Objective To explore the significance and practical value of videomorphometric analysis in differential diagnosis of the thyroid gland in benign and malignant follicular lesions. Methods A videomorphometric analysis of surgically resected thyroid follicular tumors and normal thyroid gland was respectively performed with CMM-3 image analysis system. 50-100 tumor cell nuclei each case were studied at random for their area, perimeter, average diameter, shape factor and atypical index.Results Hightly significant statistical difference was observed in every parameter between normal and malignant, benign and malignant cases.Conclusion It is suggested that videomorphometry is an useful tool for the differential diagnosis of benign from malignant tumors of thyroid gland.

Chronic Disease ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Aortic Valve Stenosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; blood ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood

Participating in the international conferences helps to get the latest progress in cer-tain areas. It provides important channels of communication and platform for cooperation. The article summarized the categories of international conferences, access to it, way to apply for it, how to apply for financial support, visa and passport, as wellas preparations before. The author's experience attend-ing the seventh Asia-Pacific conference neurochemistry(APSN) held in Singapore, may offer some help for reference.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and therapy of levofloxacin-induced prolonged Q-T interval in patients with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis ( MDR-TB) . Methods Clinical materials of 6 patients with MDR-TB who developed prolonged Q-T/QTc interval caused by levofloxacin therapy were analyzed. Those cases were collected from the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control of Wuhan City form April 2010 to August 2014. Results The proportion of patients with levofloxacin-induced prolonged Q-T interval was approximately 3.0%.The condition occurred 2-8 months after the administration. The initial value of QTc interval ranged from 397 ms to 439 ms, while the average was (410.17±14.62) ms.The value of QTc interval was extended to 470-486 ms after treatment of levofloxacin, while the average was (476.33±6.16) ms.The increase of QTc interval was 47-85 ms, while the average was ( 66 ± 11. 48 ) ms. None of them developed Tdp. Conclusion The application of high dosage and long treatment course of levofloxacin in patients with MDR-TB could result in the extension of the Q-T/QTc interval, which should arouse our serious attention. In order to detect the abnormal Q-T/QTc interval in early stage, electrolyte level examination as well as ECG examination should be considered as routine tests before initiation of treatment and during the follow-up treatment.

BACKGROUND: Neural stem cells are always derived from fetal rats and adult rats, and it is complex to isolate the cells by cell culture.OBJECTIVE: To study a convenient and effective method for the isolation and the culture of neural stem cells in neonatal rats.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An observation study based on cells was carried out in the Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China) from October 2006 to March 2007.MATERIALS: Wistar neonatal rats of 1-3 days old.METHODS: Subsequent to trypsin digestion, primary culture of the cells was performed in serum-free suspension culture medium. Then the cells were induced to incubate in DMEM/F12 containing 0.10 volume fraction of fetal bovine serum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Phase contrast microscopy was employed to observe the growth of neural stem cells and the morphology of the differentiated cells. Neural stem cells and the differentiated neurons were identified using indirect immunofluorescence cytochemistry, as well as expression of gilal fibrillary acidic protein. Moreover, the proliferation of the BrdU-labeled neural stem cells was also investigated.RESULTS: The neural stem cells isolated from neonatal rat brains had the potential of serial passage and proliferation, besides, they express neuroepithelial stem cell protein (nestin) and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.CONCLUSION: Neural stem cells can be harvested from neonatal rat brains at a large scale, and they maintain their undifferentiated features and have the capacity of self-renewal and pluripotentiality.

Objective To investigate the shape and F-actin of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts(HPDLF) under different tension stress in vitro so as to learn the stress-biological effects of HPDLF. Methods HPDLF were cultivated for 6 passages and observed morphologically and identified by immunocytochemistry to be positive anti-vimentin and negative anti-keratin. HPDLF were divided into four groups: control (without tension stress), static tension stress (5 kPa), dynamic tension stress group 1 (5 to 0 to 5 kPa at the frequency of 3/min) and dynamic tension stress group 2 (5 to 2.5 to 5 kPa at the frequency of 3/min). The cells of each group were observed at the different time points of 16, 24, 32 h. The projection areas and shapes of cells as well as the structure of F-actin were examined by laser scanning confocal microscope and immunity fluorescence technique. The relationship among tension stress, time, shape and the structure of F-actin of HPDLF was analysed. Results In the dynamic tension stress group 1 and 2, the shape and the arrangement of F-actin of some HPDLF underwent regular changes at 16, 24 h, but the changes appeared to be obvious at 32 h. In the static tension stress group, it was found the increase of interspace of HPDLF, but no obvious changes in the structure of F-actin. Conclusion Different tension stress patterns had different effects on the shape and F-actin of HPDLF. Especially in the dynamic tension stress group 2, it showed direct ratio between the cell projection areas, the average fluorescence density and different loading time.

OBJECTIVETo compare the sedative effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine (DEX) and midazolam (MDZ) in dental implant surgery:

METHODSSixty patients undergoing dental implantation were selected and divided randomly into six groups (10 in each group). In group 1 (G1), a highdose of MDZ alone was administered intravenously. In group 2 (G2), a relatively low dose of MDZ and DEX was administered intravenously. In group 3 (G3), a highdose of MDZ and DEX was administered intravenously. In group 4 (G4), a lowdose of MDZ and a highdose of DEX were administered. In group 5(G5), a highdose of MDZ and a low dose of DEX were administered. In group 6 (G6), a highdose of DEX alone was administered intravenously. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation values were measured. Sedation was assessed by determining the Ramsay sedation scores(RSS) during infiltration anesthesia (T1), incision (T2), cutting (T3), and suturing (T4). Before discharging from the hospital, patients were asked if they remembered the T1 to T4 procedures. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the degree of patient satisfaction were assessed at the same time.

RESULTSIn T1 to T4, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) in G3 was the lowest and was significantly different from that in G1 and G2 (P < 0.05). In G1, the SBP was higher than that in G6 at the T3 and T4 points (P < 0.05). HR was below the preoperative (P < 0.05) in the G3 only. RSS was the lowest in G1 during the whole procedure. In G2, most patients obtained scores of 2-3. In G3, sedation was deeper, had more cases ofup to 5. In G4, most patients obtained scores of 3-4. In G5, some patients had a score of up to 5. The RSS in G6 was lower than that in G3 and G4 or G5 in T1 to T2, closer to G4 in T2. An evaluation of the VAS and the degree of patient satisfaction did not show any differences among the groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of DEX and MDZ is superior to a single intravenous injection. Low-dose MDZ combined with high-dose DEX achieved the highest quality of sedation in this study.

Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Dental Care ; Dental Implants ; Dexmedetomidine ; therapeutic use ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; therapeutic use ; Midazolam ; therapeutic use ; Pain Measurement ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of several methods in eliminating Mycoplasma contamination in cell culture of human hepatoma-derived cell line C3A. Methods PCR was performed to detect the Mycoplasmas contamination in cell cultures. The contaminated samples were treated by ciprofloxa-cin, heating, Plasmocure or co-culturing with macrophages. Transmission electron microscope ( TEM) and Q-PCR were used to comparatively analyze the cell morphology and gene expression before and after Plas-mocure treatment. Results Plasmocure succeeded in eliminating Mycoplasma contamination, while cipro-floxacin showed temporary efficacy. Heating and co-culturing with macrophages failed to eliminate Mycoplas-ma contamination. No Mycoplasma contamination in the Plasmocure-treated group was observed under TEM and the expression of ALB, TF and CYP3A4 genes were higher than the genes expressed in the contaminated group (P<0. 01). Conclusion Plasmocure treatment was effective in eliminating Mycoplasma contamina-tion in cell culture. Moreover, the cell morphology and gene expression in Plasmocure-treated group were re-stored to normal.

AIM To explore a long-term Kupffer cell culture method, which can best maintain the function and activity of cell and decrease the cellular damage. METHODS Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatants were measured to observe the severity of cellular damage ,the function of Kupffer cell was reflected with the nitrogen monoxide(NO) content and the intracellular acid phosphatases(ACP) activity. In the conditions of common culture(CC),single collagen culture(SCC) and double collagen culture(DCC), with or without serum, study the maintenance of cellular function and the severity of cellular damage. RESULTS Compared with the other two methods, the LDH contents were significantly lower( P