OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on the protein expression of c-fos in fastigial nucleus (FN) and lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) in rats with acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), and to explore the role and mechanism of FN and LHA in EA at the Heart Meridian fighting against acute MIRI reaction. Methods: Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, an EA-Heart Meridian group and an EA-Lung Meridian group, with 14 rats in each group; an LHA lesion plus EA-Heart Meridian group (LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group) and a FN lesion plus EA-Heart Meridian group (FN+EA-Heart Meridian group), with 7 rats in each group. Except the sham operation group, the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery was ligated to establish acute MIRI rat models in the other 5 groups. In the three groups with EA-Heart Meridian treatment, Shenmen (HT 7) and Tongli (HT 5) were selected; Taiyuan (LU 9) and Lieque (LU 7) were selected in the EA-Lung Meridian group. All the EA groups received EA stimulation prior to modeling, with 1 mA in current intensity and 2 Hz in frequency, 20 min each time, once a day for a total of 7 d. The sham operation group and the model group did not receive EA stimulation. The electrocardiogram was observed in the rats to analyze the ST-segment deviation and cardiac arrhythmia score. The expression of c-fos protein in FN and LHA was detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the ST-segment deviation, cardiac arrhythmia score and the expression of c-fos protein in the FN and LHA increased significantly in the model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the ST-segment deviation, cardiac arrhythmia score and the expression of c-fos protein in FN and LHA decreased significantly in the EA-Heart Meridian group (all P<0.05). Compared with the EA-Heart Meridian group, the ST-segment deviation and cardiac arrhythmia score increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group, LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group and FN+EA-Heart Meridian group (all P<0.05); the expression of c-fos in FN increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group and LHA+EA-Heart Meridian group (both P<0.05); the expression of c-fos in LHA increased significantly in the EA-Lung Meridian group and FN+EA-Heart Meridian group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: FN and LHA are involved in the mechanism of EA at Heart Meridian to improve the acute MIRI reactions, and the cerebellum may participate in the improvement of cardiac function by EA through the cerebellum-hypothalamus projection.

OBJECTIVE: To select the most effective method among different masking treatments, such as different thickness and transparence, tissue surface's opaque coating, and opaque resin cement to restore discolored teeth esthetically by porcelain veneer. METHODS: Four extracted intact maxillary central incisors were prepared for porcelain veneer restoration and each three heat pressed porcelain veneers from three thicknesses (0.8 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.2 mm) and two transparency(high transparence, HT and low transparence, LT))in Vita shade A2 were fabricated for each tooth, in total of 72 pieces. The surfaces of three prepared teeth were then painted to mimic situations of severe dental fluorosis, severe tetracycline teeth, and necrotic teeth. Each of the veneers was temporarily cemented to the corresponding tooth surface using try-in cements with three different colors (transparent, opaque, and yellow), then used the shade guide (3D master) and electronic colorimeter (easy shade) to record the shade of each porcelain veneer through hue, lightness, and chroma reading. After that, high-transparence porcelain veneers in thickness of 0.8 mm was fused with a layer of opaque porcelain in tissue surface, and were shade matched again after cementation. Statistic treatments were performed to analyze the difference in each masking method. RESULTS: For each 0.2 mm increase in the veneer thickness of porcelain, the average lightness was reduced by 1 unit, while the chroma was not changed which was independent of the type of the resin cements. When the thickness of the porcelain veneer was decreased to 0.8 mm, the opacity effect was not remarkable even if a low-transparence porcelain veneer was used. Transparent and yellow resin cements had poor opaque performance, while opaque resin cement could reduce the lightness by 2 units and the chroma was also reduced. The opaque layer of the tissue surface could be applied uniformly, and the lightness and chroma could be reduced to Vita 2M1 to 2M1.5 levels regardless of the color of resin cements, which suggested a stable opacity effect for different discolored teeth in this study. CONCLUSION For porcelain veneer restoration of discolored teeth, thickened veneers are the most effective means to display a natural transmittance and color. Tissue surface's opacity coatings and opaque resin cements can also be used to reduce grayscale and increase lightness.
Color ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Prosthesis Coloring ; Resin Cements ; Tooth Discoloration/therapy*

Altitude ; Exercise/physiology* ; Heart Rate/physiology* ; Humans ; Lung ; Respiration

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and Ki-67, a marker of tumor activity, in the diagnosis of gliomas.

METHODSConventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enhanced scanning, and diffusion-weighted imaging were performed in 76 patients with pathologically confirmed gliomas. The ADC values were measured at tumor parenchyma and the corresponding contralateral normal brain. The relatively ADC (rADC) values of the tumor parenchyma were calculated. The correlation of the ADC values with tumor grades was analyzed. The expression of Ki-67 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation between ADC value and Ki-67 in the diagnosis of gliomas was analyzed.

RESULTSThe ADC values and rADC values of high-grade gliomas were significantly lower than those of low-grade gliomas. The ADC values of tumor parenchyma were inversely associated with the degree of malignancy of the gliomas (r=-0.898, r=-0.868; P<0.01). The expression of Ki-67 was significantly higher in high-grade gliomas than that in low-grade gliomas. The Ki-67 labeling index in grade 3 and 4 gliomas were (29.48 ± 19.78)% and (31.21 ± 17.50)%, respectively. Both of them were significantly higher than Ki-67 labeling index in low-grade (grade 1 and 2) gliomas [(2.33 ± 2.20)%] (P<0.01). Nevertheless, the Ki-67 labeling index showed no significant difference between grade 3 and 4 gliomas (P>0.05). The expression of Ki-67 was negatively correlated with the ADC values and rADC values in tumor parenchyma (r=-0.627, r=-0.607; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe ADC and rADC values of tumor parenchyma can indirectly reflect the proliferation and malignancy of gliomas and therefore can be useful for the grading of glioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Glioma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the academic level and influence of National Journal of Andrology through statistical analysis for the fund sponsored articles.

METHODSUtilizing the information from China Hospital Knowledge Database (CHKD), and adopting bibliometrics methods, we carried on statistical analysis for the fund sponsored articles published on National Journal of Andrology dated from Mar. 2000 to Jun. 2005.

RESULTSNine hundred and fourty-two articles were screened, of which 204 (21.7%) were fund sponsored, and the proportion of the articles supported by various funds, including the funds from national key projects, presented an increasing tendency every year. The authors were distributed among 30 provinces and 6 oversea countries with an average age 37.4 years old, of whom 37.7% got doctor's degree and 38.7% masters degree. The articles involved clinical research were at 28.9%, and basic study and applied study were at 71.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe articles supported by various funds in National Journal of Andrology have taken a high percentage, so the journal achieves a fine academic level and social influence.

Andrology ; statistics & numerical data ; Bibliometrics ; China ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data ; Research Support as Topic

Most drugs need to interact with cell membrane to reach the biological target, so that membrane affinity assay is an important early screening step in drug discovery. However, at present, the traditional oil-water distribution method is still used, a new, simple and accurate method for membrane affinity assay is urgently needed. In this study, according to the colorimetric principle, a new assay model based on polydiacetylene vesicles was optimized through a series of experiments including different concentrations of vesicle solution, temperature, or pH reaction environment. On this basis, tetracaine hydrochloride, 2-methylimidazole and histamine were used as model drugs to measure the membrane affinity constants and verify the between-batch precision of the optimized assay model (relative standard deviation less than 5%). In addition, polydiacetylene vesicles were stable for up to 180 days, demonstrating the potential application of the assay model. This strategy is simple, stable, reliable, with high reproducibility, low cost and easy to promote, which provided a new tool and a new direction for the high-throughput assay of membrane affinity.

OBJECTIVETo find the major risk factors associated with gastric cardia cancer.

METHODSWe selected five high incidence areas of esophageal cancer and gastric cancer which have cancer registration system, i.e. Cixian and Shexian of Hebei Province, Linxian of Henan Province, Feicheng of Shandong Province and Zhuanghe of Liaoning Province. Fifty newly diagnosed cases of cardiac cancer after January 1, 2008 were selected from each cancer registration database. A uniform questionnaire, which was fully consulted by experts, was used. Population-based 1:3 case-control study was conducted in those areas. The study recruited 250 cases of cardiac cancer and 750 matched controls, which were investigated with the uniform questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed by fitting-conditional Logistic analysis.

RESULTSSmoking, passive smoking, alcohol drinking, irregular meal, improper dining posture, heavy taste, dried food, pickled food, fried food, hot food, gastrointestinal history, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can increase the risk of cardiac cancer. To eat more bean and high BMI are protective factors of the single factor logistic analysis. Gastrointestinal history (OR = 42.899), dried food (OR = 5.932), irregular meal (OR = 4.911), hot food (OR = 4.144), pickled food (OR = 3.287), passive smoking (OR = 2.355), and GERD (OR = 1.930) can increase the risk of cardiac cancer, eat more bean (OR = 0.254) and BMI ≥ 25 (OR = 0.492) are protective factors of the mixture factors logistic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSGastric cardia cancer is caused by environmental risk factors and genetic factors. Health education in high cardiac cancer incidence areas and primary prevention popularized into people's daily life will be beneficial to decreasing the incidence of gastric cardia cancer.

Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cardia ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; adverse effects ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatment with teriparatide for promoting bone fracture healing in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

METHODSTwelve postmenopausal patients (aged 73±4.8 years) with osteoporotic spinal fracture confirmed by MRI or CT scanning received conservative treatment with teriparatidesc injection supplemented with calcium and analgesics for 6 months. At the beginning and at the end of the therapy, VAS score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), bone mass densitometry, and X-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and serum P1NP and beta-CTX levels were measured. Six of the patients received a second MRI scan after the therapy to evaluate the bone healing.

RESULTSAll the 12 patients completed the treatment, during which no new fractures or adverse events occurred. At the end of the first month of treatment, analgesic was withdrawn for all the patients. The average VAS score decreased from 8±2 to 1±2 at 1 month during the therapy, and ODI was reduced from (76±12)% to (20±5)% at 1 month and further to (5±4)% at 6 month. After the 6-month therapy, the height of the fractured vertebrae (presented as the anterior to posterior wall height ratio) was insignificantly decreased from (75±20)% to (61±20)%, the BMD was increased by (20±5)%, P1NP increased significantly from 20.9±11.4 ng/mL to 80.0±41.2 ng/mL, and beta-CTX increased from 0.30±0.17 ng/mL to 0.51±0.3 ng/mL. The 6 patients re-examined with MRI demonstrated complete bone healing after the therapy.

CONCLUSIONTeriparatide is effective for conservative treatment of osteoporotic spinal fracture and can promote bone fracture healing, improve the quality of life, and prevents vertebral collapse, and can be therefore an alternative treatment to PVP or BV.

Aged ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; therapeutic use ; Fractures, Compression ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; drug therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Quality of Life ; Spinal Fractures ; drug therapy ; Teriparatide ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The study was aimed to explore the correlation of expression of pten mRNA and PTEN protein with AKT phosphorylation levels in various types of leukemia and to elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of leukemia so as to provide some evidence for using PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors in future. 128 de novo leukemia patients were enrolled in this study, including 61 AML cases, 27 ALL cases, 24 CML cases, and 16 CLL cases. 21 volunteers were selected as normal control. The RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assay the expressions of pten mRNA, PTEN protein, and P-AKT protein in Jurkat cells, bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients respectively. The results showed that the expressions of pten mRNA and PTEN protein in Jurkat cells were lower than that in normal control group; the expression of pten mRNA in AML group was lower than that in normal control group, but the difference was not significant (p=0.274); the expressions of pten mRNA in ALL, CML, CLL each group were lower than that in normal control group, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). Compared with normal control group, the expression of PTEN protein was lower and the expression of P-AKT protein was higher in AML, ALL, CML, CLL each group, the difference were significant (p<0.05). It is concluded that the a lower expression of PTEN protein and higher expression of P-AKT protein may play an important role on leukemia pathogenesis, and inactivation of PTEN protein mainly occurs in the level of protein translation.
Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics