OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) on the function of bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) expression in embryonic palate.

METHODSCleft palate mice model was established by atRA. On gestation day (GD) 15 and GD 17, the pregnant mice were killed to obtain the embryos from the uteri. The embryonic palates were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the remaining sections were used for the immunohistochemistry of BMPR2 detection. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression levels of Bmpr2 mRNA.

RESULTSIn the atRA-treated group, short extensions and failure to fuse with each other were observed. The positive expression of BMPR2 was detected in developing palatal process from GD 15 to GD 17 in the control group. Compared with those of the control group, BMPR2 protein and Bmpr2 mRNA decreased in the atRA-treated group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of pregnant mice with retinoic acid produces small palatal shelves in their fetuses and down-regulates BMPR2 expressions.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Cleft Palate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Tretinoin

Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of endoscopic findings in Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP),especially when abdominal pain preceded the cutaneous lesions.Methods The clinical data and gastroscopic findings in 37 cases of children with HSP were studied and analysed retrospectively in order to detect the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa.The biopsy was taken in the pathological changeing place,and the relationship between clinical and endoscopic findings was analyzed.Results Detection rate of the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa was 62.2%,31.3% of which experienced only cutaneous lesions,100% of which presented the acute abdominal pain.Three patients were not checked up the pathological changes.Of them,1 had arthritis,2 had Henoch-Schonlein nephritis.Characteristically endoscopic findings in the stomach and duodenum mucosa were found.The endoscopic findings included anabrosis,hyperemia,edema and hemorrhage.Conclusions Detection rate of the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa is higher.Endoscopy is very helpful to the early diagnosis of HSP in children,especially abdominal pain presented firstly.

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block has the ability to improve the imbalance of the autonomic nervous system in perimenopausal syndrome. Lumbosacral plexus is an automatic nervous block, and exerts similar effects with stellate ganglion block. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lumbosacral plexus block on the serum level of hormones and histology of the ovary in rabbits, thus providing a new treatment strategy for perimenopausal syndrome. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled animal experiment, which was finished at the Animal Center of Guiyang Medical Unversity, China. The healthy rabbits were randomly divided into experimental and control groups, and underwent lumbosacral plexus block by injecting 0.5 mg of vitamin B12, 100 mg of lidocaine and 10 mL of normal saline into the psoas compartment, and the same volume of normal saline, respectively. The effect of lumbosacral plexus block on the serum levels of hormones (estradiol, gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) at rabbit proestrus, estrus and metaestrus were observed, respectively. The pathological changes of the ovary in a complete estrus cycle were observed. The relationship between the treatment time of lumbosacral plexus block and the levels of hormones was investigated after 1, 3 and 6 complete estrus cycles. The experimental followed the national guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and Consensus author guidelines on animal ethics and welfare by the International Association for Veterinary Editors (IAVE), and prepared in accordance with the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments Guidelines (ARRIVE Guidelines). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Lumbosacral plexus block can increase the serum level of estrogen, reduce the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, and regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis function. Presumably, it may be used as a treatment method or adjuvant therapy of perimenopausal syndrome. Future experiments are needed to explore the effect of lumbosacral plexus block on the serum levels of hormones in a rabbit after oophorectomy to determine whether it exhibits the same effect on ovarian failure.

Objective To explore the optimum concentration of bioactive glass that promotes early enamel caries remineralization. Methods Fresh bovine incisors were selected and used for enamel specimen preparation. All specimens were randomly divided into two groups:micro hardness group and fluorescence group. Both groups were further divided into 3%, 6%and 9%groups. These specimens were placed in containers with demineralization liquid at 37℃for 72 hours. Then they were treat with 3%, 6%and 9%bioactive glass solution respectively twice a day for 5 minutes each. Samples in all three groups were dipped circularly into an artificial demineralization solution and an artificial saliva solution for 15 days. The mi?crohardness of enamel surface was measured before and after demineralization and remineralization. The different value of microhardness before and after remineralization was calculated. The thickness of fluorescence beneath the surface of early enamel caries was observed to evaluate the extend of remineralization effect. Results The difference in value of micro hard?ness in 6%group was the highest while that in 3%group was the lowest. The differences were significant. The difference in value of demineralization depth in 6%group was greater than those in 3%and 9%groups (P<0.05). There was no statistical?ly significance between those in 3%group and 9%group. Conclution The optimum concentration of bioactive glass solu?tion that promotes the remineralization of early enamel caries is 6%, which is ideal for remineralization of early enamel caries.

Objective To improve the recognition of meconium ileus and pseudohypoaldosteronism type Ⅰ and to explore the relationship between neonatal meconium ileus and cystic fibrosis.Methods The clinical and follow-up data of a premature infant with meconium ileus and pseudohypoaldosteronism type Ⅰ was analyzed.Relevant literature was reviewed.Results The child was a very low-birth weight premature infant who didn′t pass meconuim within 24 hours of birth and persistent abdominal distention was noted.Laparotomy was performed on day 4.Thick and inspissated meconium was found in the ileum with perforation.The atretic intestine was resected,and a double-barreled enterostomies was performed.On day 30,the child presented hyponatremia,hyperkalemia,high levels of plasma renin and aldosterone and was given 9 g/L salt supplementation.At 6-month age,9 g/L salt supplementation was discontinued.Anastomosis was performed at 8-month age.The child recovered with a good prognosis whose catch-up growth was obtained at 18-month age and didn′t pre-sent manifestations of cystic fibrosis.Conclusions This case could be diagnosed as meconium ileus and pseudohypoaldosteronism type Ⅰ.The relationship between neonatal meconium ileus and cystic fibrosis is different in China and the regions of Caucasian.

OBJECTIVETo investigate possible causes of micromotion in distal femoral prosthesis.

METHODSBased on the assumption that the femur and prosthesis were considered as concentric cylinders with completely bonded interface, a theoretical model simulating the interfacial stress transfer was established. The distributions of the interfacial shear and radial stresses with the changing of z were obtained through mathematics and mechanics deducing.

RESULTSThe maximum interfacial shear stress occurred at the position of z=0, namely, the cross section of the femur neck. The interfacial shear stress sharply decreased with the increasing of z and came to nearly zero at the range of z> 0.1 m. While the interfacial radial stress increased with the increasing of z,at the range of z >0.05 m it was constant and reached the maximum.

CONCLUSIONThe micromotion in distal prosthesis is caused by the interfacial radial stress.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Femur ; anatomy & histology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hip Prosthesis ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Models, Theoretical ; Motion ; Prosthesis Design ; Shear Strength ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To report a case of deep mycosis caused by Rhizomucor chlamydosporus. Methods Medical history,histopathology and laboratory examination were investigated,and fungal identifi- cation by microscopy and culture as well in the patient.Results The patient,a 41-year-old male,initially presented with mild-tender and progressively aggravating masses on the right glutea,both groins,and back of the head of pancreas.Later,ulcer,necrosis,and black crusts developed at the primary lesions accompanied with nausea,vomitting and dysfunction of liver.Pathological examination revealed a chronic granuloma- tous inflammation in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue;and branching,nonseptate and broad hyphae in multinuclear giant cells,tissue spaces and blood vessel lumens,and,few PAS-positive septate hyphae as well as basophilic chlamydospores located in multinuclear giant cells.The isolate was identified as R. chlamydosporus.Conclusions The case of deep mycosis caused by R.chlamydosporus began with invasive granuloma,followed by necrotic ulcer,with condition aggravating rapidly,and the patient finally died of se- rious cachexia.

AIMTo study the endogenous mechanism for the inhibition of aquaporin-1 expression in rat renal proximal tubule epithelial cells in response to acetazolamide.

METHODSPrimary cultured rat renal proximal tubule epithelia cells were divided into two groups: one was subjected to 1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 acetazolamide, the other served as normal control. When grown to sub-confluency, the cells were disintegrated to perform isoelectrofocusing electrophoresis in order to find the differential proteins induced by the acetazolamide treatment. The differential proteins were defined by peptide mass fingerprinting technology.

RESULTSTwo differential proteins were found in the cell disintegrant. The pI 3.8 protein was reduced after treatment, which showed 21.4% similarity with the brush border membrane myosin from rat brain and testis, and 27% with glycogen phosphorylase; The pI 5.5 protein was increased on the contrary, with 20% similarity to phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha isoform.

CONCLUSIONAcetazolamide inhibited AQP1 expression probably by affecting the expression of pI 3.8 and pI 5.5 proteins.

Acetazolamide ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; Aquaporins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptide Mapping ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

An adjustable folding mount is presented in this paper. It is a multi-functional device for one or more patient's infusions, continuous traction and functional training, and life nursing etc.
Equipment and Supplies ; Fluid Therapy ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Traction ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the stress distribution and fracture mechanism of proximal femur under impact loads.

METHODSThe image data of one male's femur were collected by the Lightspeed multi-lay spiral computed tomography. A 3D finite element model of the femur was established by employing the finite element software ANSYS, which mainly concentrated on the effects of the directions of the impact loads arising from intense movements and the parenchyma on the hip joint as well as those of the femur material properties on the distribution of the Mises equivalent stress in the femur after impact.

RESULTSThe numerical results about the effects of the angle sigma of the impact loads to the anterior direction and the angle gamma of the impact loads to the femur shaft on the bone fracture were given. The angle sigma had larger effect on the stress distribution than the angle gamma, which mainly represented the fracture of the upper femur including the femoral neck fracture when the posterolateral femur was impacted. This result was consistent with the clinical one. The parenchyma on the hip joint has relatively large relaxation effect on the impact loads.

CONCLUSIONSA 3D finite element analysis model of the femoral hip joint under dynamic loads is successfully established by using the impact dynamic theory.

Femur ; physiology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Stress, Mechanical ; Weight-Bearing ; physiology