OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of pretreatment of neuroblastoma cells with hot water extract of Korean ginseng on MNNG-induced parthanatos and its mechanism. METHODS: Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with 1 mg/L hot water extract of Korean ginseng before induction with 250 μmol/L MNNG for 1 h or 4 h. CCK-8 and cell flow cytometry were used to detect cell survival rate. Western blotting was used to detect the changes in poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) expression in the treated cells. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect nuclear distribution of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and flow cytometry was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control cells, MNNG-treated SH-SY5Y cells showed significantly decreased survival rate as the concentration of MNNG and the stimulation time increased ( < 0.05). Stimulation with MNNG also resulted in significantly increased expression of PAR protein in the cells ( < 0.05). Pretreatment of the cells with hot water extract of Korean ginseng obviously inhibited MNNG-induced cell death and significantly reduced AIF expression and nucleation in the cells ( < 0.05). MNNG stimulation significantly increased ROS level in the cells, which was decreased significantly by pretreatment of the cells with the extract ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pretreatment with hot water extract of Korean ginseng reduces MNNG-induced parthanatos and ROS production in SH-SY5Y cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of propofol on pyroptosis of macrophages. METHODS: Macrophages derived from bone marrow were extracted and divided into three groups: control group, LPS+ATP group and propofol+LPS+ATP group. The control group was not given any treatment; LPS+ATP group was given LPS 1 μg/mL stimulation for 4 h, then ATP 4 mM stimulation for 1 h; Propofol+LPS+ATP group was given propofol+LPS 1 μg/mL stimulation for 4 h, then ATP stimulation for 1 h. After treatment, the supernatant and cells of cell culture were collected. the cell activity was detected by CCK8 and flow cytometry. The inflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-18 were detected by Elisa. Western blot was used to detect the expression of caspase-1 protein and TLR4 on cell membran Immunohistochemical fluorescence was used to detect apoptosis of cells. RESULTS: LPS+ATP significantly decreased the viability of the macrophages and increased the cellular production of IL-1β and IL-18, activation of caspase-1 protein and the expression of TLR-4 on the cell membrane ( < 0.05). Treatment with propofol obviously reversed the changes induced by LPS+ATP. CONCLUSIONS LPS+ATP can induce pyroptosis of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, and propofol effectively inhibits such cell death, suggesting that propofol anesthesia is beneficial during operation and helps to regulate the immune function of in patients with sepsis.
Animals ; Caspase 1 ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Propofol ; Pyroptosis

Objective: To explore the flap design and clinical applications of the propeller flaps based on perforators from different branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in defect reconstruction. Methods: Between September 2009 and December 2018, 27 patients with soft tissue defects from lower extremities were involved in this study, including 15 males and 12 females, with an average age of 34.6 years old (range, 3 to 73 years old). Before surgery, the type of the flap to be used was designed preliminarily by evaluating the location, size and shape of the lesion or defect. The perforators of the lateral circumflex femoral artery were explored using an ultrasound Doppler probe, marked on skin. The computed tomographic angiography was also used to get more information of the branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery when possible. The propeller flaps were divided into typeⅠ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ according to the perforators that originated from the transverse, descending, oblique, and rectus femoris branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, respectively. The type Ⅱ flap was subdivided into type Ⅱa and type Ⅱb flaps that were based on antegrade and reverse flow from the descending branch. The defects were reconstructed using the perforator propeller flap. Results: Twenty-seven patients underwent reconstruction of defects using the propeller flaps based on perforators from different branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery including 3 type Ⅰ flap, 12 type Ⅱa, 2 type Ⅱb, 10 type Ⅲ and 3 type Ⅳ. The size, pedicle length and rotation angle of the flaps were 12 cm×6 cm to 30 cm×15 cm, 4 cm to 15 cm, and 60 to 180 degrees, respectively. Total necrosis occurred in one flap and small-sized distal necrosis in another one. Minor complications occurred in two flaps and the remaining propeller flaps survived completely. All patients were followed up from one to 25 months and mean follow-up time was 9.9 months. Tumor recurrence was noticed in one patient. All patients were satisfied with the final functional and aesthetic outcomes. Conclusions For appropriate cases, reconstruction of defects from the groin to the knee could be achieved by using the propeller flaps based on perforators from different branches of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, with advantages of easy-to-operate and minor donor-site morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ulinastatin pretreatment on isoflurane-induced mitochondria-dependent neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus of rats. METHODS: Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly assigned into control group, isoflurane group and ulinastatin group. In the latter two groups, the rats were subjected to acute exposure to 0.75% isoflurane for 6 h and pretreated with 50 000 U/kg of ulinastatin before isoflurane exposure, respectively. After the treatments, apoptosis of the hippocampal neurons was detected using TUNEL assay, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (△ ψm) was measured using JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential kit; cytochrome C release and caspase-3 activity were examined with Western blotting, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected using the fluorescent probe H2DCFDA. RESULTS: Compared with those in the control group, the rats with acute exposure to isoflurane showed markedly increased TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus ( < 0.05), which were obviously reduced by ulinastatin pretreatment ( < 0.05). The △ψm of the hippocampal neurons was significantly reduced after isoflurane exposure ( < 0.05), and was partly recovered by ulinastatin pretreatment ( < 0.05). Acute exposure to isoflurane resulted in obviously increased cellular ROS, cytochrome C release and caspase-3 activity in the hippocampal neurons ( < 0.05), and these changes were significantly inhibited by ulinastatin pretreatment ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Ulinastatin pretreatment provides neuroprotection against isoflurane-induced apoptosis of the hippocampal neurons in rats possibly by inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Glycoproteins ; Hippocampus ; Isoflurane ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To analyze dermoscopic features of blue nevi. Methods: Clinical and dermoscopic data were collected from patients with confirmed blue nevi in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Wuxi People′s Hospital from January 2008 to May 2018, and analyzed retrospectively. Chi-square test was used to analyze differences between groups. Results: Totally, 65 patients with 66 skin lesions were enrolled into this study. A total of 23 skin lesions were subjected to dermoscopy, which showed homogeneous pattern in 20 (87.0%) lesions, pseudo-pigment network pattern in 2 (8.7%) lesions, and cerebriform pattern in 1 (4.3%) lesion, and the homogeneous pattern was more common than the other patterns (χ² = 8.79, P < 0.05) . Under the dermoscope, 10 lesions were monochromatic (43.5%) , 11 were dichromatic (47.8%) , and 2 were multichromatic (8.7%) . Scar-like hypopigmentation was observed in 4 lesions (17.4%) , and vascular structures were observed in 5 (21.7%) , including punctate vessels in 4 (17.4%) and linear irregular vessels in 1 (4.3%) . Papillary hyperplasia was observed in 2 lesions (8.7%) . Additionally, pigmentation around lesions, white streaks, dots/globules, blotches, comedo-like openings were observed in 1 lesion (4.3%) each. Conclusions Blue homogeneous pattern is the most common dermoscopic feature of blue nevi. Pseudo-pigment network pattern, cerebriform pattern, scar-like hypopigmentation, multiple vascular patterns, papillary hyperplasia, white streaks, dots/globules, blotches, comedo-like openings can also be observed in blue nevus lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of electro- acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint in regulating perioperative cell immune functions in rats. METHODS: Forty-two SD rats were divided into blank control group (=6), model group (=18), and electroacupuncture group (=18). The rats in the latter two groups underwent thigh incision and femoral dissection under anesthesia; the rats in electro-acupuncture group received electro-acupuncture at bilateral Zusanli acupoint for 15 min before anesthesia and 1 h after the surgery. The rats in the model group and electro-acupuncture group were sacrificed at 6 h, 24 h, and 72 h after the operation and blood samples were taken from the ventricle for analyzing CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cell subpopulations and calculation of CD4/CD8 using flow cytometry. ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. RESULTS: The CD3 T cell subpopulation was significantly lower in the model group and electro-acupuncture group than in the blank group at 6 h and 24 h after the operation. At 72 h after the operation, CD3 subpopulation levels still remained low in the model group, but recovered the control level in electro-acupuncture group. At each time point of measurement, CD3 level was significantly lower in the model group than in the electro-acupuncture group. CD4 level in the model group was significantly lowered at 6 h and 24 h after the operation, and recovered the control level at 72 h. In the electro-acupuncture group, CD4 level was significantly lowered at 6 h after the operation, but recovered the control level at 24 h. At 24 h and 72 h, the levels of CD4 were significantly lower in the model group than in the electro-acupuncture group. CD8 level underwent no significant changes after the operation in either the model group or electro-acupuncture group. CD4/CD8 was significantly lowered at 24 h and 72 h after the operation in the model group but showed no significant variation in the electro-acupuncture group. Compared with that in the control group, IL-1 level was significantly lowered in both the model group and electroacupuncture group at 6 h, 24 h, and 72 h after the operation, and was significantly lower in the model group than in the electroacupuncture group at these time points. IL-6 level increased significantly in the model group and the electro- acupuncture group at 6 h and 24 h. at 72 h, IL-6 level was obviously lowered in the electro-acupuncture group but remained elevated in the model group. CONCLUSIONS Electro-acupuncture alleviates postoperative immune suppression and promotes recovery of the immune function in rats, suggesting a protective effect of electro-acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint on cellular immune function after surgery.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Femur ; surgery ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Perioperative Period ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and technical tips of repairing facial defects with pre-expanded propeller flap based on the perforators of the supratrochlear artery or the supraorbital artery. Methods: In the first-stage operation, a tissue expander was buried underneath the frontalis muscle. The second-stage operation was conducted using pre-expanded supratrochlear artery or the supraorbital artery based propeller flap to repair facial defect. Results: From July 2010 to July 2016, this method was used in 8 patients. 5 flaps were based on the supratrochlear artery, and 3 flaps based on the supraorbital artery. Expander size was ranged from 150 ml to 300 ml. The size of propeller flaps was from 10 cm × 6 cm to 15 cm × 13 cm. All the flaps survived without any major complications. Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 36 months. Eyebrow replacement, flap thinning and scar revision were performed in 6 cases. All patients were satisfied with the final aesthetic result. Conclusions The pre-expanded propeller flap based on the supratrochlear artery or the supraorbital artery is an alternative option to repair the facial defect in appropriate cases.

