Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondritis ; therapy ; Tibia ; injuries ; Young Adult

Despite the clinical and experimental concerns about the deleterious effects of neonatal seizures on brain development,the underlying mechanism of seizure-induced brain damage is still not clear.Moreover,early therapeutic intervention studies are also less available.For this reason,the study was performed to explore the long-term effects of neonatal seizures and physical exercise on learning,memory and the expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(CaMKⅡ).Twelve neonatal rats for each group were assigned:the single-seizure group(SS),the recurrent-seizure group(RS) and the control group.The volatile agent flurothyl was used to induce 30 min seizure attack.At postnatal day 6(P6),the single seizures induced only once and recurrent seizures induced once per day for consecutive 6 days.Control rats were placed into the container for an equal amount of time to their counterpart without exposure to flurothyl.Morris water-maze test were performed at P27～P31,P58～P61 and P80～P82,meanwhile at P51～P56,the RS and SS groups were submitted to forced running exercise.In situ hybridization method was used to detect the expression of CaMKⅡ mRNA in hippocampus.The results are as follows:(1) Escape latency.In the first two Morris water-maze tests,there was a decreasing trend of escape latency in three groups,and the escape latency of RS group was much longer than that of control group.After physical exercise,in the last Morris water-maze tests,the diference of escape latency in three groups is not significant.(2) Searching strategy.In the first Morris water-maze test,there was a decreasing trend of marginal strategy and an increasing trend of taxis strategy in three groups,but the frequency of marginal strategy was higher and the frequency of taxis strategy was lower in RS group than that in SS and control group in the third and fourth day(P

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are gaining widespread interest in the Achil es tendon tissue engineering and regeneration, and an enabling environment (oxygen concentration) for cellinduction and differentiation is particularly necessary.
OBJECTIVE:To co-culture adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with primary tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension) in order to determine whether the two conditions differ in their effect on tenogenic differentiation.
METHODS:Tenocytes were isolated via serial expansion in culture from several Sprague-Dawley rats’ Achil es tendons. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were purchased. After one passage, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were indirectly co-cultured with tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension). Col agen 1, col agen 3, Tenomodulin, Thrombospondin-4, Scleraxis levels were compared for each culture condition at 7, 14 and 21 days fol owing co-culturing. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate production of col agen 1 and Thrombospondin-4.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fol owing indirect co-culturing, hypoxic differentiated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells expressed higher levels of tendon-related genes and proteins than normoxic controls, which suggest that oxygen levels can significantly affect tenogenic differentiation, and hypoxia is advantageous for efficient differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro for tendon tissue engineering.

Objective To assess the changes on the whole night polysomnography (PSG) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS). Methods The whole night PSGs were recorded from 24 patients with CFS and 33 normal subjects. Results Compared with normal subjects, patients with CFS showed significantly reduced total sleep duration ([488.7?21.7]min vs [515.9?31.7]min, P

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study genetic damage of workers alone occupationally exposed to methotrexate (MTX) with three end-points.

METHODSThe blood samples from 21 workers exposed to MTX and 21 controls were detected with micronucleus test, comet assay, hprt gene mutation test and TCR gene mutation test.

RESULTSThe mean micronuclei rate (MNR) and mean micronucleated cells rate (MCR) in 21 workers were 10.10 per thousand +/- 0.95 per thousand and 8.05 per thousand +/- 0.75 per thousand, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (5.48 per thousand +/- 0.82 per thousand and 4.38 per thousand +/- 0.58 per thousand) in control (P < 0.01). The mean tail length (MTL) of 21 workers and 21 controls were (1.30 +/- 0.06) microm and (0.07 +/- 0.01) microm, respectively, there was significant difference between workers and controls (P < 0.01). But the difference between workers and controls for mean tail moment (MTM) was not significant (P > 0.05). The average mutation frequency (Mf-hprt) of hprt and (Mf-TCR) of TCR in workers were 1.00 per thousand +/- 0.02 per thousand and (6.87 +/- 0.52) x 10(-4), respectively, which were significantly higher than those [0.86 per thousand +/- 0.01 per thousand and (1.67 +/- 0.14) x 10(-4)] in control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe genetic damage to some extent appeared in workers occupationally exposed to methotrexate.

Adult ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; genetics ; Male ; Methotrexate ; toxicity ; Micronucleus Tests ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Occupational Exposure

Hepatobiliary cystadenomas are rare cystic neoplasms that often occur in middle aged women. The exact etiology of these tumors is unknown. Diagnosis is often delayed in these cases. However, misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment may result in unfavorable outcome. We report a case of hepatobiliary cystadenoma with pleural effusion. We also review the literature and discuss the current diagnostic and treatment modalities.
Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; pathology ; Cystadenoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the epidemic situation of hantaviruses including geographic distribution, types and prevalent intensity of epidemic areas of hantavirus for the last 30 years in China, and to discuss relative preventive measures.

METHODSCollecting and analyzing the data of hantaviruses epidemics in China.

RESULTSThe annual number of cases of hantavirus disease rapidly increased from 3295 in 1970 to 115,804 in 1986 then sustained between 40,000 and 60,000 cases annually in the 1990's, and then decreased thereafter. The epidemic areas existed in all provinces except Qinhai and Xinjiang and there were the hospitalized cases of hantavirus disease reported in other provinces. In recent years, the prevalence of hantavirus infection had increased in some cities, and the seasonal distribution of the cases changed as well.

CONCLUSIONData suggested that the new epidemic characteristics of hantaviruses had emerged in China suggesting that it was necessary to strengthen surveillance programs and to take comprehensive preventive measures for the control and prevention of hantaviruses in China.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Female ; Hantaan virus ; immunology ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Population Surveillance ; Prevalence ; Rats ; Rodent Control ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites caused by different types of abdominal cancers guided by chemo-sensitivity methyl tetrojolium coloremetric (MTT) assay in vitro.

METHODSCancer cells in the malignant ascites were collected for MTT assay to determine the chemo-sensitivity. The drug producing the highest or the second highest inhibition rate was selected for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The correlation between the results of MTT assay and the response of malignant ascites, the clinical features, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSMTT assay indicated that Taxotere (TXT) and Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) were the most effective to cancer cells in malignant ascites, and HCPT was mostly frequently used for intraperitoneal chemotherapy (56.9%). Twenty-four patients showed response by intraperitoneal chemotherapy (complete response: 7; partial response: 17) with a slightly significant correlation between the results of MTT assay and response of malignant ascites (P = 0. 014). The KPS of the responders was improved significantly (P < 0.001), and the response of malignant ascites to intraperitoneal chemotherapy was demostrated as an independent prognostic factor by multi-variate analysis in this series.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro chemo-sensitivity MTT assay guided intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites is simple, effective and safe, which can improve the KPS and prognosis of the responders.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ascites ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of flexible bronchoscopy in children with respiratory diseases.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 80 children who were hospitalized due to respiratory diseases (including severe pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with atelectasis/lung consolidation/local emphysema, protracted pneumonia, coughing and wheezing of unknown cause, chronic cough of unknown cause, and laryngeal stridor) and who underwent flexible bronchoscopy/alveolar lavage.

RESULTSBronchoscopy found that all the 80 children had endobronchial inflammation, among whom 28 children had severe airway obstruction by secretion. Twenty-four children had congenital airway dysplasia besides endobronchial inflammation, and three children had bronchial foreign bodies. In the children with coughing and wheezing of unknown cause and laryngeal stridor, some had congenital airway dysplasia or bronchial foreign bodies. Among the 27 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, 26 had severe airway obstruction/embolization by secretion; 25 children (93%) underwent chest imaging again at 2 weeks after alveolar lavage, and the results showed complete or partial lung recruitment. Among the 80 children who underwent bronchoscopy, 3 had severe hypoxemia during surgery, 1 had epistaxis, 1 had minor bleeding during alveolar lavage, 3 had transient bronchospasm, and 5 had postoperative fever; these children were all improved after symptomatic treatment.

CONCLUSIONSFlexible bronchoscopy is safe and reliable in children with respiratory diseases. Early alveolar lavage under a flexible bronchoscope is recommended for children with severe/refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia to improve prognosis. Flexible bronchoscopy is recommended for children with recurrent coughing and wheezing and persistent laryngeal stridor, in order to directly observe the throat and airway under an endoscope.

Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; diagnosis ; Respiratory Sounds ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies