Subtilis bacillus spores for novel vaccine delivery has attracted significant interest of more and more researchers by their unique biological characteristics. In this review,the structure and immunogenicity of spores were briefly discussed, then special emphasis placed on the use of recombinant spores as vaccine delivery vehicles,some ideas for further studies on surface display of recombinant vaccines on Subtilis bacillus spores were also proposed

ObjectiveTo determine the distribution of the single neucleutide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in Chinese Han population. Methods252 healthy Chinese Han subjects were studied with PCR technique. The results were compared with the data on European Caucasians reported. ResultsThe frequencies of VEGF gene allele C and A were respectively 71.8% and 28.2%. The genotypes of CC, CA and AA were 48.8%, 46.0% and 5.2%, respectively. The frequencies of VEGF promoter 2578A/A polymorphism in Chinese Han population were significantly different from those in European Caucasian population(P<0.01). Conclusion2578A/A homozygote which results to low VEGF expression of Chinese Han subjects is remarkably less than that of European Caucasians.

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis that delayed X-irradiation can enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord in rats.

METHODSSeventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, 35 rats in each. The control group sustained a one-minute clip compression (force of clip was 30 g) injury of the spinal cord at the T2 level, without X-irradiation. The experimental group received X-irradiation 14 days after injury. Neurological function was assessed by the modified Tarlov method, including hind limbs movement, inclined plane, and pain withdrawal. These tests were performed in a blinded fashion at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after injury. At 43 days after injury, histological examination of the injured spinal cord was performed following decapitation of the rats.

RESULTSSixty-two rats met the experimental requirements (spinal cord injury was similar), 32 rats in experimental group and 30 rats in control group. Statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in hind limbs movement and inclined plane (P < 0.01), but not in the pain withdrawal test. The edema and necrosis areas of injured spinal cords in experimental group were less than those in control group, and axons in experimental group were significantly more than those in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDelayed X-irradiation following spinal cord injury may enhance functional recovery by improving and restoring structural integrity of the injured spinal cord in rats.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Hindlimb ; Joints ; physiology ; Motor Activity ; Movement ; Radiotherapy ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; radiotherapy ; rehabilitation ; Weight-Bearing ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of indwelling the anterior urethral stent in the treatment of anterior urethral stricture.

METHODSWe included 38 patients with anterior urethral stricture in the treatment group, and another 38 in the control, the former treated by indwelling the anterior urethral stent, and the latter by urethral dilatation. Then we analyzed the clinical results by comparing the Qmax, urinary hesitancy and numbers of urethral dilations between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the patients of the treatment group showed an obvious increase in Qmax, a significant decrease in the number of urethral dilatations, and a marked improvement of the quality of life. Six months after the stent removal, there were significantly more patients with Qmax > 15 ml/s in the treatment group than in the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIndwelling the anterior urethral stent is a desirable option for the treatment of anterior urethral stricture, which is simple, safe, effective and reliable, and can be applied to general clinical practice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; surgery

AIMTo evaluate the in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method.

METHODSThe characteristics of in vivo release were calculated by deconvolution method using the data of plasma concentration of three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations in healthy dogs, in which the in vivo results of nitrendipine solution after oral administrated to dogs were used as weight function. It was the compared with characteristics of in vitro release to assess the in vitro/in vivo correlations.

RESULTSThe good correlations of in vitro/in vivo were shown in three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method.

CONCLUSIONThe deconvolution method exhibited advantage in evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dogs ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; Microspheres ; Nitrendipine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Powders ; Silicone Gels ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the optimal timing of hepatectomy for intrahepatic lithiasis complicated with acute cholangitis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-six patients with hepatolithiasis who had a history of acute cholangitis and underwent hepatectomy were reviewed retrospectively. According to the period between the surgery and last attack of acute cholangitis, 126 patients were divided into 3 groups: > 3 months (group A, n = 73), 1 approximately 3 months (group B, n = 28), < 1 month (group C, n = 25). The operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative complications and stone residual rate were compared among the groups.

RESULTSThe intraoperative blood loss of C group was (644.0 +/- 625.7) ml, which was significantly higher than those of A and B group [(409.2 +/- 250.7) ml and (423.2 +/- 237.1) ml, respectively]. The numbers of patients who needed transfusion and the amount of blood transfusion in group C were also higher than those of group A and B. The incidence rate of complications, residual stone in group C were all markedly higher than those of group A and B. The period of hospital stay in group C was much longer than that in group A and B.

CONCLUSIONSThe optimal timing of hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis complicated with acute cholangitis is at least one month after subsidence of cholangitis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangitis ; complications ; Cholelithiasis ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of tension relaxation by small needle knife on the muscle tension and morphology changes of nerve terminals when sustained pressure was applied to muscular tissue.

METHODSRat gracilis muscles were exposed to pressure in vivo at 70 kPa for 2 hours. Sixty rats were divided into three groups: normal, control and experiment group respectively. In all rats except the six normal ones, the lower legs were considered as the control group, and the right left as experiment group. At day 1, 2 and 3, 9 rats from the two groups were randomly selected and sacrificed in order to determine the muscle tension change. At the same time, muscle histology and morphology changes of nerve terminals were observed.

RESULTSAbnormal tension increased in muscles under compression of 70 kPa. At the 1st and 2nd days, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Compared with control group, the tension was lower in experiment group, and there was statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) between the two groups. Exposure of striated muscle tissue to intensive and prolonged compression may pathologically alter its microstructure. Histological evaluation showed that this stiffening accompanied extensive necrotic damage. The changes could not be found in the nerve terminals.

CONCLUSIONDeep muscle tissue that undergoes prolonged compression may significantly increase its stiffness during acute injury. Tension relaxation applied by small needle knife can effectively reduce the mechanical load which is harmful to the whole tissue.

Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Muscle Tonus ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; pathology ; physiology ; Nerve Endings ; pathology ; Pain Management ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo screen for the differential protein peaks of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using magnetic beads-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

METHODSSerum proteins were profiled by magnetic beads (WCX) from 62 RCC patients and 37 patients with benign renal space-occupying lesions. Protein peaks were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Data were analyzed with Biomarker Wizard 3.1 and Biomarker Patterns Software 5.0. Diagnostic model for RCC was constructed based on 47 RCC cases and 26 patients with benign renal space-occupying lesions. The remaining 26 cases were evaluated with blind method.

RESULTSSeven differential protein peaks related to RCC were identified (Pβ0.05). The diagnostic model for RCC constructed by the differential protein peaks (m/z 2945.35, 15340.8, 6984.51, and 5819.23) generated excellent separation between the RCC and control groups, with a sensitivity of 83.0% and the specificity of 84.6%. As validated by blind method, the model had a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONDifferential protein peaks for RCC can be identified in serum by magnetic beads-based MALDI-TOF-MS, which is also valuable for the establishment of a RCC diagnostic model with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of knife needle on third lumbar transverse process syndrome.

METHODSFrom 2007.3 to 2007.12, patients were divided into treatment group and control group according to the random digits table, 34 and 35 patients respectively. Patients in both groups were separately treated for 3 weeks, with knife needle in treatment group and electroacupuncture in control group. In treatment group, 12 patients were male and 22 patients were female, the average age was (42.33 +/- 7.86) years. In control group, 16 patients were male and 19 patients were female, the average age was (44.73 +/- 10.34) years. The changes of biomechanics, local tension and tenderness index were observed and recorded respectively before and after the therapy, and the results obtained from two groups were then compared with each other. The JOA score was used to evaluate the clinical effect.

RESULTSSixty patients finished the clinical observation. The treatment efficacy was evaluated according to the JOA score in 60 cases. The soft tissue tension in treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P=0.00004). Excellent result was found in 18 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 0 case.

CONCLUSIONTension relaxation by needle knife can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and signs of third lumbar transverse process syndrome.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Young Adult

Objective To diagnose Kennedy's disease (KD) via molecular analysis of the androgen receptor gene with suspected KD.Methods Two patients with suspected KD were reported.We analyzed their clinical features and investigated the number of CAG repeats in the androgen receptor genes. Results Both of the patients were characterized by slow progression of predominant proximal and bulbar muscle weakness.Patient 2 had oligospermatism.Serum creatine kinase and triglyceride levels were found markedly increased.The exact number of CAG was 52 in patient 1 and 48 in patient 2,respectively.These 2 patients were finally diagnosed as Kennedy's disease through the analysis of androgen receptor gene by PCR and direct sequencing.Conclusions The method of molecular analysis for KD had been copied in China.The clinical and molecular biological features of 2 Chinese patients with KD had been discussed.KD is a neurodegenerative disorder by proximal limb muscular atrophy and weakness with lower motor neuron signs,bulbar involvement.Dyscrinism and metabolic abnormalities may also be observed.Gene analysis is the unique and reliable methods to diagnose KD.