The nitrate-N content in KNO3 solution and soil was rapidly predicted using techniques of mid-infrared spectroscopy, in which 15 NO-3 and 14 NO-3 were distinguished and predicted. The results showed that the characteristic band of nitrate in solution and soil was 1200-1500 cm-1 , and compared with 14 NO-3 , the red shift of characteristic band of 15 NO-3 was about 35 cm-1 . In the characteristic band of nitrate, absorption band increased with the nitrate nitrogen concentration with less interference absorption. The linear regression was made between the first principal component of characteristic band and nitrate-N content, and correlation coefficient was more than 0 . 9840 , indicating that the technique of mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy could be applied for rapid monitoring of nitrate in solution and soil. Meanwhile, based on the red shift characteristic of 15 NO-3 absorption band, the method of partial least squares were involved to predict the nitrate-N of different N-isotope labeled in solution and soil, resulting that all the prediction models reached excellent levels. For 14 NO3-N and 15 NO3-N in solution, the correlation coefficients ( R2 ) were 0. 9980 and 0. 9982 respectively, and ration performance to standard deviations ( RPD ) were 6. 44 and 4. 76, respectively. While for 14 NO3-N and 15 NO3-N in soil, the correlation coefficients ( R2 ) were 0. 9794 and 0. 9679, and RPD were 5. 75 and 4. 78, respectively. Therefore, the technique of mid-infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy can be applied for rapid monitoring different N-isotope labeled nitrate in solution and soil, to provide a new in situ and fast time method to study nitrification process in soil.

Animals ; Chickens ; physiology ; Eating ; drug effects ; Injections, Intraventricular ; methods ; Neuropeptide Y ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the effects of functional ambulation training in a realistic environment based on the activities of daily living among stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods Thirty-two stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,each of 16.Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training,while the experimental group was additionally given functional ambulation training based on the activities of daily living in a realistic environment for 60 min per day,five days a week for six weeks.Both groups were evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE),the Holden walking functional class assessment (HWFCA),the Berg balance scale (BBS),functional gait assessment (FGA),the 5 times sit to stand test (FTSST),the timed up and go test (TUGT),and rated using the specific activity balance confidence scale (ABC) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results Before the training,no significant differences between the two groups were found in terms of any of the measurements.After the six weeks of training,significant improvement was observed in all of the outcome measures except the MMSE and the HWFCA,with the experimental group scoring significantly better,on average,than the control group.Conclusion When combined with routine rehabilitation training,functional ambulation training based on the activities of daily living in a realistic environment can significantly enhance the functional gait,balance and postural control of stroke survivors.This should facilitate their activities in daily life and improve their confidence in maintaining their balance.

BACKGROUND:How to make more transplanted bone marrow stem cel s stay and differentiate in the liver is an important issue, which is also crucial for treatment of liver cirrhosis via the hepatic artery.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect of autologous bone marrow stem cel transplantation via the hepatic artery on liver cirrhosis.
METHODS:Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were equivalently randomized into normal control, stem cel transplantation and model groups. Animal models of liver cirrhosis were made in the latter two groups. Then, model rabbits in the stem cel transplantation group were subjected to autologous bone marrow stem cel transplantation via the hepatic artery. Liver function of rabbits was detected in 1, 2, 4, 8, 10 weeks after cel transplantation, and pathological detection of the liver was performed in the 10th week.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 10 weeks after cel transplantation, the liver function of the rabbits was improved significantly compared with the model group, including reduced activities of serum alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and aspartate aminotransferase, shortened activated partial thromboplastin time, and increased albumin level (P<0.05). Pathological examination of the liver showed that the liver cel s in the stem cel transplantation group were intact with no obvious edema and stil had the structure of the pseudolobule, and compared with the model group, the degree of liver fibrosis was significantly reduced in the stem cel transplantation group. Our experimental results show that the transplantation of autologous bone marrow stem cel s via the hepatic artery has a certain therapeutic effect on liver cirrhosis by increasing the body albumin content in a short time and improving the liver function.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of monocyte-macrophages (THP-1) in malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) cells induced by coal tar pitch (CTP) and the expression of TNF-α in the process of the cell malignant transformation.

METHODSBEAS-2B cells and THP-1 Cells were divided into four groups: coal tar pitch (CTP) group, benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] group, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, BEAS-2B and THP-1 co-culture (co-culture group) group. Carcinogenesis model was established. The soft agar colony formation, chromosome aberrations and cell cycle tests were used to detect the cellular malignant transformation. The ELISA assay was utilized to measure the levels of TNF-α in the supernatant of CTP group and co-culture group.

RESULTSThe chromosome number abnormalities could be observed in early stage of the experiment (the 10th generation cells), which showed the increased ratio of aneuploid to polyploid, and the decreased number of diploid. The colony formation rate of co-culture group (the 20th generation cells) was 17.63‰ ± 0.97‰, which was significantly higher than that (13.94‰ ± 0.84‰) of CTP group and that (12.96‰ ± 1.62‰) of B(a)P group (P < 0.05). The proportion of S phase cells in the co-culture group was 44.49% ± 0.68%, which was significantly higher than that (38.19% ± 1.26%) of CTP group and that (36.41% ± 1.19%) of B(a)P group (P < 0.05). The TNF-α level in the co-culture group was significantly higher than that in CTP group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONMonocyte-Macrophages can accelerate the malignant transformation of BEAS-2B cells induced by CTP and increase the expression level of TNF-α.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; Coal Tar ; toxicity ; Coculture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage (tuina) for treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Six English and Chinese databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM), Cochrane Library and PubMed databases, were independently searched to identify appropriate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying therapeutic massage for KOA compared to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone. The main outcome measures were total effectiveness and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score. Results: A total of 8 RCTs were included and they were of average quality. The results showed that therapeutic massage was more effective than NSAIDs comparing total effectiveness [risk ratio (RR)=1.14, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.21), P<0.0001]; compared with NSAIDs, therapeutic massage produced more significant improvements in pain [mean difference (MD)=-2.06, 95％CI (-2.75, -1.36), P<0.00001], stiffness intensity [MD=-0.90, 95％CI (-1.05, -0.75), P<0.00001] and joint function [MD=-12.48, 95％CI (-13.91, -11.05), P<0.00001]. Conclusion: Therapeutic massage was more effective than oral NSAIDs in treating KOA. In relieving pain and stiffness and improving the function of knee joint, therapeutic massage was superior to NSAIDs.

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between the presence of metalloproteinases and thyroid cancer remains unknown, and many controversies still exist in this field. The objective of this study was to investigate the correlations between papillary thyroid cancer and peripheral blood levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2.

METHODSThe correlations were studied by detecting the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood of 30 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 27 patients with benign thyroid disease, and 25 healthy volunteers.

RESULTSThe levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in the peripheral blood of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were significantly higher than those in the peripheral blood of patients with benign thyroid disease and healthy volunteers (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between patients with benign thyroid disease and healthy volunteers (P > 0.05). The accuracy of detection by both enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in the papillary thyroid cancer group was 83.33%.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in the peripheral blood are helpful in identifying thyroid carcinoma and aid in preoperative assessment.

Adult ; Aged ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; blood ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of localized Castleman's disease (CD), and review the literatures to improve the diagnosis and management of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical symptoms, histopathology, CT, MRI findings and results of surgery in 20 patients with localized CD were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTSThe average age of the patients was 37.7 years. The lesions were located in the retroperitoneal space (9 cases), mediastinum (7 cases), pelvic cavity (1 case), neck (1 case), upper arm (1 case), and axillary (1 case). All patients underwent surgical resection, including 9 cases for retroperitoneal resection (6 cases had open operation and 3 cases laparoscopic resection) and 7 cases for mediastinal resection (open operation in 5 cases and thoracoscopic resection in 2 cases). The Castleman's disease was confirmed by histopathology. There were hyaline vascular type of CD in 17 cases, plasma cell type of CD in 1 case, and mixed cellularity type of CD in 2 cases. The duration of follow-up ranged from 12 to 165 months for 16 cases. Among them 15 patients were alive without recurrence, and 1 case had recurrence in the primary site at 47 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with Castleman's disease have no typical clinical symptoms and have normal laboratory results. The majority of patients are of hyaline vascular type of the disease. Imaging examination is helpful to diagnosis, and the final diagnosis depends on pathologic examination. Complete surgical resection of the tumor is the best treatment for localized Castleman's disease.

Adult ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEEosinophils play a pivotal role in asthmatic airway inflammation. We previously found a significantly high expression of Slingshot-1L (SSH-1L) in peripheral eosinophils in acute exacerbations of asthma. Objective To investigate the expression and localization patterns of SSH-1L in peripheral blood eosinophils of asthmatic patients and their changes after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.

METHODSWe recruited 4 outpatients with acute exacerbations of asthma who received no previous corticosteroid treatment and 1 healthy volunteer. From all the subjects 30 ml peripheral venous blood samples were collected before and after a 3-month treatment with inhaled fluticasone. The eosinophils were isolated, purified and counted, and the expressions of SSH-1L in the eosinophils were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The localization of SSH-1L phosphatases in the peripheral eosinophils was detected by immunofluorescence assay in one patient.

RESULTSSSH-1L phosphatases distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm, especially dense near the membrane of the peripheral eosinophils. Glucocorticoids treatment resulted in a significant reduction in both the SSH-1L mRNA expression (0.7403∓0.1124 vs 0.4101∓0.0363, P=0.001) and SSH-1L protein expression (0.3410∓0.1337 vs 0.1543∓0.0551, P=0.039).

CONCLUSIONA high expression of SSH-1L in peripheral eosinophils in acute exacerbations of asthma may play a role in the activation and migration of eosinophils. The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma control might be partly attributed to a down-regulated expression of SSH-1L.

Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; blood ; drug therapy ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases ; metabolism