From recent collection of 40 male adult cadavers from Chungking, the authors caIculated the coefficient of correlation between the average lengths of long bones of both sides and the stature measured from the cadavers. The figures range from 0.719～0.849, which denote a rather high degree of correlation. Hence, 10 regression formulae were computed. After a thorough analysis of the equations, it indicates that the relationship between stature and long bones of the lower limb reveals a higher coefficient of correlation and a lower standard error of estimation than that from the upper limb. Moreover, the reconstruction of stature from the sum of the lengths of femur and tibia (or fibula) appears still more reliable than that from the femur alone. The regression formulae obtained had been compared with the only data thus far found on the North China sample (Stevenson, 1929),it exhibits that all regression lines of both sources parallel with each other (Chungking lines being placed a little bit lower), with the exception of the two humerus lines which intersect. Therefore, whether regression formulae computed from this paper can be expected to give an approximation to reality in different districts of China or not demands further checking over with figures derived from the stature estimate made in different localities by the same method.

With the progess in studying gene structure and function of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), FMDV can express exogenous genes in different sites. Through transforming and modifying FMDV can achieve different application purposes such as improving virus titer, introducing tag, improving immune responses, and reducing pathogenicity. From the perspective of FMDV receiving inserted exogenous gene, this paper mainly describes the latest relevant developments of FMDV's expression to exogenous gene.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; Mutagenesis, Insertional

Objective To investigate the effects of high concentrations of iodide exposure on mitochondrial superoxide production,cell viability and cell damage in the thyroid of metallothionein Ⅰ/Ⅱ knockout (MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ KO) mice and corresponding wild type (WT) mice.Methods Thyroid cell suspension of six to eight weeks old healthy male MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ KO mice and WT mice were prepared.The thyroid cells were treated with high concentrations (10-4,10-3,10-2 mol/L) of potassium iodide(KI),or 10-3 mol/L hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) for 2 hours,respectively.Cell viability was evaluated with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay.Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in cell culture medium was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Mitochondrial superoxide production in the thyroid cells was measured by flow cytometry using a fluorescent probe,mitochondrial superoxide(MitoSOX).Results Compared to the control group[(100.00 ± 0.00)％,(100.00 ± 0.00)％],the cell viability of 10-4,10-3,10-2 mol/L KI and 10-3 mol/L H2O2 exposure groups were significantly decreased in the thyroid cells of both WT [(73.63 ± 2.05)％,(72.41 ± 2.26)％,(69.63 ± 2.29)％,(44.90 ± 2.93)％] and MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ KO mice[(65.40 ± 2.39)％,(64.51 ± 2.27)％,(61.48 ± 2.33)％,(40.80 ± 2.76)％,all P＜ 0.05].Compared to the control group [(1 995.28 ± 30.52),(2 004.96 ± 19.71)U/L],significantly increased LDH activities were detected in the thyroid cells of WT [(2 809.22 ± 156.53),(2 850.80 ± 137.83),(2 920.45 ± 152.92),(4 487.49 ± 130.67)U/L] and MT-Ⅰ / Ⅱ KO mice [(3 261.06 ± 120.44),(3 474.19 ± 142.15),(3 597.08 ± 150.86),(4 706.64 ± 148.57)U/L,all P ＜ 0.05].Compared to the control group (26.49 ± 7.66,37.11 ± 8.48),the MitoSOX red fluorescence intensities of 10-2 mol/L KI and 10-3 mol/L H2O2 groups were significantly increased in WT mice(58.96 ± 5.11,87.95 ± 4.25) and MT-Ⅰ/ⅡKO mice(71.21 ± 5.55,99.76 ± 4.42) by flow cytometry (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared to the thyroid cells in WT mice,significantly decreased cell viability (all P ＜ 0.05),significantly increased LDH activity(all P ＜ 0.05) and significantly increased MitoSOX red fluorescence intensity by flow cytometry (all P ＜ 0.05) were detected in the thyroid cells of MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ KO mice following treatment with KI or H2O2.Conclusions High concentrations of iodide (10-2 mol/L) and 10-3 mol/L H2O2 may lead to significant increase of mitochondrial superoxide production and LDH activity,decrease of cell viability in both WT and MT-Ⅰ / Ⅱ KO mice.More significant increase of superoxide production is detected in MT-Ⅰ / Ⅱ KO mice,indicating the potential protective role of metallothionein in the thyroid cells of WT mice.

