BACKGROUND:With the development of modern pathological techniques, the misdiagnosis rate has been reduced remarkably, but special stains are still the most important method for pathological diagnosis. OBJECTIVE:To compare the advantages and disadvantages of different special stains used for observing the structure of human lumbar facet joints. METHODS:The specimens of facet joint cartilage at L4/5 level were collected from patients undergoing lumbar surgery, and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin, safranin O, toluidine blue, Masson, and saranin-O-fast green for structure observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The structure of the articular cartilage could be observed clearly through hematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue, and saranin-O-fast green staining. The cartilage surface, tidemark, and subchondral bone were shown by the hematoxylin-eosin staining, with the presence of violet chondrocyte nuclei. Safranin-O-fast green staining showed the four layers of the cartilage clearly, including the shallow layer (cartilage surface), middle layer (spherical cells arranged in disorder), columnar cell layer (large and multinucleated chondrocytes arranged neatly), tidemark, subchondral bone layer; and the cartilage matrix was reddish uniformly, the subchondral bone was green, and the cartilage and bone tissue showed a striking contrast. The cartilage structure was unclear in toluidine blue staining, with clear nuclei and almost no coloring cytoplasm, but the matrix appeared with slight purplish blue. Safranin O staining showed that the cartilage was red, which had no obvious boundary with the cartilage matrix, and chondrocytes were stained lightly. Masson staining showed clear collagen fibers, but the structures of the cartilage and subchondral were obscure. To conclude, safranin-O-fast green staining can achieve the best results, followed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining in turn.

Objective To observe the effects ofJingui Shenqi Pills on the expressions of TGF-β1, CYP19, sex hormone level and sperm quality;To discuss its mechanism for the treatment of male sterility.Methods Forty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, retardant group andJingui Shenqi Pills group, 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, adenine was used to induce healthy rats to kidney yang deficiency and sterility model rats. Normal group was given normal saline for gavage;retardant group was injected with testicular mesenchyme TGF-β1;Jingui Shenqi Pills group was givenJingui Shenqi Decoction for gavage. Blood was taken through caudal vein. Immunohistochemical, radioimmunoassay and electron microscopy observation were used to detect the expressions of TGF-β1, CYP19, sex hormone level, sperm density and motility rate and testicular morphological changes.Results Compared with normal group, the expression of TGF-β1 in the model group increased and CYP19 decreased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the expression of TGF-β1 decreased and the expression of CYP19 increased (P<0.05). Compared with normal group, the number of sperm quantity was small and paramorphia in model group (P<0.05). Compared with model group, T, E2, sperm density and motility rate increased significantly inJingui Shenqi Pills group and retardant group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance among indexes in retardant group andJingui Shenqi Pills group.ConclusionJingui Shenqi Pills can improve sperm quality and sex hormone level of model rats with kidney-yang-deficiency, which mechanism is probably realized by inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1R and promoting the expression of CYP19 in testis to effect development and proliferation of sperm.

Objective To study the development characteristics of cavum sepit pellucidun (CSP)in prematures,neonates,infants and adults with MRI.Methods Brain MR images of different subjects including 141 prematures,106 neonates,171 infants and 35 046 adults were observed to determine the incidence and shape of CSP,and to measure its transverse diameter.Results CSP incidences were 100% (141/141)in prematures,97.17% (103/106)in neonates,2.26%(4/177)in infants and 0.82% (287/35 046)in adults respectively,and the CSP was cylinder (44.00%)or triangle in shape (56.00%)in prematures,triangle (76.40%)or fissure in shape (23.60%)in neonates.For infants or adults,each shape accounted for about a third of three kinds of shape respectively.Its mean transverse diameters were 5.7 mm in prematures,4.1 mm in neonates,13.3 mm in infants and 14.3 mm in adults respectivity.Conclusion CSP has different performances at development periods in human being brain.Most close after birth,while fewer remain in the whole life.

Objective To assess the feasibility and the value of MR T2 * mapping in valuing the early degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc quantificationally.Methods 67 patients with low back pain and 21 healthy volunteers were chosen for the study.The two groups both underwent 3.0T MR with the axial T2 WI and T2 * mapping images in 440 discs of L1-S1.We graded all intervertebral discs by Pfirrmann score,and measured the T2 * values of annulus fibrosus(AF) and nucleus pulposus(NP).Results The T2 * values of the anterior AF and the NP among different Pfirrmann grades were statistically significant (P =0.001;P =0.000,respectively).There was significant difference in T2 * values of the anterior AF at L3/L4 between patients and volunteers (P=0.043);The T2 * values of the NP at L2/L3,L3/L4,L4/L5,L5/S1 between the two groups were significant difference (P＜0.05).There was also distinct difference in T2 * values of the posterior AF at L1/L2 and L4/L5 between the two groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion The lumbar intervertebral disc degenerates from the NP to posterior AF,and mainly occurs at L4/L5.The T2 * mapping technique can provide a good basis for diagnosing in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration.

Tooth development is a complex process that involves precise and time-dependent orchestration of multiple genetic, molecular, and cellular interactions. Ameloblastin (AMBN, also named "amelin" or "sheathlin") is the second most abundant enamel matrix protein known to have a key role in amelogenesis. Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI [MIM: 104500]) refers to a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by inherited developmental enamel defects. The hereditary dentin disorders comprise a variety of autosomal-dominant genetic symptoms characterized by abnormal dentin structure affecting either the primary or both the primary and secondary teeth. The vital role of Ambn in amelogenesis has been confirmed experimentally using mouse models. Only two cases have been reported of mutations of AMBN associated with non-syndromic human AI. However, no AMBN missense mutations have been reported to be associated with both human AI and dentin disorders. We recruited one kindred with autosomal-dominant amelogenesis imperfecta (ADAI) and dentinogenesis imperfecta/dysplasia characterized by generalized severe enamel and dentin defects. Whole exome sequencing of the proband identified a novel heterozygous C-T point mutation at nucleotide position 1069 of the AMBN gene, causing a Pro to Ser mutation at the conserved amino acid position 357 of the protein. Exfoliated third molar teeth from the affected family members were found to have enamel and dentin of lower mineral density than control teeth, with thinner and easily fractured enamel, short and thick roots, and pulp obliteration. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that an AMBN missense mutation causes non-syndromic human AI and dentin disorders.
Adult ; Amelogenesis Imperfecta ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; China ; Codon ; Dentin ; abnormalities ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; RNA ; analysis ; Transfection ; Whole Exome Sequencing