Aclarubicin ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Child ; Cytarabine ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of the spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease for diagnosis.Methods MRI examinations in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 18 cases of Hirayama disease and 31 young normal control subjects.We measured an antero-posterior diameter(APD)and transverse diameter(TD)of the cervical cord at the superior margin of the C6 vertebral body for each position,and investigate the dynamic changes.The different in frequency of these findings between the control and patient groups was examined by means of the x~2 test.The group means were compared by independent-sample t-test.Significance was defined as P

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.

METHODSModels of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; Glycosides ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium

OBJECTIVETo introduce a method applied in computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) of removable partial denture framework for rehabilitating edentulous arch of Kennedy Class II and found a basis for this project.

METHODSPoint cloud data of dental stone model was obtained by laser scanning. The following processes were made: drawing framework outline on the reconstructed triangle mesh model, picking up and processing its inner side data as the data of tissue surface, shelling it for 3-D model of framework, and transferring the data to rapid prototyping equipment for manufacture.

RESULTS3-D model of the removable partial denture framework was preliminarily accomplished. The resin framework used as a sacrificial pattern was manufactured with the rapid prototyping equipment. The fit between resin framework and plaster model was good.

CONCLUSIONSThis method, as an integrated procedure including data acquisition, 3-D computer modeling and fabrication by rapid prototyping, is feasible to implement CAD-CAM of removable partial denture framework.

Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Casting Technique ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional

OBJECTIVESTo explore the effects of endotoxemia on gluconeogenesis in livers and kidneys during acute hepatic failure.

METHODTwenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (6 rats in each group) and all of them were injected intraperitoneally with solutions: group I with normal saline, group II with 400 mg/kg of D-galactosamine (D-GaLN), group III with 400 mg/kg of D-GaLN plus 50 microg/kg lipopolysaccharide(LPS), and group IV with 400 mg/kg of D-GaLN plus 500 microg/kg LPS. At 6 hours after the administration of different solutions intraperitoneally, blood samples were collected to examine blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine. Realtime PCR was used to study the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the livers and kidneys.

RESULTSNo endotoxemia developed in group I or group II but it was evident in group III and group IV. The level of endotoxemia in group IV was higher than in group III (8.05+/-0.43, 3.50+/-2.25, P<0.05). After 6 hours of administration of LPS in group IV, hypoglycemia appeared, and blood glucose was normal in the other three groups. BUN and serum creatinine were all normal in the four groups, except that blood urea nitrogen was elevated in group IV. The mRNA of PEPCK in livers decreased gradually in all the four groups (2.54+/-1.32 vs 1.87+/-0.15 vs 0.91+/-0.13 vs 0.44+/-0.42, P<0.05). In the kidneys there was no change in the expression of PEPCK in group I and group II (0.75+/-0.03 and 0.77+/-0.04, P>0.05), but it increased in group III (0.75+/-0.03 vs 1.63+/-0.86, P<0.05), and decreased in group IV (0.75+/-0.03 vs 0.13+/-0.07, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDuring acute hepatic failure severe endotoxemia would damage the function of gluconeogenesis in livers and kidneys by inhibiting transcription of PEPCK and this can induce hypoglycemia.

Animals ; Endotoxemia ; metabolism ; Gluconeogenesis ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Failure, Acute ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo investigate the effects of K+ channel blockers on arsenic trioxide-induced HeLa cell death.

METHODSViability of HeLa cells was assessed by mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity using colorimetric MTT assay and the voltage-dependent K+ currents were recorded by using patch-clamp technique.

RESULTSExposure of As2O3 (5 micromol x L(-1)) for 24 h caused marked HeLa cell death. The rest living cells after As2O3 24 h-incubation showed significant increase of K+ currents densities. At +80 mV, the densities of K+ currents (61 +/- 18) pA/10 pF (n = 8) in As2O3 24 h-incubation group were significantly more than that in the control group (38 +/- 10) pA/10 pF (n = 8, P < 0.05). The HeLa cells were prevented partially from As2O3-induced cell death by co-application for 24 h with typical voltage-dependent K+ channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine (3 mmol x L(-1)) or tetraethylammonium (5 mmol x L(-1)). 4-Aminopyridine (3 mmol x L(-1)) or tetraethylammonium (5 mmol x L(-1)) did not show any toxic effects on HeLa cells.

CONCLUSIONChronic treatment with As2O3 increased voltage-dependent K+ currents in HeLa cells and the cell death induced by As2O3 was reduced partially by voltage-dependent K+ channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine or tetraethylammonium.

4-Aminopyridine ; pharmacology ; Arsenicals ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Oxides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; Tetraethylammonium ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) and spiral computed tomography (SCT) in preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma.

METHODSBoth EUS and SCT were performed prior to surgery in 68 patients with rectal carcinoma. After radical surgery, the preoperative findings were compared with histologic findings of the operative specimens, and the efficacy of EUS and SCT in staging the rectal carcinoma were evaluated.

RESULTSFor T stage, EUS accuracy was 86.8%, while SCT was 70.6%. The difference was significant (P<0.05). For N stage, EUS accuracy was 67.6% and SCT was 63.2%. The difference was not significant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONEUS is superior to SCT for the judgement of tumor infiltration depth, but neither is able to provide satisfactory assessment of lymph node metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUNDCytosine deaminase (CD) converts 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in CD/5-FC gene therapy, 5-FU will be mostly converted into nontoxic beta-alanine without uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT). UPRT catalyzes the conversion of 5-FU to 5-fluorouridine monophosphate, which directly kills CD::UPRT-expressing cells and surrounding cells via the bystander effect. But the pharmacokinetics and the bystander effect of CD::UPRT/5-FC has not been verified in vivo and in vitro. Before the CD::UPRT/5-FC bi-gene therapy system is used in clinical trial, it is essential to monitor the transgene expression and function in vivo. Thus, we developed a preclinical tumor model to investigate the feasibility of using (19)F-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((19)F-MRS) and optical imaging to measure non-invasive CD and UPRT expression and its bystander effect.

METHODSC6 and C6-CD::UPRT cells were cultured with 5-FC. The medium, cells and their mixture were analyzed by (19)F-MRS. Rats with intracranial xenografted encephalic C6-CD::UPRT glioma were injected intraperitoneally with 5-FC and their (19)F-MRS spectra recorded. Then the pharmacokinetics of 5-FC was proved. Mixtures of C6 and C6-CD::UPRT cells at different ratios were cultured with 5-FC and the cytotoxic efficacy and survival rate of cells recorded. To determine the mechanism of the bystander effect, the culture media from cell comprising 25% and 75% C6-CD::UPRT cells were examined by (19)F-MRS. A comparative study of mean was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTS(19)F-MRS on samples from C6-CD::UPRT cells cultured with 5-FC showed three broad resonance signals corresponding to 5-FC, 5-FU and fluorinated nucleotides (F-Nuctd). For the C6 mixture, only the 5-FC peak was detected. In vivo serial (19)F-MRS spectra showed a strong 5-FC peak and a weak 5-FU peak at 20 minutes after 5-FC injection. The 5-FU concentration reached a maximum at about 50 minutes. The F-Nuctd signal appeared after about 1 hour, reached a maximum at around 160 minutes, and was detectable for several hours. At a 10% ratio of C6-CD::UPRT cells, the survival rate was (79.55 +/- 0.88)% (P < 0.01). As the C6-CD::UPRT ratio increased, the survival rate of the cells decreased. (19)F-MRS showed that the signals for 5-FU and F-Nuctd in the culture medium increased as the ratio of C6-CD::UPRT in the mixture increased.

CONCLUSIONS(19)F-MRS studies indicated that C6-CD::UPRT cells could effectively express CD and UPRT enzymes. The CD::UPRT/5-FC system showed an obvious bystander effect. This study demonstrated that CD::UPRT/5-FC gene therapy is suitable for 5-FC to F-Nuctd metabolism; and (19)F-MRS can monitor transferred CD::UPRT gene expression and catalysis of substrates noninvasively, dynamically and quantitatively.

Animals ; Antimetabolites ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; physiology ; Flucytosine ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pentosyltransferases ; genetics ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo study the relationships between the pathogenesis of persistent vegetative state (PVS) and the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in plasmas and cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) in patients with PVS.

METHODSThe high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect.

RESULTSIt was found that the level of dopamine (1.95 +/- 0.99) was significantly increased in plasma compared with the control (1.16 +/- 0.47) (P < 0.05), but the levels of 5-HT, TYR, TRP, GABA of plasma were insignificantly changed. In cerebrospinal fluid, the level of DA was insignificantly changed, and the level of 5-HT (0.49 +/- 0.32) was significantly decreased compared with the control (1.02 +/- 0.35) (P < 0.05), but the levels of TYR (1.36 +/- 0.11), TRP (0.63 +/- 0.40), GABA (1.15 +/- 0.61) were significantly increased respectively compared with the controls (0.40 +/- 0.24; 0.29 +/- 0.22; 0.37 +/- 0.45) (P < 0.05; P < 0.05; P < 0.01). The levels of GABA and DA in plasma were significant correlated (P < 0.05), and GABA and DA in CSF were also significant correlated (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggested that PVS is related to the decrease of 5-HT in CSF and the increase of DA in plasma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biogenic Monoamines ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Persistent Vegetative State ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Young Adult