The level of Tim-3+CD8+ T cells can serve as a potential marker for evaluating the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease after haplo-PBSCT

Early and accurate diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is crucial for the prognosis of patients. This study identified a potential biomarker for the severity of aGVHD after human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-PBSCT). We included 20 healthy subjects and 57 patients who underwent haplo-PBSCT. Of these patients, 22 developed aGVHD after haplo-PBSCT. The results showed that patients with aGVHD had significantly increased levels of Tim-3+/Perforin+/Granzyme B+CD8+ T cells, but significantly decreased Galectin-9. The differences in Galectin-9 and Tim-3+/Granzyme B+CD8+ T cells between grade I-II aGVHD and III-IV aGVHD were also significant. In vitro, the apoptosis of CD8+ T cells from aGVHD patients was significantly increased after Tim-3/Galectin-9 pathway activation, which decreased Granzyme B secretion. As revealed by univariate analysis, the level of Tim-3+CD8+ T cells was a risk factor for severe aGVHD. ROC analysis demonstrated that high levels of Tim-3+CD8+ T cells had a significant diagnostic value for severe aGVHD, with an area under the curve of 0.854 and cut-off value of 14.155%. In conclusion, the binding of Tim-3 with exogenous Galectin-9 can promote apoptosis of CD8+ T cells and affect the secretion of Granzyme B. Tim-3+CD8+ T cells have the potential to serve as immunological markers for assessing the severity of aGVHD after haplo-PBSCT and identifying patients at a higher risk for severe aGVHD.

A protein complex recognition method based on spatial-temporal graph convolution neural network / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To propose a new method for mining complexes in dynamic protein network using spatiotemporal convolution neural network.@*METHODS@#The edge strength, node strength and edge existence probability are defined for modeling of the dynamic protein network. Based on the time series information and structure information on the graph, two convolution operators were designed using Hilbert-Huang transform, attention mechanism and residual connection technology to represent and learn the characteristics of the proteins in the network, and the dynamic protein network characteristic map was constructed. Finally, spectral clustering was used to identify the protein complexes.@*RESULTS@#The simulation results on several public biological datasets showed that the F value of the proposed algorithm exceeded 90% on DIP dataset and MIPS dataset. Compared with 4 other recognition algorithms (DPCMNE, GE-CFI, VGAE and NOCD), the proposed algorithm improved the recognition efficiency by 34.5%, 28.7%, 25.4% and 17.6%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#The application of deep learning technology can improve the efficiency in analysis of dynamic protein networks.

Death and cardiovascular outcomes in end-stage renal failure patients on different modalities of dialysis

INTRODUCTION@#Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients are high. We examined the incidence and predictors of death and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in ESRF patients on different modalities of dialysis.@*METHOD@#Data were obtained from a population-based database (National Registry Disease Offices) in Singapore. The study cohort comprised all adult patients initiated on dialysis between 2007 and 2012 who were closely followed for the development of death and AMI until September 2014. Cox regression methods were used to identify predictors of death and AMI.@*RESULTS@#Of 5,309 patients, 4,449 were on haemodialysis and 860 on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Mean age of the cohort was 61 (±13) years (44% women), of Chinese (67%), Malay (25%) and Indian (7%) ethnicities. By September 2014, the incidence of all-cause death was 34%; close to a third of the patients died from a cardiovascular cause. Age >60 years and the presence of ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and PD were identified as independent predictors of all-cause death. PD patients had lower odds of survival compared to patients on haemodialysis (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.35-1.70, P<0.0001). Predictors of AMI in this cohort were older age (>60 years) and the presence of ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and current/ex-smokers. There were no significant differences in the incidence of AMI between patients on PD and haemodialysis.@*CONCLUSION@#The short-term incidence of death and AMI remains high in Singapore. Future studies should investigate the benefits of a tighter control of cardiovascular risk factors among ESRF patients on dialysis.

Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy Versus Rotational Atherectomy in an Asian Population: Clinical Outcomes in Real-World Patients

Background and Objectives@#We compared real-world clinical outcomes of patients receiving intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) versus rotational atherectomy (RA) for heavily calcified coronary lesions. @*Methods@#Fifty-three patients who received IVL from January 2017 to July 2020 were retrospectively compared to 271 patients who received RA from January 2017 to December 2018.Primary endpoints were in-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). @*Results@#IVL patients had a higher prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (56.6% vs 24.4, p<0.001), multivessel disease (96.2% vs 73.3%, p<0.001) and emergency procedures (17.0% vs 2.2%, p<0.001) compared to RA. In-hospital MACE (11.3% vs 5.9%, p=0.152), MI (7.5% vs 3.3%, p=0.152), and mortality (5.7% vs 3.0%, p=0.319) were not statistically significant. 30-day MACE was higher in the IVL cohort vs RA (17.0% vs 7.4%, p=0.035). Propensity score adjusted regression using IVL was also performed on in-hospital MACE (odds ratio [OR], 1.677; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.588–4.779) and 30-day MACE (OR, 1.910; 95% CI, 0.774–4.718). @*Conclusions@#These findings represent our initial IVL experience in a high-risk, real-world cohort. Although the event rate in the IVL arm was numerically higher compared to RA, the small numbers and retrospective nature of this study preclude definitive conclusions. Theseclinical outcomes are likely to improve with greater experience and better case selection, allowing IVL to effectively treat complex calcified coronary lesions.

Large-scale advances in SSR markers with high-throughput sequencing in Euphorbia fischeriana Steud

BACKGROUND: Euphorbia fischeriana Steud is a very important medicinal herb and has significant medical value for healing cancer, edema and tuberculosis in China. The lack of molecular markers for Euphorbia fischeriana Steud is a dominant barrier to genetic research. For the purpose of developing many simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers, we completed transcriptome analysis with the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. RESULTS: Approximately 9.1 million clean reads were acquired and then assembled into approximately 186.3 thousand nonredundant unigenes, 53,146 of which were SSR-containing unigenes. A total of 76,193 SSR loci were identified. Of these SSR loci, 28,491 were detected at the terminal position of ESTs, which made it difficult to design SSR primers for these SSR-containing sequences, and the residual SSRs were thus used to design primer pairs. Analyzing the results of these markers revealed that the mononucleotide motif A/T (44,067, 57.83% of all SSRs) was the most abundant, followed by the dinucleotide type AG/CT (9430, 12.38%). Using 100 randomly selected primer pairs, 77 primers were successfully amplified in Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, and 79 were successfully amplified in three other related species. The markers developed displayed relatively high quality and cross-species transferability. CONCLUSIONS: The large number of EST-SSRs exploited successfully in Euphorbia fischeriana Steud for the first time could provide genetic information for research on linkage maps, variety identification, genetic diversity analysis, and molecular marker-assisted breeding.

Age and diabetes mellitus associated with worse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in a multi-ethnic Asian dialysis patient population

INTRODUCTION@#There is limited literature on clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Asian dialysis patients. We evaluated the angiographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of dialysis patients treated with PCI in an Asian society.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed of 274 dialysis patients who underwent PCI in a tertiary care institution from January 2007 to December 2012. Data on clinical and angiographic characteristics was collected. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke at two years.@*RESULTS@#274 patients (65.0% male, median age 62.0 years) with 336 lesions (81.8% Type B2) were treated. 431 stents (35.0% drug-eluting stents) with a mean diameter of 2.96 mm and mean length of 21.30 mm were implanted. The MACE rate was 55.8% (n = 153) at two years, from death (36.5%) and AMI (35.0%). In multivariable analysis, age and diabetes mellitus were significant predictors of both mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.12, p < 0.001; OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.46-4.82, p = 0.001, respectively) and MACE (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.08, p < 0.001; OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.07-3.15, p = 0.027, respectively). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, p = 0.006) was a significant predictor of mortality but not MACE.@*CONCLUSION@#Asian dialysis patients who underwent PCI had a two-year MACE rate of 55.8% due to death and AMI. Age, LVEF and diabetes mellitus were significant predictors of mortality at two years.

Protective effect of MUC2 in mice with colitis and the expression of anti-CBir1 antibody in serum / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the protective effect of mucin 2(MUC2)on intestinal mucosa of colitis model mice,and to explore the correlation between the expression of anti-CBir1 flagellin antibody and MUC2.METHODS:The mice were randomly divided into normal control group,2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS)group,lipopolysaccha-ride(LPS)+ovalalbumin(OVA)+TNBS group and ketotifen+TNBS group.The expression of MUC2 in colon tissue was determined by PAS staining and immunohistochemistry, and the anti-CBir1 antibody level in the serum of mice in each group was measured by ELISA.RESULTS:The scores of disease activity index and histological index in TNBS group were higher than those in normal control group(P<0.05).The scores in LPS +OVA+TNBS group were much higher than those in TNBS group(P<0.05).However, the values in ketotifen +TNBS group were lower than those in TNBS group (P<0.05).PAS staining showed a decrease in goblet cells in TNBS group.Compared with TNBS group,the colonic mu-cosa integrity in LPS+OVA+TNBS group was destroyed, and the number of goblet cells in ketotifen +TNBS group in-creased significantly.Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of MUC 2 in the intestinal tract of each mo-del group was basically consistent with the results of PAS staining.The serum anti-CBir1 antibody level in TNBS group was higher than that in normal control group(P<0.05), and that in LPS+OVA+TNBS group was significantly higher than that in TNBS group(P<0.05),whereas that in ketotifen +TNBS group was decreased slightly(P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:MUC2 plays a protective role in the pathogenesis of colitis in mice,and there is a negative correlation between the expression of MUC2 and the bacterial flagellin in the intestinal mucosa of mice with colitis.

Exploring the clinical characters of Shugan Jieyu capsule through text mining / 中国中药杂志

The study was main to explore the clinical characters of Shugan Jieyu capsule through text mining. The data sets of Shugan Jieyu capsule were downloaded from CMCC database by the method of literature retrieved from May 2009 to Jan 2016. Rules of Chinese medical patterns, diseases, symptoms and combination treatment were mined out by data slicing algorithm, and they were demonstrated in frequency tables and two dimension based network. Then totally 190 literature were recruited. The outcomess suggested that SC was most frequently correlated with liver Qi stagnation. Primary depression, depression due to brain disease, concomitant depression followed by physical diseases, concomitant depression followed by schizophrenia and functional dyspepsia were main diseases treated by Shugan Jieyu capsule. Symptoms like low mood, psychic anxiety, somatic anxiety and dysfunction of automatic nerve were mainy relieved bv Shugan Jieyu capsule.For combination treatment. Shugan Jieyu capsule was most commonly used with paroxetine, sertraline and fluoxetine. The research suggested that syndrome types and mining results of Shugan Jieyu capsule were almost the same as its instructions. Syndrome of malnutrition of heart spirit was the potential Chinese medical pattern of Shugan Jieyu capsule. Primary comorbid anxiety and depression, concomitant comorbid anxiety and depression followed by physical diseases, and postpartum depression were potential diseases treated by Shugan Jieyu capsule.For combination treatment, Shugan Jieyu capsule was most commonly used with paroxetine, sertraline and fluoxetine.

Discussion on Constructing "Moblie Medical + Medicare" to Further Promote Graded Medical Treatment Model / 医学信息学杂志

The paper analyzes the feasibility of further promoting graded medical treatment model through "moblie medical + medicare",and constructs "moblie medical + medicare" to promote the graded medical treatment model.By analyzing the innovative mode from stakeholder and "cooperation" among the aspects of medicare,medical care and medicine,it points out the significance of such construction.

Research on Cataluminescence Type Formaldehyde Sensor Based on CeO2-Co3 O4 Nanofibers / 分析化学

CeO2-Co3 O4 composite nanofibers were prepared by the double jets electrospinning method. The nanofibers were then deposited onto the surface of a ω-type heating coil as cataluminescence material to prepare a new cataluminescence ( CTL ) type formaldehyde gas sensor. The crystalline phase and microstructure of CeO2-Co3 O4 composite nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction ( XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the cataluminescence mechanism and electrochemical characteristic of formaldehyde on the surface of CeO2-Co3 O4 nanofibers were analyzed by H2 temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Under the optimal conditions (500 nm of wavelength, 0. 2 L/ min of flow rate and 550℃), there was a good relationship between the CTL intensity of this formaldehyde gas sensor (Ce30) and formaldehyde concentration in the range of 1. 2 -50 μg / m3 , the sensitivity was 40. 04 a. u. / (μg / m3 ), the detection limit was 1. 2 μg / m3 , the dynamic response time and recover time of formaldehyde gas were 2. 4 s and 3. 5 s, respectively. The formaldehyde sensor was successfully applied to the determination of formaldehyde in the automotive exhaust, with relative errors of 0. 39% -1. 07% and relative standard deviations of less than 3% .

Analysis of HPA gene Polymorphisms in Children with Acute or Chronic ITP / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the frequency distribution of human platelet antigen allele HPA-2 and HPA-15 among the pediatric patients with acute or chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in Chinese Guangxi area, and to explore the potential correlation of ITP with HPA-2 and HPA-15 gene polymorphisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and laboratorial data of 46 children diagnosed as acute ITP and 46 children diagnosed as chronic ITP between January 2007 and December 2014 were collected. Genotyping of HPA-2 and HPA-15 in 92 ITP patients and 48 healthy controls was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The allele frequencies of HPA-2 and HPA-15 were significantly different among the acute, chronic and control groups; the allele frequencies were significantly different between the chronic ITP group and the control group (P<0.0167), while the difference was not statistically significant between the acute and chronic ITP groups as well as between the acute ITP and the control group (P>0.0167).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The gene polymorphism of HPA-2 and HPA-15 may correlate with the risk of chronic ITP, but may not correlate with acute ITP in children.</p>

Clinical therapeutic effects of anterior decompression on spinal osteoporotic fracture and inflammatory cytokines

Objective: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects of anterior decompression on spinal osteoporotic fracture and inflammatory cytokines

Methods: A total of 140 patients with spinal osteoporotic fracture were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group [n=70]

The control group was treated by central corpectomy, and the control group was treated by anterior decompression

Results: The rate of excellent and good outcomes in the treatment group was 94.3%, and that of the control group was 78.6%, which differed significantly [P < 0.05]

Cobb angle and cord occupancy in the spinal canal of both groups significantly decreased [P < 0.05], while height ratio of the injured vertebral body significantly increased [P < 0.05]. Meanwhile, there were statistically significant inter-group differences [P < 0.05]

During the three-month follow-up period, the treatment group was significantly less prone to complications such as superficial infection, spinal instability and screw breakage compared with the control group [P < 0.05]

The postoperative serum MMP-3 and IL-6 levels of both groups significantly decreased compared with those before surgeries [P < 0.05], with statistically significant inter-group differences [P < 0.05]

Conclusion: Compared with central corpectomy, anterior decompression exerted better effects on spinal osteoporotic fracture by improving the prognosis and stabilizing the spine safely, which may be associated with the effectively reduced serum MMP-3 and IL-6 levels

Family survey and clinical analysis of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics and summary diagnostic and therapeutical experience of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>von Hippel-Lindau syndrome genealogy and clinical characteristics was investigated. Then a dendrogram was drawn and a genetic analysis was performed. Last the diagnostic and therapeutical experience of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome was investigated according to literatures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are 6 members attacked by the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome of 5 generations which includes 42 members. Three patients underwent operation. Two of the three patients who suffered operation had been removed of right lobe of liver tumor and one cerebellar hemangioblastomas independently. The third patient sustained three operations for removal of three cerebellar hemangioblastomas and left renal clear cell carcinoma. Three patients died of this syndrome.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The characteristic of this kindred is according with that of autosomal dominant inheritance disease. Until now, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome involves in multisystem, the prognosis of this syndrome is not very well. However, patients and their family members may get much benefit from genetic testing, periodic surveillance, early diagnosis and prompt treatment.</p>

MSCT optimal examination time for unconspicuous rib fracture / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore MSCT optimal examination time for patients with unconspicuous rib fracture.@*METHODS@#Sixty-three patients with thoracic trauma from January 2009 to June 2011 were collected. They were examined by MSCT in the first week after trauma and re-examined during eighth weeks after trauma. The number of rib which had been found fractured in the first examination was compared to that in re-examinations.@*RESULTS@#Patients with fine rib fracture often have different diagnostic results at different examination time after trauma. There was statistical difference between the number in the first week and the third week to the fifth week.@*CONCLUSION@#MSCT could show the pathophysiological changes of rib fracture objectively in the stage between the third week and the fifth week after trauma, which is optimal examination time for the fine rib fracture.

Effectiveness analysis of comprehensive measures to control the plague in the epidemic areas in Longlin county Guangxi from 2001 to 2010 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To evaluating the effectiveness of comprehensive measures to control the plague in epidemic areas in Longlin county Guangxi from 2001 to 2010.Methods Original epidemic places was deratised,indicative animals were investigated,and epidemic clues were searched.Cage trapping method was used to capture rat and rat body fleas were collected in the plague epidemic areas.The flea-carrying rates and flea index of rodents were calculated based on the number of fleas collected from caged rodents.The animals were then subjected to etiological and serological tests to determine the plague infection rate.Results A total of 1008 rats were captured and 571 fleas were collected from 2001 to 2010,of which Rattus Flavipestus accounted tor 81.65％(823/1008) and Xenopsylla Cheopis for 64.10％(366/571).The annual average rodents infected with flea and the index of flea were 23.02％ (177/769) and 0.74,respectively.The annual average density of rodents decreased from 3.99％ (859/21 508,before deratised) to 0.96％ (149/15 600,after deratised).The deratization rate was 75.94％.Conclusion The risk of a plague epidemic in Longlin county is reduced after continued comprehensive measures be taken to deal with the disease.

Application of 3-D skull models and guide plates in the treatment of unilateral orbitozygomatic deformity after fracture / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the application of 3-D skull models and guide plates in treatment of unilateral orbitozygomatic deformity after fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Each patient underwent CT scan and DICOM data was obtained preoperatively. Two 3-D resin skull models were produced by rapid prototyping technique. The first model was produced based on the patient's original data and the second was the reshaped model by mirroring the unaffected facial side to the traumatic side. The original model was used for measurement of the fracture displacement in three directions and model surgery. On the second model, one 2.0 mm miniplate (Synthes Inc) was bended along the orbital rim as the repositioning guide plate. During the operation, osteotomy and reduction of zygomatic and the periorbital fractures was guided by prepared repositioning guide plate, following by orbital wall reconstruction and bone grafting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From March 2007 to February 2009, 7 cases (6 males and 1 female) were treated successfully with no infection or graft extrusion. One week after operation, the patient received CT examination again. The shape and location of zygomatic bone and arch was good. Three cases were followed up for 3 months. Among them, facial symmetry was achieved in 2 cases. Cicatricial contracture and temporal soft tissue atrophy occurred in one case.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Reliable therapeutic effect can be achieved by application of rapid prototyping technique and repositioning guide plate in the treatment of complicated posttraumatic orbitozygomatic deformity.</p>

Plague surveillance and control in Longlin county Guangxi from 2000 to 2009 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To analyze the outcome of surveillance results on plague and to provide the evidences for the policy making in Longlin county Guangxi. Methods The epidemic data and the surveillance results of plague were analyzed and assessed with epidemiology methods in Longlin county Guangxi from 2000 to 2009, and the density of rodents, the rodents infected with flea, flea index and other indicators were calculated. Regional composition of the rats and fleas were analyzed. Results A totally of 4829 rats were captured and 4737 fleas were collected in the past 10 years, Rattus Flavipestus(81.92%,3956/4829) and Xenopsylla Cheopis (79.04%,3744/4737) were dominant species. The annual average density of rodents, the rodents infected with flea, index of flea were 3.30%(4829/146 206), 27.99%(1351/4827) and 0.98(4737/4827), respectively. A totally of 4792 rats were examined and 10 strains Yersinia Pestis were isolated. Indirect hemorrhagic assessed(IHA) was used to test the F1 antibody against plague in the blood serum of the rats and indicator animals, and 3 positive rats and 24 positive animals were found, respectively. Twenty seven natural villages in 3 towns had been involved in the plague. Conclusions The plague foci exists in Longlin county of Guangxi province. The plague foci in the areas have the same feature with the plague foci of Rattus Flavipectus. There is a potential risk for plague in this region, we should improve the quality of surveillance, increase indicator animals of the plague, and try to apply new surveillance method.

