Outcomes of Early Decompressive Craniectomy Versus Conventional Medical Management After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examined whether early decompressive craniectomy (DC) can improve control of intracranial pressure (ICP) and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until May 14, 2015, using the following terms: traumatic brain injury, refractory intracranial hypertension, high intracranial pressure, craniectomy, standard care, and medical management. Randomized controlled trials in which patients with TBI received DC and non-DC medical treatments were included.Of the 84 articles identified, 8 studies were selected for review, with 3 randomized controlled trials s having a total of 256 patients (123 DCs, 133 non-DCs) included in the meta-analysis. Patients receiving DC had a significantly greater reduction of ICP and shorter hospital stay. They also seemed to have lower odds of death than patients receiving only medical management, but the P value did not reach significance (pooled odds ratio 0.531, 95% confidence interval 0.209–1.350, Z = 1.95, P = 0.183) with respect to the effect on overall mortality; a separate analysis of 3 retrospective studies yielded a similar result.Whereas DC might effectively reduce ICP and shorten hospital stay in patients with TBI, its effect in decreasing mortality has not reached statistical significance.     

Genetic toxicity assessment using liver cell models: past,present, and future

ABSTRACT

Genotoxic compounds may be detoxified to non-genotoxic metabolites while many pro-carcinogens require metabolic activation to exert their genotoxicity in vivo. Standard genotoxicity assays were developed and utilized for risk assessment for over 40 years. Most of these assays are conducted in metabolically incompetent rodent or human cell lines. Deficient in normal metabolism and relying on exogenous metabolic activation systems, the current in vitro genotoxicity assays often have yielded high false positive rates, which trigger unnecessary and costly in vivo studies. Metabolically active cells such as hepatocytes have been recognized as a promising cell model in predicting genotoxicity of carcinogens in vivo. In recent years, significant advances in tissue culture and biological technologies provided new opportunities for using hepatocytes in genetic toxicology. This review encompasses published studies (both in vitro and in vivo) using hepatocytes for genotoxicity assessment. Findings from both standard and newly developed genotoxicity assays are summarized. Various liver cell models used for genotoxicity assessment are described, including the potential application of advanced liver cell models such as 3D spheroids, organoids, and engineered hepatocytes. An integrated strategy, that includes the use of human-based cells with enhanced biological relevance and throughput, and applying the quantitative analysis of data, may provide an approach for future genotoxicity risk assessment.     

补骨脂素抗增生性瘢痕作用机制研究

目的探讨补骨脂素抗增生性瘢痕的作用机制。方法体外培养成纤维细胞,按随机数字表法分为正常组(培养正常成纤维细胞)、瘢痕组(培养增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞)、TGF-β1组(10 ng/ml TGF-β1处理增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞5 min^12 h)、Smurf2 RNA干扰组[Smad泛素化调节因子2(Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor2,Smurf2)siRNA转染增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞72 h]、补骨脂素组(10μmol/L补骨脂素处理增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞继续培养72 h)、补骨脂素+TGF-β1组(增生性瘢痕成纤维细胞加入补骨脂素培养72 h后加入TGF-β1培养6 h)。采用Western blot法检测Smurf2、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-actin SMA,α-SMA)蛋白表达;RT-PCR法检测Ⅰ型胶原蛋白mRNA表达;ELISA法检测TGF-β1蛋白分泌。结果与正常组比较,瘢痕组Smurf2蛋白[(0.83±0.08)比(0.38±0.07)]表达增加(P<0.05);与瘢痕组比较,Smurf2 RNA干扰组TGF-β1[(2.2±0.18)比(4.2±0.47)]表达降低(P<0.05);TGF-β1组Smurf2[(0.71±0.06)比(0.42±0.04)]、α-SMA[(1.42±0.12)比(0.91±0.09)]蛋白表达增加(P<0.05),Ⅰ型胶原蛋白mRNA[(0.72±0.09)比(0.41±0.07)]表达增加(P<0.05);补骨脂素组Smurf2[(0.05±0.01)比(0.42±0.04)]、α-SMA[(0.71±0.07)比(0.91±0.09)]蛋白表达降低(P<0.05),Ⅰ型胶原蛋白mRNA表达[(0.12±0.04)比(0.41±0.07)]降低(P<0.05)。结论补骨脂素可能通过TGF-β1/Smurf2信号通路抑制α-SMA蛋白表达,从而降低Ⅰ型胶原蛋白表达,起到抑制瘢痕形成的作用。     

Host–microbiome interactions: the aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a critical node in tryptophan metabolites to brain signaling

ABSTRACT

Tryptophan (Trp) is not only a nutrient enhancer but also has systemic effects. Trp metabolites signaling through the well-known aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) constitute the interface of microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, the pathway through which Trp metabolites affect central nervous system (CNS) function have not been fully elucidated. AhR participates in a broad variety of physiological and pathological processes that also highly relevant to intestinal homeostasis and CNS diseases. Via the AhR-dependent mechanism, Trp metabolites connect bidirectional signaling between the gut microbiome and the brain, mediated via immune, metabolic, and neural (vagal) signaling mechanisms, with downstream effects on behavior and CNS function. These findings shed light on the complex Trp regulation of microbiome-gut-brain axis and add another facet to our understanding that dietary Trp is expected to be a promising noninvasive approach for alleviating systemic diseases.     

The Relationship between College Graduate’s Dual Self-Consciousness and Job Search Clarity: The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between college graduates’ dual self-consciousness, job search clarity and perceived stress, and reveal the mediating role of perceived stress between dual self-consciousness and job search clarity. In this study, 467 college graduates were investigated using the Dual Self-Consciousness Scale, Job Search Clarity Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. After controlling for gender, age, and region, the results revealed that: (1) private self-consciousness has a significant positive predictive effect on job search clarity; (2) perceived stress has a significant negative predictive effect on job search clarity; (3) perceived stress plays partial mediation effects between private self-consciousness and job search clarity; (4) perceived stress plays complete mediation effects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity; (5) perceived stress has suppressing effects between public self-consciousness and job search clarity.     

1.318 μm近红外激光视网膜损伤阈值研究

目的研究1·318μm激光对视网膜的损伤效应,确定其损伤阈值。方法用输出波长1·318μm的Nd∶YAG激光为照射光源,固定照射时间0·2s,以不同剂量的激光照射散瞳后的家兔(25只)和大鼠(28只)眼睛,照射光斑直径分别为5mm和2mm,于照后1h和24h观察视网膜损伤发生率,用加权概率单位法计算损伤发生率为50%时所对应的激光剂量,即损伤阈值ED50。并于照后24h对损伤视网膜做病理切片观察。结果1·318μm激光致家兔和大鼠视网膜损伤的阈值角膜剂量分别为13·7J/cm2和10·4J/cm2,阈值角膜能量分别为2·69J和0·33J。受损视网膜可见清晰的白色凝固斑,损伤重者累及视网膜全层。结论1·318μm激光可导致家兔和大鼠视网膜损伤,损伤阈值ED50分别为13·7J/cm2和10·4J/cm2。     

非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术后造血干细胞动员的临床研究

目的研究非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)后造血干细胞动员的规律及影响因素。方法对55例择期行OPCAB、近期无急性心肌梗死患者,分别于术前30m in、术后6、12、24、48、72和120h采外周静脉血4m l,CD 34和CD 45双抗标记、流式细胞仪检测造血干细胞计数,同时检测心肌酶谱及肌钙蛋白T的变化。结果冠心病患者术前造血干细胞计数占外周血有核细胞数计数的0.13%±0.12%,OPCAB后明显升高,24h达到峰值(0.34%±0.20%),术后120h回到术前基线水平;吸烟、高血脂、糖尿病对造血干细胞动员无明显影响,但合并高血压病患者外周血造血干细胞动员明显低于无高血压病患者;术后24h造血干细胞动员与肌酸激酶及肌酸激酶同工酶、乳酸脱氢酶、肌钙蛋白T呈正相关(r=0.692,P=0.000;r=0.558,P=0.000;r=0.447,P=0.000;r=0.401,P=0.004)。结论OPCAB术后造血干细胞快速、短暂动员,心肌损伤程度、冠心病危险因素参与了造血干细胞动员的调节。