OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in the therapeutic effects on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste (combined therapy), electroacupuncture (EA) and TDP irradiation.

METHODSEighty-nine cases were randomized into three groups. In the combined therapy group (30 cases), the auricular electroacupuncture therapy was adopted together with the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. The auricular points were xi (AH4), pizhixia (AT4), shenmen (TF4), etc. The Lingxian herbal paste was applied at Yanglingquan (GB 34), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Heding (EX-LE 2) and Ashi points. In EA group (29 cases), EA was applied at the acupoints that were same as those in the isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste. In TDP group (30 cases), TDP irradiation was given at the affected knee. The treatment was given once every day, 10 treatments made one session and there was 1 week at the interval among sessions. Totally, 3 sessions of treatment were required. KOA clinical symptom and physical sign score and the single item pain symptom score of Lequesne index were observed before treatment and 1 week after treatment in the patients of each group separately. The efficacies were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSOne week after treatment, the total score of symptoms and physical signs of the patients in each group was reduced significantly as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the symptoms and physical signs in the combined therapy group were better than those in the other two groups (1.50 +/- 1.57 vs 2.52 +/- 1.82, 2.63 +/- 1.97, both P < 0.05). The improvement in pain in the combined therapy group was also better than that in the other two groups (2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 2.83 +/- 0.92, P < 0.05; 2.37 +/- 0.81 vs 3.03 +/- 0.77, P < 0.01). The curative rate in the combined therapy group was 40.0% (12/30), which was higher than 17.2% (5/29) in EA group and 20.0% (6/30) in TDP group separately (both P < 0.01). The overall efficacy in the combined therapy group was superior to the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe auricular electroacupuncture therapy plus isolated moxibustion with Lingxian herbal paste is advantageous at the total score of the symptoms and physical signs and the overall efficacy in the patients of KOA as compared with EA at the local acupoints and local TDP irradiation.

Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

With growing dependence on picture archiving and communication systems(PACS) for viewing images,a quality assurance program to the condition of workstation displays and image quality guidelines for better cost-efficacy and diagnostic accuracy has become increasingly important.This article analyses and synthesizes the quality control of the PACS phantom workstation mainly from such aspects as the monitor resolution and brightness,the environment degree of illumination,statistics assessment method(ROC curve) and so on.

OBJECTIVETo culture rat prostate glandular epithelial cells and study their barrier functions in vitro.

METHODSRat prostate glandular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, the structure and composition of the epithelial cells observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The transepithelial electrical resistances (TEERs) were monitored with the Millicell system. The permeability of the prostate glandular epithelial cells was assessed by the phenol red leakage test.

RESULTSCompact monolayer cell structures were formed in the prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of tight junctions between the adjacent glandular epithelial cells. The TEERs in the cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells reached the peak of about (201.3 ± 3.5) Ω/cm2 on the 8th day. The phenol red leakage test manifested a decreased permeability of the cell layers with the increase of TEERs.

CONCLUSIONThe structure and function of rat prostate glandular epithelial cells are similar to those of brain capillary endothelial cells, retinal capillary endothelial cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In vitro cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells have the barrier function and can be used as a model for the study of blood prostate barrier in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cells, Cultured ; Claudin-1 ; metabolism ; Electric Impedance ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; pharmacokinetics ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Tight Junctions

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of mild hypothermia (MH) in treating the infants with moderate-to-severe neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE),and to make a follow-up of the nerve motor development of the infants at 18 months old after discharge.Methods Totally 61 neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) from Jan.2007 to Dec.2013 were retrospectively analyzed.According to before and after MH therapeutic apparatus was used by NICU of Shanghai Children's Hospital,61 neonates of HIE were divided into 2 groups,the conventional treatment group(25 cases) and MH treatment group(36 cases).The patients in both groups were measured respectively by using the amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) before MH treatment and at 72 hours after M H treatment,by neonatal behavioral neurological assessment(NBNA) on the 28th day after birth,and by adopting Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 18 months old.The adverse reactions,serious disability cases and deaths of MH treatment were recorded.Results Compared with the conventional treatment group,aEEG recording before treatment showed no statistically significant differences in MH treatment group [maximum voltage:(22.4 ±3.1) μV vs(18.6 ±2.5) μV,maximum voltage:(8.2 ±2.6)μV vs(6.5 ±1.9) μV,t =1.264,0.852,all P ＞ 0.05].However,aEEG recording at 72 h after treatment showed statistically significant differences in MH treatment group [maximum voltage:(24.1 ± 3.2) μV vs (30.6 ± 2.8) μV,maximum voltage:(9.7 ± 3.4) μV vs (13.3 ± 2.2) μV,t =6.376,4.257,all P ＜ 0.05].Severe disability cases [24.0％ (6/25 cases) vs 5.6％ (2/36 cases),x2 =4.405,P ＜ 0.05] and deaths [16.0％ (4/25 cases) vs 0 (0/36 case),x2 =6.1 64,P ＜ 0.05] in MH treatment group were significantly decreased,and there was significantly difference in NBNA on the 28th day after birth[(35.9 ± 2.1) vs(39.1-± 1.6),t =3.361,P ＜ 0.05],and scales of neurobehavioral evaluation through follow-up of 18 months old [mental development index (MDI):(85.2 ± 10.7) vs (96.5-± 13.1),t =7.839,P ＜ 0.05].Very few neonates had apnea,coagulation dysfunction,arrhythmia and other adverse reactions in MH treatment course.Conclusions MH treating moderate-to-severe HIE is safe and effective.MH is effective in reducing death and major disabilities in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE and without significant side effects.MH can obviously improve the development of nervous system disorders in 0-18 months infants,and can significantly improve these infants' Bayley developmental scale neurobehavioral scores.

Objective To explore the effect of macrolide antibiotics(erythromycin) on tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-8 in hyperoxia-induced lung tissue of premature newborn rats,and to study the intervention effect of erythromycin on hyperoxia-induced lung injury.Methods One-day old preterm Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups by random number table method:air + sodium chloride group,air + erythromycin group,hyperoxia + sodium chloride group,hyperoxia + erythromycin group.Hyperoxia groups were continuously exposed to oxygen (oxygen ＞ 0.85) and air group in room air.After 1,7,14 days of exposure,the preterm rats of four groups were sacrificed,whole lung of these rats were isolated,the lung histological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining,TNF-α and IL-8 in pulmonary tissue homogenate were detected by ELISA.Results The results showed that:(1) Compared with air + sodium chloride group,TNF-α and IL-8 expression in hyperoxia + sodium chloride group were significantly increased(P ＜ 0.05) after 1,7 days of exposure [1 d:TNF-α:(16.163 ± 0.574) ng/ml vs.(21.923 ±2.066) ng/ml,IL-8:(18.214 ±3.649) ng/ml vs.(23.546 ± 5.240) ng/ml ;7 d:TNF-α:(15.940 ±0.821) ng/ml vs.(19.688 ±0.764) ng/ml,IL-8:(18.541 ± 4.114) ng/ml vs.(24.255 ±4.692) ng/ml],in particular,TNF-α expression appeared to increase earlier,their expression became significantly weak in 14 days (P ＜ 0.05).(2) Compared with hyperoxia + sodium chloride group,TNF-α and IL-8 expression in hyperoxia +erythromycin group became significantly weak after 1,7,14 days of exposure(P ＜0.05) after the intervention of erythromycin [1 d:TNF-α:(21.923 ± 2.066) ng/ml vs.(18.903 ± 1.851) ng/ml,7 d:IL-8:(24.255 ±4.692) ng/ml vs.(23.508 ±3.543) ng/ml,14 d:TNF-α:(16.443 ±5.466) ng/ml vs.(14.453 ±0.963)ng/ml],but their expression became weaker in 14 days than that in 1,7 days.Conclusion The release of inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-8 induced by oxidation outbreak participates in the development of hyperoxia induced lung injury,erythromycin may regulate immune function,inhibits the levels of oxidant-mediated TNF-α and IL-8 induced by oxidation outbreak,and alleviate hyperoxia lung injury in premature rats.

Objectives To explore the effect of erythromycin on glutathione hormone (GSH) and γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in premature newborn rats exposed to hyperoxia, to study the intervention effect of erythromycin on hype-roxia-induced lung injury. Methods One-day old preterm SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:control group, eryth-romycin group, hyperoxia group, erythromycin+hyperoxia group. Hyperoxia group and hyperoxia+erythromycin group were continuously exposed to oxygen (oxygen concentration>0.85), control group and erythromycin group were in room air. Via cau-dal vein, the preterm rats was injected with erythromycin in erythromycin group and hyperoxia+erythromycin group, sodium chloride in control group and hyperoxia group daily. After 1,7,14 day(s) of hyperoxia (or air ) exposure, the preterm SD rats of four groups were killed, whole lung of these rats were isolated and histological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, GSH andγ-GCS of pulmonary tissue homogenate were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked im-munosorbent assay. Total lung RNA was extracted andγ-GCS mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain re-action. Results The results showed that:After 1 and 7 day(s) of exposure, the expression of GSH、γ-GCS andγ-GCS mRNA in four groups showed significant differences(P<0.05). Among them, GSH expression in erythromycin + hyperoxia group was higher than that in the other three groups in 1,7,14 day(s) of exposure with significant differences (P<0.05);GSH expression in erythromycin+hyperoxia group and hyperoxia group reached the peak after 7 days of exposure. The expression ofγ-GCS andγ-GCS mRNA in erythromycin+hyperoxia group and hyperoxia group were higher than the other two groups after 1and 7 day(s) of exposure, the expression ofγ-GCS mRNA in erythromycin+hyperoxia group were higher than that of hyperoxia group with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusions The expressions of GSH andγ-GCS in the lung of premature SD rats were abnor-mal by oxidation outbreak. Erythromycin may increase the activity ofγ-GCS, improve the anti-oxidation ability of GSH, and al-leviate hyperoxia mediated lung injury in premature rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the guiding function of three-dimensional CT scan in the operation of eagle syndrome. METHOD: There were 48 cases of eagle syndrome hospitalized during July 2006 to June 2010 who underwent both three-dimensional reconstruction of CT scan and adem position and lateral X ray film. The images were measured by specialist of radiology department. RESULT: The detail of styloid process is showed more precisely by three-dimensional CT scan, which is able to determine the existence of interrupt, decline, ossification in styloid process. There was significant difference in the measured value (20.83%) between X ray and CT scan (4.16 ± 1.27)cm vs (3.11 ± 0.62)cm, P < 0.05, in 10 cases. We could not touch styloid process in oral approach in 6 cases (12. 5%), which also had diagnostic confliction between X ray and three-dimensional CT scan. Five patients whose styloid process could not be touched during surgery had longer operation time than the other 41 patients. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional CT has good repeatability, high detailed distinguishability, which is an important basis to diagnose eagle syndrome. When X ray shows prolonged styloid process which can not be palpable in oral, we suggest further three-dimensional CT to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Temporal Bone ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BackgroundThe three-dimensional configuration of the nasolacrimal canal is highly variable with age,gender,and race.But enlargement of the nasolacrimal canal has sparsely been reported in the literature.Objective Computed tomography dacryocystography was performed in patients with unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and normal children to analyze the difference of bilateral nasolacrimal canal.MethodsThis is a retrospective study.Axial scanwith sagittalandcoronalreconstructionwas appliedin computedtomography dacryocystography.Diameters of bilateral nasolacrimal canal of 20 unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients and 20 normal children were measured.Written informed consent was obtained from each child ' s parents before examination.ResultsThe lacrimal sac,nasolacrimal duct and the peripheral tissue were clearly exhibited by computed tomography dacryocystography.The diameters of the origination,the middle part and the distal end of affected nasolacrimal duct were(5.5±1.4),(5.3±1.2),(5.3±1.6) mm,and normal ones were(3.9±0.8 ),(3.5± 0.8 ),( 3.9± 1.3 ) mm,respectively.These results were statistically significant ( t =5.200,6.967,2.932,P＜ 0.05 ).There was no statistically significant difference in bilateral nasolacrimal canal of normal children (t =0.346,0.281,0.312,P＞0.05 ).Conclusions Computed tomography dacryocystography can image lacrimal passage and their peripheral tissues clearly.The affected nasolacrimal canal diameters of unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction were much larger than the fellow sides.The pathogenesis of this phenomenon need much research.

To explore the role of the Chk2 protein expression and DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) repair in low dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS)/increased radioresistance (IRR) of non-small cell lung cancer, A549 cells were subjected to irradiation at the dosage ranging from 0.05-2 Gy. Clonogenic survival was measured by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) plating technique. Percentage of cells in M-phase after low doses of X-irradiation was evaluated by phospho-histone H3-FITC/PI and Western blotting was used to detect protein expression of Chk2 and phospo-Chk2. DNA DSBs repair efficiency was also measured by induction and persistence of γ-H2AX. The results showed that the killing ability of irradiation with A549 cells increased at low conditioning dose below 0.3 Gy. Within the dose of 0.3 to 0.5 Gy, A549 cells showed a certain extent of radiation resistance. And when the dose was more than 0.5 Gy, survival fraction exhibited a negative correlation with the dosage. There was no difference between the 0.1 or 0.2 Gy dosage groups and the un-irradiated group in terms of the percentage of cells in M phase. But in the high dosage group (0.3-1.0 Gy), the percentage of cells in M phase was decreased markedly. In addition, the percentage of cells in M phase began to decrease two hours after irradiation. One hour after irradiation, there was no conspicuous activation of Chk2 kinase in 0.1 or 0.2 Gy group, but when the irradiation dose reached 0.3 Gy or higher, Chk2 kinase started to be activated and the activation level showed no significant difference among high dosage groups (0.4, 0.5, 1.0 Gy). Within 1 to 6 h, the DNA DSBs repair efficiency was decreased at 0.2 Gy but increased at 0.5 Gy and 1.0 Gy, which was in line with Chk2 activation. We are led to conclude that the mechanism of HRS/IRR in A549 cell line was probably due to early G(2)/M checkpoint arrest and enhanced DNA DSBs repair. In this regard, Chk2 activation plays a key role in G(2)/M checkpoint activation.

AIM: To report one case of huge fungal granuloma in the deep maxillofacial region with its clinical findings,diagnosis and treatment process to improve our understanding of fungal granuloma and lessen misdiagnosis.METHODS: The literature was reviewed with combination of case report.RESULTS: The clinical and imaging findings of fungal granuloma had no specificity and were very subject to misdiagnosis. Confirmed diagnosis needed histopathological examination and bacterial culture.CONCLUSION: Deepened understanding of this disease can decrease misdiagnosis and benefit prompt and proper treatment.