[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of canonical transient receptor potential channel 1 ( TRPC1 ) in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT) of human bronchial epithelial ( HBE) cells induced by transforming growth fac-tor-β1 (TGF-β1).METHODS:EMT of 16HBE cells induced by TGF-β1 were identified by microscopy, immunofluores-cence and Western blotting.Immunofluorescence, real-time PCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the mRNA and the protein expression of TRPC1 in the 16HBE cells.The influence of SKF96365 (a TRPC1 blocker) and siRNA-me-diated silencing of TRPC1 on the EMT of the 16HBE cells were detected by microscopy and Western blotting.RESULTS:Treatment with TGF-β1 induced significant morphological changes of the 16HBE cells.Exposure to TGF-β1 decreased the expression of E-cadherin protein (P<0.01) and increased the expression of α-SMA protein (P<0.05) in the 16HBE cells.Immunofluorescence observation indicated that TRPC1 expression in the 16HBE cells was positive.The expression of TRPC1 at mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased in the 16HBE cells after stimulation with TGF-β1 ( P<0.05).The morphological changes of the 16HBE cells induced by TGF-β1 were inhibited by SKF96365 and TRPC1 silen-cing compared with TGF-β1 group.The protein expression of E-cadherin andα-SMA induced by TGF-β1 were inhibited by SKF96365 and TRPC1 silencing compared with TGF-β1 group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:TGF-β1 induces EMT with the mechanism of up-regulating TRPC1 in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Objective To explore the expression and function of miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 in endometrial cells. Methods Human endometrial samples were obtained in natural cycles and stimulating cycles. Endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) and endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated and confirmed by immunofluorescence. The expressions of miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 were detected by real-time PCR. Results The expression levels of miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 were higher in proliferative phase in ESCs than those in EECs. And in EECs, the expression levels of miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 were significantly up-regulated in secretory phase than in proliferative phase, while it was stable in ESCs. In addition, the expressions of miR-125b in EECs and miR-30b were increased in ESCs in women with elevated progesterone on the day of HCG administration than those of the control. The target genes of miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 mainly participated in cell migration and motion, cell-cell adherens junction and Wnt signaling pathway. Conclusion miR-125b, miR-30b and miR-424 were differently expressed in endometrial cells in different phases, and may participate in regulation of endometrial receptivity.

Objective To study the dynamic CT features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in recovery phase, and to analyze the correlative remaining factors on CT images. Methods Total 50 patients with SARS were followed-up with chest spiral CT and HRCT in 3, 6, 9, 14, 24 months after onset. Results (1)The pulmonary lesions were completely absorbed in 24 cases in 3 months, 30 cases in 6 months and 37 cases in 24 months. Abnormal CT findings were showed in 13 patients later, which appeared ground-glass opacity 8,irregular lines 6, thickening of interlobular septa 4, subpleural lines 2 and bronchiectasis 2. (2)Reviewing the lesions on CT between the remained group in the third month and the absorption group, there was a difference in the extent and the progress of the lesions .(3) There was a difference of the appearance rate of remaining lesion in lungs in two groups (≥40 ages and

Background Epidemiological investigation showed that 15％-29％ of patients with cataract have preexisting astigmatism of ＞ 1.50 D.So to control astigmatism is very important to the improvement of visual function after cataract surgery.The implantation of Toric intraocular lens (IOL) is a new option for the correction of preexisting astigmatism during cataract surgery,now.Short-term clinical studies of cataract patients with AcrySof Toric IOL implantation have revealed a good stability.However,the evaluation of long-term clinical result is seldom.Objective This study was to evaluate the long-term clinical results of Toric intraocular lens(IOL) implantation.Methods A serial case-observational study was designed.One hundred and twenty eyes of 78 cataract patients were included in this study.Phacoemulsification combined with AcrySof Toric IOL implantation was performed and the patients received a 2-year follow-up.Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCDVA),best corrected distance visual acuity(BCDVA),residual cylinder,IOL rotation,vector analysis and accuracy of astigmatic correction were clinically evaluated in 1 day,1 month,3 months,6 months,1 year and 2 years,respectively.Comparison of these results of different follow-up periods were made.Results Sixty-seven patients (101 eyes)finished the follow-up and 19patients(19 eyes)lost visit due to other diseases affected.At 2 years visit after AcrySof SN60TT implantation,UCDVA,BCDVA,residual cylinder,absolute value of IOL rotation degree,vector magnitude of surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was 0.16 (0.20),0 (0.1),0.75 (0.5) D,(2.9± 1.8) °,(1.2 ± 0.6) D,and the correction index (CI)was 0.90±0.41.A positive correlation was found between SIA and TIA(r=0.74,P =0.000).Compared to 1 month,3,6 months and 1 year,there was a mild tendency of decrease in accuracy of astigmatism correction and CI.Residual cylinder and degree of IOL rotation at 2 years after surgery were also slightly higher.However these changes were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusions After 2 years of follow-up,patients with AcrySof Toric implantation remain good visual acuity.AcrySof Toric IOL presents excellent long-term rotational stability and accuracy of astigmatism correction.

Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quality of root canal filling performed by dentists and advanced dental trainees (ADTs) and the current level of continuing education in a dental teaching hospital.

METHODS2 043 cases, randomly completed by six dentists and eight ADTs over half a year, were divided into two groups. The quality of root canal filling was analyzed radiographically.

RESULTSThe overall percentage of the adequate root filling was 49.6%. The percentages of the adequate teeth filling and root canals filling (59.9%; 63.9%) by dentists were significantly higher than those (40.1%; 47.4%) by ADTs. In addition, the frequency of the adequate root canals filling by ADTs in the last two months (57.8%) was significantly higher than that in the first two months (40.0%), and the adequate filling rate by ADTs during the last two months was close to that by dentists.

CONCLUSIONSThe quality of root canal filling performed by dentists was adequate. There was a substantial improvement for ADTs in filling quality after six months training.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; diagnostic imaging ; Education, Dental, Continuing ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; therapy ; Pulpitis ; therapy ; Quality of Health Care ; Radiography ; Root Canal Obturation ; standards

Objective To detect the isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) resistance of Mycohaeterium tuberculosis isolates in the single tube with multiplex-polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(muhi-PCR-SSCP) system. Methods According to the sequences of inhA, katG and rpoB genes of the Mycohacterium tuberculosis, three pairs of oligonucleotide primes were designed to examine the INH and RIF resistance with the multi-PCR-SSCP. The validity of the newly developed method was evaluated with 116 clinical isolates of Mycohacterium tuberculosis( 70 isolates that were INH-resistant and 66 isolates that were RIF-resistant). Results The validity of the method was assessed with multiplex PCR-SSCP with the bacteria culture with susceptibility test as golden standard. The three genes, katG, inhA and rpoB, in the 116 clinical isolates and H37Rv strain were amplified successfully in single PCR reactions,except 4 isolates with katG deletion mutants. Compared with strain H37Rv, forty-six isolates had katG gene mutations, thirteen had inhA mutations and fifty-eight had rpoB mutations. Thirty-eight isolates had simultaneous katG and rpoB mutations and 4 isolates had both inhA and rpoB mutations. Four isolates had inhA and katG mutations and 2 isolates had mutations in all three genes simultaneously. The sensitivity of the newly developed multiplex-PCR-SSCP assay was 80% and 82% for INH and RIF, respectively. The specificity of the assay was 100% and 92% for INH and RIF, respectively. Conclusion Muhiplex-PCRSSCP provides a rapid, specific and cost-effective method of detecting multidrug-resistant TB. It laid a solid foundation for the further study of drug resistant gene.

OBJECTIVETo explore surface roughness of bone cement and surround tissue on histological characteristic of induced membranes.

METHODSBone cements with smooth and rough surface were implanted in radius bone defect, intramuscular and subcutaneous sites of rabbits, and formed induced membranes. Membranes were obtained and stained (HE) 6 weeks later. Images of membrane tissue were obtained and analyzed with an automated image analysis system. Five histological parameters of membranes were measured with thickness,area,cell density,ECM density and microvessel density. Double factor variance analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the two factors on histological characteristics of induced membranes.

RESULTSMembranes can be induced by each kind of bone cement and at all the three tissue sites. In histological parameters of thickness,area and micro vessel,there were significant differences among the membranes induced at different tissue sites (P = 0.000, P = 0.000, P = 0.000); whereas, there were no significant differences in histological parameters of cell density and ECM density (P = 0.734, P = 0.638). In all five histological parameters of membranes, there were no significant differences between the membranes induced by bone cements with different surface roughness (P = 0.506, P = 0.185, P = 0.883, P = 0.093, P = 0.918).

CONCLUSIONSurround tissue rather than surface roughness of bone cements can affect the histological characteristics of induced membranes. The fibrocystic number, vascularity, mechanical tension and micro motion of the surround tissue may be closely correlated with the histological characteristics of induced membranes.

Animals ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Membranes ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Radius ; cytology ; Surface Properties ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Background and purpose:Diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) can be used for MR imaging systemic examination, especially the lymph node and bone diseases can be clear, and the imaging result is similar with PET. The aim of this study was to compare the value of clinical application in the diagnosis of malignant metastatic osteopathic between DWIBS and bone scintigraphy mapping. Methods:Thirty-six specimens conifrmed with malignant tumors by the pathology of operation or biopsy underwent both DWIBS imaging and bone scintigraphy mapping, chi-square test was used for comparing the detection results of bone metastasis by this two imaging methods. Results:Thirty (165 positions in all) of 36 malignant tumor patients were conifrmed as having bone metastasis, compared that 26 patients (143 positions) with DWIBS method and 23 patients (132 positions) with bone scintigraphy mapping were detected, but there was no statistical signiifcance between this two imaging methods (χ2=1.002, P=0.506). The sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV) and accuracy of the detection rate of bone metastasis were similar in DWIBS and bone scintigraphy, with 86.7%, 96.3%, 86.1%and 76.7%, 88.5%, 72.2%, respectively;but the speciifcity and negative predictive value (NPV) in DWIBS (83.3%and 55.6%) was higher than that of in bone scintigraphy (50.0%and 30.0%). The detection rates of different bone metastasis with DWIBS and bone scintigraphy were 86.7%(143/165) and 80.0%(132/165), and it was no signiifcant difference (χ2=2.640, P=0.104);DWIBS method was better than bone scintigraphy in the detection of osseous metastasis on pelvis and limbs long bone, and there was different signiifcant (χ2=6.783 and 7.636, P=0.023 and 0.016). Conclusion:DWIBS could detect bone metastatic lesions effectively, and there is ifne consistency with bone scintigraphy. Therefore, DWIBS is to hope to be extended and applicated clinically.

The active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine have been reported to possess significant pharmacological activity and played an important role in clinical treatments. However, lots of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine suffer from disadvantages such as low solubility, high melting point and low stability that results in low bioavailability and limit its clinical application. Crystal structure plays an important role in improving physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. This review concludes the research advances of several crystal forms used in the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine in terms of polymorph, cocrystal, amorphous/coamorphous and nanocrystal. And the effects of crystal forms on the physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine were reviewed. This research may be useful for the formulation preparation and development of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.