Objective To investigate the probability of assessment of hepatic fibrosis for liver transplantation using model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) by comparing the correlation of MELD score with Ishak pathological grading method. Methods Fifty-eight patients who underwent liver transplantation because of end-stage liver disease from February 2006 to September 2006 were performed quantitative hepatic fibrosis evaluation using computer-assisted digital image analysis. Pathological diagnosis according to the Ishak modified score was also performed. MELD scores were calculated using the original formula based on the clinical examination data collected on the admission days. The correlations among the image analysis method, Ishak grading and MELD scoring method were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The linear relationship between the MELD scores and the degree of hepatic fibrosis shown from linear regression analysis was used to define the reference criterion. Results The hepatic fibrosis area ratios of the 58 patients were between 23.2 % and 88.4 % with average of 56.7% by computer-assisted digital image analysis. The MELD scores on the admission clays were between 11 and 38 with average of 22.85±9.32. The semi-quantitative Ishak classification showed that there were 0, 2, 7, 12, 18, 12, and 7 cases in each of the 7 grades respectively, the higher the grade the higher the hepatic fibrosis area ratio and the higher the MELD scores. Spearman rank correlation test indicated that there was significant correlation among these three methods(P ＜ 0.01). Linear regression analysis showed that there was a linear relationship between the MELD scores and the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Conclusions Computer-assisted digital image analysis can evaluate objectively the hepatic fibrosis degree and it is significantly correlated to the MELD system. Hepatic fibrosis degree can be evaluated by MELD scores.

There are no convenient techniques to evaluate the degree of facial nerve injury during a course of acupuncture treatment for Bell's palsy. Our previous studies found that observing the electrical response of specific facial muscles provided reasonable correlation with the prognosis of electroacupuncture treatment. Hence, we used the new method to evaluate the degree of facial nerve injury in patients with Bell's palsy in comparison with the House-Brackmann scale. The relationship between therapeutic effects and prognosis was analyzed to explore an objective method for evaluating Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVEThis study simulated clinical implant surgery using squeeze technique by establishing a rational animal model. To measure the morphologic parameters in order to observe the agglutination of the cancellous bone after being compressed. The study wanted to get some favourable support of implant squeeze technique in bone healing and obtaining primary stabilities of implants, so as to provide some reasonable and valid guidance in the application and improvement of implant squeeze technique.

METHODSThe cancellous bone in condyles of femur of dog had been chosen as the experimental position, prepared the implant holes using squeeze technique according to different compressing extent (0, 0.6, 1.2, 2.0 mm), and then inserted the corresponding implants into them. After different healing periods (1, 2, 4, 12 weeks), the mongrel dogs were sacrificed and the hard tissue slices were made and then the morphologic parameters were measured.

RESULTSThe morphologic parameter of the bone tissue shows that after being compressed, the trabecular bone thickness was almost constant, while the trabecular bone number increased, and the trabecular bone spacing decreased, obviously in the 1-week and 2-week groups. The differences went down gradually along with the extend of healing time.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical implant surgery using squeeze technique can improve peri-implant bone density so it is good for obtaining primary stabilities of implants.

Agglutination ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Osseointegration ; Prostheses and Implants ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of saikosaponin a (SSa) on Glu-activated hippocampal astrocytes of rats.

METHODSNeonatal rat (1-3 days) hippocampal astrocytes were obtained and divided into control group, L-Glu activation group and SSa groups with SSa treatment at 5, 2.5, and 1.25 mg/L. The cell proliferation, cell cycle changes, and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after the treatments were assessed with MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSIn comparison with Glu-activation group, SSa treatment resulted in significant inhibition of the cell proliferation, cell division and GFAP expression in the Glu-activated astrocytes (P < 0.05). SSa at 2.5 mg/L showed the strongest inhibitory effects against astrocyte activation and maintained nearly normal level of astrocyte activation in comparison with the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGlu-induced activation of rat hippocampal astrocytes can be inhibited by SSa, whose antiepileptic effects is probably mediated by inhibition of hippocampal astrocyte activation.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; biosynthesis ; Glutamic Acid ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Male ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology

Aiming at the new problems in orthodontics teaching and employment,this study aims to explore a more suitable undergraduate teaching mode of Orthodontics,and reform the teaching of Orthodontics for five-year program students in department of stomatology of Xi'an Medical University.During the teaching of Orthodontics,teachers use the aesthetic principles that students have learned to integrate into the orthodontics teaching,and guide students to analyze,understand and master orthodontic knowledge based on the principles of aesthetics.After the course,students give good feedback on the teaching reform,and their scores of basic knowledge and case analysis of Orthodontics theoretical examination have been improved.This teaching reform is very helpful for students to learn,understand and master the knowledge of orthodontics.It helps to improve classroom teaching effect,improve students' interest in learning,and adapt to the needs of discipline and industry development,so it is worth studying and promoting.

Zoonotic pathogen Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA),a chronic infectious disease throughout almost the whole world,which is extremely difficult to control.The pathogenesis of C.pseudotuberculosis is closely related to its virulence factors.In this paper,the virulence factors of C.pseudotuberculosis are reviewed,and it is proposed to further identify and analyze the roles and correlations of other different virulence factors in the pathogenesis of C.pseudotuberculosis infection,which is important for understanding the pathogenic mechanism and identify candidate vaccine of C.pseudotuberculosis.

Irreducible anteromedial radial head dislocation (IARHD) caused by transposed biceps tendon is rare. Delayed diagnosis and surgical failure often occur. A 46-year-old fisherman presented with 10 days history of painful swelling and restricted movement of his right elbow due to strangulation injury by a fishing boat cable. On examination, the images of the right elbow reveals in a "semi-extended and pronated" elastic fixation position. Radiography and 3-dimensional reconstruction CT reveals an isolated anteromedial radial head dislocation with extreme protonation of the radius and the bicipital tuberosity towards the posterior aspect of the elbow joint, and MRI shows biceps tendon wrapping around the radial neck, similar to umbilical cord wrapping seen in newborns. The Henry approach was applied for the first time to reduce the biceps tendon. The patient achieved a good functional recovery at 26 months, which represents the first reported case of IARHD without fracture caused by biceps tendon in an adult. In treatment of IARHD, attention should be paid to the phenomenon of biceps tendon transposition. Careful clinical examination, comprehensive imaging modalities, and appropriate surgical approach are the keys to successful management.

BACKGROUNDSentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a common procedure for early breast cancer patients. The GeneSearch(TM) Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay is a real-time RT-PCR assay for the detecting nodal metastases larger than 0.2 mm. China Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group (CBCSG)-001a is a prospective multi-center clinical trial that was conducted to validate the GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay in China.

METHODSThe SLNs from 90 consecutive patients were identified and dissected, and then sectioned along the short axis into multiple blocks. Intra-operatively, the odd blocks were tested by BLN assay and the even ones were used for frozen section, while all the blocks were evaluated by touch imprint cytology. Post-operatively, the remaining tissues were assessed by histological evaluation.

RESULTSA total of 189 SLNs was tested by BLN assay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 88.9%, 97.4%, 88.9% and 97.4%, respectively, for BLN assay, 75.0%, 100%, 100% and 94.4%, respectively, for frozen section, and 63.9%, 100%, 100% and 92.2%, respectively, for touch imprint cytology. The sensitivity of BLN assay was higher than that of touch imprint cytology (P = 0.01) and frozen section (P = 0.13). When assessing the nodes with micro-metastases, BLN assay had a significant higher sensitivity than frozen section (P = 0.023) and touch imprint cytology (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay is an accurate and rapid intra-operative assay for breast SLNs and it is suitable for application in general medical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the present study was to explore the expression and clinical significance of multiple tumor suppressor gene 1 (MTS1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene in invasive breast cancers.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to analyze the expression level of MTS1 and COX-2 in cancer tissues and corresponding para-cancer tissues from 66 cases of primary invasive breast cancers.

RESULTSIn breast cancer tissues, the expression of MTS1 and COX-2 assessed by relative fluorescence intensity were 0.84 and 10.54, respectively, and were 1.61 and 4.00 in corresponding para-cancer tissues, respectively. There was a significant difference between MTS1 and COX-2 expressions in cancer and corresponding para-cancer tissues (P <0.05). The differences of MTS1 and COX-2 expression of different ages, pathological types, tumor sizes or clinical stages of the breast cancer patients were not significant (P > 0.05). The MTS1 and COX-2 expressions were 1.12 and 5.94, respectively, in lymph node metastasis positive patients, and 0.79 and 13.05, respectively, in lymph node metastasis negative patients. The differences were significant (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary research results suggest that MTS1 and COX-2 gene expressions play fairly important role in tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancers. MTS1 and COX-2 protein expressions have correlation with lymph node metastasis. This study provides theoretical basis for use of COX-2 selective inhibitors in prevention and treatment for breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo discuss the central modulating mechanism of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) differences of the functional brain regions between SP 6 and sham acupoint.

METHODSSixteen volunteers accepted right Sanyinjiao (SP 6) (SP 6 group) or right sham (sham group) acupuncture for two times after 24 h sleep deprivation (SD), there was two weeks between two acupunctures. The needle was retained for 4 minutes and the brain fMRI scanning was performed by 3.0 TMR every time. The ALFF consequent data was processed by REST. One-sample t-test and two-pair t-test were performed by SPM5.

RESULTSSP 6 group mainly caused ALFF change in inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulated while sham group in precuneus, posterior cingulated. SP 6 group increased ALFF in left fusiform temporal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus with no decreased regions compared with sham group.

CONCLUSIONSRetaining needle dose influence the activity of the brain region during resting-state in both group, especially the mood-related regions. And its mechanism is probably that the relevant effect is carried out by regulating function to target organs of complex brain network comprised of relevant functional center and related brain region. There are differences between SP 6 and Sham acupoint.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Sleep Deprivation ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult