Effect of electroacupuncture stimulation of "Sibai"(ST2) and "Quanliao"(SI18) on excitatory neurons of sensorimotor cortex in mice.

Objectives: To observe the activation state and neuronal types of somatosensory cortex and the primary motor cortex induced by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Sibai" (ST2) and "Quanliao" (SI18) acupoints in mice.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank control and EA groups, with 6 mice in each group. Rats of the EA group received EA stimulation (2 Hz, 0.

microRNA-1-3p and T-synthase mRNA have high diagnostic efficacy on intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that can be complicated by intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction (SAP&IBD). The current study sought to examine the diagnostic efficacy of miR-1-3p and T-synthase mRNA in SAP&IBD patients. First, SAP patients were assigned to SAP&IBD and SAP groups.

miR-155 facilitates calcium oxalate crystal-induced HK-2 cell injury via targeting PI3K associated autophagy.

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most common and highly recurrent diseases worldwide. Accumulating evidence revealed the elevated miR-155 levels both in serum and urine of nephrolithiasis patients. The aim of our research was to explore the role of miR-155 in CaOx-induced apoptosis in HK-2 cells.

Inhibition of miR-155 Ameliorates Acute Kidney Injury by Apoptosis Involving the Regulation on TCF4/Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex clinical disorder with sudden decay in renal function. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) has been regarded as the main etiology for the occurrence of AKI. MicroRNAs have been consistently shown to be involved AKI.

Effect of Baricity of Bupivacaine on Median Effective Doses for Motor Block.

BACKGROUND The median effective dose (ED50) of a drug gives the amount or dose of drug needed to produce effective therapeutic response or desired effect in at least 50% of the population taking it. Our study focused on determining the ED50 required for effective motor block using hyperbaric and plain bupivacaine, and evaluated the influence of baricity on the ED50 required for motor block. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 38 patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups according to the baricity of bupivacaine: group P received plain bupivacaine and group H received hyperbaric bupivacaine.

Factors associated with significant liver necroinflammation in chronic hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis.

We determined the association between various clinical parameters and significant liver necroinflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related cirrhosis. Two hundred patients with CHB related cirrhosis were recruited in the final analysis. Clinical laboratory values and characteristics were obtained from the medical record.

The characteristics and clinical outcome of drug-induced liver injury in a Chinese hospital: A retrospective cohort study.

The aim of this cohort study was to determine the characteristics and clinical outcome of 287 patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in a Chinese hospital.Between January 2008 and January 2013, individuals who were diagnosed with DILI were selected. The complete medical records of each case were reviewed, and factors for the outcome of patients with DILI were extracted and analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

A practical community-based response strategy to interrupt Ebola transmission in sierra Leone, 2014-2015.

Background: The Ebola virus disease spread rapidly in West Africa in 2014, leading to the loss of thousands of lives. Community engagement was one of the key strategies to interrupt Ebola transmission, and practical community level measures needed to be explored in the field and tailored to the specific context of communities.

Methods: First, community-level education on Ebola virus disease (EVD) prevention was launched for the community's social mobilizers in six districts in Sierra Leone beginning in November 2014.

Rapid assessment of knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk perception related to the prevention and control of Ebola virus disease in three communities of Sierra Leone.

Background: The recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone has been characterized by the World Health Organization as one of the most challenging EVD outbreaks to date. The first confirmed case in Sierra Leone was a young woman who was admitted to a government hospital in Kenema following a miscarriage on 24 May 2014. On 5 January 2015, intensified training for an EVD response project was initiated at the medical university of Sierra Leone in Jui.

The combination of three molecular markers can be a valuable predictive tool for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Based on molecular profiling, several prognostic markers for HCC are also used in clinic, but only a few genes have been identified as useful. We collected 72 post-operative liver cancer tissue samples. Genes expression were tested by RT-PCR.

Determination of the median effective dose (ED50) of spinal plain ropivacaine for motor block in adults.

Background: The median effective dose (ED50) for motor blockade of spinal plain bupivacaine in adults was previously reported; however, that of ropivacaine is unknown. This study aimed to determine the ED50 for motor blockade of spinal plain ropivacaine in adults, evaluating the effect of age on this parameter.

Methods: 133 patients in need of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia were enrolled in this sequential allocation study.

Effect of Concentration on Median Effective Dose (ED50) for Motor Block of Intrathecal Plain Bupivacaine in Elderly Patients.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the median effective dose (ED50) for motor block of various concentrations of intrathecally administered plain bupivacaine.

Material And Methods: Between 2011 and 2013, 64 patients aged ≥70 years, undergoing transurethral, or lower limb surgery with combined spinal and epidural anesthesia in a single hospital were enrolled. The patients were randomized into 3 groups to receive intrathecal 0.

Hepatic sarcoidosis mimicking liver cancer.

We present a case of a 50-year-old woman with multiple occupations in the liver. Liver cancer was strongly suspected initially according to the results of imaging examination. However, sarcoidosis was confirmed subsequently by liver biopsy, so methylprednisolone was then prescribed and the patient showed favorable therapeutic response.

Fever of unknown origin: report of 107 cases in a university hospital.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a challenging problem in clinical practice. Evaluation of patient's characteristics may illustrate the etiologies of FUO. In present study, 107 patients with FUO hospitalized in our inpatient department between 2010 and 2011 were investigated.

Serum microRNA-29 levels correlate with disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: To investigate the role of serum microRNA-29 (miR-29) as a biomarker for the prediction of disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, serum miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c levels were measured in patients with chronic HBV infection, and the correlation between serum miR-29 levels and the participants' liver biochemistry, fibrotic stage and necroinflammation grade were also evaluated.

Results: Altogether 91 patients with chronic HBV infection were divided by fibrotic stage into S0/1 (no or mild fibrosis), S2/3 (progressive fibrosis) and S4 (cirrhosis) subgroups, and 12 healthy individuals were also included in the study.

Determination of the median effective dose for motor block of intrathecally administered different concentrations of bupivacaine in younger patients. The influence of solution concentration.

Objective: To determine the median effective dose (ED50) for motor block of intrathecally administered different concentrations of bupivacaine in younger patients.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Anesthesiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, China, on 40 American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I-II younger patients (18-40 years) undergoing lower limb surgery. These patients were classified into 2 groups according to a computer-generated random number table (Group A - 0.

[Study on type I interferon and phospho-IRF3 in murine liver dendritic cells after intervened by HBV].

Objective: To detect the secretions of type I interferon and the expressions of phospho-IRF3 in murine liver dendritic cells intervened by HBV.

Methods: The murine liver dendritic cells were isolated via anti-CD11c microbeads and were incubated in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 to induce the DC generation and proliferation in 24-well cell culture plates. HBV virions were isolated via ultracentrifugation and were detected by quantitative Realtime-PCR.

Correlation of the expression of toll-like receptors in monocyte-derived dendritic cells with prognosis of chronic severe hepatitis B.

Objective: This study aims to measure the expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) from chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB), to assess the contribution of TLRs in CSHB.

Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from 40 CSHB patients, 30 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and 30 healthy individuals who served as healthy controls (HCs). Purified monocytes were isolated by a combination of Histopaque-1.

[Expression of nuclear factor-κB and its regulated cytokines in dendritic cells in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) level and its regulated cytokines in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDC) with illness severity and prognosis in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB).

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated by Ficoll density gradient separation from 37 patients with CSHB, 20 chronically HBV-infected patients, and 20 normal controls. Monocytes were acquired using immunomagnetic anti-CD14-beads.

[Effect of fresh gas flow on isoflurane pharmacokinetics during anesthesia induction].

Objective: To investigate the effect of different fresh gas flow (FGF) rates on isoflurane pharmacokinetics during anesthesia induction.

Methods: Sixty female patients (ASA class I-II, age range of 18-49 years) scheduled for gynecological laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided into groups I, II, and III (n=20) for isoflurane inhalation with FGF rate of 1, 2, and 3 L/min, respectively. Each group was further divided into two equal subgroups according to the setting concentration of the isoflurane vaporizer at 1% (groups I 1, II 1, and III 1) and 2% (groups I 2, II 2, and III 2).

[Phenotypes and functions of dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes of chronic hepatitis B patients with different HBV DNA loads].

Objective: To investigate the phenotypes and functions of peripheral blood monocyte derived dendritic cells (DC) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different HBV DNA loads.

Methods: Twenty-eight CHB patients were included in this study. All patients were treated with nucleoside analogues (lamivudine or LdT or adefovir) for 24 weeks.

[Effects of different fresh gas flow on pharmacodynamics of isoflurane during anesthesia induction].

Objective: To investigate the effect of different fresh gas flows (FGFs) on the pharmacodynamics of isoflurane during anesthesia induction.

Methods: Sixty female ASA class I or II patients (aged from 18 to 49 years) scheduled for gynecologic laparoscopic surgery were randomly divided into groups I, II, and III (n=20). The FGFs for group I, II, and III was 1, 2 and 3 L/min, respectively, and each group was further divided into two equal subgroups according to the setting concentrations of isoflurane vaporizer (Co), which was 1% in groups I1, II1, and III1 and 2% in groups I2, II2, and III2.