Presented in this study was the report of microencapsulated pancreatic B cell line MIN6 in agarose/polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSa) microbeads as a bioartificial pancreas. One week after subcutaneous xenotransplantation to Lewis rats without use of any immunosup-pressants, the microbeads microencapsulated MIN6 cells were retrieved. The retrieved microbeads were perfectly intact, spherical, smooth and contained viable MIN6 cells. Fibrotic overgrowth and adhesions were rarely observed. The results of the static incubation study revealed that the secretion of insulin from the retrieved microbeads in response to a low glucose concentration was 19.20 ± 1.35μU·100 microbeads-1 /h ; In response to a high glucose stimulation, secretion of insulin was significantly and prominently increased to 51.47±3.82μU·100 microbeads-1/h. The results suggested that this agarose/PSSa microbeads microencapsulated MIN6 cells as a bioartificial pancreas possessed not only an excellent efficacy of immunoisolation, but also a good responsibility of insulin secretion to glucose stimulation.

Objective To investigate the risk factors and management of retained common bile duct stones.Method The clinical data of 14 patients with retained common bile duct stones between 1994 and 2000 was statistically analyzed in comparison with 191 patients of the negative postoperative T tube cholangiography. Results Common bile duct stones were present in 20% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. In 7% of patients, stones were left in the bile ducts after common bile duct exploration. Statistically significant difference was observed in the age of the patient population, the percentage of associated acute cholangitis, the number of the stones present in common bile duct and the frequercy of the intraoperative choledochoscopy when compared retained bile duct stones with negative postoperative T tube cholangiography. Conclusions Retained common bile duct stones is related to age of the patient, the association of acute cholangitis, the number of the common bile duct stones and the operative choledochoscopy. Postoperative flexible choledochoscopy or endoscopic papillotomy is an effective method for managing patients with retained common bile duct stones.

Objective To investigate patients'cognition of social status of physicians and nurses,and find out the influence factors of it. Methods 286 patients were asked to finish serf-designed scale of social status of physicians and nurses. Results Most patients thought social status of nurses was above the middle level in our country.The majority of patients considered doctors " social status was higher than nurses'(approval rate 75.5% ).The nurses'economic treatment was lower than doctors' (approval rate 62.2% );About 14 items among 15 items on the occupational reputation,doctors" occupation cognition rate was higher than the nurses,the nurses' occupation cognition rate was higher than the doctors' occupation only on the item of labor intensity.The influence factors of the social status differences between physicians and nurses were economic treatment,the important degree of occupation,the professional authority,the requirement of specialized skills for workers. Conclusions To study the influence factors of the social status difference of physicians and nurses is beneficial for us to study the strategy of improving the nurses' social status in order to fulfil the viewpoint of science development,keep nurse troops developing continuously and set up the harmonious physician-nurse relationship.

0.05),the inhibitory rates in the other groups were increased compared with control group(P0.05),the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF in MCF-7 cells in the other groups were lower than that in negative control group(P

