OBJECTIVETo study the effects of catecholamines on human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation.

METHODSCatecholamines (epinephrine, isoprenaline and noradrenaline) were added to the culture media of human preadipocytes. The proliferation of cells, the expression of GPDH and lipid droplet accumulation in cytoplasm were observed and recorded. The functions of alpha and beta receptors were examined with adding alpha and beta receptor blockers.

RESULTSEpinephrine and isoprenaline stimulated human preadipocyte proliferation and inhibited GPDH up-regulation during differentiation. The three types of catecholamines inhibited lipid accumulation in cell differentiation. The beta-adrenoceptors played a key role during the process.

CONCLUSIONHuman preadipocytes responded to catecholamine characteristically. The result would be applicable in the study of drugs for obesity.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Catecholamines ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Epinephrine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; Up-Regulation

Objective: To assess the risk of public health emergencies in Zhejiang Province, March 2021. Methods: An expert counsel was conducted to assess the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) , enteritis due to norovirus, chicken pox and influenza by professionals in Zhejiang CDC, based on the information from infectious disease and public health emergency surveillance in Zhejiang Province, domestic health administrative departments, World Health Organization, and European CDC. Results: In March 2021, the risk of imported COVID-19 epidemic will be high in Zhejiang Province, and the possibility of local spread could not be ruled out. The possibility of a large-scale outbreak of enteritis due to norovirus and a small-scale outbreak of chickenpox in schools and kindergartens could not be ruled out after the new term begins. An increased risk of influenza epidemic is predicted in collective units such as schools and kindergartens, yet the risk of a large-scale one will be low. Conclusion High attention should be paid to COVID-19 and enteritis due to norovirus, and general attention should be paid to chicken pox and influenza outbreak.

Virtopsy is a non-invasive technique to reconstruct 3 dimensional (3-D) images of human organs and tissues using digitized radiographic imaging and may provide clues for forensic identification of the cause and manner of death. Because of its nature of minimally invasive, objective, and accurate, virtopsy has recently been a research focus of forensic pathology in developed countries. In this review article, the authors will discuss the principle, advantage, disadvantage, and recent proceeding of virtopsy as well as its potential application in forensic practice in China.
Autopsy ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and the key points in the operative procedure of the one-stage reconstruction of postburn whole auricle defect with medpor car scaffold covered with superficial temporoparietal fascia (TPF) flap.

METHODSMedpor car scaffold was embedded under the superficial temporal (TFP) fascia. Razor-thin skin was grafted onto the surface of the fascia flap.

RESULTSFifteen patients with postburn whole auricle defect were treated by one-stage reconstruction with Medpor ear scaffold during the last four years. It was successful in all the patients with satisfactory appearance of the reconstructed ears.

CONCLUSIONMedpor possessed friendly biological compatibility. The reconstruction gave satisfactory results, and its advantages consisted of short operational time, easy manipulation, less injury to patients and good auricular contour.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biocompatible Materials ; Burns ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear Deformities, Acquired ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Polyethylenes ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo introduce a compound external ear framework characterized by few complications, simplicity and very low rate of implant exposure or absorption.

METHODSA compound auricular framework, being composed of the ninth autogenous costal cartilage as ear rim and Medpor ear base, was used in one-stage total ear reconstruction. All patients were followed up postoperatively.

RESULTSNine cases have been performed clinically using this compound framework and all of them achieved satisfactory efficacies. The reforged ears looked natural and achieved superior cosmesis, and none of them experienced ear rim fracture or implant exposure or distortion.

CONCLUSIONThis compound auricular framework has advantages of practicability, simplicity and minimal complications. It may be an ideal framework for the reconstruction of total external ear at present.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cartilage ; transplantation ; Child ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polyethylenes ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha: TNF-alpha in the hypertrophic scar and find a valid way to treat the hypertrophic scars with gene therapy.

METHODSTNF-alpha mRNA expression was tested with a semiquantitative reverse polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR) method in the different period of a hypertrophic scar.

RESULTSThere was a significant increase of TNF-alpha mRNA as the hypertrophic scar was getting mature (P < 0.01). However, the ratios of TNF-alpha mRNA was significantly in a lower level than the normal scar.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that TNF-alpha may play an important role in normal would healing, but the hypertrophic scar may result from the shortage of the TNF-alpha. This indicates that to increase the TNF-alpha with gene therapy may be a good way to treat the hyphertrophic scar.

Adult ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method was developed for determination of three kinds of β-agonists(Clenbuterol(CL),Ractopamine(RAC)and Salbutamol(SAL))residues in animal liver samples.The liver sample homogenates were extracted with organic solvent,followed by clean-up using the automatic magnetic solid-phase extraction(MSPE),and then analyzed using LC-MS/MS.The results showed that the magnetic mixed-mode cation exchange adsorbent(M-MCX)exhibited 34%higher adsorption capacity than the conventional mixed-mode cation exchange(MCX)column.Furthermore,the clean-up was conducted by using an automatic MSPE device,and 8 samples could be simultaneously treated within 30 min.The limits of detection(LOD)were 0.01-0.1 μg/kg,the average recoveries ranged from 88.2%to 110.5%,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs)were in range of 2.9%-10.3%at three spiked levels for the three kinds of β-agonists.Compared with the traditional SPE technique,the present method had many advantages such as simple operation,rapidity and high efficiency,which was suitable for high-throughput and automatic detection of residues in routine analysis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of Laparoscopic reconstruction of vagina using pedicled ileal autograft and provide a new procedure of colpopoiesis.

METHODSThe abdominal and perineal approaches were performed simultaneously under a sufficiently deep general anaesthesia. Laparoscopically, a 15-18 cm segment of the ileum on its vascular pedicle, ileal branches of the superior mesenteric artery and its concomitant veins, was selected and isolated for transplantation using ultrasonically-powered instruments. The distal of the transferred ileal segment was 15cm apart from the ileocecal junction. The ileum continuity was restored immediately by end-to-end anastomosis and the distal oral of the transplant was closed using a curved intraluminal stapler. Meanwhile, a neovaginal tract was completed to dissect from the perineum into the peritoneum and the tract widened laterally. Then the ileum transplant was reversed to reach the perineum through the peritoneal incision at the top of the neovaginal tract without subjecting the mesenteric neurovascular pedicle to undue tension and subsequent necrosis. The oral edge of the ileum transplant was sutured to the perineal skin.

RESULTSFollowed up for over 1-53 months postoperatively, 36 patients who received laparoscopic vaginoplasty by transferring ileal segment flaps got satisfactory neovaginal function similar to a normal vagina with mucus and moistness.

CONCLUSIONSThe advantages of using a laparoscopic ileum colpopoiesis are that (1) satisfactory neovaginal function similar to a normal vagina with mucus and moistness, (2) no disturbance of bowel function, (minimal scarring in abdominal wall and less secondary deformity in perineum and (3) no need for frequent dilation or stent wearing to the reconstructed vagina. And so laparoscopic vaginoplasty was a preferable alternative of vaginoplasty.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ileum ; transplantation ; Laparoscopy ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Vagina ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between multi-trace elements levels in hair and human neural tube defects as well as other risk factors.

METHODSUsing 88 paired cases and controls, an 1:1 matched case control study was carried out. The study subjects were collected from the China-U. S. Collaborative Project on Neural Tube Defects Prevention and Birth Defects Surveillance System. Risk factors were obtained by field investigation with standardized questionnaires and hair trace elements levels were determined by AAS and ICP-MS methods. Microwave digestion was used to digest hair samples. The detected elements would include three groups, namely nutritional elements: Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo; toxic elements: Pb, As, Cd, Hg; and Lanthanons: Y, La, Pr, Nd. Cox Proportional Hazard Regression Model was used to perform risk factors analysis.

RESULTSPregnancy fever appeared to be a risk factor of neural tube defects (OR = 6.525, P = 0.034) while hair zinc level (OR = 0.541 microg/100 g, P = 0.02) and times of prenatal physical examination (OR = 0.634, P < 0.001) served as two protective factors appeared in the last model.

CONCLUSIONZinc deficiency might serve as a risk factor for human neural tube defects, suggesting that the avoidance of pregnancy infection together with more periodical prenatal physical examination might reduce the incidence of neural tube defects.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Case-Control Studies ; Diet ; Female ; Hair ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; etiology ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; metabolism ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Trace Elements ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether involved-field (IF) radiotherapy is equally effective and less toxic in comparison with extended-field (EF) radiotherapy for patients with early-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD) who received combined modality therapy.

METHODSThe data of 88 early-stage HD patients treated with combined modality therapy were retrospectively reviewed. According to Ann Arbor classification, 12 patients (13.7%) had stage IA disease, 56 stage IIA (63.6%), and 20 IIB (22.7%). Forty-two (47.7%) patients underwent involved field radiotherapy (IF group), whereas the other 46 (52.3%) received extended field radiotherapy (EF group).

RESULTSOf 6 patients who developed recurrence, 3 (7.1%) were in IF group and the other 3 (6.5%) in EF group. Only one patient's recurrence developed inside the radiation field in EF group. Three patients (7.2%) in IF group and 9 (19.5%) in EF group had WHO grade 1 and 2 leukopenia (P = 0.089). Overall survival rate at 1-, 2- and 3-year was 100.0%, 97.1%, and 97.1% in IF group versus 100.0%, 100%, and 95.8% in EF group (P = 0.86), respectively. Freedom from progression survival rate at 1-, 2- and 3-year was 97.6%, 94.8%, and 91.7% in IF group versus 97.8%, 93.2%, and 93.2% in EF group (P = 0.65), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared with extended-field radiotherapy, involved-field radiotherapy is equally effective and less toxic for patient with early-stage Hodgkin's disease treated with combined modality therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dacarbazine ; administration & dosage ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hodgkin Disease ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; etiology ; Lymphatic Irradiation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mechlorethamine ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; Procarbazine ; administration & dosage ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage