OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of serine-threonine kinase (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70 S6K in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and provide references for early diagnosis and prognosis evalua- tion of OSCC.

METHODSA total of 51 cases of OSCC, 10 cases of paracancerous mucosa, and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa were collected. The expressions of Akt/mTOR/p70 S6K in these cases were detected using the SP method of immunohisto- chemistry. The correlation between their expressions in OSCC was also analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive expressions ofp-Akt, p-mTOR, and p70 S6K in OSCC were significantly higher than those in normal oral mucosa and paracancerous mucosa. The expressions of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p70 S6K in OSCC were not correlated with age, gender, and clinical stage; by comparison, these expressions were correlated with lymph node metastasis and pathological grade. Strong positive correlations were also observed between the expressions ofp-Akt, p-mTOR, and p70 S6K in OSCC.

CONCLUSIONAkt/mTOR/p70 S6K signaling molecules exhibit active expressions in OSCC and may be implicated in the occurrence and development of OSCC.

Aged ; Animals ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; Signal Transduction ; Sirolimus ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Objective To explore the value of multivoxel 1H-MRS in the differential diagnosis of corpus callosum lesions.Methods 17 patients with corpus callosum lesions confirmed by clinical or pathological method underwent MRS examination.These patients included 2 cases of lymphoma,4 cases of Marchiafava-Bignami disease,3 cases of glioma, 7 cases of infarction,and 1 case of multiple sclerosis.MRS features of lesions were analyzed.Results 2 cases with corpus callosum lymphoma revealed significantly increased Cho peak, decreased Cr and NAA peak,towering Lip peak.Among 4 cases with Marchiafava-Bignami diseases, 2 cases revealed increased Cho/Cr and decreased NAA/Cr,1 case showed normal,1 case revealed inverted Lac peak.For 3 cases with corpus callosum glioma,NAA peak decreased or disappeared,and Cho peak increased in varying degrees.7 cases with corpus callosum infarction revealed significant inverted Lac peak, and NAA peak decreased in varying degrees.1 case of multiple sclerosis revealed increased Cho peak,decreased NAA peak,and inverted Lac peak during acute period with enhancement,while these features returned normal during inactive period.Conclusion Multivoxel 1H-MRS plays an important role in the differential diagnosis of corpus callosum lesions.

Objective To obtain highly purified oligodendrocyte precursor lineage cells in vitro and make identification.Methods The oligodendrocyte precursors were separated from astrocyte by orbital shaker and further purified by differential adhesion,and finally cultured in chemically defined serum-free medium,with appended neurotrophin 2(N2),platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF),basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF).Immunofluorescence assay was applied to identify the separated cells with A2B5,O4,O1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) antibodies.Results Over 95% of cultured oligodendrocyte precursor cells were obtained.The oligodendrocyte progenitors were A2B5 and O4 positive,immature oligodendrocytes were O4 and O1 positive while GFAP were negative.Conclusions Separation and purification by shaking and differential adhesion and chemically defined medium are suitable and effective to obtain highly purified oligodendrocyte precursor cells.Cell output will increase notabily and rest in immature phase by appending both N2,PDGF and bFGF.

Objective To elucidate whether and how injection site diversity influences on the sodium hyaluronate (HA) distribution on cartilage surface of the knee joint.Methods From September 2014 to December 2014, 32 human cadaveric knees were sorted from small to large based on femoral condyle width (FCW) and divided into group Ⅰ (n=16, odd number, the patella medial approach) and group Ⅱ (n=16, even number, injected through the medial joint line approach).Knees of both groups were interfused with a 5％ (mg: ml) methylene blue tracer.Each specimen was then simulated a 5°-45° alternating walking for 2 h in the Electro Force platform.Afterwards, all the knee cavities were cut open to examine the range of HA distribution.Based on the eight-zoning classification law for the knee cartilage surface, the coverage area of HA in each zone was scored and the characteristics of HA distribution was depicted, as well as HA zonal distribution diversity between groups were statistically analyzed.Results HA of both patella medial and medial joint line subgroups showed analogical distribution in all zones except the lateral tibial plateau at the time of FCW ≤ 7.0 cm.However, HA coverage through the patella medial approach showed significantly higher distribution scores in the patella zone and the femoral trochlear zone, but significant lower distribution scores in the antero-lateral/postero-lateral femoral condyle, the medial posterior femoral condyle zone and the lateral tibial plateau zone compared with medial joint line approach at the time of FCW ＞ 7.0 cm.Conclusion When delivered through different injection approaches, HA showed analogical distribution characteristics in most zones of the knee cavity in population with a small bodily shape (FCW ≤ 7.0cm), but significant diverse distribution characteristics in population with a big bodily shape (FCW ＞7.0 cm).When FCW ＞ 7.0cm, HA injected through the medial-patellar approach tended to be distributed mainly over the patella-femoral articulation and the anterior knee cavity, while HA injected through the joint line approach tended to be distributed mainly over the tibio-femoral articulation and the posterior knee cavity.

Objective To explain the differences between zingiber officinale and its sulfur fumigation products on chromatography fingerprints by HPLC-DAD;To discuss the influence of sulfur-fumigation on the quality of zingiber officinale. Methods HPLC, diode array detector, and ZORBAX SB-C18 column were used with acetonitrile-water as the mobile phase, gradient elute, volume flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature of 25 ℃, and detection wavelength of 280 nm. HPLC-DAD technology was applied to establish the fingerprints of zingiber officinale before and after sulfur-fumigating process, in order to analyze the HPLC fingerprints of zingiber officinale before and after sulfur-fumigating process. External standard method was used to do the quantitative determination of 6-gingerol. Results The 17 common peaks were identified through the comparison of 3 batches of fingerprints of zingiber officinale and their sulfur-fumigated samples. The peak areas of NO.3, NO.10, NO.11, and NO.17 were reduced by 50.68%, 64.41%, 67.68%, and 21.23%respectively. The content of 6-gingerol had no significant change. Conclusion The chemical composition of zingiber officinale changed at different degrees after sulfur-fumigated process. The safety and effectiveness of sulfur fumigation products of zingiber officinale require more researches.

Objective To investigate health status of medical staff and its impacting factors so as to provide useful health guidance. Methods Health examination data from 2 hospitals in Zhejiang province were collected. The medical staff group was classified into 5 subgroups according to the departments; the control group was composed of other mental labors. The health examinations included clinical, laboratory and special testing. SPSS 11.0 software was used for data analysis. Results Compared with the control group, the morbidity rate of the medical staff group was higher, especially in those aged < 50 (χ2 = 6. 651,8. 883, and 7. 446; all P < 0.05 ). All medical staff subgroups showed significant difference in morbidity rate ( χ2 = 39. 099 ,P < 0.05 ). Hyperlipidemia,cervical erosion,and breast hyperplasia were the most common diseases found in medical staff; while the control group developed more breast hyperplasia, hyperlipidemia, and retinal arteriosclerosis. Conclusions Health status of medical staff could not be optimal. Effective health education would be needed to improve life style and relieve stress.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of the ureteral dilation catheter combined with the balloon catheter under the ureteroscope in the treatment of urethral stricture in men.

METHODSUnder the ureteroscope, 45 male patients with urethral stricture received placement of a zebra guide wire through the strictured urethra into the bladder and then a ureteral dilation catheter along the guide wire, followed by dilation of the urethra from F8 initially to F14 and F16. Again, the ureteroscope was used to determine the length of the strictured urethra, its distance to the external urethral orifice, and whether it was normally located. An F24 balloon catheter and then a metal urethral calibrator was used for the dilation of the strictured urethra. After removal of the F18-F22 urethral catheter at 8 weeks, the urinary flow rate was measured immediately and again at 3 months.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed without serious complications. The maximum urinary flow rate was (13.3-29.9) ml/s (mean [17.7 ± 3.2] ml/s) at the removal of the catheter and (15.2-30.8) ml/s (mean [19.8 ± 3.9] ml/s) at 3 months after it. Smooth urination was found in all the patients during the 6-24 months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONThe application of the ureteral dilation catheter combined with, the balloon catheter under the ureteroscope is a good option for the treatment of male urethral stricture for its advantages of uncomplicatedness, safety, effectiveness, few complications, less pain, high success rate, and repeatable operation.

Catheterization ; Humans ; Male ; Ureteroscopes ; Urethra ; Urethral Stricture ; therapy ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheters ; Urination

To analyze the composition regularity of prescriptions containing Scutellaria baicalensis in Drug Standard of Ministry of Public Health of the Peoples Republic of China--Chinese Patent Medicines and Preparations on the basis of the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS), in order to provide reference for new drug R&D. the platform's software V2.0 was applied to establish a database of prescriptions containing S. baicalensis. The software's statistical statement module, association rules and improved mutual information method and other data mining technologies were adopted to analyze commonly used drugs, combination rules and core combination of S. baicalensis prescriptions. Having analyzed 477 prescriptions containing S. baicalensis, the researchers summarized 45 most commonly used drug combinations, whose ingredients mostly had functions of heat-clearing and damp-drying, purging fire for removing toxin and hemostasis. Drugs adopted in core combinations were relatively concentrated and selected according to definite composition methods. There were 23 diseases that S. baicalensis were most frequently applied in the treatment. Having compared three highly frequent diseases--cold, cough and dizziness, the researchers concluded that S. baicalensis could show different therapeutic effects through different combination ratios. Therefore, TCMISS (V2.0) is an important tool in analyzing the composition regularity of traditional Chinese medicines. The longitudinal and parallel comparison method is an effective method for studying the clinical composition regularity of S. baicalensis, while providing reference for new drug R&D.
China ; Drug Compounding ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic benefits of intravenous Xuebijing on acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats with paraquat intoxication. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided equally into three groups:sham group (n=8), paraquat group (n=8) and Xuebijing-treated group (n=8) using a random number table. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg of paraquat. One hour after paraquat administration, the rats were treated intravenously with Xuebijing (8 mL/kg). At 12 hours after paraquat administration, serum was collected to evaluate kidney function, then the rats were sacrificed and kidney samples were immediately harvested. AKI scores were evaluated by renal histopathology and pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels in kidney were assayed using real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: Serum urea nitrogen, creatinine and AKI scores were significantly higher in the paraquat group, compared with the sham group (P<0.05, respectively). Moreover, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA levels were significantly higher in the paraquat group (P<0.01, respectively). However, intravenous Xuebijing significantly decreased serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, AKI scores and IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA levels, compared with the paraquat group (P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intravenous Xuebijing attenuates AKI fol owing paraquat poisoning by suppressing inflammatory response.

Objective: To analyze influencing factors of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on therapeutic effect in patients with coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO). Methods: Clinical data, lesion features and PCI therapeutic results of 65 patients with 72 CTO lesions, who received PCI in our hospital from Jan 2010 to Dec 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: PCI success rate of CTO lesion was 91.67% (66/72); compared with patients with CTO occlusion 3~12 months, there was significant decrease in PCI success rate (97.78% vs. 81.48%) in those with CTO occlusion >12 months; compared with patients with occlusion length ≤15mm, there was significant decrease in PCI success rate (97.96% vs. 78.26%) in those with occlusion length >15mm; compared with patients with mouse tail-like broken ends, there was significant decrease in PCI success rate (96.55% vs. 71.43%) in those with knife cut-like broken ends, P<0.05 all; PCI failed in six lesions, in which four because guidewire failed to pass through lesions and two because balloon failed to pass through lesions; incidence rate of complications was 7.69% during PCI, there were no major adverse cardiovascular events during admission in all patients; symptoms relieving rate of angina pectoris was 90.16% after PCI. Conclusion: Success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention is related to lesion features, CTO occlusion duration etc.