Objective To explore the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced iNOS expression and NO production in rat Schwann cells by the use of inhibitors PD98059 selective for extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(EPK1/2), SB202190 for P38 MAPK and SP600125 for the c-Jun NH_2-terminal kinase (JNK). Methods Schwann cells were pretreated with PD98059 (30, 50, 70?mol/L), SB202190 (10, 20, 40?mol/L) and SP600125 (10, 30, 50?mol/L) at the indicated concentrations for 1 hour before the stimulation with LPS (10mg/L) for 4 hour. The estimation of iNOS mRNA, IL-6 mRNA and TNF-? mRNA was performed by RT-PCR; the changes of iNOS protein expression were investigated by Western blotting. The NO level was observed with measurement of nitrite in the cell culture medium. Results LPS could significantly activate MAPK signal pathway and lead to the expression of iNOS and NO production. The iNOS expression and NO production induced by LPS stimulation were significantly inhibited by the three highly specific inhibitors of MAPK. In addition, the inhibitors decreased LPS-induced the expression of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-? mRNA. Conclusion Activation of MAPK pathway is involved in iNOS expression and NO production in rat Schwann cells, and the inhibition of the signal transduction pathway can be effective to reduce the production of iNOS and NO, which may be a useful strategy against inflammatory and immune reaction after peripheral nerve injury.

Twenty cases of clinically diagnosed dilatation cardiomyopathy (DCM) were examined with the Model XJY-6 ultrasound instrument to determine the anatomical changes of their hearts and the changes of their left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) . Twenty healthy individuals were also examined as control. The following results were observed.Most patients exhibited dilatation of all the chambers and the increase of the left ventricular weight, however, dilatation was the main manifestation. Cardiac dilatation and hypertrophy present the similar pictures on radiograph or ECG, differentiation of the two conditions can hardly be made with either of the above methods, but must depend on ultrasound especially in cases complicated with left atrial dilatation and fibrillation.The changes of LVDF of DCM patients revealed by ultrasoundfwere the abnormalities of the amplitude and rate of the posterior wall movement and of the dias-tolic filling volume and filling rate of the left ventricle. It was found that the PWE, DPWV, RFF, RER/ESV of the patients were much lower than those of the control (P

The left ventricular function of 103 normal subjects in the age range of 17 to 48 were examined with three echocardiographic methods, the Pombo's method (Method I), Fortuin's method (Method II) and Lalani's method (Method III), in order to evaluate their relative efficiency. The results were as following:( 1 ) The value of left ventricular end diastolic volume determined with Method II was larger than that determined with Method 1(123. 9?22.6vsl05. 43?26.0 ml, P0. 05).( 2 ) The values of stroke volume, stroke index, cardiac output, and cardiac index were the largest as determined with Method II, the second with Method I and the smallest with Method III. For instance, the value of cardiac index was 4.66 ?1.21 /m2/min wita Method 11,3.81?1.0 with Method I, and 2.96?0.8 with Method III(P0. 05).( 4 ) All the parameters obtained from Methods I and II were correlated with each other closely (r = 0.72 - 0.96, P0.05).( 5 ) Methods I and II are simple to operate and easy to reproduce and there have been a lot of parameters obtained with these two methodds. However the systolic mitral closure slope of Method III is rather difficult to determine and the parameters obtained with Method III are comparatively less in number.It is concluded that Methods I and I of the echocardiographic technique are the methods of choice in determining the left ventricular function of a normals-sized or nearly normal-sized heart since they are simple, effective and accurate.

BACKGROUND: To determine the non-or collapsed osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and degree of collapse, can help surgeons design reasonable treatment strategy for patients with ONFH. In China, articular cartilage collapse less than or greater than 2 mm, is a basis for choosing palliative surgery or hip replacement. However, the measurement of collapsed ONFH before replacement has not yet been confirmed. OBJECTIVE: To predict the collapse of femoral head before replacement by CT and X-ray examinations, and to compare with the intraoperative excised femoral head specimens.METHODS: This was a single-center, open-label and diagnostic trial, which was finished at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. Eighty-six patients with unilateral ONFH undergoing total hip replacement were recruited, and allocated into three groups, such as X-ray, CT and specimen groups. The X-ray group underwent X-ray examination at anteroposterior pelvic (bilateral hips) at 1 week before surgery, the CT group received CT scan at bilateral hips at 1 week before surgery, and the specimen group was subjected to the removal of affected femoral head, and then directly measured using ruler and vernier caliper. Primary outcome was the sensitivity of thesethree methods for measuring collapsed femoral head. Secondary outcomes were the specificity, positive predictive value,negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of these three methods for the diagnosisof collapsed femoral head and the diagnostic accuracy; the diagnostic consistence of CT and X-ray examinations; the height of the lateral, middle and external femoral head measured by three methods. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China, and will be performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to the trial. DISCUSSION: In this study, the height of femoral head was measured and analyzed in all-dimensional and multi-anglemanner based on intraoperative removed specimens, so as to make an accurate prediction for collapsed femoral head, thus providing imaging reference for surgeons prior to choosing an appropriate operative scheme

An expression of ras oncogene protein (p21) was assessed with immunohistochemistry in normal, dysplasia, benign hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis and prostatic carcinomatous tissues. The results showed that the positivity rate of p21 was higher in prostatic carcinoma than that in other prostatic lesions and was markedly correlated to histologic tumor grade. The expression level of p21 was more intentive in prostatic dysplasia surrounding carcinoma than that in simple prostatic dysplasia. It is suggested that overexpression of ras oncogene p21 product may play an important role in progressing from dysplasia to cancer and may be used as a new tumor marker for assessment of biological behavior of prostatic carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate immunogenicity of the recombinant protein GST-p55/570 of Pneumocystis carinii.Methods The fusion protein GST-p55/570 was expressed from the prokaryotic expression plasmid pGEX-570,and purified by using glutathione-agarose.The expressed product was analyzed by SDS-PAGE.Thirty-three mice were randomly divided into three groups,immunized with GST-p55/570,GST and PBS,respectively.Each group was immunized for four times at 2 week intervals.At the 7th day after final immunization,spleen was removed to obtain single cell suspension.Proliferation ability of lymphocytes was determined by MTT.Serum samples were collected at pre-immunizaton and two weeks after each immunization.Antibody level in sera of mice was determined by ELISA.The immune response to the recombinant GST-p55/570 recognized by sera of immunized mice was examined by Western blotting.Results The expressed fusion protein GST-p55/570 showed a Mr 47 000.Compared with GST group(1.134 5?0.073 5) or PBS group(1.124 8?0.041 6),a higher stimulation index(2.063 0?0.160 2) was revealed in GST-p55/570-immunized mice(P

To construct the eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the p55 gene fragment of Pneumocystis and to investigate the efficient expression in COS-7 cells, the gene fragment conaining the whole length of p55 gene was used as template to amplify this fragment with PCR and the amplified fragment was then cloned to vector pGEM-T. After enzyme digestion, p55 gene was cloned to the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) to construct the plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-582. This plasmid was then transfected to the eukaryotic expression cells COS-7 and PCR and SDS-PAGE assays were used to confirm the presence of target protein in these cells. In these ways, the eukaryotic expression vector for the p55 gene of Pneumocystis of rats was successfully constructed and expressed in COS-7 cells, thus providing the basis for further studies on the nucleic acid vaccine.

Objective To investigate several related problems possibly affecting the measurement results in the experiment of 125I-FSH in vitro cells uptake by domestic GC-1200 gamma RIA counter.Methods Before entering the measuring room,the sample was performed the background measurement.CPM measured in the different locations of same measurement frame and the different locations in unmeasured area were performed the statistical comparison.Results In high count,the influence of single sample reaching 1.9 ×106CPM on the adjacent low counting tube count was 7%;its influence on low counting tube count in adjacent detector was 7.33%;all samples were arranged from high to low order and the high count sample holder was placed on the measured location close to the detector,its influence on low counting tube count was 5.33%.Conclusion The domestic GC-1200 γ RIA counter is suitable for the measurement of the in vitro cell uptake experiment of 125I nuclear labeling.

Objective To evaluate the effect and mechanism of tribulus terrestris in kidney calcium oxalate stone in rats.Methods Sisty healthy male Wistar rats were divided into control group,model group,low-dose prevention group,high-dose prevention group,low-dose treatment group,high-dose treatment group by random number table method,each group of 10 rats.The control group was had free access to water,the model group was given 1％ ethylene glycol had free access to water,and the low-dose prevention group was given 1％ ethylene glycol had free access to water while was added in Tribulus terrestris extract 250 mg/(kg · d) treated by gavage,the high-dose prevention group was given 1％ ethylene glycol had free access to water while was added in Tribulus terrestris extract 500 mg/(kg · d) treated by gavage.The low-dose treatment group received 1％ ethylene glycol had free access to water while was added in tribulus terrestris extract 250 mg/(kg · d) treated by gavage on the 15th day.The high-dose treatment group received 1％ ethylene glycol had free access to water while was added in tribulus terrestris extract 500 mg/(kg · d) treated by gavage on the 15th day.At the end of the experiment on the 28th day,the body weight,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,P,Ca2+,Mg2+ content,24 h urine volume,24 h urine Ca2+,Mg2 +,P,oxalic acid secretion,renal tissue homogenate detection of superoxide dismutase (SOD),glutathione peroxidase (GPX),malondialdehyde content of each group were detected.The crystal deposition and pathological changes of calcium oxalate were observed under the microscope.Measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (Mean ± SD),multiple comparisons between groups were performed using LSD-t test,and comparison between groups was performed by one-way anova analysis of variance.Results Compared with the control group,the rats in the model group had blood urea nitrogen (28.93 ±3.37) mmol/L,creatinine (162.31 ± 34.08) μmol/L,24 h uric acid (132.67 ± 27.96) μmol,Ca2+ (18.24 ± 1.94) μmol/24 h,the content of malondialdehyde (191.04 ± 20.56) nmol/mgprot in kidney homogenate was significantly increased,blood Ca2+ (2.01 ±0.28) mmol/L,renal GPX (479.82 ± 136.97) μmol/gprot,SOD(1.54 ±0.21) U/mgprot decreased significantly,these differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Renal histopathology showed low-dose and high-dose prevention and treatment groups kidney calcium oxalate crystals and kidney damage were less than the model group.Conclusion The extract of Tribulus terrestris has a beneficial effect against calcium oxalate urinary stone formation induced by ethylene glycol.

Objective:To discuss the accuracy of stereolithography (SLA)-3D printing model in orthopedics and maxillofacial surgery,and to clarify the reliability of its clinical application.Methods:A total of 33 cases of SLA-3D printing models were randomly included (10 long bones,13 irregular bones and 10 prostheses),and the CT scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed.According to the clinical application characteristics of the models,the max height (MH),max length (ML),max width (MW),width of the trochlear (WT),length of the trochlear (LT),length of the glenoid cavity (LGC),width of the glenoid cavity (WGC),distance of pubic tubercle-anterior superior iliac spine (DPI),diameter of the acetabulum (DA),diameter of the marrow cavity (DMC),anterior height of right ramus (AHRR) and posterior height of right ramus (PHRR) were selected to measure the original data and model data,respectively.The absolute / relative errors were calculated.Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the consistency of the data.The three-dimensional error analysis of the prosthesis model was carried out.Results:There were no significant differences in the anatomical parameters except MW of irregular bone (P＞0.05) in 33 cases of SLA-3D printing model.The values of ICC were all greater than 0.950;the maximum values of absolute / relative errors were-0.58 mm and-1.37％,respectively;the maximum 3D error of prosthesis model was 0.237 mm,and the average value was 0.132 mm.Conclusion:The CT data of SLA-3D model is highly consistent with the original data,and it is accurate and reliable in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases in orthopedics and maxillofacial surgery.