Carcinosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with swallowing training for relieving dysphagia in stroke patients.Methods A total of 150 chronic stroke patients at least 3 months post-stroke who were afflicted with dysphagia were randomly and evenly divided into a conventional swallowing training group,an NMES group,and an NMES combined with conventional swallowing training group.Prior to and after treatment,surface electromyography (sEMG) signals from the swallowing muscles were detected,swallowing function was evaluated using the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA),their swallowing was studied videofluoroscopically (VFSS),and a swallowing-related quality of life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) was administered.Results There were significant differences in the maximum amplitude of sEMG signals,and the scores on the SSA,VFSS and SWAL-QOL in both groups between prior to and after treatment.After 4 weeks of treatment,the maximum amplitude of the sEMG signals and all three assessment scores were significantly higher where NMES had been combined with conventional swallowing training group compared with the other two groups.Indeed,there was no significant difference between the group which had received conventional swallowing training and the NMES groups.The analysis of coefficients revealed correlation between sEMG maximum amplitude and the SSA,VFSS and SWALQOL results.Conclusions NMES combined with conventional swallowing training is helpful for improving swallowing function in chronic stroke patients with dysphagia.

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-?(PPAR?) agonist on aldosterone-induced mesangial cell(MC) proliferation.Methods Mouse primary MC were cultured and treated with aldosterone(100 nmol/L) in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone(1.0,2.5,5.0,10.0 ?mol/L).The incorporation of 3H-thymidine(3H-TdR) and cell count were used as the measure of MC proliferation.Cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression,PI3K and Akt phosphorylation were determined by Western blot analysis.Results 1.Aldosterone induced MC proliferation,as assessed by 3H-TdR incorporation and cell number,which were increased by 2.46-and 2.14-fold,respectively,in aldosterone-treated cells.Aldosterone-induced MC proliferation was inhibited by PPAR? agonist rosiglitazone in dose-dependent manner in mouse MC.2.Aldosterone induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression.Rosiglitazone reduced aldosterone-induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression in dose-dependent manner.3.Aldosterone induced PI3K/Akt activation in dose-dependent manner,incubation with 100 nmol/L aldosterone for 60 min,phosphorylation PI3K and Akt expression increased by above 3.0-fold.4.PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and Akt inhibitor significantly inhibited aldosterone-induced cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression.5.Rosiglitazone significantly inhibited aldosterone-induced PI3K/Akt activation,10 ?mol/L rosiglitazone almost completely blocked aldosterone-induced PI3K/Akt activation.Conclusion Rosiglitazone can block aldosterone-induced MC proliferation via inhibition of PI3K/Akt activation.

Objective To investigate the effect of c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) specific inhibitor SP600125 on Angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)-induced transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1) and fibronectin (FN) expression in human mesangial cells (MC).Methods Human MC were isolated and cultured in vitro and were treated with AngⅡ in the presence or absence of JNK specific inhibitor SP600125.The protein was isolated or the supernate of medium was collected at the end of experiment.JNK,extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK1/2),and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) activity were determined by Western blot method.TGF-?1 and FN were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced Ser63 phosphorylation of c-Jun in a concentration-dependent manner,and JNK activity was reduced by 75% at 10 ?mol/L and by 90% at 20 ?mol/L.SP600125 had no effect on AngⅡ-induced ERK1/2 and p38 activity.TGF-?1 and FN protein were constitutively produced in MC,and production was significantly stimulated for 8 to 48 h after addition of AngⅡ.Preincubation of cells with SP600125(20 ?mol/L) significantly inhibited AngⅡ-induced TGF-?1 and FN production during this time period.SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced production of TGF-?1 and FN in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion SP600125 inhibited AngⅡ-induced JNK activation and TGF-?1 and FN expression in human MC and may serve as the novel approach for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Objective In order to explore practical values of the revised Duck criteria for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric infective endocarditis(IE).Methods Seventy-three children′s cases diagnosed and treatmented as IE complicated with congenital heart defects in the past 22 years were collected to make retrospective analysis according to the Duck criteria.Results In 73 patients,a definite diagnosis of IE was made in 37 patients(51%),16(43%) of which proved by the pathologic lesions during the operations.Eight patients(22%) met two major criteria,13 patients(35%) met one major and more than 3 minor criteria.36 patients(49%) were diagnosed as possible IE.Forty-five patients(62%) were cured using antibiotic therapy.Sixteen cases(21%) were failure in antibiotic treatment,of whom 16 patients were operated by cutting off the detection of vegetation and repairing the heart malformation.Tweleve cases(17%) were died,one of which was died after the operation.Conclusions IE is still a significant complication of congenital heart disease.Duck criteria is relative rigid in sensitivity,but it is high in specificity.When the vegetation isn′t large enough in shape,revised Duck criteria is difficult to(diagnose) early.The surgery treatment is optimistic.To combine the medicine with surgery can contributed to decrease mortality rate.

Objective To explore the common bleeding location, disease features, and the management strategies of intractable aged epistaxis. Methods 134 serious epistaxis patients were examined step by step according to nasal anatomic structure and treated by a stepwise way under endoscopy. Results The bleeding location of the intractable aged epistaxis were found as follows:2 cases (1. 49%) in anterosu-perior area, 44 cases (32. 84%) in anteroinferior area, 18 cases (13. 43%) in posterosuperior area, 22 cases (16. 42%) in posteroinferi-or area, 3 cases (2. 24%) in nasopharynx, and the bleeding site of the other 45 cases (33. 58%) were not found. All the patients were healed. The final treatment way were:46 cases (34. 33%) with pharmacotherapy or cauterization (grade Ⅰ~Ⅲ), 88 cases (65. 67%) with anterior nasal packing (grade Ⅳ), 9 cases (6. 72%) with posterior packing(gradeⅤ),1 case (0. 75%) with selective angiographic embolization (grade Ⅵ). There were 82 cases (61. 19%) succeed with the initial hemostasis methods while 52 cases (38. 81%) succeed with the upgrade therapy. Both hemostasis methods and upgrade therapy had statistical significance in different nasal position groups ( hemo-stasis methods:χ2 =16. 35,P=0. 00; upgrade therapy: χ2 =16. 35,P=0. 00). Conclusion Compartmental examination and classified treatment steps by using endoscope may locate and stop nose bleeding promptly while decrease patients' pain and medical cost.

Objective To investigate the application of computer-aided 3D reconstruction and rapid prototyping(RP) technique in the correction of prominent mandibular angle.Methods Computer tomography scanning and 3D reconstruction were performed on 15 square face patients with prominent mandibular angles,then their actual mandible models were made by RP techniques.Surgical programs were made according to the model,including partial mandibular angle osteotomy,outer mandible table sagittal splitting osteotomy,chin augmentation with autogenous mandibule bones,and so on.In 15 cases,mandibular angle partial cutting was performed in 5 cases,sagittal splitting osteotomy in 6 cases,and mandibular angle partial cutting combined with splitting osteotomy in 4 cases.The autogenous mandibule bones were transplanted for chin augmentation in 3 chin microsomia patients.All the cases were treated according to the position and range set by the RP model.Results All the mandibular models produced by RP techniques were real and complete,which could directly and precisely show the state of the mandible.The operations completed smoothly and accomplished with the expected outcomes designed before operation.In all cases,the width of lower face was efficiently reduced and the face was symmetrical after operation.The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 1 year in 12 patients,during which their facial appearances were in good condition and the results were satisfactory.Conclusion RP techniques is helpful in precise representation of the state of mandible,which providing ideal surgical models for accurate evaluation of prominent mandibular angle,design of surgical procedures as well as surgery instruction.It can provide good assistance to facial contour plastic surgery.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the application of antibacterials in patients accepted operation in grass-roots(hospitals),so to standardize the application of antibacterials and cut down the medical cost.METHODS Full-time administrators for nosocomial infection investigated the application of antibacterials in patients who accepted(operation) in Sep 2004,and filled in the questionnaires.RESULTS In 1 383 cases of 11 hospitals the application rate of antibacterials was 98.63%;in which 86.50% were for prophylactic usage and 13.50% for therapeutic usage;(29.90%) for single antibiotics treatment and 50.15% for bigeminy,18.70% were for trigeminy.Time of(application) differentiated(6.90,7.00,6.60d) fromⅠto Ⅲ kinds of operation.Per capita cost of antibacterials was $956.50(47.60%).CONCLUSIONS High cost of antibacterials results from such factors as multiple kinds,long time and(combined) application.

To enhance the immunogenicity of DNA and adenoviral vector vaccines expressing HIV-1 subtype B gp160, human interleukin 15 (hIL15) DNA adjuvant (pVR-hIL15) was constructed. BALB/c mice received DNA prime/protein boost immunization with pVR-HIVgp160/Ad5-HIVgp160 alone or combined with pVR-hIL15. Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Compared with those immunized with vaccines alone, the mice immunized with vaccines combined with pVR-hIL15 had significantly increased specific cellular response and antibody titer (P < 0.05). It suggests that the IL15 DNA adjuvant can enhance the immune responses induced by prime-boost regimen using DNA and adenoviral vector encoding HIV-1 subtype B gp160.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp160 ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Interleukin-15 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To identify interleukin (IL)-17-producing T cells and Foxp3 positive CD4 positive T ceils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and investigate their cytokine levels as well as their correlations. Methods Flow cytometry was used to analyze the subsets of T cells in peripheral blood from 39 RA patients and 40 healthy donors. IL-17, IL-6, IL-23 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta levels in sera of these subjects were tested by ELISA. Results IL-17+CD4+ T cells increased significantly and IL-17, IL-6 and IL-23 elevated markedly in peripheral blood of RA patients compared to healthy donors (P< 0.01 ). However,Foxp3+CD4+T cells decreased evidently (P<0.01) and TGF-beta did not increase in RA pati-ents when compared to healthy donors (P>0.05). Conclusion This study suggests that Th17 cells predomin-ance coupled with relatively insufficient CD4+ regulatory T cells in RA is mainly caused by alterations of rela-ted cytokines.