Objective To evaluate the predictive value of plasma levels of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(VEGFR-1,also known as sFlt-1) in second-trimester for preeclampsia.Methods One hundred and forty-six pregnant women with normal blood pressure previously were prospectively included in the study.Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained between 20 and 26 gestational weeks.Plasma levels of sFh-1 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay.Results (1) Among 146 previously normotensive women,12 developed preeclampsia (preeclampsia group), 134 remained normal pregnant till the end (normal group).(2) The plasma levels of sFh-1 in preeclampsia group [(4135?699)ng/L] was significantly higher than that in normal group[(1490?1033)ng/L](P

13C metabolic flux analysis(13CMFA)have been the research hotspots of metabolic engineering internationally due to its accuracy and applicability.It is vital that the measurement of 13C labelling pattern of proteinogenic amino acids for 13C metabolic flux analysis.To acquire 13C-labelling proteinogenic amino acids,Pseudomonas denitrifican which products Vitamin B12 was firstly fed with mimimal culture medium contained 20% U-13C and 80% natural glucose,after the culture reached a steady state,then about 20 mg biomass was hydrolyzed by 1 ml of 6 mol/L hydrochloric acid for 24h at 110℃.Then amino acids was separated,concentrated,evaporated in a vacuum,and derivatized with MBDSTFA,TBDMS-derivatized amino acids can be observed by GC-MS last we get 13C labelling pattern of fifteen aminio acids through mass spectrum.The experimental methods and sample preparation offers referential value for the development of 13C metabolic flux analysis in our courtry.

The index system of comparative advantages was constructed for the pharmaceutical manufacturing in-dustry in different provinces , municipalities directly under the Central Government , and autonomous regions ac-cording to the integrated comparative advantage theory .The integrated comparative advantages in different provinces , municipalities directly under the Central Government , and autonomous regions were scored by principal component analysis and qualitatively analyzed by clustering analysis to reveal their spatial distribution , thus providing the deci-sion-making support for the policy makers, manufacturers, investors and staff of pharmaceutical manufacturing in-dustry.

Objective To introduce the mini-open anterior correction under video assisted thoracosco- py for thoracic idiopathic scoliosis and report its clinical results.Methods From July 2001 to 2006,37 ca- ses of right thoracic idiopathic seoliosis were surgically corrected with mini-open anterior instrumentation. There were 4 males and 33 females with average age of 14.1 years and average Cobb angle of 56?.Fourteen cases with Lenke I A 14 cases,IB ++-++++ 14 cases,IC 9 cases.The Risser sign was ++-++++. The operative time,blood loss,instrumented levels,correction rate and loss of correction were analyzed. Results The operative time averaged 220 miu.The intraoperative blood loss averaged 320 ml.The average number of instrumented levels was 7.8.The postoperative Cobb angle was 16.8?on average with correction rate of 70%.With a follow-up of 18-36 months,the loss of correction averaged 4.6%,but no hardware complications.Conclusion The clinical results of mini-open anterior correction under thoracoscopy for tho- racic idiopathic scoliosis were satisfactory.It may minimize the complications of classical thoracotomic anterior correcion and mav reduce the high requirement for anesthesia,long operative time and high cost of thoraco- scopic anterior instrumentation.

This article introduces the definition, classification, premarket admission and other administering specialities about In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents in the U.S.A. and China. And by analyzing manufacture and administration of In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents in our country, It is pointed out that a suitable administering model in accordance with the characteristics of In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents should be adopted to perfect the administration.
China ; Device Approval ; Indicators and Reagents ; classification ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; classification ; standards ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Objective　In a RCT study, the safety and efficacy of sabot (a slow-release salbuteral) and volmax (controlled-release salbuterol) were compared in bronchial asthma. Methods　40 patients with moderate to severe asthma were randomly divided into two groups and treated by sabot or volmax for 2 weeks. The FEV1%, peak expiratory flow (PEF), symptom score and use of rescue ventolin were measured to evaluate the effect of treatment. Results　After treatment FEV1%, PEF and symptom score improved and the need for inhaling short-acting beta 2-agonis in both groups reduced significantly. There was no difference of these improvement between two groups. Conclusion　The safety and efficacy of sabot for treatment of asthma was similar to volmax.

OBJECTIVETo compare the early clinical results of thoracoscopic and mini-open thoracotomic anterior correction for idiopathic thoracic scoliosis.

METHODSTwenty-three cases with idiopathic right thoracic scoliosis were divided into 2 groups. Group A includes 8 females with average age of 14.8 years and average Cobb angle of 54 degrees . The Risser sign was +++ approximately ++++. These patients were operated on with thoracoscopic Eclipse instrumentation. Group B covers 2 males and 13 females with average age of 13.8 years and average Cobb angle of 57 degrees . The Risser sign was ++ approximately ++++. These patients were operated on with mini-open thoracotomic anterior instrumentation. The operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, instrumented levels, curve correction and early loss of correction of both groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe patients of group A had average operative time of (360 +/- 72) min, (629 +/- 145) ml of intra-operative blood loss, (7.4 +/- 1.1) of instrumented levels, (500 +/- 150) ml of post operative drainage, 74 +/- 14% of curve correction rate and (8.6 +/- 2.7)% of early loss of correction after 6 approximately 18 m follow-up. The patients of group B had average operative time of (246 +/- 64) min, (300 +/- 110) ml of intra-operative blood loss, (7.8 +/- 0.9) of instrumented levels, (210 +/- 90) ml of post operative drainage, (70 +/- 12)% of curve correction rate and (4.6 +/- 1.9)% of early loss of correction. The curve correction rates of thoracoscopic and mini-open thoracoscopic anterior correction were not significantly different (P >0.05). But the operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, and early loss of correction showed significant difference (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThoracoscopic and mini-open thoracotomic anterior correction for idiopathic thoracic scoliosis have their own indications. Both techniques are safe and effective to correct the idiopathic thoracic scoliosis with satisfied early results. But the early loss of correction of mini-open thoracotomic anterior correction is significantly less than that of thoracoscopic anterior correction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

AIMClinical studies stated that low molecular weight compounds (< 1.0 kd) extracted from the new born calf liver could effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. In this report, we observed inhibition effects and their regulative mechanisms of taurine, ornithine, carnosine on the proliferation of HL-60 cells.

METHODSThree active ingredients, i.e., taurine, ornithine and carnosine were separated by ion-exchange chromatographic column and identified from the low molecular weight filtrate of new born calf liver. MTT assay was used to test the survival rate of HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes treated by the three ingredients. The various effects of the three compounds on HL-60 cells were respectively evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis, ESR and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThese compounds effectively inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced apoptosis which was determined by apoptotic changes in morphology and nuclear DNA degradation. Whereas no inhibition effects on normal lymphocytes were observed. In addition, the results of ESR showed that the activity of oxygen radical within HL-60 cells treated with there compounds decreased to trace level. Furthermore, in the immunohistochemical experiments, we found that the level of p45/skp2 in HL-60 cells decreased while the level of p27/kip increased.

CONCLUSIONThe taurine, ornithine and carnosine compounds can selectively suppress tumor cells proliferation by regulating the level of cell cycle proteins.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carnosine ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; chemistry ; Ornithine ; pharmacology ; Taurine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and significance of posterolateral fusion in preventing failure of short-segment stabilization for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

METHODSSixty patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were included in the study. The patients were classified into two groups (n equal to 30 in each group). In Group A, patients were treated in our hospital with short-segment instrumentation via posterolateral fusion with iliac bone. In Group B, patients were treated in other hospital with short-segment fixation without fusion. All cases came to our hospital for reexamination. There were 18 males and 12 females in Group A with a mean age of 42.3 years (range, 24 to 52 years) and 16 males and 14 females in Group B with a mean age of 41.5 years (range, 19 to 54 years). Radiographic (Cobb angle, kyphosis of the vertebral body, and sagittal index) and clinical outcomes (Low Back Outcome Score ) were analyzed after an average follow-up of 16 months.

RESULTSAfter operation, Cobb angle was reduced from 19.3 degrees to 3.1 degrees in Group A and from 19.1 degrees to 3.3 degrees in Group B (P>0.05). It was 5.9 degrees in Group A and 11. 9 degrees in Group B at the final follow-up (P<0.01). Its average loss of correction was 2.8 degree in Group A and 8.6 degrees in Group B. Average kyphosis of the vertebral body was reduced from 21.3 degrees to 6.2 degrees in Group A and from 21.7 degrees to 7.4 degrees in Group B (P>0.05). It was decreased to 7.9 degrees in Group A and 13.5 degrees in Group B at the final follow-up (P<0.01). Its average loss of correction was 1.7 degrees in Group A and 6.1 degrees in Group B. Sagittal index was reduced from 21.3 degrees to 3.6 degrees in Group A and from 20.5 degrees to 3.8 degrees in Group B (P<0.05). It was decreased to 5.1 degrees in Group A and 9.8 degrees in Group B at the final follow-up (P<0.01). Its average loss was 1.5 degrees in Group A and 6.0 degrees in Group B. In Group A, 73.3% of patients had an excellent result based on Low Back Outcome Score system, while that in Group B was only 43.3%.

CONCLUSIONSPosterolateral fusion is an effective measure to prevent implant failure, and decrease loss of correction, posttraumatic kyphosis and neurological deficit during the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Short-segment fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures without fusion obviously increases failure rate and it is not an optional procedure.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; adverse effects ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Spinal Fusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo observe whether electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST 36) reduces endotoxin-induced hepatic injury in rats and to explore the mechanism.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, a endotoxin group, an EA group, a normal group and a non-acupoint group. Hepatic injury rat model was prepared by injection of endotoxin (5 mg/kg) into the caudal vein, the normal group received the injection of the equal amount of saline; for the EA group, EA (2-100 Hz, 2 mA, 1.5 h) was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) half an hour after modeling, and for the non-acupoint group, acupuncture was given at the point 5 mm lateral to and 5 mm below "Zusanli" (ST 36), and other treatments were as same as those in the EA group.

RESULTSInjection of endotoxin into the caudal vein could significantly increase TNF-alpha content in the liver and plasma ALT activity (P<0.01), which were decreased by EA (P<0.01) and were not significantly changed in the non-acupoint group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal increases of TNF-alpha content in the liver and plasma ALT activity induced by endotoxin can be decreased by EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36), protecting the organ, and the mechanism is possibly related with the decrease of TNF-alpha content in the liver.

Acupuncture Points ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis