Objective To investigate the effects of low frequency ultrasound (LFU) on the proliferation and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in rabbits with carotid atherosclerosis(CA).Methods CA models were established in 30 New Zealand rabbits using a high fat diet and air-drying.They were randomly divided into a control group and four LFU groups:group A received 0.5 W/cm~2 LFU for 5 min/d,group B 0.5 W/cm~2 for 10 min/d, group C 1 W/cm~2,5 min/d,and group D 1 W/cm~2,10 min/d.The rabbits' carotid arteries were autopsied after 20 d of the LFU treatment.The expression of PCNA and TUNEL staining were used to explore the proliferation and apopto- sis of SMCs,and the proliferation rates (PRs) and apoptosis rates (ARs) were calculated.Results Compared with the control group,the PRs in groups B,C and D were significantly lower,while the ARs in groups B,C and D were significantly higher.There was no significant difference in ARs or PRs among groups B,C and D.Con- clusion LFU can induce SMC apoptosis and inhibit SMC proliferation in rabbits with CA.

Objective To study the effect of fluoride on the expression of bcl-2 and Bax in chondrocyte in vitro, and investigate the mechanism of action of chondrocyte apoptosis induced by fluoride. Methods Articular chondrocytes of neonate rat were cultured in vitro and treated with 0(control),5,20,40 mg/L of fluoride,respectively, for 10 days. Then observed the u]trastructure of chondrocytes under eletronicmicroscope, and tested the expression of bcl-2 and Bax in chondrocyte in different groups by Western blotting. Results Abundant rough endoplasmic reticulums (RERs) and complete structure of mitochondria membranes were presented in globular chondrocytes in the control group and 5 mg/L group; but more lipid droplets and vacuoles were seen in the cytoplasm, and the structure of intracellular membranes became incomplete, and some shrieked chromatin and pyknosis were seen in the chondrocytes of the 20,40 mg/L groups. The expression of bcl-2 markedly decreased in 20 mg/L group(0.626 ± 0.042) and 40 mg/L group(0.531± 0.039) compared to the control group(0.876 ± 0.035,all P ＜ 0.01 ). And the expression of Bax significantly increased in 20 mg/L group(0.966 ± 0.047) and 40 mg/Lgroup ( 1 .289 ± 0.156) compared to the control group(0.642 ± 0.050, all P ＜ 0.01). But there was no statistical significant difference of the expression of bcl-2 or Bax between 5 mg/L group(0.885 ± 0.065,0.657 ± 0.045) and control group (all P ＞ 0.05 ). However there were statistical differences of expressions of bcl-2 and Bax between 20 and 40 mg/L groups(all P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Twenty and 40 mg/L fluoride can cause damage to the ultrastructure of chondrocyte, and fluoride possibly promotes chondrocyte apoptosis by reducing the expression of antiapoptotic factor bcl-2 and increasing the expression of Bax.

Background and purpose: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is uncommon, and frequently diagnosed at late stage. Chemotherapy is the main treatment method for advanced SBA. Despite recent progress in SBA therapy, no standard regimen has been established up to now, and new active regimen is expected to improve the outcome of this disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efifcacy and safety of S-1/oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced SBA. Methods:In a retrospective study, clinical characteristics and outcomes of 29 patients with advanced SBA were collected and analyzed. Patients received oral S-1 40 mg/m2, twice daily, d1-14, oxaliplatin was administered intravenously 130 mg/m2 on the ifrst day of every cycle, repeated every 3 weeks. Efifcacy and toxicity were evaluated after at least two consecutive cycles. Results:All patients were evaluated for efifcacy and safety. The objective response and disease control rates were 37.9%and 65.5%, respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 5.4 months (95%CI:3.6-7.2) and 13.2 months (95%CI:6.7-19.7), respectively. In univariate analysis, the following factors were signiifcantly associated with poor outcome:not ifrst line chemotherapy setting, ECOG performance status>1 and sites of metastasis>2 (Log-rank, P<0.05). The treatment related adverse events were mild and manageable. Myelosuppression, gastrointestinal reaction, fatigue, sensory neuropathy and rash were the most common toxicities. Conclusion:This study was the ifrst to report the efifcacy of S-1 combined with oxaliplatin for advanced SBA. S-1/oxaliplatin may be effective and safe for advanced SBA and worthy of further study.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the perioperative complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to December 2011, 63 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture underwent PKP, there were 18 males and 45 females with an average age of 75.3 years ( ranged, 62 to 91). All patients with severe back pain and without neurological symptoms and signs, which were confirmed by X-ray and MRI. Among them,there were 63 cases with severe osteoporosis, 37 cases with hypertension, 10 with coronary artery disease, 29 with anemia, 26 with diabetes, 11 with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and 8 with gastritis and peptic ulcer. The common perioperative complications were retropectively reviewed.

RESULTSPreoperative complications occured in 9 cases (14.3%), including hypostatic pneumonia (1 case), electrolyte disturbances (2 cases), urinary tract infection (2 cases), moderate anemia(2 cases),electrolyte disturbances combined with moderate anemia (1 case), hypostatic pneumonia combined with delirium (1 case). Intraoperative and postoperative. complications occurred in 17 cases (26.9%), there were bone cement correlated complications in 9 cases (14.3%), in which 2 cases of toxic reaction of bone cement and 7 cases of leakage (2 cases had clinical symptoms); there were non-bone cement correlated complications in 3 cases (4.8%), in which 1 case of focal hematoma caused by paracentesis, 1 case of transient nerve injury, 1 case of left intercostal neuralgia;there were transient hyperpathia in 5 cases after operation. All complications result in no severe consequence after treatment.

CONCLUSIONPerioperative complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty are not uncommon,however,these complications may not cause serious consequence after active treatment,so prevention and treatment are important for it.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; etiology ; Kyphoplasty ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To understand the current situation of knowledge on healthy life style among researchers.Data on the knowledge of healthy life style including healthy behavior,general status on health,physical activity and the use of sports facilities were gathered.In 2006,same questionnaire was used to compare with the previous data.Results The percentage of overall knowledge on health among permanent percentage of people who were aware of knowledge on"no-smoking"."intake less salt","maintaining healthy diet program"and"insisting on exercise"were 72.97%,93.11%,86.58% and 87.25% respectively in 2006,higher than 67.38%,89.74%,82.12% and 82.78% during the baseline(P＜0.01)study in the previous years.The percentage of correct answer about the healthy life style as diet and prevention of common diseases was higher among the permanent residents than those of temporary residents in 2006(P＜0.05).The sources of health-related knowledge were mainly from media,newspapers and through health education programs carried out in the community.Conclusion The Beijing municipal government and the community residential committees attached great importance to providing knowledge on

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty except bone leakge for the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to October 2012,178 patients with 224 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty under local anethsia. There were 72 males and 106 females,ranging in age from 58 to 92 years old,with an average of 75.3 years,including 93 thoracic vertebrae and 131 lumbar vertebrae. The complications except bone cement leakage were analyzed during operation and after operation.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and all patients were followed up from 12 to 60 months with an average of 26.2 months. No death was found. Bone cement leakage occurred in 27 cases, about 15.1% in 178 cases; and complications except bone cement leakage occurred in 15 cases. There was 1 case with cardiac arrest,was completely recovery by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately; and 1 case with temporary absence of breathing,was recovery after treatment. There were 3 cases with fall of blood pressure and slower of heart rate; 1 case with intestinal obstruction; 2 cases with local hematoma and 1 case with intercostal neuralgia. Vertebral body fractures of 2 cases were split by bone cement and the fractures of adjacent body occurred in 4 cases.

CONCLUSIONIt's uncommon complication except bone cement leakge in treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures with percutaneous kyphoplasty. The complication of cardiopulmonary system is a high risk in surgery; and cytotoxicity of bone cement,nervous reflex,fat embolism and alteration of intravertebral pressure may be main reasons.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; adverse effects ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of siRNA silencing the role of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) gene in excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress on lung ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSMouse model of pulmonary ischemia reperfusion injury (PIRI) in situ was established with unilateral lung in vivo. Seventy experimental mice were randomly allocated into seven groups (n = 10): Sham group (Sham group), ischemia reperfusion group (I/R), PBS+ Lipofectamine2000TM transfection reagent group (I/R + PBS+ Lipo group), negative control group (I/R+ SCR group), JNK-siRNA group (I/R + siRNA(JNK1), siRNA(JNK2), siRNA(JNK3)). Mice were euthanized after experimental time out, and left lung tissue was extracted. Wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D) and total lung water content (TLW) were tested. Light microscope, alveolar damage quantitative evaluation index (IQA) and electron microscope were observed. The expression levels of JNK and glucose regulatex protein(GRP78) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis of lung tissue was determined by TUNEL.

RESULTSCompared with Sham group, all indicators above of I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and compared with I/R group, those indicators of the three groups all had no notable difference; those indicators were not statistically different between I/R + PBS + Lipo group and I/R + SCR group, and compared to the three groups, the above indicators in JNK-siRNA group were lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) except that the expression levels of GRP78 was not statistically different.

CONCLUSIONI/R induces excessive ERS in lung tissue, in which JNK pathway participates in apoptosis, leading to lung tissue injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Lung Injury ; genetics ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mice ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Reperfusion Injury ; genetics

To separate and identify chemical signals which induce Thesium chinense haustorium formation, the components of T. chinense roots secretion collected with XAD-4 resin were detected by GC-MS. The effect of DMBQ as exogenous signals to induce haustorium formation in T. chinense was studied. Fifty-three compounds of 9 types had been detected, including hydrocarbons, esters, organic acids, ketones, alcohols, nitrogen containing compounds, phenolic acids, aldehyde and quinine. It is worth noting that the 2, 5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone has the core structure of 1,4-benzoquinone, which may play an important role in the parasitic relationship of Prunella vulgaris and T. chinense: DMBQ worked effectively on inducing haustoria, but induction effects vary widely in different concentrations. DMBQ with the concentration of 1 μmol x L(-1) showed the best effect of the inducing ability with a ratio of 110.52 when treated to induce haustoria.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Prunella ; chemistry ; physiology

The present study was designed to observe the protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide (GFP) against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice and its underlying mechanism. GFP was intragastrically (ig) given to mice at various doses. After 6 days, the mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L (EF, ig). Serum levels of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were measured, and liver histological evaluation was conducted. Furthermore, reductions of liver glutathione (GSH) amount and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activity were tested. The expressions of GCL-c, GCL-m, and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in liver were observed by Western-blot. The results showed that GFP (600 mg x kg(-1)) decreased EF-induced the increase of serum ALT, AST and TB, and GFP (400, 600 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited EF-induced the increase of serum ALP. Liver histological evaluation showed that the liver injury induced by EF was relieved after treated with GFP. GFP further increased liver GSH amount and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL activity. The Western-blot result showed that GFP augmented EF-induced the increase of HO-1, and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL-c. In conclusion, GFP can act against the oxidative stress liver injury induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; metabolism ; Dioscorea ; toxicity ; Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase ; metabolism ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; antagonists & inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rhodophyta ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the modified urethral pull-through procedure in the surgical treatment of posterior urethral stricture or obliteration caused by trauma.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to June 2005, modified urethral pull-through procedures were performed in 36 patients with post-trauma posterior urethral stricture or obliteration, 25 of them with post-operation urethral stricture or obliteration after urethral realignment by traction and the other 11 treated by cystostomy at the time of initial injury. The length of the urethral stricture segment was 1.0-4.5 cm, mean 2.2 cm. The patients were aged from 17 to 59 years (mean 44.5 years).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for at least 1 year. Success was achieved in 34 patients, among whom 25 had good voiding and no need of dilation, 6 were cured after 3 - 6 post-operative dilations, 3 required dilation every 2 or 3 months for over a year and 2 failed. No blood transfusion was needed during the operation, and no erectile dysfunction or incontinence occurred after it.

CONCLUSIONThe modified urethral pull-through procedure is effective and simple in the surgical treatment of post-trauma posterior urethral stricture or obliteration, with few complications and no consequent erectile dysfunction or incontinence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; pathology ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications