Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Female ; Hexanes ; analysis ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Shoes

BACKGROUND: Dietary intervention may be the most available, safe, economic and efficient approach to treat spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of dietary restriction in the form of every-other-day fasting (EODF) on the pathological changes and functional recovery of rats with clip-compression injury of the spinal cord. METHODS: The models of spinal cord injury were established by a medical aneurysm clip in 36 Sprague-Dawley rats, and model rats were then randomized into four groups: group A with spinal cord injury and EODF, group B with spinal cord injury, group C with sham operation and EODF, and group D with sham operation. Food intake and body mass were observed. Motor functional recovery in rats was assessed by Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scores at preoperative 1 day and postoperative 1 day, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks after operation, the morphological changes of the spinal cord were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan score in the group B was decreased to the lowest at postoperative 1 day, and gradually increased with time. At 8-12 weeks after operation, the scores in the group A were significantly superior to those in the group B. At 12 weeks after operation, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed less lesion of the spinal cord in the group A than the group B. These results indicate that EODF can improve the motor functional of rats with spinal cord injury, and exerts effective protection on the injured spinal cord.

Objective To observe the injury of high intensity focused ultrasound combined with radiotherapy (RT) to the pancreas,the unintended abdominal tissues and organs of swine in vivo.MethodsAccording to the criterion to grade the gross and histological injury of the pancreas and the unintended tissue,the scores of injury between the groups to get the data of safety and feasibility of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)combined with RT were compared.Results There was a better tolerance in each group and no fatal complication was observed.For the pancreas there was significant difference for the combined group compared with the other groups.For the unintended target tissue there was no significance difference except the control group with the other groups.Conclusion HIFU combined with RT can increase the injury to the pancreas of the swine compared with HIFU alone; while there was no increase for the injury to the unintended target tissue.The main toxicity of combination treatment is the toxicity of RT and can be tolerated by the animals.If the HIFU treatment is strictly controlled,the combination of HIFU and RT is safe and feasible.

AIM: To report the long- term clinical outcomes of accelerated trans-epithelial corneal cross-linking ( CXL ) protocols using KXL System ( Avedro, USA ) in the treatment of progressive keratoconus. · METHODS: Totally 52 patients ( 102 eyes ) with progressive keratoconus between December 2014 and February 2017 [ maximum keratometry values ( Kmax) ≤60.0D, minimum corneal thickness(Thk) ≥400m] were treated with an accelerate trans-epithelial CXL protocol (UV-A irradiation intensity 45mW/cm2 with a total fluence of 7. 2J/cm2 ) using KXL system ( Avedro, USA ) in Southwest Hospital. The average follow-up time was 11. 65mo (range: 9-26mo). Uncorrected distance visual acuity ( UDVA) , corrected distance visual acuity ( CDVA) , intra- ocular pressure ( IOP ) , slit-lamp microscope examination, Kmax and average keratometry values ( AveK ) , corneal stromal demarcation line depth and endothelial cell density ( ECD) were evaluated. ·RESULTS:The 52 patients (102 eyes) were included in this research, male 36 (70 eyes) and female 16 (32 eyes), average age was 19. 5±4. 6 years. Preoperative CDVA was 0. 84±0. 89 (LogMAR), postoperative CDVA was 0. 69±0. 72 ( P = 0. 398 ). Preoperative UDVA was 1. 02 ± 0. 62 (LogMAR), postoperative UDVA was 0. 85 ± 0. 59 ( P =0. 154 ). Preoperative IOP was 12. 95 ± 4. 40mmHg, postoperative IOP was 11.92±3. 66mmHg (P=0. 272). No statistical difference (P=0. 552) has been found between preoperative and postoperative ECD. Nevertheless, on the Sirius anterior system ( Sirius, CSO, Itlay) , significant statistical difference (P=0. 017) was confirmed between preoperative Kmax ( 50. 83 ± 3. 48D ) and postoperative Kmax (52. 05±3. 63D). Meanwhile, the postoperative Avek (47.74±2. 51D) was significantly lower (P=0. 041) than the preoperative Avek ( 48. 73 ± 4. 33D ). The average corneal stromal demarcation line depth ( 192 ± 23. 6μm ) was detected by the anterior segment OCT. No statistical difference ( P = 0. 816 ) has been found between preoperative and postoperative Thk. No severe complication was observed in all cases. ·CONCLUSION: Accelerated trans-epithelial CXL was effective in decreasing keratometry values for progressive keratoconus in this research, and the outcomes remained stable during the follow-up time. No endothelium damage or other severe complications were observed in this clinical research. The accelerated trans-epithelial CXL is as effective as the standard CXL.

OBJECTIVETo cooperate with the study of HBV vector, hygromycin-resistant packaging cell line was developed that allows encapsidation of plasmids into HBV particles.

METHODSFree of packaging signal, HBV genome was inserted into plasmid pMEP4, which expresses the HBV structural proteins including core, pol and preS/S proteins. HepG2 cell lines were employed to transfect with the construct. Hygromycin selection was done at a concentration of 150 micrograms/ml in the culture medium. The hygromycin-resistant clones with the best expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were theoretically considered as packaging cell line and propagated under the same conditions. It was infected with recombinant retrovirus vector and hen selected with G418 and hygromycin in the culture medium. The existence of recombinant HBV virion in the culture medium was examined by PCR.

RESULTSHygromycin-resistant HBV packaging cell line was generated, which harbored an HBV mutant whose packaging signal had been deleted. Expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were detectable. Infected with recombinant retrovirus pRV-CP, the hygromycin-resistant packaging cell line was found to secrete mutant HBV particles and no wild-type HBV was detectable in the culture medium.

CONCLUSIONAfter the packaging signal was deleted and transfected into HepG2 cell lines, the partial HBV genome lost its ability to form wild-type HBV, but conserves cis-action providing structural proteins for the packaging of the replication-defective HBV.

Cell Line ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Hygromycin B ; pharmacology ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Assembly

Differences of protonated and lithiated leucine-enkephalin(LE) were investigated by hydrogen deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry(HDX-MS) combined with quantum chemistry calculation. The results revealed that the protonated ions possessed very high product yield with all hydrogen atoms being exchanged, while the reaction of lithiated LE stopped after exchanging five hydrogen atoms in the same experimental conditions. The different HDX behaviours probably indicated their conformational differences. To further clarify the experimental results, the most stable conformations of protonated and lithiated leucine-enkephalin were calculated by density functional theory. It was found that terminal amino group was the most thermodynamically stable protonation site,while Li+in coordination of four carbonyl oxygen atoms formed the most favourable lithiated LE. The reaction field reduction of lithium LE was probably due to the less acidity of hydrogen atoms and the increasing rigid conformation change induced by lithium ion.

Purpose To investigate the expression and significance of USP10 protein and mRNA in normal colorectal mucosa and colorectal adenocarcinoma,and to analyze the cause of the disorder.Methods 99 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma and 83 cases of normal intestinal mucosa tissue were selected.Using tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry the expression of USP10 protein was detected,and the relationship was analyzed between USP10 protein and clinical pathological parameters or prognosis survival time.The expression of USP10 mRNA was analyzed by GEO datesets.Some miRNAs that down-regulate the expression of USP10 protein were screened by bioinformatics methods.The expression of USP10 protein and miR-149 in colorectal cancer cell lines were detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR.Results The positive rate of USP10 protein in normal intestinal mucosa tissues was 71.08％(59/83),which was significantly higher than that in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues (53.54％,53/99,P =0.015).No correlation were proved between USP10 protein expression and clinical pathological parameters or survival time (P ＞ 0.05).The expression level of USP10 mRNA in colorectal adenocarcinoma was 1.07 ～ 1.45 times that were higher than that of normal intestinal mucosa,which showed that the down-regulation of USP10 protein was at the post-transcriptional level.The program predicted a putative highly-conserved binding site in the USP10 mRNA 3'UTR for miR-149 which was up regulated in colorectal adenocarcinoma tissues.In addition,the expression of miR-149 was negatively correlated with the expression of USP10 protein in colorectal cancer cell lines.Conclusion The down-regulation of USP10 protein which occurs at the post-transcriptional level is closely related to the pathogenesis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.The high expression of miR-149 may be one of the factors that negatively regulate the expression of USP10 protein.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidences and characteristics of the ribs and intraspinal abnormalities in surgical patients with congenital scoliosis.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study of the medical records and spine radiographs of 118 patients underwent surgical treatment between January 2010 and March 2011 with congenital scoliosis. The average age was 14 years (3-50 years).Fifty-two were male and 66 were female patients. The rib and intraspinal abnormalities were compared in different vertebral anomalies. Pearson's χ(2) test were used to analyze the incidence of anomalies of the ribs and vertebrae, as well as intraspinal anomalies.

RESULTSA total of 57 (48.3%) patients were found to have intraspinal abnormalities.Split cord deformities were identified to be the most common intraspinal anomaly (32.2%), followed by syringomyelia (21.2%).Sixty-nine patients (58.5%) had rib anomalies, which occurring on the concavity of the scoliosis was most frequent. The patients with mixed deformity and failure of segment were found to have a higher incidence of rib anomaly than those with failure formation (χ(2) = 14.05, P < 0.01). The patients with multiple level malformations were found to have significantly higher incidence of rib anomaly than those with single level malformation (χ(2) = 27.50, P < 0.01).Intraspinal anomalies occurred in 42 of 69 patients (60.9%) with rib anomalies and 15 of 49 patients (30.6%) without rib anomalies in congenital scoliosis. The occurrence of intraspinal malformation has significant difference with or without rib anomalies in congenital scoliosis (χ(2) = 10.5, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe intraspinal malformation is common in patients with mixed defects and failures of segmentation. The rib anomalies occurring on the concavity of the scoliosis is most frequent. The incidence of intraspinal anomaly is significant higher in the patients with rib anomalies than those without rib anomalies. Both the occurrence and type of rib anomaly, combined with vertebral deformity are helpful in forecasting the occurrence of intraspinal abnormalis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kyphosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribs ; abnormalities ; Scoliosis ; classification ; congenital ; pathology ; Spine ; abnormalities ; Syringomyelia ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and laboratory features of 9 cases of gammadeltaT cell lymphoma or leukemia.

METHODSFrom 2007 to 2011, 9 patients with gammadeltaT-cell lymphoma/leukemia were diagnosed in our hospital. The immunophenotype of the abnormal cells were detected by flow cytometry, clonal gene rearrangement of IgH, TCRgamma, TCRdelta by PCR, chromosome karyotype analysis by G banding, acute leukemia gene and the DNA of type 1 - 8 human herpes virus by multiple nested PCR, The gammadeltaT cells were determined by T cell with TCR gammadelta chain, the malignant gammadelta T cells by the abnormal expression of T cell antigens and the precursor malignant gammadelta T cells by the expression of CD34, TDT, CD99, CD1 a or acute leukemia genes.

RESULTSIn the 9 patients with gammadeltaT cell lymphoma leukemia, significant malignant gammadeltaT cells infiltration of bone marrow were found in 8 with blast morphology. 5 were diagnosed as T-ALL/LBL (gammadeltaT type) and 4 HSgammadelta TCL. The clonal gene rearrangement of TCRgamma and/or TCRB were detected in 6/6 patients. Patients either did not achieve complete remission(CR) after induction therapy or relapsed quickly after CR. Only 4/5 patients remained continuous CR(CCR) at 2, 2, 3,12 months respectively, after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the fifth T-ALL (gammadeltaT) relapsed 1 month after allo-HSCT.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of gammadelta T cell lymphoma or leukemia may be higher than reported, part of them were T-ALL/LBL with poor prognoses. FCM and clonal gene rearrangement of TCRgamma and/or TCRdelta are helpful to diagnosis. Allo-HSCT may be the only curative approach.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, T-Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta ; genetics ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMonocytes and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaque lead to plaque instability. The aim of the study was to determine if plaque neovascularization led to inflammation.

METHODSPatients were consecutively enrolled if their carotid intimal media thickness was > 2 mm, as revealed by duplex ultrasound. The patients then underwent dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET CT). A target to background ratio (TBR) of ≥ 1.25 or < 1.25 served as the cutoff point for the presence and absence of inflammation, respectively.

RESULTSTwenty-six patients underwent bilateral carotid DCE MRI and 24 patients also underwent PET CT. One hundred and fifty-five plaques were evaluated by both DCE MRI and PET CT. There was no significant difference in plaque morphology between the TBR ≥ 1.25 (n = 61) and TBR < 1.25 (n = 94) groups. No significant differences were found in plasma volume and transfer constant between the TBR ≥ 1.25 and TBR < 1.25 groups.

CONCLUSIONOur study did not find a significant correlation between plaque neovascularization and the aggregation of inflammatory cells.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; pathology ; Cell Aggregation ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Macrophages ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed