ObjectiveTo compare tongue positions at rest between normal occlusion people and patients with anterior cross-bite malocclusions,and to explore whether there is any abnormality in the tongue position of the anterior cross-bite malocclusions.Methods Twenty adults of normal bite (8 males and 12 females,with an average age of 23.8 years) and 20 adults of anterior cross-bite (1 1males and 9 females,with an average age of 24.6 years) were involved in this study.The position habits of tongue were investigated by a questionnaire.The tongue positions,which were enhanced by applying barium to tongue and palatal surface,were compared by cephalometric roentgenogram.Two groups were compared by t-test to determine the variation of anterior cross-bite. Results In normal occlusion group,the dorsum of tongues was sealed with all palatal surfaces except uvula site.In anterior cross bite group,tongues were far from palate,and were difficult to lift.The profile of tongue showed standing upright forward and up in normal occlusion group,while inclining back and low in anterior cross-bite group.The tops of tongue dorsum sites were at the border of soft and hard palate in normal occlusion group.While in anterior cross bite group,the tops of tongue dorsum sites were at the border of uvula and soft palate.In anterior cross-bite group,the tongue-to palate distance was bigger than that of normal occlusion group (P＜0.01).However,both length and height of the tongue had no significant differences between two groups (P＞0.05).ConclusionsIn anterior cross-bite patients,tongue positions were lower than that of normal occlusion people.

Objective To study the altered radiobiological effect of simulative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIMR) in cultured human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and the related mechanism. Methods Single cell suspension of exponentially growing CNE-2 cells, a poor differentiated NPC cell line, was seeded and cultured for 12 hours, then the cells were irradiated in two different models by 6 MV X-ray beams at 3 Gy/min. In single fraction irradiation (SFR) model, cells were irradiated a single fraction of 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 Gy within 0 to 3 minutes. In S1MR model, cells were irradiated 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 Gy in 5 frac-tions with interval of 8.0-8.5 minutes between. Clonogenic assay was performed to determine the radiosen-sitivity. Cellular apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2, Respectively. Results Compared with SFR group, the survival fraction in SIMR group was higher at all the dose levels. The values of α, β, D0 and Dq were higher in SIMR group than in SFR group. At dose levels of 2 Gy, 4 Gy and 6 Gy, The early and late apoptotic cells in SIMR group were lower than in SFR group (21.20%: 15.89%, F=18.51, P=0.020;13.00%: 10.20, F=15.67, P=0.040).The mRNA expression of Bax was upregulated in a dose-dependent manner in the both groups. Compared with SFR group, the mRNA expression of Bax in SIMR group was lower at all the dose levels (Mean value of 76.75% : 62.50%, F =36.57, P =0.000). Bcl-2 mRNA expression at every dose level had no significant difference between the two groups (Mean value of 29.25% : 29.75%, F=0.74, P=0.800). Conclusions Prolonged delivery time in SIMR model can decrease the radiobiological effects.

Objective To investigate the gender-related differences in patients with Graves'disease (GD).Methods Seven hundred and eighty-seven consecutive patients with GD treated with anti-thyroid drug in out-patient clinic of department of endocrinology of Chinese PLA general hospital from Oct.2009 to May 2010 were included in the study.The diagnosis of GD WSB made according to common clinical and laboratory criteria.Results (1)In Graves'disease,a marked female preponderance Was found.The female/male ratio was 3.35:1.Female patients with GD presented at a younger age,compared with males[(33.20±13.07 vs 36.75±13.89)year,P=0.002],and the peak incidences of the disease occurred in female and male were 20-29 years and 40-49 years of age respectively.(2)Male patients presented a higher prevalence of weight loss,thyrotoxic cardiopathy,periodic paralysis,and non-invasive ophthalmopathy whereas tachycardia was more common in females.(3)The females presented larger diffuse goiters with higher serum TT4,FT4,and thyrotropin receptor antibody(TRAb)levels.Cases with TRAb>30 U/L were more common in females,whereas those with TRAb 10-30 U/L were frequently seen in males.(4)There was no gender-related difference in the family history of GD.(5)Remission atleast 6 months after anti-thyroid drug therapy in 211 patients,there was a relapse rate of 64.3%(137/211)without gender difference.Conclusion GD appeared at a younger age and with larger diffuse goiters in females,together with more marked elevation of serum TT4,FT4 and TRAb levels.Altogether,these findings depict different patterns for GD in males and females.

Objective To study the distance and pattern of the movement of the maxillary teeth after 6 months driftodontics for dental crowding.Methods 20 dental crowding children,according to the treatment plan,who were required to removal four first premolars,were involved in this study (8 males,12 females,aged 11-14 years old).All of the children did not wear appliance in six months after teeth extraction.X-ray image data before and six months after teeth extraction were collected.The width of extraction space,the anterior irregular index and inclination of the axis of each tooth were recorded before and six months after tooth extraction.The data were analyzed by t-test and Pearson relative analysis.Results The study model showed that bilateral maxillary space of extraction pre-and pro-driftodontics decreased (5.79 ± 4.9) mm (P ＜ 0.01) ; anterior crowding decreased (5.79± 4.12) mm,irregular index was significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Cephalometric film measurement showed that canine crown moved distally (4.87±3.54) mm after the drift (P＜0.01).Canine tooth axis changed from mesial to upright.The crown of maxillary first molar moved mesially (1.18± 0.52) mm (P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant changes in apical position.Conclusions After 6 months of the physiological drift,upright moving of canine relieves anterior teeth crowding.The molar anchorage is saved.

An offline two-dimensional system combining a rat cardiac muscle cell membrane chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CMC-TOF/MS) with a high performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF/MS) was established for investigating the parent components and metabolites in rat urine samples after administration of the roots of Aconitum carmichaeli.On the basis of the analysis of the first dimension,retention components of the mine sample were collected into 30 fractions (one fraction per minute).Then offline analysis of the second dimension was carried out.34 compounds including 24 parent alkaloids and 10 potential metabolites were identified from the dosed rat urine,and then binding affinities of different compounds on cell membranes were compared and influences of some functional groups on activity were estimated with the semi-quantification and curve fitting method.As a result,binding affinities decreased along with the process of deacylation,debenzoylation and demethylation,which may be related to the alleviation of toxicity in the procedure of herb processing or metabolism.Moreover,some minor components in rat urine (Songorine,14-benzoylneoline,Deoxyaconitine,etc.) exerted relatively strong affinity on cell membranes are worth exploring.The results delivered by the system suggest that the CMC can be applied to in vivo study.

Objective To evaluate the radical effect and prognosis of laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer in China.Methods Articles of non.randomized comparative studies(NRCs)of laparoscopic resection and open Burgery for colorectal cancer which were published before October 2007 were retrieved,and correlated indexeswere extraeted for meta.analysis.Results The mean quality score of the 14 articles selected was 18.92±1.27.The basic characteristics of patients in laparoscopic resection group were similar to those in open surgery group.Compared with open surgery group,the incised length of the intestine in the laparoscopic resection group was shorter by 0.66 cm.and the distance between distal margin of resection and tumor was farther by 0.26 cm.The 2-year survival rate of patients in laparoscopic group Was 1.67 times higher than that of open surgery group.There was no significant difference upon follow-up rate,tumor diameter,number of resected lymph nodes,local recurrence rate and distal metastasis rate between the 2 groups.Conclusions The results of meta-analysis show that laparoscopic resection has the sanle radical effect as open surgery for colorectal cancer.but the 2-year survival rate of patients treated by laparoscopic resection is comparatively higher.

All three cases of recurrent lymphocytic hypophysitis were female, one of them being 70-yearold postmenopausal woman.Adenohypophysis, cavernous sinus, and optic chiasm were involved in case 1,hypothalamus and neurohypophysis were invaded in case 2, and adenohypophysis and hypophyseal stalk were involved in case 3.Relapse occured 4 months after operation in case 1, then high dosage methylprednisolone pulse therapy (HDMPT) brought about a remission lasting for 14 months before second relapse set in.Relapse occurred in case 2 at 16 months after prednisone treatment was discontinued, and case 3 recurred during the period of dose reduction.All three patients were then treated with glucocorticoid plus azathioprine for 16 weeks, and good response was seen in 3 cases.During follow-up, the symptoms were relieved and significant reduction of lesion was revealed by MRI in all thee patients, and the pituitary function was resumed in case1and 3.

Objective To study the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in patients with intracranial germinoma and to evaluate its diagnostic and therapeutic value. Methods Thirty-one patients with intracranial germinoma receiving estimation of HCG in CSF and serum in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed in terms of HCG level, its influencing factors and the relationship of HCG with clinical features. Results HCG levels in CSF of the 31 cases ranged from 0. 17 IU/L to 5316. 98 IU/L with a median value of 3.44 IU/L. The sensitivity of diagnosis increased from 80. 6% to 90. 3%, when the cut point of HCG in CSF changed from 0. 60 IU/L to 0. 50 IU/L. The sensitivity increased from 83.9% to 93.5% when the cut point of the ratio of CSF/serum HCG decreased from 1.8 to 1.7. HCG level of germinoma located in pineal region was higher than that in basal ganglia region, while it is lowest in sellar region. The ratio of CSF/serum HCG in different parts showed no difference. Multiple risk factors analysis revealed that serum HCG (r =0. 886,P =0. 0001 ) and tumor size ( r=0.748, P=0.0211 ) were positively correlated with the HCG level in CSF, while course of the disease,age and gender were not correlated. After radiation therapy, HCG in CSF and serum decreased dramatically as compared with those before radiation. Conclusions The HCG level and its dynamic change were sensitive marker of intracranial germinomas. Based on our analysis, HCG in CSF over 0. 50 IU/L and the its ratio in CSF/serum over 1.7 were highly indicative of the possibility of intracranial germinomas.

OBJECTIVETo establish a new diagnostic method for Down's syndrome using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

METHODSDNA extracted from five healthy individuals and five Down's syndrome patients was amplified in six specific tetranucleotide repeat loci on chromosome 21 using PCR. An accurate diagnosis was made by analyzing allelic distribution at each locus.

RESULTSAll Down's syndrome patients were identified as having at least two loci with three alleles, while none of the healthy individuals had three alleles. In addition, when two alleles were identified for a particular locus in the Down's syndrome samples, it was more likely that the intensity ratio between the two alleles was close to 2:1.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular method can provide a fast, accurate, and economical alternation for the traditional cytogenetic diagnostic method for Down's syndrome.

A 31-year-old male normotensive patient with aldosterone-producmg adenoma complained of thirst,polydipsia,polyuria,and periodical paraplegia.The diagnosis is raised by signs of hypokalemia.Despite the lack of hypertension,primary aldosteronism was confirmed by persistent hypokalemia,increased urinary potassium,increased urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and suppressed plasma rennin activity (PRA).The blood pressure profile was studied by ambulatory monitoring,and the mean blood pressure of 24h was normal and the circadian rhythm remained normal. Surgical removal of the histologically typical aldosterone-producing adenomas normalized the kalemia.The patient had a marked fall in blood pressure with mean values of 21/17 mm Hg ( diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure were 19/17 and 22/17 mm Hg respectively)and recovery of normal urinary and plasma aldosterone levels and PRA 6 weeks after surgery.This suggests that excess serum aldosterone induced relative hypertension in those patients whose blood pressure was spontaneously very low.Our observations call for primary hyperaldosteronism assay in patients with hypokalemia and renal potassium leakage.