OBJECTIVETo establish a three-dimension finite element model of mandible with two kinds of dental implant and to study the stress of implant-bone interface.

METHODSMeasuring the data of the components of the dental implant and using spiral CT image reconstruction technique to scan the cross section of the mandible. Three-dimension finite element analysis software Unigraphics and MSC. Marc/Mentat were used to build the conjunction model and bone model of two implant systems. Loading 200 N axially and 100 N 30 degrees obliquely on the models respectively, the stress distribution patterns of the bone interface of two implant systems were analyzed.

RESULTSThe stress distribution on the bone interface of two implant systems was similar. The peak stress of oblique loading was higher than that of axial loading. The peak stress district of the bone was concentrated on the stricture of the implant cervix, which was more obviously displayed on the Replace Select implant. The peak stresses on the bone interface of Replace Select implant were higher than that of Replace implant in all loadings.

CONCLUSIONTo Replace Select especially, oblique force should be avoided in clinical practice in case of the bone absorption.

Computer Simulation ; Dental Implants ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mandible ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the CT imaging characteristics of incomplete and complete myocardial bridges-mural coronary artery (MB-MCA).

METHODSFifty subjects with dual source coronary CT angiography (DSCTA) evidenced MB were included. The subjects were divided into incomplete MB-MCA and complete MB-MCA groups. The diameter of MCA in best systole phase and diastole phase, the MCA stenosis rate, the presence of atheromatous change proximal to the MB were evaluated.

RESULTSThere were 58 MB, the average length was (2.02 ± 1.02) cm, 23 were incomplete MB and 35 were complete MB. Thirty-two MB were in the middle segments of left anterior descending artery (55.2%); 17 MB were in the distal segment of the left anterior descending artery (29.3%); 1 MB was in the proximal segment of left anterior descending artery; 3 MB in diagonal branch; 4 MB in obtuse marginal branch, 1 MB in distal right coronary artery. It was statistically significant difference between the incomplete MB-MCA and the complete MB-MCA of the diameter change in diastole and systole phase [(1.93 ± 0.49) mm, (1.71 ± 0.45) mm vs. (2.21 ± 0.41) mm, (1.63 ± 0.52) mm, P = 0.008] and stenosis rate (10.38% ± 20.2% vs. 25.12% ± 21.02%, P = 0.01). Atherosclerotic finding was evidenced in 8 incomplete MB (34.78%) and 15 complete MB (42.86%) at the proximal vessel of mural coronary artery (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDSCTA can vividly display the incomplete and complete myocardial MB, accurately evaluate the shape change of MB-MCA in diastole and systole phase and detect the atherosclerotic change in the proximal vessel of MB.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDTo construct the full-length complementary DNA of HCV genome from an HCV infected patient.

METHODSFour HCV gene fragments (1.6, 3.5, 2.4 kb and 2.6 kb) were amplified by RT-PCR from serum of a Chinese patient and fused and connected together to produce a 9.2 kb subgenomic fragment, which was further cloned into a cassette vector with fixed 5-prime and 3-prime termini of HCV to make the full-length cDNA. The cDNA heterogeneity was analyzed by comparing the sequences of 4 isolated HVR1 regions. The prokaryotic expressed Core, NS3 protease, NS3 helicase were detected for their specific reactivities with patient serum by Western blot analysis. And the protease activity of NS3 was evaluated in a cell-based NS3/4A-SEAP expression system.

RESULTSThe cDNA covered the near full-length of HCV genome from the patient's serum. The difference among HVR1 regions indicated no selection of HCV variants during RT-PCR and the quasi-species characteristic of the amplified cDNA. The prokaryotic expressed viral proteins could be identified by patient serum. In the NS3/4A-SEAP system, NS3 could cleave the 4A-4B site between NS4A and SEAP proteins and resulted in the secretion of SEAP in culture media.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the cloned HCV cDNA encodes a complete and functional open reading frame and will be useful for further construction of infectious cDNA clone.

Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The study was purposed to explore the effects of NKG2D receptor and its ligands RAE-1 and H60 on graft-versus-tumor (GVT) response induced by MHC haploidentical bone marrow/spleen cell transplantation. Female (BALB/c x C57BL/6) F1 mice (CB6F1, H-2K(b/d)) inoculated with H22 cells to develop a solid tumor model were the recipients, and bone marrow mixed with spleen cells of the healthy male C57BL/6 (H-2K(b)) mice were the donor cells. GVT response was observed after transplantation that from donor cells T and NK cells were purged with anti-CD3 and anti-NK monoclonal antibody, and the NKG2D receptor was blocked with anti-NKG2D monoclonal antibody, the expression levels of RAE-1 and H60 mRNA in tumor tissue were measured by means of semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at different time points after transplantation. The results showed that the GVT response of transplantation was reduced after in vitro depletion of T and NK cells or blocking NKG2D receptor in donor cells of the graft, the expression levels of RAE-1 and H60 mRNA in tumor tissue increased after transplantation of haploidential bone marrow mixed with spleen cells. It is concluded that NKG2D and its ligands RAE-1 and H60 may play important roles in GVT response.
Animals ; Female ; Graft vs Leukemia Effect ; drug effects ; immunology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Leukemia, Experimental ; immunology ; therapy ; Ligands ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K ; Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; genetics ; Receptors, Natural Killer Cell

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) irradiation on mice reproduction.

METHODSFemale/male Kunming mice, 6 - 8 weeks old, prior to mating, or female after pregnancy were treated with whole body irradiation by 6 x 10(4) V/m electromagnetic pulse (EMP) for five times. The pregnant mice were killed on the 18th days, and teratological markers were analysed.

RESULTSEMP irradiation caused no significant changes in most of female organ weight and organ/body weight ratio. But it caused significant shortening in tail length of live foetus in the female mice before conception (prior to mating) or after pregnancy (P < 0.05), and obvious decrease in male offspring ratio (0.85 +/- 0.09 vs 1.09 +/- 0.17, P < 0.05). The male offspring ratio also significantly decreased (0.76 +/- 0.18 vs 1.09 +/- 0.17, P < 0.01) after male mice irradiated by EMP. The tail length of live foetus was shortened and male offspring sex ratio was increased after both male and female mice were irradiated by EMP. EMP irradiation also caused a significantly higher fetal death rate than normal control (P < 0.05). The embryo absorption rate was increased after irradiation except that was decreased in male mice.

CONCLUSIONEMP irradiation has effect on pregnancy and offspring development in both male and female mice before mating and in female mice after pregnancy.

Animals ; Female ; Fetus ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Radiation ; Reproduction ; radiation effects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have high anti-tumor activity for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Whether CIK cell therapy can eradicate residual cancer cells and prevent or postpone tumor relapse after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) should be testified. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of CIK cell therapy combined with TACE on HCC.

METHODSA total of 146 consecutive patients with unresectable HCC were divided into combination group (72 patients treated with CIK cell therapy combined with TACE) and TACE group (74 patients treated only with TACE). The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year PFS rates were 72.2%, 40.4%, 25.3% in combination group, and 34.8%, 7.7%, 2.6% in TACE group. The median time to progression was 11 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 8-14 months] in combination group and 5 months (95% CI, 4-7 months) in TACE group. The estimated 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year OS rates were 90.3%, 71.9%, 62.4% in combination group, and 74.6%, 42.8%, 18.8% in TACE group. The median OS was 31 months (95% CI, 27-35 months) in combination group and 10 months (95% CI, 7-13 months) in TACE group. The times of TACE, ECOG performance status, and CIK cell therapy were independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS.

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant immunotherapy with CIK cells could greatly improve the efficacy of TACE on HCC, and plays an important role in prolonging the PFS and OS of HCC patients after TACE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; transplantation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo conduct preliminary investigation to the species and reserves of medicinal plants in Huangfu Mountain, and to provide references to the general survey of those plants for medicine.

METHODCombined with global positioning system (GPS), the program of investigation with grid sampling was used in this resource survey of medicinal plants.

RESULTAfter the preliminary investigation of the plants for medical use of Huangfu Mountain, it is found that there are 103 families with 313 kinds of plants. There are many medicinal plants and large distribution, such as Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Semiaguilegia adoxoides and Pinellia ternate.

CONCLUSIONHuangfu Mount, with so many different kinds of medicinal plants and comfortable environment for part of the medicinal plants to grow, could be developed as a base for planting Chinese herbal medicines.

China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Ecology ; Geographic Information Systems ; instrumentation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of an antisense PC cell derived growth factor (PCDGF) vector on proliferation and invasion of highly malignant ovarian cancer cell lines Sw626 and A2780 cells, and preliminarily explore the related mechanisms.

METHODSMTT assay and Boyden chamber in vitro invasion assay were employed to detect the changes of proliferation and invasion ability in the Sw626 and A2780 cells transfected with anti-sense PCDGF. The expression levels of cyclin D1 and CDK4 proteins before and after transfection were detected by Western blotting. The effects on the expression and activity of MMP-2 were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR and zymography, respectively.

RESULTSComparing with the blank group, the proliferation inhibition rate of the Sw626 and A2780 cells transfected with anti-sense PCDGF was 72.9% and 70.9%, respectively, and the invasion ability was inhibited by 62.9% and 59.0%, respectively. The levels of cyclin D1 and CDK4 protein expression in antisense PCDGF transfected cells were 0.38 +/- 0.08 and 0.37 +/- 0.13, respectively, all significantly lower than 0.84 +/- 0.11 and 0.64 +/- 0.11, respectively, in the blank group (P < 0.01). The MMP-2 mRNA expression level in antisense PCDGF transfected cell group was 0.66 +/- 0.11, not significantly decreased in comparison with 0.89 +/- 0.09 in the blank group (P > 0.05), but the activity of MMP-2 was inhibited significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe antisense PCDGF vector may inhibit markedly the proliferation and invasion of highly malignant ovarian cancer cells, and partially reverses their malignant phenotype. It seems to be related with down-regulating the expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and inhibiting the activity of MMP-2. Our findings indicate that PCDGF may become a new target for antisense gene therapy of ovarian cancer.

Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; DNA, Antisense ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection