How do probiotics alleviate constipation? A narrative review of mechanisms

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal condition, which may occur at any age and affects countless people. The search for new treatments for constipation is ongoing as current drug treatments fail to provide fully satisfactory results. In recent years, probiotics have attracted much attention because of their demonstrated therapeutic efficacy and fewer side effects than pharmaceutical products. Many studies attempted to answer the question of how probiotics can alleviate constipation. It has been shown that different probiotic strains can alleviate constipation by different mechanisms. The mechanisms on probiotics in relieving constipation were associated with various aspects, including regulation of the gut microbiota composition, the level of short-chain fatty acids, aquaporin expression levels, neurotransmitters and hormone levels, inflammation, the intestinal environmental metabolic status, neurotrophic factor levels and the body's antioxidant levels. This paper summarizes the perception of the mechanisms on probiotics in relieving constipation and provides some suggestions on new research directions.

How probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics prevent dental caries: an oral microbiota perspective

Dental caries, a highly prevalent oral disease, impacts a significant portion of the global population. Conventional approaches that indiscriminately eradicate microbes disrupt the natural equilibrium of the oral microbiota. In contrast, biointervention strategies aim to restore this balance by introducing beneficial microorganisms or inhibiting cariogenic ones. Over the past three decades, microbial preparations have garnered considerable attention in dental research for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. However, unlike related pathologies in the gastrointestinal, vaginal, and respiratory tracts, dental caries occurs on hard tissues such as tooth enamel and is closely associated with localized acid overproduction facilitated by cariogenic biofilms. Therefore, it is insufficient to rely solely on previous mechanisms to delineate the role of microbial preparations in the oral cavity. A more comprehensive perspective should involve considering the concepts of cariogenic biofilms. This review elucidates the latest research progress, mechanisms of action, challenges, and future research directions regarding probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics for the prevention and treatment of dental caries, taking into account the unique pathogenic mechanisms of dental caries. With an enhanced understanding of oral microbiota, personalized microbial therapy will emerge as a critical future research trend.

Exopolysaccharides produced by Antrodia cinnamomea using microparticle-enhanced cultivation: Optimization, primary structure and antibacterial property

Microparticle-enhanced cultivation was used to enhance the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from Antrodia cinnamomea. The structure and antibacterial activity of two EPSs produced by A. cinnamomea treated with Al2O3 [EPS-Al (crude) and EPS-Al-p (purified)] and without Al2O3 [EPS-C (crude) and EPS-C-p (purified)] were compared. It was observed that the addition of 4 g/L Al2O3 at 0 h resulted in the highest EPS yield of 1.46 g/L, possible attributed to the enhanced permeability of the cell membrane. The structural analysis revealed that EPS-C-p and EPS-Al-p had different structures. EPS-C-p was hyperbranched and spherical with a Mw of 10.8 kDa, while EPS-Al-p was irregular and linear with a Mw of 12.5 kDa. The proportion of Man in EPS-Al-p decreased, while those of Gal and Glc increased when compared to EPS-C-p. The total molar ratios of 6-Glcp and 4-Glcp in EPS-Al-p are 1.45 times that of EPS-C-p. Moreover, EPSs could alter bacterial cell morphology, causing intracellular substance leakage and growth inhibition, with EPS-Al having a stronger antibacterial activity than EPS-C. In conclusion, A. cinnamomea treated with Al2O3 could produce more EPSs, changing monosaccharide composition and glycosidic linkage profile, which could exert stronger antibacterial activity than that produced by untreated A. cinnamomea.

Antimicrobial Substances and Mechanisms of Lactobacillus rhamnosus against Gardnerella vaginalis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disease associated with abnormal changes in the vaginal microbiome. Our previous study found that Lactobacillus rhamnosus has a good therapeutic effect on bacterial vaginosis by inhibiting the most prominent bacterium associated with BV, Gardnerella vaginalis. In this study, we show that acetic acid and lactic acid are the main substances in the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. rhamnosus that inhibit the growth of G. vaginalis. Further study on the mechanism showed that acetic acid and lactic acid alter the morphology of the G. vaginalis cells, eventually causing the cells to shrink or burst, resulting in exudation of their intracellular contents. In addition, these two organic acids also dissipate the membrane potential of bacterial cells, affecting their synthesis of ATP. A reduced activity of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase leads to abnormal ATP metabolism, and ultimately inhibits the growth and reproduction of G. vaginalis. Our study provides valuable information for the widespread application of L. rhamnosus in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

[Single-center study of different treatment for advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma patients]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different medical treatment in advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma. Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective clinical study. Fifty-five advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma patients treated in Sun-Yat Sen University Cancer Center from January 2005 to August 2020 were enrolled. There were 34 patients who received first-line doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (doxorubicin group), 12 patients received first-line doxorubicin or liposome doxorubicin plus paclitaxel or albumin bound paclitaxel chemotherapy (combination therapy group), and 4 patients received first-line paclitaxel-based treatment (paclitaxel group). There were 6 patients who received anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, another 2 patients received anti-PD-1 antibody plus anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy plus targeted therapy included 5 cases of first-line therapy and 3 cases of second-line therapy. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by RECIST 1.1 standard. The adverse reactions were evaluated by CTCAE4.0 standard. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was evaluated with Log rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: There were 18 patients achieved partial response (PR) in 34 patients in the doxorubicin group, median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.5 months, and median overall survival (mOS) was 15 months. Four patients achieved PR in 12 patients in the combination therapy group, mPFS and mOS were 4 months and 19 months. Two patients achieved PR in 4 patients in the paclitaxel group, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 9 months. However, only 1 in 6 patients achieved PR for anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 16 months. Two patients who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy combined with anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy acquired PR for 17 months and more than 16 months. Median PFS (7.5 months) were longer in those with primary liver, lung and spleen angiosarcoma than in those with other primary site (3.0 months, P=0.028). The mOS (20 months) was longer in females than that in males (12 months, P=0.045). Primary tumor site, sex, age and treatment were not independent prognostic factors for angiosarcoma patients (P>0.05). Grade 3-4 cardiac toxicity was found in 2 patients in the combination therapy group. Conclusions: Doxorubicin-based and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy are the most important treatment for advanced angiosarcoma. Potential efficacy for targeted therapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy are showed in some patients with long duration of response and moderate adverse event.

[Application of multi-state Markov model in studying transition of number of chronic complications and influencing factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients]

Objective: To establish a multi-state Markov model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and explore the transition rule between the cumulative number of different chronic complications, estimate the transition probability and intensity between status, and explore the possible factors affecting the transition between status. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 33 575 patients with T2DM was conducted. According to the baseline and the cumulative number of chronic complications during the follow-up period, the patients were classified based on five status: T2DM, one complication, two complications, three complications, four and above complication, indicated by S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively. A time-continuous and state-discrete multi-state irreversible Markov model was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study included 33 575 T2DM patients, and their average age was 60 years old, the median of follow-up length was 8 years. In these patients, 32 653 had no baseline complications. At the end of follow-up, the transition probabilities of S0→S1, S1→S2, S2→S3 and S3→S4 were 16.4%, 32.4%, 45.6% and 25.9%, respectively. The results of multivariate analysis showed that being female (HR=0.919), less than 60 years old (HR=0.929), higher fasting plasma glucose (HR=1.601), lower high-density lipoprotein (HR=1.087), higher total cholesterol (HR=1.090),weekly exercise (HR=0.897), vegetarian diet (HR=0.852) and heavy diet (HR=1.887) were the risk factors for S0 to S1. And being female (HR=0.768), less than 60 years old (HR=0.859) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HR=1.160) were the risk factors for S1 to S2. Conclusions: The probability of multiple complications in T2DM patients increased over time, the transition intensity of S2→S3 was largest, followed by S1→S2. Therefore, we need to conduct both early and long-term indicators monitoring and disease prevention, strengthen the health education to improve patients' daily living habits at early stage of the illness, encourage patients to have moderate exercise and balanced diet, strengthen the monitoring of fasting blood- glucose, cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels to prevent the deterioration of the illness.

Soybean lecithin-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions increase the stability and in vitro bioaccessibility of bioactive nutrients

This study was proposed to investigate the possibility of co-delivering essential oils and lipophilic nutrients via lecithin stabilized emulsions. Emulsions with different droplet sizes (62.5-105 nm), zeta potentials (-33.7 to -58.6 mV), and PdI values (0.155-0.275) were successfully prepared. Incorporation of curcumin into emulsions significantly improved its water solubility (1700-fold), thermal and photochemical stability. The droplet size of curcumin-loaded emulsions did not change over 30 days of storage at 4 °C. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) digestion caused significant changes in the droplet size and interfacial properties of curcumin-loaded emulsions. The bioaccessibility of encapsulated curcumin was 4.79-10.6-fold higher than that of free molecule. This is mainly attributed to the different solubility of curcumin in essential oils, which also showed different bioaccessibility. The findings suggested that emulsions can be novel carriers for co-delivering essential oils and lipophilic nutrients with increased stability and bioaccessibility.

The anticancer potential of the dietary polyphenol rutin: Current status, challenges, and perspectives

Rutin is one of the most common dietary polyphenols found in vegetables, fruits, and other plants. It is metabolized by the mammalian gut microbiota and absorbed from the intestines, and becomes bioavailable in the form of conjugated metabolites. Rutin exhibits a plethora of bioactive properties, making it an extremely promising phytochemical. Numerous studies demonstrate that rutin can act as a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent, and its anticancer effects can be mediated through the suppression of cell proliferation, the induction of apoptosis or autophagy, and the hindering of angiogenesis and metastasis. Rutin has been found to modulate multiple molecular targets involved in carcinogenesis, such as cell cycle mediators, cellular kinases, inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors, drug transporters, and reactive oxygen species. This review summarizes the natural sources of rutin, its bioavailability, and in particular its potential use as an anticancer agent, with highlighting its anticancer mechanisms as well as molecular targets. Additionally, this review updates the anticancer potential of its analogs, nanoformulations, and metabolites, and discusses relevant safety issues. Overall, rutin is a promising natural dietary compound with promising anticancer potential and can be widely used in functional foods, dietary supplements, and pharmaceuticals for the prevention and management of cancer.

Starch properties of high and low amylose proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) genotypes are differentially affected by varying salt and pH

Variation in salt content and in pH are common in starch-based foods and can affect starch properties and final product texture. Fifteen accessions of proso millet starch with diverse amylose content were selected to investigate single factor and interaction effects of pH and NaCl on thermal, pasting, and textural properties. Pasting properties and gelatinization temperatures were markedly altered by salt addition. Changes in pH only had substantial effects on ΔH, but other properties were generally stable under different pH conditions. From two-way ANOVA, interactive effects of salt and pH were found to affect ΔH. The response of starch of different genotypes in terms of thermal and pasting properties differed under the same pH and salinity conditions. The reason is likely that ions in the starch-water system performed the roles of both reducing water activity and building of hydrogen bonds, which will have opposite effects on starch gelatinization.

Spatial distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and their precursors and conversion of precursors in seawater deeply affected by a city in China

Conversion of perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors in the environment has been a hotspot research in recent years. This study firstly determined the spatial distribution of PFAAs and their precursors including 8:2 fluorotelomer unsaturated acid (8:2 FTUCA), perfluorooctane sulfoneamide (FOSA), and diperfluorooctane sulfonamido ethanol-based phosphate (di-SAmPAP), then investigated the conversion of the potential precursors in the seawater and sewage treatment plants (STPs) effluents. The results indicated that the target pollutants showed a typical concentration gradient from nearshore to offshore. And the obviously increased concentration of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (△[PFCAs]) after oxidation treatment can verify the existence of PFAA precursors in the seawater and STP effluents. The concentrations of PFCAs with carbon atom numbers 4-9 (PFCA_C4-C9) revealed the most increase. Moreover, the levels of △[PFCAs] and the ratios of △[PFCAs] to their concentration before oxidation (△[PFCA]/[PFCA]_{before oxidation}) indicated obvious spatial variations in the seawater and STP effluents. The higher levels of △[PFCA_C4-C12] and the lower ratios of ∑△[PFCA_C4-C12]/∑[PFAA]_{before oxidation} were observed in the STP effluents, which implied that precursors might be decomposed during the sewage treatment process. These results suggested the STP effluents might have an important effect on the PFAAs levels of seawater.

Promising High-Confinement Regime for Steady-State Fusion

A reproducible stationary high-confinement regime with small "edge-localized modes" (ELMs) has been achieved recently in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, which has a metal wall and low plasma rotation as projected for a fusion reactor. We have uncovered that this small ELM regime is enabled by a wide edge transport barrier (pedestal) with a low density gradient and a high density ratio between the pedestal foot and top. Nonlinear simulations reveal, for the first time, that the underlying mechanism for the observed small ELM crashes is the upper movement of the peeling boundary induced by an initial radially localized collapse in the pedestal, which stops the growth of instabilities and further collapse of the pedestal, thus providing a physics basis for mitigating ELMs in future steady-state fusion reactors.

Discovery of Antibacterial Dietary Spices That Target Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Although spice extracts are well known to exhibit antibacterial properties, there is lack of a comprehensive evaluation of the antibacterial effect of spices against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, ethanolic extracts from a total of 67 spices were comprehensively investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activities by agar well diffusion against two common food-borne bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis, with multi-drug resistance. Results showed that S. aureus was generally more sensitive to spice extracts than S. enteritidis. Of the 67 spice extracts, 38 exhibited antibacterial activity against drug-resistant S. aureus, while only four samples were effective on drug-resistant S. enteritidis. In addition, 11 spice extracts with inhibition zones greater than 15 mm were further verified for their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties using another 10 drug-resistant S. aureus strains. It was found that five spice extracts, including galangal, fructus galangae, cinnamon, yellow mustard seed, and rosemary, exhibited the highest antibacterial capacity. Further cytotoxicity of these 11 spices was determined and LC₅₀ values were found to be more than 100 μg/mL except for galangal, rosemary, and sage, whose LC₅₀ values were 9.32 ± 0.83, 19.77 ± 2.17, and 50.54 ± 2.57, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values) and total phenolic content (TPC) of spice extracts were determined to establish possible correlations with the antibacterial activity. Although the antibacterial effect was positively correlated with the antioxidant activities and TPC, the correlation was weak (r < 0.5), indicating that the antibacterial activity could also be attributed to other components besides antioxidant polyphenols in the tested spice extracts. In conclusion, dietary spices are good natural sources of antibacterial agents to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with potential applications as natural food preservatives and natural alternatives to antibiotics in animal feeding.

Ultrasonic Treatment Increases Extraction Rate of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Antioxidants

The feasibility of improving the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants by ultrasonic treatment was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectrum Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) analysis revealed that ultrasonic treatment substantially altered the cellular structure of common bean seed, resulting in increased surface area, eroded cell walls, and greater exposure of cellulose and hemicellulose. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained at optimal extraction conditions (68 min, 55% acetone, 36:1 liquid to solid ratio, 30 ℃, and 480 W) which were optimized by response surface methodology. In terms of the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) exhibits about seven-fold higher extraction efficiency than conventional solvent extraction (CSE). In addition, 10 phenolic compounds in the common bean extracts were detected and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), including protocatechuic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, coumarin, rutin, myricetin, cinnamic acid, and genistein. In summary, ultrasonic treatment is an ideal candidate methodology for improving the extraction rate of common bean antioxidants.

[Prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children in China: a systematic review and Meta-analysis]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children in China and provide scientific basis for early prevention and treatment of ADHD in children. Methods: A systematic literature retrieval was conducted by using CNKI, Wanfang data, CBM and VIP databases for the information about the prevalence of ADHD in children in China published from 1979 to 2017. Pubmed database was used to retrieve the literatures about ADHD prevalence in children in China published from 1946 to 2017. The quality of literature was evaluated based on the cross-sectional study criteria according to STROBE statement. Stata 12.0 was used for combined prevalence and subgroup analyses, including gender, regions, publication year, diagnostic criteria, sampling methods, and so on. Egger testing and the evaluation of funnel graph were used to evaluate the publication bias of these literatures, and sensitivity analysis was done by using different models and eliminating the influence of any one of these articles on combined effect value. Results: Twenty articles were included. The total sample size was 88 755, including 46 216 boys and 42 539 girls. The prevalence of ADHD in children in China was 5.6% (95%CI: 5.0%-6.3%). The prevalence was 7.7% (95%CI: 6.7%-8.8%) in boys and 3.4% (95%CI: 3.0%-3.8%) in girls, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). No statistically significance difference in the ADHD prevalence was observed between different regions publication years, diagnostic criteria and sampling methods. Conclusions: The prevalence of ADHD in children in China was high, and boys tended to have a higher prevalence compared with girls. Appropriate screening methods for early detection and intervention conduction of ADHD should be taken among children in China.

Nanochemoprevention with therapeutic benefits: An updated review focused on epigallocatechin gallate delivery

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a natural phenolic compound found in many plants, especially in green tea, which is a popular and restorative beverage with many claimed health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities. Despite its great curative potential, the poor bioavailability of EGCG restricts its clinical applcation. However, nanoformulations of EGCG are emerging as new alternatives to traditional formulations. This review focuses on the nanochemopreventive applications of various EGCG nanoparticles such as lipid-based, polymer-based, carbohydrate-based, protein-based, and metal-based nanoparticles. EGCG hybridized with these nanocarriers is capable of achieving advanced functions such as targeted release, active targeting, and enhanced penetration, ultimately increasing the bioavailability of EGCG. In addition, this review also summarizes the challenges for the use of EGCG in therapeutic applications, and suggests future directions for progress.

Comparison of the Phenolic Profiles of Soaked and Germinated Peanut Cultivars via UPLC-QTOF-MS

Diverse peanut varieties are widely cultivated in China. However, few studies have investigated the effects of germination on the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of specific Chinese peanut cultivars. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of germination on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, and phenolic profiles of seven peanut cultivars in China. The TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activities were determined by spectrophotometry, while phenolic profiles were analyzed by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). The results found that germination significantly increased TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was found to be closely related to TPC in germinated peanut extracts, which indicates that phenolics are the main contributors of antioxidants in germinated peanuts. In addition, germination induced significant changes in polyphenolic profiles. In the analyzed samples, 36 phenolic compounds were identified in which most were flavonoids. Overall, these findings highlight that germinated peanuts can be a good natural source of natural antioxidants for human consumption and functional food development.

[HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG plays an important role in JAK3/STAT5 signaling pathways in HTLV-1 infection cell line HUT-102]

Objective: To analyze whether heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) be involved in a permanently abnormal activated JAK/STAT signaling in ATL cells in vitro. Methods: The effect of 17-AAG on proliferation of ATL cell lines HUT-102 was assessed using CCK8 at different time points. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The specific proteins HSP90, STAT5, p-STAT5 and JAK3 were detected by Western blotting. Results: Overexpression of HSP90 in HUT-102 cell lines was disclosed (P<0.05) , and constitutive activation of JAK3/STAT5 signaling was observed in HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines but not in normal PBMCs; Treatment of ATL cell lines with 17-AAG led to reduced cell proliferation, but there was no significant change in terms of cell proliferation when the concentration of 17-AAG between 2 000-8 000 nmol/L (P>0.05) . 17-AAG induced cell apoptosis in different time-points and concentrations. 17-AAG don't affect the expression of JAK3 gene. Conclusion: This study indicated that JAK3 as HSP90 client protein was aberrantly activated in HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines, leading to constitutive activation of p-STAT5 in JAK/STAT signal pathway, which demonstrated that HSP90-inhibitors 17-AAG inhibited the growth of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines by reducing cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis.

Comparison of the strength of two multi-strand tendon repair configurations in a chicken model

We sought to investigate the strength of two multi-strand tendon repair configurations in a chicken model. Fifty-six chicken flexor tendons were repaired with one to two different four-strand configurations: 1) a four-strand repair consisting of a two-strand core modified Kessler suture with a circle loop repair and 2) a four-strand core Kessler suture repair with three separate peripheral suture points. The strength of the repaired tendons were measured 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the surgical repair and were analyzed statistically. The strength of the two repair methods was not statistically different 2 weeks after surgery. The tendons repaired with the four-strand core Kessler suture repair and three separate peripheral suture points were significantly stronger than those repaired with a two-strand core modified Kessler suture and a circle loop repair at 3 weeks (P = 0.033) and 4 weeks (P = 0.039). The four-strand repair with three separate peripheral suture points had greater strength than a two-strand repair with one circle loop suture based on an in vivo chicken flexor tendon model.

Polyphenols in Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.): Chemistry, Analysis, and Factors Affecting Composition

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most important grain legumes worldwide. Polyphenols are the predominant bioactive components with multifold bioactivities in diverse common bean cultivars. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins are the main polyphenols in common beans, and colorful common beans are overall rich in polyphenols, mainly in their pigmented seed coats. In addition, factors of influence, such as genotype, environmental conditions, storage, and processing methods, play a critical role in the content and composition of common bean polyphenols. Besides, analytical methods, including extraction, separation, and identification, are of importance for precise and comparable evaluation of polyphenols in common beans. Therefore, in order to provide a comprehensive and updated understanding of polyphenols in common beans, this review first summarizes the content and different compositions of polyphenols in common beans, and next discusses the factors affecting these compositions, followed by introducing the analytical methods for common bean polyphenols, and finally highlights the antioxidant activity of polyphenols in common beans. Considering the recent surge in interest in the use of grain legumes, we hope this review will further stimulate work in this field by providing a blueprint for further analytical studies to better utilize common bean polyphenols in food products to improve human nutrition.

[Application of ultrasound guidance for fascia iliaca compartment block in pediatric femoral surgery]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guidance for fascia iliaca compartment block in pediatric femoral surgery. Methods: This study was a prospective study, thirty children who were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) statusⅠ with 5-10 years old scheduled for femoral surgery were selected in orthopedics department in Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from May to December in 2014. After induction of general anesthesia, all the children were inserted the laryngeal mask. Then they were received fascia iliaca compartment block using ultrasound guidance under sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia. The indicators including heart rate(HR), mean arterial pressure(MAP), oxygen saturation(SpO(2)) and exhaled sevoflurane concentration were recorded before skin incision(T(1)), at 1, 5, 10 min after incision(T(2)-T(4))and at the end of the surgery(T(5)). Postoperative pain were assessed using the pain behavior assessment scale at awake time, 2 h and 4 h after surgery. The efficacy of postoperative analgesia and the satisfaction of parents at 2 h and 4 h after surgery were recorded. Results: The differences between HR、MAP and SpO(2) in children at T(1)-T(5) were no statistical significance (all P>0.05). Exhaled sevoflurane concentration at T(1)-T(5) were(2.50±0.51)%, (2.51±0.42)%, (2.50±0.41)%, (2.54±0.31)% and(0.61±0.20)%, respectively, the differences were statistically significant(F=13.503, P<0.05), among them that at T(5) was significantly lower than at T(1)-T(4)(all P<0.05). The pain score at awake time, 2 h and 4 h after surgery were (1.6±0.7), (3.3±1.4) and (3.9±1.3) scores, respectively. The parents satisfaction were 87% and 73% at 2 h and 4 h afer surgery respectively. Conclusion: The way of ultrasound guidance for fascia iliaca compartment block combined with general anesthesia can be safely and effectively used in pediatric femoral surgery. Using the technique of ultrasonic imaging, the fascia iliaca compartment can be directly observed and then the local anesthetics is injected, therefore the efficacy of block is improved.

Thermal oxidation reaction process and oxidation kinetics of abietic acid

A kinetic study on the oxidation of abietic acid, providing new basic data.

Comparing the Incidence of Catheter-Related Complications with Straight and Coiled Tenckhoff Catheters in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients-A Single-Center Prospective Randomized Trial

♦

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to prospectively compare the incidence of catheter-related complications and catheter survival for straight (SCs) and coiled (CCs) Tenckhoff catheters in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. ♦

METHODS

This open prospective randomized trial recruited 189 PD patients with end-stage renal disease from the department of nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 6 November 2007 to 27 August 2008. The patients were randomized to a SC (n = 99) or a CC (n = 90) and were then followed for 2 years. All catheter placements were performed by two designated experienced nephrologists who used a standardized institutional placement protocol. The primary study outcomes were catheter-related complications and catheter survival at 1 and 2 years. ♦

RESULTS

We observed no significant differences in clinical and demographic characteristics between the groups at baseline. The overall incidence of catheter dysfunction was higher in the CC group than in the SC group (17.8% vs 7.1%, p = 0.03), and most of the events occurred 4 weeks or more after the catheters were implanted. Catheter tip migration and omental wrapping were the most common causes of catheter dysfunction. Surgical catheter rescue was more common in patients with CCs than in patients with SCs (9 vs 3 patients respectively, p = 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other catheter-related complications, including dialysate leaks, hernias, and PD-related infections (peritonitis, exit-site, and tunnel infections). Catheter survival rates in the SC and CC groups were similar at 1 year (96.7% ± 1.9% vs 96.5% ± 2.0%, p = 0.98) and at 2 years (95.3% ± 2.3% vs 92.4% ± 3.6%, p = 0.76). ♦

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of PD catheter-related complications is probably higher with CCs than with SCs. The results of our study suggest that a SC is the better option to reduce subsequent catheter complications.

[Effect of ligustrazine peritoneal dialysate on CD40 expression of rat peritoneal mesothellial cells]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of Ligustrazine (LGZ) affecting the expression of CD40 on mesothelial cells (MC).

METHODS

Rat's peritoneal MC isolated from peritoneal cavity were cultured and maintained under the defined conditions in vitro. They were cultured with 4.25% peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS), 4.25% PDS added LGZ (40 mg/L), 4.25% PDS added IFN-gamma (100 u/ml) and 4.25% PDS added IFN-gamma and LGZ for 30 min, the DMEM/F12 cultural medium was taken as control. The expression of CD40 on MC was detected by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

MC cultured in vitro expressed CD40 markedly, the expression of CD40 mRNA and its protein was markedly up-regulated following stimulation with 4.25% PDS or IFN-gamma and 4.25% PDS. LGZ (40 mg/L) could reduce the expression of CD40 mRNA and its protein significantly as it was added in 4.25% PDS and 4.25% PDS with IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSION

The PDS stimulates the expression of CD40 on MC. LGZ has the function of down-regulating the expression of CD40 on MC. During long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, it might be helpful to alleviate chronic inflammatory reaction by adding LGZ into standard PDS, therefore prevent or retard the occurence and development of peritoneal fibrosis.

CD40 ligand expression on macrophages during peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction plays an important role in macrophage/monocyte-mediated inflammatory processes by up-regulating cytokine production by macrophages/monocytes and by preventing macrophage apoptosis at the inflammation sites. The present study investigated the possible regulation of CD40L expression in peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We used fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis to detect CD40L expression on macrophages obtained from peritoneal dialysate. Our results showed that CD40L expression on macrophages was significantly increased in a peritonitis group (4.62 +/- 6.54) as compared to a control group (0.76 +/- 0.30, p < 0.01). The CD40L-positive cells were also significantly increased during peritonitis (97.86% +/- 1.67% in the peritonitis group as compared to 73.10% +/- 26.94% in the control group, p < 0.05). After successful treatment, the expression of CD40L was significantly reduced (3.66 +/- 1.12 vs 1.05 +/- 0.02, p < 0.05). We conclude that functionally expressed CD40L on macrophages may take part in acute inflammatory response during peritonitis in CAPD and may play an important role in the local defense against infection in the peritoneal cavity.

Antagonistic effects of dihydropyridines and verapamil on CaCl2 and 5-HT-evoked contraction in porcine coronary artery

In porcine coronary arterial strips, the antagonistic effects of nifedipine (Nif), nimodipine (Nim), nicardipine (Nic), felodipine (Fel), and verapamil (Ver) to CaCl2-evoked contraction in Ca(2+)-free, K(+)-depolarized solution were greater than that to 5-HT. The order of potency (pD2') was Nif (9.1) greater than Fel (8.4) greater than Nim (7.9) greater than Nic (7.8) greater than Ver (7.2) to CaCl2 and Nif (8.3) greater than Nim (7.5) greater than Fel (6.8) greater than Ver (5.6) greater than Nic (5.3) to 5-HT. Ver inhibited 2 components of 5-HT-evoked contraction in Ca(2+)-free solution, but Fel inhibited only extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent contraction, suggesting that their action modes are different.