0. 05), respectively. Conclusion: Repeated +Gz stress may disorder the ratio of ET and NO. This imbalance may be one of the causes which lead to pathology changes in masseter musscles.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the small fiber function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus of the early stage by measuring the sensory threshold with the quantitative temperature testing technology.

METHODSTwenty cases of patients with type 2 diabetes with no neurological deficit (DM group) and twenty age and sex-matched healthy controls underwent the detecting of cold sensory threshold (CST), warm sensory threshold (WST), cold pain threshold (CPT), heat pain threshold (HPT) in both inside of their hands.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CST, WST, CPT and HPT between left and right inside of hand of the same sample among all the testers. But the four kinds of threshold showed significant difference in the right inside of hand between patients and healthy people ( P < 0.05). In addition, the CST and WST differed significantly in the left inside of hand between the patients and healthy controls while the CPT and HPT showed no significant difference in the left inside of hand between them. Patients group and control group with CST and WST on the left side of the comparison difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQuantitative analysis of temperature sense threshold can not only reflect increase of the pain threshold value, also can reflect its decrease, i. e. hyperalgesia, which may help to diagnose small fibrous peripheral neuropathy recognition, especially in early diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Case-Control Studies ; Cold Temperature ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Pain Threshold ; Sensory Thresholds ; Thermosensing

Background Rapamycin(RAPA)is a specific inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).Researches showed that RAPA inhibits the proliferation of lens epithelium cells(LECs)and tumor cells and induces apoptosis of tumor cells.To investigate whether rapamycin has the inhibitory effect on retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)cells is very important for the prevention and management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).Objective This study was to investigate the effects of RAPA on the proliferation and apoptosis of human RPE cells in vitro.Methods Human RPE cells(D407 strain)were cultured and passaged and then divided into regular culture group(blank control group),DMSO control group(0.1‰ DMSO +regular culture),and different concentrations RAPA-treatment groups(5,10,20,40,80,160,320 nmol/L).The proliferation(A490)of human RPE cells was detected using MTT,and the inhibitory rates of RAPA on the proliferation of RPE cells were calculated and compared among different groups at 12,24 and 48 hours.The apoptosis rates of the cells were analyzed among various groups by Hoechst staining after 12,24,48 hours.Results The inhibitory rates of RAPA on RPE cells were significantly different among various groups(F=484.451,P＜0.01)and evidently elevated in 20-320 nmol/L RAPA groups compared with DMSO control group(P ＜ 0.01).The inhibition of RAPA on the cells was considerably enhanced as the lapse of time(F=232.262,P＜0.01)with more dominant effects in 24 and 48 hours compared to 12 hours after addition of RAPA(P＜0.05-0.01).Compared with blank control group and DMSO control group,the apoptotic rates of the cells were evidently increased in 12,24,48 hours in 10 nmol/L RAPA group(all P＜0.05),and higher cellular apoptotic rates were found in 20-320 nmol/L RAPA groups(all P＜0.01).The alteration of cellular apoptotic rate showed a gradually incremental trend as the acting time of RAPA(F =625.584,P＜0.01).Karyorrhexis and mass-like density staining and chromatin substance were seen in RPE cells under the fluorescence microscope in ≥ 10 nmoL/L RAPA groups.Conclusions RAPA suppresses the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human RPE cells in concentration-and time-dependent manner in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the therapeutic effect of proton pump inhibitor(PPI) on alleviation of hoarseness symptoms in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR). METHOD: The LPR outpatients in ENT department of our hospital(60 cases)complained of hoarseness were enrolled in the study from August of 2013 to October of 2014. All of them were randomly divided into group A and B. The individuals in group A (30 cases) taked golden voice capsule to treat for 3 months, while the individuals in group B (30 cases) taked golden voice capsule and omeprazole to treat for 3 months. The data about reflux symptom index (RSI), reflux finding score (RFS) and voice handicap index (VHI)from the first month to the third month after treatment were recorded and compared group A with group B. RESULT: The scores of RSI and RFS in patients (60 cases) before treatment were significantly correlated with their VHI (r=0. 823, P<0. 01; r=0. 873, P<0. 01). The score changes of RSI and VHI from the first to the third month after treatment in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0. 01). Meanwhile, the score changes of RFS from the third month after treatment in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (t=8. 307, P<. 01), but the differences were not significant for RFS from the first to the second month after treatment between group A and group B(t=1. 128, P>0. 05; t=0. 376, P> 0. 05). CONCLUSION PPI therapy could significantly alleviate the hoarseness symptom in LPR patients.
Hoarseness ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ; drug therapy ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation on acute lung injury induced by paraquat (PQ) poisoning in rats, and to identify the optimal transplantation conditions.

METHODSTwo hundred female rats were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., PQ group (n = 15), BMSC treatment group 1 (n = 15 for each subgroup), BMSC treatment group 2 (n = 15 for each subgroup), BMSC control group 1 (n = 15 for each subgroup), BMSC control group 2 (n = 15), and normal control group (n = 5). In the PQ group, each rat was intraperitoneally injected with 20% PQ solution (15 mg/kg). In BMSC treatment group 1, each rat was injected via the caudal vein with 1×10(5), 10(6), 10(7)or 10(8) BMSCs (1 ml) after 6 hours of PQ exposure. In BMSC treatment group 2, each rat was injected via the caudal vein with 1×10(7) BMSCs (1 ml) after 1, 6, 12, or 24 hours of PQ exposure. In BMSC control group 1, each rat was injected via the caudal vein with 1×10(5), 10(6), 10(7), or 10(8) BMSCs (1 ml). In BMSC control group 2, each rat was injected via the caudal vein with 1×10(7) BMSCs (1 ml). In the normal control group, each rat was intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of 0.9% saline. The lung wet/dry weight ratio and plasma tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured at 1, 3, and 7 days after various treatments.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the PQ group showed significantly higher lung wet/dry weight ratios at 3 and 7 days after PQ exposure and significantly higher plasma TNF-α and MDA levels at 1, 3, and 7 days after PQ exposure (P < 0.01). Compared with the PQ group, BMSC treatment group 1 showed significantly lower lung wet/dry weight ratios at 7 days after injection of 1×10(6) and 10(7) BMSCs, significantly lower plasma TNF-α levels at 3 and 7 days after injection of 1×10(5), 10(6), and 10(7) BMSCs, and significantly lower plasma MDA levels at 3 days after injection of 1×10(6) and 10(7) BMSCs and at 7 days after injection of 1×10(5), 10(6), and 10(7) BMSCs (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the PQ group, BMSC treatment group 2 showed significantly lower lung wet/dry weight ratios at 7 days after injection of BMSCs following 1, 6, and 12 hours of PQ exposure, significantly lower plasma TNF-α levels at 3 and 7 days after injection of BMSCs following 1, 6, and 12 hours of PQ exposure, and significantly lower plasma MDA levels at 3 days after injection of BMSCs following 6 hours of PQ exposure and at 7 days after injection of BMSCs following 1, 6, and 12 hours of PQ exposure (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBMSCs have a protective effect on the lung in rats with PQ poisoning, and the effect is closely related to the transplantation time and number of transplanted BMSCs. After 6 hours of PQ exposure, intravenous injection of 1×10(7) BMSCs can result in significant decreases in lung wet/dry weight ratio and plasma TNF-α and MDA levels.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo learn the condition of the memory and the visual space of the patient who has suffered from the infarction in basal ganglia region, and to analyze its impact on and the characteristics of the patients' cognition.

METHODSBy testing respectively on 21 subjects who were initially infarcted in basal ganglia with single focus on one side, and 21 healthy volunteers with corresponding age, gender and educational background with Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Scale (Rey), Clinical Memory Scale (CMS), Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HAD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Oxford Handicap Scale (OHS), Barthel Index (BI), and Aural Event Related Evoked Potential (AERP) as well.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the patient group got higher scores of anxiety and depression in HAD), which showed absolutely statistical significance; they demonstrated longer reaction time in AERP, which also showed statistical significance; and in CMS. they displayed inferior performance in the free picture recall and the memory quotient (MQ), which again had statistical significance. However, compared with the control group, the patient group got scores with no significance in copy, immediate recall and delayed recall in Rey.

CONCLUSIONThe infarction in basal ganglia region with single focus on one side may impact on the patient's executive function, memory function and emotion. But no impact is showed on patient's visual space function.

Adult ; Aged ; Basal Ganglia ; pathology ; Brain Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Case-Control Studies ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the results of a self-designed bladder controller for restoring micturition function in paraplegic dogs.

METHODSThe spinal cords of 4 dogs were transected above the cone. Electrodes were implanted in S2 bilaterally and connected to the subcutaneous receivers for external activation. Microsurgical technique was employed to perform dorsal rhizotomy of S1-3 intradurally. The dogs were stimulated daily to observe micturition. Urodynamic testing and vesicography were performed.

RESULTSAll the dogs acquired micturition under the control of electric stimulation, with urine volume 80-140 ml per time. The mode of micturition was post-stimulus voiding. Vesicography revealed that the bladder was filled well and the bladder neck was open in the micturition course of electric stimulation. Residual urine volume was 15-20 ml. Urodynamic testing found that the bladder pressure and intraurethral pressure increased simultaneously, but when the intraurethral pressure was greater than the bladder pressure, no micturition occurred. The pressure decreased to baseline rapidly and the bladder pressure decreased slowly between two bursts. Micturition occurred when the bladder pressure was greater than the intraurethral pressure.

CONCLUSIONSThe self-designed bladder controller together with a sacral deafferentation procedure can restore micturition function of paraplegic dogs.

Animals ; Dogs ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Male ; Paraplegia ; physiopathology ; Radiography ; Urinary Bladder ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVETo study the effectiveness of treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mice with locally administered epirubicin-loaded poly( D, L) - lactic acid microspheres (EPI-PLA-MS ).

METHODSEPI-PLA-MS was prepared with double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Five groups of mice (n = 8 in each group) were intraperitoneally injected with five different doses of free epirubicin (FEPI), and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was calculated. Then 15 mice with transplanted subcutaneous H22 HCC were divided into three groups (n = 5), which were respectively intratumorally injected with normal saline (NS), blank microspheres, and EPI-PLA-MS (with 9 mg/kg of EPI). After two weeks the tumors were excised and weighed. Another 15 mice with transplanted H22 ascites HCC were divided into three groups (n = 5), which were intraperitonealy injected with the same drugs, and the increased life span were registered exactly.

RESULTSThe MTD of intraperitoneally injected FEPI was 9 mg/kg. The tumour-inhibiting rates was 40.35% and 36.09% when EPI-PLA-MS were administered by intratumoral injection to the mice with subcutaneous H22 HCC. It significantly prolonged the survival time of mice with H22 ascites HCC and the increased life span by 153.49% and 142.22% when EPI-PLA-MS were intraperitoneally administered.

CONCLUSIONEPI-PLA-MS is a new sustained-release preparation with high-efficacy and low-toxicity in treating HCC and has shown promising prospects when administered locally.

Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lactic Acid ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microspheres ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the variability of event-related potentials P(300) and the relationship with memory function/psychopathology in patients with first-episode paranoid schizophrenia.

METHODSThirty patients with first-episode paranoid schizophrenia (patient group) and twenty health subjects (control group) were enrolled in the study. The auditory event-related potentials P₃₀₀ at the scalp electrodes Cz, Pz and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) were examined in both groups, Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was evaluated in patient group.

RESULTSIn comparison with control group, patients had longer latency of P₃₀₀ [(390.6 ± 47.6)ms at Cz and (393.3 ± 50.1)ms at Pz] (P<0.01), lower amplitude of P₃₀₀ [(7.7 ± 3.4) μV at Cz and (8.5 ± 3.9)μV at Pz] (P<0.05-0.01). The memory quotient (88.1 ± 10.0) scores and short-term memory, immediate memory in patient group were damaged significantly (P<0.05-0.01). In patient group, the latency of P300 was correlated positively with PANSS scores and negatively with WMS scores (P<0.05-0.01).

CONCLUSIONFirst-episode paranoid schizophrenia has memory deficit, which can be evaluated comprehensively by P₃₀₀ and WMS. The longer latency of P₃₀₀ might be associated with the increased severity of first-episode paranoid schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid ; physiopathology ; Wechsler Scales ; Young Adult