Age of Onset ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology

Objective To investigate the 5-and 10-year survival and complications of patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma treated by pre-operative photon radiotherapy (POPRT) plus brachytherapy (192Ir) and selective lymphadenectomy hysterectomy (SLH) plus intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT). Methods From February 1997 to May 2007, 160 patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma were treated by POPRT of 20 Gy in 10 fractions to the whole pelvis, 192Ir brachytherapy of 14 Gy in 2fractions, followed by IOERT of 18 -20 Gy to the whole pelvis during SLH one week after. Results The follow-up rate was 98.1%. The number of patients followed-up for 5 and 10 years was 143 and 135,respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate and local control rate of all patients were 89.4%, 86. 3% and 96. 3%, with the corresponding 10-year rates of 84.4%, 81.0% and 95.0%,respectively. The radiation-induced rectitis and cystitis were 5.0% and 0. 6%, respectivly. The rate of hydronephrosis and lower extremity edema was 6. 3% and 1.3%, respectively. Conclusions Combination of EBRT plus 192Ir brachytherapy and SLH plus IOERT could improve the survival and local control of patiens with cervical carcinoma, with only a few side effects.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of Ki-67, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 in simple benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and BPH combined with prostatitis,and to evaluate the effect of inflammation on the development and progression of BPH. METHODS: All specimens were obtained from patients undergoing surgical resection of the prostate. The paraffin section of the specimens was stained with hemotoxyline and eosin, and observed under light microscope to examine the inflammation hispathological changes. Sixteen patients with simple BPH (Group A) and 42 patients with BPH combined with prostatitis (Group B) were included. Immunohistochemical analysis and Western blot were used to examine the expression of Ki-67, Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. RESULTS: The expression of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 was significantly higher in Group B than that in Group A (P<0.05), and caspase-3 expression was significantly lower (P<0.05). There was no difference in Bax expression between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Prostatitis can up-regulate Ki-67, Bcl-2 expression, and down-regulate the expression of caspase-3 in BPH. Prostatitis appeared to play an important role in the development of BPH by affecting the proliferation and apoptosis of the prostatic cells.
Aged ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; complications ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; Up-Regulation ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; biosynthesis

Female ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Vitiligo ; complications ; drug therapy

The aim of the research is to investigate the genetic characteristics of Legionella pneumophila serogroup1 (LP1)in Sichuan Province.The sequence-based typing (SBT) and multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) were used to describe the genetic polymorphism of 42 strains which were isolated from 1989-2016 in Sichuan Province,China.According to the reference,PCR was used to detect the 8-VNTR loci and 7 housekeeping genes respectively.The VNTR results were determined by using capillary electrophoresis,and the SBT results were sequenced and compared with the database of EWGLI.Results showed that totally 42 stains were divided into 8 MLVA types with the advantage types were M08 (47.6 ％) and M07 (23.8 ％).Twelve ST types were obtained with 3 main clonal complex and 2 singleton,including 2 novel ST types,among those,ST1 was the predominant type,accounting for 52.3 ％,following by ST630 (14.2 ％).In conclusion,our results demonstrated MLVA and SBT were both applied to the research for molecular epidemiological investigation of LP1 and showed the high genetic polymorphism and the regional specificity.The results also suggest that the isolates are a potential threat to the public,effective control and prevention strategies are urgently needed.

The changes of microRNA expression in rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were explored. Adult SD rats received a single controlled cortical impact injury, and the ipsilateral hippocampus was harvested for the subsequent microarray assay at three time points after TBI: 1st day, 3rd day and 5th day, respectively. We characterized the microRNA expression profile in rat hippocampus using the microRNA microarray analysis, and further verified microarray results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 using quantitative real-time PCR. Totally 205 microRNAs were identified and up-/down-regulated more than 1.5 times. There were significant changes in 17 microRNAs at all three time points post-TBI. The quantitative real-time PCR results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 indicated good consistency with the results of the microarray method. MicroRNAs altered at different time points post-TBI. MiR-142-3p and miR-221 may be used as potentially biological markers for TBI assessment in forensic practice.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of brain cognition function in severe head injury and the correlation between P300 in event-related potential (ERP) and intelligence quotient (IQ). METHODS: Auditory P300 was measured and intelligence quotient was tested by Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised in China (WAIS-RC) in 40 severe head injury patients. Auditory P300 was measured in 40 normal healthy people as control group. RESULTS: The latencies of P300 in severe head injury patients group were longer than in control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P< 0.01). There were significant negative correlations between P300 latency and VIQ and FIQ respectively (r=-0.335,-0.344, P<0.05). CONCLUSION ERP might be taken as an objective index for measuring the change of the brain cognition function in patients with severe head injury.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cognition ; Craniocerebral Trauma/psychology* ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Female ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reaction Time ; Trauma Severity Indices ; Wechsler Scales ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the protective effects of Sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group): model group (placebo), positive control group (27 mg/kg of Captopril Tablets), Sapindus saponins groups (27 mg/kg and 108 mg/kg, respectively). Another 8 healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for 8 weeks. Blood pressure of rats was determined by non-invasive blood pressure meter (BP-6). Furthermore, the contents of angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma and myocardial tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the gene expression of receptor angiotensin type 1 (AT1R) in aorta was determined by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and AT1R in heart was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression of p-phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) was determined by Western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. And the histopathological and morphological changes of aorta and heart tissue samples were assessed semi-quantitatively by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) or Masson staining.

RESULTSThirty minutes after single or continuous treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced significantly in Sapindus saponins groups. And the contents of AngII, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, the expression of AT1R mRNA, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 were significantly suppressed dose-dependently (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the Sapindus saponins treatment, compared with those of the model group, the cardiac and aortic pathological changes were ameliorated significantly.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that Sapindus saponins might have protective effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of which might be relevant to the regulation of inflammatory responses mediated by p-p38MAPK signal pathway based on activated Ang II and AT1R.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sapindus ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiinflammatory activities of aqueous extract of Occimum gratissmium (OGE) with emphasis on expression of proinflammatory cytokines in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated epithelial cell BEAS-2B.

METHODSEffects of OGE on cell viability were determined by MTT assay. mRNA expression were analyzed by and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR. Activation of kinase cascades was investigated by immunoblot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSOGE (<200 μg/mL) treatment or pretreatment and following LPS exposure slightly affected viability of BEAS-2B cells. Increase of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 and the elevated level of intracellular ROS in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells were diminished by OGE pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner. OGE suppressed inflammatory response-associated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Akt activation. Additionally, OGE pretreatment increased level of cellular inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) and inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB).

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that significant suppression of IL-6 and IL-8 expressions in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells by OGE may be attributed to inhibiting activation of MAPKs and Akt and consequently suppressing nuclear translocation of NF-κB.

Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cytosol ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Intracellular Space ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Ocimum ; chemistry ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Respiratory System ; cytology ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of methylene blue on the growth and acid production of Streptococcus mutans, and the effect of methylene blue on acid production metabolism in plaque glycolysis model (i-PGM) in vitro, and investigate the practicability of methylene blue as a new kind of dental caries prevention agent.

METHODSNephelometer method was used to measure OD value of Streptococcus mutans culture fluid in the different incubation conditions. The kinds and quantities of acid produced by Streptococcus mutans in the different incubation conditions were measured with gas chromatography. pH values of glycolysis buffer media of i-PGM in the different treatment conditions were measured by ORION electrode.

RESULTS(1) The OD value of Streptococcus mutans treated by methylene blue was lower than that by normal saline, and there was significant statistical difference between them. (2) The kinds of acid in three different culture fluid were same, but the total quantities of acid were significantly different among three different culture fluid, in which the total quantities of acid of culture fluids treated by glucose was the greatest, and treated by methylene blue was the lest. (3) The pH value of i-PGM treated by methylene blue was significantly different compared with negative control group, but was not significantly different compared with positive control group.

CONCLUSIONMethylene blue can inhibit the growth and acid production metabolism of Streptococcus matans and acid production metabolism of i-PGM.

Dental Caries ; Dental Plaque ; Glycolysis ; Methylene Blue ; Streptococcus mutans