Objective To assess the clinical value of measuring the concentration of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) in detecting the bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer. Methods The concentration of serum OPG in 40 patients was determined by ELISA. The data of ECT bone scan and Gleason score was collected simultaneously. The correlations between serum OPG and bone metastases, Gleason score were tested. Results The concentration of serum OPG in patients with bone metastases by ECT scan was( 16 237. 19 ±5144. 26) ng/L,which was significantly higher than the concentration in patients without bone metastases , which was (12 123.32 ±4136. 50)ng/L. There was no significant correlation between serum OPG and Gleason score. Conclusions The serum OPG has an important clinical value in prediction of prostate cancer with bone metastases. There is no significant correlation between serum OPG and the Gleason score.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of endemic fluorosis in Guide county of Qinghai province, in order to provide appropriate measures to monitor and control the disease. Methods Damo, Wenquan, Baoning villages(water source has been changed) and Taiping village(water source has not been changed) in Guide county were involved in the study in 2008. One tap water sample was collected in dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Water fluoride was tested in accordance with the "Standard Test Methods for Drinking Water" (GB/T 5750.5-2006); of all the children aged 8 to 12, dental fluorosis was diagnosed using Dean criteria; 6 copies of urine samples were collected in each age group, urinary fluoride was measured using fluoride ion-selective electrode (WS/T 89-1996). According to the "Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis "(WS 192-2008), clinical skeletal fluorosis was determined in adults over the age of 16 by X-ray examination for 10 people in each selected village. Results The mean water fluoride was 0.58,0.38,2.28,0.37 mg/L in Damo, Wenquan, Taiping, and Baoning villages, respectively, and that of Taiping village exceeded the national standard(1.0 mg/L). One hundred and ninety-three children aged 8-12 were checked, the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 49.74% (96/193); urine samples of 116 children were tested, median urinary fluoride was 1.49 mg/L A total of 1503 adults over the age of 16 were examined, the clinical detection of skeletal fluorosis was 51.63%(776/1503); a total of 82 people were X-rayed, X-ray detection of skeletal fluorosis was 20.73%(17/82). The characteristic of X-rays were degeneration and ossification of interosseous membrane. Conclusions Prevalence of dental fluorosis of children and adult clinical skeletal fluorosis are higher. The endemic fluorosis is still comparatively serious. Prevention efforts need to be further strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo construct tissue-engineered neural complex in vitro and study its effect in repairing acutely injured spinal cord in adult rats.

METHODSNeural stem cells were harvested from the spinal cord of embryo rats and propagated in vitro. Then the neural stem cells were seeded into polyglycolic acid scaffolds and co-cultured with extract of embryonic spinal cord in vitro. Immunofluorescence histochemistry and scanning electron microscope were used to observe the microstructure of this complex. Animal model of spine semi-transection was made and tissue-engineered neural complex was implanted by surgical intervention. Six weeks after transplantation, functional evaluation and histochemistry were applied to evaluate the functional recovery and anatomic reconstruction.

RESULTSThe tissue-engineered neural complex had a distinct structure, which contained neonatal neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. After tissue-engineered neural complex was implanted into the injured spinal cord, the cell components such as neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, could survive and keep on developing. The adult rats suffering from spinal cord injury got an obvious neurological recovery in motor skills.

CONCLUSIONSThe tissue-engineered neural complex appears to have therapeutic effects on the functional recovery and anatomic reconstruction of the adult rats with spinal cord injury.

Animals ; Female ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; surgery ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the possible relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-238G/A gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to intrauterine HBV infection.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty-six children, including 130 infants born to HBsAg positive mothers were divided into two groups: forty-five children with intrauterine HBV infection (group I) and 85 children without intrauterine HBV infection (group II), with a control group of 126. TNF-alpha-238G/A gene polymorphism was examined in all 256 children, by means of real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR.

RESULTSA significant difference of TNF-alpha-238A allele frequency was found between group I and group II (x2=6.797, P=0.009), and between group I and the controls group (x2=0.047, P=0.002), but there was no significant difference between group II and the control groups (x2=0.047, p=0.828).

CONCLUSIONThis study found that genetic polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-a was associated with intrauterine HBV infection

Adult ; Child ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Tumor Necrosis Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the susceptibility of children to develop intrauterine hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through studying the association between interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) + 874 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and intrauterine HBV infection.

METHODSThe subjects were selected from outpatients who were in our hepatitis B (HB) vaccine following-up clinics. The subjects whose mothers were HBV carriers were inoculated with HB vaccine or HB vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg). Intrauterine HBV infection was defined as peripheral blood HBsAg and/or HBV-DNA positive at birth and lasting for six months (group I). Normal immune children were defined as peripheral blood negative for HBV marker since birth and afterwards HBsAb titers were above protective level (group II). The subjects were composed of the following two groups. Group I consisted of 46 children with intrauterine HBV infection. Group II was composed of 73 normal children. A Taqman fluorescence polymerase chain reaction for the IFN-gamma + 874 SNP was performed for both groups.

RESULTSIFN-gamma + 874 SNP was tested successfully for every subject. Frequencies of AA, AT and TT genotype were 67.4%, 19.6% and 13.0% in the intrauterine HBV infection group, and 45.2%, 30.1% and 24.7% in the normal immune children group. A significant difference was found in the frequency distribution of IFN-gamma + 874 genotype between the two groups (chi(2) = 5.102, P = 0.02389). In the intrauterine HBV infection group the AA genotype was more common than in normal immune group.

CONCLUSIONThere is an association between IFN-gamma + 874 SNP and intrauterine HBV infection. This study suggested the possibility that IFN-gamma + 874 SNP might be important in determining an individual's susceptibility to development of intrauterine HBV infection.

Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis, construction and running status of water improvement projects in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment fluorosis. Methods Water samples of the diseased and nondiseased villeges were collected from east, west, south, north and centre of each villege in 2005, and fluoride concentration was determined for each surveyed village with unimproved-water. At the same time, all the tap water and source water samples were collected to determine fluoride concentration in each water-improved village surveyed. In 2008, all the endemic fluorosis villages in Guied county were divided into slight, medium and heavy types according to the water fluoride content before water improved, and 1,1,3 survey villages were chosen from each type. In all of the village children aged 8 to 12 years were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in water and urine was determined by F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was investigated, 20 adults (evenly divided between men and women) in the villages of medium and heavy types were examined by X-ray for skeletal fluorosis. Results In 3 village fluoride content of drinking water exceeded the national drinking water standards ( <1.0 mg/L) of 85 surveyed villages with improved-water. Among the 16 projects, 8 were intermittently running and 3 were retired, leaving only 31.25% of the projects active. Theprevalence of enamel fluorosis was 41.13%( 116/282), that of skeletal flurosis was 47.95%(969/2021) and that of X-ray checked was 20.73% (17/82). The median of urine fluoride was 1.06 mg/L and the scope was 0.20 - 9.44 mg/L.Conclusions Most of the improved-water projects do not normally supply water in the disease ward of Guide county. Therefore, there is an increasing trend of the disease, so further control measures are needed.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the postoperative morbidity of patients with complex intracranial aneurysms treated by stent-assisted coiling and investigate the causes and treatment strategy of postoperative morbidity. Methods 62 SAH patients with intracranial aneurysm were treated by stent-assisted coiling, 53 cases of single aneurysms, 9 cases of multi-aneurysms (8 cases of 2 aneurysms, 1 cases of 3 aneurysms), amount to 72 aneurysms, 71 aneurysms were treated by stent-assisted coiling. Results Completed embolization 53 cases were completed with embolization partial embolization (74.64％), Nearly all embolization 17 cases were nearly all embolization (23.94％), partial embolization and 1case was s (1.42％) . According to GOS, 52 patients with a score of GOS 5, 6 patients with a score of GOS 4, 3 patients with a score of GOS 3, 2 patients with a score of GOS 1. 58 (93.5％) patients survived favorably. 9 patients with complications (14.5％), 3 patients with acute thrombosis; 2 patients with rupture of aneurysms during surgery; 3 patients with cerebral angiospasm; There was no obvious abnormality during the surgery in 1 patient, and there was a focal ischemic change followed by a mild neurological deficiency. Conclusions Stent assisted coil embolization of intracranial ruptured aneurysm is safe, effective and feasible, but we should improve clinical skills, summarize the analysis in the clinical operation experience of clinical treatment so as to reduce complications. Timely and correct treatment is also very important when complications occur.

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis in Qinghai province in 2008 and to provide scientific basis for endemic flurosis control and prevention. Methods All the endemic fluorosis villages in Qinghai province was divided into slight,medium and heavy degree according to the water fluoride content before improving water,and 2,4,4 villages were collected from each degree,respectively. Water samples were collected from each direction of east,west,south,north and centre,and fluoride concentration were determined from each surveyed villages with unimproved-water. At the same time,3 copies of the peripheral water samples and a sample of source water were collected to determine fluoride concentration. In all the village children aged 8 to 12 were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were randomly sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in urine was determined with F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was examined,and 20 adults in the villages of medium and heavy levels were filmed for skeletal fluorosis. Results The detectable rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years old was 43.59% (245/562),that of skeletal flurosis of adults aged above 16 years was 50.32% (1582/3144) and detectable rate of X-ray was 29.45% (48/163). Fluoride content in urine was 1.52 mg/L. Conclusions Endemic fluorosis is still very serious in Qiaghai province in a rising trend,so the control measures need to be strengthen.

Objective To compare the protection effect of new and old extraction of Leech in Zhilonghuoxuetongyu capsule on the focal cerebral ischemia in rats.Methods Ninety SD rats were randomly divided into 9 groups:control group , model group , Buchangnaoxintong group , the new ( A) and old ( B) capsule with large , medium and small dose groups.To fill the stomach in one times a day , for five consecutive days later .And compared the neurological function score , infarction range , pathological changes , and serum methane dicarboxylic aldehyde ( MDA ) , superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) content were be detected by colorimetric method.Results Compared with model group,the new and old capsule of large dose group were lower the neurological function score.The new and old capsule of large dose and old capsule of medium dose can reduce wet weight , dry weight and percentage of cerebral ischemia.The degree of swelling of the nerve cells necrosis , change of nucleus , proliferation of Glial cell in new capsule of high dose and old capsule of high , middle dose were lighter than model group.The MDA content in the new and old capsule of large dose group were lower , there are significant differences ( P <0.05 ).Conclusion The new and old extraction of Leech in Zhilonghuoxuetongyu capsule all have protective effect on focal cerebral ischemia in rats , may be related to reduce the serum MDA.

OBJECTIVETo explore the serological infection rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in general population aged over one year old in Beijing and to provide information for control and prevention of the disease.

METHODSA multistage randomized cluster sampling was carried out in general population of Beijing, aged over one year old. Every study subject's hepatitis B immunization history and main risk factors were investigated through questionnaire. Venous blood samples were collected and then tested for five hepatitis B serological antigens and antibodies by means of Abbott Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassy method.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and total HBV infection rate were 3.49% (95% CI:2.99-3.99), 37.79% (95% CI: 36.46-39.12), 35.04% (95% CI: 33.72-36.35) and 35.09% (33.78-36.40) respectively. The age standardized rates were 3.02% ,42.47% ,26.86% and 26.90% respectively.

CONCLUSIONAchievement in hepatitis B control and prevention was made in Beijing since the prevalence rate of hepatitis B surface antigen had been below 1% for children aged less than 5 years old. As for the general population, the prevalence rate of hepatitis B surface antigen had reduced to

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult