OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalein on the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the TM4 Sertoli cells of the mouse testis and its related mechanism.

METHODSWe measured the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of baicalein on the TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse testis by MTT, detected the fluorescence transfer of the TM4 Sertoli cells by parachute assay, and determined the expression of the protein connexin 43 ( Cx43) in the baicalein-treated cells by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSBaicalein produced no obvious cytotoxicity on the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration below 60 µmol/L but significantly increased their GJIC at 0-20 µmol/L (P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that 0-20 µmol/L baicalein remarkably elevated the expression of Cx43 in the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and on the membrane of the TM4 cells.

CONCLUSIONBaicalein at the concentration of 0-20 µmol/L can significantly enhance GJIC in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by increasing the expression of the Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

Objective To quantitatively analyze the image quality of megavoltage cone-beam CT (MVCBCT) under different scanning conditions to provide reference in clinical applications. Methods Si-emens ONCOR linear accelerator with MVCBCT was used to scan the phantom under different conditions. The image quality was evaluated in terms of image noise, uniformity, spatial resolution, contrast resolution, the number of Monitor Units(MUs) used in imaging,and the size of the reconstruction matrix. The comparison of the image quality between MVCBCT and conventional simulator CT was also analyzed. Results The image noise was decreased with the increase of the number of MUs. The uniformity index showed that the system u-niformity was weakly dependent on MU numbers or the size of the reconstruction matrix. Except for the ima-ges with 5 MUs,all other images had the spatial resolution of 0.4 lp/mm with a reconstruction matrix of 256 ×256. Better low contrast resolution was achieved by using more MUs. For typical pelvis and head-and-neck patients,the imaging dose at the center was 0.8 cGy/MU and 0.7 cGy/MU, respectively,and the maxi-mum dose was about 1.2 cGy/MU. For typical abdomen patients,the image maximum dose and center dose was 1.3 cGy/MU and 0.7 cGy/MU,respectively. Conclusions The image quality of MVCBCT is inferior to the conventional kilo-voltage CT. However,with the optimization of the parameters in imaging,we can a-chieve sufficient image contrast in the bone,air and some soft-tissue structures with low imaging dose to pa-tients. Such images can be used for IGRT.

We have constructed an immunotoxin(Ng76-TCS),which was composed of a monoclonalantibody directed against human melanoma and trichosanthin(TCS)——a single chain ribosomeinactivating protein.The cultured human melanoma cells(M21)were inhibited effectively byNg 76-TCS.The cytotoxicity of Ng76-TCS to M21 cells was 2,000-fold higher than that of free TCS and Ng76 mixture.A conjugate,which was prepared with normal mice immunoglobulinand TCS(NIgG-TCS),was 160-fold less cytotoxic to M21 cells.Meanwhile Ng76-TCS was125-fold less cytotoxic to nontarget cells Hela.These results showed that the immunotoxinNg76-TCS was a potent and specific anti-human melanoma agent.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients with head and neck cancer during radiotherapy .Methods Clinical data of 189 patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy in Huzhou Central Hospital during August 2011 and December 2014 were retrospectively studied .Chi-square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients during radiotherapy .Results Among 189 patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy , nosocomial infection was observed in 64 (33.86%) patients.Univariate analysis showed that radiation-induced oral mucositis (χ2 =11.47, P<0.01), underlying disease (χ2 =6.59, P<0.05), stage of tumor Ⅲ-Ⅳ (χ2 =4.36, P<0.05), whole-neck radiation (χ2 =7.64, P <0.05), dose of radiation ≥50 Gy(χ2 =8.92, P <0.05), combined chemotherapy (χ2 =6.53, P<0.01), invasive operation (χ2 =4.21, P<0.05), PS score=1 (χ2 =3.58, P<0.05) and low body mass index (χ2 =9.56, P <0.05) were risk factors of nosocomial infections . Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that radiation-induced oral mucositis ( OR=3.46, χ2 =8.72, P<0.01),underlying disease (OR=1.91, χ2 =4.66, P<0.05), stage of tumor Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR=2.01,χ2 =5.22, P<0.05), whole-neck radiation (OR=1.78,χ2 =4.89, P<0.05), dose of radiation ≥50 Gy (OR=1.69,χ2 =3.25, P<0.05), combined chemotherapy (OR=1.84, χ2 =6.91, P<0.05) and low body mass index (OR=1.53, χ2 =2.59, P<0.05) were independent risk factors of nosocomial infection.Conclusions Nosocomial infections are popular in patients with head and neck cancer during radiotherapy.Radiation-induced oral mucositis, underlying disease, stage of tumor, radiation field, dose of radiation, combined chemotherapy and body mass index are associated with the occurrence of nosocomial infections in these patients .

Objective: To explore the survival difference of patients with colon and rectal neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) at different stages. Methods: We identified 8 679 patients with colorectal NEN diagnosed between 1988 and 2014 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, including 5 437 rectal NEN and 3 242 colon NEN ( 1 681 cecum NEN ). Survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression model. Results: The ratio of male patients with colon and rectal NEN was similar to female (P=0.095). Rectal NEN patients were younger (P<0.001), more highly differentiated (P<0.001), and with earlier stage (P<0.001). Survival analysis showed that the survival of rectal NEN was superior to that of colon NEN, with 10-year tumor-specific survival rates of 86.8% and 44.8% respectively (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age, gender, marital status, primary tumor site, grade, stage and surgery were independent prognostic factors of colorectal NEN (all P<0.01). The most important factor was stage (HR=3.531), followed by differentiation grade (HR=1.856). Stratified analysis displayed that the survival of rectal NEN in stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅳ were better than those of corresponding stage of colon NEN (all P<0.05), but worse in stage Ⅲ (P=0.012). While the survival of rectal NEN were significantly better than those of colon NEN within all stages after excluding 1681 cases of cecal NEN (all P<0.05). Among the patients with well-differentiated NEN, the survival of rectal NEN in stage Ⅰ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were better than those of corresponding stage of colon NEN (all P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in stage Ⅱ(P=0.169). For poor-differentiated NEN, only the survival of rectal NEN patients in stage Ⅳ (P=0.001) was significant longer than those of colon NEN, while there was no significant difference in stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ (stage Ⅰ: P=0.760; stage Ⅱ: P=0.181; stage Ⅲ: P=0.313). Conclusions The survival of NEN patients in colon and rectum is different. Cecum NEN should be considered as a separated tumor for prognostic analysis due to its special clinicopathologic characteristics.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of combined treatment with sansanmycin and macrolides on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and formation of biofilm.

METHODSMicro-dilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sansanmycin, gentamycin, carbenicillin, polymyxin B, roxithromycin, piperacillin, and tazobactam. PA1 and PA27853 biofilms were observed under optical microscope after staining and under SEM after treatment with sansanmycin at different dosages and combined treatment with sansanmycin and roxithromycin. Viable bacteria in PA1 and PA27853 biofilms were counted after treatment with sansanmycin at different dosages or combined treatment with sansanmycin and roxithromycin.

RESULTSThe MIC of sansanmycin was lower than that of gentamycin and polymyxin B, but was higher than that of carbenicillin. Roxithromycin enhanced the penetration of sansanmycin to PA1 and PA27853 strains through biofilms. PA1 and PA27853 biofilms were gradually cleared with the increased dosages of sansanmycin or with the combined sansanmycin and roxithromycin.

CONCLUSIONSub-MIC levels of roxithromycin and sansanmycin substantially inhibit the generation of biofilms and proliferation of bacteria. Therefore, combined antibiotics can be used in treatment of intractable bacterial infection.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Adhesion ; drug effects ; Biofilms ; growth & development ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Macrolides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Oligopeptides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Uridine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Vero Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility and the limit in increasing the survival area of the random skin flap by extremely increasing the ratio of its length and width within 24 hours.

METHODSSD rats (n = 20) were chosen for this study. The rats were randomly divided into: subject group and control one. Pre-made skin flap was prepared as design. The subject group was carried out rapid pre-fabricated skin flap formation training. No training was performed in control group. The changes in perfusion value of micro-circulation inside skin flap were monitored during the whole process, and micro-circulation parameters of the skin flap were used to evaluate whether its blood circulation network was mature or not.

RESULTSTraining of pre-made skin flap at 18th hour, the perfusion value of its micro-circulation was basically stable, Skin flap formation was finished at 24th hour. Survival area in control group was (68.25 +/- 0.18)% and in subject group was (97.25 +/- 0.24)% (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSWithin short time, it is possible to establish micro-circulation in skin flap which exceeds the limit set by traditional theory. Digitalized judgment can be used to monitor the fast formation of super-big skin flap. This method is reliable and can increase the survival rate of random skin flap.

Animals ; Female ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Time Factors

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo enlarge the ratio of length to width of a prefabricated random skin flap in a short period, in order to meet a special clinical need.

METHODSA white rat and a white mini-pig was chosen for an animal model for the experiment. They were divided into the experimental group and the control. The prefabricated flap was formed as the planned design. In the experimental group, the flaps were treated with a desired pressure in certain intervals at the planned part of the flap. We estimated and inspected the digitized perfusion of flap microcirculation, and made overcong and wide random skin flap survive within 24 hours, and this technique was finally used for the clinical wound treatment.

RESULTSAs expected, the survival area of the flap in the experimental group was significantly larger than the control. This technique was successfully used to repair the defects of the special sites in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

CONCLUSIONThe method of quickly prefabricated random flap could enlarge the ratio of length to width of the flap and put the flap in shape in short time. With the digitized estimating and inspecting, this method could obviously improve the survival area of the random flap and could also be very useful for the clinical treatment.

Adult ; Animals ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; supply & distribution ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the influence of cognitive-dual task on balance function and analyze the sensory strategy of balance maintained.Methods Form June,2015 to June,2016,34 healthy young people were randomly divided into control group(n=17)and obser-vation group(n=17).They were tested with the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance(mCTSIB)on Neurocom Balance Manager,and retested two weeks later,while the observation group completed mental arithmetic cognitive task simultaneously.The center of gravity(COG)sway velocity and the comprehensive sway velocity were measured in both eyes open(EO)and eyes closed(EC)standing on firm or foam support.Results For the second test,The COG sway velocity decreased in the control group as EC standing on foam sup-port(t=2.535,P<0.05),while it increased in the observation group as EO standing on foam support(t=-2.220,P<0.05),and it was more than that in the control group(t=-3.128,P<0.01).The comprehensive sway velocity decreased in the control group(t=3.007,P<0.01),but increased in the observation group(t=-2.170,P<0.05),which was significantly different between two groups(t=-2.143,P<0.05).Conclu-sion Cognitive tasks may interfere balance function in healthy youth,especially in the condition of EO standing on foam support.Sensory re-source may preferer to meet the balance maintained during cognitive-dual tasks.