Effect of Enteral Nutrition on In-hospital Infection and Hospital Expense in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Assessment

Infection is a common complication of stroke and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Although nutritional intervention reduces the risk of postoperative infection, the impact of specific nutritional products remains unclear. From a hospital management perspective, we aimed to determine whether the provision of specific types of enteral nutrition in acute stroke patients affects infection control and hospital costs. In all, 45 acute hemorrhagic stroke patients receiving enteral nutrition in a single center (April 2017–March 2019) were retrospectively assessed. Patients were divided into two groups according to nutritional interventions: the 1.0-group with general nutrition (1.0 kcal/mL) (24 patients) and the 1.5+α-group with an initial high-protein, whey peptide-digested liquid diet (1.5 kcal/mL), followed by a highly fermentable fiber-containing liquid diet (1.5 kcal/mL initiated after 4 days) (21 patients). Changes in body mass index (BMI), duration of antibiotic use, incidence of postoperative infection, and medical cost were evaluated. Baseline patient characteristics were similar between groups. The mean BMI change was lower in the 1.5+α-group than in the 1.0-group, and the mean duration of antibiotic use throughout hospitalization was 12.8 and 18.3 days, respectively. Antibiotic use in the 1.5+α-group was lesser than that in Japanese patients from other hospitals. The incidence of postoperative infections was lower in the 1.5+α-group. Injection costs for the 1.5+α group (615 USD/patient) were lower than those for the 1.0-group. Enteral nutrition provided to acute stroke patients reduced the risk of hospital infection and medical costs.     

冬凌草甲素通过改变Bax/Bcl-xL表达激活caspase-3诱导A375-S2细胞凋亡

目的　研究冬凌草甲素诱导人黑色素瘤A375 S2细胞凋亡的作用原理。方法　形态学观察 ,DNA凝胶电泳法及WesternBlot法。结果　冬凌草甲素能明显诱导A375 S2细胞发生凋亡 ,其作用呈明显的量效关系和时间依赖性。形态学观察可见凋亡小体的形成 ,琼脂糖凝胶电泳可见凋亡典型的DNA梯带 ;caspase 3的抑制剂能阻止caspase 3的活力升高 ;免疫印迹结果显示冬凌草甲素作用A375 S2细胞 12h改变Bax与Bcl xL蛋白的表达 ;且发现caspase 3的底物PARP蛋白在 12h时被降解。结论　冬凌草甲素 (34 3μmol·L-1)诱导A375 S2细胞凋亡 ,这种作用是通过改变了Bax/Bcl xL的表达比率 ,激活caspase 3而实现的。     

Drug Metabolism: Activation of 11 β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase by Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate as an Anti-hypertensive Agent in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

The anti-hypertensive properties of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) have been investigated by studying its effects on blood pressure, on serum concentrations of corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone, and on 11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 β-HSD) activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR were given intraperitoneal injections of DHEAS (10 mg day^?1 for 70 days) from six to 16 weeks of age. The blood pressure–time curve was significantly (P<0.05) suppressed immediately after administration of DHEAS. There was no difference between the heart rates of control and DHEAS groups. Serum concentrations of corticosterone and dehydrocorticosterone in the DHEAS group were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group. The dehydrocorticosterone/corticosterone concentration ratio was, however, significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the DHEAS group, suggesting that treatment with DHEAS enhanced the overall interconversion of corticosterone to dehydrocorticosterone. The activity of 11 β-HSD in specific organs of the DHEAS group was affected, characteristic changes being increases in the kidney (14–58%), decreases in the liver (11–27%) and no change in the testis. Direct addition of DHEAS to 11 β-HSD preparations from the kidneys of control SHR had the same effect as that observed in the in-vivo experiments. The fall in serum corticosterone in the DHEAS group is considered to be related, at least partly, to increased activity of kidney 11 β-HSD. The inverse correlation of kidney 11 β-HSD activity with serum corticosterone and blood pressure (—r = 0.628, P < 0.01, and —r = 0.478, P < 0.05, respectively) suggest that DHEAS delayed the development of hypertension in SHR by selective promotion of kidney 11 β-HSD activity which in turn resulted in lower serum concentrations of corticosterone and its minimal aldosterone-like activity.     

The effect of methamphetamine on histamine release in the rat hypothalamus

Abstract In the present study, the effect of methamphetamine (MAP) on histamine (HA) release measured by in vivo brain microdialysis in the rat hypothalamus was investigated. Administration of MAP (3 mg/kg) significantly increase HA release from 40 to 160 min after the injection. This finding suggests that a moderate dose of MAP activates the hypothalamic HA neuron system, which may be related to effects of MAP on intrinsic biological rhythms.     

Demonstration of the inner structure of a right atrial myxoma by transoesophageal echocardiography

We report a case of a large right atrial myxoma. With the useof transoesophagal echocardiography, several cysts were idntifieldwithin the tumour and necrotic tissue was differentiated frommyxomatous tissue according to its echo-level. Transoesophagealechocardiography was very useful for the precise diagnosis ofcardiac tumour and demonstration of the inner structure.     

Ultrastructural features of goat oviductal secretory cells at follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructure of secretory cells in the various regions of the goat oviduct during the follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle. During the follicular phase in the fimbriae, the secretory cells contained small secretory granules with electron-dense matrices. In the luteal phase, the secretory granules disappeared and cytoplasmic protrusions, extending beyond the luminal border of the ciliated cells and often containing the nucleus, were predominant. During the follicular phase in ampullary secretory cells, numerous secretory granules with moderately electron-dense matrices were present in the supranuclear cytoplasm and exocytosis of secretory granules was observed. The number of secretory granules was dramatically reduced in the ampullary secretory cells at the luteal phase. Conspicuous cytoplasmic protrusions of secretory cells were observed similar to those of the fimbrial epithelium. Isthmic cells were almost free of secretory granules and lysosome-like bodies were found both at the follicular and luteal phases. In conclusion, our ultrastructural observations of goat oviduct revealed marked cyclic changes in the ultrastructural features of secretory cells and the ultrastructural features and the numbers of secretory granules were distinctive for each particular segment.     

水飞蓟素和Fas激动性抗体CH11共同作用诱导A375-S2细胞凋亡

目的水飞蓟素和CH11共同作用诱导人黑色素瘤细胞A375-S2凋亡的分子机制。方法结晶紫法测定细胞生长抑制率;细胞凋亡的形态学观察,LDH法测定凋亡与坏死的比率;用免疫印迹法检测凋亡抑制性的去乙酰化酶SIRT1、Bc l-2家族成员(抗凋亡蛋白Bc l-2,Bc l-xL和促凋亡蛋白Bax)、细胞色素C和Caspase-3的表达。结果水飞蓟素和CH11共同作用能诱导A375-S2细胞发生凋亡;形态学观察可见凋亡小体的形成;免疫印迹法检测发现水飞蓟素和CH11共同作用的A375-S2细胞中Bax蛋白的表达增加,Bc l-2蛋白和Bc l-xL蛋白的表达降低,细胞色素C释放增加,pro-caspase-3表达量明显降低。结论水飞蓟素协同CH11能明显促进A375-S2细胞的凋亡。     

去甲斑蝥素诱导人黑色素瘤A375-S2细胞凋亡

目的:研究去甲斑蝥素(NCTD)诱导人黑色素瘤A375-S2细胞凋亡的机制.方法:采用MTT法、形态学观察、DNA凝胶电泳及Western blot检测法.结果:去甲斑蝥素可诱导A375-S2细胞发生凋亡.半胱氨酸天冬氨酸酶(caspase)-3,-9抑制剂可以部分的抑制NCTD诱导的细胞死亡.细胞凋亡时caspase-3,8,-9酶活力升高,caspase-3底物-caspase-3激活的DNA酶抑制物(ICAD)蛋白表达下降,同时Bcl-2/Bax、Bcl-xL/Bax蛋白表达比率明显降低.结论:去甲斑蝥素通过激活caspase和Bcl-2家族诱导A375-S2细胞凋亡.     

土槿皮乙酸体外诱导A375-S2细胞凋亡

目的 :研究土槿皮乙酸 (pseudolaricacidB)诱导A375 S2细胞凋亡的作用 ,探讨其抗癌作用机制。方法 :采用噻唑蓝 (MTT)法、形态学观察、DNA凝胶电泳及Westernblot检测法。结果 :土槿皮乙酸可剂量 时间依赖性的诱导A375 S2细胞凋亡 ,5 μmol·L^-1土槿皮乙酸处理 36h的细胞 ,Hoechst 332 5 8荧光染色后有明显的凋亡小体出现 ;凝胶电泳法显示有明显的DNAladder出现。细胞内抑制凋亡蛋白Bcl 2 ,Bcl xL和caspase激活的DNA酶抑制物(ICAD)表达量时间依赖性地减少 ,而促凋亡蛋白Bax表达量增加。结论 :土槿皮乙酸对A375 S2细胞的杀伤作用主要通过诱导细胞凋亡 ,降低Bcl 2 ,Bcl xL和ICAD蛋白的表达 ,增加Bax蛋白表达为其诱发A375 S2细胞凋亡的机制之一。