Such parameters of TiO2 nanoparticle by Sol-gel method are analyzed through X-ray and SEM as the gelation time,crystal structure,particle size and morphology.

Background Recently,there were many studies on corneal innervations during mammalian development.However,there were fewer studies on discussing corneal innervations before and after mouse eye openings.Objective The present study was to investigate the change in the regulation of corneal nerve fiber length and density before and after mouse eye openings to offer a basis for clinical research in human.Methods Thirty SPF C57BL/6 mice were divided into postnatal 1 day(P1 d),P7 d,P13 d(1 day before eye opening),P14 d(eye halfopened),P17 d(1 day after eye opening)and P23 d(7 day after eye opening)groups,with 5 mice and 10 eyes for each group.Entire corneal stretches were prepared and immunostaining with an anti-neuron-specific β-Ⅲ tubulin antibody was performed to label the corneal nerve fibers.Confocal microscopic pictures from the corneal dorsal-nasal region (DN),dorsal-temporal(DT),ventral-nasal region(VN)and ventral-temporal(VT)were taken using Delta Vision Core.From these pictures,the mouse corneal area,total length and density of nerve fibers in the 4 regions were calculated.The use of the animals complied with Statement of ARVO.Results Corneal areas of P1 d,P7d,P13 d,P14 d,P17 d and P23 d mice were(0.404±0.007),(1.362±0.154),(1.573±0.080),(1.603±0.046),(1.847±0.052),(2.445±0.798)mm2,respectively ; the total lengths of nerve fibers were(3.718±1.044),(19.065±3.350),(23.687±0.907),(27.309±2.477),(31.989±3.976),(41.214±1.573)mm,respectively ; the densities of nerve fibers were(9.592±1.138),(14.506±1.908),(15.088±1.241),(16.772±1.897),(16.821±2.102),(17.660±1.216)mm/mm2,respectively,all showing significant increases with age(F =22.906,P =0.000 ; F =0.424,P =0.000 ; F =2.375,P=0.000).A positive correlation of the increasing corneal areas and increasing lengths of nerve fibers was found(r=0.983,P＜0.01).Nerve fiber densities in the four corneal regions significantly increased with age(DN region:F =0.159,P =0.000 ; DT region:F =2.1 72,P =0.001 ; VN region:F =1.998,P =0.000 ; VT region:F=2.352,P=0.000).From P13 d to P14 d,the corneal nerve fiber densities in the DN region decreased by 6.0％ without significant difference(t =0.589,P =0.572); and the corneal nerve fiber densities in the DT region,VN region and VT region decreased by 4.6％,5.5％ and 0.1％,respectively,without significant difference from P14 d to P17 d(t=0.549,P=0.596;t=0.701,P=0.501 ;t=-0.100,P=0.919).Conclusions The development of nerve fibers in the whole cornea or the four corneal regions is influenced by eye opening in mouse to various extents.From P13 d to P14 d,the corneal nerve fiber densities in the DN region decreased by 6.0％ without significant difference.From P14 d to P17 d,the corneal nerve fiber densities in the DT region,VN region and VT region decrease by 4.6％,5.5％ and 0.1％,respectively,without significant difference.Afterwards,the growth of nerve fibers increased in pace and the growth rate is recovered.

AIM: To investigate the expression of iNOS in the lung of HPS rats treated with tumor necrosis factor-? monoclonal antibody(TNF-?-McAb) and to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of TNF-?-McAb on hepatopulmonary syndrome.METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing(250?25)g,were randomized to sham operation group,common bile duct ligation(CBDL) group and CBDL+TNF-? McAb treatment group.Histopathological changes of the lung tissue were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The mRNA expression of iNOS in the lungs of hepatopulmonary rats was examined by RT-PCR,while the changes of iNOS in the protein level were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.RESULTS: The inflammatory responses in the CBDL rats treated with TNF-?-McAb decreased than that in CBDL group.Compared to CBDL group,the distribution of iNOS protein and the mRNA expressions in the lung tissue in TNF-?-McAb group were inhibited.CONCLUSION: TNF-?-McAb inhibits the expression of iNOS and plays a role in the treatment of HPS.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors which influence the safety and prognosis of aorta replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coronary artery disease.

METHODSFrom May 1982 to October 2002, 67 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm were admitted, and 24 of them combined with CABG. Of the 24 patients, 9 received descending aorta replacement combined with CABG, and the other 15 received the ascending aorta replacement combined with CABG. The treatment results were compared with the other 43 patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement.

RESULTSThe mortality rate of the patients with aorta replacement combined with CABG was 13% (3/24). Though the descending aorta replacement combined with CABG could make the cardiopulmonary bypass time and selective cerebral perfusion time longer, (278 +/- 54) min and (188 +/- 59) min respectively, no significant difference was observed in postoperative complications, 3-year survival rate, 3-year-cardiac-event-free rate compared with the patients only undergoing the thoracic aortic replacement (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe aorta replacement combined with CABG can be performed safely, and the revascularization for coronary artery disease is useful for preventing occurrence of cardiac events.

Aorta, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; complications ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

ObjectiveTo investigate the concentration of water fluoride and the application of water defluoridation projects in Suizhou,and to provide a basis for water improvement and prevention of the disease.MethodsCross-sectional study was carried out to investigate completely the water defluoridation projects built between 1986 and 2009 in the area under Suizhou's jurisdiction; 3 source water and terminal water samples of the projects in use were collected,respectively; 1 water sample was collected,respectively in the 3 projects with out-ofcommission or discarded water sources that used to be major water supply,for detection of fluoride,chloride,total hardness,heavy metals and other indicators.ResultsA total of 21 projects were investigated,14 projects were in normal use (66.7％),7 projects were out of order and abandoned (33.3％).Of the 14 projects normally used,13projects with water fluoride concentration ≤ 1.0 mg/L(92.9％)and 1 project with water fluoride concentration higher than 1.0 mg/L(7.1％),the concentration of water fluoride in the 7 abandoned projects was higher than 1.0 mg/L(100％).Arsenic and lead levels of all the water samples were normal.There were two water samples with iron content exceeded the standard,and one total hardness of water samples exceeded the standard in the normally used 14 peripheral water sources.One chloride content exceeded the standard,one manganese content exceeded the standard,two iron content exceeded the standard and three total hardness exceeded the standard in the seven abandoned projects.ConclusionsSome defluoridation projects are stopped using and abandoned in Suizhou,and the water fluoride exceeds the standard.

Objective To evaluate the effects of a health education and behavior intervention project,and to provide.a scientific basis for brucellosis control.Methods By stratified cluster sampling method,target population from 6 township in Meilisi District were randomly selected to carry out baseline survey.Of these 6 townships 4 were selected as intervention townships,and two as control townships.A health education and behavior intervention program was carried out in intervention townships,and after intervention target population from 6 township were participated in the questionnaire survey.Results Awareness rate of common sense knowledge of farmers in intervention townships was 84.33％ (5237/6210) after intervention which was significantly higher than 53.56％ (2003/3740),before the intervention (x2 =112.49,P ＜ 0.01),and also higher than 54.15 ％ (1787/3300) of the control after the intervention (x2 =101.53,P ＜ 0.01).Average awareness rate(82.13％,2550/3105) of common sense on prevention after intervention was significantly higher than 58.77％(1099/1870) before the intervention (x2 =57.19,P ＜ 0.01).After intervention,average awareness rate of common sense on prevention was significantly higher than that of the average of control townships (70.36％,1161/1650,x2 =25.49,P ＜ 0.01).The awareness rate of treatment before intervention was 36.80％ (116/299),which increased to 76.36％ (436/571)after intervention (x2 =119.38,P ＜ 0.01).After the intervention the awareness rate of intervention townships was significantly higher than that of the controls (33.72％,88/261,x2 =139.69,P ＜ 0.01).In survey of these high-risk behavior in intervention townships,in addition to cattle and sheep which were regularly immunized in the intervention townships(35.91％,121/337),and the control townships(32.01％,97/303,x2 =1.08,P ＞ 0.05) and their difference was not significant,other processing such asapoblema,killing cattle,sheep,cattle to deliver,cutting the wool,regular disinfection,and accuracy of high-risk behavior protection were significantly higher than those of controls[89.83％(106/l18),91.07％(51/56),84.75％(150/177),66.67％(32/48),73.78％(242/328),51.22％(42/82),75.56％(34/45),33.69％(63/187),27.78％(15/54),21.63％(61/282),x2 value were 38.00,5.82,103.84,15.84 and 173.67,all P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion After implementation of health education and behavioral intervention,farmers brucellosis prevention knowledge and awareness of risk behaviors have significantly improved,which have achieved the desired effect.

Objective To construct eukaryotic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expressing recombinant plasmid, pEGFP-C1-hnRNP A1, which contains coding sequence of human hnRNP A1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleo-protein A1), and to perform cellular localization analysis of EGFP tagged hnRNP A1 under stress. Methods Total RNA was isolated from HeLa cell used for synthesis of first-strand cDNAs using reverse primers that are specific for the 3′-un-translated region of hnRNP A1. hnRNP A1 gene fragments were then amplified by touch-down PCR from those cDNAs and inserted into pEGFP-C1 fluorescent bearing vector through EcoRⅠ/BamHⅡdouble enzyme digestion and T4 DNA Ligase connection. The recombinant pEGFP-C1-hnRNP A1 plasmid was transfected into HeLa cells and green fluorescent tagged fusion proteins was examined by Western blot and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Co-localization of EGFP-hnRNP A 1 with poly (A)+mRNA (the marker of the stress granules), or DCP1a (the marker of processome) were detected by RNA fluores-cence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. Results The pEGFP-C1-hnRNP A1 was sequenced and digested cor-rectly by restriction single/double enzyme. The green fluorescent fusion protein was also detected in transfected HeLa cell by Western blot and confocal fluorescence microscopy. EGFP-hnRNP A1 co-localizes with poly(A)+mRNA, but not DCP1a. Conclusion Recombinant eukaryotic plasmid of pEGFP-C1-hnRNP A1 was constructed successfully and expressed effec-tively. EGFP tagged hnRNP A1 takes part in forming stress granules.

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

BACKGROUNDOsteosarcoma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of bone with poor prognosis. TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cytokine family. TRAIL induces apoptosis in various tumor cell lines but is not found to be cytotoxic to many normal cell types in vitro. We investigated the cytotoxic activity of TRAIL and chemotherapeutic agents, including methotrexate (MTX), doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin (CDDP), on established osteosarcoma cell line--S-732.

METHODSOS-732 cells were incubated with chemotherapeutic agents MTX, DOX and CDDP at various peak plasma concentrations (PPC), 0.1PPC, 1PPC and 10PPC, alone or with 100 ng/ml of TRAIL for 24 hours or 48 hours. MTT was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of different agents on OS-732. The apoptosis proportion was assayed by flow cytometry. Cellular morphologic changes were observed by phase contrast microscope, scan electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe inhibitory rate was (24.438 +/- 3.414)% with TRAIL of 100 ng/ml for 24 hours. The cells were responsive to DOX and CDDP with a dose-effect relationship (P < 0.05). In OS-732 cells, DOX and CDDP cooperated synergistically with TRAIL when incubated the cells with them for 24 hours (the combined inhibitory rate is (58.360 +/- 2.146)% and (54.101 +/- 2.721)%, respectively). TRAIL alone or drugs alone induced the apoptosis rate was less than 25% (P < 0.05). However, the combination of TRAIL and MTX did not present synergistic effects on OS-732 cells (P > 0.05, compared with TRAIL alone).

CONCLUSIONSOsteosarcoma OS-732 cells were not responsive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. DOX and CDDP sensitize osteosarcoma OS-732 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The combination of TRAIL and MTX presented no synergistic effects on killing OS-732 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Osteosarcoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; complications ; Spinal Stenosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Thorax ; Treatment Outcome