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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effect of quercetin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice and explore its mechanism.@*METHODS@#Forty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group (with saline treatment), 15 mg/kg LPS group, and quercetin-treated groups with intragastric quercetin treatment (once daily for 3 consecutive days) at low (25 mg/kg) and high (50 mg/kg) dose prior to 15 mg/kg LPS injection. LPS was administered by intraperitoneally injection 1 after the last gavage of quercetin. The mice were sacrificed 24 h after LPS injection for analysis of kidney pathologies, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels; serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 were detected by ELISA, and the expressions of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), MyD88, TRAF-6 and NF-κBp65 in the kidney were detected by Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Quercetin significantly lessened renal pathologies, lowered BUN and creatinine levels ( < 0.05) and inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production in mice with LPS-induced AKI ( < 0.05). Pretreatment with quercetin also significantly inhibited TLR4, MyD88, and TRAF-6 expressions and NF-κBp65 activation in the kidneys of the rats with LPS challenge ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Quercetin pretreatment can protect mice against LPSinduced AKI by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Rats , Acute Kidney Injury , Antioxidants , Pharmacology , Lipopolysaccharides , Mice, Inbred BALB C , NF-kappa B , Quercetin , Pharmacology , Toll-Like Receptor 4 , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the restrictive factors in the development of foreign medical education. Methods From the years 2011 to 2013, 350 foreign students conducted a questionnaire survey in Chongqing Medical University, and recovered 339 valid questionnaires. Results Only 33.0%(112/339) students thought that the teacher's English was fluent and 70.2% (238/339) needed to add Chinese class. Additionally, 69.6% (236/339) and 63.1% (214/339) students considered theoretical knowledge and practi-cal experience were not enough. 92.3%(313/339) students came from developing countries in Southeast Asia. 86.1%(292/339) foreign students considered that university management was insufficient. Conclusion The survey found the restrictive factors included students' demand for English and Chinese, lack of medical ex-pertise and practice, the problem of student sources and daily management difficulties and so on.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of exhalation valve location as well as its type on carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).Methods With a standardized NPPV experimental model system, the exhalation valve was respectively installed between the ventilator tube and mask (positionⅠ), or on the mask (positionⅡ). This study included four groups according to the position and type of exhalation valve, namely: single-arch exhalation valve was installed on the positionⅠ (A group), and positionⅡ (C group, the distal end of single-arch exhalation valve was blocked); plateau exhalation valve was installed on the positionⅠ (B group) and positionⅡ (D group, the distal end of plateau exhalation valve was blocked). Under standard experimental condition, the pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) was monitored in the trachea or the mask through adjusting the expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP, EPAP was set at 5 cmH2O and 10 cmH2O, 1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa) and tidal volume (VT, VT was set at 300, 400, 500 mL). Leakage of exhalation valve was monitored when single-arch exhalation and plateau exhalation valves were respectively placed in the positionⅠ through adjusting the inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP at 5, 10, 15, 20 cmH2O respectively). Results① Under standard experimental condition, when EPAP was 5 cmH2O, PETCO2 (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in the trachea was 69.6±3.4, 61.4±2.7, 54.8±1.5, 49.8±1.3 in A, B, C, D groups respectively; and it was 24.8±1.9, 21.8±1.6, 2.8±0.8, 1.8±0.8 in the mask, respectively. When EPAP was 10 cmH2O, the PETCO2 in the trachea was 64.2±3.6, 57.2±3.7, 48.8±2.6, 41.8±2.6 in A, B, C, and D groups respectively; and it was 23.0±1.6, 20.2±1.6, 2.2±0.8, 1.2±0.8 in the mask, respectively. For the same exhalation valve type, exhalation valve being installed on positionⅡ could induce significantly lower PETCO2 in the trachea and mask than that being installed on positionⅠ (allP< 0.05). For the same expiratory valve position, plateau exhalation valve produced significantly lower PETCO2 than single-arch valve (allP< 0.05).② As the VT increased, the PETCO2 in the trachea of each group was reduced obviously. When VT was 500 mL, PETCO2 (mmHg) was significantly lower than VT, which were 300 mL and 400 mL (A group: 51.4±2.7 vs. 72.8±2.9, 69.6±3.4; B group: 44.8±2.4 vs. 65.4±2.1, 61.4±2.7;C group: 36.8±1.9 vs. 59.0±1.6, 54.8±1.5; D group: 28.8±1.9 vs. 52.6±2.0, 49.8±1.3; allP< 0.05).③ When exhalation valve type was placed in positionⅠ, the air leakage of single-arch exhalation valve was increased to (15.8±1.9), (20.2±1.9), (23.8±2.8), (28.0±1.6) L/min, and the plateau exhalation valve was essentially unchanged to (24.2±1.6), (23.8±1.6), (25.2±1.6), (25.2±1.6) L/min as the IPAP was increased from 5, 10, 15, to 20 cmH2O. Conclusions Exhalation valve fixing on mask is more appropriate for CO2 discharge than that fixed on tube-mask valve. Plateau exhalation valve as well as moderately increasing VT is beneficial for CO2 discharge and CO2 rebreathing prevention.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the extent of postoperative hip abductor insufficiency in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients undergoing anterolateral minimally invasive (ALMI) approach, and to investigate whether the clinical outcomes are more favorable in femoral neck fracture (FNF) patients than in non-femoral neck fracture (nFNF) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 48 patients were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent a clinical examination preoperatively and 6, 12, 24 and 48 weeks postoperatively. The abductor torque, Trendelenburg's sign, gait velocity, Harris hip score, Oxford hip score, Westren Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score and visual analog scale pain score were recorded. Statistical evaluation was performed with SPSS software version 18.0. The significance level was set at P<0.05.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The abductor torque of the operated hip and the recovery ratio showed a gradual improving tendency from 6 weeks postoperatively until the last follow-up. Gait velocity, Harris hip score, Oxford hip score and WOMAC score improved significantly after the operation until 24 weeks postoperatively. In the FNF group, the abductor torque of the operated side and the recovery ratio were significantly higher than in nFNF group at 6 weeks postoperatively, however, as time passed, this trend tended to disappear.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrates that patients can obtain good abductor strength and function in the early postoperative period and the hip abductor function of patients who suffer from hip osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head could be significantly improved following ALMI THA.</p>