Objective: To evaluate the genetic toxicity of Thuja essential oil by salmonella reversion test (AMES test) and mammal micronucleus test.Methods: TA97, TA98, TA100 and TA102 were used in AMES test to evaluate the mutagenesis of Thuja essential oil.Mouse bone marrow micronucleus test was conducted to assess the chromosome toxicity of the drug.Results: Both in S9 present and absent situations, the numbers of reverse mutation of Thuja essential oil at different doses for the four strains were all less than 1-fold of that of solvent control, and the difference had no statistical significance (P>0.05), suggesting negative mutation.The micronucleus test indicated that Thuja essential oil had no influence on the rate of mouse bone marrow micronucleus (P>0.05).Conclusion: Thuja essential oil shows no obvious genetic toxicity.

Objective:To evaluate the acute oral toxicity , skin irritation and skin allergy of Thuja essential oil ( TEO) , and pro-vide experimental basis for the clinical use of TEO .Methods:The acute oral toxicity was measured by Horn ’ s assay .Totally 40 KM mice were divided into four groups and intragastrically administered with TEO at different dose of 21.50, 10.00, 4.64 and 2.15 g · kg-1 .After the 14-day observation, the death number and toxic manifestations were recorded and observed , and LD50 was calculated by checking the Horn's form of LD50 .The skin irritation test was performed on healthy adult white rabbits .Totally 9 rabbits were divid-ed into 3 groups randomly , and TEO at the concentration of 100%, 50%and 25%was painted on the skin of the rabbits .Edible vege-table oil was used as the negative control .The erythema and edema of the treated skin were evaluated and scored .Delayed skin hyper-sensitivity reaction was used to investigate the allergy of TEO .Totally 30 white guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups:TEO group, the negative control (edible vegetable oil) and the positive group (1%2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene).After the intracutaneous in-duction stage and local induction stage , TEO was used to activate the hypersensitive reaction .The skin response was observed and scored after the 24-hour and 48-hour activation.Results:The mice in 21.50 g · kg-1 TEO treatment group were all dead , while only a part of the mice in 10.00 and 4.64 g · kg-1 TEO treatment groups were dead , and no mice died in 2.15 g · kg-1 TEO treatment group.According to the Horn's form of LD50 , LD50 of TEO was 9.26 g · kg -1 for male mice and 7.94 g · kg -1 for female mice.The results of skin irritation test indicated the strong irritation effects of TEO .However , the irritation of TEO was reduced after the dilution , and 25%TEO showed no irritation to the skin of rabbits .The results of delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction showed obvious erythema and edema induced by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene , while no obvious erythema and edema were found in TEO treated guinea pigs , indi-cating non-allergic effect of TEO .Conclusion:TEO has strong skin irritation in rabbits , while no obvious oral toxicity in mice and skin allergy in guinea pigs .

Objective To study the image segmentation, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and simulation operation of choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage based on the computed tomagraphy (CT) data of patient with choledocholithiasis. Methods Patient with choledocholithiasis underwent 64-slice spiral CT imaging. The images segmentation and 3D reconstruction were performed by Medical Image Process System (MIPS) to construct the 3D model of the hepatobiliary system. The model was modified by FreeForm Modeling System. The virtual surgical instruments were developed by GHOST SDK software, and were imported to the virtual surgery. Results The data of plain, arterial phase, venous phase and portal venous phase scanning were collected, and the data stored in DICOM format were transformed to BMP format. A model of the hepatobiliary system was constructed after the data was segmented by MIPS, and then the model was exported in the STL format. The data in STL format were imported to FreeForm Modeling System for smoothing the model. Different structures were assigned different colors to make the model more vivid. The self-developed virtual surgical instruments were imported to the system, and the virtual surgery for choledocholithiasis was performed with PHANToM. Conclusions With the help of MIPS, the image segmentation and 3D reconstruction of the model are finished rapidly and effectively. After the virtual surgical instruments are developed in FreeForm Modeling System, the virtual surgery can be achieved in the 3D model with the assistance of PHANToM.

OBJECTIVE Through researching the ABR threshold, the cochlear morphology and miR-96 expression in the cochlear of BALB/c mice at different month's age, to find out if the miR-96 can regulate the age related hearing loss of BALB/c mice.METHODS ABR testing, AO/PI staining and scanning electron microscope were used to observe the ABR threshold and cochlear morphology of the BALB/c mice at the ages of 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-96 in the cochlea of BALB/c mice at the ages of 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months.RESULTS The ABR thresholds of BALB/c mice were (18.5±8.3), (45.8±7.8), and (85.6±15.6) dB SPL separately at the age of 3, 6 and 12 months. At the age of 18 months, no response was observed in the ABR testing with 120 dB SPL acoustic stimulation. In the AO/PI staining, we found that the outer hair cells was apparently lost since the age of 6 months and the loss of hair cells aggravated as the month's age increased. At the age of 12 months, no outer hair cells was left, inner hair cells was lost apparently too. With the scanning electron microscope, we found the changes of deficiency, lodging, fusion, shortening and inversion in the hair cell cilia. And these changes were aggravated as the month's ages increased. At the age of 3 months, the relative expression of miR-96 (2-△CT) was 0.0225±0.0073. The relative expression of miR-96 (2-△CT) in the cochlea were 0.0162±0.0048, 0.0116±0.0048, and 0.0050±0.0014 at the age of 6 months, 12 months and 18 months separately, comparing with the relative expression of miR-96 at the age of 3 months, the differences were significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The hearing loss, hair cells loss, and cilia damage aggravated as the month's age increased, but the miR-96 expression in the cochlea decreased. Which suggest that miR-96 might play an important role in the age related hearing loss.

In this paper, a low-cost PC-based, high-quality and interactive 3D stereoscopic medical visualization system is presented, which can be clinically used for diagnosis and surgical planning. The algorithms of direct volume rendering have been improved for realization with the programmable graphics hardware under PC environment. Local illumination, classification and non-polygonal iso-surface rendering are also incorporated into the system in appropriate consideration of both high-quality rendering and real-time interaction. The medical visualization system has been applied to the neurosurgical and orthopedic planning and the effectiveness has been clinically proved.
Algorithms ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Planning Techniques ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo investigate aging-related ionic remodeling of L-type voltage dependent calcium channel (LVDCC) in left atria of canine.

METHODSSeven adult (2.0 - 2.5 years) and 10 aged (> 8 years) dogs were used. The current of LVDCC was recorded by patch clamp technique in the whole cell mode. The action potential duration (APD(90)), amplitude of action potential plateau (APA), I(Ca-L) peak current density of LVDCC were recorded. The mRNA and protein expressions of α1c subunit (Ca(V1.2)), sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SECRA(2)), Calpain-I, ryanodine receptor (RYR(2)) were detected by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSI(Ca-L) peak current density [(-8.11 ± 0.54) pA/pF vs. (-14.04 ± 0.82) pA/pF, P < 0.05] was significantly reduced and action potential duration to 90% repolarization (APD(90)) significantly prolonged [(340.5 ± 10.1) ms vs. (320.0 ± 7.9) ms, P < 0.05] in aged group than in adult group. The mRNA gene expression level of Ca(V1.2) was significantly lower (0.90 ± 0.35 vs. 2.38 ± 0.40, P < 0.05) while mRNA expression of RYR(2) was significantly higher (4.39 ± 4.68 vs. 1.49 ± 1.69, P < 0.05) in the aged dogs than in the adult dogs. mRNA expression of SECRA(2) and Calpain-I was similar between the two groups. Similarly, the protein expression level of Ca(V1.2) was significantly lower (0.13 ± 0.10 vs. 0.29 ± 0.12, P < 0.05) while the protein expression level of RYR(2) was significantly higher (0.18 ± 0.21 vs. 0.08 ± 0.36, P < 0.05) in the aged dogs than in the adult dogs. Again, protein expression of SECRA(2), PLN(1) and Calpain-I was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that aging could induce mRNA and protein expression changes of Ca(V1.2) and RYR(2) of LVDCC which might serve as the molecular basis of I(Ca-L) remodeling in aged dogs and might be linked to the increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) in aged dogs.

Action Potentials ; Age Factors ; Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; metabolism ; Dogs ; Heart Atria ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; metabolism ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDDespite technical advances in tools used to facilitate implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, there are many hurdles related mainly to the variation in the anatomy of the coronary veins. One such difficulty is the presence of a very sharply-angulated or tortuous of the lateral or posterolateral cardiac vein.

METHODSTotally 44 patients, 28 males and 16 females, with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay were studied retrospectively. There were 23 patients who had left ventricular (LV) lead implantation using standard techniques and equipment. For the other 21 patients with LV lead implantation we used the Attain Select II catheter delivery system. The patients were seen every 3 - 6 months for 12 months and the efficacy of the primary procedure, LV lead implantation time, procedure and fluoroscopy time and the complications associated with the two techniques were evaluated.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the age, gender, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, ischemic etiology, QRS duration, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and LV dyssynchrony between the two groups. The LV lead implantation time, procedure time and fluoroscopy time were significantly shorter in the group using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system; LV lead implantation time from (51 ± 7) minutes to (40 ± 7) minutes (P < 0.001), procedure time from (143 ± 17) minutes to (124 ± 18) minutes (P = 0.001), and fluoroscopy time from (45 ± 7) minutes to (35 ± 6) minutes (P < 0.001). A successful procedure of LV lead implantation was significantly improved from 17/23 (74%) patients using the standard techniques and equipment, to 20/21 (95.3%) patients using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system (P = 0.06)

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible and safe to implant LV leads through the coronary sinus using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system.

Aged ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor- I (IGF- I) on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

METHODSThe hPDLCs were cultured from periodontium of human teeth by the outgrowth method. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D culture system. Samples were set to four groups: Negative control group, positive control group (3D group, IGF-I group), and experimental group (3D with IGF- I group). Proliferation was tested with methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), and ALP activity was assayed by spectrophotometer at 1, 3, 5, 7 d respectively.

RESULTSCompared with that of negative control group, cell proliferation increased significantly in 3D with IGF-I group since 3 d (P < 0.05). Besides, the cell proliferation of 3D with IGF-I group was significantly higher than that of 3D group (P < 0.05). ALP activity of 3D with IGF- I group was significantly higher than that of negative control group, and 3D group at 3, 5, 7 d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIGF-I significantly promotes the proliferation and ALP activity of hPDLCs under 3D culture system.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Periodontal Ligament ; Somatomedins

OBJECTIVEThe aVR lead four steps is a new algorithm for differential diagnosis of wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT). The study explores the clinical value of this new algorithm on differential diagnosis of WCT.

METHODSApplication of aVR lead four steps to analysis the electrocardiogram of patients with WCT proved by electrophysiological study. Every step's accuracy rate, sensitivity and specificity to differential diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia (VT) were calculated. The first step diagnosed VT according to presence of an initial R wave in the aVR lead. The second step diagnosed VT according to width of an initial r or q wave > 40 ms in the aVR lead. The third step diagnosed VT according to notching on the initial downstroke of a predominantly negative QRS complex in the aVR lead. The fourth step diagnosis VT according to ventricular activation-velocity ratio (Vi/Vt) in the aVR lead, Vi/Vt ≤ 1 suggested VT. Results derived from aVR lead four steps algorithm were compared with results derived from Brugada and Vereckei four steps algorithm.

RESULTSA total of 113 patients with WCT were analyzed (31 supraventricular tachycardia, SVT and 82 ventricular tachycardia, VT). The accuracy rate of differential diagnosis VT is 91.2%, sensitivity is 90.2% and specificity is 77.4%. The accuracy and sensitivity of the aVR lead four steps algorithm for differential diagnosis of WCT were superior to the Brugada Vereckei four steps algorithm (P < 0.05). The specificity of the Vereckei four steps algorithm was superior to aVR lead and Brugada four steps algorithm (P < 0.05), while the specificity of the aVR lead four steps algorithm was similar as Brugada four steps algorithm (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aVR lead four steps algorithm is associated with excellent accuracy rate, sensitivity for differential diagnosis of WCT. This algorithm is simple and could be easily learned and applied by physician.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Algorithms ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the risk factors for vulvar dystrophy.

METHODSAn epidemiological study was carried out. Data on 100 cases with vulvar dystrophy was reviewed and face to face interviewed with a uniform questionnaire including the manner of work, environmental temperature, habit of eating, mood, underwear wearing, autoimmune diseases, marriage, menstrual age, the quantity of menses, orders of pregnancy, and labor trauma of vulvar during delivery, vulvitis and urethritis ect. Univariable analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out with 1:1 case-control methodology.

RESULTSMultiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that vulvar dystrophy was positively associated with hot food (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.24 - 5.25), mood (OR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.96 - 9.29), order of pregnancy (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 2.11 - 5.40), vulvitis (OR = 6.74, 95% CI: 2.66 - 17.09) and urethritis (OR = 11.02, 95% CI: 1.01 - 120.19). Vulviitis or urethritis increased 6.74 or 11.02 times the incidence of vulva dystrophy. Anger or nervous state contributed to the incidence of vulva dystrophy (OR = 4.27). Addict to hot food and order of labor also increased risk ratio for 2.55 and 3.37 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe risk factors of vulvar dystrophy were: addict to hot food, often holding a angry or nervous state, increase of labors, having vulvitis and urethritis.

Diet ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parity ; Risk Factors ; Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus ; etiology