Totally mechanical Collard versus circular stapled cervical esophagogastric anastomosis for minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Background: Previous studies have proposed that the totally mechanical Collard (TMC) method may reduce anastomotic leakage and stricture. This study aimed to compare the TMC method and the circular stapled (CS) method for cervical anastomosis after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer.

Methods: From May 2017 to September 2020, 308 patients (165 in the CS group and 143 in the TMC group) were included in this study.

Extensive open lobectomy experience is not a prerequisite for learning uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy.

Background And Objectives: Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) lobectomy has been increasingly adopted to manage early stage lung cancer. However, little information is available on whether this technique can be taught to surgeons inexperienced in open lobectomy. This study aimed to investigate the learning curve for U-VATS lobectomy performed by a single surgeon with limited open lobectomy experience.

Computed tomography-guided cyanoacrylate injection for localization of multiple ipsilateral lung nodules.

Objectives: To retrospectively assess the clinical effectiveness of CT-guided cyanoacrylate localization for multiple ipsilateral small pulmonary nodules (SPNs) and to determine the independent predictors for pneumothorax.

Methods: In total, 81 patients with 169 lesions undergoing CT-guided cyanoacrylate localization for multiple ipsilateral SPNs between September 2016 and July 2020 were enrolled (group M). Another 284 patients who received single SPN localization during the same period served as the control group (group S).

21- versus 25-mm Circular Staplers for Cervical Anastomosis: A Propensity-Matched Study.

Background: The use of a small circular stapler (CS) has been reported to increase the incidence of benign anastomotic stricture of the intrathoracic anastomosis after esophagectomy, but no study has evaluated the effects of the CS size on cervical esophagogastrostomy. Based on a propensity-matched comparison, the present study was designed to determine whether the perioperative outcomes differ between 21- and 25-mm CSs after minimally invasive esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis.

Methods: From January 2015 to December 2017, 162 patients who received CS cervical esophagogastric anastomosis after minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were identified from our surgical database.

Comparison of cyanoacrylate and hookwire for localizing small pulmonary nodules: A propensity-matched cohort study.

Background: Localizing small pulmonary nodules (SPNs) is a challenge during thoracoscopic resection, but preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided localization using either cyanoacrylate or hookwire can be helpful. This study compared the safety, efficiency, and operability of the two techniques.

Methods: From September 2013 to November 2018, 269 patients (269 SPNs) who underwent preoperative CT-guided SPN localization were enrolled.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Paeoniae Radix Rubra Formulae in Relieving Hyperbilirubinemia Induced by Viral Hepatitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most devastating pathologies induced by various liver diseases. Formulae related to Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR) at high doses have been applied to treat hyperbilirubinemia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy and safety of formulae relevant to high-dose PRR in patients suffering from hyperbilirubinemia induced by viral hepatitis.

Paeoniflorin alleviates liver fibrosis by inhibiting HIF-1α through mTOR-dependent pathway.

HIF-1α/mTOR signaling pathway is considered to play a crucial role in genesis and progress of tissue fibrosis. The elevation of HIF-1α and mTOR is relevant to CCl4 induced liver fibrotic rats. Paeoniflorin has been consistently shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological effects in liver disease.

Inhibition of calpain reduces oxidative stress and attenuates endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.

Aims: The present study was to investigate the role of calpain in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in endothelial cells and endothelium-dependent vascular dysfunction under experimental conditions of diabetes.

Methods And Results: Exposure to high glucose activated calpain, induced apoptosis and reduced nitric oxide (NO) production without changing eNOS protein expression, its phosphorylation and dimers formation in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). These effects of high glucose correlated with intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial superoxide generation.

Microcalorimetry coupled with chemometric techniques for toxicity evaluation of Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi) and its processed products on Escherichia coli.

As a widely used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata (Fuzi) is not only efficacious but also poisonous. Its toxicity and processed products should be taken into account and effectively evaluated. In this study, a non-invasive and non-destructive microcalorimetric method was employed to evaluate and compare the toxicity of Fuzi and its three processed products including Yanfupian, Heifupian, and Danfupian on Escherichia coli (E.

Paeoniflorin protects against ANIT-induced cholestasis by ameliorating oxidative stress in rats.

Paeoniflorin, one of the primary bioactive components in Chi shao, are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. A lot of evidences suggest that Paeoniflorin has potential anti-oxidant effects. However, whether Paeoniflorin plays roles in cholestasis is unclear.

Establishment of a bioassay for the toxicity evaluation and quality control of Aconitum herbs.

Currently, no bioassay is available for evaluating the toxicity of Aconitum herbs, which are well known for their lethal cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity. In this study, we established a bioassay to evaluate the toxicity of Aconitum herbs. Test sample and standard solutions were administered to rats by intravenous infusion to determine their minimum lethal doses (MLD).

Rhein protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatic and renal toxicity.

This study investigated the possible protective effects and mechanism of rhein on Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rats. Treatment of rats with APAP resulted in severe liver and kidney injuries, as demonstrated by drastic elevation of serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamate-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), total bilirubin (TBIL), creatinine (CREA), urea nitrogen (UREA) levels and typical histopathological changes including necrosis, phlogocyte infiltration and fatty degeneration in liver, tubules epithelium swelling and severe vacuolar degeneration in kidney. APAP caused oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, nitric oxide (NO) and malondiadehyde (MDA) levels, together with depleted glutathione (GSH) concentration in the liver and kidney of rats.

Disruption of Rac1 signaling reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in the diabetic heart by inhibiting calpain.

Diabetes increases myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the role of Rac1 signaling and calpain in exacerbated I/R injury in diabetic hearts.

Histone deacetylase-3 activation promotes tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression in cardiomyocytes during lipopolysaccharide stimulation.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in cardiomyocytes, which contributes to myocardial depression during sepsis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of histone deacetylase (HDAC) to TNF-alpha expression in cardiomyocytes and the signaling mechanism of LPS-induced HDAC activation.

Differences in effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on Wei cold model in rats.

Objective: To explore the effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on the stomach cold syndrome in a Wei cold model in rats.

Methods: The rat Wei cold model was established by intragastric administration of glacial NaOH, and the gastric mucosa injury indices, together with the levels of motilin and gastrin in the stomach, were determined. The preventive and curative effects of Zuojin Pills and its similar formulas on gastric mucosa injury were investigated.

Rac1 is required for cardiomyocyte apoptosis during hyperglycemia.

Objective: Hyperglycemia induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, which contributes to diabetic cardiomyopathy. The present study was to investigate the role of Rac1 in ROS production and cardiomyocyte apoptosis during hyperglycemia.

Research Design And Methods: Mice with cardiomyocyte-specific Rac1 knockout (Rac1-ko) were generated.

Rac1 mediates sex difference in cardiac tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression via NADPH oxidase-ERK1/2/p38 MAPK pathway in endotoxemia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Rac1 and estrogen in sex difference of cardiac tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression during endotoxemia. Endotoxemia was induced in male and female mice by peritoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 4 mg/kg). Compared with female mice, male mice produced more TNF-alpha in the heart 4 h after LPS treatment, which were correlated with higher Rac1 and NADPH oxidase activity, more phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, and up-regulation of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) expression in male mice.

Investigations of free anthraquinones from rhubarb against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats.

The protective effects of anthraquinones from Rhubarb, a Chinese herbal medicine, consisting of the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., R. tanguticum Maxim.

Over-expression of calpastatin inhibits calpain activation and attenuates myocardial dysfunction during endotoxaemia.

Aims: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces cardiomyocyte caspase-3 activation and proinflammatory factors, in particular tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production, both of which contribute to myocardial dysfunction during sepsis. The present study was to investigate the roles of calpain/calpastatin system in cardiomyocyte caspase-3 activation, TNF-alpha expression, and myocardial dysfunction during LPS stimulation.

Methods And Results: In cultured adult rat cardiomyocytes, LPS (1 microg/mL) induced calpain and caspase-3 activity, and up-regulated TNF-alpha expression.

Effect of Radix isatidis polysaccharides on immunological function and expression of immune related cytokines in mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Radix Isatidis polysaccharides (RIP) on the immunological function and expression of immune related cytokines in mice.

Methods: Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups, the normal group, cyclophosphamide (Cy) model group, Levamisole (positive control) group, RIP low, medium and high dose groups (0.08 g/kg, 0.

[Study on quality evaluation of Radix Isatis based on analysis of biothermic activity].

Objective: To establish a novel pattern and method to evaluate the quality of Radix Isatis based on analysis of biothermic activity.

Methods: Chemical and biothermodynamic methods were used and compared to investigate the quality of different Radix Isatis samples. And a mathematic model was established by computer aided pattern recognition to evaluate the quality of Radix Isatis.

Investigation on the spectrum-effect relationships of EtOAc extract from Radix Isatidis based on HPLC fingerprints and microcalorimetry.

This work investigated the spectrum-effect relationships between HPLC fingerprints and the anti-bacterial activities of EtOAc extracts from Radix Isatidis. Fingerprints of EtOAc extracts of Radix Isatidis from various sources were established by a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The process of Escherichia coli (E.

Microcalorimetric studies of the action on four organic acids in Radix isatidis on the growth of microorganisms.

The actions of four organic acids in Radix isatidis, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae growth were investigated by microcalorimetry. The four organic acids were syringic acid, 2-amino-benzoic acid, salicylic acid and benzoic acid. The power-time curves of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae growth with and without organic acids were acquired, meanwhile the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism were evaluated by growth rate constants (k1, k2), maximum heat-output[0] power (P(m)) and peak time (t(m)).

Thermochemical studies on the quantity-antibacterial effect relationship of four organic acids from Radix Isatidis on Escherichia coli growth.

In this report, we have investigated the inhibitory action of four organic acids from Radix Isatidis on Escherichia coli growth was investigated at 37 degrees C by using a microcalorimeter. The four organic acids were: syringic acid, 2-amino-benzoic acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid. In accordance with thermokinetic model, the pertaining relationships of the drugs, such as growth inhibitory ratio vs.

An experiment on standardized cell culture assay in assessing the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablets against hepatitis B virus replication in vitro.

Objective: To explore the activities of Composite Artemisia Capillaris Tablet (CACT) against hepatitis B virus replication in vitro.

Methods: By means of radioimmunoassay (RIA), Dot blot and Southern blot, the surface and e antigen production of 2.2.