Objective To investigate the clinical application value of the modified radiography by digital ra- diography of the tempro-mandibular joint in the tempro-mandibular joint radiography.Methods A digital radiogra- phy machine(Siemens Aristos MX)was used to the tempro-mandibular joint disorders of 68 patients with the meth- ods of the modified radiography of the tempro-mandibular joint,and the results were compared with those of 45 cases acquired with conventional radiography.Results The modified radiography by digital radiography provided high res- olution,precise location and excellent images,and the total structures of tempro-mandibular joint was clearly dis- played,with a success rate of 99%(67/68),while the results acquired by conventional radiography were not clear, only with a success rate of 60%(18/45).There is significant statistical differences between the modified radiography by digital radiography and conventional radiography(x~2 = 35.08,P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) containing serum on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway of skin fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

METHODSTotally 36 SSc patients were randomly assigned to Chinese medicine (CM) group, Western medicine (WM) group, and integrative medicine (IM) group according to random digit table, 12 in each group. Patients in the CM group took WYHZTLR decoction (one dose per day). Patients in the WM group took penicillamine tablet (0. 125 g each time, bid) and Prednisone Acetate Tablet (PAT 20 mg, qd). Patients in the IM group took penicillamine, PAT, and WYHZTLR decoction (in the same dosage of corresponding drugs as aforesaid). All patients were treated for one month to get drug containing serum. Besides, 10 untreated SSc patients' serum was taken as the control group. Healthy subjects' skin fibroblasts were originated from healthy skin tissue of the upper arms of 2 female patients undergoing plastic surgery. Corresponding serum of each group was added in the culture system of SSc patients' and healthy subjects' dermal fibroblasts respectively. Expression levels of TGF-β1 receptor type I (TGF-β1 RI), TGF-β1 receptor II (TGF-β1 RII), p-Smad2/3 and Smad7 protein were examined by Western blot. Expression levels of collagen type I and collagen type III (Col-I, Col-III) mRNA were examined by reverse transcription PCR. Contents of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in the supernatant of SSc, skin fibroblasts were examined by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, expression levels of TGF-β1 R I and p-Smad2/3 protein significantly decreased, but expression levels of Smad7 protein significantly increased in skin fibroblasts of SSc patients and healthy subjects of WM, CM, and IM groups (P <0.05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile, the expression level of TGF-β1 RII decreased in the IM group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the WM group, expression levels of TGF-β1 RI and p-Smad2/ 3 protein significantly decreased, but that of Srnad7 protein significantly increased in IM groups (P <0. 01). mRNA expression levels of Col-I and Col-II in SSc skin fibroblasts significantly decreased more in WM, CM, and IM groups than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Besides, the expression level of Col-III mRNA was significantly lower in the IM group than in the WM group (P <0.01). Compared with the control group, serum levels of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios increased more obviously in WM, CM, and IM groups (P <0.05, P <0.01). But expression levels of TIMP-1 decreased significantly in CM and IM groups (P <0.01). Expression levels of MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios increased more in the IM group than in the WM group (P <0. 01). Expression levels of TIMP-1 decreased more in CM and IM groups than in the WM group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR containing serum could reduce expression levels of Col-I and Col-III possibly through regulating key signal molecules, such as TGF-β1 RI, p-Smad2/3, and Smad7 in TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway of SSc skin fibroblasts, and inhibiting transduction of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type III ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad2 Protein ; Smad7 Protein ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective:To observe the activity of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113 under hypoxia in vitro. Methods:According to the different time of hypoxia, the test was divided into four groups as following: (1) 0 h; (2) 6 h;(3)12 h;(4)24 h. The expression of uPA was examined using immunochemistry. The expression of uPA mRNA was examined using in situ hybridization (ISH). The results of ISH staining of uPA mRNA were analysed using Spot and IPP image analysis system.Results:The uPA expression was found in cytoplasm and cytomembrane of Tca8113 cells.uPA mRNA expression was found in cytoplasm of the cells.The staining intensity of uPA mRNA in the groups of (1),(2),(3) and (4) was 0.175 251?(0.013) 863,0.263 191?(0.000 680),0.406 745?0.014 016 and 0.478 919?0.018 998 respectively(P

Objective To analyze our clinical results of head and neck reconstruction using microsur- gical free flap transfer techniques.Methods The free flap donor sites with long vascular pedicle and large diameter of vessel were routinely chosed,and chose receipt vessels with large diameter and proper position, and perform vessel ananstomosis under surgical loups instead of microscope.The un-buried free flap with a mo- nitoring window were harvest,and do double venous anastomoses in some flaps to ensure adequate venous out- flow.Results From May 1999 to March 2005,1066 consecutive free flap transfers were used to reconstruct head and neck defects.The overall success rate of free flap was 98.3%.The vessel thrombosis rate was 3.1%,and the flap salvage rate was 45.5%.Conclusion Head and neck reconstruetion using microsurgi- cal free flap transfer technique is safe and reliable,and good clinical results can be obtained.

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease (CAD), are major causes of death in industrialized countries. Elevated concentrations of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) have been associated with an increased risk of CAD. Increased plasma levels of chemokine, characterized by their ability to induce migration and activation of leukocytes, may contribute to the pathogenesis of CAD. This study was designed to investigate the changes of plasma Hcy, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and oxidative stress markers in acute coronary syndrome patients.

METHODSA total of 149 subjects were divided into four groups: 50 patients with unstable angina, 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 20 coronary restenosis patients after percutaneous coronary intervention and 49 healthy control subjects. Plasma levels of Hcy, MCP-1, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were measured.

RESULTSPlasma levels of Hcy and MCP-1 showed significant increases in unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and restenosis patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were significantly increased in unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control subjects (P < 0.05, respectively). Plasma superoxide dismutase levels were significantly reduced in acute myocardial infarction patients when compared with control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHcy might act as an atherogenic factor through promoting chemokine, reactive oxygen species and oxidized low density lipoprotein production and thereby convert a stable plaque into an unstable potentially occlusive lesion.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; etiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; metabolism ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

Objective To study the conventional MRI and dittusion weighted imaging(DWI) features of Japanese encephalitis(JE)in children.Methods Sixteen patients with JE were included. Conventional MRI and DWI sequences were performed in all patients.Seven patients received MRI within 10 days of onset and 9 after 10 days.The appearances on DWI and T_2 WI were recorded.The ADC values of lesions were calculated,and then were correlated with the corresponding time interval between onset of neurological symptoms and MRI scanning.Results The lesions of JE mainly showed long T_1 and long T_2 signal intensity on MRI.The thalami were the most frequently involved areas,and 15 out of 16 showed thalamic involvement and 6 patients only showed thalamic abnormalities without other lesions.Seven patients within 10 days of onset showed lesions with high signal intensity on both DWI and T_2WI,but whole or partial lesions showed clearer on DWI than on T_2WI,and 2 patients showed extra lesions that were invisible on T_2WI.As for the other 9 patients after 10 days of onset,the lesions showed clearer on T_2WI than on DWI. There was a direct correlations between thalamic ADC values and the disease duration (r=0.84,P

Objective To establish a high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of eight components in Gynostemma pentaphyllum(Thunb.) Makino (ginsenosides Rb1, Rb3, Rd, Re, F2, and gypenosides A, XLIX and XVII). Methods HPLC was performed on Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18(4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) chromatographic column with 0.3％ formic acid solution (A)- acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase by gradient elution, flow rate was 1.5 mL·min-1, detection wavelength was 203 nm, and column temperature was set at 50 ℃. Results There was a good linear relationship between peak area and concentration of eight components (r ≥ 0.999) , the recovery was in the range of 97％ to 100％. Conclusion The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, reliable, and reproducible, and can be used for the quality control of Gynostemma pentaphyllum(Thunb.) Makino.

In the present experiments, the characteristics of the electrical responses to stimulation of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell were explored with microeletrode intracellular recording technique. A composite excitatory postsynaptic potential (cerebellum-evoked EPSP) could be induced from the soma, the ventral dendrite and the proximal end of the lateral dendrite in crucian carp Mauthner cell (M-cell) on either side by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum. The cerebellum-evoked EPSP presented characteristics of relatively short latency (0.63+/-0.09 ms), longer duration (5.49+/-1.13 ms), graded amplitude and dependence on stimulation frequency. Stimulation of the cerebellum with higher intensity always activated the M-cell orthodromically. Multiple intracellular recordings showed that the cerebellum-evoked EPSP originated in the distal end of the ventral dendrite. The results suggest that the cerebellum-M-cell pathway is probably composed of a group of neuron chains with different numbers of synaptic relays projecting to the distal end of the ventral dendrite in order of length of the chains.
Animals ; Carps ; physiology ; Cerebellum ; physiology ; Dendrites ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Synapses ; physiology ; Synaptic Transmission ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of neutralizing anti-interferon-alpha antibodies (NA) in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with recombinant interferon-alpha(rIFN-alpha).

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-one patients (128 male and 53 female) with histological proven chronic hepatitis B were treated with 5 MU recombinant interferon-alpha 1b (rIFN-alpha 1b) subcutaneously thrice weekly for 6 to 37 (median 10) months. For each patient, Specific detection of serum HBV DNA level with fluorescent-quantitative PCR, HBeAg with enzymoimmunoassay and NA with an antiviral neutralizing biological assay were performed during therapy.

RESULTSNA was found in 61 (33.7%) of 181 patients. At the end of treatment, complete-response was achieved in 17 (27.9%) of 61 patients with NA and in 54 (45.0%) of 120 patients without NA, respectively (chi2=4.979). For NA positive patients, the complete-response rate was significantly lower in those who had not achieved partial-response prior to or at the same time as NA occurred than in those who did (3.8%, 1/26, vs. 45.7%, 16/35, chi2 = 7.457). Moreover, it was lower in patients who either had 20pg/ml of serum HBV DNA or above or HBV DNA had being reduced by less than 60% recent 3 months, but higher in those who had less than 20pg/ml of HBV DNA and HBV DNA had being reduced by 60% or above (20.0%, 9/45, vs. 56.3%, 9/16, chi2 = 11.009).

CONCLUSIONNA may negate the antiviral effects of rIFN-alpha in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with rIFN-alpha, especially if they appear before partial-response or at the occasion at which serum HBV DNA level was not below 20pg/ml or HBV DNA had being reduced by less than 60% recent 3 months.

Antibodies ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability and effectiveness of free flap transfer with double vein anastomosis for reconstruction of head and neck defects.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-eight cases of free flap transfers with double vein anastomosis for head and neck reconstruction from September 1999 to April 2003 were reviewed. There were 92 males and 76 females. The age range was 11 to 79 years old, with the average of 44.6 years old. Data concerning the operation included site, stage and histology of tumor, defect description, design of free flap, recipient vessel free flap survival and complications.

RESULTSAmong 168 free flaps, there were 126 free fibula flaps, 32 radial forearm flaps, 7 rectus abdominis flaps, one scapular flap, one jejunal flap, and one anterolateral thigh flap. The overall success rate of free flap was 99.4%. One fibula flap was lost because of arterial thrombosis. No venous thrombosis occurred in this group.

CONCLUSIONFree flap transfer with double vein anantomosis for head and neck reconstruction improves the outflow of free flap, reduces the venous thrombosis rate, and ensures a high success rate of free flaps.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surgical Flaps