Objective To investigate the expression of homeobox gene MSX-2 during cranial suture fusion of SD rats and discuss its significance. Methods SD rats aged 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, 18, 22, 30 and 45 days were selected, and immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR were employed to localize and quantify the expression of MSX-2 in different regions of cranial sutures. Results MSX-2 expressed in calvarial suture tissues including the extreme ends of the osteogenic fronts and the underlying dura mater. The expression of MSX-2 was low in posterior frontal suture (PF) and sagittal suture (SAG) from postnatal day 1 to day 8 before the initiation of suture fusion, while it was higher in PF than in SAG from postnatal day 12 to day 22 after the initiation of PF suture fusion. The expression of MSX-2 significantly declined in PF and was moderately higher than that in SAG from postnatal day 30 to day 45 after the initiation of suture fusion. Conclusion There is different expression of MSX-2 in PF and SAG during different suture fusion periods, which suggests the expression of MSX-2 may participate in the regulation of cranial bone development and the fusion of cranial sutures.

Adolescent ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Child ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Rectum ; physiopathology

Objective To study the biological exposure limit in bone metabolism damage caused by coexposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning in exposed population.Methods One hundred and ninety-eight cases of fluoride and arsenic co-exposed people from Liuchang village,Qinzhen city,Guizhou province were enrolled in the study.Urinary fluorine (UF),urinary arsenic (UAs),urinary hydroxyproline (UHYP),ross-linked Ntelopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(UNTX) and bone strength index(STI) were detected.BMDS Version 2.1 software was used to calculate UF,UAs benchmark dose (BMD) and its lower confidence limit (BMDL) on the damage of bone metabolism caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning.Results The BMD and BMDL range of UF caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning were 0.68-1.35 mg/g Cr,0.57-1.11 mg/g Cr.The BMD and BMDL range of UAs caused by co-exposure to fluorine and arsenic from coal burning were 8.36-18.77 μg/g Cr,7.12-15.40 μg/g Cr.Conclusion The biological exposure limits of UF and UAs for bone metabolism toxicity are proposed as 0.57 mg/g Cr and 7.12 μg/g Cr in co-exposure to fluoride and arsenic from coal burning,respectively.

To identify the genotype and analyze the molecular characteristics of dengue virus strain SZ0524 isolated from serum samples of patients with early stage of dengue fever in Shenzhen in 2005 so as to explore its possible origin. The C6/36 cell line was cultivated with virus strain SZ0524 and its suspension was harvested. The type of isolated virus strain was determined by RT-semi-nested PCR and fluorescent PCR. E gene of isolated virus strain was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Homology and phylogenetic tree of E gene of this dengue virus with the strains isolated from other areas were constructed. This SZ0524 strain was further identified by fluorescent PCR, and confirmed to be the type 4 virus after obtaining the 392bp band with type 4 specific primers. The homology of nucleotide sequence of E gene of SZ0524 strain with the standard type 4 dengue virus H241 strain were 99.7%, but the homology with the standard dengue virus 1,2,3 in the same fragment were 57.0%, 59.2% and 56.2% respectively. Analysis of the phylogenetic tree indicated that SZ0524 was more close to D4-73NIID and D4-61NIID strain, next to H241 strain, and they lied in the same branch of phylogenetic tree. The isolated dengue virus type 4 belonged to genotype Ⅰand the SZ0524 strain was proved to be dengue virus type 4 in the molecular level. Combined with epidemiology information, it is suggested that this case can be classified as an imported case and the SZ0524 strain may be transferred from the southeast asian region.

Objective To isolate Hantaviruses from reservoir animals captured in natural epidemic areas of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS)and genotype isolated strains of Hantavirus in Shenzhen.Methods Infant Meriones unguiculatus and Vero-E6 cells were used in virus isolation and direct immunofluorescence assay was used for identifying viruses.The G1,G2 fragments of M segment and S segment were amplified with reverse transcription-nested-polymerase chain reaction(RT-nested-PCR)by using the Hantavirus genotype specific primers.The amplified genes were then sequenced,and subjected to homology and cladogram analysis.Results Two virus strains were isolated successfully and designated as SZ2082 and SZ2083 from Rattus norvegicus captured in Shenzhen and were identified as SEOV type by RT-nested-PCR.The nucleotide sequences of partial M and S segmentS of SZ2082 were consistent with SZ2083 completely.Compared with the G1 and G2 fragments of M gene of SEOV80-39 virus strain,the homologies of nucleotide among them were 96.7% and 95.0%,but the homology were 75.9% and 70.3% of the Hantaviruses strain with HTNV76-118 virus strain,respectively.The homology of S gene with SEOV80-39 and HTNV76-118 showed 95.7% and 69.7% at nucleotide level.The results were similar to that of M genome segment.SZ2082 and BjFT01,Beijing Rn,Guangl99,HN71-L were on the same branch and their homology reached up to 99.0%-99.7%.Conclusions Hantaviruses are isolated from Shenzhen for the first time and are classified as S2 subtype of Seoul virus.

Objective To evaluate the sensitive indicator of left ventricular rotation/torsion assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI) and Logistic regression analysis,and to investigate the clinical value of the sensitive indicator for assessment of left ventricular dysfunction in patients with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP).Methods 36 patients with CCP (CCP group) and 38 healthy controls (control group) were included in this study.Imaging in parasternal short-axis view (in basal and apical level) were selected.Parasternal short-axis views at mitral valve and apical levels were collected.Basal peak rotation,apical peak rotation,peak torsion,basal end-systolic rotation,apical end-systolic rotation and end systolic torsion were measured with Echo PAC software.Relevant indicators of left ventricular rotation/torsion were selected by using logistic regression analysis and the regression equation was established.Optimal values of specific parameters (Peak torsion and end-systolic torsion) were calculated with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results Specific parameters of rotation/torsion were significantly reduced in patients with CCP as compared with controls (all P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that end-systolic torsion and peak torsion were correlated with CCP (OR=0.473 and 0.706,P=0.007 and 0.011).Cut-off value of peak torsion for predicting left ventricular dysfunction was 12.070°,the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.819 (95％ CI:0.683-0.956),the sensitivity was 84.6％,and the specificity was 73.9 ％.Cut-off value of end-systolic torsion for predicting left ventricular dysfunction was 10.680°,AUC was 0.875(95％CI:0.744 1.000),the sensitivity was 84.6％,and the specificity was 91.3％.Conclusions Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging can sensitively assess left ventricular torsion and evaluate the left ventricular dysfunction in patients with CCP.

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo compare the early clinical effects of Activ C cervical disc replacement (ACDR) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in treating single-level cervical spondylosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 76 patients with single-level cervical spondylosis underwent surgery from July 2009 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 28 patients were treated with ACDR (ACDR group), including 18 males and 10 females, aged from 32 to 62 years old with an average of (45.2±6.2) years; and 48 patients were treated with ACDF (ACDF group), including 28 males and 20 females, aged from 33 to 60 years old with an average of (45.8±6.4) years. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score, Short Form-36 (SF-36), imaging data were used to assess the clinical effects after operation.

RESULTSA total of 76 patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of 13.2 months. VAS of neck pain and brachialgia were improved in all patients after operation (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between two group (P>0.05). Somato-score and psycho-score of SF-36 of two groups were obviously increased (P<0.05), ACDR group was better than that of ACDF group (P<0.05). In ACDR group, there was no significant difference in the range of motion of surgical segments and adjacent segments between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05); heterotopic ossification around the edge of vertebral body occurred in 1 case on the 6th month after operation, no fusion was found on the 1st year after operation. In ACDF group, the adjacent vertebral disease occurred in 1 case and the patient underwent the reoperation.

CONCLUSIONActiv C cervical disc replacement can reduce the degeneration of adjacent segments and its early outcomes for the treatment of single-level cervical spondylosis are satisfactory, but the long-term effects still need study.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylosis ; surgery ; Total Disc Replacement ; methods

Objective To discover the excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and explore the prognostic value of ERCC1 .Methods The ERCC1 mRNA expressions in NSCLC was tested from 85 tumor tissues and 34 adjacent tissue samples from patients who were after the surgery were used by semi-quantitative RT-PCR .The data of clinical features and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were linked to ERCC1 expression by retrospective analysis .Results In 85 patients ,the ERCC1 negative ones had a significantly longer survival than the ERCC1 posi-tive expression ones (PFS ,P=0 .001;OS ,P=0 .001) .During the multivariate analysis ,ERCC1was found to be a significant factor in PFS and OS (P=0 .018 and P=0 .027) .Conclusion NSCLC patients who were undertaken platinum-based adjuvant chemother-apy after surgery could use the detection of ERCC1 mRNA as a determinant factor for the prognosis predicting of individualized treatment .

Background and purpose: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new minimally invasive method in the dignosis for mediastinal lymph nodes. This study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal lymph nodes. Methods: Twenty patients with mediastinal lymph nodes found by CT underwent the dignosis by EBUS-TBNA form April 1st 2009 to July 16th 2009. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA were evaluated. Results: Twenty patients with 37 lymph node groups were studied. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for diagnostic were 84.62%, 100%, 100%, 77.78% and 90.00%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for cancer was 100%. The operation time was 11.9min per group in average with no serious complication. The median length of hospital stay was 1 (range from 1 to 17 days) day after operation. There were significant differences in the average operation time between the first three patients and the others (36.25 min vs. 7.76 min; z=3.247, P=0.001). Conclusion: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration proved to be a safe procedure with a high yield for the diagnosis of mediastinal lymph nodes.