Inoculant the examine-needed germ on a flat panel of synthetic medium, and placed paper slices, which had being saturated by different kinds of sugar, on the medium to carry out the experiment of microorganic auxanography. Its result was compared with that of the traditional method, the sugar-grain method. The comparison showed that the former was better than the latter for its more definite result and more convenient operation.

OBJECTIVETo observe analgesic effect of electroacupuncture ( EA) on rats with chronic inflammatory pain and its regulatory mechanism on ispilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn (SDH) Mas-related G protein-coupled C receptor (MrgprC).

METHODSTotally 40 healthy male SD rats were divided into 4 groups according to random number table, i.e., the normal (N) group, the model (M) group, the acupuncture (Acu) group, the EA group, 10 rats in each group. The model of chronic inflammatory pain was established by subcutaneous injecting 0. 1 mL complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into right hind paw. Paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) were measured before modeling, at day 1, 3, 5, 7, and after CFA injection, respectively. Expression levels of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and SDH were detected by Western blot. The content of bovine adrenal medulla 22 (BAM22) in SDH was detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with N group at each time point, PWTs significantly decreased in M group (P <0. 01). Compared with M group, PWTs significantly increased at day 5 of EA and after EA in EA group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with Acu group at each time point, post-EA PWTs significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with N group, expression of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and ratio of BAM22 positive cells in ispilateral SDH increased in M group (P < 0.01). Compared with M group, expression of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and ratio of BAM22 positive cells in ispilateral SDH increased in the EA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA had favorable analgesic effect on chronic inflammatory pain induced by CFA, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with up-regulating MrgprC expression in ispilateral DRG and BAM22 content in ispilateral SDH.

Analgesia ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pain Management ; methods ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Posterior Horn Cells ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To study the effects of cooking practice education on their status of nutrient intake and blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over 60 years old.Methods Four-hour cooking practice education lecture was offered per month for 57 patients with T2DM over 60-year old based on balance diet and food exchange list,with features including requiring patients joining the lecture with their family members together,demonstration of raw and fresh dietary materials and cooked food,choice of food to eat by the patients themselves according to their own dietary regimen.Sixty patients with T2DM who were only educated by outpatient department of nutrition for 35 minutes were selected as control.After twelve months of education,indices such as scores of awareness of knowledge of food exchange list,status of nutrient intake and blood glucose control,and so on,were compared between the two groups to evaluate the effects of cooking practice education.Results After 12- month education,score of knowledge of food exchange list in the experiment group increased significantly,as compared to that in the control group.Intake of energy [(6304?826) kJ] and fat [(46?6) g] decreased significantly in the experimental group [(6921?860) kJ and (63?9) g,respectively],and fasting blood glucose [(7.1?0.8) mmol/L],postprandial blood glucose [(11.2?1.1) mmol/L] and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c [(6.2?0.5)%] were decreased significantly,as compared to those in the control group [(7.8?0.9) mmol/L,(12.4?1.2) mmol/L,and (6.5?0.7)%)],respectively.Conclusions Cooking practice education is effective to correctly use diet regimen and improve status of nutrient intake and control of blood glucoses for over-60-year patients with T2DM.

We studied on the bio-safety problem of cultivating innovative talents in medical microbiology. The bio-safety of laboratory was controlled by educating bio-safety before the experiments, regulating basic operations during the experiments and constructing management system out of the experiments. Then we got some experience to ensure students’ bio-safety during the research.

OBJECTIVESTo study the relationship between quasispecies of hepatitis B virus and the clinical manifestations of their infection, and to find the answer of why different quasispecies of HBV with the same genotype can induce different clinical situations.

METHODSSixty serum samples, in all of which HBVs of genotype B exist, taken from 32 chronic asymptomatic carriers and 28 severe chronic hepatitis patients, were collected to detect quasispecies of HBV DNA by melt curve approach. Then the relationship between quasispecies of HBV of the same genotype and the clinical situation of their infection was studied by comparing the wave crests of the two sample groups.

RESULTSThe data of the 60 serum samples of HBV of genotype B detected by melt curve showed that HBV DNA in severe chronic hepatitis patients had more wave crests than that in chronic asymptomatic carriers (P < 0.05), suggesting that HBV in severe chronic hepatitis patients had more quasispecies than in the chronic asymptomatic carriers.

CONCLUSIONThe numbers of quasispecies of HBV correlate with the clinical situations of their infection. In the patients infected by HBV of the same genotype, those who have more HBV quasispecies would have more severe clinical manifestations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo construct and identify a adenovirus vector of the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and to explore the role of CTGF in the metabolism of glucose and lipid.

METHODSThe over-expressed plasmid of CTGF was cloned, and then the CTGF sequences were cloned into pAdTrack-CMW vector. The reformed E. coli BJ5183-sensitive bacteria that contain pAdEasy-1 were transformed with lined vector cut by Pme I enzyme. The recombinant adenovirus vector was cut with Pac I enzyme and obtained, then transfected 293A cells to produce virus. Through three times of amplification, the adenovirus infected the primary hepatocytes to determine the infection efficiency and CTGF expression. The mice were starved for several time periods, and then the liver RNA was extracted for real-time PCR to detect the expressions of CTGF under different nutritional conditions.

RESULTSThe adenovirus of CTGF was successfully produced with an infection efficiency of 90%. The expressions of the CTGF were different under different nutritional conditions and showed a coincidence with the expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha. After the mice were starved for 24h, the expression of CTGF increased by (2.38 +/- 0.51) folds; after the mice were starved for 48 h, the expression of CTGF increased by (2.95 +/- 0.57) folds (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTGF is speculated to be involved in the metabolism of glucose and lipids.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plasmids ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo determine the relationship between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria with cardiovascular events in subjects aged 80 years or older.

METHODSData for this retrospective prognostic study were drawn from the patient database for routine checkup in Beijing hospital between January 2001 to December 2001. Baseline eGFR and proteinuria were evaluated in 340 subjects [mean age: (85.6 ± 4.0) years]. eGFR was calculated using the modified abbreviated MDRD equations based on the Chinese chronic kidney disease patients. The subjects were divided into normal renal function group and reduced renal function group (eGFR <60 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2)). The subjects were divided into subjects without proteinuria and subjects with proteinuria group. Cardiovascular events included cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke.

RESULTSThe proportion of reduced renal function was 36.8% (125/340). The proportion of proteinuria was 10.3% (35/340). The proportion of reduced renal function or proteinuria was 41.8% (142/340). Follow-up time was 79 months (40-114 months). Cardiovascular events rate was significantly higher in reduced renal function group than in normal renal function group [37.6% (47/125) vs. 26.2% (55/210), P < 0.05 ] and in proteinuria group than in without proteinuria group [50.0% (17/34) vs. 28.2% (85/301), P < 0.01 ]. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that both eGFR (HR = 0.978, 95%CI:0.961-0.994, P < 0.05 ) and proteinuria (HR = 2.049, 95%CI:1.132-3.709, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for cardiovascular events after adjusting for age, gender, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONSReduced eGFR and presence of proteinuria are independent risk factors for cardiovascular event in subjects aged 80 years or older. eGFR and proteinuria can thus be used for cardiovascular event risk stratification in subjects aged 80 years or older.

Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the test-retest reliability of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire in nurses and to provide supplementary data for evaluating the reliability of the questionnaire in different occupational populations.

METHODSNordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was translated into Chinese according to the Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. We carried out a study to examine the reliability of Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire among Chinese nurses. This study was conducted in 120 nurses recruited from our hospital, who underwent questionnaire survey twice within one week. The test-retest reliability of questionnaire was analyzed.

RESULTSThe Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire showed a high test-retest reliability, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.72∼1.00.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire has a high test-retest reliability in nurses, so it can be used for the screening and epidemiological investigation of musculoskeletal disorders in this population.

Humans ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Nurses ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Postoperative radiotherapy is a major treatment for patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma. However, the irregular resection cavity poses a technical difficulty for this treatment, causing uneven dose distribution to target volumes. In this study, we evaluated the dose distribution to target volumes and normal tissues in postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after placing a water-filled balloon into the resection cavity. Three postoperative patients with advanced maxillary sinus carcinoma were selected in this trial. Water-filled balloons and supporting dental stents were fabricated according to the size of the maxillary resection cavity. Simulation CT scans were performed with or without water-filled balloons, IMRT treatment plans were established, and dose distribution to target volumes and organs at risk were evaluated. Compared to those in the treatment plan without balloons, the dose (D98) delivered to 98% of the gross tumor volume (GTV) increased by 2.1 Gy (P = 0.009), homogeneity index (HI) improved by 2.3% (P = 0.001), and target volume conformity index (TCI) of 68 Gy increased by 18.5% (P = 0.011) in the plan with balloons. Dosimetry endpoints of normal tissues around target regions in both plans were not significantly different (P > 0.05) except for the optic chiasm. In the plan without balloons, 68 Gy high-dose regions did not entirely cover target volumes in the ethmoid sinus, posteromedial wall of the maxillary sinus, or surgical margin of the hard palate. In contrast, 68 Gy high-dose regions entirely covered the GTV in the plan with balloons. These results suggest that placing a water-filled balloon in the resection cavity for postoperative IMRT of maxillary sinus carcinoma can reduce low-dose regions and markedly and simultaneously increase dose homogeneity and conformity of target volumes.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; surgery ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed