Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; microbiology ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Sinusitis ; etiology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the influence of iodine excess on expression of TRAIl/TRAIL-sR1 in NOD and Balb/c mice and to study the effect of TRAIl/TRAIL-sR1 on the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis(EAT). Methods Both Balb/c and NOD mice were divided randomly into control and iodine excess group by feeding with water containing no NaI or 0.05% Nal. The mice were sacrificed after 8 weeks. TRAIL and TRAIL-sR1 mRNA levels were detected by RT-PCR. The function, morphology and apoptosis of thyroids were also observed by ELISA and Tunnel stain. Results Treated by HI, enlarged follicles and flattened epithelium by accumulation of colloid were found in thyroids of both NOD and Balb/c mice. But significant lymphoid cell infiltration and local fibrosis were only found in thyroids of NOD HI group. The relative weight of thyroids of NOD mice in HI group[(104.8±14.5)mg/kg]was heavier than that of control group [(71.8±20.4)mg/kg]. The level of TT4 declined in HI group[(30.77±3.59)mmol/L]compared with control group[(36.43±2.66)mmol/L], meanwhile, the level of TSH was higher in HI group[(6.98±0.66)μg/L]than that in control group [(5.55±0.56)μg/L]. The difference being statistically significant(t=7.773,-9.526,-4.458, all P < 0.05). The relative weight of thyroids of Balb/c mice of HI group[(155.8±20.8)mg/kg]also heavier than that of control group [(105.1±22.0) mg/kg]. The level of TT4 droped in HI group [(19.75±3.32) mmoL/L]was higher than that in control group[(23.46±6.21)mmoL/L], the level of TSH in HI group[(4.14±1.71)μg/L]was higher than that in control group[(3.55±1.41)μg/L], the difference being statistically significant(t=7.554,-7.239,3.140, all P< 0.05). A great deal of apoptotie ceils observed in NOD (3.97±0.91) and Balb/c mice (1.05±0.45) by Tunnel stain were greater than control groups (0.21±0.15, 0.10±0.03), the difference being statistically significant in beth of the two species(t=-7.167,-17.772, both P < 0.05). The apoptosis index of thyroid follicular epithelium in NOD was obviously higher than Balb/c(t=-7.625, P<0.05). The level of TRAIL mRNA did not remarkably change in Balb/c between control group(0.000 59±0.000 39) and HI group(0.001 24±0.000 46, t=-1.940, P>0.05), but it increased apparently in NOD mice HI group(0.018 88±0.005 77) than that of control group(0.009 61± 0.00591, t=-2.71, P<0.05). The level of the expression of TRAIL-sR1 mRNA increased in HI groups of NOD (0.000 53±0.000 15) and Balb/c mice(0.000 42±0.000 09) than that in control groups of NOD(0.000 28± 0.000 05) and Balb/c mice (0.000 17±0.000 06) and the differences were statistically significant between the two species(t=3.050,3.990, all P<0.05). The differences of the expression of TRAIL and TRAIL-sR1 mRNA between the two species were significant(t=-3.37,-4.76, all P<0.05). Conclusions Iodine excess induces colloid goiter in beth species of mice and thyroiditis in NOD mice. The increase of TRAIL and TRAIL-sR1 influenced by iodine excess is one of the molecular bases of follicular epithelium apoptosis and inflammation in thyroids. Genetic factor is a key factor in the pathogenesis of thyroiditis.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the pathological characteristics of cervical spinal fracture complicating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the effect of combined anterior and posterior operation.

METHODSEighteen AS patients with traumatic cervical fracture-dislocation were treated operatively from January 2000 to January 2006. The symptom duration of AS was 14.5 years on average. Three cases had undergone osteotomy in lumbar spine. There were 4 cases of Grade A, 3 cases of Grade B, 9 cases of Grade C and 2 cases of Grade D according to Frankel's score. There were 15 cases of Grade III dislocation and 3 cases of Grade II. All patients underwent surgical procedures by combined anterior and posterior approach.

RESULTSThere were 4 anterior-posterior procedures, 8 anterior-posterior-anterior procedures and 6 posterior-anterior procedures. Seven patients had one stage operation and 11 cases underwent two stage surgeries. There was certain extent of neurological improvement in 14 incomplete paraplegic patients, but no improvement in 4 complete paraplegic patients. The follow-up period was 21.2 months on average and the time for bone fusion was 3.6 months. There were 4 complications during operation and a long-term complication in follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe study suggests that anterior combined with posterior approach makes the spine stable and relieves the pressure immediately. It is a reasonable surgical strategy for treatment of cervical spinal fracture-dislocation with AS.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications

Metabolomics is an omics subject which studies on the metabolic network of organism and the intrinsic metabolic change of entirety with the aim of clarifying the mechanism of medicinal effect and pathogenesis of disease, is similar to the whole concept theory of Chinese medicine. The mectabolomics technology helps to promote the modern process of traditional Chinese medicine. This article illustrated the application research on the concept of metabolomics, the syndrome of Chinese medicine, quality and components of traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine compounds and so on, explored the problems on the current research and the prospect meanwhile.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the pathological characteristics of cervical spinal fracture of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and surgical effect by combined anterior and posterior operation.

METHODSEighteen AS patients with traumatic cervical fracture-dislocation were treated from January 2000 to January 2006. The symptom duration of AS was 14.5 years in average. Three cases had undergone osteotomy in lumbar spine. There were 4 cases of Grade A, 3 cases of Grade B, 9 cases of Grade C and 2 cases of Grade D in Frankel's score. All patients underwent surgical procedures by combined anterior and posterior approach.

RESULTSThere were 4 anterior-posterior procedures, 8 anterior-posterior-anterior procedures and 6 posterior-anterior procedures. Seven patients had one stage operation and 11 cases underwent two stage. There were some extent neurological improvement in 14 incompletely paraplegic patients, no improvement in 4 complete paraplegia patients. The follow-up period was 21.2 months in average and the bone fusion was 3.6 months. There were 4 complications during perioperative period and 1 in long term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe study suggests that anterior combined with posterior approach makes the spine stable and relieves the pressure immediately. It is the reasonable surgical strategy in the treatment of cervical spinal fracture-dislocation with AS.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression ; complications ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications ; pathology ; Treatment Outcome

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 explore the possibility of creating a rat new scar model by inserting gelatin sponge into rat excisional wounds.

METHODSTwo full-thickness wounds were created in each of total 49 SD rats. In the Experimental group (n = 19), a regular incisional wound (1 cm) was created on the left side, and an excisional wound of 1.0 cm x 0.2 cm was created on the right side with a gelatin sponge inserted. In control 1 group (n = 15), an excisional wound with sponge insertion was created on both sides of rats. In control 2 group (n = 15), two excisional wounds were created on both sides, and only one side wounds were inserted with a sponge. Animals were sacrificed at various time points for different examinations.

RESULTSThe wound/scar width increased 4 - 11 times in inserted wounds than in regular incisional wounds (P < 0.01), with an obvious delay of epithelialization. No difference in wound/scar width was found in both sides of wounds of control 1 group at various locations. In contrast to the linear scar of sponge-inserted wounds, contracted and irregular scar was found in non-inserted wounds of control 2 group.

CONCLUSIONSGelatin sponge insertion can create a thick linear scar in rat wounds, and thus provides a new model for scar research.

Animals ; Cicatrix ; pathology ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; pathology ; Suture Techniques ; Wound Healing

Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Fractures, Compression ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the prevalence of visual fatigue among Chinese college students with the usage of electronic products.Methods A total of 6000 college students were recruited from 127 universities in 29 cities (except Taiwan,Qinghai,Tibet,Ningxia and Xinjiang).The questionnaire involved questions pertaining to the dependence of electronic products,use of electronic products in dormitory,home,vehicles,and prevalence of visual fatigue.Logistic regression was performed to analyze the potential risk factors for visual fatigue.Results A total of 4848 questionnaires were valid,involving 2259 male and 2589 female students.The results revealed that the incidence of visual fatigue in Chinese college students was 53.5％,a higher rate in females than in males.And 33.8％ of whole group admitted that they had become relied on electronic products.The proportion of electronic products used at the table,on the bed,transport equipment reached 91.3％,87.6％ and 74.8％,respectively.In terms of the usage duration,38.3％ of surveyed students use mobile phone,Tablet PC over 4 hours per day,with 29.7％ using electronic products over 1 hour on the bed and 49.1％ in vehicles over 0.5 hour.Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence of visual fatigue were related to gender,dependence on electronic products,the use of electronic products in dormitory,home,vehicles.Conclusion The prevalence of visual fatigue is relatively high among Chinese college students,which may be associated with the following several factors,including gender,dependence on electronic products and the use of electronic products in dormitory,home and vehicles.