Animals ; Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Mental Disorders ; Nervous System Diseases ; Research Design ; trends

Animals ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Transport ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synapses ; physiology

NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors are a subtype of glutamate receptor, and play an important role in both synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. When excessively excited, NMDA receptors can cause cell death in many neuropathological scenarios such as OGD (oxygen and glucose deprivation) and brain injury. However, recent studies have revealed that under the physical and some pathological conditions, NMDA receptor could promote neuronal survival and protect neurons from damage.
Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; physiology ; Synaptic Transmission

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of emodin combined gemcitabine on the growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo and in vitro as well as its mechanisms.

METHODSAfter human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was treated with emodin (40 micromol/L), gemcitabine (20 micromol/L), and emodin combined gemcitabine, the cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells was detected using the flow cytometry (FCM). The protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blot. SW1990 cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice to establish pancreatic xenograft tumors. The mice were then treated by emodin, gemcitabine, and emodin combined gemcitabine, respectively. The changes of tumor volume were monitored. The positive expressions of Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the xenograft tumors were detected using immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSEmodin combined with gemcitabine induced a higher percentage of growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 than that of gemcitabine or emodin alone (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Bax was up-regulated and that of Bcl-2 down-regulated in the emodin group and the emodin combined gemcitabine group when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Emodin combined with gemcitabine could significantly inhibit the growth of pancreatic xenograft tumors, increase the positive expression of Bax in tumor tissues, obviously decrease the positive expressions of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). The optimal effects were obtained in the emodin combined gemcitabine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEmodin could potentiate the inhibition of pancreatic cancer growth induced by gemcitabine both in vitro and in vivo, which might be achieved by up-regulating the expression of Bax and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To explore the significance of combined detection of procalcitonin(PCT)and C reactive protein(CRP)for clinical use of antibacterial agents in patients with pulmonary disease.Methods 130 cases of patients with pulmonary disease,from October 2012 to October 2014,were selected and randomly dividend into the observation group and control group,65 cases in each group.In the observation group,the utilization of antibacterial agents was decided according to serum levels of PCT and CRP,while in the control group that was based on the white blood cell count.Observation indexes,such as utilization of antibacterial agents, curative efficiency,length of stay and so on,were compared between the two groups after treatment.Results The length of antibac-terial agents use in the observation group[(8.6±0.4)d]was longer than that in the control group[(1 6.2±2.3)d],had statistically significant difference(P <0.05 ).After treatment,there were no statistically significant differences in the white blood cell count, scores of pulmonary functional status,percentage of patients in aggravating stages and mortality between the two groups (P >0.05).While compared with the control group,the dual infection rate and length of stay decreased in the observation group,had sta-tistically significant difference(P <0.05).Conclusion Combined detection of PCT and CRP could guide the rational use of antibac-terial agents,effectively prevent the dual infection,and improve clinical curative effect.

Objective To analyze the pathologically confirmed pulmonary Actinomycosis in the 11 patients in focusing on clinical features and mis-diagnostic reasons so as to improve physicians' awareness of this rare disease and reduce the misdiagnosis.Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 cases with pathologically confirmed pulmonary Actinomycosis during January 2003-August 2015.The clinical data and main causes of misdiagnosis in these cases were collected and analyzed.Results The study included 11 patients with a mean age of(53.0 ± 11.6.0)years.Among the 11 cases,8 (72.7 ％) patients had complications,6 (54.5 ％) were current or ex-smokers.Main clinical manifestations of 11 cases were cough(11/11,100.0 ％),sputum(11/11,100.0 ％),hemoptysis (7/11,63.6％),chest pain(6/11,54.5％)and fever(3/11,27.3％).Ten patients presented with one lobe of lung lesions,including 4 patients in the lower lobe and 3 in the upper lobe of the left lung,2 in the upper lobe and 1 in the lower lobe of the right lung.While,the remained one case presented with lesion locating in right main bronchus.Iconography often presented as pulmonary mass shadow,consolidation shadow,spicule sign,lobulation sign,hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion.Vacuolar lesions were observed in some of the focuses.Flexible bronchoscopy was performed in 8 (72.7％)patients.Among them,7 patients showed mucosal swelling and congestion,luminal occlusion with purulence secretion,2 cases with polypoid neoplasm.Initial misdiagnosis rate were 100％ (11/11),among which 7 cases were misdiagnosed as lung cancer,2 cases as fungus infection,and 1 case as pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 case as pneumonia,respectively.All patients were definitely diagnosed by biopsy finding an evidence of hyphae of Actinomycosis in lung tissue specimens.The definitive diagnosis was made by CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in 4 cases,by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB)in 5 cases and by thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS) in 1 case respectively.Actinomycosis in most patients was cured with high-dose penicillin administration over a prolonged period.Conclusions The diagnosis of pulmonary Actinomycosis remains challenging via its non-specific clinical symptoms and iconography features,and the presence of comorbidity may further increase the difficulty and complexity of diagnosis,leading to delaying-or mistaking-diagnosis.Obtaining positively pathological specimens is diagnostic key.Transbronchial lung biopsy through a bronchoscope and CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy are the priority methods.

Objective To explore the relationship between the endemic arsenism and the liver,renal damage.Methods Some permanent residents were selected as investigated subjects who lived at 3 villages in Datong in Shanxi Province,an arseniasis-endemic areas,These objects were divided into arsenic poisoning and control group on the basis of Diagnosis Standard for Endemic Arsenism(WS/T 211-2001).Then blood and urine samples were collected in the surveyed people.Serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase(ALT)were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as the indicator of the impaired hepatic function.The microdosis albumen (mAlb)and acetylglucosaminidase(NAG)in urine were detected by end-point method and alkaline picric acid as the renal damage indicators.Results A total of 661 people investigated,of which 144 cases were arsenic poisoning patients.The rates of abnormal liver function were significant hisher in arsenic poisoning group[10.42% (15/144)]than that in control[5.22%(27/517)],and both wag significant[X2=5.107,P＜0.05;OR=2.11,95%CI (1.09-4.08)].The geometric mean of mAlb/Ucr was 2.16 mg/g Cr in control,and 2.31 mg/g Cr in arsenic poisoning group,and both was not significant(t=-1.71,P＞0.05).The geometric mean of NAG waft higher in arsenic poisoning group(2.43 U/g Cr)than that in the control(2.22 U/g Cr),and both was significant(t=-3.55, P＜0.05).Conclusions The damage of the liver and renal function were related with endemic arsenism,and NAG is the early indicators suggesting impaired renal function due to endemic arsenism.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and distribution characteristics of dental fluorosis of children aged 8 - 12 in Wushan and Fengjie counties of Chongqing and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.MethodsTwenty townships(towns) in Fengjie county and 18 in Wushan county were selected as survey points by random cluster sampling in 2010.Dental fluorosis of all the children aged 8 - 12 was examined with Dean index.The detection rate of children's dental fluorosis,defect rate and dental fluorosis index were compared between the two counties.Results Totally 38 209 children aged 8 - 12 were investigated.The total detection rate of dental fluorosis was 43.09％( 16 466/38 209) in the two counties.The detection rates of dental fluorosis in Wushan and Fengjie were 48.98％ (9397/19 186)and 37.16％(7069/19 023),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =544.03,P ＜ 0.01 ).Total detection rates of dental fluorosis of the five age groups(8,9,10,11,and 12-year-old age groups) were 32.52％(2157/6632),40.07％(2672/6668),43.67％(3420/7831 ),46.01％ (3861/8391) and 50.14％ (4356/8687),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =510.50,P ＜ 0.01),Dental fluorosis indexes in Wushan and Fengjie were 0.713 and 0.485,respectively.Defect rates of dental fluorosis in Wushan and Fengjie were 4.05％ (777/19 186) and 1.57％(298/19 023),respectively.Conclusions The total detection rate of dental fluorosis of the two counties is still high,which gradually increases with age.Wushan is still an endemic area of dental fluorosis,and Fengjie is at the edge of the

Objective To identify the independent risk factors of surgical site infections (SSIs) for patients with cholelithiasis after biliary tract surgery.Methods 712 patients were enrolled from April 2010 to April 2015 in this study and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.There were 106 patients who developed SSIs.The risk factors of SSIs and their three subtypes (superficial incisional SSIs,deep incisional SSIs,and organ/space SSIs) were analyzed.The total hospitalization cost,length of hospitalization and patients who stayed over 30 days in hospital were compared between the group of patients with and without SSIs.Results Univariate analysis showed that SSIs were associated with diabetes,emergency operation,bile duct re-exploration,hepatectomy,positive bile bacteria culture,porta hepatis clamping,Ⅱ-Ⅳ grades of cholelithiasis,ASA Grade 3,BMI ＞ 30,hepatic function Grade B and protein level ＜ 30 g/L on hospital admission (all P ＜ 0.05).The results also indicated that superficial incisional SSIs,deep incisional SSIs and organ/space SSIs were correlated with emergency operation,bile duct re-exploration,hepatectomy,operation time,porta hepatis clamping,smoking,ASA score and protein level on hospital admission (all P ＜ 0.05).The total hospitalization expense,length of hospital stay and the number of patients hospitalized for over 30 days in the SSIs Group were significantly more than the non-SSIs Group (all P ＜ 0.05).Bile duct re-exploration,hepatectomy,positive bile bacteria culture and Ⅱ-Ⅳ grades of cholelithiasis were independent risk factors of SSIs on multivariate unconditional logistical regression analysis (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Multiple factors in the perioperative period were involved in SSIs after bile duct surgery.Bile duct te-exploration,hepatectomy,positive bile bacteria culture and Ⅱ-Ⅳ grades of cholelithiasis were independent risk factors of SSIs.