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Objective To observe the curative effect of nerve block combined with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods A total of 135 patients with PHN were treated with nerve block combined with SCS. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was adapted to assess the degree of pain relief and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to evaluate quality of sleep before treatment and 1, 3, 5, 7, 30 d after treatment. Treatment cycle was compared among different age subgroups. Results The effective rate of nerve block combined with SCS was 95.56% (129/135), and the total effective rate was 100% (135/135). There was significant difference on VAS (F = 46.891, P = 0.000) and PSQI (F = 55.993, P = 0.000) scores before and after treatment. The results showed that VAS score (t = 6.395, P = 0.012; t = 8.104, P = 0.000; t = 5.693, P = 0.013; t = 8.294, P = 0.000; t = 7.193, P = 0.007) and PSQI score (t = 7.142, P = 0.006; t = 3.959, P = 0.034; t = 7.142, P = 0.006; t = 3.959, P = 0.034; t = 8.104, P = 0.000) 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 d after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment. The average treatment cycle was (15.97 ± 2.44) d, and there was significant difference on treatment cycle among different age subgroups (F = 9.184, P = 0.001). The treatment cycle in subgroup of ≤ 30 years was shortest (q = 4.593, P = 0.019; q = 5.693, P = 0.018; q = 4.583, P = 0.021; q = 7.204, P = 0.008; q = 5.593, P = 0.013), and the treatment cycle in subgroup of > 70 years was longest (q = 5.593, P = 0.013; q = 8.104, P = 0.000; q = 7.142, P = 0.006; q = 5.693, P = 0.011; q = 4.298, P = 0.033). Conclusions Nerve block combined with SCS in the treatment of PHN alleviates pain and improves the quality of sleep. It is expected to be an ideal method for clinical treatment of PHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a proposal to develop a cost-effective Micro-carbon Column Rapid Breakthrough (MCRB) for water and wastewater treatability. It discusses the proposed MCRB methods which employs simplified procedure, low cost and readily available pump, and piping and fittings to allow its practice in an ordinary environment. It reports that the MCRB method may be employed to identify the best granular activated carbon, to verify its treatment effectiveness, and to estimate its capacity utilization rate and the adsorption treatment cost. It also discusses the effects of the particle size and empty bed contact time on MCRB test results. It concludes that the proposed MCRB method can be practiced in an ordinary environmental laboratory to conduct carbon adsorption treatability studies.

Purpose: To explore the stem cell surface markers expressed in human dental pulp stem cells which were selected and isolated by magnetic beads., Methods: Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) were separated and cultured from dental pulp of healthy third molars for orthodontic purpose. HDPSCs were isolated from cultured hDPCs by magnetic-activated cell sorting's (MACS) indirect magnetic cell labeling and positive selection strategy with antibody STRO-1 in the 2nd generation. Then the stem cell surface markers (CD73, CD90, CD105, CD166 and STRO-1) were respectively detected in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 generation of dental pulp stem cells. HDPSCs were induced to differentiation by adipogenic medium and osteogenic medium in the 3rd generation. Adipogenic differentiation was assessed by oil red O staining in day 21, and osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alizarin red staining in day 21., Results: HDPSCs could differentiate into adipocyte and osteoblasts. Oil red O staining and alizarin red staining were positively expressed after induction of HDPSCs. STRO-1's expression was decreased with the increase of generation. The expressions of CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD166 were relatively stable., Conclusions: The expression of STRO-1 is declined with the increase of generation, and the expressions of CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD166 are relatively stable with the changes of generation. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81070826/81371143) and Shanghai Rising-Star Program (12QH1401400).

Purpose: To establish an immortalized human dental pulp stem cell line used for basic and clinical research of oral science., Methods: Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) cDNA was transferred into human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by lentivirus. The resultant stable clones reproduced successively and the expression of hTERT was identified., Results: The hTERT gene was transferred into human dental pulp stem cells successfully. The transformed cells expressed telomerase activity and divided vigorously. p35 had been obtained so far., Conclusions: The hDPSCs can be immortalized by transferring exogenous hTERT gene to constitute telomerase activity.

Purpose: To complement the activated methyl cycle (AMC) pathway at an AI-2 defect background in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) luxS null strain., Methods: A sahH gene was amplified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and introduced into the S. mutans luxS null strain to complement the methyl-metabolic disruption at an AI-2 defect background. Western blot, reverse-transcription PCR and AI-2 bioassay were performed to confirm the heterogenous expression of SahH in S. mutans luxS null strain. The data was statistically analyzed by SAS8.0 software package., Results: LuxS and SahH were detected to express in Escherichia coli BL21 as well as their mRNA were confirmed to be successfully transcribed in S. mutans luxS null strain. AI-2 production was found in wide type S. mutans and its luxS-introduced luxS null strain but not found in the luxS null strain and its sahH and empty plasmid-introduced strains., Conclusions: A new S. mutans derivative with the AMC pathway complements while the AI-2 defect is constructed.

