Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT) on Glasgow coma scale(GCS) in patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI) and the influences of course and initiating time of HBOT on the therapeutic effects.Methods 105 cases of TBI patients,which performed HBOT more than 30 days in HBOT Center of Southwest Hospital,were analyzed retrospectively.The GCS improvements were compared with 29 cases of TBI patients without HBOT during the same period.They were also compared between patients with different severity,initiating times and courses of HBOT.Results The GCS improvement of patients with HBOT was 3.97?2.65,especially in severe TBI patients(5.22?2.49),Both were higher than that without HBOT(2.38?2.16)(P

OBJECTIVETo compare the conventional pulmonary function test results of children with asthma or cough variant asthma (CVA).

METHODSA total of 140 children, who were diagnosed with asthma or CVA from May 2010 to May 2011, were divided into acute asthma attack (n=50), asthma remission (n=50) and CVA groups (n=40); 30 healthy children were included as a control group. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow after 25% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF25), forced expiratory flow after 50% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF50), forced expiratory flow after 75% of vital capacity has been expelled (FEF75) and maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF75/25) were measured.

RESULTSThe mean percent predicted values of all the above indices were lower than 80% in the acute asthma attack group, with FEF50, FEF75 and MMEF75/25 declining markedly; the mean percent predicted values of FEF75 and MMEF75/25 were lower than 80% in the CVA group. All the pulmonary function indices in the acute asthma attack group were lower than those in the control group. The mean percent predicted values of FVC, FEV1, FEF25 and MMEF75/25 in the asthma remission and CVA groups were lower than in the control group. All the pulmonary function indices in the acute asthma attack group were lower than in the asthma remission and CVA groups, but there were no significant differences between the asthma remission and CVA groups.

CONCLUSIONSThere is small and large airway dysfunction, particularly small airway dysfunction, in children with acute asthma attack. Children with CVA present mainly with mild small airway dysfunction, as do those with asthma in remission.

Asthma ; physiopathology ; Child ; Cough ; physiopathology ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Vital Capacity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on the volume of hepatic blood flow, water ratio and plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in rats with delayed fluid replacement after hemorrhagic shock and to provide the references for electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) in treating hemorrhagic shock.

METHODSForty SD rats with hemorrhagic shock induced by bloodletting 40% of whole blood volume were randomly divided into a hemorrhage with no treatment (NT) group, an immediate fluid replacement (IFR) group, an electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and delayed fluid resuscitation (EA/DFR) group and a sham electroacupuncture and delayed fluid replacement (SEA/DFR) group, 10 rats in each group. No treatment was performed in NT group. IFR group was treated with fluid replacement at 10 minutes after blood loss, and EA/DFR group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) at 10 minutes after blood loss, while non-acupoint was punctured in SEA/DFR group. Two EA groups were received delayed fluid replacement at 3 hours after blood loss. The volume of hepatic blood flow and ALT before blood loss and 3 h and 12 h after blood loss, and water ratio 12 h after blood loss were measured.

RESULTSAfter blood loss, all parameters in IFR group and EA/DFR group were improved significantly in contrast with those in NT group (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between SEA/DFR group and NT group. Three hours after blood loss, the hepatic blood flow of IFR group was significant higher than those of NT group, EA/DFR group and SEA/DFR group (all P < 0.05), while the plasma ALT of IFR group was significant lower than those of NT group, EA/DFR group and SEA/DFR group (all P < 0.05), and the plasma ALT of EA/DFR group was lower than those of NT group and SEA/DFR group (both P < 0.05), the hepatic blood flow of EA/DFR group showed no significant difference compared with that of SEA/DFR group (P > 0.05). Twelve hours after blood loss, the plasma ALT and the water ratio of EA/DFR group and IFR group were significant lower than those of NT group and SEA/DFR group (all P < 0.05), and the hepatic blood flow of EA/DFR group and IFR group was significant higher than those of NT group and SEA/DFR group (all P < 0.05), while the plasma ALT of IFR group was significant lower than that of EA/DFR group (P < 0.05), and the hepatic blood flow of IFR group was significant higher than that of EA/DFR group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) has a protective effects for hepatic ischemic injury in rats with delayed fluid replacement after hemorrhagic shock.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Ischemia ; therapy ; Liver ; blood supply ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; therapy

We studied the overproduction of catalase (CAT) by Bacillus sp.WSHDZ-01 by oxidative stress via the feeding of ethanol and the pulse addition of H2O2. By adding 2.0% (V/V) ethanol to the culture broth, the intracellular CAT activity reached 11 151 U/mL, which was 2.5 times than that of the control (4 450 U/mL in flask). By adding 0.3% (V/V) H2O2, more extracellular CAT secreted to the culture broth, and the ratio of extracellular CAT to the total CAT increased to 27%. Based on these results, an oxidative stress strategy combining the ethanol feeding and the pulse addition of H2O2 was developed. With this strategy, the ratio of extracellular CAT to the total CAT reached 82.5%, increased by 18.6% than that of the control (without ethanol and H2O2 addition). CAT production increased to 28 990 U/mL, which was 95.5% higher than the control (14 830 U/mL in 3 L fermentor). The fermentation time decreased to 42 h, which was much shorter than that of adding ethanol or H2O2, and CAT productivity reached 470 U/(mL x h) while the control achieved 396.4 U/(mL x h).
Bacillus subtilis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Catalase ; biosynthesis ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress

Objective To analyze the genetic diversity of Aconitum brachypodum, an endangered medicinal plants. Methods Three pair primers were used to evaluate the relevant genetic parameters and clustering pattern for four natural populations containing 105 individuals by using POPGENE32, MEGA4, NTSYS and other biometric softwares. Results For A. brachypodum, the Nei’s genetic diversity index (He), Shannon’s information index (I), percentage of polymorphic loci (PPB) were 0.322 9 ± 0.179 8, 0.472 0 ± 0.251 7, and 80.57%, respectively; and the population level were 0.115 4 ± 0.044, 0.168 0 ± 0.065 3, and 12%, respectively. The genetic differentiation index (Gst) was 0.864 2. The clustering results showed that, Luquan and Dongchuan populations are grouped together, Lijiang and Huize populations are clustered together. Conclusion A.brachypodum possesses the relatively high level of genetic diversity at the species level, however, low within populations. This study should provide an initial insights for A.brachypodum germplasm conservation

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and to evaluate its correlation with mesorectal metastasis in middle and lower rectal cancer.

METHODSThe resected primary tumors from 56 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer who received total mesorectal excision were studied from Dec. 2001 to Jul. 2003.

RESULTSThe MMP-2 expression was positive in 42 (75%) cases. The positive rate of MMP-2 expression was 88.9% in T3 tumors and 69.6 % in T2 tumors respectively, while only 33.3% in T1 tumors (P=0.013). MMP-2 was positive in 91.2% (31/34) infiltrative rectal carcinomas while 40.0% (6/15) expansive rectal carcinomas (P=0.001). Mesorectal metastasis was detected in 36 (64.3%) of 56 cases. The expression of MMP-2 was positive in 31 (86.1%) of the 36 patients with mesorectal metastasis, while in 11(55%) of the 20 patients without mesorectal metastasis (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of MMP-2 in middle and lower rectal cancer is significantly associated with depth of tumor invasion and Ming classifications. The high expression of MMP-2 may play an important role in the development of mesorectal metastasis in middle and lower rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Mesentery ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo detect mesorectal metastasis of middle and lower rectal cancer and to evaluate its relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics.

METHODSCancer specimens resected from 56 patients with middle and lower rectal cancer who received total mesorectal excision were examined by routine pathologic observation. The relationship between mesorectal metastasis and clinicopathologic characteristics of middle and lower rectal cancer was also investigated.

RESULTSMesorectal metastasis was detected in 36 (64.3%) of 56 cancer specimens. In 18 cancer specimens with tumor diameter > or = 5 cm, 15 (83.3%) were detected mesorectal metastasis, while in 38 cancer specimens with tumor diameter < 5 cm only 21 (55.3%) were detected mesorectal metastasis (P = 0.041). Mesorectal metastasis was more frequent in T(3) cancer specimens (81.5%) and T(2) cancer specimens (56.6%), compared with T(1) cancer specimens (1/6) (P = 0.007). 85.7% poorly differentiated cancer specimens were detected mesorectal metastasis, while moderate and well-differentiated cancer specimens were only 63.2% and 1/5 respectively (P = 0.028). Mesorectal metastasis was more frequent in stage III cancer specimens (100%), compared with stage II and I cancer specimens (27.3% and 1/5 respectively, P = 0.000). No significant correlations were found between mesorectal metastasis and other variables such as age, gender and Ming classification (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMesorectal metastasis of middle and lower rectal cancer has significant correlation with tumor diameter, tumor invasion, tumor differentiation and TNM stage. Total mesorectal excision or > or = 5 cm mesorectal distal to the rectal tumor should be followed in the management of middle and lower rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

Objective In this paper, the extraction process of Xiaozhong-Zhitong granule (XZG) was investigated. Methods In Process 1, the Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H.Chen was extracted with other drugs, and in the process 2, the Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H.Chen was crushed and directly used as medicine. Rats were randomly divided into blank group, process 1 group, process 2 group and mixture group.The sample concentration of the process 1 group 1 for the stomach was 2.07 g/ml, and the sample concentration of the process 2 group 1 for the stomach was 1.06 g/ml, and the sample concentration of the mixture group for the stomach was 0.015 g/ml, and blank group gavaged equal volume saline. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of acetic acid writhing test, hot plate test, auricle swelling test and egg white-induced plantar swelling test were evaluated. Results Compared with the blank group after 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after administration, the average writhing number of the mice in the process group 1 and the process 2 group (35.50％ ± 8.06％, 35.00％ ± 7.63％vs. 47.00％ ± 1.45％) significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the auricular swelling degree (46.31％ ± 22.25％, 45.41％ ± 21.43％ vs. 73.89％ ± 15.55％) significantly decreased. And compared with the blank group after 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after inflammation, the percentage of pain threshold in the first group and the second group increased (P<0.01). While there was no significant difference in the inhibition rate of paw swelling in each group (P>0.05). Conclusions The design of extraction process of XZG was reasonable; when treating swelling and pain, it was better to put the powder of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H.Chen in XZG.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the modulation effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) implantation on the collagen remodeling in myocardial infarction.

METHODSAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced in SD rats by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, and the animals were assigned randomly into the Sham group, MI + PBS group and MI + MSCs group. Echocardiography and hemodynamic examinations were performed to evaluate the cardiac function. HE staining and Masson trichrome staining were used to evaluate the myocardial infarction size. Infarcted area and infarcted expansion index were calculated. The expression of collagens in infarcted hearts was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Infarct area was significantly reduced post MSCs transplantation [MI + MSCs vs. MI + PBS: (38.27 ± 2.70)% vs. (46.20 ± 3.17)%, P < 0.001]. (2) Cardiac function was significantly improved post MSCs transplantation [MI + MSCs vs. MI + PBS: FS(%): 29.98 ± 4.50 vs. 23.43 ± 3.34, P = 0.005; LVSP (mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa): 113.63 ± 10.81 vs. 99.25 ± 16.76, P < 0.05; LVEDP (mm Hg): 12.10 ± 4.28 vs. 20.08 ± 4.26, P < 0.05; +dp/dtmax (mm Hg/s): 4616.63 ± 363.34 vs. 3912.75 ± 248.79, P < 0.05; -dp/dtmax (mm Hg/s): 4254.63 ± 324.34 vs. 3530.88 ± 309.71, P < 0.05]. (3) Collagen synthesis was enhanced in infarcted area and decreased in non-infarcted area post MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMSCs transplantation could enhance the collagen synthesis in infarcted area while decrease the deposition of collagen in non-infarcted area in this MI model. This may be one of the mechanisms by which ventricular remodeling is attenuated post MSCs transplantation.

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ventricular Remodeling

OBJECTIVETo analyze and evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and low-dose steroids in the treatment of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children.

METHODTwenty-one children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome enrolled from October 2008 to July 2010 into this retrospective longitudinal study received oral tacrolimus treatment, 0.1 to 0.15 mg/kg per day and once every 12 hours, and prednisone 0.2 to 0.75 mg/kg per day simultaneously. During the treatment, the plasma concentration of tacrolimus, urine volume, urine, serum creatinine and liver function were regularly monitored.

RESULTAfter 1 to 3 months treatment, 14 cases showed complete remission and 7 cases had partial remission. Sixteen patients received renal biopsy, of whom 6 revealed minimal change nephropathy with complete remission in 3 cases, 3 cases had partial remission;4 cases revealed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with 2 complete remission and 2 partial remission; other 5 children with IgM nephropathy and 1 mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis achieved complete remission. Within treatment period, 6 patients presented transient adverse reactions, without altering the principle treatment strategy, but only taking the symptomatic treatment. During follow-up, 1 case was lost to follow-up and the remaining 20 cases were followed up from 2 months to 21 months. In 4 patients the disease relapsed within 1st-year follow-up, while at 2nd-year follow-up, 4 cases had (6 times) recurrence.

CONCLUSIONTacrolimus showed a reliable effect in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Less adverse reactions were seen, and most of them could be tolerated. Nevertheless, the patients had a higher relapse rate after 1 to 2 years treatment. Therefore, the long-term effects of tacrolimus for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome remains to be further evaluated.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome