Objective To evaluate the value of the SAFIRE reconstruction technique for the nasal traumatic lesions .Methods Six‐ty‐seven patients with nasal traumas were scanned by the orbital scan and were reconstructed with FBP and SAFIRE (strength grade 1 to 5) respectively .Then a comparative analysis for six kinds of reconstructed images were conducted on the average CT value ,noise ,signal to noise ratio (SNR) ,contrast to noise ratio (CNR) ,subjective scoring and lesion detection .Results Compared with reconstruction by FBP , SAFIRE (strength grade 1 to 5)reconstruction ,for the noise ,decreased to 20 .4% ,31 .4% ,39 .7% ,46 .5% and 57 .2% respectively ;For the SNR ,increased to 33 .3% ,54 .7% ,75 .4% ,87 .4% and 101 .4% respectively ;For the CNR ,it also increased to 23 .0% ,36 .4% ,57 .7% , 87 .4% and 106 .5% respectively ;The difference was statistically significant (P< 0 .05) .For the images of SAFIRE‐1 and SAFIRE‐5 ,the image subjective scoring was lower than that by FBP ;for the images of SAFIRE‐2 and SAFIRE‐4 ,the image subjective scoring was higher than that by FBP ;and SAFIRE‐3 had the highest score .But for the rate of lesion detection ,all the images were the same .Conclusion CT scan combined SAFIRE reconstruction technique can decrease effectively the noise and increase the image quality in the traumatic nasal scan , as well as has a potential effect to decrease the scan dose .

Objective To evaluate the first-line and second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs resistance of clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. TB) isolates and the prevalence of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in hospital-base TB patients in Shandong province, China. Methods Absolute concentration method based on egg medium were examined for drug-resistance of M. TB strains to 4 first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (INH, RFP, SM, and EMB) and 5 second-line drugs (FQ,CPM,AMK,and PAS).Results 1021 isolates were obtained from clinical TB patients at Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital during November 2004 to April 2007. Of those, 32 strains ( 3.1% ) were identified to Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis. Among 989 M. TB complexe isolates, the general resistance rate to first-line drugs were 32. 3% (95% CI:28.7% - 35.8% ), 107 isolates ( 10. 8% ) were found to be MDR-TB. According to the revised Global XDR-TB Task Force definition, a total of 20( 18. 7% ) MDR-TB patients met criteria for XDR-TB. All XDR-TB patients were previously treated pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Conclusions The prevalence of resistant to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis was very serious, and high prevalence of XDR-TB in hospital-base patients was found in high-level The study showed that it is important to successively survey the anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in clinical laboratory.

Objective To study the influencing factors of the colorants used in the placebo of herbal medicine.Methods The effect of pH value,temperature,and illumination and sterilization method on the coloring of the pigments like carmine,sunset yellow 60,brilliant blue 60 and caramel were investigated by determining the Lab value with the instrument.Results PH value of solution had effects on the coloring of carmine and sunset yellow 60,but no effects on the brilliant blue 60 and caramel.When pH values of the solutions were adjusted to 10,chromatic aberration values of carmine and sunset yellow 60 were 17.29 and 27.29,respectively; In the conditions of acidification,the color of carmine and sunset yellow 60 solutions were not changed much; short heating and illumination had no effects on all the four pigments,and all the chromatic aberration values were less than 1.5; 60Co-ray irradiation had great effects on the coloring,and the chromatic aberration values of carmine,sunset yellow 60,brilliant blue 60 and caramel solutions after 60Co-ray irradiation were 12.43,22.45,37.53 and 19.22,respectively; While autoclaving (121 ℃,20 min) would not change the color of solution,and all those chromatic aberration values were less than 1.5.Conclusion These colorants are suitable for the placebo preparation of Chinese medicine decoction,which is recommended to be added in the preparation of the final link.60Co-ray irradiation sterilization is forbidden.

Objective To prepare the coating of dexamethasone-eluting intravascular stent and observe the features of its delayed release in vitro.Methods Spray painting and dipping coating were used respectively to prepare stent coating,and then high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was used to detect the drug loading.The stents prepared by dipping coating were set in a flow of 50 ml PBS buffer at a velocity of 20 ml/min,and 0.5 ml buffer was collected at 6 h and 1,2,4,6,8,10,12,15 d respectively with another 0.5 ml fresh PBS being added immediately.The drug content of the 0.5 ml buffer was detected by HPLC for drug sustained release in vitro.Results The drug loading of stents prepared by spray painting was(24.26?5.23)?g,while that stents prepared by dipping coating for 4 d was(93.15?7.83)?g.Drugs were released slowly and the release rate reached 84% at 15 d.Conclusion The dipping coating-prepared stents have evident effect of sustained release.

OBJECTIVEIn order to find out the cause of molar intrusion and how to avoid molar intrusion, we analyze the movement tendency of tooth by changing the angles of upper accentuated-curve and the height of free traction hook.

METHODSSpiral CT scanning and Mimics 10.0 software were employed in this study to construct the three dimensional finite element model of maxillary teeth, periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone as well as the inch stainless steel upper accentuated-curve archwires with different angles (5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees) and the free traction hook with different height (2.1, 4.0, 5.5 mm). By exerting 1.5 N backward force to analysis the displacement trend of maxillary tooth.

RESULTSUpper accentuated-curve archwires made the incisors labially tip, intruse, distally upright and mesilabially torsion; made the canines labially tip, prolong, mesial-tipped and mesi-labially torsion; made the second premolars and the first molars buccal tip, intruse, distal upright and mesi-labially torsion. With the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, all tooth movement tendency increased; while with the height of free traction hook increased, all tooth movement tendency decreased.

CONCLUSIONWhen the angle of upper accentuated-curve archwires increased, the extent of molar intrusion increased, but when the height of free traction hook increased, the degree of molar intrusion decreased. The degree of molar intrusion was minimum using 5 degrees upper accentuated-curve archwires cooperated with 5.5 mm free traction hook.

Bicuspid ; Bone Screws ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Periodontal Ligament ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement Techniques

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of different surface treatments on porcelain surface topography.

METHODSMetal ceramic prostheses in 6 groups were treated according to the different surface treatment methods, and the surface topography was observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM). Group A was the control one (untreated), group B was etched by 9.6% hydrofluoric acid(HF), group C was deglazed by grinding and then etched by 9.6% HF, group D was treated with Nd: YAG laser irradiation(0.75 W) and HF etching, group E was treated with Nd: YAG laser irradiation (1.05 W) and HF etching, and group F was treated with laser irradiation (1.45 W) and HF etching.

RESULTSSurface topography was different in different groups. A lot of inerratic cracks with the shapes of rhombuses and grid, and crater with a shape of circle were observed on the ceramic surface after treatment with energy parameters of 1.05 W Nd: YAG laser irradiation and 9.6% HF etching (group E). Surface topography showed a lot of concaves on the inner wall of the cracks, and the concaves with diameter of 1-5 microm could be observed on the inner wall of the holes, which had a diameter of 20 microm under SEM.

CONCLUSIONThe use of Nd: YAG laser irradiation with the energy parameters of 1.05 W and the HF with a concentration of 9.6% can evenly coarsen the porcelain surface, that is an effective surface treatment method.

Ceramics ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Porcelain ; Hydrofluoric Acid ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Shear Strength ; Surface Properties

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is one of the independent risk factors for youth cerebral infarction. Gene mutation of key enzymes in homocysteine metabolism is the main cause of HHcy. Few cases of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) compound heterozygous mutation complicated with pulmonary embolism and lower extremity artery embolism have been reported. This article reported a young cerebral infarction patient complicated with pulmonary embolism and lower extremity artery embolism, who was subsequently detected with significantly elevated blood Hcy, and finally etiologically diagnosed with CBS 833 T>C/1082C>T compound heterozygous mutation. With the treatment of folic acid, methyl cobalt amine, vitamin B 6 and anticoagulant, the blood Hcy has been gradually declined, and no new thrombotic events occurred during the follow-up period of a year.

Objective To investigate whether vascular endothelial cells in choroidal neovascularization whether hypoxia condition can up-regulate SNAI1 and activate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 therefore to participate in choroidal neovascularization(CNV).Methods Sixteen SPF male C57 mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into control group and model group.CNV models were induced by retinal laser photocoagulation,and flatmount and frozen sections of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid-sclera compound were prepared at 7 days after modeling.The CNV in flat-mount was examined by Isolectin B4 staining,and the location of SNAI1,MMP2 and MMP9 in frozen sections was determined by immunofluorescence technology.The expression of SNAI1,MMP2 and MMP9 at mRNA level in CNV was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (real-time PCR).The use and care of experimental animals complied with Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Visual Research.The RF/6A cells were divided into normoxia group and hypoxia group and cultured for 24 hours in 5％ CO2condition and mix condition of 94％ N2,5％ CO2 and 1％ O2,respectively.The expression of SNAI1,MMP2 and MMP9 in the cells at mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot assay,respectively.Small interfering RNA of SNAI1 (siSNAI1) was transfected into the cells,and then the expression of MMP2 in the cells at mRNA and protein levels was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot assay,respectively,and the migrating number of the cells was assayed by Transwell chamber assay.Results CD31 and SNAI1 positive-response cells were seen in RPE-choroid-sclera flat-mounts under the laser scanning confocal microscope.The relative expression levels of SNAI1mRNA and MMP2 mRNA in RPE-choroid-sclera tissues were higher in the model group than those in the control group (SNAI1 mRNA:1.291 ±0.060 vs.0.759±0.074,P =0.001;MMP2 mRNA:1.610±0.424 vs.0.772 ±0.080,P =0.044).The expression of MMP9 mRNA was not significantly elevated between model group and control group (P＞0.05).The relative expression level of MMP2 mRNA was higher in comparison with MMP9 mRNA in the model group (P＜0.01).The relative expressions of hypoxic induced factor 1α (HIF-1α),SNAI1 and MMP2 at mRNA level and protein level in RF/6A cells were significantly higher in the hypoxia group than those in the normoxia group (all at P＜0.05) and no considerable difference was seen in MMP9 mRNA expression between the two groups (P＞0.05).The relative expressions of MMP2 mRNA in the cells were 0.217±0.036 and 0.818±0.105,and those of MMP2 protein in the cells were 0.236±0.009 and 1.043±0.120 in the hypoxia+siSNAI1 group and only hypoxia group,respectively,with significant differences between them (P =0.002,0.003).The migrating number of the cells was (254.60 ±71.31)/field in the hypoxia+siSNAI1 group,which was significantly less than (534.10±96.21) /field in the control group (P =0.029).Conclusions The hypoxic environment at CNV can activate MMP2 by up-regulating the expression of SNAI1,which promotes the migration of vascular endothelial cells and therefore participates in CNV formation,and the intervention of SNAI1 activation under the hypoxic condition can inhibit this process.

One of the distinct characters of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus is that its toxic components exist not only in the venomous glands, but also in the tissues outside the venomous glands and even in the eggs. Investigation on the toxins outside the venomous glands can deepen our understanding of spider toxins and discover new lead molecules with important application prospects. In order to explore the low-abundance proteinaceous toxins in the L. tredecimguttatus eggs, we used bioinformatic strategies to mine a gene sequence encoding a peptide toxin from the transcriptome of L. tredecimguttatus eggs, and then heterologously expressed the gene successfully with a 3'-RACE combined with nest PCR strategy. Biological activity analyses indicated that the expressed peptide toxin, named latroeggtoxin-Ⅵ (LETX-Ⅵ), could inhibit Na⁺ channel currents in ND7/23 cells and promote dopamine release from PC12 cells, without obvious toxicity against Periplaneta americana and bacteria as well as fungi including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, demonstrating that LETX-Ⅵ is a mammal-specific neurotoxin with a potential application prospect in development of the tool reagents for neurobiological study and the drugs for treating related diseases.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins/genetics* ; Black Widow Spider/genetics* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Rats ; Spider Venoms/genetics* ; Transcriptome