Groups HC Research Articles

Occlusion of dentinal tubules on periodontally involved teeth by dentifrice containing stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride.

This study examined the occlusion effect of a dentifrice containing stannous fluoride (SnF2) and sodium fluoride (NaF) on periodontally involved teeth in comparison with healthy teeth using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in comparison with a dentifrice containing NaF alone. Sixty dentine samples obtained from single-rooted premolars, 15 of them extracted for orthodontic reasons (Group H) and 15 because of periodontal destruction (Group P), were included in the study. Each group of specimens was further divided into subgroups: HC and PC (control), H1 and P1 (treated with SnF2 and NaF), and H2 and P2 (treated with NaF). The samples were brushed twice a day for 7 days, kept in artificial saliva, and examined by SEM. The diameters of open tubules and the numbers of tubules were assessed at ×2,000 magnification. The H and P groups showed similar diameters of open tubules. The numbers of open tubules in Groups H1, P1, H2, and P2 were significantly lower than in Groups HC and PC (P < 0.001), and consistent with the percentages of occluded tubules. Group P1 had the highest percentage of occluded tubules. Although both dentifrices were found to successfully occlude dentinal tubules, the dentifrice containing SnF2 and NaF provided the highest degree of occlusion in periodontally involved teeth.

Testicular heat shock protein effects of Methanolic and Phenolic extracts of N. sativa seed in chronic heat-stressed male Wistar rats

In order to evaluate the efficacy of crude methanolic and phenolic extracts of Nigella sativa seed in modulating protective role response in mammals under chronic heat stress. Forty nine mature male Wister rats (weighted: 250 ± 10 g, aged: 8 weeks) has been randomly divided into 7 equal groups. Four groups were reared under normal room temperature (20±1ºC) which included negative control (Nc) was reared without any treatment, positive control (C) was drenched with drinking water, treated group (M) was drenched with metanolic extract of N. sativa (1 g/ kg bw), and treated group (P) was drenched with phenolic extract of N. sativa (0.3 g/ kg bw). Other three groups has been reared under high room temperature (35 ± 1 cº) which included heated positive control (Hc) was drenched drinking water, heated treated group (Hm) was drenched with methanolic extract of N. sativa (1 g/ kg bw), and heated treated group (Hp) was drenched with phenolic extract of N. sativa (0.3 g/ kg bw). The experiment extended for 18 days.Twenty four hours after the last day of experiment, male rats has been sacrificed and body organs testis was removed and weighted .Testis samples (100 mg) were quickly obtained and putted in liquid nitrogen for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression analysis using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Revealed insignificant differences in testes weights among the experimental groups. RT-PCR results showed that level of mRNA expression of HSP70 gene in testis tissues in treatment groups methanolic extract (M, Hm) (1g/ kg, BW, daily) and phenolic compound (P, Hp, 0.3g/ kg, BW, daily) of Nigella sativa seed was significantly higher than that of non-treated groups (Nc, C, and Hc). We have suggested that crude methanolic extract and phenolic compounds obtained from Nigella sativa seed have an efficient role in modulating protective role response of mammals under chronic heat stress in mature male Wistar rats.

Intermittent hypoxia is involved in gut microbial dysbiosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has been recognized as a comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); more than half of T2DM patients suffer from OSAHS. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) plays an important role in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and OSAHS, through various mechanisms, including altering the gut microecological composition and function. Therefore, it is important to study the role of gut microbiota in T2DM patients with OSAHS, which has a high incidence and is prone to several complications. AIMTo assess whether IH is involved in altering the fecal microbiome in T2DM patients with OSAHS. METHODSSeventy-eight participants were enrolled from Henan Province People’s Hospital and divided into healthy control (HC, n = 26), T2DM (n = 25), and T2DM + OSA (n = 27) groups based on their conditions. The fecal bacterial DNA of the research participants was extracted and subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The clinical indices, such as insulin resistance index, homocysteine (HCY) concentration, and the concentrations of inflammatory factors in the peripheral blood, were assessed and recorded.RESULTSGroup T2DM + OSA had the highest apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (2.3 vs 3.7 vs 13.7), oxygen desaturation index (0.65 vs 2.2 vs 9.1), HCY concentration (9.6 μmol/L vs 10.3 μmol/L vs 13.81 μmol/L) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (0.3 mg/L vs 1.43 mg/L vs 2.11 mg/L), and lowest mean oxygen saturation (97.05% vs 96.6% vs 94.7%) among the three groups. Twelve and fifteen key differences in amplicon sequence variants were identified when comparing group T2DM + OSA with groups T2DM and HC, respectively. We found progressively decreased levels of Faecalibacterium, Eubacterium, and Lachnospiraceae, and an increase in the level of Actinomyces, which strongly correlated with the HCY, CRP, fasting plasma glucose, and hemoglobin A1c concentrations, AHI, mean oxygen saturation, and insulin resistance index in group T2DM + OSA (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONFor T2DM patients with OSAHS, IH may be involved in selective alterations of the gut microbiota, which may affect the pathophysiological development of T2DM and DM-related complications.

Effects Of Exercise On The Expression Of Kiss-1/GPR54 In Testis Of High-fat Diet Rats In Growth Phase

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of exercise on localization and expression of KISS-1 and GPR54 in the growth period (PND 21st to 56th day) of high-fat diet rat testes. METHODS: 21D old weanling rats were randomly divided into group HC (n=32) and group HE (n=32). HE group took 5-weeks trained (60-70% vVO2max, 1h/day, 5days/week). Groups HC and HE were fed with high-fat feed, which was purchased from Beijing Huafukang Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (LOT No: D12451).The rats of two groups were killed on the 21st D, 35th D, 43rd D, and 56th D old. The localization, mRNA expression and protein expression of KISS-1/GPR54 in the testis of each group were tested. RESULTS: The high-fat diet intervention resulted in a decrease in testicular index from pre-puberty(p<0.05); testicular tissue testosterone decreased significantly from prepuberty(p<0.01), and endocrine function was impaired; rat testicular tissue structure was loose, and the number of mature sperm decreased. The high-fat diet intervention had no significant effect on the localization of KISS-1/GPR54 system in rat testis, but affected the expression of KISS-1/GPR54 in rat testis and down-regulated the expression of KISS-1 protein(p<0.01). Exercise intervention can improve testicular development in rats with high-fat diet, especially to improve sex hormone disorders caused by high-fat diet. Under exercise intervention, the testicular tissue testosterone decline caused by high-fat diet was improved(p<0.05). Comparing with HC group, the expression of GPR54 protein increased significantly(p<0.01),but the KISS-1 protein expression had no obvious change(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: High-fat diet can inhibit the testicular development of male rats in the growth phase, and can also down-regulate the protein and gene expression levels of KISS-1/GPR54 system in testis tissue, and change the expression of KISS-1/GPR54 system, and its role needs further study. 60~70% VO2max moderate-intensity aerobic exercise change the inhibitory effect of high-fat diet on testicular development in male rats, and up-regulate KISS-1/GPR54 in prepubertal stage and whether KISS-1/GPR54 in testicular tissue participates in its regulation remains to be further study.

Comparison of intraoperative cortisol levels after preoperative hydrocortisone administration versus placebo in patients without adrenal insufficiency undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal removal of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas: a double-blind randomized trial.

In this double-blind randomized trial, the necessity of preoperative steroid administration in patients without adrenal insufficiency (AI) undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) for pituitary adenoma was evaluated. Forty patients with and without AI, defined as a peak cortisol level > 18 µg/dl on the insulin tolerance test or rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) test, undergoing ETSS for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas were randomly allocated to treatment with either 100 mg of preoperative hydrocortisone (group HC, n = 20) or normal saline (group C, n = 20). The patients with pituitary apoplexy, the use of a drug within the last 3 months that could affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or a previous history of brain or adrenal surgery were excluded. Intraoperative cortisol and ACTH levels were measured after anesthesia induction, dura incision, and tumor removal, and at the end of surgery. Intraoperative hypotension, early postoperative AI, and postoperative 3-month pituitary function were investigated. Intraoperative serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in the HC group than in the C group after anesthesia induction (median 69.0 µg/dl [IQR 62.2-89.6 µg/dl] vs 12.7 µg/dl [IQR 8.4-18.2 µg/dl], median difference 57.5 µg/dl [95% CI 33.0-172.9 µg/dl]), after dura incision (median 53.2 µg/dl [IQR 44.9-63.8 µg/dl] vs 6.4 [IQR 4.8-9.2 µg/dl], median difference 46.6 µg/dl [95% CI 13.3-89.2 µg/dl]), after tumor removal (median 49.5 µg/dl [IQR 43.6-62.4 µg/dl] vs 9.2 µg/dl [IQR 5.75-16.7 µg/dl], median difference 39.4 µg/dl [95% CI 0.3-78.1 µg/dl]), and at the end of surgery (median 46.9 µg/dl [IQR 40.1-63.4 µg/dl] vs 16.9 µg/dl [IQR 12.1-23.2 µg/dl], median difference 32.2 µg/dl [95% CI -42.0 to 228.1 µg/dl]). Serum ACTH levels were significantly lower in group HC than in group C after anesthesia induction (median 3.9 pmol/L [IQR 1.7-5.2 pmol/L] vs 6.9 pmol/L [IQR 3.9-11.9 pmol/L], p = 0.007). No patient showed intraoperative hypotension due to AI. Early postoperative AI was observed in 3 and 5 patients in groups HC and C, respectively. The postoperative 3-month pituitary hormone outcomes including ACTH deficiency were not different between groups. Preoperative steroid administration may be unnecessary in patients without AI undergoing ETSS for nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas. However, a further large-scale study is needed to determine whether preoperative steroid administration has a significant impact on clinically meaningful events such as perioperative AI and postoperative 3-month ACTH deficiency in these patients.Korean Clinical Trial Registry no.: KCT0002426 (https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/).

Central venous pressure value can assist in adjusting norepinephrine dosage after the initial resuscitation of septic shock.

New definitions for sepsis and septic shock (Sepsis-3) were published, but the strategy to adjust vasopressors after the initial guidelines is still unclear. We conducted a retrospective observational study to explore dosing strategy of norepinephrine (NE). A retrospective observational study in the 15-bed mixed intensive care unit of a tertiary care university hospital. The study was performed on septic shock patients after 30 mL/kg fluid resuscitation and mean arterial pressure (MAP) levels reached >65 mmHg requiring NE. We divided patients into NE dosage increase and decrease groups, and collected hemodynamic and tissue perfusion parameters before (T1) and after (T2) adjusting NE dosage. In both NE increase and decrease groups, central venous pressure (CVP) and pressure difference between usual MAP and MAP (dMAP) at the T1 time point were associated with lactate clearance. In groups LC HM (CVP <10 mmHg, dMAP > 0 mmHg) and HC HM (CVP ≥ 10 mmHg, dMAP > 0 mmHg), decrease in NE dosage decreased lactate level, while in group HC LM (CVP ≥ 10 mmHg, dMAP ≤ 0 mmHg), both increase and decrease in NE dosage led to increase lactate level. After patients with septic shock (Sepsis-3) resuscitated to reach the initial recovery target goals, combination of CVP and MAP refer to usual levels can help doctors make the next decision to make the correct choice of increase NE dosage or decrease NE dosage.

Clinical research on two preventive measures for facial skin injury caused by endotracheal intubation and fixation

Objective To find a safer and more effective facial care method, reduce the incidence rate of facial skin injury, and improve patients' comfort level, as well as work efficiency of nursing. Methods 90 patients with orotracheal intubation were divided into the control group, transparent dressing group and skin protecting membrane group by random number table method. The control group was conducted with basic facial nursing; the transparent dressing group was applied with protective transparent dressing on the basis of basic facial nursing; the skin protecting membrane group was applied with skin protecting membrane on the basis of basic facial nursing. This research was conducted by observing and recording the incidence rate of skin injury, severity of skin injury, patients' comfort level, duration of skin care and the results. Results The incidence rate of facial skin injury was as follows: skin protecting membrane group 6.89% (2/29)and transparent dressing group 15.15% (5/33)were better than the control group 50.00% (14/28), statistical significance was found among the three groups (χ2=16.75,P < 0.05); The times of facial skin nursing was as follows: the skin protecting membrane group (4.28±0.53) times was less than transparent dressing group (4.52±0.76) times and the control group (6.04±1.35) times, statistical significance was found among the three groups (Hc=32.65, P < 0.05). Patients' comfort level comparison were as follows: the skin protecting membrane group was better than transparent dressing group and the control group, statistical significance was found among the three groups (Hc=22.42,P < 0.05);Duration of skin care were as follows: skin protecting membrane group (10.40±1.35) minutes was less than transparent dressing group (14.09±1.27) minutes and the control group (12.35 ±1.28) minutes, statistical significance was found among the three groups (F=85.87, P< 0.05). Conclusions Skin protective membrane can effectively reduce the incidence and severity of facial skin injury on patients with orotracheal incubation, improve patients' comfort level, and greatly reduce operation time for nurses through its easer operation and less time consumption. Key words: Facial skin injury; Orotracheal incubation; Skin protective membrane; Clinical research

The Process of Internationalization of JAC Motors in Brazil From the Standpoint of Sustainable Organizational Behavior

The present study has the target of understanding the process of internationalization of the Chinese automaker JAC Motors in Brazil, as well as identifying if the Brazilian group SHC that brought it to the country and controls its operations in the Brazilian market holds a sustainable organizational behavior. The theoretical basis used to understand the internationalization process was the economic theories described by Dunning and behavioral theories from Uppsala University. In addition, we looked at documents and data from the Chinese government in order to understand the policy towards sustainability and innovation processes in the country. Also a vast bibliographic research has been performed regarding the term sustainable organizational behavior in order to support the research made over the SHC group in which we approached the questions related to the interest the group had on JAC Motors, which drove JAC Motors to get into the Brazilian market, questions regarding sustainable management, resources allocation as well as aspects related to innovation and technology.

Baccaurea angulata fruit inhibits lipid peroxidation and induces the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities.

The consequence of the increased demand due to the population expansion has put tremendous pressure on the natural supply of fruits. Hence, there is an unprecedented growing interest in the exploration of the potentials of underutilized fruits as alternatives to the commercially available fruits. Baccaurea angulata is an underutilized fruit widely distributed in Borneo Island of Malaysia. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of B. angulata whole fruit (WF), skin (SK) and pulp (PL) juices on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant enzymes in rabbits fed high-cholesterol diet. Thirty-six male rabbits of New Zealand strain were randomly assigned to six groups. Rabbits were fed either a standard pellet (group NC) or a high-cholesterol diet (groups HC, PC, WF, SK and PL). Groups WF, SK and PL were also given 1ml/kg/day B. angulata WF, SK and PL juices, respectively. Baccaurea angulata had high antioxidant activities. The administration of the various juices significantly reduced (p<0.05) the concentration of induced plasma MDA. The decrease in the SOD, GPx, CAT and TAC levels caused by cholesterol feeding was also ameliorated with B. angulata. Our results show that B. angulata fruit is beneficial in positively influencing and managing oxidative damage.

Efficacy of chlortetracycline treatment on vulvar non-neoplastic epithelial disorders

To observe the effectiveness of chlortetracycline (aureomycin) treatment on vulval white lesions and to explore its possible pathogenesis.From January 2001 to April 2011, 194 patients with vulvar non-neoplastic epithelial disorders were divided into three groups according to therapy regimens received, ie, chlortetracycline treatment group (72 cases), chlortetracycline + beclomethasone treatment group (66 cases), and beclomethasone treatment group (56 cases); their local changes of vulvar lesions were observed and efficacy of these treatment profiles was evaluated after one year.Effective rates of chlortetracycline group, chlortetracycline + clobetasol group and clobetasol groups were 86.1% (62/72), 87.9% (58/66), and 62.5% (35/56), respectively. There was a significant difference among these three groups (Hc = 10.7766,p = 0.0046), the curative rate of clobetasol group was markedly lower than that of the former two groups (p = 0.0072 and p = 0.0019), but was not statistical significant (p = 0.6077) when compared between the former groups.The occurrence of vulvar non-neoplastic epithelial disorders may be associated with chlamydia and mycoplasma infection, the chlortetracycline is an effective drug for this illness, the mechanism of which might be related to killing pathogens directly and inhibiting inflammatory mediators.

Cyclic homology, tight crossed products, and small stabilizations

In [1] we associated an algebra \Gamma^\infty (\mathfrak A) to every bornological algebra \mathfrak A and an ideal I_{S(\mathfrak A)}\vartriangleleft \Gamma^\infty (\mathfrak A) to every symmetric ideal S\vartriangleleft \ell^{infty} . We showed that I_{S(\mathfrak A)} has K -theoretical properties which are similar to those of the usual stabilization with respect to the ideal J_S\vartriangleleft \mathcal B of the algebra \mathcal B of bounded operators in Hilbert space which corresponds to S under Calkin's correspondence. In the current article we compute the relative cyclic homology HC_*(\Gamma^\infty (\mathfrak A):I_{S(\mathfrak A)}) . Using these calculations, and the results of loc. cit. , we prove that if \mathfrak A is a C^* -algebra and c_0 the symmetric ideal of sequences vanishing at infinity, then K_*(I_{c_0(\mathfrak A)}) is homotopy invariant, and that if *\ge 0 , it contains K^{\top}_*(\mathfrak A) as a direct summand. This is a weak analogue of the Suslin-Wodzicki theorem [20] that says that for the ideal \mathcal K=J_{c_0} of compact operators and the C^* -algebra tensor product \mathfrak A\overset{\sim}{\otimes}\mathcal K , we have K_*(\mathfrak A\overset{\sim}{\otimes} \mathcal K)=K^{\top}_*(\mathfrak A) . Similarly, we prove that if \mathfrak A is a unital Banach algebra and \ell^{\infty-}=\bigcup_{q&lt;\infty}\ell^q , then K_*(I_{\ell^{\infty-}(\mathfrak A)}) is invariant under Hölder continuous homotopies, and that for *\ge 0 it contains K^{\top}_*(\mathfrak A) as a direct summand. These K -theoretic results are obtained from cyclic homology computations. We also compute the relative cyclic homology groups HC_*(\Gamma^\infty (\mathfrak A):I_{S(\mathfrak A})) in terms of HC_*(\ell^{infty}(\mathfrak A):S(\mathfrak A)) for general \mathfrak A and S . For \mathfrak A=\mathbb C and general S , we further compute the latter groups in terms of algebraic differential forms. We prove that the map HC_n(\Gamma^\infty (\mathbb C):I_{S(\mathbb C)})\to HC_n(\mathcal B:J_S) is an isomorphism in many cases.

Application effect of moist heat compress of compound Danhong tincture for the prevention of phlebitis

Objective To investigate the effects of moist heat compress of compound Danhong tincture on the prevention of phlebitis.Methods Totals of 240 patients with the intravenous infusion treatment with dehydration swelling solution were divided into three groups （ Group A, Group B and Group C） , with 80 patients each.Group A was treated with the moist heat compress of compound Danhong tincture.Group B was treated with heat compress of Hirudoid.Group C was treated with the moist heat compress of 33%Magnesium sulfate. The moist heat compress was placed 2-3 centimeters above the puncture point 30 minutes after the intravenous infusion.The degree of local pain and the incidence of phlebitis of the three groups were compared among groups.Results In Group A, 70 patients had no pain;6 patients had mild pain and 4 patients had moderate or severe pain.In Group B, 42 patients had no pain;20 patients had mild pain and 18 patients had moderate or severe pain.In Group C, 40 patients had no pain;22 patients had mild pain and 18 patients had moderate or severe pain.There was a significant difference among groups （ Hc =29.857, P 〈0.01 ）.In Group A, 76 patients did not have phlebitis; 3 patients had degreeⅠ phlebitis;1 patient had degree Ⅱ or degree Ⅲphlebitis.In Group B, 67 patients did not have phlebitis;10 patients had degreeⅠ phlebitis;3 patients had degreeⅡor degree Ⅲ phlebitis.In Group C, 65 patients did not have phlebitis; 11 patients had degreeⅠphlebitis;4 patients had degree Ⅱ or degree Ⅲ phlebitis.There was a significant difference among groups （Hc =7.383,P〈0.05）.Conclusions The moist heat compress of compound Danhong tincture is effective for the early prevention of phlebitis.It can reduce the pain of infusion side upper limb and keep the infusion smoothly.It can also decrease the incidence of phlebitis and avoid the occurrence of severe phlebitis. Key words: Phlebitis; Infusion,intravenous; Compound Danhong tincture; Moist heat compress

Intergenerational effects of a maternal high fat diet on feto-placental development in a rabbit model

Intergenerational effects of a maternal high fat diet on feto-placental development in a rabbit model

Effect of alleviation of respiratory alkalosis covering mouth and nose with wet towels in hysteria patient

Objective To observe the effect of covering mouth and nose with wet towels on alleviation of respiratory alkalosis in hysteria patients.Methods One hundred and ninety patients with respiratory alkalosis induced by hysteria were chosen and randomly divided into three groups.The experimental group of 110 cases received the covering mouth and nose with the wet towel.The control group of 80 patients was divided into two groups according to random number tables,among them,40 patients received long barrel bag,and 40 patients received disposal double-layer masks.Results The effective rate of experimental group (100％) is higher than the control group (72.5％,77.5％),and the difference was statistically significant among three groups (Hc =17.41,P ＜0.05).Contusions Covering nose and mouth with wet towel to alleviate respiratory alkalosis in hysteria patients is a correct,timely and effective method,which can promote patient recovery and reduce the waste of medical resources. Key words: Alkalosis,respiratory; Hysteria; Covering mouth and nose with wet towels

Prognostic value of magnetic resonance imaging combined with electromyography in the surgical management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy

The present study aimed to evaluate the value of pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with electromyography (EMG) for predicting clinical outcome following surgical management of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). A total of 94 patients with cervical compressive myelopathy were prospectively enrolled and treated with anterior, posterior and posterior-anterior united decompression between October 2007 and February 2009. Prior to surgery 1.5-T MRI and EMG were performed in all patients. The patients were classified into four types based on the presence (+) or absence (−) of an increased signal intensity (ISI) on the T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images and also based on the positive (+)/negative (−) results of the EMG. The four types were as follows: Type I, MRI/EMG (−/−); Type II, MRI/EMG (+/−); Type III, MRI/EMG (−/+); and Type IV, MRI/EMG (+/+). The clinical outcome was also graded according to a modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system. Furthermore, pre- and post-operative clinical data were statistically analyzed to explore the correlation between the factors. There were 36 cases (38%) of Type I, 16 (17%) of Type II, 13 (14%) of Type III and 29 (31%) of Type IV. According to the analysis of the clinical data between the four types, there were significant differences in the disability classifications, pre-operative JOA scores and disease duration (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in gender, age or cord compression ratios (P>0.05). Until the final follow-up, there was a significant difference in the recovery ratio between the four study groups (Hc=27.46, P<0.05). Further comparison showed that the surgical outcome was best in Type I patients and worst in Type IV patients. In conclusion, there was a distinct correlation between classification and the rate of clinical improvement. Patients who had a negative EMG and those without an ISI on T2-weight images tended to suffer only mild symptoms, a short disease duration and, most significantly, experience a good surgical outcome.

Effects of hydrogen gas on myocardial injury in rats with endotoxemia

Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen gas on the myocardial injury in rats with endotoxemia.Methods Forty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-220 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =12 each ):control group (group C ),hydrogen gas control group (group HC ),endotoxemia group (group E) and hydrogen gas + endotoxemia group (group LH).Endotoxemia was induced by intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 20 mg/kg in groups E and LH,while the equal volume of normal saline was given in groups C and HC.After LPS administration,the rats were exposed to the air containing 2％ hydrogen gas for 6 h in groups HC and LH,and the rats were exposed to the air for 6 h in groups C and E.Blood samples were taken from the abdominal aorta after 6 h inhalation of hydrogen gas to determine the serum level of cTnI.The hearts were then removed to determine the content of TNF-α and IL-6 and expression of phosphorylated nuclear factor κB ( NF-κB) inhibitory protein (p-IκB-α) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) in the myocardial tissues.Results Compared with group C,no significant change was found in the levels of cTnI,TNF-α and IL-6 and expression of p-IκB-α and p-p38MAPK in group HC ( P ＞ 0.05),and the levels of cTnI,TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly increased and the expression of p-IκB-α and p-p38MAPK was up-regulated in groups E and LH ( P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group E,the levels of cTnI,TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased and the expression of p-IκB-α and p-p38MAPK was down-regulated in group LH ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Hydrogen gas can reduce the myocardial injury in rats with endotoxemia,and inhibition of the p38MAPK and NF-κB pro-inflammatory pathway and reduction of the inflammatory response of myocardial tissues are involved in the mechanism. Key words: Hydrogen; Toxemia; Myocardium

Effects of hypercholesterolemia on contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

To explore the effects of short- and long-term dietary hypercholesterolemia on contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The male Wistar rats were fed either a normal rodent diet or a high cholesterol diet. At the end of 2 and 8 weeks, 8 rats from each group received a tail vein injection of either Iohexol injection (groups NC and HC) or vehicle (groups N and H). Blood lipid, renal function, renal hemodynamics, renal and urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), renal nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined at Day 1 following the administration of contrast media. The dosing of contrast media induced obviously increased serum creatinine compared with normal rats ((185 ± 28) vs (53 ± 3) µmol/L, P < 0.01) and severe renal tubular necrosis in rats with a high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks but did not in normal-diet rats or rats with a high cholesterol diet for 2 weeks. The renal and urinary levels of PGE2 and TXB2 increased significantly in rats of groups H and HC at the end of 8 weeks. The renal production of nitric oxide decreased while the concentration of MDA increased markedly in groups HC and H at the end of 8 weeks. Long-term hypercholesterolemia appears to be a risk factor of contrast media-induced acute renal failure. And it may be associated with the disorder of intrarenal prostaglandins and the abnormality of renal nitric oxide system as induced by lipid peroxidation.

Ventolin in the treatment of cough with heat syndrome in 85 patients

Objective To observe the efficacy of ventolin in the treatment of cough with heat syndrome.Methods 85 pediatric patients who had been diagnosed as upper respiratory tract infections by Western medicine and as cough with heat syndrome by Chinese medicine were randomly assigned to receive routine therapy alone ( control group ),or routine therapy plus ventolin ( study group ).The efficacy was assessed on day 3 and was classified as cure,improvement,and no failure.The indexes for allergic reactions were detected in all the patients and the patients with positive indexes were compared with those with negative indexes in both groups.Results There was no significant difference in the efficacy between the two groups ( Hc =1.127,P ＞ 0.05 ).The efficacy differed significantly between the patients with positive indexes and those with negative indexes in the study group ( Hc =5.1,0.05=P ＞ 0.01 ).Conclusions Ventolin has no obvious advantage in the treatment of cough with heat syndrome; but it has a certain efficacy for patients who have allergic reaction. Key words: Ventolin; Syndrome differentiation; Cough with heat syndrome

The role of insulin growth factor on atherosclerosis and endothelial function: The effect on hyperlipidemia and aging

Aims Insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) signaling is important for a variety of age-related processes. However, whether or not it affects atherosclerosis is unknown. Main methods Six groups of 6 male New Zealand white rabbits were treated for 12 weeks under the following conditions: Groups YC and YIGF: Young rabbits (10 weeks old) were fed regular chow w/wo IGF-1(Somazon0.1 mg/kg/day, s.c.). Groups HC and HIGF: young rabbits were fed HCD (0.5% cholesterol plus regular chow) w/wo IGF-1. Groups OC and OIGF: old rabbits (120 weeks old) were fed regular chow w/wo IGF-1. Key findings Plasma lipid levels, endothelial responses and morphological findings did not differ between groups YIGF and YC. Animals in group HC had increased plasma lipid levels and atheromas. In group HIGF, IGF led to atheromas with increased plasma insulin growth factor binding protein 3 (IBP3), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) expression and nitrotyrosine staining, macrophage staining, SM1 staining and SM embryo staining compared to HC. Basal nitric oxide (NO) release evaluated by plasma NO metabolites (NOx) and cGMP levels were lowest in the HIGF group. Significance Overall, IGF-1 promoted atherosclerosis by affecting endothelial function and aging. These findings indicate that Insulin/IGF1 may contribute to atherogenesis in the elderly.

Improving the fertilizing ability of sex sorted boar spermatozoa

The sex sorting of spermatozoa by flow cytometry induces damage, since sperm cells are highly diluted, affecting their functionality and fertilizing ability. In this work it was investigated whether the concentration of sex sorted spermatozoa by the sedimentation method, rather than centrifugation, in combination with the presence of the seminal plasma protein PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer may improve their fertilizing ability. Spermatozoa were sorted by flow cytometry and collected in BTS with 10% of seminal plasma (group C: control) or with 1.5 mg/mL of PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer (group H). Collected spermatozoa from each medium were split into two aliquots. One aliquot of each group was centrifuged (800 × g/5 min) just after sorting and stored 16–18 h at 17 °C (groups Cc and Hc) at 6 × 10 6 sperm/mL. The second aliquot was directly stored at 17 °C for 16–18 °C (group Cs and Hs). After storage the supernatant was discarded and the sedimented pellet adjusted to 6 × 10 6 sperm/mL. Membrane integrity, acrosome status and motility characteristics of spermatozoa from all groups were assessed. Post-weaning pre-ovulatory sows were inseminated by laparoscopy into the oviduct with 0.3 × 10 6 sex sorted spermatozoa to assess their ability to penetrate oocytes in vivo. Putative zygotes were collected 18 h after insemination by washing the oviduct. Penetration and monospermic rates were evaluated. After 16–18 h of storage, centrifuged spermatozoa collected with 10% seminal plasma or 1.5 mg/mL PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer after sex sorting showed lower ( p < 0.05) percentages of membrane integrity, motility and fertilization than sedimented spermatozoa. Overall, the presence of 10% seminal plasma or PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer did not affect the results. However, a positive effect of PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer ( p < 0.05) was observed in sedimented spermatozoa. Hence, our results indicate that the sedimentation method in the presence of PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer improves the in vivo fertilizing ability of sex sorted boar spermatozoa.