Objective To study the reliability of transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) of different parts of neonates as predictive alarm of serum bilirubin ( SB ). Methods 132 cases of full-term neonates in Handan Central Hospital from May to July 2010 were divided into spontaneous delivery group and cesarean section group by random number. A KJ8000 transcutaneous bilirubinmeter was used to test their TCB at forehead, chest and abdomen on the fourth day after birth. The neonates were measured SB once TCB readings were more than 12.9 mg/dl. TCB of different parts and SB of the two groups were compared. Results The spontaneous delivery group had 17 cases of the. Neonates whose TCB readings were more than 12.9 mg/dl while the cesarean section group had 21 cases. TCB and SB of the same part by the same method showed no statistical significance between the two groups (t =0. 71, 2. 0, 1.25, 1. 0, 1.5;P ＞0. 05). TCB readings of chest were of no significant difference as compared with SB of the same group ( t =1. 72, 1. 33 ; P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusions SB of the spontaneous delivery group and the cesarean section group was of no significant difference. TCB reading of chest was closer to SB.

The automatic cleaning machine we have developed, adopts a SCM system in automatic cleaning. The machine has five functions: ultrasonic cleaning, cold or hot water spraying, drying and greasing. The clinical applications show that the machine with a good effectiveness is suitable for the cleaning of many surgical instruments. It also raises working efficiency, cuts down on the cost of repair and maintenance and reduces the injury and infection to nurses caused by manual cleaning, satisfying the needs of clinical applications.
Automation ; instrumentation ; Disinfection ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Surgical Instruments ; standards ; Ultrasonics ; instrumentation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxing effect of vasonatrin peptide (VNP) on human intramammary artery (HIMA).The vasorelaxing effect of VNP on HIMA was measured by means of perfusion in vitro. The effects of HS-142-1, TEA, 8-Br-cGMP and methylene blue (MB) were also observed. It was found that VNP caused a concentration-dependent relaxation in HIMA which was independent of the endothelium. 8-Br-cGMP (0.1-1000 micromol/L) also caused a concentration-dependent relaxation in HIMA. The vasorelaxing effect of VNP disappeared in the presence of HS-142-1 (20 micromol/L), an antagonist of the natriuretic peptide guanylate cyclase (GC) receptor. MB (10 micromol/L), an inhibitor of GC, not only blocked completely the relaxation of HIMA, but also enhanced the vascular contraction induced by norepinephrine. TEA (1 mmol/L), an antagonist of calcium activated potassium channels (K(Ca)), reduced but not completely blocked the vasorelaxing effect of VNP. These findings suggest that VNP can relax HIMA, which is independent of the endothelium. This effect is possibly achieved by the binding of VNP with the natriuretic peptide GC receptors in the smooth muscle cells (SMCs), leading to an increase in intracellular cGMP level. Moreover, the vasorelaxing effect of VNP is associated with K(Ca).
Aged ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mammary Arteries ; drug effects ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled ; metabolism ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate blood lead levels (BLLs) and influencing factors of BLLs among preschool children living in towns of Hunan Province.

METHODSA total of 2 044 preschool children (1,108 boys and 936 girls) from towns of 12 regions in Hunan Province were enrolled by a cluster sampling between September 2008 and June 2009. The average age of the children was 4.4 ± 1.1 years (range 2 to 6 years). BLLs were determined using the atomic absorption spectrographic method. The influencing factors of BLLs were investigated using a standard questionnaire and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe mean BLLs of the children were 81.9 ± 34.5 μg/L. BLLs more than 100 μg/ L were noted in 482 children (23.58%). Of the 482 children, 472 (23.09%) showed BLLs of 100-199 μg/L and 10 (0.49%) showed BLLs ≥ 200 μg/L. There were significant differences in the prevalence of elevated BLLs (≥ 100 μg/L) among different age groups (P < 0.01). The prevalence of elevated BLLs in boys (28.99%) was significantly higher than that in girls (21.98%) (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the prevalence of elevated BLLs in children from different regions (P < 0.01). The logistic regression analysis showed that the male (OR = 1.449, P < 0.01), father's occupational lead exposure (OR = 1.314, P < 0.01)and maternal frequent use of hair dyes (OR = 1.678, P < 0.05) were risk factor for elevated BLLs.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of elevated BLLs is higher in preschool children living in towns of Hunan Province and is associated with a child's region and age. The male, father's occupational lead exposure and maternal frequent use of hair dyes are risk factor for elevated BLLs.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Sex Characteristics

AIMTo study the clinical effects of a disposable circumcision device in treatment of male patients of different ages with either phimosis or excess foreskin.

