Plasma homocystein (Hcy) level and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism were investigated in 50 normal subjects, 32 cases of hypothyroidism and 48 cases of hyperthyroidism. As compared with normal group, plasma Hcy level was increased in hypothyroidism group (P

OBJECTIVE To explore and control the related factors of nosocomial pulmonary infection in patients with extensive burn. METHODS To study retrospectively 193 hospitalized patients with extensive burn in our hospital from Jan 1997 to Oct 2004. RESULTS In 193 cases of extensive burn,there were 37 cases complicated by infection,the rate of nosocomial pulmonary infection was 19.17%.A total of 248 pathogen strains were isolated by bacterial culturing.Nosocomial pulmonary infection was closely related with such factors as aging,course of disease,burn area,burn shock with fluid resuscitation,inhalation injury,tracheotomy,antibiotic use for a long time,and so on.The mortality of 193 patients with extensive burn was 11.40%,in the infective group it was 27.03% and in the non-infective group it was 7.69%(P

Objective: To explore therapeutic effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on rehabilitation in patients with stroke hemiplegia.Methods: A total of 136 patients with stroke hemiplegia were selected and divided into routine rehabilitation group and modified rehabilitation group.After 12 weeks, scores of Fugal-Meyer motor assessment (FMA), modified Barthel index (MBI) and Berg balance scale (BBS), 6min walking distance (6MWD), psychological state and quality of life (QOL) were compared between two groups.Results: After 12 weeks, there were significant rise in scores of FMA, MBI and BBS and 6MWD, and significant reductions in scores of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) in two groups, P<0.05 all.Compared with routine rehabilitation group, there were significant rise in scores of FMA [(53.23±5.13) scores vs.(60.67±5.67) scores], MBI [(57.83±6.11) scores vs.(69.93±6.74) scores] and BBS [(41.45±4.12) scores vs.(50.53±4.56) scores] and 6MWD [(179.46±24.62)m vs.(211.34±26.71)m], and significant reductions in scores of SAS [(50.75±2.56) scores vs.(41.11±1.53) scores] and SDS [(51.34±3.35) scores vs.(40.78±2.11) scores] in modified rehabilitation group, P<0.05 all.Compared with before rehabilitation, there were significant rise in physiological, psychological, social and setting dimension scores in both groups after rehabilitation, and those of modified rehabilitation group were significantly higher than those of routine rehabilitation group, P<0.05 all.Conclusion:Modified constraint-induced movement therapy can significantly improve movement, balance function, and anxiety, depression and daily living capacities in patients with stroke hemiplegia.

Objective To investigate the fibrosis-associated genes, especially those transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) associated, expression in the tissue of extensive fibrotic kidney resulting from severe by-dronephrosis. Methods Compared 12 extensive fibrotic kidneys resulting from severe hydronephrosis with 6 normal renal tissues using PCR array. All samples were collected from our hospital from Aug. 2005 to Dec. 2006. The data were treated with △△Ct method. When 2△△Ct≤<0.5 or≥2, the difference was considered sig-nificant. Results A total of 49 differential genes expressed in the fibrotic renal tissues were screened out, of which, 25 were up-regulated and 24 were down-regulated. The differential genes included members and receptors of TGF-β super family and bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) family, target molecule of TGF-β or BMP signal pathway and several regulators. Conclusions Through investigating with PCR array, we certifi-cated the positive effect of Nodal, GSC and IGFI to renal fibrosis. And we suppose that TGF-β play a sec-ondary role in renal fibrosis, while BMP family and Leftyl work in a functional genome in the regulating of renal fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: There is no study on starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as guided tissue regeneration membranes. The guided tissue regeneration membrane with porous structure were prepared, which combined with the advantages of natural polymer and synthetic polymer. OBJECTIVE: To research the effects of the preparation conditions on the properties of starch/PVA membranes. METHODS: The porous membranes of guiding tissue regeneration were prepared mainly by starch and PVA through solution mixing, casting, freezing and drying. The effects of the mass ratio of PVA and starch, solution concentration, and pre-freezing temperature on the properties of the membrane were researched. The surface morphology, tensile strength, porous ratio, water absorbance and cell cytotoxicity were characterized. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The aperture of the membrane was 1-50 μm, the porosity was 60%-70%, and the tensile strength was 12-26 MPa. And this membrane had the excellent biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. The pores in the surface were evenly distributed with the solution concentration of 5% and the pre-freezing temperature of -30℃. The more content of starch was, and the larger of the aperture was.

Purpose The study about the CT manifestations of primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma is rarely reported by now, the purpose of this study is to explore the CT findings of primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma, to improve the radiology acknowledge about it. Materials and Methods CT findings of 46 patients with primary colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma and 46 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed, the differences of age, gender, tumor location, length and thickness of the involved intestinal wall, the thickening pattern of the intestinal wall, the contrast-enhanced form, the peri-intestinal invasion, the occurrence of intestinal obstruction and metastasis of other organs were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the colorectal adenocarcinoma group, patient age of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma group was younger (t=5.23, P<0.001), and involved intestinal wall was longer and thicker (t=4.78 and 5.76, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences of focal thickening form, contrast-enhanced level, peri-intestinal invasion, with or without peritoneal metastasis difference between the two groups (χ2=54.29, 11.89, 30.17 and 16.51, P<0.01 and P<0.001), while in gender, lesion location, occurrence of intestinal obstruction, lymph node metastasis, or liver metastasis, there was no statistically significant difference (χ2=0.18, 8.33, 0.10, 0.18 and 0.50, P>0.05). Conclusion Signet-ring cell carcinomas are often found in younger patients, their CT manifestations including a long length of concentric bowel wall thickening and is characterized by the target ring sign in contrast-enhanced scan, which often involves the peri-intestinal space with peritoneal metastasis and peri-intestinal lymph node metastasis.

Objective To discuss the MSCT performances of appendix mucinous cystadenoma in order to improve the preoperative diagnosis.Methods MSCT plain and enhanced findings of mucinous appendix mucinous cystadenoma proved by pathology in 6 pa-tients were analyzed retrospectively.Results CT showed cystic dilatation of the appendix in 2 patients with heterogeneous density, and cystic mass in the right iliac fossa in 4.As for the cystic wall,uniform thin wall was seen in 4,curvilinear mural calcification in 3 and septation in 2.Dynamic enhanced CT showed the ring mural enhancement in 4.In addition,the blurred surrounding fatty tis-sues were seen in 2.Conclusion MSCT findings of mucinous appendiceal cystadenoma appeared as cystic dilatation or cystic mass in the right iliac fossa,curvilinear mural calcification and enhanced wall.

BACKGROUND: The strength and elasticity of general starch can be enhanced dramatically after plastic blends. The major characters of this material are magnitude molecular weight, many enwinded points, extreme containment of small molecules,and great gelation ability. It can be used as a biodegradable replacement of alginate. Furthermore, by adding osteoinductive factors, thermoplastics starch (TP) can be used as an organic engineering material, which can provide dual functions:anti-bleeding and bone formation. TP can also be used as intraoral tissue formation membrane and burn dressings.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bio-safety of TP through a cytotoxicity test.DESIGN: A controlled observation.SETTING: Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics; Beijing Jishuitan Hospital; Beijing University of Chemical Technology; Peking Univesity School of Stomatology.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at the laboratory of Beijing Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics from April to October in 2006. TP sample was obtained by plasticization of corn starch (12 wt % water content) with glycerol in a Haake Rhenmix at 110℃ and with 80 rounds per minute for 25 minutes, elongation at break from 115.3% to 245.3%. It was prepared by Beijing Key Laboratory for Preparation and Processing of Novel Polymeric Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Mouse fibroblast L-929 cell strain was provided by the cell bank of Peking University Health Science Center.METHODS: 1 × 107 L-1 cell aqueous suspension was cultured into leaching liquor ( 50% ), serving for TP group, and routine culture medium served for negative control group. Effect of TP on relative growth rate of L-929 cell strain was quantitatively measured by MTI" assay. The cytotoxicity of TP was evaluated according to GB/T16175-1996. Morphological changes and proliferation of cells were observed after2, 4, and 7 days of culture in the medium through an inverted phase contrast microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cytotoxicity, morphological changes and proliferation of cells, and cell relative growth rate.RESULTS: Cytotoxicity: After 2 and 4 days of incubation, the absorbance (A) value was lower in the TP group than in the negative control group. After 7 days of incubation, the A value was significantly higher compared to negative control group (P＜0.01). It indicated that after 2 and 4 days of incubation, the cytotoxicity in the TP group was larger than in the negative control group, while after 7 days of incubation, it was on the opposite. All the test time, TP's cytotoxicity grade ranged from 0 to 1. Morphological change and proliferation of cells: After 2 days of incubation, both groups of cells were not extended to the outside of the scope, with a majority shape of being round, triangle, and quadrangle in the TP group or fusiform cells in the negative control respectively. Four days later, there were gaps among cells in the TP group, while in the negative control group, there were hardly any distance between cells and some cells piled up. Seven days later, cells in starch medium suddenly grew up to such a degree that all the cells lapped over and presented with more bloom than the negative control. Cell relative growth rate: After 2, 4, and 7 days of incubation, relative growth rate increased with time, being 85.63%,82.22%, and 113.05%, respectively.CONCLUSION: TP has no evidence of cytotoxicity and has good bio-safety.

The interaction between the anti-Ractopamine (Rac) monoclonal antibody and the Rac derivation immobilized on the sensor chip surface was studied with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. A continuous detection method based on the linear response during the association phase was developed. The sensor chip surface was regenerated after several tests performed continuously, thus the detection step was simplified and the life span of the chip was prospected to be prolonged. The detection was performed as an inhibitive immunoassay. The mixture of anti-Rac monoclonal antibody and the sample flowed over the surface with Rac derivation was immobilized. The relative response was in inversely proportion to the concentration of Rac. The detection limit was less than 4 μg/L with a detection time of 15 min.

The fabrication and experimental test results were presented for a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based gas chromatography column. Compared with conventional column, this micro-gas chromatography column is suitable for on-line analysis and monitoring because of the small size, rapid analysis and other characteristics. These 0.5, 1 and 3 m GC columns were fabricated using a deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) and were coated the stationary phase via a dynamic coating procedure. These GC columns perfectly separated the mixture of benzene, toluene and o-xylene in less than 200 s, where, the 3.0 m of the GC column achieved) a high resolution of 14.3 between toluene and o-xylene and yielded approximately 6160 plates. Moreover, the effect of separation performance for different column length were examined and compared. These GC columns are suitable for the application of a variety of disciplines, including environmental analysis, methane gas probes and homeland security.