Intravenous injection of Xuebijing attenuates acute kidney injury in rats with paraquat intoxication

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic benefits of intravenous Xuebijing on acute kidney injury(AKI) in rats with paraquat intoxication.METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided equally into three groups: sham group(n=8), paraquat group(n=8) and Xuebijing-treated group(n=8) using a random number table. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg of paraquat. One hour after paraquat administration, the rats were treated intravenously with Xuebijing(8 mL /kg). At 12 hours after paraquat administration, serum was collected to evaluate kidney function, then the rats were sacrificed and kidney samples were immediately harvested. AKI scores were evaluated by renal histopathology and pro-in? ammatory cytokines mR NA levels in kidney were assayed using real-time RT-PCR.RESULTS: Serum urea nitrogen, creatinine and AKI scores were significantly higher in the paraquat group, compared with the sham group(P<0.05, respectively). Moreover, interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α m RNA levels were signi? cantly higher in the paraquat group(P<0.01, respectively). However, intravenous Xuebijing signi? cantly decreased serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, AKI scores and IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α m RNA levels, compared with the paraquat group(P<0.05, respectively).CONCLUSION: Intravenous Xuebijing attenuates AKI following paraquat poisoning by suppressing in? ammatory response.

Patient-specific three-dimensional printed heart models benefit preoperative planning for complex congenital heart disease

Background Preoperative planning for children with congenital heart diseases remains crucial and challenging.This study aimed to investigate the roles of three-dimensional printed patient-specific heart models in the presurgical planning for complex congenital heart disease.Methods From May 2017 to January 2018,15 children diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease were included in this study.Heart models were printed based on computed tomography (CT) imaging reconstruction by a 3D printer with photosensitive resin using the stereolithography apparatus technology.Surgery options were first evaluated by a sophisticated cardiac surgery group using CT images only,and then surgical plans were also set up based on heart models.Results Fifteen 3D printed heart models were successfully generated.According to the decisions based on CT,13 cases were consistent with real options,while the other 2 were not.According to 3D printed heart models,all the 15 cases were consistent with real options.Unfortunately,one child diagnosed with complete transposition of great arteries combined with interruption of aortic arch (type A) died 5 days after operation due to postoperative low cardiac output syndrome.The cardiologists,especially the younger ones,considered that these 3D printed heart models with tangible,physical and comprehensive illustrations were beneficial for preoperative planning of complex congenital heart diseases.Conclusion 3D printed heart models are beneficial and promising in preoperative planning for complex congenital heart diseases,and are able to help conform or even improve the surgery options.

Effect of temperature on the demography of Galerucella birmanica （Coleoptera： Chrysomelidae）

Studies on the effect of temperature on the development of the water chestnut beetle, Galerucella birmanica Jacoby were carried out in the laboratory at seven different temperatures： 16 ℃, 19 ℃, 22 ℃, 25 ℃, 28 ℃, 31 ℃ and 34 ℃. The developmental time decreased with increase in temperature. The developmental time at 16 ℃, 19℃, 22 ℃, 25 ℃, 28 ℃, 31 ℃ and 34 ℃ was 96.60, 80.68, 58.96, 43.48, 35.03, 30.08 and 28.02 days for the period from egg hatching to adult emergence, respectively. The developmental threshold estimated for a generation by linear regression was 10.36℃. The fecundity per female at 22 ℃, 25 ℃, 28 ℃, 31 ℃ and 34 ℃ was 102.3, 134.5, 141.2, 130.1 and 116.2 eggs, respectively. Oviposition period ranged from 15.6 days at 22 ℃ to 8.6 days at 34 ℃. Hatchability of eggs was highest at 31 ℃ with 76.9% and lowest at 34 ℃ with 57.1%. The highest generation survival rate was 65.3% at 31 ℃, and the intrinsic rate of natural increase （rm） for G. birmanica was the highest at 34 ℃.