Endocrine Disruptors ; toxicity ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Humans ; Immune System ; drug effects

AIM: To investigate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on experimental osteoarthritis in rats. METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group A is normal control group. Osteoarthritic models of rats were established by intraarticular injections of papain into the right knee joints of groups B, C and D. Then the right knee joints of rats in groups C and D, respectively, received 150 ?l intraarticular injections of DHEA at a concentration of 50 ?mol?L~(-1) and 100 ?mol?L~(-1), and the right knee joints of rats in groups A and B both received 150 ?l physiological saline, twice weekly for five weeks. Six weeks later, all rats were sacrificed, and the articular cartilage was assessed by gross morphologic, histologic, biochemical and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The cartilage damage in groups C and D was much less than that in group B through observation under a surgical microscope. The Mankin's score, nitric oxide (NO) in the douche of articular cavity, malondialdehyde (MDA) in synovium, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and 9 in articular cartilage in groups C and D decreased in comparison with group B, and the foregoing indexes in group D decreased significantly compared with group C. However, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the douche of articular cavity and blood serum in groups C and D increased in comparison with group B, and the foregoing indexes in group D increased significantly compared with group C. CONCLUSIONS:DHEA shows a cartilage-protecting effect which is in a dosage-dependent manner. The mechanism probably is to inhibit the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and to decrease the release of (NO and enhance the antioxidation.

This study was purposed to investigate the expression of miR-16 in T lymphoblastic lymphoma/acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-LBL/ALL) and its relation with target therapy and prognosis. The CD3, cCD3, CD10, CD20, CD34, CD43, CD99, TdT, PAX-5, BCL-2 and Ki67 in paraffin samples from 38 cases of T-LBL/ALL were detected by immunohistochemical labeling; the miR-16 expression level was detected by real-time RT-PCR. Fifteen cases of reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes were selected as control. The results indicated that among 38 cases of T-LBL/ALL the positive rate of TdT was highest (94.7%), the positive rate of CD34 was lowest (22.1%), the PAX-5 and CD20 were found to be negative. The Ki67 expression level in 39.5% cases exceeded 80%. As compared with reactive hyperplasia of lymph node, the miR-16 expression in T-LBL/ALL was up-regulated, ant its expression level was 4.87-fold of reactive hyperplasia of lymph node (P < 0.05). The overall survival rate in group of miR-16 high expression decreased (P < 0.05). The prognosis of T-LBL/ALL patients with BCL-2 positive expression was better than that of patients with BCL-2 negative expression (P < 0.05). The miR-16 expression correlated with BCL-2 protein (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the overall survival rate in miR-16 high expression group is higher than that in miR-16 low expression group, suggesting possible relation of miR-16 with prognosis. Moreover, the prognosis in BCL-2 positive expression group is better than that in negative expression group, which may be a factor influencing prognosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Objective To understand the study habits of medical postgraduates in basic cours-es so as to provide references for the reformation of teaching methods. Methods Totally 250 postgra-duates of grade 2010 in our university were investigated with self-made questionnaire. The contents of the questionnaire included basic condition of postgraduates, study methods and suggestions for teaching methods. Rate, percentage and Chi-square test were applied to do statistical analysis. Results Accor-ding to the results of the collected 246 copies of questionnaire, 91.5%(225/246) did not preview lessons before class, 93.5%(230/246) took notes in class, 78.9%(194/246) simply took notes in the book, 60.6%(149/246) preferred more detailed courseware and 27.2%(67/246) reviewed lessons after class. The percentage of simply taking notes in the book of local students (86.5%) was significantly higher than that of army ones (73.2%) (P=0.030), but the percentages of preferring more detailed courseware and reviewing lessons after class of local students were significantly lower than those of army ones (P=0.008, P=0.016). Conclusions The proportion of previewing before class is low among postgrauates. Postgraduates depend heavily on teachers and do not review after class in time. There are differences between local students and army students in taking notes and review habits. It is important to cultivate postgraduates’good study habits.

Objective To understand the impact of environmental temperature on the infection of miracidia of Schistosoma japonicum to Oncomelania snails, and to estimate the lowest critical temperature for infection of snails with miracidia. Methods Oncomelania snails free of S.japonicum were collected from field,and exposed to miracidia at the ratio of 1∶20 under the different temperatures, such as 5,6,8,10,15,20℃.Snails were dissected to check if infected after exposured and kept in 25℃ for another 70 days. Results The infection rate of snails were 0,0.92,1.43,2.40,8.96,17.39% under the temperature of 5,6,8,10,15,20℃, respectively. The relationship between snail infection rate and temperature for infection was showed in the regression formulation of y=0.0622x 2-0.4035x+0.6703 (r=0.9988,P

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of blood Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in the patients with aplastic anemia (AA). Forty-five patients with AA were enrolled into this study, and were divided into mild aplastic anemia (MAA) group (n = 25) and severe aplastic anemia group (SAA) (n = 20), blood cell count was recorded. 15 healthy donors were enrolled as control. Proportions of blood Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. The serum levels of IL-17, IFN-γ and TNF-α, as well as their concentrations in culture supernatant of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) -stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, were measured by ELISA. The results showed that the proportions of blood Th17 cells and concentration of blood serum IL-17 and IFN-γ increased in patients with SAA, compared with MAA and normal controls, but CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Treg cells obviously decreased in patients with SAA. The concentrations of IL-17 and IFN-γ significantly increased in culture supernatant of SAA group. Hemoglobin level in the patients with AA negatively correlated with the population of Th17 cells and serum IL-17 level, whereas positively correlated with the expression of CD4(+) CD25(+)Treg cells. It is concluded that the increased response of Th17 cells and deficiency of CD4(+) CD25(+) Treg cells present in severe aplastic anemia. The severity of anemia may be related with the imbalance between Th17 and CD4(+) CD25(+)Treg cell response.
Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; metabolism ; Th17 Cells ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective : To observe the changes of soft tissue in patients with Angle class Ⅱ division Ⅰ malocclusion during mixed dentition treated with MRC functional appliance. Methods : Twenty patients with Class Ⅱ division Ⅰ malocclusion of Angle were treated with functional MRC. The facial features before and after treatment were measured by software and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: The patients′soft tissue profiles were improved significantly before and after treatment, The OE-Prn-Pos angle, OE-N′-B′ angle, OE-N′-Pos angle, OE-Prn-N′angle, Cm-Sn-UL angle, and N′-Sn-Pos angle increased significantly (P < 0.05). The OE-Sn-UL angle, and Sn-N′-B′ angle decreased significantly (P < 0.05); the distance between the lateral soft tissue line and the middle Sn-H line, UL-E line and LL-E line were significantly different (P < 0.05). The distances were all reduced, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The application of an MRC functional appliance can improve the relationship among nasolabial soft tissue, upper and lower lip soft tissue, and chin-lip soft tissue, thus improving the protrusion profile of patients.

Electrode array misplacement is a rare complication of cochlear implant. This article reports an 11-year-old boy who was mistakenly implanted the cochlear electrode array into the superior semicircular canal during the initial cochlear implant. After the diagnosis was confirmed, he underwent a second cochlear implant and the electrode array were successfully implanted into the cochlea. This article conducted a systematic review of the literature on electrode array misplacement, and the causes of electrode array misplacement were analyzed from different implantation position.
Male ; Humans ; Child ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Reoperation ; Cochlea ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants/adverse effects* ; Semicircular Canals/surgery*

【Objective】 To investigate the clinical application of self-developed magnetic anchoring device for assisting thoracoscopic pulmonary resection. 【Methods】 Eleven patients underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary assisted with resection magnetic anchoring technique at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, from March to May 2019. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The operation time, blood loss, blood transfusion volume, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications were recorded. 【Results】 There were seven male and four female patients, with the average age of (51.6±13.9) years (range from 22 to 69 years). Three single-port and eight single-utility-port thoracoscopic surgeries were performed. Magnetic instruments provided good surgical field exposure in all operations. Among 11 surgeries, one was converted to thoracotomy and one to three-hole surgery due to enlargement and adhesion of hilar lymph nodes. The operation time was (107.8±63.1) minutes (range of 27-182 minutes). The blood loss was 50 (10-50)mL (range of 5-1 000 mL). No blood transfusion was needed during the operation. The postoperative hospital stay was (5.0±1.8) days (range of 3-9 days). No postoperative complications occurred in all the patients. 【Conclusion】 Magnetic anchor technique can effectively alleviate the "chopstick effect" in thoracoscopic surgery. Magnetic anchor technique is safe and feasible in assisting thoracoscopic pulmonary resection.