Traditional Chinese Medicine massage is a kind of physiotherapy which affects on specific parts of the body surface by means of training to regulate the function of the body to achieve the therapeutic effect. In this work,under positive detection model, the chemical fingerprint of exhaled breath from volunteers before and after receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine massage within m/z 50-1000 were detected by extractive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (EESI-MS). And through high resolution mass spectrometry analysis, the metabolites such as epinephrine (m/z 184. 0889), 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (m/z 167.0615) and L-tryptophan (m/z 205. 0933) were successfully identified. Besides, chemical fingerprints of volunteers before and after receiving Traditional Chinese Medicine massage under different health condition were clearly differentiated via partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). The results showed that Traditional Chinese Medicine massage could significantly change the metabolic process of volunteers. Moreover, it further indicated that the established method could provide a real time fashion to follow metabolic changes caused by Traditional Chinese Medicine massage.

Objective This study is to investigate the set-up accuracy of thermoplastic mask used for immobilization of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients being treated by Intensity Modulated Radia- tion Therapy (IMRT).Methods Nineteen patients with early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (T1- T2N0M0),treated by fractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy,underwent repeated CTs during their 6-week treatment course.We evaluated their anatomic landmark coordinates in a total of 85 repeated CT data sets and respective x,y and z shifts relative to their position in the 19 treatment-planning reference CTs.Results The translation in x,y,and z-axes with their mean value derived from both positive and negative set-up errors was-0.84 mm(x-axis),+0.65 mm(y-axis) and +0.01 mm(z-axis).Mean target isocenter translation was (0.89?0.69) mm,(0.82?0.79) mm,(0.95?1.24) mm in x,y and z-direc- tions,respectively.The mean total magnitude vector and 95% CI of isocenter motion were 1.87 mm and 4.65 mm.The data measured over the 6-week fractionated course of treatment revealed a slight deterioration of isocenter accuracy.The 95% CI,considered by us to be a valuable parameter for characterizing the sys- tem,of 4.17 mm for measurement within the first 3 weeks increased to 5.12 mm in the last 3 weeks of treat- ment.Conclusions The sequential CT scanning is a pronounced valuable method of evaluating the quality of departmental specific patient positioning procedures.The thermoplastic mask is eyed as well suited tool for immobilization and repositioning of NPC patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

BACKGROUNDVascular control and tissue dissection are crucial steps in successful laparoscopic surgery. Recently, a new commercially available vessel sealing technology, the LigaSure vessel sealing system (Valleylab, Boulder, USA), has been introduced. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the benefits of the LigaSure in laparoscopic nephrectomy.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to March 2010, 170 laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed with the LigaSure vessel sealing system, including simple and radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy. In a retrospective study, the laparoscopic operating time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, duration of postoperative drainage, total amount of postoperative drainage, as well as postoperative hospital stay, were recorded and studied.

RESULTSAll 170 laparoscopic nephrectomies using LigaSure were accomplished successfully without conversion to open surgery. There was no severe vascular complication or other serious complications. The mean laparoscopic operating time was 124.2 minutes (range, 14 - 230 minutes); mean blood loss was 148.6 ml (range, 20 - 540 ml); mean time for postoperative drainage was 3.1 days (range, 1 - 7 days); mean amount of postoperative drainage was 206.5 ml (range, 27 - 435 ml) and mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.9 days (range, 3 - 18 days).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic nephrectomy using LigaSure appears technically feasible and easy, and produces satisfactory results. The LigaSure provides a safe and fast way to seal vessels and tissue bundles during nephrectomy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the skull characteristics of the Li people in Hainan through 3-D CT.

METHODSCT scan and 3-D reconstruction are very helpful for the cephalometry including the distance and angle measurement. The image can also be enlarged to make the measurement more precisely. 80 Li volunteers underwent the cephalometry through 3-D CT. The data were analyzed and compared with those an people.

RESULTSThe results showed difference between the genders of Li people. Compared with Han people, Li people has their own facial characteristics, such as wider face and wider orbital distance.

CONCLUSIONSCephalometry through 3-D CT can show the skull characteristics precisely. The data in this study has great significance in craniomaxillofacial surgery and ethnology.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cephalometry ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the systemic changes of iron metabolism following manganese exposure.

METHODSNinety-seven welders and 91 workers with no history of exposure to manganese were recruited from the same factory in Beijing serving as the exposure group and the control group respectively. The welding rods used were type J422. The concentration of the manganese in the air of the work place was determined respectively with the national standard method. The serum iron and manganese, ferritin, transferrin and transferrin receptors were measured with the graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and ELISA in both groups.

RESULTSThe permissible concentration-STEL of ambient Mn in welders' breathing zone ranged from 0.53 mg/m(3) to 2.19 mg/m(3), while the permissible concentration-TWA of ambient Mn was between 0.29 mg/m(3) and 0.92 mg/m(3) in the breathing zone of the workplace. Serum Mn and Fe concentrations in welders were about 1.40 times (P < 0.0l) and 1.2 times (P < 0.01), respectively, higher than those of control subjects. At the same time, the transferrin concentrations in serum were significantly higher (about 1.2 times, P < 0.05) in welders than in controls. In contrast, transferrin receptors were significantly lower (about 1.2 times) in exposed subjects than controls (P = 0.001). There was no difference in serum ferritin between the two groups (P = 0.112). Although there was no significant trend, the serum ferritin level was increased by 18% in comparison with that of the control. The abnormal percentage of serum Fe and Serum Mn in welders were 55.67% and 67.01% respectively, higher than those of control subjects. In addition, the correlations between all indicators and the duration of employment were not observed.

CONCLUSIONThe long term exposure to the manganese can induce the disorder of the iron metabolism, which is found in the expression of increase of the serum iron and transferrin as well as the decrease of transferrin receptors.

Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Metabolism Disorders ; chemically induced ; Male ; Manganese ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Receptors, Transferrin ; blood ; Transferrin ; analysis ; Welding

Objective To evaluate the effects of small interfering RNA(siRNA)against Ki67 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-0 cells.Methods The human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells were treated with Ki67-siRNA(100 nmol/L).The mRNA expression of Ki67 was detected by RT-PCR.The protein expression of Ki67 was detected by Western blot and immunohisto- chemical technique,respectively.The proliferation of 786-0 cells was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of 786-0 cells was detected by TUNEL assay.Results RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the Ki67 mRNA and Ki67 protein expression levels of the 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA were(37.6?1.9)% and(46.4?0.9)% ,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of controls [(97.3?0.9)% and(95.3?0.9)%,P＜0.01],The Ki67 positive expression rate of 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA by immunohistochemical technique was 52.5?2.3,which was significantly lower than that of controls(114.5?4.9 ,P＜0.01).The proliferation-inhibiting rate and apoptosis rate of the 786-0 cells trea- ted with Ki67-siRNA were( 63.6?1.6)% and(41.7?0.6)% ,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of controls [(2.8?0.2)% and(10.3?1.4)%,P＜0.01].Conclusions siRNA against Ki67 gene can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis by blocking Ki67 expression of hu- man renal carcinoma 786-0 cells.The inhibition of Ki67 expression by siRNA may be a promising approach in gene therapy for renal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differentiation ability difference of hematopoietic, mesenchymal and endothelial potential between CD41⁺ cells derived from the mouse aorta-gonadmesonephros (AGM) region, yolk sac (YS) and embryonic circulating blood (CB).

METHODSCD41⁺ cells were sorted from AGM, YS and CB. The CD45 and c-kit expression were studied in CD41⁺ cells by flow cytometry. IL-3 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) treatment together with semi solid culture were used to assess hematopoietic potential difference of CD41⁺ cells. Immunofluorescence staining of α-SMA was used to assess mesenchymal potential difference. The endothelial cell induction system was used to assess endothelial potential difference.

RESULTSThe proportions of CD45+ cells in CD41⁺ population were 51.9% (AGM), 45.8% (YS) and 22.2% (CB), respectively, while those of c-kit⁺ cells were 40.0% (AGM), 39.6% (YS) and 36.2% (CB), respectively. After stimulated by IL-3 factor, the number of total colonies increased in all three groups-derived CD41⁺ cells compared to that of unstimulated group[(14.1±1.9) vs (1.2±0.2), (32.4±1.1) vs (18.4±2.2) and (41.8±0.9) vs (10.4±1.8)], (P<0.01). After stimulated by BMP-4 factor, compared to unstimulated group, CFU-Mix colony number in CD41⁺ cells from AGM region and YS were significantly decreased[(0.5±0.6) vs (3.2±0.8), (1.3±0.7) vs (7.4±1.7)](P<0.01), but there was no difference in CB group[(2.5±0.5) vs (3.9±1.5)](P>0.01). The mesenchymal marker α-SMA was highly expressed in CD41⁺ cells from AGM region and YS, but lowly expressed in CD41⁺ cells from CB.

CONCLUSIONThere are some differences between CD41⁺ cells in AGM region, YS and CB on hematopoietic cell surface marker expression, hematopoietic colony formation with IL-3 and BMP-4 stimulation.

Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Gonads ; cytology ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Mesonephros ; cytology ; Mice ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Yolk Sac ; cytology

Objective To observe the effect of every-other-day fasting(EODF)on pathology and functional recovery of rats with spinal cord clip-compression injury,and to explore the related mechanism. Methods A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to groups A(sham operation),B(sham operation and EODF),C(spinal cord injury)and D(spinal cord injury and EODF)with nine rats in each group.The spinal cord injury rat model in T10was established by using medical aneurysm clip in latter two groups.The motor func-tion was assessed by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan(BBB)score one day before and one day,two,four,six,eight,ten, twelve weeks after operation;and toluidine blue staining was performed for pathological observation at twelve weeks after operation.Another 180 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned in same way.The level of tu-mor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-10(IL-10)were detected with ELISA six hours,twelve hours,one day,three days and seven days after operation. Results The BBB score reached lowest on the first day in groups C and D(P<0.05),and gradually increased with time,and were higher in group D than in group C eight weeks,ten weeks and twelve weeks after operation(P<0.05). The pathology in spinal cord was less in group D than in group C.Compared with group A,the level of serum TNF-α increased twelve hours after operation(P<0.05),peaked one day after operation,and returned back seven days after operation;the level of serum IL-10 increased at each time point after operation(P<0.05).Compared with group C,the level of serum TNF-α was lower in group D one day after operation(P<0.05);the level of se-rum IL-10 was not significantly different at each time point after operation(P>0.05). Conclusion Long-term EODF can promote the hind limb motor recovery in rats with spinal cord clip-compression inju-ry,and alleviate pathological damage.EODF might inhibit acute inflammatory reaction at acute stage of spinal cord injury,which may be correlated with its neuroprotective effect.

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic accumulation regulation of dry substance and four coumarin constituents in root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, so to provide the basis for optimal harvest time.

METHODRoots of P. praeruptorum were collected periodically. The dry weight of the roots was measured and the content of four coumarins was determined by HPLC method.

RESULTThe dry substance accumulation of the root reached the maximum amount and the coumarin contents maintain stability at the end of the vegetative growth period. The coumarins of roots decline significantly in the reproductive growth period.

CONCLUSIONThe most optimum collecting time of root of P. praeruptorum cultivated in Ningguo county in Anhui province should be from December to next February.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo construct a novel hybrid artificial liver support system and evaluate its clinical efficacy in the treatment of hepatic failure.

METHODSA hybrid bioartificial liver support system consisting of plasma exchange device, charcoal perfusion column, and bioreactor cultured human or porcine hepatocytes was developed. 30 patients with hepatic failure were treated using this hybrid system.

RESULTSBoth the excellent rate and effectual rate of the artificial liver support system were 43.3% (13/30). The total effectual rate was 86.7%. Finally, eleven out of 30 patients recovered completely. Six patients were bridged to liver transplantation. Six patients (20%) died of hepatic failure and seven patients (23.3%) discharged due to worsening of disease.

CONCLUSIONSThe hybrid artificial liver support system has prominent liver support effects for hepatic failure, which can be regarded as an efficient measure for the treatment of severe hepatitis.

Adult ; Bioreactors ; Cells, Cultured ; Charcoal ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; instrumentation ; methods ; Hemoperfusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sorption Detoxification ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome