Objective To study the protective effect of bionics-pulsed electromagnetic field (BEMF) on the biomechanical property of the bones of Wistar rats. Methods Thirty-two 3-month-old female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n=8 in each group). The 8 rats of group A (the control) were treated normally and received injections of saline in the same amount of drugs for the rats of other 3 groups. The rats of group B received injections of desamethasone (1 mg/kg, 2 intramuscular injections/week). The rats of groups C and D received injections of desamethasone in the same procedure as that of group B. In addition, the rats of group C received daily subcutaneous injections of calcitonin in the dosage of 2 IU/kg and those of group D were irradiated with BEMF once daily. The results of the 3 kinds of therapeutic procedures were observed 8 weeks later. Results After the irradiation of BEMF, the biomechanical parameters of the lumbar vertebrae and the femur were far higher in the rats of group D than in those of group B. Conclusion BEMF irradiation is effective to prevent the decrease of biomechanical properties of the bones of the rats.

The aim was to study the morphological, histochemical and immunological characteristics of less-differentiated acute myeloid leukemic cells, and their diagnostic significance. Wright-Giemsa and histochemical staining were used to stain bone marrow smears from 2 case of AML-Mo. Immunological phenotypes were determined with flow cytometry. The results showed that myeloperoxidase stainings of both cases were negative, PAS was positive with fine particles, CD33/CD13 were positive, CD2/CD3/CD10/CD19/CD22 were negative. It is concluded that morphology, histochemistry and immunological phenotype on bone marrow smears are the main diagnostic basis for AML-Mo. The use of multiple monoclonal antibodies for staining may improve the accuracy.
Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; classification ; immunology ; pathology ; Middle Aged

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans

Objective To investigate the value of enhanced MR texture analysis in the differential diagnosis of single brain metastasis (SBM) and high grade glioma (HGG). Methods The preoperative MRI images of 21 SBM and 23 HGG patients confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed. The T1WI enhanced images were used for texture analysis to obtain the mean, median, entropy, skewness, kurtosis, heterogeneity and other parameters. An independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to statistically analyze the values of the parameters between the two groups, and ROC evaluation parameters were used to identify the diagnostic efficacy of SBM and HGG. Results There were significant differences in entropy and heterogeneity parameters between SBM and HGG: (4.838 ± 0.523 vs. 5.358 ± 0.449, 0.276 ± 0.066 vs. 0.331 ± 0.101), P＜0.05. When the cut-off value of entropy was 4.88, the sensitivity of differential diagnosis between SBM and HGG was 47.6%, specificity was 100.0%, and the area under ROC curve was the largest (0.745). Conclusions The entropy value and heterogeneity have certain value in distinguishing SBM and HGG in MRI texture analysis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of closed reduction and external fixation (plaster or splint) for the treatment of displaced humeral supracondylar fractures in children.

METHODSFrom March 2007 to September 2009,33 children (15 female and 18 male) with humeral supracondylar fractures treated in our hospital, ranging from 3 to 12 years old with an average of 6.4 years old. All the fractures were extension-type injuries, the flexion injures were excluded in our study. The humeral supracondylar fractures were classified according to Gartland classification. There were 21 Type H and 12 type III. In the initial treatment, all the patients were treated with closed reduction and external immobilization. The blood supply of the damaged upper extremity was evaluated before and after treatment. Clinical assessment was obtained at final follow-up using Flynn criteria, and radiologic assessment was obtained using Baumann and lateral humerocapitellar angles.

RESULTSAll the children were treated successfully with closed reduction in the initial time; 24 children maintained limb alignment by external immobilization. Nine patients lost position due to the swelling around the elbow which affected unstable external fixation during the follow-up, 5 of which were treated with a repeated closed reduction and internal fixation with Kirschner wires, 4 of which were treated with traction. Thirty-one patients had a satisfactory outcome and 2 patients had an unsatisfactory outcome according to the Flynn criteria at the latest follows-up.

CONCLUSIONClosed reduction and external stabilization is an important method for the treatment of displaced humeral supracondylar fractures in children. Making regular follow-up visits after closed reduction and casting is important for patients to maintain acceptable alignment, avoid complications and diagnose any loss of reduction.

Casts, Surgical ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; surgery ; Male ; Splints

BACKGROUNDThe awareness, treatment and prevention of chronic diseases are generally poor among the elderly population of China, whereas the prevention and control of chronic diseases in elderly veteran communities have been ongoing for more than 30 years. Therefore, investigating the awareness status of chronic disabling neurological diseases (CDND) and common chronic diseases (CCD) among elderly veterans may provide references for related programs among the elderly in the general population.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted among veterans ≥60 years old in veteran communities in Beijing. The awareness of preventive strategies against dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), sleep disorders, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and CCD such as hypertension, and the approaches used to access this information, including media, word of mouth (verbal communication among the elderly) and health care professionals, were investigated via face-to-face interviews.

RESULTSThe awareness rates for CCD and CVD were approximately 100%, but that for AD was the lowest at <10%. The awareness rates for sleep disorders, PD and dementia, were 51.0-89.4%. Media was the most commonly selected mode of communication by which veterans acquired knowledge about CCD and CVD. Media was used by approximately 80% of veterans. Both health care professionals and word of mouth were used by approximately 50% of veterans. With respect to the source of information about CDND excluding AD, the rates of the use of health care professionals, word of mouth and media were 10.6-28.2%, 56.5-76.5%, and approximately 50%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe awareness of CDND among elderly veterans was significantly lower than that of CCD. More information about CDND should be disseminated by health care professionals. Appropriate guidance will promote the rapid and extensive dissemination of information about the prevention of CDND by media and word-of-mouth peer education.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Awareness ; physiology ; Chronic Disease ; prevention & control ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases ; prevention & control ; Veterans ; statistics & numerical data

Recent studies have found that ABO blood group antigen is also closely related to the onset and development of many diseases. More and more attention is being paid to the decrease of A/B blood group antigen caused by some tumors. This study was purpose to investigate the correlation between DNA methylation of the ABO gene promoter CpG island and leukemia. The relative contents of ABH antigen on the surface of RBC from kinds of blood disease patients and healthy individuals were detected by using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The DNA sequences and CpG methylation of ABO gene promoter in patients with hematopathy and healthy individuals, as well as the -102 site methylation of ABO gene promoter in patients with hematopathy and healthy individuals were detected by PCR and MSP-PCR respectively. The results showed that RBC from leukemia patients displayed different degree of A/B antigen decrease. The sequences of ABO gene promotor of patients with hematopathy were not different from healthy individuals indicating high conservation of promoter sequences. Comparison of sequences between patients with hematopathy and healthy individual indicated that CpG islands on ABO gene promoter either from blood disease patients or from healthy individual had no methylated site in AA patients, but C residues at position -102, -101, -100, -99 and -97 on the promoter of ABO gene in AML, CML, ALL and some MDS patients were methylated. It is concluded that methylation of CpG islands in promoter of ABO gene may result in AB antigen decrease in patients with leukemia. The methylation sites -102, -101, -100, -99 and -97 may be specific for leukemia. The methylation of site -102 can be used as a molecular marker in differential diagnosis for leukemias.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

To investigate the effects of matrine on apoptosis and expression of adhesion molecules in human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226 cells, RPMI8226 cells were incubated with indicated concentrations of matrine. The growth of RPMI8226 cells was observed by CCK-8 colorimetric assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The cell cycles were analyzed by PI staining. Flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to detect the expression of cell adhesion molecules, including CD44, CD44v6, CD54 and CD106. The results showed that RPMI8226 cell viability in presence of matrine decreased markedly in a dose- and time-dependent manners. The apoptosis could be induced by matrine and its level increased following the augmentation of the drug concentration. After treated by matrine for 48 hours, a concentration-dependent increase of cells in G(0)/G(1) phase and a decrease in S phase could be detected, but no obvious change of cell count was found in G(2)/M phase. Treatment of RPMI8226 cells with matrine for 48 hours resulted in decrease of expression levels of CD44 and CD54, while expressions of CD44v6 and CD106 had no significant change. It is concluded that matrine induces in vitro apoptosis, suppresses proliferation in multiple myeloma cells and depresses expression of some adhesion molecules.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between genetic variations in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety-eight cases of colorectal cancer and 420 controls were genotyped for detecting MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP methods. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression model.

RESULTSThe frequency of the MTHFR C677T allele found among cases was significantly more frequent than that among controls (51.3% to 44.4%, P = 0.02). As compared with the 677CC genotype, the 677TT genotypes had a 67% (95% CI, 1.05 - 2.66) increased risk of colorectal cancers. However, there appeared no any correlations between the genetic variations of MTHFR and the cancer metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrated that the genetic variation of MTHFR C677T should be a genetic susceptibility factor for colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

Objective To investigate the occurrence of sleep snoring and relative morbidities in preschool and early school children aged 3 to 14 years old in Nanning city.Methods A population-based cross-sectional study of children aged form 3 to 14 years old was conducted,12 kindergartens,8 prime schools and 6 junior high schools were randomly selected and information was collected using a parent-completed questionnaire to ascertain snoring or habitual snoring and correlated symptom.The response rate was 90.6%,8 150 of 9 000 questionnaire were fully completed and 6 999 questionnaires were available.Results The prevalence of snoring in preschool and school children were reported in 32.7%,the incidence rate of sleep snoring in boys was 44.22%,which was higher than that in girls(28.58%)(P