Humans ; Malocclusion ; therapy ; Molar, Third ; growth & development ; pathology ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; Tooth Eruption ; Tooth Loss ; pathology ; Tooth Movement Techniques

Castleman Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of Levocarnitine on lipid metabolism and nutritional status of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and possible mechanism. Methods A total of 40 MHD patients [mean age (53.5±7.1) years] who underwent normal hemodialysis more than 6 months were randomly classified into two groups, Levocarnitine supplemented group (LS-G) (n=20; Levocarnitine supplementation after each normal hemodialysis session, at a dose of 1.0 g/day by intravenous administration) and control group (C-G) (n=20; normal hemodialysis). Before treatment, one month and three months after treatment we respectively measured or observed the following items, the tolerance to hemodialysis, carnitine level in plasma, C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-α, percentage of neutrophil, and some relevant nutritional parameters, such as lipid profile, transferrin, total protein, albumin and prealbumin levels. Comparative analysis was conducted between the two groups. Results In LS-G three months after treatment, the levels of carnitine, hemoglobin, and prealbumin in plasma were significantly increased (P<0.05), but C-reactive protein, neutrophil percentage, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in contrast to those in C-G and before treatment. Transferrin, total protein, and albumin were elevated in LS-G, with no statistical significance. Conclusion There was a significant improvement of lipid metabolism and nutritional status for the long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients with Levocarnitine supplementation. And this improvement is related to the decrease of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of ghrelin and its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), in the hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tract in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) and explore their relationship with the disorder of gastrointestinal tract motility.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=8) and CRF group (n=16), and in the latter group, the rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy to induce CRF. Real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the distribution of mRNA and protein of ghrelin and GHS-R in the gastric fundus, duodenum, and hypothalamus.

RESULTSThe rats in the CRF group showed a significantly higher expression of ghrelin mRNA and protein in the gastric fundus but a lower expression in the hypothalamus than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01), but the expression in the duodenum was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The expression of GHS-R mRNA and protein in the gastric fundus was significantly higher in the CRF group than in the sham-operated group (P<0.01), while in the hypothalamus and duodenum, the expression was significantly lower in the CRF group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe different distribution patterns of ghrelin and GHS-R in the tissues may be an important pathological basis of gastrointestinal motility disorder in CRF.

Animals ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Ghrelin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical result of the micro-decompression procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis.

METHODSFrom September 2001 to May 2006,87 patients (male 60, female 27) with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent micro-decompression. The age of patients were from 43 to 80 years with an average of 51 years. Among them,2 cases with spinal stenosis occured in L(3,4), 47 in L(4,5), 38 in L5S1.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 18-48 months with an average of 26 months. The results were excellent in 52 cases, good in 28, poor in 7, according to Macnab of back leg pain standard. The rate of excellent and good was 92%.

CONCLUSIONOperative treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis is focused at the areas causing symptomatic neural root compression rather than prophylactic decompression at areas of nonsymptomatic disease. The micro-decompression procedures are more likely to be well tolerated by older patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To detect the feasibility of magnetically labeled swine bone marrow mesenehymal stem cells(MSCs)with SHU 555A combined with poly-L-arginine(PLL),under MR imaging in vitro and in vivo.Methods Swine mesenehymal stem cells were isolated and culture-expanded 3 passages in vitro,then magnetically labeled by incubation with SHU 555A(25?g Fe/ml,Resovist,Schering)for 24 hours with 750 ng/mL poly-L-lysine(PLL;average MW_275 kDa)added 1 hour before incubation.Cellular iron incorporation and detention at 0 d,4 d,8 d,12 d,16 d,20 d after labeling was qualitatively assessed using Prussian blue and quantified at atomic absorption spectrometry.Cell viability was assessed by trypan-blue exclusion test.Cell suspensions underwent MR imaging with T_1-and T_2-weighted spin-echo and fast field-echo sequences on a clinical 1.5 T MR system.At last,1?10~6 SHU 555A labeled and unlabeled MSCs were transextracardially implanted into the infracted and normal myocardium approximately 2 week following the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery in 1 swine respectively,and finally performed 1.5-T MRI within 1 week after infarction.Results①Intracytoplasmic particles stained with Prussian blue stain were detected for all cells with mean cellular iron content of(13.13?2.30)pg per cell.With division of stem cells, the stained particles decreased gradually with iron content(0.68?0.20)pg per cell.at 16 days after labeling, approximately to the prelabeled baseline values.(0.21?0.06)pg per cell(P＞0.05).The viability of the labeled cells at various time points were not significantly different with that of nonlabeled cells(P＞0.05).②MR images showed signal intensity changed most obviouly in T2*WI in vitro.The percentage change of signal intensity increased with increasing cell numbers,and decreased with the time.As few as 5?10~4-1?10~5 cells could be detected by using this approach.③Two injected sites containing MR-MSCs were detected in vivo,presentingas low signal intensity areas with the T_2*WI scanning sequence.Conclusion Swine bone marrow MSCs can be labeled with SHU555A-PLL and depicted with a standard 1.5-T MR imager in vitro and in vivo.(J lntervent Radiol,2007,16:115-121)

AIMTo investigate the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN expression of macrophages.

METHODSHuman monocytic cell line THP-1 cells were co-cultured with EMMPRIN-highly-expressed MCF-7 cells; MMP-9 production was assayed by zymography. THP-1 cells were induced by PMA, expression of EMMPRIN was assayed by Western blotting. Cells were treated with resveratrol or PPARgamma agonist--pioglitazone during differentiation, EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 activity were assayed. U937 cells were co-transfected with PPARy expression and luciferase-coding reporter vector, then cultured with pioglitazone or resveratrol, the activating capability of resveratrol on PPARgamma was evaluated by measuring the luciferase activity. THP-1 cells were pretreated with PPARgamma antagonist--GW9662 before pioglitazone or resveratrol treatment, then assayed for EMMPRIN expression and MMP-9 production.

RESULTSEMMPRIN expression was greatly increased during the differentiation from monocytes to macrophages; co-culturing with MCF-7 cells significantly increased MMP-9 production by monocytes. Both resveratrol and pioglitazone markedly inhibited EMMPRIN expression during monocytes differentiation. Resveratrol significantly activated PPARgamma and GW9662 greatly decreased the effect of resveratrol on EMMPRIN and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONEMMPRIN expression is greatly up-regulated from monocytes to macrophages, which may play a role in inducing MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages. Resveratrol can significantly inhibit EMMPRIN expression via activating PPARgamma, which may be the underlying mechanism of its inhibitory effect on MMPs production by monocytes/macrophages.

Anilides ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Basigin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVETo study diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy of transient oeteoporods of the hip (TOH).

METHODSFrom January 2005 to February 2010, 5 patients with TOH were treated with traditional methods. All the patients were male, with an average age of 38.6 years (ranged, 27 to 46 years). The clinical manifestation, physical examination and imageology characteristic was investigated. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by Harris hip score.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, the duration ranged from 12 to 36 months (averaged, 24 months). The Harris hip score before treatment were 63.1, 86.0, 74.9, 63.6 and 64.8 respectively, while after 6 months treatment, the scores improved to 90.5, 94.5, 89.7, 93.9 and 87.8 respectively. Moreover, 6 months later, the abnormal signal disappeared in MR imaging and X-ray.

CONCLUSIONTransient osteoporosis of the hip is a self-resolving condition and a self-limited disease, the expectant treatment is useful for it.

Adult ; Female ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

AIMTo improve specificity and accuracy of endogenous ouabain measurement assay.

METHODSAnti-ouabain polyclonal antibody egg yolk (IgY) and anti-ouabain rabbit antibody (IgG) were prepared respectively. In the presence of two kinds of antibody, then the specificity and accuracy of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were compared.

RESULTSThe ELISA, in the presence of IgY, provided a sensitivity of the average intraassay coefficient of variation(CV) was 2.03%, and the inter-assay CV was 2.34% respectively. In contrast, IgG were 2.83% and 3.29%. No significant interferences were observed with hydrocortisone and dexamethasone. There was 3.45% vs. 5.95%, 3.20% vs. 5.20% of crossreaction with cedilanid and digoxin.

CONCLUSIONThe specificity and accuracy of ELISA, in which IgY was used, were more better than IgG.

Animals ; Antibody Specificity ; Chickens ; immunology ; Cross Reactions ; Egg Yolk ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Male ; Ouabain ; analysis ; Rabbits

Objective To evaluate the effect of anesthetic sleeping balance for treatment of chronic insomnia. Methods Twenty-four patients with chronic insomnia were treated with anesthetic sleeping balance on a voluntary basis with written informed consent. Polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were conducted and the scores of Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) were measured before and after the therapy. Results Twenty-two of these patients showed an increase in the LSEQ score of over 100 after the therapy, with a total response rate of 92%. The therapy resulted in significant improvements in the sleep latency, sleep quality, alertness and behavioral integrity on the following morning and the total scores (P<0.05). PSG recording suggested increased total sleep duration, decreased sleep interruption frequency and shortened duration of wakefulness after the therapy, showing significant differences from the status before the therapy (P<0.05). Significant favorable changes also occurred in sleep architecture after the therapy, manifested by decreased S1% and increased S3%, S4% and percentage of rapid eye movement time. Conclusion Anesthetic sleeping balance may help minimize the sleep debt in patients with chronic insomnia and has also good effect in improving the sleep architecture in patients with refractory chronic insomnia.