Objective To explore the spiral computed tomography (CT) imaging feature of post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) and to discuss its clinical significance. Methods The clinical data and CT imaging findings of 27 patients with PITS were retrospectively analyzed. The location, degree and shape of PITS were analyzed, and the imaging features were summarized. Based on the imaging features the etiology of PITS was suggested, and the role of imaging feature in assessing PITS condition and in planning clinical management was evaluated. Results A total of 35 tracheal strictures were detected in the 27 patients. The location of the strictures included trachea incision site (n=10), balloon level (n=5) and distal end of tube (n = 20). In all patients the degree of stenosis was > 30%. Localized stenosis was seen in 15 cases, which presented as “hourglass”or “girdle”shape. Segmental stenosis was found in 4 cases, which was characterized by a “ribbon” or “dumbbell” stricture on CT scans. Complex stenosis was found in 8 cases. With the help of imaging findings, all patients got timely, proper and individualized treatment. Conclusion PITS has typical imaging characteristics. Spiral CT scanning should be regarded as the imaging examination of first choice. Based on the different imaging characteristics, the relevant departments can evaluate patient’s condition and make individualized treatment plan. The imaging finding is very helpful for anesthesiologists and other clinicians in recognizing and in managing the post-intubation tracheal stenosis.

Objective To discuss the ventilatory catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anesthesia for airway stenosis.Methods From May 2008 to January 2013,25 consecutive patients with airway stenosis underwent the treatment of ventilatory catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anesthesia.The dyspnea score was grade Ⅱ in 3 patients,grade Ⅲ in 18 patients and grade Ⅳ in 4 patients.During the treatment,a 4 F VER catheter was placed into one of the main bronchi as a ventilatory catheter for oxygen supply in advance,the oxygen flow was set at 2 to 4 L/rmin according to the patients' condition,then the airway stenting was performed,after release of the stent,the ventilatory catheter was removed smoothly.Data on technical success,clinical outcome and follow-up were collected and analyzed respectively.The paired t test was performed to compare variables before and after tracheal stenting.Results Ventilatory catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anesthesia was technically successful in all patients.A total of 25 stents were placed in 25 patients.The stents included I-shaped stents (n=19) and Y-shaped stents (n=6).After the oxygen supply,the patients' SaO2 was increased to 94％ to 97％ rapidly.When the stent introducer sheaths were passing through the stenotic site,the SaO2 could be maintained at 92％ to 97％.The improvement of the respiratory difficulty was achieved in 100％ of our patients.The hypoxia symptom was relieved immediately after stents placement,the dyspnea score decreased to grade 0 in 2 patients,to grade Ⅰ in 19 patients and to grade Ⅱ in 4 patients.Respiratory rate and SaO2 improved from (30.0±2.1) times/min and (6.0±3.8)％ before stenting to (19.7±1.6) times/min (t=23.33,P＜0.01) and (93.0± 1.7)％ (t=23.50,P＜0.01) after stenting,respectively.Through the follow-up,3 patients suffered the stent-related complications after discharge,the complications included re-stenosis (n=2) and fracture(n=1).Conclusion Ventilatory catheter-assisted airway stenting under local anesthesia can be an effective,simple and safe method for airway stenosis.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic results of comprehensive interventional therapy for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) complicated by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Methods A total of 10 patients with APS complicated by DVT, who were encountered at authors’ hospital during the period from January 2001 to October 2013, were enrolled in this study. The patients included 3 males and 7 females with a mean age of 45 years (39-74 years). The patients were divided into pure anticoagulantion therapy (group A, n = 4) and catheter-based thrombolysis via the jugular vein combined with anticoagulantion therapy (group B, n = 6). The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. After the treatment warfarin was orally administered in all patients for at least one year. Results There were no significant differences in general clinical characteristics between the two groups. Before the treatment, the circumference difference of the thighs was (5.55 ± 0.51) cm in group A and was (5.13 ± 0.45) cm in group B. After the treatment, the circumference difference of the thighs was (1.85 ± 0.31) cm in group A and was (0.95 ± 0.26) cm in group B. In both groups, the postoperative calf size was significantly reduced when compared with the preoperative one (both P < 0.01), which was more obvious in group B than in group A (P < 0.05). The detumescence rate in group B was significantly higher than that in group A, which was (81.7 ± 4.1)% vs (67.3 ± 3.6)%(P <0.01). The average hospitalization days of group B and group A were (13.83 ± 0.75) days and (20.75 ± 2.63) days respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In group A, clinical effective result was obtained in three patients and ineffective result in one patient, while in group B clinical cure was obtained in all patients. Conclusion In treating APS complicated by DVT, catheter-based thrombolysis via the jugular vein combined with anticoagulantion therapy is safe, effective and time-saving, while pure anticoagulation therapy has only limited efficacy.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage (tuina) for treating recurrent respiratory tract infection in children with cerebral palsy due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung. Methods: A total of 70 children with cerebral palsy who suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with conventional rehabilitation training, while the observation group was given additional spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage, and the control group additionally took oral Yu Ping Feng granule. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by the total effective rate, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, and serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM and IgG. Results: The difference in total effective rate between the two groups after treatment was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased to varying degrees than those before treatment, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01); the differences in the scores of various TCM symptoms between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of IgA, IgM and IgG of the children in both groups increased to varying degrees, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The between-group differences in the IgA, IgM and IgG levels after treatment were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Spleen-invigorating and qi-benefiting pediatric massage can effectively treat recurrent respiratory tract infection due to qi deficiency of spleen and lung in children with cerebral palsy, relieve the clinical symptoms and improve immune function, and thus is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective: To analyze the effects of miR-138 on the expression of small glutamine-rich TPR-containing protein A (SGTA) and cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) phenotype in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Methods: The adhesion model was constructed using fibronectin (FN) or bone marrow stromal cells HS-5. The effect of miR-138 on the expression of SGTA was analyzed by Western blotting and RQ-PCR. Dual-luciferase assays were performed to probe the effects of miR-138 on SGTA 3' UTR activities. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of miR-138 on cell cycle, adhesion ability and CAM-DR. Moreover, the correlation between miR-138 expression and therapeutic response was analyzed in 35 paraffin-embedded diffuse large B cell lymphoma samples. Results: Our data showed that adhesion of NHL cells to FN or HS-5 cells significantly increased miR-138 expression (P<0.05). Knockdown of miR-138 markedly increased the protein (all P<0.05) but not for mRNA (all P>0.05) levels of SGTA in NHL cell. The luciferase activity of SGTA 3' UTR was significantly suppressed by miR-138 transfected cells (0.73±0.03 vs 1.00±0.02, t=0.914, P=0.002). No change in terms of reporter activity was observed in SGTA 3'UTR mutant transfected cells (0.93±0.04 vs 1.00±0.02, t=1.375, P=0.241). Also we found that ectopic expression of miR-138 significantly induced cell cycle arrest at G(1) phase in both suspension and adherent cells (all P<0.05). Knockdown of miR-138 had no effect on cell adhesion ability (all P>0.05). More importantly, in suspension cells, knockdown of miR-138 significantly decreased the percentage of doxorubicin-induced cell death. However, knockdown of miR-138 dramatically increased the percentage of doxorubicin-induced cell death in FN/HS-5-adherent cells. Furthermore, the miR-138 expression was significantly higher in patients with progression of disease/stable disease than those experiencing complete response/partial response (9.72±1.11 vs 3.06±0.22, t=9.144, P<0.001). Conclusion: MiR-138 promoted CAM-DR phenotype through cell adhesion-mediated SGTA down-regulation and cell cycle arrest.
Carrier Proteins ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; MicroRNAs ; Molecular Chaperones ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo review the update research progress about the treatment of diabetic macular edema and to give helpful guidelines in the treatment of diabetic macular edema based on available evidence to date.Data sources A literature search of all English articles was performed on the online electronic PubMed database dated 1984 to 2009. The keywords searched included: macular edema, therapy, laser coagulation, intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, protein kinase C inhibitor and Pars plana vitrectomy. After finding relevant articles within these search limits, a manual search was conducted through the references from these articles.Study selection Original articles and critical reviews were reviewed and selected to address the stated purpose.

RESULTSTo date, demonstrated means to reduce the risk of vision loss from diabetic macular edema include focal/grid laser photocoagulation and improved metabolic control. Emerging pharmacologic therapies (intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors and protein kinase C beta-isoform inhibitors) and Pars plana vitrectomy have shown early promise in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

CONCLUSIONSAs there has been extensive development in multiple treatments of diabetic macular edema, choice of the most suitable treatment for specific patients becomes important. Combination therapy of laser, pharmacological and surgical treatment modalities may offer an alternative to treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Diabetic Retinopathy ; therapy ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation ; Macular Edema ; therapy ; Protein Kinase C ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Protein Kinase C beta ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Vitrectomy

BACKGROUNDTrans-arachidonic acids (TAAs), newly discovered markers of nitrative stress and the major products of nitrogen dioxide (NO2(·))-mediated isomerization of arachidonic acid (AA), represent a new mechanism of NO2(·)-induced toxicity. It has been reported that TAAs were generated in oxygen-induced microvascular degeneration model and TAAs were also generated in a diabetic retinopathy (DR) model. In this study, we examined high glucose-induced nitrative stress damage and TAAs levels and explored the possible mechanisms for DR caused by reactive nitrogen species.

METHODSDiabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 60 mg/kg. Bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells (BRECs) were selectively cultured and incubated with normal or high glucose. The serum TAAs and AA in diabetic rats were measured by the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The ratio of peak area of TAAs to AA with selected ion of 79 was estimated by a group t-test. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in the rat retinas and BRECs extracts were examined by Western blotting. The phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) protein was examined by Western blotting in BRECs incubated with high glucose.

RESULTSThe TAAs to AA ratio (TAAs/AA) was significantly increased in the serum at 8, 12 and 16 weeks after STZ injection (P < 0.05), with no noticeable change found at 2 or 4 weeks (P > 0.05). Expression of TSP-1 in the retina of diabetic rats was progressively elevated according to the duration of diabetes. TSP-1 expression was increased in BRECs incubated with high glucose at 48 hours. Moreover, high glucose also increased ERK1/2 expression, which peaked at 30 minutes and then decreased in the following 48 hours.

CONCLUSIONAn elevation of TAAs/AA is associated with high glucose-induced nitrative stress, which probably involves upregulation of TSP-1 through activating ERK1/2.

Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Nitrogen Species ; metabolism ; Streptozocin ; Thrombospondin 1 ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Viabahn covered stent in treatment of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAPA) caused by surgery.Methods Clinical data of 7 patients with postoperative massive intra-abdominal hemorrhage and diagnosed as HAPA with emergency angiography were collected from November 2015 to May 2016.All the patients underwent Viabahn covered stent implantation.Perioperative and postoperative clinical data of the patients were recorded,and with 1-month follow-up.Results All the 7 cases were diagnosed as extrahepatic HAPA and successfully completed Viabahn covered stent procedure,and curative rate was up to 100％.One case experienced transient vasospasm in the hepatic artery proximal to the stent.All the patients repeated hepatic artery CT angiography scans one week after surgery,with no evidence of bleeding.With 1-month follow-up,all the patients were in stable conditions.Conclusion Viabahn covered stent is minimally invasive,simple and effective interventional approach for HAPA.

The hydration reaction by microbial method is the crisis of the procedure of acrylamide production from acrylonitrile. This research studied the enzyme catalytic kinetics and de-active kinetics of nitrile hydratase in the type of free cell. Firstly, the effects of the concentration of cells, the temperature, pH value, the concentration of acrylonitrile and the concentration of acrylamide on the activity of nitrile hydratase was investigated. The result is that the temperature and the concentration of acrylamide are the most important among these factors. The activity of the nitrile hydratase was 5659 u/mL (broth) at 28 degrees C; the counterpart was only 663 u/mL (broth) at 5 degrees C. And the activity of NHase in solution of 45% acrylamide was just about half of that in solution of 5% acrylamide. After study on the relation of temperature and the reaction speed, It was found that the activation energy of the hydration of NHase was 65.57 kJ.mol-1. This paper studied the effects of concentration of cells, temperature, pH value, concentrations of acrylonitrile and acrylamide on the deactivation of Nhase, as well as the related enzyme de-active kinetics. The result also showed that the temperature and the concentration of acrylamide are the most important among these factors. In solution of 35% acrylamide, the residual activity was about 0% of the original value after 55 h; but in solution of 10% acrylamide, after the same period of time, the residual activity was 50% of the original one. It was also found that the concentration of acrylonitrile had little effect on the stability of NHase. The coefficient of deactivation at 28 degrees C was 21.77 times of the one at 5 degrees C. Correlating the temperature and the coefficient of deactivation, the activation energy of the de-active reaction was found to be 92.28 kJ.mol-1.
Acrylamide ; metabolism ; Acrylonitrile ; metabolism ; Catalysis ; Hydro-Lyases ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Rhodococcus ; enzymology ; Temperature

The cultural conditions for the growth of Norcardia cell were studied in this paper. Controlling pH value, adding nutrient and optimizing the quantity of inducer during cultivation, the activity of nitrile hydratase reached 6567 u/mL (culture medium), which was the highest value appeared in native journals. In the farther hydratase experiments, no by-product, crylic acid, was detected. It showed that the activity of amidase was not promoted obviously while the activity of nitrile hydratase was increased greatly. The results set a strong foundation for the industrial application and the research on new technology.
Acrylamides ; metabolism ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Fermentation ; physiology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hydro-Lyases ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nocardiaceae ; enzymology ; metabolism