Objective To test red cells of bone marrow and hematopoietic cells of rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome in different time period;To discuss the change rules in the blood system. Methods Rat models with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome were made by composite method of anger by restraint stress, clipping tails, over fatigue, and abnormal diet. The hemogram, red cells of bone marrow, marrow nucleated red blood cells, stem cell factor, and erythropoietin of male rats in normal group and model group were detected at 2nd, 6th and 9th weeks. Results Compared with normal group, hematokrit and metarubricyte in model group of 2 weeks was higher in the model group (P<0.05);erythropoietin in model group of 6 weeks decreased (P<0.01);red cell counts, red protein level, hemoglobin, hematokrit, and erythropoietin in model group of 9 weeks were lower (P<0.05);red cell counts, hemoglobin, hematokrit, prorubricyte, metarubricyte, and erythropoietin in model group of 6 and 9 weeks were significantly lower than those in model group of 2 weeks (P<0.05, P<0.01). The number of marrow nucleated red blood cells in model group of 2 weeks decreased (P<0.05). Stem cell factor showed no significant difference. Conclusion The rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome can increase the number of red blood cells in a short time when they suffer from stress stimulation, so that they can fight the damage factors. But long-term stress stimulation will lead the rats to anemia, which may be associated with the reduction of erythropoietin.

AIM: To observe the effects of Decoction of Bu-Shen-Huo-Xue-Xie-Zhuo (BSHXXZ) on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in rats. METHODS: Unilateral nephrectomy was adopted firstly, one week later adrimycin was intravenously adminstered to 20 rats twice in a 23-day period to establish an advanced focal segmental glomerulosclerosis model in the rat. Changes in urine protein, blood chemistry, and histology of the kidney were investigated for 110 days after unilateral nephrectomy. RESULTS: The BSHXXZ decoction reduced edema, proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, azotemia and ascites, and increased albumin in blood. Light microscopic, electron microscopic, immunohistochemical and polarizing microscopic examination all showed that the pathologic changes in the treatment group were less than that of the model group. CONCLUSION: Decoction of BSHXXZ could markedly improve renal function and delay the progression of glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the quantity of colonizing Streptococcus mutans(S. mutans) and Actinomyces on the root surface plaque before and after post-core crown restoration of the mandibular first molars in the elderly patients.

METHODSA total of 30 elderly patients, each with one post-core crown restoration of the mandibular first molar, were randomly chosen to participate in the studies. Patients with mandibular first molars with post-core crown restoration and those with healthy contralateral mandibular first molars were divided into the test and control groups, respectively. Root surface plaques of the two groups were collected before tooth preparation, 72 h after preparation, one week after preparation, and one month after restoration. S. mutans, Actinomyces naeslundii (A. naeslundii) and Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus), were identified using colony morphology, biochemical techniques, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Plaque count was measured using microbial colony count.

RESULTSThe number of S. mutans and A. viscosus and A. naeslundii in the test group, which was statistically significant (P<0.05), increased 72 h after preparation. The quantities of S. mutans, A. viscosus, and A. naeslundii one week after preparation were significantly different (P<0.05). The plaque count of S. mutans, A. viscosus, and A. naeslundii in the test group decreased one month after restoration (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe quantities of S. mutans, A. viscosus and A. naeslundii increase one week after preparation but decrease one month after restoration. The finding suggests that dentists should educate patients about plaque control during the early period after tooth preparation.

Actinomyces ; Actinomyces viscosus ; Aged ; Bacteria ; Crowns ; Dental Plaque ; Humans ; Post and Core Technique ; Streptococcus mutans ; Tooth Root

Objective To investigate the effects of melatonin on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat hippocampus after isoflurane anesthesia. Methods Sixty male SD rats weighing 390 - 440 g were randomized into 5 groups (n = 12 each): control group (group C), 1% isoflurane group (group Ⅰ), 1% isoflurane + melatonin group (group IM) , 2% isoflurane group (group J) and 2% isoflurane + melatonin group (group JM) . In IM and JM groups, melatonin 10 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 7 consecutive days, while equal volume of normal saline was given intraperitoneally instead of melatonin in C, I and J groups. Groups Ⅰ and IM inhaled 1% isoflurane and groups J and JM 2% isoflurane for 4 h on 7th day. All the rats underwent Morris water maze test on the day after anesthesia for assessment of learning and memory ability (escape latency and probe time) . The training test was performed 4 times a day for S days. Six rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed the end of the test. The blood samples were collected for detection of plasma melatonin level by ELISA.The brain tissues were removed for determination of the expression and activity of ChAT in hippocampus by Western blot or colorimetric assay. The left rats were selected and sacrificed for determination of the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and entate gyrus by immunofluorescence. Results The plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group I than in group C ( P ＜ 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly longer, the probe time was significantly shorter, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group J than in group C ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly shorter, the probe time was significantly longer, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly higher in group IM than in group Ⅰ ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). The escape latency was significantly shorter and the plasma melatonin level and ChAT activity were significantly higher in group JM than in group J ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The results of immunofluorescent staining showed that the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus wag consistent with the changes in the measured ChAT expression. Conclusion Melatonin can reduce isoflurane-mediated inhibition of ChAT expression and activity and thus improve spatial memory impaired by isoflurane anesthesia in rats.

Objective To observe the role of Osterix in controlling bone volume in vertebral body and to investigate the possible mechanism .Methods X-ray radiology ,micro CT and HE staining were used to evaluate the change of bone volume in both Osterix knockout and transgenic mice .TRAP staining was used to assess the activity of osteoclasts and immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression level of RANKL .Results No obvious changes were found in Osterix transgenic mice ,while X-ray examina-tion ,micro CT and HE staining showed that the bone density and bone volume in the lumbar vertebral body increased significantly in OSX null mice 12 weeks after birth .TRAP staining showed that the number of osteoclasts decreased in OSX null mice .IHC re-vealed that the expression level of RANKL was down-regualted in OSX null mice .Conclusion Osterix play an important role in controlling bone volume of vertebral body in mice .

Zanthoxyli Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, muscle and bone pain, fall fracture, hernia, sore throat, toothache and other diseases. Due to possessing many excellent and mild pharmacological properties, there are lots of reports about Zanthoxyli Radix worldwide. At present, more than 100 bioactive components have been extracted and purified from Zanthoxyli Radix. Nitidine chloride (NC), one of the most important alkaloids in Zanthoxyli Radix, has the activities of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, etc. In this review, we summarize the chemical components of Zanthoxyli Radix, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of NC to provide references for further research and utilization of Zanthoxyli Radix.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of setup errors from daily cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) on the accumulated dose under different image-guidance (IG) strategies, aiming to investigate the appropriate IG strategies during radiotherapy for the spine metastases.Methods:A total of 720 CBCT scans of 36 vertebral lesions were obtained. All 36 lesions were divided into the simultaneous boosting (PTV 40 Gy/20f, GTV 60 Gy/20f, n=20) and conventional radiotherapy groups (PTV 40 Gy/20f, n=16). The actual fractionated plan was recalculated simulatively after transferring the isocenter of the initial plan according to the interfraction setup error. Under no daily image-guidance (no-DIG) strategies including twice imaging guidance weekly (TIG), initial 5 days then weekly imaging guidance (5D+ WIG), WIG and no imaging guidance (NIG), the dose deviation was calculated between the delivered dose accumulated by each actual fractionated plan and the dose distribution under DIG. The tolerance of dose deviation for the target was within ±5% and the D max of the spinal cord was limited below 45 Gy. Results:Under different image-guidance strategies of TIG, 5D+ WIG, WIG and NIG, the median dose deviation was approximately ±1% for the CTV D 95% and D max of spinal cord. However, the median dose deviation was beyond -5% for the PTV D 95% when conventional radiotherapy was given. The median dose deviation was approximately 10% for the D max of spinal cord and the proportion of cases whose maximum irradiated dose of spinal cord was more than 4500 cGy was ≥70%. Also, the median dose deviation was beyond -5% for the GTV D 95% and PTV D 95% when simultaneous boosting was delivered. Conclusions:Because the dose deviation of CTV and spinal cord is within the tolerance limit, the image-guidance strategies could be chosen according to the clinical practice when conventional radiotherapy is delivered. However, the dose deviation of spinal cord, GTV and PTV exceeds the tolerance limit under no-DIG strategies when simultaneous boosting is delivered. Hence, it is necessary to perform daily IGRT for the spine metastases.

Background The integration of segregated pathways from the two eyes first appears in V1 neurons,where it not only plays a critical role in the generation of a three-dimensional visual representation.Abnormal visual experiences in critical period usually lead to amblyopia and binocular integration defects.Objective Present study was to investigate how neurons of kitten coordinate their activity patterns in response to synchronous dichoptic stimulus inputs in striate cortex.Methods Spike rate and local field potential(LFP) gamma band(20-90Hz) power of three kitten(1-1.2Kg,8-10 weeks old) to monocular and synchronous dichoptic presented gratings were assessed for 28 binocular neurons in V1 of kitten by in vivo extracellular record method under anaesthesia and paralysis.Ocular dominance index(ODI) and binocular integration index(BII) were assessed and the correlation between these two indexes were analyzed.Results In 28 cells with binocular characteristic,the absolute value of spike-ODI was significant larger than that of LFP-ODI(t=2.606,P=0.021).A positive linear correlation between the ocular preferences of spike and LFP was found(R2=0.513,F=27.423,P=0.003).In dichotic trails,binocular facilitation with BII for spike was 2.348±0.996,showing a significant reduce in comparison with BII for LFP(3.678±1.974)(t=2.671,P=0.019).Binocular integration index for two signals were greater when monocular responses of both eyes were similar(P=0.035 and P=0.124,respectively).Conclusion Both spike rate and gamma band power of LFP exhibited binocular facilitation to synchronous presented dichotic stimuli with significant facilitation induced by balanced monocular responses.Spiking activity and LFP reflect neural activities of different spatial scales and source components.

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical results between minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar(mini-TLIF) and posterior open surgery in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.MethodsFrom March 2008 to August 2010,a total of 49 cases with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgical intervention were retrospectively analyzed,including 23 cases with mini-TLIF and 26 with open surgery.Operation time,intra-operative bleeding,and radiation exposure times were recorded.Pre- and postoperative back pain was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS),and lumbar function was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI).The clinical results were assessed by Macnab criterion,and the pre and postoperative radiologic parameters were compared.ResultsThe mean follow-up time was 11 months(ranged,9-22).Both groups got good clinical results and satisfactory radiologic parameters.The group of mini-TLIF was superior to the group of open surgery in intra-operative bleeding,VAS of the second day postoperatively and the willingness of reoperation(P＜0.05).The ODI in the patients with open surgery were decreased from 31.2％±8.2％ to 16.1％±6.8％ corresponding to the pre-oporation and the final follow-up.The ODI in the patients with mini-TLIF were decreased from 34.4％±11.7％ to 15.3％±4.3％ corresponding to the pre-operation and the final follow-up.There is no significant difference of the change of ODI between two groups (t=0.673,P=0.412).The group of mini-TLIF need more operation time and were exposed to more X-ray when compared to the open surgery group(P＜0.05).ConclusionMini-TLIF and open surgery can both get satisfactory clinical outcomes in treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis.Mini-TLIF was superior to open surgery in intra-operative bleeding and VAS of the second day postoperatively,but it needs more operation time and radiation exposure.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hearing Disorders ; chemically induced ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use