Dexamethasone combined with other antiemetics for prophylaxis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

SummaryBackground/ObjectivePostoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common and distressing adverse events after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone combined with other antiemetic in the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing LC.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted to identify all relevant RCTs. The primary outcome was PONV in the early period (0–3 hours, 0–4 hours, or 0–6 hours), late period (>6 hours), and the overall period (0–24 hours).ResultsNine RCTs with a total of 1089 patients were included in the analysis. Pooled analysis showed that dexamethasone combined with other antiemetics provided significantly better prophylaxis than single antiemetics in the early period [odds ratio (OR): 0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.55; p < 0.001], late period (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22–0.57; p < 0.001), and the overall period (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.27–0.49; p < 0.001). Correspondingly, rescue antiemetic usage was significantly less in the combination therapy group (OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.12–0.41; p < 0.001). The most frequently reported adverse events were headache, dizziness, and itching. The incidence of adverse events did not differ between the two groups.ConclusionDexamethasone combined with other antiemetics was significantly better than single antiemetics for prophylaxis of PONV in patients undergoing LC, without apparent side effects

Astragaloside IV Downregulates β-Catenin in Rat Keratinocytes to Counter LiCl-Induced Inhibition of Proliferation and Migration

Re-epithelialization is a crucial step towards wound healing. The traditional Chinese medicine, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, has been used for hundreds of years for many kinds of ulcerated wounds. Recent research has identified the active compound in this drug as astragaloside IV (AS-IV), but the underlying molecular mechanisms of its therapeutic action on keratinocytes remain poorly understood. In this study, we used an in vitro model of ulcer-like wound processes, lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced cultured mouse keratinocytes, to investigate the effects of AS-IV treatment. The effects on cell proliferation were evaluated by the MTS/PMS colorimetric assay, effects on cell migration were determined by a wound-healing scratch experiment, effects on the cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry, and effects on protein expression were analyzed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. LiCl strongly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, up-regulated β-catenin expression, and down-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. AS-IV treatment attenuat the inhibition of proliferation and migration, significantly reducing the enhanced β-catenin expression, and recovering PCNA and β-tubulin expression. Thus, AS-IV mediates mouse keratinocyte proliferation and migration via regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Down-regulating β-catenin to increase keratinocyte migration and proliferation is one mechanism by which AS-IV can promote ulcerated wound healing

3-(2-Bromo­phen­yl)thia­zolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole

The title compound, C15H9BrN2S, was prepared by the reaction of 1-bromo-2-(2,2-dibromo­vin­yl)benzene with 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2(3H)-thione. The thia­zolo[3,2-a]benz­imidazole fused-ring system is nearly planar, the maximum atomic deviation being 0.049 (4) Å. This mean plane is oriented at a dihedral angle of 71.55 (17)° with respect ot the bromo­phenyl ring. π–π stacking is observed in the crystal structure, the centroid–centroid distance between the thia­zole and imidazole rings of adjacent mol­ecules being 3.582 (2) Å

Characterization of a New M13 Metallopeptidase from Deep-Sea Shewanella sp. E525-6 and Mechanistic Insight into Its Catalysis

Bacterial extracellular peptidases are important for bacterial nutrition and organic nitrogen degradation in the ocean. While many peptidases of the M13 family from terrestrial animals and bacteria are studied, there has been no report on M13 peptidases from marine bacteria. Here, we characterized an M13 peptidase, PepS, from the deep-sea sedimentary strain Shewanella sp. E525-6, and investigated its substrate specificity and catalytic mechanism. The gene pepS cloned from strain E525-6 contains 2085 bp and encodes an M13 metallopeptidase. PepS was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Among the characterized M13 peptidases, PepS shares the highest sequence identity (47%) with Zmp1 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, indicating that PepS is a new member of the M13 family. PepS had the highest activity at 30°C and pH 8.0. It retained 15% activity at 0°C. Its half life at 40°C was only 4 min. These properties indicate that PepS is a cold-adapted enzyme. The smallest substrate for PepS is pentapeptide, and it is probably unable to cleave peptides of more than 30 residues. PepS prefers to hydrolyze peptide bonds with P1’ hydrophobic residues. Structural and mutational analyses suggested that His531, His535 and Glu592 coordinate the catalytic zinc ion in PepS, Glu532 acts as a nucleophile, and His654 is probably involved in the transition state stabilization. Asp538 and Asp596 can stablize the orientations of His531 and His535, and Arg660 can stablize the orientation of Asp596. These results help in understanding marine bacterial peptidases and organic nitrogen degradation

The influence of endogenous hormones on the formation of buds from stems of bitter melon (Momoridica charantia L

Stems of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L The endogenous ZT was higher in the stem calluses that had formed buds, and there was a higher IAA/ZT ratio and GA 3 /ZT ratio in the calluses having no capacity for buds formation. The results showed that addition of plant growth regulator influences endogenous hormone status and it will be helpful for in vitro propagation of bitter melon

A stable wavelength-spacing-tunable dual-wavelength single-longitudinal-mode fiber ring laser based on a DMD filter

A stable single-longitudinal-mode dual-wavelength( SLM-DW) multiple ring fiber laser with a tunable wavelength spacing was proposed and demonstrated. In the multiple ring cavities, the mode selection is made by the tunable digital micro-mirror device( DMD) filter and two different length passive sub-ring cavities. The DMD filter can select and couple any two wavelengths from the gain spectrum of the erbium-doped fiber( EDF). The SLM lasing is guaranteed by the two sub-ring cavities which serve as a mode filter. The stable and uniform dual wave length oscillation is obtained by the highly-nonlinear photonic crystal fiber( HN-PCF),which can generate the four-wave-mixing( FWM) effective. By loading different gratings on the DMD filter without any mechanically shift,the tunable wavelength spacing from appropriately 0. 165 nm to 1. 08 nm within a tuning accuracy of 0. 055 nm is achieved at room temperature

Size-dependent in vivo toxicity of PEG-coated gold nanoparticles

Xiao-Dong Zhang, Di Wu, Xiu Shen, Pei-Xun Liu, Na Yang, Bin Zhao, Hao Zhang, Yuan-Ming Sun, Liang-An Zhang, Fei-Yue FanInstitute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin, People&amp;rsquo;s Republic of ChinaBackground: Gold nanoparticle toxicity research is currently leading towards the in vivo experiment. Most toxicology data show that the surface chemistry and physical dimensions of gold nanoparticles play an important role in toxicity. Here, we present the in vivo toxicity of 5, 10, 30, and 60 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles in mice.Methods: Animal survival, weight, hematology, morphology, organ index, and biochemistry were characterized at a concentration of 4000 &amp;micro;g/kg over 28 days.Results: The PEG-coated gold particles did not cause an obvious decrease in body weight or appreciable toxicity even after their breakdown in vivo. Biodistribution results show that 5 nm and 10 nm particles accumulated in the liver and that 30 nm particles accumulated in the spleen, while the 60 nm particles did not accumulate to an appreciable extent in either organ. Transmission electron microscopic observations showed that the 5, 10, 30, and 60 nm particles located in the blood and bone marrow cells, and that the 5 and 60 nm particles aggregated preferentially in the blood cells. The increase in spleen index and thymus index shows that the immune system can be affected by these small nanoparticles. The 10 nm gold particles induced an increase in white blood cells, while the 5 nm and 30 nm particles induced a decrease in white blood cells and red blood cells. The biochemistry results show that the 10 nm and 60 nm PEG-coated gold nanoparticles caused a significant increase in alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels, indicating slight damage to the liver.Conclusion: The toxicity of PEG-coated gold particles is complex, and it cannot be concluded that the smaller particles have greater toxicity. The toxicity of the 10 nm and 60 nm particles was obviously higher than that of the 5 nm and 30 nm particles. The metabolism of these particles and protection of the liver will be more important issues for medical applications of gold-based nanomaterials in future.Keywords: gold nanoparticles, in vivo, toxicity, siz