Objective To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor β1,transforming growth factor beta receptor(TBR)Ⅰ,TβR Ⅱ,Smad4 and C-Jun in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and to find out the mechanisms of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.Methods A total of 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(n=9)and model group(n=9).The rats in control group were fed with normal diet,and those in model group were fed with fat-rich diet(consisted of 10%lard oil+2%cholesterol).An rats were sacrificed at the 20th week.The levels of TGFβ1,TβR Ⅰ and TβR Ⅱ mRNA were examined by RT-PCR.The expressions of TGFβ1 and Smad4 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The expression of C-Jun protein was detected by Western blotting.Results The NAFLD model was successfully established.The immunohistochemistry examination revealed that TGFβ1 and Smad4 were expressed weekly in control group,but strongly expressed in model group.RT-PCR showed that A values of TGFβ1,TβR Ⅰ and TβR Ⅱ mRNA were 0.46±0.12,5.z4±2.70 and 3.35±1.95,respectively,in model group,which were higher than those in control group(0.21±0.09,1.36±0.77 and 0.52±0.19,all P values＜0.01).The Western blotting results demonstrated that the expression of C-Jun protein in model group(0.93±0.41)was higher than that in control group (0.32±0.25,P=0.001).Conclusion TGFβ1/Smad4 signal pathway might be involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.Blocking TGFβ1/Smad4 signal pathway will be helpful in treatment of NAFLD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of the extended reverse digital artery island flap including dorsal digital nerve.

METHODSSince 2001, 7 cases of pulp and digital palm defects were repaired by the extended reverse digital artery island flap including dorsal digital nerve.

RESULTSAll the flaps survived. Follow-up showed satisfactory results functionally and cosmetically with 2-PD of 6-9 mm.

CONCLUSIONSThe extended reverse digital artery island flap is a safe and feasible and an effective method for repair of finger pulp defects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgery, Plastic ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEChildren aged 3 - 6 years in the urban areas of China were surveyed for the first time to find out the state of child neglect (CN) as well as the major relevant risk factors so as to provide evidence for developing intervention measures.

METHODS1163 children (of whom 49.6% were males and 4.5% were minority nationality) were randomly sampled under multistage stratification, from 25 cities which representing 15 provinces of China. Based on the Child Neglect Norms used by China, prevalence of CN was identified and SPSS-Windows 11.0 was employed for statistical analysis. Scores, frequency/degrees, age, sex and 5 types (physical, emotional, educational, medical and safety) of CN on every group of the regions, were calculated. Multifactorial analysis was conducted through Binary Logistic Regression and multiple linear regression to determine the relevant risk factors.

RESULTS(1) The average degree of CN for the 3 - 6 year-olds was 42.2, with its prevalence as 28.0%. Degrees of CN for the groups of 3, 4, 5, 6-year-olds were 41.7, 42.2, 42.1 and 43.1 (F = 0.988, P > 0.05), with frequencies of 25.0%, 25.3%, 27.9% and 35.4% (chi(2) = 4.798, P > 0.05), respectively. Degrees for CN in males and females were 42.7 and 41.8 (F = 2.502, P > 0.05) with the frequencies as 32.6% and 23.7% (chi(2) = 6.585, P < 0.05), respectively. Degrees of CN for the five types were 39.4-43.4 with the frequencies as 5.1%-12.9%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the frequency of the types (with an exception on 'physical neglect') between males and females (P > 0.05). The highest frequency (42.9%) of CN was seen in the single-parent families and the lowest in large family with three generations (25.5%). (2) According to monofactorial chi(2) test, the possible risk factors of CN would include: educational background, occupation and decrease of income of the parents during last year, etc. (3) Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the influential factors to the occurrence of CN would include: father's educational background, sex of the child and mother's occupation, etc. (4) Multiple linear regression showed that the influential factors to the degree of CN were: family structure, number of supporting family members, relationship between parents and children, etc.

CONCLUSIONThe degree and frequency of CN among children aged 3 to 6 in the urban areas of China were high but similar among the four age groups. Male children had a higher frequency of neglect than females, but with similar degree. Children in single-parent families had the highest frequency. The major influential factors of CN would include: educational background, occupation, family structure, family income of the parents which were similar to the results reported from foreign literature.

Child ; Child Abuse ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Parenting ; Parents ; psychology ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

Objective To conduct a microbiological and parasitological investigation of experimental minipigs in Guangdong province. Methods Four major experimental minipig production units in Guangdong province were included in this investigation. Samples were taken from a total of 154 pigs of 4 brreds, i. e. , Bama minipigs, Juema minipigs, Tibet minipigs and Wuzhishan minipigs. Pig fur, scales, serum, rectal swabs and feces samples were collected for detection of 20 pathogens. The data were analyzed and compared among the production units and breeds. Results Mixed infections were detected in all the four institutions. The infection rates of 7 pathogens were rather high: Streptococcus suis type 2 (50. 7%), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (40. 3%), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (100%), Japanese encephalitis virus (41. 3%), porcine circovirus type 2 (74. 8%), porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (73. 8%),gastroenteritis virus (44. 7%). Porcine parvovirus (26. 0%), pseudorabies virus(15. 6%) and intestinal worms (3. 2%) were also detected in some animals. The immune qualified rates of classical swine fever virus (62. 8%) and foot-and-mouth disease virus (35. 8%) were rather low. The immune qualified rate of pseudorabies virus was as high as 98. 4%. Besides, Salmonella, Brucella, swine dysentery snake like spirochetes, dermatophytes, influenza virus. Toxoplasma gondii, ectoparasites, and coccidia were not detected. Conclusions The results of this investigation indicate that epidemiological quality control of pathogens in experimental minipigs and efforts to establish high grade minipig population in Guangdong province remain to be strengthened. Our study also provides a basis for revision of local and even national standards for experimental minipigs.

OBJECTIVETo screen the optimum formulation and prepare O/W sinomenine microemulsion and investigate its in vitro transdermal delivery ability.

METHODThe microemulsions were prepared with the formulation containing oleic acid-tween 80-dehydrated alcohol-water by the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The permeation flux of sinomenine was determined in vitro by Franz diffusion cell fitted with rat skin. The sinomenine was determined by HPLC. The transdermal characteristics of sinomenine microemulsion were compared with that of sinomenine gels.

RESULTThe steady state flux of sinomenine microemulsion was significantly higher than that of sinomenine gels. The average permeation rate of sinomenine microemulsion was 116. 44 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1) in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicated that the studied microemulsion system with high permeation rate may be a potential vehicle for the transdermal delivery of sinomenine.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Male ; Morphinans ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Oleic Acid ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Rats ; Sinomenium ; chemistry ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry

The fast development of minimally invasive spine surgery in recent years is based on the advance of endoscopic microsurgery techniques, computer science and medical imaging, as well as the growing concerning of medical humanities.The concept of minimally invasive and precise targeting therapy has been penetrating into various areas of surgery, and minimal tissue damage and fewer complications are the new directions of minimally invasive spine surgery.In this article we review some advances in precise spinal surgery including percutaneous lumbar discectomy, microendoscopic discectomy, computer-assisted orthopedic surgery and robot surgery.

Objective To explore the efficacy of HAART for AIDS combined of oral fungal infection. Methods 60 AIDS patients combined with fungal infection were selected and divided into therapy group (n =30) and control group (n = 30) by HAART criteria. Individuals in control group were treated with routine care, including washing mouth by 2％ sodium bicarbonate, Smearing glycerol reducing mold on local skin, and taking fluconazole or itraconazole capsules 100 mg orally, and all above were taken twice a day, meanwhile nutrition therapy and oral nursing were strengthened. Therapy group were treated with HAART on the base of routine care. Results Effect rate between the two groups was significantly different (X2 = 6. 667, P ＜ 0. 05). Cure rate and recurrence rate were also different (X2 = 4. 286,4. 356; P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions Application of HAART on the basis of routine care for AIDS combined of oral fungal infections has better efficacy and lower recurrence rate and improve the clinical symptom and raise the life quality of the patients.

BACKGROUNDDespite recent reports on the molecular epidemiology of cryptococcal infections in China, clinical isolates have been mostly reported from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients, and environmental isolates from China have rarely been included. The aim of this study was to investigate the ecological profile of Cryptococcus (C.) neoformans and C. gattii in China.

METHODSA survey was performed in 10 cities from 20°N (North latitude) to 50°N and in a Eucalyptus (E.) camaldulensis forestry farm at the Guixi forestry center, China.

RESULTSSix hundred and twenty samples of pigeon droppings from 10 cities and 819 E. camaldulensis tree samples were collected and inoculated on caffeic acid cornmeal agar (CACA). The brown-colored colonies were recultured to observe their morphology, growth on canavanine-glycine-bromothymol-blue (CGB) medium, phenol oxidase and urease activities, serotype and mating type. There were obvious differences in the positive sample rates of C. neoformans in pigeon droppings collected from the different cities, ranging from 50% in the cities located at latitudes from 30°N - 40°N, 29% at 20°N - 30°N and 13% at 40°N - 50°N.

CONCLUSIONSThere were no differences in positive bevy rates (approximately 80%) among the three grouped cities. Mycological tests of 101 isolates purified from pigeon droppings revealed that they were C. neoformans var. grubii. We also observed variable capsular size around the C. neoformans cells in colonies with variable melanin production and the bio-adhesion of the natural C. neoformans cells with other microorganisms. One urease-negative C. neoformans isolate was isolated from pigeon droppings in Jinan city. No C. gattii was isolated in this study.

Animals ; China ; Columbidae ; microbiology ; Cryptococcosis ; microbiology ; Cryptococcus ; isolation & purification ; Cryptococcus gattii ; isolation & purification ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; isolation & purification ; Eucalyptus ; microbiology ; Feces ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo study the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status through heterosexual transmission in Yining city and to provide information on effective intervention measures.

METHODSCohort of HIV sero-discordant couples identified from 1997 to 2000 was formed. Proportional risk model was used to analyze the time of HIV sero-conversion and the related factors. All the recruiters were under informed consent.

RESULTSThrough following on 22 sero-discordant couples, we found that the incidence density (ID) of HIV sero-conversion was 32.49/100 person-year (PY) with 33.74/100 PY for women. In the proportional hazard model, the course of sero-conversion was only 2.43 years and the frequency of sexual contact was statistically significant (>or= 3 times/week vs. < 3 time/week: RR = 1.984, 95% CI: 1.045 - 3.767), indicating this factor was related to the hazard of HIV sero-conversion. However, the viral load of HIV infections has no such effect on HIV sero-conversion of their spouses. In addition, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) was lower in spouses of HIV sero-conversion than that in spouses of HIV non-sero conversion (t test: t = 4.77, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn order to control HIV transmission among general population, we suggested that HIV/AIDS counseling and testing be developed for pre-marital people in the region with high HIV prevalence.

Blotting, Western ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; HIV ; immunology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; epidemiology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and adverse effects of clofarabine for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children.

METHODSTwenty-six pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with clofarabine. There were 22 males and 4 females, with a mean age of 9.5 years (ranging from 4 to 17 years). They received clofarabine 52 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours daily for 5 days. Thirteen patients received two cycles and one patient received three cycles.

RESULTSIn the first cycle of clofarabine, complete remission was obtained in 11 children (42%) and partial remission was obtained in 7 children (27%). Eight children (31%) were considered unresponsive. In the second cycle, 11 (85%) of the 13 children obtained complete remission, 1 (8%) partial remission and 1 (8%) was unresponsive. One child received three cycles and obtained complete remission in each cycle. The common adverse events were myelosuppression, infection, liver dysfunction and gastrointestinal adverse reactions. There were no chemotherapy-related deaths.

CONCLUSIONSClofarabine is effective in the treatment of children with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its adverse effects can be tolerated. Clofarabine could be a promising new treatment for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Adenine Nucleotides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Arabinonucleosides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Recurrence