The effects of E-cadherin-transfected neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation for spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats were investigated. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into model control group, NSCs group, empty plasmid group and E-cadherin overexpression group (n=15 each). The animal SCI model was established by using the modified Allen's method. NSCs were cultured. Rats in NSCs group were subjected to NSCs transplantation. E-cadherin gene eucaryotic expression vector and pcDNA3.1-E-cadherin were respectively transfected into cultured NSCs, serving as empty plasmid group and E-cadherin overexpression group respectively. At 7th day after transplantation, neurological function of all rats was assessed by Tarlov score. After rats were sacrificed in each group, the number of BrdU and Nestin positive cells was counted by immunohistochemistry. Immumofluorescence method was used to detect the expression of neurofilament protein (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). As compared with model control group, the Tarlov score and the number of of BrdU and Nestin positive cells, and the expression of NF and GFAP in NSCs group, empty plasmid group, and E-cadherin overexpression group were increased significantly (P<0.05), and those in the E-cadherin overexpression group were increased more significantly than the other transplantation groups (P<0.05). It was suggested that E-cadherin could be conductive to nerve regeneration and repair probably by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs.

Objective To evaluate the peripheral dose (PD) from megavoltage cone-beam CT (MVCBCT) imaging for head-and-neck region image-guided radiation therapy,to determine the correlation of PD with monitor unit (MU),and to investigate the impact of imaging field size on the PD.Methods Measurements of PD from MVCBCT were made with a 0.65 cm3 ionization chamber placed in a specially designed phantom at various depths and distances from the field edges.The PD at reference point inside the phantom was measured with the same ionization chamber to investigate the linearity between MU used for MVCBCT and the PD.The homogeneity of PD in the axial plane of the phantom were measured.Results PD from MVCBCT increased with increasing number of MU used for imaging and with increasing the field size.The measured PD in the phantom decreased exponentially as distance from the field edges increased.PD also decreased as the depth from the phantom surface increased.There was a strong linear relationship between PD and MUs used for MVCBCT.The PD was heterogeneous,with higher dose at the anterior than the posterior.Conclusions The PD from MVCBCT depend much on the MVCBCT delivery MU and the scan field size.In clinic,using the smallest number of MU allowable and reducing MVCBCT scanning field size without compromising acquired image quality is an effective method of reducing the PD.

Objective:We aimed to explore the clinical features, computed tomography (CT) findings, treatment, and prognosis of bronchopulmonary carcinoid. Methods:Clinical data of 31 patients with primary carcinoid tumor of the lung were retrospectively re-viewed. The prognostic factors were analyzed via Cox univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Clinical symptoms included coughing or expectoration in 17 of the 31 cases, hemoptysis or blood-stained sputum in 7 cases, and chest pains or shortness of breath in 8 cases. Six cases were asymptomatic. The CT scans showed round or oval nodules with clear boundaries, and enhancement CT scans indicated mild, homogeneous enhancement. Immunohistochemistry results revealed the positive expression rates of synaptophy-sin (Syn), chromogranin A (CgA), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were 90.3%(28/31), 87.1%(27/31), and 90.3%(28/31), respec-tively. Therapy and prognosis results were as follows:28 of the total number of patients underwent surgery, among which 3 underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy, 2 received chemotherapy; and only 1 refused treatment. The 1-year overall survival rates were 100%(18/18) and 92.3%(12/13), whereas the 3-year survival rates were 94.4%(17/18) and 69.2%(9/13) in the typical and atypical carcinoid cases, respectively. Cox univariate analysis results revealed that lymphatic metastasis (P=0.02), tissue types (P=0.017), TNM stage (P=0.005), and therapies (P=0.01) were the prognostic factors. Cox multivariate analysis results showed that lymphatic metastasis (P=0.032) and tissue types (P=0.002) were the independent prognostic factors. Conclusion:Compared with other lung cancers, the bron-chopulmonary lung carcinoid has no special clinical manifestation in clinical and radiographic images. The diagnosis was mainly based on histopathology results. Surgery was the main and effective treatment, whereas chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed unsatisfactory results. The overall prognosis was satisfactory. However, the atypical carcinoid was inferior to the typical carcinoid in terms of progno-sis. Pathological typing and lymph node metastasis were significant prognostic factors.

Objective:To study the function of transcription factor 4 (TCF4) and to prepare TCF4 polyclonal antibody.Methods:pET-41/TCF4 was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) and induced by IPTG.The purified GST-TCF4 fusion protein was applied to immunize rabbit to produce antiserum. The specificity of the affinity of purified anti-TCF4 antibody was examined by Western blotting analysis of the eukaryotic expressed products of TCF4. Dig-labeled probe and antibody against TCF4 were used to examine the expression of TCF4 in Saos-2 cells under mechanical stretch. Results:Western blotting showed that the antibody could bind to TCF4 specifically. The expression of TCF4 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in Saos-2 cells under mechanical stretch. Conclusion: TCF4 antibody has been prepared successfully.

Objectives To explore the perceived stigma among family members of people with schizophrenia and to identify the influential factors related to perceived stigma in socio-demographic characters of family members and patient characters.Methods Total 127 family members of people with schizophrenia in a psychiatric hospital in Beijing were surveyed by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination Scale developed by Link.Results The mean score of the perceived devaluation-discrimination scale is 2.60±0.44.It was significantly higher than the 2.5 midpoint(t=2.53,P<0.05).Family member's perceived stigma was significantly different between different groups of residence area,education level,occupation and family income (P<0.05).Perceived stigma were not affected by patient characters (P>0.05).Family members'education level was the influencing factors of stigma,and the R~2 Square is 0.213.Conclusions The family members of people with schizophrenia suffered from high stigma.Education level of family member may be one of the influential factors.

AIM: To explore the characteristics of motor evoked potential(MEP) and cortical excitability in Parkinson's disease by transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS).METHODS: 20 normal volunteers were enrolled as control(group A),with the average age of(62.3?16.7) year old ranged from 52 to 79 years including 12 males and 8 females.MEP were assessed and compared separately between left and right hemispheres.21 patients with Parkinson's disease(PD) in asymmetry symptoms were performed in this study(group B),with the average age of(63.3?16.7) year old ranged from 46 to 80 years including 12 males and 9 females.UPDRS motor scores(UPDRSⅢ) were assessed before the check of cortical excitability(MEP).Motor evoked potentials(MEP) was assessed and compared separately on the minor and the serious bodyside,compared to control group.RESULTS: The indexes of MEP from both sides of normal control had no significant diversity.Amp was increased and both rest motor threshold(RMT) and cortical latency(CL) were also decreased significantly in PD patient compared to the normal control.On the serious side of PD,RMT decreased significantly compared to the minor side.Amp,CL and central motor conduct time(CMCT) changed without significant diversity between minor and serious bodyside.CONCLUSION: The motor cortical excitability is increased in PD patients.The excitability is higher with the more serious symptom side.The character of MEP in PD patients may be helpful to make a diagnosis and evaluate the severity of symptoms.

AIM: To find optimium conditions which would be beneficial to the microencapsulation of the citrus oils microcapsules. METHODS: The influenceing factors,such as the kind and concentration of coating material、plasticizer and antiadherent,ratio of volatile oil to coating material were investigated using appearance,encapsulation efficiency and volatile oil loading as evaluation parameters. RESULTS: The microcapsules prepared by optimium conditions were smooth and possessed encapsulation efficiency of 84.50%,volatile oil loading of 28.32%. CONCLUSION: The optimum conditions are chosen reasonably to help increase the stability of volatile oils microcapsules.

AIM: To establish a method of evaluating totally the quality of mandarin oils microcapsules. METHODS: The quality evaluation method of the mandarin oils microcapsules was investigated according to the appearance shape,in-vitro release,compressibility index and microcapsule dissociative film's physical characters research. RESULTS: The method to investigate compressibility index,hydroscopicity and the capability of penetrating oxygen and resisting tension was established. CONCLUSION: These methods can evaluate the quality of essential oils microcapsules rather exactly.

Objective To investigate the influence factors on preparation of citrus volatile oil microcapsules by spray drying technique.Methods The citrus volatile oil microcapsules were prepared by spray drying technique with arabic gum as coating material.The temperature of aeration,injection speed,spray rate of flow,and exhausting volume were observed by single factor and the technical parameters were optimized by uniform design.Results The optimum condition including ratio of drug to coating material(0.9),plasticizer to coationg material(0.15),the temperature of aeration(145 ℃),injection speed(18 mL/min);and spray rate of flow(40 L/h).The microcapsules prepared by optimum conditions were smooth and possessed average encapsulation efficency in 84.50%,average drug loading in 28.32%.Conclusion The optimum conditions are chosen reasonably,which can increase the stability of citrus volatile oil microcapsules significantly.

Objective To compare the outcomes of powered-assisted septoplasty with CO_ 2 laser-assisted septoplasty. Methods Thitry patients with limited deviation of nasal septum were analyzed retrospectively. Among 30 patients, 18 underwent powered-assisted septoplasty and the rest underwent CO_ 2 laser-assisted septoplasty. The surgical results were assessed by the visual analogue scale (VSA) and acoustic rhinometry. Results VSA scores significantly improved in both groups after surgery (P