OBJECTIVETo explore biomechanical properties and stress-strain of mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery.

METHODSAfter the model of mucosa scars was made, the mucosa scars and normal mucosa were excised and examined immediately by tensionometry.

RESULTSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery were compared with normal mucosa. The Poisson's ratio of mucosa scars and normal mucosa was 0.5 and 0.49, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups. The ultimate Young's modulus of mucosa scars was about 24.22 MPa, however, it declined to 3.32 Mpa in normal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery are biomechanically weaker than normal mucosa. It can be used for further research, such as maxillary orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis, and orthodontic treatment.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cicatrix ; physiopathology ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort

Objective To review the surgical managements of patients with traumatic false aneu- rysms in the extremities.Methods From January 1990 to April 2006,17 patients with traumatic false aneurysms in the extremities were admitted into our hospital.Fourteen patients were treated by vascular repair including vascular repair in seven cases,end to end anastomosis in one,synthetic grafting in one, autogenous vein grafting in one,and direct ligation in four.Three patients were treated nonoperatively, but with local compressive dressing.Results There were no deaths or gangrenes in all cases.The clinical manifestations vanished after the treatment.The mean follow-up period was 13.2 months.The function of the injured extremities recovered satisfactorily.Conclusion Different types of traumatic false aneurysms should be managed by different therapeutic procedures after the diagnoses is made.

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression and clinical implication of plasma miR-328 in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSFifty-eight patients with AF (AF group: 17 paroxysmal AF, 21 persistent AF, and 20 permanent AF) and 15 healthy volunteers (Control group) were included. General clinical data and related biochemical parameters were collected. Plasma miR-328 levels were detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The correlation between plasma miR-328 and AF risk factors was analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the control group, the expression level of plasma miR-328 was significantly elevated in AF group (fold 7.72 ± 9.32) (P < 0.05). (2) In AF group, the expression of plasma miR-328 was significantly different in different type of AF[paroxysmal AF with (1.98 ± 0.81), persistent AF with (6.57 ± 5.82) and permanent AF with (13.47 ± 12.29)] (P < 0.05), and which was increased in proportion to the duration of AF. (3) There was a positive correlation between plasma miR-328 level and left atrial diameter in the AF group (r = 0.310, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONmiR-328 expression is significantly increased in patients with AF, which may be involved in the atrial remodeling process of AF.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo analyze the cloning result of CD40 mutant from RPMI8226 cells, a multiple myeloma (MM) cell line, and study the change of the expressions of costimulatory molecules and the apoptosis of RPMI8226 cells after activated with CD40.

METHODSCD40 gene mutant in RPMI8226 cell was detected by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. The cell lines were cultured with sCD40L, L929/CD40L, soluble 5C11 (an anti-CD40 mAb) plate-bound 5C11 and their respective controls. Their growth curves, change of phenotypes and cell cycles were detected. The signalosome of CD40 on RPMI8226 cells were analyzed with laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTSThere was a single base substitution (TCA-->TTA) in the open reading frame of CD40 from RPMI8226 cells, resulting in the conversion of a amino acid (Ser124Leu). Only plate-bound antibody could inhibit RPMI8226 cell proliferation [(2.5 +/- 0.6) x 10(5) vs (7.8 +/- 1.2) x 10(5), P <0.05] and cause G1 arrested [(58.0 +/- 3.6)% vs (42.0 +/- 2.3)%, P <0.05]. muCD40 was translocated to CD40 signalosome while CD40 activated.

CONCLUSIONThe mutated CD40 in RPMI8226 cell might decrease its affinity to CD40L, leading to the disorder of CD40 signal.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; CD40 Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; CD40 Ligand ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Transgenes

OBJECTIVETo screen the mutations of RET proto-oncogene in sporadic patients with pheochromocytoma.

METHODSForty-two cases of sporadic pheochromocytoma were tested for mutations of RET gene. Of these 42 DNA samples, 12 were extracted from peripheral blood cells and 30 from paraffin-embedded pheochromocytoma specimens. The PCR product of exon 10 and exon 11 was used to molecular analysis of the RET proto-oncogene.

RESULTSAmong 42 patients, 2 were found to have RET gene mutations. One of mutations located at codon 634 (TGC>TAC) in exon 11 of RET proto-oncogene. Another one located at codon 632 (GAG>AAG).

CONCLUSIONSome patients with apparently sporadic pheochromacytoma were carrier of mutations, a routine genetic analysis for mutations of RET gene is indicated for these patients.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pheochromocytoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret ; genetics

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.
Absorption ; drug effects ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; classification ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Drug Carriers ; Endocytosis ; physiology ; Humans ; Protein Transport

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the in vitro effect of decitabine (DCA) on AML cell lines HL-60 and U937.

METHODSThe promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene and mRNA expression levels in bone marrow of 206 AML and 40 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients (as control) were detected by methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The HL-60 and U937 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of DCA for 48 and 72 h. The inhibition rates of cell proliferation were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT); the early apoptosis rates by staining with Annexin V and PI; the CD14 and CD11b expressions by flow cytometry (FCM); the promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene by MS-PCR; and the hPer3 mRNA expressions levels by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe promoter methylation rates of hPer3 in newly diagnosed (ND) group, partial remission(PR) group, complete remission (CR) group, relapse (R) group and control group were 93.65% (59/63), 54.39% (31/57), 24.66% (18/73), 61.54% (8/13) and 0% (0/40), and the hPer3 mRNA expression levels were 0.19 ± 0.08, 6.28 ± 2.11, 52.76 ± 14.17, 8.18 ± 4.36, 75.03 ± 18.16, respectively. There was a significant statistic difference between any two group (P < 0.01) excepting for between PR and R group (P > 0.05). After DCA treatment, the promoter hypermethylation status of hPer3 was reduced and the mRNA and CD14, CD11b expression levels were up regulated in a dose dependent manner with an induction of cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSPromotor methylation status and mRNA expression of hPer3 gene may be indicators for evaluating AML. DCA can induce the expression of hPer3 gene and cells apoptosis in AML.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Period Circadian Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; U937 Cells ; Young Adult

Ibuprofen/ethyl-cellulose (EC)-polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) sustained-release composite particles were prepared by using supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology. With drug loading as the main evaluation index, orthogonal experimental design was used to optimize the preparation process of EC-PVP/ibuprofen composite particles. The experiments such as encapsulation efficiency, particle size distribution, electron microscope analysis, infrared spectrum (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in vitro dissolution were used to analyze the optimal process combination. The orthogonal experimental optimization process conditions were set as follows: crystallization temperature 40 degrees C, crystallization pressure 12 MPa, PVP concentration 4 mgmL(-1), and CO2 velocity 3.5 Lmin(-1). Under the optimal conditions, the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of ibuprofen/EC-PVP composite particles were 12.14% and 52.21%, and the average particle size of the particles was 27.621 microm. IR and DSC analysis showed that PVP might complex with EC. The experiments of in vitro dissolution showed that ibuprofen/EC-PVP composite particles had good sustained-release effect. Experiment results showed that, ibuprofen/EC-PVP sustained-release composite particles can be prepared by supercritical CO2 anti-solvent technology.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Ibuprofen ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Particle Size ; Povidone ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on body fluid compartments and water-sodium retention in severe burn patients.

METHODSThirty adult patients with severe burn were divided into treatment (T) and control (C) groups by block randomized design. Patients in both groups were subcutaneously injected with same amount of rhGH (12 IU/d) or isotonic saline during 7 - 21 post burn day (PBD). The total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW) were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) on 7, 14, 21 PBD. The 24 h urinary output of Na+ was determined by ion selective electrode method (ISE).

RESULTSThere were no significant difference in levels of TBW, ICW, ECW and 24 h urinary output of Na+ between two groups on 7, 14, 21 PBD (P > 0.05). No difference in results was found between groups at different time points (P > 0.05). After the data were analyzed, the level of TBW (36 +/- 6 L), ICW (21 +/- 4 L) on 21 PBD were evidently lower than those on 7 PBD (38 +/- 6 L, 23 +/- 7 L, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe level of ICW and TBW in severe burn patients decreased along with the time. Proper dosage of rhGH has no significant effect on body fluid compartments and water-sodium retention.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Body Fluid Compartments ; Body Water ; Burns ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Edema ; etiology ; Electric Impedance ; Extracellular Space ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sodium ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo appraise the effect of single- and two-layer Percoll density gradient centrifugation in sperm separation.

METHODSTwenty semen specimens underwent single-(50%) and two-layer (90% and 45%) density gradient centrifugation, respectively. The sperm class analyzer (SCA) was used to analyze sperm density, motility and dynamic parameters and round cell density before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter separation, the sperm recovery rate of the single-layer method was (65.5 +/- 12.8)%, significantly higher than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.01). The percentages of grade a sperm of the single- and two-layer method were significantly higher than pre-treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), that of the single-layer was significantly lower than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.05), but the percentage of grade c sperm of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the percentage of grade a + b sperm of the two-layer method was significantly higher (P < 0.05), while that of the single-layer method showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), and the round cell density of both the methods was significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with no significant differences between the two methods (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe single-layer method yields a higher rate of sperm recovery and causes little change in the sperm motility, while the two-layer method effects a lower rate and significantly improves sperm motility. Both the methods can efficiently separate sperm from round cells, and each has its own advantages and its application value in in vitro treatment of sperm.

Cell Separation ; methods ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Povidone ; Silicon Dioxide ; Sperm Count ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; cytology