Adult ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; blood ; Male ; Reference Values

Animals ; Humans ; Liver ; growth & development ; Liver Diseases ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore the preparation method of nanometer powders of dental alumina ceramics.

METHODSThe effects of concentration of inorganic precursors, pH value, calcination temperature and ageing time on the synthesizing process, phase composition and microstructure of the materials were studied. Aluminium nitrate with concentrations of 0.03 mol/L, 0.05 mol/L, 0.1 mol/L and 0.2 mol/L were used as inorganic precursors to prepare alumina powders via sol-gel method. Ammonia water was added into the solutions to adjust the pH values to 5, 9 and 11. The dried gel was then calcined under different temperatures, from 950 degrees C to 1200 degrees C. The prepared alumina powders were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTSThe alumina powder which was prepared with 0.1 mol/L aluminium nitrate, pH 9, and calcined at 1200 degrees C for 10 min showed good physical characteristics. The diameter of final powder was about 70 nm.

CONCLUSIONWith the proper preparation condition, weakly agglomerated powders of alumina in nanometer particle size could be obtained.

Aluminum Oxide ; chemistry ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Ceramics ; chemical synthesis ; Dental Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Gels ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Powders

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different acupuncture depths of Lianquan (CV 23) for dysphagia after stroke.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty-one patients with dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into a deep acupuncture group (group A, 85 cases) a shallow acupuncture group (group B, 83 cases) and a glossopharyngeum acupuncture group (group C, 83 cases). Based on the conventional treatment, the glossopharyngeum acupuncture which was pricking without needles retained at lingual surface, posterior pharyngeal wall of the affected side, Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) was used in the three groups. After the glossopharyngeum acupuncture, Lianquan (CV 23) was acupunctured 60-70 mm in the group A and 30-40 mm in the group B. The needles were all retained for 30 min. The treatment was applied once a day for 30 days in the three groups. Water swallowing test evaluation scale was observed before and after treatment, and the efficacy was assessed in the three groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.3% (81/85) in the group A, which was better than 85.5% (71/83) in the group B and 83.1% (69/83) in the group C (both P < 0.05). The water swallowing test scores were decreased apparently in the three groups (all P < 0.01), and scores in the group A were the most obvious decline (P < 0.01). The decrease of scores in the group A was more remarkable than those in the group B and the group C after two weeks of treatment (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Lianquan (CV 23) can effectively improve the dysphagia after stroke. The acupuncture depth can affect efficacy and the effect of deep acupuncture is better.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition Disorders ; complications ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of extensive regional field radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.Methods Of the 101 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer patients,44 patients were treated by involved field radiotherapy alone,29 patients treated by involved field radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy,and 28 patients received extensive regional field radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy,the total dose of radiotherapy was 60 Gy.The clinical target volume (CTV) of involved field included the gross tumor volume (GTV) plus a 0.8 cm lateral margin,the tumor plus a nominal 3-5 cm cephalad and caudal margin.Extensive regional field radiotherapy was delivered in two steps:the CTV included the CTV of the involved field plus elective nodal region in the first step;in the second step,the CTV definition was same with the CTV of the involved field.Synchronous chemotherapy regimens included TP and NP.Results 90.1％patients completed planned radiotherapy,all patients in the concurrent chemotherapy groups completed at least one cycle of chemotherapy.The follow-up rate was 99％.Twenty-four and 42 patients completed followed-up more than 24 months in the radiotherapy alone and concurrent chemoradiotherapy group,respectively.The median survival time of the involved field radiotherapy group,involved field chemoradiotherapy group and extensive regional field chemoradiotherapy group was 13,21 and 19 months,respectively;the 2-year overall survival (OS) rate was 15％,48％ and 46％,respectively for the three groups.The 2-year OS rate was improved significantly in the chemoradiotherapy group (x2 =6.83,P =0.033).Compared with radiotherapy alone group,the incidence of grade three or four bone marrow suppression was higher in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (53％: 0 ％,x2 =32.94,P =0.000),the remaining adverse events (acute radiation pneumonitis,acute radiation esophagitis,esophageal fibrosis,late radiation lung injury) had no significant intergroup differences (x2 =5.56,6.70,2.39,0.42,P =0.235,0.349,0.881,0.981).Conclusions Compared with radiotherapy alone,concurrent chemoradiotherapy can improve the survival rate for locally advanced esophageal cancer.The side effects of the extensive regional field radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy is well tolerated.But the efficacy of the extensive regional field radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy needs further research.

Objective To observe the effect of recombinant human mannose-binding lectin ( rhMBL) on apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. Methods Fourteen C57 mice were randomly divided into two groups. The LPS mice received intra-peritoneal injection of LPS for indu-cing acute intestinal barrier injury. The expression of MBL protein and mRNA were observed by immuno-histochemisty and RT-PCR respec-tively. The apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells was detected by tunel staining. In vitro, the Caco-2 cells were treated with 0、 5、10、20 μg/mLrhMBL, flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of Caco-2 cells. The Bax and Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were detected by Western blotting and Real-Time PCR methods between various groups. MAPK signal proteins were detected by Western blotting method. Results The MBL and TUNEL staining were apparently increased under LPS condition. The apoptotic rates of Caco-2 cells which were trea-ted by different rhMBL concentrations after 48 h were increased in 20μg/mL rhMBL when compared with other groups. The apoptotic rates of Caco-2 cells which were treated by 20 μg/mL rhMBL after different time were increased in time-dependent manner. The results of Western blotting and Real-Time PCR assay showed that levels of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased in Caco-2 cells which were treated by 20μg/mL rhMBL af-ter 48h. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of P38 and ERK were obviously increased in Caco-2 cells. The inhibitory effect of ERK and P38 in-hibitors were studied by Western blotting. Our current study showed that a block in P38 MAPK dependent cell death might contribute to the decrease in 20μg/mL MBL-mediated Caco-2 apoptosis. Conclusion High concentration of rhMBL may play an important role in the intesti-nal epithelial cell apoptosis, and P38 pathway may be involved in this regulation.

Objective To analyze plague epidemic tendency in the Three-River Region of Qinghai.Methods Using retrospective study,the Three-River Region during 1954-2006 year pestis epidemic focus were investigated and analyzed.Result Pestis prevailed mainly in Yushu,Chindu,Qumalai,Nangqian,Zhiduo and the Geermu.Tanghla Township.It was first found that the nature plague focus of miefitus existed in Chengduo County.There are 1 5 kinds of 12 branches in 8 trees infected plague animals were founded,336 Yersinia pestis were separated from the driven objects.Among them there were 291 Himalayas marmot body,account for 86.60%of the total,13 of Tibet sheep,accounts for 3.87%.10 of Qinghai field-mouse,accounts for 2.98%,Also there were 114 Yersinia pestis which were separated from each kind of vector insect in vivo.And,46 pestis strains came from the axe shape of flea in vivo account for 40.35%(46/114),38 pestis strains separated from Xie mountain flea,account for 33.33% (38/114).During 1960-2006 years there were 85 human plague cases were founded,238 occurred,134 died,the case fatality rate wero 56.30%(134/238),the popular seasons were started from May to November,the peak season happened in Aug and Sep.After Oct mainly due to Tibet sheep pestis which will cause as the origin of infection.The majority of sickness was pulmonary plague,account for 49.58%(117/238),whereas the first round case caused by the gland bubonic plague,account for 77.12%(91/118).Conclusions There are two pestis strains natural epidemic focus places in Three-River Source Region of Qinghai including the Himalayas marmot pestis strain and the Qinghai field-mouse pestis strain.The case of human pestis strain causes by the marmot strain,the fiehl-mouse mold mushroom spawn causes human pestis strain has not yet discovered,Three-River Source Region of Qinghai is a pestis strain key popular area in Qinghai Province.

OBJECTIVETo observe the neurological protection effects of "paraplegia-triple-needling method" on rats with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to make a preliminary exploration on its mechanism.

METHODSA total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into a paraplegia-triple-needling method group (group A), a regular acupuncture group (group B) and a model group (group C), 15 rats in each one. The rats model of incomplete spinal cord injury was established by modified Allen's method. The acupoints of governor vessel and back-shu points next to the vertebras of upper end and lower end of injured segment as well as motor points in key muscle of lower extremities were treated with acupuncture in the group A; the acupoints of governor vessel and back-shu points next to the vertebras of upper end and lower end of injured segment as well as "Huantiao" (GB 30), "Housanli" (ST 36), "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) and "Genduan"(Extra) were treated with acupuncture in the group B; rats in the group C received no treatment after model establishment but grabbing and immobilization. The needles were retained for 15 min in the group A and group B, once a day for 14 times. 1 d, 7 d and 14 d after model establishment, Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scores were observed in each group; the morphologic change of injured spinal cord and expression of positive cells of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were observed. Results (1) One day after SCI, there was no significant difference of BBB scores among three groups (P> 0. 05); 7 days and 14 days after SCI, BBB scores in the group A and group B were significantly superior to those in the group C (all P<0. 05), and the BBB scores in the group A were superior to those in the group B ( both P<0. 05). (2) There was expression of CGRP positive cells in all three groups, and that in the group A and group B was significantly higher than that in group C (both P<0. 05); 14 days after treatment, the expression in the group A was higher than that in the group B (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe "paraplegia-triple-needling method" could obviously! improve the motor function of rats with SCI, especially the expression of neuroprotective factor CGRP, which is likely to be one of the mechanisms of neurological protection effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy

Objective To investigate the effects of extracellular ATP on the expression of(Mi- crotubule associated proteins MAP-2)and the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury in rats. Methods Six rats were selected randomly from 66 adult healthy Wistar rats as the normal control group,the rest animals were divided into two groups after contusion injury was performed by drop weight method with Allen impactor:Group A(ATP group)and Group B(control group),each group contained thirty rats.At days 1,3,7,14,and 28 after injury,the rats were killed,the expression of MAP-2 was detected with immunohistochemistry.The expression of MAP-2 in the adjacent area was quantitatively an- alyzed with a computer image analysis system.The recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury was assessed with improved Tarlov scores.Results The expression of MAP-2 was higher in Group A than in Group B after spinal cord injury in rats.Significant difference was revealed by the expression of MAP- 2 between the two groups at days 14 and 28 after injury(P

Objective To investigate feasibility and clinical application value of improved percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal-external drainage (PTBIED).Methods Consecutive patients from April 2007 to April 2010 with malignant obstructive jaundice were diagnosed by medical imaging or pathological confirmation whenever possible.The patients with proximal malignant biliary obstruction and intact inferior common bile ducts ＞ 3 cm in length,and a bilirubin of 70 μmol/L or higher,were included in the experimental group.The control group included patients with low malignant biliary obstruction,and those who met the criteria for the experimental group but refused to receive the altered method of PTBIED.The patients underwent traditional PTBIED in control group.The patients in the experimental group received the procedure as following:according to percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography,a biliary external drainage catheter was modified by adding side-holes.Then under fluoroscopic guidance,the loop tip of the modified biliary drainage catheter was positioned in the inferior common hepatic duct/common bile duct,while the additional side-holes were located in the expanded hepatic duct.Technical success rate,complications,hepatic function and white cell count (WBC) were recorded pre- and post-procedure.All patients were followed-up until death.A t-test was used to compare continuous variable data changes,the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variable data in two groups,and survival time was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results Forty-six patients were included in the study,with 21 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group.The procedures were successfully performed in all patients in the two groups.There was no procedure-related death in the two groups.Symptoms were improved similarly after procedures in the two groups.The mean quantity of drained bile per day [experimental group (521 +136) ml/d,control group (606 + 159 ) ml/d,t =1.930,P ＞ 0.05],decrease of the serum total bilirubin after the procedures [ experimental group (87 ± 51 ) μmol/L,control group( 105 ± 66 ) μmol/L ( t =1.061,P ＞ 0.05 ) ] and the median survival time ( experimental group 7.7 months,control group 6.9 months,x2 =0.610,P ＞0.05 ) of the patients showed no statistically significant difference between two groups.The mean WBC amount of patients was higher after the traditional procedure [ ( 10.9 ±5.2) × 109/L] than before the procedure [ (7.8 ±2.9) × 109/L] in the control group ( t =3.606,P ＜ 0.05 ),but the converse change occurred in the experimental group [ pre-procedure (8.2 ± 3.4) × 109/L ],post-procedure [ (7.4 ± 2.6) × 109/L] ( t =2.649,P ＜ 0.05 ).No reflux of duodenal juice was observed in all patients of the experimental group,and 1 patient had infection of biliary tract.The reflux was observed in 11 patients of the control group after conventional PTBIED.Of them,8 patients had infection of biliary tract.Incidence rate of infection of biliary tract in the control group was higher than that in the experimental group( x2 =5.381,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Improved PTBIED is convenient and feasible,and compared with traditional PTBIED,it can reduce the complications of infection of biliary tract.