Objective To evaluate the anesthetic effect of ultrasound guided thoracic paraverte-bral blockade combined with intravenous dexmedetomidine in thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Methods Eighty patients (38 male and 42 female ) undergoing selected thoracoscopic sympathectomy,aged from 16 to 28 years,in ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,were equally divided into study group and control group,40 patients in each,according to random number table.Fifteen mi-nutes before paravertebral blockade,while study group received loading dose (0.5 μg/kg)of dexme-detomidine (4 μg/ml)intravenously within 10 min and received continuous intravenous pumping (0.3-0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1 )throughout the operation,control group received isovolumetric normal saline in the same pattern.Patients'heart rate (HR),respiratory rate (RR),mean arterial pressure (MAP),SpO 2 ,observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S)scale and adverse reactions were recorded in several time points,namely timing of entrance (T0 ),timing of paravertebral block-ade (T1 ),timing of skin incision (T2 ),timing of sympathectomy (T3 )and the end (T4 ),respective-ly.Results Compared to the control group,while MAP and HR in the study group were obviously decreased through T1-T4 (P <0.05),RR was obvious increased in T2 and T3 (P <0.05)and OAA/S scale was obviously lowered in the study group (P <0.05 ).The study group and the control group had one case and two cases of adverse reaction,respectively,with no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion The application of ultrasound guided thoracic paravertebral blockade combined with intravenous dexmedetomidine in thoracoscopic sympathectomy is safe and effective.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of 4 different methods for disinfection of simple breathing vesicles and microbial residue.

METHODSThe disinfection tests were divided into 4 groups: G1 group (43 cases) with 500 mg/L chlorine dioxide spray, G2 group (28 cases) with alcohol spray, G3 group (47 cases) with 50 mg/L trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) immersion, and G4 group (46 cases) with 50 mg/L chlorine dioxide solution immersion. After 30 min of disinfection, each group was examined by bacterial culture and colony count. The residual bacteria were identified and typed.

RESULTSThe 4 methods showed significant differences in bacterial colony count (P<0.001). The rate of bacterial residue was 0% in G1 group, 53.6% in G2 group, 27.7% in G3 group, and 21.7% in G4 group, showing significant differences between the 4 groups (P<0.001). The residual bacteria included antibiotic-resistant common opportunistic pathogen such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus haemolytic.

CONCLUSIONSDisinfection with 500 mg/L chlorine dioxide spray is the best for simple breathing vesicles. Prolonged immersion in TCCA may lead to the growth of drug-resistant pathogens in the breathing vesicles.

Objective To compare the changes in optic disc parameters after intraocular pressure (lOP) reduction between primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes, and to determine if there is a difference of lamina eribrosa compliance between POAG and PACG. Design Prospective comparative study. Participants 36 PACG (49 eyes) and 35 POAG (49 eyes). Methods Patients underwent Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT Ⅱ) and Humphrey visual field test before IOP reduction. HRT and Humphrey visual field test were repeated one month after the IOP was reduced by laser, anti-glaucomatous medications or surgery treatment. Factors that affected the change in IOP were assessed including age, pretreatment IOP, IOP reduction, initial cup: disc ratio and diagnosis (POAG/PACG). Main outcome measures Changes of HRT parameters including cup area, mean cup depth, cup volume, and rim area after IOP reduction. Results The cup area, mean cup depth and cup volume decreased, and rim area in-creased significantly when the IOP was reduced (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the changes between PACG and POAG patients (P>0.05). Changes of these four HRT parameters were related to the amount of IOP reduction and the baseline ratio of cup to disc(P>0.05), but not related to age and pre-treatment IOP (P<0.05). Conclusions The cup became smaller and the rim area in-creased after IOP lowering with treatment in both POAG and PACG, and the magnitude of the change was similar in both groups. The lamina cribrosa compliance may not be different between POAG and PACG. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2009, 18: 264-269)