Objective To evaluate the prognosis and safety of long-term oral Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) for patients with cirrhosis.Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from CBM (between January 1978 and September 2013),CNKI (between January 1979 and September 2013),PubMed (between January 1970 and September 2013),EMBASE (between January 1970 and September 2013),and Cochrane Library (issue 4,2013).Publications of the RCTs on the treatment of cirrhosis with oral BCAAS were included and analyzed according to the criteria of Cocbrane handbook.Results Six RCTs involving 1 047 patients were included.The results showed that oral BCAAs improved the event-free survival when compared with the control group [RR =1.13,95％ CI =(1.05,1.23),P =0.001].BCAAs supplements had no effect on mortality or had no definite effect on the deteriorative rate of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) or quality of life (QOL).As reported in some trials,the main side effects of BCAAs were gastrointestinal symptoms.Conclusions Long-term oral BCAAs may improve event-free survival in cirrhotic patients.However,no definite conclusion can be made without evidences from larger,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,and multicenter trials.

Objective To investigate the pathology of nonpalpable breast lesions(NPBL),and evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided mammotome(MMT)biopsy.Methods Between January 2005 and December 2007,254 patients with NPBL(328 lesions)diagnosed by ultrasonography received ultrasound-guided MMT biopsy.Among the patients,176 were diagnosed as having no breast mass or calcification by mammography.Results Of the 328 lesions,269(82.0%)were fibroadenomas,34 were(10.4%)cysts,3(0.9%)were intraductal papillomas,19(5.8%)were adenosis,and 3(0.9%)were early breast cancers.Among the 254 cases,251(98.8%)were benign without positives findings during follow-up.These patients received simple MMT,and 239(95.2%)of them were satisfied with the cosmetic outcome.The other 3(1.2%)patients who had malignancies were treated with modified mastectomy;none of them had residual tumors.The underestimate rate for NPBL was 0 in our cases.Of the 251 benign patients who received only MMT biopsy,239(95.2%)have satisfactory cosmetic results.Conclusions As an effective,minimally invasive,and rapid diagnostic technique for NPBL,ultrasound-guided MMT biopsy is an optimal tool for "one-step" operation.By using the method,underestimate risk can be decreased.

Objective To investigate the effects of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) on invasion and migration in breast cancer cells.Methods Human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells were treated with MTAPtargeted siRNA to diminish MTAP mRNA.MCF-7 cells proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit-8,the analysis of cells invasion and migration was performed using Transwell chamber.The expressions of MTAP and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) in cell extracts were detected by Western blotting.The experimental divided into blank contrd group,negative control group,MTAP-siRNA experimental group.Results The MCF-7 cells growth was promoted after knockdown the MTAP mRNA.MATP-siRNA experimental group 450 nm absorbance values at 24h,48 hand72 h of the control group were (112.3±11.9)％,(144.4±8.4)％,(169.3±9.4)％ respectively.Cell invasion analysis by Transwell chamber showed 570 nm absorbance values were 0.49 ± 0.06 (control),0.45 ± 0.07 (negative control) and 0.87 ± 0.07 (MTAP-siRNA) respectively.Cell migration analysis by Transwell chamber showed 570 nm absorbance values were 0.46 ± 0.06 (control),0.49 ± 0.08 (negative control)and 0.75 ± 0.07 (MTAP-siRNA) respectively.The expression of MMP1 in MCF-7 cells was upregulated after knockdown the MTAP mRNA.Conclusion The knockdown of MTAP in MCF-7 cell can increase the cells invasion and migration,and this may involve the the MMP1.

AIM: To study the effect of peppermint oil on GSH、ATPase in rat liver-tissues and primary cultured rat hepatocyte. METHODS: The rat liver tissues were obtained to detect content of GSH and level of Na~+-K~+-ATPase、Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase after being administered peppermint oil orally at 24 % concentration of peppermint oil in 36 and 48 hours.Primary rat hepatocyte was separated and cultured,then peppermint oil and the serum containing that were respectively added level of LDH,ALT,AST in the supernatant fluid was respectively determined after incubating for 12,24 and 48 hours. RESULTS: The content of GSH and level of Na~+-K~+-ATPase and Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)ATPase in liver tissues was low remarkably(P

Due to its exquisite sensitivity, excellent molecular specificity and reduced photobleaching, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has wide potential applications in the fields of food and drug analysis, environmental monitoring and biological detection. However, SERS is only a qualitative or semi-quantitative detection technique at the present stage, and has not yet been widely recognized as a routine quantitative technique. This review discusses the pros and cons of the quantitative surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic techniques developed so far in the literature, and looks forward to the future trend in this field.

BACKGROUND: Tooth intrusion easily leads to root resorption. Previous studies regarding orthodontic treatment-caused tooth root resorption or retrospective clinical studies based on X-ray films have great errors in outcome evaluation because of intrusion force which cannot be precisely controlled. OBJECTIVE: This study established dog models of mini-implant anchorage for incisor intrusion to observe the histological changes of tooth root and periodontal tissue and to evaluate the feasibility and safety of mini-implant anchorage for incisor intrusion. METHODS: Nine dogs were assigned to one control group (n = 1) and four experimental groups per time to sacrifice (1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks; n = 2 dogs for each experimental group). No force was added to the control group. In the experimental groups, mini-implant as an anchorage was placed in the buccal alveoli between maxillary second and third incisors on each side. A traction force of 100 g was imposed to each side to intrude the maxillary first and second incisors on each side. At 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks (traction force was imposed for 4 weeks and after withdrawal of extraction force, mini-implant was retained in place for 8 weeks), dogs were sacrificed. The first and second incisors together with gingival and alveolar bone were completely resected to prepare histological specimens. Following hematoxylin-eosin staining, histological changes of tooth root and periodontal tissue were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, in the 1-week group, histological changes were primarily at the root tip and alveolar ridge crest, alveolar bone and cementum were absorbed and peridental membrane presented glassy degeneration in local region; in the 2-week group, bone resorption degree and range were obviously enlarged, and bone resorption developed from root tip, root middle part to cervical part; in the 4-week group, bone resorption was still active and the glassy degeneration of peridental membrane disappeared; in the 12-week group, significant improvement in alveolar bone and cemental surface was observed, bone lacuna had deposition of newly formed bone, and peridental membrane was orderly arranged. These findings reveal that in the mini-implant anchorage for dog incisor intrusion, early histological changes primarily appear in the root tip and alveolar ridge crest, presenting as alveolar bone and cemental resorption and the glassy degeneration of the peridental membrane. Bone resorption extent and range expand with the persistence of traction force. After withdrawal of traction force, tooth root and periodontal tissue were gradually repaired

Folic acid-O-carboxymethyl chitosan ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (FA-OCMCS-USPIO-NPs) are a novel molecular targeting MR contrast agent. This paper reperts the pharmacokinetics and magnetic resonance response characteristics of FA-OCMCS-USPIO-NPs in normal rats and mice, and discussed its distributing regularity in animals, providing basis for tumor targeting imaging. O-phenanthroline method was used to determine iron content in rats' plasma and mice's organs following high and low doses of nanoparticles injected through tail vein, and the blood concentration-time curve was drawn, the calculated t1/2 of two groups were greater than 7 h. The results of tissue distribution showed that only a small part of nanoparticles were swallowed by the liver and spleen, while none in the heart, lung and kidney. At the same times, the phagocytosis of nanoparticles did not change with the dose. The results of MRI showed that renal excretion occurred 4 hours after injection, and signal to noise ratio (SNR) of liver and kidney returned to normal levels 24 hours after injection. There were no nanoparticles in the lungs. So a part of nanoparticles escaped from phagocytosis of liver and spleen, and it owned lower toxicity and longer half-life. indicated its use for tumor-targeting imaging. All of these indicated its use for tumor-targeting imaging.

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of levofloxacin in levofloxacin hydrochloride ophthalmic in situ gel. Methods:The chromatographic column was Agilent Zorbax C18(150 mm ×4.6 mm,5μm). The mobile phase consisted of hexane sulfonic acid sodium solution-methanol(72∶28). The flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1. The detection wavelength was 293 nm. The chromatographic column temperature was 40℃. The injection volume was 10 μl. Results:The calibration curve was linear within the range of 0. 040 3-0. 403 0 mg·ml-1(r=1. 000 0) for levofloxacin. The average recovery was 99. 8% (RSD=1. 08%,n=9). Conclusion:The method is accurate, simple and rapid, and suitable for the content determination of levofloxacin in levofloxacin hydro-chloride ophthalmic in situ gel.

Objective To evaluate the effect of salicylic acid on skin barrier function and the efficacy of salicylic acid combined with flumetasone ointment for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Sixtyfour patients with AD (including 31 males and 33 females) aged 18 to 58 years were recruited into the present study.Four lesional areas of similar size and severity were selected at the similar body sites of both sides of each patient,and randomly classified into four groups to be topically treated with compound flumetasone ointment (containing 0.02％ flumetasone and 3％ salicylic acid,compound flumetasone group),flumetasone 0.02％ ointment (flumetasone group),salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group),respectively;two normal skin areas were chosen from apparently normal skin on the similar body sites of both sides of each patient and topically treated with salicylic acid 3％ ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively.All of these preparations were applied twice a day for 3 weeks.Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured by a Tewameter MPA580 (Courage & Khazaka,Germany) at the baseline as well as on week 1,2 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Symptom and sign scores were evaluated before and after the treatment.Meanwhile,two normal skin areas were selected on bilateral forearm of 30 healthy controls and treated with 3％ salicylic acid ointment (salicylic acid group) and vehicle (control group) respectively twice a day for 3 weeks,and TEWL was measured before treatment as well as on week 1 and 3 after initiation of treatment.Results In the healthy controls,TEWL value showed no significant difference between the salicylic acid group and control group at any of these time points.As far as the lesional skin was concerned,no statistical difference was observed in TEWL value at the baseline between the four groups ((34.26 ± 20.82) vs.(33.02 ±16.71) vs.(34.16 ± 18.03) vs.(33.81 ± 17.11) g· m-2· h-1,P ＞ 0.05),but significant difference was noted after treatment (repeated measurement data analysis of variance,F =39.57,P ＜0.01),with the TEWL value being (22.38 ± 16.16),(17.04 ± 12.74),and (15.34 ± 13.13) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the compound flumetasone group on week 1,2 and 3,(24.63 ± 17.08),(20.37 ± 9.53),(19.06 ± 9.17) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the flumetasone group,(26.49 ± 8.59),(21.91 ± 8.46),(21.20 ± 9.38) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the salicylic acid group,and (29.80 ± 12.48),(26.16 ± 8.31),(25.52 ± 6.05) g·m-2·h-1 respectively in the control group.In detail,the decrease in TEWL value was stronger in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group on week 1,2,and 3 (all P ＜0.05),in the salicylic acid group than in the control group (P ＜0.05 or 0.01),but similar between the flumetasone group and salicylic acid group.In non-lesional skin,the salicylic acid group showed a more intense decrease in TEWL value compared with the control group on week 2 and 3 (both P ＜0.05).Both the cure rate and response rate were significantly higher in the compound flumetasone group than in the flumetasone group (53.1％ vs.34.4％,x2 =4.57,P＜0.05;83.1％ vs.64.1％,x2 =6.90,P＜0.01).Conclusions The salicylic acid 3％ ointment shows a reparative effect on skin barrier in patients with AD,and the compound flumetasone ointment is superior to the flumetasone ointment in the treatment of AD.

Objective: To investigate β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) gene polymorphism, Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu and essential hypertension (EH) occurrence in Tibetan population living at high altitude area. Methods: Our research included in 2 groups: EH group, n=385 patients and Control group,n=297 normal healthy subjects. β2-AR polymorphisms of Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu were detected by Snapshot mini-sequencing technique and their frequencies were compared between 2 groups and male, female genders. Results: The genotype and allele frequency distributions of Arg16Gly and Gln27G1u were similar between 2 groups, P>0.05; there were no signiifcant differences between male and female genders,P>0.05. Conclusion: No obvious relationship was found between β2-AR gene polymorphism (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu) and EH occurrence in Tibetan population living at high altitude area.