Objective: To evaluate the effect of mustard gas on reproductive system in rats. Methods: Forty male SD rats and 40 female rats were equally divided into mustard gas-treated group and control group. Animals in mustard gas-treated group were injected with 5 mg · kg body weight (LD50) of mustard gas, and those in control group received propylene glycol injection. Serum hormonal determinations (estriol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone) were completed by collecting ocular vein blood at 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days and 28 days after injection. The rats were then killed were anatomized. Microscope was used to observe pathological changes in germ cells (ovary or testes). Two female rats and 3 male rats died during 4th and 5th day after injection. Results: The changes of serum hormone and pathology nearly restored to the normal levels in the female rats after injection of mustard gas for a short period. Most of the spermatogenic cells were still necrotic and seminiferous tubules still had hollow cross 1 month after injection in male rats. The FSH levels in the sera of male rats were significangtly increased from (1.210 0±0. 354 6) mmol/L in control group to 0.475 0±0. 045 1) mmol/L 28 days after injection(P<0.01). Conclusion: Mustard gas causes slight injury of ovary in female rats and the damage can recover in a short period, but it can cause long-time and unreversable injury to testes in male rats.

OBJECTIVETo explore the differentially expressed genes and related signaling pathways in MC3T3-E1 osteo- blasts in response to suitable fluid shear stress values and action time with cDNA microarrays.

METHODSMC3T3-E1 cells cultured on a cover slip were subjected to fluid shear stress using a parallel plate flow chamber. The harvested RNA was used for microarray hybridization comprising approximately 44 170 genes, as well as for the subsequent real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of expression levels for selected genes. Microarray results were analyzed by using both GO and Pathway analysis.

RESULTSMicroarray analysis indicated that 884 differentially expressed genes were found. Among these genes, 444 were upregulated, whereas 440 were downregulated. The Notch signal and RIG- I -like receptor signaling pathways were involved in the Pathway analysis. GO analysis mainly involved different functional classifications, such as prostaglandin biosynthesis, nitric oxide-mediated signal transduction, calcium mediated signal, and cellular immune response, among others.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism underlying the protective effect of fluid shear stress on MC3T3-E1 cells might be related to promoting cell survival- and inhibiting cell apoptosis-related signaling pathways and biological processes.

Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Osteoblasts ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of voice training on the speech ability in patients with oral cancer af. ter free flap reconstruction. Methods Fifty-five patients with oral cancer after free flap reconstruction were assigned to the voice training group(28 cases)and control group(27 cases)from the third week after operation. Their speech function was eval-uated by Chinese Speech Definition Word Table before operation and 2 weeks,3 months and 6 months after the operation. Results The score of speech definition was significantly higher in the voice training group than that of the control group (P< 0.01). Conclusion Postoperative voice training can effectively improve the speech definition for the patients with oral cancer after free flap reconstruction.

Data mining technology has become a powerful tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In this paper, based on the principle and basic requirements of data mining, the mining methods and procedures were described. And then the application of data mining technology in Chinese medicine pair research was classified and summarized, such as the compatibility characters, characteristic pairs, dosage-effect relationship and property compatibility, which provide the direction and data base for modern research of Chinese medicine pair.
Cluster Analysis ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Prescriptions ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Objective To study the relationships of hemoglobin(Hb)level with the levels of neurohormones,and cytokines,and the effect of them on ventricular remodeling in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF). Methods Hb level,serum angiotensinⅡ(Ang Ⅱ ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),nitric oxide(NO),soluble intereellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)and B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP)were measured in 121 CHF patients.The left ventrieular ejection fraction (LVEF)from echocardiography,left ventricular mass index(LVMI),and mean wall stress(MWS)were calculated. Results The levels of Ang Ⅱ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP[(144.5±64.1)ng/L,(92.3±6.4)ng/L,(65.2±4.2)μmol/L,(253.6±26.0)μg/L,(1294.0±223.0)ng/L]and LVMI,MWS in the anemia group of CHF patients were higher than those in the non-anemia group[(76.7±48.5)ng/L,(55.6±10.2)ng/L,(42.1±11.9)μmol/L,(237.18±33.26)μg/L,(437.0±115.0)ng/L,all P＜0.01].With the increase of anemia severity,the levels of AngⅡ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP and LVMI,MWS were significantly increased.There were negative correlations between Hb level and the 1evels of AngⅡ,TNF-α,NO,siCAM-1,BNP,LVMI,MWS(r=-0.8173,-0.8509,-0.6001,-0.6692,-0.6283,-0.8604,-0.8733,all P＜0.01),and negative correlations between LVMI,MWS and Hb levels and LVEF(P＜0.01). Conclusions Neurohormones and cytokines play roles in ventrieular remodeling and anemia in CHF aggravates the severity of ventricular remodeling.

Objective To explore the changes in serum concentrations of irisin,vaspin and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MS),and to investigated the correlation of irisin and vaspin with clinical parameters of MS.Methods A total of 260 T2DM patients were enrolled.Age and gender were recorded,anthropometrics,biochemical parameters,and levels of irisin,vaspin and ROS in fasting serum were measured,and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculated.Wilcoxon rank sum test,correlation analysis,Logistic regression analysis,multiple linear regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed.Results Compared to T2DM patients without MS,T2DM patients with MS had lower serum level ofirisin [male:112.81 (86.96-191.84) μg/Lvs.156.23 (110.61-225.97) μg/L,female:141.09 (77.52-175.55) μg/L vs.172.15 (95.69-240.37) μg/L,P ＜0.01],higher levels of vaspin and ROS [male:1.13 (0.95-1.38) μg/Lvs.0.36 (0.21-0.82) μg/L,1 540 (1 250-1 860) kU/Lvs.1 020 (920-1 350) kU/L;female:1.52 (1.13-1.80) μg/Lvs.0.51 (0.47-1.08) μg/L,1 650 (1 320-1 940) kU/Lvs.1 120 (980-1 420) kU/L,P ＜0.01].In the T2DM patients,serum irisin level was negatively correlated with vaspin (r =-0.382,P ＜ 0.01) and ROS (r =-0.410,P ＜ 0.01),while vaspin was positively correlated with ROS (r =0.400,P ＜ 0.01).Multiple linear regression analyses showed that irisin was significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI),waist circumference and triglyceride,while vaspin was correlated with gender,BMI,and waist circumference (all P ＜ 0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed that irisin,vaspin and ROS were all associated with MS (OR =0.77,95 ％ CI 0.608-0.978;OR=1.39,95％ CI 1.252-1.539;OR=1.38,95％ CI1.112-1.718,all P＜0.05).ROC analysis demonstrated that irisin and vaspin had significant area under the curve (AUC =0.931,P ＜0.01;AUC =0.777,P ＜ 0.01) for the prediction of MS.Conclusions Serum irisin level was significantly decreased,while vaspin and ROS were significantly increased in T2DM patients with MS.Irisin and vaspin were associated with clinical presentations of MS,suggesting that irisin and vaspin might be valuable predictors of MS.

Objective To evaluate the value of application of the digital 3-D reconstruction pelvic on anatomical teaching. Methods The digital 3-D from 1 case non-pelvic-disease CT imaging were reconstructed, and name of structure were marked. A total of 90 students were randomly selected from two classes of clinical medical undergraduates of Grade 2011, and were randomly divided into experiment group (EG) and control group (CG), with 45 students in each group. Digital 3-D recon-struction pelvic and traditional teaching methods were applied in EG, while only traditional teaching methods were applied in CG, and the teaching effect was evaluated through questionnaires and the results of the examination. The questionnaires included how students grasped knowledge and whether or not they were interested in class and satisfied with the teaching methods etc., and the examination included identification specimen test(20 points) and theoretical knowledge examination on pelvic bone knowledge points(80 points). Comparison between two groups was performed using two sets of com-pletely randomized design t test. Results Clear three-dimensional reconstruction of the angular orien-tation of the various models of the pelvis was made. Experimental class' survey results were better than the control class’ and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). EG's scores of experimental test and theoretical knowledge examination were (18.69 ±1.32) points and (60.35 ± 5.12) points, respectively, while CG's scores were(17.23±1.52) points and (56.32±6.25) points. Difference be-tween the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclution The application of digital 3-D reconstruction pelvic on anatomical teaching can increase the performance record of students, and it can be applied to anatomical teaching as a new method.

OBJECTIVETo study the gene expression profiles of traumatic occlusion in early stage with the animal model of rats.

METHODSThe occlusal surface of the upper left first molar of rat was raised by placing a stainless steel wire to induce occlusal trauma in the lower left first molar. After 24 hours, the alveolar bone tissue of the first molars at the both sides of rats' lower jaws were taken out under anesthesia. The different expressive genes were shown by genome-wide microarray, which comprises about 27 000 genes and analyzed the different expressive genes with Pathway and GO analysis, finally the results of the microarray were examined by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn the results of the study, 586 different expressions were found, of which the expressions of 166 genes increased and 420 genes decreased. 106 different pathways were involved with Pathway analysis and 270 different functional classification related to GO analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe balance of the lower alveolar bone is destroyed after 24 hours of traumatic occlusion. At early phase of the occlusal trauma, osteogenesis and bone formation in alveolar bone are inhibited, yet osteoblast genesis and bone resorption are not significant.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Dental Occlusion ; Dental Occlusion, Traumatic ; Mandible ; Molar ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the manifestations of esophageal motility disorders and evaluate the association between them and dysphagia, laboratory tests and other accessory examinations in patients with Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS). Methods Esophageal manometry was performed in 31 patients with SS and 18 healthy volunteers by the step pull-through method. Results Decreased upper esophageal sphincter pressure was detected in 19 of the 31 patients (61%) with SS, while 4 of 18 (22%) in controls. The frequency was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P=0.008). Fifteen of 31 patients (48%) showed various patterns of esophageal dysfunction including ineffective esophageal motility in 6 patients, nutcracker esophagus in 3 patients and nonspecific dysmotility in 6 patients. No major differences were found in esophageal parameters (peak amplitude, wave duration and velocity) when comparing primary SS with secondary SS. These esophageal abnormalities were not correlated with clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and other auxiliary examinations. Conclusion Patients with SS may have esophageal motility disorders, which can presents with different patterns.

Objective To study the effect of siRNA of Rab25 on apoptosis induction in ovarian carci- noma cell.Methods According to Rab25 mRNA sequence in the Genebank,the plasmids expressing siRNA against Rab25 were constructed and stably transected into A2780 cells,MTY method were applied to measure cell growth and proliferation.Apoptosis rate and cell cycle phase distribution of A2780 cells were measured by flow cytometry(FCM).Apoptosis was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis(AGE)of DNA.Results Cells transected with the plasmids expressing siRNA targeting Rab25 gene effectively decreased cell growth, proliferation;blocked A2780 cells in the G_1 phase of cell cycle and induced cell apoptosis.A typical DNA ladder pattern appeared on AGE.Conclusion Rab25 gene siRNA can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell line,which will facilitate further studies of Rab25 function and its application in the treatment of ovarian cancer.