Objective To understand the microorganism pollution in the indoor air in the campus of Liaocheng University. Methods In April and May, 2004, the content of airborne microbes in the indoor air in Liaocheng University campus was determined by the gravity plate method. Results The average content of bacteria in the indoor air was 2.39?103 cfu/m3, the average content of mildew was 0.62?103 cfu/m3. The predominant microorganism in the internet bars in the campus was bacteria. Conclusion In general, the indoor air quality in Liaocheng University campus is at comparative clear level.

China boasts for its abundant resources of Trapa L.The fruit of Trapa has been given high edible and medicinal values so far.Trapa L.plants mainly contain terpenoids,sterols,phenolic acids and flavonoids.Current studies profotmdly analyzed the biological activities on hypoglycemic,anti-oxidation,anti-tumor,antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects of it.Some preliminary studies over biological activities included the effects on reducing the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),the inhibition of H2O2-induced injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells,inducing HeLa cell apoptosis,analgesia,liver protection,anti-atherosclerosis and deworming.This paper reviewed literature on the chemical constituents and biological activities of Trapa L for the provision of a reference for the exploration and utilization of Trapa L.

BACKGROUNDAn important purpose of orthodontic treatment is to gain the harmonic soft tissue profile. This article describes a novel way to build patient-specific models of facial soft tissues by transforming a standard finite element (FE) model into one that has two stages: a first transformation and a second transformation, so as to evaluate the facial soft tissue changes after orthodontic treatment for individual patients.

METHODSThe radial basis functions (RBFs) interpolation method was used to transform the standard FE model into a patient-specific one based on landmark points. A combined strategy for selecting landmark points was developed in this study: manually for the first transformation and automatically for the second transformation. Four typical patients were chosen to validate the effectiveness of this transformation method.

RESULTSThe results showed good similarity between the transformed FE models and the computed tomography (CT) models. The absolute values of average deviations were in the range of 0.375 - 0.700 mm at the lip-mouth region after the first transformation, and they decreased to a range of 0.116 - 0.286 mm after the second transformation.

CONCLUSIONSThe modeling results show that the second transformation resulted in enhanced accuracy compared to the first transformation. Because of these results, a third transformation is usually not necessary.

Computer Simulation ; Face ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVEThree-dimensional (3-D) facial images are very useful for orthodontic diagnosis. Three-dimensional facial imaging system (DSC-2) based on phase measuring profilometry (PMP) was used to obtain images and tested for accuracy.

METHODSGeometric strips (20 mm in width) was used to test the accuracy of the obtained images. Three-dimensional images of plaster head model with marker of 5 mm x 5 mm were taken by DSC-2 three-dimensional facial imaging system. The difference of measurements was compared between both methods. Measurements were repeated twice by three different doctors.

RESULTSThe average value of width in 3-D mode was 19.5 mm. No significant difference was found, compared with actual width (20 mm). There was no significant difference between computer measurement and manual measurement of the plaster head model (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDSC-2 three-dimensional facial imaging system was accurate and reliable to obtain 3-D facial images.

Face ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Photogrammetry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnosis and management of adrenal myelolipoma.

METHODSThe clinical data of 26 cases were analyzed retrospectively and the selected articles were reviewed. There were no specific clinical symptom and endocrine abnormality, except increasing catecholamine in 2 cases. All cases but two were diagnosed by B-model ultrasound scanning (B-US), CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTSTwenty-six cases were surgically treated, the diameter of the tumor was 5 - 10 cm, simple tumor resection was performed in 16 cases, and complete adrenal resection was performed in 10 cases. All the operated cases were proved by pathologists. The duration of follow-up was from 6 - 28 months after surgery. No recurrence was observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma could be established based on B-US, CT or MRI. The tumors whose diameter is larger than 5 cm in size should be removed.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelolipoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

METHODSTotally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONDOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Sounds ; Syndrome

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) is valuable for clinical application, however, traditional ex vivo culture negatively affects long-term hematopoietic reconstitution ability. In the hematopoietic system, the expression of Notch receptors and their ligands has been widely reported. Active Notch signal inhibits the differentiation of HSCs while promotes their expansion, suggesting that ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells could be enhanced by manipulating Notch signal pathways. In this article the Notch signal pathways, Notch signal and maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells, Notch signal and expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells and molecular mechanism of Notch signal maintaining undifferentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells were reviewed.
Animals ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo get individualized facial three-dimensional finite element (FE) model from transformation of a generic one to assist orthodontic analysis and prediction of treatment-related morphological change of facial soft tissue.

METHODSA generic three-dimensional FE model of craniofacial soft and hard tissue was constructed based on a volunteer's spiral CT data. Seven pairs of main peri-oral muscles were constructed based on a combination of CT image and anatomical method. Individualized model could be obtained through transformation of the generic model based on selection of corresponding anatomical landmarks and radial basis functions (RBF) method. Validation was analyzed through superimposition of the transformed model and cone-beam CT (CBCT) reconstruction data. Pre- and post-treatment CBCT data of two patients were collected, which were superimposed to gain the amount of anterior teeth retraction and anterior alveolar surface remodeling that could be used as boundary condition. Different values of Poisson ratio ν and Young's modulus E were tested during simulation.

RESULTSAverage deviation was 0.47 mm and 0.75 mm in the soft and hard tissue respectively. It could be decreased to a range of +0.29 mm and -0.21 mm after a second transformation at the lip-mouth region. The best correspondence between simulation and post-treatment result was found with elastic properties of soft tissues defined as follows. Poisson ratio ν for skin, muscle and fat being set as 0.45 while Young's modulus being set as 90.0 kPa, 6.2 kPa and 2.0 kPa respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIndividualized three-dimensional facial FE model could be obtained through mathematical model transformation. With boundary condition defined according to treatment plan such FE model could be used to analyze the effect of orthodontic treatment on facial soft tissue.

Adult ; Cephalometry ; Computer Simulation ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Facial Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Jaw ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Male ; Malocclusion ; pathology ; Models, Anatomic ; Orthodontics ; methods ; Skin ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Tooth ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate whether NR2B-pERK1/2-pElk-1 signaling contributes to the Y-maze learning and memory of rat brain.

METHODS45 adult male SD rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) Ifenprodil peritoneal injection group (Ifenprodil ip, n = 14); (2) DMSO peritoneal injection group(DMSO ip, n = 15); (3) Ifenprodil cerebral ventricle injection group (Ifenprodil ic, n = 8); (4) DMSO cerebral ventricle injection group(DMSO ic, n = 8). Y-maze training and test were used as an learning and memory enhancing stimulus. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting methods were used for detecting pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression intensity of different brain regions.

RESULTSCompared with the DMSO ip group, the ifenprodil ip group showed no change on the Y-maze learning score (P > 0.05), but its Y-maze memory score tested 24 after learning decreased (P < 0.05). Ifenprodil peritoneal injection made brain pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression decreased generally. In hippocampus, marginal division of striatum(MrD), amygdala,these changes were more significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the DMSO ic group, the reconsolidation of Y-maze memory tested 6 hours after ifenprodil injection was impaired in ifenprodil ic group (P < 0.05). The OD value of pERK1/2 and pElk-1 positive bands in ifenprodil ic group attenuated generally. The pElk-1 positive bands of caudate putamen and MrD almost disappeared in ifenprodil ic group.

CONCLUSIONNR2B is essential for the formation of long-term memory, reconsolidation of Y-maze memory. The deactivation of NR2B by ifenprodil will impair these courses. Meanwhile, the deactivation of NR2B attenuates pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression of learning and memory related regions after Y-maze learning and memory reconsolidation test. In MrD and caudate putamen, the pElk-1 expression are completely blocked by ifenprodil after memory reconsolidation test.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; physiology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate correlation between polymorphisms of rs3755557 and rs1880481 located in glycogen synthase kinase 3beta gene and beta-catenin gene respectively, the products of which are components of Wnt signalling pathway, and risk of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSPCR and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography combining with DNA sequencing were used to analyse genotype polymorphism of rs3755557 and rs1880481 of the subjects including 26 patients of gastric carcinoma and 33 patients of chronic superficial gastritis.

RESULTSChi-square analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the frequencies of alleles and genotypes of rs3755557 polymorphic site between gastric carcinoma group and control group. As to the rs1880481 polymorphic site, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of alleles between gastric carcinoma group and the corresponding control group. The frequency of heterozygous genotype in male control group was 68.18% and it was significantly higher than 26.67% in male gastric carcinoma group, OR=5.893, 95%CI: 1.377-25.226 (P=0.013); but the frequencies of AA genotype of the site in male control group and male gastric carcinoma group were 9.09% and 40.00% respectively. There was statistical significance, OR=6.667, 95% CI: 1.121-39.660 (P=0.025).

CONCLUSIONThe above results suggest that the genotypes and alleles of rs3755557 site do not contribute to the risk of gastric carcinoma. Low level of the heterozygous genotype or high level of AA genotype of rs1880481 polymorphic site in male patients might cause a higher risk of developing gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Factors ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism