Objective To evaluate the magneto-heating effect and cytotoxicity of the carbonyl iron powder as a feasibility for arterial embolization hyperthermia. Methods Different doses of carbonyl iron powder suspensions were prepared in vitro(10 mg/ml,100%;10 mg/ml,50%;or 64 g/L phenol solutions),and heated for 20 minutes in an alternating magnetic field(49.9,79.9,and 110.2 Oe).The influences of the doses of suspensions and currency of magnetic field on the heating effect were observed.Meanwhile,mouse fibroblast L-929 cells were cultured with the suspensions for 2,4,or 7 days.The morphology and relative growth rate(RGR) of the cells were determined by microscopy and MTT assay.The cytotoxicity of the suspensions was then classified. Results The heating ability of the carbonyl iron powder increased with the suspension concentration and the strength of the magnetic field.A optimal therapeutic temperature was achieved at 110.2 Oe with 60 mg/ml carbonyl iron powder suspension.The L-929 cells showed normal morphology after been treated by the carbonyl iron powder(10 mg/ml 100% solution and 50% solution) for 2,4 and 7 days with the 0-1 degree cytotoxicity.Conclusion The carbonyl iron powder has good heating effect under the alternating magnetic field,and is compatible with the tested cells.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the antimicrobial activity of recombinant human ?-defensin 3(rhBD-3) on clinically isolated multidrug-resistant bacterial strains.METHODS The antimicrobial activity of rhBD-3 on clinically isolated multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus,Enterococcus faecium,Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the wards of burns department was measured by turbidity method.RESULTS rhBD-3 Demonstrated antimicrobial activity against all the strains in a dose-dependent manner.The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) to Gram-positive strains and Gram-negative strains was 4 ?g/ml and 8 ?g/ml,respectively.CONCLUSIONS rhBD-3 Has significant antimicrobial activity against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant strains and thus implies therapeutic potential as an effective substitute for the present drug-resistant bacteria.

Objective To estimate relationship between the brain atrophy rate and percent corpus callosum area change in patients with cerebral vascular disease.Methods Forty-six patients with cerebral vascular disease underwent MR scanning twice,at the baseline and at the end of the follow-up period.T1W images at both time points were processed automatically with structural image evaluation using normalization of atrophy(SIENA) software to determine the percent brain volume change(PBVC).In addition,the corpus callosum and the inner table of the skull on the mid-sagittal images of two scans were outlined manually to measure their areas.The percent of corpus callosum area change(PCCAC) was calculated.Then,the relationship between PBVC,PCCAC and age was statistically analyzed.Results Significant correlation was found among the three variables: spearman rank correlation coefficient was-0.295 for PBVC and age(P=0.047),while it was-0.4 for PCCAC and age(P=0.006),and 0.538 for PBVC and PCCAC(P=0.000).Conclusion SIENA software identifies brain atrophy quantitatively in patients with cerebral vascular disease,which correlated with area reduction of the corpus callosum.

Toinvestigate the implementation mode and effectiveness of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in experimental teaching of physiology,PBL was applied in experimental teaching of circulatory physiology. Comparison of test scores and Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) were used to evaluate teaching quality and teaching environment respectively. The results showed that both test and DREEM scores were higher in PBL group than in control group (P

Objective To estimate curative effect of reconstruction of rabbit knee joint cartilage defect with the homogeneitic tissue engineered cartilages.Methods The chondrocytes were isolated and collected from articular cartilages of eight New Zealand white rabbits.The tissue engineered cartilages after culturing chondrocytes and atelocollogen for two days.Cartilage defects were created in both keen joint of twenty-six rab- bits.Complexes of chodrocytes and atelocollagen was grafted into the defect of left knee joint at once as experi- mental group,and no implantation were served as control.General and histological examination were respec- tively performed in both group at four weeks and eight weeks after surgery.Results After implantation,the defects were filled with cartilaginous tissue in experiment group,while there were only tissue in control group. Histologically,defective areas were filled with chondrocytes in experiment group,but only fibroblast in control group.Conclusion The implantation of the tissue engineered cartilages contenting with chondrocytes and atelocollogen can effectively improve reconstruction of rabbit knee joint.

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Jiangzhi Tiaoya Granule (JZTYG) in treating essential hypertension and its protection on function of vascular endothelial cells (VEC).

METHODSFifty-nine patients of essential hypertension divided into two groups were treated with JZTYG (the treated group) and Jinjia Yixintong (the control group) respectively. The changes of symptoms, signs, blood pressure, heart rate were observed and the levels of endothelin (ET), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) content were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).

RESULTSThe total effective rates of JZTYG in lowering blood pressure and improving symptoms were both 90.0%, markedly effective rate in lowering blood pressure and improving symptoms was 36.7% and 60.0% respectively. The symptom improved in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). It also could reduce the plasma ET level (P < 0.05) and ET/CGRP ratio (P < 0.01), and increase the CGRP level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJZTYG has a promising clinical therapeutic effect in treating essential hypertension and is able to protect the VEC function.

Adult ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

AlM:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with macular grid photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema ( DME) .METHODS:Totally 60 eyes ( 60 patients ) with DME were randomly divided into 2 groups: 30 eyes of simple injection group underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, and 30 eyes of combined treatment group underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and macular grid photocoagulation 1wk later. The best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ) , central macular thickness ( CMT ) measured by optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) and postoperative complications were observed.
RESULTS:ln simple injection group, the BCVA after operation were separately 0. 390 ± 0. 075 (4wk), 0. 367 ± 0. 088 (8wk) and 0. 319 ± 0. 064 (12wk), the CMT after operation were separately 221. 63 ± 112. 34μm (4wk), 337. 73±99. 56μm (8wk) and 432. 92 ± 100. 46μm (12wk), which were much better than pre-operation. But during follow-up, the BCVA presented down trend and the CMT was on the rise slowly. ln combined treatment group, the BCVA after operation were separately 0. 385 ± 0. 036 (4wk), 0.382±0.079 (8wk) and 0.377±0.097 (12wk),the CMT after operation were separately 249. 77 ± 106. 55μm (4wk), 270. 40 ± 92. 88μm (8wk) and 275. 84 ± 97. 34μm (12wk ), which were satisfactory and steady during follow-up, better than simple injection group (P<0. 05).CONCLUSlON:lntravitreal injection of ranibizumab can effectively improve visual acuity and decrease central foveal thickness for patients with DME, combining with macular grid photocoagulation can ensure therapeutic effects steady and permanent.

Objective To analyze the differences between calculated and actual volumes of regions of interest ( ROIs) in three treatment planning systems ( TPSs):PrecisePlan, Xio, and Oncentra, to transfer different ROIs and compare their calculated volume between the three TPSs, and to provide a basis for clinical application. Methods Different sizes of ROIs were delineated on 5 sets of computed tomography ( CT) images with different slice thickness. Square and round regions with different slice numbers were contoured in a homogeneous phantom. Three groups of patients ( n=5) with head and neck tumor, chest and abdomen tumor, and pelvic tumor, respectively, were enrolled as subjects. All the ROIs were independently transferred back and forth between three TPSs and different workstations with the same system in DICOM RT format. The changes in actual and calculated ROI volumes were evaluated after back and forth transfer. Results There was a significant positive linear correlation between the calculated volume, slice thickness, slice number, and actual volume of ROI in each TPS ( PrecisePlan:R2=0. 994, P<0. 01;Xio:R2=0. 997, P<0. 01;Oncentra:R2=0. 995, P<0. 01) . There were significant differences in all calculated ROI volumes of the head, chest and abdomen between the three TPS ( P<0. 05) except for the calculated ROI volumes of the chest and abdomen between Oncentra and Xio ( P=0. 114 ) . Conclusions The variations in volume calculation algorithm and slice thickness are the main causes of differences in calculated ROI volume. Particularly, small?volume ROIs have the greatest variation in calculated volume. To avoid a secondary reconstruction of ROI volume, it is recommended to transfer ROI back and forth between dose calculation workstations with the same TPS.

AIM: To investigate gene expression of bax, bcl-2 and p53 in fetal skin at different gestational ages and children skin in order to explore their potentially biological significance. METHODS: Apoptosis in skin specimens was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidy transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling technique (TUNEL). Gene expressions of bax, bcl-2 and p53 in skin at different developmental stages was examined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Along with fetal growth and development, the incidence rate of apoptosis was increased progressively in skin. In skin from early gestational fetus, bcl-2 was strongly expressed. This gene expression was progressively decreased with increment in gestational age. In children skin, the mRNA content of this gene was significantly reduced compared with fetal skin (P