OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and elastase (EA) in the different stages of periodontal inflammation and to evaluate the possibility of the two proteins as saliva markers reflecting overall periodontal health status.

METHODSUnstimulated whole saliva were collected from 86 subjects (divided into 4 groups as healthy, gingivitis, moderate periodontitis and severe periodontitis). Fifteen patients with moderate or severe periodontitis were only given scaling and root planning (SRP). Whole saliva was collected and clinical patameters were recorded at baseline and four weeks after the treatment. SLPI concentrations were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems, while EA with low-molecular-weight substrate reaction.

RESULTSThere were no statistical differences of SLPI concentrations among four groups (P > 0.05). However, EA activities in moderate periodontitis and severe periodontitis groups [0.077 (0.060) and 0.077 (0.489)] were higher than in healthy and gingivitis group [0.058 (0.028) and 0.058 (0.024)] (P < 0.05). SLPI only showed a weak negative correlation with age (r = -0.301, P < 0.05), rather than with EA or clinical parameters. In 15 patients with chronic periodontitis the mean concentration of SLPI and EA activity was 2.031 (2.449) µg/L and 0.075 (0.118), and both decreased significantly to 1.405 (0.659) µg/L and 0.055 (0.028) respectively 4 weeks after SRP.

CONCLUSIONSAfter SRP, the decrease of SLPI concentration and EA activity in saliva may reflect the periodontal inflammation subsiding. SLPI in saliva was not correlated with the development of periodontal inflammation.

Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Dental Plaque Index ; Dental Scaling ; Female ; Gingivitis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Elastase ; metabolism ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Root Planing ; Saliva ; metabolism ; Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor ; metabolism ; Young Adult

The source impedance of the power circuit in the x-ray machine is analyzed in the paper and based on the voltage drop generated by the impedance, the cross-sectional area of the cable is calculated. In the end, the cross-sectional areas of the cables, corresponding to their respective distances between the transformers and the switchboards are given.
Electric Power Supplies ; Radiography ; instrumentation

Objective To study topiramate′s neuroprotection on primary cultured hippocampal neurons which were injuried by glutamate and its mechanism.Methods The primary cultured hippocampal neurons were made as the research object,and excitotoxicity model was exected with glutamate.Hippocampal neuron survival was assessed by MTT method and hippocampal neuron mitochondrial membrance potential(MMP) was evaluated by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry.Results Hippocampal neuron survival of normal control was(98.4?0.8)%,and the survival of glutamate model group was(59.6?3.2)%,at the same time,two topiramate′s groups′ cell survivals was(74.1?0.5)% and(79.2?3.4)%,and topiramate with two levels all could obviously increase hippocampal neuron survival((P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of continuous subcutaneous adenosine infusion on pulmonary hypertension in chronically hypoxic rats.

METHODSTwenty-four SD rats were randomized into normoxic group, hypoxic group and adenosine-treated hypoxic group. Hypoxic environment was simulated in a chamber filled with 10% oxygen and 90% nitrogen. After 7 days of hypoxia, adenosine were administered subcutaneously in the rats in adenosine-treated group at the rate of 100 microg kg(-1) min(-1) via an Alzet micro-osmotic pump for 14 days, while the pumps in the other two groups contained normal saline. After 21 days of hypoxia, pulmonary artery pressure and tail-cuff blood pressure were measured, with the plasma rennin activity (RA), angiotensin II (AngII), endothelin (ET)-1, and nitric oxide (NO) determined. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in the pulmonary artery of the rats was detected using immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was significantly higher in the hypoxic group than that in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and in the adenosine-treated group (P<0.01). Plasma ET-1 was significantly higher but plasma NO significantly lower in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and the adenosine-treated group (P<0.01). iNOS expression in the pulmonary artery was higher in the hypoxic group than in normoxic group (P<0.01), and adenosine significantly increased iNOS expression in comparison with the normoxic and hypoxic groups (P<0.01). Plasma RA and AngII in the hypoxic group were significantly higher than those in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and the adenosine-treated (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAdenosine administered by continuous subcutaneous infusion alleviates chronically hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats, in which rennin angiotensin system, ET-1, and iNOS/NO play a role.

Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Infusions, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDLeptin is a protein mainly secreted by adipocytes, and the major function of leptin was its role in body weight regulation. It is suggested that increased levels of circulating leptin may contribute to anorexia in pathologic conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between leptin and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This study aimed to explore the role of serum leptin in the malnutrition of COPD patients, and to observe the changes of serum leptin levels during acute exacerbation, also to investigate relationship between leptin and TNF-alpha.

METHODSSeventy-two COPD patients and 34 control subjects participated in this study. Seventy-two COPD patients were divided into 3 groups: group COPD IA (patients without malnutrition during acute exacerbation, n = 25), group COPD IB (patients without malnutrition during stable disease, n = 29), group COPD II (patients with malnutrition during stable disease, n = 18). To eliminate the effect of sex differences, all patients and controls were male. Body mass index (BMI), percent ideal body weight (IBW%), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), mid-upper arm muscle circumference (MAMC), serum leptin and TNF-alpha levels, serum prealbumin (PA), serum transferrin (TF), serum albumin (Alb), total lymphocytes count (TLC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), maximal inspiration pressure (MIP) and maximal expiration pressure (MEP) were measured in all participants. Leptin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. TNF-alpha levels were measured by ELISA. The between group difference and correlation of these parameters were analyzed.

RESULTSSerum leptin levels were significantly lower in group COPD II [(4.07 +/- 3.42) ng/ml] than in group COPD IB [(9.72 +/- 6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21 +/- 5.41) ng/ml] (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between group COPD IA [(10.82 +/- 6.40) ng/ml], group COPD IB [(9.72 +/- 6.67) ng/ml] and controls [(8.21 +/- 5.41) ng/ml]. There was no statistically significant difference in serum TNF-alpha levels between group COPD II [(8.03 +/- 3.37) pg/ml], group COPD IA [(8.90 +/- 1.60) pg/ml], and group COPD IB [(7.25 +/- 2.08) pg/ml]. There was no significant correlation between leptin and TNF-alpha in any group.

CONCLUSIONSLeptin was not involved in anorexia and weight loss of COPD patients. There was no statistically significant difference in serum leptin levels between COPD patients during stable stage and acute exacerbation, and there was no significant correlation between TNF-alpha and leptin during the regulation of the energy balance in COPD patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Anorexia ; etiology ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Malnutrition ; blood ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; blood ; complications ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, and explore dose-effect relationship among different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) as well as its optimal treatment plan.

METHODSAccording to different acupuncture stimulation intensities which were based on treatment time and needle insertion direction, fifty patients were randomly divided into a Hegu 1 group, a Hegu 2 group, a Hegu 3 group, a Hegu 4 group and a control group, ten cases in each one. Different stimulation intensities of acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) combined with facial paralysis acupoints, including Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6) and Quanliao (SI 18), were applied in Hegu 1 to 4 groups; meanwhile acupuncture at stroke acupoints, including Neiguan (PC 6), Shuigou (GV 26) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), and medication treatment were adopted. Except acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4), the treatment of the control group was identical as Hegu groups. The treatment duration lasted for 14 days. The House-Brackmann facial never grading systems (H-B), Toronto facial grading system (TFGS), degrees of facial never paralysis (DFNP), facial disability index (FDI) and clinical efficacy were compared among groups.

RESULTS(1) Compared before the treatment, H-B, TFGS, DFNP and physical function score in FDI were all improved significantly in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups (all P < 0.05), but social function score in FDI was not obviously improved (all P > 0.05); all the scores in the control group were not evidently changed (all P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the control group, differences of H-B before and after treatment in the Hegu 1 to 4 groups, differences of TFGS in the Hegu 2 group and differences of DFNP in the Hegu 1 and Hegu 2 group were significantly improved (all P < 0.05). The differences of any scale among Hegu 1 to 4 groups were not significant (all P > 0.05), in which the most evident change was found in Hegu 2 group. (3) The total effective rate was 90.0% (9/10), 100.0% (10/10), 90.0% (9/10) and 80.0% (8/10) in Hegu 1 to 4 groups, which were significantly higher than 60.0% (6/10) in the control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) has affirmative clinical efficacy on central facial nerve paralysis after ischemic stroke, in which oblique insertion along the opposite direction of meridian for 5 s of twirling manipulation has the best clinical effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Paralysis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

U937 macrophages were cultured with various concentrations of glucose and/or insulin for 24 h.Cell membrane scavenger receptor(SR)-BⅠprotein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. The results showed that basal physiological insulin levels promoted SR-BⅠprotein expression of macrophages and high concentration of insulin significantly downregulated SR-BⅠ,but the transcription of SR-BⅠmRNA did not change.High glucose and high insulin accelerates atherosclerosis through synergetically downregulating SR-BⅠprotein expression,which may cause early onset and rapid progression of atherosclerosis in the patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To compare the complete ablation rate of radiofrequency (RF) ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine ifbroids with different blood supply. Methods One hundred and ten patients with 146 uterine ifbroids in Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2009 to December were randomly divided into two groups and treated with HIFU or RF respectively. Each group had 55 patients. All patients were examined by color Doppler lfow imaging before the treatment. The blood supply of ifbroids were semi-quantitatively classiifed into three grades including G1, G2 and G3. The HIFU group had 15 patients with 20 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 32 patients with 38 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 8 patients with 10 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The RF group had 14 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 31 patients with 42 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 10 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The complete ablation rates of the two treatments were evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound one week before and after treatments. Fibroids which had no contrast agent perfusion and smooth boundary were completely ablated. Statistical analyses were used to compare the complete ablation rates and postoperative complications rates of these two methods. Results When ifbroid′s blood supply was G1, the complete ablation rate was 80.0%(16/20) and 88.9%(16/18) in HIFU and RF group, respectively. The difference was not statistically signiifcant (χ2=0.563, P>0.05). When ifbroid′s blood supply was G2 and G3, the complete ablation rate in HIFU and RF group was 90.5%(38/42) vs 55.3%(21/38) and 72.2% (13/18) vs 20.0% (2/10), respectively. There was statistically difference between these two groups (χ2 =12.778, P < 0.05;χ2=7.049, P < 0.05, respectively). Postoperative complications included fever, abdominal pain, pelvic effusion and vaginal discharge and unilateral lower limb numbness. The incidence of complications was lower in HIFU group than that in RF group, which was 9.1%(5/55) and 27.3%(15/55) respectively, This difference was statistically signiifcant (χ2=6.111, P<0.05). Conclusions HIFU and RF are both effective in treating uterine ifbroids with few blood supply. However, RF can be more effective than HIFU in treating hypervascular ifbroids. Therefore, RF might be able to apply to majority of the ifbroids. As a non-invasive therapy, HIFU is more suitable for hypovascular ifbroids and could be the ifrst therapy in clinic.

Objective To discuss the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction by laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive laparoscopic pyeloplasty in 102 patients between September 2001 and December 2007 was performed. The ureterpelvic junction was dissected and the obstruction portion was excised. Anastomosis was then performed through the ureter and the renal pelvis walls with a stent. Results The mean operating time was 120 min and the average blood loss was 80ml. No major complication occurred intraoperative. The drainage was removed in 3-10 days. The average hospital stay was 8.5 days. The stent was kept for 30-60 days. IVU and B ultrasound examination revealed that the hydronephrosis alleviated during the follow-up and no anastomosis stricture occurred. Conclusions Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty could provide lower morbidity, shorter hospital stay, and faster convalescence. It could be an effective treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Tissue cross-reactivity (TCR) studies play an important role in the preclinical safety evaluation of monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs.The objective of TCR studies is to find out off-target binding sites of mAbs,and provide valuable predictions for the toxicological evaluation and safety medication in vivo.According to the new drug application requirements of FDA,EMA and CFDA,TCR studies need to be carried out before Phase I clinic trails.As the origin of mAb drugs was transferred from murine antibodies to fully humanized antibodies in current years,immunohistochemical methods used in TCR studies were confronted with some new problems and challenges.Taking our own experiences and recent progress on TCR studies at home and abroad together,the authors summarized the recent exploration on technical difficulties of multipath system in TCR studies.This may provide valuable insight for further improving the quality of TCR studies and increase the predictive value of TCR studies for in vivo toxicological evaluation in China.