Objective To investigate the effect of nanotubes on rat aortic endothelium damage.Methods Wistar rats were intratracheally instilled with carbon nanotubes(CNTs) at the doses of 0,3.5 and 17.5 mg/kg,and with a carbon black negative control,or a quartz positive control.The rats were euthanized after 7 or 30 days of the single treatment,the oxidative stress(GSH,O_2~-?) was determined by using biochemical kits,the expression of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in serum was determined by using ELISA kits and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on aortic endothelium was determined with immunohischemistry.Results The content of GSH and O_2~1?in serum increased with a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.A up-regulated expression of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in serum and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the aortic endothelium was seen.No vascular damage was seen in the rat treated with carbon black,in those treated with high-dose CNTs obvious inflammation was revealed.Conclusion Carbon nanotubes exposure can induce oxidative stress which may be followed by the up-regulated expression of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in serum and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the aortic endothelium,and then the endothelium disfunction may occur.

Objective To understand the pollution of particulate matters and the distribution of heavy metals in particulate matters. Methods Samples were collected with auto-sampling instrument for 32 consecutive days in heating period of Dec. 2003-Jan,2004, in a central area of Tianjin. The heavy metals were detected with atomic absorption spectrum, atomic fluorescence spectrum and plasma emission spectrum, 9 heavy metals were measured quantitatively. Results The rates of over standards for daily mean of TSP, IP, PM2.5 in heating period were 54.55%, 57.58%, 84.85% respectively. Content of some heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Ni in the particulate matters were higher. Conclusion Air pollution with particulates in heating period is serious. PM2.5 carries more heavy metals than TSP and IP, so it is much more harmful to human health.

Objective To evaluate the anatomical and functional results of retinotomy in treatment of complicated retinal detachment. Methods Twenty three eyes were treated with retinectomy during vitrectomy for complicated retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy when complete reattachment of retina was not obtained despite careful mambrane peeling. After released the peripheral vitreoretinal contraction or pulled subretinal membranes, perfluorocarbon liquid injection, laser retinopexy and silicone oil tamponade were performed. Retinotomy size ranged from 30 degree to 360 degree (average 132 degree). Results Retinal attachment were obtained in all of the operated eyes at the end of the operation. Silicone oil was removed from 15 eyes (65.0%) within 3～11 months postoperatively. After a minimum follow up of 6 months, the retinae were completely attached in 17 eyes ( silicone oil was not removed in 4 eyes ) and visual acuity of 0.02 or better was obtained in 11 eye (48.0%). Recurrent retinal detachment occurred in 2 eyes in which the silicone oil had been removed. The major complications were recurrence of the proliferation in 6 eyes (26.0%) and hypotony in 3 eyes (13.0%). Conclusion Retinotomy is beneficial to reattach the retina for eyes with advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy in seemingly inoperable cases.

Objective To conduct a Meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interfer on-α for treating HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B in children.Methods PubMed and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched from the beginning to April 2006,and the references of eligible studies were manually screened.Randomized controlled trials published in the English and Chinese literature comparing interferon-α with non-antiviral interventions(placebo or no treatment)in children with chronic hepatitis B were eligible for inclusion.Studies were included if patients were treated for at least 3 months and followed up for at least 6 months after cessation of therapy.Two investigators independently assessed the quality and extracted the data.The methodological quality of trails was assessed by the Jadad-scale plus allocation concealment.Heterogeneity was examined by Chi-square test.Fixed effects model or random effects model was used to pool the data.Sensitivity analyses were used in the treatment course.Results Seven randomized controlled studies with a total of 360 child chronic hepatitis B virus carriers who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen werc identified.It was found by Meta-analysis that,compared with the control,at the end of therapy,interferon-α could significantly clear HBeAg[22.1%vs 6.7%,OR 3.56,95% CI(1.74, 7.28),P=0.000 5],HBV DNA[33.7% vs 12.6%,OR 3.50,95% CI(2.03,6.06),P＜0.01], HBsAg [6.5% vs 0.5%,OR 7.10,95% CI(1.52,33.12),P=0.01],and achieve HBeAg seroconversion [17.3% vs 2.9%,OR 5.62,95% CI(1.65,19.18),P=0.006],but was not more effective in HBsAg seroversion[2.0% vs 0,OR 3.55,95%CI(0.35,35.93),P=0.28]and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)normalization[24.2% vs 16.2%,OR 1.72,95% CI(0.84,3.52), P=0.14].Conclusions Interferon a may be efficacious in clearance of HBeAg,HBV DNA and HhsAg, and achievement of HBeAg seroversion.Little evidence is available on HBsAg seroversion and ALT normali zation.Rigorously designed large sample size randomized double blind clinical trials with large sample size are required to further confirm and support the conclusion.

BACKGROUND: Fibrous scaffolds prepared by electrospinning possess similar structure to extracellular matrix, and exhibit convenience in introducing bioactive ceramics into polymer matrices, which have distinct superiority in making bone tissue scaffolds materials.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the bioactivity of gas-jet/electrospun nanosized hydroxyapatite (nHAP)/poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) scaffolds for being used as bone tissue engineering scaffolds.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The in vitro cytology experiment was performed at the State Key Laboratoty of Oral Diseases,Sichuan University between March 2008 and April 2009.MATERIALS: The gas-jet/electrospun PHB and 10% nHAP/PHB scaffolds were prepared.METHODS: Rats bone marrow-derived mescenchymal stem cells were incubated on the nHAP/PHB scaffolds were served as experimental group, incubated on the PHB scaffolds were as control group, and cells incubated on cell culture plate were consided to be blank control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mRNA transcript expression of bone-related markers, including alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, and osteocalcin, were quantified utilizing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at day 14 after culture.RESULTS: After 14 days, the bone-related markers were expressed in three groups, and had higher transcript levels in the cells cultured on the nHAP/PHB scaffolds than those on the PHB scaffolds and cell culture plate.CONCLUSION: The gas-jet/electrospun nHAP/PHB scaffolds present good bioactivity in vitro and have the potential to be used in bone tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND:Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) is approved as its excel ent biocompatibility, biodegradability and piezoelectric properties, but there are also some deficiencies, such as high breakability and poor hydrophilicity. METHODS:Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) was mixed with different mass percentages of nanohydroxyapatite (0, 10%, 20%and 30%) to prepare new composite fibrous scaffolds through electrospinning process. The microstructure, group composition, crystal ine phase distribution, thermal properties and surface wettability of the scaffolds were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the scanning electron microscope, with the increase of nano-hydroxyapatite content, more and more nano-hydroxyapatite particles were distributed evenly on the composite fiber surface;the fiber surface was basical y covered with nano-hydroxyapatite particles at the content of 30%, and the roughness of the fiber surface also increased. Results from differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction showed that the nano-hydroxyapatite reduced the crystal inity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and the crystal tacticity, and this phenomenon became more evident with the increase of nano-hydroxyapatite content. Additional y, the higher the content of nano-hydroxyapatite content, the lower the contact angle and the higher the hydrophily. These findings indicate that the nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) ultrafine-fibrous scaffold using electrospinning technology can effectively improve the surface wettability and crystal inity of the material as wel as the material hydrophily and brittleness, and the higher the content of nano-hydroxyapatite, the more obvious the effect.

Objective To establish an animal model to study endometriosis. Methods Six female Bama miniature pigs that were sexually mature were chosen and their endometrial tissues were acquired surgically. The endometrial tissues were implanted to abdominal cavity and subcutaneous tissues. Results The ectopic endometria in the implant location formed mass or cyst that was verified pathologically to be similar to normal endometrial tissues. Conclusion The establishment of ectopic endometriosis in Bama miniature pigs is successful, which provides an ideal model for further therapeutic study of endometriosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA)on the endometriosis established in Bama miniature pigs.Methods Six Bama pigs that had been successfully established into animal model of endometriosis subcutaneously received 3% NDGA at dose of 20 mg/kg(n=4)or PBS solution(n=2)for 20 d.The grafts in abdominal cavity and subcutaneous tissues were observed and the serum concentrations of hormone,were measured by chemiluminoimmunoassay before and after the period of NDGA or PBS injection.The expressions of FⅧAg and VEGF in the endometriotic tissues were observed.Results The endometriotic masses were reduced to some degree after the time period of NDGA injection,even partially disappeared,while those treated with PBS showed no obvious changes.Histoimmunochemical analysis showed NDGA decreased the number of endometrial glands,the proliferation rate of the glandular epithelial cells,the endometrial stroma cells and the vessels,and inhibited the microvascular density and VEGF in the endometriotic tissues(P