Objective To investigate the combined effects of fluoride and aluminum intoxication on bones and their possible mechanisms.Methods Kunming mice were divided into nine groups according to the factorial experiment design.Different dose of fluoride(NaF,0,50,150 mg/L)and/or aluminum(AlCl3,0,200,600 mg/L)was administered to each group in drinking water.After 24 weeks,the degree of mottled teeth and the histomorphometric parameters,such as the bone trabecula and osteoid areas,the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts,and pathologic changes in femur were observed.Results Aluminum could also caused mottled teeth(in degree 4).The mottled teeth in the combined groups were more serious than those in fluoride or aluminum alone group.The interaction between fluoride and aluminum existed in the changes of bone trabecula and osteoid areas(F=2.963,3.688,P＜0.05),and not existed in changes of the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts(F=2.347,0.888,P＞0.05).In high fluoride group,the trabecula and osteoid areas were(50 675.47±22 916.34),(10 733.97 ±3015.55)μm2,but it increased to(75 988.64±13 797.21),(16 402.88±4605.83)μm2 when combined with high aluminum(P＜0.05),and the group of high fluoride +low aluminum increased to(69 277.16±19 837.51),(18 564.79±6362.47)μm2 (P＜0.05),so aluminum antagonized the effects induced by fluoride;the area of bone trabecula of group of high aluminum was(60 718.43 ±17 574.37)μm2,but it increased[(75 988.64±13 797.21),(82 474.94±15 466.66)μm2]when combined with high or low fluoride(P＜0.05),and the combined effects showed a similarity to those in high aluminum group.The prominent osteoporosis with increased osteoid and cartilage tissues,and decreased amount of bony matrix and minerals were the main histopathological changes in the bone.Conclusions Both high aluminum and fluoride intoxication can result in mottled teeth,their combined effects are more serious than the individual effect.The prominent injury of combined fluoride and aluminum intoxication is osteomalacia and osteoporosis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of percutaneous transhepatic embolization of gastroesophageal varices (PEGV) and partial splenic embolization(PSE) for the treatment of variceal bleeding. Methods Fifty patients with cirrhosis who fit in with the requirements of the study were randomly divided into dual-interventional group and surgical group. The patients in dual-interventional group were treated with PEGV together with PSE, and the patients in surgery group were treated with Hassab's operation. After the procedure all the patients in two groups were followed up periodically. The endoscopy, B ultrasonography, liver function tests and hematologic examinations were performed 24 months after the therapy, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results Fifty patients were enrolled in this study. The procedures of embolization and surgery were successful in all patients. In dual-interventional group, the whit eblood cell and platelet counts were (2.33±0.65) 10~9/L and (3.63±1.05) ×10~9/L respectively before the treatment and were (7.98±3.0) ×10~9/L and (163±91)× 10~9/L respectively 24 months after the treatment (P<0.05). The diameter of theportal vein was (1.47±0.25) cm before the treatment and was(1.31±0.23) cm 24 months after the treatment (P<0.05). The severity of esophageal varices decreased from grade Ⅲ to lower grade Ⅱ in 11 patients, and from grade Ⅱ to lower grade Ⅰ in 6 patients 24 months after procedure. Portal thrombosis occurred in 1 case. The recurrent bleeding rate was 16% (4/25) 24 months after treatment. Three patients died of the recurrent bleeding, one patient died of hepatic failure. In surgical group, the white blood cell and platelet counts were (2.2±0.60) ×10~9/L and (41±12.5) ×109/L before treatment, and were (9.3±2.56)×10~9/L and (321±12.5)×10~9/L 24 months after treatment (P<0.05). The diameter of the portal vein was (1.43±0.22) cm before the treatment and was (1.28±0.18) cm after the treatment (P<0.05). The severity of esophageal varices decreased from grade Ⅲ to lower grade Ⅱ in 13 patients, and from grade Ⅱ to lower grade Ⅰ in 7 patients. Four patients developed portal thrombosis after the procedure. The recurrent bleeding rate was 20%(5/25), 2 patients died of hepatic failure after the surgery, 2 died of recurrent bleeding. Conclusion In treating patients with cirrhosis, the combination of PGEV and PSE, regarded as dual-interventional therapy, is very effective, especially in controlling recurrent bleeding and in improving white blood cell and platelet counts.

Background It has become a consensus about the necessity of topical administration of corticosteroid eye solutions after myopic laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK).The glucocorticoid eye drops with good anti-inflammatory effect and less adverse effects is helpful for the repair of corneal epithelium following LASIK.Objective This study was to evaluate the clinical effects of 0.5％ loteprednol etabonate eye drops after LASIK.Methods A prospective randomized-controlled study was designed.One hundred and twelve myopia patients(224 eyes)who had received LASIK were included in this study and randomly divided into two groups,and 97 patients finished the follow-up,including 108 eyes of 54 patients in the 0.5％ ioteprednol etabonate eye drops treatment group and 86 eyes of 43 patients in the control group.0.5％ loteprednol etabonate eye drops or dexamethasone/tobramycin eye drops were administered topically to the treatment group and control group,respectively 4 times daily from postoperative day 1 through day 7 following LASIK in addition to regular basic treatment.The follow-up was performed 1 day,1 week and 1 month after LASIK.Subjective symptoms including eye pain,foreign body sensation and blurring were scored,and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA),best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),intraocular pressure(IOP),central corneal thickness,corneal fluorescein staining and diffuse laminar keratitis(DLK)were evaluated and compared between the two groups 1 day,1 week,and 1 month after LASIK.This clinical trial was approved by the Ethic Commission of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before the trial.Results No drug-related ocular and systemic adverse events were found in the treatment group throughout the follow-up duration.There was no significant difference in the subjective symptom score after 1 day,1 week and 1 month(P＞0.05).At 1 week post-LASIK,the corrected actual IOP was (16.27±3.31)mmHg in the treatment group and(17.49±4.48)mmHg in the control group,with a statistically significant difference between them(t =-2.113,P =0.036).However,there was no statistically significant difference in IOP between the treatment group(15.01±3.22)mmHg and the control group(15.30±4.17)mmHg at 1 month post-LASIK(t=-0.532,P=0.595).Mild diffuse lamellar keratitis developed in 7 eyes in the treatment group and 5 eyes in the control group without a significant difference on the first day after LASIK(x2 =0.153,P =0.926).The scores of corneal fluorescein staining were not statistically different between the two groups at 1 day,1 week and 1 month postoperative(Z=-0.566,P=0.571 ;Z=-0.689,P=0.491 ;Z=-1.628,P=0.103).Conclusions 0.5％ loteprednol etabonate eye drops could effectively inhibit postoperative inflammation and low the incidence of DLK.It can lessen the risk of IOP elevation in comparison with traditional steroid eye drops.

Conjugal plasmid pGH112 has been developed based on the replicons of Streptomyces coelicolor plasmid SCP2 and E. coli ColE. The plasmid contains ampicilin resistance gene(amp) for selection in E. coli and thiostrepton resistance gene (tsr) for selection in Streptomycetes, and a 0.76 kb oriT fragment of (IncP) RK2. Conjugal transfer of pGH112 was performed from E. coli to S. coelicolor A3(2), S. avermitilis, S. lividans TK54, S. toxytricini NNRL15443, S. venezuelae ISP5230 and Sacc. erythraea by conjugation, results show that the plasmid was able to transfer efficenctly from E. coli to Streptomycetes, was stably inherited in the recipients. pGH113 was constructed from pGH112 by combining the constitutive ermE promoter with green fluorescent protein gene(gfp).
Ampicillin Resistance ; genetics ; Conjugation, Genetic ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Streptomycetaceae ; genetics ; Thiostrepton ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of electroacupuncture on hemodynamics at peri-intratracheal intubation period under general anesthesia.

METHODSSixty cases at peri-intratracheal intubation period under general anesthesia were randomly divided into electroacupuncture group [Before anesthesia induction, electroacupuncture stimulation was given at Neiguan (PC 6), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Shenmen (HT 7)], and control group, 30 cases in each group. All the patients in the two groups received intratracheal intubation with light-guide laryngoscopy under general anesthesia with midazolam, fentanyl, isopropyl, succinylcholine, etc.; changes of various indexes of hemodynamics were detected at anesthesia induction and different time points of the intubation.

RESULTSAt the anesthesia induction, various indexes of hemodynamics in the electroacupuncture group were relatively stable, and decreased significantly in the control group (P < 0.01); during intratracheal intubation, the various indexes in the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.05) and in the control group (P < 0.01) increased significantly as compared with those before anesthesia induction; 5 min after intubation, the various indexes in both the two groups restored normal.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) and other points can stabilize changes of hemodynamics at the intratracheal intubation and increase safety of operation under anesthesia.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Electroacupuncture ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal

[Objective]To discuss the microsurgical approaches of 30 patients with tentorial meningiomas and conclude their treatment experiences.[Methods]A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 30 patients underwent microsurgical approaches from July 2004 to September 201 1.The pathology of these patients was confirmed after operation.The outcome and follow-up were evaluated.[Results] The meningiomas were totally removed in 19 patients subtotally in 6,and partially in 5.All the patients received 8 months to 5 years of follow-up:no mortality or death were found;no surgical related complications were noted.[Conclusion] Appropriate approaches according to the size and site of the tumors,intraoperative protection of venous sinus,facial and acoustic nerves and brain stem are the key points to improve the therapeutical outcomes and the post-operative quality of patients with infra and supra tentorial menmingiomas.

BACKGROUNDPostoperative preablative stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) has been evaluated in predicting prognosis and success of ablation regarding differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC); however, its relationship with recurrence risk and radioiodine decision-making remains uncertain, especially in Chinese DTC patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between ps-Tg and recurrence risk stratification in DTC, to provide incremental values for ps-Tg in postoperative assessment and radioiodine management.

METHODSSeven hundred and seven patients with DTC were included; low-risk (L; n = 90), intermediate-risk (I; n = 283), and high-risk (H; n = 334, 117 with distant metastasis [M1]) patients were divided according to recurrence risk stratification. The M1 group was further analyzed regarding evidence of metastasis. Cut-off values of ps-Tg were obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTSPatients with more advanced disease at initial risk stratification were more likely to have higher ps-Tg levels (I vs. L: P < 0.05; H vs. I: P < 0.001; H vs. L: P < 0.001). The corresponding cut-off value of ps-Tg for distinguishing sensitivity and specificity in each of the two groups was 2.95 ng/ml (I vs. L: 61.5%, 63.3%), 29.5 ng/ml (H vs. I: 41.9%, 92.6%), 47.1 ng/ml (M1 vs. M0 in the H group: 79.5%, 88.9%) and 47.1 ng/ml (M1 vs. M0 in all patients: 79.5%, 93.7%). With the cut-off value at 47.1 ng/ml, ps-Tg was the only factor that could be used to identify distant metastases, and consequently if measured before radioiodine therapy would prevent 10.26% of patients with M1 from undertreatment.

CONCLUSIONSPs-Tg, as an ongoing reassessment marker, favors differential recurrence risk grading and provides incremental values for radioiodine treatment decision-making.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVEThe cascade of physiological events underlying hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) remains to be fully established. The perinatal brain shows both an increased tolerance to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury and a faster and more complete recovery than the adult. It is, therefore, important to understand the sequence of events following hypoxia and ischemia in young animals. The present study aimed to clarify the time-course of the activation of the mu-calpain, and the expression of c-Fos, c-Jun, HSP70 and HSP27 proteins following severe HI (2 h hypoxia) and their relationship with each other.

METHODSA modified newborn rat model of HIBD that included a combination of hypoxia and ischemia as described by Rice was used. Forty-two postnatal 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups (6 rats in each): 6 time-window groups and a normal control group. Samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h after HI insults. The protein concentration was determined using a modified Bradford assay. mu-calpain activation, c-Fos, c-Jun, HSP70 and HSP27 expressions were observed respectively by Western blot from cortical and hippocampal samples.

RESULTSThe cleavage of cytosolic mu-calpain was observed from both cortical and hippocampal samples in neonatal rats after HI. The ratio 76:80 of mu-calpain was increased significantly post-HI and reached a maximum at 24 h in cortex and at 12 h in hippocampus after HI. The expressions of c-Fos and c-Jun from both cortical and hippocampal samples in neonatal rats were up-regulated and peaked at 2 or 4 h after HI, demonstrating significant differences at 1, 2, 4, and 12 h compared with that observed in the control (P < 0.05). When compared with that observed in cortex, the nuclear c-Fos expression from hippocampal samples was highly elevated at 2, 4 and 12 h but significantly decreased at 24 h after HI (P < 0.05), while the nuclear c-Jun expression from hippocampal samples was highly elevated at 0 and 1 h but significantly decreased at 4 and 24 h after HI (P < 0.05). Similarly, the expressions of HSP70 and HSP27 from both cortical and hippocampal samples were up-regulated and reached a maximum at 12 or 24 h after HI, demonstrating significant differences at 12 or 24 h both in cortex and hippocampus for HSP70, and at 24 h in cerebral cortex as well as at 12 and 24 h in hippocampus for HSP27 compared with the control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in comparison with that observed in cortex, the HSP70 expression from hippocampal samples was highly elevated at 1 h, but significantly decreased at 4, 12 and 24 h after HI (P < 0.05), while the HSP27 expression was permanently elevated in hippocampus after HI.

CONCLUSIONThe neuronal injury induced by HI insults appears to involve many ongoing and simultaneous mechanisms. HI activates the calpains immediately, which may contribute to neuron apoptosis, and induces a significant brain neuroprotection, since there is an increased HSP70 expression and a relatively late remarkable HSP27 expression in hypoxic-ischemic neonatal rat brain. Nuclear c-Fos and c-Jun may participate in the pathogenesis of HIBD.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Female ; HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hypoxia, Brain ; metabolism ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the perfusion characteristics of the peritumoral brain edema of intracranial meningiomas using 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging.

METHODSDynamic contrast-enhanced single-location sequence CT scan was performed in 19 patients with intracranial meningiomas and peritumoral brain edema. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and the mean transit time (MTT) were calculated for the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe rCBF and rCBV in the peritumoral brain edema were significantly lower than those of the contralateral white matter in patients with meningiomas (rCBF: 14.26-/+7.44 vs 26.92-/+15.71 ml/100 g tissue.min, P<0.05; rCBV: 0.96-/+0.35 vs 2.47-/+1.69 ml/100 g tissue, P<0.05). But the MTT showed no significant difference between the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rCBF and rCBV are significantly lowered in the peritumoral brain edema in comparison with those of the contralateral white matter. Vascular compression by the edema fluid may have a major effect on the tissue blood flow and blood volume.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Edema ; complications ; diagnosis ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genotoxicity of a magnesium alloy coated with beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP).

METHODSFour groups were designed. In the first group, AZ31B magnesium alloy surface was coated with beta-TCP using chemical bath deposition, and in the second group magnesium alloy was tested. The other two groups were negative control (pure titanium) and positive control groups (0.5 mg/L bleomycin). Single cell gel electrophoresis was adopted to investigate genotoxicity of the alloy samples in different groups, and 60 cells from each group were analysed. Tail moment and tail DNA percentage were used as reliable indicators to show DNA damage in lymphocytes induced by every testing sample. Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test was used to compare results from 4 groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in tail moment and tail DNA percentage between magnesium alloy group [(0.52 +/- 0.12), (6.82 +/- 1.81)%] and magnesium alloy coated with beta-TCP group [(0.51 +/- 0.12), (6.89 +/- 1.93)%, P > 0.05]. Tail moment and tail DNA percentage in negative group were (0.47 +/- 0.14) and (6.29 +/- 1.64)%, and tail moment and tail DNA percentage in positive group were (5.17 +/- 1.23) and (22.09 +/- 4.51)%.

CONCLUSIONSNo significant increase was found in DNA damage in lymphocytes induced by magnesium alloy coated with beta-TCP.

Alloys ; Calcium Phosphates ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Humans ; Magnesium ; Materials Testing