Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hypothyroidism ; genetics ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Thyroid Hormone ; genetics

ObjectiveTo explore the application of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in precise radiotherapy of esophageal carcinoma.MethodsThirty-seven patients with biopsy proven esophageal cancer from March 2010 to January 2011 were included.To delineate the gross tumor volume (GTV) using CT and DWMRI images,each patient was examined by DWMRI and CT scan using the same position before radiotherapy.To compare the maximum diameters and volumes of tumor between CT and DWMRI. The tumor lengths measured by esophagogram,esophagoscope,CT and DWMRI were compared.ResultsTumor lengths under esophagogram,esophagoscope,CT and DWMRI were 5.70 cm,6.06 cm,7.97 cm and 5.79 cm respectively. The lengths between CT and esophagogram,CT and esophagoscope,CT and DWMRI had statistical significance respectively (F=4.88,P=0.003).The maximum diameters of tumor shown on CT and DWMRI were 3.79 cm and 3.81 cm respectively ( t =-0.32,P=0.751 ).The GTV were 45.75 cm3 and 38.05 cm3 in CT and DWMRI respectively (t=5.30,P =0.001 ).53 lymph nodes were assessed positive on both CT and DWMRI.DWMRI excluded 25 positive lymph nodes assesed by CT; also confirmed 15 negative lymph nodes excluded by CT,6 of which were paraesophageal lymph nodes.The addition of DWMRI information altered the clinical stage in 6 patients.ConclusionsTumor lengths measured on DWMRI and esophagogram had the optimal approximation.It was easy to find paraesophageal lymph nodes via DWMRI.With the addition of DWMRI information,the target range and clinical stage were alerted in some patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate in vivo pharmacokinetics of Ophiopogonis Radix polysaccharide MDG-1 oily suspension injection prepared with different prescriptions in rats, and explore the feasibility of the long-acting drug delivery of MDG-1 Injection by using the oily suspension drug release system.

METHODMDG-1 microparticles were prepared by the anti-solvent precipitation method. Their size and size distribution were characterized. Castor oil with a high viscosity or aluminum stearate were added into soybean oil with a low viscosity, in order to prepare oily media with different viscosities, detect their rheological properties and screen out superior prescriptions for in vivo evaluation.

RESULTThe average size of microparticles was 21.81 microm, and the span between them was 2.63. The in vivo evaluation was conducted for prescriptions of mixed oil (soybean oil/castor oil, 2: 3) and soybean oils gelled by 2% and 4% aluminium stearate. Among them, the prescription of soybean gelled by 4% aluminium stearate could significantly reduce C(max) and prolong the apparent t1/2, with the MDG-1 release time of several days.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to achieve the long-acting MDG-1 drug delivery by using oily media with a high viscosity.

Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVETo explore biomechanical properties and stress-strain of mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery.

METHODSAfter the model of mucosa scars was made, the mucosa scars and normal mucosa were excised and examined immediately by tensionometry.

RESULTSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery were compared with normal mucosa. The Poisson's ratio of mucosa scars and normal mucosa was 0.5 and 0.49, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups. The ultimate Young's modulus of mucosa scars was about 24.22 MPa, however, it declined to 3.32 Mpa in normal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery are biomechanically weaker than normal mucosa. It can be used for further research, such as maxillary orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis, and orthodontic treatment.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cicatrix ; physiopathology ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort

Objective To investigate the feasibility of new criteria for evaluating the radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer by barium meal (BM) combined with CT scans.Methods A total of 189 patients who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer (confirmed by biopsy) from January 2004 to December 2010 were enrolled as subjects.All patients underwent BM and CT scans before and after radiotherapy.The maximal esophageal wall thickness (EWT) and changes in the volumes of regional lymph nodes measured by CT scans were analyzed.New criteria for evaluating the short-term radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer was studied considering the analysis results as well as the BM-based criteria for evaluating short-term radiotherapeutic effect and follow-up results.Results The BM-based evaluation criteria were still useful,but had certain limitations.There were 115 patients who had regional lymph node metastasis as detected by CT scans before radiotherapy,and they were divided into complete remission (CR) group and partial remission (PR) group according to BM results after radiotherapy; the local control rate (LCR) of CR group was significantly higher than that of PR group,but there was no significant difference in survival rate (SR) between the two groups.There were 65 patients who had no regional lymph node metastasis,and they were also divided into CR group and PR group according to BM results after radiotherapy;the LCR and SR of CR group were significantly higher than those of PR group.In summary,the patients who had a CR as evaluated by BM and had the maximal EWT of ≤ 1.20 cm and the volumes of residual lymph nodes of ≤ 1.00 cm3 on CT were defined as CR ; the patients who had a PR as evaluated by BM or had the maximal EWT of ＞ 1.20 cm or those who had a CR evaluated by BM and had the maximal EWT of ≤ 1.20 cm and the volumes of residual lymph nodes of ＞ 1.00 cm3 on CT were defined as PR.The cases evaluated by BM as no remission (NR) or showing metastasis were defined as NR or progressive disease.There were significant differences in LCR and SR between the CR group and PR group determined by the new criteria.Conclusions Simply using BM to evaluate the short-term radiotherapeutic effect on esophageal cancer has certain limitations; instead,the evaluation based on both BM and CT scans is more accurate.

Problem-based learning(PBL)is an important part of creative education in medical colleges.Choice and design of cases are of the vital importance to success or failure of PBL course.To enhance students' ability of independent,creative thinking,and their ability of analyzing and solving problems,the roles of primitive cases and model cases as well as interrelation between them were discussed respective- ly.Moreover,five basic principles to be followed in model case design for PBL in Medical Microbiology and Human Parasitology,i.e.objec- tivity,flexibility,consistency,illumination and relevance,were proposed in this study.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Huoxue Recipe (BHR) on inhibiting vascular calcification (VC) in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats by regulating BMP-2/Runx2/Osterix signal pathway, and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, and the BHR group, 10 in each group. Rats in the model group and the BHR group were administered with 250 mg/kg adenine suspension by gastroagavage and fed with 1.8% high phosphorus forage, once per day in the first 4 weeks, and then gastric administration of adenine suspension was changed to once per two days in the following 5-8 weeks. Rats in the BHR group were administered with BHR at the daily dose of 55 g/kg by gastrogavage in the first 8 weeks, once per day. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group by gastrogavage for 8 weeks. Histological changes in renal tissue and aorta VC were observed by HE staining and alizarin red staining respectively. Levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in serum were detected. Protein expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2), Runt related transcription factor (Runx2) , and Osterix were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSHE staining showed that compared with the normal group, disordered glomerular structure, tubular ectasia and dropsy, intracavitary inflammatory cell infiltration, dark brown crystal deposition in kidney tubules, renal interstitial fibrosis, and decreased number of renal blood vessels in the model group. Compared with the model group, normal glomerular numbers increased more, reduced degree of tubular ectasia, decreased number of inflammatory cells, and reduced adenine crystal deposition in the BHR group. Alizarin red staining showed that compared with the normal group, calcified nodes could be found in the model group, with extensive deposition of red particle in aorta. Compared with the model group, calcified nodes were reduced in the BHR group. Compared with normal group, serum levels of P, SCr, BUN, and iPTH significantly increased, serum Ca level significantly decreased, protein expressions of BMP-2, Runx2, Osterix also increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, serum levels of P, SCr, BUN, and iPTH levels significantly decreased, serum Ca level significantly increased, protein expressions of BMP-2, Runx2, Osterix also decreased in the BHD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBHD could improve renal function, Ca-P metabolism, and renal histological changes in CHF rats, down-regulate the expression level of BMP-2/Runx2/Osterix signal pathway in vascular calcification of CRF, which might be one of the mechanisms for inhibiting VC in CHF.

Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vascular Calcification ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of hospital healthcare workers (HCWs) with needle-stick and other sharps injuries, and to provide the basic data for intervention study.

METHODSA retrospective investigation was conducted with questionnaires for needle-stick and other sharps injuries from January 1- to December 31 of 2009 among 1201 healthcare workers in a general hospital.

RESULTSThe total number of needle-stick and other sharps injuries among 1201 healthcare workers in 2009 was 4320, the number of needle-stick and other sharps injuries for each person was 3.58 and the incidence of needle-stick and other sharps injuries was 78.85 %. The subjects with the high risk of needle-stick and other sharps injuries were from the department of gynecology and obstetrics, surgical department, intensive care unit and emergency room, the incidences and the average numbers of episodes were 94.67% and 4.51 per person, 93.09% and 4.46 per person, 85.44% and 3.08 per person, 76.62 % and 4.55 per person in 2009, respectively. The operations resulting in the needle-stick and other sharps injuries were the breaking glass preparation (ampoule or vial), withdrawing needles, preparing sharp devices and performing an operation, the incidences were 46.96%, 30.97%, 25.73% and 14.49%, respectively. Needle-stick and other sharps injuries were mainly caused by ampoules, winged steel needle, disposable syringes, suture needles and scalpels, the incidences were 47.04%, 37.22%, 31.31%, 17.65% and 7.08%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONHealthcare worker are still at risk of needle- stick and other sharps injuries, which was related to the profession, department, medical manipulation and medical apparatus and instruments. Special and comprehensive measurements for preventing the needle-stick and other sharps injuries should be taken actively.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Needlestick Injuries ; epidemiology ; Personnel, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of Kirschner wires and tension-band fixation through posterolateral minimal incision for the treatment of displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to December 2010, there were 62 children (38 males and 24 females, ranging in age from 2 to 14 years, averaged 6.8 years) with Gartland type III supracondylar humeral fractures. All the injuries were caused by falling, and all the fractures were fresh injuries. The duration from injury to surgery ranged from 5 to 20 hours. All the children were treated with open reduction through a posterolateral minimal approach, Kirschnere wires and tension-band fixation were fixed with plaster at 90 degrees of elbow flexion, forearm supination, and palms facing upwards. The kirschner pins and wires were removed after fractures healing. The Flynn's criterion was used to evaluate therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe operation time ranged from 30 to 50 min (averaged 45 min). All the patients achieved solid union. Sixty patients were followed up, and the mean follow-up time was 15 months (ranged from 6 to 24 months). At the 6th month after operation, 48 patients got an excellent result, 9 good, 3 bad (light cubitus varus with varus angle about 6 degree, without infection on function) according to Flynn's criteria. There were no complications such as procedure-related pin tract infection, iatrogenic nerve and vascular injuries and myositis ossificans.

CONCLUSIONThe Kirschner wires and tension-band fixation through posterolateral minimal incision approach can obtain clearer surgical field, simple in operation, and few wound complications. Therefore, this modified treatment is an effective and reliable method for pediatric displaced Gartland type III supracondylar humeral fractures.

Adolescent ; Bone Wires ; Casts, Surgical ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Supine Position

From an aqueous extract of Lonicera japonica flower buds, sixteen compounds were isolated by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over macroporous resin, MCI gel, silica gel, and sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis as 6'-O-acetylvogeloside (1), 6'-O-acetylsecoxyloganin (2), dichlorogelignate (3), guanosinyl-(3' --> 5')-adenosine monophosphate(GpA,4) , 5'-O-methyladenosine (5), 2'-O-methyladenosine (6), adenosine (7), syringin (8), methyl 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl caffeate (9), (-)-dihydrophaseic acid 4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), ketologanin (11), 7α-morroniside (12), 7β-morroniside (13), kingiside (14), cryptochlorogenic acid methyl ester (15), and 6-hydroxymethyl-3-pyridinol (16). All the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time, compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, 3 and 5 are new natural products, and 4 is the first example of dinucleoside monophosphate isolated from a plant extract.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure