bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride on acute lung injury caused by severe dichlorvos poisoning in swine
Authors: CUI Juan , LI Chun-sheng , HE Xin-hua , SONG Yu-guo 
Published: January 2024

Background
Organophosphate poisoning is an important health problem in developing countries which causes death mainly by inducing acute lung injury. In this study, we examined the effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC), a selective M-receptor inhibitor, on dichlorvos-induced acute lung injury in swine.

Methods
Twenty-two female swines were randomly divided into control (n=5), dichlorvos (n=6), atropine (n=6), and PHC (n=5) groups. Hemodynamic data, extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were monitored; blood gas analysis and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) levels were measured. PaO2/FiO2, cardiac index (CI), and pulmonary vascular resistance indices (PVRI) were calculated. At termination of the study, pulmonary tissue was collected for ATPase activity determination and wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) testing 6 hours post-poisoning. TUNEL assay, and Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 expression were applied to pulmonary tissue, and histopathology was observed.

Results
After poisoning, PHC markedly decreased PVRI, increased CI more effectively than atropine. Anticholinergic treatment reduced W/D, apoptosis index (AI), and mitigated injury to the structure of lung; however, PHC reduced AI and caspase-3 expression and improved Bcl-2/Bax more effectively than atropine. Atropine and PHC improved ATPase activities; a significant difference between groups was observed in Ca2+-ATPase activity, but not Na+-K+-ATPase activity.

Conclusions
The PHC group showed mild impairment in pathology, less apoptotic cells, and little impact on cardiac function compared with the atropine group in dichlorvos-induced acute lung injury.
Emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli sequence type 131 in Hangzhou, China
Authors: Zhengqing Lou , Yan Qi , Xiang Qian , Wei Yang , Zeqing Wei 
Published: January 2024

Background

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Escherichia (E.) coli has been reported in China since 2008. However, there is no information about the molecular epidemiology of KPC-producing E. coli in China. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sequence type (ST) and characteristics of KPC-producing E. coli isolates in China.

Methods
Three carbapenem-resistant isolates of E. coli (E1, E2, and E3) from one teaching hospital in Hangzhou covering a one year period were analyzed. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Etest. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used for epidemiological analysis. The genetic structure around blaKPC, the major plasmid incompatibility typing, and the identification of β-lactamase gene types were performed by PCR and the positive products were subsequently sequenced. Plasmids were analyzed by transformation, restriction, and Southern blotting.

Results
PFGE demonstrated that patterns of isolates E1 and E2 were clonally-related and designated as patterns A1 and A2; pattern of isolate E3 was different and designated as pattern B. MLST analysis showed that the three isolates displayed one common sequence type ST131. The identification of bla gene types by PCR and sequencing showed that blaKPC-2, bla
CTX-M-14, and blaTEM-1
were detected in all three isolates. All three isolates carried a KPC-2-encoding plasmid of the IncN replicon. Plasmid analysis and hybridization experiments showed that the isolates were found simultaneously to carry two or four plasmids. The blaKPC-2
gene in E1 and E2 was located in a plasmid with size of ca. 50 kb. However, the blaKPC-2
gene in E3 was located in a plasmid with size of ca. 130 kb.

Conclusions

E. coli ST131 with KPC-2 β-lactamase has emerged in China, which enlarges the geographical area where the ST131 KPC-producing E. coli strains have diffused.
Computer-driven automated weaning reduces weaning duration in difficult-to-wean patients
Authors: Liu Ling , Xu Xiao-ting , Yang Yi , Huang Ying-zi , Liu Song-qiao , Qiu Hai-bo 
Published: January 2024

Background
Weaning difficulties occur in 31% of total intubated patients, and result in prolonged weaning duration. A computer-driven automated weaning system can perform a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) automatically and display a message when the trial is successfully passed. Such a system might have a beneficial effect on difficult-to-wean patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether the computer-driven automated weaning system can accelerate discontinuation of mechanical ventilation and improve outcomes in difficult-to-wean patients.

Methods
This randomized controlled study included 39 difficult-to-wean patients who failed their first spontaneous breathing trial. Before initiating weaning, eligible patients were randomly allocated to wean by computer-driven automated weaning system (CDW group, n=19) or a physician-controlled local protocol (PW group, n=20). Weaning duration, defined as the time from inclusion until first extubation, was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were total duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, the number of reintubations, the mortality rate in the ICU, the number of noninvasive ventilations, the number of complications in the ICU, and the number of ventilator-associated pneumonia cases.

Results
The weaning duration was reduced with the computer-driven weaning as compared with the usual protocol (median 29.0 hours vs. 45.5 hours, P=0.044). Total duration of mechanical ventilation and duration of the ICU stay did not differ between the CDW and PW groups. There was no difference in the number of reintubations between the CDW and PW groups (3 and 4 patients, P=0.732). The study groups showed comparable numbers of tracheostomy, selfextubations, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and non-invasive ventilation. Mortality in the ICU was similar in the CDW and the PW groups (21.1% vs. 20.0%, P=0.935).

Conclusion
The computer-driven automated weaning system can reduce weaning duration in difficult-to-wean patients as compared with a physician-controlled weaning protocol.
Proliferative and apoptotic effects of andrographolide on the BGC-823 human gastric cancer cell line
Authors: Li Shu-guang , Wang Yuan-yu , Ye Zai-yuan , Shao Qing-shu , Tao Hou-quan , Shu Li-sha , Zhao Yi-feng , Yang Yong-jiang , Yang Jing , Peng Tao , Han Bo , Huang Di 
Published: January 2024

Background
Andrographolide has been shown to have anticancer activity on diverse cancer cell lines representing different types of human cancers. The aim of this research was to investigate the anticancer and apoptotic effects of andrographolide on the BGC-823 human gastric cancer cell line.

Methods
Cell proliferation and IC50 were evaluated using MTT assay, cell-cycle analysis with flow cytometry apoptotic effects with Annexin-V/propidium iodide double-staining assay, and morphologic structure with transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription PCR was used to analyze Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expressions.

Results
Andrographolide showed a time- and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on BGC-823 cell growth. Compared to controls, the number of cells in the G0-G1-phase increased significantly, S and G2-M-phase cells decreased after 48 hours of treatment with andrographolide, and both early and late apoptotic rates increased significantly compared to the controls, all in a concentration-dependent manner. Bax and caspase-3 expressions were markedly increased, and Bcl-2 expression was decreased.

Conclusions
Andrographolide inhibits BGC-823 cell growth and induces BGC-823 cell apoptosis by up-regulating Bax and caspase-3 expressions and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression. Andrographolide may be useful as a potent and selective agent in the treatment of human gastric cancers.
An overview of neurocritical care in China: a nationwide survey
Authors: SU Ying-ying , WANG Miao , FENG Huan-huan , CHEN Wei-bi , YE Hong , GAO Dai-quan , ZHANG Yan , ZHANG Yun-zhou 
Published: January 2024

Background
Little quantitative evidence was available regarding the development of NICUs in China. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the current situation of neurointensive care units (NICUs) across China.

Methods
The directors of NICUs from 100 tertiary care hospitals across China were contacted and asked to complete a closed response questionnaire regarding their NICUs. Basic information, equipment, and technology information available in the units, as well as staffing information were investigated.

Results
Seventy-six questionnaires were returned (a 68% response rate). Of 76 NICUs, 43 units constituted the majority. The number of each NICU bed varied from 4 to 45, occupying 2%-30% of the total department beds. Over 70% of NICUs were equipped with many emergency treatment equipments as well as physiological and biochemical monitoring equipments, while 34%-70% of NICUs still lacked some kinds of equipments such as defibrillators. Some specialist equipments were still partially lacking in 62%-95% of NICUs. A vast majority of the NICUs were equipped with neurocritical care directors, full-time attending physicians, and head nurses, but full-time NICU residents and neurocritical care nurses were still lacking in nearly half (53%) and one-third (33%-37%) of NICUs, respectively. In 76 NICUs, full-time neurointensivists and nurses added up to 359 and 852, respectively. In addition, 78%-97% of all the surveyed NICUs were severely short of non-neurological professional staffs.

Conclusion
In China, neurocritical care has developed rapidly, but there is still a shortage of well-equipped and well-staffed NICUs across the nation currently.
Association of β-adrenergic receptor genes polymorphisms with incidence of subsequent cardiovascular events in Han Chinese patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: LI Zhi-gen , WU Hong , ZHOU Ying-ling , CHEN Zhu-jun , MENG Jin-xiu , YANG Jun-qing , CHEN Ji-yan , ZHONG Shi-long 
Published: January 2024

Background
Sequence variants in the β-adrenergic receptor (ADRB) genes have a close relationship with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the patient's prognosis. However, there is a lack of data on the role of the variants in ADRBs genes in Han Chinese patients with CAD. We aimed to investigate the association of genetic variants in the ADRB1 and ADRB2 genes with the incidence of major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in Han Chinese patients with CAD.

Methods
A total of 545 Han Chinese patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recruited to the study and followed for one year. Three variant sites in ADRB1 (rs1801253) and ADRB2 (rs1042713 and rs1042714) were genotyped. The effect of the ADRB1 and ADRB2 genotypes on MACE within one year was assessed.

Results
There were 47 cases of MACE during follow-up. There was no significant difference in the incidence of MACE among patients carrying different genotypes of the three variants in ADRB1 and ADRB2 (Log-rank, all P >0.05). Cox regression analysis showed no association between three variants in ADRB1 and ADRB2 genes and the incidence of MACE during one-year follow-up, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for rs1801253, rs1042713 and rs1042714 were 1.05 (0.54-2.02), 1.24 (0.58-2.64) and 1.66 (0.81-3.42), respectively.

Conclusion
Our data did not support a relationship between the three polymorphisms of ADRB1 (rs1801253) and ADRB2 (rs1042713 and rs1042714) genes and risk of subsequent cardiovascular events after PCI in Han Chinese patients with CAD.
Rabeprazole 10 mg versus 20 mg in preventing relapse of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: ZHU Hai-di , WANG Heng , XIA Xian-ming , XU Shu-man , LAN Yao 
Published: January 2024

Background
Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared endoscopic and symptomatic relapses in patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We have summarized current evidence for rabeprazole 10 or 20 mg once daily for GERD maintenance treatment over 1 or 5 years.

Methods
MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched, through August 2012, for eligible RCTs of adults with erosive GERD. The efficacies of rabeprazole 10 and 20 mg/d were compared.

Results
The search identified 288 citations, and five RCTs containing 1480 patients were considered eligible. Heartburn relapse rates did not differ significantly between patients treated with rabeprazole 10 and 20 mg/d for 1 year (relative risk (RR)=1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-1.72), but differed in patients treated for 5 years (RR=1.274; 95% CI: 1.005-1.615). Endoscopic relapse rates differed significantly between rabeprazole 10 and 20 mg/d for 1 year (RR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.21-3.06), for 5 years (RR=1.667; 95% CI: 1.073-2.589), and in combined 1- and 5-year maintenance trials (RR=1.785; 95% CI: 1.298-2.456).

Conclusion
Rabeprazole 20 mg/d was superior to rabeprazole 10 mg/d in preventing endoscopic relapse of erosive GERD, but that the two dosages were equivalent in symptomatic relief over 1 year.
Role of endoplasmic reticular stress in aortic endothelial apoptosis induced by intermittent/persistent hypoxia
Authors: YANG Yuan-yuan , SHANG Jin , LIU Hui-guo 
Published: January 2024

Background
Accumulated evidence shows that hypoxia can induce endothelial apoptosis, however the mechanism is still unknown. We hypothesized whether intermittent or persistent hypoxia could induce endoplasmic reticular stress, leading to endothelial apoptosis.

Methods
Twenty-four 8-week male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: normoxia (NC) group, intermittent hypoxia (IH) group and persistent hypoxia (PH) group. TUNEL staining was performed to detect aortic arch endotheliar apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry for BIP, CHOP and caspase12 to test protein expression; human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) of the line ECV304 were cultured (with or without taurodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) 10 mmol/L, 100 mmol/L) and divided into four groups: NC group (20.8% O2 for 4 hours), PH1 group (5% O2 for 4 hours), PH2 group (5% O2 for 12 hours) and IH group (20.8% O2 and 5% O2 alternatively for 8 hours). Annexin V-fluorescein-isothiocyanate/propidium iodide flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis in each group. The expressions of GRP78, CHOP and caspase12 were detected by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR.

Result
Intermittent and persistent hypoxia could increase the rate of endothelium apoptosis and the expressions of GRP78, CHOP and caspase12 compared with the control, induction by intermittent hypoxia was slightly higher than persistent hypoxia. In the HUVEC experiment, TUDCA significantly reduced apoptosis and the expressions of GRP78, CHOP and caspase12.

Conclusion
Hypoxia, especially intermittent, can induce endothelial cell apoptosis possibly through endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway, which can be attenuated by taurodeoxycholic acid.
Specific targeting of angiogenesis in lung cancer with RGD-conjugated ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles using a 4.7T magnetic resonance scanner
Authors: LIU Can , LIU Dong-bo , LONG Guo-xian , WANG Jun-feng , MEI Qi , HU Guang-yuan , QIU Hong , HU Guo-qing 
Published: January 2024

Background
Angiogenesis is an essential step for tumor development and metastasis. The cell adhesion molecule αvβ3 integrin plays an important role in angiogenesis and is a specific marker of tumor angiogenesis. A novel αvβ3 integrintargeted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent utilizing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) (referred to as RGD-USPIO) was designed and its uptake by endothelial cells was assessed both in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the angiogenic profile of lung cancer.

Methods
USPIO were coated with -NH3+ and conjugated with RGD peptides. Prussian blue staining was performed to evaluate the specific uptake of RGD-USPIO by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Targeted uptake and subcellular localization of RGD-USPIO in HUVECs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ability of RGD-USPIO to noninvasively assess αvβ3 integrin positive vessels in lung adenocarcinoma A549 tumor xenografts was evaluated with a 4.7T MR scanner. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect αvβ3 integrin expression and vessel distribution in A549 tumor xenografts.

Results
HUVECs internalized RGD-USPIO significantly more than plain USPIO. The uptake of RGD-USPIO by HUVECs could be competitively inhibited by addition of free RGD. A significant decrease in T2 signal intensity (SI) was observed at the periphery of A549 tumor xenografts at 30 minutes (P <0.05) and 2 hours (P <0.01) after RGD-USPIO was injected via the tail vein. Angiogenic blood vessels were mainly distributed in the periphery of tumor xenografts with positive αvβ3 integrin expression.

Conclusions
RGD-USPIO could specifically label αvβ3 integrin and be taken up by HUVECs. This molecular MR imaging contrast agent can specifically evaluate the angiogenic profile of lung cancer using a 4.7T MR scanner.
Neurological deterioration in the acute phase of minor ischemic stroke is an independent predictor of poor outcomes at 1 year: results from the China National Stroke Registry (CNSR)
Authors: JU Yi , ZHAO Xing-quan , WANG Chun-xue , WANG Yi-long , LIU Gai-fen , WANG Yong-jun 
Published: January 2024

Background
The risk of clinical deterioration still exists in the acute phase despite the fact that patients with minor stroke may display less severe symptoms. The impact of this clinical deterioration on long-term outcomes is unknown. We characterized the clinical features of neurological deterioration (ND) in the acute phase of minor ischemic stroke (MIS) and investigated its impact on mid- and long-term outcomes.

Methods
This was a multi-centered, prospective clinical study involving patients with MIS (the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS ≤3) recruited from the China National Stroke Registry. Patients were included who had been hospitalized within 24 hours of stroke onset. Baseline characteristics, complication rates during hospitalization, etiology of stroke, as well as 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-stroke outcomes were compared between patients with and without ND during the acute phase.

Results
A number of 368 (15.2%) out of 2424 patients included in the study exhibited ND in the acute phase. Compared to patients without ND, patients with ND had longer hospital stay, increased rate of baseline diabetes, and multiple complications. Multivariate Logistic regression indicated that ND in acute phase was an independent factor predictive of increased dependence (adjusted odds ratio = 5.20, 95% CI, 3.51–7.70, P <0.001) at 12-month post-stroke.

Conclusions
The risk of ND in the acute phase is high in patients with MIS. ND in the acute phase is an independent predictor for poor outcomes at 12 months post-stroke onset.
Association between salivary α-amylase activity and pain relief scale scores in cancer patients with bone metastases treated with radiotherapy
Authors: LIU Hong , DONG Wen-yan , WANG Jian-bo , WANG Tao , HU Peng , WEI Shu-fang , YE Lin , WANG Qing-wei 
Published: January 2024

Background
Subjective assessment tools such as visual analog scales (VAS) or pain scores are commonly used to evaluate the intensity of chronic cancer-induced pain. However, their value is limited in some cases. We measured changes in VAS pain scores and salivary α-amylase (sAA) concentrations in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy for bone metastases to ascertain the correlation between these measures.

Methods
We enrolled 30 patients with bone metastases attending a single institution from June 2010 to March 2011. All patients with cancer-induced bone pain received radiation therapy (RT) at the same dose (30 Gy) and fractionation (3 Gy/fraction, 5 days/week) for palliative pain relief. We assessed heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (DBP/SBP) and VAS pain scores before (d0) and after five (d5) and ten fractions (d10) of irradiation. sAA and salivary cortisol (SC) concentrations were measured using a portable analyzer and automated chemiluminescence analyzer, respectively.

Results
Radiotherapy markedly decreased VAS scores from (82.93±9.29) to (31.43±16.73) mm (P <0.001) and sAA concentrations from (109.40±26.38) to (36.03±19.40) U/ml (P <0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between these two indices (P <0.01, r=0.541). HR decreased by 6.5% after radiotherapy, but did not correlate with VAS scores (P >0.05). SC concentrations and BP did not change significantly during the study (P >0.05).

Conclusions
The significant correlation between sAA concentrations and VAS pain scores identified in these preliminary results suggests that this biomarker may be a valuable, noninvasive and sensitive index for the objective assessment of pain intensity in patients with cancer-induced bone pain.
Evaluation of para-aortic nodal dissection for locoregionally advanced gastric cancer with 1-3 involved para-aortic nodes
Authors: Changhua Zhang , Yulong He , Schwarz Roderich E. , Smith David D. , Liang Wang , Fakeng Liu , Wenhua Zhan 
Published: January 2024

Background
Prophylactic para-aortic nodal dissection (PAND) has no proven benefits for potentially curable advanced gastric cancer. However, the value of therapeutic PAND for involved para-aortic nodes (PANs) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancers has not been determined yet.

Methods
Between 1998 and 2010, 157 gastric cancer patients with 1-3 involved PANs underwent extended D2 (D2+) lymphadenectomy plus PAND (PAND group, n=69) or extended D2 lymphadenectomy alone (non-PAND group, n=88). The clinicopathologic features and prognostic data were compared between the two groups. A propensity score-adjusted analysis was used for a balanced comparison.

Results
The rate of PAN metastasis was 40.6% (28/69) in the PAND group. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the PAND group than in the non-PAND group (43.7% vs. 31.8%, P=0.044). Compared to the non-PAND group, the death hazard ratios in the PAND group were 0.45 (95% CI 0.274-0.739; P=0.002) and 0.536 (95% CI 0.328-0.861; P=0.0097) by multivariate analysis without and with propensity score adjustment respectively. Recurrence rate at 5 years was 39.1% in the PAND group and 43.2% in the non-PAND group (P=0.628).

Conclusion
Extended D2 lymphadenectomy plus PAND is associated with superior outcomes for advanced gastric cancer patients with 1-3 involved PANs.
Ex vivo expansion of regulatory T cells for clinical applications against graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: ZHANG Lan-fang , XIA Chang-qing 
Published: January 2024

Objective
To review the characteristics of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and ex vivo expansion of Tregs for treatment of graftversus-host disease (GVHD).

Data sources
The data used in this review were retrieved from PubMed (1970–2013). The terms “ex vivo expansion”, “regulatory T cell”, and “graft-versus-host disease” were used for literature search.

Study selection
The publications about the characteristics of Tregs, ex vivo expansion of Tregs and clinical applications of Tregs against GVHD were identified, retrieved and reviewed.

Results
Tregs can be classified as natural Tregs (nTregs) and induced Tregs (iTregs). Both subsets share most Treg features. Given their immunosuppressive property, Tregs have been tested for their capability of preventing GVHD. The bottleneck of Treg therapy is the limited numbers of naturally existing Tregs. To solve this problem, ex vivo expansion of nTregs or iTregs has been executed. The initial data indicate Treg therapy is effective in reducing GVHD without compromising graft-versus-leukemia (GVL).

Conclusion

Ex vivo expansion of Tregs is a reliable way to prepare sufficient number of Tregs for management of GVHD.