Objective To investigate the role of nentrophils in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris. Methods Neutrophils were isolated from venous blood samples of 25 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (including 13 cases of active psoriasis and 12 cases of inactive psoriasis) as well as 25 normal human con-trols, and cultured. Then, these neutrophils were grouped and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 g/L),CpG-A (50 mg/L), CpG-B (50 mg/L), and RPMI 1640 culture medium, respectively, for 24 hours followed by the collection of culture supematants. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were cultured in the presence of su-pematants of treated or untreated nentrophils for 72 hours followed by the detection of cell proliferation with MTT assay. To determine the role of proinflammatory factors, SOD/CAT and monoclonal antibody to IL-8 and TNF-alpha of 400 u/mL were used to pretreat HaCaT cells 1 hour prior to the stimulation with super-natants of neutrophils. Results Compared with culture medium, the supematant of unstimulated neutrophils from normal controls or patients with inactive psoriasis had no significant effect on the proliferation of HaCaT cells (P ＞ 0.05), but that from patients with active psoriasis markedly promoted the proliferation of HaCaT cells (t = 2.41, P < 0.05). ARe, stimulation by LPS, CpG-A and CpG-B, the supematant of active patient-derived neutrophils significantly promoted the proliferation of HaCaT cells compared with that of normal control-derived nentrophils (t = 3.11, 2.89, 2.29, respectively, all P < 0.05). In comparison with tmstimulated neutrophils, the supematant from LPS- and CpG-A stimulated nentrophiles significantly accelerated the pro-liferation of HaCaT cells. Furthermore, the proliferation of HaCaT cells induced by the supematants of LPS-,CpG-A-, CpG-B-stimulated neutrophils from psoriatic patients was statistically suppressed by the pretreat-ment with the monoclonal antibody to IL-8, TNF-alpha and SOD/CAT (all P < 0.05). Conclusions In patients with psoriasis vulgaris, there is an abnormal secretion of IL-8, TNF-alpha and superoxide by neutrophils in peripheral blood, and these proinflammatory factors could promote the proliferation of HaCaT cells.

Objective： The current study was designed to evaluate the treatment results of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by conformal radiotherapy. Methods： From September 1997 to February 2000, a total of 41 cases of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by conformal radiotherapy. Among them, 27 cases were treated by late-course hypofraction conformal radiotherapy with the dose of 20- 24 Gy at 80％ isodose, 4- 7 Gy per time, following routine radiotherapy of 39 Gy/30f/3weeks. Fourteen cases received total-course conformal radiotherapy with the dose of 59.8 Gy/46f/4.6weeks at 90％ isodose. Results： The reference isodose curves conform to the target in three dimensions in conformal radiotherapy. The acute radiation mucositis, cranial nerve paralysis and trismus incidence were similar in two groups, however, in the hypofractionation group 22％ developed necrosis of nasopharyngeal mucosa, 3.7％ developed reduced optic nerve lesion, whereas none of the hyperfractionation group had these complications. The tumor response rate were both 93％ for two groups. Conclusion： Hyperfraction conformal radiotherapy is effective in the treatment of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma and has relatively lower incidence of radiation complication.

0.05).Conclusion: Enteral nutrition may improve the nutrition status.The naso-jejunum tube feeding has no advantage to nasogastric tube feeding in our patients.The route of enteral nutrition should be selected according to the individual condition and local nosocomial experience.

Objective:It is demostrated that the porous protein-mineral mechanics model could provide more accurate prediction for biomaterial properties of dentine compared with the other established models.This paper would use the model to reevaluate the mechanical properties and its interacting mechanism of human dentine.Method:By using a porous proteinmineral mechanics model,the effect from the interactions between tubules,pedtubular and intertubular matrix on dentine microstructure was discussed.Results:The dentinal micromechanical properties were dependent on the tubular direction,and the absolute values of the stresses derived from the hydraulic and gas tubular pressures increased parabolically with theincreasing diameter of the tubules.It was also found that the effective elastic constants of the dentine microstructure would vary with the aging and the distribution of mineral and collagen within peritubular and intertubular matrix of detine.Conclusions:The theoretical analyses provided in this paper demonstrated that the microstructural characteristics of tubules,peritubular and intertubular dentinal matdx could have different influences on the micromechanical properties of human dentine,which showed the validity of porous protein-mineral mechanics model,and the limitation of some models that neglected the interacting mechanism.

Objective:It is demostrated that the porous protein-mineral mechanics model could provide more accurate prediction for biomaterial properties of dentine compared with the other established models.This paper would use the model to reevaluate the mechanical properties and its interacting mechanism of human dentine.Method:By using a porous proteinmineral mechanics model,the effect from the interactions between tubules,pedtubular and intertubular matrix on dentine microstructure was discussed.Results:The dentinal micromechanical properties were dependent on the tubular direction,and the absolute values of the stresses derived from the hydraulic and gas tubular pressures increased parabolically with theincreasing diameter of the tubules.It was also found that the effective elastic constants of the dentine microstructure would vary with the aging and the distribution of mineral and collagen within peritubular and intertubular matrix of detine.Conclusions:The theoretical analyses provided in this paper demonstrated that the microstructural characteristics of tubules,peritubular and intertubular dentinal matdx could have different influences on the micromechanical properties of human dentine,which showed the validity of porous protein-mineral mechanics model,and the limitation of some models that neglected the interacting mechanism.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of large-spot and low-energy Q switched Nd:YAG laser on melasma,and to observe the changes of melasma lesions with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) before and after the laser treatment.MethodsTotally,45 patients aged from 24 to 48 years and diagnosed with facial melasma were included in this study,and treated with large-spot and low-energy Q switched Nd:YAG once a week for 10 or more sessions.CLSM was used to estimate the melanin content in melasma lesions before each irradiation and after the last irradiation.ResultsAmong the 45 patients,8 ( 17.78％ ) were nearly cured,25 (55.56％) markedly improved,11 (24.44％) improved,and only 1 (2.22％) unimproved after the laser irradiation.The total response rate was 73.33％.As CLSM showed,there was an increment in melanin granules in melasma lesions compared with the normal skin surrounding melasma lesions,but a reduction in melanin granules was induced by the laser treatment in melasma lesions.ConclusionsLarge-spot and lowenergy Q switched Nd∶YAG laser is substantially effective and highly safe for the treatment of melasma,and CLSM can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of laser on melasma.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of multiple injection of morphine combined with phloroglucinol in the treatment of renal colic. Methods One hundred and twenty patients with severe renal colic were equally divided into three groups by random digits table,with 40 cases each group. The group A was administrated with physiological saline 100 ml and phloroglucinol 80 mg intervenous drop infusion combined with morphine 9 mg intravenous injection fractionated into three times, and the group B was administrated with physiological saline 100 ml and phloroglucinol 80 mg intervenous drop infusion,and the group C was administrated with physiological saline 100 ml intervenous drop infusion and morphine 9 mg intravenous injection fractionated into three times. At 10,20 and 40 min after administration, the antalgic efficacy of three groups were analyzed as well as the side effect. Results At 20 min and 40 min both of the total efficacy rates in group A[82.5%(33/40),95.0%(38/40)] were higher than those in group B [62.5%(25/40),80.0%(32/40)] and group C [60.0%(24/40),77.5%(31/40)] (P＜ 0.05),and the colic-exclusion rate in group A was also higher than that in group B and group C (P ＜ 0.05). The difference of the efficacy rates in group A in these two time-points had no statistical significance (P ＞0.05). No increased pain occurred in group A except 1 case of vomiting. Conclusion Multiple injection of morphine combined with phloroglucinol is quick, effective and safe in the early treatment of renal colic.

Objective To investigate the association between polymorphisms of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor(TSHR)gene intron 1(rs179247, rs12101261)and Graves′ disease(GD)in the China Han population from Xuzhou city, Jiangsu Province. Methods Total 1 066 GD patients and 1 107 control subjects were recruited for genotyping by Taqman probe technique on Fluidigm EP1 platform. Meanwhile, serum concentrations of thyroid hormone and TSH receptor antibodies(TRAb)were determined. Results The rs179247_A, rs12101261_T were significantly associated with GD risk(OR=1.35, 95%CI 1.19-1.54, P=5.92×10-6; OR=1.32, 95%CI 1.16-1.50, P=2.22×10-5). Logistic regression identified that rs179247 was an independent susceptibility locus of GD. Serum TRAb concentration showed a significant difference(P=0.015)among rs179247_AA, AG, and GG genotypes. Conclusion rs179247 and rs12101261 in TSHR intron 1 are both associated with GD, and rs179247 may contribute risk to GD independently. The polymorphism is associated with TRAb, but not with serum concentration of thyroid hormones, age of onset, diffused thyroid goiter, ophthalmic signs, and relapse.

Objective To detect the gene mutation of thyroid hormone receptor β ( TRβ ) in a family with thyroid hormone resistance syndrome.Methods The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes of the patient and his 5 family members.The exons 1-10 ofTRβ gene were amplified by PCR.The products of PCR were sequenced directly to detect the gene mutation.Results Two members of this family were confirmed to have the C y A transition mutation at nucleotide 1642 site within exon 10 of TRβ gene,which was a missense mutation causing the substitution of Proline to Threonine (P453T).The mutation was Heterozygous.Conclusions It was confirmed that the patient has TRβ gene mutation P453T in exon 10.The mutation may lead to the occurrence of thyroid hormone resistance syndrome.

Objective To investigate a reproducible model of severe crush injury (CI) in rats.Methods A total of 50 clean grade male SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into 5 groups.Both hindlimbs of anesthetized rats were compressed by blocks weighing 3.5 kg,for 6 hours and followed by 3 hours of reperfusion on a specially notched device (group SP,n =10),ordinary compression (group NM,n =10) and simple control (group SHAM,n =10).Arterial tension,serum lactate,and potassium (K+),serum myoglobin (MB),aspartate transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT),BUN and Cr were measured at 10 minutes after cannulaton,and 3 hours after release from compression.Muscles and kidneys were evaluated morphologically.Group D and E were treated in the same way and were observed for 72 h to get the survival rate of the NM group and the specially notched compression group.The SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis,repeated-measures ANOVA analysis for the differences between groups,Kaplan Meier-estimator for survival analysis.Results The Specially notched compression produced a greater increase in serum lactate (F =39.626,P ＜ 0.05),AST (F =24.965,P ＜ 0.05),ALT (F =19.096,P＜0.05),BUN (F=7.938,P＜0.05),CR (F=14.787,P＜0.05) and MB (F=16.840,P ＜0.05) by the end of experiment than NM group and simple control group.The direct cellular damage and ischemia-reperfusion injury were found under microscope.In crush injury caused by specially notched compression there was acute tubular necrosis found at 24 hours after injury.Mortality rate in the NM group was 20％,whereas mortality rate reached 90％ in rats with specially notched compression (P ＜0.05).Conclusions It successfully developed a severe crush injury model in experimental rats,suggesting it is worthwhile to popularization.