Line scanning quantitative analysis method on silicate with small laser beam ( < 15 μm) was developed using laser ablation sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-SF-ICP-MS). Differences on signal intensity and elemental fractionation induced by different laser sampling patterns were compared. While spot ablation with small laser beam, the elemental signal intensity decreased with time significantly, and the elemental fractionation was obvious. In contrast, the elemental signal intensity by line scanning was higher and more stable and line scanning was free of elemental fractionation. Therefore, identical ablation pattern and condition should be used for the standard and the unknown sample in LA-ICP-MS quantitative analysis. A single pulse experiment was carried out to investigate the washout time when coupled to two-volume ablation cell. The result indicated that the elemental intensity decayed to the background value needed 2-3 s. The optimal parameters on SF-ICP-MS were set to reduce the effect of signal overlapping. Homogeneous sample KL2-G and titanite grains with composition zoning were analyzed by this method. Accurate element contents and element ratios indicated that fast washout time and optimal instrument parameters made it feasible to perform line scanning quantitative analysis accurately. Comparing to traditional microanalysis, line scanning quantitative analysis could reduce the laser beam size (<15 μm) and improve the spatial resolution efficiently. The potential of the technique to unveil compositional complexities in greater detail would help to improve our understanding of geochemical processes in mineral scale.

OBJECTIVETo isolate Nanobacteria from dental pulp stone and perform culturing and the identification of Nanobacteria.

METHODSFreshly collected 27 dental pulp stones were divided into nine samples. Each sample contained three dental pulp stones. All samples were used for the isolation and culture of Nanobacteria. The shape and the growth characteristics of the cultured bacteria were observed. Nanobacteria were identified by von Kossa staining, immunohistochemical staining and indirect immunofluorescence staining, double staining including Hoechst staining and von Kossa staining.

RESULTSThe characteristics growth and morphology of the bacteria detected in seven samples were similar to Nanobacteria. von Kossa staining, immunohistochemical staining, indirect immunofluorescent staining were positive for Nanobacteria. In double staining method, Hoechst staining of the samples was negative for Nanobacteria, but von Kossa staining was positive. Hoechst staining of the dental pulp cells was positive. No Nanobacteria was found in the other two samples.

CONCLUSIONSThe bacteria isolated from dental pulp stone in this study was similar to Nanobacteria in terms of growth rate, morphology and staining properties. These unusual properties of the bacteria may play an important role in the formation of pulp stone.

Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Dental Pulp Calcification ; microbiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques

A prokaryotic expression plasmid containing VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) and sTNFRII(soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II ) genes was constructed. The sTNFRII was cloned by PCR by using special primers which contained VIP gene ORF and a linker in its forward primer. The amplified fragment was inserted into the expression vector pET32a between BamHI and Hind III restriction sites. Transformed E.coli DH5 by pET32a-VIP- sTNFRIIexpressed the fusion protein. After being identified, the protein was purified by ion exchange chromatography and by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The reconstructed protein showed high bio-activity and could be applied for further use.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the current supply and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among rural-to-urban migrant workers in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Zhongshan and Shenzhen, China and the influential factors for the use of PPE, and to provide a basis for better occupational health services and ensuring the health of migrant workers.

METHODSMulti-stage sampling was used to select 856 migrant workers from 27 SMEs in Zhongshan and Shenzhen, and face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted in these subjects. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, and logistic regression.

RESULTSOf all migrant workers, 38.67%were supplied with free PPE by the factory, and this rate varied across industries (furniture industry: 45.81%; electronic industry: 31.46%) and SMEs (medium enterprises: 42.13%; small enterprises: 39.20%; micro enterprises: 22.16%); 22.43% insisted on the use of PPE. The logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with the use of PPE included sex, age, awareness of occupational health knowledge, and the size of enterprise.

CONCLUSIONThe rates of supply and use of PPE among migrant workers are low. The larger the enterprise, the better the supply of PPE. Male gender, being elder, and high occupational health knowledge score were favorable factors for the use of PPE, while small enterprise size was the unfavorable factor for the use of PPE.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Health Services ; statistics & numerical data ; Protective Devices ; statistics & numerical data ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Transients and Migrants ; statistics & numerical data

BACKGROUNDThere are no reports on exnografting cultured human fetal neocortical cells in this infracted cavities of adult rat brains. This study was undertaken to observe whether cultured human cortical neurons and astrocytes can survive and grow in the infarcted cavities of adult rat brains and whether they interconnect with host brains.

METHODSThe right middle cerebral artery was ligated distal to the striatal branches in 16 adult stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats. One week later, cultured cells from human embryonic cerebral cortexes were stereotaxically transferred to the infarcted cavity of 11 rats. The other 5 rats receiving sham transplants served as controls. For immunosuppression, all transplanted rats received intraperitoneal injection of cyclosporine A daily starting on the day of grafting. Immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), synaptophysin, neurofilament, and microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) was performed on brain sections perfused in situ 8 weeks after transplantation.

RESULTSGrafts in the infarcted cavities of 6 of 10 surviving rats consisted of bands of neurons with an immature appearance, bundles of fibers, and GFAP-immunopositive astrocytes, which were unevenly distributed. The grafts were rich in synaptophysin, neurofilament, and MAP2-positive neurons with long processes. The graft/host border was diffuse with dendrites apparently bridging over to the host brain, into which neurofilament immunopositive fibers protruded.

CONCLUSIONCultured human fetal brain cells can survive and grow in the infarcted cavities of immunodepressed rats and integrate with the host brain.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; transplantation ; Brain ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Fetal Tissue Transplantation ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Neocortex ; cytology ; Neurons ; transplantation ; Rats ; Synaptophysin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSWe analyzed the clinical data of 56 cases of obstructive azoospermia, 43 of them with ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), and the other 13 suspected of epididymal obstruction. The diagnostic methods included semen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and vasography when necessary. The 43 patients with EDO were treated by transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct (TURED), and 11 of the 13 cases of suspected epididymal obstruction were confirmed by scrotal exploration and underwent either bilateral or unilateral vasoepididymostomy. The patients were followed up for 3 -51 months for postoperative semen quality and impregnation.

RESULTSOf the 43 azoospermia patients with EDO treated by TURED, 36 (83.7%) showed improved semen parameters and 11 (25.6%) achieved pregnancies. Among the 11 cases of azoospermia with confirmed epididymal obstruction treated by vasoepididymostomy, 6 (54.5%) had sperm in the semen assay and 3 (27.3%) achieved pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONSemen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, TRUS and vasography are important diagnostic methods for obstructive azoospermia. TURED is effective for azoospermia with EDO, while vasoepididymostomy is preferable for the treatment of azoospermia with epididymal obstruction.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Vas Deferens ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study changes in the levels of systematic and airway local oxidative stress in patients in different stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and explore the association between oxidative stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level in the peripheral blood leukocytes.

METHODSThe levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in induced sputum and plasma, as well as GR levels in peripheral blood leukocytes and plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), were examined in 33 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD, group A), 27 with stable COPD (group B), and 28 healthy volunteers (including 15 smokers as group C, and 15 nonsmokers as group D).

RESULTSMDA level in induced sputum and plasma decreased, whereas the levels of GSH, SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly in the order of groups A, B, C, and D (P<0.05). The activity of SOD in induced sputum and plasma were significantly lower in group C than in group D. No significant difference was noted in the other oxidative stress indices between groups C and D (P>0.05). The plasma levels of cortisol and ACTH showed no significant difference between the 4 groups, while the GR level in peripheral blood leukocytes increased significantly in the order of groups A, B, C and D (1565-/+719, 2069-/+488, 2739-/+926, and 4793 -/+1415 U, respectively, P<0.05). After controlling for the factor of smoking status, the plasma and sputum SOD activity were both positively correlated to GR, with the partial correlation coefficient of 0.512 and 0.564, respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients in different stages of COPD, especially those with AECOPD, may sustain systematic and local oxidation and anti-oxidation imbalance. Decreased SOD activity may contribute to GR level decrement in peripheral blood leukocytes in these patients.

Aged ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the relationship between the genotype and the hematologic characteristics in the fetuses with different types of thalassemia.

METHODSFetal blood samples were taken by cordocentesis, and hemograms from 572 fetuses at the gestational age of 18 to 38 weeks were examined. According to the genotypes of thalassemia, there were 117 fetuses with heterozygous alpha-thalassemia-1, and 60 with homozygous alpha-thalassemia-1. Twenty had beta-thalassemia mild, and 9 had beta-thalassemia major, respectively. The hematological parameters in these groups were compared with reference group in which 366 cases were included.

RESULTSIn alpha-thalassemia groups, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly decreased (P < 0.001), but in heterozygous alpha-thalassemia-1, red blood cell (RBC) increased. In homozygous alpha-thalassemia-1, RBC decreased significantly (P < 0.001), but white blood cell and nucleated erythrocyte increased (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between beta-thalassemia and reference group in most hematological parameters except for decrease of MCHC.

CONCLUSIONSIn the fetal period, the hemogram of the fetuses with alpha-thalassemia changes significantly, while it does not change in beta-thalassemia. For the couple with heterozygous alpha-thalassemia, hemogram can provide some information for prenatal screening and diagnosis for those fetuses with alpha-thalassemia, especially for homozygous, but genotype detection is necessary for confirming the diagnosis.

Blood Cell Count ; Cordocentesis ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocyte Volume ; Erythrocytes, Abnormal ; Female ; Fetus ; physiopathology ; Genotype ; Gestational Age ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Thalassemia ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; alpha-Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) three dimensional (3D) reconstruction for maxillofacial diseases.

METHODSSixty patients with maxillofacial diseases underwent the scanning of MSCT with 3D reconstruction. Among them, 34 patients with maxillofacial fracture, 10 patients with maxillofacial tumors and tumor-like diseases, and 16 patients with congenital deformities. The MSCT scanned with slice thickness of 2 mm. The methods of 3D reconstruction included multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), shaded surface display (SSD), and volume rendering (VR). The results were compared with what was observed during operations.

RESULTSTotally 36 cases of maxillofacial fracture were shown by 2D or 3D imaging and were validated by the observations during operation. The MSCT with 3D reconstruction imaging was significantly superior to 2D axial imaging in maxillofacial fracture. Three dimensional imaging could clearly show the spacial anatomy of facial, fragment displacement, and tracing fracture lines. However, 2D imaging had better effectiveness than 3D imaging in observing deep structure and fine fracture. In maxillofacial tumors and tumor-like diseases, 3D imaging was significantly superior to 2D axial imaging in showing the tumor shape and spacial relationships between tumors and surrounding structures. Two dimensional imaging and MPR imaging were excellent to reveal internal structure and pathological changes of tumors. 2D imaging and MPR imaging also achieved better results in showing tumors extended to soft tissues. In maxillofacial congenital deformities, 3D imaging were superior than 2D imaging.

CONCLUSION3D imaging has an important value in the diagnosis and clinical assessment of maxillofacial fracture, tumor-like diseases, and congenital deformities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Male ; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Maxillofacial Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore potential epigenetic biomarkers for toxic effects, tumor-related chemical prevention and biological monitor by a genome-wide screening for differential DNA methylation during human cell malignant transformation in vitro.

METHODSThe two in vitro cell transformation models included B(a)P-induced human bronchial epithelial cell introduced by H-Ras (HBER) cell transformation and simian vacuolating virus 40 small T antigen induced (SV40 ST-induced) HBER cell transformation. Methylated genes were collected by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and whole genome amplification (MeDIP-WGA) at three time points during cell transformation which represented different transformation stage. Then, CpG island microarray was used to screen differentially methylated genes. The mRNA levels of hypermethylated genes were also observed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe CpG island microarray showed that the number of hypermethylated genes in HBER, HBERNT, HBERT cells were 733, 661 and 738 respectively.83 genes were hypermethylated in pre-transformed cell and transformed cell. Moreover, 25 of 83 genes were also hypermethylated in SV40 ST-transformed cell (HBERST). We further confirmed that the mRNA expression of six of these 25 genes, namely family with sequence similarity 178, member A (FAM178A), retinoic acid receptor responder (tazarotene induced) (RARRES1), ubiquitin specific peptidase 28 (USP28), Scm-like with four mbt domains 2 (SFMBT2), family with sequence similarity 59, member A (FAM59A) and nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 3 (NR4A3) were suppressed during B(a)P-induced transformation.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal hypermethylation of specific genes was a common event in the two kinds of human cell transformation models, which shed light on the study for chemical exposure monitor and tumor-related epigenetic biomarkers.

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; analysis ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome ; Humans