[Combination of inhaled salmeterol/fluticasone and tiotropium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised controlled trial].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of combination therapy with inhaled salmeterol/fluticasone and tiotropium in reducing the frequency of acute episodes of symptom exacerbation and improving lung function and health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: One hundred and twenty-six patients (M/F: 92/34) with COPD were treated in a randomised, parallel-group, controlled study with salmeterol/fluticasone (50/250 microg) twice daily and tiotropium 18 microg once daily (n = 33, M/F: 23/10); salmeterol/fluticasone (50/250 microg) twice daily (n = 32, M/F: 24/8); or tiotropium 18 microg once daily (n = 32, M/F: 23/9) for 12 months. Patients in the blank control group (n = 29, M/F: 22/7) did not receive any inhaled anticholinergic drugs, long-acting beta(2) agonists or glucocorticoid therapy.

Purification, characterization and crystallization of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase from the hyperthermophilic archeon Sulfolobus Solfataricus.

The gene SSO0495 (proC), which encodes pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR) from the thermoacidophilic archeon Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 (Ss-P5CR), was cloned and expressed. The purified recombinant enzyme catalyzes the thioproline dehydrogenase with concomitant oxidation of NAD(P)H to NAD(P)+. This archeal enzyme has an optimal alkaline pH in this reversible reaction and is thermostable with a half-life of approximately 30 min at 80 degrees C.

A new osteonecrosis animal model of the femoral head induced by microwave heating and repaired with tissue engineered bone.

The objective of this research was to induce a new animal model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) by microwave heating and then repair with tissue engineered bone. The bilateral femoral heads of 84 rabbits were heated by microwave at various temperatures. Tissue engineered bone was used to repair the osteonecrosis of femoral heads induced by microwave heating.

[Total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in adults].

Objective: To summarize techniques of the total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with severe osteoarthritis in adults.

Methods: From March 2000 to January 2006, 24 patients (27 hips) with DDH were treated by THA with an cementless cup. There were 7 males and 17 females, with the average age of 49.

[Facilitation of Shengjingbao to spermatogenesis in oligospermia mouse models and its action mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Shengjingbao on spermatogenesis in the mouse model of oligospermia and its action mechanisms.

Methods: Sixty male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, Shengjingbao (Group 1), Vitamin E (Group 2), blank model control (Group 3) and normal blank control (Group 4). The first three groups were treated by celiac injection of cyclophosphamide for 5 successive days to make models, followed by intragastric administration of Shengjingbao and Vitamin E to Group I and 2, respectively, for 36 days.

[Pathologic changes of palatopharyngeal muscle in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

Objective: To study the pathologic changes of the palatopharyngeal muscles in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), the role of the above muscles in OSAHS pathogenesis was discussed.

Methods: Thirty OSAHS patients receiving uvulopalatopharyngoplasty selected, and ten normal subjects without snoring as the control group. The successive longitudinal sections of palatopharyngeal muscle were stained for observing Troponin-I's content.

[Expression of two kinds of tumor correlation protein in laryngeal carcinoma and precancerous lesions].

Objective: To study the expression of S phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2), phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in human laryngeal carcinoma and precancerous lesions, to explore their relations and clinical significance.

Methods: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 79 cases of laryngeal carcinoma, 16 cases of atypical hyperplasia of vocal fold,14 cases of adult laryngeal papillomas and 27 cases of vocal cord polyps were evaluated for the expression of Skp2, PTEN by SP immunohistochemistry, the levels of these proteins in tissues with the different types of lesion and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters of laryngeal carcinoma were analyzed.

Results: The expression rates of Skp2 in vocal cord polyps, adult laryngeal papillomas, atypical hyperplasia of vocal cord and laryngeal carcinoma were 11.

Relationship between COPD and polymorphisms of HOX-1 and mEPH in a Chinese population.

Recent studies have proposed that susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might be related with the polymorphisms of some genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HOX-1) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEPH). We examined these polymorphisms in 256 patients with COPD and 266 healthy smokers from Han population in Southwest China. The frequencies of each allele were compared both individually and in combination between patients and controls.

[Experimental study on osteoking in promoting gene expression of core binding factor alpha 1 in necrotic femoral head of rabbits].

Objective: To study the effects of Osteoking in promoting gene expression of core binding factor alpha 1 (cbfalpha 1) in necrotic femoral head of rabbits.

Methods: Rabbit model of femoral head necrosis (FHN) was induced by intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 microg/kg body weight twice with an interval of 24 h and intramuscular injection with methyl prednisone (MPS) 20 mg/kg body weight 3 times. The dynamic changes of cbfalpha 1 gene expression in the femoral head were observed with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR.

[Expression of human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in the transfected chondrocytes of temporomandibular joint].

Objective: To investigate the expression of the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (hIL-1ra) in the transfected chondrocytes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Methods: Chondrocytes of TMJ in vitro were transfected by hIL-1ra gene via cationic liposome as a medium. The stable transfected cells were selected by G418.

Neural stem cells: isolation and differentiation into cholinergic neurons.

This investigation aimed to isolate neural stem cells from neonatal hippocampus and induce them to differentiate into cholinergic neurons. The isolated neural stem cells were incubated in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium/F12 medium added with 20 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor and B27. The cell line isolated from the hippocampal formation of neonatal rats expressed nestin and had the potency to form clones and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

[Inhibited proliferation of B-lymphoma Raji cells and down-regulated expression of VEGF by arsenic trioxide].

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of As2O3 on proliferation of B lymphoma Raji cell and to study the expression changes of VEGF mRNA. The modified MTT was adopted to evaluate the effect of As2O3 on proliferation of Raji cells. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of VEGF121 and VEGF165 mRNA in Raji cells exposed to As2O3.

Mitochondrial polymorphisms as risk factors for endometrial cancer in southwest China.

It is just in recent years that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been found in solid tumors. Although a direct link between the presence of mtDNA mutations and the development of tumors has not been made, mtDNA mutations might prove significant in the detection of tumor recurrence and possibly in the detection of genotoxic damage. To investigate the relationship between mtDNA variation and endometrial cancer, we collected blood samples from subjects with Han native background in Yunnan province in China, 49 of them with pathologically conformed endometrial cancer and 31 as controls with no cancer disease and sequenced two hypervariable segments of control region, part of 16sRNA gene, tRNA(leu) (tRNA is transfer RNA) gene and ND1 gene of mtDNA and identified some diagnostic polymorphisms by restriction fragment length polymorphism of coding region of mtDNA.

[Visual field analysis after laser in situ keratomileusis].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the patients' visual field.

Methods: 92 eyes of 46 patients with mild, moderate, and high degrees of myopia were undergone LASIK. Perimetry was performed before and 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after LASIK surgery by Humphrey II-750 visual field analysis.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene polymorphisms and cardioprotective role in essential hypertension.

Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) has been proved to be involved in a cardioprotective role, but only a few studies have addressed the association of AT2R-genotype with this role. Whether the AT2R genotype is associated with hypertension is controversial. The aim of the study was to explore the information of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AT2R gene in Cantonese, an essential subpopulation of Chinese, and study the association of SNPs in the AT2R gene with hypertension, and to detect the genotypes that indicate a cardioprotective role.

[The study of comparing the anatomy with curved planar reformatted CT of the facial nerve canal].

Objective: To study the reliability of curved planar reformatted (CPR) CT of the facial nerve canal.

Method: Twenty-two adult head cadavers with 40 sides of temporal bone were examined by CT of high resolution and curved planar reformatted CT, then were anatomized. The length, diameter and two angles were measured both on the image of CPR and cadavers, as well as the course and aberrance of the facial nerve canal were investigated.

[Study on correlation between histocompatibility leukocyte antigen class II gene and gestational diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To investigate correlation between part of histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II gene and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: Part of HLA-II gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). Forty-eight GDM women were served as study group, and forty-eight normal pregnant women were selected as control group.

[The expression of heat shock protein 27 in retinal ganglion cells in the rat glaucoma model].

Objective: To observe the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in retinal ganglion cells in experimental rat glaucoma model and to study the relationship between HSP27 expression and hypertension using serum autoantibodies.

Methods: Forty nine Wistar rats were randomly divided into ocular hypertension group, sham control group and normal control group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was elevated by electrocoagulation of at least 3 episcleral and limbal veins in the right eye of each rat.

[Immunogenetic analysis of human leukocyte antigen DRB1, DQB1 locus among Han ethnic children with Helicobacter pylori infection in Kunming].

Objective: To explore the immunogenetic features of human leukocyte antigen DRB1, DQB1 locus and children with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Han ethnic population in Kunming and its association with digestive diseases and H. pylori to better understand the immunogenetic features of the H.

[The use of lateral mass screws and pedicle screws for the treatment of injury of lower cervical spine].

Objective: To discuss the effect of the use of the cervical lateral mass plates screws and T(1) pedicle screws for the treatment of C(6) to C(7) injury through posterior approach.

Methods: There were 8 patients in the study group; Each of them had been injured with low cervical spine C(6) or C(7). There were 6 cases with C(6)-C(7) injury and 2 cases with C(7) injury.

[Successful treatment of high-flow priapism by selective arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of high-flow priapism (HFP).

Methods: Four cases of HFP following blunt trauma to the penis or perinea underwent diagnostic examination by colour-flow Doppler ultrasound and/or superselective pudendal arteriography, which revealed bilateral arteriocorporal fistula in 1 case and monolateral in the other 3. Penile detumescence was obtained in 2 cases by superselective bilateral/monolateral arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery with absorbable gelatin

Results: The former 2 cases effected an immediate recovery of the sponge, while the other 2 cases received conservative treatment.

[The histological research between the mode of invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity].

Objective: The relationship between the mode of tumor invasion in the tumor-host borderline and the frequency of cervical lymph node metastasis was investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Methods: 200 cases with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were studied by histological method with HE stained. The mode of invasion in the tumor-host relationship was classified into five grades by Yamamoto's criteria.

A randomized, controlled, clinical study of thymosin alpha-1 versus interferon-alpha in [corrected] patients with chronic hepatitis B lacking HBeAg in China [corrected].

Background: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of thymosin-alphal (T-alpha1) with that of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B envelope antibody (anti-HBe).

Methods: Fifty-six patients were randomly divided into groups A and B. Both groups were comparable (p > 0.

[A study on myogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells].

Objective: To isolate human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells and study the potential of osteogenic differentiation after inductive culture.

Methods: Liposuction human adipose tissues were minced and digested with collagenase type I. The obtained stromal cells were plated in BGJb medium as primary culture for ten days.