Different Degrees Of Injury Research Articles

Analysis of Characteristics and Relevant Factors of 1 340 Cases of Intentional Injury Cases in Southwest China.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and patterns of factors such as victims' information, injury tools and time of occurrence of intentional injury cases in southwest China. Methods One thousand three hundred and forty intentional injury cases from several places in southwest China from 2014 to 2016 assessed as minor injury level Ⅱ and above had been randomly selected. Data on victims' information, motives, injury tools, sites of occurrence, time of occurrence, injured parts and degrees of injury were classified and gathered, and then association analyses of motives and types of injury tools as well as degrees of injury and injury tools were made. Results Most of the victims were young adults between 20-50 years （65.2%）, male （82.3%）, rural household registration （62.8%）; the motives were mainly dispute （45.8%）. Injury tools were mostly blunt （54.6%） or sharp （36.0%）. Specifically, injuries were mostly made bare-handed （36.9%） and by cutting tools （33.2%）; the cases mainly occurred in public areas （59.0%）. Cases occurred more frequently in January （11.3%）, February （13.1%）, March （11.6%） and from 22：00 to 01：00 every night. Injuries mainly involved the craniofacial region. The wounds were mainly assessed as minor injury level Ⅱ （61.6%）. There was statistical significance in the difference of types of injury tools among cases with different motives （P<0.05）. There was statistical significance in the difference of the distribution of injury tools among cases with different degrees of injury （P<0.05）. Conclusion The occurrence of intentional injury cases in southwest China has potential patterns and relevant influencing factors. Prevention and analysis of such cases need to be comprehensively considered from the aspects such as victims' information, injury tools and time of occurrence.

Development of a System Dynamic Model for Sawmill Safety System

Sawmill activities are characterized with different degrees of injuries and accidents due to indecorous handling of sawmill machineries, lack of necessary accident prevention facilities, skill, poor safety culture and practices. However, to guarantee safety in this kind of environment, it is highly imperative that the industry adopt and implement a range of effective occupational health and safety management measures in an efficient way that will lead to more favorable and safe environment for all stakeholders. The safety of stakeholders and facilities however necessitated this work. Two major sawmills were considered in two main towns or cities in each of the six southwestern states of Nigeria, namely: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States, which formed part of the major wood producing rain forest areas in Nigeria. Some of the accidents causing activities identified were: human, deficiency in maintenance, environmental and Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) among others. Sawmill safety activities were classified as training, (PPE), safety awareness creation, accident investigation, motivation/incentives, machine/tools procurement and security/safety enforcement. Sixteen safety strategies were developed using combinatorial method with training, PPE and motivation/incentives as compulsory activities. System dynamics software (Vensim7.2) was then used to delineate the causal and flow diagrams. A system dynamic model was developed as valuable leading tool for effective safety planning and management in sawmill industry.

Effectiveness analysis of maintaining the stability between the fourth and the fifth metacarple base during the treatment in the hamate-metacarpal joint injury

To explore the effectiveness of maintaining the stability between the fourth and the fifth metacarple base during the treatment in the hamate-metacarpal joint injury. Between September 2015 and June 2017, 13 cases of hamate-metacarpal joint injury were treated, including 12 males and 1 female, aged from 17 to 55 years (mean, 30.8 years). The injury causes included heavy boxing in 10 cases and falling in 3 cases. There were 2 cases of simple fourth metacarpal basal fracture, 1 basal fracture of the fourth metacarpal bone combined with intermetacarpal ligament fracture, 7 fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpal base, 2 fourth metacarpal basal fractures combined with the fifth metacarpal basal fracture dislocation, and 1 base fracture of fourth and fifth metacarpal bone combined with hamate bone fracture. The time from injury to operation was 5-11 days (mean, 7.2 days). According to different damage degree and stability change between the fourth and the fifth metacarple base, a preliminary classification was made for different degrees of injury: 2 cases of type Ⅰ, 1 case of type Ⅱ, 7 cases of type Ⅲ, 2 cases of type Ⅳ, and 1 case of type Ⅴ. The patients were treated with corresponding internal fixation methods under the principle of stability recovery between the fourth and fifth metacarple base. All the incisions healed by first intention without infection or skin necrosis. All the 13 patients were followed up 6-18 months with an average of 9.4 months. All fractures healed clinically, and the healing time was 5.5-8.0 weeks with an average of 6.3 weeks. No complication such as plate breakage, fracture dislocation, fracture malunion, and bone nonunion occurred. Hand function was evaluated according to the total active motion (TAM) functional evaluation standard of hand surgery at 6 months after operation, and the results was excellent in 9 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 92.3%. Stability between the fourth and fifth metacarple base is of great significance to the classification and the treatment of the hamate-metacarpal joint injury.

Viability of Chlorine-injured Escherichia Coli O157:H7 on Fresh-cut Cabbage during Cold Storage in High CO2 Atmospheres.

Viability of chlorine-injured E. coli O157:H7 inoculated onto shredded cabbage was evaluated during storage in air or high CO2 controlled atmospheres (CA) of 5%, 10%, and 15% at 10℃ and in a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) at 5℃ and 10℃. When shredded cabbage was inoculated with chlorine-injured E. coli O157:H7 (% injury = 65%) and then stored in air or CA at 10℃, counts of E. coli O157:H7 increased during storage and injured E. coli O157:H7 (% injury = 34-66%) were detected on samples throughout the storage regardless of the CO2 atmosphere. When shredded cabbage inoculated with chlorine injured E. coli O157:H7 (% injury = 45-59%) were stored in a MAP using either a high or low oxygen transmission permeability (OTR) package film, the counts of E. coli O157:H7 increased during storage at 10℃ and they remained constant during storage at 5℃. Injured E. coli O157:H7 were detected on shredded cabbage at a 54-56% level in a low OTR film at 10℃ and a 73-74% level in a high OTR film at 5℃. These results indicated that chlorine-injured E. coli O157:H7 inoculated on fresh-cut cabbage exhibited different degrees of injury during storage in a high CO2 CA and MAP at 5℃ or 10℃.

Viability of sublethally injured coliform bacteria on fresh-cut cabbage stored in high CO2 atmospheres following rinsing with electrolyzed water

The extent of sublethally injured coliform bacteria on shredded cabbage, either rinsed or not rinsed with electrolyzed water, was evaluated during storage in air and high CO2 controlled atmospheres (5%, 10%, and 15%) at 5°C and 10°C using the thin agar layer (TAL) method. Sublethally injured coliform bacteria on nonrinsed shredded cabbage were either absent or they were injured at a 64–65% level when present. Rinsing of shredded cabbage with electrolyzed water containing 25ppm available chlorine reduced the coliform counts by 0.4 to 1.1 log and caused sublethal injury ranging from 42 to 77%. Pantoea ananatis was one of the species injured by chlorine stress. When shredded cabbage, nonrinsed or rinsed with electrolyzed water, was stored in air and high CO2 atmospheres at 5°C for 7days and 10°C for 5days, coliform counts on TAL plates increased from 3.3–4.5 to 6.5–9.0 log CFU/g during storage, with the increase being greater at 10°C than at 5°C. High CO2 of 10% and 15% reduced the bacterial growth on shredded cabbage during storage at 5°C. Although injured coliform bacteria were not found on nonrinsed shredded cabbage on the initial day, injured coliforms at a range of 49–84% were detected on samples stored in air and high CO2 atmospheres at 5°C and 10°C. Injured cells were detected more frequently during storage at both temperatures irrespective of the CO2 atmosphere when shredded cabbage was rinsed with electrolyzed water. These results indicated that injured coliform bacteria on shredded cabbage, either rinsed or not rinsed with electrolyzed water, exhibited different degrees of injury during storage regardless of the CO2 atmosphere and temperature tested.

Leaf injury and its effect towards shelf-life and quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) spinach

Ready-to-eat (RTE) leafy vegetables are the fastest increasing sector of the UK and Europe markets. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is one of the main leafy vegetables contributing to the RTE industry. Due to its tender and soft texture, spinach leaves tend to undergo different degrees of injuries during processing steps which affect their quality and shelf life. In this study, the effect of compression on quality degradation of spinach leaves during storage was investigated. Spinach leaves were subjected to compression using Universal Testing Machine where Young’s modulus for spinach in bulk amount; imitating packaged spinach in the industry was evaluated. Visual appearance was assessed by Population test where leaves were classified into categories according to degree of damage and percentage of deterioration was evaluated by analyzing RGB images using ImageJ. To understand the behavior better, microstructural property of the spinach was observed under light microscope. Organic spinach was found to be the best in resisting stress and damage compared to Teen, Salad and Baby spinach. Reducing weight of spinach inside the packaging bag, while putting appropriate weight reduced the possibility of the leaves inside the bag to be compressed due to the crowdedness inside the bag thus lowered the risk for accidental mechanical leaf damage. Including already broken leaves inside the packaging bag together with good leaves accelerates the deterioration of the whole leaves inside the bag. Halfway and complete teared leaves were found to be not acceptable to eat after 8 days of storage whereas control, undamaged and minor teared leaves were still acceptable to eat after 14 days of storage. The mechanical stress gave significant effect on the physical quality and mechanical property of spinach. Increasing the compression force did not change the cell sizes but changed the structure of the cells. This work provide basis to understand the physical quality and mechanical property of bulk spinach which can be used to improve the quality and shelf life of the packaged RTE spinach throughout the distribution chain.

Drainage à pression négative en préopératoire des traumatismes complexes ouverts de la main : à propos de 17 cas

BackgroundFew studies have been conducted to explore the use of the vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technique in complex hand injuries. The aim of this study was to report outcomes in patients with complex hand injuries receiving VSD as a coadjuvant treatment prior to second-stage surgery. MethodsThis case series study retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent VSD for treatment of hand injuries. Inclusion criteria for the study were: (1) traumatic soft tissue defects of the hand and wrist, accompanied by different degrees of injury and exposure of bone, tendon, or blood vessel; (2) the wound surface of hand and wrist was seriously contaminated and direct wound closure was not possible; and (3) the soft tissues of hand and wrist were seriously lacerated or avulsed, and showed necrosis or acute infection. After debridement, one-stage and/or two-stage repairs using healthy adjacent tissues were performed and the wound was covered by the VSD materials. The non-cytotoxic polyethylene alcohol hydration seaweed salt foam was applied during the VSD treatment for its good biocompatibility. The drainage tube was connected to the vacuum equipment and the negative pressures were set at –60kPa to –40kPa. The VSD device was left in place for 5 to 7 days before removal. Either free skin grafting or skin flap transplantation was used for wound closure and/or reconstructive surgery. The hand injury severity score was used to assess wound severity. The surgical results were scored using the total active motion classification. ResultsA total of 17 patients (13 and 4 patients had major and severe hand injuries), averaging 33.8years were included. During the study period, 6 patients with severe hand injuries were not treated with VSD for the following reasons: (1) hemodynamic instability (n=1); (2) impaired coagulation function (n=1); (3) uncontrollable hemorrhage on the wound surface (n=2); and (4) exposure of the main blood vessels after surgical repair (n=2). VSD treatment was performed for an average of 7.4days (range, 6–14days) and the duration of wound healing averaged 23days (range, 20–43days). Wound infection was not reported prior to second-stage surgery. Only one of 17 patients had superficial necrosis at the flap edge, for a success rate of 94%. Average follow-up was 8.7months (range, 4–13months). Twelve (71%) patients reported excellent or good, four (23%) reported fair, and one (6%) reported poor results. ConclusionThe VSD can effectively promote safe and rapid repair of local soft tissues with good prognosis.

Vacuum sealing drainage as a pre-surgical adjunct in the treatment of complex (open) hand injuries: Report of 17 cases

BackgroundFew studies have been conducted to explore the use of the vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technique in complex hand injuries. The aim of this study was to report outcomes in patients with complex hand injuries receiving VSD as a coadjuvant treatment prior to second-stage surgery. MethodsThis case series study retrospectively reviewed the patients who underwent VSD for treatment of hand injuries. Inclusion criteria for the study were: (1) traumatic soft tissue defects of the hand and wrist, accompanied by different degrees of injury and exposure of bone, tendon, or blood vessel; (2) the wound surface of hand and wrist was seriously contaminated and direct wound closure was not possible; and (3) the soft tissues of hand and wrist were seriously lacerated or avulsed, and showed necrosis or acute infection. After debridement, one-stage and/or two-stage repairs using healthy adjacent tissues were performed and the wound was covered by the VSD materials. The non-cytotoxic polyethylene alcohol hydration seaweed salt foam was applied during the VSD treatment for its good biocompatibility. The drainage tube was connected to the vacuum equipment and the negative pressures were set at –60kPa to –40kPa. The VSD device was left in place for 5 to 7 days before removal. Either free skin grafting or skin flap transplantation was used for wound closure and/or reconstructive surgery. The hand injury severity score was used to assess wound severity. The surgical results were scored using the total active motion classification. ResultsA total of 17 patients (13 and 4 patients had major and severe hand injuries), averaging 33.8 years were included. During the study period, 6 patients with severe hand injuries were not treated with VSD for the following reasons: (1) hemodynamic instability (n=1); (2) impaired coagulation function (n=1); (3) uncontrollable hemorrhage on the wound surface (n=2); and (4) exposure of the main blood vessels after surgical repair (n=2). VSD treatment was performed for an average of 7.4 days (range, 6–14 days) and the duration of wound healing averaged 23 days (range, 20–43 days). Wound infection was not reported prior to second-stage surgery. Only one of 17 patients had superficial necrosis at the flap edge, for a success rate of 94%. Average follow-up was 8.7 months (range, 4–13 months). Twelve (71%) patients reported excellent or good, four (23%) reported fair, and one (6%) reported poor results. ConclusionThe VSD can effectively promote safe and rapid repair of local soft tissues with good prognosis.

Can an injured nerve be used as a donor nerve for distal nerve transfer?-An experimental study in rats.

Distal nerve transfer has proven efficacy. The purpose of this study was to investigate if an injured nerve can be used as a donor nerve for transfer, and to determine the threshold of injury. Rat's left ulnar-nerves in the axilla with different degrees of injury were selected as the donor nerves for transfer, and the musculocutaneous-nerves the target nerves for being re-innervated. Six rats each served as positive and negative controls: Group A, intact ulnar-nerve transfer; and Group E, the ulnar-nerve was cut but no transfer. Ten rats each were assigned to Group B to Group D with 25%, 50%, and 75% transected ulnar-nerve, respectively and all were transferred to the musculocutaneous-nerve. After a 12-week recovery period, outcomes were evaluated. Biceps muscle weight measurements showed all experimental groups-D 0.28 ± 0.02 g/72%, C 0.28 ± 0.03 g/73%, B 0.29 ± 0.04 g/74%, and A 0.29 ± 0.04 g/80%-were lighter than group H 0.36 ± 0.04 g, which were all statistically significant (P < 0.001). Muscle tetanus contraction force measurements were the lowest in group D35 ± 8.6 g/69%. Groups C and B measured 41 ± 8.5 g/75% and 40 ± 2.2 g/77% and group A 41 ± 9.4 g/95%, respectively. Group H showed muscle contraction force of 52 ± 7.2 g, which was statistically significant when compared to experimental groups (P < 0.05-0.001). EMG measurements of the biceps muscles showed: group D was 3.6 ± 0.7 mV/69%, group C was 3.6 ± 0.6 mV/75%, and group B was 4.2 mV ± 0.7/81%. Group H was5.1 ± 0.7 mV and statistically significant different when compared with experimental groups (P < 0.05-0.001).Axon counts of healthy ulnar-nerve (Group H) were 1849 ± 362. Axon counts of the injured ulnar-nerve were in group B 1447 ± 579/78%, group C 1051 ± 367/57% and group D 567 ± 230/31%. The donor nerve should be healthy in order to provide optimal result. A big nerve (e.g., ulnar nerve) but injured with at least 75% axon spared is still potentially effective for transfer. In contrast, a small nerve (e.g., intercostal nerve) once injured with 75%axon spared would be considered a suboptimal donor nerve.

Stability of rat models of fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury: comparison of three different impact forces.

Fluid percussion-induced traumatic brain injury models have been widely used in experimental research for years. In an experiment, the stability of impaction is inevitably affected by factors such as the appearance of liquid spikes. Management of impact pressure is a crucial factor that determines the stability of these models, and direction of impact control is another basic element. To improve experimental stability, we calculated a pressure curve by generating repeated impacts using a fluid percussion device at different pendulum angles. A stereotactic frame was used to control the direction of impact. We produced stable and reproducible models, including mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury, using the MODEL01-B device at pendulum angles of 6°, 11° and 13°, with corresponding impact force values of 1.0 ± 0.11 atm (101.32 ± 11.16 kPa), 2.6 ± 0.16 atm (263.44 ± 16.21 kPa), and 3.6 ± 0.16 atm (364.77 ± 16.21 kPa), respectively. Behavioral tests, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that models for different degrees of injury were consistent with the clinical properties of mild, moderate, and severe craniocerebral injuries. Using this method, we established fluid percussion models for different degrees of injury and stabilized pathological features based on precise power and direction control.

Localization and expression of heat shock protein 70 with rat myocardial cell damage induced by heat stress in vitro and in vivo

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 expression kinetics and heat stress‑induced damage to rat myocardial cells in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the activity of heart injury‑associated enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, significantly increased and myocardial cells developed acute histopathological lesions; this therefore suggested that heat stress altered the integrity of myocardial cells in vitro and in vivo. Levels of Hsp70 in vitro decreased following the initiation of heat stress and then steadily increased until heat stress ceased at 100 min; however, in vivo studies demonstrated a gradual increase in Hsp70 levels in the heart cells of rats from the initiation of heat stress, followed by a sharp decline at 100 min. These results indicated that the cells sustained different degrees of injury in vivo compared with those sustained in vitro, this may be due to different regulatory mechanisms in the two environments. Intracytoplasmic Hsp70 signaling was significantly reduced at 60 min in vitro, compared with that of the in vivo study, indicating that Hsp70 consumption may have exceeded its production prior to 60 min of heat stress, and following 60 min the cells produced sufficient Hsp70 protein for their protection against heat stress. Hsp70‑positive signals in the cytoplasm of heart cells in vivo were more prominent in the intact areas compared with those of the degenerated areas and the density of Hsp70‑positive signals was significantly reduced following 60 min of heat stress. In conclusion, comprehensive comparisons of enzymes, cell morphology and Hsp70 levels indicated that decreased levels of Hsp70 were associated with the reduced protective effect on myocardial cells in vitro and in vivo.

Interdependent Changes in Axons and Schwann Cells during Reactive Rearrangements of Myelinated Fibers

Inverted phase contrast microscopy was used to study living undamaged frog sciatic nerve fibers and fibers subjected to different degrees of injury. Swelling of myelin incisures (MI) (Schmidt–Lanterman clefts) was found to occur in a manner similar to that observed for changes in nodes of Ranvier and to depend on swelling of the Schwann cell (SC) perikaryon. This was found to be a single process, which could be combined with nonspecific changes in nerve fiber myelin. Swelling of MI, nodes of Ranvier, and SC perikarya on exposure to mechanical trauma and hypotonic solution occurred without any change in the external diameter of fibers, as a result of marked local axon thinning. Electron microscopic studies of axon cytoskeletal structures showed that this was not merely local narrowing – a significant role was played by increases in the distribution density of the cytoskeletal components of the axoplasm (by 200–275%). These reversible reactive rearrangements to myelin fibers suggest a new type of interaction between axons and SC, with a mechanism of reversible translocation of the liquid fraction of the axoplasm into the cytoplasm of gliocytes.

Sciatic nerve injury: A simple and subtle model for investigating many aspects of nervous system damage and recovery

Sciatic nerve injury has been used for over a century to investigate the process of nerve damage, to assess the absolute and relative capacity of the central and peripheral nervous systems to recover after axotomy, and to understand the development of chronic pain in many pathologies. Here we provide a historical review of the contributions of this experimental model to our current understanding of fundamental questions in the neurosciences, and an assessment of its continuing capacity to address these and future problems. We describe the different degrees of nerve injury - neurapraxia, axonotmesis, neurotmesis - together with the consequences of selective damage to the different functional and anatomic components of this nerve. The varied techniques used to model different degrees of nerve injury and their relationship to the development of neuropathic pain states are considered. We also provide a detailed anatomical description of the sciatic nerve from the spinal cord to the peripheral branches in the leg. A standardized protocol for carrying out sciatic nerve axotomy is proposed, with guides to assist in the accurate and reliable dissection of the peripheral and central branches of the nerve. Functional, histological, and biochemical criteria for the validation of the injury are described. Thus, this paper provides a review of the principal features of sciatic nerve injury, presents detailed neuroanatomical descriptions of the rat's inferior limb and spine, compares different modes of injury, offers material for training purposes, and summarizes the immediate and longterm consequences of damage to the sciatic nerve.

Beam Structure Damage Identification Based on BP Neural Network and Support Vector Machine

It is not easy to find marine cracks of structures by directly manual testing. When the cracks of important components are extended under extreme offshore environment, the whole structure would lose efficacy, endanger the staff’s safety, and course a significant economic loss and marine environment pollution. Thus, early discovery of structure cracks is very important. In this paper, a beam structure damage identification model based on intelligent algorithm is firstly proposed to identify partial cracks in supported beams on ocean platform. In order to obtain the replacement mode and strain mode of the beams, the paper takes simple supported beam with single crack and double cracks as an example. The results show that the difference curves of strain mode change drastically only on the injured part and different degrees of injury would result in different mutation degrees of difference curve more or less. While the model based on support vector machine (SVM) and BP neural network can identify cracks of supported beam intelligently, the methods can discern injured degrees of sound condition, single crack, and double cracks. Furthermore, the two methods are compared. The results show that the two methods presented in the paper have a preferable identification precision and adaptation. And damage identification based on support vector machine (SVM) has smaller error results.

The pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury at a glance

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an impact, penetration or rapid movement of the brain within the skull that results in altered mental state. TBI occurs more than any other disease, including breast cancer, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, and affects all age groups and both genders. In the US and Europe, the magnitude of this epidemic has drawn national attention owing to the publicity received by injured athletes and military personnel. This increased public awareness has uncovered a number of unanswered questions concerning TBI, and we are increasingly aware of the lack of treatment options for a crisis that affects millions. Although each case of TBI is unique and affected individuals display different degrees of injury, different regional patterns of injury and different recovery profiles, this review and accompanying poster aim to illustrate some of the common underlying neurochemical and metabolic responses to TBI. Recognition of these recurrent features could allow elucidation of potential therapeutic targets for early intervention.

Different symptoms of neuropathic pain can be induced by different degrees of compressive force on the C7 dorsal root of rats

Neuropathic pain after nerve injuries is characterized by positive and negative sensory symptoms and signs. The extent of sensory fiber loss after nerve injuries has been demonstrated to correlate with symptoms of neuropathic pain by quantitative sensory testing and confirmed by biopsies of small nerve fibers. However, the relationship between the pathologic changes of large nerves on injuries and resulting pain symptoms remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between the extent of dorsal root injury and resulting symptoms of neuropathic pain. Nerve injury and assessment of the following pain-related behaviors and neuropathologic changes. A total of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 g were randomly divided into three groups (n=8 each): sham group operated on but without nerve compression, 70 gf group, and 180 gf group; a compression force of 70 or 180 g was applied to the right C7 dorsal root, separately. Threshold thermal and mechanical pains were measured before surgery (baseline) and on the first, third, fifth, and seventh day after surgery. On the seventh day after surgery, all rats were killed, and the structural alterations of nerve fibers within the compressed areas were examined. A compression force of 70 g resulted in hyperalgesia, whereas a compression force of 180 g induced hypoalgesia in the ipsilateral forepaw in response to both mechanical and thermal stimulations within 7 days after injury. Light microscopy and electron microscopy revealed a mild to moderate sensory fiber loss after 70-gf compression and a more severe sensory fiber loss after 180-gf compression. Transient injuries on sensory fibers can produce either positive or negative symptoms of neuropathic pain, and the different extent of sensory fiber loss after different degrees of injuries might account for the varied resulting symptoms of neuropathic pain.

Mediation of calcium oxalate crystal growth on human kidney epithelial cells with different degrees of injury

The current study examined the role of injured human kidney tubular epithelial cell (HKC) in the mediation of formation of calcium oxalate (CaOxa) crystals by means of scanning electronic microscopy and X-ray diffraction. HKC was injured using different concentrations of H2O2. Cell injury resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration and an increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and expression of osteopontin (OPN). Injured cells not only promote nucleation and aggregation of CaOxa crystals, but also induce the formation of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals that strongly adhere to cells. These results imply that injured HKCs promote stone formation by providing more nucleating sites for crystals, promoting the aggregation of crystals, and inducing the formation of COM crystals.

Hsp70 and HSF-1 expression is altered in the tissues of pigs transported for various periods of times

The aim of this study was to assess changes of Hsp70 and HSF-1 protein and mRNA expression in stress-sensitive organs of pigs during transportation for various periods of time. Twenty pigs were randomly divided into four groups (0 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h of transportation). A significant increased activity of AST and CK was observed after 1 h and 2 h of transportation. Histopathological changes in the heart, liver, and stomach indicated that these organs sustained different degrees of injury. Hsp70 protein expression in the heart and liver of transported pigs did not change significantly while it increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the stomach. Hsp70 mRNA levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the heart after 4 h of transportation. However, mRNA expression increased significantly in the liver after 1 (p < 0.05) and 4 h (p < 0.01) of transportation, and increased significantly in the stomach of the transported pigs after 1, 4 (p < 0.01), and 2 h (p < 0.05). HSF-1 levels were reduced at 1 and 4 h (p < 0.05) only in the hearts of transported pigs. These results indicate that Hsp70 mediates distinct stress-related functions in different tissues during transportation.

The Effects of High Altitude Hypoxia Environment on Ultrastructure and the Expression of HIF-1α in the Rat Lung

Background: Studies show that rapid access to high altitude, the body inevitably will be different degrees of injury, more significant damage to heart and lung [1 ~ 3]. The high altitude hypoxia on the lung tissue to adapt to structural changes and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression of the study rarely reported. The experimental area for a short time brought by the near sea level to higher altitudes rat lung tissue by light, electron microscopy and the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α changes were studied.Objective: To observe the altitude hypoxia on the ultrastructure of lung tissue and the hypoxia inducible factor-la (HIF-1α) expression.Methods: 50 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely group 1 d Golmud (altitude 2 700 m), 2 d Tanggula group (altitude 5 000 m), 3 d Nagqu group (altitude 4 500 m) and 30 d Nagqu group (altitude 4 500 m), the control group (in Xi'an, elevation 5 m). 4 time-consuming experimental animals 1 d from Xi'an to the Golmud, Qinghai (altitude 2 700 m), 2 d to the Tibetan Tanggula (altitude 5 000 m), 3 d to the Naqu (altitude 4500 m), 30 d in Tibet Nagqu. Light and electron microscopy of the lung tissue samples, Western Blot method to detect the lung tissue of hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression, RT-PCR method for detection of high altitude hypoxic group, lung tissue expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1αmRNA change. Results and Conclusions: Acute hypoxia 2d Tanggula microstructure and ultrastructure of lung tissue apparent high altitude pulmonary edema, and 30d after hypoxic Nagqu group after high altitude pulmonary edema was significantly reduced lung tissue Western blotting, not Canon See HIF-1α protein expression, RT-PCR detection of HIF-1αmRNA in the 30d Nagqu group, a certain amount of expression, the other three experimental groups HIF-1αmRNA expression was not significant (P&gt; 0.05), 30d Nagqu group HIF-lamRNA expression was significantly higher In the control group (P &lt;0.01). The results confirmed that the lung tissue after hypoxic expression of HIF-1αmRNA increase will help reduce the hypoxic altitude pulmonary edema.

Ischemic Dose-Response in the Spinal Cord: Both Immediate and Delayed Paraplegia

Paraplegia remains a significant complication of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery. The study of this spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion injury (SCIR) has been stifled by the constraints of current models. Large animal models are costly and restricting with regard to mechanisms of both injury and protection. While few studies of a murine model of SCIR have been published, the dose-response curve of the ischemic injury has not yet been published. We hypothesized that a viable dose-response curve of the neurological injury relative to the ischemic time could be developed. Through a cervicothoracic approach, the aortic arches of C57bl/6 mice were exposed to the origins of the left common carotid and the left subclavian arteries. The aorta was clamped between these two vessels with additional occlusion of the left subclavian artery. Ischemic times ranged from 3 to 12 min. Hindlimb motor function was observed for 48 h. Survival and motor function were evaluated. Spinal cord tissue was preserved for histologic analysis. Survival curves showed increasing mortality with increasing spinal cord ischemia. This model reproduced spinal cord injury ranging from immediate paraplegia to progressive paraparesis depending on the ischemic time. Spinal cord histology mirrored the extent of functional deficits. Reproducible spinal cord ischemic injury is possible in a murine model and is directly translatable to thoracoabdominal surgery. The dose-response curve demonstrates that different degrees of injury can be studied from dense paraplegia to delayed onset injury depending on the ischemic insult.