OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Fe2O3 and CeO2 as colorants on yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia poly-crystals (Y-TZP) powder.

METHODSThe spray granulation slurry of colored zirconia was prepared with different concentrations of Fe2O3 (0.15%) and CeO2 (4%), which were added in Y-TZP. Zirconia powder was made by spray granulation. The powder specimens were divided into three groups: uncolored zirconia, Fe2O3 (0.15%) zirconia, and CeO2 (4%) zirconia. The particle morphologies of the powder specimens were measured with a laser particle size analyzer and an optical microscope.

RESULTSThe differences in D50 among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). Group Fe2O3 showed a significant difference from groups CeO2 and uncolored zirconia (P<0.05). Group uncolored zirconia showed no significant difference from group CeO2 (P>0.05). Mostly spherical powder was observed in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONFe2O3 as a colorant can affect particles, whereas CeO2 has no effect.

Color ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Ferric Compounds ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Yttrium ; chemistry ; Zirconium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE To survey the antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and medical treatment among the aged patients suffering from underlying disease.METHODS A total of 326 strains of P.aeruginosa were isolated among the aged patients with underlying disease by sputum culture.Drug susceptibility was performed and effective antibiotic treatment was given.RESULTS Amikacin(8.0%),imipenem(12.0%) and piperacillin/tazobactam(16.0%) could be chosen.The symptom of 326 patients was alleviated after clinical treatment,while some sputum samples were found still positive.CONCLUSIONS Combined use of two kinds of medicines may produce better effects in the patients with underlying disease,who infected with P.aeruginosa,but sputum should not be emphasized to converse negative in this case.

FANCD2 is involved in DNA damage repair and maintenance of chromosome stability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of FANCD2 in sporadic breast cancer tissues and its association with clinicopathological features. A total of 162 Chinese women with invasive breast carcinoma who had no family history in first-degree relatives and 12 normal breast tissues were examined. The expression of FANCD2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining based on a tissue microarray technique. SAS system was used to analyze the data. Twenty-one out of the 162 invasive breast cancers (13%) were negative for FANCD2. The mean percentage of FANCD2 positive cells was significantly lower in breast cancers than in controls (P<0.05). FANCD2 expression was significantly inversely associated with histological grade and TNM stage (P<0.05), but not with axillary lymph node status or other conventional prognostic markers such as ER, PR, Her-2 and PCNA (P>0.05). It was suggested that FANCD2 may play a critical role in breast carcinogenesis. It may become a valuable and independent marker for identifying women with sporadic breast cancer and evaluating the prognosis.

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a lipid soluble active compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza, has a significant inhibitory effect on multiple malignant tumors, e. g. chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and can effectively enhance imatinib's chemotherapeutic effect. However, its functional molecular mechanism remained unclear. In this experiment, the authors conducted a systematic study on the effect of CPT on the imatinib sensitivity and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in CML cells by using CML cells K562 and imatinib persister K562-R. The MTT assays were performed to determine CPT's impact on the inhibitory effect of imatinib. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis was used to detect the changes in the cell apoptosis rate. The active changes in apoptosis regulatory proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP were determined by Western blot. After the cells were pretreated with the gradient concentration of CPT, the expression of P-gp was analyzed by Western blot and flow cytometry. The changes in intracellular concentrations of imatinib were determined by HPLC analysis. The results indicated that the pretreatment with CPT significantly increased the proliferation inhibiting and apoptosis inducing effects of imatinib on K562 and K562-R cells as well as the degradation product expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP, with a significant difference with the control group (P < 0.01). However, CPT showed no impact on the P-gp expression in CML cells and the intracellular concentrations of imatinib. In summary, the findings suggested that CPT enhanced the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib. Its mechanism is not dependent on the inhibition in P-gp expression and the increase in intracellular drug concentration.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbal medicine in treating vascular dementia (VD) and to explore the method for therapeutic effect evaluation.

