Objective To explore the relationship between acid pocket and acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Methods From March 2011 to January 2012,29 patients with GERD were enrolled and nine healthy individuals were set as control.All objects of this study accepted esophageal manometry test,acid pocket test,test of the occurrence time of acid pocket and ambulatory 24 hours pH monitoring.The t-test was performed for comparison between two groups.The relationship between the incidence of GERD and acid pocket was analyzed by Logistic regression analysis.Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis.Results The percentage of acid pocket in GERD group and control group was 58.6％ (17/29) and 5/9,respectively,and the difference was not statistically significantly (P＞0.05).The duration time of acid pocket was (56.3±44.7) minutes in GERD group which was longer than that of control group ((16.0±8.2) minutes) and the difference was statistically significant (t=1.970,P＜0.01).There was no statistical significance in the average pH value of acid pocket between GERD group with acid pocket (2.8 ± 1.3) and that of control group with acid pocket (1.9±0.5,P＞0.05).The duration time of acid pocket was correlated with the longest reflux time in GERD group with acid pocket (r=0.550,P＜0.01).The peak velocity of esophageal motility in GERD group ((3.3±0.6) cm/s) was lower than that of control group ((5.0±4.1) cm/s) and the difference was statistically significant (t=-1.354,P＜0.05).The peak velocity of esophageal motility in GERD group with acid pocket ((3.2±0.6) cm/s) was lower than that of control group with acid pocket ((7.2± 6.3) cm/s) and the difference was statistically significant (t=-2.693,P＜0.05).Conclusions The duration time of acid pocket in GERD is correlated with the time of acid reflux.Esophageal dysmotility may be related with the pathogenesis of GERD and the occurrence of acid pocket.

Objective:To investigate the use of antibacterial agents for emergency patients with acute upper respiratory infections in tertiary hospitals in Beijing .Methods:We used the medical claim data for urban workers in 10 tertiary hospitals in Beijing from Oct .2010 to Sep.2012.Medical records of emer-gency patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections had been selected as the study sample .The proportions of antibacterial prescriptions and categories of antibacterial drugs were described and ana -lyzed.Results:This study included 135 979 visitors (male:42.7%;mean age:43.6 ±16.2 years).The average antibacterial prescription rate was 71.2% (95%CI 71.0%-71.5%), of which the single kind use was 80.0%(95%CI 79.7%-80.2%).Among acute upper respiratory tract infections , the antibacte-rial prescription rate for acute tonsillitis visits was highest (85.1%, 95%CI 84.5%-85.6%), followed by acute laryngitis and bronchitis (81.69%, 95%CI 80.4%-82.8%), acute pharyngitis (81.4%, 95%CI 77.7% -85.0%), acute sinusitis (77.0%, 95%CI 74.6% -79.4%), acute nasopharyngitis (74.3%, 95%CI 73.7%-75.0%), and common cold (67.6%, 95%CI 67.3%-67.9%).Compared with the female group, the antibacterial prescription rate for the male was higher (73.2%, 95%CI 72.8%-73.6%vs.69.7%, 95%CI 69.4%-70.0%).Compared with the <60 years age cases, the anti-bacterial prescription rate for the ≥60 years cases was higher (72.1%, 95%CI 71.8%-72.3% vs. 66 .8%, 95%CI 66 .2%-67 .5%) .In the visitors who used antibacterial drugs , the average percentage of injection use was 50.6%(95%CI 50.3%-50.9%).The top antibacterial drugs in the list of varie-ties were the second generation cephalosporins (28.4%) , followed by the third generation cephalosporins (21.7%), fluoroquinolones (21.0%) and macrolides (17.6%).Conclusion: The antibacterial pre-scription rate for acute upper respiratory tract infections in the general hospitals in Beijing is high , and the second generation cephalosporins , third generation cephalosporins , fluoroquinolones and macrolides take the lead in the total antibacterial drugs .

Objective To dynamically monitor the blood glucose in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients within three days after admission, and to assess the impact of hyperglycemia on prognosis. Method Between 2007 and 2008, 62 TBI patients, who were admitted within 6 hours after the ineidence of injury without diahetes or severe combined injuries, were involved in this study. Blood glucose was monitored at 4 time points (instantly, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after admission). Patients were classified into the mild, the moderate, or the se-vere TBI group according to GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) scores, being classified into the survival or the dead group according to prognosis, or into the mile or severe hyperglycemia group depending on whether the blood glucose ex-ceeds 11.1mmol/L on admission. T tests and χ2 tests were applied to analyze the relationship among blood glucose levels, the degrees of injury, and the prognosis of studied patients. Results Patients with mild, moderate, or se-vere TBI showed hyperglycemia with different levels, and the blood glucose levels was consistent with the degree of the injury. The blood glucose of the patients in the dead group were significantly higher at all checked time points than those of the survival group, particularly instantly after admission (8.51±2.01 mmol/L vs. 11.54±2.45 mmol/L, P=0.0001, t=4.988). The mortality of patients with severe hyperglycemia was 64.71%, signifl-candy higher than that of the mild hyperglycemia group 13.95% (P=0.0002, χ2=15.46). The Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay (ICULOS) of the above two groups was 22.6 and 10.2 days,respectively (P=0.021, t= 3.216), but their hospital length of stay (HLOS) showed no statistical difference (P=0.052). Conclusions Hyperglycemia, as an early stress response to TBI, may reflect the degree of the injury. Blood glucose levels that exceed 11.1 mmol/L on admission may imply high mortality of TBI patients, so this could be used as a simple indi-cator to predict prognosis.

BACKGROUNDRecent autopsy study showed a high incidence of cerebrovascular lesions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To assess the impact of cerebrovascular pathology in AD, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study AD patients with and without cerebrovascular lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODSConventional and DTI scans were obtained from 10 patients with probable AD, 10 AD/V patients (probable AD with cerebrovascular lesions) and ten normal controls. Mean diffusivity (D) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values of some structures involved with AD pathology were measured.

RESULTSD value was higher in AD patients than in controls in hippocampus and the cingulate gyrus. In AD/V patients, increased D value was found in the same structures and also in the thalamus and basal ganglia compared to controls. There was a significant difference of D value between AD and AD/V patients. FA value reduced in the white matter of left inferior temporal gyrus and in the bilateral middle cingulate gyrus in patients with AD/V compared with controls. The MMSE (mini-mental state examination) score significantly correlated with FA value in the right hippocampus (r=0.639, P<0.019), in the right anterior cingulate gyrus (r=0.587, P<0.035) and in left parahippocampal gyrus (r=0.559, P<0.047).

CONCLUSIONCerebrovascular pathology had stronger impact on the D value than the AD pathology alone did. Elevated D value in thalamic and basal ganglia may contribute to cognitive decline in AD/V patients. Reduced FA values in AD/V patients may indicate that cerebrovascular pathology induced more severe white matter damage than the AD pathology alone did.

Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; complications ; pathology ; Brain ; blood supply ; pathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; complications ; pathology ; Cognition ; Corpus Callosum ; pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of TiO₂nanotube arrays covalently modified by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein- 2(rhBMP- 2) on the early bioactivity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in vitro and to provide experimental evidence for the biochemical modification of titanium implants.

METHODSIn the experiment group, double titanium nanotube arrays were prepared by anodization, and were chemically grafted with rhBMP- 2. Mechanically polished pure titanium was used as blank control group, and titanium dioxide nanotubes was used as negative control A group, and titanium dioxide nanotubes + carbonyldiimidazole as negative control B group. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE- SEM) and X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to detect the morphology and physicochemical properties of the experiment group, blank control group and the negative control group. Cell adhesion on the specimen surface of the experiment group, blank control group and negative control group on the 1st day was tested. Cell proliferation on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day and alkaline phosphatase activity on the 5th, 7th and 11th day was also tested.

RESULTSFE- SEM showed that the surface of titanium nanotubes loaded with rhBMP- 2 possessed visible miliary particulate matter. XPS showed that nitrogen peak in the group of titanium nanotubes loaded with rhBMP-2 was significantly greater that those in the other groups. FE- SEM showed that the cells on the surface of the experimental group on the 1st day spread well, better than those in the control group and negative control group. Cell proliferation activity on the 1st day in different groups was not obvious (P>0.05), the A value of the experimental group on the 3rd and 5th day (3.295 ± 0.153, 3.823 ± 0.059) were significantly higher than those in the control group (2.479 ± 0.064, 3.131 ± 0.096) and negative control A group (2.715 ± 0.075, 3.371 ± 0.047) and negative control B group (2.756 ± 0.132, 3.637 ± 0.047) (P<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activity on the 5th, 7th and 11th day in the experimental group (0.0477 ± 0.0287, 0.0615 ± 0.0016, 0.0667 ± 0.0018) were better than those in the control group, negative control A group and negative control B group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTitanium nanotube arrays can be loaded with rhBMP-2 by biochemical methods and have good biocompatibility.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanotubes ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Photoelectron Spectroscopy ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple method for isolating and culturing follicular papilla cells from rat vibrissae.

METHODSThe intact follicles were obtained and digested in 0.2% collagenase I with agitation on a rotary stirrer at 100 r/min at 37 degrees C; for 3 h. The suspension was centrifuged at 300 r/min and the papilla cells were collected and suspended in DMEM for cell culture. The adhesion efficiency of the dermal papilla cells was evaluated and compared with that of the cells obtained by microdissection.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe described procedure allowed efficient and rapid isolation of the dermal papilla cells from rat vibrissae and ensured improved adhesion of the dermal papillae and outgrowth of the cells with reduced labor and risk of contamination. The cells obtained with this procedure were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin staining.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vibrissae ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the curative effects of pirfenidone (PF) on pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ) in mice and to provide the theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

METHODSNinety adult healthy male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control group, PQ group, 2 mg/kg Dexamethasone group, 25 mg/kg PF group, 50 mg/kg PF group and 100 mg/kg PF group, there were 15 mice in each group. The corresponding volume of normal saline was given to the each mouse in control group according to the weight, after 2 h 0.1% CMC was given to the each mouse of control group one time by intragastric administration, then the CMC was administrated at regular time until sacrifice. All mice for other 5 groups were exposed to 100 mg/kg PQ by intragastric administration. At 2 h after exposure to PQ, 0.02 ml/10 g dexamethasone and 25, 50, 100 mg/kg PF were given to mice for dexamethasone group and for 3 PF groups by intragastric administration each day for 49 days, respectively. The lung coefficient was calculated and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by HE staining for each mouse. The hydroxyproline (HYP) level in lung tissue was measured for each mouse. The mRNA level of and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in lung tissue for each mouse were determined, and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in the bronchus-alveolus lavage fluid (BALF) of each mouse was detected.

RESULTSThe survival rates on the 3rd day in PQ group, 3 PF groups and dexamethasone group were 53.33%, 46.67%, 73.33%, 86.67% and 80%, respectively. The survival rates on the 3rd day in dexamethasone group, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg PF groups were significantly higher than those of PQ group and 25 mg/kg PF group (P < 0.05). The lung coefficients of 3 PF groups were significantly lower than that of the PQ group (P < 0.05). The lung tissue HYP levels of dexamethasone group and 3 PF groups were 50.95 ± 11.65, 44.52 ± 9.48, 43.27 ± 6.01 and 40.82 ± 5.90 mg/g respectively, which were significantly lower than that (74.27 ± 3.68) of PQ group (P < 0.01). The TGF-β(1) protein levels of BALF in dexamethasone group, 50 and 100 mg/kg PF groups were 22.03 ± 7.27, 27.75 ± 5.84 and 21.31 ± 6.82 ng/ml respectively, which were significantly lower than that (52.52 ± 15.51) ng/ml of PQ group (P < 0.01) The expression level of TGF-β(1) mRNA in 100 mg/kg PF group decreased significantly, as compared with PQ group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPF could reduce the collagen deposition and pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ in mice lungs.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pyridones ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish an effective method for isolating and culturing outer root sheath (ORS) bulge cells, dermal sheath cells (DSCs) and dermal papilla cells (DPCs) derived from human hair follicle.

METHODSSmall scalp specimens were incubated in the presence of dispase at 37 degrees celsius; for 2 h, the hair shafts with ORS embedded in the dermal sheath (DS) were extracted under dissecting microscope, and the ORS tissue were inoculated onto Petri dish. The specimens were transected at the interface between the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The portions of DS and DP (linked with and enclosed by DS) embedded in the adipose tissue were pulled out and incubated with collagenase at 37 degrees celsius; for 6-8 h, and the DP and DSCs were isolated by repeated low-speed centrifugation and cultured respectively on Petri dishes. The cultured ORS bulge cells were identified by immunohistochemistry with K19 antibody and DPCs and DSCs by immunohistochemistry with alpha-actin antibody.

RESULTSPurified ORS bulge cells, DSCs and DPCs could be harvested from the same human hair follicle.

CONCLUSIONThis new method allows efficient, rapid, and simultaneous isolation and culture of ORS bulge cells, DSCs and DPCs.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermis ; cytology ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Scalp ; cytology

AIMTo investigate the toxic response in auditory cortex of guinea pigs caused by cis-platinum (DDP), and the protective role of melatonin in this effect.

METHODSCis-platinum and melatonin were injected peritoneally. LDH, MDA, NO in the auditory cortex were detected by spectrophotometeR.

RESULTSThe body weight of the guinea pigs was diminished by peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum for 7 days (P < 0.01). Peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum induced the increased leakage of LDH (P < 0.05 vs injection of normal saline). This effect was reduced by injection of MT (P < 0.05). The content of MDA in the auditory cortex was also increased because of injection of Cis-platinumv for 7 days (P < 0.01) and MT reduced this effect (P < 0.05). The change of NO in the auditory cortex was not statistically significant after injection of Cis-platinum or Cis-platinum with MT.

CONCLUSIONPeritoneal injection of Cis-platinum could destroy neurons in the auditory cortex. This effect could be reduced by melatonin by an anti-free radials mechanism.

Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of hair follicle regeneration by injection of follicular cells isolated from murine skin.

METHODSEpidermis was peeled off from the dermis of 3-5 d C57BL/6J mouse by 0.2% Dispase digestion at 37 degrees C for 2 hours. Dermis was cut into small pieces and digested in 0.2% collagenase at 37 degrees C for 30 minute with low speed stirring to isolate hair follicles from dermis. Hair follicles were collected through filtration, low-speed centrifugation and density gradient centrifugation. Collagenase and trypsin were added to digest hair follicles into dissociated cells which were marked by Dio and injected into the nude mouse skin.

RESULTS2 d after intradermal injection of hair follicle cells, a cyst was formed containing lots of round and elliptical cells and homogeneous eosin stained cell-free tissues. The cyst wall was composed of many spindle shaped fibroblast cells and showed sparsely localized green fluorescence. The contents of the cyst showed bright green fluorescence. 4 d after injection, the skin became slightly thicken with grey appearance, a lots of hair follicles formed with black bulb. 1 weeks after injection, the injection site became black and evaluated with a lots of black hair follicles and hyperproliferation of capillary blood. Newly formed hair follicles showed bright green fluorescence. 3 weeks after injection, a cyst containing lots of black hairs formed in the injection site. Newly formed hair follicles showed positive for Dio. Sebaceous gland can be seen accompanied with hair follicles. 6 weeks after injection, the cyst contained lots of sheded club hair shafts and hair follicles on the stage of anagen. Cultured follicular cells and injection below 1 x 10(5) failed to regenerate hairs. While the regenerated hair follicle was few when the hair follicle cells were injected subcutaneously.

CONCLUSIONSFollicular cells can aggregate spontaneously and develop synergistically into hair follicles with normal growth cycle after implantation. The regeneration depends on the interactions between follicular cells, as well as on the recipient sites and cell numbers.

Alopecia ; surgery ; Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Dermis ; cytology ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; Injections, Intradermal ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods