Objective To study the effect of formaldehyde exposure on DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) in buccal mucosa cells in students who were taking anatomy course.Methods The modified SDS-KCl precipitation assay published by Zhitkovich and Costa in 1992 was applied to detect DNA-protein crosslinks in human cells.And this method has been used to explore DPC induced by different pollutants in numerous studies.37 medical students (20 males and 17 females) aged 19.24?1.09 (mean?standard deviation) and 40 students (20 males and 20 females) in natural science college aged 19.55?0.99 (mean?standard deviation) were studied.The frequency of exposure to formaldehyde was 6 h per week in exposed group.Results Concentrations of formaldehyde in anatomy laboratory ranged from 0.42 to 1.57 mg/m3.Exposure to formaldehyde resulted in an increase of DNA-protein crosslinks.The percentage (mean?standard deviation) of DNA-protein crosslinks in exposed and nonexposed students were 25.72%?6.48% and 22.88%?5.34% respectively(P0.05).Conclusion The result of the present study suggests that formaldehyde exposure in medical students increases the frequency of DNA-protein crosslinks in buccal mucosa cells and females may be more sensitive to formaldehyde exposure.

Objective To assess the technical feasibility and efficacy of the combined application of a flexible,self-expanding neurovascular stent(Neuroform)and Gugliebni detachable coils(GDC)in the management of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms in humans.Methods Sixty-five wide-necked aneurysms which underwent 65 endovascular procedures were performed by using intracranial stent and GDC.There was a total of 30 aneurysms at basilar artery including 16 at the basilar tip,9 at the basilar trunk and 5 at the beginning of the basilar artery.And there were 30 aneurysms located at the posterior communicating artery, and 5 aneurysms located at the vertebral artery.The Neuroform stents were deployed to cover the neck of aneurysms.Another microcatheter was introduced into the aneurysm sac through the stent interstices and then detachable coils were released to embolize the aneurysms.Results The combined procedures were successful in all of the 65 patients with wide-necked aneurysms.The stent could pass smoothly through the intracranial artery and got released.Complete occlusion was achieved in 60 patients and incomplete occlusion in 5 patients.In-stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients.All patients recovered well.Forty-two patients had followe-up angiography at 3 to 6 months after the procedure.Among them,no filling was found for the 39 aneurysms which were densely packed,and 3 aneurysms had neck remnant.Conclusion The implantation of Neuroform stent as a complimentary device to GDC coiling is easy and safe for embolization of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.It has great advantage for treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.

OBJECTIVETo study the causes of orchiectomy in different age groups.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data about 291 cases of orchiectomy performed between March 1993 and October 2014 and analyzed the causes of surgery and their distribution in different age groups.

RESULTSThe main causes of orchiectomy were testicular torsion (45.8%), cryptorchidism (32.5%) and testicular tumor (16.9%) in the patients aged 0-25 years, testicular tumor (42.4%), cryptorchidism (25.9%) and tuberculosis (10.6%) in those aged 26-50 years. Prostate cancer was the leading cause in those aged 51-75 years (77.6%) or older (84.0%)), and testicular tumor was another cause in the 51-75 years old men (10.2%). Prostate cancer, testicular tumor, cryptorchidism, and testicular torsion were the first four causes of orchiectomy between 1993 and 2009. From 2010 to 2014, however, testicular tumor rose to the top while prostate cancer dropped to the fourth place.

CONCLUSIONThe causes of orchiectomy vary in different age groups. The proportion of castration for prostate cancer patients significantly reduced in the past five years, which might be attributed to the improvement of comprehensive health care service.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Causality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptorchidism ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; statistics & numerical data ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; surgery ; Testicular Neoplasms ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Male Genital ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application, indications and outcomes of free flaps for ora-maxillofacial traumatic defects reconstruction.

METHODSTwenty consecutive cases of ora-maxillofacial the traumatic defects reconstruction with free flaps were reviewed. All clinical data including causes of injuries, the type of defects, selection of free flaps, perioperative complications and the follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the cases underwent free flap reconstruction for ora-maxillofacial traumatic defects: 8 cases with soft tissue defects, 12 cases with soft and hard tissue defects. Fifteen patients received two-stage operation and 5 patients underwent primary reconstruction at the time of debridement or fracture reduction. Twenty free flaps were applied for the reconstruction, 11 cases with fibula flap, 1 case with iliac crest free flap, 7 cases with radial forearm flap and 1 case with scapula flap. No flap failure occurred. The successful rate of free flaps transfer was 100%.

CONCLUSIONSThe free flaps transfer is reliable and can reconstruct the ora-maxillofacial traumatic soft and hard tissue defects. Fibula and radial forearm free flap are the most common used flaps. Early aggressive surgery with free flaps transfer for traumatic defects can prevent the scar contracture and tissue displace, which can shorten the treatment period and improve the final outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop an LC-MS method for identification of flavonoids in Chinese hawthorn fruits and an HPLC method for quantification of 5 flavonoids.

METHODAccurate molecular weights of the target flavonoids were acquired by time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) in both positive and negative ion modes. The flavoniods were then further confirmed by standards. An RP-HPLC method was established to quantitatively analysis five major flavonoids (chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, hyperoside and isoquercitrin) in hawthorn fruits from ten different regions.

RESULTSThe molecular formulae of 8 components were determined by TOF-MS. In the quantitative method validation, the method is linear over the studied range of 1.8-178.5, 2.2-284.8, 2.7-270. 6,1.5-150.0, 1.5-150.0 mg x L(-1) for chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, hyperoside and isoquercitrin, respectively. The correlation coefficient for each analyze was greater than 0.999. The inter-day precision of the analysis was lower than 4%, The RSDs of precision and stability were lower than 5%. The recovery rate was from 98.5% to 102.5%, and RSDs were less than 3.5%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, specific and reliable, and is suitable for quality control of Chinese hawthorn.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in systemic hemodynamics and their relations to the concentrations of nitric oxide, endothelin, prostacyclin, and thromboxane A2 after portal cavity clamping and opening in portal hypertensive canines.

METHODSTwelve canines were randomly divided into control group and model group, and partial ligation of the portal vein was performed in the model group. Portal cavity clamping and opening was performed 12 weeks later in the two groups. The hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output index (CI), heart rate (HR), mean artery blood pressure (MABP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary arteriole wedge pressure (PAWP), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were measured during the operation. Samples were obtained from the central vein at 3 time points during the operation for measuring NO, ET, PGI2, and TXA2.

RESULTSPortal vein ligation and portal cavity clamping produced obvious changes in the systemic circulation of the dogs, and the alteration was milder in the control group. After obstruction of the portal vein, the NO levels in systemic circulation in portal hypertensive dogs declined obviously, but gradually recovered the normal level after reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONSystemic circulation undergoes significant alterations after portal vein obstruction, but its changes in portal hypertensive dogs are milder than those in the control group, the mechanism of which needs further investigation.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Endothelins ; blood ; Epoprostenol ; blood ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertension, Portal ; blood ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Plasma ; metabolism ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology ; Thromboxane A2 ; blood ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of SiRNA-EGFR on the expression of hyaluronidase gene in human breast cancer cells.

METHODSReverse transcription-polymerse chain reaction was used to detect the changes in the expression of EGFR mRNA in human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435S, ZR-75 and ZR-75-30 after transfection by SiRNA-EGFR.

RESULTSAfter transfection with SiRNA-EGFR, the expression levels of EGFR were significantly inhibited in MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435S, ZR-75 and ZR-75-30 cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTransfection by SiRNA-EGFR can inhibit the expression of EGFR mRNA in human breast cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of serum levels of six cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-5, IL-4, IL-2) in patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer prior to surgery.

METHODSThe serum levels of six cytokines were detected in 51 patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer and 46 healthy controls, using cytometric bead arrays.

RESULTSThe serum levels of IFN-γ (20.68±11.45), IL-2 (4.54±1.18), IL-4 (5.66±2.25), IL-5 (2.72±0.86) µg/L and IL-10 (5.93±7.92) µg/L were higher (P<0.01, P<0.05) and the serum level of TNF-α (7.53±8.47) was lower (P<0.01) in patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer than those in the healthy controls. The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (3.93±2.34) of the patients was lower than that of the controls (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patient's age (P=0.016), menopausal status (P=0.001) and serum IL-10 level (P=0.010) correlated significantly with patient's survival. Cox regression analysis showed that serum IL-2 (P=0.045) and IL-10 levels (P=0.007) were the independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with advanced serous ovarian cancer have Th1/Th2 imbalance and immune function disturbance. The age of patients and menopausal status are important prognostic factors. IL-2 and IL-10 level are also independent predictors of survival.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-5 ; blood ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Preoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of "half-conditioning", a modified postconditioning process, on myocardial injury induced by severe myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in anesthetized dogs.

METHODSMongrel dogs of both sexes were subjected to 40 min ischemia (coronary blood flow reduced by 80% via controlled coronary stenosis). At the end of ischemia, dogs were randomly received one of the following treatments: (1) control, reperfusion for 3 h (n = 7); (2) post-conditioning, three cycles of ischemia 30 s followed by reperfusion for 30 s and then reperfusion for 3 h (n = 7); (3) half-conditioning, coronary blood flow recovered to 50% for 2 min, then 80% for 2 min, thereafter 100% for 3 h (n = 7). Electrocardiogram (ECG), arterial blood pressure and left ventricular pressure were monitored throughout the experiment. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured spectrophotometrically. Myocardial necrosis was defined by TTC-staining.

RESULTSCompared with control animals, arrhythmia incidence, LVEDP at 2 and 3 h reperfusion, CK and LDH were significantly reduced in animals received post-conditioning and half-conditioning treatments, infarct size as a percentage (%) of the area at risk was also significantly reduced by post-conditioning and half-conditioning treatments. No differences were observed in the post-conditioning and half-conditioning groups.

CONCLUSIONHalf-conditioning exerts the same cardioprotective effects on post-ischemic hearts as postconditioning.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Female ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe plasma soluble Fas/APO-1 concentration in patients with reperfusion arrhythmia immediately after coronary reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to investigate the impact of reperfusion arrhythmia on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in AMI patients. To observe the relationship between cardiomyocytes apoptosis with reperfusion arrhythmia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and investigate the impact of reperfusion arrhythmia on left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with AMI.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-six patients with AMI who received reperfusion therapy were selected as subjects. Fifty-eight patients underwent reperfusion arrhythmia within 24 hour after coronary reperfusion treatment (RA group). Ninety-eight patients did not occurred reperfusion arrhythmia (Non-RA group). Strepavidin-biotin ELISA was used to determine the soluble Fas/APO-1 plasma concentration at baseline, 7 day (d) and 2 - 4 week (W). All patients were followed up with scheduled evaluations of LV function and morphology with left ventriculography for 1 year.

RESULTS1. It was later that the coronary reperfusion occurred in patients of RA group than that of Non-RA group, and the left anterior descending was more frequent infarct related artery (60.3%) than of Non-RA group (36.9%, P < 0.05). 2. The Fas/APO-1 levels in patients of RA group higher than those of Non-RA group at baseline [(13.82 +/- 4.36) microg/L vs (8.19 +/- 3.56) microg/L, P < 0.01]. 3. The highest level of Fas/APO-1 was on 7 d after AMI and the plasma levels of Fas/APO-1 in 2 - 4 W were slightly lower than those in 7 d in the two groups [RA group: (10.91 +/- 3.65) microg/L vs (14.26 +/- 4.98) microg/L, P < 0.05; Non-RA group: (4.69 +/- 1.87) microg/L vs (12.19 +/- 3.25) microg/L, P < 0.01]. However, the Fas/APO-1 level of 2 - 4 W in RA group was slightly higher than the level in Non-RA group [(10.91 +/- 3.65) microg/L vs (4.69 +/- 1.87) microg/L, P < 0.01]. 4. There was on difference between two groups in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) one week after AMI [LVEF: (47.7 +/- 9.6)% vs (49.2 +/- 8.9)%, P > 0.05; LVEDD: (59.7 +/- 10.3) mm vs (57.4 +/- 12.4) mm, P > 0.05]. 5. In the Non-RA group, the LVEF significantly increased from 1 W phase to the 1-year phase [from (49.2 +/- 8.9)% to (59.5 +/- 9.2)%, P < 0.05], but unchanged in the 58 patients without reperfusion arrhythmia [from (47.7 +/- 9.6)% to (49.9 +/- 10.1)%, P > 0.05]. The LVEF of Non-RA group was slightly higher than that of RA group at 1 year [(59.5 +/- 9.2)% vs (49.9 +/- 10.1)%, P < 0.05]. The LVEDD had no significant difference between two groups, but there was downtrend in the Non-RA group at 1 year after AMI.

CONCLUSIONReperfusion arrhythmia was related with cardiomyocytes apoptosis in patients with AMI, and might influence left ventricular function and promote LV remodeling.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; Ventricular Remodeling ; fas Receptor ; blood