BACKGROUND: Ascariasis is one of the most common human parasitic infections worldwide. In some rare cases, ascariasis may cause serious consequences even sudden death. This study was undertaken to review the life-threatening complications of ascariasis in trauma patients reported in the literature. DATA SOURCES: Relevant articles about ascariasis and trauma were searched from Pubmed, Google scholar, Scirus, and Wanfang databases. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with ascariasis were collected from 21 articles searched. Most of these patients were from tropical and subtropical countries. Of the 24 patients, 12 were children. Their major complications occurred in the airway passage and digestive tract. There were 3 fatal cases in these patients. Twelve of the 24 patients described in 10 articles were reported in the last 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are essential to minimize the high morbidity and mortality of these serious complications in trauma patients. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of Ascaris infection in a trauma patient from endemic area of ascariasis. History of Ascaris infection and routine examination of feces forAscaris eggs may be helpful to make a correct diagnosis.

In recent years, non-viral gene vectors have attracted great attention for efficient gene delivery due to the advantages, including low toxicity, low immunogenicity and simple preparation. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is one of the typical non-viral gene carriers that have been widely utilized for gene delivery owing to its superior capabilities in gene compression and buffering capacity. This article discusses the processes of gene delivery and the barriers of PEI-based carrier during the gene delivery, such as low biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, lack of specific targeting and insufficient gene release, etc. Therefore, we summarize the multiple approaches for the modifications of PEI in terms of improved biocompatibility, degradability, specific targeting and buffering capacity. Furthermore, we also review on the recent impressive progresses of smart stimuli-responsive PEI carriers, including endogenous stimuli (pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, biomolecular, etc), exogenous stimuli (light, temperature, magnetic field, etc) and dual-responsive strategies, which might provide guidance for the development of more efficient and safer non-viral gene vectors.

Cholesteatoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Petrous Bone ; pathology

Objective To study the effect of different concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] on cell proliferation,differentiation and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse MC3T3E1 osteoblast.Methods Osteoblast were cultured in medium with different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3.Incubated for 48 h,cell proliferation of osteoblast were examined by MTT reduction assay (mono-nuclear cell direc cytotoxicity assay),the osteocalcin (OC) levels in cell medium were detected by ELISA,and the expression of VDR mRNA and protein were examined by using SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results 1.After incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h,the number of MC3T3E1 osteoblast was significantly less than that in control group(P0.05).3.SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of VDR mRNA as well as VDR protein of osteoblast in 10-8,10-9 mol/L experimental groups were significantly higher than those in control group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Cell proliferation of mouse osteoblast can be inhibited,while the cell differentiation was promoted by 1,25(OH)2D3.1,25(OH)2D3 up-regulated the expression of VDR in mouse osteoblast,which suggested that the VDR signal pathway may play some role in proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

The potential of a Sinorhizobium fredii strain producing a copolymer polyhydroxyalkanoate(PHA)from glucose and sodium decanoate substrates was studied in this paper.Using orthogonal design in a flask-shaker culture system,the culture medium,some culture conditions and vital regulation conditions for polymer synthesis were optimized.These optimized results were applied into further studies in two-stage fed-batch with a 10L fermentor.The whole culture process consisted of two stages,that is,the cell growth and the copolymer production.The first stage was for the cell growing to a desired biomass and the second was for the copolymer synthesis.For producing PHA polymers,the selected 8 mM sodium decanoate was added into the broth by adopting a two-step adding method for avoiding of foaming when the biomass had approached 28.5g/L dry cell.The maximum P(HB-HH)production could be 17.55 g/L with a monomer ratio of 79.4%(W/W)3-HB and 20.6%(W/W)3-HH.The molecule constitute of the copolymer is poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)[P(HB-HH)] and its molecular weight(MW)is 1.4?105D.The results demonstrated that the employed S.fredii strain could be a potential candidate for industrial production of the copolymer.The fermentation parameters acquired in the experimental system offered some valuable references for studying large-scale production of the copolymer.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

OBJECTIVETo explore a new procedure for aesthetic correction of the medial epicanthal fold aim at the etiopathogenesis.

METHODSThe new Z-epicanthoplasty devise the upper and inferior margin of angle of eye medial as one angle of the Z.

RESULTSFrom 2004 to 2006, 129 patients were treated by using the method. Follow-up 6 to 24 months, all patients were satisfied by eliminating the medial epicanthal fold without obvious scar.

CONCLUSIONSThe method is more effect than traditionally Z-plasty. Our technique is a simple, advanced procedure that can be performed widely.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

AIMTo analyze gene expression difference between human mesenchymal stem cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells, to discuss the feasibility of inducing hMSCs to differentiate into endothelial cells through in vitro gene transfection as well as the use and prospective as a seeding cell source of vascular tissue engineering.

METHODShMSCs and hUVECs were isolated, expanded in culture, and characterized by flow-cytometry, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential analysis of gene expression profiles between them was performed by Biostar H-40 cDNA microarrays. The properties of VEGF 165 transfected were also detected with RT-PCR, ELISA et al.

RESULTSNearly 86% genes were coexpressed in both cells and hMSCs expressed typical endothelial antigen marker of EC. After VEGF165 transfection, hMSCs (or committed hMSCs) were positive for CD31. To different extent, the expression of CD44 was down regulated and CD34, FVIIIAg, Flt-1 up regulated.

CONCLUSIONGeneration of functional EC or tissue engineered blood vessels from human MSCs is feasible utilizing an in vitro environment gene transfection.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid quantitative analysis method for the quality control of Danhong injection extraction using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy.

METHODOnline collecting the NIR spectra during the mixed extraction process of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius, partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed for the quality indicators rosmarinic acid (RA), salvia acid B (SaB), lithospermic acid (LA), hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and solid content (SSC), with HPLC and weight-loss method as reference methods.

RESULTThe correlation coefficients of the cross validation for RA, SaB, LA, HSYA and SSC were 0.909 3, 0.915 2, 0.901 9, 0.747 7 and 0.931 4, respectively. And the root mean square errors of cross validation (RMSECV) were 0.012 1, 0.251, 0.017 7, 0.038 1 g x L(-1) and 0.359%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn this study, NIR spectroscopy was successfully applied to achieve the real-time determination of the contents of RA, SaB, LA and SSC, while the performance of the HSYA calibration model needed to be improved.

Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; standards ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Online Systems ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

OBJECTIVETo identify the metastasis-related miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines.

METHODSA qRT-PCR method was established and optimized.

RESULTSAll candidate metastasis associated miRNAs except miR-124a were expressed in high metastasis cell line MHCC97H and low metastasis cell line MHCC97L, while some miRNAs were differentially expressed between liver cancer cell line (HepG2) and hepatic cell line (L02) (P less than 0.05), these miRNAs include: miR-148b (1.96+/-0.51 vs 3.76+/-0.28), miR-9 (-4.38+/-0.86 vs -1.10+/-0.53), miR-30c (8.41+/-0.40 vs 6.82+/-0.29), miR-338 (3.14+/-0.29 vs -2.36+/-0.32), miR-34a (0.71+/-0.40 vs -2.95+/-0.26), Let-7g (-4.07+/-0.55 vs -6.98+/-0.56). miR-148b expression was about 4 times higher than miR-148a [5.46 (IQR 4.25-6.67) vs 1.29 (IQR 0.94-1.64)] in all cell line tested (Z=-5.097, P=3x10(-7)).

CONCLUSIONThis study may help to understand the biological significance of miRNAs in HCC metastasis.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction