Objective To study the shape differences of upper epidermal cells in leaves of medicinal plants of Swertia L. and establish the new method for identifying them. Methods The epidermis were mounted in ordinary technique, and then scanned and binarized through HPIAS-1000 image analytic system. The waveness of the anticlinal walls (SFC) and the ratio of the Ferets diameter (SLF) of upper epidermal cells were detected. The leaf epidermal cells of 21 kinds of raw materials in 12 plants of Swertia L. from various regions were examined. Results The precision and reproducibility of software system were good, and the shape characters of the upper epidermal cells of the middle lamina in the third node arising from ground are the stablest inside the same species by the magnification 20?10 under microscope. The SFC and SLF of the upper epidermal cells of the same species of plants are relatively constant, conversely that of different species of plants are obviously different and distinguishable from each other. Conclusion The proposed method is a useful technique for identifying traditional Chinese medicinal materials originated from herbs and leaves of plants. HPIAS-1000 is simple, rapid, accurate, and practical for shape analysis of upper epidermal cells of plant leaf.

Objective:To compare the effects of three root canal sealers with respect to time on biocom-patibility of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs).The sealers included zinc oxide and eugenol based sealers (ZOE),epoxy resin sealers (ERS)and silicone based sealers (SBS).Methods:hPDLCs were primarily cultured,with the method combining of tissue explant and enzymatic digestion.The cells were then exposed to different extract fluids:(1)ZOE extracted for 24 h group ;(2)ZOE extracted for 1 week group;(3)ZOE extracted for 2 weeks group;(4)ERS extracted after 24 h group;(5)ERS extracted after 1 week group;(6)ERS extracted after 2 weeks group;(7)SBS extracted after 24 h group;(8)SBS extracted after 1 week group;(9)SBS extracted after 2 weeks group;(10)Dulbecco modified Eagle’s me-dium/F12(DMEM/F12)as negative control group.Cell morphology was observed under an inverted mi-croscope.Cell proliferation was measured by methyl-thiazol-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT)assay.ALP assay kit was used for measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP)activity.Sealers of 2 weeks’setting time were then immersed in an osteogenic medium for examination of mineral nodules and calcium deposits.Re-sults:Considering the relative growth rate (RGR),ZOE was severely to moderately cytotoxic (RGR:13.6% -39.9%),while ERS was slightly or not cytotoxic (RGR:87.6% -95.3%).Only SBS did not show any cytotoxicity after setting (RGR:91.8% -106.7%).The setting time influenced the cytotoxic-ity of ERS which decreased after 1 week.Considering the ALP activity,there was no difference between SBS group and control group(F =3.397,P =0.053).According to the results of calcium deposits, ZOE:D562 nm =0.180 ±0.050,ERS:D562 nm =2.968 ±0.201,SBS:D562 nm =3.623 ±0.039,Control:D562 nm =3.477 ±0.102,the ranking of ALP activity and calcium deposits was as follows:ZOE

Abstract: Objective - - To establish a pre column derivatization high performance liquid chromatography method for detecting Methods dimethyl sulfate (DMS) in workplace air. DMS in workplace air was collected with mercaptopyridine impregnated （ silicone tube. The derivative of DMS and mercaptopyridine was eluted by mobile phase phase A: water, phase B: acetonitrile, ∶ the volume ratio was 40 60) , and separated with a C18 column, then detected with diode array detector and quantitated by a Results - standard curve. The linear range of DMS was 0.17 40.00 mg/L, with the correlation coefficient of 0.999 95. The detection limit and the lower limit of quantitation were 0.05 and 0.17 mg/L respectively. The minimum detection concentration and minimum quantitation concentration were 0.02 and 0.04 mg/m³, respectively (air sample volume of 4.5 L, 1.0 mL sample - - - solution). The average desorption efficiency was 98.40% 102.00%. The within run and between run relative standard deviations - - were 0.61% 3.92% and 1.71% 6.00%, respectively. The samples could be stored at room temperature for at least 14 days. Conclusion This method can be used to detect DMS in workplace air.

Abstract: Nitrobenzene compounds (NBCs) are widely used in the world. It has 40 isomers such as nitrobenzene, dinitrobenzene and nitrotoluene, that are highly toxic and difficult to degrade and can cause harm to human health in different degrees. At pres⁃ ent, there is no unified standard method and occupational exposure limit for the detection of NBCs in the air. In terms of sampling medium, solid adsorption tube is mostly used for trapping vapor state NBCs, and filter membrane and solid adsorption tube are mostly used in series for sampling coexist NBCs in vapor state and aerosol state. In the detection methods, gas chromatography and liquid chromatography are common, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, ion migration spectrometry and some other rapid response methods and technologies are also used in the detection of NBCs. In the detection of NBCs by gas chro⁃ matography, capillary column separation is commonly used, and the main detectors are flame ionization detector, electron capture detector and mass spectrometry detector. It is of practical significance to establish a method with high sensitivity, strong practica⁃ bility, convenient operation, and can simultaneously collect and detect a variety of NBCs in different states.

Objective - - To prepare the GDH 5 air sampling tube for simultaneous collection of eight kinds of chloro nitrobenzene （ ） ， compounds CNBs in the air of workplace and establish a matching determination method using gas chromatography. Methods - - ， Eight kinds of CNBs in vapor and aerosol state were collected by self developed GDH 5 air sampling tube desorbed ， ， ， by toluene separated by polysiloxane gas chromatography column detected by microcell electron capture detector and Results - （ - quantified by external standard method. It was determined that the air sampling tube was assembled by XAD 2 ion ） - ， exchange resin and glass fiber filter membrane. The linear range of CNBs was 0.80 240.00 mg/L and the linear correlation - - coefficients were greater than 0.999 9. The detection limit was 7.87 13.03 μg/L. The minimum detectable concentration was 0.60 3， - 3（ ） 1.33 μg/m and the minimum quantitative concentration was 2.00 4.22 μg/m sample 45.00 L . The average desorption - - （RSD） - ， - RSD efficiency was 101.2% 110.0%. The within run relative standard deviation was 0.8% 4.1% and the between run - Conclusion - was 0.3% 5.8%. The samples could be stored for more than 30 days at room temperature. GDH 5 air sampling tube and its associated determination method can be used for the collection and determination of eight kinds of CNBs in workplace air.

AIMTo investigate the inhibitory effect of recombinant human endostatin (rhEndostatin) on endothelia cell proliferation and tumor growth.

METHODSMTT assay was applied to examine the anti-proliferation of rhEndostatin on human embryo umbilical cord vascular endothelial cell ECV304 and human cancer cell HCT-8, BGC803 and EJ. Xenotrasplanted nude mice models with human cancer and experimental implanted tumor mice model were used to evaluate rhEndostatin's antitumor activity.

RESULTSrhEndostatin was shown to inhibit the proliferation of ECV304 cells and the IC50 is about 7 x 10(-6) g.L-1. No inhibition was observed in HCT-8, BGC803 and EJ cells at 1 x 10(-4) g.L-1 rhEndostatin. rhEndostatin was shown to inhibit human xenograft in nude mice with human gastric cancer BGC803 and breast cancer B37 when administered subcutaneously at 5, 10, 20 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 24 days in a dose-dependent manner. Mouse hepatoma H22 was also suppressed when given rhEndostatin subcutaneously 20 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 9 days, but it showed no inhibitory effect on Lewis lung carcinoma and B16 melanoma.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that rhEndostatin can inhibit the growth of xenotransplanted human tumors in nude mice and certain murine tumor. The action mechanisms may be that it can inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, thereby inhibiting the formation of new blood vessel in tumor, leading the tumor to stop grow.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endostatins ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; drug effects ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and its significance of retinoic acid receptor-beta (RAR-beta) in colorectal cancer.

METHODSRAR-beta was detected by immunohistochemistry methods and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) was tested by chemiluminescence immunoassay methods in normal tissues, paracancerous tissues and colorectal cancer tissues of 60 patients with colorectal cancer treated from January 2006 to January 2007. Above-mentioned data, together with the clinicopathological data of these 60 patients, were analyzed to figure out the expression and its significance of RAR-beta in colorectal cancer.

RESULTSThe expression rate of RAR-beta in tumor tissues (48%) was significantly lower than those in both normal tissues (87%) and paracancerous tissues (87%) (P < 0.05). And its expression was also significant lower in patients with lymph node metastasis (32%) and patients with advanced cancer (TNM stage III and IV) (29%) than in those without lymph nodes metastasis (60%) and those with early stage cancer (stage I and II) (69%). There was no significant differences among well, mildly and poorly differentiated cancer tissues. The CEA level rose in 20 patients, and its rising rate was remarkably higher in patients with lymph node metastasis (48%) and in patients with advanced cancer (52%) than those without lymph node metastasis (23%) and in early stage(14%).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of RAR-beta decreases significantly in cancer tissues in patients with colorectal cancer, which may be related to the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer; and its decreasing degree is correlated negatively with the lymph node metastasis and advanced clinicopathological stage. The expression level of RAR-beta may be a new prognostic indication of patients with colorectal cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and security of super crush-run tong xinluo capsule (SCTXLC) for apoplexy due to energy-deficiency and blood-stasis.

METHODThe randomised controlled double blind non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine, parallel contrast, different Kinds of Techniques and dosage, the clinical trial design was adopted, 144 patients with stroke of convalescent stage were selected by 2 group, which course of diseases was in 2 weekens to 3 months, neurological deficit scores was 8 to 30, grade of acaties of daily living scores was 2 to 5. the treatment group (n = 72) received SCTXLC 0.26 g (a capsule), 4 capsules at a time, three times a day, while that of the control group (n = 72) received common crush-run tong xinluo capsule (CCTXLC) 0.38 g (a capsule), 4 capsules at a time, three times a day, the therapeutic course for both groups was 28 d.

RESULTThe synthesis total effective rates of the stroke in treatment group and control group were 91.3% and 87.3% respectively, showing no significant difference. The Lower Bound Upper Bound of Asymptotic 95% Confidence Interval of the total effective rates difference is -4.57%, over the beforehand Lower Bound of 15%, non-inferiority trial versus paroxetine was eligible. The adverse reactions occurred was 1 patient in the treatment group and 2 patients in control group in clinical trial.

CONCLUSIONSCTXLC has definite effect for apoplexy due to energy-deficiency and blood-stasis, the efficacy in the treated group was equal to that in the control group, and favourable satety for usage.

Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Middle Aged ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study endovascular treatment of DeBakey type I aortic dissecting aneurysm.

METHODSSeven patients with DeBakey I aortic dissecting aneurysms were treated. Diagnoses were confirmed by MRA, CT and angiography. The intimal tear entry was in the ascending aorta, 2.5 approximately 6.0 cm from the ostia of the coronary arteries, and 0.5 approximately 4.0 cm from the brachiocephalic trunk opening. Endovascular stent-grafts were deployed via a left common carotid artery (LCCA) approach in 2 cases and right femoral artery (RFA) approach in 5 cases. Prior to treatment, a left subclavicular artery (LSA)-LCCA shunt was established to ensure blood supply to the LCCA during surgery in 2 cases via LCCA approach, and a LSA-LCCA-right common carotid artery (RCCA) synthetic bypass was established to ensure blood supply to the brain in 2 cases in RFA approach.

RESULTSThe operative success rate was 100%. In 3 cases, endoleak persisted after the first stent was placed, but this was eliminated by placement of a second stent. All patients survived except one who died of acute massive hemorrhage from the upper gastrointestinal tract one month postoperatively. The false lumen in all 6 cases became thrombosed and no endoleak or new aortic dissecting aneurysms developed.

CONCLUSIONSEndovascular treatment of DeBakey type I aortic dissecting aneurysm is feasible, minimally invasive, and effective. Case selection depends on the distance of the coronary artery ostia from the tear entry.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:The traditional corneal scaffolds exhibit poor strength and biological compatibility. Little is reported on the artificial cornea prepared by collagen and chondroitin sulfate (CS), which consist of the natural corneal tissue. OBJECTIVE:To prepare the collagen/CS/fibroblast growth factor (FGF) composite artificial cornea with slow-release growth factor, high strength and light transmittance, as well as good biocompatibility. METHODS:Regenerated collagen films were prepared by 1％, 5％, 10％ collagen solutions using flow casting method, and the regenerated collagen film with the best bioactivity that was prepared by 5％ collagen solution was screened through a biomechanical test. Then, the CS/collagen composite film was achieved by cross-linking the CS (2, 20, 80 g/L) with collagen by using N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)- N'S-ethylcarbodimide hydrochloride-N-Hydroxysuccinimide. The composite film made of 20 g/L CS was confirmed to have the best transparency, which was used to be mixed with 5, 25, 50 mg/L FGF in PBS for 24 hours to prepare the collagen/CS/FGF composite films. ELISA method was used to detect the FGF level in the supernatant. Afterwards, corneal epithelial cells were co-cultured with regenerated collagen film, collagen/CS composite film and collagen/CS/FGF composite film, respectively. After 48 hours of co-culture, cell proliferation was detected by MTT method, based on which we could screen the optimal collagen/CS/FGF composite film. After co-culture with the collagen/CS/FGF composite film for 48 and 72 hours, cell morphology was observed by confocal microscope and scanning electron microscope, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The release amount of FGF from the composite films was dependent on the initial loading amount of FGF. Meanwhile, FGF released slowly from the three kinds of composite films, and the release amount was 11％, 23％, 30％ at 72 hours after culture, in accordance with the pharmacokinetic process. MTT findings indicated that the optimal loading concentration of FGF was 25 mg/L. Under the microscope, the collagen/CS/FGF composite film promoted the adhesion, growth and proliferation of corneal epithelial cells. To conclude, the collagen/CS/FGF composite film is expected to be an ideal scaffold material for artificial cornea preparation.