Objective To discuss the clinical presentations and imaging features of a novel avianorigin influenza (H7N9).Methods Anteroposterior chest radiographs and serial thin-section CT images in 5 patients with H7N9 were reviewed retrospectively by two radiologists,the predominant inaging patterns of lung abnormalities and clinical data were recorded and analyzed.Results The large consolidation of the right lung with air bronchograms was the most common radiographic appearance in all patients with H7N9 at admission,and the abnormalities were more severe in the bilateral lower lobes.Both lungs developed large,scattered consolidations and ground-glass opacities with the progression of disease.The lesions in the left lung were more rapidly absorbed than those in the right lung.Conclusion Influenza H7N9 has certain chest imaging characteristics in the onset,progression and recovery of disease.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1),insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and mean height standard deviation score(HtSDS) in recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)-treated small for gestational age (SGA) children.Methods 32 cases of SGA failed of catch-up growth were subcutaneously injected with rhGH every night before bed at a dose of 0.15-0.20u· kg-1 · d-1.And the variation of serum IGF-1,IGFBP-3,HtSDS,body height and growth velocity (GV) were monitored at 3,6,9 and 12 months of the treatment and compared.Results The GV (cm/years) increased to (12.4 ± 3.2),(11.0 ± 2.3),(10.1 ± 3.5),(9.4 ± 1.8) versus (4.1 ± 0.5) before treatment,suggesting a significant catch-up growth after treatment (F =51.35,P ＜ 0.01).Accordingly,HtSDS increased to (-2.55 ± 0.73),(-2.39 ± 0.65),(-2.21 ± 0.58),(-2.09 ± 0.94) versus (-2.81 ± 0.64),suggesting that height gaps were reduced compared to the normal children of the same age and sex after rhGH treatment (F =4.99,P ＜0.01).The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 were significantly increased compared to pre-treatment (F =34.52,14.04,all P ＜ 0.01),especially for serum IGF-1,which maintained at a high level after 3 months of treatment and up to peak after 6 months.However,the ratio of IGF-1/IGFBP-3 showed no increase after treatment (F =1.82,P ＞ 0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between the serum level of IGF-1 and △HtSDS after the rhGH treatment within six months (r3 =0.72,r6 =0.91),while there was no correlation between them after 9 months (r9 =0.26,r12 =0.33).There were no serious adverse events during the rhGH treatment.Conelusion The serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 were significantly increased after the rhGH treatment,especially for serum IGF-1.There was a significant positive correlation between the serum level of IGF-1 and △HtSDS within six months,but not after 9 months.The rhGH treatment could be a safe and effective strategy for SGA children.

Objective To investigate the changes of A20 expression stimulated by free fatty acids (FFA) and its pathway.Methods HepG2 cells and U937 cells were stimulated by 0.5 mmol/L mixed FFA.The expression of A20,phosphor-p65 and phosphor-IκBα of neclear factor (NF)-κB pathway and phosphor-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),JNK,phosphor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK),ERK,phosphor-p38 and p38 of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were detected by Western blotting.The level of interleukin (IL)-12p,IL-1β,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,IL-6,IL-10 and IL-8 cytokines in the supernatant of cell culture were detected by flow cytometry.T-test was performed for statistical analysis.Results The level of A20 changed along with the stimulated time of FFA.NF-κB and MAPK pathways were activated after FFA stimulation.The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 increased after HepG2 cells stimulated by FFA and both reached peak at 24 hour.Compared with control group,the difference in IL-8 was statistically significant ((423.8 ± 8.9) pg/mL vs (12.4 ± 4.5) pg/mL,t=41.28,P＜0.01).The difference in IL-6 was also statistically significant ((4 082±423.6) pg/mL vs (52.9±29.5) pg/mL,t=9.49,P＜0.01).After U937 cells were stimulated by FFA,the secretion of IL-8 increased compared with control group.And in a certain period of time the secretion was time dependence.The maximum secretion of 24 hours was (200.6±5.7) pg/mL vs (5.0±3.9) pg/mL,and the difference was statistically significant (t=28.16,P＜0.01).IL-10,IL-12p,IL-1β and TNF-α were detected.Both NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were detected.Conclusions The in vitro FFA mediated steatotic cell model could induce the expression change of A20 and secretion of inflammatory cytokines.NF-κB and MAPK pathways involved in the response to FFA in HepG2 cells and U937 cells.

Objective: To examine the correlation between anxiety and perceived stress among medical personnel in a tertiary specialized cancer hospital, so as to provide the evidence for improving psychological health among medical personnel. Methods: In-service doctors, nurses and technicians were sampled from a tertiary specialized cancer hospital, and their demographics, perceived stress and sources of stress were collected using self-designed questionnaires. Anxiety was evaluated using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the associations of anxiety with perceived stress and source of stress were examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total 800 questionnaires were allocated and 655 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 81.88%. The respondents included 160 men (24.43%) and 495 women (75.57%), and 297 respondents (45.34%) were at ages of 30 to 39 years. There were 14 respondents with no or low level of stress (2.14%), 245 with general level of stress (37.40%), 289 with high level of stress (44.12%), and 107 with extremely high level of stress (16.34%). The prevalence of anxiety was 36.64% among respondents. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified perceived stress at work (OR=2.205, 95%CI: 1.657-2.675), doctor-patient relationship (OR=2.259, 95%CI: 1.561-3.282) and interpersonal relationship (OR=2.272, 95%CI: 1.387-3.693) as a factor affecting anxiety among medical personnel. Conclusion The anxiety correlates with stress at work, doctor-patient relationship and interpersonal relationship among medical personnel in a tertiary specialized cancer hospital.

OBJECTIVETo prepare the controlled-release delivery gutta-percha points containing metronidazole compound (CDGMC) and to determine its release rate in vitro.

METHODSThe drug points were made by using compound drugs and gutta-percha as a carrier, and CDGMC were prepared followed by enveloping a release membrane outward. The best formula was selected according to the release parameters of the drugs extracted in the release experiments in vitro. The CDGMC were placed into the extracted teeth after root canals were routinely prepared. The non-drug CDGMC was used as the control. The absorbency of the drugs in normal saline (37 degrees C, pH 7.4) was determined timely. The percentage of release and cumulated release of the drugs were calculated according to the concentrations of drugs in medium.

RESULTSThe in vitro experiments showed that this system contained 1,880 micrograms of metronidazole and 267 micrograms of ciprofloxacin. The experiments in healthy single root canal showed that the drug release amounts around the perioapical area were metronidazole 88.54 micrograms/ml and ciprofloxacin 9.05 micrograms/ml in 10 days.

CONCLUSIONCDGMC can continuously release effective drug concentrations more than 10 days and could be considered as an ideal method for clinical application.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Ciprofloxacin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Gutta-Percha ; Humans ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Root Canal Therapy ; methods

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and the risk factors of acute mechanical small bowel obstruction in adults.Methods:The clinical data of 487 adult patients with acute mechanical small bowel obstruction treated in Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University from June 2010 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 259 cases of strangulated obstruction (strangulation group) and 228 cases of non-strangulated obstruction (simple group). The cases in the strangulation group were confirmed by operation or pathology, the cases in the simple group were confirmed by non-operative therapy ( n=167) or operation ( n=61). The clinical data, including age, abdominal pain, vomiting, tenderness, rebound pain and muscle defense; the CT signs, including transitional zone, dilatation of intestinal loop, high density of intestinal wall; laboratory test results, including white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed in both groups. Univariate and multivariate regression were used to identify risk factors of strangulated small bowel obstruction. Results:There were significant significances in gender (male vs.female: χ2=4.35, OR=0.67), rebound pain (χ2=170.98, OR=45.12), muscle tension(χ2=113.79, OR=29.32), American Society of Anesthesiologists score (ASA score)≥3 (χ2=12.94, OR=51.58), white blood cell count ( t=6.19, OR=1.14), LDH ( t=2.37, OR=1.00), CRP ( t=2.23, OR=1.01), albumin ( t=2.04, OR=0.97), mesenteric fluid sign (χ2=49.44, OR=5.40), increased bowel wall density (χ2=222.78, OR=62.66), bowel wall thickening sign (χ2=43.81, OR=3.49), ascites (χ2=237.29, OR=43.01), beak sign (χ2=231.50, OR=56.62), mesenteric fat stranding (χ2=242.65, OR=34.90), and stranding sign(χ2=224.79, OR=53.48) between strangulation group and simple group ( P<0.01). The multivariate regression analysis showed that mesenteric fluid sign ( OR=12.94), muscle tension ( OR=7.28), ascites ( OR=6.42), increased bowel wall density ( OR=4.30), bowel wall thickening sign ( OR=1.85), white blood cell count ( OR=1.14) and gender (male vs. female: OR=0.50) were risk factors of strangulated small bowel obstruction. Conclusion:In acute mechanical small bowel obstruction,for female patients presenting mesenteric fluid sign, muscle tension, ascites, increased bowel wall density, bowel wall thickening sign and increased white blood cell count, the strangulated obstruction is likely to occur.