Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumothorax ; complications ; etiology ; Silicon Dioxide ; analysis ; Silicosis ; complications ; etiology

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Blue Toe Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Nucleus ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Color ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Adult ; Construction Materials ; adverse effects ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Silicosis ; etiology

Objective To investigate and evaluate the polymorphism distribution of arsenic(+3 oxidation state)methyhransferase(AS3MT)5'-UTR VNTR in Chinese populations.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood anti-coagulated with ACD of 1440 individuals in a standard phenol-chloroform protocol.The phenotypes of AS3MT 5'-UTR VNTR were determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)associated with agarose gel electrophoresis.Results Of the 1440 individuals,771(53.5%),426(29.6%),211(14.7%),16(1.1%)and 16(1.1%)were carriers of the V2/V3(AB/A2B),V3/V3(A2B/A2B),V2/V2(AB/AB),V2/V4(AB/A3B)and V3/V4(A2B/A3B)genotype,respectively.The AB(V2),A2B(V3)and A3B(V4)allele frequency was 41.9%,57.0%,1.1%respectively.The differences of AB(V2)and A2B(V3)allele frequency were all significant between the northern and southern populations respectively(χ2=23.39,χ2=33.28,P＜0.007).Conclusions In different regions the AB(V2)and A2B(V3)allele frequency is different,the AS3MT 5'-UTR VNTR polymorphism can be used to evaluate the susceptivity of arsenieosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bloodletting ; Female ; Headache ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the reliability and sensitivity of a three dimensional motion analysis system by using the segmental method.Methods Ten healthy young men participated in this study.They were asked to stand with one leg and with their eyes open and closed,respectively,each lasted for 30 seconds and was re- peated twice.According to the 12-segment rigid body model of the human body,twenty-one infrared light emitting di- ode(1RED)markers were placed over the bony prominences on the proximal and distal ends of each segment,the motion track of the IRED markers was recorded by the three dimensional motion analysis system.The mean sway am- plitude( MSA )and the sway path(SP)of the center of gravity(COG)were calculated.Correlation analysis was used to determine the reliability between the two repetitions.Paired sample t-test was used to determine the sensitivity be- tween the eyes open and closed conditions.Results The correlation coefficients of the MSA of the COG in the eyes open and closed conditions were 0.623 and 0.018,respectively,and the correlation coefficients of the SP of the COG were 0.936 and 0.654,respectively.It was also shown that significant differences existed among the three directions of the MSA of the COG and the SP of the COG.Conclusion Besides the weak reliability of the MSA of COG in the eyes closed condition,the high reliability and sensitivity of the MSA and SP of the COG are found.The segmental method can be used in the scientific study of human balance control.

Purpose To evaluate the expression of miR-21 in the tissues and cell lines of hepatocellular carcinoma,and to try to find its possible target genes.Methods The expression profile of miR-21 was detected in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines.Mter miR-21 inhibitor was used,the alterations in the vitality and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were observed.The possible target gene of miR-21 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis.The influence of miR-21 inhibitors on the target gene activity was evaluated by dual luciferase reporting gene system.Results The expression level of miR-21 was significantly higher in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than that in the adjacent ones (P ＜0.05).The expression level of miR-21 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was significantly higher than that in the hepatic cells (P ＜0.01).After inhibiting miR-21,the viability and invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells were decreased (P ＜ 0.01).The expression level of programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the adjacent tissues (P ＜ 0.01).Its expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was significantly lower than that in the hepatic cells (P ＜ 0.01).After interfering with PDCD4,the vitality and invasion ability of liver cancer cells were increased (P ＜ 0.05).Dual luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that by inhibiting miR-21,the expression level of PDCD4 was up-regulated (P ＜ 0.01).The vitality and invasion ability of liver cancer cells were reduced (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion MiR-21 can regulate the growth and invasion of liver cancer cells through targeting PDCD4.

Four screening methods, colorimetric assay, blood-plate hemolysis method, surface tension activ- ity and oil spreading technique were introduced to isolate strains producing bio-demulsifiers from 6 different bacteria source samples. The results of various screening methods were evaluated in this paper. Seventeen demulsifying strains were obtained, which are qualified in demulsification test of kerosene model emulsions. Among them, 5 strains showed high demulsifying ability, achieving 70% plus demulsifying ratio within 24 hours. Petroleum-contaminated soil, excess sludge from biological process treating oilfield produced water and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant were the best among all tested sources. Due to the determination limit, the colorimetric assay and blood-plate hemolysis method are not competent to screen bio-demulsifiers strains. The measurement of surface tension and oil spreading method were easy but accu- rate methods to isolate bio-demulsifiers strains. Although demulsification test of model emulsion is an effec- tive technique to target strains with the capability of breaking emulsions, it is sophisticated and time-con- suming. Thus it is recommended to use surface tension and oil spreading methods in pre-screening and vali- date the results in demulsification test with kerosene model emulsions.

Objective To investigate the rat bone structural changes of lower limb following lumbar nerve dorsal roots section.Methods Forty-eight mature female Wistar rats were divided into posterior radi- cotomy(PR)and comtrol groups randomly.The bilateral femoral bone mineral density(BMD)and biome- chanics characteristics were analyzed 2,4 and 8 weeks after the radicotomy.The same operation except the radicotomy was done in the sham group.Results In PR group,2,4,and 8 weeks after the radicotomy,the BMD of femur was(0.221?0.008)g/cm~3,(0.213?0.015)g/cm~3 ,and(0.216?0.105)g/cm~3 ,respective- ly;while that was(0.223?0.005)g/cm~3,(0.218?0.014)g/cm~3 ,and(0.208?0.111)g/cm~3 in control group.No significant difference was observed between the two groups(P＞0.05).In PR group,2,4,and 8 weeks after the operation,the mean maximum load in three-point bending test of femun midshaft was(93.64?8.76)N,(89.77?11.18)N and(93.21?8.74)N,respectively,and was lower than the values of the con- trol group at the same time point(95.94?6.29)N,(91.63?9.43)N,(95.57?8.64)N,However,there was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Accordingly,there was no significant difference in the energy absorption in femun midshaft between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The selective rhizotomies of part lumbar never dorsal roots might not cause the loss of the femur BMD and the change of bio- mechanics property significantly in short period.

Objective To discuss the experience in the diagnosis, treatment, complications and follow up of carotid body tumor. Methods All the 25 cases were diagnosised by DSA and CTA. The tumor was resected under carotid adventitial plane in 18 cases, with external carotid artery resection in 4cases, and in 3 cases, internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) were resected simultaneously in which internal carotid artery was reconstructed in two cases including using self vein bypass in one and anastomosis between ICA and ECA in the other. ICA was ligated in the third case. Results No cases died perioperatively. ALL CBTs were treated successfully. Horner syndrome and trachyphonia were relieved after operation. Postoperative trachyphonia, bucking and lingual paralysis developed in 3 cases, and in one case with vagus resection caused dyspnea tracheotomy was performed. The rate of nerves injuries was 12% but no semiplegia and aphasia occurred. Follow up period was from 4 to 90 months (average 44 ±6 months) for 21 cases. The trachyphonia and bucking were improved during follow up but the lingual paralysis persists, and tumor recurred in two cases with one dying. Conclusions CBT treatment should include active surgery, sufficient preoperative preparation and avoiding the postoperative nervous complications.