BACKGROUND:The levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are increased during infectious brain edema, and are positively relevant to the degree of brain damage. However, whether TNF-α can enhance blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability remains unclear, especially in vitro.OBJECTIVE: To understand the changes and possible mechanism of the BBB permeability induced by TNF-α in vitro.DESIGN: Randomized controlled cell model study in vitro.SETTING:Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Department of Biochemistry, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University.MATERIALS: Twenty 7-day-old healthy Sprague-Dawley rats, of clean grade and either gender, were provided by the Animal Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. TNF-α was purchased from sigma Company; DMEM fluid medium and fetal bovine serum were purchased from Hyclone Company; Y-27632 was purchased from Alexis Company,and rabbit anti-human factor Ⅷ -related antigen was purchased from Zymed Company; Mouse anti-rat glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was purchased from Neomarkers. Other biochemical reagents were imported (Sigma Company).METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between March 2004 and April 2005. Brain microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes were co-cultured 10 days to set up rat models of BBB in vitro. Then, the cells were divided into 4 groups: model group(BBB models were prepared), TNF-α group ( BBB model incubated with 0.01 g/L TNF-α for 5 hours), Y-27632 pretreated group ( BBB model incubated with 30 μmol/L Y-27632 for 1 hour before 0.01g/L TNF-α challenge ) and Y-27632 control group (BBB models only incubated with Y-27632 as those in the Y-27632 pretreated group). The effect of TNF-α on BBB permeability was observed by detecting the 125 I -BSA, which passed through the inserts at each time point (30,60,120 and 240 minutes) using .γradioimmunoassay counter.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 125 I -BSA, which passed through the inserts in rat models of BBB at different time points after intervention.RESULTS: The 125 I -BSA, which passed through the inserts in rat models of BBB, was all significantly higher in the TNF-α group than in the other groups at 30, 60, 120 and 240 minutes after intervention, respectively (P ＜ 0.01), and reached the peak at 240 minutes; The 125 I -BSA, which passed through the inserts, was lower in the Y-27632 pre-treated group than in the TNF-α group at 30 and 60 minutes after intervention (P＜ 0.01). There was also significant difference in 125 I -BSA permeation between Y-27632 pretreated group and Y-27632 control group after 120 minutes (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: TNF-α can increase BBB permeability, and Y-27632 pretreatment can early reverse the effect of TNF-α on BBB permeability.

BACKGROUND:Coronary artery stents can be used in clinical treatment of various lesions due to coronary artery stenosis, and different types of drug-eluting stents and bare metal stents can be used surgicaly. However, there are some differences in the therapeutic efficacy and safety among the stents made in different manufacturers. OBJECTIVE:To explore the safety of biodegradable sirolimus eluting stents from different manufacturers in the treatment of coronary artery stenosis. METHODS:Totaly 193 patients with coronary artery stenosis were enroled, including 116 males and 80 females, aged 37-81 years old. These patients were equaly divided into two groups and respectively treated with Firebird stent (MicroPort) and Partner stent (LOOP INC). Patients were folowed up for 12 months, and the restenosis rate,incidence of acute myocardial infarction, rate of coronary artery bypass graft or secondary percutaneous coronary artery interventional therapy, and mortality rate were compared between two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 12 months of folowed-up, there was no difference in the restenosis rate, incidence of acute myocardial infarction, rate of coronary artery bypass graft or secondary percutaneous coronary artery interventional therapy, and mortality rate between two groups (P> 0.05). During the folow-up, no adverse reaction occurred in both two groups. These findings indicate that different brands of biodegradable sirolimus eluting stents can obtain good outcomes in the treatment of coronary artery stenosis, have no adverse reaction, and exhibit a certain degree of security.

AIM:To determine if lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)regulates the proliferation of astrocytes(AS)and to approach the mechanism of the process.METHODS:The cerebral AS of the neonatal SD rats were cultured in vitro and divided randomly into control group,PKC excitomotor(PMA)group,LPA group,PKC-? inhibitor(Ro31-8220)group,Ro31-8220+PMA group and Ro31-8220+LPA group.The proliferation of the cells was detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry(FCM).The concentration of intra-cellular calcium ion of the cells([Ca~(2+)]_i)which were labeled with Fura-2/AM was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometer.The change of PKC-? inside the cells was observed by Western blotting.RESULTS:LPA and PMA stimulated the proliferation of AS,they also enhanced the expression of PKC-? and increased the concentration of [Ca~(2+)]_i.After pretreated with Ro31-8220,the abilities of LPA that mentioned above were decreased.The change of [Ca~(2+)]_i was associated with the diversity of PKC-?.CONCLUSION:LPA promotes the proliferation of AS via the way of PKC-? and Ca2+.

AIM:To understand the effects and approach the mechanisms of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and cystoskeleton actin on the permeability increasing of blood-brain barrier(BBB)model which was induced by hypoxia/ischemia status in vitro.METHODS:The BBB model was build by the co-culture of cell ECV304 and astrocytes in vitro,then divided randomly into control group,hypoxia/ischemia group and BB-1101 pretreatment group.The permeability of BBB was determined by [125I]-BSA.The expression and the disposition of actin were detected by direct-immunofluorescence and Western blotting.BB-1101,the MMPs inhibitor,was used to investigate if MMP-9 participate the process of the increasing of BBB models' permeability in hypoxia/ischemia status.RESULTS:Post-stimulation of hypoxia/ischemia for 5 h,the permeability of [125I]-BSA and amount expression of MMP-9 in hypoxia-ischemia group was increased compared with control group(P

Objective To understand the quality and test ability of syphilis serological tests among the laboratories of seconda-ry and higher medical institutions in Shaanxi province,in order to reinforce the quality control and the management of vene-real laboratory and improve the technical capability of them.Methods Five quality control samples,QC manual and reports were delivered,and detected for treponemal qualitative tests and non-treponemal qualitative and quantitative tests,respective-ly.Syphilis laboratories were requested to provide feedback on the test results and other information within the specified time for a final statistical analysis.Results 341 laboratories participated in this assessment,the total qualification rates was 70. 97%.The coincidence rate of non-treponemal qualitative and quantitative tests were 97.69% and 76.16%,respectively.The coincidence rate of treponemal qualitative test was 9 9.9 1%.Conclusion The syphilis serological testing capacity of laborato-ries in Shaanxi province should be improved,the coincidence rate of non-treponemal quantitative tests was low.A program of improving external quality assessment of syphilis serological testing among different laboratories should be established and the professional training and the management system should be strengthened.

Uncontrolled bleeding due to pelvic fractures contributes to trauma-related morbidity and mortality. Three main strategies that have been outlined to combat this condition which include reduction of pelvic volume that lead to tamponade-like effect, arresting haemorrhage through angioembolization of the major vessels, and stabilization of the pelvic bone with external fixation need to be initiated early. A prehospital device that allow these strategies will aid significantly in the management of the patient. At present most devices used to treat pelvic fractures in the pre-hospital setting do have its’ own advantages but also have some limitations. A characteristic ‘wish-list’ of a good pelvic and lower limb immobilization device was created and the research team from UKM takes the challenge to design and produce a device that concurs to it. A two phase development project that incorporate anthropometric, biomechanical, cadaveric and radiological study was carried out over a period of seven years. Finally, BRIMTM immobilizer, a new pelvic and lower limb immobilization device that is user friendly, tough, cost effective, radiolucent, light and reusable that answers most of the requirement of a good device was invented.

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is a soil fungus normally associated with onychomycosis. It causes subcutaneous infection in immunocompromised patients and is rarely isolated from blood. A case of systemic Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection was reported in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. The patient developed persistent fever that did not respond to wide spectrum antibiotics and amphotericin B. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was the only pathogen isolated from blood cultures. The fever subsided with itraconazole and there was no recurrence of fungal infection with prolonged maintenance of oral itraconazole.
Acute Disease ; Antifungal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Immunocompromised Host ; Itraconazole/*therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Myeloid/*complications ; Mycoses/*drug therapy ; Mycoses/*microbiology ; Opportunistic Infections/*drug therapy ; Opportunistic Infections/*microbiology

The paper reviewed the history and characteristics of the public hospital reform in China. Based on the theories of corporate governance, it made analysis and comments on existing roadblocks and reform attempts in such hospitals, proposing a public hospital governance model in line with the general reforms made in China's healthcare system sector.

Objective To investigate the objective factors that affect the image quality of infant cranial CT using different mAs. Materials and Methods Ninety infants were divided into three groups randomly. The maximum anteroposterior diameter (MAPD) of skull of each infant was measured. Three reference levels, cerebellar, basal ganglia and centrum semiovale levels were selected respectively. Only one level was studied in each group and scanned with 150, 100 and 80 mAs. The subjective quality grade and the objective noise of all images were recorded and analysed statistically. Result The average MAPD of ninety patients was (148.0 ± 17.4)mm. On the cerebellar level, the subjective quality grade was lower than the other two levels, which were 6.3% , 9.4% and 22.9% respectively when mAs were 150, 100 and 80 mAs. Both quality grade of image and objective noise were significantly correlated with MAPD.Conclusion The inherent high noise of cerebellar level and MAPD were the objective factors that affect the image quality of low-dose cranial CT of infant.

Objective To determine the effect of reducing the value of mA or kV on the image quality and the radiation dose of the patients undergoing low-dose spiral CT for orthodontics.Methods Thirty patients were divided into three groups,each group has 10 patients.They were group 1(80 kV and 200 mA),group 2 (120 kV and 80 mA),group 3(120 kV and 200 mA)The volume CT dose index(CTDI)was recorded and the average dose-length produce(DLP)was calculated in three groups,respectively.Image quality of three groups were compared and scored by two radiologists,and the results were statistically analysed.Results The CTDI among three groups in diagnostic image quality.Conclusions Low-dose spiral CT for orthodontics,especially the low-kV scan,may decrease the radiation exposure and guarantee the image quality.