Animals ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; physiology ; RNA, Untranslated ; physiology

Animals ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nanotechnology ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Photons ; Quantum Dots ; Staining and Labeling ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in characteristics of periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque of patients with puberty gingivitis and its relevance with clinical symptoms.

METHODSA total of 108 subgingival plaque samples were collected from 30 patients with puberty gingivitis (Group G), 9 cases of chronic periodontitis (Group P) and 15 healthy controls (Group H). The age of the 54 participants was from 11 to 17. The black-pigmented bacteria (BPB), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Actinomyces were detected using bacterial culture. The probing depth (PD), gingival index (GI), bleeding index (BI) and attachment loss (AL) were also recorded.

RESULTSIn all these three groups, the detection rates of black-pigmented bacteria were: 3%, 30% and 100%; Fn were: 30%, 68% and 94%, statistically significantly different (P < 0.01). The lgCFU/ml of black-pigmented bacteria and Actinomyces was higher in mild-moderate group [(3.8 +/- 0.7) and (5.3 +/- 0.9)] than in Group H (P < 0.001). The lgCFU/ml of black-pigmented bacteria and Fn significantly was higher in severe inflammation group [(4.7 +/- 1.2) and (4.4 +/- 0.8)] than in the mild-moderate group (P < 0.01). The lgCFU/ml of black-pigmented bacteria, Fn and Aa was higher in severe gingivitis group [(6.6 +/- 1.0), (5.5 +/- 1.0) and (4.2 +/- 1.7)] than in mild gingivitis group (P < 0.01). The detection rate and lgCFU/ml of black-pigmented bacteria, Fn and Aa were both positively correlated with BI, PD and AL.

CONCLUSIONSIn the stage of severe gingivitis, the periodontal pathogens increased markedly, suggesting that risk of further destruction of periodontal tissue may exist.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Gingivitis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontium ; microbiology

Objective: To investigate the causes and management of enteral feeding intolerance in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed of 128 SAP patients who underwent enteral feeding treatment during the period from January 2006 to January 2008. Results: The rate of enteral feeding intolerance was significantly higher in the group of patients who didn' t use Flocare 800 pump, single-use enteral feeding tube and heater (10/50 or 20.0%) than that in the group of patients who used Flocare 800 pump, single-use enteral feeding tube and heater (5/78 or 6.4%). Conclusion: The possible risk factors of enteral feeding intolerance may be transfusional speed, temperature and concentration of nutritional fluid. Severity of acute pancreatitis is another important factor. Intestinal dysfunction should be noticed during the enteral nutritional support.

OBJECTIVEThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) category IIIa chronic prostatitis syndromes (non bacterial chronic prostatitis) were common disorders but with few effective therapies. Alpha-blockers and bioflavonoids had recently been reported in randomized controlled trials to improve the symptom of these disorders in a significant proportion of men. The aim of this study was to confirm these findings in a prospective randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

METHODSForty-five men with category IIIa chronic non bacterial protatitis were randomized into three groups as follows: (1) placebo; (2) phenoxybenzamine-hydrochloride:10 mg two times a day for one month; (3) flavoxate HCI-neptumus: 200 mg three times a day for one month. The NIH chronic prostatitis symptom score was used to grade symptoms at the beginning and conclusion of the study.

RESULTSAll the patients in three groups completed the study except three dropout patients in placebo group because of sever symptoms. The three groups were similar in age, duration of symptoms and initial symptom score. Patients taking placebo had a mean improvement in NIH-CPSI from 21.85 to 19.55 (not significant), while the phenoxybenzamine-hydrochloride group had a mean improvement from 21.95 to 13.75 (P < 0.01), and those taking flavoxate HCI-neptumus had a mean improvement from 21.75 to 16.95 (P < 0.05). The decrease in NIH-CPSI was associated with significant improvement in patients' clinical manifestations.

CONCLUSIONTherapy with alpha-blockers was well tolerated with significant symptomatic improvement in most men having chronic non-bacterial chronic protatitis while the bioflavonoids group had no significant improvement. Mechanism of both medicines needs further study.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Flavoxate ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Parasympatholytics ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the value of compute tomography (CT)-based quantitative assessment in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSSixty patients with pneumoconiosis and 40 healthy volunteers (control) underwent CT scanning at the levels of the top of the aortic arch, tracheal carina, and 3 cm and 6 cm below the tracheal carina. All the CT images were analyzed with density histograms for a specific region to calculate the mean lung CT value (ME) and pixel index for assessment of lung density changes.

RESULTSAt the levels of the top of the aortic arch and 6 cm below the tracheal carina, the pixel indices in the 10 CT threshold density intervals within -832 to -352 HU was all significantly higher in pneumoconiosis group than in the control group (P<0.05). At the levels of the tracheal carina and 3 cm below the tracheal carina, the 11 pixel indices in the CT threshold density intervals within -880 to -352 HU were also significantly higher in pneumoconiosis group (P<0.05). At all the 4 scan levels, the pixel indices in the 10 intervals between -880 and -352 HU were all significantly higher in pneumoconiosis group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT density histograms allow quantitative evaluation of lung fibrosis in patients with pneumoconiosis for diagnostic purposes.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Spiral Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the ischemic postconditioning on the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/IL-6/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)-3 signal pathway of liver regeneration.

METHODSNinety healthy clean grade male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 230 to 280 g were selected and assigned into three groups randomly: group I subtotal hepatectomy (SH), group II ischemia reperfusion (IR), group III ischemic postconditioning (IPO). The left and middle liver was resected, and the remnant liver was treated as followed: the blood flow was not blocked in SH group, but blocked 30 minutes in IR group, then reperfused; IPO groups received three cycles of 30 s-30 s intermittent interruptions of blood flow at onset of reperfusion. At 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after reperfusion, the serum TNF-α, IL-6 was detected and the mRNA of cyclinD1, Cdk4, STAT-3 was assayed by real-time PCR as well as the protein expression of cyclinD1 and Cdk4 by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with SH group, the expression of IL-6 declined at each set time point in IR group (t = 5.076 to 8.334, P = 0.000), but the content of TNF-α increased in early stage (1 to 12 h) (t = 2.972 to 7.215, P = 0.000 - 0.014). The expression of STAT-3, cyclinD1 and Cdk4 mRNA and protein of cyclinD1 and Cdk4 at 24 and 48 h after reperfusion were lower in IR group than in SH group (t = 2.857 to 6.684, P = 0.000 to 0.017). However, there was a significant decrease in TNF-α from 1 to 12 h after reperfusion (t = 2.995 to 4.112, P = 0.002 to 0.017), but a significant increase in IL-6 in IPO group than in IR group (t = 2.458 to 3.543, P = 0.005 to 0.034). The expression of STAT-3, cyclinD1, Cdk4 mRNA and protein of cyclinD1 and Cdk4 at 24 and 48 h after reperfusion were all increased in IPO group in comparison with in IR group (t = 2.383 to 6.803, P = 0.000 to 0.038).

CONCLUSIONSThe ischemic postconditioning could promote the remnant liver regeneration after subtotal hepatectomy with ischemia reperfusion injury. Its mechanism relates with the activation of the TNF-α/IL-6/STAT-3 signal pathway of and the cyclinD1-Cdk4 complex which enhances the proliferation of hepatocyte.

Animals ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Hepatectomy ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Regeneration ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo summarize the detailed failure mechanisms of revision hip arthroplasties and related risk factors.

METHODSFrom November 1988 to July 2008 revision of total hip arthroplasties was performed in 327 patients. The medical history, clinical and imaging material and operation records were investigated.

RESULTSRegarding revision as the end point of the study, the reasons for 327 revision arthroplasties were aseptic loosening in 226 hips (69.1%), infection in 52 hips (15.9%), periprosthetic fracture in 22 hips (6.7%), instability in 17 hips (5.2%), stem fracture in 5 hips (1.5%) and liner dissociation in 5 hips (1.5%).

CONCLUSIONSThe main failure mechanisms of primary hip arthroplasties are aseptic loosening and infection of implants, which could be attributed to improper selection of operation indications and implants and limitations to surgical philosophy and technique.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Prosthesis Failure ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on macrophages expressing TNF-alpha related apoptosis induced-ligand (TRAIL) and its relation to apoptosis of HepG2 cell line.

METHODSMembrane-bound TRAIL (mTRAIL) was measured by flow cytometry; soluble TRAIL in supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent sandwich assay (ELISA); cytotoxicity of TRAIL to HepG2 cell line was measured by chromium release assay, and apoptosis of HepG2 cell was confirmed by Annexin V staining.

RESULTSLPS only slightly increased membrane-bound TRAIL expression of macrophages. On the other hand, soluble TRAIL in the supernatant was increased with LPS stimulation, and the optimal concentration of LPS was 100 ng/ml (sTRAIL value 67.40 ng/ml+/-5.08 ng/ml). The soluble TRAIL in the supernatant was cytotoxic to HepG2 cells, and this activity can be blocked by TRAIL neutralizing antibodies.

CONCLUSIONLPS increases the expression of soluble TRAIL in macrophages, and soluble TRAIL is toxic to HepG2 cells. All of our results indicate that TRAIL may play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

AIMTo study the chemical constituents of the stem of Cassia siamea.

METHODSThe compounds were isolated by chromatography on silica gel, and identified on the basis of spectral analysis.

RESULTSFive compounds were isolated and identified as: beta-sitosterol (I), sucrose (II), n-octacosanol (III), 2-methyl-5-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-7-hydroxy-chromone-2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV) and piceatannol (V).

CONCLUSIONCompound IV is a new compound. Compounds II, III and V were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Cassia ; chemistry ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fatty Alcohols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Monosaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification