Improved management of the donor site of free radial forearm flap

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Exposure to particulate air pollution at different living locations and respiratory symptoms in Hong Kong-an application of satellite information

Respiratory ill-health effects due to particulate air exposure at different geographical locations in Hong Kong that aggregate individual living locations were estimated based on satellite information. We assessed the presence of respiratory symptoms of a frequent cough or sputum in school students aged 11-20 years old (n=9,881). Daily particulate air pollution levels at students' living locations were derived from the surface extinction coefficients measured by satellite and measurements from the air pollutant monitoring stations at ground level. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% CI] of respiratory symptoms was 1.047 [1.005, 1.091] per 10 g m-3 increase in PM10 concentration. Specificity tests showed that adjusted OR of having other symptoms is not significant (p=0.20-0.94). Exposures to PM10 at different geographical locations is associated with increased odds of having respiratory symptoms (cough or sputum) but not with other symptoms unrelated to air pollution. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.postprin

A novel anti-mycobacterial function of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>(MTB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. To combat against this pathogen, immune cells release cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which is pivotal in the development of protective granulomas. Our previous results showed that Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), a mycobacterium used as a model to investigate the immune response against MTB, stimulates the induction of TNF-α via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in human blood monocytes. Since MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) is known to regulate MAPK activities, we examined whether MKP-1 plays a role in BCG-induced MAPK activation and cytokine expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Primary human blood monocytes were treated with BCG and assayed for MKP-1 expression. Our results demonstrated that following exposure to BCG, there was an increase in the expression of MKP-1. Additionally, the induction of MKP-1 was regulated by p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). Surprisingly, when MKP-1 expression was blocked by its specific siRNA, there was a significant decrease in the levels of phospho-MAPK (p38 MAPK and ERK1/2) and TNF-α inducible by BCG.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Since TNF-α is pivotal in granuloma formation, the results indicated an unexpected positive function of MKP-1 against mycobacterial infection as opposed to its usual phosphatase activity.</p

Thermal redistribution of localized excitons and its effect on the luminescence band in InGaN ternary alloys

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements have been carried out in zinc-blende InGaN epilayers grown on GaAs substrates by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy. An anomalous temperature dependence of the peak position of the luminescence band was observed. Considering thermal activation and the transfer of excitons localized at different potential minima, we employed a model to explain the observed behavior. A good agreement between the theory and the experiment is achieved. At high temperatures, the model can be approximated to the band-tail-state emission model proposed by Eliseev et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 71, 569 (1997)]. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Protective effects of lycium barbarum polysaccharides on cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier disruption after ischemic stroke

Young Investigators Symposium I (Y3) - Di YangBACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is a destructive cerebrovascular disease and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The long term disability after stroke induces heavy burden both to the patients and the society. Yet, no effective neuroprotective agents are available. The polysaccharides extracted from the fruits of wolfberry, Lycium barbarum (LBP), showed neuroprotective and immune-modulative functions. We aim to evaluate the protective effects of LBP in experimental stroke using a focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. METHODS: C57BL/6N mice were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 22 h of reperfusion. Prior to ischemia induction, animals were treated with either vehicle (PBS) or LBP daily for 7 days. Mice were evaluated for neurological deficits just before sacrifice. Brains were harvested for infarct size estimation, water content measurement and immunohistochemical analysis as well as Western blot experiments. Evans blue (EB) extravasation experiment was performed to determine blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption after MCAO. RESULTS: LBP treatment significantly improved neurological scores and decreased infarct size, hemispheric swelling and water content as well as reduced EB extravasation. In addition, fewer apoptotic cells were identified in the LBP-treated brains by TUNEL assay. Immunoreactivity for aquaporin-4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein were also significantly decreased in LBP-treated brains. We further observed a reduction of nuclear factor-κB translocation and IκB expression after LBP treatment. CONCLUSION: Seven-day LBP pre-treatment effectively improved neurological deficits, decreased infarct size and cerebral edema as well as protected the brain from BBB disruption, aquaporin water channel up-regulation and glial activation. The protective effects of LBP might partially act through its anti-inflammatory effects. The present study suggests that LBP may be used as a preventive neuroprotectant for ischemic stroke.postprin

Aqcostic quantification and colour kinesis: evaluation of left atrial and left ventricular function in real time

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Lycium barbarum polysaccharides reduce neuronal damage, blood-retinal barrier disruption and oxidative stress in retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Neuronal cell death, glial cell activation, retinal swelling and oxidative injury are complications in retinal ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), extracts from the wolfberries, are good for "eye health" according to Chinese medicine. The aim of our present study is to explore the use of LBP in retinal I/R injury. Retinal I/R injury was induced by surgical occlusion of the internal carotid artery. Prior to induction of ischemia, mice were treated orally with either vehicle (PBS) or LBP (1 mg/kg) once a day for 1 week. Paraffin-embedded retinal sections were prepared. Viable cells were counted; apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL assay. Expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) and nitrotyrosine (NT) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. The integrity of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) was examined by IgG extravasations. Apoptosis and decreased viable cell count were found in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the vehicle-treated I/R retina. Additionally, increased retinal thickness, GFAP activation, AQP4 up-regulation, IgG extravasations and PAR expression levels were observed in the vehicle-treated I/R retina. Many of these changes were diminished or abolished in the LBP-treated I/R retina. Pre-treatment with LBP for 1 week effectively protected the retina from neuronal death, apoptosis, glial cell activation, aquaporin water channel up-regulation, disruption of BRB and oxidative stress. The present study suggests that LBP may have a neuroprotective role to play in ocular diseases for which I/R is a feature. © 2011 Li et al.published_or_final_versio

Combination of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and irbesartan for the treatment of heart failure

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Moderate alcohol use and mortality from ischaemic heart disease: A prospective study in older Chinese people

Background: Moderate alcohol use is generally associated with lower ischaemic heart disease (IHD) mortality but it is difficult to ascertain whether this is due to attributes of moderate alcohol users or the properties of alcohol itself. Evidence from populations with different patterns of alcohol use and IHD can provide crucial evidence. We assessed the association of moderate alcohol use with IHD mortality in older Chinese people from Hong Kong. Methodology: We used Cox regression to determine whether moderate alcohol use was associated with IHD mortality in a prospective, population-based cohort study of all 56167 attendees, aged 65 years or over, from July 1998 to December 2000 at all 18 Elderly Health Centers operated by the Department of Health in Hong Kong. Principal Findings: After a median follow-up of 4.2 years, there were 406 (188 in men, 218 in women) deaths from IHD in 54,090 subjects (96.3% successful follow-up). Moderate alcohol use in men was not associated with IHD mortality adjusted only for age [Hazard Ratio, HR 1.01 (95% Cl 0.55 to 1.84) compared with never drinkers] or additionally adjusted for socio-economic status and lifestyle. Almost all women were occasional drinkers and their current alcohol use was not significantly associated with IHD mortality [HR 0.88, (95% Cl 0.51 to 1.53)] Conclusions: Moderate alcohol use had no effect on IHD mortality in older Chinese men. Lack of replication of the usual protective effect of moderate alcohol use in a setting with a different pattern of alcohol use and IHD could be due to chance or could suggest that the protective effect of alcohol on IHD does not extend to all populations. © 2008 Schooling et al.published_or_final_versio

Benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in patients with left ventricular systolic heart failure

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