Objective To replicate a model of type Ⅱ collagen (C Ⅱ) induced arthritis in C57BL/6 mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized by intradermal injection at the base of the tail with chick type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund adjuvant emulsion, followed by another injection 21 days later. Manifestations of joint ailment, pathological examination, and T cell subtypes detected by FCM were observed. Results In comparison with control mice, the C57BL/6 mice developed CIA with high incidence (70%) and severity after immunization. Hyperplasia of the synovium and inflammatory infiltration were observed. The percentage of Th1 cells in the peripheral blood of the mice was significantly increased in the peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC). Conclusion The CIA model of C57BL/6 mice and the platform its study were successfully established.

OBJECTIVE To study the relationship between the methods of CPAP pressure titration (under whole night PSG or by auto-set) and CPAP compliance. METHODS Forty-five patients with serious OSAHS who had been diagnosed in our sleep lab between 2001 and 2004 and were willing to try CPAP treatment were enrolled. They were divided into A and B group according to their wills: pressure titration under whole night PSG in lab (group A) or by auto-set in their families (group B). After pressure titration, patients and their families were educated for the knowledge of CPAP treatment in OSAHS patients. Questionnaires about QOL before CPAP treatment and half year later were carried out on the phone. The decreased score was used to evaluate the effect of CPAP treatment. The hours of per day using machine were used to evaluate the compliance of CPAP. RESULTS Group A and group B got the similar decreased score (14 VS 14.3) , compliance (4.91h VS 4.97h) and adherence (85.7 % VS 88 %) . CONCLUSION OSAHS patients under go pressure titration either in lab with PSG or in their home with auto-set have the same effect and same compliance of CPAP treatment. That means the simple auto-titration can substitute the traditional titration under whole night in lab.

Objective To evaluate the role of 5-HT1A receptors in distal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting neurons in neuropathic pain (NP) in rats. Methods Forty male SD rats weighing 230-270 g were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8 each): sham operation group (group S); NP group; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and 8-OH-DPAT (a specific 5-HT1A receptor agonist) group. NP was induced by chronic constrictive injury (CCI) in groups NP, DMSO and 8-OH-DPAT. Four silk ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals . In group S, the sciatic nerve was exposed but not ligated. 8-OH-DPAT and DMSO 1 μl were injected into the region where most of CSF-contacting neurons are present over 5 min on 7th day after CCI in groups 8-OH-DPAT and DMSO respectively. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) were measured before CCI, on 7th day after CCI, and at 3 and 6 h after administration. The rats were sacrificed 6 h after administration, and the brain tissues removed for determination of the expression of 5-HT1A receptors in the distal CSF-contacting neurons by immunofluorescence. Results Compared with group S, PWL was significantly shorten and PWT decreased at T, in groups NP, DMSO and 8-OH- DPAT (P ＜ 0.01) . Compared with group DMSO, PWL was significantly prolonged and PWT increased at T2 and T3 in group 8-OH-DPAT ( P ＜ 0.01). The 5-HT1A receptor expression was significantly down-regulated in groups NP and DMSO compared with group S, while up-regulated in group 8-OH-DPAT compared with groups NP and DMSO ( P ＜ 0.01). There was no significant difference in 5-HT1A receptor expression between groups NP and DMSO ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion 5-HT1A receptors in distal CSF-contacting neurons are involved in the regulation of NP in rats.

Objective To detect the levels and study the clinical significance of serum procollagen type Ⅰ amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) and β-C-telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen (β-CTX) as bone turnover markers in recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment of prepuberty idiopathic short stature (ISS) children.Methods Forty patients of ISS (18 boys and 22 girls) had been collected and treated with GH 0.15 IU/(kg · d) injection every night.Serum levels of PINP,β-CTX,insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in ISS before treatment and after 3,6 months,and they were also measured in 50 healthy children of the healthy control group,and the height,weight,body mass index,height standard difference score (HtSDS),bone age and growth rate were recorded.Results (1) In ISS group,the serum level of PINP[(479.51 ± 134.61) μg/L] was lower than that of the healthy control group [(651.31 ± 212.41) μg/L],the level of β-CTX[(0.84 ± 0.33) μg/L] was higher than that of the healthy control group [(0.50 ± 0.15) μg/L].The differences were statistically significant (t =2.276,-2.709,all P ＜ 0.05).(2) The serum levels of PINP and β-CTX had no significant difference in 18 boys and 22 girls before and after GH treatment (P＞0.05) of ISS.After 3 months of GH treatment,the serum levels of PINP[(736.15 ± 156.59) μg/L] and β-CTX [(1.08 ± 0.27) μg/L] were higher than those before treatment in 40 cases,and the difference was statistically significant (t =4.736,2.497,all P ＜ 0.05),as the increase of PINP was particularly significant.HtSDS (-2.95 ±0.43),compared with before treatment (-2.69 ± 0.58),was significantly different (t =2.714,P ＜ 0.05).However,after 6 months of GH treatment,the levels of PINP[(860.90 ±254.59) μg/L] and β-CTX[(0.94 ±0.32) μg/L] increased slowly (t =1.366,-0.831,all P ＞ 0.05).HtSDS (-2.51 ± 0.54) showed no significant difference (t =1.609,P ＞ 0.05) compared with 3 months of treatment.(3) The serum level of PINP was positively correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP3 (r =0.636,0.673,all P ＜ 0.05),and there was no correlation with β-CTX (r =0.336,P ＞0.05).PINP and β-CTX had significant correlation with HtSDS (r =0.655,0.782,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The serum PINP and β-CTX as bone turnover markers in serum can be used as one of the early supplementary indicators to predict GH response of ISS.

Objective To explore the migration of transplanted neural stem cells labeled with SPIO with 4.7T MR system and study cell differentiation by immunohistochemistry in ischemic rats. Methods Rat neural stem cells(NSCs)co-labeled with SPIO mediated by poly-L-lysine and bromode- oxyuridine(BrdU)were transplanted into the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)rats after 14 days when MCAO model was made successfully.4.7T MR scanner was used to monitor the migration of transplanted cells after 1.2,3,4,5 and 6 weeks post-transplantation.After MRI examination at 6th week,the rats were killed and Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemistric staining were per- formed to study migration and functional differentiation of NSCs.Results Three weeks after trans- plantation,linear hypointensity area derived from migration of labeled NSCs was observed in the corpus callosum adjacent to the injection site.Six weeks after transplantation,linear hypointensity area was moved toward the midline along the corpus callosurn.MRI findings were confirmed by Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemical straining.Co-labeled immunohistochemical methods demonstrated transplanted NSCs could differentiated into astrocytes and neurons.Conclusion MRI is very useful in demonstrating the migration path of labeled NSCs.Transplanted NSCs into ischemic rats can differen- tiated into astrocytes and neurons during the process of migration.

Objective To investigate the relationships between axillary lymph node metastasis and clinicopathologic features in the patients with cT1-2 N0 breast cancer and clarify the law of axillary lymph node metastasis,and to find the risk factor,and provide the theoretical basis for individuation therapy.Methods 687 patients with cT1-2 N0 breast cancer were divided into negative group and positive group according to the pathological results of axillary lymph node,and the clinicopathologic features were layered.The risk factors of axillary lymph node metastasis were screened out by Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis.Results In 687 cases of cT1-2 N0 breast cancer,156 (22.7%)cases were observed with axillary lymph node metastasis. The age,cT stage,pT stage, pathological type,vascular invasion,perineural invasion estrogen receptor (ER),progesterone receptor (PR), and molecular subtyping were the factors that influenced axillary lymph node metastasis in univariate analyses.The age < 35 years, cT2 , invasive ductal carcinoma, vascular invasion positive and Luminal subtyping were the independent risk factors of axillary lymph nodes metastasis in multivariate analyses (r = 3.440,P = 0.010;r =1.770,P =0.007;r = 3.397,P = 0.001;r = 7.434,P = 0.000;r = 2.212,P = 0.015).Conclusion In the patients with cT1-2 N0 breast cancer,the age,cT,pathological type,vascular invasion and molecular subtyping are important predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion was the most important predictor.The preoperative comprehensive analysis and evaluation of clinical data and preoperative pathological results obtained will help to select the right surgical operation.

BACKGROUND:We have found that oriented fibers can guide the alignment of smooth muscle cells in our previous experiments. Thus, we designed the experiment to prepare wel aligned polymeric fibers using electrospinning technology, aiming at guiding the growth of esophageal smooth muscle cells to maintain cellmorphology and biological function. OBJECTIVE:Using electrospinning technology, to fabricate isotropic and directed nano-fibrous scaffolds made of polycaprolacton, gelatin and silk fibroin. METHODS:Polycaprolacton/silk fibroin fibers at a ratio of 4:1 were prepared with proper parameters, including solution concentration, voltage and injection speed, under the self-made spinning system. The polycaprolacton/gelatin sheets with mass ratio of 2:1, 1:1 and 1:2, respectively, were also fabricated under suitable process parameters. Using the rol er col ector instead of the metal plate, polycaprolacton/gelatin nano-fibrous scaffold with good alignment of fibers was manufactured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The isotropic polycaprolacton/silk fibroin scaffold with fiber diameter of (535.9±126.7) nm was prepared under conditions of solution concentration (0.08 g/mL), injection speed (1.6 mL/h) and voltage (22.5 kV), and these fibers were uniform with no beads. The isotropic polycaprolacton/gelatin scaffold with fiber diameter of (257.9±117.8) nm was prepared under conditions of solution concentration (0.10 g/mL), injection speed (0.8 mL/h) and voltage (22.5 kV). Using the rol er col ector instead of the previous metal plate, polycaprolacton/gelatin (w:w, 1:2) nano-fibrous scaffold with good alignment of fibers was manufactured. The process parameters were 3 000 r/min of rol ing speed, 0.8 mL/h of injection speed and 15 kV of voltage.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are generally associated with respiratory and enteric infections and have long been recognized as important pathogens of livestock and companion animals. Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is a widely studied model system for Coronavirus replication and pathogenesis. In this study, we created a MHV-A59 temperature sensitive (ts) mutant Wu"-ts18(cd) using the recombinant vaccinia reverse genetics system. Virus replication assay in 17C1-1 cells showed the plaque phenotype and replication characterization of constructed Wu"-ts18(cd) were indistinguishable from the reported ts mutant Wu"-ts 18. Then we cultured the ts mutant Wu"-ts 18(cd) at non-permissive temperature 39.5℃, which "forced" the ts recombinant virus to use second-site mutation to revert from a ts to a non-ts phenotype. Sequence analysis showed most of the revertants had the same single amino acid mutation at Nsp16 position 43. The single amino acid mutation at Nsp16 position 76 or position 130 could also revert the ts mutant Wu"-ts 18 (cd) to non-ts phenotype, an additional independent mutation in Nsp13 position 115 played an important role on plaque size. The results provided us with genetic information on the functional determinants of Nsp16. This allowed us to build up a more reasonable model of CoVs replication-transcription complex.

Terahertz waves have unique properties and advantages, which makes it gain increasing attention and applications in the biomedical field. Burns is a common clinical trauma. Since the water-sensitive and non-destructive characteristics of terahertz, terahertz imaging techniques can be used to detect burns. So far, terahertz imaging technology in the assessment of burn injuries has been developed from ex vivo to in vivo, and high-resolution images can be obtained through the gauzes and plasters. In this paper, we mainly introduces the application of terahertz imaging technology and development in the assessment of burn injuries.
Bandages ; Burns ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Terahertz Imaging

OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility of transnasal endoscopic surgery to treatment of intraorbital space occupying by ethmoidal-lamina papy-racea approach. METHODS The clinical data of 10 cases who underwent intraorbital surgery via transnasal endoscopic ethmoidal-lamina papyracea approach from June 2003 and Aug. 2006 were retrospectively studied. The patients included foreign body 1 case, cavernous hemangioma 2 case, lipoma 2 cases, inflammatory pseudotumor 2cases and hematoma 3cases. All intraorbital space occupying were operated by transnasal endoscopic ethmoidal-lamina papyracea approach but for one cavernous hemangioma which was dealt with through extra orbitectomy. The inflammatory pseudotumors were prescribed with glucocorticoid after operation.RESULTS Foreign body was removed successfully. One case of cavernous haemangioma was removed completely by transnasal endoscopic surgery and the other by extroorbital operation. All symptoms of proptosis and diplopia disappeared. One vision was enhanced from hand moving to 0.3 and another from light to hand moving. However, there was one hematoma which had been hindered about 14 days after damaged lost eyesight after operation. All cases were cured but one pseudotumor which recurred and was operated again. All cases were followed up 3 to 24 months. CONCLUSION Intraorbital surgery via transnasal endoscopic ethmoidal-lamina papyracea approach was available and feasible for the advantages of clear operation field, direct vision operation, less damage, rapid recovery and avoiding of facial scar, and intranasal endoscopic surgery can treat the rhino-orbital related diseases and nasal diseases at the same time.