Objective To explore the effects of chronic fluorosis on neurons in the cerebral cortex of rats,and to provide some morphological evidence of damage in the central nervous system induced by chronic fluorosis.Methods Male Wistar rats 40 days after birth were fed with high fluoride contented water(100 mg/L)for inducing chronic fluorosis.Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to detect c-fos and Caspase 8 at cerebral cortical neurons respectively.Results c-fos positive cells rate and gray scale in the cerebral cortex of chronic fluorosis were 35.8%and 0.2756±0.0241,respectively,and that of control group were 32.1%and 0.2774±0.0331with statistical difference(χ2=0.305,t=0.826,P＞0.05).Caspase 8 positive cells rates of fluorosis group and control group were 18.7%and 14.1%,respectively,the difference being statistically significant(χ2=0.419,P＞0.05).The gray scale of fluorosis group and control group were 0.3874±0.0329 and 0.3884±0.0323,respectively,the difference being statistically significant(t=0.641,P＞0.05).Conclusion Chronic fluorosis had no significant influence on apoptosis of cerebral cortical neurons.

An automatic inspection system for biochip's print quality is presented in this paper. It consists of an automatic mechanical control, a CCD sensor for getting the image of PET boart, and the special computer software for image processing and recognition. Experimental results indicate that this system is capable of providing a precise and effective realtime inspection for biochips' print quality.
Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Microchip Analytical Procedures ; methods ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Quality Control ; Software

OBJECTIVETo assess the reliability and validity of Chinese version of the Abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-A).

METHODSBSHS-A was translated into Chinese and revised. Eighty-two former burn patients discharged from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College, and now in rehabilitation stage, were surveyed with the Chinese version of BSHS-A according to the simple random sampling. The psychometric properties of the scale, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity and discriminant validity, were analyzed.

RESULTSOne hundred and sixty-seven scales were sent to 82 participants and all of them were completed and returned. The rate of eligible questionnaire was 98.2% after eliminating 3 ineligible questionnaires. The Crobach's alpha coefficient of total score of questionnaire was 0.97, and in all domains and sub-domains ranged from 0.83 to 0.96. The test-retest coefficients from 20 participants retested within one week were between 0.74 and 0.98 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Forty-eight participants surveyed within 6 months after burn were divided into mild/moderate burn group and severe burn group. The total scores of questionnaire, scores in all domains and sub-domains of patients in the latter group were lower than those in the former group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe Chinese version of BSHS-A shows satisfactory reliability and validity, and it can be used to investigate quality of life of Chinese burn patients in rehabilitation stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; rehabilitation ; Female ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objectives To investigate changes in serum levels of adiponectin,leptin and erythrocyte membrane insulin receptor among patients with gestational diabetes (GDM),and to study their relation to insulin resistance.Methods Fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting serum insulin (FINS), serum levels of adiponeetin and leptin,indices of lipid metabolism,2 h plasma glucose during oral glucose tolerance test (2 h PG),2 h serum insulin during oral glucose tolerance test (2 h INS),as well as number of erythrocyte membrane insulin receptors with high and low appetency and its constants,were determined in 40 patients with GDM and 34 controls with normal glucose tolerance.Insulin resistance index (IRI) was calculated.Results ① Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were (11.7?2.8) ?g/L and (7.8?1.6) ?g/L,respectively,and number of high appeteney erythrocyte membrane insulin receptor (R_1) and low appetency erythrocytemembrane insulin receptor (R_2) was (43?9) / red cell and (2297?525) / red cell,respectively.Serum level of leptin was significantly higher in those with GDM than those of normal controls (P

AIMTo study the therapeutic effects of oxyphenamone, a novel inodilator, on myocardial ischemia.

METHODSThe cardiac hemodynamic variables in cats with acute myocardial infarction induced by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were recorded with a physiological polygraph and electromagnetic flowmeter. A model of myocardial necrosis induced by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol was used for evaluating the effects of drugs on myocardial enzymes and morphological change.

RESULTSIntravenous injection of oxyphenamone (2 - 8 mg x kg(-1)) dose-dependently decreased heart rate, mean arterial pressure, vascular resistance and the parameters of myocardial oxygen consumption (tension time index, TTI) in cats with myocardial infarction. It increased myocardial contractile force and cardiac output transiently but showed no influence on the left ventricular pressure and cardiac work. The changes of myocardial morphology, creatine phosphate kinase (CPK), malodialdehyde (MDA) and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) induced by isoproterenol in rats were diminished by intraperitoneal injection of oxyphenamone (4 - 8 mg x kg(-1)).

CONCLUSIONBy the examination of the cardiac hemodynamics, myocardial enzymes and morphology, it showed that the myocardial damage induced by ischemia or beta-agonist can be antagonized markedly by oxyphenamone, indicating that oxyphenamone may be beneficial for the treatment of myocardial infarction.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiac Output ; drug effects ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cats ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Organic Chemicals ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of apoptosis of rabbit small intestinal mucosal epithelial cells and lymphocytes, and lymphocytes of lumbrical process at early postburn stage.

METHODSTwenty-five Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups with 5 in each group, i.e. normal control (N), 3-postburn-hour group (3 PBH), 6 PBH, 12 PBH and 24 PBH groups. The rabbits in all PBH groups were inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree of flame burn on the back. The intestinal tissue samples were harvested from 5 anatomical sites for HE staining, electron microscopic examination and the detection of apoptosis in situ by TUNEL method at all the postburn time points. The results of TUNEL slides were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSHE staining revealed that there were relatively abundant apoptotic cells scattering solitarily in the lymph nodules and diffuse lymphatic tissue in the mucosal epithelial and mucosal lamina propria (and partially extended into the submucosal layer) of the intestine and lumbrical process in all burn groups. There were some disruption of intestinal mucosa in 24 PBH group. But no obvious inflammatory reaction and signs of necrosis were observed in all the slides. Apoptotic body formation could be identified by EM. Large number of blue-black positive cellular nuclei were revealed by TUNEL method with their distribution as similar to that found by HE staining. When comparing with those in control group, the apoptotic cells in small intestine and lumbrical process were increased obviously (P < 0.01) in 3 PBH group and reached the top level in 6 and 12 PBH groups (P < 0.01), declining thereafter to near value of 3 PBH in 24 PBH group, though it was still higher than control (P < 0.05). The number of apoptotic epithelial cells in middle distal portions of small intestinal mucosa in burn groups was much higher than that in proximal intestine (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere was a large number of apoptotic cells in rabbit small intestinal mucosal epithelium, gut associated lymphoid tissue and lymphocytes in the lumbrical process, especially in the middle and distal portions of the intestine. These change might be the cellular basis of postburn intestinal translocation of bacteria and endotoxin.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; pathology ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Time Factors

Skin and soft tissue expansion can provide skin tissue similar to the recipient area in color and texture, which is one of the ideal methods in the repair of superficial defects. However, due to the long treatment cycle and relatively high complications rate in pediatric patients, expansion still faces many challenges. Based on the clinical practice and the current progress in skin and soft tissue expansion, this paper briefly discusses the change of skin after expansion, and the application, prevention and treatment of complications in the application of expansion in pediatric patients, aiming to provide reference for expansion in pediatric patients.
Child ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Tissue Expansion ; Treatment Outcome

The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is the core issue to ensure the modernization,industrialization and internationalization of TCM.Compared with other detection methods,electrochemical analysis method has many advantages such as high sensitivity,fast detection speed and low cost,making it an important means of quality control for TCM and having broad development prospects.This article reviewed the research progress of electrochemical methods in quality control of TCM in recent years,discussed the application of electrochemical fingerprinting technique in identification of TCM,and comprehensively summarized the application of electrochemical technology in analyzing effective components and harmful substances in TCM,including flavonoids,alkaloids,quinones,glycosides,heavy metals and pesticide residues.Finally,the development prospects of electrochemical methods in the field of quality control of TCM were discussed.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the patterns of antipsychotic use in China and to analyze the factors that influence antipsychotic prescriptions. METHODS: A standardized survey was conducted from May 20 to 24 2002 in five different regions of China with varying economic levels. The patterns of antipsychotic medication use were analyzed in a sample of 4,779 patients with schizophrenia. The survey gathered information on demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and antipsychotic medications prescribed. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to patterns of antipsychotic medication use. RESULTS: A plurality of patients with schizophrenia was treated with clozapine (39%); this was followed by risperidone, sulpride, chlorpromazine, perphenazine, and haloperidol. More than 56.3% of patients were treated with only one atypical antipsychotic. The mean daily dose of chlorpromazine was 365+/-253 mg (mean+/-standard deviation), and 6.5% of patients were treated with depot injections of typical antipsychotic medications. A total of 73.7% (n=3,523) of patients with schizophrenia received monotherapy, 24.8% (n=1,183) received two antipsychotics, 1.1% (n=52) received three antipsychotics, and one received four different antipsychotics. Patients often simultaneously received other classes of medications including anticholinergic agents, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Economic status and clinical symptoms were the main factors that contributed to the patterns of antipsychotic prescription. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that atypical antipsychotic medications, especially clozapine, are the primary psychiatric treatments of choice in the management of schizophrenia in China. Moreover, the economic status and clinical profile of the patient are the major factors affecting the prescription of antipsychotic medication.
Antidepressive Agents ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Benzodiazepines ; China ; Chlorpromazine ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Clozapine ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Perphenazine ; Prescriptions ; Risperidone ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Clozapine is one of the most commonly used antipsychotic drugs in China. To date, few studies have investigated the patterns the prescription of clozapine nationwide. The present study examined these patterns in China in 2006 and identified the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of clozapine. METHODS: Using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure, we surveyed 5,898 patients with schizophrenia in 10 provinces with differing levels of economic development. RESULTS: Overall, clozapine had been prescribed for 31.9% (n=1,883) of the patients; however we found considerable variation among the 10 provinces. The frequency of clozapine use was highest in Sichuan (39.3%) and lowest in Beijing (17.3%). The mean daily dose of clozapine was 210.36+/-128.72 mg/day, and 25.1% of the patients were treated with clozapine in combination with other antipsychotics. Compared with the group not receiving clozapine, clozapine-user had been treated for longer durations and had experienced a greater number of relapses and hospitalizations. Furthermore, those in the clozapine-user had lower family incomes, were less able to seek psychiatric services, and more likely to be male and have a positive family history of schizophrenia. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, professional help-seeking behaviors, duration of illness, economic status, educational level, and clinical manifestations were associated with the use of clozapine. CONCLUSION: Clozapine use is common in China. However, use of the antipsychotic varies among provinces, and demographic and clinical factors play important roles in the prescription of clozapine.
Antipsychotic Agents ; China ; Clozapine ; Data Collection ; Educational Status ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prescriptions ; Recurrence ; Sampling Studies ; Schizophrenia