[One case of acute poisoning with stramonium].

This paper reported 1 case of poisoning caused by stramonium. Cases of Datura poisoning have been reported nationwide, Its effect on the central nervous system of patients is characterized by first excitation and then inhibition, clinical manifestations include decreased gland secretion, dilated pupils, and tachycardia, etc. Its poisoning mechanism is anticholinergic effect, the effect on Peripheral nervous system is to inhibit Parasympathetic nervous system. Hemoperfusion combined with neostigmine anticholinergic therapy at the early stage of poisoning can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients in a short time.

Current advances of nanocellulose application in biomedical field.

Nanocellulose (NC) is a natural fiber that can be extracted in fibrils or crystals form from different natural sources, including plants, bacteria, and algae. In recent years, nanocellulose has emerged as a sustainable biomaterial for various medicinal applications including drug delivery systems, wound healing, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial treatment due to its biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and exceptional water holding capacity for cell immobilization. Many antimicrobial products can be produced due to the chemical functionality of nanocellulose, such disposable antibacterial smart masks for healthcare use. This article discusses comprehensively three types of nanocellulose: cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) in view of their structural and functional properties, extraction methods, and the distinctive biomedical applications based on the recently published work. On top of that, the biosafety profile and the future perspectives of nanocellulose-based biomaterials have been further discussed in this review.

[Investigation of newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis from artificial quartz stone manufacturers].

Artificial quartz dust exposure may cause associated pneumoconiosis. From November 2019 to July 2020, a total of 27 cases of silicosis associated with artificial quartz stone manufacturers were diagnosed and treated in the Occupational disease Department of Suzhou Fifth People's Hospital. The average age of onset was (46.8±6.6) years, and the average working age of dust exposure was (5.7±1.7) years.The main feature of high KV chest radiography is P/S shadow with strip shadow. CT imaging findings showed diffuse small nodules and ground glass shadows with band shadows. The lesions were mainly distributed in the upper lung, accompanied by pleural thickening, lymphadenopathy and calcification. The pulmonary function impairment was mainly mild restrictive ventilation disorder, and the bronchial mucosa longitudinal plica was the main manifestation under tracheoscopy. The age of silicosis of workers in artificial quartz stone production enterprises is younger, the working age of dust exposure is short, the lung function and bronchial mucosa have a certain degree of damage, and effective preventive measures should be taken in time.

[Study on the health effects of occupational exposure to lead exceeded].

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to explore the health effects of occupational exposure to lead exceeded. Methods: We collected 114 inpatients who exposure to lead, and diagnosed lead toxicity by No. 5 Suzhou People's Hospital from January 2011 to May 2018. Samples were selected according to 1:4 of the lead exceeded group and the control group. The age and gender of the lead exce eded group were matchied, and balanced between the two groups. Lead exceeded group: 84 inpatients occupational exposure to lead, whose blood or urinary lead exceeded. Control group: 336 healthy checkup persons who did not contact with any toxic or hazardous substances. Results: The diastolic blood pressure of lead exceeded group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.05) . The red blood cell count, hemoglobin, mean red blood cell volume, mean hemoglobin content, mean hemoglobin concentration, the platelet count, and the lymphocyte count levels of lead exceeded group were significantly lower than control group (P<0.05) , while the average platelet volume level of lead exceeded group was significantly higher than control group (P<0.05) . The aspartate aminotransferase, glucose and the urea nitrogen levels of lead exceeded group were significantly higher than control group, while the creatinine of lead exceeded group was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05) . The total protein, albumin, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels of lead exceeded group were significantly lower than control group (P<0.05) . The abnormal rate of electrocardiogram and spleen B (24.4%, 8.33%) in lead exceeded group were significantly higher than control group (11.04%, 0.6%) (P<0.05) . The abnormal rate of liver B ultrasound, and gallbladder B ultrasound (23.81%、8.32%) in lead exceeded group were significantly lower than control group (41.32%、21.06%) (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Occupational exposure to lead exceeded not only has a significant impact on red blood cell related indicators, but also has a certain impact on cardiac function and liver and kidney functions. It is suggested that lead exprsure may have some effect on health of occupational population.

The expression of B7-H3 and B7-H4 in human gallbladder carcinoma and their clinical implications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of B7-H3 and B7-H4 and their clinical implications in human gallbladder carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of B7-H3 and B7-H4 in the 252 samples (126 cases of chronic cholecystitis and 126 cases of gallbladder cancer) was detected by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method, and their associations with tumor classification, clinical grade, and recurrence were assessed. RESULTS: In chronic cholecystitis tissue, B7-H3 and B7-H4 were not detected. In 126 cases of gallbladder carcinoma, the positive rates of B7-H3 and B7-H4 expression were 66.67% and 69.05% respectively (p < 0.05). The positive rate of B7-H3 in the primary-onset group was 53.57%, and that in recurrence group was 92.86% (p < 0.05). The positive rate of B7-H4 in the primary-onset group was 85.19%, and that in recurrence group was 40.00% (p < 0.05). Expression of B7-H3 was consistent with B7-H4 expression in gallbladder carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: B7-H3 and B7-H4 were up-regulated in gallbladder cancer; the high expression of B7-H3 may contribute to the early diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma and the assessment of postoperative survival and recurrence. B7-H4 may play an important role in the incidence of gallbladder cancer. B7-H3 and B7-H4 may play a synergetic role in gallbladder carcinoma. Combined tests were available for the diagnosis, degree assessment and prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma, which may be a new target for molecular targeted therapy of gallbladder carcinoma.

Hepatocytes transduced with human TERT gene acquire a prolonged lifespan in culture and retain permissiveness to hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be propagated in vitro in primary cultures of human hepatocytes and some stable hepatoma cell lines maintained under specific conditions. The lack of simple and non-neoplastic cell culture systems for HBV has hampered the analysis of virus life cycle and development of antiviral compounds. In this study, we succeeded in prolonging the lifespan of human hepatocytes in primary culture by transducing them with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. The transgenic cells expressed hTERT constitutively and propagated HBV up to 5x105 DNA copies/ml for 28 days.

Treatment of acne vulgaris during pregnancy and lactation.

Acne vulgaris is a common problem encountered by pregnant and lactating women. Unfortunately, in clinical practice, treatment is often not optimized as a result of the lack of safety data and unified recommendations on the use of the various anti-acne therapies. In this narrative review, current data on their safety is summarized. We recommend the use of topical medications as first-line treatment for acne vulgaris in pregnant and lactating women. These include antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin, metronidazole and dapsone), benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid and salicylic acid. Oral agents and/or light-based therapy may be considered as second-line treatment. The former consists of oral macrolides (erythromycin and azithromycin), cephalexin or zinc compounds. Blue-violet or red light phototherapy may be used as monotherapy or in addition to topical and/or oral therapies. Hormonal therapy, antibiotics consisting of tetracyclines, co-trimoxazole and fluoroquinolones, and both oral and topical retinoids should be avoided.

Discovery of an angiotensin II binding inhibitor from a Cytospora sp. using semi-automated screening procedures.

Cytosporin A, B and C, three antagonists of [125I]-angiotensin II binding to rat adrenal glands were discovered in fermentations of an endophytic Cytospora sp. during routine screening using semi-automated procedures. The most potent of these displayed an IC50 of 1.5-3 microM and was specific for angiotensin II AT2.

Cochinmicins, novel and potent cyclodepsipeptide endothelin antagonists from a Microbispora sp. I. Production, isolation, and characterization.

Cochinmicins I, II, III are novel peptolides produced in submerged-fermentation cultures of Microbispora sp. ATCC 55140. These closely related compounds are separated by HPLC and are novel competitive endothelin antagonists. Cochinmicins II and III are stereoisomeric to each other. Cochinmicin I is the deschloro analog of cochinmicin III.

Improvement in experimental cardiac preservation based on metabolic considerations.

Viability of rat hearts preserved in the standard Euro-Collins and a modified preservation medium utilizing the Euro-Collins medium as the base were assessed. The additions for the modified medium were chosen in order to attenuate the various forms of damage that may occur to an organ during cold ischemia. The viability of the hearts was assessed biochemically via 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functionally during reperfusion in an isolated Langendorff preparation. It was noted that a modified medium containing magnesium, adenosine, allopurinol, glutathione, and polyethylene glycol provided superior protection of the cold ischemic myocardium as compared with the standard Euro-Collins medium in the isolated heart perfusion apparatus. Both physiologic function (dp/dt) and metabolic status (Pi/PCr ratio) were superior with the modified compared with the control medium (325 +/- 83 vs. 90 +/- 35 mmHg/sec and 0.42 +/- .09 vs. 0.68 +/- .05, respectively, both P less than 0.05). Moreover, this modified solution resulted in more rapid development of contractions, as well as improved Pi/PCr ratio (0.71 +/- .32 vs. 2.02 +/- .59, P less than 0.05) in the in vivo heterotopic transplant model. It seems likely that a combination of pharmacologic additives may be developed that synergistically attenuate damage to the preserved myocardium.

Avermectins, new family of potent anthelmintic agents: producing organism and fermentation.

The avermectins are a complex of chemically related agents which exhibit extraordinarily potent anthelmintic activity. They are produced by a novel species of actinomycete, NRRL 8165, which we have named Streptomyces avermitilis. The morphological and cultural characteristics which differentiate the producing organism from other species are described. The avermectins have been identified as a series of macrocyclic lactone derivatives which, in contrast to the macrolide or polyene antibiotics, lack significant antibacterial or antifungal activity. The avermectin complex is fully active against the gastrointestinal nematode Nematospiroides dubius when fed to infected mice for 6 days at 0.0002% of the diet. Fermentation development, including medium modification and strain selection, resulted in increasing the broth yields from 9 to 500 mug/ml.

Fosfomycin treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection in mice.

Haemophilus influenzae is an important pathogen in respiratory infections in children and often is implicated in otitis media. It is sensitive in vitro to a number of antibiotics, some of which are used clinically for the treatment of such infections. We have checked the in vitro sensitivity of a type b strain of H. influenzae. When tested in Levinthal's broth prepared with laked rabbit blood, the culture was most sensitive to tetracycline, ampicillin and penicillin and was somewhat less sensitive to cephalothin, fosfomycin, cephaloridine, and chloramphenicol. However, when this same strain was used to infect mice, fosfomycin was more active than ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, penicillin or the cephalosporins.