Background Perineural invasion is an important biological character for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of lacrimal gland,which is different from those of other lacrimal gland tumors.As the important part of neurotrophic factors,glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in perineural invasion for ACC of salivary gland.GDNF regulation in the ACC cell biology function needs to be further explored.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of GDNF on proliferation and migration of ACC cells,and to explore the mechanism of neural invasion in ACC of lacrimal gland.Methods ACC-2 cell line was cultured and passaged in RPMI 1640 medium with 10％ fetal bovine serum,100 U/ml penicillin and 0.1 g/L streptomycin.Single-cell suspension was prepared with the density of 2×104/ml using logarithmic phase of cells and then incubated to 96-well plate.GDNF with the final concentration of 20,60,80,100 and 120 μg/L was added into the medium respectively in the experimental groups,and the cells were cultured in the medium without GDNF as the control group.The expression of GDNF in ACC-2 cells was detected by immunohistochemistry.MTT assay was employed to assay the absorbance value at the wavelength of 570 nm (A570) for the evaluation of proliferation of ACC-2 cells after cultured by different concentrations of GDNF for different time points.Meanwhile,transwell chamber was used to examine the cell migrated number.Results Immunochemistry assay exhibited that ACC-2 cells showed the positive response for GDNF with the brown staining in the cytoplasm.In 48 hours after culture,the A570 value was elevated with the increase of GDNF concentration,showing a significant difference among various groups (F =3.336,P =0.026),and the A570 value in various concentrations of GDNF groups was higher than that of 0 μg/L GDNF group (all P＜0.05).After action of 80 μg/L GDNF,the A570 value of the cells was gradually increased with the prolong of culture time (Ftime =39.979,P=0.000).In 30 minutes after GDNF cultured,the number of migrated cells increased with the increase of GDNF concentration (F=144.886,P=0.000).ACC-2 cells were cultured by 100 μg/L GDNF for 24,30 and 40 hours,the number of migrated cells were more as the time lapse,and more migrated cells were seen in GDNF group at various time points (Ftime =46.747,P =0.000 ; Fgroup =63.786,P =0.000).Conclusions GDNF can stimulate the proliferation and migration of ACC-2 cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

Objective:To observe the clinical curative effect of long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20)for the treatment of cervical vertigo(CV)and its influence on the blood flow velocity of vertebrobasilar arteries. Methods:Seventy patients with CV were randomly divided into a treatment group(35 cases,1 dropout)and a control group(35 cases,2 dropouts)according to the random number table method.Those in the treatment group were treated with long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20),and those in the control group were treated with conventional acupuncture.The treatment was performed every other day,7 sessions as a treatment course,for a total of 2 courses.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups by observing changes in the evaluation scale for symptoms and functions of cervical vertigo(ESCV)and the mean blood flow velocity(Vm)of vertebrobasilar arteries. Results:The total effective rate and the cured plus markedly effective rate were 91.2%and 79.4%,respectively,in the treatment group,versus 78.8%and 54.5%in the control group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in the cured plus markedly effective rate between the two groups(P<0.05).The ESCV score and the Vm of vertebrobasilar arteries in the two groups improved significantly after treatment.The Vm of the left vertebral artery(LVA),right vertebral artery(RVA),and basilar artery(BA)increased in patients with low and normal flow velocities(P<0.05),and the Vm of the LVA,RVA,and BA decreased in patients with a high flow velocity(P<0.05);the results in the treatment group were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Long-time needle retaining at Baihui(GV20)combined with multidirectional point-toward-point needle insertion with needle shaking at Fengchi(GB20)can significantly reduce the clinical symptoms of CV and regulate the blood flow rate of vertebrobasilar arteries bidirectionally,and thus is an effective therapy for CV.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology

Objective To study the efficacy of medication management, symptom management and community reentry skills-training modules to prevent rural patients with schizophrenia from relapse and increase their social function.Methods 89 subjects were randomly assigned to the skills training group (45 cases) and the control group (44 cases). Both groups received the same treatments, but the skills training courses were given to the skills training group for twelve weeks when the subjects were addmitted into the trial and at their one-year follow-up timepoint respectively. And a two-year follow-up was carried out. All subjects were evaluated with PANSS, SDSS, relapse and employeement.Results 89 subjects had completed the study. The skills training group demonstrated clinical Results significantly superior to those of the control group on overall improvement according to PANSS and SDSS. Substantially, statistically significant advantages of the skills training group were related to 1) the rate of relapse (11.1% vs 31.8%), 2) the rate of employment (37.8% vs 15.9%).Conclusion Medication management, symptom management and community-re-entry skills-training modules are effective in reducing patients' psychiatric symptoms, preventing them from relapse and increasing their social function.

We developed an R function named "microarray outlier filter" (MOF) to assist in the identification of failed arrays. In sorting a group of similar arrays by the likelihood of failure, two statistical indices were employed: the correlation coefficient and the percentage of outlier spots. MOF can be used to monitor the quality of microarray data for both trouble shooting, and to eliminate bad datasets from downstream analysis. The function is freely avaliable at http://www.wriwindber.org/applications/mof/.
Algorithms ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Internet ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injury.

METHODSFrom December 2008 to May 2010,three-column reconstruction via posterior approach was implemented to 21 patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries. There were 13 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 23 to 54 years old(averaged,35.5 years old). Injured vertebrae: 1 patient had injury in T11, 4 patients had injuries in T12, 8 patients had injuries in L1, 5 patients had injuries in L2, 3 patients had injuries in L3. The Cobb angle was (25.34 +/- 3.42) degrees. The operation time,blood loss during operation, Cobb angle and the bony fusion were observed.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 24 to 27 years old, with an average of 25.6 months. The operation time ranged from 135 to 275 min, with a mean of 185 min. The blood loss during operation ranged from 700 to 1 650 ml (averaged, 870 ml). All the patients had complete decompression. Postoperative Cobb angle was (4.01 +/- 2.03) degrees, and (4.34 +/- 2.38) degrees at the latest follow-up. All the patients got bony fusion.

CONCLUSIONTo the patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures accompanied by posterior column injuries, three-column reconstruction via single posterior approach has both anterior approach and posterior approach advantages, which can obtain excellent clinical outcomes.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This study is to compare the effects of kaempferide and anhydroicaritin on biomineralization of rat osteoblasts (ROB) in vitro. Calvarias were dissected aseptically from newborn SD rats, the osteoblasts were obtained by enzyme digestion and were cultured in MEM containing 10% FBS. The medium was changed every three days, and serial subculture was performed when cells covered with 90% of the dish. Kaempferide and anhydroicaritin were separately added with final concentrations of 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) under the conditions of osteogenic differentiation. The proliferation was measured by MTT, and the optimal concentration was detected by the ALP activity at the 9th day after osteogenic induction culture. The osteogenic indexes of kaempferide, anhydroicaritin and control group with the optimal concentration were compared. The result showed that the anhydroicaritin at concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) had significantly promoted the activity of ALP, calcium content and osteocalcin content, increased the number of CFU-F(ALP) and mineralized nodules, enhanced the mRNA level of BMP-2, OSX and Runx-2, which are key genes of osteogenic differentiation, and raised the protein content of collagen-I. However, the kaempferide group had not significantly represented the ability that promoted osteogenic differentiation of ROB. The difference of osteogenic differentiation on ROB between kaempferide and anhydroicaritin was caused by the prenyl group on C-8 of icariin.

Within three years ,86 cases of tumors in the pineal region were treated by X－ Knife radiosurgical technique,using the standard axial serial CT scan for stereotactic localization,the target were localized by the BRW coordinate system.Radionics RSA－ 3 X－ Knife treatment planning system were used to make plan,Philips SL－ 75－ 14 Linac was used to produce X－ ray.After treatment, follow－ up ranged 6～ 42 months (meanly 24 months),most of the patients showed improvements within 1｀ 6 months. The results of this report proved that the X－ Knife treatment for tumors in the pineal region might be an effective,economical and reliable method.

Objective To investigate the relationship of the serum level of IL-23 and MMP-9 with the clinicopathologic features in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods 48 pathologically confirmed ESCC patients and 30 Endoscopic biopsy of benign were included in this study. The serum levels of IL-23 and MMP-9 were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum IL-23 level in patients with ESCC was significantly higher than that in controls (t = 26.66, 16.89, P<0.05). Furthermore, Pearson′s correlation analysis revealed that serum IL-23 was positively correlated with the serum MMP-9 level in ESCC patients (r = 0.790, P < 0.05). Statistical analysis showed that enhanced serum IL-23 significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Overexpression of IL-23 may involve in the occurrence and development of ESCC. IL-23 may contribute to tumorinvasion and metastasis by stimulating the expression of MMP-9.

Objective To explore the correlation of left ventricular systolic function calculated by automated cardiac motion quantification (aCMQ) and three-dimensional quantitative analysis (3DQA). Methods According to LVEF by 3DQA,patients were divided into abnormal cardiac function group(LVEF<50%)and normal cardiac function group(LVEF≥50%).Dynamic images from two chamber view(AP2), four chamber view(AP4)and three chamber view(AP3)of left ventricular long axis were acquired from 32 patients with abnormal cardiac function and 119 normal subjects.AP2 longitudinal strain (AP2LS),AP4 longitudinal strain (AP4LS) and AP3 longitudinal strain (AP3LS) as well as the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) were measured by aCMQ. While left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV),left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) and LVEF were derived through aCMQ automatically calculated region of interest (ROI) driven automation.The correlation of left ventricular systolic function indexes obtained by aCMQ and 3DQA were compared.Results No significant differences were found between the two groups in gender,body mass index(BMI) and age (P > 0.05).LVEF in abnormal group by 3QDA and aCMQ were much lower than those in normal group (P < 0.01).The absolute values of AP2LS,AP4LS,AP3LS and LVGLS in abnormal group were significantly lower than those in normal group (P < 0.01).LVEF by aCMQ in abnormal group was positively correlated with LVEF by 3QDA methods(r =0.91 ,P <0.01);LVEF by aCMQ in normal group was positively correlated with LVEF by 3QDA (r = 0.73,P < 0.01).The left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) measured by aCMQ was negatively correlated with LVEF by 3QDA(r = -0.815,P < 0.01).LVEF measured by aCMQ and 3DQA showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreements in Bland-Altman charts.Conclusions aCMQ has preferable repeatability.Comparing with the traditional measurement method,LVEF measured by aCMQ has higher correlation with that measured by 3QDA.aCMQ can be a new and relatively accurate method to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function.