A clinical study of C arm-guided selective spinal nerve block combined with low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation of dorsal root ganglion in the treatment of zoster-related neuralgia.

Background: This study evaluated the analgesic efficacy and psychological response of low-temperature plasma ablation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) combined with selective spinal nerve block in patients with acute or subacute zoster-related neuralgia (ZRN). Methods: Totally 90 ZRN patients were randomly and evenly divided into three groups. Treatment was given to Group A using C arm-guided selective spinal nerve block (C-SSVB), Group B using C-SSVB and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), and Group C using C-SSVB and low-temperature plasma ablation of the DRG. The outcomes were examined using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Anxiety and depression of patients were evaluated using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Quality of life was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and postoperative Satisfaction scale. In addition, data on adverse events and medication usage rates were collected. Results: The 90 patients were eligible for this study. The three treatments reduced VAS scores with no significant difference between groups A and B at the same time points; however, group B tended to have numerically lower VAS scores. Comparatively, group C had significantly reduced VAS scores on day 1 and 1 month after treatment compared with the other two groups. In terms of the decreasing SAS, SDS and PSQI scores, all the three treatments improved the anxiety, depression and sleep quality of the patients. In addition, significant alleviation in anxiety was found in group C compared with group A at all- time points. However, there was no statistically significant difference among the three groups in treatment-related adverse events that mainly focused on puncture pain at the surgical-site, skin numbness and medication usage rates. Conclusions: C-SSVB and LTPRA of DRG will be considered as a promising treatment option for ZRN patients if those results can be confirmed after further validation.

Endothelial alpha globin is a nitrite reductase.

Resistance artery vasodilation in response to hypoxia is essential for matching tissue oxygen and demand. In hypoxia, erythrocytic hemoglobin tetramers produce nitric oxide through nitrite reduction. We hypothesized that the alpha subunit of hemoglobin expressed in endothelium also facilitates nitrite reduction proximal to smooth muscle. Here, we create two mouse strains to test this: an endothelial-specific alpha globin knockout (EC Hba1Δ/Δ) and another with an alpha globin allele mutated to prevent alpha globin's inhibitory interaction with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Hba1WT/Δ36-39). The EC Hba1Δ/Δ mice had significantly decreased exercise capacity and intracellular nitrite consumption in hypoxic conditions, an effect absent in Hba1WT/Δ36-39 mice. Hypoxia-induced vasodilation is significantly decreased in arteries from EC Hba1Δ/Δ, but not Hba1WT/Δ36-39 mice. Hypoxia also does not lower blood pressure in EC Hba1Δ/Δ mice. We conclude the presence of alpha globin in resistance artery endothelium acts as a nitrite reductase providing local nitric oxide in response to hypoxia.

Self-resetting Molecular Probes for Nucleic Acids Enabled by Fuel Dissipative Systems

Withdraw disclaimer statementThe authors have withdrawn this manuscript because lots of additional experiments which are not discussed in this version have been performed to further support the conclusion. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.

Effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for postherpetic neuralgia: an umbrella review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Several systematic reviews and meta-analysis indicate that acupuncture and related therapies may be a valuable adjunctive technique to pharmacological interventions for pain management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). However, the robustness of the results of these studies has not been evaluated. The aim of this proposed umbrella review is to provide more reliable evidence of the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy for PHN based on medical references for healthcare decision makers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wan fang Database will be used to retrieve reviews. The time of publication will be limited from inception to March 2021. Two reviewers will screen all retrieved articles independently to identify their eligibility and extract the data. The quality will be assessed independently by two trained reviewers using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 for methodological quality, Risk of Bias in Systematic Review for level of bias, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis for reporting quality and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation for the quality of evidence. Any disagreements will be settled by discussion or the involvement of a third reviewer. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol of this review does not require ethical approval because the research will be based on publicly available data. The findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed international journals or presentation in academic conference. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020173341. REPORTING CHECKLIST: PRISMA-P, 2015.

[Therapeutic effect and mechanism of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of ninety-two patients with KOA were randomly and equally divided into loxoprofen sodium group and silver needle heat conduction therapy + loxoprofen sodium (combination) group, with 46 cases in each group. Patients of the combination group were treated with silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch, while those of the loxoprofen sodium group were treated with loxoprofen sodium patch. The treatment was conducted for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), bone metabolism index ï¼»including bone gla protein (BGP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase isomer (TRACP)-5bï¼½, and inflammation factors ï¼»including the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß)ï¼½ were observed before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed after the treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment, the total scores of WOMAC, the levels of serum TRACP-5b, TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the levels of serum BGP, BALP, and TGF-ß were significantly increased (P<0.01) in the two groups compared with their own pre-treatment. Silver needle plus loxoprofen sodium was more effective in reducing WOMAC score, TRACP-5b, TNF-α, IL-1ß level (P<0.01), and up-regulating BGP, BALP, and TGF-ß level (P<0.01) than loxoprofen. Of the 46 cases in the loxoprofen sodium and combination groups, 33 and 41 were effective, with the effective rate being 71.7% and 89.1%, respectively. The comprehensive therapeutic effect of the combination group was significantly superior to that of the loxoprofen group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium can effectively treat KOA, its mechanism may be related to alleviating inflammation and improving bone metabolism.

A fractional-order SEIHDR model for COVID-19 with inter-city networked coupling effects

A novel coronavirus, designated as COVID-19, emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed to analyze the dynamic behavior of COVID-19. Based on inter-city networked coupling effects, a fractional-order SEIHDR system with the real-data from 23 January to 18 March, 2020 of COVID19 is discussed. Meanwhile, hospitalized individuals and the mortality rates of three types of individuals (exposed, infected and hospitalized) are firstly taken into account in the proposed model. And infectivity of individuals during incubation is also considered in this paper. By applying least squares method and predictor-correctors scheme, the numerical solutions of the proposed system in the absence of the inter-city network and with the inter-city network are stimulated by using the real-data from 23 January to 18 - m March, 2020 where m is equal to the number of prediction days. Compared with integer-order system ( = 0), the fractional-order model without network is validated to have a better fitting of the data on Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Huanggang and other cities. In contrast to the case without network, the results indicate that the inter-city network system may be not a significant case to virus spreading for China because of the lock down and quarantine measures, however, it may have an impact on cities that have not adopted city closure. Meanwhile, the proposed model better fits the data from 24 February to 31, March in Italy, and the peak number of confirmed people is also predicted by this fraction-order model. Furthermore, the existence and uniqueness of a bounded solution under the initial condition are considered in the proposed system. Afterwards, the basic reproduction number R0 is analyzed and it is found to hold a threshold: the disease-free equilibrium point is locally asymptotically stable when R0 [≤] 1, which provides a theoretical basis for whether COVID-19 will become a pandemic in the future.

Decreased inward rectifier and voltage-gated K⁺ currents of the right septal coronary artery smooth muscle cells in pulmonary arterial hypertensive rats

In vascular smooth muscle, K⁺ channels, such as voltage-gated K⁺ channels (Kv), inward-rectifier K⁺ channels (Kir), and big-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels (BK(Ca)), establish a hyperpolarized membrane potential and counterbalance the depolarizing vasoactive stimuli. Additionally, Kir mediates endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and the active hyperemia response in various vessels, including the coronary artery. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) induces right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), thereby elevating the risk of ischemia and right heart failure. Here, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we compared Kv and Kir current densities (I(Kv) and I(Kir)) in the left (LCSMCs), right (RCSMCs), and septal branches of coronary smooth muscle cells (SCSMCs) from control and monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats exhibiting RVH. In control rats, (1) I(Kv) was larger in RCSMCs than that in SCSMCs and LCSMCs, (2) I(Kv) inactivation occurred at more negative voltages in SCSMCs than those in RCSMCs and LCSMCs, (3) I(Kir) was smaller in SCSMCs than that in RCSMCs and LCSMCs, and (4) I(BKCa) did not differ between branches. Moreover, in PAH rats, I(Kir) and I(Kv) decreased in SCSMCs, but not in RCSMCs or LCSMCs, and I(BKCa) did not change in any of the branches. These results demonstrated that SCSMC-specific decreases in I(Kv) and I(Kir) occur in an MCT-induced PAH model, thereby offering insights into the potential pathophysiological implications of coronary blood flow regulation in right heart disease. Furthermore, the relatively smaller I(Kir) in SCSMCs suggested a less effective vasodilatory response in the septal region to the moderate increase in extracellular K⁺ concentration under increased activity of the myocardium.

Evaluation of central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma in cN0 T1/T2 / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the application of the central lymph node dissection (CLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in cN0 T1/T2.@*Methods@#Retrospective analysis of 532 cases with PTC in cN0 T1/T2 who underwent CLND between October 2014 and September 2016 in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of the Kunming Medical University. The incidence of central lymph node (CLN) metastasis and risk factors were analyzed.@*Results@#CLN metastasis rates: 41.2% (42/102) in males vs 34.9% (150/430) in females, P=0.252; 33.9% (116/342) in single focal carcinoma vs 40.4% (74/183) in multifocal carcinoma, P=0.157; 44.0% (125/284) in patients with 45 years old or less vs 27.0% (67/248) in patients more than 45 years old, P=0.000; 30.3% (113/373) in microcarcinoma vs 50.9% (81/159) in non-microcarcinoma, P=0.000.In unilateral lesions, ipsilateral CLN metastasis was correlated with the tumor diameter (P=0.012), but not with the number of lesions (P=0.653). also contralateral CLN metastasis was correlated with the tumor diameter (P=0.000), but not with the number of lesions (P=0.815). For the left or right unilateral single focal lesion, the tumor diameter was not correlated with the metastasis of the posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve central lymph nodes (LN-prRLN-CLN) (P=0.652, P=0.088). But in bilateral multifocal carcinoma the tumor diameter was correlated with metastasis of LN-prRLN-CLN (P=0.039).@*Conclusions@#Prophylactic CLND is reasonable for PTC in cN0 T1/T2. A bilateral CLND should be conducted for patients with bilateral multi-focus cancer and unilateral or bilateral non-microcarcinoma, especially in patients more than 45 years old. For unilateral single focal microcarcinoma on the right, the content of CLND should be from laryngeal nerve on right center to posterior branche; for unilateral single focal microcarcinoma on the left side, the left CLND should be conducted. An ipsilateral CLND can be considered in patients with unilateral multifocal microcarcinoma, and generally a routine dissection of the LN-prRLN-CLN is not required, however for bilateral non-microcarcinoma and the the non-microcarcinoma on the right side, the LN-prRLN-CLN dissection should be conducted.

A randomized controlled clinical study on the combination of preservative-free sodium hyaluronate and fluorometholone eyedrops for cataract with dry-eye / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Cataract with preexisted dry eye is a common eye disease.It is speculated that preservative-free artificial tears can inhibit inflammatory procedure,prevent postoperative eye infections and reduce dry eye symptoms.However,relevant literature is rare up to now.Objective This study was to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects between preservative-free or preservative sodium hyaluronate combined with fluorometholone eyedrops for cataract with dry-eye.Methods A randomized controlled single-blind clinical study was performed.Sixty patients with dry-eye syndrome who was going to receive surgery for cataract removal were enrolled in Yuhuangding Hospital from January to December 2015 under the informed consent.The patients were randomly divided into the test group and control group.Preservative-free or preservative 0.1％ sodium hyaluronate combined with 0.1％ fluorometholone eye drops were topically administered in the eyes of the test group and control group,respectively.Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score,breakup time of tearfilm (BUT),Schirmer Ⅰ test (S I t),corneal fluorescein staining,impression cytology,goblet cell density and the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,catalase (CAT),superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in tears were evaluated and compared.Results There were significant differences in gender,ages,OSDI scores,BUT,S I t value,corneal fluorescein staining scores,impression cytology findings,and goblet cell density between the two groups (all at P＞0.05).OSDI,corneal fluorescein staining scores and imprint cellular level were evidently reduced,and BUT,S I t values and goblet cell density were significantly increased 1 month and 2 months after operation in comparison with the baseline values in the test group (F =13.058,8.027,3.755,21.652,70.962,92.354,all at P ＜ 0.05).The concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α in tears of the test group were significantly lower,and CAT and SOD2 in the tears of the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group 1 month and 2 months after operation (F=18.731,9.070,15.357,351.359,all at P＞0.05).Conclusions 0.1％ preservative-free sodium hyaluronate combined with 0.1％ fluorometholone eyedrops can relieve the symptoms and signs of dry-eyes following cataract surgery by playing antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Antibiotic-resistant mechanisms of plasmid pA1137 carrying aminoglycoside resistance gene aacC2 / 军事医学

Objective To achieve detailed genomic characterization and investigate the antibiotic-resistant mechanisms of plasmid pA1137 carrying the aminoglycoside resistance gene aacC2.Methods Antibiotic-resistant genes were deter-mined by PCR.Conjugation experiments were performed to verify the transferability of plasmid pA 1137.The minimum in-hibitory concentration(MIC)values of bacterial strains were tested with microdilution method.The genetic background, mobile elements and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of pA 1137 were determined using a whole genome sequencing meth-od.Results Both carbapenem-resistant gene blaIMP-8and aminoglycoside-resistant genes aacC2 and aacA4 were carried by A1137 isolated from Enterobacter cloacae(ECL).aacC2 was located in plasmid pA1137 while the other two resistant genes were observed in chromosomes.Plasmid pA1137 was an IncFⅡplasmid,whose total length was 68.97 kb,and GenBank accession number was MF190369.Plasmid pA1137 contained multiple replicons and intact conjugative transfer regions,so it could be transferred into ECL through conjugation experiments and confer corresponding antibiotic resistance to the transconjugant A1137-EC600.Conclusion IncFⅡ plasmid pA1137 has a single accessory region, the first reported Tn5403-based aacC2-tmrB-related region,which can cause stable inheritance and mediate the resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics in ECL A1137.

Transcriptional regulation of vp1667 by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus / 军事医学

Objective To study the transcriptional regulation of vp1667 by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.Methods Total RNAs were extracted from Δhns and WT strains.Quantitative RT-PCR was carried out to calculate the transcriptional variation of vp1667 between Δhns and WT.Primer extension assay was also employed to detect the transcription start site and the promoter activity (i.e.the amount of primer extension products) of vp1667 in Δhns and that in WT.The promoter DNA region of vp1667 was amplified, purified, and cloned into the corresponding restriction endonuclease sites of pHRP309 that harbors a gentamicin resistance gene and a promoterless lacZ reporter gene.The recombinant pHRP309 plasmid was transformed into Δhns and WT, respectively, while β-galactosidase activity in cellular extracts was measured using a β-galactosidase enzyme assay system.The over-expressed His-H-NS was purified under native conditions with nickel loaded HiTrap Chelating Sepharose columns.The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and DNaseⅠ footprinting were then applied to analyze the DNA-binding activity of His-H-NS to vp1667 promoter region in vitro.Results and Conclusion The primer extension assay detected one transcription start site for vp1667, which was located at 28 bp upstream of vp1667, and its transcribed activity was under the negative control of the H-NS.The EMSA and DNaseⅠ footprinting assay results showed that His-H-NS was unable to bind to the promoter-proximal DNA region of vp1667, suggesting that H-NS indirectly inhibits the transcription of vp1667.

Clinical research on heart-type fatty acid-binding protein and APACHE Ⅱ in severity and prognosis estimation for patients with acute pulmonary embolism / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To investigate the value of plasma H-FABP level and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE Ⅱ) in severity and prognosis estimation for patients with acute pumonary embolism(APE).Methods Totally 160 APE patients were hospitalized from January 2010 to January 2015 and enrolled in this study.According to the severity of the disease,these patients with APE were divided into low-risk group,moderate-risk group and high-risk group.According to clinical prognosis,these patients with APE were divided into survival groups and death groups.Plasma levels of H-FABP were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and APACHE Ⅱ score were analyzed.The differences of Plasma H-FABP levels and APACHE Ⅱ score were compared and which the relationship with severity and the prognosis of APE were also assessed.Results With the increased severity in patients,the H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05);the H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score were significantly higher in death group as compared with survival group(P ＜0.05).The H-FABP levels and APACHE Ⅱ score were positive correlated(r =0.71,P =0.000).ROC curves analysis results showed that the area under curve of H-FABP was 0.854 (95 ％ CI:0.784-0.927),and optimal operating point (OOP)was 13.3 μg/L,which had 81.0％ sensiticity and 79.4％ specificity;ACU of APACHE Ⅱ was 0.861 (95％ CI:0.812-0.932),and OOP was 19.2,which had 77.8％ sensiticity and 80.4％ specificity.The AUC was 0.914 (95％ CI:0.825-0.948),and the sensitivity was 88.9％,specificity was 87.6％ when the two cutoff values were both achieved,which were higher than the single H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score.Conclusion The H-FABP and APACHE Ⅱ score can effectively assess severity and prognosis of APE patients,meanwhile,it provide an objective basis for the clinical individual treatment and reducing the mortality rate of APE patients.

Rhaponticum uniflorum inhibits H2O2-induced apoptosis of liver cells via JNK and NF-κB pathways / 中国中药杂志

To study the inhibitory effect of Rhaponticum uniflorum on apoptosis induced by H2O2 in HepG2 cells. Human HepG2 cells injury models were established by H2O2, then cell survival rate was assayed by MTT method; levels of LDH, ALT, and AST were detected by chemical colorimetric method;SOD activity was detected by xanthine oxidase method; GSH content was detected by dithio-bis-nitrobenzoic acid(DTNB); MDA level was detected by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method;and the relative activities of Caspase-3, 8 and 9 were measured by Colorimetry. The expression levels of Cleaved Caspase-3(Casp-3), cytochrome(Cyto c), NF-κB, ERK, JNK, p38 MAPK, as well as the phospharylated proteins were determined with Western blotting method. The results showed that R. unifloru had no significant effect on cell viabilities of HepG2 cells at the concentrations of 25-400 mg•L⁻¹. However, H2O2decreased the cell viabilities, increased the cellular oxidative stress, and up-regulated the protein expressions of Casp-3, cytoplasmic Cyto c, p-JNK and nuclear NF-κB. As compared with the model group,R. unifloru could increase the cell viability, reduce LDH, ALT and AST leakage, reduce the MDA formation, increase the SOD and GSH levels,reduce the relative activities of Caspase-3, 8 and 9, down-regulated the protein expressions of Casp-3 and cytoplasmic Cyto c, and down-regulate the p-JNK and nuclear NF-κB levels.The results indicated that R. unifloru had the inhibitory effect on apoptosis induced by H2O2in HepG2 cells, and the mechanism maybe associated with inhibiting JNK activation and NF-κB nuclear translocation.

Resistance mechanisms of blaCTX-M-55 in a clinical Shigella sonnei strain / 军事医学

Objective To characterize the resistance mechanisms of a clinical Shigella sonnei strain harboring blaCTX-M-55 .Methods A double-disk synergy test was conducted to detect ESBL.Antibiotic resistance genes were determined by PCR followed by amplicon sequencing.Conjugation experiments were performed to verify the transferability of the plasmids carrying ESBL genes.The minimum inhibitory concentration values were tested using VITEK 2.The transposition unit was confirmed by DNA sequencer,and the transcriptional start site was identified using primer extension assay.Results Strain #1083 produced CTX-M-55,which was encoded by plasmid p1083-CTXM that could be transferred into E.coli through conjugation experiments to confer corresponding antibiotic resistance to the transconjugant #1083-EC600.The transposition unit mediating the transfer of blaCTX-M-55 was ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-55 -Δorf477.ISEcp1 offered strong promoter regions for the resistance genes,facilitating their expressions.Besides,the expressions were constant,not induced by antibiotics.Conclusion BlaCTX-M-55 on plasmids is the major resistance genes for strain #1083.Their expressions and spread are mediated by the insertion sequence ISEcp1.

Genomic characteristics and antibiotic-resistant mechanisms of plasmid pB557-NDM isolate from Enterbacter cloacae / 军事医学

Objective To characterize the whole-sequence of plasmid pB557-NDM isolate from Enterbacter cloacae and elaborate its antibiotic-resistant mechanisms .Methods Antibiotic resistance genes were determined by PCR , followed by amplicon sequencing .The activity of class A/B/D carbapenemases was determined by modified Carba NP test .Conjugation experiments were performed to verify the transferability of plasmid pB 557-NDM.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of bacterial strains were tested using VITEK 2.The genetic structure, mobile elements and antibiotic-resistant mechanisms of transferable plasmid pB 557-NDM were determined by a whole genome sequencing method .Results The modified CarbaNP test showed that B557 and B557-EC600 had class B carbapenemase activity , and that the blaNDM was carried by plasmid pB557-NDM.This plasmid could be transferred into E.coli through conjugation experiments and therefore could confer corresponding antibiotic resistances to the transconjugant B 557-EC600.Plasmid pB557-NDM was an IncA/C2 plasmid, whose total length was 141.65 kb, and the GenBank accession number was KX786648.It had two inserted regions.One was the blaCMY-6 region where the blaCMY gene was carried by a transposition unit IS Ecp1-blaCMY , the other was the blaNDM-1 region which consisted of a ΔTn1696-In46-rmtC-ISKpn14-ΔTn125 complex structure.Conclusion The production of plasmid pB557-NDM in strain B557 contributes most to its high resistance to many antibiotics .The blaNDM-1 gene is carried in a trancated transposition ΔTn125.

Activation of K+ channel by 1-EBIO rescues the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells from Ca2+ ionophore-induced cell death

Ion channels in carcinoma and their roles in cell proliferation are drawing attention. Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i)-dependent signaling affects the fate of cancer cells. Here we investigate the role of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (SK4) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells (HNSCCs) of different cell lines; SNU-1076, OSC-19 and HN5. Treatment with 1 microM ionomycin induced cell death in all the three cell lines. Whole-cell patch clamp study suggested common expressions of Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channels (Ano-1) and Ca(2+)-activated nonselective cation channels (CAN). 1-EBIO, an activator of SK4, induced outward K+ current (ISK4) in SNU-1076 and OSC-19. In HN5, ISK4 was not observed or negligible. The 1-EBIO-induced current was abolished by TRAM-34, a selective SK4 blocker. Interestingly, the ionomycin-induced cell death was effectively prevented by 1-EBIO in SNU-1076 and OSC-19, and the rescue effect was annihilated by combined TRAM-34. Consistent with the lower level of ISK4, the rescue by 1-EBIO was least effective in HN5. The results newly demonstrate the role of SK4 in the fate of HNSCCs under the Ca2+ overloaded condition. Pharmacological modulation of SK4 might provide an intriguing novel tool for the anti-cancer strategy in HNSCC.

Clinical differences between artificial pneumothorax and double lumen intubation in thoracoscopic esophagectomy / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To explore the advantages and disadvantages of the double lumen endotracheal intubation and single -lumen endo-tracheal intubation and continuous carbon dioxide insufflation in thoracoscopic esophagectomy .Methods The clinical data of 90 patients in our department of thoracic surgery after thoracoscopic esophagectomy from January 2014 to April 2015 were analyzed .All patients were divid-ed into single-lumen endotracheal intubation (group A)and double lumen endotracheal intubation group (group B).The endotracheal intuba-tion time,operation time,incidence of pulmonary infection,intraoperative and postoperative PaO2,PaCO2,incidence of anastomotic fistula, hospitalization expenses ,length of hospital stay and the incidence of postoperative chylothorax between two groups were compared .Results The difference in intraoperative PaO2,PaCO2,incidence of pulmonary infection,endotracheal intubation time,operation time,hospitalization days and the hospitalization cost between two groups were statistical significance .The difference of the rest index between two groups were no statistical significance.Conclusion Group A has certain advantages in perioperative management ,hospitalization cost and so on,but has disadvantages in perioperative hypoxemia and carbon dioxide retention and acid -base balance disorders .

Clinical analysis of the relationship between chemotherapy after pneumonectomy and bronchopleural fistula / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To evaluate the relationship between chemotherapy after pulmonary resection and the incidence rate of bron-chopleural fistula. Methods 246 patients who received pulmonary resection in our hospital from January 2009 to June 2014 were chosen, and they were divided into the chemotherapy group and the non-chemotherapy group. The 138 patients in the chemotherapy group received chemotherapy one month after resection while the other 108 in the non-chemotherapy group did not. Bronchopleural fistula of the two groups were diagnosed and analyzed in order to evaluate the relationship between chemotherapy after pulmonary resection and incidence rate of bron-chopleural fistula. Results There were 12 cases of bronchopleural fistula in the chemotherapy group with an incidence rate of 8. 70%, while there were 2 cases of bronchopleural fistula in the non-chemotherapy group with an incidence rate of 1. 85%. The difference between the two groups is statistically significant (P<0. 05). Conclusion Chemotherapy after pulmonary resection will increase the incidence rate of bron-chopleural fistula.

Regulation of swimming motility by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus / 军事医学

Objective To investigate the regulation of swimming motility by H-NS in Vibrio parahaemolyticus(VP). Methods VP was inoculated into the semi-solid swimming agar plate containing 1% Oxoid tryptone, 2% NaCl, 0.5%Difco Noble Agar, and 0.1% arabinose followed by incubation at 37℃ for 4.5 h before the diameters of bacterial lawns were measured.Total RNAs were extracted from the wild-type (WT) strains and the hns null mutant (Δhns), and the quantitative real-time( RT)-PCR( qRT-PCR) was carried out to calculate the transcriptional variation of flaA between WT andΔhns strains.The entire promoter DNA region of flaA was amplified and cloned into the lacZ fusion vector pHRP309 containing a promoterless lacZ gene. The recombinant lacZ reporter plasmid was transformed into WT and Δhns, respectively, to measure the β-galactosidase activities in cellular extracts using the β-galactosidase enzyme assay system. Results and Conclusion The phenotype results showed that swimming motility of VP was enhanced by H-NS.The qRT-PCR and LacZ fusion results indicated that the transcription of flaA was positively regulated by H-NS.Collectively, H-NS promotes the swimming motility of VP, at least partly, by activating the transcription of flaA.