Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objective To value the significance of TGFBR2 gene in mediating HepG2 cell proliferation by RNA interference technology. Methods Three kinds of siRNAs targeting TGFBR2 gene were designed, synthesized and transfected into HepG2 cells via lipofetamine2000. Among three kinds of siRNAs, only the one with the most interference efficacy was selected and the correspondent DNA sequence was inserted into plasmid pEGFP-N3. Then the recombinant plasmid of siRNA-pEGFP-N3 was transfected into HepG2 cell and western blot was used to detect the protein level of TGFBR2. Then, TGF-β1 was used to stimulate HepG2 cells with or without siRNA interference and proliferation of HepG2 cells was observed. Results Among these three siRNAs, siRN-1 appeared to be the most effective. After stimulated by 5ng/mL TGF-β1, proliferation of HepG2 cells showed a marked increase in siRNA-1 group compared with blank and siRNA-NC groups (P<0.05). For all that, the proliferation rate was still lower than that in normal HepG2 cell group without TGF-β1 stimulation. Conclusion By silencing TGFBR2 gene, inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling pathway to HepG2 cells could be decreased, thereby enhancing the cell proliferation.

This article summarizes the bleaching of pulp by white-rot fungus, including the type of white-rot fungus, the type of pulp, the equipment used to bleach by white-rot fungus, and some problems and prospect in practical application by white-rot fungus.

Crystallization has been widely applied in pharmaceutical formulations as an effective approach to improve the stability and efficacy of small agents. However protein crystals are suffered from limitation in the drug delivery system due to their complex crystallization behaviors. With development of crystallization technologies and their industrial application, protein crystals are receiving more and more attentions as a novel delivery system for biomacromolecules. Crystals with thermodynamic stable structure can improve the physical and chemical stability of protein drugs and present a sustained release behavior. On the basis of pertinent literatures, this review introduces the recent research situation and development process of protein crystals as drug delivery system. Moreover, the crystallization process of proteins, as well as the preparation and potential application are discussed systematically.
Crystallization ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Proteins ; chemistry

Background Haze formation is a key factor of vision reduce following corneal refractive surgery.Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) are documented to participate in haze formation.Laboratory study showed that bevacizumab can not only inhibit corneal neovascularization,but also promote the healing of corneal epithelial basement membrane.However,the impact of bevacizumab on corneal healing after Off-flap epipolis laser in situkeratomileusis (Off-flap Epi-LASIK) is unclear.Objective The present study was to investigate the inhibition effect of bevacizumab on corneal haze after off-flap Epi-LASIK and its active mechanism.Methods Off-flap Epi-LASIK was performed in 24 adult pigmented rabbits and these rabbits were randomized into three groups.Bevacizumab of 0.1 ml (2.5 mg) was subconjunctivally injected 10 minutes after surgery in 16 rabbits and the same amount of bevacizumab was repeatedly injected 4 days after the initial injection in 8 eyes of 16 eyes.In addition,equivalent amount of normal saline solution was used in the same way in the other 8 rabbits.Another 2 health rabbits were used as the blank controls.Operative eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscope daily after surgery and haze was scored based on SundarRayde criteria.Corneas were obtained 4 weeks after operation for hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid Schiff staining.Expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in corneal tissue were detected by immunochemistry.Results Corneal epithelium healed completely in all eyes 4-5 days after operation.The haze scores were lower in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group than those in the normal saline solution group (P＜0.05) in 1 week and 4 weeks after operation.However,no significant difference was seen in the haze scores between the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group (P ＞ 0.05).The hostopathological examination showed that the fibrosis response of cornea tissue was slight in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group comparison with the normal saline solution group.At 1 week after operation,the expression levels of TGF-β1 were (49.8 ± 2.1) PU and (38.6 ±4.4) PU in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,and those of 4 weeks were (37.7 ±4.8) PU and (28.3 ± 3.5) PU,indicating significant decrease in the TGF-β1 expression compared with (65.1 ±5.3) PU and (51.6±2.2) PU of the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.01).The expression levels of α-SMA in corneas were (67.2±10.0) PU and (32.7±3.1) PU at 1 week,and (34.2±5.7) PU and (22.8±3.0) PU at4 weeks after operation in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,which were significantly lower than (87.8±7.7) PU and (59.4±5.6) PU in the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the expression levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were declined in the bevacizumab repeat injection group compared with single injection group (P＜0.01).Periodic acid Schiff staining exhibited that the basement membrane of cornea was intact and continued in bevacizumab injection group.But corneal basement membrane was discontinuous in the normal saline solution group.Conclusions Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab downregulates the expressions of TGF-β1and α-SMA in cornea after Off-flap Epi-LASIK and thus prevents haze formation.

Objective To evaluate the significance of multi-slice helical CT with multiplanar reconstruction in laryngeal carcinoma.Methods Thirty-five patients with laryngeal carcinoma were studied by helical CT,MPR were subsequently done.The lesion extent of the axial image findings,MPR findings and the combined image findings were compared with the pathological results respectively.The data were statistically analyzed.Results In the evaluation of the anterior commissure,the axial image findings,MPR findings and the combined image findings were 82.9%,68.6% and 91.4% in accuracy respectively,the results were statistically different(P0.05).The combined images were superior to the axial images and the MPR images in sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the lesion extent.Conclusion The axial images could show the shape,size,extension of the tumor and the lymphadenopathy,MPR images displayed the shape,size and extension roundly and directly,they were the supplement for the axial images.Axial images combined with MPR could improve the accuracy in the diagnoses of laryngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo gain a deeper insight into the benefits of oral tadalafil for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSFrom January 2008 to June 2009, we conducted a nationwide survey on the quality of male erectile function among the outpatients under the direction of the Chinese Association of Andrology. A total of 205 ED patients were prescribed oral tadalafil and accomplished a questionnaire investigation after 4 weeks of medication. We compared various parameters of the patients before and after the treatment.

RESULTSFour weeks of oral tadalafil medication achieved a total rate of effectiveness of 85.9% (176/205). The proportion of those with moderate to severe ED was decreased from 67.8% (139/205) before medication to 16.6% (34/205) after it. Those who enjoyed sexual life were increased from 21.5% (44/205) before medication to 84.9% (174/205) after it. Only 1.0% (2/205) of the patients could achieve grade 4 penile hardness before the treatment, as compared with 60.5% (124/205) after it. And the frequency of sexual intercourse was significantly increased, over 4 times in 90.2% (159/205) of the patients.

CONCLUSIONOral tadalafil, with its sure effectiveness on ED, can bring great benefits to the sexual life of ED patients.

Adult ; Carbolines ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points mainly for lumbar myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).

METHODSSixty-six cases of MPS were randomized into an acupuncture group and a lidocaine group, 33 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with needling local myofascial trigger points (MTrP), and the lidocaine group was treated with local block at trigger points with lidocaine injection. The treatment was given once every 2 days. After three and five times of the treatment, the simplified McGill scale, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and pressure-pain threshold were assessed to compare the therapeutic effects between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of simplified McGill and ODI of two groups were obviously reduced while the score of pressure-pain threshold was obviously increased (all P < 0.01). After three and five times of the treatment, there were no significant differences in above scores between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with needling MTrP is an effective and safe therapy for lumbar MPS, the therapeutic effect is equal to lidocaine block.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Lidocaine ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Trigger Points ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore feasibility of applying evidence grading system in clinical decision-making analysis.

METHODSUsing grading system as well as a quantitative approach to generate the threshold NNT((T)), and conducting clinical decision-making analysis through one study on Asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.

RESULTSNNT((T)) was 12, comparing with no-intervention in the ACA study that NNT = 6. NNT < NNT((T)) indicated the benefits of intervention outweigh the risks and costs.

CONCLUSIONTo obtain the rate of adverse event and the specifying approximate cost were vital in the process of applying grading system in clinical decision-making.

Advance Care Planning ; Algorithms ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; economics ; therapy ; Decision Making, Organizational ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; methods ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

PBD-1 is an antibacterial peptide that plays an important role in defence system of porcine. To produce PBD-1 with bioactivity in Pichia pastoris, according to published amino acid sequence of porcine beta-defensin 1(PBD-1) and the partiality codon of yeast, the PBD-1 gene was synthesized by PCR and cloned into pPIC9K to construct the recombinant expression vector pPIC9K-PBD-1, the obtained recombinant plasmid was linearized by Sal I, and then transformed into SMD1168 by electroporation. Under the control of the promoter AOX1, an approximately 4.5 kD PBD-1 peptide was expressed. Antibacterial activity assay shows that the PBD-1 has the antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus. This is the first secreted expression of porcine beta-defensin 1 gene in Pichia pastoris.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Pichia ; genetics ; Protein Engineering ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Swine ; genetics ; beta-Defensins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology