Objective:To investigate the range of normal value of total nasal cavity volume(NV)and total na-sopharyngeal cavity volume (NPV)of healthy adults. Method: Six hundred and fifty-nine healthy adults andeighty-two adults of chronic rhinitis were measured with acoustic rhinometry. Result:The range of NV was29. 922～37. 481 cm3 and NPV was 29. 369～44. 159 cm3. Comparing healthy adults with adults of chronic rhini-tis,there was a significant difference in NV. Conclusion:Acoustic rhinometry suited for objective assessment ofthe nasal airways in adults. It was demonstrated that these data could provide available information for the studyof nasal physiology and pathophysiology,as well as for the diagnosis and judgement of therapeutic effectiveness ofnasal diseases.

Objective To study the association between functional genetic polymorphisms of IL-1B(T-31C,C-511T),IL-1RN and the susceptibility to gastric cancers. Methods A case-control study was conducted in 180 gastric cancer cases and 308 age-and sex-matched cancer-free controls.Genotypes were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) assays,and association between genotypes,environmental factors and risk of gastric cancers were determined. Results IL-1B T-31C was in strong linkage disequilibrium with IL-1B C-511T(D'=0.862,R2= 0.721,P=0.000).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the variant genotypes of IL-1B T-31C and C-511T were not significantly associated with risks for gastric cancers(adjusted OR,0.95 and 95% CI,0.62-1.47 for IL-1B T-31C;and adjusted OR,0.85 and 95% CI,0.55-1.31 for IL-1B C-511T).The variant genotypes(1/2,2/2) in IL-1RN were associated with a non-significantly increased risks for gastric cancers(adjusted OR,1.32 and 95% CI,0.71-2.36) in all subjects and with a significantly increased risks for gastric cancers in subjects with H.pylori infection(adjusted OR,2.03 and 95%CI,1.02-4.80).Conclusion The functional genetic polymorphisms of IL-1RN may contribute to the risks of gastric cancers in high-risk population,particularly in those with H.pylori infection.

Objective To summarize the features of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS in EHH.Methods A retrospective analysis of 88 EHH patients and 50 healthy controls was conducted with focus on their findings on CEUS.Results The structures of the cardiac and abdominal esophagus were clear in 50 healthy controls,and the esophageal hiatus diameters were (1.96±0.39) cm.In contrast,the cardiac and abdominal esophagus in EHH patients were unable to be identified in subdiaphragm region.The esophageal hiatus was wider with a diameter of (3.24±0.76) cm.The difference was statistically significant(t=2.36,P＜0.05).The hernia sacs were found in 78 EHH patients at rest.And the hernia sacs were present on the diaphragm in 10 EHH patients after pressure.The maximum diameter of hernia sac was 7.6 cm.The size of hernia sac may change with abdominal pressure.In sliding EHH patients,the sac wall was found to slide up and down the diaphragm.A mass was found on the wall in 2 patients.The B ring was present in 76 patients.For healthy controls in supine position,contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that the gastric bottom and diaphragm were at dependent or horizontal position.The gastric bottom and diaphragm was upward in 73 patients.Conclusions The EHH has characteristic appearance on CEUS.It is easy to detect and diagnose EHH with CEUS,which has a diagnostic value in detection of space-occupying lesions in hernia sac.CEUS can be used for EHH screening.

This paper deals with research and manufacture processes of the 8 millimeter wave therapeu- tic apparatus,the application to the clinical treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcer.

Objective To delineate the speculation that triple combination of small doses of calcium antagonist (levoamlodipine),the ACEI(imidapril)and the ARB(candesartan)may exert more significantly effect on mi- croalbuminuria(MAU)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.Methods One hundred sixty ca- ses of consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension were randomized to receive following vari- ous combinations:amlodipine 2.5 mg/candesartan 4 mg(n=40),candesartan 4 mg/imidapril 5 mg(n=40);imidapril 5 mg/amlodipine 2.5 mg(n=40),and amlodipine 2.5 mg/candesartan 4,mg plus imidapril 5 mg(n=40).The changes in blood pressure and MAU were determined before and after treatment.Results Four combinations of treatment all significantly lowered BP(P

Sugarcane stem is an ideal organ for producing foreign pharmaceutical proteins and chemicals by genetic engineering.A perfect promoter driving foreign gene to express strongly and specifically in sugarcane stem is necessary for this purpose.In order to isolate a Sugarcane stem-specific promoter,a fragment of 1968bp nucleotide sequence(Ppst2a)upstream 5' of sugarcane pst2a gene,which was demonstrated to express specifically in sugarcane stem previously was isolated by using chromosomal walking.Bioinformatical analysis of this sequence shows that the sequence contains some typical elements of a promoter.To identify the stem-specific of this promoter,a construct was derived from pCAMBIA1301,which original CaMV 35S promoter was replaced by the 1968bp nucleotide sequence,and named as pCAMBIA1900.Transformations of pCAMBIA1900 and pCAMBIA1301 to leaves and stem pieces of sugarcane were carried out by using particle bombardment.The transient expression of gus showed that the gus expressed specifically in sugarcane with a little higher level compared with CaMV 35S.It is the first report that pst2a promoter is a potential stem-specific promoter which can further be used in transgenes into sugarcane.

OBJECTIVETo better understand the molecular pathogenesis of cervical cancer, and provide novel means for clinical diagnosis and treatment of this malignancy.

METHODSThe gene chip data of cervical cancer were obtained from GEO database and statistically analyzed using BRB-ArrayTools to identify the genes related to cervical cancer with bioinformatics analysis using Panther software.

RESULTSThirty-seven differentially expressed genes were identified in cervical, cancer samples, including 23 up-regulated and 14 down-regulated genes. These genes were associated with the cell skeletons transporters and such processes as cell signal transduction, transcriptional control, cell adhesion, and cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONBioinformatics analysis can help with effective analysis of the gene chip data. The pathogenesis of cervical cancer involves abnormal expression of multiple genes, and these data may benefit further investigations of the early diagnosis and treatment of the malignancy.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo systematically assess the efficacy and safety of Rhodiola in treating chronic stable angina pectoris.

METHODSOur group searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), VIP database (VIP), Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CNKI) for the literature published in English and Chinese till April 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included on the therapeutic effect of Rhodiola or Rhodiola plus conventional Western medicine in comparison with the conventional Western medicine treatment on stable angina. Data were extracted according the data extraction form. The literature methodological quality was assessed by using the Cochrane handbook, and data analyzed by Rev-Man 5.2 Software for Meta-analysis. The effect indicators of outcomes was expressed by odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI.

RESULTSA total of 7 randomized controlled trials, 662 cases of stable angina pectoris patients met the inclusion criteria and all published in Chinese, without one scientific design and high quality literature. Compared with the conventional Western medicine treatment, combined with oral administration of Rhodiola could improve the efficiency of anti-angina (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.02 - 6.09). Combined with intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could also improve the efficacy of angina pectoris (OR = 4.86, 95% CI: 2.4 - 9.82). Oral administration of Rhodiola couldn't improve ECG efficacy (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67 - 2.34). Intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the clinical efficacy (OR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.61 - 5.35). Combined with the conventional treatment, intravenous infusion of Rhodiola could improve the whole blood viscosity (low and high shear rates) and inverse variance (IV) (-1.36 and -0.99, 95% CI: -1.65 - 1.07 and -1.26 - 0.71), but could not reduce serum fibrinogen and D-dimer level. The incidence rate of adverse reactions was higher than that of the conventional treatment combined with Rhodiola (OR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.51).

CONCLUSIONSOn the basis of routine treatment, Rhodiola could further improve patients' symptoms. Combined with intravenous medication, Rhodiola could increase the ECG improvement rate, and reduce adverse reactions. But the methodological quality of included studies was poor, the number of samples was small, and influence factors such as the intervention period was short. This conclusion needs scientific and rational design in a larger sample, multicenter clinical trial to verify.

Angina, Stable ; drug therapy ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Rhodiola ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to explore the regulatory function of interleukin-6(IL-6) on human Th17 cells. Human peripheral blood CD4(+) T cells were purified from healthy donors by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) conjugated microbeads. The experiment was divided into 2 groups. Test group in which CD4(+) T cells (1 × 10(6)/ml) were stimulated by human recombined IL-6 (20 ng/ml) for 4 days; control group in which CD4(+) T cells did not stimulated by IL-6. The concentrations of IL-17 protein in the supernatants were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and quantity of Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that as compared to control group, IL-17 protein level in the supernatants of CD4(+) T cells significantly increased in IL-6 stimulated group: (337.05 ± 189.09 pg/ml; vs 15.07 ± 12.70 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of Th17 cells in cultures of CD4(+) T cells stimulated by IL-6 was significantly higher than that in control group (4.05% ± 0.30% vs. 2.81% ± 0.44%)(p < 0.01). It is concluded that IL-6 promotes the expansion of Th17 cells in vitro.
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed