ObjectiveTo evaluate the marginal integrity of restoration in two types of mate- rials, or resin- modified glass ionomer cement and polyacid- modified composite resin (compomer). MethodsRestorations of four kinds of material (GC Fuji Ⅱ LC, VitremerTM, Dyract compomer and F2000 compomer) were placed in the facial Class V cavity preparations in forty noncarious human molar teeth. The teeth were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups of 10 teeth each. After thermal cy- cling( × 20,5 ～55℃ ), the teeth were immersed in 1％ basic fuchsin dye for 24 hours at room tempera- ture. Staining along the teeth restoration interface was recorded. ResultsThe data indicated signifi- cant differences between all the restorative materials for both occlusal and gingival scores ( P=0.026, P = 0. 000)respectively. Further analysis revealed there were statistically significant differences between GC Fuji Ⅱ LC and others on occlusal margins versus Dyract compomer and others on gingival margins. Conclusion Factors such as dental conditioning, rates of water absorption and thermal coefficient were related to microleakage. Resin - modified glass ionomer cement showed less microleakage than polyacid- modified composite resin tested.

Objective:To assess the clinical utility of a fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) assay as a non-invasive method for diagnosing and monitoring urothelial carcinoma(UC) in the upper urinary tract(UUT).Methods:Urine specimens from 63 consecutive patients with UUT-UC and 69 controls with benign disease were analyzed by means of cytology and FISH.For FISH analysis,labeled probes specific for chromosomes 3,7,and 17 and for the p16(9p21) gene were used to assess chromosomal abnormalities indicative of malignancy.Sensitivity and specificity of both techniques were determined and compared.The frequency of chromosomal aberrations of malignant cells from UUT-UC was also determined.Results:Of 63 patients with UUT-UC,FISH affords an overall sensitivity of 84.1%(53/63),the figure being 71.4%(20/28)for PTa and PT1 tumors,94.3%(33/35) for PT2-4 tumors.The sensitivities of urine cytology were 35.7%(10/28)for PTa and PT1 tumor,45.7%(16/35)for PT2-4 tumors,with an overall sensitivity of 41.3%(26/63).The sensitivities of the two methods for the low grade tumors were 80%(20/25)and 44%(11/25),and for high grade tumors were 86.8%(33/38)and 39.5%(15/38),respectively.Specificities for FISH and urine cytology were 91.3%(63/69)and 94.2%(65/69)respectively.Conclusion:According to the results,the sensitivity of FISH for the detection of UUT-UC is superior to that of urine cytology and the specificities of FISH and urine cytology are not significantly different.FISH can promote the diagnosis of UUT-UC,especially for the low stage and low grade cases,it may be a new promising non-invasive method for the diagnosis of UUT-UC.

Antigens, CD ; blood ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Bone Marrow ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Myeloid Cells ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology ; mortality ; Survival Rate

Objective To detect the argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions(Ag-NORs) that express rDNA and rRNA proliferation of T lymphocytes before chemotherapy and after complete remission(CR) in children with primary acute leukemia(AL).Methods The argyrophilic granules area of NOR/nuclear area(I.S%) of T lymphocytes was detected by image analysis system in peripheral blood of 42 patients before chemotherapy and after CR and 30 normal children.Results I.S% in the patients before chemotherapy(5.06%?1.36%) were significantly lower than those in the healthy donors(7.51%?1.06%)(t=8.238 P0.05).Conclusion These results suggest that decrease of Ag-NORs expresses the evidence for tumour induced suppression of immune function of T cells in children with AL prior to treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of clinical haemorrhage in an inherited coagulation factor VII (FVII) deficiency and tissue factor abnormality pedigree.

METHODSAll exons, exon-intron boundaries and the 3', 5' untranslated sequences of FVII and tissue factor (TF) genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly. Any mutation identified by direct sequencing was confirmed by reverse sequencing. FVII cDNA of the proband was synthesized with random primers and amplified by nest PCR.

RESULTS55C-->T heterozygous mutation located in promoter of FVII gene was identified in the proband. The heterozygous mutation was derived from his mother. Tracing the other pedigree members found that his sister had the same heterozygous mutation and the others had wild-type FVII genes. A 9363 C-->T (Arg131Trp) heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene, which was 2.63% frequency of T allele polymorphism, was found in all of the pedigree members.

CONCLUSIONIt was the first report that the -55C-->T heterozygous mutation in FVII gene and the Arg131Trp heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene explained the clinical symptom of the proband.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thromboplastin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of testosterone on the related factors of metabolic syndrome in hypogonadal males.

METHODSBased on the principles and methods of Cochrane systematic reviews, we searched the PubMed (1980 to August 2009), Embase (1980 to August 2009), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CNKI (1995 to August 2009) , and handsearched some relevant journals and conference proceedings as well. We also identified randomized controlled trials addressing the use of testosterone for the treatment of hypogonadism, screened the retrieved studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of the included studies, and performed a meta-analysis on the results of homogeneous studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.0 software.

RESULTSSix randomized controlled trials were included. The results of analysis indicated that testosterone substitution could significantly ameliorate fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and insulin resistance in hypogonadism patients, and it could also reduce LDL, HDL, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure, though with no significant difference from the controls. However, there was insufficient evidence to show the effects of testosterone on waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONExisting clinical evidence has demonstrated the positive effects of testosterone substitution on the improvement of insulin resistance, blood glucose and lipids, but due to the heterogeneity and high risk of bias in the included studies, the evidence might be insufficient to give full support to the demonstration. Further large-scale trials are required to define the metabolic effects of testosterone in the treatment of hypogonadism.

Humans ; Hypogonadism ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Testosterone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of diagnosis and surgical treatment for pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of cases with pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis were analyzed retrospectively between September 1972 and June 2003. There were 53 cases with pulmonary aspergillosis and 3 cases with pleural aspergillosis. Aspergillus was found preoperatively in 8 patients by sputum culture (5 cases) or needle biopsy of the lung (2 cases) or fibro-bronchoscopic biopsy (1 case). All patients were treated with surgical procedures following X-ray film or CT scan.

RESULTSOf 53 cases with pulmonary aspergillosis, 42 lobectomies, 3 segment-Pneumonectomies, and 8 wedge resections were performed. Of three cases with pleural aspergillosis following eliminating their diseased foci in residual pleural space, two underwent thoracoplasty, one underwent postoperative closed chest drainage for one and an half month with fluconazole injected into residual pleural space repeatedly for 1 month (200 mg/100 ml, 1 time per 2 or 3 days). No operative death and major postoperative complications occurred. None of the patients had recurrent symptoms at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONWe recommend aggressive surgical resection for pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis, and the surgical result is excellent.

Adult ; Aged ; Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleurisy ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoplasty ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSC)with the acellular dermal matrix(ADM) biological patch for the treatment of external anal sphincter injury on the animal models.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats with sphincter injury were randomly divided into three groups. Group A underwent end to end sphincteric repair directly, group B underwent end to end repair and then covered by ADM patch, and group C underwent end to end repair and then covered by ADM which was previously seeded with MSC. After six weeks, the whole ring specimens including anal canal and lower rectum were removed. The hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson trichrome stain were performed to observe the change of histomorphology.

RESULTSTwo weeks later, the majority of rat models presented with moist anus and crissum with loose stools, which indicated that the model was established successfully. Six weeks after repair, in group A and B, the suffusion of fibrous connective tissue and the infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed at the repair site of sphincter. And lots of collagen fiber which was stained into blue deposited dispersedly at the site of repair with no obvious proliferation of capillaries. However, in group C, the blue collagenous fiber which deposited at the sphincter injury site was less than that in groups A and B. Muscle fibers were observed to be stained into red distributed dispersedly at the repair site of sphincter in group C.

CONCLUSIONSTransplantation of ADM biological patch rich in bone MSC can partly improve the regeneration of rat injured anal sphincter and lessen the formation of cicatrix.

Acellular Dermis ; Anal Canal ; injuries ; surgery ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wound Healing

X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA) is caused by mutations of erythroid-specific 5-aminolevulinate synthetase (ALAS2) gene. In this study a eukaryotic expression vector of ALAS2 was constructed and transfected into eukaryotic cells to observe the expression of ALAS2 gene. The full length cDNA of ALAS2 gene was inserted into plasmid pDs-red2-N1, named pDs-red2-N1/ALAS2. Then, the vector was transfected into K562 cells via electroporation. At 48 hours after transfection, total RNA from K562 cells was extracted, expressions of ALAS2 gene and protein with red fluorescence in the K562 cells were detected by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The vector was also transfected into COS 7 cells via liposome. Both mRNA and protein expression in COS7 cells were detected by RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy. The result showed that after the pDs-red2-N1/ALAS2 eukaryotic expression vector was digested by KpnI and BamHI, two fragments of 4 700 bp and 1 764 bp were displayed by electrophoresis on agarose gel. Sequence method confirmed that the sequence was correct. RT-PCR amplified the total RNA extracted from the transfected K562 and COS7 cells, and could find mRNA of ALAS2 gene that can't be found in K562 and COS7 cells usually. The expressions of both fluorescein and ALAS2 were significantly increased. The percentage of positive cells reached about 19.2% and 10.7%, respectively. ALAS2 expression lasted for 10 days in COS7 cells and the peak was at the third day. It is concluded that the eukaryotic expression vector of ALAS2 gene is successfully constructed; K562 and COS7 cells transfected with the vector via electroporation and liposome can express ALAS2 protein. So, the vector has the potential in gene replacement and can be used for patients with XLSA in future.
5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase ; genetics ; Anemia, Sideroblastic ; genetics ; therapy ; Animals ; COS Cells ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and pulmonary artery pressure in children with congenital heart disease.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-six children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgical treatment were enrolled as subjects. The serum level of apelin was determined before surgery and at 7 days after surgery. The ratio of pulmonary artery systolic pressure to aortic systolic pressure (Pp/Ps) was calculated before extracorporeal circulation. According to the Pp/Ps value, patients were classified into non-pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) group, mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group. Pulmonary artery mean pressure was estimated by echocardiography at 7 days after surgery.

RESULTSThe non-PAH group had the highest serum level of apelin before and after surgery, followed by the mild PAH group, moderate PAH group, and severe PAH group (P<0.05). All groups had significantly increased serum levels of apelin at 7 days after surgery (P<0.05). The serum level of apelin was negatively correlated with pulmonary artery pressure before surgery (r=-0.51, P<0.05) and at 7 days after surgery (r=-0.54, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in serum apelin level is associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease. The significance of serum apelin in predicting the development and degree of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease deserves further studies.

Apelin ; Blood Pressure ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; Infant ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology