[The epidemic, prophylaxis and treatment of cholera in Su-Wan Liberated Area in 1946].

Rugao and Haian belonging to First Branch of Su-Wan Liberated Area found fulminant cholera in 1946. The fulminant cholera spread throughout the Su-Wan Liberated Area in a short period of time. Thus, local mass and military led by CPC actively launched the Movement of Epidemic Prevention. They took some actions to clear up the circumstance, eliminate the pathogen, prevent the food contamination and cut off the route of transmission. Vaccination was carried out on a large scale. As a result of these measure, the fulminant cholera was efficiently controlled.

[A multicenter randomized prospective study of concurrent chemoradiation with 60 Gy versus 50 Gy for inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To determine whether 60 Gy is superior to standard 50 Gy for definitive concurrent chemoradiation(CCRT) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using modern radiation technology in a phase Ⅲ prospective randomized trial. Methods: From April 2013 to May 2017, 331 patients from 22 hospitals who were pathologically confirmed with stage ⅢA-ⅣA ESCC were randomized to 60 Gy or 50 Gy with random number table. Total of 305 patients were analyzed, including 152 in 60 Gy group and 153 in 50 Gy group. The median age was 63 years, 242(79.3%) males and 63(20.7%) females. The median length of primary tumor was 5.6 cm. The clinical characteristics between two groups were comparable. All patients were delivered 2 Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week. Concurrent weekly chemotherapy with docetaxel (25 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (25 mg/m(2)) and 2 cycles consolidation chemotherapy with docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (25 mg/m(2), d1-3) were administrated. The primary endpoint was local/regional progression-free survival (LRPFS). The data were compared with Pearson chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: At a median follow-up of 27.3 months, the disease progression rate was 37.5% (57/152), 43.8% (67/153) in the high and standard-dose group, respectively (χ(2)=1.251, P=0.263). The 1, 2, 3-year LRPFS rate was 75.4%, 56.8%, 52.1% and 74.2%, 58.4%, 50.1%, respectively (HR: 0.95, 95%CI: 0.69-1.31, P=0.761). The 1, 2, 3-year overall survival rate was 84.1%, 64.8%, 54.1% and 85.4%, 62.9%, 54.0%, respectively (HR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.71-1.38, P=0.927). The 1, 2, 3-year progression-free survival rate was 70.8%, 54.2%, 48.5% and 65.5%, 51.9%, 45.1%, respectively (HR: 0.93, 95%CI: 0.68-1.26, P=0.621). The incidence rates in toxicities between the two groups were similar except for higher rate of severe pneumonitis in high dose group (χ(2)=11.596, P=0.021). Conclusions: The efficacy in disease control is similar between 60 Gy and 50 Gy using modern radiation technology concurrent with chemotherapy for ESCC. The 50 Gy should be recommended as the regular radiation dose with CCRT for ESCC.

[Effects of application of vancomycin in the early stage of patients with extremely severe burn].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of application of vancomycin in the early stage of patients with extremely severe burn, in order to provide reference to drug for anti-infection treatment in the early stage of patients with extremely severe burn. Methods: Data of 15 patients of Kunshan explosion on August 2nd, 2014, admitted to the Department of Intensive Care in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical efficacy of continuously intravenous dripping of vancomycin (combined with imipenem) in the early stage of burns (before and on post burn day 14) was analyzed. (1) The steady state plasma concentration of vancomycin was monitored respectively 30 min before the third, sixth, and tenth medication with direct chemiluminescent imaging method. (2) The distribution of Gram-positive bacteria of patients during hospitalization and their drug resistance to 14 antibiotics commonly used in clinic were analyzed. (3) Serum level of procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell count, percentage of neutrophils before and after treatment, and efficacy grade of anti-infection treatment in the early stage of burns were analyzed. (4) Serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine before and after treatment, and the adverse effects during medication were analyzed. The WHONET 5.5 statistical software was used to analyze the distribution of Gram-positive bacteria in all the pathogens, and the status of drug resistance of Gram-positive bacteria to 14 antibiotics. Data were processed with Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: (1) Twenty-nine times of steady state plasma concentration monitoring were performed in the patients in total, with the steady state plasma concentration of vancomycin from 4.3 to 42.1 µg/mL. In the monitoring before third, sixth, and tenth medication, the percentages of result reaching the standard were respectively 1, 3/14, and 2/7. (2) A total of 79 Gram-positive bacteria were isolated, including 49 (62.03%) strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 9 (11.39%) strains of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 7 (8.86%) strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 12 (15.19%) strains of Enterococcus faecium, and 2 (2.53%) strains of Enterococcus faecalis. The above-mentioned Staphylococcus strains were with high drug resistance to antibiotics including penicillins, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and low drug resistance to linezolid, teicoplanin, and nitrofurantoin. The above-mentioned Enterococcus strains were with high drug resistance to antibiotics including erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and low drug resistance to linezolid and teicoplanin. The above-mentioned Staphylococcus strains were all sensitive to vancomycin. Two strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus were detected in the above-mentioned Enterococcus strains. (3) Serum level of PCT, white blood cell count, percentage of neutrophils of patients were (8.1±7.5) ng/mL, (24±10)×10(9)/L, and 0.898±0.029 before treatment, which were significantly higher than (3.0±2.8) ng/mL, (12±5)×10(9)/L, and 0.867±0.016 after treatment (with Z values respectively -2.103, -3.237, and -3.068, P<0.05 or P<0.01). After the early treatment, excellence, progess, and invalid results were achieved in 7, 5, and 3 patients, with the effective percentage of 4/5 in clinic. (4) There were no statistically significant differences in serum levels of AST, ALT, and creatinine of patients between before and after treatment (with Z values respectively-0.057, -1.508, and -1.363, P values above 0.05). Only one patient had liver and renal dysfunction during treatment. Conclusions: The positive and reasonable use of vancomycin can remove most of the Gram-positive bacteria, and control the development of sepsis combined with imipenem in the early stage of patients with extremely severe burn. However, the dose of vancomycin should be individualized and the steady state plasma concentration should be monitored to maintain the blood concentration within the safe and effective range, so as to improve the rational use of vancomycin.

[Effect of prostate volume on the peripheral nerve block anesthesia in prostate biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anesthetic efficacy of periprostatic nerve block in transrectal ultrasound(TRUS) guided biopsy on different prostate volume. METHODS: A total of 568 patients received prostate biopsy in Department of Urology, Subei People's Hospital from May 2013 to September 2015 were retrospectively studied. All patients were divided into local anesthesia group and nerve block group according to different way of anesthesia. Then each group was divided into four subgroups(20-40 ml, >40-60 ml, >60-100 ml and >100 ml subgroups) according to different prostate volume range. After being anaesthetized successfully, patients in two groups underwent prostate biopsy, visual analogue scale(VAS) scores, visual numeric scale(VNS)scores and complications were recorded and analyzed. At inter-group and intra-group in local anesthesia group and nerve block group, Mann-Whitney U test of non-parametric analysis and single factor variance analysis were used to compare the VAS scores and the VNS scores respectively, and chi-square test was used to compare the rates of complication. RESULTS: The VAS scores of four subgroups: local anesthesia group: 1.9±0.9, 2.8±1.5, 3.8±2.3 and 5.3±2.5; nerve block group: 1.5±0.7, 2.0±0.8, 2.9±1.7 and 4.2±2.0. The VNS scores: local anesthesia group: 3.4±0.6, 2.9±0.6, 2.7±0.5 and 1.6±0.7; nerve block group: 3.7±0.5, 3.3±0.4, 3.0±0.8 and 2.0±0.7. The VAS scores and the VNS scores had significant differences (Z=-3.637-98.253, all P<0.05) at inter-group or intra-group level. For the complication rates of operation, hematuria, blood, urinary retention were significant differences (F=1.347-15.402, all P<0.05) at intra-group level. But there were no significant differences at inter-group level(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with local anesthesia, ultrasound guided prostate peripheral nerve block anesthesia has great analgesic effect and high safety, but for patients with a large prostate volumethe analgesic effect is inefficiency.

Depression uncouples brain hate circuit.

It is increasingly recognized that we need a better understanding of how mental disorders such as depression alter the brain's functional connections to improve both early diagnosis and therapy. A new holistic approach has been used to investigate functional connectivity changes in the brains of patients suffering from major depression using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. A canonical template of connectivity in 90 different brain regions was constructed from healthy control subjects and this identified a six-community structure with each network corresponding to a different functional system. This template was compared with functional networks derived from fMRI scans of both first-episode and longer-term, drug resistant, patients suffering from severe depression. The greatest change in both groups of depressed patients was uncoupling of the so-called 'hate circuit' involving the superior frontal gyrus, insula and putamen. Other major changes occurred in circuits related to risk and action responses, reward and emotion, attention and memory processing. A voxel-based morphometry analysis was also carried out but this revealed no evidence in the depressed patients for altered gray or white matter densities in the regions showing altered functional connectivity. This is the first evidence for the involvement of the 'hate circuit' in depression and suggests a potential reappraisal of the key neural circuitry involved. We have hypothesized that this may reflect reduced cognitive control over negative feelings toward both self and others.

The role of arbuscular mycorrhiza in zinc uptake by red clover growing in a calcareous soil spiked with various quantities of zinc.

Three pot experiments were conducted to investigate the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in Zn uptake by red clover. Plants inoculated with Glomus mosseae and uninoculated controls were grown in a sterile calcareous soil in 'Plexiglas' (Acrylic) containers with two nylon net partitions (30 microm mesh) to separate the central root zone from the two outer hyphal zones. The effects of mycorrhiza on plant growth and Zn uptake changed dramatically with increasing Zn addition level (range 0-1200 mg kg(-1)) in the root zone. With Zn addition levels <300 mg kg(-1), added Zn did not affect plant yield and above the critical level plant yield gradually decreased but was always higher for mycorrhizal than for controls. Below the critical Zn application rate (50 mg kg(-1)), Zn uptake was enhanced while above this level Zn translocation to the shoots decreased. At all Zn addition levels, mycorrhizal colonization increased Zn absorption and accumulation in the roots, and this may help to explain the alleviation of Zn toxicity at high Zn application rates. As expected, AM colonization enhanced P nutrition and hence yield at all added Zn levels studied. Efforts were made to obtain direct evidence for hyphal contribution to Zn uptake by applying both Zn to the hyphal growth zone and additional P to the root zone to avoid the 'growth dilution effect'. The data demonstrate that mycorrhizal hyphae could absorb Zn directly from the soil and then transfer it to the plant roots. The hyphal contribution to Zn uptake by the host plant reached its maximum value at the Zn addition level of 50 mg kg(-1), in which Zn uptake via the extramatrical hyphae comprised 22% of total uptake, thus confirming the critical Zn application level found previously.

[Effect of ginsenosides on proliferation and differentiation of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ginsenosides (GS) on proliferation and differentiation of human CD34+ stem/progenitor cells. METHODS: CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood by using the immune beads sorting system. The cells were exposed to GS of different concentrations in both liquid culture and semi-solid culture, and the elevation rate on proliferation of CD34+ stem/progenitor cells and colony formation were estimated. The cells were marked with monoclonal antibody and the marker was examined by flow cytometry after incubated with GS for 14 days. RESULTS: GS (5-50 micrograms/ml) could raise the colony production rate of BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM by (87.6 +/- 2.6)%, (63.3 +/- 2.8)%, (58.0 +/- 3.1)% and (96.3 +/- 5.5)% respectively (all P < 0.01), and the best effect in improving cell proliferation of CD34+ cells in vitro was obtained when the concentration of GS was 25 micrograms/ml. After incubation with GS for 14 days, number of CD33+ cells was increased by GS in a dose-dependent manner with a peak increasing rate at 200 micrograms/ml. In the presence of GS 50 micrograms/ml, CD15+ cells were reaching the peak. Number of CD71+ and G-A+ cells increased only when the concentration of GS was 25 micrograms/ml. CONCLUSION: GS could not only promote the proliferation but also induce the differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, GS may play the role by cooperating with hematopoietic growth factor, and by its growth factor-like function in the regulation of hematopoiesis.

[Relations of chemotherapy-induced tumor necrosis to plasma platin concentration and primary tumor temperature in patients with osteosarcoma in the lower extremities treated by hyperthermic isolation limb perfusion with cisplatin].

OBJECTIVES: To study the relations of chemotherapy-induced tumor necrosis to plasma concentration of platin and primary tumor temperature in hyperthermic isolation limb perfusion (HILP) with cisplatin, and to investigate the correlation between the tumor necrosis rate and the relapse-free survival (RFS). METHODS: Fifteen patients with II B osteosarcoma in the lower extremities were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among them, 10 were male and 5 female. The average age was 18 years (ranging from 13 to 29). Chemotherapy included a single bonus dose of HILP with cisplatin (CDDP, 15 mg/m(2)). The plasma concentration of platin and the tumor temperature in the affected limb were measured during the course of the HILP with CDDP. Limb salvage surgery was performed in 9 patients and amputation in 6. After surgery, serial sections of the excised tumor specimens were made to determine the tumor necrosis rate. All of the patients were followed up for more than 5 years. RESULTS: The highest attained tumor temperature was between 41.4 degrees C - 43.0 degrees C (mean 42.3 degrees C +/- 0.46 degrees C), and the platin concentration ranged from 4.56 microg/mL to 14.66 microg/mL (mean 8.93 microg/mL +/- 3.16 microg/mL) during the course of HILP with CDDP. Thirteen patients with a necrosis rate of over 90% were well responded, and the remaining two with a necrosis rate 87.2% and 86.3% were poor responded. Eight patients remained tumor-free for 5 years. Primary tumor temperature and platin concentration were significantly related to the tumor necrosis rate (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). No significant correlation was noted between the long-term survival rate and the three parameters in the regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HILP with CDDP is useful in the treatment of primary osteosarcoma. Increased tumor necrosis ensure a successful surgical excision of tumor. HILP however is still limited to the patients who are not candidates for lime salvage surgery, because the same condition of high temperature and high concentration of platin are not applicable to distant metastasis.

[Study on the design and application of the contact Nd:YAG laser scalper].

A method of designing the contact laser scalper is presented. The calculations using this method is in good agreement with the measured results in laboratory. Some operations on rabbits using the newly developed contact Nd:YAG laser scalper are performed and shown that the contact Nd:YAG laser is a promising medical equipment.

[The Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring complex in the treatment of experimental diabetes and its effect on blood rheology].

Experiments have revealed that in treating rats for diabetes induced by alloxan, the Selaginella tamariscina complex injection given intraperitoneally (25g/kg) for 12 days helps lower the levels of blood sugar and serum lipid peroxide, as well as increase the concentration of serum insulin. Histologic observation has shown that this injection could repair the structure of pancreatic inlet B cells injured by alloxan.

[Changes of Leu-enkephalin in striatum and hypothalamus of rats during hyperbaric oxygen exposure].

The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes of Leu-Enkephalin (L-Enk) content in striatum and hypothalamus of rats during hyperbaric (HBO) oxygen exposure. Thirty-two male rats in the experiment were randomly divided into four groups: normobaric air group, normoxic hyperbaric nitrox group, nonconvulsion HBO group and convulsion HBO group. L-Enk content in striatum and hypothalamus was determined by radioimmunoassay. The results show that L-Enk content in the striatum and hypothalamus of rats exposed to hyperbaric oxygen environment were markedly higher than that of rats exposed to normobaric air and normoxic hyperbaric nitrox. The experimental results suggest that the elevation of L-Enk content in striatum and hypothalamus shows a positive relationship with the HBO exposure duration of animals and that there was no marked relationship with normoxic hyperbaric nitrox environment and compression-decompression method.

[Enhancement of bleomycin or hyperthermia induced tumor cell damage by ADPRT inhibitor].

Enhancement of tumor cell damage by ADPRT inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide (3AB) was investigated. 3AB could inhibit DNA strand break repair in HeLa S3 cells after treatment with bleomycin. 3AB was able to lower the clonogenic ability of HeLa S3 cells after bleomycin treatment and hyperthermia. 3AB could also prevent potentially lethal damage repair (PLDR) in HeLa S3 cells treated with bleomycin. This work presents some experimental evidence and theoretical background for the possible use of 3AB as a sensitizer in the treatment of cancer.

Partial amino acid sequence of potato solanidine UDP-glucose glucosyltransferase purified by new anion-exchange and size exclusion media.

Solanidine UDP-glucose glucosyltransferase (SGT) is involved in the biosynthesis of steroidal glycoalkaloids in potatoes. This enzyme is present at an extremely low level, is inherently unstable, and copurifies with the major storage protein patatin during isolation. We describe an improved method for isolating SGT from greening potato peel using two new chromatographic supports, Macro-Prep 50 Q anion-exchange and Superdex 75HR size exclusion media, under medium-pressure conditions at room temperature. The enzyme preparation was further resolved by SDS-PAGE and the proteins transferred to PVDF membrane (Immobilon-P). Two protein bands corresponding to active forms of SGT (36 and 37 kDa) were excised and cleaved with cyanogen bromide in trifluoroacetic acid. The resultant peptide mixtures were then separated by Tricine-SDS-PAGE and transferred to a PVDF membrane (Pro-Blott). The two major peptide bands observed in both digests (17 and 19 kDa) were sequenced. Identical N-terminal sequences were obtained from the 19-kDa peptides from both digests.

Does uncomplicated diverticular disease produce symptoms?

A questionnaire dealing with bowel symptoms was administered to 97 outpatients referred for air-contrast barium enema. Subsequently, the barium enema was interpreted by a radiologist who did not know the results of the questionnaire. Forty-nine had normal x-rays, and 27 had uncomplicated diverticular disease. Weight loss, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, and pain at night were as common in those with a normal examination as in those with diverticula. Symptoms of colon dysfunction included abdominal pain relieved by defecation, altered stool frequency and consistency with pain onset, abdominal distension, feeling of incomplete evacuation after defecation, and mucus in the stool. These were equally prevalent in both groups. Therefore, no symptoms could be ascribed to the presence of diverticula.

Metabolic response to a pantothenic acid deficient diet in humans.

The responses of human subjects to a low pantothenic acid test diet and to the same diet supplemented with 10 mg pantothenic acid daily for 63 days were observed. Pantothenic acid in urine and blood and also nitrogen balance were used as criteria for nutritional evaluation. The mean daily urinary pantothenic acid excretion decreased from 3.05 to 0.79 mg in male adult subjects fed a pantothenic acid deficient diet and increased from 3.95 to 5.84 mg in 4 subjects fed a 10 mg supplemented diet from the beginning to the end of 63-day study. Subsequently, a test dose of 100 mg of pantothenic acid was given to both groups for a 7-day period. Subjects previously deprived of pantothenic acid retained 63% of the test dose on the first day of the test period in contrast to 48% retained by supplemented subjects. On the 7th day, both groups retained approximately 40% of the dose. While in general, blood pantothenic acid levels decreased in unsupplemented subjects and remained constant in supplemented subjects, blood pantothenic acid responded less readily to intake than urinary pantothenic acid. Nitrogen retention tended to be higher in supplemented subjects than in those deprived of dietary pantothenic acid.