Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiopericytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Meningioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

A novel Aspergillus terreus strain M11 was isolated from the compost containing cellulose and identified. The isolate grow best at 45℃ and pH2.0. It was found that the activity of the CMCase was up to 3.680IU/mL with high heat stability and the optimal reaction conditions of the CMCase were at 60℃ and pH2.0.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model. Then we determined the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue by immunohistochemistry and examined the ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernosum under the transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe prolactinoma-induced ED model was successfully established in 15 rats. The weight of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in the rats treated with DES as compared with the normal saline and sterilized arachis oil controls ([46.7 ± 15.5] vs [11.7 ± 2.4] and [12.4 ± 2.3] mg, both P < 0.05). The level of serum PRL was markedly higher while that of T remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups ([1,744.9 ± 304.5] vs [11.5 ± 2.4] and [10.6 ± 1.9] ng/ml, both P < 0.0l; [1.54 ± 0.46] vs [3.11 ± 1.08] and [3.04 ± 1.11] ng/ml, both P < 0.05). The rate of penile erection was significantly reduced in the prolactinoma-induced ED model rats in comparison with the normal saline and arachis oil controls (16.7% vs 100% and 87.5%, both P < 0.05), and so was the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue (0.024 ± 0.011 vs 0.066 ± 0.019 and 0.058 ± 0.021, both P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy manifested significant ultrastructural changes in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the cavernous tissue in the prolactinoma-induced ED models.

CONCLUSIONThe ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernous tissue and the reduced expression of nNOS in penile tissue may be the most important mechanisms of prolactinoma-induced ED in rats.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; Carcinogens ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; ultrastructure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; complications ; Prolactin ; blood ; Prolactinoma ; chemically induced ; complications ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testosterone ; blood

A novel practical binary vector to get marker-free transgenic plant was constructed. The estrogen-inducible Cre/loxP DNA recombination system was adopted in this system. All non-target genes located between two identical orientation loxP sites could be excised from the transgenic genome by the Cre expression. In order to analyze this system, the target gene, GUS expression box (CaMV35s: :GUS), was inserted in the MCS outside the region franked by two loxP sites. Then it was introduced into the tobaccos. Results showed that the high-efficiency DNA recombination had take place and the target gene was working order after DNA excitation.
Base Sequence ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Integrases ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Tobacco ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the value of the use of a pneumatic tourniquet in total knee arthroplasty.

METHODSSixty patients were prospectively randomized into 2 groups, one group underwent total knee replacement with a tourniquet (n = 30) and one without (n = 30). Operating time, blood loss, postoperative mean morphine requirement, swelling, ecchymosis, earlier straight-leg raising and postoperative knee flexion were measured in both groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in the total blood loss between the 2 groups although the intraoperative blood loss was significantly greater in those without a tourniquet. The mean morphine requirement, postoperative swelling, scope of ecchymosis, earlier straight-leg raising and postoperative knee flexion in the patients that had surgery without a tourniquet were significantly better than those with a tourniquet.

CONCLUSIONKnee arthroplasty operation with the use of a tourniquet has only small benefits on the total blood loss, but hinder in patients' early postoperative rehabilitation exercises.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Tourniquets ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the brain functional laterality in motor areas during motor execution systematically.

METHODSFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed combined with right hand sequential finger movement task to investigate brain activation pattern and laterality in 8 right-handed subjects. 3dDeconvolve program of AFNI was used to estimate the hemodynamic response function and to generate activation maps. Then the laterality index (LI) was calculated and tested statistically.

RESULTAll motor areas including the areas which were previously considered to be engage in movement preparation only were activated in movement execution. In the activation map, it appeared left lateralization in cerebra and right lateralization in cerebella. After further statistical test, it was found that in primary motor area (M1), supplementary motor area (SMA) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC), there were left lateralization. While in premotor cortex (PMC), cingulate gyrus and basal ganglia (BG), the lateralization tendency was not obvious. The activation in cerebella is characterized with right lateralization.

CONCLUSIONThough there are tiny differences among subjects, most of the motor areas appear lateralized activation. Past studies only observed laterality in several motor areas. It may be due to the difficulty of the task or the experimental design.

Adult ; Brain ; physiology ; Female ; Functional Laterality ; physiology ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Motor Cortex ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences in brain activation between musicians and non-musicians by use of functional MRI.

METHODSTwelve right-handed musicians and twelve right-handed non-musicians were recruited in the study. During a listening task, they were scanned on the Sigma 1.5T scanner (GE) while they were passively listening to several segments of music of "the Butterfly Love" and the white noise with same physical energy.

RESULTBoth musicians and non-musicians demonstrated bilateral transverse gyrus weak activated while listening to the white noise. But when listening to music, they showed bilateral temporal areas strongly activated including superior temporal gyrus, transverse gyrus and some middle temporal areas. Moreover, musicians showed relative left dominance (10/12), whereas non-musicians demonstrated right dominance(11/12). Furthermore,besides bilateral temporal areas, more and stronger activated areas were found in musicians such as cuneus, precuneus,medial frontal and left middle occipital gyrus.

CONCLUSIONThere are different neuro-patterns between musicians and non-musicians.

Adult ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Music ; Temporal Lobe ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate one-stage arterial Switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and Taussig-Bing with aortic arch obstruction.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to June 2004, 8 patients had aortic arch obstruction, 3 with TGA and 5 with Taussig-Bing. Except one patient was 8 months old, all of others were 5 days to 3 months old, the mean operation age was (40 +/- 36) d and the mean weight was (4.3 +/- 0.5) kg. All patients were repaired by one-stage operation. The aortic arch obstruction was repaired in deep hypothermia circulatory arrest, and arterial switch procedure was performed in deep hypothermia and low flow perfusion.

RESULTSThere had 1 death who was 8 months old and had low cardiac output, complete artrioventricular block (AVB) and severe pulmonary hypertension postoperation. One patient was 3 months old who had asphyxia at 5 days postoperatively. Six patients followed up from 5 months to 2 years. One Taussig-Bing with interrupted aortic arch had residual obstruction at the anastomosis of aorta. Two had trivial aortic valve regurgitation, and one had mild pulmonary valve regurgitation.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage repair for TGA and Taussig-Bing with aortic obstruction achieves excellent results. The reasons for the death were pulmonary hypertension and abnormal coronary artery. The operative procedure should be performed as early as possible for the better result.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Arch Syndromes ; complications ; surgery ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the exposure levels and serum protein fingerprints in population exposed to silica.

METHODSLiquid chip time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was used to investigate the serum profiles in control group (30 cases), group exposed to silica (30 cases), silicosis group (I stage, 25 cases) and suspected silicosis group (30 cases), and screen the differential expression proteins. The correlation between the levels of the differential expression proteins and the exposure levels was performed.

RESULTSFive differential expression proteins were found among 4 groups, the expression of 5081 and 5066 proteins was upregulated, and the expression of 3954, 2021 and 1777 proteins was downregulated. There was no the correlation between the exposure levels and the peak with M/Z among those proteins.

CONCLUSIONthe results of present investigation indicated there was no correlation between the exposure levels and protein/peptide peak.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteomics ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Silicosis ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors of prostate cancer in urban Qingdao and provide some theoretical evidence for the scientific prevention and treatment of the disease.

METHODSWe performed a hospital-based matched case-control study in Qingdao Municipal Hospital. The cases and controls were matched in age, gender, nationality and the place of residence. All the subjects were interviewed face to face in the hospital using a questionnaire, and the data analyzed by the conditional logistic regression method.

RESULTSAccording to the 258 valid questionnaires collected, the prostate cancer risk was significantly higher in the cases with a family history of cancer than in those without (OR = 2.58), and so was it in the men with the first spermatorrhea at the age of < or = 15 years than in those at the age of > or = 18 years (OR = 2.27). A decreased risk of prostate cancer was found among the men with the first experience of sexual intercourse between 25 to 30 years of age (OR = 0.76). An increased risk was shown in those with sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old (OR = 2.57), masturbations > or = 3 times per week (OR = 2.30) and a drinking history (alcohol > or = 150 g/d) of > or = 10 years (OR = 2.83).

CONCLUSIONPositive family history of cancer, earlier age of the first spermatorrhea, sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old, frequent masturbations, and heavy drinking for more than 10 years are risk factors for prostate cancer.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires