Experimental investigation of a thermoacoustic-Stirling refrigerator driven by a thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine.

In this paper, a thermally-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator system without any moving part is reported. This refrigeration system consists of a thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine and a thermoacoustic-Stirling refrigerator; that is, the former is the driving source for the latter. Both the subsystems are designed to operate on traveling-wave mode.

Surgical repair of hard palate cleft with absorbable membrane: the new surgical technique and its clinical application.

This study evaluated a new surgical technique with absorbable membrane to repair hard palate cleft without extensive mobilisation of the mucoperiosteum. From 2001 to 2002, 32 selected patients with complete unilateral clefts underwent this surgical operation. The traditional flap surgical operation was performed at the soft palate, uvula and anterior alveolar cleft.

Autogenous coronoid process as a new donor source for reconstruction of mandibular condyle: an experimental study on goats.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of autogenous coronoid process grafts for reconstruction of the mandibular condyle.

Study Design: Two groups of 9 goats each were used. Each animal underwent unilateral total condyle and disk removal and was treated by grafting an autogeneous coronoid process.

[Ultrastructure of poly-DL-lactic acid as GTR membrane of soft tissue defects in goats palates].

Objective: To study the ultrastructure changes of PDLLA as GTR membrane of soft tissue defects in the palates of goats.

Methods: To establish penetrating rectangle palate defects in 8 goats. PDLLA membranes were implanted into the defect areas to guide the regeneration of the soft tissue defects.

[Effects of the PEMFs of different intensity on BMD and biomechanical properties of rabbits' femur].

The effects of the pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) of different intensity on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical properties of rabbits' femur had been studied. Twenty-seven female white big ear rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The magnetic groups were fed in 15 Hz PEMFs, which pulse duration was set to be 5 ms (6 h x d(-1)), the magnetic intensity was 10 x 10(-4) T and the other was 20 x 10(-4) T.

Molecular and cellular characterization during chondrogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells in vitro and cartilage formation in vivo.

Human adipose tissue is a viable source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with wide differentiation potential for musculoskeletal tissue engineering research. The stem cell population, termed processed lipoaspirate (PLA) cells, can be isolated from human lipoaspirates and expanded in vitro easily. This study was to determine molecular and cellular characterization of PLA cells during chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and cartilage formation in vivo.

[Effects of scalp penetration acupuncture on plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin related peptide (CGRP) contents in the patient of acute intracerebral hemorrhage].

Objective: To study the mechanism of scalp penetration acupuncture treating acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH).

Methods: The treatment group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30) were treated with the same basic therapy, but scalp penetration acupuncture was added to the treatment group. Changes of plasma ET and CGRP contents were compared.

[Effect of oxygen-increased respirator on SaO2 and heart rate under plateau environment].

Objective: To study effects of oxygen-increased respirator on blood oxygen saturation (SaO2) and heart rate under altitude hypoxic environment.

Method: Nine subjects were carried to the plateau of 3700 m by air for the first time, and then four trials were carried out two hours later. First, SaO2 and heart rate were examined during rest without oxygen-increased respirators, and then the examination was repeated by using the respirators.

[The changes of cytoskeleton F-actin in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and calvarial osteoblasts under mechanical strain].

Objective: To explore the response of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs and calvarial osteoblasts to mechanical strain and the consequent changes of cytoskeleton F-actin.

Methods: Bone marrow MSCs and calvarial osteoblasts were isolated from SD rats and cultured in vitro. Mechanical stretch was performed on passage 3 cells at 2 000 microepsilon for 0, 2, 6 and 12 hours using four-point bending system.

[Preparation of anti-Red antisera and its subcellular localization].

Aim: To prepare rabbit anti-Red antisera.

Methods: The bet, exo and gam genes of lambda phage were amplified by PCR from genomic DNA and cloned into the expression vector pDH2, respectively. Red proteins were induced to express at 42 degrees C.

Enhancing DNA vaccine potency against hantavirus by co-administration of interleukin-12 expression vector as a genetic adjuvant.

Background: The heavy incidence and mortality of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, as well as no specific drugs in curing the disease, clearly indicate the need for development of the more effective hantavirus vaccine. Refining the DNA vaccination strategy to elicit more clinically efficacious immune responses is now under intensive investigation. In the present study, we examined the effects of using an interleukin-12 expression plasmid as a genetic adjuvant to enhance the immune responses induced by a DNA vaccine based on the S gene encoding nucleocapsid protein against hantavirus.

Hybrid artificial liver support system for treatment of severe liver failure.

Aim: To construct a novel hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS) and to evaluate its efficacy in patients with severe liver failure.

Methods: Hepatocytes were isolated from suckling pig by the modified Seglen's method. Isolated hepatocytes were cultured in a spinner flask for 24 h to form spheroids before use and the functions of spheroids were detected.

[Guided reconstruction of soft tissue defects of the palate with n-HA/PA66 plates: an experimental study in goats.].

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of n-HA/PA66 plate as a guided implant for the regeneration of the soft tissue defects in palatal region of goats.

Methods: 12 goats were divided into experimental group and control group at random. 18.

Interaction of Brn3a and HIPK2 mediates transcriptional repression of sensory neuron survival.

The Pit1-Oct1-Unc86 domain (POU domain) transcription factor Brn3a controls sensory neuron survival by regulating the expression of Trk receptors and members of the Bcl-2 family. Loss of Brn3a leads to a dramatic increase in apoptosis and severe loss of neurons in sensory ganglia. Although recent evidence suggests that Brn3a-mediated transcription can be modified by additional cofactors, the exact mechanisms are not known.

A synthetic peptide containing loop 4 of nerve growth factor for targeted gene delivery.

Background: Gene delivery vectors that restrict the expression of a therapeutic gene to a particular type of cells are critical to gene therapy in a complex structure, such as the central nervous system. We constructed a nonviral vector for targeted gene transfer to cells expressing nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA.

Methods And Results: The vector was a synthetic chimeric peptide composed of a targeting moiety derived from NGF loop 4 and a DNA-binding moiety of 10 lysine residues.

[The experimental study of PDLLA/rhBMP-2 compound screws for internal fixation of mandibular fracture].

Objective: To study the effect of poly D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) screws with PDLLA-rhBMP compound on bone regeneration in the screw holes and fracture ends of dog mandibles.

Methods: A self-control study was carried out in 4 dogs. PDLLA/rhBMP-2 compound screws were implanted to fix the mental fractures and PDLLA screws were used as control.

[A microcomputerized pulsed water-sac massage with drug penetration instrument for treatment of male patients with immunity infertility accompanied by chronic seminal vesiculitis].

This article describes the development of an innovative microcomputerized pulse-water-sac massage with drug penetration instrument and reports its effectiveness in the patients with immunity infertility accompanied by chronic seminal vesiculitis. The instrument was developed on the basis of the pathological characteristics of immunity infertility accompanied by chronic seminal vesiculitis, and along the lines of our practice in integrating the modern theory of traditional Chinese medicine, with multiple techniques of biomedical engineering sciences. 181 male patients with immunity infertility accompanied by chronic seminal vesiculitis received the treatment.

[Clinical study of treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy on severe hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy].

Objective: To evaluate clinical significance and the therapeutic mechanisms of the treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy on severe hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods: Forty-seven cases were randomly divided into three groups: continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) group, plasma exchange (PE)+CRRT group and basic treatment group. The former two groups were respectively operated by CRRT and PE+CRRT with basic treatment.

[Treatment of chronic prostatitis with computerized herbal drug penetrator].

A computerized herbal drug penetrator for chronic prostatitis was designed and developed on the basis of a combination of the authors' clinical practice with modern Traditional Chinese Medicinal theories. The device has integrated many hi-techs of current engineering science. It works by applying special herbal medicine, electro-magnetic effects, thermal moxibustion, perfusion and pulsated massage with water-capsule.

[The development of clinical application of the rejuvenator and a study of its mechanism for the treatment of functional erectile dysfunction].

In this paper, we describe the development and clinical application of the Rejuvenator and report the result of our study on its mechanism for the treatment of functional erectile dysfunction (FED). The Rejuvenator, which can be used both at home and in hospitals to treat patients with FED, was developed on the basis of our clinical practice in the light of the modern theory of traditional Chinese medicine and by integrating multiple techniques of engineering science. It works by means of the paraoral use of the special herbal medicine, electro-magnetic effects, thermal moxibustion and drug-ingression.

Direct immunization of malaria DNA vaccine into the liver by gene gun protects against lethal challenge of Plasmodium berghei sporozoite.

The liver is the first target organ for malaria parasites immediately after the bite of an infected mosquito. We studied local immunization of malaria DNA vaccines at the site of the liver using a gene gun as a useful tool for in vivo transfection of foreign genes. A malaria DNA vaccine consisting of the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein (PbCSP) gene plus the mouse IL-12 gene was bombarded directly by a gene gun into mouse liver once or into the skin twice.

The effect of Portuguese Man-of-war (Physalia physalis) venom on calcium, sodium and potassium fluxes of cultured embryonic chick heart cells.

Portuguese Man-of-war venom markedly increases calcium (45Ca2+) influx into primary, cultured, embryonic chick heart cells. This action is dose-dependent, but is unaffected by organic calcium blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine, nimodipine and mibefradil). On the other hand, certain trivalent (La3+, Gd3+) and divalent (Zn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mn2+) metals inhibit venom-induced calcium influx.

A single-chain antibody fragment specific for the Plasmodium berghei ookinete protein Pbs21 confers transmission blockade in the mosquito midgut.

Mouse monoclonal antibody 13.1 (mAb 13.1) directed against Pbs21, a 21-kDa sexual-stage surface protein of Plasmodium berghei, is known to inhibit oocyst development from gametocytes and ookinetes in the mosquito midgut.