Objective To study the effectiveness of alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW)in the cleaning of medical instruments and its corrosive effect on metal. Methods Medical instruments of solid smooth,solid with gear or tube were cleaned with AEW adding ultrasonic washing,cleaning efficacy were compared with conventional method, AEW without pulsing ultrasonic washing and control group,corrosive effect of AEW on metal immersed in AEW was tested. Results Cleaning efficacy of solid smooth,solid with gear or tube instruments were significantly differ-ent among four groups(F= 10.868,14.268,6.146,respectively,all P<0.05). For solid smooth instruments, cleaning with AEW adding ultrasonic and cleaning without ultrasonic had a better effect than conventional cleaning (both P<0.005);For solid with gear instruments,AEW adding ultrasonic cleaning obviously had a better effect than conventional cleaning and AEW without ultrasonic cleaning(both P<0.001 );For tube instruments,cleaning efficacy of three cleaning methods were not significantly different (all P>0.05). AEW had no corrosive effect on stainless steel and copper. Conclusion The cleaning efficacy of AEW on solid smooth,solid with gear instruments is su-perior to conventional cleaning method,and can achieve better effectiveness if ultrasonic cleaning is added.

The effects of rapamycin on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in in vitro cultured human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and cell cycle were investigated in order to provide the theoretical basis for the development of new inhibitory drugs for clinical prevention and treatment of after-cataract. The cultured LECs of second and third passages were collected and treated with rapamycin. The LECs were transferred into 96-well culture plates and divided into 6 groups, and each group was set to have 8 duplicate wells. In the negative control group, the LECs were given culture medium only, and in the blank control group, only culture medium was given. In the four rapamycin-treated groups, different concentrations (20, 40, 60 and 80 ng/mL) of rapamycin were given. After treatment for 24, 48 and 72 h, the absorbance (A) values in each well were determined by MTT assay. The cell cycles of all groups were detected by using flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RFQ-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax respectively. MTT assay showed that rapamycin could inhibit proliferation of LECs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry revealed that rapamycin could block the conversion of LECs from G1 phase to S phase, resulting in the increase of cells in G(1) phase and the decrease of the cells in S phase. RFQ-PCR indicated that rapamycin could down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA, but up-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA, suggesting it could induce apoptosis of LECs. Western blot demonstrated that rapamycin could suppress the expression of Bcl-2 protein, but promote the expression of Bax protein. It is concluded that rapamycin could inhibit proliferation of LECs probably not only by blocking the progression of cell cycle, but also by promoting the induction of apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) gene Arg16Gly polymorphism and essential hypertension (EH) in elder (≥60 years old).Methods150 old healthy controls and 115 old patients with EH (all of them without kin relation) were selected to test genotype of β2-AR by the technique of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP).ResultsThe frequencies of three genotypes (Arg/Arg, Arg/Gly and Gly/Gly) were 22.81%, 53.51% and 23.68% in the EH group and 27.33%, 67.33% and 5.33% in the controls respectively. The frequencies of Arg and Gly allele were 49.56 % and 50.44% in the EH group, and 61.00% and 39.00% in the controls. There was a significant difference in distribution of alleles/genotypes between EH group and controls ( P<0.05).Conclusionβ2-AR Arg16Gly gene polymorphism is possibly associated with hypertension in this study population.

Foreign Bodies ; Foreign-Body Migration ; surgery ; Humans ; Neck ; surgery

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology

The clinical data of 22 cases with gastrointestinal stromal tumors were retrospectively analized.The main clinical manifestations were gastrointestinal bleeding (14/22),abdominal discomfort (5/22) and abdominal lump (3/22),stomach was the most common site of the tumor (14/22).All 22 cases underwent surgical treatment and pathological examination confirmed that 12 cases were benign.Immunohistochemical results showed that 68% cases were negative in solubility acid protein-100 (S-100),and the positive rates of tyrosine-protein kinase acceptor 117 (CD117),hemopoietic stem cell antigen 34 (CD34) and negative rate of smooth muscle actin (SMA) were all 73%.Eighteen cases were followed up for 1-5 years after operation,among them 3 died.The survival was closely related to the size,the pathological characteristics and the recurrance of the tumor as demonstrated by multivariate Cox regression analysis.Since gastrointestinal stromal tumor has no specific clinical manifestations,preoperative diagnosis is difficulty,so surgical resection and subsequent pathological examination is used for confirmation of diagnosis,as well as treatment of the disease.

Rho/Rho-kinase signaling pathway is a ubiquitous one in vivo.It plays a role of "molecular switch"by regulating the polymeric state of intracellular actin cytoskeleton,and participates in the regulation of various cellular functions.Rho/Rho-kinase signaling pathway plays an important role in the risk factors.pathogenesis and pathophysiological processes of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.The inhibition of Rho/Rho-kinase signaling pathway may achieve a significant neuroprotective effect.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is affected by various related factors, which can manifeste in patients with simple diabetes mellitus. However, which of these factors are involved in the occurrence of DPN in diabetic patients?OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors for DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.DESIGN: A hospital-based one-to-one pair-matched case-controlled investigation.SETTING: School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 111 outpatients or inpatients with DPN (DPN group) were recruited from the Metabolic Disease Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from December 2002 to November 2003, including 53 males and 58 females. Inclusive criteria: Diagnosed according to the diagnostic standards for diabetes mellitus recommended by American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 1997; Typing for type 2 diabetes mellitus according to the program by ADA in 1997; Decline or disappearance of achilles tendon reflex, knee tendon reflex, etc.; Decline or disappearance of pain sensation and thalposis; Decline or disappearance of diapason vibration sense. Meanwhile, 111 outpatients or inpatients with simple diabetes mellitus were selected as the control group. Informed consents were obtained from all the subjects.METHODS: The patients were investigated at admission or in the outpatient department with self-designed questionnaires, including more than 80 items of general information, past history, family history, etc. The results of laboratory examinations were recorded. The data were catalogized and input into computer. Multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to establish main effect equation for analyzing the risk factors for DNP.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors for DNP.RESULTS: All the 111 patients with DNP and 111 patients with simple diabetes mellitus were involved in the analysis of results. The protective factors for DNP included higher educational level, intensive treatment, coronary heart disease and tea drinking. The risk factors for DNP included longer duration of diabetes mellitus, poor situation of blood sugar control, treating with insulin, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, history of diabetic ketonemia, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, vertigo, dryness of skin, hypertension, history of injury, history of smoking, higher waist-to-hip ratio, higher level of blood cholesterol. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were significantly associated with DPN: longer duration of diabetes mellitus, treating with insulin, vertigo, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, alcohol drinking and history of injury (operation, frostbite, etc.).CONCLUSION: DPN is related to various risk factors, such as longer duration of diabetes mellitus, treating with insulin, vertigo, alcohol drinking, more meat intake before diabetes mellitus, history of injury, etc., which all can increase the risk of diabetic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and physicians should pay more attention to these risk factors during the course of prevention and treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Otitis Media ; therapy ; Young Adult