The obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) affects approximately 2%-4% of the middle-aged population. It is characterized by obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in repetitive breathing pauses accompanied by oxygen desaturation. It has been recognized as an independent risk factor for disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and sleepiness-related accidents. Treatment modalities for OSAHS at the present time include nasal continuous positive airway pressure( CPAP) , surgery option and oral appliances. However many patients refuse or cannot tolerate CPAP and surgery treatment and randomized trials report patient preference for o-ral appliances. Today, the most commonly used oral appliances are the mandibular advancement devices (MADs). This article provides an overview of OSAHS: its epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and clinical application on treatment of OSAHS with MADs.

Pharmacology of Shpnxueling(SXL),a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of idiopathicthrombocytopenic purpura,and its hemostatic activity were studied in experimental animals. Results showedthat SXL shortened the time of bleeding and coagulation,raised BPC in mice,increased platelet megakaryocyteproduction in rabbit,prolong the time of swiming of 1oaded mice,increased body liver and kidney weights ofyoung mice, increased p1asma cortisol Ievel. Acute and chronic toxicity tests reveaIed that SXL was nontoxicto mice or rats. These results suggested that hemostasis was associated with effects of SXl, which could faci1i-tate division and maturity of megakaryocyte,increase the BPC,accelerate coagulation and regulate the functionof endocrine. SXL could resist fatigue,endure hypoxia,faciIitate growth. lt is safe and nontoxic in its use of'SXL.

BACKGROUND:The analysis of gas flow in upper respiratory tract of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome contributes to further understanding the correlation of anatomical structure and function of upper respiratory tract so as to know the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. OBJECTIVE:To establish the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, to study the characteristics of airflow dynamics in upper respiratory tract in above patients, and to lay the foundation for further exploring the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. METHODS:CT scan of the upper airway was performed with a moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome patient. Data stored in DICOM format were imported in Mimics 10.01 software, and processed, and then computational fluid dynamics model was built. ANSYS ICEM CFD14.0 was used to perform the grid division of the three-dimensional model. The internal flow of upper respiratory tract was simulated by ANSYS 14.0-Fluid Dynamics, and relevant information on airflow field of upper airway was obtained. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of upper airway wasestablished with 1 751 940 elements and 303 981 nodes of upper airway. The flow rate was 11.087 m/s in the lower bound of pharyngopalatiae, which was the most narrowed areas of upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. The three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of upper airway has accurately simulated biomechanical feature of human, which provides a foundation for further studying the airflow dynamics of upper respiratory tract of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Objective To study the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) and Hapatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were applied to detect EBV in paraffin tissue sections from 78 HCC patients. Results EBV DNA was detected in 22 patients (28 2%) by PCR. Immunohistochemical staining of EBV LMP1 revealed that the positive signals were mainly localized in the tumor cells. Conclusions These observations suggest that EBV may pay a role in the development of HCC.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of palliative drainage to pancreatic and periampullary carcinoma which could not be excised with the operation.Methotis A retrospective study was accomplished on the palliative drainage treatment of 68 patients with pancreatic and petiampullary carcinoma hospitalized from 1996 to 2003.Results The disease course was two days to eight months.A definite preoperative diagnosis was made for 64 cases.Among them.single test diagnosed 24 cases and multiple tests diagnosed 40 cases.56 patients suffered from jaundice before operation.34 patients were treated by Roux-Y choledochojejunostomy.Choledochoduodenostomy was performed in 16 patients,cholecystduodenostomy for biliary by pass Was performed in 8 patients and stented internal drainage of the biliary duct in the liver and duodenostomy was performed in 10 patients.After reducing jaundice,12 patients was performed surgical resection.The second operation was performed in 4 patients because of postoperative jaundice and in 3 patients because of pylofic obstruction.The pefioperative compllcations include 4 cases of jaundice pyloric,3 cases of obstruction,2 cases of postoperative bleeding and 5 cases of infection of incisional wound.The aver-age stay in hospital waa 13.3 days(8～22 days).Conclusion Multiple tests were helpful to make a definite preoper-ative diagnosis.The selection of palliative drainage method based on the condition of patients had good curative effect in clinic.Surgocal exploration and reducing jaundice could set win conditions for second operation.

Objective To explore whether or not the cartilage damage in the pathogenesis of pathologic synovial plicae is due to the matrix metalloproteinase. Methods The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression and distribution of matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in arthroscopically clarified pathologic synovial plicae and normal synovial plicae of the knee joint.Results The positive expression rate of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 had significant differences between the pathologic and normal synovial plicae(?~2=16.014,P=0.000;?~2=4.059,P=0.044).The expression of MMP-1 was positive in the synovial lining cells,monocytes,lymphocytes,endothelial cells,and chondrocytes,but negative in the normal synovial plicae.The TIMP-1 expression was only detected in the synovial lining cells and a small quantity of fibroblast cells.The immunohistochemical analysis revealed a greater number of positive cells and intensity of staining of MMP-1 than TIMP-1.Conclusions The development of pathologic synovial plicae may yield MMP-1 and TIMP-1 with unbalanced distributions,which may be the biological basis of the pathogenesis of cartilage destruction.

AIM: To establish an apoptotic model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion(MPP~+) in PC12 cell and assess the effect of Semen Cuscuta extracts on protecting PC12 cell from apoptosis induced by MPP~+. METHODS: The cell viability was analyzed by MTT method,the morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining assay,and the apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry analysis(FCM).(RESULTS:) Treatment of 0.15 mM MPP~+ for 48 h induced apoptosis in PC12 cells;concentration of 50 mg/L Semen Cuscuta extracts could protect cells from apoptosis induced by MPP~+. CONCLUSION: MPP~+-induced apoptosis in PC12 cell is greatly inhibited by Semen Cuscuta extracts.

Objective To clone and analyze the full-length cDNA of mouse integrin ?4, and repair the mutation sensible locei that caused the change of amino acids. Methods The cDNA of ?4 gene was amplified by RT-PCR using the total RNA extracted from mouse small intestine peyer’s patch. The PCR product was inserted into pMD19-T vector and then transformed into E. coli JM109. The positive recombinant clone was analyzed by restriction endonuclease and DNA sequencing. The mutation of ?4 cDNA that caused the change of amino acids was repaired. Results The cDNA of mouse ?4 had a length of 3 099 bp, and encoded a product of 1 032 amino acids. There were 12 bases pairs mutation of ?4 gene and the 6 base pairs causing the change of amino acids was repaired. Conclusion The cDNA of mouse ?4 is cloned successfully.

The aim of this study was to observe the changes in tissue suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCSs) mRNA expression, and to investigate their potential role in the pathogenesis of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Fifty four Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group ( n =6), CLP induced sepsis group ( n =36) and recombinant bactericidal/ permeability increasing protein (rBPI 21 ) treatment group ( n =12). Tissue samples from the liver, lung and kidney were collected to determine SOCS1 and SOCS3 mRNA expressions. Meanwhile, tissue endotoxin and TNF ? levels were also determined. The results showed that, after CLP, endotoxin and TNF ? levels in the liver, lung and kidney significantly increased, peaking at 2～12h ( P

The present study was performed to investigate the significance and potential role of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation in postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. Seventy one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal controls, scald control group, postburn sepsis group, AG490 (JAK2 inhibitor) treatment group, and rapamycin (RPM, STAT3 inhibitor) treatment group. Tissue samples from the liver and lung were collected to determine activation of STAT3, and interferon ? (IFN ?) mRNA as well as protein expression. The results showed that activation of STAT3 was quickly up regulated at 0 5～1 hour following thermal injury combined with Staphylococcus aureus challenge in the liver and lung, and it gradually weakened after 2 hours. Treatment with AG490 or RPM could inhibit activation of STAT3 at 0 5 hour in the liver and lung. Meanwhile, IFN ? mRNA expression markedly declined at 2 hours after treatment with AG490 or RPM in the liver and RPM in the lung ( P