Acrylonitrile ; poisoning ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; complications ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure of mice brain and to investigate the toxicity of bitumen fume on nerve system of mice brain.

METHODSThe experimental mice were forced to inhale the bitumen fume at different exposure level and in different time periods. The contents of the three transmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in mice brain were measured by the fluorescence meanwhile ultrastructure of mice brain was observed by electronic microscope. The ultrastructure of mice brain was observed under transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe contents of DA, NE and 5-HT in all groups decreased with the increasing of dose and prolonging of time (after 8 week, with the increasing of exposure lever, the content of DA, NE, 5-HT was respectively 2.194, 2.190, 2.181, 2.178 microg/g and 1.148, 1.138, 1.135 and 1.407, 1.403, 1.395 microg), but the results did not show significant differences. The structure of the mitochondria changes included the swollen mitochondria, chromatin margination, pyknosis and apoptosis in neuro cells and the processes of swollen astrocyte cells.

CONCLUSIONThe bitumen fume could induce changes of the ultrastructure of mice brain and affect the contents of neurotransmitter of mice brain.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hydrocarbons ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; analysis

BACKGROUNDThymosin beta-4 (TB-4) is considered key roles in tissue development, maintenance and pathological processes. The study aimed to prove TB-4 positive biological function on nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis and slowing the process of cell aging while increasing the cell proliferation.

METHODSTB-4 recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) was constructed and induced to human NP cells. Cell of same group were cultured without gene modification as controlled group. Proliferation capacity and cell apoptosis were observed during 6 passages of the cells. Morphology and expression of the TB-4 gene were documented as parameter of cell activity during cell passage.

RESULTSNP cells with TB-4 transfection has normal TB-4 expression and exocytosis. NP cells with TB-4 transfection performed significantly higher cell activity than that at the control group in each generation. TB-4 recombinant AAV-transfected human NP cells also show slower cell aging, lower cell apoptosis and higher cell proliferation than control group.

CONCLUSIONSTB-4 can prevent NP cell apoptosis, slow NP cell aging and promote NP cell proliferation. AAV transfection technique was able to highly and stably express TB-4 in human NP cells, which may provide a new pathway for innovation in the treatment of intervertebral disc degenerative diseases.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; genetics ; physiology ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Thymosin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo measure the spectral transmittance of Cerinate porcelain veneer and enamel in different color and different thickness.

METHODSSamples of Cerinate porcelain veneers were prepared in different thickness (0.50 mm, 0.75 mm, 1.00 mm) and different Vita shade (A1, A2, A3). Enamel samples in shade A2 were made with three thickness (0.50 mm, 0.75 mm, 1.00 mm). A spectrophotometer with spectra range (380-800 nm) was employed to measure the spectral transmittance.

RESULTSSpectral transmittance decreased with the increasing in the thickness of specimens and decreasing in the color darkness. The transmittance of Cerinate porcelain veneer material and enamel in the same color and same thickness hadn't significant difference.

CONCLUSIONThe key factor to spectral transmittance of porcelain veneer materials is veneer's thickness, and the color of the materials has also some influence on it. Cerinate porcelain veneers can properly recover the transparency of teeth.

Ceramics ; Color ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Veneers ; Humans ; Spectrophotometry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the response rate and adverse reactions of exemestane (a new aromatase inactivator) in the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-three patients with advanced breast cancer entered this study with two patients excluded because of postmenopausal time being less than one year. Therefore, 173 patients could be evaluated for adverse events and 171 patients could be evaluated for efficacy. Exemestane, 25 mg orally daily for 4 weeks as one cycle was given.

RESULTSIn the 171 patients evaluated for efficacy, 4 (2.3%) experienced a complete response (CR) and 40 (23.4%) a partial response (PR), with the overall response rate of 25.7%. Ninety patients (52.6%) had stable disease (SD), with 25 having SD for at least 24 weeks. The clinical benefit (CR + PR + SD > or = 24 weeks) was shown in 69 (40.4%) patients. Progressive disease (PD) was shown in 37 (21.6%) patients. The untreated patients had a higher objective response rate (33.8%) than the retreated ones (18.1%) with significant difference (P = 0.019 7). The response rates for soft-tissue, bone involvement and visceral metastasis were 32.8%, 23.9%, and 12.4% (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in different ages, time of menopause, disease-free interval or receptor status (P > 0.05). Drug-related adverse events were gastric discomfort (17.9%), malaise (17.9%), nausea (13.9%), hot flushes (11.0%) and dysphoria (5.8%). Other side reactions and abnormal laboratory parameters were observed occasionally which were irrelevant.

CONCLUSIONExemestane can be used to treat postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer giving only mild adverse reactions which are well tolerated.

Adult ; Aged ; Androstadienes ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause

Objective To evaluate the pathophysiological change of diabetes and its significance in the treatment of newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.Methods A total of 322 newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were included in this study and were divided into 2 groups with normal or impaired islet first-phase insulin secretion according to arginine stimulation test.The former group was assigned to repaglinide (Novo Norm), rosiglitazone (Avandia) and mefformin subgroups and the latter one to repaglinide,rosiglitazone and glipizide subgroups randomly.Results (1)Compared with baseline,fasting plasma glucose,2 h postprandial plasma glucose and HbA_(1C) were significantly decreased in all subgroups after 3 and 6 months of treatment (all P

Objective To evaluate the first-phase insulin release and insulin sensitivity in patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes.Methods A total of 332 patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes were classified into two groups of normal or abnormal islet function according to arginine stimulation test,and their results were evaluated.Results (1)Body weight,body mass index (BMI),waist circumference,hip circumference,femoral circumference,fasting serum true insulin and triglyceride in normal islet function group were significantly higher than those in abnormal group (all P

The study was aimed to explore whether there are leukemic characteristics in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) from leukemic patients as compared with normal controls. The mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow of normal volunteers and patients with APL and CML were isolated, then cultured and proliferated in vitro. The morphology, growth curve and cell surface markers of two different sources mesenchymal stem cells were investigated for detecting whether the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from leukemia patients have the specific abnormal fusion gene of leukemia cells through fluorescent in situ hybridization. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the mesenchymal stem cells derived from different subjects, the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells derived from leukemia patients did not have the clonal malignant fusion gene as seen in the leukemia cells. Taken altogether, mesenchymal stem cells derived from leukemia patients had no biological differences as compared with those from normal volunteers, and no malignant clonal abnormality was found. It is concluded that mesenchymal stem cells derived from leukemia patients as an alternative vehicle may be used for assistant of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or cell therapy and gene therapy.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; pathology ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; pathology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid in the treatment of bone pain in patients with bone metastasis from solid tumor or multiple myeloma.

METHODSA randomized, double-blind, double-simulated and multi-center phase III clinical trail with pamidronate as control was conducted. Patients with moderate to severe bone pain (VAS > 50 mm) induced by solid tumor or multiple myeloma were randomized to receive intravenous zoledronic acid 4 mg or pamidronate 90 mg. Then the change of VAS and urinary NTX/Cr and CTX/Cr were observed in two groups.

RESULTSFrom July 2005 to September 2006, 228 patients with bone pain induced by bone metastasis from 15 cancer centers were randomize into two groups: 116 patients in zoledronic acid group and 112 patients in pamidronate group. The VAS value was decreased gradually after treatment in these two groups. Significant improvement in bone pain after treatment were observed both in zoledronic acid group and the control group when compared with baseline VAS on D8 (-11.77% vs. -10.87%), D15 (-24.60% vs. -21.06%) and D28 (-32.37% vs. -31.26%) (P< or =0.0001), but no significant difference existed between two groups (P =0.6587). Compared with baseline, urine NTX/Cr and CTX/Cr level were decreased rapidly after treatment in both groups, the nadir was on D8, the median decreased on D28, which was -36.9% vs. -32.1% for NTX/Cr (P = 0.7922) and -63.2% vs. -47.9% for CTX/Cr (P =0.834). The frequently observed adverse events were pyrexia (19.0% vs. 31.3%), vomiting (6.0% vs. 8.9%), nausea (4.3% vs. 4.5%), fatigue (3.4% vs. 2.7%) and constipation (2.6% vs. 1.8%) in the two groups. Compared with baseline, the serum creatinine level was not significantly increased throughout the study.

CONCLUSIONIntravenous injection of 4 mg zoledronic acid can significantly reduce bone pain and bone resorption marker in urine in the Chinese patients with bone metastasis from solid tumor or multiple myeloma, which is tolerable and also comparable to pamidronate in the efficacy and safety.

Adult ; Aged ; Analgesics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Collagen Type I ; urine ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Creatinine ; urine ; Diphosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fever ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; complications ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Intractable ; drug therapy ; etiology ; urine ; Peptides ; urine ; Prospective Studies ; Vomiting ; chemically induced