This study was conducted to investigate the physicochemical properties of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotial exudate. Morphological characteristics of the sclerotia and its exudate were observed during different stages of sclerotial formation. The pH of the exudate was detected at different time during cultivation. A phenol-sulfuric acid method was employed to determine the polysaccharide content of P. umbellatus sclerotial exudate during cultivating time. Additionally, the protein content was measured by means of BCA protein assay. Furthermore, CAT content was detected using ultraviolet absorption method. That the protein content of the exudate and CAT specific activity rose gradually during the passage of the cultivating time indicated a high level of oxidative stress during P. umbellatus sclerotial exudate formation. The results showed that the pH of the exudate increased gradually and then dropped down during sclerotial formation. That the pH of the exudate maintained the acidity state during the cultivation indirectly indicated that acidic environment would help sclerotial formation. The exudate produced gradually and was absorbed by the sclerotia itself.
Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fungal Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fungi ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Oxidative Stress ; Polyporus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; metabolism

Benzamides ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; Pyrimidines ; administration & dosage ; Quinazolines ; administration & dosage ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo compare the regional load deflection rate (LDR) of multiloop edgewise arch wire (MEAW) of three dimensions with coupled use of two dimension brackets in the individual interbracket span, to understand the mechanical properties of MEAW.

METHODSThe MEAW arch wires of stainless steel of three dimensions, 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm, 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm and 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm, were bent into single L-loop. The study was performed with the coupled use of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm wires with 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm bracket (A bracket) and 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm, 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm wires with 0.56 mm x 0.71 mm bracket (B bracket). The LDR of each L-loop at the individual interbracket span when loading and unloading was measured. The data were analysed by SPSS 11.0.

RESULTSCompared the regional LDR for the couple of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm L-loop with A bracket with those for the couple of 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm L-loop with B bracket, the former showed lower value than the latter at regions between the upper central and lateral incisor, the lower central and lateral incisor, and between the lower lateral incisor and canine (P < 0.05). For the rest regions, the two couples exhibited similar value to the regional LDR (P > 0.05). The regional LDR for the couple of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm L-loop with A bracket were lower at all regions than those for the couple of 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm L-loop with B bracket (P < 0.05) except that at the region between the lower first and second molars which showed similar value between the two couples.

CONCLUSIONThe coupled use of B bracket with 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm MEAW arch wire and A bracket with 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm MEAW arch wire exhibited similar mechanical properties.

Humans ; Molar ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel

BACKGROUNDMost cardiac regenerative approaches can restore injured heart muscles. In this study, we investigated if fibrin sealant could help neonatal cardiomyocytes restore myocardial function in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

METHODSThe left anterior descending artery in adult female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats was ligated to make a myocardial infarction model. Neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes from one-day male SD rats were isolated, labeled and cultured. The cells were injected into the infarcted area three weeks later. The animals were randomized into four recipient groups: (1) cardiomyocytes plus fibrin sealant (group CF, n = 10); (2) cardiomyocytes alone (group C, n = 10); (3) fibrin sealant recipients alone (group F, n = 10); (4) control group (n = 10). Four weeks after transplantation, echocardiography and Langerdoff model were used to assess heart function. Immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to track the implanted cardiomyocytes and detect the sex-determining region Y gene on Y chromosome.

RESULTSEchocardiography showed the fraction shortening (FS) in groups CF, C, F and control group was (27.80 +/- 6.32)%, (22.29 +/- 4.54)%, (19.24 +/- 6.29)% and (20.36 +/- 3.29)% respectively with statistically significant differences in group CF compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The Langendoff model revealed that the left ventricular development of peak pressure (LVDPmax, mmHg) in groups CF, C, F and control group was 104.81 +/- 17.05, 80.97 +/- 21.60, 72.07 +/- 26.17 and 71.42 +/- 17.55 respectively with statistically significant differences in group CF compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Pathological examination and PCR indicated that transplanted cardiomyocytes in group CF survived better than those in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONTransplanted neonatal cardiomyocytes plus fibrin sealant can survive in myocardial infarctioned area and improve heart function greatly in rat models.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Echocardiography ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Female ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; transplantation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression and clinical significance of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in patients with bladder urothelial cell carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining for MIF was performed on tissue sections of 110 patients with bladder urothelial cell carcinoma and 10 normal controls, and the correlations between MIF and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis were also analyzed.

