Objective To investigate the preventive effect of TGF-?_1 neutralizing antibody on flexor tendon adhesion from operation.Methods One hundred and eight leghon cocks performed anastomonsis op- eration were divieded into three groups randomly,as normal saline(control group),5?g/ml group,10?g/ml group of TGF-?_1,antibody.At 1 st,3rd,8th and 12th weeks respectively after operation,the flexor biomechan- ics test,HE staining,Masson staining,Sirius red-polarization staining and TGF-?_1 immunohistochemistry stai- ning were used.Results The max of strength of tendon and the stimulate active flexor from the experiment groups(5?g/ml group,10?g/ml) are higher than from the control group,The max of strength of tendon of the experiment groups are less at 8th weeks,and no difference at 12th weeks from the control group;Compared with the control group,the 10?g/ml group were less shorten the progress of inflammation and accelerated the progress of molding;In the experiment groups(5?g/ml group,10?g/ml),the density of the collagenⅠtype were less,the ratio ofⅠ/Ⅲcollagen and expression of the TGF-?_1 were decreasing.Condusion The study showed that applying of TGF-?_1 muhiclonal neutralizing antibody can inhibit efficiently the function of the TGF-?_1 during the flexor tendon repair,reduce tendon adhesion and scar fromation,however has no affec- tion of tendon intensity,suggesting it is a latent and efficient method for preventiong flexor tendon from adhe- ring after operation.

OBJECTIVETo identify suitable hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) for co-evaluation of internal exposure level of PAHs by simultaneous determination of a variety of OH-PAHs in urine.

METHODSThe 24-h individual particulate matter and morning urine samples of 112 subjects were collected during June 2011. PAHs carried by individual particulate matter samples and OH-PAHs in urine samples were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTSSeven OH-PAHs were detected in urine samples, among which 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) concentration was the highest [(20.54 ± 28.94) µmol/mol Cr], while 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) concentration was the lowest [(0.73 ± 0.63) µmol/mol Cr]. The concentrations of these seven OH-PAHs decreased in the following order: 1-hydroxy-naphthalene (1-OHNap) > 9-hydroxy-fluorene (9-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-naphthalene (2-OHNap) > 3-hydroxy-fluorene (3-OHFlu) > 2-hydroxy-fluorene (2-OHFlu) > 6-hydroxy-chrysene (6-OHChr) > 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP). The effects of gender and smoking upon the contents of OH-PAHs in urine samples were not significant. There was a good correlation between total hydroxy-naphthalene (ΣOHNap) and 1-OHNap (r = 0.948), and a good correlation was also showed between total hydroxy-fluorene (ΣOHFlu) and 9-OHFlu (r = 0.975). Naphthalene carried by atmospheric particulate matters demonstrated better correlation with 1-OHNap than 2-OHNap, while fluorene carried by atmospheric particulate matters showed better correlation with 9-OHFlu than 3-OHFlu and 2-OHFlu. The correlation coefficients of ΣOHNap, ΣOHFlu and 6-OHChr with 1-OHP were 0.427, 0.543 and 0.655, respectively, and the correlations were not strong.

CONCLUSIONIt cannot reflect internal exposure level of PAHs to use 1-OHP as the only biomarker, while 1-OHNap and 9-OHFlu can be well predictive of the exposure levels of corresponding total OH-PAHs, suggesting that simultaneous determination of 1-OHNap, 9-OHFlu and 1-OHP can be more accurate and comprehensive in evaluating the internal exposure level of PAHs.

Aged ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; urine ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical ; analysis ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; urine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological features of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (PLAM).

METHODSBy means of HE and immunohistochemistry (SP method) studies, the clinical and pathological features of 5 PLAM cases were analyzed and the related literature reviewed.

RESULTSPLAM was a rare lung disease of unknown etiology and was restricted to females who were generally pre-menopausal. Pathological features showed abnormal smooth muscle cells (LAM cells) line the airways, lymphatics and blood vesssels leading to airflow obstruction and replacement of the lung parenchyma by cysts. LAM cells were positive for HMB45. Clinically the disease was categorized by dyspnoea, haemoptysis, recurrent pneumothoraces and chylous effusions.

CONCLUSIONSPLAM should be considered when recurrent pneumothorax, haemoptysis and dyspnoea occur in females. Pathologic examination of lung tissue biopsy is required for confirmation of PLAM diagnosis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the life style, genetic and occupational risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among policemen.

METHODS1:4 matched case-control study was used, based on physical examination data of Tianjin Policemen in 2010, 708 patients with MS were randomly selected as cases, which were matched with 2832 healthy controls on the basis of sex and age (+/- 1 year). An epidemiological investigations on the past exposure status of several possible risk factors was conducted, and the data were analyzed with conditional logistic regression.

RESULTSFifteen factors related to exposure were identified for MS through univariate conditional logistic regression analysis. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis suggested that, seven factors, such as family history of hypertension (OR = 2.406, 95% CI: 1.946-2.975), family history of diabetes (OR = 1.301, 95% CI: 1.043-1.623), smoking (OR = 1.357, 95%CI: 1.010-1.823), snoring (OR = 1.268, 95% CI: 1.043-1.543), work intensity (OR = 4.603, 95% CI: 3.767-5.623), occupational stressful events (OR = 1.524, 95% CI: 1.209-1.922), security policemen (OR = 1.453, 95% CI: 1.127-1.872) and criminal investigation policemen (OR = 2.792, 95% CI: 2.168-3.596), could significantly increase the risk of disease development, but dairy products (OR = 0.782, 95% CI: 0.619-0.989) was a protect factor for MS. The results from population attributable risk factors analysis showed that the control of smoking, snoring, work intensity, occupational stressful events can decreased the risk of MS to 16.26%, 11.71%, 56.87% and 8.97%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMetabolic syndrome has became a significant public health problem among policemen, it's necessary to take measures on life style, occupational risk factors for reducing the incidence of MS, and improving the health level among policemen.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; genetics ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; Police ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of intracoronary transfer of autologous HO-1 overexpressed MSCs in porcine model of myocardial ischemia (1 h)/reperfusion.

METHODSApoptosis was assayed and cytokine concentrations in supernatant were measured in cells exposed to hypoxia-reoxygen in vitro. In vivo, Chinese male mini-pigs were allocated to the following treatment groups: control group (saline), MSCs group (MSCs), MSCs transfected with pcDNA3.1-nHO-1 (HO-1-MSCs). 1 x 10(7) of autologous stem cells or identical volume of saline was injected intracoronary into porcine hearts 1 h after ischemia. MRI assay and postmortem analysis were assessed 3 months after stem cell transplantation.

RESULTSIn vitro, cell apoptosis rate post hypoxia-reoxygen was significantly reduced in HO-1-MSCs group (30.30% +/- 7.64%) compared with that in MSCs group (56.93% +/- 4.68%, P < 0.001) and LacZ-MSCs group (55.88% +/- 4.38%, P < 0.001), VEGF was also significantly upregulated in HO-1-MSCs group [(768.44 +/- 78.38) pg/ml] compared with that in MSCs group [(555.27 +/- 67.67) pg/ml, P < 0.001] and LacZ-MSCs group [(522.97 +/- 71.45) pg/ml, P < 0.001]. In vivo, cardiac function was significantly improved in both MSCs transplantation groups compared to saline group (all P < 0.05 vs.saline) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in HO-1-MSCs group compared with that in MSCs group at 3 months after transplantation (53.50% +/- 2.09% vs. 49.54% +/- 2.74%, P = 0.017), capillary density in the peri-infarct area was also significantly higher in HO-1-MSC group than that in MSCs group [(14.59 +/- 2.39)/HPF vs. (11.78 +/- 2.48)/HPF, P = 0.033].

CONCLUSIONSEfficacy of HO-1 overexpressed MSCs on improving cardiac function and promoting angiogenesis was greater than those by MSCs in this porcine ischemia/reperfusion model.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cells, Cultured ; Genetic Vectors ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Myocardial Ischemia ; therapy ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the occupational stress factors associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among male policemen.

METHODSUsing cluster sampling method, we selected four Public Security Bureau within the jurisdiction of the station now in some city. All the male police were included as research objects, and finally 1490 persons were selected, health and occupational stress inventory-revised (OSI-R) questionnaire were used for epidemiological surveys, and anthropometric examination and chemical indicators were also measured at the same time. The analysis methods were chi-square test and unconditional logistical regression.

RESULTSAmong the 1490 of research objects, 1483 completed the questionnaire, and 1480 of the eligible questionnaires were available.237 cases were MS, and the prevalence rate was 16.0%(237/1480). The number of cases who were high, moderate and lack of occupational stress in MS group were 8, 39 and 23, that in non-MS were 14, 114 and 131, respectively. The odds of occupational stress with the highest and medium among policemen than who were lack were 4.82 (95%CI: 1.50 - 15.41) and 3.33 (95%CI: 1.62 - 6.79); the average score of role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility in the group of MS were (38.76 ± 6.83), (25.74 ± 7.22), (25.76 ± 6.27); and that in non-MS were (37.55 ± 6.85), (24.50 ± 6.58), (25.05 ± 5.95). The logistical regression analysis showed that: the likely three occupational risk stress factors which influencing the prevalence of MS were role ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility, and the OR (95%CI) were 1.06 (1.02 - 1.10), 1.04 (1.02 - 1.07) and 1.03 (1.01 - 1.06), respectively.

CONCLUSIONRole ambiguity, role insufficiency and responsibility were the occupational risk stress factors associated with the prevalence of MS among male policemen.

Adult ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Police ; Prevalence ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workload

BACKGROUNDMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation may partially restore heart function in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to explore the beneficial effects of MSCs modified with heme xygenase-1 (HO-1) on post-infarct swine hearts to determine whether the induction of therapeutic angiogenesis is modified by the angiogenic cytokines released from the implanted cells.

METHODSIn vitro, MSCs were divided into four groups: (1) non-transfected MSCs (MSCs group), (2) MSCs transfected with the pcDNA3.1-Lacz plasmid (Lacz-MSCs group), (3) MSCs transfected with pcDNA3.1-hHO-1 (HO-1-MSCs group), and (4) MSCs transfected with pcDNA3.1-hHO-1 and pretreatment with an HO inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP) (HO-1-MSCs + SnPP group). Cells were cultured in an airtight incubation bottle for 24 hours, in which the oxygen concentration was maintained at < 1%, followed by 12 hours of reoxygenation. After hypoxia/reoxygen treatment, ELISA was used to measure transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in the supernatant. In vivo, 28 Chinese mini-pigs were randomly allocated to the following treatment groups: (1) control group (saline), (2) Lacz-MSCs group, (3) HO-1-MSCs group, and (4) HO-1-MSCs + SnPP group. About 1 × 10(7) of autologous stem cells or an identical volume of saline was injected intracoronary into porcine hearts 1 hour after MI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assay and postmortem analysis were assessed four weeks after stem cell transplantation.

RESULTSPost hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro, TGF-β in the supernatant was significantly increased in the HO-1-MSCs ((874.88 ± 68.23) pg/ml) compared with Lacz-MSCs ((687.81 ± 57.64) pg/ml, P < 0.001). FGF-2 was also significantly increased in the HO-1-MSCs ((1106.48 ± 107.06) pg/ml) compared with the Lacz-MSCs ((853.85 ± 74.44) pg/ml, P < 0.001). In vivo, at four weeks after transplantation, HO-1 gene transfer increased the capillary density in the peri-infarct area compared with the Lacz-MSCs group (14.24 ± 1.66/HPFs vs. 11.51 ± 1.34/HPFs, P < 0.001). Arteriolar density was also significantly higher in HO-1-MSCs group than in the Lacz-MSCs group (7.86 ± 2.00/HPFs vs. 6.45 ± 1.74/HPFs, P = 0.001). At the same time, the cardiac function was significantly improved in the HO-1-MSCs group compared with the Lacz-MSCs group ((53.17 ± 3.55)% vs. (48.82 ± 2.98)%, P < 0.05). However, all these effects were significantly abrogated by SnPP.

CONCLUSIONMSCs provided a beneficial effect on cardiac function after ischemia/reperfusion by the induction of therapeutic angiogenesis, and this effect was amplified by HO-1 overexpression.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

BACKGROUNDEarly detection and diagnosis is urgent for the sake of effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. However, a convenient, economical and relatively precise method is not available. We here report a prospective study to find the possible value of the combined use of four popular tumor markers in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among patients with suspicious nodules in the lung.

METHODSSix hundred and sixty inpatients with suspicious nodules in the lung were divided into a lung cancer group and a benign pulmonary tumor group according to post-operative histological examinations. Serum levels of four tumor markers including squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Cyfra 21-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were assayed for each patient. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each tumor marker. The power of lung cancer diagnosis of each tumor marker, as well as a combination of them were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe serum levels (median, range) of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.44 (0.01 - 35.70) ng/ml, 2.49 (0.30 - 26.78) ng/ml, 2.30 (0.82 - 73.33) ng/ml and 10.54 (0.10 - 56.41) ng/ml respectively in lung cancer group, and were 0.32 (0.01 - 0.90) ng/ml, 1.60 (0.20 - 8.93) ng/ml, 1.41 (0.72 - 4.82) ng/ml and 9.36 (6.56 - 24.24) ng/ml respectively in the benign pulmonary tumor group. The difference in each tumor marker between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). The ROCs of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were 0.702 (95%CI, 0.654 - 0.751), 0.611 (95%CI, 0.563 - 0.659), 0.650 (95%CI, 0.601 - 0.700) and 0.598 (95%CI, 0.542 - 0.654) respectively, indicating very low power of these four tumor markers. When a combination of SCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE were employed, the diagnosis power was strengthened.

CONCLUSIONSCC, CEA, Cyfra 21-1 and NSE are valuable in the early diagnosis of lung cancer among suspicious nodules in the lung, especially when they were assayed together for one patient.

Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; metabolism ; Serpins ; blood ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAlthough the first leading cause of death in China was malignant neoplasms (mortality, 374.1 per 100,000 person-years), the full impact of primary brain tumors (PBT) on the healthcare system is not completely described because there are a few well documented reports about the epidemiologic features of brain tumors. This study aimed to report a comprehensive assessment on the prevalence of PBT.

METHODSA multicenter cross-sectional study on brain tumor (MCSBT) in China was initiated in five regional centers: Daqing (northeast), Puyang (north of China), Shiyan (center of China), Ma'anshan (center of China) and Shanghai (southeast). Prevalence rate was calculated by counting the number of people living with a PBT between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006 and dividing by the total population of the five communities at January 1, 2006. Estimates of prevalence were expressed as percentages and grouped according to gender and to age in fifteen-year categories. Within these strata, the rates were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using the accurate calculation of CI for Poisson distribution. A chi-square test was used to compare the various frequencies with α < 0.05. Age-standardized prevalence with the direct method was calculated with the ten-year age-specific prevalence and the age distribution of the Chinese population in 2010, obtained from World population prospects: the 2008 revision.

RESULTSWe estimated that the overall prevalence of PBT was 24.56 per 100,000 (95%CI, 14.85 to 34.27), and the overall prevalence of PBT in female population (30.57 per 100,000 and its 95%CI ranged from 19.73 to 41.41) was higher than that in male population (18.84 per 100,000 and its 95%CI ranged from 10.33 to 27.35). However, the discrepancy between genders was not statistically significant because the 95%CI overlapped. Of 272 cases of newly diagnosed PBT, the proportion of histological subtypes by age groups, gender was statistically different (χ(2) = 52.6510, P < 0.0001). More than half of all reported tumors (52.57%) were either gliomas or meningiomas. For the youngest (aged from 0 - 19) strata of the population, glioma appeared to occur more than other subtypes, accounting for 55.56% of all of cases. The majority of brain tumors presented in those aged from 20 to 59 years was pituitary adenomas (45.12%) and gliomas (31.10%). Opposed to brain tumors in adults and teenage, gliomas only accounted for 22.22%. Meanwhile, the median ages at diagnosis of the patients with PBT were similar between males and females except for pituitary adenomas (male: 59 years old; female: 45 years old).

CONCLUSIONSAge standardized prevalence of PBT is 22.52 per 100,000 (95%CI, 13.22 to 31.82) for all populations, 17.64 per 100,000 (95%CI, 9.41 to 25.87) for men, and 27.94 per 100,000 (95%CI, 17.58 to 38.30) for women. Age standardization to China's 2010 population yielded an estimated population of 304 954 cases with PBT. Our prevalence estimates provide a conservative basis on which to plan health care services and to develop programmatic strategies for surviving. In the future, it would be helpful to have long-term observed survival rates that would make the assumptions and the resulting imprecision in the current estimates unnecessary.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation provides a new approach for myocardial repair. However, many important fundamental questions about MSCs transplantation remain unanswered. There is an urgent need to identify MSCs from the beating heart and analyze the efficacy of this new approach. This study aimed to localize the magnetically labeled MSCs (MR-MSCs) and monitor the restorative effects of MR-MSCs with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

METHODSAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) was created in swine by a balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Cells were delivered via intracoronary infusion after myocardial infarction. Infarct size change and cardiac function were assessed with 3.0T MR scanner. The results were then confirmed by histological and western blot analysis. All statistical procedures were performed with Systat (SPSS version 12.01).

RESULTSA total of 26 swine were divided into four groups (sham-operated group, n=6; AMI group with PBS transplantation, n=6; labeled MSCs group, n=7; unlabeled MSCs group, n=7). MSCs, MR-MSCs (10(7) cells) or PBS were delivered by intracoronary injection after MI and serial cardiac MR imaging studies were performed at 0, 4 and 8 weeks after transplantation. MR imaging demonstrated MI size decreased after MSCs transplantation in labeled and unlabeled groups, however, increases were seen in the AMI group at 8 weeks after MI. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was slightly increased in the AMI group ((41.87+/-2.45)% vs (39.04+/-2.80)%, P>0.05), but significantly improved in the MR-MSCs group ((56.85+/-1.29)% vs (40.67+/-2.00)%, P<0.05) and unlabeled group ((55.38+/-1.07)% vs (41.78+/-2.08)%, P<0.05) at 8 weeks after treatment. MR-MSCs were further confirmed by Prussian blue and immunofluorescent staining. Western blot analysis demonstrated that there was an increased expression of cardiomyocyte markers such as myosin heavy chain and troponin T in the MSCs treatment groups and the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase 2 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 decreased in the labeled group and unlabeled group compared with the AMI group and sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONTransplanted MR-MSCs can regenerate new myocardium and prevent remolding in an MI model at 2-month follow-up and represent a preferred method to better understand the mechanisms of stem cell therapy in future clinical studies.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Disease Models, Animal ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetics ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Swine ; Ventricular Function, Left