Air ; analysis ; Chromatography ; methods ; Ions ; analysis ; Metals, Alkali ; analysis ; Workplace

Hydrogen Peroxide ; analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrophotometry ; methods ; Titanium ; Workplace

Objective To construct luciferase reporter plasmid containing synthetic CArG elements and to investigate their radiation-inducible property in tumor cells. Methods Insert chimeric regulation elements consisting of nine tandem-repeat copies of CArG sequence (CCATATAAGG) and CMV IE basal gene promoters into pGL3-Basic vectors to construct luciferase reporter plasmids. Tumor cells(HeLa, A549 and HepG2) were transiently transfected by reporter plasmids using lipofectamine, and transfected cells were irradiated by ?-ray with different doses. After 36 h, we assayed the level of reporter gene expression. Results The CArG elements could successfully induce the expression of a downstream reporter gene following irradiation, with maximal expression seen after 3 Gy irradiation. Conclusion The synthetic CArG elements are responsive to low dose of radiation and are able to enhance down-stream gene expression. It is expected to be the essential potential for future application of radiogenetic cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND: Microcirculation disturbance of pharynx may be one of the pathogenesis base caused recurrent attacks of chronic pharyngitis. The negative pressure can improve the microcirculation of inflammary target organs by biomechanical changes.OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of oral negative pressure on patients with chronic pharyngitis and nail fold microcirculation.DESIGN: A randomized single blind controlled observation.SETTING: Department of Pathophysiology of Hebei North University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 65 patients with chronic pharyngitis and course of disease about 1-3 years admitted to Department of Neurology,First affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January to September 2002 were selected. They were randomly divided into treatment group (n=35) and control group (n=30), including 36 cases with chronic pharyngitis (18 cases from the treatment group, 18 cases from the control group), 29with chronic hypertrophied pharyngitis (17 cases from the treatment group,12 cases from the control group).METHODS: The Hices oral negative pressure instrument was used and the negative pressure exert equipment was put into the optimal position of the patients' mouth to keep the negative pressure of (0.05±0.01) Mpa, 10minutes once (the first therapy time was 5 minutes), once daily and the time was fixed, 5 days as a period of therapy for three periods. Patients in the control group were also given the negative pressure exerts equipment,but no negative pressure was exerted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Observation and evaluation of nail fold microcirculation: The nail fold microcirculation was observed by the XTL- Ⅱ microcirculation micro-television system, and the first row nail fold of the left ring figure was checked conventionally to record the state of microvessel, state of micro-bloodstream and peri-loop. The degree of microcirculatory disturbance was quantitatively analyzed according to Tian Niu's weighing integral method, the lower the scores, the better the microcirculation. ②The improvement of chronic pharyngitis after treatment of 3courses.RESULTS: Totally 65 patients with chronic pharyngitis entered the stage of result analysis. ①After 1 course of treatment, the symptoms of 1/3 of the patients in the treatment group were significantly improved; after 3 courses of treatment, except there was no obvious changes of hypertrophied morphology such as lymphatic follicle proliferation on posterior wall of throat and hypertrophy on side cable of throat, the pathological signs and prevalence of mucosa congestion were obviously lower than those before treatment and the control group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01) effective rate was 88.6%.②) Improvement of microcirculation disturbance with chronic pharyngitis was evident, restoring to basically normal from medium degree abnormality before treatment, the total score values reduced to 1.941 ±0.165 from 4.836±0.242 (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Oral negative pressure can significantly release or eliminate the symptoms and signs of chronic pharyngitis, which may relate to improvement of microcirculation disturbance.

Objective To study the activity of the survivin gene promoter in several tumor cell lines and evaluate the possible application of this promoter in tumor gene therapy. Methods ①The expressions of survivin gene in A549,MDA-MB231 and HepG2 cell lines were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.②Tumor cells(A549,MDA-MB231,HepG2) were transiently transfected by reporter plasmids containing different length of survivin promoter using lipofectamine.And 48 h later,the level of reporter gene expression was analyzed.Results There were different levels of survivin expression in A549,MDA-MB231 and HepG2 cell lines.Transient transfection assay approved that pLuc-surP-987,pLuc-surP-596,pLuc-surP-269 and pLuc-surP-158 showed high activity and 269 bp survivin promoter demonstrated the highest activity. Conclusion In transcriptional level,survivin promoter can activate the reporter gene in several tumor cell lines.It is a potential candidate promoter in tumor gene therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of varices of the vocal cord.

METHODSThe clinical data of 21 cases with varix of vocal cord were analyzed. All the patients presented hoarseness. There were 15 female and 6 male cases with their ages ranged from 23 to 68 years (median 44 years old). The varix was found on the right vocal cord in 12 cases, on the left vocal cord in 9 cases. Isolated varix existed on the vocal cord in 10 cases, varix with vocal cord polyps or nodules in 10 cases, varix with vocal cord paralysis in 1 case.

RESULTSAll the patients were diagnosed under the laryngovideoscopy. The lesions appeared on the superior surface of the vocal cord. Varices manifested as abnormally dilated capillary running in the anterior to posterior direction in 6 cases, as clusters of capillary in 3 cases, as a dot or small sheet or short line of capillary in 12 cases. The varices were disappeared in 2 of 8 cases with vocal cord varices and polyps after removed the polyps. The varices of others patients had no change after following up for more than 6 months, but one patient happened hemorrhage of the contralateral vocal cord.

CONCLUSIONSVarices are most commonly seen in female. Laryngovideoscopy is the key in determining the vocal fold varices. Management of patients with a varix includes medical therapy, speech therapy, and occasionally surgical vaporization.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Varicose Veins ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Vocal Cords ; blood supply ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical shapes of vocal cord polyps and their pathological features.

METHODSThe laryngoscopic photographs of 156 patients with vocal cord polyps were reviewed. All patients received phonomicrosurgery. Eighty eight males and 68 females were included. Their ages ranged from 14 to 76 years (median 43.0 years). The clinical courses of the diseases were 1 to 132 months (median 6.5 months). There were 57 cases with right vocal cord polyps, 61 cases with left vocal cord polyps, 38 cases with bilateral vocal cord polyps. The vocal cord polyps with pedicles were found in 27 cases, without pedicles in 129 cases. The specimens of the vocal cord polyps were fixed in formalin solution and embedded in paraffin. Sections were cut, stained with HE method, and observed under light microscope.

RESULTSThe vocal cord polyps were classified into 5 types according to the clinical shapes of vocal cord polyps and their pathological features: edematous type in 70 cases (44.9%), vascular type in 49 cases (31.4%), fibrous type in 15 cases (9.6%), hemorrhagic or thrombotic type in 13 cases (8.3%), and amyloid type in 9 cases (5.8%). The clinical courses among the five types of vocal cord polyps had no statistic significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe classification of the vocal cord polyp according to the clinical shapes of vocal cord polyps has clinical significance for the treatment. Some vocal cord polyps of edematous type, vascular type and hemorrhagic type can be cured with voice therapy. The vocal cord polyps of fibrous type and amyloid type need treatment with phonomicrosurgery. The differentiation diagnosis between amyloid type vocal cord polyps and vocal cord carcinoma should be made.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyps ; pathology ; Vocal Cords ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of ethylbenzene on the neurobehavior of occupationally exposed workers.

METHODSThe exposure group consisted of 246 workers occupationally exposed to ethylbenzene and 172 staffs from the offices served as controls. The basic information on ethylbenzene exposure was collected by the questionnaire. The nervous behavior and function of workers were evaluated by Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB).

RESULTSThere were no differences of the scores for four emotional states (tension, depression, angry and bewilderment) between exposure group and control group (P > 0.05). The score of emotion (vigor) in exposure group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05), but the fatigue score in exposure group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). The score of mean reaction time in exposure group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), the scores of digital span, manual dexterity, visual retention and target tracking in exposure group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The exposure group was divided into 5 sub-groups, according to working duration. There were no differences for the scores of visual retention and target tracking among 5 sub-groups (P > 0.05). The scores of five emotional states (tension, depression, angry, fatigue and bewilderment) in 3 sub-groups exposed to ethylbenzene for 3 ∼, 4 ∼ and 5 ∼ years were significantly higher than those in 2 sub-groups exposed to ethylbenzene for 0 ∼ and 2 ∼ years (P < 0.05). The scores of digital span in 2 sub-groups exposed to ethylbenzene for 3 ∼ or 4 ∼ years and the scores of manual dexterity and digital symbol in 3 sub-groups exposed to ethylbenzene for 3 ∼, 4 ∼ and 5 ∼ years were significantly lower than those in 2 sub-groups exposed to ethylbenzene for 0 ∼ and 2 ∼ years (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEthylbenzene can depress the neurobehavioral functions of exposed workers. The neurobehavioral functions of workers exposed to ethylbenzene for 3 years changed significantly. The workers exposed to ethylbenzene for 3 years may be the susceptible population of neurobehavioral function impairment.

Adult ; Benzene Derivatives ; adverse effects ; Control Groups ; Emotions ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Psychometrics ; Reaction Time ; drug effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of occupational ethylbenzene exposure on blood neurotransmitter levels in population.

METHODSThe exposure group consisted of 246 workers occupationally exposed to ethylbenzene and the control group was composed of 122 staffs from the offices. The basic information on ethylbenzene exposure was collected by the questionnaire. The mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) in the post-working urine were measured using the high performance liquid chromatography. The levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), dopamine (DA) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity were detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, spectrofluorometry and DTNB method, respectively. The blood biochemical indexes: alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBIL) were examined. Also the hematologic indexes: red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB) and platelet (PLT) were determined.

RESULTSThe levels of MA, PGA and MA+PGA of urine in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of the biochemical indexes (AST, ALT, TP, ALB, BUN, Cr, ALP and TBIL), hematologic indexes (WBC, RBC, Hb and PLT) and serum GABA between the exposure group and the control group (P > 0.05). But the serum DA [(0.21 ± 0.011) mg/L] and AChE levels [(0.321 ± 0.066) U/L] in the exposure group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(0.25 ± 0.015) mg/L, (0.583 ± 0.125) U/L], respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMA and PGA in urine can serve as the biomarkers of internal exposure dose. Before the obvious changes of biochemical indexes and hematologic indexes appear, the exposure to ethylbenzene can influence the blood neurotransmitter levels in workers exposed to ethylbenzene.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Benzene Derivatives ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo obtain a series of objective criteria associated with pharyngeal swallowing function using dynamic swallow study in Chinese adults.

METHODSDynamic videofluoroscopic swallow studies were performed on 80 normal adult volunteers. There were 40 males and 40 females aged from 20 to 60 years old. Measurement software Avidemux 2.5 and Image J were used to measure the objective parameters which were closely related to the pharyngeal swallowing function in the swallowing process, such as maximum displacement of the hyoid bone (HmaxD), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), pharyngeal constriction ratio(PCR), and maximum opening of the esophageal entrance (EEmax).

RESULTSIn the 80 adults, the HmaxD, PTT, PCR, and EEmax were (1.91 ± 0.48) cm (x(-) ± s), (0.82 ± 0.15) s, 94.9% ± 3.41%, and (0.91 ± 0.05) cm respectively. The HmaxD of the male (2.04 ± 0.46) cm was significantly larger than that of the female (1.78 ± 0.47) cm (t = 2.44, P = 0.017), but the PTT, PCR, and EEmax had no significant difference between different gender and age groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSObjective parameters of the HmaxD, PTT, PCR, and EEmax during swallowing are obtained in Chinese adults. These data are important for assessment of the swallow function and these data provide a foundation for further research on assessment of swallowing function in Chinese.

Adult ; Deglutition ; physiology ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Larynx ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharynx ; physiology ; Reference Values ; Young Adult