Objective To study the effects of manganese on the expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome-c in the spermatogenic cells of rats. Methods Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into the high dose,low dose exposure groups and the control groups,16 in each,were given manganese(MnCl2?4H2O) at 15,30 mg/kg and normal saline,I.P. once a day, 5 times a week,for 6 consecutive weeks. In the 4th and 6th weekend,the testis were collected,the expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome-c in the testis was determined by immunohistochemical methods (SABC). Results The caspase-3-positive-cell rate in the spermatogenic cells of rats in the high dose and low dose exposure groups increased significantly (P

AIM To compare the effects of micronised fenofibrate with those of standard fenofibrate on regulating serum lipid. METHODS Wistar rats were fed by the hyperlipids food to induce hypolipidemia, and then orally treated with 20,30,40 mg?kg -1 per day micronised fenofibrate and 20,30,40,60,80 mg?kg -1 per day standard fenofibrate for 10 days. At the tenth day, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. RESULTS 1 In the same experimental conditions,the minimal efficacious dose of the micronised fenofibrate is 30 mg?kg -1 , but that of the standard fenofibrate is 80 mg?kg -1 ; 2 Using efficacious doses, both kinds of fenofibrate could decrease the content of triglyceride to normal level. They also could decrease the level of total cholesterol by 36 69%～51 56%. CONCLUSION The effects of micronised fenofibrate are better than those of standard fenofibrate, which mainly decreases the level of triglyceride. Micronised fenofibrate also decreases level of serum total cholesterol.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Silicon ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Silicosis ; epidemiology ; United States ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a high mortality. This study was undertaken to detect the factors associated with the prognosis of AKI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 98 patients with AKI treated from March 2008 to August 2009 at this hospital. In these patients, 60 were male and 38 female. Their age ranged from 19 to 89 years (mean 52.4±16.1 years). The excluded patients were those who died within 24 hours after admission to ICU or those who had a history of chronic kidney disease or incomplete data. After 60 days of treatment, the patients were divided into a survival group and a death group. Clinical data including gender, age, history of chronic diseases, the worst laboratory values within 24 hours after diagnosis (values of routine blood tests, blood gas analysis, liver and renal function, levels of serum cystatin C, and blood electrolytes) were analyzed. Acute physiology, chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores and 60-day mortality were calculated. Univariate analysis was performed to find variables relevant to prognosis, odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (CI). Multiple-factor analysis with logistic regression analysis was made to analyze the correlation between risk factors and mortality. RESULTS: The 60-day mortality was 34.7％ (34/98). The APACHE II score of the death group was higher than that of the survival group (17.4±4.3 vs. 14.2±4.8, P<0.05). The mortality of the patients with a high level of cystatin C>1.3 mg/L was higher than that of the patients with a low level of cystatin C (<1.3 mg/L) (50％ vs. 20％, P<0.05). The univariate analysis indicated that organ failures≥2, oliguria, APACHE II>15 scores, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L+APACHE II>15 scores were the risk factors of AKI. Logistic regression analysis, however, showed that organ failures≥2, oliguria, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L +APACHE II>15 scores were the independent risk factors of AKI. CONCLUSION: Cystatin C>1.3 mg/L+APACHE II>15 scores is useful in predicting adverse clinical outcomes in patients with AKI.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of different doses of glucocorticoid for prevention of postoperative complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods We searched PubMed,EMBASE,Highwire,CENTREN and its affiliated clinical trial registration data center,Chinese Biomedical Database,and CNKI from 2000 to 2010 for randomized controlled trials involving the efficacy of different doses of glucocorticoid for prevention of postoperative complications in patients undergoing CABG.The quality of the studies was evaluated by the method recommended by Cochrane Collaboration.Evaluation indexes included development of fibrillation,requirement for insulin treatment because of hyperglycosemia,infection,and death (during stay in hospital or within 30 days after discharge from hospital) after operation and mechanical ventilation time.Meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.1 software.Results Twenty-one randomized controlled trials involving 1737 patients were included in our meta-analysis.Different doses of glucocorticoid decreased the risk of fibrillation,and did not increase the risk of various causes-induced infection and death.Moderate and large doses of glucocorticoid increased the risk of requirement for insulin treatment because of hyperglucosemia.Large dose of glucocorticoid resulted in prolongation of ventilation time.Conclusion Different doses of glucocorticoid can decrease the development of postoperative fibrillation without increasing the risk of infection and death,moderate and large doses of glucocorticoid increase the risk of requirement for insulin treatment because of hyperglucosemia and large dose of glucocorticoid increases the risk of prolonged ventilation time in patients undergoing CABG.

Objective To value the clinical application of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in cerebral diseases. Methods Six volunteers and 6 patients (including 3 patients with ischemic stroke and 3 patients with glioma) were examined by DTI and T1weighted, T2weighted MR scan. All data were processed with DtiStudio software to show the white matter fiber tracts. The fractional anisotropy (FA) of the diffusion tensor were measured between the affected and the unaffected side. Results The white matter fiber tract could be observed clearly on the FA map. The pyramidal tract with different degree disruption could be showed in 3 patients with ischemic stroke. Compression, displacement, infiltration or destruction of pyramidal tract, corpus callosum or internal capsule and external capsule could be seen in 3 patients with glioma, and FA was significantly reduced on the affected side as compared to the unaffected side. Conclusion Diffusion tensor imaging is useful in observing the damage and displacement of the white matter fiber tracts in vivo, beneficial to the surgical plan for patients and prognosing recovery of function.

Objective To investigate the association of the expressions of p27 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)and nuclear-associated antigen(ki-67)proteins in synovial sarcoma,and the relationship with its prognosis.Methods The expression of p27,PCNA and ki-67 in 36 synovial sarcoma and 10 normal synovial tissue were immunohistochemically examined.The relationship between the expressions of p27,PCNA and ki-67 proteins in synovial sarcoma with its prognosis by clinical stage,tissue grades and prognosis was investigated.Results (1)In normal synovial tissue,the expressions of PCNA(0) and ki-67(0) were positive,p27 were positive100%(10/10).but the expressions of PCNA[86.1%(31/36)]and ki-67[69.4%(25/36)]in most synovial sarcoma were positive,p27 were negative[11.1%(4/36)],significant differences were found among these expressions(χ2=25.16,χ2=9.18,P＜0.05).(2) p27 positive-expression correlated significantly wiht thehistological grade of synovial sarcoma(χ2=9.19,P＜0.05)and prognosis(χ2=5.98,P＜0.05).The positive expressions of PCNA and ki-67 were positively related with the clinical stage(χ2=7.40,χ2=8.12,P＜0.05)and tissue grades(χ2=7.17,χ2=9.18,P＜0.05)and prognosis(χ2=13.03,χ2=10.66,P＜0.05)of synovial sarcina(3) There were negative correlations between p27 and PCNA(r=-0.63,P＜0.05) and between p27 and ki-67(r=-0.53,P＜0.05).But positive correlation between PCNA and ki-67(r=0.63,P＞0.05)was found.Conclusions Expressions of PCNA and ki-67 in most synovial sarcomas are positive,and that of p27 is negative,each plays an important role in the proliferation of synovial sarcoma.Combination of measuring of the p27,PCNA and ki-67 is valuble in predicting the prognosis.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are uniquely well-equipped antigen (Ag)-presenting cells. This function of DCs, coupled with their remarkable plasticity, renders them attractive therapeutic targets for immune modulation. Recent data have demonstrated a promising role for pharmacologic treatment as a means of generating potent regulatory DCs. Herein, the evidence that the potential of regulatory DC the-rapy is considerable and that there are compelling reasons to evaluate it in the setting of organ transplantation in the near future are discussed in this paper.

Objective To evaluate the effects of small dose of antithymocyte globulin(ATG)and zenapax in the induction therapy for kidney transplant recipients.Methods A series of 150 cadaver-donor kidney transplant recipients were randomly divided to 3 groups,ie,small dose of ATG group(total dose,2.1 -3.0 mg/kg;n=72),zenapax group(50mg,on the first and 14th d after operation;n=15)and controls without induction therapy(n=63).Follow-up was 6 months.The rates of acute rejection,delayed graft func- tion(DGF)and pulmonary infection were statistically compared among the 3 groups.Results During a 6-month period,in ATG,zenapax and control groups,acute rejection episodes occurred in 4 cases(5.5%), 1(6.7%)and 10(15.9%),respectively;DGF occurred in 3(4.2%),0 and 8(12.7%),respectively;pul- monary infection occurred in 4(5.1%),1(6.7%)and 3(4.8%),respectively;leucocytopenia occurred in 3(4.2%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively;thrombocytopenia occurred in 2(2.8%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively.Conclusions In the early stage of kidney transplantation,small dose of ATG and zenapax can be the optimal choice for induction therapy.

20% increase in serum creatinine over the last 6 months or progression to the range of 176-308?mol/L.Patients underwent abrupt cessation of cyelosporine and sirolimus maintenance at 1-2 rag/day after administration of 4-6 mg as first loading dose.Concomitant immunosuppression remained unchanged during conversion.Results Targeted sirolimus level was 4-8 ng/mL.Serum creatinine was dropped from pre-conversion level of(242.15?73.04)?mol/L to(188.32?58.96)?mol/L and (173.36?58.08)?mol/L at 3rd and 6th month respectively(P