OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to observe and evaluate six 3.0 T sequences of metallic artifacts produced by metal dental crowns.

METHODSDental crowns fabricated with four different materials (Co-Gr, Ni-Gr, Ti alloy and pure Ti) were evaluated. A mature crossbreed dog was used as the experimental animal, and crowns were fabricated for its upper right second premolar. Each crown was examined through head MRI (3.0 T) with six sequences, namely, T₁ weighted-imaging of spin echo (T₁W/SE), T₂ weighted-imaging of inversion recovery (T₂W/IR), T₂ star gradient echo (T₂*/GRE), T2 weighted-imaging of fast spin echo (T₂W/FSE), T₁ weighted-imaging of fluid attenuate inversion recovery (T₂W/FLAIR), and T₂ weighted-imaging of propeller (T₂W/PROP). The largest area and layers of artifacts were assessed and compared.

RESULTSThe artifact in the T₂*/GRE sequence was significantly wider than those in the other sequences (P < 0.01), whose artifact extent was not significantly different (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONT₂*/GRE exhibit the strongest influence on the artifact, whereas the five other sequences contribute equally to artifact generation.

Alloys ; Animals ; Artifacts ; Crowns ; Dogs ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Titanium

This paper reported the suitable medium of L S-1 stain in detail,which could yield natural blue pigment.Single-factor exper imental design shows that the best carbon source was 2% glucose and nitrogen was 0 1% KNO 3.Orthogonal experimental design shows that the most suitable fermen tation medium was consisted of 4% glucose,0 1% KNO 3,0 075% salt and 10?g/m L FeSO 4.The best cultivation temperature was 30℃ and pH7 4.The dissolved oxyg en on the process of fermentation,as well as the variety of pH and the utilized condition of carbon and nitrogen were measured and analyzed.The separation of th is blue pigment by HPLC shows that this material contains actinorhordin and at l east other four ingredients.

This study is designed to obtain recombinant human acetylcholinesterase (rhAChE) and apply it in screening acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The rhAChE was overexpressed in HEK293 cells transfected by plasmid of pCMV-AChE with the cationic liposome and rhAChE was found to be secreted into cell culture medium. AChE activity was assayed according to modified Ellman method to obtain kinetic parameters. IC so50 values for donepezil compounds of rhAChE were calculated to determine their activities of inhibition. The results showed that Km value was 151.9 micromol.L-1 donepezil inhibited rhAChE in a mixed competitive-noncompetitive way (Ki= 16.03 nmol.L-1, Ki = 18.36 nmol.L-1) and that most new compounds tested exhibited high activities of inhibition on rhAChE. The study suggests that rhAChE is available to be applied in screening AChE inhibitors in vitro.
Acetylcholinesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; analysis ; pharmacology ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Indans ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Kinetics ; Piperidines ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

This study was aimed to investigate the protocol in vitro to incubate the dendritic cell (DC) derived from peripheral blood monocytes using serum-free medium X-VIVO 20. Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy donors were treated with 100 ng/ml GM-CSF and 500 U/ml IL-4, respectively. After cultivation for 6 days, they were treated with 100 ng/ml calcium ionophore A23187. After cultivation for 24 hours the cellular morphology was observed under invert microscope, the surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry, the proliferation of allogenetic T cells was detected by MTT colorimetry, the specific cytotoxicity of T cells primed with DC was examined by MTT assay. The results showed that in all three groups with serum-free, fetal calf serum (FCS) and human AB serum mediums, cells displayed characteristic morphological features of DC. Simultaneously CD14 expression was decreased, and CD83, HLA-DR and CDw123 expression were increased on these cells. In addition, DCs cultured with these methods could evidently stimulate the proliferation of allogenetic T cell. As compared with the two controls of serum containing groups, the cultured cells in the serum-free groups showed almost the same allo-stimulatory capability and cellular morphology and surface markers, and T lymphocytes primed with the culture-derived DC exhibited the similar killing activity to K562 (P > 0.05). It is concluded that there is no significance in DC numbers, morphology, epitope and ability to stimulate the proliferation of allogenetic T cells between DC induced by serum-free X-VIVO 20 medium and DC induced by serum-contained medium. DC cultured and induced by serum-free medium is worth using in practice widely.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Recombinant Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Long-term excessive iodine intake resulted in an increased TT_4 level and a decreased TT_3 level in maternal serum,meanwhile,hepatic and renal type 1 deiodinase activity decreased dose-dependently.A significant reduction in type 2 deiodinase ( D2 ) activity of 12.5 d placenta was found in 3.0 mg/L or above groups.For 19.5 d uterus,D2 activity decreased and type 3 deiodinase activity increased.The results suggest that excessive iodine has an effect on the embryonic development by regulating maternal-fetal thyroid hormone metabolism.

To identify acupuncture resources in six databases of Cochrane Library (CL) with computer retrieve. Seventy-two literatures were identified in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Among them, 12 Cochrane systematic review (CSR) verified the effectiveness of acupuncture, 29 concerning the indeterminacy of the efficacy of acupuncture with 1 didn't support acupuncture for epilepsy and 31 remained as protocols; 121 literatures were found in Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) with more types of diseases or symptoms and rich modality comparing to CSR; 4218 randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials were identified in Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCRCT); 43 literatures in Cochrane Methodology Register Database (CMRD) which focused on blindness study, quality assessment of methodology of research and publication bias and so on; 25 literatures in Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD) and 18 in NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) which were centered on acupuncture analgesia. Consequently, acupuncture literatures in 6 databases of CL do provide good resources for acupuncture researchers due to its abundant content, concrete classification and high quality evidence.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Databases, Factual ; Health Resources ; Humans ; Libraries

OBJECTIVEThe protection rate of inoculation with BCG vaccine is only 50 percent, and most of patients with tuberculosis had a history of BCG vaccine inoculation. Adenosine (ADO) has an immunomodulating effect; it promotes immune reaction by increasing number of macrophage and enhancing phagocytosis. The present study was designed to investigate if combined use of adenosine with BCG enhances the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis effect of macrophage in mice.

METHODSFifty BALB/C mice were divided randomly into 3 groups: BCG group (n = 21), BCG plus ADO group (n = 21) and control group (n = 8). The mice in BCG and BCG plus ADO groups were inoculated with 0.1 ml BCG intradermally and the mice in BCG plus ADO group were injected intraperitoneally with ADO 30 mg/(kg.d) for 5 days. The mice in BCG group and control group were injected with NS 0.1 ml/d for 5 days. Six weeks after the last injection, all mice were challenged with intravenous 1 x 10(6) CFU human Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulent strain. After challenging, lung and spleen specimens were taken at the 10th, 20th and 30th days from the mice of BCG and BCG plus ADO groups and at the 30th day from mice in control group. The pathological examinations of lung and spleen sections were performed after HE staining and acid-fast staining, and detection of cell apoptosis was also performed.

RESULTSConsolidation with neutrophil infiltration was found in most of the lung tissue taken at the day 30; there were a lot of tuberculous granulomas and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs of control group. The alveolar septum in BCG gradually became wide and in interstitium lymphocyte infiltration dominated, and there were less tuberculous granulomas but there were large number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs from 10th to 30th days after challenging. The widening of alveolar septum and consolidation of lung tissue in BCG plus ADO group became milder with monocytes infiltration, and there were few tuberculosis granulomas and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs from 10th to 30th days after challenging.

CONCLUSIONADO could increase the number of monocyte-macrophages and promoted anti-bacterial effects of these cells.

Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Animals ; BCG Vaccine ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Injections, Intradermal ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; immunology ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; drug effects ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; immunology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo detect the relationship between chromosomal anomalies and the pathogenesis, development and prognosis of ovarian carcinoma.

METHODSThirty-six specimens of ovarian carcinoma (n=12), ovarian benign tumor (n=12), and normal ovary (n=12) were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

RESULTSTwelve cases of mutations, including trisomy 8, monosomy 8 or tetraploid 8 chromosomal anomalies, were found in the group of ovarian carcinoma, making up 100% (12/12). Three cases of trisomy 8 chromosomal anomalies were found in the group of ovarian benign tumor, accounting for 25% (3/12). No anomaly was found in the normal group. There were significant differences between the three groups, P<0.001.

CONCLUSIONThe above anomalies of chromosome 8 are significantly associated with the pathogenesis and development of ovarian carcinoma. The anomalies may occur in the early stage of the carcinoma, and may be significantly associated with the pathological differentiation and clinical stage of the case.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Monosomy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVETo explore prognostic factors and the expression of glypican-3, hepatocyte antigen (HEP), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CD34 and CD10 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their prognostic value.

METHODSClinicopathologic data were analyzed in 375 cases of HCC, in which 80 cases with follow-up were examined by immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of glypican-3, HEP, AFP, CD34 and CD10 proteins. The relationship between the proteins expression and clinicopathologic features was also evaluated.

RESULTSTumor number (P = 0.000), tumor size (P = 0.025), tumor differentiation (P = 0.001) and vessel invasion (P = 0.000) were closely related to prognosis of HCC patients; the expression of glypican-3 (66/80,82.5%; P = 0.002), HEP (64/80,80.0%; P = 0.021), AFP (38/80,47.5%; P = 0.014) and CD10 (28/80,35.0%; P = 0.002) was significantly related to tumor differentiation; that of glypican-3 was significantly correlated with tumor number and presence of satellite nodules (P = 0.028) and that of AFP and CD10 was significantly correlated with portal vein thrombi (P = 0.000, P = 0.010). On Kaplan-Meier regression analysis, both low expression of HEP and high expression of AFP were closely related to poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSTumor number, size, differentiation and vessel invasion were important factors affecting the prognosis of patients with HCC. HEP and AFP have prognostic significance in HCC.

Antigens ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glypicans ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Venous Thrombosis ; etiology ; pathology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study apoptosis-related gene expression of human villous trophoblasts exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field and to investigate the possible mechanism of human reproductive health effects caused by 50 Hz magnetic field.

METHODSCultured human villous trophoblasts were exposed to 50 Hz magnetic field at 0.4 mT for 6, 48, 72 hours. Gene expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3, p53 and Fas were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.

RESULTSWithin 72 hours, the average fold change for each gene was near 1.00, and there was no significant difference on expression pattern in each gene between exposure and control groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION0.4 mT 50 Hz magnetic field does not affect the apoptosis-related gene expression of human villous trophoblasts in vitro.

Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Magnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Trophoblasts ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism