There has been continued controversy on the taxonomy of Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus,1758 from humans and Ascaris suum Goeze,1782 from pigs.This article reviews a range of comparative studies related to host susceptibility,morphology,karyotype,immunology and biochemistry,as well as molecular genetics in recent years.

Objective To discuss clinical results of the percutaneous minimally invasive LC DCP plating in treatment of tibiofibular fractures which was based on biological osteosynthesis and indirect reduction. Methods 28 patients with tibiofibular fractures were treated with indirect reduction and LC DCP plating through the tunnel inside tibia. Results All the patients were followed up for 10 to 18 months (averaging 15 m). X ray films showed that the callus appeared 4 to 7 weeks postoperatively (averaging 4.6 w). The fracture healing time were 12 to 18 weeks (averaging 12.8w). All the patients healed without fracture nonunion, delayed union or plate loosening. Plates were removed without refracture in 15 patients. Conclusions The percutaneous minimally invasive LC DCP plating for tibiofibular fractures can meet the major requirements of biological osteosynthesis and result in good results.

To investigate the therapeutic effect of high-dosage gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on acute tetramine (TET) poisoning, 50 Kunming mice were divided into 5 groups at random and the antidotal effects of GABA or sodium dimercaptopropane sulfonate (Na-DMPS) on poisoned mice in different groups were observed in order to compare the therapeutic effects of high-dosage GABA with those of Na-DMPS. Slices of brain tissue of the poisoned mice were made to examine pathological changes of cells. The survival analysis was employed. Our results showed that both high-dosage GABA and Na-DMPS could obviously prolong the survival time, delay onset of convulsion and muscular twitch, and ameliorate the symptoms after acute tetramine poisoning in the mice. Better effects could be achieved with earlier use of high dosage GABA or Na-DMPS. There was no significant difference in prolonging the survival time between high-dose GABA and Na-DMPS used immediately after poisioning. It is concluded that high-dosage GABA can effectively antagonize acute toxicity of teramine in mice. And it is suggested that high-dosage GABA may be used as an excellent antidote for acute TET poisoning in clinical practice. The indications and correct dosage for clinical use awaits to be further studied.
Acute Disease ; Antidotes/*administration & dosage ; Antidotes/therapeutic use ; Bridged Compounds/*poisoning ; Random Allocation ; Rodenticides/*poisoning ; Unithiol/therapeutic use ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/*administration & dosage ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/therapeutic use

ASICs are H+-gated novel cation ion channels, which belong to the epithelial sodium channels (NaC/DEG) superfamily. As recent studies focus, ASICs are expected to be pharmacological targets on protecting the neuron from ischemia and damage, improving the ability of memory and study, curing epilepsy and analgesia. It is not until the most recentness that the subunits of ASICs have been cloned. Now, researchers have paid more attention to the distribution, expression, function and modulation of ASICs in the organism.

Objective To investigate the effect on differentiation of denervated skeletal muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) induced by TGF-β1 in vitro.Methods MDSCs were obtained from the rat denervated skeletal muscle by preplate technique,with TGF-β1 adding on medium.Cultured cells were divided into two groups.A,control group; B,10 ng/ml TGF-β1 group.Cell growth was observed with phase contrast microscope.lmmunocytochemistry,quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot was used to detect the expression of Sca-1,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,α-SMA and vimentin in denervated MDSCs.Results The synthesis of COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,α-SMA and vimentin by denervated MDSCs was extremely low at protein level in vitro,while Sca-1 level was really high.Belong to the treatment with TGF-β1,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,oα-SMA and vimentin in the denervated MDSCs had strong expression,but Sca-1 in which had a weak expression.Under the stimulation of TGF-β1,COL-Ⅰ expression reached peak at the 2nd day (12.5591 ± 0.3389),which was about 3 times as control group.COL-Ⅲ reached highest value at the 5th day (0.8956 ± 0.0438),which was about 23 times as control group.α-SMA topped out to 18 times at the 5th day (1.1090 ± 0.0018).Vimentin expression rose by 8.5 times and peaked at the 5th day (0.1794 ± 0.0019).The expression of Sca-1 began to decline at the 2nd day,with a remarkable reduction at the 5th day (0.0636 ± 0.0015).Conclusion TGF-β1 could induce differentiation of the denervated MDSCs to myofibroblasts in vitro,and promote the synthesis and excretion of extracellular matrix.

A mouse model for acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was established by using the hydrodynamical injection of mouse tail vein, in which the immunocompetent BALB/c mice were hydrodynamically injected with a competent replication plasmid pAAV-HBV1.2 having 1.2 fold over-length of HBV DNA. On day 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 after injection, the levels of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA in blood serum were detected by using ELISA and fluorogenic quantitative PCR assay (FQ-PCR). And on day 8. HBsAg and HBeAg in liver tissue were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. It was found that HBsAg in blood serum could be detected on day 1 after infection in 14 of 16 mice (85.7%) injected with pAVV-HBV1.2 by using ELISA assay and the peak levels of HBsAg and HBeAg were attained during the first day after injection and then it dropped down gradually up to day 8 following injection. The titer of HBV DNA in blood serum attained its peak on day 2 and maintained a high level later on. On day 8 after injection, its titer was 1.9×10~4 copies/mL. The percentage of HBcAg-positive hepatocytes and HBsAg-positive hepatocytes in liver tissues were 5% and 2% respectively. Thus, by using the hydrodynamic injection with the competent replication plasmid, a mouse model for acute HBV infection is successively developed.

Objective To investigate the effects of the site for access to internal jugular vein (lateral versus anterior),lying position of patients (supine versus Trendelenburg),and head rotation (0°,20°,and maximum) during central venous catheterization on the location depth and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the right internal jugular vein (IJV).Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers were recruited in this prospective observational study from September 2008 to October 2008.Healthy volunteers were placed in flat supine position and 15°.Trendelenburg position separately.In each position,IJV were measured ultrasonographically from lateral site and anterior site with the head oriented at 0°,20°,and maximum rotation separately.Data of measured CSA and location depth of internal jugular vein in different positions were compared.Results The largest CSA (2.16 ±0.89) cm2 and location depth [(1.38 ± 0.43)cm] were occurred at the lateral approach in Trendelenburg position with head oriented at maximum rotation.The CSA in Trendelenburg position was larger than that in flat supine position.Only at the maximum head rotation,lateral approach got statistically larger CSA.The effects of head rotation varied with different degrees of rotation.Conclusions Site of approach,lying position and head rotation had noticeable effects on internal jugular vein cross-sectional area.Trendelenburg position increased the CSA of IJV.

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To investigate the toxicity and reproductive effect of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF)/basic fibroblast growth factor ( bFGF) complex peptide vaccine ( VBP3) on the female-mice.METHODS:The VBP3 was purified with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography.The female BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified VBP3.The antibody titer in the serum was detected by ELISA.The data of the body weight and the organ weight of the par-ent mice were gathered and analyzed, and the pathological changes of the organs were observed with HE staining to investi-gate the toxicity of VBP3.To investigate the toxicity of VBP3 in the F1 mice, the parent immunized female mice were ma-ted with the parent non-immunized male mice.After the F1 mice were born, the survival rate was calculated, the change of the body weight and the organ weight of the F1 mice were also determined.The pathological changes of the organs in F1 mice were also observed with HE staining.RESULTS: In the parent mice, high titers of the antibodies were detected against VEGF and bFGF, and no difference of the body weight, the organ weight and the pathological change between the immunized mice and control mice was found.In the F1 mice, a low titer of anti-bFGF antibody was detected compared with blank group.The survival rate in control group was higher than that in immunized group.In the 2 groups of the F1 mice, no obvious difference of the weight of the spleen, kidney, lung and heart was observed, and there was some difference in the weight of liver between the 2 groups.The results of the HE staining in the F1 mice showed some difference in the liver between the 2 groups.CONCLUSION:VEGF/bFGF complex peptide vaccine has no obvious organ toxicity in the parent female mice, but has some side effects on the reproductive and the healthy processes of F1 mice.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of the combination of serum DKK1 (Dickkopf-1 )and P53 autoantibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods Serum levels of DKK1 and P53 autoantibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the 1 26 patients with ESCC and 60 normal controls.Receiver operating characteristics (ROC)was used to calculate the diagnostic efficiency.Results The serum levels of DKK1 and P53 autoantibodies were signifi-cantly higher in ESCC than those in normal controls [(673.09 ±343.82)pg/ml vs (362.05 ±1 48.07)pg/ml, Z =6.1 58,P <0.000 1 ;(0.398 ±0.546)vs (0.069 ±0.050),Z =3.832,P <0.000 1 ].ROC curves showed the optimum diagnostic cutoff for serum DKK1 was 588.77 pg/ml,with an area under curve (AUC)of 0.780 (95%CI:0.71 5 ~0.844,61 .9% sensitivity,95.0% specificity).Measurement of P53 autoantibodies demonstrated an AUC of 0.674 (95%CI:0.598 ~0.750,45.3% sensitivity,95.0% specificity).The com-bination of DKK1 and P53 autoantibodies yielded an AUC of 0.843 (95%CI:0.788 ~0.897,73.8% sensitiv-ity,95.0% specificity).In early-stage ESCC,combined detection of DKK1 and P53 autoantibodies improved the diagnostic power,with an AUC of 0.903 (95%CI:0.845 ~0.961 ,81 .0% sensitivity,95.0% specifici-ty).Conclusion Serum DKK1 and P53 autoantibodies can be used as potential diagnostic biomarkers for the ESCC.Combined detection of them might aid the early diagnosis of ESCC.

Objective To investigate whether functional Wnt-?-catenin signaling is present in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC),and the effect of blocking this signaling on activation of HSC. Methods?-catenin expression in HSC was examined by immunocytochemistry.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were assessed using a T cell factor (TCF)-dependent luciferase reporter gene (pTOP- FLASH) assay.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were blocked by transfecting with a dominant negative TCF (dnTCF) expression plasmid,then the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and collagen typeⅠwere examined by Western blot.Results?-catenin staining was positive in the nuclei of HSC-T6.Luciferase activity in the cells transfected with pTOPFLASH was significantly higher than that in the cells transfected with pFOPFLASH (P