This paper is to analyze the clinical features of infective endocarditis (IE) and summarize the experience of surgical treatment. The retrospective review was based on 65 consecutive patients, who fulfilled the Duck criteria of the diagnosis of endocarditis, admitted from Jan 1997 to Jun 2002. There were 44 males and 21 females, with age ranged from 9 to 68 years. Pre operative blood cultures were positive in 20 out of 55 patients(45%), with Streptococcus in 8 (45%). Staphylococcus in 9 (40%), and other bacteria in 3 (15%). Echo cardiography revealed vegetations in 62 cases, involving the mitral valve in 19 cases, aortic valve in 31 case, pulmonary valve in 5 cases, tricuspid valve in 5 cases, and valsalva sinus in 2 cases. Among 65 patients, aortic valve replacement was performed in 22, mitral valve replacement in 13, combined aortic and mitral valve replacements in 5, mitral valve plasty in 3, repair of atrial septal defect in 2, ventricular septal defects in 14, rupture of Valsalva sinus in 3, correction of tetralogy of Fallot in 1, patent ductus arteriosus in 2. Four patients died in hospital. 56 patients (91%) were followed up for 6 months to 69 months. Two patients with replacement of aortic valve died 1 and 3 years later due to congestive heart failure and sepsis. In the other 54 patient, no recurrent infection was found. One year, 3 year, and 5 year survival rates were 96 6%, 90 1%,90 1%, respectively. The results suggest that urgent early diagnosis and optimal surgical intervention play key role in successful treatment of infective endocarditis.

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transferred by Ad?ANG ex vivo on ischemic myocardium. Methods: ELISA method was used to assay the expression and secretion of angiogenin (ANG) after Ad?ANG transfection of BMSCs ex vivo. Then BMSCs with Ad?ANG were transplanted into ischemic myocardium of isogenic Lewis rats. 4 weeks later, the parameters of heart function, such as EF and EDLV, were examined by echocardiography. Survival and differentiation of transplanted BMSCs and angiogenesis were appraised by histology and transmission electron micrography. Results: ANG was found in both lysate and culture medium after transfection of BMSCs. A maximum expression of ANG was observed at 4-7 days after transfection and could still be assayed 15 days later. 4 weeks later after transplantation in the BMSCs with Ad?ANG group, heart function improved better than the single BMSCs group(P

China ; Health Facilities ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Occupational Health Services ; manpower

Background and purpose:Both nature killer cells(NK)and cytoxic T lymphocytes in the body tissues of human are the dominant components of cellular immunity,This study was done to explore the degree of infiltration of NK/T in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its relation to patient survival and prognosis.Methods: CCD8 as the markers cytoxic T lymphocyte(CTL)and CD56 as the markers natural killer(NK)were stained immunohistochemically to detect the distribution and infiltration in the lung squamous cell carcinoma specimens. Results:In 39 of 68 lung neoplasm,whose CTL infiltration was zero or mild,the five-year survival rate was 18%, while in 29 with marked CTL infiltration,the five-year survival rate was 42%.In 46 of 68 lung neoplasm,whose NK infiltration was zero or mild,the five-year survival rate was 14%,while in 22 with marked NK infiltration,the five-year survival rate was 45%.In 48 of 68 lung neoplasm,both the NK and T cells were zero or mild,the five-year survival rate was 33%,while in 20 with marked NK and T cell infiltration,the five-year survival rate was 54%.The five-year survival difference among the patients with NK,T infiltration either marked or zero/mild infiltration were significant(x~2=18.62, P=0.00).Conclusions:The degree of NK and T infiltration is positively correlated with the prognosis and survival time of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND:A large number of experiments have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels (BMSCs) have good effects on the treatment of lung disease or improvement of lung injury, and its therapeutic effect is mainly oriented to reduce the inflammatory response. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of BMSCs combined with reduced glutathione in murine models of bleomycin-induced lung injury. METHODS:BMSCs were isolated from a male NOD/SCID mouse and cel morphology and phenotype were observed. Sixty-four female NOD/SCID mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a BMSCs group and a BMSCs+reduced glutathione group (combined group). The control group received intratracheal injection of normal saline, the model group received intratracheal injection of bleomycin, and the BMSC group received BMSCs injectionvia the tail vein at 2 hours after intratracheal injection of bleomycin, and combined group received BMSCs+reduced glutathione injection via the tail vein at 2 hours after intratracheal injection of bleomycin. Al mice were kiled after 7 days, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-β, malondialdehyde in lung tissue were detected and lung tissue specimens were obtained for pathological examination. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:BMSCs were fibroblast-like cels, Positive for CD10, CD13 and CD44, but negative for CD34 and CD45. Compared with the control group, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-β and malondialdehyde were increased in the model group, while decreased significantly in the BMSCs group and combined group (P < 0.05), especialy in the combined group (P < 0.05). Pathological examination showed that more serious lung injury was observed in the model group and BMSCs group than the combined group. These findings indicate that BMSCs combined with reduced glutathione can more effectively protect against bleomycin-induced lung injury.

Fluorescence enhancement reaction of flavoxate hydrochloride (FX) in strong alkali solution was studied, the mechanism of the reaction was investigated, and a novel fluorimetric method for analysis of FX in drug sample was established. FX has no intrinsic fluorescence, but it can slowly produce fluorescence in strong alkali solution. Heating can promote the fluorescence enhancement reaction. In 3D fluorescence spectra of the decomposition product of FX, two fluorescence peaks, located respectively at excitation wavelengths λex/ emission wavelength λem =223/410 nm, and 302/410 nm, were observed. Using quinine sulfate as a reference, fluorescence quantum yield of the decomposition product was measured to be 0.50. The structural characteriza- tion and spectral analysis of the decomposition product reveal that ester bond hydrolysis reaction of FX is firstly occurred during heating process, forming 3-methylflavone-8-carboxylic acid (MFA), then a cleavage reaction of the γ-pyrone ring of MFA occurred, producing α, β-unsaturated ketone. This product includes adjacent hydroxyl benzoic acid group in its molecule, which can form intramolecular hydrogen bond under alkaline condition, so that increase the conjugate degree and enhance the rigidity of the molecule, and thereby cause fluorescence enhancement. Based on this fluorescence enhancement reaction, a fluorimetric method was proposed for the determination of FX. A linear calibration curve covered the concentration range 0.020 3-0.487 µg · mL. The regression equation was I(F) = 23.9 + 5357.3 c, with correlation coefficient r = 0.999 7 (n = 8), detection limit D = 1.1 ng · mL(-1). The method was applied to the analysis of FX tablets, with a spiked recovery rate of 100.2%. The reliability of the method was verified by a UV-spectrophotometric method.
Alkalies ; Calibration ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Flavoxate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Fluorescence ; Limit of Detection ; Reproducibility of Results ; Solutions ; Tablets

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of bioactive glass (BG) on the dentin bond strength and the microleakage of hybrid layer. METHODS: In the study, 30 dentin planes were prepared from the third molars with no caries and equally assigned to the control group, BG group, and sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP)-polyacrylic acid (PAA)-BG group (S-P-BG group), randomly. After etched with 35% phosphoric acid, the dentin planes of BG group were pretreated with 0.5 g/L BG, and the dentin planes of S-P-BG group were pretreated with 5% STMP, 5% PAA and 0.5 g/L BG. No additional pretreatment was done to the dentin planes of control group. Then the dentin planes were bonded using 3M Single Bond 2 adhesive to 3M Z350XT composite resin, and cut into 0.9 mm×0.9 mm column samples, which were stored at 37 ℃ artificial saliva (AS). After 24 hours, 1 month, and 3 months, the microtensile bond strength test was performed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and LSD method. The morphology of the bond fracture interface was observed with scanning electron microscope. Other 27 teeth were collected and the enamel layer and roots cut off, with the pulp chamber exposed. 0.1% rhodamine B was added to the 3M Single Bond 2 adhesive, and then the adhesive was applied to complete the bonding procedures as above. The teeth were stored in 37 ℃ AS for 24 hours, 1 month, 3 months, and then 0.1% sodium fluorescein solution was placed in the chambers and stained for 1 hour. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to observe the interface morphology and microleakage of the hybrid layer. RESULTS: At the end of 24 hours and 1 month, there was no significant difference in the microtensile bond strength among the three groups (P>0.05). After 3 months of soaking, the S-P-BG group [(36.91±7.07) MPa] had significantly higher microtensile bond strength than the control group [(32.73±8.06) MPa] (P=0.026); For the control group and the BG group, the microtensile bond strength significantly decreased at the end of 3 months compared with 24 hours (control group: P=0.017, BG group: P=0.01); The microtensile bond strength of S-P-BG group af the end of 3 months had no significant difference in compared with 24 hours [(37.99±7.98) MPa] (P>0.05). Observation of the fracture surface at the 24 hours showed no obvious mineralization in all the three groups. After 1 and 3 months, mineral formation was observed in BG group and S-P-BG group, and no obvious collagen exposure was observed in S-P-BG group. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed no obvious differences in the morphology and quantity of the resin tag in the control group, BG group and S-P-BG group. At the end of 24 hours, leakage was found in all the three groups. The microleakage of the control group increased at the end of 3 months, while the microleakage of the BG and S-P-BG groups decreased. CONCLUSION BG pretreatment of dentin bonding interface can induce mineralization at the bonding interface and reduce the microleakage of the hybrid layer; pretreating the dentin bonding interface with STMP, PAA and BG may enhance the maintaining of the dentin bonding durability.
Dentin ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Glass ; Resin Cements ; Tensile Strength

Objective To explore the effects of different vitamin A(VA) levels on thyroid cells apoptosis and its gene expression of mice taking excessive iodine. Methods Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body weight 3 weeks after born: normal control(NI) group, high iodine(HI) group, low vitamin (LVA) group, high iodine plus low vitamin A(HI+LVA) group, high iodine plus vitamin A1 (HI+VA1) group, high iodine plus vitamin A2(HI+VA2) group. The VA was given in food(4000,4000,0,0,8000,16 000 U/kg), and the iodine was given as potassium iodate in water (I-:50,3000,50,3000,3000,3000 μg/L). The apoptosis was tested using in situ end labehng(TUNEL) method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure the level of mRNA of apoptosis gene(Fas, FasL, Bcl-2) in tissues. Results Apoptotic index measured by TUNEL method was rising along with the mice age. Compared to NI group[(14.09±5.68)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased in HI[(20.91±9.57)%], HI+LVA[(20.29±9.90)%]and HI+VA2 [(19.51±8.25)%]groups in the three months(P < 0.05). Compared to NI group[(16.80±9.90)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased(P < 0.05) in HI[(23.22±8.58)%],LVA[(22.56±6.17)%],HI+LVA [(25.99±9.62)%],HI+VA1 [(21.65±7.74)%]groups in the six months. Compared with the NI group(Fas: 1.29±0.25,1.27±0.26; FasL: 1.60±0.13,1.65±0.13), the mRNA levels of Fas and FasL in HI group(Fas: 1.57±0.36,1.49±0.35; FasL: 1.85±0.46,1.84±0.32) were increased, but the differences were not remarkable(P > 0.05) in the three and six months. Compared with the HI group, the mRNA levels of Fas in HI+ VA1, HI+VA2(1.33±0.35, 1.30±0.26) groups were decreased to the level in NI group in the six months. The mRNA levels of Fas and FasL were not different (P > 0.05) between HI+LVA(I.60±0.27,1.88±0.46) and HI groups in the three months. The mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were not remarkably differences in the three months (1.05±0.19,0.96±0.33,0.95±0.26,1.18±0.27,1.10±0.19,0.98±0.36, all P > 0.05), and in the six months (1.35±0.28,1.60±0.25,1.48±0.18,1.71±0.26,1.66±0.29,1.56±0.35, all P > 0.05). Conclusions Excessive iodine can cause thyroid cells apoptosis in mice. Supplementation of suitable amount of VA can regulate the levels of the apoptosis-related genes expression, and partly antagonize the apoptosis caused by high iodine.

Objective To study the changes of soluble intercelluar adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in serum of neonates with hy-poxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE),and significance of changes of serum sICAM-1 in HIE pathogenesis. Methods There were 17 controls of neonates and their sICAM-1 concentrations in serum were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the critical stage and at the beginning of convalescent stage in 36 cases of HIE neonates and 17 normal neonates. The data were analyzed with analysis of variance, Newman-Keuls q test. Results The concentrations of sICAM-l[(216.64?85.32)?g/L] at the critical stage of 36 cases HIE neonates were significantly higher than those [(6. 16?4.05) ?g/L ] of control group (q = 17. 42 P