Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of Truview~(TM)EVO_2 optic laryngoscope by comparing it with the Macintosh laryngoscope in patients receiving cervical vertebral surgery.Methods:One hundred patients scheduled for elective cervical vertebral surgery were enrolled in this randomized crossover study.After induction,the patients'glottis in group A (n=50)was displayed by Macintosh laryngoscope and the Cormack-Lehane(C/L)grade was recorded,and then optic laryngoscope was employed to display the laryngeal structure.The order of laryngoscopy attempts was reversed in group B(n= 50).Parameters recorded included demographics,airway assessment feat ures(BMI,thyromental distance,mandibular size,mouth opening,mallampati oropharyngeal scale,and neck movement),C/L grade,laryngoscopic force applied,duration of intubation, difficulties of laryngeal view and injury of upper airway.Results:There were no significant difference in demographics,airway assessment features,C/L grade and duration of intubation between the 2 groups,whereas the laryngoscopic force in group A was significantly lower than that in group B(P

Objective To develop a convenient method efficiently expands the frequency of specific CTLS.Methods We used different concentrations of CMV-speeific epitope peptides pp65 to stimulate PBMCs for expansion of CMV-specific CTLs.CMV-specifie CTLs were doubly labeled by tetramers-PE and CD_8-FITC for FACS analysis.Results The method expands CMV-speeific CTLs efficiently.CMV-specific CTLs were expanded from 1% to 20% of PBMCs quickly(namely 40% of CD_8~+ T cells).The method provided a large number of cells with tetramer staining of CD_8~+ T cells for FACS analysis from a single blood sampling.Conclusions Peptides stimulation methods are convenient,easy to operate and expanded CMV- specific CTLs efficiently.The increased frequencies of CMV-specific CTLs allowed the data of different individuals to be easily compared and sequentially evaluated.The methods lay the base for adoptive immunotherapy to prevent CMV disease.

Objective To observe the effects of comprehensive measures of changing grain,selenium supplementation,off-site education and resettlement on prevention of children's Kashin-Beck disease in Aba state.Methods Fifty eight villages in Aba Kashin-Beck disease areas were chosen as intervention points in Aba state Sichuan province from 2007 to 2011.Based on the implementation of prevention and control measures,the villages were divided into off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group and resettlement + off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group,Geletuo town of Seda county,Ganzi state was selected as a control point,and right-hand anteroposterior X-ray examination(including the wrist) was carried out on children aged 6-13 from 2007 to 2011 annually.Clinical and X-ray diagnosis of Kashin-Beck disease was made in accordance with the Diagnostic Criteria of Kaschin-Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995).The effects of prevention and control measures were evaluated by comparing the child X-ray detection rate before and after the implementation of the measures.Results The average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in the intervention points was 2.07％(66/3181),2.72％ (69/2540),1.16％ (35/3017),0.56％ (19/3397) and 0.56％ (24/4273),respectively from 2007 to 2011,with a downward trend (x2trend =66.74,P ＜ 0.01).There was a downward trend in the average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group [1.60％(29/1809),2.63％ (39/1484),1.29％ (25/1941),0.64％ (15/2332),0.42％ (10/2379)] and resettlement + off-site education + changing grain + selenium supplementation group [2.70％ (37/1372),2.84％ (30/1056),0.93％(10/1076),0.38％ (4/1065),0.74％(14/1894)] (x2trend=30.97,35.19,all P ＜ 0.01).The average X-ray positive detectable rate of children in the intervention group was 0 from 2007 to 2010,and was 1.61％ (1/62) in 2011.The difference of X-ray positive detectable rate was not statistically significant in the control group in the 5 years from 2007 to 2011.The difference of children's X-ray positive detectable rate was not statistically significant between control group and intervention group.Conclusions The effect of taking changing grain,selenium supplementation,off-site education and resettlement comprehensive measures to prevent children's Kashin-Beck disease is not significant in those places where the state of Kaschin-Beck disease is not active.

Objective To observe the impact of porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on blood glucose of high-fat (HF) diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and the antagonistic effect of metformin on diabetes model mice.Methods The C57 mice were divided into 8 groups(n =6-8 in each group).Apart from the normal control,mice were fed with HF diet for 16 weeks (including 3 groups) or 21 weeks (including 3 groups) for modeling.Besides the HF control group,the mice of diabetes model group and metformin group were given PG LPS 100 μg · kg-1 with intraperitoneal injection and simultaneously administrated with 100 mg · kg-1 metformin by gavage daily for 3 weeks,respectively.Blood glucose was measured with rapid glucometer.The plasma insulin and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway protein in livers were detected by Western blotting.Results In 21 weeks DIO mice,the blood glucose levels in the HF control group,diabetes model group and metformin group were (6.46±0.31),(7.82 ±0.35),(6.23 ± 0.21) mmol · L-1,respectively.Comparison between HF control group and diabetes model group,the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05);comparison between diabetes model group and metformin group,the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.01).Expression of AMPK-phosphorylation status (p-AMPK)in the diabetes model group and metformin group were 1.03 ± 0.04,1.62 ± 0.21,respectively.Comparison between diabetes model group and metformin group,the difference was significant(P ＜0.05).Conclusion Metformin is a preferred therapeutic agent for hyperglycemic patients with obesity and periodontitis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of cAMP-response element binding protein-1 (CREB-1) on transforming growth factor-b3 (TGF b3) mRNA expression and promoter activity in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

METHODSFreshly isolated HSCs from rats were divided into six groups: CREB-1 expression plasmid transfected group (C), siRNA-CREB-1 plasmid transfected group (S), negative control group (N), forskolin treated group (F), H-89 treated group (H), and blank group (B). Rats in each group were further sub-divided according to whether (+) or not (-) they were exposed to exogenous TGF b3. TGF b3 mRNA expression was measured by real time quantitative PCR. HSCs of the C, S, N, F, H and B groups were transfected with the TGF b3 promoter luciferase reporter plasmid (PGL3-TGF b3-P; W group), the TGF b3 promoter luciferase reporter plasmid with CRE mutation (PGL3-basic-TGF b3P-mCRE; M group) and the renilla luciferase control plasmid (pRL-SV40; control group). TGF b3 promoter activity was assessed by luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTSCompared to N(-), the TGF b3 mRNA expression was reduced to 0.69+/-0.15 in S(-) (P less than 0.05) and increased to 4.68+/-2.76 in C(-) (P more than 0.05). Compared to B(-), the TGF b3 mRNA expression was reduced to 0.57+/-0.08 in H(-) (P less than 0.05). The differences between N(+) and N(-), S(+) and S(-), B(+) and B(-), and H(+) and H(-) were all significant (P less than 0.05). The values of TGF b3 promoter activity in S(W), N(W), and C(W) were 0.062+/-0.013, 0.122+/-0.011, and 0.165+/-0.016 (P less than 0.05), but the changes of TGF b3 promoter activity in S(M), N(M), and C(M) were not significant (P more than 0.05). The values of TGF b3 promoter activity in H(W), B(W), and F(W) were 0.154+/-0.010, 0.188+/-0.016, and 0.276+/-0.031 (P less than 0.05), but the changes of TGF b3 promoter activity in H(M), B(M), and F(M) were not significant (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased levels of CREB-1 mRNA or p-CREB-1 up-regulate the TGF b3 mRNA expression and promoter activity in rat HSCs. The CRE site in the TGF b3 promoter is critical for this effect, and the gene's activity becomes significantly decreased when the site is missing. Exogenous TGF b3 enhances expression of endogenous TGF b3 in rat HSCs.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of electrical stimulation of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) on spontaneous activity of neurons in thalamic ventrobasal nucleus (VB). Experiments were performed on 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-310 g (4-5 months old). According to Paxinos and Watson's coordinate atlas of the rat, the frontal and parietal cortical areas were exposed by craniotomy, the recording electrodes were then inserted into the VB (P 2.4-4.1 mm, R 2.0-3.5 mm, H 5.2-6.8 mm) and the stimulating electrodes into the ACC (A 1.1-3.0 mm, R 0.0-1.0 mm, H 1.5-2.4 mm). Single-unit activities were recorded extracellularly in the VB by glass micropipettes (impedance 3-8 MOmega) filled with 0.5 mol/L sodium acetate solution containing saturated Fast Green. To study the effects of ACC activation on the spontaneous activities of VB cells, single electrical pulse (0.2 ms duration) was delivered to the ACC by a concentric bipolar stainless steel electrode (0.32 mm outer diameter). An effective ACC stimulation was determined for each VB neuron by gradually increasing the current intensity from 0.1 mA until either a significant change in the spontaneous activity of the VB neuron was observed, or the current intensity reached 0.4 mA. The results showed that ACC stimulation significantly suppressed the spontaneous activities in 12 out of 53 VB neurons (22.6%). (1) After the stimulation was delivered to ACC, the spontaneous activities of different VB neurons were totally suppressed for different time span. (2) There was obvious dose-effect relevance between ACC stimulation intensity and their inhibitory effect. The duration of complete inhibition was prolonged with the increases in the intensity and number of stimulation impulses in ACC. (3) The stimulation in the ACC depressed the spontaneous activities of VB neurons in different forms and this inhibition exhibited an accumulative effect. All these results indicate that the stimulation of ACC exerts an inhibitory influence on the spontaneous activities of VB neurons.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Gyrus Cinguli ; physiology ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thalamic Nuclei ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influences of varying lingual traction forces on the space-closing speed in a typodont model.

METHODSForty-two Angle Class I standard typodont models of bimaxillary teeth protrusion were divided into 7 equal groups. Four regions of the model were paired to groups, and in the odd-numbered models, the top left and bottom left regions served as the experimental group and the top right and bottom right regions as the control group; in the even-numbered models, the regions in the model were grouped oppositely. In the experimental group, the space was closed by niti wire extension spring in the buccal ridge combined with lingual elastic traction of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g. In the control group, the space was closed by exclusive niti wire extension spring in the buccal ridge. The space-closing speed were analyzed in all the groups.

RESULTSThe space-closing speed was significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental groups with lingual traction forces of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g (P<0.05), but a traction force of 30 g resulted in a significantly lower speed than that in the control group (P<0.05). The space closing speed was the greatest in the experimental group with a traction force of 15 g (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNiti wire extension spring in the buccal ridge combined with lingual elastic traction results in faster space-closing speed than traditional exclusive niti wire extension spring. The speed is the fastest by applying 15 g lingual traction, which is also associated with the lowest slip resistance.

Dental Models ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Tooth Extraction ; methods ; Traction

Objective To observe the effect of carvedilol on the expression of Cx43 in rabbits with myocardial infarction and its association with ventricular arrhythmia.Method Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups in equal number(n=12),namely,myocardial infarction(MI)group,carvedilol group and sham MI group.Rabbits of carvedilol group were administered with carvedilol 5 mg kg~(-1)?d~(-1)after MI induced,while no carvedilol was administered to the MI group.The following observations were made:(1)Cx43 density of the epicardial border zone measured by quantitative immnuoconfocal laser scanning,and(2)cx43 protein expression analyzed by western blot.Results(1)Under immunoconfocal laser microscope,the relative density of Cx43 was(0.16?0.06)% in the infarction group and was(0.32?0.11)% in the sham MI group [(0.68?0.15)%,both P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and related mechanisms of aldosterone (ALD) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production in aortic adventitia.

METHODSAortic adventitias from SD rats were incubated for 6 hours with various protocols: buffer alone (control), ALD (10(-8) mol/L - 10(-6) mol/L), ALD + spironolactone (10(-5) mol/L, ALD + SP), ALD + RU486 (10(-5) mol/L), LPS 10 ng/ml (LPS), ALD + LPS (10 ng/ml), ALD + LPS + SP (10(-5) mol/L), and ALD + LPS + RU486. Nitrate/nitrite (NOx), an index of NO production, was measured by Greiss Reaction. iNOS activity was determined by isotope-labeled L-arginine convertion rate.

RESULTS(1) NOx production and iNOS activity were similar between ALD and control groups (P > 0.05). NOx production was significantly reduced while iNOS activity remained unchanged in the ALD (10(-6) mol/L) + SP group compared to ALD (10(-6) mol/L) group. NOx production by 10(-7) mol/L and 10(-6) mol/L ALD increased by 50.0% and 58.7% respectively (P < 0.01) and iNOS activity was also significantly increased (P < 0.01) in ALD + RU486 group than that in ALD group. (2) LPS significantly increased the NOx production and iNOS activity (P < 0.01) and these effects were not augmented by adding ALD to LPS (P > 0.05) and SP significantly blocked and RU486 significantly enhanced the effects by LSP and ALD on NOx production and iNOS activity (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAldosterone has a dual effect on iNOS/NO through mineralocorticoid receptor and glucocorticoid receptor pathway.

Aldosterone ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective therapy for neurodermatitis.

METHODSNinety-six cases were divided into 2 groups by random number table. The treatment group (n = 54) were treated by hot-red needle therapy combined with blood-letting puncturing and cupping at skin-injured area, and the control group (n = 42) were treated with external smearing of halometasone cream.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the total effective rate were 51.9% and 96.3% in the treatment group, and 28.6% and 81.0% in the control group, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRed-hot needle therapy combined with blood-letting puncture and cupping has a definite therapeutic effect on neurodermatitis, without toxic and adverse effects.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bloodletting ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurodermatitis ; therapy