Treatment of middle/late stage primary hepatic carcinoma by Chinese medicine comprehensive therapy: A prospective randomized controlled study / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of Chinese medicine comprehensive therapeutic project in treating the middle/late stage primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With prospective randomized controlled design, 97 patients with PHC were assigned to the test group (49 cases) treated with Chinese medicine comprehensive therapy using Oleum fructus bruceas intervention combining oral intake of Ganji Decoction and external application of Ailitong, and the control group (48 cases) treated with chemotherapeutic agents combining iodized oil chemo-embolization and analgesics. The immediate and long-term efficacy, adverse reaction, pain-relieving initial time (PRIT) and pain-relieving sustained time (PRST) of the treatment, as well as the change in relieving patients' quality of life (QOL) were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The difference between the two groups in illness control rate was statistically insignificant (P>0.05), but the adverse reaction occurrence rate in the test group was lesser than that in the control group (P<0.05). PRIT was insignificantly different in the two groups (P>0.05), but the PRST was significantly superior in the test group than that in the control group (10.37+/-2.18 h vs 7.78+/-1.95 h, P<0.01). After treatment, the increased Karnofsky scores in the test group indicated that the patients' somatic activity, symptoms and QOL were improved significantly, which were significantly superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). The survival rate in the two groups was similar at the 3rd month after treatment, but the test group did show superiority in terms of half- and 1-year survival rate (65.9% vs 42.5% and 38.6% vs 18.1%, respectively, P<0.05). The median survival time in the test group was 8.9 months and that in the control group was 5.3 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese medicine comprehensive therapy is an effective treatment for the middle/late stage patients of PHC, and it could extend the PRST, improve the patients' QOL and long-term survival with less adverse reaction.</p>

Allicin can reduce neuronal death and ameliorate the spatial memory impairment in Alzheimers disease models

To investigate the mechanisms and protective effects of allicin on learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease [AD]. This study took place in the Institute of Medicine of Jishou University, Jishou, China, between January and September 2009. Allicin was given as preventive administration after AD was induced by amyloid beta [A beta [1-42]], and the protective effects of Allicin against learning and memory impairment were investigated. Sixty mice were randomly divided into 3 groups including the sham-operated+phosphate buffer solution [PBS] group, the A beta [1-42]+PBS group, and the A beta [1-42]+allicin group. The A beta [1-42] [1 micro L = 4 micro g] was injected into the bilateral hippocampi. Sham-operated mice were infused with PBS. Allicin or PBS was then injected intraperitoneally for 14 days. The animals were trained, and learning and memory abilities tested using the Morris Water-Maze. The changes of A beta [1-42] and P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [p38MAPK] were recorded to explore the mechanism of allicin's protective effects on learning and memory deficits. The A beta [1-42]-infused allicin-treated group showed significantly shorter latency times than the PBS treated A beta [1-42]-infused group from the second day of learning sessions [p=0.031], accompanied with significant reduction of malondialdehyde [MDA] [p=0.035] and an increase of superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity [p=0.041]. Allicin also decreased A beta and p38MAPK expressions in the cerebral cortex of AD mice model [p=0.031]. Preventive administration of allicin prevented learning and memory impairment, the mechanism may be due to an increase in the activity of SOD, a reduction in the levels of MDA and the expressions of A beta and p38MAPK in the brain

Prosthetic replacement of condylar head for management of traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To preliminarily evaluate the method of using titanium condylar protheses in management of traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between August 2006 and April 2008, titanium condylar replacement was performed in 5 male patients. Preoperative CT datum of patient was obtained and a resin model was then produced and used as a reference to select a suitable titanium condyle for reconstruction of the joint. In the operation, the bony ankylosis was removed. According to the preoperation planning, the selected prosthesis was inserted and fixed to the distal mandibular segment. The results were assessed by means of examinations and measurements postoperatively and during follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5 patients received alloplastic replacement of 6 condyles. Three patients were under follow-up and follow-up time ranged from 8 months to 2 years and 6 months. The mean mouth opening was 30 mm. Two patients had good occlusion and one patient developed a slight open bite.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Prosthetic condylar replacement can provide a choice for management of traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis.</p>