The distribution of serotonin(5-HT), phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), substance P(SP) and leu-enkephalin(L-ENK) immunoreactive neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) of the cat was studied with the immunohistochemical ABC technique, and the projection of 5-HT, SP and L-ENK positive neurons of the RVL into the thoracic cord was preliminarily investigated by a combined fluorescent retrograde transport and immunofluorescence method. The results indicate that 5-HT, PNMT, SP and L-ENK immunoreactive neurons mentioned above were localized primarily in the caudal part of nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis and the rostral part of nucleus lateralis reticularis. SP positive cell bodies in the reticular formation close ventrolateral to nucleus ambiguus were also found. Some 5-HT, SP and L-ENK positive cells were situated in the area near the pia mater. In the most area of the RVL, 5-HT, PNMT, SP and L-ENK immunoreactive cell bodies had an overlapping distribution. 5-HT or PNMT or L-ENK positive neurons crowded, intertwined each other with their processes in the region at the levels 1.0-3.5mm caudal to trapezoid body, about 3.3mm lateral to the midline and about 0.8mm from the ventral surface of the medulla, and formed a longer or shorter continuous cell column which ran in the rostrocaudal direction. These three columns nearly coincided with each other at the level 1.5-2.5mm caudal to trapezoid body. Part of 5-HT, SP and L-ENK positive neurons in the RVL projected into the thoracic cord. The functional significance of these substances in the RVL was also discussed.

Objective To observe the effects of smoking on lung mucociliary movement and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy people. Methods Ninety-two patients with COPD (COPD group) were selected, including 48 smoking patients (COPD smoking group) and 44 non-smoking patients (COPD non-smoking group). Another 76 healthy people (control group) were selected, including 37 smokers (control smoking group) and 39 non-smokers (control non-smoking group). The saccharin test and pulmonary function were carried out respectively, including mucociliary clearance time (MCT), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1), and the ratio of FEV1 and FVC (FEV1/FVC) and FEV1 percentage of predicted (FEV1%pre) were calculated. Results The MCT in COPD group was significantly higher than that in control group:(26.17 ± 19.23) min vs. (15.28 ± 11.34) min, the FEV1/FVC and FEV1%pre were significantly lower than those in control group:(54.25 ± 12.76)%vs. (83.04 ± 5.98)%and (53.26±9.84)%vs. (85.38 ± 5.72)%, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The MCT in COPD smoking group was significantly higher than that in COPD non-smoking group and control smoking group: (30.72 ± 27.37) min vs. (18.25 ± 8.19) and (18.31 ± 8.17) min, the FEV1/FVC and FEV1%pre were significantly lower than those in COPD non-smoking and control smoking group: (49.98 ± 11.38)% vs. (58.00 ± 6.85)% and (80.15 ± 4.67)%, (50.24 ± 8.77)%vs. (61.31 ± 4.62)%and (82.13 ± 4.58)%, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The MCT in COPD non-smoking group was significantly higher than that in control non-smoking group, the FEV1/FVC and FEV1%pre were significantly lower than those in control non-smoking group, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The MCT in control smoking group was significantly higher than that in control non-smoking group: (18.31 ± 8.17) min vs. (11.26 ± 7.53) min, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in FEV1/FVC and FEV1%pre between control smoking group and control non-smoking group (P>0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis result showed that there was positive correlation between MCT and smoking intensity, age (r = 0.346 and 0.256, P<0.05), and there was negative correlation between MCT and FEV1/FVC, FEV1%pre (r = -0.327 and -0.414, P<0.05). Conclusions Smoking can destroy the mucociliary function and aggravate the deterioration of lung function in patients with COPD.

Objective To investigate the CT characteristics of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT in this disease.Methods The CT findings of 10 patients with pathologically proved anaplastic thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed.The patients included 7 females and 3 males.Their age ranged from 25.0 to 78 years with median of 61 years.Multi-slices plain and post contrast CT scans were performed in all patients.Results Unilateral thyroid was involved in 6 patients.Unilateral thyroid and thyroid isthmus were both involved in 2 patients due to big size.Bilateral thyroid were involved in 2 patients.The maximum diameter of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ranged from 2.9-12.8 cm with mean of (4.5 ± 1.4) cm.All lesions demonstrated unclear margins and envelope invasion.The densities of all lesions were heterogeneous and obvious necrosis areas were noted on precontrast images.Seven lesions showed varied calcifications,and coarse granular calcifications were found in 5 lesions among them.All lesions showed remarkable heterogenous enhancement on post-contrast CT.The CT value of solid portion of the tumor increased 40 HU after contrast media administration.The ratios of CT value which comparing of the tumor with contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle were 0.69-0.82 (0.76 ± 0.18)and 1.25-1.41 (1.33 ± 0.28)on pre and post CT,respectively.Enlarged cervical lymph nodes were found in 6 cases (60.0％).It showed obvious homogeneous enhancement or irregular ring-like enhancement on post-contrast images and dot calcifications were seen in 1 case.Conclusions Relative larger single thyroid masses with coarse granular calcifications,necrosis,envelope invasion,remarkable heterogeneous enhancing and enlarged lymph nodes on CT are suggestive of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Objective To observe the effect of S-band micro-wave long-term intermittent irradiation on endocrine function in rats.Methods A total of 192 rats (male and female) were randomly divided into the sham-irradiation (normal control) groups and the irradiation groups.The irradiation groups were exposed with micro-wave at 3 dosages of 4,10 and 20 mW/cm2 for 6 min twice a week for 12 weeks,while no administration was given to control group.The endocrine parameters in blood serum were examined by radioimmunoassay at 4,8,12 week during irradiation and 4 week post-irradiation.Results After the irradiation of S-band microwave,parts of the endocrine parameters changed.T3 in famale rats decreased at first and then increased,especially in 10 mW/cm2 group at 8 and 12 week,20 mW/cm2 group at 4 and 12week(t =-2.586,-2.642,-5.075,-4.365,P <0.05).FT3 in famale rats had the similar trend asT3,significantly lower in 4 and 10 mW/cm2 groups than that in the control group at 4 week (t = 2.275,2.510,P <0.05),then increased,especially in three irradiation groups at 12 week (t =-2.636,-2.851,-5.240,P < 0.05).TSH decreased at 4 week,especially in 10 mW/cm2 group (t = 2.300,P < 0.05) ; and then increased in the irradiation groups at 20 mW/cm2 at 8 and 12 week (t =-2.838,-3.651,P <0.05).COR and ACTH in male rats showed changes in volatility,in which the 4,10 and 20 mW/cm2 groups at 8 week increased significantly (t =-2.772,-2.234,-2.505,P < 0.05),while 20 mW/cm2 group at 12 week decreased significantly (t=3.067,P < 0.05).E2 in female rats was slightly lower in irradiation groups at 4 week than the control group,then increased,especially in 10 mW/cm2 group at 8 week,three irradiation groups at 12 week (t =-2.322,-3.179,-2.655,-4.716,P < 0.05),and returned to the normal at 4 week post-irradiation,significantly lower in 4 mW/cm2 group than that in the control group (t = 2.250,P < 0.05).T in male rats increased first and then decreased,especially in 10 mW/cm2 group at 8 week(t =-2.435,P < 0.05).After exposure the above indexes restored to some extent.Conclusions The long-term intermittent irradiation of S-band microwave can cause adverse effects on the endocrine function of rats.

Objective To evaluate the correlation between the expression level of Nanog gene and clinical outcomes of GP regimen in the advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods 62 patients of NSCLC were treated by GP method,and the outcomes were investiged between Nanog positive and nagetive patients.The expression level of Nanong was evaluated by RT-PCR and immunohistology.Results 30 out of 62 patients (48.4 ％) were Nanog positive,9 patients (28.1％) were Nanog positive,and 23 out of 32 patients were Nanog negative (71.9 ％) who have the positive effect (CR+PR).However,among 32 treatment nagetive cases,there were 21 cases (70.0 ％) who were Nanog positive and 9 cases (30.0 ％) were Nanog negatve.Survival analysis showed that 5-years lifetime of Nanog positive patients was shorter than Nanong nagetive patients.Conclusion Nanog overexpression decreases the sensitivity of GP regimen and lifetime of NSCLC patient.Nanog expression level may provide a useful factor for clinical treatment and prognosis of NSCLC patient.

Objective To observe the oxidative damage in human bronchial epithelial cells(BEAS-2B) induced by depleted uranium(DU)and protection of DMSO.Methods The measurement of extracellular superoxide anions(O2-·)was based on the reduction of ferricytochrome C.Quantitative analysis of extracellular hydrogen peroxides(H2O2)was used by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red.The determination of extracellular hydroxyl radicals(·OH)was based on discoloration of safranine T.Ethidium bromide and 2,7'-dichlorofluorescein,fluorescent products of the membrane-permeable dyes-hydroethineand 2,7'-dichloroflurescin diacetate were used to monitor the intracellular production of O2-·and H2O2 by fluorometric method.The enzyme activity of SOD and GSH were measured by chemiluminescence and spectrophotometric method,respectively.Results The ROS production,including H2O2,O2-·and·OH,increased remarkably which induced by DU in BEAs-2B cells.The enzyme activity of SOD and GSH was descended remarkedly.These changes could be effectively inhibited by 0.5% of DMSO.Conclusions DU causes oxidative damage to BEAS-2B cells.Through removing active oxygen,DMSO can inhibit oxidative damage of DU.

Objective To investigate the distribution of uranium in rats after inhalation with depleted uranium aerosols. Methods The depleted uranium aerosols were inhaled by Wistar rats. At 30, 90, 180, 270, 360, and 540 d after inhalation, the rata were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. The contents of uranium in lung, kidney, liver, heart, brain, thighbone, spleen and thymus were measured by laser time-dependent spectroscopy analysis. Resulits The uranium contents of lung increased in the high-dosc and low-dose groups [(499833.3 ± 14214.8) ng/g and (25 424.0 ± 6193.4)ng/g, respectively] after inhalation, and significantly differed from the control (28.8 ± 13.9)ng/g, (P < 0.05).At 30 d after inhalation, the contents of uranium in lung, kidney and thighbone were higher than those of control, and then decreased time-dependently. At 60 d, the contents of uranium in liver, heart, brain, spleen and thymus were higher than those of control. Curve of the eontenta were biphasie, whieh went up first, reached at peak value and then went down. The contents of uranium were high in lung, thighbone, brain and thymus. Conclusions After inhalation of depleted uranium aerosols, lung and thighbone are the primary reservoirs for uranium redistributed, and accumulations in brain and thymus suggest other two organs for unanticipated injury by depleted uranium.

Objective To evaluate the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT). Methods Clinical data of 16 patients who underwent kidney transplantation were collected. Among them, 8 recipients received RAKT (RAKT group) and 8 cases underwent open kidney transplantation (OKT) with the contralateral kidney from the same donor (OKT group). Perioperative status and the recovery of renal allograft function were compared between two groups. Results All patients successfully completed the surgery. In the RAKT group, no patient was converted to open surgery. The operation time in the RAKT group was longer than that in the OKT group (P=0.015). No significant differences were observed in the serum creatinine levels before surgery and upon discharge between two groups (both P>0.05). In the OKT group, one recipient developed delayed graft function (DGF), and the remaining recipients did not experience perioperative complications. No significant difference was noted in the short-term recovery of renal allograft function between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Postoperative recovery of the recipients in the RAKT group is equivalent to that of their counterparts in the OKT group. RAKT is a safe and effective procedure for the team expertise in kidney transplantation.