OBJECTIVETo investigate in situ visualization using near-infrared quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with arginine- glycine-aspartic acid (ROD) peptide fluorescent probes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (08CC).

METHODSQDs with emission wavelength of 800 nm (QD800) were conjugated with RGD peptides to produce QD800-RGD fluorescent probes. Human OSCC cell line BcaCD885 was inoculated in nude mice cheeks to establish OSCC mouse models. Frozen BcaCD885 tumor slices were immunofluorescence double stained by using QD800-RGD and CD105 monoclonal antibody and were observed using a laser scanning confocal microscope. QD800-RGD was injected into the OSCC models through the tail veins, and the in situ visualization was analyzed at different time points. The mice were sacrificed 12 h after injection to isolate tumors for the ex vivo analysis of probe localization in the tumors.

RESULTSQD800-RGD specifically targeted the integrin avβ3 expressed in the endothelial cells of tumor angiogenic vessels in vitro and in vivo, producing clear tumor fluorescence images after intravenous injection. The most complete tumor images with maximal signal-to-noise ratios were observed 0.5 h to 6 h after injection of the probe and significantly reduced 9 h after the injection. However, the tumor image was still clearly visible at 12 h.

CONCLUSIONUsing intravenously injected QD800-RGD generates high quality OSCC images when integrin avβ3, which is expressed in the endothelial cells of tumor angiogenic vessels, is used as the target. The technique offers great potential in the diagnosis and individual treatment of OSCC.

Animals ; Arginine ; Aspartic Acid ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Glycine ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Oligopeptides ; Peptides ; Quantum Dots

The intracellular trafficking and subcellular distribution of exogenous gene is very important for gene delivery. A successful gene vehicle should overcome various barriers including endosomal membrane barriers to delivery gene to the target organelle. Traditional nonviral vehicle is unable to avoid endosomal pathway efficiently, so the efficiency of gene delivery is low and the application of gene drugs is limited. In order to achieve efficient nonviral gene delivery, a lot of researches based on endosomal escape have been carried out and some agents with the function of endsomal escape have been found. These agents facilitate the endsomal escape via various mechanisms, such as fusion into the lipid bilayer of endosomes, pore formation in the endosomal membrane, proton sponge effect and photochemical methods to rupture the endosomal membrane. In this review, various reported strategies for endsomal escape are described according to the escape mechanisms, and their applications in intracellular gene delivery are also discussed.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical outcomes of posterior lumbar interbody fusion using BTwin expandable spinal spacer with microendoscopic discectomy (MED) for lumbar disc herniation accompanying degenerative instability.MethodsFrom March 2006 to May 2010,87 patients with lumbar disc heniation (only one level) accompanying degenerative instability were managed with posterior lumbar interbody fusion using B-Twin with MED,includeing 49 males and 38 females with an average of 47.6 years(range,37-65).Objective level located in L3,4 in 2 cases,L4,5 in 43,and L5S1 in 41.The patients were treated with single BTwin(Single group,n=51) and double B-Twin(Double group,n=36).Clinical outcomes were evaluated with surgical time,blood loss,visual analogue scale (VAS) scores,Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODI),and the pre- and post-operative disk space heights.ResultsThe patients were followed up for an average of 35.8months (range,12-46).All the patients felt the low back pain and radiation pain disappeared or relieved apparently.The mean preoperative ODI and VAS scores decreased from 78％±3％ to 18％±3％,and (8.70±11.3)to (0.65±10.48) at the final follow-up respectively.Disc space increased from a pre-operative height of (8.76±1.3) mm to a post-operative of (11.8±0.6) mm.ODI,VAS and the disk space heights in all patient showed statistical significance,which revealed no statistical significance between the two groups.However,the operation time,blood loss were statistical difference between the two groups.All the patients achieved solid union or probable union at a mean time of 5.6 months (range,3.9-8.6).ConclusionPosterior lumbar interbody fusion using B-Twin with MED can obtain satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation accompanying degenerative instability.Single B-Twin can get similar clinical outcomes,but shorter surgical time,less blood loss,and less medical costs.

Objective To investigate the chnical effect of modified transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) on the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. Methods Sixty-two patients with lumbar degenerative disease were treated by the modified TLIF from June 2007 to May 2009. The preoperative diagnosis was lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with spinal instability (28 cases), lumbar intervertebral disc herniation with lumbar stenosis (27 cases ), degenerative spondylohsthesis (7 cases ). Forty-eight cases were single-level and 14 cases were two-level. The patients were evaluated by observing the fusion rate and comparing the visual analog score( VAS ) and Japanese orthopaedics association (JOA) score of preoperation with those of postoperation. Results All the patients were followed up from 15 to 30 (22.77 ± 3.82)months,no nerve injury,leakage of cerebralspinal,infection,the broken of pedical screws and other complications. The fusion rate of segment was 96.8% at the follow-up after 1 year postoperatively. Judgement by JOA score,the rate of improvement was 93.5%(58/62),excellent in 34 cases,good in 24 cases,fair in 4 cases. The postoperative value of V AS and JOA score were higher than those of preoperation (P ＜ 0.05 ), the values when follow-up of 3 months was performed had no statistic al difference with those of final follow-up (P＞0.05). Conclusion The modified TLIF with fully decompression while reducing the accessing spinal canal complications have good clinical efficacy in treating lumbar degenerative disease.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp ; Young Adult

The intracellular trafficking and subcellular distribution of exogenous gene is very important for gene delivery. A successful gene vehicle should overcome various barriers including endosomal membrane barriers to delivery gene to the target organelle. Traditional nonviral vehicle is unable to avoid endosomal pathway efficiently, so the efficiency of gene delivery is low and the application of gene drugs is limited. In order to achieve efficient nonviral gene delivery, a lot of researches based on endosomal escape have been carried out and some agents with the function of endsomal escape have been found. These agents facilitate the endsomal escape via various mechanisms, such as fusion into the lipid bilayer of endosomes, pore formation in the endosomal membrane, proton sponge effect and photochemical methods to rupture the endosomal membrane. In this review, various reported strategies for endsomal escape are described according to the escape mechanisms, and their applications in intracellular gene delivery are also discussed.
Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Endosomes ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans

Objective To design a new type of field operation instrument for easy to spread a rescue surgery rapidly in field first -aid at the present stage. Methods The traditional field operation instrument set is innovated in its composition, structure and function. The packing instrument procedure can be omitted. The new field operation instrument set is made of four different operation instrument boxes, two of which can be put into a standard field medical case. Results It is designed to be convenient to have a rescue surgery rapidly and to be washed, sterilized, conveyed and kept in aseptic storage. Conclusion The new field operation instrument case has such advantages as compactness, reasonable allocation and function completed, so it can be used easily.

Objective To explore the feasibility of establishing mini-pig model of type 1 diabetes by single intrave-nous injection of high dose streptozotocin .Methods Eight male Zhonghua mini-pigs (22.6 ±1.8 kg) were administrated with high-dose streptozotocin (150 mg/kg) into the ear vein .Before and 10, 30, 90 minutes, 1, 3 and 7 days after adminis-tration of streptozotocin , blood samples were obtained respectively , and used to dynamically monitor the fasting blood-glucose. C peptide and insulin levels were evaluated by IVGTT test .Results Since 24 hours after STZ administration , the fasting blood-glucose level was increased significantly compared with that of pre-administration and maintained at 16.7-20.6 mmol/L, while the C peptide and insulin levels were decreased significantly .IVGTT results showed that blood sugar levels at 1 h af-ter intravenous injection of 50%glucose were much higher than 11.1 mmol/L and failed to restore to fasting glucose levels until 2 h, insulin and c-peptide did no response after injection of glucose , always kept at a trace level .Conclusion A sin-gle high-dose streptozotocin injection can be used to establish a mini-pig model of type 1 diabetes successfully .

Objective To develop Chinese Military Personnel Social Support Scale and verify its reliability and validity. Methods The Chinese Military Personnel Social Support Scale was initiated, organized and compiled based upon open-ended questionnaire survey done in a systematic manner, and previous researches were taken as references. A total of 630 military personnel were chosen by random cluster sampling and tested with the Scale, among them 50 were tested with Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and Chinese Military Psychosomatic Health Scale (CMPHS) simultaneously, and the test was done solely a second time with CMPHS 2 weeks later. The reliability and validity were assessed and verified by exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and correlation analysis. Results The Chinese Military Personnel Social Support Scale comprised three factors, namely subjective support, objective support and utility of social support. Eighteen items were left in official scale after amendment by factor analysis, and one lying subscale was added. The correlation coefficients between the public factors ranged from 0.477 to 0.589 (P<0.01), and the correlation coefficients between factors and total scale ranged from 0.721 to 0.823 (P<0.01). The test-retest correlation coefficients of total scale and subscales ranged from 0.622 to 0.803 (P<0.01), the Cronbach α coefficients ranged from 0.624 to 0.874, and the split-half correlation coefficients ranged from 0.551 to 0.828. Significant correlation existed between this Scale and two criterion scales, namely SSRS and CMPHS. Conclusion α It is verified that the Chinese Military Personnel Social Support Scale has excellent reliability and validity, and complying with psychometric standards, it may be used to evaluate the social support level of Chinese military personnel.

Objective: To observe morphological changes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the early stage of mice renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods: Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) in mice. Histological and immunohistochemical methods were used to analyze pathological changes and α-SMA expression in renal tissue.Argentum hexamethylenamine staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe changes of the renal tubule basement membrane. Gelatin zymographic analysis was used to observe the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in renal tissue.Results:The mice suffered from renal interstitial fibrosis were identified by histological analysis and α-SMA positive cells in renal tissue. Argentum hexamethylenamine staining and transmission electron-microscopy showed that the renal tubule basement membrane disrupted locally and renal tubule epithelial cells invaded into the renal interstitium in the early stage of renal interstitial fibrosis. Gelatin zymographic analysis showed that the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was increased transitorily in the early stage of renal interstitial fibrosis. Conclusion: Renal tubule basement membrane disruption, renal tubule epithelial cells invasion into the renal interstitium, and the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 are involved in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis.