Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo study the damages of fluoride on the male reproductive system in rat testes.

METHODSA total of 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, high, low dose fluorine treated groups, which were given normal saline ,20 mg/kg sodium fluoride, and 10mg/kg sodium fluoride respectively. After 39 days the change of the weight of rats and the number of sperms were observed. The change of telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were observed by using in situ hybridization and radioimmunoassay respectively.

RESULTSThe weight was (273.39 +/- 20.68), (240.00 +/- 21.39) g in NaF treated groups, which was lower than that in control group(P < 0.05); The rate of TERT expression in germ cells of testes in NaF treated groups was (13.89 +/- 4.86)% and (6.33 +/- 4.42)% respectively, which was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The rate of PCNA expression in germ cells of tests in NaF treated groups was (0.71 +/- 0.05)%, (0.60 +/- 0.08)% respectively, which also was significant lower than that in control group(P < 0.05). The number of sperms was (18.31 +/- 1.20)10(10)/L, (9.17 +/- 1.38)10(10)/L, which was lower than that in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFluorine possibly damages the male reproductive system by reducing the expression of TERT and PCNA.

Animals ; Fluorides ; toxicity ; Germ Cells ; metabolism ; Male ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among perceived stress,sleep and fatigue status; and to analyze the effect of sleep status in mediating and regulating perceived stress and fatigue status in soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time. METHODS: A total of 700 soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time were investigated with convenient sampling. They were evaluated using Perceived Stress Scale,Sleep Status Self-evaluation Test,and Fatigue Scale-14. The mediating effect was analyzed by structural equation model,and the moderating effect was analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The total score of fatigue among soldiers that often took part in recreational activities was significant lower than that who did not( P < 0. 01). The total score of fatigue among soldiers that had training injury was significant higher than that who had not( P < 0. 01). The total score of fatigue among soldiers that had high training expectations was significant higher than that that didn't have high training expectations( P < 0. 01). Sleep status,sense of overload and training expectations had remarkable predicting effect on fatigue status among soldiers that were acutely exposed to high altitude for the first time( P < 0. 01). Sleeping status has a complete mediating effect on the sense of prediction,sense of overload and fatigue status( P < 0. 01),and has a moderating effect on the sense of control,sense of overload and fatigue status( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION:s Perceived stress and sleeping status had close relationship with fatigue status among soldiers that were acute exposed to high altitude for the first time. Sleeping status has intermediary and regulating effect between senses of overload and fatigue state.

OBJECTIVETo observe the pathological and clinical characters of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODSLiver biopsy tissues taken from 97 patients negative for common viral detection with serological test and immunohistochemistry as well as in situ hybridization, were observed by routine light microscopic examination. And the clinical data of patients with NASH was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the chronic hepatitis patients with unknown etiology, the detection rate of NASH was 15.5% (15/97). The characteristic lesions in NASH patients included macrovesicular steatosis in zone 3 of lobules, hepatocytes ballooning degeneration, lobules diffused with acute and chronic inflammation, and perisinusoidal fibrosis. Grading and staging according to Brunt's method, histological lesions could be accounted for G1S1 in 7 patients, G2S2 in 3 patients, G3S1 in 4 patients and G3S2 in 1 patient. There were 14 patients with mild to moderate elevation of transaminase, 10 with hyperlipemia, 8 with diabetes and 9 with fatty liver by ultrasonography.

CONCLUSIONNonalcoholic steatohepatitis is a common form of unknown etiology chronic liver disease with certain clinic-pathological features.

Adult ; Biopsy ; Fatty Liver ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the "hemi-clamshell" approach to the resection of the apical chest tumors, and to evaluate its advantages of operative safety and completeness.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective review of the records of 27 patients undergoing resection of the primary apical chest tumors from January 1995 to January 2001. Tumor type included NSCLC, sarcoma, neurofibromatosis, esophageal carcinoma. Data collected included clinical presentation, tumor type and involvement, type of resection, complication, and survival.

RESULTSA clinical operation for gross-total resection of tumors and invaded structures was performed on six patients by means of a successful anterior approach. Among other 21 patients on whom a clinical operation was performed by posterior approach, only 13 patients obtained gross-total resection. There were significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The mean duration for follow-up was 29 months, and the overall median survival was 21 months. Median survival in patients undergoing gross-total resection was 29 months, and this is significantly better than in incomplete resection group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe anterior "hemi-clamshell" approach is a successful technique for the exposure and resection of these tumors and invaded structures. Release of symptoms and long-term survival is acceptable if complete resection can be performed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thorax ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo identify a novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B allele and explore its family heritage.

METHODSA novel HLA allele was suspected upon routine HLA typing using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) assay. The sequence was confirmed with DNA sequencing and compared with its closest matching allele, B*55:02. The family was also investigated.

RESULTSAn unusual reaction pattern was detected during routine HLA typing. The sequence was confirmed to be a novel HLA-B allele, which differed from the closest matching allele, B*55:02 in 7 nt positions in exon 2. Among the 7 mutations from 6 codons, there were two amino acids changes including 69Glu→Met and 70Glu→Ala.

CONCLUSIONA novel HLA-B allele has been identified and officially named as B*55:35 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System (GenBank accession number FJ898284).

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

To discover a novel antitumor lead compound derived from fluoroquinolone, C3 carboxyl group of ciprofloxacin (1) was replaced with heterocyclic ring to form cyclopropyl fluoroquinolone aminothiadiazole scaffold (2), then reacted with aromatic aldehydes to give the Schiff bases compounds (3a-3j). The structures of new compounds were characterized by element analysis and spectral data, and their in vitro antitumor activity against SMMC-7721, HL60 and L1210 cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay via the respective IC50 values. The bioactive assay showed that eleven thiadiazole-substituted ciprofloxacin derivatives displayed potential cytotoxicity against the tested cancer cell lines, where the IC50 values of compounds 3d and 3f reached micromolar concentration. Therefore, the C3 carboxyl group of fluoroquinolone is not necessary to antitumor activity. Functionally modified heterocycle-substituted fluoroquinolone as potent antitumor lead compound is valuable for further study.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Ciprofloxacin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Leukemia L1210 ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Schiff Bases ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the serum levels of sCD44v6 and sE-cadherin (sE-cad) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSThe serum samples were collected from 65 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 32 cases of erosive esophagitis and 35 healthy subjects. Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe mean levels of serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients were significantly higher than those of erosive esophagitis patients and normal controls (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels between erosive esophagitis patients normal controls (P=0.566 and P=0.708, respectively). Serum sCD44v6 and sE-cad levels of esophageal cancer patients were not correlated with their clinicopathological features. Serum sCD44v6 level is not correlated with sE-cad level in squamous cell carcinoma patients(P=0.651).

CONCLUSIONSerum sCD44v6 and sE-cad might be a potential marker for screening of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To explore the effect of hypergravity on morphology and osteogenesis function of preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 ceils.Methods The cultured MC3T3-E1 cells under hypergravity by different loading forces were divided into five groups,including control group,5 g group,10 g group,15 g group and 20 g group.The experimental groups were loaded for 30 min each time in 3 successive days,and the control group with no g-value was synchronously exposed to the same surrounding.The morphology of cytoskeletal protein was observed by phalIoidin staining,The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) content was examined by ALP activity assay kit,the gene expression of ALP,collagen Ⅰ (Col Ⅰ),osteocalcin (OC),runt-related transcription factors (Runx2) was measured by real-time quantitative PCR,and the protein expression of Col Ⅰ and OC was tested by Western blotting.Results Under the condition of hypergravity,cell body of osteoblast became thinner,but its surface area increased significantly;with the structure of skeletal arrangement becoming loose,actin microfilament structure reduced so that the orderly arrangement of actin-like dispersion lowered.The gene expressions of related indicators of osteogenic differentiation including ALP,Col][,OC,Runx2 were significantly up-regulated,which was the same as Col Ⅰ protein and OC protein after hypergravity loading.A very minute quantity of small red-orange nodules was found in the control group,while the cells in experimental groups after hypergravity loading obviously formed various sizes of red-orange nodules.Conclusions Under hypergravity,changes in osteoblast morphology can be triggered by rearrangements of skeletal structure.Furthermore,osteoblast maturation and differentiation can be stimulated effectively by up-regulating differentiation-related gene and protein expressions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and laboratory features of 2 cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) with thymoma/T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL), and to improve the recognition of the disease and the role of lymphocyte in its mechanism.

METHODSTwo cases of PRCA with thymoma/T-LGLL were reported and the related literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSCase 1 was a 63-years old male with hemoglobin level of 54 g/L at admission. Case 2 was a 52-years old female with hemoglobin level of 79 g/L at admission. They were both diagnosed as PRCA with thymoma before admission to our hospital and had no benefit from their thymectomy. Further examinations in our hospital showed that CD3⁺CD4⁻CD8⁺CD57⁺ large granular lymphocytes amplified with clonal TCR rearrangement in their peripheral blood. The diagnosis of PRCA with thymoma/T-LGLL was clarified. Case 1 did not respond to any of the frontline therapies while case 2 responded completely to cyclosporine.

CONCLUSIONBoth thymoma and T-LGLL could be the cause of secondary PRCA, lymphocyte proliferation may play critical role in the pathogenesis.

Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure ; complications ; Thymoma ; complications