College of Stomatology of Wuhan University was the first dental school who introduced the Kavo head-simulator for clinical teaching.In this study,students of stomatology were investigated before and after head-simulator training and questionares were made.The results have showed that head-simulator teaching system not only raises the activity of student,consolidates the basic knowledge,develops the clinical thinking ability,but also increases the ability of clinical operational skill before clinical training.

AIMTo compare the influences of wood-cultured Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS-WC) and bag-cultured Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS-BC) on the proliferation activities of murine spleen lymphocytes in vitro, and investigate whether Gl-PS-BC can be substituted for Gl-PS-WC.

METHODSMixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reaction, lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A (Con A, 1 mg.L-1) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 mg.L-1), MLC reactions inhibited by immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporine A (CsA, 0.1 mg.L-1), mitomycin (Mit C, 0.1 mg.L-1), or antitumor drug, etoposide (VP-16, 0.1 mg.L-1), were detected in the presence or absence of Gl-PS-WC and Gl-PS-BC in the concentration range of 0.2-12.8 mg.L-1.

RESULTSTwo kinds of polysaccharides were shown to promote MLC in the range of 0.2-12.8 mg.L-1, increase lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A or LPS and antagonize the inhibitory effects of CsA, Mit C or VP-16 on MLC. No significant difference was observed between these two kinds of polysaccharides in selected concentrations.

CONCLUSIONGl-PS-WC and Gl-PS-BC showed similar effects on the proliferation activities of murine spleen lymphocytes in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cyclosporine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Reishi ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Spleen ; cytology ; Wood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of primary anterior radical debridement, bone autograft, and sacral rod fixation for the treatment of tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segment.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to November 2008,11 patients with tuberculosis of the lumbosacral segments received antituberculosis medications for 2 to 3 weeks before anterior radical debridement, autologous iliac bone grafting, and internal sacral rod fixation. Among the patients, 5 patients were male and 6 patients were female, with an average age of (44.45 +/- 8.50) years (ranged from 29 to 56 years). The average time from stage of onset to operation was 11 months (ranged from 8 to 15 months). All the patients presented with various degrees of lower back pain; one patient experienced preoperative lower extremity radicular pain, while 2 patients experienced saddle area anaesthesia. However, only 6 patients exhibited mild to moderate tuberculous toxic reactions. All the patients were evaluated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made with reference to clinical and radiological findings. Surgery was performed when the toxic symptoms of tuberculosis were controlled and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) decreased to (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h (25 to 54 mm/h). Lumbosacral angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, ESR, and neurological performance were assessed before and after surgery.

RESULTSAll surgical procedures were performed successfully without intra or postoperative complications. There were no instances of spinal tuberculosis recurrence. Patients were followed up for a mean of (19.64 +/- 5.43) months. The mean lumbosacral angle significantly increased from the preoperative mean (12.9 +/- 5.0) degrees to postoperative (21.5 +/- 6.1) degrees and at final follow-up (20.1 +/- 5.2) degrees (P < 0.001). The mean VAS scores and ESR significantly decreased from preoperative (7.3 +/- 1.2) score and (37.2 +/- 9.6) mm/h respectively to final follow-up (0.6 +/- 0.5) score and (10.5 +/- 2.3) mm/h respectively (P < 0.001). Bone fusion occurred in all patients at a mean of (9.0 +/- 1.9) months (ranged 6 to 12 months) after surgery. Three patients who had impaired neurological performance before surgery had normal neurological performance after surgery.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that anterior radical debridement, interbody fusion, and sacral rod fixation can be an effective treatment option for lumbosacral segment tuberculosis.

Adult ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sacrum ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery

The epidemiological survey of prevalence of NIDDM (non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) and IGT(impaired glucose tolerance)was conducted among 9450 residents aged 25～70 in some areas of Hubei Province, China. The results show that NIDDM and IGT prevalences are 2.62% and 4.48%, respectively. There is no significant difference between male and female (P>0.05). The NIDDM prevalence in cities is slightly higher than that in countryside, but the difference is not significant (P>0.05). However, the IGT prevalence in city is significantly higher than that in countryside (P<0.01). The prevalence of both NIDDM and IGT is increasing along with the age of the population. It is also significantly related to the family history of NIDDM, hypertension, and high body mass index (BMI). By using stepwise logistic regression to analyse the risk factors of NIDDM, age (OR=1.86),BMI(OR=2.69), family history (OR=2.84) and hypertension (OR=2.23) entered the model (significance level is α=0.05).

OBJECTIVETo further study the role of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in the pathogenesis of the type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODSHCMV DNA levels in sera from 29 type 2 diabetic patients and 23 controls were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and comparative analyses was made between HCMV DNA and T cell subsets, blood glucose (BG), insulin (Ins) and C peptide (C-P).

RESULTSThe levels of HCMV DNA were (1.81+/-1.67) x 10(8) copies/ml for type 2 diabetic patients, a level significantly higher than that (5.50+/-4.30) x 10(7) copies/ml of controls. The percentage of CD8 for type 2 diabetic patients with positive HCMV DNA was 29.53%+/-2.00%, being much higher than that for controls (27.13%+/-4.12%), while the ratio of CD4/CD8 1.24+/-0.05 was significantly lower than that 1.41+/-0.10 of controls. Fasting C-P of type 2 diabetic patients with positive HCMV DNA was far lower than that of those with negative HCMV DNA, but the differences of BG and Ins between the two groups were not significant.

CONCLUSIONActive HCMV infection of type 2 diabetic patients may suppress cellular immunity and its influence on the pathogenesis of the type 2 diabetes mellitus should be further studied.

Adult ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; immunology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; immunology ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence rate, pattern and affective factors of mental disorder due to brain damage. METHODS: According to CCMD-2-R, 388 subjects with traumatic brain damage in the Psychiatric Hospital of Huainan city within last 5 years were assessed by three psychiatrists 6 months to 1 year after brain injury. RESULTS: (1) 74.2% of the mental disordered due to brain injury have intellectual impairment, most of them is mild; (2) The intracranial hematoma, brain stem injury, brain injury extent, GCS, complicated mental disorder, and education have great effect on intellectual impairment; (3) There is an intimate relationship between the intellectual impairment and the brain stem injury, intracranial hematoma, GCS, brain injury extent, and unconsciousness time. There is an intimate relationship between the mental symptom and the brain injury extent, contusion and laceration of brain, frontal lobe injury, and intracranial hematoma. There is also an intimate relationship between the personality change and the frontal lobe injury, unfolding brain case treatment, and intracranial hematoma. CONCLUSION To assess overall mental disorder should rely on the characteristics of craniocerebral injuries.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Injuries/complications* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/etiology* ; Intelligence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mental Disorders/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor 4(KLF4) in gastric cancer, and its association with prognosis.

METHODSSurgical specimens were collected from 264 patients undergoing radical surgery between 2004 and 2009 in the Affiliated Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University. KLF4 mRNA level of specimens was detected by real-time PCR. KLF4 protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray, which contained primary gastric cancer, corresponding para-cancerous tissue, and paired lymph node metastases.

RESULTSReal-time PCR revealed that mRNA level of KLF4 was down-regulated in gastric cancer compared with paired normal gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray showed gastric cancer tissues had significantly lower KLF4 levels compared with paired normal gastric tissues. By univariate and multivariate analysis, KLF4 was a significant predictor of survival and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONKLF4 expression is significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer, and is an independent predictor of survival and recurrence.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism

Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

GL-PP-3A, an active polysaccharide peptide, was isolated and purified from Ganoderma lucidum, and then its structure was analyzed. Crude polysaccharide peptides were extracted from Ganoderma lucidum with hot water, precipitated with ethanol and then dialyzed from Ganoderma lucidum. Subsequently GL-PP-3A was isolated and purified from the crude polysaccharide peptides by fractional precipitation and chromatography of Bio-Gel P-10 column. The repetitive unit of GL-PP-3A was analyzed by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), monosaccharide composition and methylation analysis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. GL-PP-3A is a heteropolysaccharide which is composed mainly of glucose (Glc), and also contains saccharide residues such as rhamnose (Rha), xylose (Xyl), mannose (Man) and galactose (Gal) and 17 kinds of amino acids. Its weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular weight (Mn) were 1.7 x 10(4) and 1.1 x 10(4), respectively, with the ratio of Mw/Mn ( molecular weight distribution) being of 1.49. Its backbone chain is composed of 1,6-linked beta-D-Glcp and 1,3-liked beta-D-Glcp at a ratio of 2:1. Some of 1,6-linked glucose residuals of the backbone chain are substituted at 2-0 or 3-0, and there are 1 to 3 1,6-linked beta-D-Galp or 1,3-linked alpha-D-Manp in the branched chains, the nonreducing ends of which consist mainly of beta-D-Glcp and a few Rha.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucose ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Weight ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Proteoglycans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Rhamnose ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet