Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of various spectrum lasers in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Methods Based on the principles and methods of Cochrane systematic reviews, we searched the Cochrane Library (2009, 6 issues), PubMcd, Embase, China Biomedical Literature Database, China Journal Full Text Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full Text Database. Retrieval time was up to June, 2009. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lasers for acne vulgaris were included. Results Twelve RCTs totaling 367 patients were included. Because the lack of clinical homogeneity, only descriptive analysis was conducted. Acne lesion counts improved significantly with laser therapy. Adverse effects were limited to transient erythema and edema at treatment sites. Treatment-related pains were well tolerated. Conclusions Current evidence demonstrates that all type lasers in treating acne vulgaris is safe and efficacy. However, higher quality RCT research would be needed to verify the effects and status of lasers on acne vulgaris.

Objective To elucidate the biocompatibility differences of 4 dialyzers with different membranes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD)patients. Methods A total of 60 MHD patients were enrolled in the prospective,randomized,control,cohort study.In baseline,synthetic polysulfone(PS)membrane dialyzer was used in all the patients for at least 3 months.Then the patients were randomly divided into three groups:ployethersulfone(PES)membrane group,cellulose triacetate (CTA)membrane group,and synthetic polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)membrane group.Study duration was 6 months.No dialyzer was reused.The biocompatibility markers were detected repeatedly at different time points and compared with each other in different dialyzer groups. Results The blood levels of high sensitive C reactive protein,interleukin-1β and interleukin-13 were not significantly different among different groups on every time point.However,the blood complements levels and WBC count were significantly different among four kinds of dialyzer.When the dialyzers changed from PS to PMMA membrane,C3a levels and WBC count changed significantly(P＜0.05).Moreover,the change of C5a level was significantly different between PES group and PMMA group on month 3(P＜0.05). Conclusion There are some differences of biocompatibiliy among different dialyzer membranes.

Objective:To investigate the induction effect of NPPB,a chloride channel blocker,on the apoptosis of human glioma SHG-44 cells,and to explore its mechanism. Methods:The SHG-44 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group and NPPB groups (50,100,200 μmol· L-1 ).The cell viability was detected by MTT assay.The apoptotic rates were detected by flow cytometry.The expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were detected by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting method.Results:Compared with control group,the cell viabilities of SHG-44 cells in 100 and 200 μmol·L-1 NPPB groups after treated for 24 and 48 h were decreased significantly (P < 0.01).The results of flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rates of SHG-44 cells in 100 and 200 μmol·L-1 NPPB groups were 24.64% and 41.85%,and they were higher than that in control group (4.17%) (P <0. 01).The immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting results showed that the expression levels of caspase-3 and Bax proteins in SHG-44 cells in 100 μmol · L-1 NPPB group were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0. 01 ), and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was decreased (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion:NPPB could induce the apoptosis of human glioma SHG-44 cells by the down-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of the expression of Bax,and the activation of caspase-3.

Objective To know the practitioners, managers and researchers' ideas on referral of hospice care. Methods Focus group discussion was used to collect the data, and the thematic analysis was employed to do the data analysis. Results Six themes including prognosis based referral criteria combining need based referral criteria, no response to the curative treatment, shortening the period of prognostic survival time,focus on cancer patient, detailing the evaluation index, taking specialist palliative care service as the transfer point were found. Conclusions The referral criteria should be made on the basis of prognosis. With the development of hospice care, it could be revised further.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Teratoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology

In order to confirm the role that the 49th amino acid residue plays in enzymatic inactivity of Glutamine 49 phospholipase A2(Gln49-PLA2),site-directed mutagenesis of its 49th amino acid gene codon was conducted using PCR.Aspartic acid 49 phospholipase A2(Asp49-PLA2-Q49D-PLA2),the mutant of Gln49-PLA2 was expressed in E.coli with pET32a+ vector.The fusion protein,expressed as inclusion body,after being denatured,was on-column refolded and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography(IMAC),and then cleaved by Factor Xa.The mature Q49D-PLA2 mutant was obtained by Hitrap SP cation exchange and Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography,with the recovery rate of 1.3%,and the specific activity of the mature Q49D-PLA2 mutant was 72 U/mg.It has been demonstrated that the 49th glutamine amino acid residue is the main reason in enzymatic inactivity of Gln49-PLA2 and the results are helpful for denatured protein refolding,especially in rich disulfide bonds conditions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the restoration methods with different post-and-core systems and root rehabilitation on the fracture resistance property of mandibular premolars with flared root canals.

METHODSThirty-six human mandibular premolars were divided randomly into four groups (n = 9). Three experimental groups with flared root canals were restored with prefabricated glass fiber posts and composite resin cores (group A), prefabricated titanium metal posts and composite resin cores (group B) and cast post-and-cores in combination with root rehabilitation using composite resin(group C), respectively. The control group with normal root canals was restored with cast post-and-cores (group D). The four groups were restored with metal crowns. A compressive load was applied at a 30 degrees angle to the long axis of the tooth until fracture, at a crosshead speed of 1 mm x min(-1). The fracture was categorized into repairable mode and unrepairable mode. The data was statistically analyzed with ANOVA and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTSThe mean failure of the four groups were listed as the followings: Group A (1.39 +/- 0.56) kN, group B (1.17 +/- 0.40) kN, group C (1.21 +/- 0.30) kN, group D (1.31 +/- 0.56) kN. There were no significant differences among the groups (P > 0.05). The number of unrepairable fracture in group A, B, C, D were 6, 8, 9, 9, respectively. No significant differences were found among the groups(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDifferent post-and-core systems have no influences on the fracture resistance property of mandibular premolars with flared root canals. Composite resin rehabilitation is an effective method to restore flared canal roots.

Bicuspid ; Composite Resins ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dental Restoration Failure ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Glass ; Humans ; Post and Core Technique ; Tooth Fractures ; Tooth Root ; Tooth, Nonvital

OBJECTIVETo identify the effect of NEP on Abeta -induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

METHODSPC12 cells that stably express NEP is generated and the effect of NEP on the process of apoptosis induced by Abeta is analyzed, including the viability of the cells, the production of LDH, ROS and ATP, the activity of Caspase-3.

RESULTSNEP could improve the viability of cells and the production of ATP, inhibit the release of LDH and ROS. In the same time, the activity of caspase-3 descended (P < 0.05). But iNEP had not significant effect on cells apoptosis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNEP has the protective effect on Abeta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Endopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Transfection

Objective:To observe whether the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving sex hormone disorders and follicle development is by decreasing the expression of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in rats with experimental polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).Methods:Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups,a normal group (NG),a model group (MG),an EA at acupoints group (EAAG),and an EA at non-acupoints group (EANAG),with 10 rats in each group.The rats in the EAAG and EANAG were intervened by EA treatment for consecutive 14 d.Zhongji (CV 3) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were selected as the acupoints in the EAAG,and the tip of the tail and 1 cm up from the tail tip were selected as the non-acupoints in the EANAG.After treatment,the histomorphological changes of the ovary,the levels of aromatase P450 (P450arom),testosterone and estradiol in the ovarian tissues,and the expressions of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and AMH were observed.Results:After treatment,compared with the MG and EANAG,the expression of AMH decreased (P＜0.05),the levels of P450arom and estradiol increased significantly,and the level of testosterone decreased significantly (all P＜0.01) in the EAAG.Additionally,several normal follicles were present and the number of cystically dilated follicles decreased in the EAAG.Compared with the MG and EANAG,the EAAG obviously had more follicular granulosa cells.Conclusion:EA can down-regulate the abnormally increased expression of AMH to improve sex hormone disorders and follicle development in PCOS rats.

OBJECTIVETo analyze treatment and prognostic factors of 74 patients with dermatofibro-sarcoma protuberans (DFSP).

METHODSFrom August 1990 to November 1999, 74 patients with DFSP confirmed pathologically were treated. There were 52 males and 22 females with a median age of 37 years (range 4 to 80 years) on diagnosis. Seventeen patients were treated by extensive excision and 2 by limited excision. Fifty-two patients had surgical resection alone (S), and 22 postoperative radiotherapy (S + R) of 50-70 Gy. The multivariate parameters were analyzed using Cox model. Kaplan-Meier and Log-Rank test were used to evaluate the results of the recurrence-free survival.

RESULTSThe rate of recurrence was 28.4% for all patients. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (RFSR) was 66.6% and the 10-year RFSR was 52.5%. The 5-year and 10-year in the S group were 58.4% and 41.2%, compared with 90.0% and 83.3% in the S + R group (P < 0.05). The 5-year and 10-year RFSR in the pathologically positive margin group were 57.5% and 41.4% respectively, compared with the 75.0% and 56.6% in the pathologically negative group (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested radiotherapy and negative pathological margins were favorable prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONPost-operation radiotherapy and pathological margin are the independent prognostic factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Postoperative Care ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; surgery