hyperflexion,and the differentiation was significant(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalein on the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the TM4 Sertoli cells of the mouse testis and its related mechanism.

METHODSWe measured the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of baicalein on the TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse testis by MTT, detected the fluorescence transfer of the TM4 Sertoli cells by parachute assay, and determined the expression of the protein connexin 43 ( Cx43) in the baicalein-treated cells by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSBaicalein produced no obvious cytotoxicity on the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration below 60 µmol/L but significantly increased their GJIC at 0-20 µmol/L (P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that 0-20 µmol/L baicalein remarkably elevated the expression of Cx43 in the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and on the membrane of the TM4 cells.

CONCLUSIONBaicalein at the concentration of 0-20 µmol/L can significantly enhance GJIC in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by increasing the expression of the Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

BACKGROUND: In the elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, bilateral nerve root canal stenosis commonly shows only one side of symptoms. There is still controversy about whether or not decompression is needed on the side without symptoms or with less symptoms and how to operate. OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and efficacy of robot-assisted unilateral-decompression using minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) technique by investigating a series of cases with the radiographic bilateral lumbar canal stenosis presenting with unilateral symptoms and by comparing clinical decompression effect and imaging changes before and after operation. METHODS: Cases with radiographic bilateral lumbar canal stenosis presenting with unilateral symptoms subjected to unilateral decompression on the affected side, interbody fusion and bilateral fixation after robot-assisted MIS-TLIF in the same treatment group were retrospectively analyzed. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complications were recorded. The vertebral canal cross-sectional area, intervertebral foramen height, intervertebral space height, and lumbar lordosis angle were examined before and after surgery. Visual analogue scale scores for low back pain and leg pain were assessed before and after surgery. Oswestry disability index was used to assess lumbar function before and after surgery. Macnab criteria were used to evaluate the efficacy at the final follow-up after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Operation time was 110-235 minutes, averagely 169.4 minutes. Intraoperative blood loss was 70-180 mL, averagely 112.4 mL. (2) After 3-8 months of follow-up, the visual analogue scale scores of low back pain and lower extremity pain 1 month after surgery and in final follow-up were significantly lower than those before operation (both P < 0.01). (3) Oswestry disability index 1 month after surgery and in final follow-up was significantly lower than that before operation (both P < 0.01). (4) In the final follow-up, MacNab criteria results showed that clinical results were excellent in 15 cases, good in 17 cases and average in 3 cases with the excellent and good rate of 91%. (5) Vertebral canal cross-sectional area, intervertebral foramen height, and intervertebral space height were significantly increased after surgery compared with those before surgery (all P < 0.01). Lumbar lordosis angle was increased after surgery compared with that before surgery, but was not significantly different (P > 0.05). (6) It is concluded that robot-assisted unilateral-decompression MIS-TLIF obtained satisfactory effect in bilateral lumbar canal stenosis patients presenting with unilateral symptoms.

Study the immunological adjuvant function of biodegradable microspheres for DNA immunization. Empty poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolic acid) microspheres were prepared using the water- inoil-in-water (w-o-w) technique; A plasmid DNA pRc-CMV encoding hepatitis B virus S antigen was constructed; The mixture of the microspheres and the plasmid DNA was prepared by incubation method. The mixture was administered to Balb/c mice by intramuscular injection. Result: The high antibody titer(1:1600) of intramuscular injection of the mixture of microspheres and the plasmid DNA was obtained, similar to that of intramuscular injection of the mixture of AL(OH)3 and hepatitis B virus S antigen; while intramuscular injection the plasmid DNA elicited no serum antibody respones. Conclusion: biodegradable microspheres may be used as an good adjuvant for DNA immunization.

Objective To summarize clinical characteristics and treatment methods of cervical vertebrae injury in the elderly.MethodsThe data of 59 elderly patients with cervical vertebrae injury from 2002 to 2006 years were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe most common type of injuries was hyperextension injuries of cervical spine and cervial central cord syndrome.Traffic accident and falling injury were the most common reasons.Early operation and early rehabilitation could improve the ASIA 1 or 2 grade,and avoid complications of cord injury effectively.ConclusionThe key treatment point of cervical vertebrae injury in the elderly is how to get them leave bed in order to reduce the complications of cord injury,early operation and rehabilitation are good method to decrease the mortality and increase quality of life.

Eleven compounds were isolated from the culture of Streptomyces sp. CPCC 202950 by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over macroporous resin HP-20, MCI, and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as 1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide(1),5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioinosine(2), vanillamide(3), trans-3-methylthioacrylamide(4), 1,2,3,4-Tetraydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylic acid(5), cyclo(L-pro-L-tyr) (6), N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)]ethylacetamide(7), benzamide (8), cyclo ('L-leucyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline)(9), cyclo-(Phe-Gly) (10), and tryptophan (11). Among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new natural products. In the preliminary assays, none of the compounds exhibited obvious inhibition of HIV-1 protease activity (IC50 > 10 micromol x L(-1)).
Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; HIV Protease ; analysis ; HIV Protease Inhibitors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of a combined in-office cold light bleaching and night-guard vital bleaching (NGVB) system for treating tetracycline stained teeth (TST).

METHODS90 patients with light, medium and heavy TST were randomly and evenly divided into 3 groups. 30 patients with 472 TST from the treatment group were treated with in-office cold light bleaching and NGVB, 30 patients with 466 TST from the control group 1 were treated with in-office cold light bleaching and 30 patients with 469 TST from control group 2 were treated with NGVB. At the time of treatment completion, after half a year and after one year, Vitalescence esthetic restorative masters shade guide was used to record the change of color. Bleaching efficacy and course of treatment were calculated, and lightening stability were evaluated.

RESULTS1) Three groups had satisfied lightening efficacy for light TST with 100% bleaching efficacy. The overall efficacy of treatment group and control group 2 were superior to the in-office cold light bleaching system (P < 0.05). Though there was no significant lightening efficacy difference between the treatment group and control group 2 (P > 0.05), the periods of treatment of the treatment group for light, medium and heavy TST were shortened by 43%, 46% and 49%, respectively, compared to the control group 2. 2) All three groups' treatment efficacy for light, medium and heavy TST became weaker progressively (P < 0.05). 3) For the treatment efficacy between the time of treatment completion and after half a year and one year, there was significant statistical difference (P < 0.01) for the control group 1, while there was no significant difference for both the treatment group and the control group 2 (P > 0.05). Both treatment group and control group 2 had better performance in treatment stability than control group 1.

CONCLUSIONIn treating the light and medium tetracycline stained teeth, the combined in-office cold light bleaching and NGVB system can achieve a more satisfied whitening result in much shorter period, and significantly enhance the long term whitening stability.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Color ; Humans ; Peroxides ; Tetracycline ; Tooth Bleaching ; Treatment Outcome ; Urea

Objective Mesenteric panniculitis is an idiopathic , uncommon disease involving the adipose tissue of mesentery .The etiology , diagnosis and treatment are still unnoticed .We thus reported a case series to improve the understanding of this rare disorder .Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 12 patients with mesenteric panniculitis including manifestation , diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.Results We found a male predominance (M∶F 3∶1) with the median age of 58 years old at diagnosis.The most common symptom was abdominal pain (9/12), followed by abdominal distension (3/12) and weight loss (3/12).Physical examination was unremarkable in the majority of patients (8/12).C reactive protein (9/12) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (10/12) were normal in majority of patients.CT findings were of much diagnostic value .All patients had small intestinal mesentery involvement and multi-nodular appearance with increased fat density .Pseudo-capsule sign ( 8/12 ) and fat halo sign (6/12) were common.Pathological diagnosis was obtained in 4 cases showing fat tissue inflammation with local necrosis and fibrosis .Six cases all received prednisone , 2 with combined cyclophosphamide , 1 with azathioprine, 1 with tripterygium wilfordii .Short-term clinical response was achieved in all cases , but two patients relapsed .Conclusions Mesenteric panniculitis occurs predominantly in middle-aged and elderly . Abdominal pain is the leading symptom .Inflammatory markers are often normal while computed tomography is the most important diagnostic tool .Surgery combined with cortical steroid and immunosuppressant agents is effective.

The infection status of anisakid larvae was examined in 290 marine fish of 25 species and in 108 cephalopods of 3 species purchased in Bayuquan region, Yingko city nearby the coast of the Bohai Sea from may to August 1992. A total of 7,327 larvae were collected from 156 fish of 19 species and 8 squids of one species. The 3rd-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex were collected from 121 fish (63.4%) of 15 species (N = 191) and from 8 squids (14.8%) of one species (N = 54), and they were total, 5,992 (81.8%). Out of remaining 1,335 larvae, 154 (2.1%) were classified as Thynnascaris type B from 23 fish of 4 species, 1,013 (13.8%) as Thynnascaris type C from 79 fish of 13 species. 164 (2.2%) as Hysterothylacium China type V from 20 fish of 4 species, 3 (0.04%) as Raphidascaris from 3 fish of 2 species and one was Pseudoterranova decipiens larva.
Animal ; Anisakiasis/veterinary* ; Anisakiasis/parasitology ; Anisakiasis/epidemiology ; Anisakis/isolation & purification ; Anisakis/classification* ; China ; Fish Diseases/parasitology* ; Fish Diseases/epidemiology ; Fishes ; Larva ; Seawater ; Squid/parasitology*

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in peripheral blood of colorectal carcinoma and to discuss its clinical value.

METHODSReal-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the CK20 mRNA expression in the peripheral blood of 51 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS27.45% of the patients showed CK20 mRNA expression, while it was 6.67% for the control group (P<0.025). With the progress of Dukes' stages, the expression level of CK20 mRNA increased, but there was no statistic significance (P<0.05). More samples in Dukes'C and D than in Dukes'A and B stages showed >10 copies/ml.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of CK20 mRNA expression in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma may be helpful to identify early shedding tumor cells. It is also useful to monitor the progression of the disease and observe the effect of clinical treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Keratin-20 ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods