Objective To explore the parameters and effects of local Euler angle in the kinematic simulation of lower limb joints. Methods The hip, femur, patella, tibia, fibula and foot bones were segmented and reconstructed based on one set of computed tomographic (CT) data. The virtual models were imported into 3DSMax for smoothing, optimization, axis regulation and other processing. Models were imported into Unity3D after being processed, and the hip, knee, ankle and metatarsophalangeal joints were simulated with local Euler angle. The scripts were tested to adjust the relevant parameters. The documents were released as executable documents. Results The movement of hip, knee, ankle and metatarsophalangeal joints could be simulated as real movement without exceeding the range of articular fossa (- 170°- 170° in flexion and extension, -30°-80° in abduction and adduction, -40°-60° in rotation of hip joint; 0-140 degrees in flexion of knee joint; -60°-55°in flexion and extension and -30°-20° in varus and evagination of ankle joint; -40°-30° in flexion and extension of metatarsophanlangeal joint). Conclusion The local Euler angle used in Unity3D based on "parent-children" relationship is adapt to simulate the real range of single and whole motion of lower limb joints.

Objective To analyze the protective effect of luteolin on the pancreas of mice with severe acute pancreatitis and to explore its possible molecular mechanism. Methods Sixty healthy male C57/ BL mice of SPF grade were divided into three groups according to the random number table method, the control group, the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) model group and the treatment group, 20 cases in each group. The model was established by the caerulein method. The levels of lipase, amylase, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were measured by ELASA method . The protein and mRNA levels of nuclear factor(NF)-κB, P38 and p-P38 in each group were determined by Western blotting and Real-time PCR. Results Compared with the control group, the pancreas dry-wet weight ratio, lipase and amylase, inflammatory factors HO-1, TNF-α levels, oxidative stress index MDA levels increased significantly, while SOD levels were significantly lower in the model group and the treatment group (P<0. 05). Compared with the model group, the pancreas dry-wet weight ratio, lipase and amylase, TNF-α and MDA levels in the treated group decreased significantly, while HO-1 and SOD levels increased significantly (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the levels of NF-κB and p-P38 protein and mRNA in the model group and the treatment group increased significantly (P<0. 05), and there was no significant change in P38 mRNA protein and expression level (P>0. 05). Compared with the model mice, the levels of NF-κB, p-P38 protein and mRNA in the treated group decreased significantly (P<0. 05). Conclusion Luteolin has a protective effect on SAP mice. Its possible molecular mechanism is to relieve inflammatory stress and oxidative stress, and down-regulate the expression of NF-κB and p-P38 protein.

[Objective]To explore the evaluation value of ultrasomics based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)imaging in the therapy response of microRNA-122(miR-122)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).[Method]Mice bearing subcutaneous HCC xenografts were injected intratumorally with microRNA-122 mimics(miR-122 mimics) and negative control mimics(NC mimics)in treatment group(n=6)and control group(n=6),respectively. The injec-tions were performed every 3 days for five times.Before each injection,two-dimension ultrasound(2D-US)imaging was performed.At 24 h after the last injection,2D-US and CEUS images of tumors were acquired,and then mice scarified for tumor miR-122 expression analysis by qRT-PCR.To evaluate the therapy response by RECIST,tumor volumes were mea-sured based on each 2D-US image. To analyze the tumor perfusion by mRECIST,perfusion parameters(maximum of intensity,rise time,time to peak,mean transit time,quality of fit)were analyzed off-line based on dynamic CEUS videos using SonoLiver?software. For ultrasomics,CEUS images at 10,30,60,90 second were used for features extraction, respectively. The corresponding ultrasomics formulas were built to evaluate the therapy response for miR-122.[Result]The tumors treated with miR-122 mimics resulted in a(763±60)folds increase in miR-122 levels compared to the tumors in control group(P<0.05).Effectively therapeutic response evaluated by tumor sizes change was detected after the third injection(P<0.05).For assessment using mRECIST,all the parameters of treatment group did not show significant difference from the ones of control group(P>0.05).Analysis using ultrasomics fail to detect different features of the static images of CEUS at 10 s,and models can be successfully built based on the rest of the three phases of CEUS images.The ultrasomics Scores between control group and treatment group were statistically different(P<0.05).The ultrasomics score at 30s were significantly lower than those at 60 s and 90 s,while there was no statistical difference between scores at 60 s and 90 s.[Conclusion]Ultrasomics analysis based on CEUS imaging is a useful method in evaluating the therapy response of miR-122 in HCC,and showed greater value than dynamic perfusion parameter.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of the classification of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment in adluts according to lumbar lordosis (LL) and inflection point (IP).

METHODSWhole spine, standing radiographs of 223 adult volunteers were taken from July to August in 2011 .There were 111 cases(56 female and 55 male) enrolled in the study based on the inclusion criteria. The pelvic and spinal parameters, including thoracic kyphosis(TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis(TLK), LL, sacral slope(SS), pelvic tilt(PT), pelvic incidence(PI), intervertebral endplate angle, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), spino-sacral angle (SSA) and IP were measured. The spino-pelvic sagittal alignment were classified in to 3 types according to LL and IP. Type I: LL > -40°, IP located below L2 ∼ 3; Type II: -60° ≤ LL ≤ -40°, IP located in L1 ∼ 2 or T12 ∼ L1; Type III: LL < -60°, P located above T11 ∼ 12. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between the variables. The parameters in each type were compared by oneway-ANOVA respectively,then additional multiple comparisons were performed.

RESULTSThe mean value of LL was -49° ± 10°, TK was 36° ± 7°, TLK was 6° ± 7°, PT was 11° ± 7°, SS was 34° ± 8°, PI was 45° ± 9°, SSA was 127° ± 9° and SVA was (-2.7 ± 22.8)mm, respectively. Only LL had significant statistical correlation with all the other parameters. Negative correlation presented between LL and TK, PI, SS, SSA (r = -0.387, -0.536, -0.858, -0.801,P < 0.05). Positive correlation presented between LL and TLK, SVA, PT (r = 0.319, 0.296, 0.262, P < 0.05). All the volunteers were classified into the 3 types: Type I1 9 cases, Type II 75 cases,Type III 17 cases. Oneway-ANOVA results showed statistical difference in LL, TK, TLK, PT, SS, PI, SSA, SVA among the 3 types, (F = 164.559, 7.431, 14.099, 4.217, 53.856, 6.252, 35.995, 8.626, P < 0.05 ). Multiple comparisons showed that LL, SS, SSA, PI had statistical difference between each two types comparison (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLL is the central parameter of the spino-pelvic sagittal balance. The patterns of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment in adults could be classified into three types, according to LL and IP. The classification could describe the morphological differences and balance of the spino-pelvic sagittal alignment.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Anthropometry ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; Postural Balance ; Radiography ; Spine ; anatomy & histology

BACKGROUNDTechnetium-99m or (99m)Tc is widely used for labeling peptide in nuclear medicine. Somatostatin and its analog can inhibit tumor cell growth after binding with its receptor. This research was to study the preclinical effect of a new (99m)Tc-6-hydrazinopyridine-3-carboxylic acid (HYNIC)-depreotide, indirect (99m)Tc labeling of depreotide using HYNIC as a bifunctional chelator.

METHODSThe cyclopeptide, cyclo-[(N-Me) Phe-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Hcy], the linear peptide, and [ClCH(2)-CO×b-Dap-Lys- Cys-Lys×amide] were synthesized by Fmoc solid-phase synthesis. The cyclopeptide and the linear peptide were linked by liquid-phase synthesis. The product depreotide was isolated and purified by high performance liquid chromatography and was confirmed by mass spectrography. Depreotide was labeled with (99m)Tc through a direct labeling method, using HYNIC as a bifunctional chelator. Paper chromatography method was used to calculate the labeling rate, and through the comparative analysis selected the best mark conditions. The new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide was tested by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The internalization and externalization rates of the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide were studied in A549 cells. Furthermore, biodistribution of the radiopeptide was studied in nude mice, bearing tumors from human lung carcinoma cells SPC-A1.

RESULTSThe molecular of synthesize depreotide was 1358, and the purity of it was 95.29%. The labeling efficiency of (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide was highest at pH 6.0 and 15°C, about (70.95 ± 0.84)%. The labeling rate of the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide rose to a peak of (20.75 ± 0.48)% at 60 minutes in A549 cells at 37°C and decreased slightly later, while it elevated gradually during the time course at 4°C and 25°C. The internalization rate of the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide at 37°C increased gradually and reached the peak of 84.4% in 120 minutes, while the externalization rate of the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide was always less than 20%. In mice bearing the experimental SPC-A1 tumor, the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide demonstrated a high tumor uptake of (4.05 ± 0.04)% ID/g at 1.5 hpi and remained high ((2.51 ± 0.06)% ID/g) at 4 hpi. The tumor-to-lung activity concentration ratio (T/Lu) was very high for the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide at all time points. So did the tumor-to-muscle activity (T/Mu) and tumor-to-blood activity concentration ratios (T/Bl).

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggested that the new (99m)Tc-HYNIC-depreotide might be a promising candidate radiopharmaceutical for imaging somatostatin receptor positive lung cancer.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; chemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nicotinic Acids ; chemistry ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Technetium ; chemistry

Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Depression, Postpartum ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a variable natural history and not all individuals follow the same course. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic COPD patients from a population-based survey in China.

METHODSA multistage cluster sampling strategy was used in a population from seven different provinces/cities. All residents (over 40 years old) were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and spirometry. Post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 70% was defined as the diagnostic criterion of COPD. All COPD patients screened were divided into symptomatic group and asymptomatic group according to the presence or absence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Socio-demographic, personal and exposure variables were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 1668 patients who were diagnosed with COPD from the 25 627 sampling subjects, 589 (35.3%) were asymptomatic. The age, sex, body mass index (BMI), rural and urban distributions, smoking habit and education levels were similar in the two groups. A total of 64.7% of the asymptomatic patients had no comorbidities. Cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer were more common among symptomatic COPD patients than asymptomatic group. Asymptomatic COPD group were less likely to present with poor ventilation in the kitchen, a family history of respiratory disease and recurrent childhood cough. Asymptomatic COPD patients had significantly higher FEV(1) (73.1% vs. 61.0%), FVC (91.9% vs. 82.0%), and a higher ratio of FEV(1)/FVC (62.9% vs. 58.7%) (all P < 0.001) than symptomatic group. More asymptomatic patients were underdiagnosed (91.9% vs. 54.3%, P < 0.001) than symptomatic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThis large population-based survey confirmed a high prevalence of asymptomatic COPD patients in China. More use of spirometry screening test may be important to the early detection of COPD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore demographic characteristics, current diagnosis and treatment patterns of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients in China.

METHODSData of hospitalized CML patients in 2005 whole year and outpatient information (July 1 through September 30, 2006) from 15 hospitals throughout China were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1824 CML cases were analyzed, including 722 inpatients and 1102 outpatients. The male/female ratio was 1.78:1. The median age at diagnosis was 40.02 (2.45 - 83.29) years old, 90.41% of the patients were diagnosed at chronic phase. Proportion of accelerated phase or blast crisis patients increased to 21.66% during study period. 93.20% of the patients received blood routine and bone marrow morphologic examination at diagnosis and in monitoring; 70.29% were performed cytogenetic analysis and 51.54% performed molecular measurement in addition. The most common therapy for CML treatment was hydroxycarbamide. The proportion of patients treated with imatinib and interferon was 37.45% and 25.55%, respectively. Of 722 inpatients, 164 (22.72%) received hemotopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The proportions of accelerated phase and blast crisis patients treated with imatinib were 48.28% and 48.42%, respectively, being significantly higher than that of chronic phase patients (35.9%) (P < 0.05). The mean imatinib dosage administered in the three phases patients did not differ significantly. Imatinib resistance rates were 6.87% and 16.28% for outpatient and inpatient, respectively. In the outpatient group, the primary resistance to imatinib occurred comparably to the secondary resistance (68.75%), while primary resistance was predominant in inpatient group (65.71%). The intolerance rates of imatinib for outpatient and inpatient were 3.21%, 11.63%, respectively. The majority of patients treated with imatinb were not monitored in time: 63.38% patients evaluated hematologic response after 3 months of treatment, proportions of patients received cytogenetic examination after 6 months and 12 months of treatment were 41.41% and 27.35%, respectively. Mean cost for HSCT was 213 092 +/- 125 890 RMB.

CONCLUSIONSCML in China tends to afflict younger population than in Western countries. Most patients were diagnosed in the chronic phase. Due to restriction of financial support, only one third of CML patients were treated with imatinib, and the majority of the treated were not monitored in time. Clinicians should pay attention to resistance and intolerance to imatinib treatment in accelerated phase or blast crisis patients.

Benzamides ; therapeutic use ; China ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine on spinal cord repair through hypothesized pathways including regulation of caspase-3, neurofilament protein NF-L, NF-H, and NF-M expression. METHODS: Allenos weight drop method was used to establish acute spinal cord injury (SCI) rat model at T10 section and was conducted in 80 adult Sprague Dawley rats that were subsequently divided into pseudo-therapy group (sodium chloride group, n=40) and tetramethylpyrazine group (treatment group, n=40). Eight normal rats were included into the pseudo-surgery normal group (n=1 for each time point). The function of spinal cord was evaluated with animal behavioral scores by measuring modified Rivilin loxotic plate degree and counting BBB score at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d postoperatively. The injured spinal cord tissue samples were harvested at 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, and 21 d postoperatively (n=5 for each time point) for the preparation of continuous histological sections that were analyzed the expression of caspase-3,NF-L,NF-H, and NF-M by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: At postoperative Day 7, 14, and 21, animal behavioral scores revealed higher modified Rivlin loxotic plate degree and BBB scores in the treatment group when compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The cells in the injured spinal cord tissue expressed significantly less caspase-3 and significantly more NF (NF-L, NF-H and NF-M) in the treatment group than those in the control group at Day 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). There was positive correlation between modified Rivlin loxotic plate degree and NF expression, BBB score and NF expression; and negative correlations between BBB score and caspase-3 expression, caspase-3 expression and NF expression. CONCLUSION Tetramethylpyrazine improves spinal cord healing through regulation of caspase-3 and neurofilament protein expression.
Animals ; Caspase 3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Neurofilament Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of bevacizumab with or without cisplatin (DDP) on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell xenografts in mice.

METHODSHuman lung cancer A549/DDP cells was subcutaneously transplanted in to 25 nude mice, which were randomly divided into control group (group A), bevacizumab group (group B), DDP group (group C), combined treatment group (group D) and half-dose combined treatment group (group E). After corresponding treatments for 4 consecutive weeks, the tumor inhibition rate was evaluated, tumor microvessel density (MVD) measured with immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expression of apoptosis-associated gene (bcl-2) and multidrug resistance genes (LRP and GST-pi) assessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe tumor growth inhibition rates in groups B, D, and E with bevacizumab treatment were 20.96%, 51.67% and 50.95%, respectively, and the two combined treatment groups showed better effects. MVD in these 3 groups were 18.6-/+1.14, 13.6-/+1.14, and 14.4-/+0.55, respectively, and no significant difference was found in MVD between DDP group and the control group. Compared with the control group, the 3 bevacizumab-treated groups showed decreased expression of bcl-2 genes in A549/DDP tumors at a comparable amplitude, and LRP and GST-pi mRNA expression showed no significant differences between the 5 groups.

CONCLUSIONBevacizumab has synergetic inhibitory effect with conventional chemotherapy against lung adenocarcinoma A549/DDP cell xenografts in mice by inhibiting angiogenesis of the tumor, and may enhance the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to DDP by inducing cell apoptosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Bevacizumab ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays