Adult ; Aged ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Otitis Externa ; diagnosis ; pathology

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.

Objective To evaluate the blood supply features and effectiveness of arterial chemoembolization for pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Angiography and chemoembolization via supplying blood arteries of tumor were performed in five patients with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Interventional procedure was carried out with tumor vascular infusion of 350 mg hot elemene emulsion and tumor embolization by cisplantin-lipidol emulsion(cisplantin 60-80 mg+lipidol 8-15 ml)and glutin.Results Ten interventional procedures(TACE)were undertaken in 5 patients.Angiography showed that tumor blood supply mainly coming from collateral circulation adjacent to the tumors,but partially from hepatic artery.Tumor sizes decreased from 30% to 50% in 5 cases,and AFP declined in 4 cases after the treatment. Conclusion Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma possessing different blood supply features from intrahepatocellular carcinomas.But transarterial ehemoembolization is still an effective method of choice for this treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappa B) in mice with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced rat colitis and its modulalorg effect on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression.

METHODSTwenty normal male mice were randomized into DSS group and normal saline (NS) control group according to a matched-pair design. From days 1 to 7, the mice in DSS group were subjected to oral administration of 5%DSS solution, and from days 8 to 20, NS was given instead, for a total of 3 cycles. In the control group, only NS was administered. The colonic pathology was observed using HE staining and the mucosa 1 damage was scored for each mouse. The DNA-binding activity of NF-kappa B was tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and the expressions of ICAM-1 and NF-kappa B p65 were detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe DNA-binding activity of NF-kappa B was significantly increased in DSS group as compared with NS group. ICAM-1 and p65 expressions were detected in the nuclei of the vascular endothelial and inflammatory cells, especially in the mucosa and submucosa, but such positive cells were seldom observed in NS group. A positive correlation was found between the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappa B and ICAM-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONNF-kappa B activation is an important event in the development of DSS-induced colitis in that activated NF-kappa B upregulates ICAM-1 expression during colonic inflammation.

Animals ; Colitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; DNA ; metabolism ; Dextran Sulfate ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Random Allocation ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of importing triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles.

METHODSThirty-two cases with burn hypertrophic scar were treated. The skin roller needles were moved back and forth on the hypertrophic scars with triamcinolone acetonide dropping on the scar surface at the same time. So the triamcinolone acetonide could be imported into the scar through needles and needle holes. The effect was evaluated as cured, effective, and no effect. The Vancouver scaring criteria and visual analogue scale was used to assess the scar color, thickness, texture and feeling before and after treatment, as well as at the untreated scar area (control).

RESULTSThirty-two cases were treated 1-3 times, including 28 cases with cured result and 4 cases with effective result. The total effective rate was 100%. The scar color, thickness, texture and feeling was significantly different between the scar before and after treatment, or between the treated and untreated scar (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSImporting triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles is effective. It is a new method for the treatment of large hypertrophic scar with medicine.

Burns ; complications ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; instrumentation ; Needles ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage

To decrease the hemolysis side effect of puerarin, the basic formula and preparation of puerarin submicron emulsion were optimized and the physicochemical properties were evaluated. Puerarin submicron emulsions were prepared by phase inversion-ultrasound combining with phospholipids complexes technology. The effects of preparative parameters, such as emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time, on mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency and overall desirability were investigated. The three dimensional response surface graphs were produced by second-order polynomial and liner equation, which predict the optimal experiment conditions. All response variables were found to be greatly dependent on three independent variables. Second-order polynomial equations were fitter than liner equations for this study. The optimal emulsification time, stirring velocity and ultrasound time was 15 min, 2 000 r x min(-1), 30 min, respectively. The mean diameter, span of dispersity, entrapment efficiency, drug content and zeta potential of emulsions prepared by the method were 228.23 nm, 0.628 4, 84. 32%, 9.98 mg x mL(-1), - 29.03 mV, respectively. Puerarin submicron emulsion was prepared by the optimized preparation method. The narrow particle diameter distribution, high envelopment efficacy and good stability were obtained. The physicochemical properties were suitable for the requirement of the intravenous emulsion.
Emulsions ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Particle Size

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; biosynthesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Substance P ; biosynthesis ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint ; metabolism ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; metabolism ; pathology

Acute Disease ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Male

Saliva and blood were collected from two patients who had not received post exposure prophylaxis in the cities of Wenzhou and Xinning respectively. Both patients were confirmed as positive for rabies by detection of rabies virus specific nucleoprotein antibodies in the sera by Western Blot. However, rabies virus specific RNA was only identified in the saliva collected from the patient in Wenzhou. Furthermore, the isolate Zhejiang Wz0 (H) was obtained by inoculating one-day-old suckling mice. Both nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes from the isolate were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belonged to classic rabies virus, and shared a higher homology with the street viruses from dogs in the main endemic areas in China and the street virus from dogs in Indonesia than with other known strains. Further comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences between the isolate and the vaccine strains used in China showed that the virus had a higher level of homology with the vaccine strain CTN than with the other vaccine strains (3aG, PV, PM and ERA). In particular, amino acid residues substitutions located in antigenic site Ⅲ in the G protein, which could react with the neutralizing antibodies, were observed. These results suggested that the virus belonged to the classic rabies virus, and both N and G genes diverged from the current vaccine strains used in China at either the nucleotide or the amino acid level.

Objective To investigate the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods Serum ALP and GGT levels in patients with NMO and MS from the database of demyelinating diseases in our hospital were analyzed.Eighty-five healthy controls were chosen.The differences of serum ALP and GGT levels in patient groups and controls were compared, and the correlations between clinical features (age of the subjects, course of disease, times of relapse and scores of EDSS) and both ALP and GGT levels were analyzed. Results The serum ALP and GGT levels in patients with NMO were significantly higher than those in patients with MS and the controls (P<0.05).Patients with NMO still had significantly higher serum ALP level in acute phase than patients with MS,and the serum ALP levels in male patients with NMO and the serum GGT levels in female patients with NMO were, respectively,statistically higher than that of male patients with MS and female patients with MS (P<0.05). In patients with NMO, significantly positive correlations between serum GGT level and both age and times of relapse were noted (P<0.05). Conclusion Serum ALP and GGT levels differ in patients with NMO and MS, indicating their differential diagnostic value in NMO and MS to certain extent.