Objective To establish an accurate method for estimating the indoor gamma dose rate from decorative stones.Methods Combining a room model with decorating conditions,the gamma dose rates and dose rate conversion factors (DCF) at 1 m above the floor in the room center were calculated with the Monte Carlo simulations,and the calculation results were verified through experiments.Based on the results,the limit of radionuclide contents in stone materials was further discussed.Results The DCF increases with the increase of area or thickness of decorative stones in the same room.The increase of DCF with the thickness of decorative stone is approximately linear.The DCF also increases with the area of decorative stones,but the increasing trend slows down.For the same decorative stones,the smaller the room,the larger the increase of gamma dose rate.Experimental results were consistent with the simulation results within ± 20％.Conclusions The increase of indoor gamma dose rate depends not only on the radionuclide contents,but also on the area and thickness of the decorative stones as well as the room size.The method used in this study can be used to estimate,more accurately than ever,the additional external exposure to residents due to decorative stones,and it provides a theoretical basis for revising the limit standard on radionuclide contents in decorative materials.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric method and the applied condition for the normal bacteria in the mouth, as Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sanguis (S. sanguis), Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans (H. actinomycetemcomitans).

METHODSColony forming units (CFU) which was the standard antitheses was used to count bacteria. This study would gain some parameters by changing wavelength, reactive time, dosage and so on. MTT colorimetric method was applied in the counting of S. mutans, S. sanguis and H. actinomycetemcomitans.

RESULTSWhen counting S. mutans, the best wavelength was 510 nm, the best range was 1.5 x 10(5) - 1.0 x 10(7) CFU x mL(-1). When counting S. sanguis, the best wavelength was 545 nm, the best range was 1.5 x 10(5) - 2.0 x 10(7) CFU x mL(-1). When counting H. actinomycetemcomitans, the best wavelength was 557 nm, the best range was 1.0 x 10(6) - 5.0 x 10(7) CFU x mL(-1). MTT colorimetric method can be used for different aged S. mutans, S. sanguis and H. actinomycetemcomitans.

CONCLUSIONOral bacteria could be counted by MTT colorimetric method, which is fast and convenient.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Bacteria ; Humans ; Saliva ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sanguis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ropivacaine on Gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)-activated currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in rats and discuss the analgesia mechanism of ropivacaine.

METHODSBy means of using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, to investigate the modulatory effects of ropivacaine on GABA-activated currents (I(GABA)) in acutely isolated dorsal root ganglion neurons.

RESULTS(1) In 48 out of 73DRG cells (65.7%, 48/73), to perfusion ropivacaine bromide (0.1 - 1 000 micromol/L) were sensitive. Which produce in 0 to 380 pA current. (2) The majority of the neurons examined (74.5%, 73/98) were sensitive to GABA. Concentration of 1 - 1 000 micromol/L GABA could activate a concentration-dependent inward current, which manifested obvious desensitization, and the inward currents could be blocked byGABA-receptor selective antagonist of bicuculline (100 micromol/L). (3) After the neurons were treated with ropivacaine (0.1 - 1000 micromol/L) prior to the application of GABA (100 micromol/L) 30 s, GABA currents were obviously increased. Ropivacaine could make dose-response curve of the GABA up, EC50 is 23.46 micromol/L. Ropivacaine shifted the GABA dose-response curve upward and increased the maximum response to the contrast about 153%.

CONCLUSIONThe enhancement of ropivacaine to DRG neurons activation of GABA current, can lead to enhancement of pre-synaptic inhibition at the spinal cord level. This may be one of the reasons for the anesthetic effect and analgesia for ropivacaine in epidural anesthesia.

Amides ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; physiology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Young Adult

Aged ; Bile Ducts ; pathology ; Cholangitis ; complications ; Humans ; Jaundice ; complications ; Male

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of splenectomy in the treatment of relapsed/refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed in 30 cases with relapsed/refractory AIHA who were treated with splenectomy in our hospital. The pre- and post-operative blood routine indexes and responses were followed up. Results: Among the 30 relapsed/refractory AIHA patients, 20 were pure AIHA (including 13 patients with warm antibody AIHA, 2 with warm-cold double antibody AIHA and 5 with Coombs negative AIHA) and 10 were Evans syndrome. The short-term response was evaluated 10-14 days after operation, and the overall response rate (ORR) of short-term response was 90% [12 cases in complete response (CR), 6 cases in partial response (PR)] in 20 therapeutic evaluable cases. Among 13 patients with long-term follow-up data, except 3 patients with Evans syndrome died (2 cases were refractory to splenectomy, 1 case relapsed after surgery), the ORR of 10 patients with relapsed/refractory pure AIHA at 6 months and 12 months were 90% (9/10) and 70% (7/10), respectively, with a median follow-up of 14 (4-156) months. At the end of follow-up, 3 cases had maintained CR for more than 3 years. Conclusion: The short-term response of splenectomy as a second-line treatment for relapsed/refractory AIHA is satisfactory, and long-term outcome of splenectomy is up to 70% at 1 year. Approximately one-third of patients could maintain sustained remission.
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Splenectomy

BACKGROUNDCKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 7 (CMTM7) located at 3p22.3, is a frequent deletion site and a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) locus in many cancer, which suggests CMTM7 may be a potential TSG. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations of CMTM7 expression and survival rate in patients with non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSSurgical specimens of 180 cases with pathologically confirmed NSCLC were grouped into 18 tissue microarray slides. CMTM7 expression in these specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry staining and representative cases were confirmed by Western blotting. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the association of CMTM7 expression with pathological features and survival of patients with NSCLC.

RESULTSA total of 78.9% of the 180 patients had variations of CMTM7 protein expression, either up-regulated or down-regulated. Univariate analysis showed that the patients' survival rate after surgery was highly correlated with CMTM7 expression (P = 0.0091). In addition, prognostic factors were examined by multivariate Cox regression analysis, and results suggested that CMTM7 expression was a unique prognostic factor in NSCLC survival.

CONCLUSIONSThe CMTM7 expression may be related to survival of patients with NSCLC and a unique prognostic factor. CMTM7 may play an important role in NSCLC development.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; Chemokines ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Tissue Array Analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants with the truncated C gene.

METHODSThe HBV mutants with the truncated C gene were constructed by molecular cloning and PCR-based deletion in vitro. The replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants were investigated by Southern blotting, PCR and real-time fluorescence PCR respectively after transfecting the HBV mutants plasmid into HepG2 cells by using liposome.

RESULTSThe C-truncated HBV mutant vectors were constructed successfully and confirmed exactly by clone sequencing and enzymes digestion. The C-truncated HBV mutants were replication defective, however, all types of HBV DNA could be detected positive in the cytoplasm and supernatant after co-transfecting the C-truncated HBV mutants plasmid and the helper constructs into HepG2 cells. The C-truncated HBV mutants were proved to produce 3-40 folds more progeny DNA than that of the wild-type HBV by DNA quantitative assay.

CONCLUSIONThe C-truncated HBV mutants are replication-deficient and could not replicate and encapsulate in the hepatocytes when transfected solely, however, the progeny HBV-variant viruses are encapsidated more effectively to secrete into supernatant when co-transfected with the helper construct which lacks part of 5 prime-proximal HBV RNA packaging signal Epsilon.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVEProstate cancer (PCa) has the highest incidence among male malignancies in Western industrialized countries and, as a most common malignant disease in urology, its incidence has been increasing in recent years in Chinese men. This study was to investigate the risk loci associated with PCa susceptibility in Han Chinese by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).

METHODSWe collected peripheral blood samples from 1 667 PCa patients and 1 525 healthy men, and detected 40 loci associated with PCa susceptibility by analyzing SNPs using Sequenom technology.

RESULTSOf the 40 known loci, 16 were confirmed to be significantly associated with PCa susceptibility (P < 0.05). The loci 1, 2 and 5 at 8q24, 10q11 and 22q13.2 also contributed to PCa susceptibility in different ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONPCa susceptibility is obviously associated with the risk loci rs1465618, rs721048, rs12621278, rs7679673, rs12653946, rs339331, rs1512268, rs10086908, rs16901979, rs1447295, rs10993994, rs10896449, rs902774, rs9600079, rs11649743 and rs5759167 in Chinese Han population.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutation of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDL) gene in a large Chinese family with X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda and to make a discussion on the pathogenesis of SEDL at the molecular level.

METHODSIn two patients, four exons comprising the SEDL open reading frame as well as their exon/intron boundaries were analyzed by bi-directional direct sequencing of PCR products. The sequencing results were compared against the normal sequences in GenBank to find the mutation. Then the mutation was identified in other members of the family.

RESULTSA nucleotide substitution of the splice acceptor in SEDL intron 2, IVS2 -2A-->C,was detected in two affected individuals (IV(15) V(3)) in the Chinese family with SEDL, but no sequence change occurring on exons 3-6 was detected. The transversion was also identified in four heterozygous carriers. The mutation was not found in two unaffected male individuals and fifteen normal controls. Furthermore, four potential carriers were identified in the family.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation IVS2 -2A-->C of SEDL gene was firstly determined in the world. The change of the splice acceptor in SEDL intron 2 may cause skipping of exon 3 which is responsible for the disease. Molecular diagnosis can be made by detecting the mutation.

Alternative Splicing ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; genetics ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Transcription Factors