Objective To analyze the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mainstream smoke of 20 brands of Chinese cigarette. Methods Mainstream smoke of 20 brands of Chinese cigarettes were collected by ASM51 smoking machine. Both tar and nicotine were analysed in the same time. Nine kinds of PAHs, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g, h, j)perylene and dibenzo(a, h)anthracene, in mainstream smoke from each brand were determined with HPLC. Results Total PAHs ranged from 404.1 to 1 085 ng per cigarette with an average of 714.8 ng per cigarette. Non-carcinogenic PAHs accounted for 93% of total PAHs. Carcinogenic PAHs ranged from 49.4 to 117.7 ng per cigarette, averaging 89.4 ng per cigarette. Content of tar, not nicotine, was significantly related to either total PAHs or carcinogenic PAHs. Conclusion Significant correlation between tar and PAHs suggests that tar may be a predictor of carcinogenic PAHs in mainstream smoke of Chinese cigarettes and a parameter to assess the impact of Chinese cigarettes on health.

Objective To observe the MRI findings of normal pancreas in piglets. Methods Eight healthy piglets underwent MR examination, and the morphology, size, signal intensity of pancreas were observed. After MR imaging, all piglets were abdominally incised to observe the anatomy of pancreas and pancreatic adjacent structures. The opening of both common bile duct and pancreatic duct were detected during operation. Two piglets were sacrificed after operation and the whole pancreases were dissected for anatomic research. Results The pancreas of piglets was composed of three parts: right lobe, median lobe and left lobe. All the lobes were displayed clearly on MRI. The signal intensity of pancreas was higher than that of liver and spleen on T1WI, whereas lower than that of liver and spleen on T2WI. On MRCP, pancreatic duct was not presented, whereas the common bile duct could be seen clearly. The opening of common bile duct located at superior part of duodenum (nearby the pylorus) and the opening of pancreatic duct situated at duodenal papilla corresponding to pancreatic right lobe. Conclusion MRI can show the pancreas of piglets very well. The morphology of pancreas and features of common bile duct conjunction with pancreatic duct in piglet are different from those in human.

Objective To analyze the diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies in the mycotic aneurysm caused by Salmonella enterica serotype choleraesuis infection in a single medical center. Methods From January 2000 to December 2008, clinical data of 8 cases with infected aneurysm caused by Salmonella enterica serotype choleraesuis were analyzed. Results All cases were treated with endovascular stent-graft treatment, including abdominal aortic aneurysm in six cases, thoracic aortic aneurysm in one, and popliteal artery aneurysm in one case. Six bifurcated stent-graft and two tube stent-graft were used. The surgical success rate was 100% with no perioperative or 30-day mortality nor major morbidity. All of the patients recovered uneventfully and were discharged with oral antibacterial agents. During mid-term follow up (range 15-36 months), four patients are alive and well with no signs of persistent or recurrent infection, three cases with recurrent infection were cured by drainage of local abscess and debridement, one case died of rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. Conclusion Endovascular grafting combined with antibiotic therapy and careful surveillance program represent an alternative to conventional surgery in mycotic aneurysms caused by Salmonella enterica serotype choleraesuis.

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are members of nuclear receptors and related to several diseases such as cancer, inflammation and osteoporosis. ERs have two forms, ERα and ERβ, which have different functions and organism distributions. Compounds selectively targeting ERβ can regulate important physiological functions and avoid the side effects caused by targeting ERα. Therefore, selective ERβ ligands have received considerable research interest in recent years. In this article, different kinds of selective ERβ ligands were summarized and their structure-activity relationships were also analyzed.

AIM: To study the effects of apolipoprotein (apo) A-Ⅰon ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) degradation and cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. METHODS: After exposure of the cultured THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells to apolipoprotein A-Ⅰ for different time, cholesterol efflux, ABCA1 mRNA and protein level were determined by liquid scintillation counting, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. The mean ABCA1 fluorescence intensity on THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: ApoA-Ⅰ markedly increased ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. This was accompanied by an increase in the content of ABCA1. ApoA-Ⅰ did not alter ABCA1 mRNA abundance. Thiol protease inhibitors increased the level of ABCA1 protein and slowed its decay in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, whereas none of the proteosome-specific inhibitor lactacystin, other protease inhibitors, or the lysosomal inhibitor NH_4Cl showed such effects. The apoA-Ⅰ mediated cellular cholesterol efflux was enhanced by thiol protease inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Thiol protease inhibitors might provide an alternative way to upregulate ABCA1 protein. This strategy is especially appealing since it may mimic the stabilizing effect of the natural ligands apoA-Ⅰ.

Objective To review the prevention and treatment strategies for complications after carotid artery stenting in a single medical center. Methods From December 2004 to December 2009,clinical data of 118 cases of carotid artery stenting with the use of cerebral protective device were analyzed retrospectively. Results The surgical success rate was 100% with no perioperative 30- day mortality or severe complications such as disabling stroke. The overall perioperative complication rate was 32. 20% (38/118), including carotid artery spasm in 10.17% (10/118), bradycardia in 11.02% (13/118), hypotension in 2.54% (3/118), transient ischemic attack in 5.93% (7/118) and false aneurysm of femoral artery in 2. 54% (3/118) cases. The average follow-up time was (28 ± 15) months. The mortality was 2. 38% (2/84) and the overall complication rate was 10. 71% (9/84) , including ischemic stroke in 3. 57% (3/84) , in-stent restenosis in 1. 19% ( 1/84) , stent deformation in 4. 66% (4/84) and stent fracture in 1. 19% (1/84) cases. Conclusion Death or ischemic stroke and other severe complications after carotid artery stenting under cerebral protective device were low. A careful selection of patients and strict indication for surgery is the key to reduce the complication rate.

Objective To analyze the perioperative mortality,stroke rates and late benefits of carotid artery stenting for the treatment of unilateral severe stenosis of carotid artery with contralateral obliteration in a single medical center.Methods Clinical data of 38 cases were analyzed retrospectively,including postoperative period and follow-up.Results The technical success rate was 100％ ( 38/38 )with no peri-operative 30-day mortality or ischemic stroke.The overall peri-operative complication rate was 34.2％ ( 13/38),including transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 5.3％ (2/38).The average follow-up time was ( 29 ± 13 ) months with follow-up rate of 86.8％ ( 33/38 ).The mortality was 0 and the overall complication rate was 12.1％ (4/33),including TIA in 6.1％ (2/33).No patients had recurrent stroke.Twenty-three cases underwent whole brain CT perfusion evaluation before and after the therapy.A significant improvement of the perfusion parameters was observed in the stenotic side after CAS.Conclusions CAS contralateral to an occluded carotid artery can be performed with acceptable perioperative mortality and stroke risk rates,as well as a satisfactory long-term beneficial effect in stroke prevention.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the geometrical characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysms undergoing endovascular treatment in a single medical center.The long-term effects as well as the strategies for the prevention and treatment of complications have been reviewed.Methods From January 2003 to December 2010,clinical data and geometrical parameters of 344 cases undergoing endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms were analyzed retrospectively.Results The diameter and length of proximal neck was (23 ± 3 )mm and ( 26 ± 12) mm respectively.The angle between the neck and the abdominal aortic aneurysm was (25 ± 28) degree.The surgical success rate was 99.7％.The average follow-up time was 32.9 months (3 -84 months) with follow-up rate 81.8％ (279/341).The mortality was 1.1％ (3/279),the re-intervention rate was 10.4％ (29/279) and the overall complication rate was 12.9％ ( 36/279),including endoleak of 5.7％ ( 16/279 ),stent-graft migration of 1.1％ ( 3/279 ),aneurysm expansion or rupture of 5.4％ ( 15/279 ),and other complications like limb occlusion.Severe infrarenal aortic neck angulation ( ＞ 60 degree) was associated with type Ⅰ endoleak ( P =0.010 ).Conclusions A careful preoperative case selection and evaluation is the key for a successful endovascular aneurysm repair.Endoleak continues to be the major long-term complication of the endoluminal grafting technique,and the major cause for re-intervention.Life-long follow-up is extremely important.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of renal stenosis resulting from fibromuscular dysplasia ( FMD ). Methods 16 cases from 1998 to 2011 were reviewed,the average age was (28 ± 13 ) years old. Among them, all patients suffered refractory hypertension and only one presented renal dysfunction. Aorto-renal bypass was performed in 2 cases.Resection and reconstruction was performed in 2 cases,balloon angioplasty in 10 and stent implantation in 3.Results There was 1 death peri-operatively.13 out of 15 cases were followed-up with no death.Significant decline of blood pressure [ (134 ± 14 )/( 83 ± 8 ) mm Hg vs.( 151 ± 17 )/( 96 ± 16 ) mm H g ( P ＜ 0.01 ) ]and 100％ effective rate were observed.The creatine level were preserved after surgical treatment [ (61 ±22) μmol/L vs.(69 ± 22) μmol/L,(P ＞ 0.05 ) ] with 4 cases improved and the other 9 stable.12 patients received ultrasound surveillance with only one case of 20％ restenosis. Conclusions Renal stenosis due to FMD are most common in children and the youth with hypertension as major presentation. Balloon angioplasty is the first choice of surgical treatment with positive efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the immune response of silicotic rats to sheep red blood cells(SRBC).

METHODSSilicotic rats were immunized with SRBC by tracheal instillation(Group 1) or intraperitoneal injection (Group 2), and non-silicotic rats were immunized by tracheal instillation as normal control(Group 3). The levels of serum hemolytic index(HC50) were measured on 7, 12, 20, 25, and 32 days after primary immunization and 5, 12, 15 days after the second immunization. Special anti-SRBC IgG was measured with ELISA(A490 nm) on 12, 20, 25, 32 days and 5, 12, 15, 27 days respectively. Delayed-type hypersensitivity(DTH) to SRBC was measured 20 days after second immunization and DTH reaction was determined at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after administration. Total cell count and cell populations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), lung associated lymph node(LALN) and spleen weight, special IgG secreted from spleen cells were measured at the end of the experiment.

RESULTSThe HC50 of Group 1(47.4 +/- 1.0, 52.2 +/- 4.6, 31.1 +/- 11.9, 43.8 +/- 3.5, 33.6 +/- 16.8, 49.0 +/- 2.3, 92.9 +/- 20.2, 87.7 +/- 5.2) were statistically higher than those of Group 3(40.4 +/- 10.6, 2.8 +/- 2.5, 0.8 +/- 0.6, 6.6 +/- 5.8, 1.4 +/- 0.1, 36.5 +/- 16.5, 53.0 +/- 33.2, 2.6 +/- 2.2). The special anti-SRBC IgG response in Group 1(1.67 +/- 0.19, 1.98 +/- 0.36, 1.12 +/- 0.50, 1.38 +/- 0.30, 2.75 +/- 0.15, 2.60 +/- 0.28, 2.86 +/- 0.10, 2.50 +/- 0.20) were much stronger than those in Group 3 (0.59 +/- 0.30, 0.56 +/- 0.21, 0.21 +/- 0.16, 0.22 +/- 0.01, 0.81 +/- 0.25, 0.74 +/- 0.25, 0.69 +/- 0.26, 1.38 +/- 0.41). Furthermore, the results of DTH showed positive response and the ratios for diameter of skin rash > 5 mm at 24, 48, 72, 96 h were 16/16, 16/16, 16/16, 15/16 respectively in Group 1, while those in Group 3 were 8/15, 1/15, 1/15, 1/15 respectively. Total cell count in the BALF, LALN and spleen weight, and special IgG secreted from spleen cells in Group 1 were higher too. Group 2 expressed almost of the same but with mild immunologic responses as Group 1.

CONCLUSIONSilicosis-induced extremely strong DTH and over-response of humoral immunity to some antigens may contribute to the likelihood of silicosis complicated with tuberculosis.

Animals ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; etiology ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Rats ; Sheep ; Silicosis ; immunology