Objective To identify the effect of specialized language training on the speech rehabilitation of total laryngectomy (TL)patients.Methods Twenty-seven TL patients were trained for esophageal speech by specialized speech-language pathologists from October 2005 to December 2006.Then the participants were followed and evaluated their esophageal speech level after one cycle of training program,1 month,3 months,6 months and 12 months after training program.Results The score of participants' esophageal speech was steadily improved during the 12 months after participating the training program.The score of esophageal speech greatly increased in the third month,and this significant improvement was kept until 12 months after the training program.The esophageal speech quality was negatively correlated with age and surgery area of patients.Conclusions Specialized speech-language training showed positive effect on esophageal speech rehabilitation,and esophageal speech training by specialists is worthy of wide application.

OBJECTIVESTo further assess the clinical antifibrotic efficacy of Cpd 861 on chronic hepatitis B related fibrosis and early cirrhosis using a randomized, double blind, and placebo controlled clinical trial.

METHODSTotal 136 patients with HBV-related fibrosis and early cirrhosis were allocated randomly into Cpd 861 treatment group and placebo group for 24 weeks treatment. Serum fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid (HA), IV collagen (IV-C), amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), and laminin (LN) and serum MMP1, 2, 9, TIMP1, 2 level were determined before and after 24 weeks treatment. Liver biopsies before and after 24 weeks of treatment were assessed according to modified Scheuer and Chevallier's scoring system.

RESULTSTotal 52 patients in Cpd 861 treatment group and 50 patients in placebo-controlled group completed the 6 months. ALT level decreased from 68.2 U/L+/-68.6 U/L to 45.9 U/L+/-26.1 U/L, AST level decreased from 60.4 U/L+/-62.6 U/L to 46.7 U/L+/-39.0 U/L (P < 0.05) after 24 weeks treatment, whereas there was no significant change in placebo group (ALT: 65.3 U/L+/-48.3 U/L to 85.4 U/L+/-115.5 U/L; AST: 60.4 U/L+/-44.6 U/L to 77.6 U/L+/-89.6 U/L, P > 0.05). Serum fibrosis markers, including HA, IV-C, PIIIP, and LN were decreased after treatment, but there is no statistically significant compared with placebo group. Compared with placebo group, serum TIMP1 and MMP9 level decreased significantly (TIMP1 172.0 ng/ml+/-79.6 ng/ml vs 133.5 ng/ml+/-66.8 ng/ml; MMP9 116.1 ng/ml+/-88.2 ng/ml vs 80.4 ng/ml+/-79.0 ng/ml), and the ratio of TIMP1/MMP1 (48.3+/-96.3 vs 19.9+/-28.0) were also decreased after 861 treatment. In patients treated with Cpd 861, hepatic inflammatory score (from 14.0+/-6.0 to 10.2+/-6.1), fibrosis score (from 11.9+/-6.5 to 8.2+/-4.5), and relative content of collagen (from 18.9%+/-9.5% to 14.9%+/-8.4%) decreased significantly. In contrast, there was no significant change in placebo group. The reversal (fibrosis score decrease > or = 2) rate of fibrosis in Cpd 861 group was 38.9% in S2, 53.3% in S3 (precirrhotic) and 78.6% in S4 (cirrhosis), significantly higher than those in placebo group (14.3%, 25.0%, and 41.7%, respectively). The overall reversal rate was 52.0% in Cpd 861 group, and 20.0% in placebo group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse effects were observed during Cpd 861 treatment.

CONCLUSIONLiver fibrosis and early cirrhosis due to HBV infection in man could be definitely reversed by herbal remedy Cpd 861.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of serum metalloproteinase with the severity of liver fibrosis and inflammation.

METHODSA total of 88 patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis and early cirrhosis were enrolled from six hospitals. Serum fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid (HA), IV collagen (IV-C), aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), laminin (LN), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, 9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1, 2 levels were determined. Liver biopsies were assessed according to a modified Scheuer and Chevallier's scoring system.

RESULTSSerum TIMP1 (r=0.540) and MMP2 (r=0.314) were correlated positively with the degree of hepatic fibrosis, whereas serum MMP1 (r=-0.495) was correlated negatively. By receiver operating curve analysis (ROC), the sensitivity to distinguish the fibrosis stage 2 from stage 1 was 90.5% and the specificity was 52.0% if the cut-off value of MMP1 was 13.96 ng/ml, and the sensitivity was 91.6% and the specificity was 64.0% if the cut-off value of TIMP1 was 76.84 ng/ml. The sensitivity to distinguish cirrhosis (stage 4) from fibrosis (stage 3) was 70.7% and specificity was 80.9% if the cut-off value of MMP1 was 6.86 ng/ml, and the sensitivity was 60.5% and the specificity was 92.3% if the cut-off value of TIMP1 was 210.04 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSerum TIMP1, MMP1, MMP2 levels and TIMP1/MMP1 ratio could be used as serum fibrosis markers.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; virology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; blood ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

Red in vivo recombination is a new kind of genetic engineering technique based on homologous recombination. In this work, plasmid pKD46 which expresses Red recombination proteins is transferred into Escherichia coli strain DH5?.The kanamycine resistant gene is generated by PCR by using primers with homology to hisDCB gene of E.coli chromosome. Thus, the hisDCB gene was replaced with kanamycine resistant gene by the plasmid recombination system, then the resistant gene was eliminated by a helper plasmid encoding the FLP recombinase. At last, a E.coli histidine auxotroph which is sensitive to kanamycine was got. The results indicate that Red in vivo recombination is a convenient method to construct auxotrophs.

Objective To observe the effects of Langchuangqing granule on the secretion of IL-6 ,IFN-γin rats spleen lymphocytes and apopto-sis gene p53 , C -myc. Methods Rats were administered with Langchuangqing granule 22.8 g? kg -1 by gavage for 3 days.At the same time, spleen cells were separated in ICR mouse.The large dose group with 90%volume fraction, middle dose group with 50%volume fraction, small dose group with 20% volume fraction, positive drug group with spleen cell suspension plus dexamethasone, control group with of spleen cell suspension plus blank serum were included this study. Spleen lymphocytes in rats were cultured for 24 h in vitro.Levels of IL-6 and IFN-γwere measured by radioimmunoassay in rats spleen lymphocytes supernatant.The expression of apoptosis gene p53 and C -myc were detected by immunohistochemical method.Results Levels of IL-6 and IFN-γwere significantly decreased in serum containing Langchuangqing granule in large, middle dose group and dexamethasone compared with control group. The expression of apoptosis gene p53 was significantly decreased in all groups.The expression of apoptosis gene C-myc were sig-nificantly decreased in the large dose group (P<0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of Langchuangqing granule can inhibite levels of IL-6, IFN-γand the expression of apoptosis gene p53 and C-myc.

OBJECTIVETo study serum gastrin levels in response to early minimal feeding in premature infants and evaluate the clinical effect of early minimal feeding.

METHODSPremature infants with critical score < or = 90 were randomly assigned into two groups: early minimal feeding group (n = 48), non-early minimal feeding group (n = 47). Other premature infants (n = 30) without any complications (critical score > 90) were assigned as normal control group. The premature infants in normal control group were fed with water at 6 h after birth, 1 - 2 ml/kg every time, after once or twice, they were fed with formula, increasing in the amount of formula gradually, until adequate. The premature infants in early minimal feeding group were fed with formula within 72 h after birth, 0.5 - 1 ml/kg, once every 3 h, the amount of formula was increased gradually, until adequate. The premature infants without early minimal feeding were not fed with formula until the illness was stable, the amount of formula was increased gradually until adequate. Situation of gastrointestinal feeding tolerance, growth and development, and clinical symptoms were observed and recorded for the three groups. Serum gastrin levels were monitored at 1, 3, 7 day after birth by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSSerum gastrin concentrations in the three groups elevated from 1 to 7 days. In early minimal feeding group [(82.4 +/- 24.5) ng/L] and non-early minimal feeding group [(87.0 +/- 40.2) ng/L], the concentrations were significantly higher than those in normal control group [(66.4 +/- 19.7) ng/L] at day 1 (F = 3.36, P < 0.05). At day 3 and 7, the concentrations in early minimal feeding group [(96.3 +/- 14.6) ng/L, (113.0 +/- 16.5) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in non-early minimal feeding group [(73.9 +/- 13.5) ng/L, (92.4 +/- 12.2) ng/L] (P < 0.05). There were significant differences among the three groups in infants with feeding intolerance (2/30, 5/48, 14/47), the period reached full enteral feeding [(20.6 +/- 5.7) d, (27.8 +/- 6.1) d, (39.5 +/- 4.7) d], and in number of hospital day [(29.0 +/- 4.6) d, (39.0 +/- 4.8) d, (48.0 +/- 5.6) d] (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between early minimal feeding group and non-early minimal feeding group in the weight gain three and four weeks after birth [(19.1 +/- 2.4) g/d, (11.9 +/- 3.3) g/d], the period reached birthweight [(19.8 +/- 4.2) d, (25.2 +/- 5.1) d] (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three groups in the weight gain in one and two weeks after birth [(5.9 +/- 2.9) g/d vs. (5.0 +/- 2.1) g/d], the numbers of premature infants with infection, anemia, apnea, or hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONEarly minimal feeding in premature infants leads to secretion of gastrin, promotes the development of gastrointestine and may not be associated with occurrence of complications.

Birth Weight ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Gastrins ; blood ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; growth & development ; Humans ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; blood ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Male

OBJECTIVETo construct an eukaryotic expression vector of open reading frame of unknown KH gene (KH-ORF), and investigate its effect on cell proliferation.

METHODSThe pCI-neo-KH-ORF expression vector was constructed by DNA recombinant technique and was introduced into COS-7 cells and K562 cells by lipofectactin-mediated DNA transfection. Expression of KH-ORF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The effect of KH-ORF on cell cycle of COS-7 cells and K562 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Effect on cell proliferation of COS-7 cells was tested by MTT assay and that on K562 cells was analyzed by growth curves and LDH activity measurement.

RESULTS(1) KH-ORF mRNA was expressed both in COS-7 cells and K562 cells. (2) The cell cycle and cell proliferation of COS-7 cells were unaffected significantly. (3) The proportion of cells in S phase was increased in pCI-neo-KH-ORF-transfected K562 cells; and growth curves and LDH activity indicated enhanced cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONKH gene may be a leukemia gene related to proliferation of K562 cells.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Neoplasm ; genetics ; physiology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; physiology ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; S Phase ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qianlie Huichun capsule on the microstructure and ultranstructure of prostate glandular tissue in the model rat.

METHODHynertophy of prostate model rat was established by injecting testosterone to gelding male rats. After having been fed with Qianlie Huichun capsule for 30 days, the rats were killed and prostate tissues were resected for pathomorphological studies with microscope and electromicroscope, and the diameter of glandular lumer and the height of glandular epithelial cells were measured under the microspcope for different groups of rats.

RESULTIn the model groups, the glandular epithelial cells mutiplycated notably, showing stratified and pseudostratified cells that made the glandular lumer cramped. Under the electromicroscope, the glandular epithelial cells became high columnor and the rough endoreticulum extremely expanded. But in treatment groups, the change of the diameter of the glandular lumer and the height of the glandular epithelial cells were less remarkable than those in model groups. So the differerence between the model group and the treatment groups was remarkable (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQianlie Huichun capsule can depress the glandular epithelialceu multiplication of prostate gland in model rats.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostate ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aim To investigate the molecular mecha-nism of mTORC1/2 inhibitor PP242, which inhibiting cholangiocyte cell preliferation and cystic diliatation via inducing apoptosis and autophagy in the polycystic kid-ney ( PCK ) rats. Methods The expression of p-mTOR and p-Akt in the bile duct epithelial cells was examined by immunohistochemistry. The inhibiting effect of rapamycin and PP242 on cell proliferation ac-tivity on bile duct epithelial cells, the effect of gene si-lence on LC3, Beclin-1 and the effect of the authoph-agy-specific inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on cell proliferation were respectively analyzed by WST-1 as-say. The expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway re-lated proteins, autophagy-related proteins LC3, Bec-lin-1 and clevead caspase-3, which were treated by PP242 were determined by Western blot. The effect of PP242 on apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining and ELISA. The expression of LC3 in cytoplasm was detected by immunofluorescence. The a-bility of rat bile duct epithelial cells spheroid formation was detected by 3D cell culture method, and the cells were treated by single applied with rapamycin and ap- plied rapamycin combined with Rictor gene silencing respectively. Results The protein levels of p-Akt and p-mTOR markedly increased in the bile duct epitheli-um of PCK rats. PP242 inhibited the proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells more effectively than rapamy-cin and showed a dose-and time-dependent manner ( P<0.05 ) . PP242 significantly reduced the levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins in PCK rat cholangiocytes. PP242 induced apoptosis and auto-phagy, up-regulated the levels of cleaved caspase-3, Beclin-1 and increased the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I. The combination of Rictor gene silencing and rapamycin was more effective than rapamycin alone in inhibiting cholangiocytes in PCK rats. The inhibitory effect of PP242 on the cell viability was significantly weakened by treatment with 3-MA and knockdown of LC3 and Beclin-1 ( P <0.05 ) . Conclusions PP242 inhibits the proliferation of PCK rat cholangiocytes through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and the mecha-nism is closely related with autophagy and apoptosis.

Objective:To establish a method for determination of the butanone in urine by gas chromatography (GC) with pre-column derivation.Methods:For detecting of butanone in urine, potassium iodide and potassium dichromate were added into urine under acidic condition, sample derivatization was undertaken in 50 ℃ water bath for 60 min and the iodine butanone was extracted with n-hexane. After the sodium thiosulfate solution was used to remove excess iodine, urine samples were centrifuged at 10000 r/min for 5 min, then the supernatant was analyzed using temperature rising programming with the Agilent Hp-5 column (30 m×0.32 mm, 0.25 μm) and electron capture detector (ECD) as the detector. The detector temperature was 300 ℃, the inlet temperature was 200 ℃, and the carrier gas was nitrogen.Results:For detecting of butanone in urine, potassium iodide and potassium dichromate were added for derivatization under the acidic condition. After extraction and centrifugation, the supernatant directly put through column and detected by ECD. In present study, the sample pretreatment condition was optimized, the relative standard deviations of intra-day and inner-day, the spiked samples and its recovery were evaluated for analyzing the accuracy of the proposed method.Conclusion:This method has proved to be simple, efficient and highly sensitivity, it can be utilized for butanone detection in occupational population.