Dideoxynucleosides ; False Positive Reactions ; Fluorine Radioisotopes ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; diagnosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Consensus ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Vessels ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; methods ; Tumor Burden

Objective To study the association between clinical symptoms,psychosomatic factors and autonomic nervous function in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Methods Thirty-four patients with GERD diagnosed by reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) and endoscopy and 15 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study.All the subjects were divided into two groups,one with normal scores of Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and Zung's depression scale (SDS) as GERD (-) and the other with abnormal scores of SAS and SDS as GERD (+).Reflux symptom score was recorded for both groups at the same time.Autonomic nervous function was assessed by their heart rate variability (HRV) on dynamic electrocardiogram (DCG).The time domain parameters analyzed included standard deviation (SD) of average R-R interval during 24 hours (SDNN),SD of average 5-minute sinus heart rate (SDANN),mean square root of the difference of adjoining two R-R interval (rMSSD),and proportion of the heart beats with difference of R-R interval more than 50 ms from the total heart beats (PNN 50),and the frequency domain parameters analyzed included low-frequency (LF),high-frequency (HF) and ratio of LF to HF.Results Average scores of SAS and SDS were significantly higher in patients with GERD than those in healthy controls (48?9 vs 38?6 and 48?11 vs 41?6,respectively,P

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of volume therapy guided by the response of CVP and global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI) in septic shock patients.Methods Twenty-three patients of both sexes aged 18-64 yr who had been in septic shock for ＜ 6 h were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group (group Ⅰ,n =12) and study group (group Ⅱ,n =11 ).Tracheal intubation was performed and the patients were mechanically ventilated in both groups.Right internal jugular vein or subclavian vein was cannulated for CVP monitoring and fluid administration.PiCCO catheter was inserted into femoral artery.Normal saline,6％ hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5,albumin and plasma were infused via CVP line.CVP was maintained ≥8 mm Hg in both groups while in Ⅱ group GEDVI was maintained at 600-750 ml/m2 during resuscitation.Blood samples were taken from artery and CVP line before (baseline) and at 6 h of volume therapy (T2) for determination of blood lactate concentration and central venous oxygen saturation ( ScVO2 ).The changing rate of lactate ( (baseline lactate concentration-lactate concentration at 6 h of volume therapy) ÷ baseline value × 100％ ) and ScvO2 ( ( ScvO2 at 6 h of volume therapy - baseline ScvO2 ) ÷ baseline value × 100％ ) ) was calculated.Results The changing rate of lactate was significantly higher in Ⅱ group than in Ⅰ group.There was no significant difference in the changing rate of ScvO2 between the 2 groups.Conclusion Volume therapy guided by CVP and GEDVI can provide better tissue perfusion than by CVP alone in septic shock patients.

Nerve growth factor is one of the most important factors playing an important role in regulating the growth, development and survival of the neuron. The purified NGF from human placenta has been reported, the tissue from which can be isolated the NGF is very limited. It is important for basic research and clinic application to expression hNGF by genetic engineering. By polymerase chain reaction,gene fragment encoding the mature part of ?-NGF was amplified using the DNA of human placenta as template. The fragment was sequenced and inserted into expression vector pET-15b, and the recombinant expression vector pET15b-NGF was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3)pLysS. After inducing with IPTG the NGF was higher expressed up to 25% of the total cell proteins. The expression product was purified with metal chelate affinity chromatography on Ni-IDA agarose under denaturing condition. The purity of rNGF was higher than 90% and yield of rNGF was 4.56mg/L expressing bacteria. SDS-PAGE revealed the NGF expression product had a Mr 16kDa. Western-blot displayed the recombinant product had strong immunological activity with rabbit anti-human ?-NGF polyclonic antibodies. The expression products were dealed with solubilizing inclusion bodies and refolding protein. The test of nerve fiber growth of chicken embryo DRG neurons displayed rNGF had biological activity.

The methods for cartilage repair have been studied so far, yet many of them seem to have limitations due to the low regenerative capacity of articular cartilage. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been suggested as an alternative solution to remedy this challenging problem. MSCs, which have extensive differentiation capacity, can be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes under specific conditions. Particularly, this review focused on the effects of growth factors, cell-to-cell interactions and biomaterials in chondrogenesis of MSCs. Appropriate stimulations through these factors are crucial in differentiation and proliferation of MSCs. However, use of MSCs for cartilage repair has some drawbacks and risks, such as expression of hypertrophy-related genes in MSCs-derived chondrocytes and consequent calcification or cell death. Nevertheless, the clinical application of MSCs is expected in the future with advanced technology.
Biocompatible Materials ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Cell Communication ; Cell Death ; Chondrocytes ; Chondrogenesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Endoscopy ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skull Base ; surgery

OBJECTIVEThe research aimed to analyze the significance of Pont Index in the dental crowding.

METHODSRespectively selected 91 normal occlusion persons and 101 dental crowding patients, measured every item of Pont Index of these two sample groups, and compared the results.

RESULTSThe premolar index and molar index of dental crowding patients were obviously bigger than that of normal occlusion, and there was apparent significant difference. There was no significant gender difference of Pont Index either in normal occlusion or dental crowding patients. Whereas there was significant gender difference of premolar arch width and molar arch width in normal occlusion.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of dental crowding is clearly related to Pont Index.

Bicuspid ; Cephalometry ; Dental Arch ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Molar

OBJECTIVETo identify the anatomical variability of the left spermatic vein (LSV) and determine its effect on the induction of experimental left varicocele (ELV) in adolescent rats.

METHODSWe equally randomized 30 adolescent male SD rats to groups A (LSV collaterals fully ligated and the left renal vein constricted), B (only the left renal vein constricted), and C (sham operation), observed the courses of the LSVs and measured their diameters. At 30 days after operation, we analyzed the changes in the left kidneys and the diameters of the LSVs.

RESULTSIrregular collaterals were observed in 90% of the LSVs and no abnormal changes were found in the left kidneys after surgery. The postoperative LSV diameter was remarkably increased in group A as compared with the baseline ([1.47 +/- 0.15 ] vs [0.16 +/- 0.08] mm, P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference in group B ([0.31 +/- 0.49] vs [0.15 +/- 0.07] mm, P > 0.05) and C ([0.17 +/- 0.07] vs [0.16 +/- 0.06] mm, P > 0.05), and it was significantly longer in A than in B (P < 0.01). The success rate of ELV induction was 100% in group A and 10% in group B, but no varicocele was observed in group C.

CONCLUSIONCorrect identification of the anatomical course of the LSV and ligation of its irregular collaterals are essential for the establishment of a stable and consistent ELV model.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Kidney ; pathology ; Ligation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord ; blood supply ; Varicocele ; Veins ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Huoxue Jiedu Recipe (HJR) on the hemodynamics of central retinal artery (CRA) and central retinal vena, as well as the morphology of blood vessels of diabetic rats.

METHODSSixty SD rats were selected and fasted for 12 h. Streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to induce diabetic rat models. The modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the high dose HJR group (15.4 g/kg), the middle dose HJR group (7.70 g/kg), the low dose HJR group (3.85 g/kg), and the Doxium Capsule group (the Western medicine group, 0. 167 g/kg), 10 in each group. Another 10 rats were recruited as the normal control group. Equal volume of distilled water was given to rats in the normal control group. The intervention was carried out once daily in each group, totally for 20 weeks. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), the end diastolic velocity (EDV), the mean velocity (MV), the pulsatile index (PI), the resistive index (RI), and the central retinal vena velocity (CRV) were detected in each group. The retinal vascular morphologies were observed and compared using trypsin digestion.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the PSV, EDV, MV, and CRV decreased, PI, RI, and capillary density increased in the model group with statistical difference (P<0.01). The retinal capillaries rowed disorderly. The calibers of capillaries were not even. The hyperplasia of endothelial cells and less pericytes could be seen. Compared with the model group, PSV, EDV, MV, and CRV all increased, PI and RI decreased in the high and middle dose HJR groups with statistical difference (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference among all the medication groups (P>0.05). The distributions of capillaries in the 3 HJR groups were even. The vascular morphous was comparatively regular, without obvious twisting and dilation. The hyperplasia of endothelial cells was not obvious. Compared with the model group, the capillary density significantly decreased (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference among the 3 HJR groups. Compared with the model group, the capillary density significantly decreased in the Western medicine group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHJR could obviously improve the retinal hemodynamics parameters of diabetic rats, increase the retinal capillary blood flow and reperfusion, and restrain the hyperplasia of endothelial cells in the capillary.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemodynamics ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley