BACKGROUND: Previous findings show that osteoblast-specific peptides can promote the repair and regeneration of skull defects in rabbits, and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is used as a scaffold to carry osteoblast-specific polypeptides. Both of them not only complement each other, but also fully exert dual effects of osteoinduction and bone conduction. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of osteoblast-specific peptide on the preservation of the anterior tooth extraction site in rabbits, and to study the effect on the alveolar bone remodeling. METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=9 per group), and the right mandibular incisors were removed to establish the animal models of tooth extraction. β-TCP/osteoblast-specific peptide compounds were implanted in the experimental group, and pure β-TCP meal was implanted into the material group. The blank control group had no implantation. Three rabbits from each group were scarified at 4, 8 and 12 postoperative weeks, and tissue samples were prepared for gross observation, histomorphology measurements, and radiographic measurements of extraction socket healing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Imaging results showed that the relative length of residual alveolar bone after modeling was ranked as follows: the experimental group > the material group > the blank control group, and the difference was statistically significant among groups (P < 0.05). Cone-beam CT findings in the three groups changed as time went on. At 4 and 8 postoperative weeks, the implanted materials in the experimental and material groups gradually degraded; the bone mass in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the material and blank control groups. At 12 postoperative weeks, the experimental group had basically completed the reconstruction of tooth socket, but there were still some bone defects in the material and blank control groups. (2) Histomorphological findings showed that at 4 postoperative weeks, the experimental group exhibited obvious bone deposition lines, and the bone trabecula was widened; in the material and blank control groups, the new bone was less. At 8 postoperative weeks, a small amount of undegraded scaffold was found in the experimental group, with mature lamellar bone, the amount of new bone tissues in the material group increased and osteoblasts were obviously detected in the blank control group. At 12 postoperative weeks, the bone remodeling in the extraction socket of the experimental group was basically completed; in the material group, there were still a small amount of scaffold materials and dense plate-like new bone; and in the blank control group, the new bone tended to be mature, and there was obvious lamellar structure. To conclude, osteoblast-specific peptides can effectively preserve the length of the residual alveolar bone after tooth extraction, promote the formation of new bone, and have the function of preserving the tooth extraction site.

OBJECTIVETo achieve pregnancy with unaffected embryo using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) for the couples at risk of having children with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSA couple carrying different thalassemia mutations of codon 41/42 and codon IVS2 position 654 received standard IVF treatment and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, single cell polymerase chain reaction and DNA analyses, and only the unaffected or carrier embryos were transferred to uterus. Pregnancy confirmation, and prenatal diagnosis were done at 20 week's gestation.

RESULTSA total of 13 embryos were analyzed in the IVF cycle. PGD indicated that 2 were normal 18.1 , 3 were affected 27.3 , and 6 were carriers 54.5 ; diagnosis was not possible in 2. Three embryos were transferred to uterus on the third day after oocyte retrieval. Ultrasonography showed twin pregnancy with one blighted ovum. The prenatal diagnoses revealed that both fetuses were unaffected, one normal baby and one carrier were born.

CONCLUSIONThese studies represent the successful application of PGD for beta-thalassemia in China.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo comparatively study complete dislocation of acromioclavicular joint treated with three different methods.

METHODSA total of 96 patients (81 males and 15 females, aged 16-59 years, mean=45 years) with complete dislocation of acromioclavicular joint were treated with Dewar's operation (Group A, n=32), internal fixation with Kirschner tension band wires (Group B, n=44), or internal fixation with Wolter plates (Group C, n=20), respectively, in this study. Eighty-five patients suffered from acute dislocations and eleven from chronic dislocations.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 50 months on an average. According to Karlsson's standard, in Group A, 26 patients were assessed as good, 5 as fair and 1 as poor. In Group B, 20 patients were assessed as good, 13 as fair and 11 as poor. In Group C, 15 patients were assessed as good, 4 as fair and 1 as poor. The good and fair rates were significantly different between Group A and Group B, and between Group C and Group B, but no statistical difference was found between Group A and Group C. The operating time was (52.36+/-7.24) minutes, (67.43+/-8.11) minutes and (69.73+/-8.04) minutes in Groups A, B and C, respectively. And the hospitalizing fees were (2400+/-270) yuan, (2100+/-190) yuan and (8450+/-360) yuan in Groups A, B and C, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSDewar's operation is a good and safe method with shorter operating time and lower hospitalizing fee for treating complete dislocation of acromioclavicular joint. The method is simple without the need of a second operation to remove the implants and with few complications.

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Wires ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profiles of chromosome imbalance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) from the high incidence area in Henan.

METHODSChromosomal aberrations of 37 samples of SCC and 30 GCA were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

RESULTSIt was found that the most frequently detected gains were on chromosome arm 8q (78%), and followed by 3q, 5p, 6q and 7p. The most frequent loss was found on 3p (57%), and followed by 8p, 9q and 11q in SCC. For GCA, the most frequent gain was found on chromosome arm 20q (43%), and followed by 6q, 8q and 6p. The most frequent loss was on the chromosome 17p (57%), and followed by 19p, 1p and 4p.

CONCLUSIONThe present findings demonstrate that gains of 8q, 3q and 5p, and losses of 3p, 8p, and 9q are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in SCC, and the gains of 20q, 6q and losses of 17p, 19p and 1p are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in GCA, which provide important theoretic information for identifying and cloning novel SCC/GCA-related genes.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Cardia ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Linzhou, the high prevalence area of Henan province.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 52 cases of primary SCC of esophagus.

RESULTSGains in part or in whole of chromosome 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, 20q and losses of 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p, 8p were detected frequently in SCC (> 20%). Gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q were all significantly correlated with pathologic staging (P < 0.05). Gains of 8q, loss of 4p were linked to nodal metastasis (P < 0.05). Gains of 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter were associated with distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese observations suggest that 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, and 20q may contain SCC-related oncogenes; 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p and 8p may contain SCC-related tumor suppressor genes. It is likely that gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q are the genetic aberrations critical for the development of esophageal carcinoma, whereas gains of 8q, 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter are considered later events associated with tumor progression and are thought to confer metastatic potential to esophageal carcinoma. Furthermore, nodal and distant organ metastases involve different genes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

BACKGROUNDClinical programs for preventing beta-thalassemia are presently based on prospective carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis. This paper report an achievement of a pregnancy with unaffected embryos using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), in combination with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), for a couple at risk of having children with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSA couple carrying different thalassemia mutations, both a codon 41 - 42 mutation and the IVS II 654 mutation, received standard IVF treatment, with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsiy, single cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA analysis. Only unaffected or carrier embryos were transferred to the uterine cavity. After confirmation of pregnancy, a prenatal diagnosis was performed.

RESULTSOf a total of 13 embryos analyzed for beta-globin mutations, PGD indicated that 2 were normal, 3 were affected, and 6 were carriers. Diagnosis could not be made in the other 2 embryos. Three embryos were transferred to the uterus on the third day after oocyte retrieval. Ultrasonography revealed a twin pregnancy with one blighted ovum. The prenatal genetic diagnosis revealed that both fetuses were unaffected, and two healthy boys were born, confirming the results of PGD.

CONCLUSIONSWe developed a single-cell based primer extension preamplification (PEP)-PCR assay for the detection of beta-thalassemia mutations. The assays were efficient and accurate at all stages of the procedure, and resulted in the birth of PGD-confirmed beta-thalassemia free children in China. PEP was used here in PGD for beta-thalassemia.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of patchouli alcohol in enhancing Helicobater pylori's action in eradicating macrophages and its mechanism. H. pylori was co-cultured with macrophages at a ratio of MOI=100 in different concentrations of patchouli alcohol. The effect of patchouli alcohol in eradicating macrophages was detected by agar dilution method. The effect of patchouli alcohol on NO and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in macrophages were measured by H. pylori by biochemical methods. Patchouli alcohol effect on H. pylori-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression and protein secretion in macrophages were detected by RT-qPCR and ELISA method. The eradication of H. pylori has significantly enhanced, and the destabilization of lysosomes has been reversed. Meanwhile, patchouli alcohol has an effect in inhibiting pro-inflammation and oxidation. The mechanism of patchouli alcohol in eradicating H. pylori and resisting oxidative stress may be associated to the blocking of bacteria escape lysosome combination procedures.

Drug discrimination is a behavioral pharmacological technique to study the discriminative stimulus effects of drug. Currently drug discrimination has been widely used in preclinical drug development of CNS drugs, the most extensive of which is psychodependent research in the field of drug abuse. This review describes in general the basic principles of drug discrimination, preliminarily elaborates on the relevant characteristics and applications of the subjective effects, time-course effect, stereo specificity, individual differences, and receptor mechanisms, and its development prospects for hallucinogens and cannabis drugs are also presented.