AIMTo explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning on anoxic resistance and anti-weariness at high altitude.

METHODS(1) SOD, MDA, NO, NOS, BLA and BUN of 20 youths living at 3 700 m altitude for half year were tested, then they were divided into group A (n=10, received HBO pretreatment twice) and group B (n=10, received HBO pretreatment 5 times) randomly. They were asked to pedal the EMG-bicycle-ergometer at the second and eighth day, and then the same items were tested. (2) 29 youth who would go to Astronomical Spot (5200 m) were randomly divided into group HBO (n=11, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 2 days at Yecheng (1400 m)) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached I Astronomical Spot, thematic biochemical index were investigated. (3) When 20 youth reached Thirty Milepost Barracks (3700 m) at the second day in their way to Immortal Gulf (5380 m) from Yecheng were randomly divided into group HBO (n=10, received HBO pretreatment once per day for 3 days) and comparison group (n=10). When they reached Immortal Gulf, the thematic biochemical index were investigated.

RESULTS(1) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group A compared with that in group B until the eighth day, there was significant difference (P < 0.01). (2) SOD, NO, NOS were increased and BLA, BUN, MDA were decrease in group HBO compared with that in comparison that in group, there was significant difference between groups (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHBO could enhance the activity of anti-oxidase and the cleared ability of lactic acid, and the effect of anti-weariness could last for 8 days.

Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; prevention & control ; Fatigue ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; methods ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty as a new therapy for patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures of the lumbar and thoracic spine.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 38 consecutive patients (28 females, 10 males), whose ages ranged from 56 to 82 years (mean age 72 years). The symptom- and sign-positive spinal segment was identified by MRI. The time between onset of symptoms and surgical intervention ranged from 2 days to 1 year. 62 segments (36 thoracic, 26 lumbar) were treated in this cohort. The pain score estimated by Visual Analog Scale and activity degree were assessed immediately after operation and at 1-, 6-, and 12-month postoperative follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative anterior, midline vertebral heights in fractured vertebrae were measured on lateral radiographs to evaluate the effect of the procedure.

RESULTSThe method achieved a swift pain relief associated with an evidently increased weight-bearing ability. The pain score was reduced from 8.2 to 2.4 points. The anterior and midline vertebral heights in 62 fractured vertebral bodies increased up to 82.76%+/-26.84%, 88.82%+/-21.75% and the wedge decreased from 15 to 8 degrees. This effect persisted at least over a period of two years. The procedure did not induce narrowing of the spinal canal and no severe complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONSBalloon kyphoplasty can result in immediate clinical improvement of mobility and pain relief, increase vertebral body height, and quickly return patient's activity. The short-term results are approved excellent, and the long-term results need further judgment.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Pain Measurement ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the angiogenesis and its maturation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its correlation with deoxyhemoglobin parameters R2 * and T2 * values and the lesion/muscle R2*, T2 * ratio by using noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODST2 *, R2 * values and the lesion/muscle R2 *, T2 * ratio in tumor periphery and center were calculated via series T2 * images in a total of 31 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed HCC. After surgery, all sections were obtained from the specimen periphery in accordance with the MR analyzed areas. Continuous slices of each lesion were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and immunohistochemical staining was performed in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Flk-1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), CD34, and alpha smooth muscle actin (SMA). The expressions of VEGF, Flk-1, and PCNA index (PI) were evaluated. According to CD34 and SMA, some vascular parameters, including number, mean vessel area, total vessel area, circumference, diameter, distance between adjacent vessels, and variety index of microvessel and mature vessel, were calculated with a computed analysis system. The amounts of arterioles and veinlets, mature vessel index, and mean perfused fraction (mPF) were also recorded. All vessel parameters were compared with the calculated values of MRI.

RESULTSR2 * value or lesion/muscle R2 * ratio decreased and T2 * value or the lesion/muscle T2 * ratio increased in HCC when compared with hepatic parenchyma (P < 0.05); however, those values between lesion periphery and center and among different pathological grades were not significantly different (P > 0.05). T2 * value and the lesion/muscle T2 * ratio significantly decreased when the expression of VEGF was positive (P < 0.05). T2 * value was negatively correlated with microvessel amount (P = 0.047, r = - 0.639), while T2 * value and the lesion/muscle T2 * ratio were positively correlated with mPF (P = 0.040, r = 0.655; P = 0.048, r = 0.40, respectively). R2 * value was also positively correlated with mean area (P = 0.028, r = 0.688), total area (P = 0.021, r = 0.712) or circumference (P = 0.037, r = 0.663) of microvessel, and negatively correlated with mPF (P = 0.024, r = - 0.702). Meanwhile, the lesion/muscle R2 * ratio was positively correlated with mean area (P = 0.043, r = 0.647) and circumference (P = 0.026, r = 0.694) of microvessels.

CONCLUSIONR2 * or T2 * value may be influenced by the variation of deoxyhemoglobin caused by the heterogeneity of angiogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic

AIMTo study whether store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOC) is present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells.

METHODSIntracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes induced by thapsigargin- or caffeine-activated SOC channel were measured in enzymatically dissociated rat colonic smooth muscle cells with the fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM.

RESULTSIn the absence of external Ca2+ , the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 micromol/L) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) activator caffeine both transiently elevated [Ca2+]i from (68.32 +/- 3.43) nmol/L to (240.85 +/- 12.65 ) nmol/L, (481.25 +/- 34.77) nmol/L. A subsequent reintroduction of Ca2+ into the extracellular solution resulted in [Ca2+]i further elevated to (457.55 +/- 19.80) nmol/L, (1005.93 +/- 54.62) nmol/L; (643.88 +/- 34.65) nmol/L, (920.16 +/- 43.25) nmol/L, respectively. And the elevated response was blocked by lanthanum (1 mmol/L), but was insensitive to L-type voltage calcium channels blocker verapamil and membrane depolarization.

CONCLUSIONSOC activated by store depletion are present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells. And we further prove the existence of such Ca2+ channels in excitable cells.

Animals ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; cytology ; Fura-2 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thapsigargin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze effects of different thread helix angles and densities on the primary stability of immediately loaded implants using the three-dimensional finite element model analysis.

METHODSFive models of three-dimensional finite element (0.8 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm, double-threaded, and triple-threaded) were created using the commercial codes of Pro/E software, Hypermesh software, and ABAQUS software. In conditions of horizontal and vertical loading, the micro-motion of the finite element models with different thread helix angles and densities were computed with ABAQUS software.

RESULTSConcerning different thread helix angles, the micro-motion of single-threaded implant was the minimum and that of the triple-threaded was the maximum with vertical and horizontal loading. The micro-motion of doubled-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 1.6 mm and the micro-motion of triple-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 2.4 mm with vertical and horizontal loading.

CONCLUSIONSThe thread helix angle and density of implants can greatly affect the vertical interfacial micro-motion. With increasing thread pitchs, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread helix angle, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread density, the resistance of implant to the vertical load is weakened.

Dental Implants ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Denture Retention ; Finite Element Analysis

Objective To investigate the effect of high power microwave(HPM) irradiation on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in the cerebral cortex and hippoeampus of Wistar rats. Methods A total of 110 Wistar rats were used for this study.Three groups of 30 Wistar rats were exposed to HPM irradiation at intensities of 3,10,30 and 100 mW/cm~2,respectively.Twenty rats served as controls and were ex- posed to sham HPM irradiation.At 6 h,and at 1,3,7,14 and 28 d after irradiation,five rats from each group were sacrificed,and their cerebral cortices and hippocampi were harvested.HE staining was used to highlight any change in the structure of the cerebral cortex or hippocampus.Immunohistochemistry techniques and image analysis were used to study the changes in NPY and nNOS expression.Results 10 to 100 mW/cm~2 HPM irradiation caused pyc- nosis and deep staining of some neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.The increase in nNOS expression and decrease in NPY expression observed were significant at 3 days after irradiation.Conclusion HPM irradiation can induce injury in neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippoeampus,and abnormal NPY and nNOS expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between respiratory diseases onset and the meteorological factors in the same period and in a specific environment. METHODS METHODS: By using the data of daily incidence of respiratory diseases obtained from Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2007, and the data of 16 items of meteorological factors (such as the average, maximum, and minimum temperatures, etc., including meteorological factors derived) obtained from the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Observatory, mathematical statistical methods were applied to achieve the non-linear correlation analysis, or the correlation test, between the incidence of respiratory diseases and the time-related meteorological factors.

RESULTSThe simple correlation coefficients of the relationship between the incidence of respiratory diseases and 9 meteorological elements, including the average values of temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, degree of comfort, precipitation, vapor pressure, low cloud cover, change of vapor pressure, and change of wind speed, were all greater than 0.8286, in which one of the relationship between the incidence of respiratory diseases and the maximum temperature is as high as 0.9670. Statistical tests showed R>Rα=0.05 and F>Fα=0.05.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of respiratory diseases was closely correlated to meteorological factors, such as air temperature, vapor pressure, precipitation, wind speed, etc. To a certain extent, this conclusion confirmed the scientificity and objectivity of the theory of five evolutive phases and six climatic factors (Wu Yun Liu Qi ) in Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine).

Air ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meteorological Concepts ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Statistics as Topic ; Steam ; Time Factors ; Wind

OBJECTIVETo explore and evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and the short-term outcome of minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to October 2009, 67 patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE group), while 38 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group: via right thorax, abdomen, left neck). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical data of the two groups were comparable. No significant differences was found in demographics between the two groups. Median blood loss in MIE group was less than that in OE group (chest: 112.3 ml vs. 175.3 ml, P = 0.035, abdominal: 31.4 ml vs. 100.5 ml, P = 0.026). More patients in OE group were transferred to ICU (P = 0.042) and more obvious pain (P = 0.005). The rate of pulmonary infection and intestinal obstruction in OE group were higher than MIE group (P = 0.046 and 0.045). There were no differences in the number of lymph node dissection for two groups, the average was 20.9 and lymph node metastasis rate was 26.9% in MIE group. Mean follow up was (14.0 ± 2.2) months (range, 2 to 29 months). Recurrence rate and survival rate were no differences.

CONCLUSIONThe Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and reliable short-term effect, and can achieve radical tumor resection, which may lead to better future of surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To explore the correlation between combined detection of serum high sensitive troponin T (hscTnT),homocysteine (Hcy) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and diagnostic positive rates of coro-nary heart disease (CHD).Methods:A total of 95 CHD patients were selected,including 35 cases with stable angina pectoris (SAP),30 cases with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and 30 cases with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).According to results of coronary angiography,patients were divided into mild stenosis group (n＝31),moderate ste-nosis group (n＝34) and severe stenosis group (n＝30).Another 95 healthy subjects were enrolled as healthy control group.Levels of hscTnT,Hcy and hsCRP were measured and compared among all groups,positive rates of single and combined detection were measured,and correlation among coronary disease severity,serum levels of hscTnT,Hcy,hsCRP and their combined detection were analyzed.Results:Serum levels of hscTnT,Hcy and hsCRP in CHD group were significantly higher than those of healthy control group,P＝0.001 all.Hcy positive rates of UAP and AMI group were significantly higher than that of SAP group (63.33%,70.00% vs.14.29%,P＝0.001 all).There was no significant difference in positive rate of combined detection (91.43%,93.33%,96.67%) among SAP group,UAP group and AMI group ( P＞0.05 all),but all of them were significantly higher than those of single de-tection,P＜0.05 or ＜ 0.01.Positive rates of hscTnT and hsCRP diagnosing SAP were significantly higher than that of Hcy (68.57%,71.43% vs.14.29%,P＝0.001 all).Compared with mild stenosis group,there were signifi-cant rise in serum levels of hscTnT,Hcy and hsCRP in moderate and severe stenosis group,and those of severe ste-nosis group were significantly higher than those of moderate stenosis group (P＝0.001 all).Biviarate Spearman a-nalysis indicated that serum levels of hscTnT,Hcy and hsCRP,their combined detection results were significant pos-itively correlated with coronary disease severity in CHD patients (r＝0.512～0.813,P＜0.01 all).Conclusion:Pos-itive rate of combined detection of serum hscTnT,Hcy and hsCRP is significantly higher than those of single detec-tion in CHD patients.Combined diagnostic result is significant positively correlated with coronary disease severity.

BACKGROUNDDNA analysis has shown a lack of significant compatibility between couples affected by unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) compared with normal fertile couples, [8] although one study that made use of a PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) method did observe evidence of significant compatibility in the HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles between patients and aborted fetuses. [9] This study was designed to investigate whether URSA were associated with particular DQ alleles or promoter alleles.

METHODSThirty-two patients with URSA and 54 women who had had at least one successful pregnancy were included in this study. HLA-DQ genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The HLA-DQB1 promoter was detected by the SSO and sequence-specific primer (SSP) methods. The DQA1, DQB1, and DQB1 promoter (QBP) gene frequencies in the patients were compared with the gene frequencies in normal controls. The data were analyzed statistically with the chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSThe results showed that the frequency of DQB1 * 0604/0605 was significantly higher and the frequency of DQB1 * 0501/0502 was significantly lower in the patient group as compared with the normal controls. In addition, the frequencies of the DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605 and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes were overrepresented in the patients relative to the controls. Our results did not show any differences between URSA patients and the controls with regard to DQA1 and QBP allele frequencies.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that URSA is associated with the HLA-DQB1 coding region, and is not associated with its upstream regulatory region. The DQB1 * 0604/0605, DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605, and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes may confer susceptibility to URSA, while the DQB1 * 0501/0502 allele may protect women from URSA.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy