OBJECTIVETo evaluate the microleakage of fiber post and core systems after high-speed handpiece preparation at different time points.

METHODSThe crowns of forty-five extracted human premolar were removed and the roots were endodontically treated. The samples were devided into five groups. Root canal preparation was performed on each premolar followed by fiber post cementation and core build up. Tooth preparation was applied at 5 min in group 1, at 15 min in group 2 and at 30 min in group 3 after post cementation. Five teeth with only 5 mm apical sealing were served as a positive control group, and ten with fiber post and core build-up but no coronal preparation were taken as a negative control group. Microleakage was evaluated using a fluid filtration system. The bonding interface was observed by scanning electronic microscope (SEM).

RESULTSThe microleakage was significantly increased after coronal preparation with high-speed handpiece. The negative control group has less leakage [(1.50 × 10(-6) ± 0.37 × 10(-6)) µl×min(-1)×Pa(-1)] than the groups with coronal preparation (P < 0.05); Group 1 leaked significantly more [(6.02 × 10(-5) ± 1.02 × 10(-5)) µl×min(-1)×Pa(-1)] than group 2 [(1.50 × 10(-5) ± 0.26 × 10(-5)) µl·min(-1)×Pa(-1)] and group 3 [(1.50 × 10(-5) ± 0.39 × 10(-5)) µl×min(-1)×Pa(-1)] did (P < 0.05). Corresponding to microleakage, the micro gaps between the resin cement and dentine in group 1 were wider than those in the other groups. The coronal section was wider than the apical part.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-speed handpiece had negative effects on microleakage of fiber post and core systems. Coronal preparation should be performed 15 min or more after post cementation.

Cementation ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Leakage ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Post and Core Technique ; instrumentation ; Resin Cements ; Root Canal Preparation ; Time Factors

ObjectiveTo investigate whether small epithelial cells (SEC) exist in human hepa- tocellularcarcinoma (HCC) and if so, whether they exhibit immunolabelling for both albumin and cytokeratin 7 (CK7). MethodsThirty cases of human HCC from operative specimens were investi- gated by immunohistochemistry with antibody against albumin, a marker of hepatocyte differentiation and CK7, a marker of biliary differentiation. Ten cases were investigated by electron microscopy and by immuno- electron microscopy. ResultsThe SEC were found in 20 of 30 cases that located around the edges of the tumors and appeared as proliferative small biliary ductules. Under electron microscopy they were of small size, contained sparse cytoplasm, few free ribosomes, intracellular tonofilarnents, and intercellular junctions. Immunoelectron microscopically the SEC exhibited labelling for both albumin and CK7 in 5 out of 10 cases. ConclusionSEC in human HCC are found that represent the same mor- phology like those seen in hepatoblastoma and biliary atresia, co- expressed markers for hepatocytic and biliary differentiation.

Chinese traditional medicine has provided, since ancient times, a basis for health care and medicine to the Chinese nation and for China's national stability. Identification of the constituents responsible for therapeutic and undesired effects of Chinese herbal medicines is a type of key research facilitating the modernization of these medicines. For a complex Chinese herbal medicine, multi-compound pharmacokinetic research is a useful approach to identifying its constituents that are bioavailable (in their unchanged and/or metabolized forms) at loci responsible for the medicine's therapeutic action and to characterizing the compounds' disposition and pharmacokinetics related to the action. In addition, such pharmacokinetic research is also useful for identifying herbal compounds associated with the medicine's adverse effects and drug-drug interaction potential. Over the past decade, great advances have been achieved in the theory, methodology, associated techniques, and their application of such multi-compound pharmacokinetic research, which has become an emerging field in pharmacokinetics. In this perspective, we elaborate on the methodology, technical requirements, and key analytical techniques of multi-compound pharmacokinetic research on Chinese herbal medicines, describe research examples regarding investigation of pharmacokinetics and disposition of a class of bioactive herbal constituents (ginsenosides of Panax notoginseng root) and pharmacokinetics-based identification of potential therapeutic compounds from a dosed Chinese herbal medicine (LianhuaQingwen capsule), and discuss follow-up development for the multi-compound pharmacokinetic research.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of serum iron level for in-hospital acute heart failure (AHF) after acute ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODSThis retrospective study involved 287 patients with STEMI stratified by quartiles of admission serum iron concentration. The incidence of AHF was assessed by serum iron quartiles. We evaluated the association of serum iron levels with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels on admission, and analyzed the correlation of serum iron levels with in-hospital AHF, death, and duration of hospital stay.

RESULTSThe average serum iron level on admission of the 287 STEMI patients was 10.20 µmol/L (6.90-14.40 µmol/L), and the quartiles (Q) of serum iron levels were ≤6.90 µmol/L (Q(1)), 6.91-10.19 µmol/L (Q(2)), 10.20-14.39 µmol/L (Q(3)), and ≥14.40 µmol/L (Q(4)). The incidences of in-hospital AHF from Q(1) to Q(4) were 79.5%, 64.3%, 50.0% and 45.9%, respectively (P<0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that low admission serum iron level (Q(1)) was an independent predictor for in-hospital AHF (OR=3.358, 95%CI 1.791- 6.294, P<0.001), and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a similar result (OR=2.316, 95%CI 1.205-4.453, P=0.012).

CONCLUSIONSA lower admission serum iron level is an independent predictor of AHF in STEMI patients during hospitalization.

Acute Disease ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; blood ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; analysis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Troponin I ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study regular patterns of cone artifact resulted from interpolation algorithm of spiral CT.

METHODSBased on the principle of interpolation algorithm and back-projection reconstruction, a mathematical model of the reconstructed image was established to clarify the relation of the scanning parameters and the characteristics of the scanned object with the cone artifact. Experiments were carried out by a set of acrylic phantoms on siemens plus 4 CT scanners.

RESULTSThe artifact in the image was directly proportional to the table increment per gantry rotation of the scanner, and was positively correlated to the tangent of half cone-angle and inversely to the radii in the reconstruction plane of the phantom. The theoretical analysis was validated by experimental results.

CONCLUSIONThe cone artifact is related to the scanning parameters and the characteristics of the scanned object.

Algorithms ; Artifacts ; Computer Simulation ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Models, Theoretical ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; instrumentation ; methods

DNA, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Image Cytometry ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; diagnosis

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning

Aim To investigate the curative effects of resveratrol on OVA induced allergic rhinitis in mice and the underlying immune mechanisms. Methods Balb/c mice (female, 6 weeks) were divided randomly into normal control ( NC) group, allergic rhinitis (AR) group, high dose resveratrol treatment group (RH), low dose resveratrol treatment group (RL), and dexamethasone treatment group ( Dex). RL, RH and Dex group were oral administered with resveratrol 30 mg • kg"1, resveratrol 100 mg • kg"1 and dexamethasone 10 mg • kg"1, respectively. After the treat-ment , the sneezing and nasal rubbing behaviors of mice in all the group were recorded and HE was performed to assess the inflammatory cell infiltration in nasal tissues. The sera levels of allergic cytokines were determined with ELISA assay. The percentage of CD4+ GA- TA3 + T cells in spleen of each group was further recorded by flow cytometry. Results Compared with AR group, treatment with resveratrol (100 mg - kg"1) reduced the sneezing and nasal rubbing behaviors signifi-cantly and improved inflammatory cell infiltration in nasal tissues. The up-regulated sera levels of IL-4, IL- 13 and OVA-sIgE in AR group were reversed by RH, and ratios CD4+ GATA3 + Th2 cells in spleen of RH were also down-regulated parallelly. Conclusions RH treatment could improve the allergic related symptoms of OVA-induced allergic rhinitis, which is associated with down-regulated sera levels of IL-4, IL-13 and OVA-sIgE and ratios of CD4+ GATA3 + Th2 cells in spleen of mouse model.

Adolescent ; Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Copper ; blood ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Magnesium ; blood ; Male ; Students ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Zinc ; blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We tried to investigate the expression characteristics of KAI1, a suppressor of wide-spectrum tumor metastasis, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the most common angiogenesis factor, and then to analyze their diagnostic value for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The protein and mRNA expression levels of KAI1 or VEGF in HCC tissues and in self-controlled para-carcinoma tissues were analyzed by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Serum levels of KAI1 and VEGF in the patients with HCC, benign liver disease or in healthy controls were quantitatively detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expression level of KAI1 was downregulated, while the expression level of VEGF was upregulated in the tissues or serum of the patients with HCC. The expression level of serum KAI1 in HCC patients was correlated with TNM staging, intrahepatic metastasis, lymph node or peritoneal metastasis, and portal vein thrombus. In addition to the factors that were correlated with KAI1 expression, VEGF expression was also closely related to the alpha-fetoprotein level of the patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnosis of HCC was 0.907 for KAI1 and 0.779 for VEGF. The sensitivity of serum KAI1 levels in the diagnosis of HCC was 86.96%; the accuracy was 83.06%, while the sensitivity, the accuracy and the negative predictive value were improved to 91.86%, 84.68%, and 78.79% according to the combined detection of KAI1 and VEGF, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A combined detection of KAI1 and VEGF may greatly improve the efficiency of diagnosis and form a reliable panel of diagnostic markers for HCC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD82/blood/genetics/*metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood/*diagnosis/genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/genetics ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/*diagnosis/genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/blood/genetics/*metabolism ; alpha-Fetoproteins/analysis