Objective To determine the relative and independent risk factors of survival in patients with non-hepatitis B and non-hepatitis C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC).Methods The clinical records of 109 patients who underwent surgical resection for NBNC-HCC at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital between January 2010 and January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The risk factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were used as primary outcome measures.Univariate analysis was conducted to determine the relative risk factor predicting prognosis of NBNC-HCC,and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine independent risk factors of DFS and OS.Results For the 109 NBNC-HCC patients,the 1-,2-,3-year overall survival rates were 90.8％,78.0％ and 65.1％,respectively.The compounding disease-free survival rates were 74.0％,63.3％ and 55.8％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed the AFP level,ascites,and TNM staging were the risk factors of OS (all P ＜ O.05).The AFP level,ascites,BCLC stage,TNM staging were related with DFS (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate analysis demonstrated AFP and ascites to be the independent risk factors of OS and DFS.Conclusions AFP and ascites were independent risk factors of OS and DFS.For the NBNC-HCC patients,a strong positive AFP with ascites indicated poor prognosis.

Objective To explore the MRI characterisitics of primary dilated cardiomyopathy and isolated left ventricular non-compaction.Methods The patients who were diagnosed as primary dilated cardiomyopathy (n=18) and isolated left ventricular non-compaction (n=10) were enrolled,and the MRI was performed.The thickness of non-compaction myocardium (NC),compaction myocardium (C) in end-diastole,the feature of movement of myocardium,the number of non-compaction segment,the fraction shortening of non-compaction and the distribution were compared.Results Totally 823 segments were analyzed in primary dilated cardiomyopathy,in which 124 segments were non-compaction myocardium;397 segments were analyzed in isolated left ventricular non-compaction,in which 115 segments were non-compaction myocardium.The NC,NC/C,NC/(NC+C),and the fraction shortening of the isolated left ventricular non-compaction patients were higher than those of primary dilated cardiomyopathy patients (all P＜0.05).The features of distribution showed that the apical segment was mostly involved,and the basal segment was less involved or hardly involved.The anterior and lateral segments were more involved in the free wall,the septal was less involved.Conclusion The MRI characteristics of primary dilated cardiomyopathy and isolated left ventricular non-compaction are different,especially in the distribution,non compacted segments,NC and NC/C,which is important for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for allergic rhinitis (AR) of different symptom severity. METHOD: This retrospective analysis to receive SLIT treatment of 143 cases of patients with allergic rhinitis, according to the severity of disease symptoms divid- ed into two groups, moderate group (62 patients) and severe group (81 patients). Before SLIT and after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1. 5-2.0 years, the TNSS, TMS and sign scores of patients with allergic rhinitis were evaluated. RESULT: The TNSS, TMS and sign scores had continuously improved significantly after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1.5-2.0 years in two groups as compared with baseline (P < 0.05). Before SLIT, TNSS and sign scores of severe group had a significantly higher level than moderate group (Z = 10.40, 2.40, P < 0.05), while TMS of two groups had no significant differences (Z = 0.00, P > 0.05). Half year after SLIT treatment, in two groups for sign scores, there were significant differences (Z = 3.32, P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences for TNSS (Z = 1.58, P > 0.05) and TMS (Z = 0.37, P > 0.05). 1 and 1.5-2.0 years after SLIT, there were no significant differences in two groups for TNSS, TMS and sign scores (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for 1.5-2.0 years is effective in the patients with allergic rhinitis of different symptom severity. And equivalent efficacy could be achieved for different symptom severity.
Administration, Sublingual ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

A 16-year-old male presented with a 11-year history of progressively enlarging erythema and crusting on the right cheek.Physical examination revealed an irregularly shaped,sharply marginated,dark erythematous patch sized 6 cm x 10 cm and plaques with mild verrucous proliferation.There were strip-like scar at the margin of lesions and multiple ulcers measuring 0.5 to 1 cm in diameter with firm crusts.No small jellycolored nodules were observed.Direct microscopy of multiple scrapings under the crusts showed many light brown,septate,branching and irregular hyphae.Olivaceous-black woolly colonies grew at 25 C and 35 C on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar; flask-shaped conidiogenous cells with funnel-shaped collarettes and ellipsoidal conidia arranged in flower-like shape were observed microscopically.PAS staining showed numerous septate and branching hyphae,pseudohyphae and yeast-like cells.There was a 99.73％ similarity in the species-specific rDNA sequence between the isolate and phialophora verrucosa standard strain CDC-B2152.The patient was diagnosed with cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phialophora verrucosa.The lesion subsided after treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole,but recurred after drug withdrawal.Itraconazole and terbinafine were administered for the retreatment of this patient.

To generate an epitope-mutated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) as a marker vaccine, the infectious clone pAsia 1-FMDV containing the complete genomic cDNA of Asia 1 type FMDV was used as backbone, the residues at positions 27 and 31 in the 3D gene were mutated (H27Y and N31R). The resulting plasmid pAsia 1-FMDV-3DM encoding a mutated epitope was transfected into BHK-21 cells and the recombinant virus rAsia 1-3DM was rescued. The recombinant virus showed similar biological characteristics comparable with the parental virus. In serological neutralization test the antisera against recombine virus have a good reactivity with parental virus. The antisera against the mutant virus were shown to be reactive with the mutated epitope but not the wild-type one. The results indicated that the two virus strains could be distinguished by western blotting using synthetic peptides. This epitope-mutated FMDV strain will be evaluated as a potential marker vaccine against FMDV infections.
Animals ; Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; Epitopes ; genetics ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; Immune Sera ; Neutralization Tests ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of hydrogen inhalation on serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors and intestinal injury in severe septic mice. Methods 176 male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group, hydrogen control group ( sham + hydrogen inhalation ), model group ( severe sepsis model ) and hydrogen treatment group ( severe sepsis model+hydrogen inhalation ), with 44 mice in each group. Severe sepsis model was reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture ( CLP ). 2%hydrogen inhalation was given for 1 hour at 1 hour and 6 hours after sham or CLP operation. Twenty animals in each group were selected and observed for 7-day survival rate. Six animals in each group were selected and sacrificed at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after sham or CLP, the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α), interleukins ( IL-6, IL-10 ) and high mobility group box 1 ( HMGB1 ) in serum were determined, the intestinal histopathological changes and scores were evaluated by light microscopy, and the activities of myeloperoxidase ( MPO ) and caspase-3 were determined. Results The 7-day survival rate of severe sepsis mice was 0; the 7-day survival rate was increased to 60% in hydrogen treatment group, with statistical significance in variables compared with model group ( P<0.05 ). Compared with sham operation group, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and HMGB1 were obviously increased, the intestine were heavily injured along with higher histopathological scores, and the intestinal MPO and caspase-3 activities were significantly enhanced at different time points after CLP in model group ( all P<0.05 ). Compared with model group, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1 were significantly decreased [ TNF-α( ng/L ):6 hours:110.34±9.28 vs. 440.55±25.78, 12 hours: 82.29±8.43 vs. 448.36±32.54, 24 hours: 79.68±9.04 vs. 346.42±22.24, 48 hours: 80.79±10.06 vs. 368.94±31.58; IL-6 ( ng/L ): 12 hours: 58.68±8.55 vs. 158.28±16.73, 24 hours: 46.98±7.58 vs. 146.74±18.02, 48 hours: 38.67±8.22 vs. 136.45±15.45; HMGB1 (μg/L ): 6 hours: 15.75±4.32 vs. 55.56±10.04, 12 hours:32.02±9.33 vs. 89.65±15.65, 24 hours: 35.87±8.54 vs. 86.44±20.33, 48 hours: 23.85±9.83 vs. 98.33±18.88, all P<0.05 ], the serum concentrations of IL-10 ( ng/L ) at 24 hours and 48 hours after CLP were obviously increased ( 24 hours:135.44±16.43 vs. 79.22±12.03, 48 hours:110.92±12.54 vs. 74.47±11.18, both P<0.05 ), the intestinal injury were ameliorated with decreased histopathological scores ( 12 hours: 1.70±0.06 vs. 3.23±0.44, 24 hours:2.12±0.31 vs. 4.51±0.58, 48 hours:2.03±0.42 vs. 4.27±0.58, all P<0.05 ), and the intestinal MPO and caspase-3 activities were significantly decreased [ MPO ( U/g ):6 hours:13.75±4.21 vs. 25.56±5.34, 12 hours:14.72±4.22 vs. 30.53±6.87, 24 hours:11.62±3.14 vs. 33.58±7.24, 48 hours:11.33±4.03 vs. 38.57±8.12;caspase-3 ( fluorescence intensity ): 6 hours: 0.37±0.07 vs. 0.69±0.23, 12 hours: 0.42±0.07 vs. 0.86±0.13, 24 hours: 0.53±0.11 vs. 1.36±0.23, 48 hours:0.50±0.08 vs. 1.48±0.15, all P<0.05 ] in hydrogen treatment group. Conclusion Hydrogen inhalation can down-regulate the systemic inflammatory response to ameliorate the intestinal injury, and it may improve the septic process and increase the survival rate of mice with severe sepsis.

Objective To observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharide ( APS) on tumor growth, cytokine and immune function impairment induced by cisplatin ( DDP) in mice bearing Lewis lung cancer.Methods A total of 90 mice were used in this study:10 for blank control group, and 80 mice with transplanted Lewis lung cancer were randomly divided into 8 groups:model control group (physiological saline), positive control group treated with DDP (6 mg/kg), low dose APS (50 mg/kg), moderate dose APS (100 mg/kg) and high dose APS (200 mg/kg) groups and three combinations of APS+DDP groups ( the same three APS levels with half dose of DDP, respectively) .0.3 mL of the drugs was intraper-itoneally injected to the mice, respectively, on the second day after moldeling.DDP was injected once a week and other drugs were injected once per day for consecutive 20 days.On the 21st day, blood samples were collected and serum levels of cytokine IL-2, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-αwere determined by ELISA, and the tumor inhibition rate and immune organ in-dexes were assessed.Results The tumor inhibition rates of the positive control, low, moderate and high dose APS groups and three combinations of APS+DDP groups of mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma were 49.30%, 17.21%, 39.68%, 17.21%, 51.02%, 57.21%and 65.11%, respectively.Compared with the model group, P<0.05 or P<0.01, and compared the three combination groups with the DDP group, P<0.05.Compared with the blank control group, the spleen index was significantly increased in the moderate and high dose APS groups and the three combinations of APS +DDP groups.There was a significant difference between the spleen indexes of the model control group, and the spleen indexes of high dose APS and the combination with high dose APS groups were significantly higher than that of the model control group (P<0.05).Compared with the DDP group, APS in various doses and combinations increased the thymus index and spleen index.Conclusions APS can improve the levels of cytokine IL -2, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-αin mice bearing Lewis lung cancer, enhance the immune function impairment induced by DDP, has certain protective effect on the immune organs, and inhibit the growth of Lewis lung cancer in mice.When APS is used in combination with a half-dose of DDP, APS enhanced the inhibition of tumor growth.This mechanism may be related to the enhanced body immune function.Our results indicate that APS enhances the therapeutic effect of DDP and reduces its toxicity, therefore, may have potential application value in future treatment of solid tumors.