Objective: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been used to quantify inflammatory response in the body. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of using this method to evaluate the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and the efficacy of atorvastatin in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: Twenty New Zealand male white rabbits were included and divided into the atorvastatin intervention group and the control group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in both groups were fed with a high fat diet for 20 weeks, and treated with thoracoabdominal aortic balloon-pulling to establish atherosclerosis model at the end of the 2nd week. Rabbits in atorvastatin intervention group was given atorvastatin intragastrically once a day. At the 8th week, thoracoabdominal aortic ultrasound was used to detect plaques in all rabbits. Blood was drawn at the 3rd and the 20th week, respectively, to measure blood lipids, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). At the end of experiment, survival animals were scanned by ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT, and the average and maximum standard uptake values (SUVmean, SUVmax) of aortic segments were measured. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and aortic specimens of rabbits were taken and examined by immunohistochemistry. The pathological indexes were measured and compared. Results: At the end of experiment, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), hs-CRP [ (4.58±0.51) ng/ml vs.(5.87±0.66) ng/ml, P<0.01], MMP-9[ (43.93±2.16) ng/ml vs. (50.77±2.32) ng/ml, P<0.01], SUVmean (0.59±0.15 vs. 0.68±0.20, P<0.05) , SUVmax (0.68±0.20 vs. 0.81±0.27, P<0.05) , plaque area [ (0.36±0.24) mm² vs. (0.50±0.34) mm², P<0.05) ] and density of macrophage[ (4.34±1.54) % vs. (5.65±1.89) %, P<0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In contrast, fiber cap thickness of the plaque[ (4.12±0.66) μm vs. (2.96±0.37) μm, P<0.01] in the atorvastatin intervention group was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. The arterial plaque areas were positively correlated with SUVmean (r=0.27, P<0.05) and SUVmax (r=0.43, P<0.01) . Fiber cap thickness was negatively correlated with SUVmean (r=-0.38, P<0.05) and SUVmax (r=-0.47, P<0.01) . The density of macrophage were positively correlated with SUVmean (r=0.52, P<0.01) and SUVmax (r=0.51, P<0.01) . Conclusion ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT can be used to evaluate the efficacy of atorvastatin by the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.

Objective To evaluate the effects of oxycodone combined with incision infiltration with ropivacaine on postoperative outcomes in the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Eighty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 33-64 yr,weighing 45-88 kg,scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia,were divided into 2 groups (n=40 each) using a random number table:patient-controlled intravenous analgesia group (group P) and oxycodone combined with incision infiltration group (group O).In group P,fentanyl 1-2 μg/kg was intravenously infused after cholecystectomy,and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed with sufentanil at the end of surgery.In group O,oxycodone 0.05-0.10 mg/kg was intravenously injected after cholecystectomy,incision infiltration was performed with 0.5％ ropivacaine before suturing,and visual analog scale score was maintained ≤ 3.The emergence time,time to first flatus,time to liquid diet,first ambulation time,length of hospital stay after operation and adverse reactions were recorded.Results Compared with group P,the time to first flatus,time to liquid diet,first ambulation time and length of hospital stay after operation were significantly shortened,the incidence of urinary retention and nausea and vomiting was decreased (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the emergence time in group O (P＞0.05).Conclusion Combination of oxycodone and incision infiltration with ropivacaine can promote postoperative outcomes in the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Buzhong yiqi wuling decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure(CHF). METHODS:120 CHF patients were divided into observation group and control group by random number table method,with 60 cases in each group. Control group received conventional western medicine treatment as rest,low salt diet and diuretics. Observation group was additionally given Buzhong yiqi wuling decoction,one dose a day,at twice,on the basis of control group. Treatment course of 2 groups lasted for 2 weeks. Average TCM symptom score, level of plasma NT-proBNP,6 min walk test(6MWT)distance before and after treatment,clinical efficacy and the occurrence of ADR were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS:Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in average TCM symptom score,level of plasma NT-proBNP and 6MWT distance between 2 groups(P>0.05). After treatment,average TCM symptom score and level of plasma NT-proBNP of 2 groups were decreased significantly,and the observation group was more significant than the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05);6MWT distance of 2 groups were improved significantly compared to before treatment,and the observation group was significantly longer than the control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). After treatment,total effective rate of observation group(93.33%)was significantly higher than that of control group(83.33%),with sta-tistical significance(P<0.05). No obvious ADR was found in 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Buzhong yiqi wuling decoction is an ef-fective prescription to treat CHF,and can relieve clinical symptoms,improve the cardiac function,decrease NT-proBNP level and en-hance the patient exercise tolerance with good safety.