Objective: To investigate the values of extravascular lung water and preload parameters of weaning from mechanical ventilation on patients with septic shock., Methods: A prospective study was conducted. A total of 52 septic shock patients with mechanical ventilation were enrolled from January 2010 to July 2012. All patients were treated and monitored by pulse induced continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) till they reached weaning criteria, and then spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), weaning, and extubation were performed in turn. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups including successful weaning group (n=38) and weaning failure group (n=14) according to clinical manifestations during 48 hours after weaning. Extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), preload parameters such as global end diastolic volume index (GEDVI) and intra-thoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were compared at the time before weaning, 0.5 hour after weaning, 0.5 hour after extubation, and time of weaning failure or 48 hours after weaning. The patients in weaning failure group were sub-divided into high PVPI group (PVPI≥1.5 ml/m(2)) and low PVPI group (PVPI<1.5 ml/m(2)), the NT-proBNP and pulmonary blood volume (PBV) were compared between two groups., Results: Before weaning, there was no statistical difference in NT-proBNP, volume parameters and EVLWI between two groups. EVLWI, GEDVI, ITBVI, PVPI and log NT-proBNP were gradually increased after weaning and extubation in two groups. The EVLWI, PVPI and log NT-proBNP were significantly higher at end point of observation in weaning failure group compared with those in successful weaning group (EVLWI: 12.81±2.13 ml/kg vs. 8.48±1.53 ml/kg, PVPI: 2.79±1.29 ml/m(2) vs. 2.19±0.94 ml/m(2), log NT-proBNP: 3.72±0.35 vs. 3.44±0.28, P<0.05 or P<0.01). GEDVI, ITBVI at 0.5 hour after weaning and end point of observation in weaning failure group were significantly higher than those in successful weaning group (0.5 hour after extubation: GEDVI 986.29±166.44 ml/m(2) vs. 856.47±149.15 ml/m(2), ITBVI: 1171.07±167.03 ml/m(2) vs. 1045.79±146.09 ml/m(2); end point of observation: GEDVI 957.00±67.25 ml/m(2) vs. 816.86±27.58 ml/m(2), ITBVI: 1184.29±209.68 ml/m(2) vs. 993.79±168.90 ml/m(2), P<0.05 or P<0.01). Sub-analysis showed that in weaning failure group, higher log NT-proBNP and PBV were found in patients with low PVPI compared with those with high PVPI (log NT-proBNP: 4.02±0.11 vs. 3.71±0.23, PBV: 507.19±25.72 ml vs. 347.85±47.52 ml, P<0.05 and P<0.01)., Conclusions: Increased EVLW is the reason of pulmonary edema caused by weaning in septic shock patients, to which both hydrostatic and pulmonary permeability may contribute, and the latter could be more important. Monitoring preload parameters could help distinguish the mechanism of pulmonary edema after weaning, which may be useful in treatment.

Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels of patients before weaning and outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients., Methods: A total of 126 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with MV were enrolled from August 2008 to December 2009, and the cause composition was recorded. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in patients with MV, in whom the clinical data had fulfilled the criteria for weaning from MV, spontaneous breathing trial, weaning and extubation were performed successively. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups namely success group and failure group according to weaning outcome within 48-hour. The plasma NT-proBNP levels in two groups were compared, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicted weaning outcome was plotted to find the cut-off point value of NT-proBNP., Results: The major causes of MV were pulmonary infection (33.3%) and surgical operations (30.2%), and heart failure accounted for only 11.9%. The plasma NT-proBNP levels before weaning were negatively correlated with the consequences of weaning. The plasma NT-proBNP levels in failure group (n=38) were significantly higher than those in success group (n=88, lg NT-proBNP: 3.97+/-0.48 vs. 2.99+/-0.67 ,P<0.05). The NT-proBNP area under ROC curve was 0.875+/-0.043 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.792-0.959]. The cut-off point value which could be used to predict the outcome of weaning was 3 914.5 ng/L. The sensitivity and specificity of the cut-off point value were 78.3% and 91.1%, respectively., Conclusion: Irrespective of the causes of institution of MV, the cardiac function must be considered as an important factor in affecting the outcome of weaning. The plasma NT-proBNP level of 3 914.5 ng/L can be used to predict weaning outcome. The cardiac function should be improved to a point within the range of cut-off point value in order to improve the success rate of weaning.