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Objective:To develop a novel, flexible, dual-arm, master-slave digestive endoscopic minimally invasive surgical robot system named dual-arm robotic endoscopic assistant for minimally invasive surgery (DREAMS) and to evaluate its feasibility for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by using ex vivo porcine stomachs.Methods:A novel endoscopic robot (DREAMS) system was developed which was composed of a flexible two-channel endoscope, two flexible robotic manipulators, a master controller, a robotic arm, and a control system. A total of 10 artificial round-like lesions with diameters ranging from 15 to 25 mm were created (5 in gastric antrum and 5 in gastric body) by using fresh peeled stomach of healthy pigs as the model. Submucosal dissection was performed with the assistance of the DREAMS system by two operators. The main outcome was submucosal dissection speed, and the secondary outcomes included muscular injury rate, perforation rate, and grasping efficiency of the robot.Results:All 10 lesions were successfully dissected en bloc by using the DREAMS system. The diameter of the artificial lesions was 22.34±2.39 mm, dissection time was 15.00±8.90 min, submucosal dissection speed was 141.79±79.12 mm 2/min, and the number of tractions required by each ESD was 4.2 times. Muscular injury occurred in 4/10 cases of ESD. No perforation occurred. Conclusion:The initial animal experiment shows the DREAMS system is safe and effective.
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Objective:To investigate the predictive value of peritoneal protein clearance (Pcl) for cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:Eligible PD patients were prospectively enrolled from January 2014 to April 2015 in the PD Center of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All patients were followed up until death, withdrawing from PD, transferring to other centers, or the end of study period (October 1, 2018). The patients were divided into high Pcl group and low Pcl group by the median Pcl, and the differences of related indicators between the two groups were compared. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of Pcl. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used to compare the cumulative survival rates of patients between the two groups. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to estimate the risk of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in relation to Pcl in PD patients.Results:A total of 271 patients were enrolled, with 135 males (49.8%), age of (56.92±0.84) years old and a median PD duration of 38.77(19.00, 63.10) months. There were 70 patients (25.8%) comorbiding with diabetes and 81 patients (29.9%) with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The median Pcl of this cohort was 67.93(52.31, 88.36) ml/d. Compared with the low Pcl group (Pcl<67.93 ml/d), the high Pcl group (Pcl≥67.93 ml/d) had older age, and greater proportion of CVD, body mass index (BMI), pulse pressure, brain natriuretic peptide, mass transfer area coefficient of creatinine (MTACcr), and lower serum albumin (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in gender, dialysis duration, proportion of diabetes, proportion of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker, proportion of continuous ambulatory PD, high sensitivity C reactive protein, fluid removal including 24 h urine volume and 24 h ultrafiltration, and residual renal function between the two groups (all P>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that serum albumin ( β=-0.388, P<0.001), BMI ( β=0.189, P<0.001), and MTACcr ( β=0.247, P<0.001) were independently related to lg(Pcl). During the study period, 55 patients experienced one or more cardiovascular events and 39 patients had cardiovascular mortality. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, cardiovascular mortality in the high Pcl group was higher than that of low Pcl group (Log-rank χ2=6.902, P=0.009). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that, high lg(Pcl) was an independent influencing factor of cardiovascular events in PD patients ( HR=7.654, 95% CI 1.676-34.945, P=0.009). Conclusions:Serum albumin, BMI and MTACcr are independently associated with Pcl, and Pcl is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in PD patients.
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Nature has endowed gaseous molecules such as O
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Metal-based carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties maintaining gastric mucosal integrity. We are interested in further development of metal-free CO-based therapeutics for oral administration. Thus, we examine the protective effect of representative CO prodrug, BW-CO-111, in rat models of gastric damage induced by necrotic ethanol or aspirin, a representative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by measuring the microscopic/macroscopic gastric damage area and gastric blood flow by laser flowmetry. Gastric mucosal mRNA and/or protein expressions of HMOX1, HMOX2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, COX1, COX2,
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This paper mainly introduces the concept and theoretical basis of motivational interviewing, summarizes its application effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, existing problems and prospects in the application process, and provides theoretical support and behavioral guidance for the further use of motivational interviewing health education for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
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Objective:To explore the association of abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:The patients who underwent regular PD at Renji Hospital between July 2011 and July 2014 were recruited and prospectively followed up until the end of the study (August 31, 2018), death, or dropout PD. Abdomen lateral X-ray was used to determine AACS for each patient at enrollment. Patients were divided into three groups based on the tertiles of AACS: non-calcified group, AACS group (AACS=0), mild-moderate calcification group AACS group (0<AACS≤4) and severe calcification group (4<AACS≤24). Cumulative incidences of cardiovascular outcomes among three groups were estimated using competing risk model and compared through Gray test. Competing risk regression model was used to evaluate the association of AACS and cardiovascular events as well as CVD mortality.Results:Two hundred and ninety-two PD patients were enrolled in this study. The cohort consisted of 160 males (54.8%) with the age (57.1±15.2) years and median PD vintage 28.4 (IQR 12.0, 57.8) months, and their average AACS was 2.0 (0.0, 6.0). Order logistic regression analysis showed that older age ( OR=1.081, 95% CI 1.057-1.106, P<0.001) and longer PD vintage ( OR=1.012, 95% CI 1.004-1.019, P=0.003), CVD history ( OR=1.919, 95% CI 1.108-3.325, P=0.020) and diabetes ( OR=2.554, 95% CI 1.415-4.609, P=0.002) were independent risk factors of escalating AACS in PD patients. During the follow-up, 65 cases CVD events and 50 cases CVD-related deaths developed. Patients in the upper AACS tertile had significantly higher estimated cumulative incidences of CVD occurrence ( Gray=27.81, P<0.001) and CVD mortality ( Gray=20.91, P<0.001). AACS was an independent predictor of both CVD occurrence (medium AACS group vs low AACS group: SHR=2.823, 95% CI 1.333-5.970, P=0.007; high AACS group vs medium AACS group: SHR=3.063, 95% CI 1.460-6.430, P=0.003) and CVD mortality ( SHR=2.590, 95% CI 1.132-5.920, P=0.024) in competing risk regression models. Conclusions:Age, PD vintage, diabetes and preexisting CVD are associated with higher AACS in the present cohort. AACS can predict CVD morbidity and mortality in PD population and therefore may help with the early identification of PD patients with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
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This paper mainly introduces the concept and theoretical basis of motivational interviewing, summarizes its application effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, existing problems and prospects in the application process, and provides theoretical support and behavioral guidance for the further use of motivational interviewing health education for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
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Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of leflunomide on salivary gland secretion hypofunction in NOD mice with Sjogren′s syndrome.Methods:NOD mice were randomly divided into four groups: prevention group, prevention control group, treatment group and treatment control group. Salivary flow rate was measured after pilocarpine stimulation. Changes in the average number and area of infiltrating lesions were compared after hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The percentages of CD3 + T, CD4 + T, CD8 + T, CD44 + CD62L -CD4 + T, CD19 + B and CD138 + B cells in submandibular gland and spleen were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of TNF-α, IL-17A and IL-6 in serum were detected by CBA method. Results:The salivary flow rate ( t=-5.81, P<0.001; t=-3.61, P<0.05), the number of infiltrating lesions( t=3.95, P<0.01; t=4.94, P<0.001)and the average area of infiltrating lesions( t=3.18, P<0.05; t=2.35, P<0.05)were significantly ameliorated in the prevention and treatment groups. Moreover, CD3 + CD4 + T cells( t=2.39, P<0.05; t=3.82, P<0.01)and CD44 + CD62L -CD4 + T cells( t=3.53, P<0.05; t=3.36, P<0.05)in the submandibular gland were significantly decreased. CD3 + T( t=6.08, P<0.001; t=2.76, P<0.05), CD3 + CD4 + T ( t=3.73, P<0.05; t=2.39, P<0.05), CD19 + B ( t=5.88, P<0.001; t=4.23, P<0.01) and CD138 + B cells ( t=4.30, P<0.001; t=4.46, P<0.01) in the spleen were also significantly reduced. Serum IL-17A ( t=4.15, P<0.01; t=3.36, P<0.01) in the two groups and TNF-α ( t=4.56, P<0.001) in the prevention group were down-regulated, but no significant difference was observed in IL-6 level. Conclusions:This study suggested that leflunomide could prevent and improve salivary gland hypofunction and inhibit immune activation in NOD mice, providing reference for evaluating leflunomide in the treatment of Sjogren′s syndrome.
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Objective To analyze the correlation between herpes zoster neuralgia and the methylation status of the whole genome and GCH1 gene.Methods From June to October in 2017,patients with confirmed herpes zoster and obvious neuralgia were selected in Department of Dermatology,The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University,who achieved complete remission (no effect was observed on normal sleep) of neuralgia after antiviral and neurotrophic treatment.Finally,36 patients and 36 healthy controls were enrolled into this study.Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the healthy controls and patients before and after the treatment.Dot-blot hybridization assay was performed to determine the methylation status of the whole genome,methylated-DNA IP kit was used to enrich the methylation sites of the GCH1 gene,and real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect changes in methylation status of the GCH1 gene.Statistical analysis was carried out with GraphPad Prism v7.00 software by using paired t test for the comparison of methylation status before and after the treatment,and two-sample t test for the comparison between the patient group and control group.Results The relative methylation level of the whole genome was 135.94 ± 2.52 in the patients before treatment,significantly lower than that in the patients after treatment (144.76 ± 3.48,t =2.056,P ＜ 0.05) and healthy control group (146.84 ± 3.39,t =2.580,P ＜ 0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the methylation status of the whole genome between the patients after treatment and healthy controls (t =0.429,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the patients after treatment (0.89 ± 0.13) and healthy control group (0.97 ± 0.07),the methylation status of the GCH1 gene significantly decreased in the patients before treatment (0.65 ± 0.17;t =3.977,4.648 respectively,P ＜ 0.05,＜ 0.01 respectively),while no significant difference between the patients after treatment and the healthy controls (t =0.506,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The methylation status of the whole genome and GCH 1 gene markedly decreased in the patients with herpes zoster neuralgia.
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Guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH1) is a protein encoded by the GCH1 gene,which catalyze GTP to tetrahydrofolinine (BH4) under physiological condition.BH4 is a coenzyme of aromatic amino acid hydroxylase and a cofactor of nitric oxide synthases.BH4 involves in the synthesis of various hormones and neurotransmitters and plays an important role in a series of pathophysiological processes in vivo.Recent studies showed that GTPCH1 is involved in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain,doparesponsive dystonia,cancer and cardiovascular diseases.In this review,we will discuss the role of GTPCH1 in those diseases mentioned above.
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Objective To investigate the role of BMP-2/Smad signaling pathway in the osteogenic differentiation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) caused by hyperphosphatemia -induced calcium phosphate (CaP) crystals.Methods High-phosphate medium was incubated at 37℃ for 3 days.CaP crystals and supernatant were isolated by ultracentrifugation.Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed for analysis of physicochemical characteristics of CaP crystals.HASMCs were cultured in vitro,and divided into high-phosphate,control,crystals and supernatant groups.Calcification was visualized by Alizarin red staining.Calcium loads in cells were quantified by o-cresolphthalein complexone method.Protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2),Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2),osteopontin (OPN),phospho-Smad1/5/9 (p-Smad1/5/9) were quantified by Western blotting.After knockdowns of BMP-2 and Smad1 with small hairpin RNA (shRNA) interfering respectively in HASMCs,protein expressions were measured by Western blotting.Results High-phosphate medium induced the formation of CaP crystals.Compared with the cells in control group,CaP crystals significantly induced HASMCs calcification,increased calcium loads and up-regulated the levels of BMP-2,RUNX2 and OPN proteins (all P ＜ 0.05).After the addition of CaP crystals into HASMCs,the level of p-Smad 1/5/9 protein peaked at 30 min (P ＜ 0.05).After BMP-2 was knocked down in HASMCs,the expression of p-Smad1 caused by CaP crystals was blocked completely,and the expressions of RUNX2 and OPN caused by CaP crystals were reduced significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).After Smad1 was knocked down in HASMCs,the expressions of RUNX2 and OPN caused by CaP crystals were decreased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Hyperphosphatemia-induced CaP crystals promoted osteogenic differentiation of HASMCs through the BMP-2/Smad signaling pathway.
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At present, tumor marker measurement is one of the most important methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and prognostic evaluation. This review summarizes the value of tumor markers in the diagnosis of HCC, prediction of biological characteristics, and prognostic evaluation, as well as the diagnostic value of a combination of various tumor markers. With new tumor markers being discovered, the rate of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of HCC will be improved.
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Objective To study the effect of osgentide (OST) on proliferation of mouse preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 under simulated microgravity ( SMG ) .Methods Under normal conditions , cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay to screen an OST compound of an effective concentration after MC 3T3-E1 cells were treated with series OSTs .Furthermore, cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution of MC 3T3-E1 cells were analyzed after treatment with 1 nmol/L OST5 by MTT assay and by flow cytometry ( FCM) scanning under SMG .Results Under normal conditions , 1 nmol/L OST5 was able to significantly promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells (P<0.01).Under SMG, proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly inhibited and more cells entered G 1 than under normal conditions (CN).The proportion of S phase of MC3T3-E1 cells after treatment with 1 nmol/L OST5 ( OST-SMG) for 3 d was higher than that of untreated MC 3T3-E1 cells under SMG,suggesting that OST5 could promote DNA synthesis ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion OST5 facilitates the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells under SMG, which provides a basis for the use of OST5 in the prevention and treatment of bone loss relat-ed to microgravity .
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In order to improve the efficiency and quality of medical services,the authors applied the lean production and system simulation into optimizing the transfusion system of a hospital.By means of describing and analyzing the current situation and problems of a transfusion system of the hospital,the paper presented the cause-effect diagram for overlong patient waiting.5W1H and ECRS were adopted to analyze the infusion processes,while Simio was used to simulate the existing infusion system and simulation data so obtained were used to draw a value stream mapping for the system.In line with the ideas of Shojinka and one stream production,nurses deployment and conveyor speed were reconfigured.Based on these ideas,a reform plan is presented and the simulation method is used to verify the outcomes.The study proved that lean production and system simulation can effectively improve the hospital transfusion system,medical efficiency and medical service level.