Volume concentration determination for atmospheric krypton and xenon is very important for krypton-85 and radioactive xenon isotopes monitoring. An injection setup integrated adjustable quantity sample injection and quantitative dilution function was designed. The effects of EI source parameters on the sensitivity of MS detector were studied. The optimized values were as following: ionization energy of 70 eV, emission current of 40 mA, cathode voltage of 27 mV, focus voltage of 85 mV and lens compensation of 20 V, respectively. A GC-MS method for the determination of krypton and xenon in atmosphere without of sample pretreatment was developed. The minimal detected concentrations for krypton and xenon were 3. 3×10-8(V/V) and 2. 6×10-9(V/V). Moreover, the krypton and xenon concentrations in the ground level air around our laboratory were measured with the results of 1 . 1 × 10-6 ( V/V ) and 9 . 3 × 10-8 ( V/V ) . The related combined standard uncertainties for krypton and xenon results were 2. 38% and 3. 15%, respectively.

Microglia play a pivotal role in clearance of Aβ by degrading them in lysosomes, countering amyloid plaque pathogenesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence suggests that lysosomal dysfunction leads to insufficient elimination of toxic protein aggregates. We tested whether enhancing lysosomal function with transcription factor EB (TFEB), an essential regulator modulating lysosomal pathways, would promote Aβ clearance in microglia. Here we show that microglial expression of TFEB facilitates fibrillar Aβ (fAβ) degradation and reduces deposited amyloid plaques, which are further enhanced by deacetylation of TFEB. Using mass spectrometry analysis, we firstly confirmed acetylation as a previously unreported modification of TFEB and found that SIRT1 directly interacted with and deacetylated TFEB at lysine residue 116. Subsequently, SIRT1 overexpression enhanced lysosomal function and fAβ degradation by upregulating transcriptional levels of TFEB downstream targets, which could be inhibited when TFEB was knocked down. Furthermore, overexpression of deacetylated TFEB at K116R mutant in microglia accelerated intracellular fAβ degradation by stimulating lysosomal biogenesis and greatly reduced the deposited amyloid plaques in the brain slices of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Our findings reveal that deacetylation of TFEB could regulate lysosomal biogenesis and fAβ degradation, making microglial activation of TFEB a possible strategy for attenuating amyloid plaque deposition in AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Chloride Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microglia ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Peptides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; RNA Interference ; Sirtuin 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of prolonged marine operation on the mental health status of seafarers,by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and through analysis of the function and activity of default mode network (DMN) of seafarers.Methods At first,the support vector machine algorithm was utilized to learn the unsupervised mental health assessment classifier,and physical checks were made for the detection of their mental health status.Several sub-health seafarers were screened out through health detection.Then,DMN activation and the distribution of DMN hubs among the sub-health seafarers were compared between the data obtained before going out to sea and after coming back from sea.Results When compared with the state of sub-health seafarers before going out to sea,the DMN activation of the seafarers after coming back from sea was significantly weakened,and the distribution of DMN hubs also changed significantly.Conclusions These changes might result in information transmission disorder,which could affect higher cognitive neural activity of the seafarers.This research could provide a valuable tool for early detection of subhealth status and mental health support of seafarers,and finally it might be beneficial for the establishment of an effective and quantitative mental health assessment system for the early warning of marine operations and the safety of seafarers.

Objective To explore the effects of prolonged marine operation on the mental health status of seafarers,by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and through analysis of the function and activity of default mode network (DMN) of seafarers.Methods At first,the support vector machine algorithm was utilized to learn the unsupervised mental health assessment classifier,and physical checks were made for the detection of their mental health status.Several sub-health seafarers were screened out through health detection.Then,DMN activation and the distribution of DMN hubs among the sub-health seafarers were compared between the data obtained before going out to sea and after coming back from sea.Results When compared with the state of sub-health seafarers before going out to sea,the DMN activation of the seafarers after coming back from sea was significantly weakened,and the distribution of DMN hubs also changed significantly.Conclusions These changes might result in information transmission disorder,which could affect higher cognitive neural activity of the seafarers.This research could provide a valuable tool for early detection of subhealth status and mental health support of seafarers,and finally it might be beneficial for the establishment of an effective and quantitative mental health assessment system for the early warning of marine operations and the safety of seafarers.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic methods for of peripheral facial nerve injury include surgery, physical therapy and drug treatment, but the treatment effect is not ideal in some certain cases. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of autologous platelet rich plasma on repair of facial nerve injury. METHODS: The bilateral destroyed buccal nerve branches of the 10 white rabbits were put in silica gel nerve regeneration chamber, one side injected with platelet rich plasma as experimental group, the other side injected with normal saline as control group. The general observation, neuroelectrophysiology detection, histological observation, image analysis and evaluation of facial nerve regeneration recovery were performed at 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The action potential latency of the orbicularis oris at the experimental side was significantly lower than that at the control side, and the action potential amplitude (M wave) of compound nerve muscle of the experimental side was significantly higher than that of the control side (P < 0.01). Compared with the control side, the regenerative nerves of the experimental side were more mature with more regenerative axons, and the differentiation of myelin sheath was more mature and the thickness of myelin sheath was wel -distributed. Meanwhile, the diameters of axons were closed to the normal diameter, and the nerve axons were more intensive and arranged more regularly, the outer membrane of nerve fiber was thicker and the col agen fiber and elastic fiber layer were increased when compared with the control group. The number of regenerative axons of the control side was less, and the axons were distributed irregularly and poorly developed, and a large number of fibrous connective tissues were observed. The vacuolar degeneration at the control side was more than the experimental side. The regenerated nerve in the experimental side was better than the control side in the diameter of myelinated axon, area, myelin sheath thickness and axon count, and there were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.01). It indicates that platelet rich plasma has a promoting effect in the repair and regeneration of facial nerve.

Objective To prepare two types of biodegradable modified materials (chitosan and collagen)and evaluate whether the new materials are suitable for tissue engineering cartilage.Methods Collagen and chitosan were both modified by poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate-co-glutamine acid (PBLG-co-PGA) with different proportions.The contact angle,degradation rate,tensile strength,cell attachment and cytocompatibility were tested and compared.Results As the PBLG-co-PGA content varied,the degradation rates of PBLG-co-PGA composites became adjustable,the hydrophilicity of PBLG-co-PGA/chitosan was improved,and the tensile strength increased in PBLG-co-PGA/collagen composite.The composites with 30％ PBLG-co-PGA were chosen for cytocompatibility and cell attachment experiments.The rabbit condrocytes grew significantly better on PBLG-co-PGA/chitosan than on other three materials(P＜0.05).Conclusion PBLG can improve the hydrophilicity,tensile strength and regulate the degradation rate of composite materials,and the cytocompatibility of the composites with 30％ of PBLG is good,among which PBLG-co-PGA/chitosan can even promote cell proliferation.It could be a new choice of scaffold for tissue engineering cartilage.

Objective To investigate the effects of parecoxib pretreatment on the intrapulmonary shunt during one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection.Methods Forty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 25-64 yr,weighing 45-70 kg,with body height 156-178 cm,undergoing elective esophageal surgery,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =20 each):normal saline group (group NS) and parecoxib group (group P).Parecoxib 40 mg (in normal saline 10 ml) was injected intravenously 30 min before anesthesia in group P,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of parecoxib in group NS.Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of propofol,fentanyl and rocuronium.Bronchial blocker was inserted after tracheal intubation and the correct position was confirmed by bronchoscopy.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of propofol and remifentanil and intermittent iv boluses of atracurium.HR,MAP,SpO2 and mean airway pressure (Pmean)were determined at 5 min of two-lung ventilation,at 40 min of one-lung ventilation,and at 30 min after re-expansion of the collapsed lung (T0-2).Blood samples were taken simultaneously from jugular vein and radial artery for blood gas analysis.Intrapulmonary shunt (Qs/Qt) was calculated.Results There were no significant differences in hemodynamic parameters and Pmean between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).PaO2 was significantly lower,while Qs/Qt was significantly higher at T1,2 than at T0 in groups NS and P (P ＜ 0.05).PaO2 was significantly higher,while Qs/Qt was significantly lower at T2 than at T1 in groups NS and P (P ＜ 0.05).Qs/Qt was significantly lower at T1,2 and PaO2 was significantly higher at T2 in group P than in group NS (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Parecoxib 40 mg injected intravenously at 30 min before anesthesia can reduce the intrapulmonary shunt during one lung ventilation in patients undergoing esophageal cancer resection.