Objective To detect steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice at different ages and serum lipid levels. Methods Nighty-six C57BL/6J and apoE-/- mice were enrolled, which were divided into 16 groups with 6 mice per group according to age (1 day, 1, 3, 5 months), sex and genotype (C57BL/6J and apoE-/-). The serum lipid levels in C57BL/6J and apoE-/- mice were detected by commercial kits. StAR mRNA and protein expressions in liver were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. Results ApoE-/- mice had higher LDL-cholesterol and lower HDL-cholesterol compared with C57BL/6J mice of the same age and sex. StAR mRNA and protein expressions were decreased following with aging in C57BL/6J mice. However, in apoE-/- mice with higher lipid levels, StAR mRNA and protein expressions were changed with the lipid levels other than ages. StAR mRNA and protein increased in the early stage, and then decreased with the increasement of lipids levels. Conclusions StAR could affect lipids levels and may be an effective regulator for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

0.05). Conclusion Enough high-purified LECs can be isolated by collagenase digestion procedure followed by immunomagnetic beads sorting. Post-thawed endothelial cells are proved to have high vitality and growth potential in vitro without significant morphological changes. Cryopreserved LECs may serve as a cell choice for research of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic patterning.

Objective To investigate the effect of palato-pharyngo-plastry on patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) plus obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods The 113 OSAHS patients with CHD after palato-pharyngo-plastry from January 2001 to December 2006 were enrolled and followed up. The other 125 cases treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were as control group. Results The fundmental factors of CHD including cholesterol, triglyeride, fasting blood glucose and body mass index (BM1) showed no statistical differences between two groups (x2 or t= 4.788, 0.479, 0.541, all P>0.05) . Only the oxyhemoglobin saturation during sleep was higher in study group than in control group [(91.2± 2.5)% vs. (87.6±4.2)%, P=0.046]. The angiography showed that 87 cases (77.0%) retained stable, 24 cases (21.2%) became severe in study group. As compared with control group, there were no statistical differences (both P>0.05). 37 cases (32.7%) in study group and 58 cases (46.4%) in control group who suffered from angina became severe with statistical differences between two groups (x2=4.615, P=0.032). The incidences of myocardial infarction and sudden death were lower in study group (3.5% and 0.8%) and in control group (5.6% and 2.4%), showed no statistical, difterences be tween twogroups. x2=0.571 and 0.495, P>0. 05). Conclusions Compared with CPAP, the palato-pharyngo-plastry can improve oxyhemoglobin saturation and reduce angina symptom, but has no better effect on progress of coronary atherosclerosis and acute coronary disease than CPAP.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of Hopkins endoscope on removal of esophageal foreign bodies. Methods The clinical data of 96 patients with esophageal foreign body were analyzed retrospectively. Then the differences of the operation time between the visual surgery guided by Hopkins endoscope and conventional surgery of removal of esophageal foreign bodies were compared. Results Improved surgical operation time is significantly shorter than the traditional operation group. In addition,the operation time of improved surgery in the denture group,≥50 years old age group,≥24 h course group and the first stenosis of esophagus group is significantly shorter than the traditional ones. Conclusion Compared with the traditional surgery,the visual surgery of removal of esophageal foreign bodies guided by Hopkins endoscope with rigid esophago?scope has more advantages,especially for complex esophageal foreign body,which can significantly short the operation time and improve the opera?tion efficiency.

Objective To investigate the accelerating role of recombinant human parathyroid hormone (PTH) in bone fracture repair.Methods 2-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent closed unilateral femoral fracture and intramedullary nail fixation.The rats were divided into 2 equal groups randomly: the treatment group receiving subcutaneous injection of rhPTH(1-34) 10 μg/(kg·d) immediately after operation and for 2,7,14,21 and 42 d,respectively, and the control group receiving subcutaneous injection of normal saline in the same volume.X-ray and micro-CT were conducted at 2, 7, 14, 21 and 42 days after surgery.Results The continuity of porosis between fracture sides was better and fracture line has been blurred in the PTH-treated group at 21 days after fracture compared with the control group, the bone volume (BV),BV/TV, bone mineral density(BMD)and trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf) were significantly higher, and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and degree of anisotropy (DA) were significantly lower in the PTH-treated group at 42 days after fracture.Conclusions Our findings suggest that a low dose recombinant human parathyroid hormone can accelerate the bone fracture healing, probably through improving the BV, BV/TV, Tb.P and BMD, and decreasing the Tb.Sp and DA.

Objective An analytical method for rapid screening and confirmation of multiple pesticide residues in vegetable and fruit was established according to GB 2763-2014 national food safety standard-maximum residue limits for pesticides in food,using ultra performance liquid chromatography-Q-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS).Methods Pesticide residues in vegetable and fruit were screened by comparing the accurate mass,isotope distribution and abundance in the accurate mass database,and confirmed by comparing with the spectra in the spectra library or by the spectral analysis method.Results The method was verified by spiked samples,and all pesticides were detected at the addition level of 10.0 and 50.0 μg/kg.The recovery of 90％ of the pesticides was in the range of 70％-120％,with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 20％ (n =5).The method was applied to screen pesticides in 30 samples of vegetables and fruits.Twenty-seven pesticides were found and 2 samples exceeded the limit.Conclusion The method was sensitive,accurate and reproducible.Hundreds of pesticides in GB 2763-2014 could be screened and confirmed in a short period of time even without standard substance.It could provide an effective method for food safety control.

Toinvestigate the implementation mode and effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in experimental teaching of physiology,PBL was applied in experimental teaching of circulatory physiology. Comparison of test scores and Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) were used to evaluate teaching quality and teaching environment respectively. The results showed that both test and DREEM scores were higher in PBL group than in control group (P

OBJECTIVE: To perform morphometric analysis of bilateral cochleae in all subjects based on computed 3-dimensional reconstruction tomographic data and assist the surgeon in diagnosing the inner ear abnormality or surgical strategies. METHOD: Two hundred normal developed cochleae from 100 patients were divided into 5 groups according to age. Morphometric analysis of bilateral cochleae was performed in all subjects by 3D reconstructions and 2D multiplanar reformation. The length and width of the cochlear base, the length within the cochlear base, the height of the cochlea, the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea, and the cochlear orientation within the cranial base were measured and compared in different age, sex and bilateral groups. RESULT: The length of the cochlear base was (8.56 +/- 0.52)mm, the width was (6.63 +/- 0.56)mm, the length within the cochlear base was (7.33 +/- 10.56)mm, the height of the cochlea was (3.76 +/- 0.28)mm, and the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea was (15.82 +/- 2.78)degrees. All index above did not change significantly in different aging, sex or side (P > 0. 05). Variability in the angle between the first and second turn of the cochlea was considerable, and a smaller angle (from the midsagittal line) was showed in the older age groups than the younger groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION 3D and 2D volume rendering enables us to evaluate the features of cochlear morphology and orientation that may assist the surgeon in diagnosing the inner ear abnormality or surgical strategies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlea ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the effect of double silicone balloon catheter used as nasal packing materials after functional endoscopic sinus sur?gery(FESS). Methods Totally 80 patients(47 males and 33 females,median age of 43 years)with bilateral chronic sinusitis who underwent en?doscopic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups,each group with 40 patients. The hemostatic sponge group used he?mostatic sponge for postoperative nasal packing and the hemostatic catheter group used double silicone balloon catheter plus medical sponge. Patients were observed for postoperative pain,ventilation and bleeding after packing removal to evaluate efficacy. Results Double silicone balloon catheter was superior to hemostatic sponge in ventilation maintenance(mean scores:78.8 vs 2.32)and pain relief(mean scores:0 vs 5.26),the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Moreover,double silicone balloon catheter was also superior to hemostatic sponge regarding to nasal bleeding after packing removal. Conclusion Double silicone balloon catheter is a preferable material for nasal packing after endoscopic surgery,which has reliable hemostatic effect and can better maintain the nasal ventilation,reduce pain in patients,and improve the patient's quality of life during treat?ment.

Objective To evaluate the variables which can be used as prognostic factors in predicting the outcome of Graves disease(GD)after treatment with antithyroid drugs.Methods We performed a retrospective audit of 204 patients with newly diagnosed Graves disease consecutively at the Ruijin Hospital.Results Overall,110 patients(53.9%)were considered to be treatment failures.Age at the time of diagnosis was(31.0±12.2)years in the successful group and(36.3±14.0)years in the failure group.Free T3(FT3)was(25.60±9.52)pmol/L and(19.16±6.38)pmol/L in the failure and the successful group(P=0.001).FT3 to FT4 ratio and thyrotrophin recptor antibody(TRAb)levels were higher in the failure group(P=0.001).Logistic regression analysis showed that thyroid size,FT3 to FT4 ratio and TRAb at the time of diagnosis were associated with failure outcome.The patients reached euthyroid state at 3,6,9 and 12 months respectively and in the failure group the patients with continued thyrotropin suppression were more than those in the successful group(P=0.001).Conclusions Graves disease patients with large thyroid size,high levels of TRAb and FT3 to FT4 ratio before drug treatment are more likely to fail to respond to antithyroid drug treatment.We also found that patients with continuing thyrotropin suppression and attainmen of euthyroid state in the course of treatment had low remission rate and prolonged therapy.