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Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor that occurs in infancy and early childhood, accounting to less than 1% of all childhood neoplasms. About 20 cases of mediastinal lipoblastoma have been reported in English literature. We report a rare case of mediastinal lipoblastoma in a 6-year-old boy. The tumor weighing 996 gm was successfully excised. Clinical manifestations, radiological and histopathological findings and treatment of this lesion are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the formation mechanism of fungal community and diversity during the production of Shaoxing Huangjiu, we examined fungal communities in the samples of Linfanjiumu, Maiqu and fermentation mash based on Illumina MiSeq PE300 high-throughput sequencing platform. A total of 136000, 215283, 166150, and 143624 sequences were obtained from the samples of Linfanjiumu, Maiqu, initial mash and mature mash, respectively. After clustering, 32, 133, 107 and 84 OUT (operational taxonomic units) were obtained, respectively. The diversity and richness of fungi were in order of Maiqu > initial mash > mature mash > Linfanjiumu. At the level of phylum, Ascomycota were dominant in all samples. At genus level, Saccharomyces was dominant in Linfanjiumu, Aspergillus was dominant in Maiqu, and Saccharomyces and Aspergillus were the dominant fungi in the initial and mature mash. With the extension of the fermentation time, the proportion of Saccharomyces gradually increased in the mash, while other fungal groups including Aspergillus showed a decreasing trend. According to the results of PCoA analysis and similarity cluster analysis, the structure of fungi community in Linfanjiumu, initial mash and mature mash was much similar, while the fungal resources in Maiqu were quite different from other samples. The analysis of fungal community characteristics in the initial mash showed that the Linfanjiumu and Maiqu affected fungal diversity in Shaoxing Huangjiu. The dominant species of saccharification and fermentation starter (Linfanjiumu and Maiqu) played a leading role in driving community assembly of fermentation fungi.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a reliable resource for tissue regeneration, but the molecular mechanism underlying directed differentiation remains unclear; this has restricted potential MSC applications. Histone methylation, controlled by histone methyltransferases and demethylases, may play a key role in MSCs differentiation. Previous studies determined that KDM2B can regulate the cell proliferation and osteo/dentinogenic differentiation of MSCs. It is not known whether KDM2B is involved in the other cell lineages differentiation of MSCs. Here we used the stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) to study the role of KDM2B on the chondrogenic differentiation potentials in MSCs. In this study, Gain- and loss-of-function assays were applied to investigate the role of KDM2B on the chondrogenic differentiation. Alcian Blue Staining and Quantitative Analysis were used to investigate the synthesis of proteoglycans by chondrocytes. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of chondrogenesis related genes. The Alcian Blue staining and Quantitative Analysis results revealed that overexpression of KDM2B decreased the proteoglycans production, and real-time RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of the chondrogenic differentiation markers, COL1, COL2 and SOX9 were inhibited by overexpression of KDM2B in SCAPs. On the contrary, depletion of KDM2B increased the proteoglycans production, and inhibited the expressions of COL1, COL2 and SOX9. In conclusion, our results indicated that KDM2B is a negative regulator of chondrogenic differentiation in SCAPs and suggest that inhibition of KDM2B might improve MSC mediated cartilage regeneration.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of microbial fiber membrane-Flagyl (MF-FLA) on facilitating hemostasis and wound healing and its anti-inflammatory ability after tooth extraction., Materials and Methods: For the animal experiment, 60 healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. Each group included 5 subgroups corresponding to different experimental periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks) and each subgroup had 6 rabbits. After the different experimental periods, the rabbits were killed, and the mandible was removed for histologic examination and analysis. For the human trial, 80 patients (32 males and 48 females; age range, 13 to 32 years), who were undergoing orthodontic treatment and who had undergone bilateral extraction of teeth were included. For every patient, the left tooth socket was treated with biting gauze for 30 to 60 minutes as the control group. The right fossa was covered with MF-FLA as the treatment group. The wound was inspected visually, its depth was measured, and radiographs were taken at the different experimental periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks) to evaluate the wound healing effect., Results: In the animal experiment, the results of the histologic examination indicated MF-FLA could facilitate the growth of fibroblasts and osteoblasts and inhibit inflammatory cells. In the human trial, the clinical observation indicated that the MF-FLA treatment showed better hemostatic ability than the biting gauze. After 4 weeks, the wound depth of the control and treatment groups was 3.08 ± 0.05 mm and 1.26 ± 1.06 mm (P < .01), respectively. The radiographs showed that the treatment group was superior to control group in the degree and rate of wound healing., Conclusion: The results of our study have shown that the MF-FLA can promote early wound healing and reduce the incidence of postextraction complications because of its biocompatibility, isolating and anti-inflammatory ability, and supporting the formation of blood clot in the tooth socket., (Copyright © 2011 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To observe the early bone integration of oral implants after injection of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) and investigate the effects of NGF on peri-implant osseointegration., Methods: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study to establish bi-mandible implant model. Then local injection of 1 µg NGF was given on the right side of the mandible as experimental group and normal saline only was injected on the left side as control group once a day for seven days. The rabbits were respectively sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. The implant-bone grinding samples were prepared and stained by toluidine blue for general observation, X-ray, histology and bone histomorphometry analysis., Results: The density of the new bone around implants at 2 and 4 weeks was lower than normal bone. Compared with the control group, the quantity of new bone and bone-implant contact ratio significantly increased in the experimental group. At 8 weeks, the new bone density in both groups was similar to the normal bone. In the experimental group, the haversian system was observed. Bone contact ratio was significantly different between experimental and control group at 2 and 4 weeks, but similar at 8 weeks.[control group at 2 weeks (26.67 ± 3.88)%, 4 weeks (52.59 ± 5.07)% and 8 weeks (97.33 ± 6.75)%, experimental group at 2 weeks (42.24 ± 6.67)%, 4 weeks (72.25 ± 6.30)% and 8 weeks (99.15 ± 4.68)%]., Conclusions: Applying exogenous NGF in the early phase could accelerate the formation and maturation of trabecular bone around the implants and shorten the period of osseointegration. Nerve growth factor could promote osseointegration in the early stage of oral implantation.

Objective: To observe the alterations of saliva nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis., Methods: Parotid saliva and whole saliva were collected from 33 patients and 34 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in saliva were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Follow-up observation was performed on 10 patients after treatment. The data were statistically analyzed with independent-samples t test or paired-samples t test at alpha = 0.05., Results: There was significant increase of the concentrations and secretion rate of parotid saliva nitrate in patient group as compared with controls: (49.70 +/- 0.50) vs (21.51 +/- 0.60) mg/L (t = 2.692, P = 0.009) and (27.71 +/- 0.50) vs (12.55 +/- 0.60) microg/min (t = 2.554, P = 0.013), respectively. Significantly increased concentrations and secretion rate of nitrate and nitrite [nitrate: (6.46 +/- 0.94) vs (1.11 +/- 0.70) mg/L (t = 3.792, P = 0.000); nitrite: (8.48 +/- 0.58) vs (3.39 +/- 0.53) mg/L (t = 2.888, P = 0.005); nitrate secretion rate: (10.57 +/- 0.91) vs (2.10 +/- 0.74) microg/min (t = 3.464, P= 0.001); nitrite secretion rate: (13.91 +/- 0.55) vs (6.42 +/- 0.58) microg/min (t = 2.397, P = 0.020)] were revealed in whole saliva of patients group. Significantly decreased nitrate and nitrite levels were also observed in patients after treatment, especially the changes of parotid saliva nitrate secretion rate [(37.50 +/- 0.50) vs (14.34 +/- 0.64) microg/min (t = 3.142, P = 0.012)], whole saliva nitrate [(14.29 +/- 1.01) vs (2.59 +/- 1.03) mg/L (t = 3.475, P = 0.007)] and whole saliva nitrate secretion rate [(25.97 +/- 0.93) vs (4.12 +/- 1.00) microg/min (t = 3.922, P = 0.003)]., Conclusion: The present study revealed the significant increase of salivary nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis is considered to be associated with the host defense reaction.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of single or dual field irradiation (IR) with the same dose on damage to miniature pig parotid glands., Methodology: Sixteen miniature pigs were divided into two IR groups (n=6) and a control group (n=4). The irradiation groups were subjected to 20 Gy X-radiation to one parotid gland using single-field or dual-field modality by linear accelerator. The dose-volume distributions between two IR groups were compared. Saliva from parotid glands and blood were collected at 0, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after irradiation. Parotid glands were removed at 16 weeks to evaluate tissue morphology., Results: The irradiation dose volume distributions were significantly different between single and dual field irradiation groups (t=4.177, P=0.002), although dose volume histogramin (DVH) indicated the equal maximal dose in parotid glands. Saliva flow rates from IR side decreased dramatically at all time points in IR groups, especially in dual field irradiation group. The radiation caused changes of white blood cell count in blood, lactate dehydrogenase and amylase in serum, calcium, potassium and amylase in saliva. Morphologically, more severe radiation damage was found in irradiated parotid glands from dual field irradiation group than that from single field irradiation group., Conclusion: Data from this large animal model demonstrated that the radiation damage from the dual field irradiation was more severe than that of the single field irradiation at the same dose, suggesting that dose-volume distribution is an important factor in evaluation of the radiobiology of parotid glands.

Aerosol samples of PM10 particulates were examined with particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE and micro-PIXE ), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and X-ray absorption fine structures (XAFS) to investigate atmospheric Pb concentrations and its chemical species and to decide the source assignment. From the elemental analyses, lead concentrations were averaged at 369 and 237 ng.m-3 in aerosol samples of PM10 collected from 19 monitor sites in Shanghai in the winter of 2002 and 2003, respectively. The XAFS results show that major chemical forms of the lead particulates are probably PbCl2, PbSO4, and PbO. A calculation of isotope ratio and chemical mass balance of the PM10 samples revealed that the atmospheric lead particulates in Shanghai in the two periods were mainly from coal combustors, iron and steel plants, and automobile exhausts, with coal combustion dominating the lead pollution after the phasing out of leaded gasoline in 1997 in Shanghai.

The lead contamination, lead species and source assignment were studied by a combination of several analytical techniques such as Proton-induced X-ray emission analysis (PIXE), Proton microprobe (micro-PIXE), Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques. The results indicate that the lead concentration in the air of Shanghai gradually decreased over the last years. The atmospheric lead concentration of PM10 in the winter of 2002 was 369 ng x m(-3), which had declined by 28% in 2001, and in the winter of 2003 it decreased further to 237 ng x m(-3). The main lead species in the samples collected in the winter of 2003 were probably PbCl2, PbSO4 and PbO. The source apportionment was calculated in terms of the combination of lead isotope ratios and lead mass balance method, assisted by single particle analysis with micro-PIXE and pattern recognition. The results suggest that the major contributors of atmospheric lead pollution in Shanghai are the coal combustion dust; the metallurgic dust and vehicle exhaust particles, with a contribution around 50%, 35% and 15%, respectively. It probably is the first time to give a city a quantitative estimation of lead pollution contribution from emission sources. The influence from leaded gasoline was still present in the atmosphere by four or five years after the phasing out of leaded gasoline.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a solitary megadose protocol of ionizing radiation (IR) to parotid gland on the structured and function changes of bilateral parotid glands in miniature pig., Methods: Fourteen minipigs were subjected to either 15 or 20 Gy to one parotid gland with a linear accelerator, while another four minipigs served as non-IR controls. Salivary flow rates and salivary chemistries were measured pre-IR, and 4 and 16 weeks post-IR. A quantitative assessment of gland weight and acinar area, and detailed serum chemistry and hematological analyses, were also performed., Results: Parotid gland weights were significantly decreased in the 15 and 20 Gy groups at 4 and 16 weeks post-IR. The acinar cell area in glands of both IR groups was significantly reduced. Parotid flow rates decreased by 60% with 15 Gy at 16 weeks post-IR. In the 20 Gy group, salivary flow rates were reduced by 80% at 16 weeks post-IR. Additionally, parotid flow rates significantly reduced in contralateral glands with 20 Gy at 16 weeks, while structure and weight did not changes in parotid glands., Conclusion: Structural changes in salivary gland parenchyma occurred relatively early after IR, while the alterations in salivary output were relatively delayed. Further, reductions in salivary flow were not proportional to acinar cell area loss. There isn't a significant structured change of contralateral glands, but significant reduction of parotid flow rate at this time.

Objective: To discuss the various factors which cause the common skin flap complications after radical operation for breast cancer., Methods: Two hundred sixteen patients with T1-3N0-1M0 breast cancer underwent radical surgery at The Cancer Hospital of Xingtai City, China during 1995-2003. Patey mastectomy was performed in majority of patients. Skin flaps were dissected using scalpel after injecting adrenaline containing saline into subcutaneous tissue. Diathermy was used only to stop bleeding vessels. A subset of patients who developed abnormal vascularity of skin flaps, seroma collection and flap necrosis was analyzed. Pressure garment and suction drains were used routinely. Flap necrosis < 3cm(2) was allowed to heal with secondary intention whereas larger defects were skin grafted., Results: In 56 patients, flap associated complications were noted. Abnormal vascularity, flap necrosis and seroma collection were absorbed in 34 (15.7%), 13 (6%) and 9 (4.2%) patients, respectively. Eight patients (3.7%) required skin grafting. All patients were discharged with full recovery., Conclusion: To minimize the skin flap complications after radical surgery for breast cancer, lesser use of cautery, injection of adrenaline containing solution into subcutaneous tissue, routine use of suction drains and application of pressure garment may be recommended.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of detecting immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain (IgH) by using serum or plasma as blood samples., Methods: First, collect serum and plasma blood samples of patients with B-NHL and extract tumor-derived DNAs. Then design the primer to amplify framework3 (Fr3) from the V segment regions to the J regions of the IgH complementary determining region III (CDR-III) gene. Detect the positive ratio of IgH rearrangement with PCR and evaluate its diagnostic significance., Results: B lymphoma cell line Raji was used as the positive control. Of the 30 B-NHL cases diagnosed with morphologic study, 25 (83.3%) showed IgH rearrangement. DNAs extracted from healthy adults and chronic lymphadenitis patients showed negative result. There was no statistical pertinence between IgH gene rearrangement and clinical manifestation, clinical staging and tumor burden., Conclusion: Tumor-derived DNA can be detected in serum or plasma of the majority of patients with B-cell lymphoma. Testing of serum or plasma for tumor associated DNA may be a novel parameter for clinical diagnosis without the restriction of the position of enlarged lymph node.

Objective: To explore the effects of ureteral stent placement on ureteral peristalsis and the time course of renal pelvic pressure changes., Method: Forty rabbits were randomized equally into 8 groups, including a control group without placement of ureteral stents. The other 7 groups received ureteral stent placement, which were retained for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 12 weeks respectively. When the rabbits were bred for the specified time periods, ureteral peristalsis was observed and renal pelvic pressure measured., Result: The renal pelvic pressure was initially increased after the stent placement, but then followed by gradual decreases. Ureteral peristalsis was not observed after the stent placement., Conclusion: Ureteral stent is a factor for causing obstruction in normal ureter.