Objective To implement visualization and surgical simulation of female pelvis based on virtual reality. Methods The successive cross-section images of pelvic part from a Chinese Visible Human (CVH) dataset were adopted. The important organs in pelvis were segmented initially. Then the VRML-based visualization and Dextrobeam-based virtual surgery simulation were carried out. Results A networked pelvic model and a surgical model were constructed with virtual reality techniques. The organs and structures in pelvis could be displayed clearly and the simulated surgical operations could be performed. Conclusion The application of virtual reality techniques can facilitate the anatomical teaching and surgery design. More significantly, a realistic practice platform will be provided for medical education and training.

Objective To explore the relationship between the inflammatory reaction and insulin function in children with critically ill.Me-thods Ninty-six children with critical disease in Oct.2003 to Oct.2006 were enrolled in the study.Blood sugar,plasma insulin,C-peptide,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,C reactive protein(CRP)were measured in the peak period and convalescence.Results Blood sugar and plasma levels of insulin,C-peptide,TNF-?,CRP were significantly higher in the peak period than those in the convalescence(Pa

As a depot drug delivery system, injectable polylactide-polyglycolide (PLGA) sustained-release microspheres have been successfully used to treat many diseases since the first microsphere product Lupron depot was approved for marketing in the United States in 1989. It has the ability of long-term release in the body for several days to several months, which can not only reduce the times of administration, but also reduce the drug blood concentration fluctuations, significantly improve the safety and patient compliance. In vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) makes the development of microspheres more possible. It can describe the dynamic information of drug release in vivo through the in vitro release behavior of microspheres, and can reduce the workload of each stage and shorten the time span while characterizing the performance of microspheres. IVIVC can provide guidance or support for drug development, production changes, supervision and management. This article summarizes the release mechanism of injectable PLGA sustained-release microspheres, common measurement methods and theories of in vitro and in vivo release. And we also focus on the establishment and application of IVIVC, especially A level IVIVC in the field of microsphere preparations, to provide a reference for further study on in vitro-in vivo correlation of microspheres.

Aim The expression of NF-?B activation and the effect of antioxidant (N- acetylcysteine, NAC) on NF-?B activity in human airway epithelial cell was assessed. Methods Using the TNF-?,the airway epithelial cell strains of normal subject(16HBE) and tumor patient (H292) was activated and using Western-Blot and ELISA the expression of NF-?B and IL-8 were detected. Results It was found that the activity of NF-?B could be stimulated by the TNF-? and increase with the amount of TNF-? with the peak occurring at 2 to 4 hours after stimulation and then decreasing at six hours. At the same time, the level of IL-8 was elevated, but decreased with inhibition of NF-?B activity by NAC, that means the action of NAC has a dose-dependent effect. Conclusion NAC not only blocks the signal transmission activated by NF-?B, but also anticipates the transcription modulation of expression of many cell factors and inflammatory mediums. It suggests that NAC may play a role in the anti-inflammatory treatment of respiratory diseases.

AIMTo observe the behavior in learning and memory and the expression of c-fos gene from the brain of rats induced by beta-AP25-35, and the intervention of ecdysterone, in order to explore the protective mechanism of ecdysterone on the dysfunction of learning and memory of the rat induced by beta-AP25-35.

METHODSMicroinjection of beta-AP25-35 into hippocampus induced learning and memory dysfunction of rats. The learning and memory of rats were observed by Morris Water Maze. The expression of c-fos gene in the brain was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe results of Morris Water Maze showed that after rats were microinjected beta-AP25-35 into hippocampus, the rats in model group took longer latency and searching distance compared with the ones in control group (P < 0.01), and the rats in treated group (ECR 4 mg x kg(-1), ECR 8 mg x kg(-1) and nimodipine 7.2 mg x kg(-1)) took shorter latency and searching distance, especially the ECR 8 mg kg(-1) group (P < 0.01). At the same time, after the 5 days training, there was a higher expression of c-fos in hippocampus and cortex from the rats in control group than that in model group (P < 0.01), but in the treated group, there was a relatively higher expression of c-fos, especially the ECR 8 mg x kg(-1) group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMicroinjection of beta-AP25-35 into the rat hippocampus resulted in dysfunction of learning and memory. Ecdysterone was shown to improve the learning and memory of the rats and increase the expression of c-fos. Increasing the expression of c-fos is probably one of the most molecular mechanism of its protection.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Animals ; Ecdysterone ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, fos ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Microinjections ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDHaikou locates in tropical island with unique mite propagation. The aim of this stuy is to determine mite allergens levels in Haikou, and to investigate the prevalence of mite specific IgE-sensitization and IgE cross-reactivity between house dust mites.

METHODSAllergen and antigen concentrations against six mite species were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Specific IgE concentrations and cross-inhibitions were measured with ADVIA Centaur(®).

RESULTSAllergen or antigen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 1), Blomia tropicalis (Blo t) and Tyrophagus putrescentia (Tyr p) were detected in dust samples. Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f 1), Lepidoglyphus destructor (Lep d 2), and Acarus siro (Aca s) were found in very few samples. Specific IgE tests showed high prevalence of sensitizations against all tested mites with high IgE levels to Der p, Der f, and Blo t. Storage mites, Blo t, Tyr p, Lep d, and Aca s, could inhibit Der p from 0 to 50%. Storage mites could inhibit Der f between 30% and 100%. Der p IgE could be inhibited by Der f with up to 90%, and vice versa. Der p could inhibit Blo t from 40% to 80%. Blo t was able to fully inhibit IgE binding to Lep d, Tyr p, and Aca s compared to partial inhibition by Der p.

CONCLUSIONSDer p is the dominating mite and has the highest specific IgE prevalence among asthmatic children. Blo t represents an important source of storage mite sensitization and some patients may be independently sensitized to both Der p and Blo t. High prevalence of sensitization to Der f may be due to IgE-mediated cross-reactivity with Der p and Blo t.

Adolescent ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; Allergens ; analysis ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; analysis ; Arthropod Proteins ; analysis ; Asthma ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross Reactions ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; analysis ; Dust ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; immunology ; Mites ; immunology

Objective To observe the effects of abdominal penetrating moxibustion combined with acupuncture at the"four chong points"on balance,walking function and trunk control in patients recovering from stroke.Methods Seventy-eight patients recovering from stroke were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 39 patients in each group.The control group was given conventional rehabilitation exercises,while the observation group was given abdominal penetrating moxibustion combined with acupuncture at the"four chong points"on the basis of the control group.Both groups were treated for 2 consecutive months.After 2 months of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the Berg Scale score and the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT)were observed before and after treatment.The changes in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)scores were compared before and after treatment between the two groups.The Sheikh Trunk Control Scale scores were also evaluated.Results(1)The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.87%(37/39),and the total effective rate of the control group was 80.00%(31/39),and the efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the Berg scores of the patients in the two groups were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the Berg scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the TUGT time and NIHSS score of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the TUGT time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group,and the NIHSS score was lower than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the Sheikh trunk control scores of the two groups were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the Sheikh trunk control score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Abdominal penetrating moxibustion method combined with acupuncture at the four chong points for the treatment of stroke recovery can effectively restore the patients'balance and walking function,improve the patients'trunk control ability,and the therapeutic effect is precise.

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Time Factors

AIM:To investigate the ameliorative effect of salvianolic acid B on vasodilatory function in diabetic rats and the possible mechanisms.METHODS:SD rats(n=40)were fed on high-sugar and high-fat diet for 4 weeks, followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(40 mg/kg).The rats with random blood glucose level over 16.7 mmol/L were considered diabetic and randomly allocated to 3 groups, namely model group, low dose(80 mg· kg-1· d-1)of salvianolic acid B group and high dose(160 mg· kg-1· d-1)of salvianolic acid B group.The rats in salvianolic acid B groups were intragastrically administered with corresponding doses of salvianolic acid B for 6 weeks. Vasodilatory function was measured as endothelium-dependent and-independent vasodilation of the aortic rings.The primary histopathological changes of aorta were observed by HE staining.Serum levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis fac-tor-α(TNF-α)and C-reactive protein(CRP)were measured by ELISA.The levels of total antioxidant capacity,malondi-aldehyde(MDA)and nitric oxide(NO)in aortic tissues were evaluated by colorimetric assays.The protein levels of inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)and monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1), and the activation of nuclear fac-tor-κB(NF-κB)were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Treatment with salvianolic acid B evidently ameliorated endothelium-dependent diastolic function and pathological changes of aorta in diabetic rats(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Sup-plementation with salvianolic acid B resulted in significant increases in NO content and total antioxidant capacity in aortic tissues,accompanied by marked decreases in the level of MDA in aorta tissues and the serum levels of IL -6, TNF-αand CRP(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Salvianolic acid B markedly down-regulated NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and protein expression of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 in aorta tissues(P<0.05 or P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Salvianolic acid B effectively ameliorates endothelium-dependent diastolic function of aorta in diabetic rats, which might be attributed to suppression of NF-κB activation and subsequent expression of inflammatory cytokines.The beneficial effect of salvianolic acid B on vascu-lar endothelium might be derived from its antioxidant capacity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its risk factors in population over 40 years old in northern part of Guangdong province.

METHODSUsing uniform scheme, procedures and questionnaire, a cluster-randomized-sampling survey for the population aged over 40 years in a rural area of Shaoguan in the northern part of Guangdong province was performed. Spirometry was performed for every participant, followed by a bronchodilatation test when bronchial obstruction was present.

RESULTSThere were 1468 cases with complete data from 1498 people aged >or= 40 years including 640 males, 828 females with an average age of 54.3 years old. The total prevalence of COPD was 12.0%. The prevalence of COPD in males was significantly higher than that in females (18.3% vs. 7.1%, P < 0.01). Only 80.7% of the patients with COPD presented one or more symptoms as cough, phlegm, or dyspnoea. Underdiagnosis of COPD would be quite serious. Only 26.1% of the cases was previously diagnosed to have chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or COPD. Smoking was an important risk factor to COPD and 78.4% of the patients with COPD were smokers. However, relation of biomass and COPD called for further investigation.

CONCLUSIONPrevalence of COPD was much higher than expected in the northern part of Guangdong while smoking was an most important risk factor of COPD. Lung function test seemed to be of great importance to COPD diagnosis, especially in the earlier period of COPD.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires