ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupoints stimulation with silver spike point therapy on insomnia.Methods60 patients with insomnia were randomly divided into the trial group and control group with 30 cases in each group. Patients of the trial group were treated by acupoints stimulation with silver spike point therapy and patients of control group were treated only with Clonopin. All patients of two groups were tested with Self-Rating Scale of Sleep (SRSS) before and after treatment.ResultsThe curative effect rate of the trial group was 86.6%; that of the control group was 60%; the curative effect of the trial group was superior to the control group (P<0.05). SRSS difference of the trial group pre-and post-treatment was 12.79±3.20; that of the control group was 10.1±3.89. There was also a significant difference between two groups (P<0.01).ConclusionThe silver spike point therapy has the better curative effect on insomnia than Clonopin.

Construction of course group,which overcomes the narrow limits of knowledge structure for single course,carries training objectives of comprehensive knowledge and innovation ability,and plays an important role in realizing the goal of higher medical education.Basic course group in clinical laboratory medicine has been built based on the close relation,promotion,and infiltration of five courses contents.It has been explored and reformed from the restructuring and optimizing of course group contents,teaching methods,practice step,and so on.Practice shows that the course group is helpful to improving students' ability of integrated use of knowledge and presents obvious effect for improvement of the cultivation of students' comprehensive quality.

Objectives:To examine whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced apoptosis correlates with TNF ? release by type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells (AEC Ⅱ), whether TNF ? knockout (TNF KO) abrogates the induction of apoptosis by LPS and whether TNF ? is sufficient to induce apoptosis in this cell type. Methods:AEC Ⅱ was isolated from wild type mice and TNF KO mice. Cells were stimulated with LPS or recombinant murine TNF ? for 24 h. TNF ? in culture supernatant was determined by ELISA following LPS stimulation. Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL assay after treatment with either LPS or TNF ?. Results:LPS induced apoptosis in wild type AEC Ⅱ in a concentration dependent manner. LPS induced AEC Ⅱ apoptosis was accompanied by a 11 fold increase from (0.073?0.065) ng/ml in controls to( 0.94?0.14)ng/ml in 50 ?g/ml of LPS( P

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of full-mouth debridement ( subgingival scaling and root planning , SRP) by 2 times within 1 week and compare the clinical effects of different sequences of debridement-antibiotic usage in patients with severe chronic periodontitis ( CP ) .Methods: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 30 severe CP patients (14 males and 16 females, 40.5 ±8.4 years old on average from 35 to 60 ) receiving 3 different sequences of debridement-antibiotictherapy:Group A, antibiotic usage (metronidazole, MTZ, 0.2 g, tid, 7 d;amo-xicillin, AMX 0.5 g, tid, 7 d) was started together with SRP ( completed by 2 times in 7 d);Group B, antibiotic usage (MTZ 0.2 g, tid, 7 d;AMX 0.5 g, tid, 7 d) was started 1 d after SRP(completed by 2 times in 7 d);Group C, SRP alone[probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI) and tooth mobility] was examined .The average full-mouth probing depth , the average full-mouth proximal probing depth ( pPD) , the percentage of sites with PD >5 mm ( PD>5 mm%) , the percentage of sites with proximal PD>5 mm ( pPD>5 mm%) , the average bleeding index ( BI) and the percentage of sites with bleeding on probing ( BOP%) were calculated .Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and 2 months post therapy .Results:(1) Compared with baseline conditions , all the subjects showed clinical improve-ments in all the parameters evaluated 2 months post therapy , P<0 .05 .( 2 ) Significant difference were observed in the average PD changes between Group A [(2.15 ±0.42) mm], Group B [(1.76 ±0.29) mm] and Group C [(1.57 ±0.33) mm], P<0.05.No significant difference was observed in the aver-age PD changes between Group B and Group C , P=0.354.Significant differences were observed in the average pPD changes between Group A [(2.45 ±0.43)mm] and Group C[(1.90 ±0.48) mm], P<0.05.No significant difference was observed in BI and BOP% changes between Group A ,Group B and Group C.Conclusion: For patients with severe chronic periodontitis , it is safe and feasible to receive full-mouth SRP by 2 times within 1 week.The short-term ( 2 months ) advantages in PD changes are observed in patients receiving SRP and antibiotic usage at the same time comparing with patients using antibiotics after SRP or SRP alone .

Objective To establish a model of rat orthotopic liver transplantation and investigate the relationship among cold preservation time, activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and donor preservation injury after liver transplantation. Methods Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in Wistar rats which were randomly divided into the following groups according to the different duration of liver cold storage in UW solution: group A (sham operation, n=10), group B NF-κB in liver before and after transplantation was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays; protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the liver was measured by immunohistochemistry; the serum TNFα and IL-1β, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hepatic cell apoptosis were examined. Results With extended cold storage duration, the activity of NF-κB in the donor liver increased (P<0.05, group D vs. groups A, B and C). TNF-α and IL-1β levels also increased (P<0.05, group D vs. groups A, B and C). Donor liver reperfusion injury was gradually aggravated with the prolonging of graft cold preservation. Both the serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels increased highly (P<0.05 group A vs. groups B, C and D),NF-κB in the liver significantly increased (P<0.05, group A vs. groups D, B and C) with gradual prolonging of graft cold preservation time. The serum ALT and AST level and apoptosis index level elevated greatly (P<0.05, group A vs. groups D, B and C). Conclusion NF-κB of donor liver was activated inductively in cold preservation phase and activated explosively in reperfusion phase. The longer cold preservation time was, the higher NF-κB level in donor liver became. NF-κB led to the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in donor liver. Inflammatory factors are one of the most important mechanisms for the donor liver injury after liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo explore the critical dose of T lymphocyte for preserving graft versus leukemia (GVL) while preventing GVHD in murine acute leukemia model treated with H-2 haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

METHODS(C57BL/6 x 615) F1 (H-2bk) mice which was inoculated with L615 cells to develop leukemic murine model was the recipient. The healthy C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice was the donor. CD(34)(+) cells from bone marrow and CD(3)(+)cells from spleen of the donor were purified by miniMACS. The purity of CD(34)(+) cells and CD(3)(+) cells were (81.5 +/- 2.4)% and (95.4 +/- 2.9)% respectively. Sixty-nine recipient mice were divided into seven groups. Group A received no treatment, group B received TBI only, the rest groups were irradiated 9 Gy by (60)Co and transfused 10(5) CD(34)(+) cells or mixed with 10(7) (E), 10(8) (F), 1.5 x 10(8) (G) of CD(3)(+) cells respectively. The mice were raised for 60 days, The cause of death was identified by pathology.

RESULTSAll mice in group E survived more than 60 days being significantly longer than that in the rest groups (p < 0.0001). The chimerisms from donor were 100% in the mice survived > 60 days. Mice died of leukemia relapse in group D and group E were significantly less than those in group C (p < 0.001). Mice died from GVHD in group G were significantly more than those in group E and group F (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe leukemia relapse rate was highest in mice that were transplanted with CD(34)(+) cells alone. Those mice transfused with CD(3)(+) T lymphocyte in the graft higher than 10(8) cells died from the GVHD was significantly higher. The inclusive dosage of 5 x 10(7) CD(3)(+) T lymphocyte was enough to separate the GVHD from GVL.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; CD3 Complex ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Host Reaction ; Graft vs Leukemia Effect ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Leukemia, Experimental ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of prevention and treatment of early scar through observing the effect of feeding immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide on rabbit ears hypertrophic scar tissue in early stage.

METHODSThirty-two Rabbit ears were used to establish animal models for hypertrophic scar and randomly divided into four groups: group of distilled water (A), group of cyclophosphamide 5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) (B), group of 10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) (C), group of 30 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) (D). Before animal models were built and after administration for 14 days, 28 days, leukocytes and lymphocytes were detected. After 28 days, specimens were harvested and underwent HE staining and VG staining in order to assess HI, NA, AA value changes. The data (HI, NA, AA) from each group were compared by analysis of variance, and the variance for the rank sum test when missing.

RESULTSOn the 14th day, the number of leukocytes in group A, B, C, D were (8.62 +/- 0.58) x 10(9)/L, (4.48 +/- 0.41) x 10(9)/L, (2.7 +/- 0.26) x 10(9)/L, (1.33 +/- 0.27) x 10(9)/L; the number of lymphocytes in group A, B, C, D were (3.11 +/- 0.21) x 10(9)/L, (1.67 +/- 0.16) x 10(9)/L, (0.42 +/- 0.10) x 10(9)/L, (0.40 +/- 0.09) x 10(9)/L. On the 28th day, the number of leukocytes in group A, B, C, D was (8.63 +/- 0.53) x 10(9)/L, (5.10 +/- 0.27) x 10(9)/L, (3.10 +/- 0.26) x 10(9)/L, (1.98 +/- 0.20) x 10(9)/L; the number of lymphocytes A, B, C, D was (3.06 +/- 0.16) x 10(9)/L, (2.08 +/- 0.14) x 10(9)/L, (0.96 +/- 0.19) x 10(9)/L, (0.14 +/- 0.07) x 10(9)/L. On the 14th day and 28th day, the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in experimental groups was reduced, showing a negative relation with cyclophosphamide dose (P < 0.05). The HI in group of A, B, C, D was 3.02 +/- 0.24, 2.59 +/- 0.43, 2.06 +/- 0.19, 1.63 +/- 0.11; the AA was 40.49 +/- 2. 07, 35.29 +/- 1.99, 28.36 +/- 1.87, 24.99 +/- 1.82; the NA was 4570.5 +/- 259.3, 4222.5 +/- 199.6, 3540.3 +/- 170.3, 3341.4 +/- 228.8. The difference in HI, AA, NA between control group and any of the experimental groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Each group, with the dose increased, except NA content of group C and D, the HI, AA, NA was more smaller, negative correlation, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFeeding cyclophosphamide can inhibit leukocytes and lymphocytes number, so as to inhibit the proliferative activity of hypertrophic scar. It has significant effect on prevention of hypertrophic scar on rabbit ears in early stage.

Animals ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Cyclophosphamide ; pharmacology ; Ear ; pathology ; Female ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Rabbits

BACKGROUNDBRAF(V600E) mutation is correlated with local aggressive clinicopathological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma; yet the relationship between this genetic variation and distant papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis was unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether BRAF(V600E) is predictive for distant metastasis in the Chinese population.

METHODSOne hundred and seven patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in this study, including 43 patients with distant metastasis and 64 patients without. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect BRAF(V600E) mutation, while immunohistochemistry was performed to detect vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The associations between distant metastasis and BRAF(V600E) mutation, and VEGF expression as well as local clinicopathological factors were determined.

RESULTSA total of 28.6% of the patients in the distant metastasis group harbored BRAF(V600E) mutation, which was significantly lower than in the without distant metastasis group (68.8%, P < 0.001). BRAF(V600E) mutation was negatively correlated with positive VEGF expression (P = 0.001). Furthermore, 52.2% of the patients with distant metastasis exhibited VEGF expression, compared with 25.0% of those without. Higher levels of VEGF expression were also observed in the distant metastasis group. Tumor size, extra-thyroid invasion, and BRAF(V600E) mutation were independent predictors for distant metastasis according to multivariate analysis (odds ratios were 2.8, 12.4, and 0.3; 95% CI 1.483-5.334, and 2.950-52.407, 0.100-0.890; P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.030, respectively). BRAF(V600E) mutation was negatively correlated with distant metastasis in adult subgroup analysis (P = 0.005) but was not an independent parameter.

CONCLUSIONSBRAF(V600E) mutation is predictive for distant metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma but not positively. VEGF may be involved in the pathogenesis of distant metastasis.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo examine whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis correlates with TNF-alpha release by type II alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II), whether TNF-alpha knockout (TNF KO) abrogates the induction of apoptosis by LPS and whether TNF-alpha is sufficient to induce apoptosis in this cell type.

METHODSAEC II were isolated from wild type mice and TNF KO mice. Cells were stimulated with LPS or recombinant murine TNF-alpha for 24 h. TNF-alpha in culture supernatant was determined by ELISA following LPS stimulation. Apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase end-labeling (TUNEL) assay after treatment with either LPS or TNF-alpha.

RESULTSLPS induced apoptosis in wild type AEC II in a concentration-dependent manner. LPS-induced AEC II apoptosis was accompanied by an 11-fold increase (from 0.073 +/- 0.065 ng/ml in control to 0.94 +/- 0.14 ng/ml in 50 micro g/ml of LPS, P < 0.01) in TNF-alpha release. However, increasing concentrations (5 or 25 ng/ml) of recombinant murine TNF-alpha failed to induce AEC II apoptosis. In addition, apoptosis did occur in AEC II isolated from TNF KO mice following LPS stimulation.

CONCLUSIONSThis study confirms that LPS induces TNF-alpha release and apoptosis in murine AEC II in vitro. Exogenous TNF-alpha failed to induce AEC II apoptosis, and apoptosis occurred following LPS stimulation in cells lacking the ability to produce TNF-alpha. Taken together, these results suggest that LPS-induced AEC II apoptosis occurs by a TNF-alpha-independent mechanism.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of prostatic malignant mesenchymal tumors (PMMT).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data about 20 cases of PMMT and reviewed the literature relevant to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease.

RESULTSBased on the results of pathology and immunohistochemistry, the 20 PMMT cases included leiomyosarcoma (n = 7), rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 5), prostatic stromal sarcoma (n = 3), chondrosarcoma (n = 1), and undifferentiated PMMT (n = 4). Twelve of the patients were treated by radical prostatectomy (3 concurrently by sigmoid colostomy and 1 by cystostomy), 2 by pelvic tumor resection following arterial embolization, 1 by total pelvic exenteration, 1 by colostomy with pelvic lymph node biopsy, and 4 by conservative therapy because of metastasis to the lung, pelvis and bone. Of the 20 patients, 9 died of systemic metastasis within 3 months after treatment, 3 died at 6, 7, and 14 months, respectively, 3 survived with tumor for 5, 11, and 12 months, respectively, 2 survived without tumor for 12 and 24 months so far, all subjected to periodic chemotherapy postoperatively, and 3 lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPMMT is a tumor of high malignancy and rapid progression, for which transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy remains the main diagnostic method. The clinical stage of the tumor is an important factor influencing its prognosis and the survival rate of the patients can be improved by early diagnosis and combined therapy dominated by radical prostatectomy.

Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies