent to that of laurocapram.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the clinical features of children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), accompanying with risk factors.

METHODSThe clinic data of 19 patients treated in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Guangzhou Children's Hospital between January 2005 to January 2008 were investigated retrospectively. Among them, 5 were < 2 years old, 6 with craniofacial deformity: small mandible and (or) mandibular retrusion (5 cases), transverse facial cleft (1 case), Down's syndrome (2 cases), cerebral palsy (2 cases), chronic bronchitis (3 cases) and mucopolysaccharidoses (1 case). Nineteen patients with symptoms of snoring, mouth breathing, were diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG) and treated by tonsillectomy and (or) adenoidectomy in hospital. All patients were closely followed-up.

RESULTSFourteen patients underwent PSG 6 months to 1 year after operation, 11 patients recovered, the median [percentiles 25; percentiles 75] apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from the pre-operative 22.5 [16.5; 24.3] times/h to 2.0 [1.5; 4.3] times/h, and the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) before operation was 0.63, and was higher than 0.92 after operation, 1 case accompanying with chronic bronchitis, the pulmonary hypertension was improved after operation. One case with Down's syndrome was not significantly improved, preoperative AHI and LSaO(2) was 22.4 times/h and 0.67, and after operation was 14.2 and 0.84; 2 cases accepted adenoidectomy only, snoring, mouth breathing reappeared 3 months after operation, pre-operative PSG results showed AHI 24.6 times/h and 26.6 times/h, LSaO(2) was 0.69 and 0.73, after operation the AHI was 10.6 times/h and 8.5 times/h, LSaO(2) was 0.90 and 0.88, the symptoms disappeared after adenotonsillectomy. Five cases did not have PSG because they lived far away in the other cities, their pre-operative PSG showed AHI 16.4 to 26.2 times/h, LSaO(2) was 0.65 to 0.76. One year after operation, these patients were followed-up by telephone, 4 children were significantly improved, 1 case with mandibular symptoms showed no improvement.

CONCLUSIONSFor OSAHS children accompanying with risk factors, if they have adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy, adenotonsillectomy is the major treatment. Because of the existence of risk factors, perioperative risk increased, even the failure of operation. so these patients must be comprehensively assessed before operation. Satisfied results can be achieved by close observation after operation and management of complications as soon as possible.

Adenoidectomy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; surgery ; Tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effect of three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer and its effect on the inflammatory response of the patients.

METHODSThe clinical data were analyzed in 90 patients with thyroid cancer undergoing radical thyroidectomy at our hospital between September, 2013 to April, 2016, including 30 receiving 3D laparoscopic surgeries, 30 with 2D laparoscopic surgeries and 30 with open surgeries. The surgical data, postoperative adverse reactions and the impact of the surgeries on the inflammatory responses of the patients were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSCompared with the open surgery and 2D laparoscopic surgery, 3D laparoscopic surgery was associated with lowered blood loss during the surgery and a lowered incidence of adverse reactions. The operation time in 3D group was significantly shorter than that in 2D group (P<0.05), but the total hospitalization expenses were similar between the two groups. The postoperative drainage volume did not differ significantly between the 3D group and the other two groups. The postoperative hospital stay, number of lymph nodes dissected, positivity rate of lymph nodes and the inflammatory response showed no significant differences among the 3 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION3D laparoscopic total thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection is safe and effective and reduces intraoperative blood loss and perioperative adverse reactions without significant influence on inflammatory response in patients with thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of pulse transit time (PTT) in children with sleep disordered breathing(SDB).

METHODSForty eight randomly selected snorers (2 - 13 years) with SDB were examined by PSG and PTT in the same time. Data obtained were analyzed by different technicians respectively. Statistics and analysis of the data were performed.

RESULTSApnea hypopnea index (AHI), obstructive apnea index (OAI), the lowest oxygen and micro-arousal index were obtained by PSG and PTT. The results was described as M [25 percentile; 75 percentile]: 4.9[1.3;10.1], 4.6[1.5;11.8]; 1.2[0.7;4.9], 1.3[0.6;5.0]; 0.93[0.85;0.95], 0.93[0.84;0.95]; 14.5[12.6;16.4], 26.0[17.4;30.6]. The difference of AHI, OAI, and the lowest oxygen were not significant (P > 0.05), while the PTT arousal index detection rate was higher than PSG (Z = -5.19, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and determination of degree of patient's condition (P > 0.05). PTT could identify upper airway resistance syndrome in children without OASHS.

CONCLUSIONSBoth methods can be used to diagnose SDB. However, PTT is easy to use and suitable for the diagnosis of SDB in children, especially for UARS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Pulse ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis ; physiopathology