Etrotic Company produced thermoplastic diaphragm (ERKOLODC-pro, 595115) can be shaped according to dental arch form under vacuum heating pressure, resulting in good fixation and baffle effect. Nine cases with soft and hard palate defect caused by tumor, who needed the repair of temporal obturator prosthesis made by thermoplastic diaphragm (1.5 mm of thickness), were selected in this study at the Department of Stomatology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA from September 2006 to January 2007. Different diaphragms were used according to periodontal status. Only one case with more soft palate defect felt naupathia when wore this kind of denture near throat. After 1 week, the uncomfortable feeling disappeared. Three patients felt pain, and the main reason is tissue dropsy around wound entry and denture crackdown. After grinding, pain disappeared. This indicated that no adverse reaction in biocompatibility was detected between thermoplastic diaphragm and host. Temporal prosthesis can improve swallowing and voiced function of soft and hard palate defect patients by closing nasal cavity.

Objective To investigate the effect of hosphocreatine therapy on the plasma cardiotrophin-1(CT-1) and N terminal probrain natriuretic (NT-proBNP) in elderly hypertensive patients with heart failure. Methods A total of 76 hy-pertensive patients with heart failure, aged 65 or over, were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (n=38 for each group). The control group received routine anti-heart failure treatment. The treatment group received conventional therapy plus creatine phosphate sodium for 2 weeks. The plasma levels of CT-1 and NT-proBNP were determined in two groups. The plasma CT-1 level was measured by a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The plasma level of NT-proBNP was tested by Rui Pu fluorescent dry quantitative analyzer. Results The plasma levels of CT-1 and NT-proBNP were significantly lower after treatment in two groups (P＜0.01). The plasma levels of CT-1 and NT-proBNP were significantly decreased in treatment group than those in control group (P＜0.05). The total effective rate was 89.47%in treatment group, which was significantly higher than that of control group (71.05%, P＜0.05). Symptoms of heart failure improved in one week (21 cases in treatment group/9 cases in control group) and in two weeks (13 cases in treatment group/18 cases in control group). Conclusion The conventional therapy plus creatine phosphate sodium can decrease the plasma CT-1 and NT-proBNP levels in elderly hypertensive patients with heart failure, which improves symptoms of heart failure in a shorter period of time.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To construct a lentiviral vector for stable delivery of the ER-α36 gene and to detect its effect on SGC7901 cell growth.METHODS: The efficient RNAi targeting sequences identified for the ER-α36 gene were screened.The Oligo DNA was synthesized with target sequences and annealed to form double-stranded DNA.Then it was digested by Xho I and EcoR I and connected with GV307 vector to produce LV-ER-α36-RNAi lentiviral vector.PCR was used to screen the positive clones and sequence.The LV-ER-α36-RNAi, pHelper 1.0 and pHelper 2.0 plasmids were co-transfected into 293T cells for producing lentiviral vector and infecting SGC7901 cell line.Fluorescence microscopy, real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the transfection efficiency and gene silencing effect.17β-estrodial at concentration of 1 ×10 -10 mol/L was used to stimulate the recombinant cell line, and the action on the growth of gastric cancer cells and the expression of Src, ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 were determined.RESULTS: DNA sequencing analysis confirmed the identity of recombinant shRNA expression vectors.Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that transfection efficiency was above 80%.Transfection of LV-ER-α36-RNAi significantly knocked down the expression of ER-α36 at mR-NA and protein levels with tetracycline ( TeT) simulating as revealed by real-time PCR and Western blotting.Compared with control group, the growth of the recombinant cell line declined and the expression of Src, ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 and the activation of Src decreased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Lentiviral vectors that silence ER-α36 expression are con-structed successfully and can be used to study the role of ER-α36 in gastric cancer.The ER-α36 is related with many kinds of cancer cell growth, including gastric cancer cells.

Objective To study the missed diagnosis of colorectal polyps during colonoscopy and its risk factors.Methods Data of 655 patients who underwent repeated co]onoscopy in 3 months (90 days) were analyzed in three endoscopy centers in Shenzhen.Miss rates of polyps and patients were calculated.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the suspected risk factors associated with the miss rate including gender,age,symptoms of patient and number,shape,location of polyps.Results A total of 459 polyps(20.47％,459/2 242) in 224 patients(34.20％,204/655) were missed in overall 1 783 polyps within 655 patients.The patient miss rate increased with the polyp count increasing from 1 to 4,but with no significant differences.Polyp count of more than 5 was the independent risk factor for patient miss rate during colonoscopy(OR=4.98,P=0.00).Polyps in males were easier to be missed than those in females (OR =1.76,P =0.00).Size less than 5 mm was the independent risk factor for missed diagnosis during colonoscopy(OR=2.94,P=0.00).The flat type(Yamada Ⅰ,Ⅱ) was also the independent risk factor(OR=2.72,P=0.01;OR=3.23,P=0.00 respectively).Conclusion The miss rate of polyps is related to gender,basic polyp count,the size and shape of polyp.Male with multiple polyps and polyps with flat type and small size tend to be missed.

Objective To investigate the features of soft tissue myxofibrosarcoma (MFS)on MRI.Methods The MRI data of 15 cases with MFS confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of all the 1 5 cases,7 were located in the thigh,3 were located in the lower leg,2 were located in the forearm,1 was located in the shoulders,1 was located in the back and 1 was located in the buttocks.The average maximum diameter of all lesions was (9.43±3.1)cm.Fifteen cases showed isointensity with slightly hypointensed fiber septa on T1WI.The signal intensity of MFS on T2WI was mixed.Five cases of low-grade MFS with myxoid area showed slightly hyperintensity,with sporadic small nodular and striped fibrous septa which showed hypointensity on T2WI and inhomogeneous enhancement.In 5 cases of high-grade MFS,the solid part and the septa showed hypointensity on T2WI;the myxoid matrix area and the necrotic area showed hyperintensity on T2WI.The myxoid matrix part showed mild inhomogeneous enhancement with peritumoral enhancement of"tail sign".Among the 5 cases,the solid part of 4 cases showed middle to severe annular heterogeneous enhancement,while the solid part of the remaining 1 case showed nodular enhancement.Five cases of intermediate-grade MFS showed slightly hyperintensity or isointensity on T2WI,and nodules and fibrous septa showed hypointensity.The enhanced solid part and myxoid matrix area showed mild to moderate inhomogeneous enhancement,and there were 2 cases with"tail sign".Conclusion MRI features of soft tissue myxofibrosarcoma have some characteristics including isointensity on T1WI,mixed signal intensity on T2WI,heterogeneous enhancement and peritumoral enhancement of"tail sign".

Objective To study the medical imaging findings and the pathological features of hepatic inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (HIMT) using CT,MRI and histopathology.Methods The CT and MRI findings of 31 patients with HIMT which were confirmed by histopathology on surgically resected specimen were analyzed retrospectively.The location,size,shape,edge,density or signal,and contrast enhancement of these tumors were analyzed.Results The tumors were located in the right liver in 26 patients,in the left liver in 5 patients,and under the hepatic capsule in 27 patients.The tumors were solitary in 28 patients and multiple in 3 patients.The maximum diameter of the tumor ranged from 2.1 cm to 12.5 cm.The average diameter was (3.6 ± 1.2) cm.The tumors were round or oval in 21 patients and irregular in 10 patients.19 patients underwent CT examination and all tumors showed low density,with a CT value which ranged from 5 to 35HU.The average value was (27.6 ±5.3) HU.The density of tumors was homogeneous in 6 patients and inhomogeneous in 13 patients,and among these 13 patients,3 were alveolate.Twenty-one patients underwent MRI scan and all showed a low signal on T1WI,12 patients showed an equal signal and 9 patients showed a slightly higher signal on T2WI.In 6 patients the signals were homogeneous and in 15 patients they were inhomogeneous.On CT and MRI enhanced scans the whole tumor was enhanced in 12 patients,the edge was enhanced in 9 patients,the septum was enhanced in 8 patients and no enhancement was observed in 2 patients.Pathological examination under microscopy observed the presence of proliferation of spindle cells,chronic inflammatory cells which included the proliferation of lymphocytes,plasma cells and collagen fiber formation.The spindle cells had the characteristics of fibroblasts and myofibroblast cells.Immunohistochemical examination showed the wave type protein (Vimentin) was positive in 23 patients,the smooth muscle actin (SMA) was positive in 18 patients,the muscle actin (MSA) and the specificity of junction protein (Desmin) were positive in 12 patients,CD68 was positive in 4 patients,and the ALK,S-100 protein,CDll7 and CD35 were all negative.Conclusions The radiological features of CT and MRI plain scan varied.The patterns of contrast enhancement included full tumor filling,marginal enhancement,compartment enhancement,and no enhancement.The enhanced features varied from mild to moderate enhancement in the arterial phase,further enhancement in the portal phase and mild enhancement in the delayed phase.

Two types of Mycobacterium abscesses (Mab) were found in sputum from a patient with severe pneumonia in May 2020. One was Mycobacteriumabscessus with smooth morphology (Mab S), the other was Mycobacteriumabscessus with rough morphology (Mab R). Both of them were compared and drug susceptibility testing were performed to provide clinical scientific diagnosis and treatment. Morphology, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA were used to analyze Mab S and Mab R, phylogenetic evolution tree was constructed by gene sequence alignment for homology, proportion and broth drug test were used for in vitro drug sensitivity test. There were morphological differences between Mab S and Mab R. MALDI-TOF MS analysis showed that there were 223 protein peaks in Mab R and 147 protein peaks in Mab S. Mab S contained 1 397 bp and Mab R contained 1 402 bp as 16s rRNA gene sequencing revealed. Drug susceptibility testing showed that both of them were almost resistant to all antituberculosis drugs, but sensitive to most of antibiotics. Mab S and Mab R were not only different in manifestations, but also in protein and gene comparison. Both of them were generally resistant to antituberculosis drugs. Antibiotic combined therapy has been confirmed to be an effective treatment in clinic.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in Hainan province. Methods: Automatic microbial identification system of Vitek 2 compact was used for the preliminary identification of 16 brucellosis cases in Hainan province from 2012 to 2017, and further confirmation was performed with traditional biological typing methods. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed in combination with the results of serological and etiological tests for raised livestock. Results: Vitek 2 compact detection results showed that 12 strains were Brucella (B.) melitensis and 4 strains were Ochrobactrum anthropi. Traditional biological typing methods showed that 11 strains were B. melitensis biovar 3 and 5 strains were B. suis biovar 3. Sixteen cases were found in Dongfang, Lingao, Haikou, Wanning, Ledong and Ding’an with 1 case in 2012, 2 cases in 2013, 4 cases in 2014, 1 case in 2015, 2 cases in 2016 and 6 cases in 2017 respectively. At the same time, 745 sheep serum samples from the epidemic area (Dongfang) were collected for Brucella serum antibody detection, in which 47 were positive (6.3%). And B. melitensis biovar 3 was isolated from samples collected from sick sheep in Dongfang. Conclusions Vitek 2 compact is an simple and convenient method for Brucella identification, but it cannot replace traditional biological typing methods yet. The major epidemic strains of Brucella in Hainan were B. melitensis biovar 3 and B. suis biovar 3. The epidemic of brucellosis in Dongfang in 2017 indicated that brucellosis had spread from animal to human in Hainan, and it is very important to strengthen the prevention and control of brucellosis in Hainan.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of environmental cobalt exposure on insulin resistance (IR) in the general adult population. We investigated the association between cobalt concentration and IR. METHODS: A total of 1281 subjects aged more than 20 years with complete blood cobalt data were identified from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016 cycle. Blood cobalt levels were analyzed for their association with IR among all populations and subgroups by sex. Regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of blood cobalt concentrations in association with fasting glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were estimated using multivariate linear regression after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, alcohol consumption, body mass index, education level, and household income. A multivariate generalized linear regression analysis was further carried out to explore the association between cobalt exposure and IR. RESULTS: A negative association between blood cobalt concentration (coefficient = - 0.125, 95% CI - 0.234, - 0.015; P = 0.026) and HOMA-IR in female adults in the age- and sex-adjusted model was observed. However, no associations with HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, or insulin were found in the overall population. In the generalized linear models, participants with the lowest cobalt levels had a 2.74% (95% CI 0.04%, 5.50%) increase in HOMA-IR (P for trend = 0.031) compared with subjects with the highest cobalt levels. Restricted cubic spline regression suggested that a non-linear relationship may exist between blood cobalt and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS These results provide epidemiological evidence that low levels of blood cobalt are negatively associated with HOMA-IR in female adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cobalt/blood* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin/blood* ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Sex Factors ; United States ; Young Adult