METHODSOne thousand two hundred patients between the age of 5 and 95 years underwent circumcision using this procedure in the 2-year period between October 2005 and September 2007. Of these cases, 904 had excess foreskin and 296 were cases of phimosis.

RESULTSIn 96.33% of the cases the incision healed, leaving a minimal amount of the inner foreskin with no scarring and producing good cosmetic results. There were no incidents of device dislocation or damage to the frenulum. The average operative time was 2.5 min for excess foreskin, and 3.5 min for phimosis. During the 7 days of wearing the device, mild to moderate edema occurred in 10.08% of cases with excess foreskin and in 2.58% of those with phimosis. Edema in the frenulum was seen in 1.67% of patients, and only 0.67% had an infection of the incision. A total of 86.25% of patients reported pain due to penile erection. After removal of the device, 0.58% of the cases had minimal bleeding around the incision, and 2.42% had wound dehiscence.

CONCLUSIONThe new device can be applied to an overwhelming majority of patients with phimosis and excess foreskin. This technique is relatively simple to perform, and patients who underwent this surgery had very few complications. Antibiotics were not required and patients reported less pain than those who were circumcised using conventional methods. Circumcision with this device requires minimal tissue manipulation, and is quicker and safer than circumcision using conventional techniques.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Circumcision, Male ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Pain, Postoperative

OBJECTIVETo construct a MYH9 gene knockout model in MGC803 cell line using transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) and observe its effect on cell cycle and apoptosis.

METHODSAccording to FastTALE(TM) TALEN Kit, we designed TALEN pairs and constructed the plasmids targeting to MYH9 gene. After detecting their activity in MGC803 cells by plasmid transfection, DNA sequencing, RT-PCR and western blot, we selected the monoclonal cells and studied the changes in the cell cycle and apoptosis.

RESULTSMYH9 gene could not be knocked out but knocked down in selected MGC803 monoclonal cells, which caused cell cycle arrested at G2/M phase (P<0.05) and a significant increase in the cell number with early apoptosis (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONWe successfully generated a MYH9 knockdown model in MGC803 cell lines by TALEN, which could be in favor of MYH9 function study in gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Molecular Motor Proteins ; genetics ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEGlucocorticoid (GC) is the first therapeutic choice of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). The response to GC treatment is an important indicator for the outcome of PNS children. Children with GC-resistant PNS present with incomplete or no response to GC, and may herald the progression to end-stage renal failure. However, the detailed mechanism of GC-resistance or GC-sensitive effect in these PNS children has not been clearly elucidated. The previous study by the authors indicated that there was increased expression of GR beta in PBMCs in GC-resistant children with PNS, and the over expression of GR beta resulted in GC resistance via influencing the ability of GR alpha nuclear translocation. To elucidate the relationship between GR beta expression in renal and in PBMCs and the effect of glucocorticoid on glucocorticoid-resistance children with PNS, the expression of GR alpha and GR beta in renal tissue and in PBMCs were detected by immunohistochemistry.

METHODSForty children with PNS were divided into two groups, GC-resistant group(20) and GC-sensitive group(20), the expression of GR alpha and GR beta in renal intrinsic cells and in PBMCs were measured with the immunohistochemistry technique. A semiquantitative score was used to evaluate the injury degree of the glomeruli and tubulointerstitium.

RESULTSCompared with GC-sensitive group, the glomerular pathologic scores (6.91 +/- 1.98) and renal tubular pathologic scores (7.12 +/- 1.62) in GC- resistant group were significantly different (P < 0.01, respectively). GR alpha expressions of renal tissue and PBMCs were higher in the control group (58.3 +/- 2.6, 59.1 +/- 7.2) than those in the GC-sensitive group (40.2 +/- 7.2 and 36.6 +/- 5.1, P < 0.01, respectively) and GC-resistant group (35.0 +/- 8.2 and 36.4 +/- 6.6, P < 0.01, respectively). GR beta expressions of renal tissue and PBMCs were higher in the GC-resistant group (13.8 +/- 3.0 and 12.1 +/- 4.1) and in the GC-sensitive group (6.5 +/- 1.9 and 5.9 +/- 1.0) than that in control group (2.3 +/- 0.4 and 3.2 +/- 1.1, P < 0.01, respectively). GR beta expressions in renal tissue and PBMCs were higher in the GC-resistant group than that in the GC-sensitive group (P < 0.01). Compared with control group, GR beta expressions in PBMCs and in renal tissue were lower than those in mild renal lesion group (5.4 +/- 2.8, 6.46 +/- 2.50), midmedium renal lesion group (8.7 +/- 2.4 and 11.4 +/- 3.7) and (17.1 +/- 0.4 and 18.7 +/- 0.7) in severe renal lesion group (F = 5.8, 15.6, P < 0.01, respectively). GR beta expression of PBMCs had a positive correlation with GR beta expression of renal intrinsic cells (r = 0.651, P < 0.01). GR beta expressions by PBMCs and renal intrinsic cells were positively correlated with renal pathologic scores (r = 0.579 and 0.623, P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONGC-resistant children with PNS were related to the increased GR beta expression in PBMCs and renal intrinsic cells. There was no correlation between the GR alpha expressions in PBMCs and in renal intrinsic cells. Increased GR beta expression might decrease the effect of GC via inhibiting the activity of GR alpha.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of EphA2 protein in tissue specimens and cell lines of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and to further study the correlation of EphA2 protein expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in LSCC.

METHODSWestern blot was applied to assess the EphA2 protein expression in LSCC cell line Hep-2 cells and the head and neck immortalized epithelial cell line NP-69 cells. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin sections of 88 cases of LSCC specimens and 16 cases of adjcent normal tissue samples to investigate the EphA2 protein expression, and to futher elucidate its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics.

RESULTSCompared with the NP-69 cells, EphA2 expression in LSCC cell line Hep-2 cells was upregulated. The positive rates of EphA2 expression in LSCC and adjcent normal tissues samples were 80.7% and 43.8%, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). EphA2 overexpresion was closely correlated with clinical stage (I + II/III + IV, P = 0.005), metastasis (P = 0.025) and recurrence (P = 0.021) in LSCC. Furthermore, patients with EphA2 overexpression had poorer tumor-free survival and 5-year overall survival compared with that in patients with low EphA2 expression (33.3% vs. 63.2%, P = 0.003; 46.7% vs. 81.6%, P = 0.002). EphA2 expression combined with clinical stage provided a better predictive value in prognosis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that EphA2 expression is an independent prognostic factor for patients with LSCC (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study demonstrate that EphA2 protein expression is significantly increased in LSCC tissues and cell lines, and EphA2 protein overexpression is associated with tumor recurrence, metastasis and poorer prognosis in LSCC patients. These results suggest that EphA2 may play a critical role in the initiation and progression of LSCC, implicating EphA2 as a valuable marker for the prediction of recurrence, metastasis and prognosis in LSCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, EphA2 ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE(99m)Tc-[bis (dimethoxypropylphosphinoethyl)-ethoxyethylamine (PNP5)]-[bis (N-ethoxyethyl)-dithiocarbamate (DBODC)] nitride ([(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+)) is a new myocardial perfusion tracer with high heart uptake and rapid liver clearance. The objectives of this study were to compare the myocardial imaging of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) with (99m)Tc-MIBI in a canine model of acute myocardial ischemia.

METHODSThe left anterior descending artery (LAD) was occluded in 12 adult beagle dogs, adenosine was then infused intravenously at a rate of 0.14 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 6 min. At the end of 3 min of adenosine infusion, 185 MBq of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) or (99m)Tc-MIBI was injected intravenously. The occluder was released after 6 min adenosine infusion. Serial myocardial SPECT imaging acquisitions were obtained at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 h after tracer injection, respectively. Rest myocardial SPECT imaging was acquired in the next day.

RESULTSSimilar as (99m)Tc-MIBI, [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) exhibited high heart uptake, minimal lung uptake and minimal redistribution. No significant myocardial washout was observed with both tracers over a period of 2 hours. [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) clearance from the liver was more rapid than that with (99m)Tc-MIBI (heart-liver radio at 60 min, 1.36 +/- 0.43 vs. 0.58 +/- 0.21, P = 0.005). [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) the ability to detect myocardial ischemia was also comparable between the two tracers ([(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) detected 3.60 +/- 1.52 defect segments, (99m)Tc-MIBI detected 4.25 +/- 0.96 defect segments, P = 0.48). The image quality of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) was better than (99m)Tc-MIBI.

CONCLUSION[(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) is comparable to (99m)Tc-MIBI on detecting myocardial ischemia in this model and liver clearance is more rapid and the image quality is better than (99m)Tc-MIBI.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Gallbladder adenoma,a benign tumor of mucosal epithelial origin,is considered to be a pre-cancer to gallbladder cancer(GBC),and its malignant transformation may occur in a relatively short time.The pathological process and molecular mechanism of gallbladder adenoma carcinogenesis are still controversial;ultrasound and CT are widely used to examine gallbladder diseases,and the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)and high-frame-rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound(H-CEUS)has improved the diagnostic accuracy.In this paper,we summarize the literature on the clinicopathological features,imaging manifestations,gene expression,treatment,and clinical prognosis of gallbladder adenoma carcinogenesis.