Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Strength ; Piriformis Muscle Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective To estimate the relative risk for lung cancer associated with genetic polymorphism of T6235C mutation in 3' non-coding region (Msp Ⅰ) of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and glntathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) in the Mongolian population in Inner Mongolian Region of China. Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and multiplex PCR methods were used to analyze blood samples obtained from 263 case subjects and 263 control subjects to determine their genotypes for CYP1A1 and GSTM1.Control subjects were matched with case subjects by ethnic background, age and gender. Results The frequencies of the variant CYP1A1 genotypes (CYP1A1C) and GSTM1-null in lung cancer groups were higher than those in control groups (38.4% vs. 28. 5% and 57.8% vs. 48.0%). The individuals who corried with CYP1A1C genotype had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.08 to 2.25, P=0.016) than those who carried with non-variation CYP1A1 genotype. The ones who carried with GSTM1-null genotype also had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.06 to 2.10, P=0.023) than these who carried with GSTM1-present genotype.When combination of polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genotypes was analyzed, the risk of lung cancer for combination of CYP1A1C and GSTM1-null genotypes was increased significantly (OR=2.084, 95e CI=1.27 to 3.42, P=0.003). Susceptibility to lung cancer was related to smoking (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.48 to 2.98, P=0.000). Considering smoking status, the risk of lung cancer for combination of smoking and CYP1A1C genotype was remarkably increased (OR=2.76, 950/0 CI=1.74 to 4. 37, P=0.000). It was the same case with combination of smoking and GSTM1-null genotype (OR=4. 38, 95% CI=2.35 to 8.15, P=0.000). Conclusion The polymorphisms of CYP1A1C genotype and GSTM1-null are the risk factors of lung cancer in the Mongolian population in Inner Mongolia Region of China. Smoking is also related to susceptibility to lung cancer. There may be a synergetic interaction between CYP1A1C and GSTM1-null in the elevated susceptibility of lung cancer. Smoking may have a synergetic interaction with CYP1A1C and GSTM1-null in the elevated susceptibility of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the management of thoracic spinal trauma (TST) associated with closed thoracoabdominal injuries (CTAI).

METHODSA retrospective study was made on 259 patients with TST admitted to our department as an emergency treatment from January 1996 to June 2001. We summarized the clinical features of TST associated with CTAI.

RESULTSAmong 259 patients with thoracic spinal trauma, 112 were associated with CTAI. Traffic accident was the most common cause. The force causing upper TST was more violent than that causing the lower. Pulmonary complications were the leading cause of death in this group. Surgery could not improve neurological function for completely paraplegic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe reason that upper TST has the tendency to be associated with CTAI is its special anatomical feature. Routine ultrasonic examination can avoid misdiagnosis of latent closed abdominal injuries associated with spinal injury. The presence of potential injuries, especially CTAI, should be considered when deciding whether or not to perform surgery early.

Adult ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Paracentesis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; Thoracic Injuries ; diagnosis

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and 64 multi-slice spiral CT (64-MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Fifty-two patients with suspected or known CAD were included in the study. Each patient underwent both stress and rest MPI,MSCT as well as conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 month. The stress and rest MPI were scored by a 5-grade criteria (0 ～ 4) based on 17 coronary artery segments. The difference between summed stress and rest scores ＞ 1 was defined as myocardial ischemia. Stenosis in one main vessel or one main branch of the main vessel ≥50% was defined as myocardial ischemia by MSCT. CAG was used as the reference for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. 0 software. Kappa value was used to test the accordance of MPI and MSCT results. X2 test was used to evaluate the difference between MPI and MSCT results. Results The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT for the diagnosis of CAD were 86.7% (26/30), 77.3% ( 17/22),83.9% (26/31), 81.0% ( 17/21), 82.7% (43/52) and 83.3% ( 25/30), 86.4% ( 19/22), 89.3%( 25/28), 79.2% ( 19/24), 84.6% (44/52), respectively. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT were 74.5% (38/51), 81.0% (85/105 ), 65.5% (38/58), 86.7% ( 85/98), 78.8% ( 123/156 ) and 90.2% (46/51 ), 88.6% ( 93/105 ),79.3 % (46/58), 94.9% (93/98), 89.1% ( 139/156), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between MPI and MSCT for either patient or lesion-based diagnosis (X2 =0.44, 0.21, both P ＞0.05 ). 96.0% (24/25) patients with both abnormal MPI and MSCT positive were valified by CAG while 83.3% (15/18) patients with both MPI and MSCT negative were excluded by CAG. Conclusions Both MPI and MSCT are reliable diagnostic modalities for CAD. They also provide complementary diagnostic value to each other.

OBJECTIVETo study the imageology change of the intervertebral foramen degenerative intervertebral disc in different degrees and explore its clinical significance.

METHODSThe imageology data (MRI and CT) of 37 patients with degenerative disc disease of L4,5 (male 23, female 14, age from 28 to 62 years with an average of 41.6 years)were investigated. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the mean signal intensity rate of degenerative disc and cerebrospinal fluid:light degenerative group (group A) of 11 cases, intermediate degenerative group (group B) of 13 cases, and severe degenerative group (group C) of 13 cases. The extreme altitude, maximum width and areas of the intervertebral foramen were measured from the CT 1.25 mm scan reconstitution. The changes of the intervertebral foramen were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) 1. The extreme altitude and areas of the intervertebral foramen gradually diminished among the light degenerative group, intermediate degenerative group and severe degenerative group, there was no significant deviation between intermediate degenerative group and the light degenerative group (P > 0.05), there was statistical significance between severe degenerative group and intermediate degenerative group (P < 0.05), there was statistical significance between severe degenerative group and light degenerative group (P < 0.01). (2) There was no statistical significance of the maximum width of intervertebral foramen among three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe extreme altitude and areas of the intervertebral foramen gradually diminished when the disc are differently degenerative. But there was not significant correlation to width of the intervertebral foramen; the dimin height and area of intervertebral foramen should result in root compression.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; chemistry ; diagnostic imaging ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the imageology changes of degenerative cartilage endplate to different degree, and to explore its clinical significances.

METHODSThe imageology data (MRI or CT) of 58 patients with degenerative disc disease of L4, 5 (including 34 patients with lumbar disc herniation). The patients were divided into three groups depending on the mean signal intensity rate of degenerative disc and cerebrospinal fluid: light degenerative group of 17 cases, intermediate degenerative group of 17 cases, and severe degenerative group of 24 cases. The signals of intervertebral disks on T2WI of sagittal magnetic resonance imaging were inputted into the computer and the concave angles of endplate were measured. Anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter of the endplate were measured from the CT scan of L4, 5, and then the relative curvature of endplate was got. The change patterns of the concave angle and the relative curvature of vertebral endplates were analyzed when the lumbar disc was differently degenerative.

RESULTS(1) The concave angle of endplate (L4 inferior endplate, L5 superior endplate) gradually increased among the light degenerative group, intermediate degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.01). (2) The relative curature of endplate (L4 inferior endplate, L5 superior endplate) gradually increased. There was significant difference between the light degenerative group and intermediate degenerative group (P < 0.0l), and there was significant difference between the light degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.0l). There were no significant difference between intermediate degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.05). (3) The concave angle of endplate had positive correlation with relative circularity (r = 0.786, 0.490).

CONCLUSIONThe concave angle and relative curvature of endplate generate corresponding changes when the lumbar disc are differently degenerative. The changes of concave angle and relative curvature of endplate are important factors of lumbar disc hernia and lower back pain, which may evaluate the probability of intervertebral disk hernia.

Adult ; Cartilage ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To analyze the differential gene expression between thymic carcinoids and normal thymic tissues and to study thepathogenesisofectopicACTH syndrome caused by thymic carcinoids. Methods Using gene chip technique, the gene differential expression of 2 tissues were observed following RNA labeled with different fluorescences (Cy3 and Cy5) hybridized to gene chip. Results Among 4224 genes on gene chip, 394 were up regulated more than 2 folds in thymic carcinoid tissues, 23 of which were associated with cell mitosis; 51 genes were upregulated more than 5 folds, 1 of which (PAK3) was associated with cell mitosis. Conclusion A group of differentially expressed genes were observed between the thymic carcinoids and normal thymic tissues.These overexpressed and cell mitosis-associated genes probably play a role in the pathogenesis of thymic carcinoid tumors.

OBJECTIVETo develop an analytical method for simultaneously qualitative and quantitative determination of melamine and triazine-related by-products including ammelide, ammeline, and cyanuric acid in milk and milk products by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS).

METHODSMelamine and triazine-related by-products namely ammelide, ammeline and cyanuric acid in the samples were extracted in a solvent mixture of diethylamine, water, and acetonitrile (10:40:50, V/V/V). After centrifugation, an aliquot of the supernatant was evaporated to dryness under a gentle stream of nitrogen gas, and then melamine and triazine-related by-products were derivatized using BSTFA with 1% TMCS. The derivatives of melamine and its analogues were determined by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reactional monitoring (MRM) with 2, 6-Diamino-4-chloropyrimidine (DACP) being used as an internal standard.

RESULTSThe linear detectable ranges were from 0.004 mg/kg to 1.6 mg/kg for melamine, ammelide, ammeline, and cyanuric acid with a correlation coefficient no less than 0.999. The recovery rates of the four compounds in spiked blank milk powder at concentrations 0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg were between 61.4%-117.2%, and the relative standard deviation was no more than 11.5% (n=6). The detection limits of melamine, ammelide, ammeline and cyanuric acid in milk powder were 0.002 mg/kg with a ratio of signal to noise of 3.

CONCLUSIONThis GC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of melamine, ammelide, ammeline, and cyanuric acid in milk and milk products is sensitive and specific.

Animals ; Cattle ; Chromatography, Gas ; Flame Retardants ; analysis ; Food Contamination ; Milk ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Triazines ; chemistry

The present study was to investigate the effects of exogenous insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-453 and its possible mechanism. By means of MTT method in vitro, the results showed exogenous IGFBP7 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-453 cells (IC50 of IGFBP7 = 8.49 μg/mL) in time- and concentration-dependent manner. SB203580, p38(MAPK) inhibitor, blocked the anti-proliferative effect of exogenous IGFBP7. The flow cytometry assay showed that exogenous IGFBP7 remarkably induced G0/G1 arrest in MDA-MB-453 cells. The Western blot showed that exogenous IGFBP7 promoted phosphorylation of p38(MAPK), up-regulated expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1), and inhibited phosphorylation of Rb. SB203580 restrained exogenous IGFBP7-induced regulation of p21(CIP1/WAF1) and p-Rb in MDA-MB-453 cells. In conclusion, the present study suggests that exogenous IGFBP7 could activate the p38(MAPK) signaling pathway, upregulate p21(CIP1/WAF1) expression, inhibit phosphorylation of Rb, and finally induce G0/G1 arrest in MDA-MB-453 cells.
Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Somatomedins ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism