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

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible reasons and the treating experiences of ophthalmic complications in order to elevate the attention of the nasal endoscopic surgeon.

METHODSThis study was involved 8 categories in 22 cases which had typical characteristic of ophthalmic complications of endoscopic sinus surgery, including injury of lamina papyracea, obstructive cyst of frontal and ethmoid sinuses, orbital infection, injuries of lacrimal passages, injury of extraocular muscles, orbital hemorrhage, optic nerve injury and arterial embolism of optic fundi. The patients were given corresponding treatment.

RESULTSInjury of lamina papyracea was cured by medical treatment while orbital infection, injury of lacrimal passages, obstructive cyst of frontal and ethmoid sinuses were completely recovered by endoscopic surgery. In one of the cases, the injured optic nerve had recovered after transnasal optic and orbital apex decompression but the other 6 sides of 6 patients had not been improved. In one case who had suffered from injury of extraocular muscles, their diplopia disappeared mostly, but the other cases had a slight diplopia after surgery. One case who had visual descending caused by orbital hemorrhage recovered. Two cases of visual loss caused by intraorbital hemorrhage and arterial embolism of optic fundi respectively were not improved.

CONCLUSIONSIt is very difficult to cure if the patients lose the sight because of optic nerve injury, orbital hemorrhage and the ischemia of orbit, however, if the patients had remnant vision the prognosis should be much better.

Adult ; Aged ; Endoscopy ; adverse effects ; Eye Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Nerve Injuries ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Paranasal Sinuses ; surgery

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

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 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