OBJECTIVEThe device of a bone age film of analysis and process was designed, can calculate the expected patient's height and identify growth level and development.

METHODSSelect the DR bone age of 100 children of 6-13 years old, used semi Lagrange algorithm of target region of interest on bone age piece (ROI) for image analysis, compared with 2 pediatric endocrinologists (A, B) who used TW3 artificial to judge bone age (two methods were detected 2 times), and report the results.

RESULTSBone age assessment process, forecast error of bone age reduced to 0.12 years.

CONCLUSIONSThis device can quickly calculate the expected patient's height and identify his growth level, improve the speed and accuracy of bone age assessment, especially in the poor medical conditions in rural and remote areas.

Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; instrumentation ; Child ; Equipment Design ; Humans

Objective To explore the effects of ecoimmunonutrition support on the intestinal barrier function and pancreas in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Totally 64 SPF rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (control group) , SAP without enteral nutrition support group (SAP group), SAP with early enteral nutrition support group (EEN group), and SAP with early ecoimmunonutrition support group (EIN group). Bacteria translocation (BT), plasma endotoxin (ET) , gut permeability, pancreas pathology score,and distant ileum pathology were determined on the 4th and 7th post-modeling day. Results The BT rate was significantly higher in SAP group, EEN group, and EIN group than in control group (P ＜ 0.05), was significantly lower in EEN group and EIN group than in SAP group (P ＜ 0.05), and was significantly lower in EIN group than in EEN group (P ＜ 0.05). ET and FD-40 levels in blood were both significantly higher in SAP group, EEN group, and EIN group than in control group (P ＜0.01)and were significantly lower in EIN group and EEN group than in SAP group (P ＜0.01); ET was significantly lower in EIN group than in control group (P ＜0.05). Pathological scores were significantly higher in SAP group, EEN group, and EIN group than in control group (P ＜0.01)and were significantly lower in EEN group and EIN group than in SAP group (P ＜ 0.01). The individual pathological scores of EIN group were not significantly different from EEN group (P ＞ 0.05), while the total score was significantly lower in EIN group than in EEN group (P ＞ 0.05). Distant iliac mucosa was significantly thicker in EIN group than in other groups. Conclusions Early enteral nutrition support protects the intestinal barrier and pancreas in rats with SAP. Ecoimmunonutrition has better nutritional effectiveness than the normal enteral nutrition.

Objective To investigate the effect of HbA1c meeting the standard or not on microalbuminuria,blood lipids and liver enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 457 subjects who had type 2 diabetes.They were divided into substandard group and standard group according to HbA1c result.The general information and relevant laboratory indicators of patients were.collected and compared between two groups.Results The microalbuminuria,serum triglyceride and liver enzymes (glutamyl transpeptidase,alkaline phosphatase,aspertate aminotransferase) were significantly different between two groups [ (189.8 ± 235.3) mg/dl vs (38.9 ± 85.5) mg/dl,(2.64 ± 2.99) mmol/L vs (2.02 ± 1.50)mmol/L,(41.7 ±52.9)U/L vs (29.7 ±24.9)U/L,(83.6 ±28.6) U/L vs (74.3 ±25.8)U/L,(26.7 ±19.1)U/L vs (22.0 ±10.5) U/L,P ＜0.05].HbA1c level was positively correlated with microalbuminuria,glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase (r =0.209,0.115,0.11,P ＜0.01).The microalbuminuria was an independent risk factor of affecting HbA1c to reach the standard (OR = 1.009,P ＜0.05).Conclusions HbA1c meeting the standard or not can influence many factors except blood glucose.

AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P

ObjectiveThe device of a bone age film of analysis and process was designed, can calculate the expected patient's height and identify growth level and development.Methods Select the DR bone age of 100 children of 6-13 years old, used semi Lagrange algorithm of target region of interest on bone age piece (ROI) for image analysis, compared with 2 pediatric endocrinologists (A, B) who used TW3 artifi cial to judge bone age (two methods were detected 2 times), and report the results. Results Bone age assessment process, forecast error of bone age reduced to 0.12 years.Conclusions This device can quickly calculate the expected patient's height and identify his growth level, improve the speed and accuracy of bone age assessment, especialy in the poor medical conditions in rural and remote areas.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training followed by non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODSThis investigator-initiated randomized, controlled trial recruited 88 patients with stable GOLD stage IV COPD, who were randomized into 4 equal groups to continue oxygen therapy (control group) or to receive inspiratory muscle training followed by non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (IMT-NPPV group), inspiratory muscle training only (IMT group), or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation only (NPPV group) for at least 8 weeks. The outcomes of the patients were assessed including the quality of life (SRI scores), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), dyspnea (MRC scores), 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and lung function.

RESULTSs Compared to baseline values, SRI scores, 6MWT and MRC scores increased significantly after 8 weeks in IMT-NPPV, IMT and NPPV groups, and the improvements were significantly greater in IMT-NPPV group than in IMT and NPPV groups (P<0.05 for all). In IMT-NPPV and IMT groups, MIP and MEP increased significantly after the training (P<0.05), and the improvement was more prominent in IMT-NPPV group (P<0.05). No significant changes were found in pulmonary functions in the groups after 8 weeks of treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONInspiratory muscle training followed by non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, compared with inspiratory muscle training or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation alone, can better enhance the quality of life, strengthen the respiratory muscles, improve exercise tolerance and relieve the dyspnea in patients with COPD.

Dyspnea ; therapy ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; Physical Conditioning, Human ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Muscles ; physiopathology

Objective To study the impacts of the Three Gorges dam and change of water level on the survival of the local rodents, and to provide scientific basis to control the outbreak of rodent-borne diseases.Methods Four villages located around the Three Gorges dam were selected in the study. The mouse populations by using Elton night trapping method was monitored. Metallic spring traps were set for two consecutive nights. The mouse density and identified the mouse species was calculated. The mouse species indoor and outdoor, as well as the mouse density indoor and outdoor were compared. The impacts of water level in the dam and cleaning work on local mouse density were also analyzed. Results A total of 678 mice were caught in this study, 517 were caught indoor and 161 outdoor. Indoor dominant species was flavipectus; accounting for 36.49%(189/517), while outdoor was apodemus, reaching 56.88% (91/161). For mouse species, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 678.00, P ＜ 0.01 ). The average mouse density was 8.44%(678/8036) in trap nights. Indoor mouse density reached 14.44%(517/3581 ), which was significantly higher than that of outdoor(3.61%, 161/4455 ).For mouse density, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 301.04, P ＜ 0.01 ). When the water level was up to 156 m, mouse density reached 10%(513/5132), which was higher than that of before (5.68%, 165/2904). There was a significant difference in mouse density before and after reserving water (x2 = 44.68, P ＜ 0.01 ). With the change of water level, upstream mouse density formed a high platform from May 2007 to May 2008, followed by 12.25%(80/653), 13.16%(90/684), 12.95%(90/695), and decreased to 8.38%(28/334) after cleaning of the dam. Conclusions The Three Gorges dam and change of water level actually alter the survival environment of the local mouse, and affect local mouse density and mouse species. These may lead to local outbreak or epidemic of rodent-borne diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of resveratrol on spermatogenesis after 2,5-hexanedione(2,5-HD)-induced testicular injury.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Group A were normally raised and Group B, C, D and E exposed to 1% 2,5-HD for 5 weeks, followed by administration of resveratrol of different concentrations (20, 40 and 80 mg/[ kg x d], respectively) to Group C, D and E for 9 weeks. Then the rats were killed, their physical signs, body weight gain and testis weight were assessed, and immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis used to investigate the numbers and diameters of seminiferous tubules and the expression of c-kit protein of spermatogenic cell membrane.

RESULTSThe rats exposed to 2,5-HD showed weak body, lax skin, dim color pattern, tardy body weight gain, and emaciated testis. Immunohistochemistry revealed emaciated seminiferous tubules, stagnant obsolete spermatogonia and negative expression of c-kit protein. After resveratrol administration, the 2,5-HD-induced physical signs were improved and close to normal. Compared with those of the 2,5-HD injured group, the body weight and testis weight of the resveratrol treated group increased obviously (P < 0.01); and the aliquots of the seminiferous epithelia began to differentiate and the spermatogenesis and expression of c-kit protein partly resumed (P < 0.01). With increasing dose of resveratrol, the diameters and numbers of seminiferous tubules (P < 0.01) and the expression levels of c-kit protein (P < 0.01) were gradually and significantly restored almost to normal.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol could promote the recovery of spermatogenesis after 2,5-HD-induced testicular injury.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; therapeutic use ; Blotting, Western ; Hexanones ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Stilbenes ; therapeutic use ; Testicular Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of bufalin on nucleus-mitochondria localization of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) by exploring its effect on proliferation and apoptosis in human esophageal squamous carcinoma EC9706 cells.

METHODSEC9706 cells were treated with bufalin at various concentrations, and then the cell growth inhibition of EC9706 cells was examined by CCK-8 assay and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) was calculated.Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry with PI staining, and nucleus morphology of apoptosis were observed by fluorescence microscopy with Hoechst 33342 staining. The apoptotic index was measured by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. hTERT subcellular localization and protein expression were determined by Western blotting and multiple immunofluorescence labling combined with laser confocal scanning microscopy.

RESULTSThe proliferation of EC 9706 cells was significantly inhibited by bufalin along with the increase of processing time and concentrations (p<0.01). After the EC9706 cells were exposed to 100 nmol/L bufalin,the number of cells gradually decreased in G(1) phase and increased in S and G(2)/M phases(p<0.05). The typical nucleus morphological changes of apoptosis were observed and the apoptotic index was increased(p<0.01). The expression of hTERT decreased in nucleus but increased in mitochondria(p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBufalin can inhibit the proliferation of human esophageal squamous carcinoma EC9706 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It can arrest cell cycle in S and G(2)/M phases and induce the apoptosis of EC 9706 cells. hTERT is localized in both nucleus and mitochondria,and can be partially translocated from nucleus to mitochondria during the bufalin-induced apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Telomerase ; metabolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEAs chemotherapy is generally used in the clinical treatment of cancer, the problem of multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumors against the chemotherapeutic agents becomes more and more serious. It has been the major cause for the failure of the chemotherapy. We detected the expressions of beta-catenin and tumor drug resistance related proteins, MRP2, P-gp, and Bcl-2, in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to explore their function and correlation in the occurrence and development of MDR in ESCC.

METHODSWe used the tissue microarray technique, immunohistochemistry, and image analysis methods to detect the expressions of MRP2, P-gp, beta-catenin, and Bcl-2 proteins and analyze their relationships with clinical data in a ESCC tissue microarray consisting of 582 specimens of ESCC, 294 specimens of normal mucosa, 92 specimens of basal cell hyperplasia, and 87 specimens of dysplasia adjacent to cancer tissue.

RESULTSThe integral optical density (IOD) of MRP2 and Bcl-2, which was 195.7 +/- 175.9 x 10(3)) and 90.5 +/- 112.5 x 10(3)), respectively, was significantly higher in ESCC than in normal mucosa, which was 104.8 +/- 86.1 x103) and 25.2 +/- 46.6 x 10(3)), respectively (P < 0.01). The IOD of P-gp and beta-catenin, which was 57.7 +/- 75.5 x 10(3)) and 32.0 +/- 47.0 x 10(3)) respectively, was significantly lower in ESCC than in normal mucosa, which was 114.8 +/- 106.6 x 10(3)) and 46.1 +/- 35.7 x 10(3)), respectively (P < 0.01). According to the following order, well differentiated moderately differentiated poorly differentiated, the IOD of MRP2 increased in ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of beta-catenin was higher in poorly differentiated ESCC than in well or moderately differentiated ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of Bcl-2 was lower in well differentiated ESCC than in poorly and moderately differentiated ESCC (P < 0.01). The IOD of beta-catenin and Bcl-2 was higher in the ESCC of specimens with infiltration depths that were in membrane mucosa than those in the muscular layer or serous coat (P < 0.01). The IOD of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis than in cases without (P < 0.01). Positive correlations which were respectively between the expressions of P-gp and MRP2, the expressions of P-gp and Bcl-2 were found (r = 0.288 and r = 0.253, respectively, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMRP2, P-gp, and Bcl-2 may be taken as prognostic factors for MDR of ESCC. beta-catenin may play an important role in carcinogenesis and progression of ESCC.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; beta Catenin ; metabolism