Objective To measure the curvatures of the distolingual root canals of permanent mandibular first molars by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods The CBCT was used to collect 230 cases of mandibular first molar distalingual root from 513 patients. The images were created by 3-D reconstruction based on the BECT data. Images were analyzed by NNT image analysis software. Each tooth was captured in clinical (CV) and proximal view (PV) image, and measured by the Schneider method. Results The average curvature of the distallingual canal was (13.27 ± 8.57)° in CV, and (30.96 ± 11.63)° in PV. Most of the distallingual root in the buccolingual view was mild bending or moderate bending , and the proximal view was severe bending. The distal lingual root bending was the most common in the crown third of the root , next in the apical third of the root, in the middle third of the root. Conclusion CBCT is an effective tool for the detection of additional distolingual roots and is a valuable aid for dentists in root canal treatment.

Genotype ; Humans ; Streptococcal Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; genetics

The fermentation conditions of lipase production by Geotrichum candidum Y162 were optimized. Initially, the most suitable carbon olive oil, nitrogen source soybean flour and NH4Cl, salt BaCl2 and MgCl2 were selected according to single factorial experiments respectively. Based on the result, screening methodology Plackett-Burman design was used to evaluate the effects of twelve factors related to lipase production and three statistically significant factors olive oil, BaCl2 and NH4Cl were selected. The path of steepest ascent was used to approach the optimal region of lipase production subsequently. Then, the optimal combined concentration for maximum enzyme activity were further optimized by response surface methodology and determined as follows: olive oil 2.35%, BaCl2 0.36%,and NH4Cl 4.69%.The optimization of culture conditions of G.candidum Y162 led to a 2.25-fold increase in lipase production relative to initial result 14.16 U/ml, which indicate that single factor in combination with response surface methodology is an effective method for optimization of lipase production conditions by G.candidum Y162.

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in differentiating vertebral metastatic tumors from benign deseases after studying the early changes of signal intensity.Methods Twenty patients were scanned by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.The parameters of signal intensity were measured and calculated,and time-intensity cures(TICs)were drawn.Then,they were compared with those of normal verte- braes,the characteristics were analyzed.Results The parameters of vertebral metastatic tumors:peak signal intensi- ty,signal intensity minimum signal intensity of post-peak,peak slope,initial ratio of enhancement,maximum ratio of enhancement was respectively(50.61?11.38),(46.75?10.23),(0.73?0.12),(0.33?0.08),(1.03?0.31); that of normal vertebraes was respectively(40.53?12.12),(34.72?14.06),(0.31?0.11),(-0.25?0.05), (0.69?0.28);and ten normal cases showed negative in initial percent of enhancement,but only two abnormal ver- tebraes showed that.All of the above had significant statistical difference.Four types of TICs were concluded:early rapid rise and early rapid descent followed by steady phase(type A),persistently rise(type B),rise phase followed by steady phase(type C),rise phase followed by rapid descent phase(type D).TICs of abnormal vertebraes were respec- tively 6,5,5,5 cases;types of normal vertebraes were mainly type C,15 cases.Type A and type B and the type with the characteristic of early rapid descent phase were features of abnormal vertebraes;type C was the feature of normal ones.Conclusions Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI could quantitatively show the characteristics of early changes of signal intensity of vertebral metastatic tumors,which were significant statistically different from those of normal ver- tebraes.Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was worth performing in the early diagnosis of vertebral metastatic tu- mors.

To explore the clinical characteristic and intervention strategies for pregnancy complicated with heart failure. The clinical data of 67 pregnant women with heart failure during January 1998 to December 2010 were collected and analyzed.The rate of heart failure in pregnancy with heart diseases was 31％ (67/216).The causes of pregnancy complicated with heart failure were peripartum cardiomyopathy ( n =33,49％ ) and hypertensive disorder complicating with pregnancy heart disease( n =28,42％ ).Heart failure in pregnancy appeared at an average of (36.0 ± 2.7 ) weeks.The average terminating time of pregnant women with heart failure was ( 36.5 ± 2.1 ) weeks.Cesarean section was the main safe choice of delivery for pregnant women with heart failure.The average weight of newborns for pregnant women with heart failure was(2517 ±541 )g.The rate of neonatal asphyxia was 22％ (11/50).Strengthening routine antenatal examination and treating pregnant complications timely can prevent and reduce the incidence of heart failure.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of plasma ionized calcium (ICa) and total calcium (TCa) measurement in diagnosis of tumor-associated hypercalcemia. Methods The heparin lithium anticoagulated plasma were collected and measured with ion selective electrode (ISE) and orthocresolphthalein complexone (OCPC) method for ICa and TCa in 77 patients with malignant tumor (tumor group) and 44 healthy controls (control group). Meanwhile,plasma albumin and pH value were measured to correct TCa (cTCa) and ICa(nICa). The results were analyzed. Results The levels of cTCa,ICa and nICa in tumor group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜ 0.01 ) ,but there was no significant difference of TCa between two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ). cTCa ＞ 2.70 mmol/L, nICa ＞ 1.35 mmol/L as the hypercalcemia eritical value, the positive rate of nICa and cTCa were 18.18% (14/77) and 6.49% (5/77)respectively,the difference was significant (P = 0.023). Conclusion Determination of ICa may be more clinical meaningful than TCa for tumor-associated hypercalcemia.

Child ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; complications ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

Objective To evaluate the safety of helical tomotherapy (HT) for hepatocellular carcinoma confined to the liver,and to investigate the efficacy of HT by comparison with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT).Methods In June 2011,hypofractionated HT was performed in 35 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma confined to the liver who had no distant metastasis or tumor thrombosis.The dose in each fraction increased from 2.4 Gy to 5.0 Gy with a median dose of 3.2 Gy.The median dose for the total treatment was 50.0 Gy.Within the same period,45 patients received conventionally fractionated 3DCRT with a median dose of 54.0 Gy.The adverse reactions,clinical outcomes,and survival time were compared between the two groups.The survival rate was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method,and log-rank test was used to estimate statistical significance of survival differences.Multivariate analysis of survival was carried out with Cox' s regression model.Results There were no significant differences in adversc reactions between the two groups.The objective response rate was significantly higher in the HT group than in the 3DCRT group (60％ vs.33％,P=0.024).There was no significant difference in the disease control rate between the two groups (94％ vs.89％,P=0.459).The HT group showed significantly higher 1-,2-,and 3-year overall survival rates than the 3DCRT group (97％ vs.80％,P=0.025;81％ vs.55％,P =0.008;67％ vs.50％,P =0.048).The multivariate analysis indicated that tumor smaller than 8 cm,transarterial chemoembolization before radiotherapy,and HT were associated with improved survival (P=0.005;P =0.000;P=0.002).Conclusions HT shows an advantage in precise treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma confined to the liver.With acceptable toxicity,hypofractionated HT shortens the treatment duration and improves the survival in patients.

Objective p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a crossing center of various pathways. In this study, protein transduction system based on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transactivator of transcription (TAT), which is an efficient delivery peptide of the foreign proteins into cells, was employed to study p38 MAPK functions in eukaryotic cells. Methods p38 And its dominant negative form, p38AF, were constructed into pET-His-TAT vector correctly to verify that the recombinant plasmids were well-founded through restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The two proteins, His-TAT-p38 and His-TAT-p38AF, were expressed and purified in Escherichia coli by SDS-PAGE. Then they were incubated with ECV304 cells respectively and readily transduced into cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. The cells were stimulated by sorbitol. Activating transcription factor (ATF) 2 phosphorylation level was checked using Western blot to assess the activity of endogenous p38. Results Compared with controls, it was found that His-TAT-p38 increased the level ofATF2 phosphorylation in sorbitol-stimulated ECV304 cells, while His-TAT-p38AF inhibited it, indicating p38 MAPK protein delivery system based on TAT was constructed successfully. TAT-p38 and its dominant negative form possessed high biological activity after transduction into ECV304 cells by TAT protein delivery system. The results showed that p38AF fused with TAT could inhibit the transduction of endogenous p38 signal pathway in part, and other pathway might regulate p38 phosphorylation. Conclusions Our study provides a novel pathway to inhibit p38 signal pathway and establish a new method to study p38 function.

Objective To assess the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluation of the renal cortical and medullary perfusion changes before and after acute renal failure (ARF) in rabbits. Methods Rabbit ARF models were established with intramuscular 50% glycerin (12-15 ml/kg) injection into rabbits' thighs. One day before and after ARF models establishment, CEUS was performed on each rabbit. The renal perfusion time-intensity curve (TIC) was analyzed, including parameters like AT (arrival time), TTP (time to peak intensity), A (amplitude of peak intensity), AUC (area under the curve), β (slope rate of TIC) of renal cortex and medulla. Results The value of A and β before model establishment was (17.36±13.73) dB and (5.38±2.08) dB/s, respectively, both was significantly higher than those after glycerin injection ([6.59±4.25] dB and [1.58±1.41] dB/s, respectively) (P<0.05). The value of TTP and AUC before model establishment was (2.46±1.76) s and (329.31±171.70) dBs, both was significantly lower than those after injection ([5.93±4.80] s and [722.28±354.14] dBs, respectively) (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in AT of renal cortex and AT, A, TTP, AUC, β of renal medulla, nor in SCr or BUN. Conclusion CEUS can display the changes of perfusion image of the renal cortex of the ARF earlier than SCr and BUN.