Clavicle ; Forensic Medicine ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVE: To establish a model of alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) in rats induced by complex factors. METHODS: Forty-seven healthy male rats were divided into three groups: normal control group (n=12), minor CCl4 group (n=12) and complex factors group (n=27). The rats in the complex factors group were fed a complex diet including alcohol, corn oil and pyrazole, and administered with intraperitoneal injection of minor CCl4 to induce ALF. During induction process, the histopathological changes of liver tissue and the values of liver-to-body weight ratio were both observed regularly. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) in these three groups were all examined at the 12th week of the induction process. RESULTS: At the 12th week of the induction process, the model of ALF induced by complex factors was successfully established in rats, and the histopathological presentations showed alcoholic fatty liver, hepatitis and liver fibrosis in a sequence along with the induction process. The value of liver-to-body weight ratio and the serum levels of ALT, AST and gamma-GT of rats in the complex factors group were all significantly different from those in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: It is a steady and effective way to induce ALF in rats with complex diet and minor CCI4 injection.

Objective To evaluate the theraputic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein.Methods One hundred and six patients of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein under treament of TACE were observed before and after the procedure.Results After TACE tumor size reduced＞50% in 23 patients,＜50% in 25, no significant change in 44.The size of tumor enlarged in 12.The disappearance of portal vein tumor thrombosis accessed in 14,with reduction in 39,and no significant change in 51.Two patients died within one week.Conclusion TACE provides good therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombosis of portal vein.

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its association with disease activity.Methods Pe- ripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from 28 patients(including 18 active SLE)and 22 healthy controls were counted and stained for CD4,CD25 and intracellular FOXP3.Cells were examined by 3-color staining on the Epics XL-MC and data were analyzed using EXPO32 software.Disease activity was assessed by systemic lupus erythematousus activity index(SLEDAI).Results The frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with active SLE compared with patients with inactive SEE and controls [(1.08?0.43)%,(1.58?0.45)% and(1.66?0.34)%,P

OBJECTIVE: Studying forensic medical problem related with RTA leading PTSD and supplying accumulating evidence for psychiatric compensation in court. METHODS: One hundred and fifty six victims of RTA were recruited who applied to court for a costs order. The victims were examined for psychiatric diagnosis by psychiatrists and for rank of impairment by experts in forensic clinical medicine. The self-report psychopathological status and quality of life were also measured. RESULTS: Eighty one victims of 156 (51.92%) fulfilled the criteria for PTSD (ICD-10). Morbidity difference in male and female were significant; The more serious extent of impairment is, the more PTSD'possibility is; The scores in World Health Organization Quality of Life were lower and in SAS and SDS were higher in PTSD group than in non-PTSD group. Acquirement of awarded costs could obviously prevent PTSD. CONCLUSION The higher PTSD incidence existed in the RTA victims who applied to court for a costs order, and acquirement of awarded costs could obviously prevent PTSD.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Compensation and Redress ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Quality of Life ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology* ; Wounds and Injuries/psychology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) and Schwann cells on axon regeneration of the inferior alveolar nerve following mandibular lengthening with distraction osteogenesis.

METHODSUnilateral mandibular osteodistraction was performed in 9 healthy adult male goats with a distraction rate of 1 mm/d. Every 3 goats were killed on days 7, 14 and 28 after mandibular lengthening, respectively. The inferior alveolar nerves in the distraction callus were harvested and processed for ultrastructural and NGF immunohistochemical study. The inferior alveolar nerves from the contralateral side were used as controls.

RESULTSOn day 7 after distraction, axon degeneration and Schwann cell proliferation were observed, and very strong staining of NGF in the distracted nerve was detected. On day 14 after distraction, axon regeneration and remyelination were easily observed, and NGF expression started to decline. On day 28 after distraction, the gray scale of NGF immunoreactivity recovered to the normal value and the Schwann cells almost recovered to their normal state.

CONCLUSIONSGradual mandibular osteodistraction can result in mild or moderate axon degeneration of the inferior alveolar nerve. Nerve trauma may stimulate the proliferation of Schwann cells and promote the synthesis and secretion of NGF in the Schwann cells. Schwann cells and NGF might play important roles in axon regeneration of the injured inferior alveolar nerve following mandibular lengthening.

Animals ; Axons ; pathology ; physiology ; Goats ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Mandibular Nerve ; physiology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; physiology ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Schwann Cells ; physiology

OBJECTIVES: Osteoclasts (OCs) are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells derived from hematopoietic progenitors of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. OC precursors, such as bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), are formed in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and differentiate into OCs in response to M-CSF and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we investigated the role of mixed lineage kinases (MLKs)-c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in OC formation. METHODS: We performed an OC formation assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: We first explored the role of JNK on osteoclst formation using mouse bone marrow (BM) culture system. We found that OC formation was impaired when the JNK inhibitor was added either in early or late stage, suggesting the requirement for JNK activation during OC formation. MLKs are serine/threonine kinases that regulate signaling by the JNK. Since the JNK activity is specifically required for osteoclastogenesis, we examined the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of MLKs in BMs, BMMs and OCs by RT-PCR. Among MLKs, the level of MLK3 mRNA expression is highest in BMs, BMMs and OCs. Moreover, we found that the mRNA expression of MLK2 and MLK3 is increased with the differentiation of BMs to BMMs, and is sustained in OCs. Finally we investigated the role of MLK3 in OC differentiation using gene knock-down techniques. The silencing of MLK3 in BMMs partly attenuated RANKL-induced OC differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that JNK and MLK3 may positively regulate OC formation.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RANK Ligand ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: Osteoclasts (OCs) are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells derived from hematopoietic progenitors of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. OC precursors, such as bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), are formed in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and differentiate into OCs in response to M-CSF and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we investigated the role of mixed lineage kinases (MLKs)-c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in OC formation. METHODS: We performed an OC formation assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: We first explored the role of JNK on osteoclst formation using mouse bone marrow (BM) culture system. We found that OC formation was impaired when the JNK inhibitor was added either in early or late stage, suggesting the requirement for JNK activation during OC formation. MLKs are serine/threonine kinases that regulate signaling by the JNK. Since the JNK activity is specifically required for osteoclastogenesis, we examined the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of MLKs in BMs, BMMs and OCs by RT-PCR. Among MLKs, the level of MLK3 mRNA expression is highest in BMs, BMMs and OCs. Moreover, we found that the mRNA expression of MLK2 and MLK3 is increased with the differentiation of BMs to BMMs, and is sustained in OCs. Finally we investigated the role of MLK3 in OC differentiation using gene knock-down techniques. The silencing of MLK3 in BMMs partly attenuated RANKL-induced OC differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that JNK and MLK3 may positively regulate OC formation.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RANK Ligand ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVEHepatic stellate cells (HSC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) transdifferentiate into extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Activated HSC can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC. To understand the differences of HSC in normal liver and HCC, we compared the gene expression patterns in HCC cell induction-activated and culture-activated rat HSC.

METHODSHSC were isolated by density centrifugation and exposed to conditioned medium from rat HCC cell line C5F. Expression of 22 012 genes in quiescent HSC, culture-activated HSC and HCC induction-activated HSC was analyzed by cDNA microarray and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS1672 genes were differentially expressed in culture-activated HSC, including proinflammatory factors, cell adhesion molecules, cell surface receptors, signaling transduction molecules and immune factors. 711 genes were differentially expressed in HCC induction-activated HSC. Some of them were identical to those in culture-activated HSC. HCC Induction-activated HSC showed specific gene expression patterns, including Raf1, Rac2, Adam17, Wnt6, MMP-9 and TNF, suggesting that HCC cells can specifically induce HSC activation.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression patterns in HCC induction-activated HSC are different from those in culture-activated HSC. HCC induction-activated HSC may play a major role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC. In vivo activation should be considered as the standard for the study of HSC biology. HCC induction-activated HSC should be considered as the standard for HSC biology studies.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344