METHODSMulti-center, double-blinded randomize-controlled method was adopted to observe the effect of treatment of 242 patients with VD of mild or middle degree, they were 89 cases in the TCM group, 106 cases in the western medicine group and 47 in the placebo group. Minimental state examination (MMSE), Blessed dementia scoring on TCM symptom classified evaluation were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect after 60 days treatment.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of Jiannao Yizhi Granule was 58.4%, showing a better effect than that of the placebo group and the western medicine group respectively. The treatment was superior in holistic regulation and systemic functional state improvement, it could not only improve the mild middle key symptoms of VD and the mental disorder induced reduction of functional activities, but also alleviate or eliminate the peripheral symptoms of VD.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of treatment of vascular dementia by Jiannao Yizhi Granule is certain and is worth spreading.

Aged ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Phytotherapy

The 1.23 kb DNA fragment encoding the early protein EP0 of pseudorabies virus (PRV) Ea strain was amplified by PCR technique and cloned into pBluescriptII sk+.Three sequencing plasmids containing the partial fragment of the EP0 gene were constructed and the sequences were obtained by Sanger's sequencing technique. Compared with PRV InFh strain, there were multipile site-mutations and a deleted-mutation in the EP0 gene of PRV strain Ea，and the diversity of amino acid residues also existed.Then, the EP0 gene was inserted into an expression vector, pET-28a, fused into the downstream of the 6ΧHis-Tag in frame, to yield the expression plasmid pETEP0. After induction by IPTG, a high expression of fusion protein was obtained, SDS-PAGE analysis and Western blotting showed that the fusion protein was 62kD and the protein was specific to antisera against PRV Ea strain. This indicated that the EP0 gene be expressed in BL21(DE3) and the expression products have immuno-genicity.

Background Q-value is used to express the asphricity of the anterior corneal surface.As a optical surface,the optial morphology of cornea is composed of a series of tangential sections that cut-off through the optical axial.Therefore,tangential section could represent the true optical morphology of the corneal surface,and Q-value calculation by tangential radius can better represent the asphericity.Objective This study was to calculate Q-value of meridian section of the anterior corneal surface by tangential radius of the tangential topography and analyze the corneal asphericity in horizontal interval.Methods Ninety right eyes of 90 myopia subjects aged 16-30years and with mean spherical equivalent of (-5.45 ± 2.75) D received corneal topography examination using Orbscan Ⅱ system.The subjects were assigned to low myopia group,moderate myopia group and high myopia group based on their diopter and 30 eyes for each group.The tangential curvatures on meridian section at a 0.1 mm interval from apex to periphery of the anterior surface were accepted and the Q value of the semimeridian section was calculated by linear regression mathematical formulas of the tangential radius.Mydriatic optometry,intraocular pressure,keratometer and fundus examinations were performed on the subjects.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical examination.Results The coefficients of determination in all the semimeridians were over 0.5.The average calculated Q-values in the nasal and temporal horizontal interval were -0.32±0.11 and-0.30±0.12,with a significant difference between them (t =2.009,P＜0.05).The vertex radius of curvature was (7.78±0.27)mm and (7.72±0.25)mm respectively in the nasal and temporal horizontal interval,showing a significant difference(t=-1.016,P＞0.05).No significant difference was seen in Q values of both nasal and temporal areas among three myopic groups (nasal:F =0.192,P =0.825 ; temporal:F =0.912,P =0.406).The average Q value of the nasal and temporal principal meridian was-0.33±0.14 and-0.30±0.13 respectively,and the r0 was 7.76±0.30 and 7.74±0.24 respectively.A weak positive correlation was found between r0 and mean Q value of nasal meridian (r=0.320,P＜0.05),but no significant correlation was found between r0 and mean Q-value of temporal meridian (r=0.104,P＞0.05).No significant differenees were seen in the Q values between nasal meridian and nasal zone (t=0.349,P＞0.05) as well as between temporal meridian and temporal zone(t=-0.373,P＞0.05).Conclusions The study analyzes the calculated Q-value of the semimeridian section in borizontal area with myopia by linear regression mathematical formulas of tangential radius on tangential topography.The anterior surface of the cornea is proved to be prolate ellipse in shape in the subjects with myopia.

Background:A recent perspective European study has shown that Chronic Liver Failure-Consortium Organ Failure score(CLIF-C OFs)is an effective diagnostic criteria for acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)in alcoholic or hepatitis C virus patients with acute decompensation(AD). Aims:To assess the efficacy of CLIF-C OFs for distinguishing ACLF in non-hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related chronic liver disease patients with AD. Methods:A total of 274 consecutive non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2010 at Shanghai Ren Ji Hospital were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups:ACLF at admission,ACLF developed within 28-day and non-ACLF according to CLIF-C OFs criteria. Clinical and biochemistry characteristics,severity of the disease and 28-day and 90-day mortality data between ACLF and non-ACLF groups were analyzed. Results:Of the patients assessed,40 had ACLF at admission,27 had ACLF developed within 28-day,207 remained not having ACLF. Patients in ACLF group had higher TB,Cr,INR,ALT,AST,ALB,WBC,score of Child-Pugh,CTP,MELD,MELD-Na than non-ACLF patients(P <0. 05),and were younger in age(P < 0. 01). Incidences of hepatic,renal,cerebral,coagulation,circulation and lung failure,28-day mortality,90-day mortality were significantly higher in ACLF group than in non-ACLF patients( P <0. 01). However,no significant differences were seen in the characteristics mentioned above between ACLF at admission group and ACLF developed at 28-day group(P > 0. 05). TB level at admission and infection occurred within 28-day were the risk factors for developing ACLF(P < 0. 05). Conclusions:ACLF constitutes a more severe subgroup in non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD,and CLIF-C OFs could help to distinguish ACLF patients out from non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD.

Background Previous experimental and clinical studies have proved that elevated serum uric acid increased risk for developing hypertension.Whereas,there are a paucity of information on the relationship between serum uric acid and prehypertension.Objective The purpose of this research is to evaluate the association between the serum uric acid and prehypertension.Method A cohort of seven thousand eight hundred thirty-nine subjects without hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases were recruited from a cross sectional study in urban and rural place in 9 provinces during 2005-2006.Based on serum uric acid(324 ?mol/L for overall population,366 ?mol/L for male,285 ?mol/L for female),people were categorized into quartiles.The odds ratio for prehypertension was calculat ed with the lowest quartile as the reference.Results The prevalence of prehypertension increased with increasing uric acid in total population(P324 ?mol/L)to lowest quartile 1(

Cannabinoid receptors are one of the most expressed G protein-coupled receptors in the central nervous system, which are potential drug targets for inflammation, pain and drug abuse. Cannabinoid receptors are composed of type 1 receptor (CB1R), type 2 receptor (CB2R) and other receptors, of which CB1R plays a vital role in regulating central memory, cognition, and motor function. Therefore, screening CB1R agonists has potential value in treating nervous system diseases. In this study, the intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) domain of CB1R was replaced with a circular-permutated enhanced green fluorescent protein (cpEGFP). After infecting HEK 293T cells with lentivirus particles, we obtained a stable cell line that was overexpressed human CB1R-cpEGFP after puromycin selection. The interaction between receptor agonists and CB1R led to the change of receptor conformation, resulting in de-protonation of the EGFP, and enhancing the fluorescence intensity. Therefore, active CB1R compounds could be verified by measuring the fluorescence intensity. Using CB1R agonist arachidonyl-2′-chloroethylamide (ACEA) as a positive control to evaluate the reliability of this model, studies have shown that ACEA could induce receptor activation and increase fluorescence intensity, while antagonist rimonabant inhibited receptor activation with unchanged fluorescence intensity. In conclusion, this study successfully constructed a fluorescent probe screening model for CB1R agonists.