Objective To explore the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2(TIMP-2) in peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD) and the association of smoking and TIMP-2 mRNA. Methods The expression of TIMP-2 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) in 44 patients with COPD and 42 healthy smokers.The correlation analysis was then conducted between TIMP-2 mRNA expression and smoking index. Results The expression of TIMP-2 mRNA was 0.753?0.154 and 1.170?0.196,respectively,in patients with COPD and healthy smokers(P

Objective To establish a method for the preparation of long-circulating liposomes (LCL) containing etoposide and to observe its stability in rats plasma.Methods The etoposide-containing liposome was prepared by ethanol injection method. Polyethylene glycol-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG2000-DSPE) was used to modify the membrane of the liposome. Reversed-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to detect the concentration of the liposome,and dynamic release method was used to study its stability in mice plasma.Results The mean size of the LCL containing etoposide was (180?26) nm,and the mean concentration of etoposide was (4.78?0.22) mg/mL,with the entrapment efficiency being (88.71?8.2)%. The leakage ratio of the conventional liposome containing etoposide and LCL containing etoposide in mice plasma were (80.14?1.59)% and (46.72?2.61)%,respectively.Conclusion LCL containing etoposide with high entrapment efficiency and low leakage rate can be obtained by using ethanol injection method. Additionally,modification by PEG2000-DSPE could raise the stability of the liposome.

Objective:To explore the association of physical activities,sedentary behaviors with over-weight/obesity in Chinese children aged 9 -1 1 years,analyze the gender difference and heterogeneity of the association across different provinces,and provide evidence for prevention and control of overweight and obesity.Methods:Using the data of 40 692 children aged 9 -1 1 years from Chinese National Survey on Students’Constitution and Health in 201 0,the height and weight were measured and the time spent in physical activities,screen behaviors and homework were collected.We analyzed the associations among physical activities,sedentary behaviors and overweight/obesity in boys and girls separately,and assessed the heterogeneity of associations across different provinces with Meta-analysis.Results:The prevalence of overweight/obesity of the boys (27.1 %)was higher than that of the girls (1 2.9%),compared with the rural students (1 5.6%),the situation of overweight/obesity of the urban students (23.8%)was more serious,the prevalences of overweight/obesity were separately 22.6%,1 9.2% and 1 7.5% among developed,middle-developed and undeveloped social economic status subgroups.The boys with physical activities no more than 1 hour per day were more likely to be overweight/obese,with the OR of 1 .09 (95%CI:1 .02,1 .1 7).The girls with screen time more than 1 hour per day or homework time more than 2 hours per day were more likely to be overweight/obese,with the ORs of 1 .1 3 (95%CI:1 .02, 1 .26)and 1 .1 8 (95%CI:1 .03,1 .35)respectively.The high level of sedentary behaviors (more than 1 35min per day)was associated with overweight/obese in the girls,and the OR was 1 .1 9 (95%CI:1 .08,1 .33).There was no significant heterogeneity of effect values between physical activities and over-weight/obesity in the boys and between sedentary behaviors and overweight/obesity in the girls across the different provinces (P >0.05).Conclusion:The associations among physical activities,sedentary be-haviors and overweight/obesity existed in Chinese children aged 9 -1 1 years,which were different in boys and girls.There was no statistically significant heterogeneity across different provinces.The strate-gies to prevent and control overweight/obesity in primary school students should focus on gender-specific needs.

Craniofacial Abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Skull ; abnormalities

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and the remedial measurement of measles complicated with severe pneumonia and the acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) in children.Methods From Jan 2004 to Jul 2007,clinical data of 32 cases with measles complicated with severe pneumonia and ARDS in PICU of Chongqing Children's Hospital were retrospective analyzed.In addition,the ratio of partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired gas[pa(O2)/FiO2] between the death group and survival group,the mortality rates between the hormone therapy group and control group were performed.Results Sixteen cases were cured and 16 cases were died,with the mortality rate 50%.The ratio of pa(O2) /FiO2 before mechanical ventilation in death group was lower than that in the survival group [(11.93?1.67) kPa,(21.77?1.16) kPa,respectively,P0.05).Conclusions ARDS is a severe complication in children with measles pneumonia and associated with a high mortality,which requires early diagnosis and intervention to improve survival rate and prognosis.The ratio of pa(O2)/FiO2 may provide reference to evaluation for severity and prognosis of ARDS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and the mid-term effects of unilateral pedicle screw fixation and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in treating lumbar degenerative diseases.

METHODSFrom August 2005 to May 2010, 56 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases underwent lumbar posterolateral fusion,their clinical data were retrospective analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups (unilateral group and bilateral group) according to fixation methods,27 patients in unilateral group who were underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation, including 18 males and 9 females with a mean age of (57.5 ± 7.1) years old (ranged from 41 to 66 years); and 29 patients in bilateral group who were treated with bilateral pedicle screw fixation (on the basis of the above, with contralateral vertebral pedicle screw fixation), including 19 males and 10 females with a mean age of (54.6 ± 5.1) years old (ranged from 43 to 68 years). The clinical data such as operation time, blood loss volume, hospitalization time and cost were compared between two groups. JOA score system was used to evaluate the neurological function. And fusion status and cage-related complication were also analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 36 to 60 months with an average of 45.8 months. No iatrogenic nerve, blood vessels or organs injury were found during operation. Operation time, blood loss volume, hospitalization time and cost in unilateral group were better than that of bilateral group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in JOA score between two groups (P > 0.05). Two patients in unilateral group developed with cage related complications, 1 case was cage displacement and 1 case was cage subsidence, while 2 patients in bilateral group developed with complications of no-fusion, and there was no significant differences between two groups (P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONUnilateral pedicle screw fixation is a satisfactory method and can obtain good effects in treating lumbar degenerative diseases in mid-term, however, the indications should be well considered.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

Objective To evaluate the effect of TGF-β1 and IL-1β expression in serum on acute radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) in patients with thoracic tumors.Methods Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was delivered at 1.8-2.0 Gy,5 times per week to a total dose of 50-66 Gy to 44 patients with lung cancer and 10 patients with esophagus cancer.The target and organs at risk dose distribution were analyzed by 3-dimensiond treatment planning system.The expressions of TGF-β1 and IL-1β in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay before and at the end of the irradiation.The cardiac injury was evaluated by detecting the cmyocardium creatase,cardiac troponin I (cTnI),electrocardiogram and cardiac function before and at the end of the irradiation within 90 d.The acute RIHD was evaluated by the Common Terminology Criteria V 3.0 (NCI-CTCAE 3.0).The expressions of TGF-β1 and IL-1β in the serum of RIHD patients with thoracic tumors were analyzed.Results The expression of TGF-β1 in serum was (888.4 ± 41.1) μg/L before the irradiation and approached to (926.1 ± 23.1) μg/L at the end of the radiotherapy.The expression level of TGF-β1 in the serum of acute RIDH group was (900.6 ± 34.5) μg/L,higher than that of normal group [(865.7 ±47.0) μg/L,t =-2.646,P ＜0.05)].The acute RIDH was correlated with the expression level of TGF-β1 before irradiation and the difference before and at the end of irradiation (r =0.378,0.311,P ＜0.05).The IL-1β expression had no significant difference before and after irradiation.The expression of TGF-β1 in serum before and at the end of irradiation had positive correlation with the expression of IL-1β at the end of the irradiation (r =0.416,0.389,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The expression of TGF-β1 in the serum of patients with thoracic tumor increases after irradiation and correlated with the acute RIHD,but the expression of IL-1β in serum has no relationship with RIHD.TGF-β1 could induce the expression of IL-1β at the end of the irradiation.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on urodynamic alteration in rats after complete T10 spinal cord transection.Methods Thirty-one female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into a sham operation group (n=10),a model group (n=11) and an electroacupuncture (EA) group (n=10).The spinal cords of the rats in the latter two groups were completely transected at the T10 level.Pressure was applied to the rats'lower abdomens every day while in the EA group electroacupuncture with continuous wave electricity was applied to the guanyuan (RN4) and sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints for 15 min.The treatment was carried out daily for consecutive 7 days.Urodynamic examinations were carried out after the treatment course had finished.Results At the 9th day after the operation,average residual urine volume and bladder capacity in the EA group were both significantly lower than in the model group.Residual urine volume and bladder capacity were lowest in the sham operation group.Average voided volume and voiding rate in the EA group were significantly higher than in the model group.The average voiding rate was highest in the sham operation group.The average vesical pressure of the urine leak point and bladder compliance of the EA group rats were significantly lower than those of the model group The average vesical pressure of the urine leak point and bladder compliance of the sham operation group were lowest of all.All of these differences were statistically significant at the 1％ level of confidence.Conclusion EA can improve the lower bladder's detrusor reflex state and urinary tract function soon after complete T10 spinal cord transaction,at least in rats.

Objective To establish real-time PCR with SYBR Green Ⅰ for quantification the gene of survivin.Methods The components and conditions of PCR system were optimally determined by fluorescence intensity,cycle threshold(Ct),melting curve,coefficiency and slope of the standard curve.The means to eliminate the contaminating fluorescence of primer-dimers and the mode for Ct value determination were also optimized.Using the developed PCR system,we quantificated the survivin gene in 43 patients with gastric carcinoma.Results The optimized condition for PCR amplification of survivin were 2 mmol/L of MgCl_2,2.5 U/100 ?l of Taq DNA polymerase,0.2 ?mol/L of primers,and the optimized annealing temperatures for PCR were 58℃.The influence of primer dimmer can be eliminated by setting the fluorescence collecting temperature below the Tm of the specific amplicon by 2℃.The second derivative maximum mode,instead of fit point mode,was a feasible method to determine the Ct value for quantification.The sensitivity of this method was 10 copies/?l,and a good linearity was found from 10~1 to 10~4 copies/?l(r = 0.999 7).The inter-experimental coefficient of variation was 1.13%-1.91%,whereas the coefficient of variation between runs was 3.31%-4.50%.Using the optimized PCR system,we quantificated the gene of survivin,the result indicated that survivin gene was amplified in 13.9% of gastric carcinomas.Conclusions The optimal real-time PCR with SYBR Green Ⅰ,as a cost-effective and feasible DNA quantitative method,is fit for quantification of the survivin with satisfactory repeatability and high sensitivity.