RESULTSNormal bladder urothelium from control subjects showed negative or weak staining of MIF. Of the cancer specimens, 72/110 (65.5%) showed a moderate to strong staining of MIF. The expression of MIF protein was found predominantly in the tumor cell cytoplasm and inversely correlated with tumor stage. 27 cases also showed a positive intranuclear staining of MIF, which was inversely correlated with tumor grade, stage and tumor size. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the expression of MIF in the cell nuclei was associated with disease-free survival for the cancer patients, but multivariate analysis showed that MIF was not an independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of MIF in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer tissues was more frequently than that in muscle-invasive disease, the positive staining of MIF in cell nuclei might be a favorable biomarker for patients with bladder urothelial cell carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cystectomy ; methods ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Urinary Bladder ; metabolism ; pathology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUND: The quality of chest compressions can be significantly improved after training of rescuers according to the latest national guidelines of China. However, rescuers may be unable to maintain adequate compression or ventilation throughout a response of average emergency medical services because of increased rescuer fatigue. In the present study, we evaluated the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in training of military medical university students during a prolonged basic life support (BLS). METHODS: A 3-hour BLS training was given to 120 military medical university students. Six months after the training, 115 students performed single rescuer BLS on a manikin for 8 minutes. The qualities of chest compressions as well as ventilations were assessed. RESULTS: The average compression depth and rate were 53.7±5.3 mm and 135.1±15.7 compressions per minute respectively. The proportion of chest compressions with appropriate depth was 71.7％±28.4％. The average ventilation volume was 847.2±260.4 mL and the proportion of students with adequate ventilation was 63.5％. Compared with male students, significantly lower compression depth (46.7±4.8 vs. 54.6±4.8 mm,P<0.001) and adequate compression rate (35.5％±26.5％ vs. 76.1％±25.1％,P<0.001) were observed in female students. CONCLUSIONS: CPR was found to be related to gender, body weight, and body mass index of students in this study. The quality of chest compressions was well maintained in male students during 8 minutes of conventional CPR but declined rapidly in female students after 2 minutes according to the latest national guidelines. Physical fitness and rescuer fatigue did not affect the quality of ventilation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of oral Fructus bruceae oil combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

METHODSA total of 80 patients with esophageal cancer were equally and randomly divided into two groups. The patients in Group A were treated with radiotherapy (60-65 Gy, 6-7 weeks) and oral Fructus bruceae oil (20 mL, 3 times per day for 12 weeks), while the patients in Group B were treated with radiotherapy alone. The short-term effect was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and quality of life (QOL) was evaluated by the Karnofsky scoring (KFS). The outcome measures included complete remission (CR) rate, partial remission (PR) rate, effective rate as CR+PR, patients' QOL and adverse effects.

RESULTSAfter 12-week treatment, the CR and CR+PR were significantly higher in Group A than those in Group B (P <0.05). There was an improvement in esophageal obstruction of 87.5% and 60.0%, respectively, and in KFS of 84.6% and 43.9%, respectively, in Groups A and B.

CONCLUSIONOral medication with oral Fructus bruceae oil could effectively improve the efficacy of radiotherapy in esophageal cancer, including a reduction in esophageal obstruction, and also reduce the side effects of radiotherapy; thus it would be very promising for clinical application.

Administration, Oral ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quassia ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis (OMDT) induced by trichloroethylene (TCE) and some immunity indexes in workers occupationally exposed to TCE.

METHODSThe blood samples from 8 cases with medicamentosa-like dermatitis in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks after admitting to hospital were examined for liver function, immunoglobulin and some complement indexes. Thirty nine workers occupationally exposed to TCE were investigated for urinary TCE and some immuno-complement indexes. The TCE concentrations of air in workplaces were monitored.

RESULTSC3d-CIC and C3 of patients before admission were (92.86 ± 44.80) mg/L and 0.91 ± 0.19 mg/L, respectively. C3d-CIC and C3 of patients before discharge were (52.41 ± 17.75) mg/L and (1.14 ± 0.22) mg/L, respectively. There were significant differences between admission and discharge (P < 0.05). The average TCE concentration in 4 workplaces was (351.96 ± 36.72) mg/m(3), which was higher than the occupational exposure limits (OELs). The number of workers exposed to the TCE concentration-time weighted and TCA in urine over OELs were 28.21% and 56.41% of total subjects, respectively. The serum IgG and CIC levels of patients before discharge were (10.03 ± 1.21) mg/L and 103.50 ± 29.17 mU/L, which were significantly lower than those (17.21 ± 1.85) mg/L and (227.46 ± 111.67) mU/L of patients before admission (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe type II and III hypersensitivity may be associated with OMDT and the organ injure induced by TCE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Complement System Proteins ; immunology ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo know the genotype and subtype of hantavirus (HV) which infected persons in Hebei province.

METHODSAccording to G2 coding region of 76-118 and R22 strains, specific type primers were designed to detect and identity the types of HV in HFRS patients' sera with RT-nested PCR. Nucleotides were assayed from partial products after purification and reclaim. Then, gene analysis was done with DNAStar package.

RESULTS17 out of 69 positive serum specimens were successfully detected by RT-PCR and the detection rate was 24.64%, among which, or= 14 days were 0. 17 positive specimens were all belonged to SEO. The nucleotide homology of 9 typical specimens was 92.0%-100%. Between HeB7 and other 8 specimens was 92%-95%, and they belonged to different subtypes. When HeB7 compared with R22 strain, it was 97.7%. HeB7 and R22 belonged to S1 subtype. The 8 specimens except HeB7 was 95.7%-100% and they all belonged to S3 subtype. When compared with 76-118 strain, 9 specimens' nucleotide homology was only 70.3%-72.7%, belonged to different type.

CONCLUSIONSEO was the major type of HV from HFRS patients in Hebei province, S3 was the major subtype and S1 was also existed. In a certain area, the HV which belonged to the same type was correspondingly conservative, and had the characteristic of regional stability.

China ; Genotype ; Hantavirus ; classification ; genetics ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of phytoestrogen alpha-zearalanol (alpha-ZAL) on normal human breast.

METHODSTen specimens of normal human breast tissues were subcutaneously implanted into 30 athymic nude mice aged 9-10 weeks, one for 3 mice. These mice were then randomly divided into three groups: control group (without hormone treatment, n = 10), 1 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10), and 5 mg/kg alpha-ZAL group (n = 10). All breast tissues were taken out 6 weeks later. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the protein expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), inhibiting apoptosis gene Bcl-2, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression levels of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) mRNA and bridging integrator protein-1 (BIN1) mRNA. Morphological features of grafts before and after treatment were also observed.

RESULTSAlpha-ZAL had no significant effects on Bcl-2, PCNA, ER, and PR expression of mammary epithelial cells in graft specimens. Alpha-ZAL upregulated BIN1 mRNA expression in grafts, but had no significant effect on ESTmRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSAlpha-ZAL does not affect the morphology, proliferating, and apoptosis of epithelial cells in normal human breast tissues implanted into nude mice, but it may increase the gene expression of tumor-inhibiting BIN1, suggesting that alpha-ZAL may have potential proteotive effect on normal human breast.

Adult ; Animals ; Breast ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis ; Zeranol ; pharmacology