BACKGROUND:The auditory ossicle chain reconstruction is stil an important method to treat conductive deafness. Although a great variety of materials have been applied, the blood supply of otosteon after the implantation is ignored. Moreover, there is no real bone formed.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial growth factor and col agen I modifiedβ-tricalcium phosphate porous scaffold which is implanted into the otocyst of guinea pig.
METHODS:Total y 60 guinea pigs were randomly divided into experimental group (vascular endothelial growth factor and col agen I modifiedβ-tricalcium phosphate porous scaffold), col agen I control group (col agen I modifiedβ-tricalcium phosphate porous scaffold) and blank control group (β-tricalcium phosphate porous scaffold). The guinea pigs were executed under anesthesia at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. The surface of scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The angiogenesis of scaffolds were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and CD34 immunohistochemistry staining, and then the microvascular density was counted. The osteogenesis of the scaffolds was observed by toluidine blue staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Endothelial cel proliferation and lumen formation could be observed after 1 week in the experimental group, and the angiogenesis reach the peak after 3 weeks with traffic branches formedbetween micropores. In the other two groups, the lumen formed at 2 weeks but no traffic branches were visible. The sprouting of new blood vessels in the pores were observed more in the experimental group than the other two groups (P<0.05). The adherence and proliferation of cel s could be examined in the surface and pores of the scaffold by scanning electron microscope. After 4 weeks, the osteogenesis could be observed by toluidine blue staining, especial y in the experimental group. These findings suggest that the vascular endothelial growth factor and col agen I modifiedβ-tricalcium phosphate porous scaffold can realize an effective vascularization in the environment of guinea pigs’ middle ear. What’s more, the scaffold also can promote bone formation.

Animals ; Arsenic ; toxicity ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

A study on the microbial transformation of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was conducted by a fungus, Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 systematically. After incubation with the cell cultures of C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 at 25 degrees C for 7 days on a rotary shaker operating at 135 r x min(-1), GA was converted into one major product and five minor products. The products were extracted and purified by solvent extraction, macroporous adsorbent resin, silica gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative RP-HPLC chromatography. Their structures were identified as 3-oxo-15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(1), 3-oxo-15β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (2), 7β,15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3), 3-oxo-7β, 15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (4), 7β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(5) and 15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(6) by the analyses of MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data respectively. Among them, 2 was a new compound. These results suggest that C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 has the capability of selective ketonization and hydroxylation for GA. [Key words] glycyrrhetinic acid; Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3. 970; microbial transformation
Biotransformation ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major constituents of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS recognition and signal transmission are key events in the host defense reaction towards Gram-negative bacteria and are associated with many disorders. Multiple signaling pathways are involved in the response to LPS. With the help of LPS-binding protein and CD14, TLR4 binds with LPS, then recruits myeloid differentiation factor 88 and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase, and further phosphorylates and activates TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6). The activated TRAF6 leads to the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB and MAP kinase's pathways that involves in LPS-induced cellular responses and the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL8.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Objective To evaluate effects of chronic arsenic exposure and arsenic exposure time on oxidative DNA lesions in humans. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 108 subjects exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and 75 control subjects. A cohort study was conducted in 64 subjects exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water for 7 or 9 years. Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydredeoxygnanine(8-OHdG) levels were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit(ELISA). Urinary arsenic concentration was detected with hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results In the cross-sectional study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 484.17 mg/kg Cr for the arsenic-exposed group, and 13.80 mg/kg Cr for the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=32.57, P<0.01). The median of urinary 8-OHdG levels was 16.60 and 21.88 mg/kg Cr for arsenic-exposed children and adults respectively, much higher than control children(10.50 mg/kg Cr) and adults (9.11 mg/kg Cr), and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.049, 6913, all P<0.01). Urinary 8-OHdG levels were signifieandy lower for children than adults in the exposed group(t=-1.997, P<0.05). In the cohort study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 461.3 mg/kg Cr for the 7-year-exposed subjects and 422.90 mg/kg Cr for the 9-year-expesed subjects, and no significant difference was observed(t=-0.250, P 0.05). The median of urinary 8- OHdG levels for 9-year-exposed children and adults were 23.46 and 24.30 mg/kg Cr respectively, significantly increased compared with those of 7-year-exposed(14.29 and 18.38 mg/kg Cr), and the difference had statical signhqcanees (t= -2.949,-3.055, all P<0.01). Conclusions Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to oxidative DNA lesions in humans. The arsenic-induced DNA lesions may aggravate with the exposure time in a certain period.

OBJECTIVETo compare the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and GRACE score in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHODSA total of 246 patients with chest pain to hospital time < 24 hours were followed up to 30 days. Admission plasma B-type natriuretic peptide was measured by point-of-care. Endpoints included death, reinfarction, recurrent ischemia and new onset of congestive heart failure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate prognostic value of BNP and GRACE score. The logistic regression models were used to assess the prognostic contribution of BNP level and GRACE score.

RESULTSThe mean age was (67.6 +/- 12.0) years (61.8% males) and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed in 135 patients (54.9%). During the follow up, 34 endpoints (13.8%) were recorded including 9 deaths (3.7%). The systolic blood pressure [(121 +/- 29) mm Hg vs. (130 +/- 23) mm Hg, P = 0.034; 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa] was significantly lower while the heart rate and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group. TNI and CRP levels were similar between the two groups. The BNP level at admission (median 883.5 ng/L vs. 216.5 ng/L) and GRACE score (median 164.5 vs. 142.0) were significantly higher in the endpoints group than in non-endpoints group (all P < 0.05). The prognostic criteria for BNP level (area under cure, 0.704) was 194.5 ng/L determined by ROC (P = 0.043). For GRACE score, the predictive value for endpoints was 0.742 (P = 0.003) and the cut-off point was 158. In the logistic regression model, BNP concentration (> 194.5 ng/L, OR = 3.174) and GRACE score (> 158, OR = 4.031) were independent predictors of endpoints in patients with ACS.

CONCLUSIONBoth BNP level at admission and GRACE score were independent predictors for endpoints at 30 days in patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; analysis ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical outcomes and advantages of anterior small-incision focus debridement with posterior internal fixation through muscle spa ring in treating patients with lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom February 2010 to February 2014, totally 82 patients with lumbar spinal tuberculosis were treated by posterior individual fixation with small-incision focus debridement,including 50 males and 32 females with an average of 50.5 years old. All patients were divided into two groups according to different procedures. Forty-nine patients in group A were treated with anterior small-incision focus debridement with posterior internal fixation through muscle spa ring at stage I ; and 33 patients in group B were treated with focus debridement with posterior internal fixation by extraperitoneal approach at stage I . Postoperative mechanical ventilation time, preoperative and postoperative Cobb angle, visual analogue scale (VAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Frankel grading were observed and compared. Postoperative complications, stability of internal fixation and bone union were compared.

RESULTSAll patients were followed-up from 15 to 36 months with an average of 23.7 months. Psoas abscess of three patients in group A and 1 patient in group B on the opposite side increased and were healed by the secondary apocenosis. The other 78 cases were healed at stage I, and no sinus tract formation, incisional hernia, leakage of cerebrospinal and occurrence of spinal tuberculosis were occurred. Fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 7 months with an average of 4.6 months. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time and VAS score in group A was better than group B. There were no statistical differences in Cobb angle, ESR and Frankel grading at the final following-up between two groups.

CONCLUSIONAnterior small-incision focus debridement with posterior internal fixation through muscle spa ring in treating patients with lumbar spinal according to degree of damage is a safe and effective method.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Debridement ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery ; Young Adult

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pin1 inhibitor Juglone on proliferation, migration and the angiogenic ability of breast cancer cell line MCF7Adr. MCF7Adr cells were cultured and separately treated with Pin1 inhibitor Juglone (treatment group) and DMEM without drug (control group). The cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry. Cell migration was measured by wound-healing assay. Cyclin E protein content was detected by Western blotting. The angiogenesis factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cell media was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that the percentage of cells in G2/M phase in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group (25.5% vs. 10.1%, P<0.05), and that in G0/G1 phase and S stage in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (40.5% vs. 48.2%, and 33.7% vs. 41.7%, P<0.05). Cyclin E protein content in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (39.2 ± 7.4 vs. 100 ± 23.1, P<0.05). (A0-A24)/A0 value in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group (23.9 ± 3.8 vs. 100 ± 14.4, P<0.05). VEGF-A, -B, and -C contents in cell media of treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). It was suggested that Pin1 inhibitor Juglone can effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration and the angiogenic ability of MCF7Adr cells, and can be used as an alternative drug therapy for breast cancer.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; Naphthoquinones ; pharmacology ; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of the epididymal size 1 year after vasectomy.

METHODSFifty male volunteers received vasoligation. Before and at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, we measured the size and detected the internal echoes of the epididymis using color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTSThe bilateral epididymides were both thickened post-operatively in all the 50 cases, with statistically significant differences between the baseline and the 1st month, the 1st and the 2nd month, the 2nd and the 3rd month, or the 3rd and the 6th month after surgery (all P < 0.01), but not between the 6th and the 12th month (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWithin 6 months after vasectomy, the bilateral epididymides manifested a progressive thickening, but basically restored their balance of secretion-absorption after 6 months.

Epididymis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Size ; Postoperative Period ; Time Factors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Vasectomy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the neural plasticity in rats with cerebral infarction and investigate its mechanism.

METHODSSixty rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, an acupuncture group and a non-acupuncture group, and each group was randomly divided into a 1-day subgroup, a 7-day subgroup and a 14-day subgroup. Cerebral infarction model was induced by the thread embolism method. The rats in the acupuncture group were treated by electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) for 20 minutes, once each day, while the rats in the sham operation group and the non-acupuncture group were just bound and fixed at the same time without acupuncture treatment. Neurological defects were assessed by Neurological Severity Score (NSS) and the changes of the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in peripheral nerve around cerebral infarction area were detected by immunohistochemistry technique.

RESULTSThe expression of the positive cells of GAP-43 around cerebral infarction area showed no significant distinction among the three groups at 1st day (P > 0.05), while the GAP-43 expression level of around cerebral infarction area in the acupuncture group (IOD:8. 990 1 +/- 0.098 7, 5.816 1 +/- 0.204 6) were significant higher than those in the sham operation group (IOD: 1.300 2 +/- 0.093 3, 1.362 6 +/- 0.216 6) and in the non-acupuncture group (IOD: 2.753 4 +/- 0.0875, 1.616 5 +/- 0.186 8) at 7th day and 14th day, respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Neiguan" (PC 6) can improve the neural function and promote its remodeling in rats with cerebral infarction and the relevant mechanisms may be involved in enhancement of GAP-43 expressions around ischemic region.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Infarction ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; GAP-43 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats