Objective To explore the clinical and CT characteristics of extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations and improve the diagnosis. Methods A retrospective analysis of the clinical and CT manifestations in 15 patients with extreme lateral lumbar disc herniations proved by operation was done. Results Extreme lateral lumbar disc herniation at L4/5 level is more common. Intraforaminal lumbar disc herniations combined with extraforaminal herniation were seen in most cases. The clinical findings often presented lumbar bi-root compression syndromes. Conclusion The clinical presentation combined with CT image is the key to the correct diagnosis.

Objective To select polyethylenimine polymer with proper molecular weight to enhance the gene expression efficiency of Adenovirus (Ad).Methods Ad was resepcitively complexed with PEI-600,PEI-1 800 and PEI 25 000 by electrostatic adsorption.Afterwards,MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of the complexes with a serial concentration,followed by cell transduction assay to select the best amount of PEI with fixed dose of Ad.In the further,the physicochemical characteristics of the optimized complexes,Zeta potential,and size distribution were studied.Results MTT showed the higher the PEI moderate molecular weight was,the greater the cytotoxity was.PEI-25 000 showed a greater cytotoxicity than that of PEI-600 and PEI-1 800.As compared with PEI-600 and PEI-25 000,PEI-1 800 significanlty promoted expression of Ad gene in A549 cells.PEI turned the Zeta potential of Ad from negative to positive charge.Conclusion In the three kinds of polymer/adenovirus compounds,the cytotoxicity of the compound is positively correlated with the polymer molecular weight and concentration.The greater molecular weight the polymer as well as the higher the concentration are,the higher the cytotoxicity is.

BACKGROUND: The residual root of anterior teeth are usually repaired by means of post and cores plus porcelain fused metal crown in clinic, and the retention force is mainly provided by the post because of the deletion of crown, so the retention force provided by the post is directly correlated with the long-term effect of repair.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of retention of cast metal post and core restorations with different convergence angles, and investigate the influence of convergence angles on retention.DESIGN: A repeated observational measurement.SETTING: Department of Prosthodontics, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in the building of high polymer material of Sichuan University in May 2005. Fifty-four simulated tooth roots were manufactured by the numerical control machine tools.They were divided into six groups according to the convergence angles of post being 0°, 3.93°, 5.71°, 7.48°, 11.31° and 14.71°, with nine specimens in each group.METHODS: ① Manufacture of the standard specimens: The tooth roots with the convergence angles of 0°,3.93°, 5.71°, 7.48°, 11.31° and 14.71° were prepared with the digital control precision machine. ② Manufacture of the cast post and cores: The post and core wax patterns of the specimens were made in the condition similar to the clinical practice. The post and cores were cast and tried in, necessary grinding was made to ensure the adoption of the posts and the specimens. Then the posts were luted to the specimens with ZPC after the posts and the simulated root canals having een cleaned by alcohol. The posts and the specimens were pressed until the ZPC solidified. ③ Retention Force test: After having been dipped in physiological saline for 24 hours, the bonded castings and specimens were subjected to a tensile testing at the drawing speed of 10 mm per minute.The retention force of post was the load recorded when the post was pulled out from the specimen. ④ Planar bonding strength test: We cut a PMMA stick into the same little cylinders and made angular milling on the flank of the cylinders. The angle between the milled bevel and the central axis of the cylinder was controlled to 0°, 1.9°, 3°, 6°, 9°, 12° and 15°. Afterwards we cut the brass into pieces. Eight wafers were cast with the same diameter of 8 mm and thickness of 1 mm. With the same procedure of bonding the posts to specimens, the brass pieces were bonded to the cylinder bevels and the wafers were adhered to the upside of some unmachinized cylinders.Immerged in physiological saline for 24 hours, their bonding force were tested at the speed of 10 mm per minute, and the load was recorded when the pieces and wafers were separated from the cylinders. ⑤ Calculation of the frictional and interlocking forces: As the post can be regarded as a frustum, the bonding surface area can be calculated with the formula calculating the flank area of frustum, and the area of the occlusal bonding surface is the sum of the annulus part of the root surface and the circular part of the post tip. Some regressions were made to the retention force, frictional strength, bonding strength per unit area, retention force per unit area and frictional force per unit area to convergence angles.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Bonding strength of different convergence angles; ② Influence of different convergence angles on the area and bonding strength of the post; ③ Retention force and frictional force of posts with different convergence angles; ④ The results of the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of bonding strength, retention force and frictional force per unit area.RESULTS: ① The bonding strength of different convergence angles: It was 0.309 0 N/mm2 for the occlusal plane, 0.128 3 N/mm2 for the axial plane with a convergence angle of 0°, 0.108 7 N/mm2 for the 1.9°axial plane, 0.107 2 N/mm2 for the 3°axial plane, 0.084 9 N/mm2 for the 6°axial plane, 0.056 7 N/mm2 for the 9°axial plane, 0.046 3 N/mm2 for the 12°axial plane, 0.027 4 N/mm2 for the 15°axial plane. ② Bonding strength and bonding area of posts with different convergence angles: The post with a 0°convergence angle had a total post area of 108.047 mm2 and bonding strength of 19.041 N; The most tapered post with 14.71°had a total post area of 90.245 mm2 and bonding strength of 5.131 N. ③ The retention force of cast post and the bonding strength of ZPC declined with the increasing of convergence angles of the post. For the parallel post (convergence angle=0°), the retention force was 321.60 N, the frictional force was 302.559 N, retention force per unit area was 2.976 N/mm2,frictional strength was 3.885 N/mm2; for the most tapered post (convergence angle=14.71°), the retention force was 9.93 N, frictional force was 54.799 N, retention force per unit area was 0.664 N/mm2, frictional force was 0.681 N/mm2. ④ A one-way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in the bonding strength, retention force and frictional force per unit area among the groups (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The retention force, frictional force and the bonding strength of ZPC decrease with the increasing of convergence angles of posts, so the convergence angles of posts should be reduced as much as possible to obtain greater retention.

Objective To prepare berberine chitosan sustained-release tablets and to study the in vitro release characteristics. Methods The chitosan sustained-release tablets were prepared by chitosan as the skeleton material,and the drug release rate of berberine hydrochloride at different time was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Results The in vitro cumulative release of berberine chitosan sustained-release tablets was increased with time.Furthermore,it can sustain for 24 h and the accumulative release was above 95%, the dissolution time of 63. 2% of the drug was 12. 63 h. Artificial gastric juice had the best performance on the dissolution of berberine,while rotations only influenced the dissolution at the beginning of drug release. Conclusion This method is convenient, accurate and reproducible.Berberine chitosan sustained-release tablets have further development and application value.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel on the prevention of carotid artery atherosclerostic plaques in aged patients with infarction. Methods Eighty aged patients with infarction, admitted to out hospital from July 2006 to September 2010, were chosen; these patients were randomly divided into observation group (n=40, giving treatment of atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel) and control group (n=40, giving treatment of treatment of Clopidogrel). The levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CH), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the blood viscosity and the platelet maximum aggregation rate (MAR) were measured and the plaque scores were evaluated 4, 12 and 24 w after the treatment.Results As compared with those before treatment, the levels of TG, LDL-C and MAR in the control group 24 w after treatment, and the levels of TG and CH in the observation group 12 w after treatment and the levels of TG, CH, LDL-C and MAR in the observation group 24 w after the treatment were significantly decreased (P<0.05). As compared with the control group, the observation group enjoyed significantly lower level of CH 12w after the treatment and lower levels of TG, CH and LDL-C 24 w after the treatment (P<0.05). Lower plaque scores in the observation group were noted as compared with that in the control group 24 w after the treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Atorvastatin combined with clopidogrel can safely prevent and stabilize the carotid artery atherosclerostic plaques in aged patients with infarction.

Objective:To investigate the effects of birth intervals on maternal and infant outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:This retrospective study recruited 445 pregnant women with GDM who received prenatal examinations and delivered in Peking University First Hospital-Ningxia Women Children's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. Based on the birth interval classification standard recommended by WHO and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, these subjects were divided into three groups: shorter group (<18 months, n=69), normal group (18-59 months, n=213) and longer group (≥60 months, n=163). Analysis of variance, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results:There were statistically significant differences in the maternal age at this and previous pregnancy [(30.6±4.1), (30.8±3.8) vs (32.7±3.7) years; (22.7±2.4), (26.3±2.9) vs (29.9±4.1) years] and the incidence of oligohydramnios [10.1% (7/69), 1.9% (4/213) vs 3.1% (5/163)] and preterm birth [14.5% (10/69), 5.2% (11/213) vs 1.8% (3/163)] between the shorter, normal, and longer groups (all P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors in the present pregnancy, the risks of oligohydramnios, preterm birth, and low birth weight increased in the shorter group [ OR (95% CI): 4.73 (1.75-12.85), 5.54 (1.37-22.42) and 9.54 (3.05-29.82), all P<0.05] and so did the risk of postpartum hemorrhage in the longer group [ OR (95% CI): 4.45 (1.72-11.49), P<0.05]. Conclusions:Both longer and shorter birth intervals can affect maternal and infant outcomes of GDM patients. Postpartum healthcare should be strengthened for GDM patients who desire more children to help them maintain an appropriate birth interval, thus promoting maternal and infant health.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of prospective memory impairment and event related potentials(ERPs)changes in Parkinson's disease(PD)patients without early treatment.Methods Event-based prospective memory(EBPM),time-based prospective memory(TBPM)and ERPs were examined in 33 PD patients and 31 healthy controls matched with age,gender,education and occupation.Results The scores of EBPM and TBPM in PD patients were significantly lower than those in normal controls(P＜0.05).The latencies of N2 and P300 were significantly prolonged,and P300amplitude was markedly decreased in PD patients as compared with those in normal controls(P＜0.05).The relative analysis showed that the P300 latency was positively correlated with both EBPM(r=0.628,P=0.000)and TBPM(r=0.582,P=0.000).Conclusion The EBPM and TBPM impairment might exist in PD patients without early treatment; the P300 latency can be used as a predictive electrophysiological marker to assess the severity of EBPM and TBPM impairment in PD patients.

Current quality control patterns are limited to industrial application, for most of the natural chemical reference substances are expensive and unavailable. Herein, a method, quantitative analysis of multi-components with single marker (QAMS), was established and validated to simultaneously determine nine ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rf, Rh1, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, Rd) in P. ginseng and four ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rg1, Rh1, Rb1, Rd) in P. notoginseng. Using ginsenoside Rb1 as the contrast, the relative correction factors (RCF) of the other eight ginsenosides were determined by HPLC-DAD. Within the linear ranges, the values of RCF of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rf, Rh1, Rc, Rb2, Rb3 and Rd were 1.400, 1.215, 1.517, 1.801, 0.944, 1.012, 1.143, and 1.135, respectively. The RCF had a good reproducibility in various instruments, chromatographic columns (RSD = 0.30% - 3.9%). According to their RCF, we simultaneously determined nine ginsenosides in P. ginseng only using one marker. In addition, the RCF of ginsenosides were used to simultaneously quantitative analysis of four ginsenosides in P. notoginseng. The results of QAMS method were validated by comparing with that of external standard method, and no obvious significant difference was found.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Panax ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo study and research the transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical low passage strains.

METHODSThe UL131A-128 mRNAs of from different clinical strains and kinetic periods were amplified using 3' RACE and analyzed by sequencing. Meanwhile, clones containing UL131A-128 transcripts in a HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain were selected and sequenced.

RESULTSIt is successful to obtain the transcription pattern of UL131A, UL130 and UL128 gene in HCMV clinical low passage strains, the UL131A gene consisted of two exons and the coding region of UL130 gene was not interrupted by any intron in the region as reported before. However, the transcript of UL128 gene showed two patterns, one pattern consisted of the three exons, the length is 519bp, and the other one contained the three exons and the sequence of the first intron further, the length is 642bp. The quantities of UL128 transcript containing the sequence of the first intron were higher than that of transcript only containing the three exons in the studied clinical strains at all kinetic classes. It was demonstrated that the UL131A-128 mRNA were expressed with immediately early, early and late kinetics. The result of 3'RACE and HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain is conformity.

CONCLUSIONSOur results demonstrated that the UL131A, UL130 and UL128 genes were transcribed with 3'-coterminal, although the initiation points of their mRNA may be different. The variation of the transcripts found in our study indicated complex nature of transcription of UL131A-128 genes in HCMV clinical strains.

Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare plasma concentrations of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction between patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and essential hypertension (EH), and to determine whether elevated levels of these biomarkers could predict development of early organ damage.

METHODSThirty-six PA patients and 39 EH patients matched for age, sex, blood pressure and duration of hypertension were included in this study. Plasma levels of biomarkers reflecting endothelial dysfunction (von Willebrand factor, vWF; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, sICAM-1; and oxidized low density lipoprotein, ox-LDL) were detected and compared between PA and EH patients. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) determined by echocardiography, 24-hour urinary protein quantitative determination and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were analyzed to evaluate early organ damage. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as LVMI > 125 g/m(2) in men and > 120 g/m(2) in women, and UAER between 20 µg/min and 200 µg/min was defined as microalbuminuria.

RESULTSvWF [(122.3 ± 53.8)% vs. (113.1 ± 68.3)%], sICAM-1 [(401.0 ± 74.1) µg/L vs. (300.9 ± 87.0) µg/L], ox-LDL [(13.6 ± 10.0) U/L vs. (8.1 ± 5.9) U/L], LVMI [(124.7 ± 33.6) g/m(2) vs. (109.1 ± 25.7) g/m(2)], 24-hour urinary protein quantitation [24 h UPQ, (0.17 ± 0.10) g vs. (0.09 ± 0.04) g] and UAER [(25.9 ± 7.7) µg/min vs. (9.7 ± 5.9) µg/min] were significantly higher in PA group than in EH group (all P < 0.05). Elevated plasma vWF, sICAM-1 levels and plasma aldosterone concentration independently predicted microalbuminuria. Whereas, elevated plasma vWF and ox-LDL levels, plasma aldosterone concentration and systolic blood pressure independently predicted left ventricular hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONPatients with PA have severer endothelial dysfunction reflected by multiple biomarkers and earlier organ damage than patients with EH, and plasma aldosterone concentration and multiple endothelial dysfunction biomarkers could independently predict early organ damage.

Albuminuria ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism