Efficacy of vaccination with StroVac for recurrent urinary tract infections in women: a comparative single-centre study

International Urology and Nephrology - To assess the efficacy of prophylaxis for urinary tract infections (UTI) in a two-year follow-up in women with StroVac compared to a therapy with...     

Didymin attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of didymin (Did) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: After pretreatment with Did (2, 4, 8 mg/kg intraperitoneal i.p.) for 7 d, the male C57 mice were injected with single dose of DOX (20 mg/kg i.p.). The cardioprotective effect of Did was observed on the 7th day after DOX treatment. Results: DOX delayed body growth and caused cardiac tissue injury, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Similar experiments in H9C2 cardiomyocytes showed that DOX reduced cell viability, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and fragmentation of DNA, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, all of these adverse effects were suppressed by Did pretreatment. Did increased protein expression of glutamate-L-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCL), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Besides, Did also induced activation of PI3K/AKT. Conclusion: These findings indicated Did prevented DOX-induced cardiac injury and apoptosis via activating PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway.     

Short-term effects of di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalate on testes,liver, kidneys and pancreas in mice

Aim： To determine the biochemical effect of di-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalate （DEHP） on testes, liver, kidneys and pancreas on day 10 in the process of degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium. Methods： Diets containing 2% DEHP were given to male Crlj：CDI（ICR） mice for 10 days. The dose of DEHP was 0.90±0.52 mg/mouse/day. Their testes, livers, kidneys and pancreata were examined for detection of mono-（2-ethylhexyl） phthalate （MEHP）, nitrogen oxides （NOx） produced by peroxidation of nitric oxide （NO） with free radicals, and lipid peroxidation induced by the chain reaction of free radicals. Results： Histological observation and serum analysis showed the presence of severe sperrnatogenic disturbance, Leydig cell dysfunction, liver dysfunction and dehydration. Unexpectedly, the concentration of MEHP in the testes was extremely low compared with that in the liver. However, the concentration of the NOx in the testes was as high as the hepatic concentration. Furthermore, free radical-induced lipid peroxidation was histochemically detected in the testes but not in the liver. Conclusion： The results indicate that DEHP-induced aspermatogenesis is caused by the high sensitivity of the testicular tissues to MEHP rather than the specific accumulation or uptake of circulating MEHP into the testes.     

Comparison of lumbar epidural tramadol and lumbar epidural morphine for pain relief after thoracotomy: a repeated-dose study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare lumbar epidural morphine and lumbar epidural tramadol with respect to onset and duration of analgesia, analgesic efficacy, and drug-related side effects after muscle-sparing thoracotomy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study. SETTING: Single university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients who underwent elective muscle-sparing thoracotomy. INTERVENTIONS: Before anesthesia induction, an epidural catheter was placed in the L2-3 or L3-4 interspace using the loss-of-resistance technique. On arrival at the intensive care unit, patients were randomized to receive doses of either 100 mg of tramadol (group T) or 4 mg of morphine (group M) via the lumbar epidural catheter. Each dose was diluted in 10 mL of normal saline. On awakening from anesthesia, if the patient's pain score on a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale was above 40 mm, the initial epidural drug dose was administered. The initial injection in each case was taken as time 0. Subsequent pain scores above 40 mm were considered indications for epidural dosing; each patient was allowed 2 doses in the first 12 hours postoperatively and 2 more in the second 12 hours. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The groups' analgesia onset times were similar, but duration of analgesia was significantly shorter in group T than in group M (p < 0.01). There were no differences between the groups with respect to pain scores at rest or during coughing at any of the time points investigated. Sedation scores were lower in group T than in group M at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 hours (p value range, 0.0001-0.05). Compared with group T, group M showed significantly greater drops in arterial oxygen tension from baseline at 3, 4, 8, and 12 hours (p value range, 0.0001-0.05). The group means for arterial carbon dioxide tension and respiratory rate were similar at all time points investigated. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the quality of analgesia achieved with repeated doses of lumbar epidural tramadol after muscle-sparing thoracotomy is comparable to that achieved with repeated doses of lumbar epidural morphine. Compared with morphine, lumbar epidural tramadol results in less sedation and a less-pronounced decrease in oxygenation.     

单病种协作防治体系在医疗质量管理与监控中的作用探讨

加强医疗质量管理与监控是提升医疗质量,合理利用医疗资源,产生良好社会效益的有效手段。本文通过对医疗质量管理与现状的分析,剖析单病种协作防治体系在医疗质量管理与监控中的作用,为医疗质量管理与监控提供实践和理论基础。     

Aggregation induced emission by pyridinium–pyridinium interactions

Non-covalent intermolecular interactions between pyridinium subunits in a crystal-state are an efficient means to accomplish aggregation induced emission and avoid aggregation caused quenching.

Non-covalent intermolecular pyridinium–pyridinium and pyridinium–arene-π system interactions result in aggregation induced emission (AIE).     

Cofactor metals and antioxidant enzymes in cisplatin-treated rats: effect of antioxidant intervention

We explored the association between the activities of antioxidant enzymes and their metallic cofactors in rats treated with cisplatin. The antioxidant effects of aminoguanidine, and a combination of vitamins E and C were investigated. Plasma platin was significantly lower than liver and kidney. Cisplatin treatment caused significant increase in plasma Se-glutathione peroxidase activity. Activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase have been found to be significantly decreased in liver and kidney compared to controls. Zn levels in these organs were diminished upon cisplatin treatment, while levels of Cu were unaffected. Interestingly, levels of iron, the cofactor of catalase, were found to be significantly increased in liver and kidney. Intervention with aminoguanidine or vitamins was generally prevented cisplatin-caused changes in the activity of enzymes and in the tissue levels of cofactor metals. These observations suggest that relation between activities of enzymes and levels of cofactor metals is multifactorial.