BACKGROUND:Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) has strong osteoinductibility. At present, it becomes a hot topic to find a proper carrier for BMP. Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) may become a favorable carrier for BMP for its many merits. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate using the CPC/BMP composite as well as only CPC to repair experimental avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH).DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental study SETTING: Experimental Animal Laboratory of the 208 hospital of Chinese PLAMATERIALS: The subjects were 24 healthy adult rabbits of either sex,weighing 2.5-3.0 kg. BMP was provided by Research Institute of Orthopaedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. CPC was developed together by Department of Orthopaedics, First hospital of Jilin University and Department of Orthopaedics, Aichi Medical University, Japan and Mitsubishi Material Corporation, Japan)METHODS: This experiment was conducted in the Animal Laboratory,the 208 Hospital of Chinese PLA between April 2003 and April 2004.The CPC/BMP composite was constructed by combining calcium phosphate cement (CPC) with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). The 24 rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: CPC group and CPC/BMP group, 12 rabbits in each group. The models of experimental avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH) were made. Then the CPC or CPC/BMP composite were filled into the bone defects. The specimens were harvested separately at the end of 3 and 12 weeks after operation. A series of examinations were carried out including radiograph, histomorphology, and observation under transmission electron microscope (LEM).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bone formation, degradation of materials and repairing of bone defects in each group.RESULTS:Totally 24 rabbits were examined and analyzed. ① The results of general observation and X-ray examination on the bone defect regions in two groups: at week 12 in CPC group much new bone formed, the volume of CPC decreased. In CPC/BMP group more new bone formed. The phenomena of degradation and absorption were evident and the volume of the material decreased evidently. ② The results of histology observation and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation in femoral heads in two groups: at week 12 in CPC group CPC decreased and there were some interspaces between CPC and new bone. New bone trabecula enlarged. Juvenile osteocytes could be found with round nucleus, chromatin deviating to one side, rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) swelling and there were the phenomena of mitochondrion vacuolated and mitochondrial cristaes broken. In CPC/BMP group, CPC was dispersed with new bone intruded into the material and enwrapping each other. Osteoblasts contacted with CPC granules tightly whose rER and mitochondrion in cytoplasm increased and swelled. Many capillaries invaded the material and were encircled by many osteoblasts.CONCLUSION: CPC is an ideal carrier to BMP. The CPC/BMP composite has stronger steoconductibility and osteoinductibility in ANFH repairing than CPC, and is effective in repairing experimental avascular necrosis of femoral head.

Background:Small bowel capsule endoscopy(SBCE)has become a first-line procedure for examining small bowel diseases. Aims:To evaluate the diagnostic value of SBCE in patients with mid-gastrointestinal bleeding(MGIB). Methods:MGIB patients who underwent SBCE from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2014 at the Third People’s Hospital of Bengbu were enrolled. Diagnostic value of SBCE in MGIB was analyzed. Re-bleeding was followed up by outpatient visit and telephone. Results:Forty-four consecutive MGIB patients underwent SBCE procedures,the detection rate was 95. 5% and the positive rate was 65. 9% . Vascular abnormality(37. 9% ),inflammation(31. 0% )and tumor(20. 7% )were the three major etiology in SBCE positive patients. Follow-up results showed that re-bleeding rate in SBCE positive group was significantly higher than in non-positive group(41. 4% vs. 13. 3% ,P < 0. 05). Conclusions:Vascular abnormality is still the most major etiology of MGIB,meanwhile the proportions of inflammation and tumor are increasing. SBCE has a high detection rate and positive rate in initial screening of MGIB,and the risk of re-bleeding in patients with negative SBCE is low.

OBJECTIVEto evaluate the corrosion resistance of a new titanium alloy for dental restoration in artificial saliva.

METHODSin simulated oral environment, the electrochemical behavior of a new titanium alloy (Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn) for dental restoration based on the d-electron alloy design method with high elastic modulus, high mechanical and good biological safety properties was investigated together with that of Ti-6Al-4V and TA2 as control groups. The anodic polarization curve and polarization resistance of these alloys were analyzed and the element release of Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn and Ti-6Al-4V alloy after immersion in artificial saliva for 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 15 d were measured.

RESULTSpolarization curve indicated that Ti-6Al-4V alloy had lower breakdown potential (0.8 V) than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy did (> 2.5 V). Ti-6Al-4V alloy showed higher passivation current density (1.45 × 10(-4) - 1.09 × 10(-3) A/cm(2)) than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy (3.32 × 10(-6) - 3.46 × 10(-5) A/cm(2)) and TA2(5.03 × 10(-6) - 2.65 × 10(-5) A/cm(2)) did. Polarization resistance results showed that polarization resistance volume of TA2, Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy and Ti-6Al-4V alloy were 371.0, 252.0, and 60.1 kΩ×cm(2) respectively. With the increasing of dipping time in artificial saliva, the ion release of Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy and Ti-6Al-4V alloy increased to different degrees. Ti-6Al-4V alloy always showed more ion release than Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy did in the experiment.

CONCLUSIONSdata from this study indicated that Ti-12.5Zr-3Nb-2.5Sn alloy, as a dental restoration material, had good corrosion resistance in artificial saliva.

Alloys ; Corrosion ; Dental Materials ; Electrochemistry ; Materials Testing ; Saliva, Artificial ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe incidence of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma is relatively low. This study was to analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of cervical adenosquamous carcinoma.

METHODSClinical data of 44 cervical adenosquamous carcinoma patients and 88 cervical adenocarcinoma patients(control), treated from January 2002 to December 2007, were analyzed using Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression model.

RESULTSThe proportion of large tumors (maximal diameter > 4 cm) was significantly higher in cervical adenosquamous carcinoma group than in cervical adenocarcinoma group (47.7% vs. 28.4%, P<0.05); the proportion of poorly differentiated tumors was significantly higher in cervical adenosquamous carcinoma group than in cervical adenocarcinoma group (56.8% vs. 30.7%, P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P=0.011), FIGO stage (P=0.013), depth of stromal invasion (P=0.05) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.017) were correlated with prognosis, while multivariate analysis showed that FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis had great impact on prognosis. There was no significant difference of 2-year overall and disease-free survival rates between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCervical adenosquamous carcinoma is characterized by large tumor size and poor differentiation. FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis are significant prognostic factors. There is no difference in prognosis between cervical adenosquamous carcinoma and cervical adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; secondary ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy

In view of gemcitabine resistance has limited clinical activity of gemcitabine as a cellulotoxic drug in pancreatic cancer patients, this study is designed to investigate the effect of emodin on the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine as well as its mechanism. After gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell line (SW1990/GZ) was established by escalating doses of gemcitabine serially in pancreatic cancer cell line (SW1990). The cellular proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to determine apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. The activity of NF-kappaB in pancreatic cancer cells was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Survivin in SW1990/GZ cells. Metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotopic implantation of histologically intact human tumor tissue into pancreatic wall of nude mice. Also, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of Ki-67, NF-kappaB, Bcl-2 and Survivin in the tumors. The results show that pretreatment of cells with emodin followed by gemcitabine induced a higher percentage of growth inhibition and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells than that of gemcitabine alone. In addition to in vitro results, emodin in combination with gemcitabine is much more effective as an antitumor agent compared to either agent alone in the orthotopic tumor model. Further study showed that the emodin with or without gemcitabine significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as Bcl-2 and Survivin proteins both in vitro and in vivo. It is concluded that inactivation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway by emodin resulting in the chemosensitization of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine, which is likely to be an important and novel strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Child ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; injuries ; Male ; Punctures

AIMTo study the active constituents of Swertia davidi Franch.

METHODSColumn chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Diaion-201 et al. were used to isolate and purify the chemical components. Their structures were identified by UV, IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR.

RESULTSThese compounds were elucidated as 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 3, 5-trihydroxyxanthone (I), 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 8-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (II), 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 3, 8-trihydroxyxanthone (III) and swertamarin (IV).

CONCLUSIONCompound III is a new xanthone glucoside. The other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanisms of androgen/androgen receptor (AR) regulating the expression of Caveolin-1 in the mouse epididymis.

METHODSThe AR binding sites associated with the Caveolin-1 gene were identified by searching the database of genomewide AR binding sites in mouse epididymides obtained from chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq). Total RNA was extracted from the epididymal tissues of normal and castrated mice and those castrated but supplemented with testosterone propionate, and the expression of Caveolin-1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. ChIP was performed with AR antibodies, and ChIP-PCR and ChIP-qPCR were used to determine the in vivo AR occupancies on the two sites associated with Caveolin-1.

RESULTSTwo AR binding sites associated with Caveolin-1 were found in the database, both located in the second intron region. After castration, the expression of Caveolin-1 was significantly increased, 1.8 +/- 0.17 times that of the control group (P < 0.05), and the fold enrichments of the two AR binding sites were dramatically reduced from 13.5 +/- 1.47 and 10.5 +/- 1.03 to 1.05 +/- 0.17 and 1.4 +/- 0.14, respectively (P < 0.01). After androgen supplement, however, the expression of Caveolin-1 was decreased to normal (P < 0.05), and the fold enrichments of the two AR binding sites significantly increased to 16.4 +/- 2.6 and 10 +/- 0.92, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCaveolin-1 is a bona fide AR direct target gene in the mouse epididymis, and its expression is negatively regulated by androgen. These findings have provided a new insight into the androgen/AR regulatory network in mouse epididymides.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Caveolin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics

AIMTo study the active constituents of Swertia davidi Franch.

METHODSChemical components were isolated by column chromatography and their structures were established mainly by spectroscopic means (UV, IR, NMR, 2D-NMR, MS).

RESULTSThree substances were identified as 2,5-dimethoxyl-1, 4-dicarboxyl benzene (VIII), 1,5,8-trihydroxyl-3,4-dimethoxyl xanthone (IX) and 1,8-dihydroxyl-3-(3'-hydroxyl-butoxy) xanthone (X).

CONCLUSIONCompounds VIII and IX were isolated from Swertia davidi Franch, for the first time, whereas compound X is a new xanthone, named daviditin B with antioxygenated activity in vitro.

Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Xanthones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate Notch1 protein expression of leukemic cells in children with pediatric Bcell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL) and its effect on prognosis.Methods The expression of Notch1 protein of leukemic cells in bone marrow smears was detected by immunohistochemistry(SABC) in primarily diagnosed childhood ALL,including 63 cases of B-ALL and 14 cases of T-ALL,a group of 34 children with no malignancy served as controls.Reverse transcription-ploymerase chain reaction was used to assay Notch1 mRNA expression in ALL patients.Results The incidence of Notch1 expression was 31.7％ in B-ALL patients,71.4％ in T-ALL patients,and 8.8％ in control group,respectively.Notch1 protein was aberrantly expressed in both B-ALL and T-ALL compared with the controls(P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.001).Multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of Notch1 protein in B-ALL was not associated with patients' age,gender,WBC count at diagnosis(all P ＞ 0.05),it had no influence on the early treatment response.Nevertheless,the Kaplan-Meier curve of event-free survival showed that,in the patients without Notch1 protein expression,the long-term event-free survival rate was as high as 92.7 ％,in contrast,in the children with Notch 1 expression,the event-free survival was only 54.5 ％ (P =0.0054).Conclusions The expression of Notch 1 protein in pediatric B-ALL may predict a poor prognosis,and interfering with Notch1 signaling could be employed as a potential therapeutic target for those patients with Notch1 expression.