Objective To histomorphometricly assess changes occurred in the alveolar ridge following different methods of socket preservation and to compare them against natural healing without interventions. Methods The second、 third and fourth mandibular premolars were extracted from six beagles. Six extraction sites in each dog were randomly assigned to three treatments as follows:natural healing (T1), Bio-Oss Collagen (T2) and immediate implant with Bio-Oss (T3). Six month after surgery, the dogs were euthanized and tissue samples were sectioned, fixed and mounted, then were stained with toluidine blue. The histologic studies and morphological measurements were performed by using an optical microscope and a digital image software. Results Reabsorption in the buccal aspect of the alveolar crest of ridge was showed in all groups. With respect to the mean vertical bone loss of the buccal bone plate, T3 is lower than T1 and T2(P<0.001 ), while no significant differences were observed between T1 and T2. With regard to horizontal dimension of the alveolar process , a statistical significance could be found at 3mm and 4mm below the crest of ridge in group T1 and T3(P=0.017, P=0.042), while no statistical differences were found between other groups. Conclusions Both techniques of alveolar ridge preservation were not able to completely preserve the original bone volume after tooth extraction. Immediate implant placement in combination with Bio-Oss seems to have the potential to limit the reabsorption of the alveolar process efficiently , but the bone preserving effect of Bio-Oss Collagen is undesirable.

Cerebrograph imaging system is a medical imaging device which is used to diagnose cere- brovascular disease and investigate the function of cerebrum.This system can analyse quantitatively regional Cerebral Blood Flow(rCBF)and map it.Besides that,it can also record and analyse quantitatively electroen- cephalography(EEG)andmap topographical EEG.The measurement of cerebellum-brain stem-cerebral cor- tex is realized and a map is also given.This system first conjugates the technique of nuclear medicine imag- ing with that of electrophysiology.It provides doctors with synthetic information about CBF and the function of cerebrum in the manner of colour rCBF map,topographical EEG and quantitative data.These informa- tion are very important to the diagnosis and the research of cerebropathy,and especially have significant val- ue to earlier diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease.

Objective: To explore the determinants for health-seeking behavior of the residents after cough for more than 3 weeks in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in order to provide reference for prevention and control of respiratory diseases. Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit the community residents aged 5 years and above in Yiwu. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, features of cough and health-seeking behaviors in the past month. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Results: Among 6 374 residents investigated, 152 cases had a cough for more than 3 weeks in the past month, accounting for 2.48%. They were( 45.00±21.15 ) years old, including 70 ( 46.05% ) males and 82 ( 53.95% ) females. About 58.55% ( 89 ) of them sought medical treatment. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=2.100, 95%CI: 1.005-4.391 ), middle school education level ( OR=0.406, 95%CI: 0.168-0.983 ), family annual income of 100 000 to 199 999 yuan ( OR=2.993, 95%CI: 1.215-7.373 ) were associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Conclusion The rate of health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks among the residents in Yiwu is 58.55%, which is associated with gender, education level and income.

Neurovascular unit (NVU) concept proposed for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) provides a new target, i.e., we should target as an integrity including neurons, glia, and microcirculation, thus supplementing limitations of previous treatment targeting neurons or blood vessels alone. Meanwhile, many clinical trials have failed after NVU protection against AIS drug research has developed at home and abroad. Chinese medicine has multi-component, multi-target, and overall regulation advantages, and is in line with clinical requirement for overall treatment targeting multiple targets of NVU. Currently clinical studies of Chinese medicine treatment of AIS targeting NVU are few. Standardized and systematic clinical efficacy evaluation is lack. Clinical studies for improving AIS-NVU injured blood markers by Chinese medicine are rarer. We hope to pave the way for performing clinical studies on Chinese medicine treatment of AIS targeting NVU.
Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neurons ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Stroke ; drug therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are a kind of non-hematopoietic adult stem cells with self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potential, which have special biological characteristics, such as secreting various cytokines, promoting hematopoiesis, accelerating stem cells homing and reconstructing hematopoietic microenvironment. MSC are collected and amplified easily, and can be transfected by exogenous gene. Many reports indicated that MSC were applied in therapy for variety of tissues and organs injury, meanwhile the treatment for acute radiation sickness has made significant progress. In this review, the biological characteristics and new research advance on MSC in treatment of severe acute radiation sickness are summarized and discussed.
Acute Radiation Syndrome ; surgery ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of renal vein renin , plasma endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in predicting the therapeutic effect of percutaneous renal artery stenting.

METHODSSelective renal angiography was performed in 60 patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension. All the patients with obvious unilateral renal artery stenosis (lumen narrowing >or =50%) underwent percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and stenting. Bilateral renal vein and inferior vena cava plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma ET, NO, and CGRP levels were measured and the two-year follow-up data of the patients analyzed.

RESULTSIn all the patients, PRA in the ischemic kidney was significantly higher than that in the contralateral kidney (3.89-/+3.14 vs 2.01-/+1.93 nmol/L/h, P>0.05). After renal artery revascularization with stenting, PRA in the ischemic kidney was reduced obviously (P<0.05), which was significantly lower in patients with renal vein renin ratio (RVRR)>1.5 than in those with RVRR <1.5 (1.92-/+2.15 vs 2.42-/+0.56 nmol/L/h, P<0.05]. Plasma ET level was significantly higher, whereas plasma NO level significantly lower in patients with PVRR>1.5 (P<0.05). Greater improvement of blood pressure was observed in patients with RVRR>1.5 after two years than in those with RVRR< 1.5 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe activity of penal vein renin, plasma ET, NO, and CGRP may provide valuable information for predicting the therapeutic effect of percutaneous renal artery stenting.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Radiography ; Renal Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; blood ; therapy ; Renal Veins ; Renin ; blood ; Stents

Objective To measure nurses' work time distribution in direct nursing, indirect nursing, non-nursing activity and personal activity and effective work hour and walk miles. Methods Observers recorded nurses' work time cost on each activity and walk miles by one-to-one following-up at Department of Gastroenterology and General Surgery in a Grade-A hospital. Results Direct nursing time made up 35. 75 % , indirect time 53. 19 % , non-nursing activity 0. 49 % ; personal activity 10. 56 %. The effective working time among day work nurses was 6.80 and 6.28 in the two Department respectively, while 6. 10 and 5.36 among shift nurses. An average walk miles were about 4. 36 km/d/nurse, 4. 64 km among day work nurses and 3. 67 km among night work nurses. Conclusions Indirect nursing cost too much time while some very important direct nursing items cost too little time. Nurses' actual effective work-hour is higher than the standard one. Nurses' walk miles are positively correlated with workload. Hospital should dynamically deploy nursing human resource according to all kinds of criterion and nosocomial practice. In the meantime, long effective mechanism should be established to ensure that patients can obtain suitable nursing without waste of manpower.

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.

Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities