BACKGROUND:Age and dental age are shown to have some limitations in predicting skeletal maturity.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the mandibular length in boys and girls with Class I and Class II skeletal patterns by using the cervical vertebrae maturation, and to provide valid reference index for orthodontical treatment.
METHODS:The lateral cephalograms of the 160 cases of Class I (40 males and 40 females) and Class II (40 males and 40 females) skeletal patterns, aged 8-15 years, were taken before orthodontic treatment. The sample was grouped according to stages of the cervical vertebrae maturation (Hasse and Farman method), and the mandibular length was measured separately. The results were statistical y analyzed by the independent-sample t test.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:No matter you are a male or female, the mandibular length of Class I was greater than that of Class II at the early stages of growth and development. In the Class I pattern, the mandibular lengths of boys were greater than those of girls at accelerated, transition, and deceleration stages (P<0.05), whereas in the Class II pattern, the mandibular lengths of boys were greater than those of girls at accelerated, transition, and deceleration stages (P<0.05). The present results indicate a sexual dimorphism in the mandibular length at almost al stages of bone maturation, but the possibility of a later“catch up”growth period occurs on Class II girls. And this information has important orthodontic clinical implications.

Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Talc ; adverse effects

Biodefense research based on modern information technology is an important supplement to traditional biode -fense capacity building and an important part of the national biodefense system in the 21st century.This article outlines the typical biodefense information systems developed in the last ten years and analyzes the development trends of this research field.It is hoped that more domestic research institutions or researchers can become interested in this field .

BackgroundSmad4,a key intracellular mediator in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)signaling,plays a critical role in the normal development of many tissues/organs.However,its functional role in the development of lacrimal gland has rarely been reported.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the role that Smad4 may play in the development of lacrimal glands using Smad4 conditional knockout (CKO) mice( C57BL/6 mouse line),MethodsSmad4 in lacrimal glands,as well as in the lens,cornea and ectoderm of the eyelids,was conditionally inactivated by the Pax6 promoter-driven Cre transgenic mice and Smad4 conditional gene mice,LacZ reporter was used to visualize the developing lacrimal gland by X-gal staining,and standard histological approaches were used to reveal morphological changes.Six or more mice or embryos in each group were used for comparisons at the same stage.ResultsLacZ staining showed that E15.0,Smad4 CKO mice could still develop primary lacrimal bud,but much shorter than the wild-type ones.At E16.5,the primary lacrimal bud in wild-type mice began branching,but no branching was found in Smad4 CKO mice except that the primary lacimal bud became blunt at the tip.At E18.0,although Smad4 CKO mice develop some acini,the branching and size and number of acini were obviously less than ones in Smad4 wild-type mice.Based on histological findings,lacrimal glands in Smad4 CKO mice developed slowly,and the size was considerably smaller,and the numbers of lobes as well as the numbers of acini were much fewer than those of Smad4 wild-type mice lacrimal glands at various stages.Pigment and adipose tissue were also observed within the lacrimal glands starting from P7 in Smad4 CKO mice and increased with age growing.Lacrimal glands in mutant adult mice were eventually replaced by adipose tissue and accumulation of pigments.Conclusions These results support the notion that Smad4 is essential for the normal development and maintenance of the mouse LG and may be involved in the metabolism of pigment and adipose tissue in LG.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy difference in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain syndrome of Sev-damp-heat stagnation pattern between acupoint catgut embedding therapy and western medication.

METHODSenty cases were randomized into a catgut embedding group (40 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases) at the ratio of 4 : 3. In the catgut embedding group, the catgut embedding therapy was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Quchi (LI 11), Huiyin (CV 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongji (CV 3), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. The treatment was given once every two weeks, the treatment for 4 weeks was as one session and totally 2 sessions were required. In the western medication group, tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules 0. 2 mg, oral administration, once a day, and Indometacin sustained release tablets, 75 mg, once a day, 3 tablets each time were prescribed. The symptom score of TCM, score of NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), lecithin body number in prostatic fluid, (SAS) score of Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and score of Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were compared before and after treatment in the patients of the two groups. The efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTS(1)The total effective rate was 91. 9% (34/37) in the catgutembedding group and was 86. 2% (25/29) in the western medication group. The efficacy in the catgutembedding group was better than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). (2) The symptom score of TCM was all reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut embedding group was superior to the western medication group (6.42 +/-2. 81 vs 10. 99+/-3. 11 ,P<0. 01). (3) Lecithin body number was increased apparently in the two groups after treatment (both P<0.01), and the result in the catgut-embedding group was superior to the western medicine group (33.56+/-5.88 vs 29. 78+/-7. 06,P<0. 05). (4) Total score of NIH-CPSI, score of pain, score of SAS and score of SDS were all improved apparently after treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 01), and the results in the catgut embedding group were superior to the western medication group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe acupoint catgut embedding therapy achieves the superior efficacy on chronic pelvic pain syndrome of damp-heat stagnation pattern as compared with conventional western medicine. This therapy relieves clinical symptoms, improves the states of anxiety and depression and increases lecithin body number obviously.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; therapy ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adenoma ; pathology ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ear Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endolymphatic Sac ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of the common Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome pattern of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) with the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma, and provide reference data for the clinical diagnosis, differentiation and treatment of CPPS by TCM.

METHODSWe observed 98 cases of CPPS, which were classified into a lower-part damp-heat invasion group (group A, n = 32), a blood stasis-induced collateral obstruction group (group B, n = 34), and a damp-heat stagnation group (group C, n = 32) according to the TCM syndrome differentiation. Another 35 normal healthy young men were enrolled as controls. We measured the contents of substance p and beta endorphin in the plasma by immunoradiometry and ELISA, and analyzed their relationship with the TCM syndrome pattern.

RESULTSThe contents of plasma substance p were significantly higher in groups A ([1135.76 +/- 166.45] pg/ml), B ([1 337.84 +/- 170.81] pg/ml), and C ([1 210.01 +/- 162.27] pg/ml) than in the control ([574.99 +/- 113.09] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01), while the contents of plasma beta endorphin in groups A ([212.70 +/- 29.49] pg/ml), B ([157.99 +/- 24.01] pg/ml), and C ([180.81 +/- 20.20] pg/ml) were remarkably lower than that in the control ([274.73 +/- 27.64] pg/ml) (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the plasma of CPPS patients, the content of substance p is significantly elevated and that of beta endorphin markedly reduced, which suggests that they may be involved in the inflammatory reaction of CPPS. The levels of plasma substance p and beta endorphin can be used as valuable reference for the TCM classification of chronic prostatitis.

Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Pelvic Pain ; blood ; classification ; Prostatitis ; blood ; classification ; Substance P ; blood ; Syndrome ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

Due to the large population and relatively closed space environment , the subway system is vulnerable to bioterrorist attacks.This paper analyzes the technological response measures against subway bioterrorism in the United States, including Detect to Protect program of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and PROTECTS program of Depart-ment of Energy ( DOE) .We also put forward some proposals on how to improve China′s capability of prevention of and response to subway bioterrorism .

Modeling biosecurity events based on mathematical theories to reveal the inherent mechanism can shed light on the development of biosecurity events and offer accurate scientific support to emergency preparation and response , con-tributing much to national biodefense capability .This paper reviews the applications of mathematical theories as a research and analytic tool in biosecurity and discusses the trends of development in this field .

To explore the transmission patterns and advise public health departments , this paper establishes a dynamic model on the peculiarity of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus and analyzes the dynamic feature of this type of bird flu trans-mission between humans and birds .Results show that this type of bird flu can be controled , and that closing down live-bird markets is the most effective method .