AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the development of periodontitis in mice by low dosage of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) infection.METHODS: Twenty-seven male Kunming mice in specific pathogen free grade were randomly divided into three groups: (1) the normal control group;(2) the experimental periodontitis group, which was produced by ligature of braided silk around the first maxillary molar, and was inoculated with putative periodontopathic bacteria;(3) the periodontitis with T. spiralis infection group. The mice were sacrificed at the end of 1, 3 and 5 weeks. The probing depth (PD) was measured before the mice were euthanized. The histological change of periodontal tissues was observed under the microscope after the samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Furthermore, the serum level of IL-4 was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: (1) The serum level of IL-4 in T. spiralis-infected group was significantly higher than that in experimental periodontitis group (P<0.01). (2) The PD in T. spiralis-infected group was significantly lower than that in experimental periodontitis group (P<0.01). (3) Only a mild inflammatory response was observed in T. spiralis-infected animals. CONCLUSION: T. spiralis infection upregulates IL-4 expression and attenuates periodontitis in mice.

Objective To analyzed distribution characteristics of gene mutation and gene carrying rate of thalassaemia in Shenzhen.Methods 2 500 cases with adult,neonatal umbilical cord blood of 2 500 cases for alpha thalassaemia,beta thalas-saemia,gene types and carry frequency were analyzed.Results 8 types of alpha thalassemia gene 128 cases,rate of detection was 5.12% (128/2 500),and the main genetic types were-SEA/αα(54 cases,42.19%),-SEA/-α3.7 (32 cases,25%)respec-tively.2 500 cases of adult samples were checked out 7 types of gene mutation 101 cases,and detection rate was 4.04%(101/2 500).Main gene mutation type were CD41-42 (39 cases,38.61%),IVS-2-654 (20,21 cases,79%),CD17 (18 cases, 17.82%)and-28 (13 cases,12.87%)respectively.Conclusion Shenzhen thalassaemia mutation type and frequency had ob-vious regional characteristics and times characteristics,health authorities should strengthen epidemiology study,formulate corresponding prevention and intervention measures.

Objective To investigate the failure of treatment with chloroquine in Yunnan in order to help formulate adequate antimalarial drug policy. Methods A World Health Organization 28-day in vivo test on therapeutic response for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in area with low or moderate transmission was adopted. Patients of age ≥ 6 months old were admitted without limitation in density of parasitaemia and body temperature. Clinical and parasitological observation was conducted for patients on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. Results Of 62 patients identified as malaria cases infected by Plasmodium falciparum only, Plasmodium vivax only or by both species, 52 cases infected by Plasmodium falciparum only were included in the study. The overall treatment failure rate was 40.7%, with early treatment failure (ETF) rate of 1.8% and late treatment failure rate (LTF) of 38.9%. Conclusion The treatment failure rate was much higher than the rate of 25% recommended by WHO. It is suggested that use of single chloroquine should be stopped in the treatment of falciparum malaria cases in such area. No relationship was found between the failure rate and the density of malaria parasites.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and value of ventricular function in conotruncal defects(CTD)by three-dimensional echocardiography(3DE).Methods Fifty-two children with CTD and forty-three children with normal hearts were examined by 3DE.The measurements of left ventricular volume and wall mass were outlined and calculated.The measurements of left ventricular volume and wall mass of 3DE in preoperative CTD were compared with those of 2D biplane Simpson-method in preoperative CTD,3DE in control group and 2D biplane Simpson-method in control group.The results of 3DE and 2DE preoperative measurements were also compared with their postoperative clinical cardiac conditions.Results From the findings of analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls(SNK)test,there was no significant difference between 3DE and 2DE measurements of left ventricular function in normal children,but there was significant difference between 3DE and 2DE measurements of left ventricular function in children with CTD.2DE measurements of left ventricular volume and wall mass in the CTD group were significant underestimated and less correlated with their postoperative clinical cardiac conditions(r=0.20,P=0.2086)than 3DE measurements(r=0.39,P=0.0090).Furthermore,left ventricular function in the CTD group was poorer than that in the control group.Stroke volume and effective function were reduced due to increasing end-systolic volume.while left ventricular wall mass was increased due to the possible compensation of its ventricular muscle.With the lower end-diastolic volume,stroke volume and effective function,patients were more likely to have the occurrence of postoperative low cardiac output.Conclusions By making a precise quantitative assessment,3DE is very useful in providing more information for preoperative diagnosis in CTD and predicting such postoperative prognoses as the occurrence of postoperative low cardiac output.

Objective To explore the effect of rational emotive therapy on self-esteem status of breast cancer patients.Methods 118 cases of breast cancer patients were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group with 59 cases in each group.The control group received routine care,and the observation group received rational emotive therapy on the basis of routine care.The self-esteem status of the two groups of patients was assessed before and after the intervention respectively with State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES).Results The score of behavior self-esteem,social self-esteem,appearance self-esteem and the total score of self-esteem of the patients in two groups before intervention showed no significant difference,but the above scores were higher in the observation group than those in the control group after intervention.Conclusions Rational emotive therapy can improve self-esteem status of breast cancer patients,thereby improve the mental health of the patients.

0.05 ) between the left ventricular stroke volume with RT-3DE ( 24.58 ? 3.44 )ml,the right ventricular stroke volume with RT-3DE ( 23.58 ? 3.18 )ml and those values measured with Swan-Ganz pulmonary thermodilution method ( 25.64 ? 3.18 )ml.Furthermore,there was well correlation between the left ventricular stroke volume and the right ventricular stroke volume with RT-3DE (r= 0.93 ).They were also well correlated with those values with Swan-Ganz pulmonary thermodilution method (r= 0.85 ,r= 0.92 ).However,there was significant difference (P

Cell bodies of the hypothalamus which project to various subdivisions of theparamedian midbrain were studied in the rat with the method of retrograde axonaltransport of HRP.After small amount of HRP was delivered electrophoreticallyinto the dorsolateral part of the central grey substance,the HRP-labelled cells werefound in the anterior hypothalamic nucleus,the ventromedial nucleus,the dorsome-dial nucleus,the dorsal premammillary nucleus,the ventral premammillary nucleus,the medial mammilary nucleus and the lateral mammillary nucleus,mainly in theipsilateral side.Following introduction of the enzyme into the ventral part ofcentral grey substance,there were HRP-labelled cells in the ipsilateral preoptic area,the lateral area of anterior hypothalamus(dorsal to the supraoptic nucleus),thelateral area of tuberal part,the ventromedial nucleus,the dorsomedial nucleus andthe dorsal premammillary nucleus.By introducing the HRP into the medial part oftegmentum,the HRP-labelled cells were observed in the preoptic area,the lateralarea of anterior hypothalamus,the ventromedial nucleus,the dorsomedial nucleus,the dorsal premammillary nucleus,the medial mammillary nucleus and the lateralmammillary nucleus.

BACKGROUND: In vivo experiments have confirmed that fibroblast growth factor can effectively protect gentamicin-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury, but the effect on the in vitro cultured cells is still rare. OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at different concentrations on preventing nephrotoxity mediated by genamicin on the primarily cultivated renal tubular epithelial cell models. METHODS: By use of enzyme and mesh screening, renal tubular epithelial cells were isolated from Kunming mice and purified, adjusting the cell concentration of 1×10~8/L, then cell suspension was moved to a 96-well culture plate and divided into different groups for culture: blank control group: normal culture; gentamicin group: 10, 30, 50 μL/hola (ie, 400, 1 200, 2 000 U/holes)arerecorded as G1, G2, G3; bFGF group: 20, 50, 80 μL/hole (ie, 90,225, 360 ng/hole) are recorded as B1, B2, B3; gentamicin plus bFGF intervention group: after adding bFGF 12 hours, then added gentamicin 12 hours, assigned into 9 dose subgroups, namely, G1B1, G1B2, G1B3, G2B1, G2B2, G2B3, G3B1, G3B2, G3B3, each subgroup contained four-hole complex. Cell morphology and quantity was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Gentamicin showed a dose-dependent effect on the renal tubular epithelial cell injury, epithelial cells in the medium and high concentration groups exhibited shrinkage, rounded, swelling, poor adhesion, severely damaged cytoplasm and structural disorder. In the low concentration group, the number change of cells was not obvious, and fibroblasts began to appear; In the bFGF groups, cells were full, exhibited strong refraction, the cell number increased significantly, these manifestations were significant in 50 μL/hole concentration, and there was no significant difference compared with 80 μL/hore concentration; in case of gentamicin plus bFGF intervention, cells with low concentrations of gentamicin had no obvious damage to cells, which increased, the damaged cells collapse was reduced in the group of low concentration of gentamicin, cell shrinkage and poor adhesion were slightly relieved, high concentrations of bFGF intervention could yield to good cell morphology, but high concentrations of gentamicin caused cell swelling and necrosis of injury, which could not be improved by any concentrations of bFGF intervention. 50 μL/hole bFGF has antagonistic effect on the nephrotoxicity mediated by medium and low concentrations of gentamicin, but has no protection on high concentration of gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Objective: To investigate the effect of polarizing the immune response toward the Th2 type, using intestinal nematode (Trichinella spiralis) infection, on subsequent experimental periodontitis. Methods:Thirty six SPF KM mice were randomly divided into three groups. Periodontitis group: experimental periodontitis was induced by wrapping a 5/0 silk ligature inoculated with putative periodontopathic bacteria around the first maxillary molar. Th2-polaried group: After the mice were infected with low dosage Trichinella spiralis, the experimental periodontitis model was established at that time as above. Mice were sacrificed at the end of 1, 4, 8, 12 weeks. The histological analysis of periodontal tissues was observed by microscope after the samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The concentrations of IFN--y and IL-4 in mouse serum were determined by ELISA. Results; The results showed that compared with control group Th2-polaried mice had high levels of IL-4 prior nematode infection reduced the severity of periodontitis, and subsequent infection of the periodontium with oral pathogens developed minimal lesions. Few or no osteoclasts were detected in lesions of Th2-polaried group. Conclusion;These results indicate a protective role of nematode infection in Thl cell-driven periodontal damage and prompt consideration of a novel therapeutic strategy in periodontitis based on im-munological distraction.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intensity-madulated radiotherapy(IMRT) as the primary treatment in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Between November 2001 and March 2006,147 newly diagnosed NPC patients were treated with IMRT. The disease was Stage I in 3 patients, Stage Ⅱ in 35,Stage Ⅲ in 67 and Stage Ⅳ in 42. For T1-2 disease,the prescription dose was 70 Gy to the gross tumor volume( GTVnx) and positive neck nodes ,60 Gy to the planning target volume I, and 50-56 Gy to the clinically negative neck. For T3-4 disease,the prescription dose was 74-78 Gy to GTVnx. The local control rate(LC),overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Results The 3-year LC, OS, DFS and DMFS of the whole group were 93.2% ,93.5% ,72.6% and 74.4% ,respectively. T stage was a significant predictor of LC and OS. For patients with T1-2 and T3-4 disease,the LC was 100% and 86.9% (P=0.007) and OS was 95.5% and 91.3% (P=0.030), respectively. N stage was a significant predictor of OS, DFS and DMFS(P=0.03,0.004 and 0.0004,respectively). The grade Ⅰ+ Ⅱ and Ⅲ acute toxieities of parotid were 96.6% and 1.4%. The rate of grade Ⅱ xerostomia at 3-month, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year after radiotherapy were 43.0%, 12.0% ,4.9% and 3.2%. Conclusions The treatment results are promising according to our target definition and dose prescription protocol for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.