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Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most effective and widely used compounds in the treatment of disease, including cancer, but is known to induce toxicity in patients. Rutin (RUT) is a flavonoid glycoside from Sophora japonica L. that has been shown to possess antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. RUT is also known to attenuate cardiotoxicity, isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibrosis, and ischemia/reperfusion-associated hemodynamic alteration, and prevents high glucose-induced renal glomerular endothelial hyperpermeability. In this study, we investigated the effect of RUT on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. CP was used to induce toxicity in human mesangial cells (HMCs), HMCs were pretreated with different concentrations of RUT before being exposed to 10 μg/mL of CP. A positive group was pretreated with antioxidant agent N-acetylcysteine prior to CP administration. At doses between 12.5 and 25 μM, RUT prevented CP-induced reduction in cell viability. Treatment with RUT suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species and malonic dialdehyde levels and inhibited cell apoptosis. RUT reversed the CP-induced upregulation of p53, cleaved-caspase-3, and increased pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-9 levels. In conclusion, the RUT can relieve CP-induced nephrotoxicity by inhibiting the p53/caspase signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of sevoflurane or propofol combined with remifentanil anesthesia on the clinical efficacy and stress response of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIHS) in cesarean section. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 150 patients with PIHS and treated with cesarean section in our hospital from May 2015 to September 2016 were selected. All patients were randomly divided into sevoflurane-remifentanil group (n=75) and propofol-remifentanil (n=75). The elbow blood of patients in both groups were collected, the levels of Norepinephrine (NE) adrenaline (AD), cortisol and blood glucose in plasma were compared at before anesthesia induction (T0), operation 30 min (T1), end of operation (T2), 2 h after operation (T3), 24 h after operation (T4). The blood pressure control, muscle control, anesthesia onset time, maternal pain and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The patients in the sevoflurane group were superior to the propofol group (p<0.05) in terms of muscle control effect, anesthesia onset time and maternal pain. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of blood pressure control and anesthesia complications (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma AD, NE, cortisol and blood glucose between the two groups before induction of anesthesia (p>0.05). However, the plasma markers of the two groups began to increase after anesthesia induction and reached peak at T2 or T3, returned back to preoperative level or higher than before surgery at T4. The levels of AD, NE, cortisol and blood glucose in plasma of sevoflurane group were significantly lower than those in propofol group at T1-T4 time point, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of sevoflurane combined with remifentanil anesthesia is better than that of propofol combined with remifentanil, and it can effectively reduce the [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an investigation on crack ratio in laser tracks under various process parameters. To eliminate and reduce the crack trend, the range analysis method was used to identify the most significant factor and levels. Using the observations, the most preferable set of the factor levels was established. The crack appearance on the surface and cross-section of the laser treated zone was characterized with optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The effects of laser process parameters on crack trend were analysed and the mechanism behind the cracking in laser treated zone was discussed. The results indicated that the crack trend within the laser treated zone has a close relationship with the process parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protein source on the digestive enzymes and electrolyte composition of digesta fluid in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of chickens. A 2x3 factorial and completely randomized design that used 2 types of diets that differed only in their protein source [a corn-soybean meal-miscellaneous meal diet (CSMD) and a corn-miscellaneous meal diet (CMD)] and 3 types of cannulated roosters (duodenal, jejunal, and ileal cannulations) was adopted. The experiments included 5 replicates for each of the 6 treatments, and each replicate involved 3 cannulated chickens. The digesta samples were collected for 1 h every 4 h between 09:30 and 18:30 h on d 31, 33, and 35 of the experiment. The amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin activities and the electrolyte composition in the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal fluid were determined. In general, no significant differences between the 2 dietary groups were observed for the mean of duodenal, jejuna, and ileal amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase, respectively. However, the duodenal amylase activity was lower in the CMD group than the CSMD group (P < 0.05), which was probably related to the lower duodenal pH value that was observed in this group (P < 0.01). A higher jejunal Mg2+ concentration was observed in chickens that were fed the CMD (P < 0.05), whereas the differences in the Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+ concentrations in the small intestine were not significant between the 2 diets (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the digestive enzymes and electrolytes in the small intestinal fluid of chickens adapted to the protein source of the diet, and each segment of the small intestine displayed different modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of using corn starch as the basal diet to determine the ME of protein feedstuffs using the TME assay in Chinese Yellow chickens. In the first experiment, the TME of corn starch were determined by force-feeding 25 or 40 g of feed. To test the repeatability of the bioassay, the same experiment was repeated 4 times. In the second experiment, the TME of soybean meal and cottonseed meal was determined by considering corn starch as the basal diet, while corn was fed alone to the chickens. To test the accuracy of the TME assay for individual ingredients, the additivity was evaluated by determining the TME of 3 mixed diets: corn-soybean meal diet, corn-cottonseed meal diet, and corn-soybean meal-cottonseed meal diet. In experiment 1, the value of endogenous energy loss was 16.76 to 18.46 kcal/48 h, and no significant differences between the 4 assays were noted. The TME and energy metabolizability of the 25-g corn starch treatment (4.06 kcal/g and 98.06%) were higher than those of the 40-g treatment (3.79 kcal/g and 91.45%; P < 0.01); whereas the CV were less than that of the 40-g treatment, indicating that it is reasonable to use the TME value of the 25-g treatment in feed formulation. In experiment 2, the T1\4E values for corn, soybean meal, and cottonseed meal were 4.02, 3.39, and 2.92 kcal/g, respectively. The observed and predicted TME values of the corn-soybean meal, corn-cottonseed meal, and corn-soybean meal-cottonseed meal diets were in high agreement with differences ranging from -0.02 to 0.01 kcal/g. None of the differences was significant, indicating an accurate measure of the TME of the individual ingredients. Thus, using corn starch as the basal diet to determine the TME of protein feedstuffs was validated. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of using corn starch as the basal diet to determine the ME of protein feedstuffs using the TME assay in Chinese Yellow chickens. In the first experiment, the TME of corn starch were determined by force-feeding 25 or 40 g of feed. To test the repeatability of the bioassay, the same experiment was repeated 4 times. In the second experiment, the TME of soybean meal and cottonseed meal was determined by considering corn starch as the basal diet, while corn was fed alone to the chickens. To test the accuracy of the TME assay for individual ingredients, the additivity was evaluated by determining the TME of 3 mixed diets: corn-soybean meal diet, corn-cottonseed meal diet, and corn-soybean meal-cottonseed meal diet. In experiment 1, the value of endogenous energy loss was 16.76 to 18.46 kcal/48 h, and no significant differences between the 4 assays were noted. The TME and energy metabolizability of the 25-g corn starch treatment (4.06 kcal/g and 98.06%) were higher than those of the 40-g treatment (3.79 kcal/g and 91.45%; P < 0.01); whereas the CV were less than that of the 40-g treatment, indicating that it is reasonable to use the TME value of the 25-g treatment in feed formulation. In experiment 2, the TME values for corn, soybean meal, and cottonseed meal were 4.02, 3.39, and 2.92 kcal/g, respectively. The observed and predicted TME values of the corn-soybean meal, corn-cottonseed meal, and corn-soybean meal-cottonseed meal diets were in high agreement with differences ranging from -0.02 to 0.01 kcal/g. None of the differences was significant, indicating an accurate measure of the TME of the individual ingredients. Thus, using corn starch as the basal diet to determine the TME of protein feedstuffs was validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a fast track transfer to intensive care unit (ICU) for the perioperative high-risk elderly patients after hip fracture surgery and analyze the preliminary clinical effect of the application. Methods: From January 2014 to December 2017, before the application of postoperative fast track transfer to ICU, the clinical data of 195 elderly patients with hip fracture were included in a retrospective analysis. Among 195 hip fracture patients, 18 were transferred to ICU post operation (non-fast track group). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate relevant risk factors for transferring to ICU after hip fracture surgery. Based on risk factors acquired from the analysis and clinical experience, the fast track transfer to ICU for the perioperative high-risk elderly patients after hip fracture surgery was constructed according to the preliminary and experiential criteria. From January 2018 to December 2019, the clinical data of 70 patients (fast track group) who were transferred to ICU after hip fracture surgery through the fast track were collected and compared with non-fast track group. Results: Multivariate regression analysis revealed that American Society of Anesthesiologists classification(≥Ⅲ) ( OR =4.260, 95% CI :1.157-15.683, P =0.029), pre-hospital stage (≥48 h) ( OR =4.301, 95% CI :1.212-15.266, P =0.024), hemoglobin concentration at admission(<90 g/L) ( OR =7.979, 95% CI :1.936-32.889, P =0.004), coronary heart disease as one comorbidity( OR =6.063, 95% CI :1.695-21.693, P =0.006) were independent risk factors for transferring to ICU after hip fracture surgery. There were no significant difference in gender, age, fracture type, hemoglobin concentration at admission and time of pre-hospital stage between the non-fast track group and fast track group(all P >0.05). However, the number of comorbidities in the fast track group was significantly higher than that in the non-fast track group ( Z =-1.995, P =0.046). The time to surgery, postoperative hospital stay, and length of hospital stay in fast track group were all significantly less than those in non-fast track group ( Z =-2.121, -2.726, -3.130, all P <0.05). Also, there were fewer medical consultations needed and fewer patients who stayed in ICU more than or equal to 2 nights in fast track group than that in non-fast track group(all P <0.05). There were no significant difference in the rate of patients who transferred from the general ward to ICU after transferring from ICU to the general ward, the proportion of patients who received more than or equal to 4 departments, operation time, hospitalization expense, mortality during hospitalization, 30-day mortality and 90-day mortality after operation between the two groups(all P >0.05). Conclusions: The fast track constructed in this study can reduce time to surgery, postoperative hospitalization stay and length of hospitalization stay for the perioperative high-risk elderly patients with hip fractures and is a specific clinical application of eras concept based on multidisciplinary team.

Objective: To explore the correlation between the parameters of the new generation of Acoustic Cardiography and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac function grading in the diagnosis of heart failure. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight inpatients, who were hospitalized in Department of Cardiology, Haikou People's Hospital from May 2016 to July 2017, were enrolled as heart failure group, including NYHA class Ⅰ( n =29), NYHA class Ⅱ( n =40), NYHA class Ⅲ( n =64), NYHA class Ⅳ ( n =35). And eighty-seven patients with normal cardiac function were selected as healthy control group. The data of the two groups were analyzed after the Acoustic Cardiography test, BNP determination and LVEF examination. Results: The differences in QRS duration, electromechanical activation time (EMAT), EMAT%, systolic dysfunction index (SDI), third heart sound (S3) and other indicators among the groups with different levels of cardiac function were statistically significant ( P <0.05). The difference in left ventricular systolic time (LVST) between the cardiac function grade Ⅰ and healthy group was not significant ( P >0.05), while the differences among the rest groups were significant. There was a positive correlation between QRS duration, EMAT%, SDI, S3 and BNP ( t =9.46, 11.38, 12.14, 9.67, respectively, P <0.05); LVST and BNP were negatively correlated ( t =-14.27, P <0.05). There was a negative correlation between QRS duration, EMAT%, SDI, S3 and LVEF ( t =11.24, -8.764, -2.393, -0.579, respectively, P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between LVST and LVEF ( t =23.48, P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between QRS duration, EMAT%, SDI, S3 and cardiac function grading (β=0.003, 0.234, 0.419, 0.352, respectively, P <0.05). There was a negative correlation between LVST and cardiac function grade (β=-0.021, P <0.05). Conclusion: The parameters of the Acoustic Cardiography test (EMAT%, EMAT, SDI, S3 ) are closely related to BNP, LVEF and cardiac function grading, and can be used as assistant indexes for the diagnosis and evaluation of heart failure.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients post permanent pacemaker implantation., Methods: Patients underwent permanent pacemaker implantation in our department from September 2013 to February 2015 were included in this study. Delirium was measured by the confusion assessment method on the first three postoperative days. All the patients were divided into the postoperative delirium group and the non-delirium control group according to whether new onset delirium was diagnosed. Risk factors significantly associated with postoperative delirium detected by univariate analysis were entered into multivariable analysis to define the independent predictors of postoperative delirium., Results: A total of 225 patients were enrolled in this study. The incidence of postoperative delirium was 5.3%. Patients developing postoperative delirium were older ((83±5) years vs. (74±11) years, P=0.002), had a significantly higher incidence of blood pressure fluctuations (58.3% (7/12) vs. 4.7% (10/213), P<0.001), hyponatremia (25.0% (3/12) vs. 5.2% (11/213), P=0.030) and had higher systolic blood pressure ((157±35) mmHg vs. (136±22)mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, P=0.007). However, patients developing postoperative delirium had lower preoperative average heart rate ( (47±18)bpm vs. (58±15)bpm, P=0.007). Multiple regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR= 2.984, 95% CI: 1.226-7.624, P=0.016) and blood pressure fluctuations (OR=27.393, 95% CI: 6.735-111.417, P<0.001) are the independent risk factors for pacemaker patients with postoperative delirium., Conclusion: Advanced age and blood pressure fluctuations are independent risk factors of postoperative delirium in patients post permanent pacemaker implantation.

The central nervous system is particularly susceptible to alcohol effects and toxicity. Glial cells constitute the most common cell type in the brain and play critical roles in normal brain function and during infection and injury. Astrocytes in particular seem to be important targets for alcohol neurotoxicity during both development and in adulthood. To gain more insight into alcohol-mediated effects on astrocytes at the molecular level, gene expression in rat C6 glial cells was studied in the presence or absence of ethanol. The differential display of mRNA technique was used to screen the expressed genes in ethanol-treated rat C6 cells before and after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), conditions that mimic an infectious inflammatory state and cause immunologic activation. The present data show that fibronectin appeared as a major gene whose expression is increased in C6 cells by LPS plus PMA stimulation and decreased by chronic ethanol exposure, both in mRNA and protein levels. Fibronectin is a dimeric glycoprotein found in the extracellular matrix of most tissues, in the blood, and on cell surfaces and is involved in many cellular processes. These results show that chronic exposure to ethanol is associated with changes in astrocyte properties during immunologic activation that reduce fibronectin expression. The discovery of astrocyte fibronectin expression as a potential regulated target for chronic alcohol abuse may be useful in understanding, preventing, and treating some brain disorders associated with alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Using mRNA differential display technique, we have found a differentially expressed band in rat brain, designated HAP2G1, which was the strongest one induced in response to peripheral administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sequence analysis showed that HAP2G1 cDNA is the rat homologue of the human alpha-chemokine IP-10. Using RT-PCR technique and in situ hybridization, we demonstrate that IP-10 mRNA was expressed only in brain tissue of rats treated with LPS and not in control brain tissue. Using semi-quantitative PCR, we found that both cultured astrocytes and microglia express IP-10 mRNA after treatment with LPS. LPS-induced IP-10 mRNA reached peak levels in rat brain and in cultured microglia at approximately 3 h after treatment with LPS. At 10 h, IP-10 mRNA was markedly decreased, and at 24 h it was low but still detectable by PCR or in situ hybridization. In contrast to unstimulated microglia, unstimulated astrocytes constitutively expressed IP-10 mRNA at a low level. Increased IP-10 expression could possibly be involved in the microglia response to inflammatory stimuli in vivo., (Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.)

A high performance liquid chromatographic assay was developed for determination of the plasma concentration of hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) in rabbit. Plasma samples were vortex-mixed with 0.3 ml of methanol and centrifuged at 10000 r/min for 5 min. A 20 microliters aliquot of the supernatant was injected into the HPLC system. Analysis was performed on a Du Pont Zorbax C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 10 microns) with a precolumn (50 mm x 4.6 mm, 10 microns, YWG-C18). The eluent was methanol--water (30:70), with flow rate of 1.0 ml.min-1 and UV detection at 210 nm. The limit of detection was 1.0 microgram.ml-1 in plasma and the calibration curve was linear over the range 5-1000 micrograms.ml-1 (r = 0.9988). The HPLC assay was applied for studying the pharmacokinetics of HMBA in rabbit.

Five human renal carcinoma cell lines have been established in long-term tissue culture. Two of the cell lines, UM-RC-2 and UM-RC-3, produced clear cell tumors in athymic nude mice. The cell lines have been characterized by staining with oil red O, doubling time in vitro, and number of chromosomes. Although protein A assay reactivity of autologous combinations of patient's sera and tumor cells were seen with all five cell lines, similar binding was also found with autologous normal kidney cultures. However, the immune adherence assay demonstrated low titer autologous reactivity with two renal carcinoma cell lines but not with the corresponding normal kidney cultures. This strongly suggest host recognition of tumor-associated antigens. Characterization of cell surface antigens with murine monoclonal antibodies demonstrated shared reactivity between normal kidney tubular cells and renal carcinoma cells. Antibody A68.11 reacted strongly with all five cell lines. Antibody A80 bound to only UM-RC-3 and UM-RC-6.

The reactivities of two anti-bladder cancer monoclonal antibodies, AN43 and BB369, were characterized. AN43 and BB369 reacted with a majority (greater than 50%) of bladder cancer tissue sections tested by immunoperoxidase staining. When tested against a panel of 27 normal human tissues, AN43 and BB369 reacted only with urothelium and stomach. AN43 and BB369 showed identical binding patterns and competed for binding on bladder cancer cells, suggesting that the two antibodies react with identical or spatially close epitopes. Bound BB369 antibody was rapidly shed from the surface of viable UM-UC-9 human bladder cancer cells. The antigen was found in spent tissue culture medium from the UM-UC-9 human bladder cancer cell line. AN43 and BB369 define a shed bladder tumor-associated antigen with limited distribution on normal tissues. The antigen is different from bladder tumor-associated antigens defined by other monoclonal antibodies and may be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with bladder cancer.