AIMTo investigate the effect of interleukin-8 (IL-8) on the differentiation and clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte during the differentiation period.

METHODSThe morphological changes of 3T3-L1 cells during differentiation after the treatment of IL-8 was observed by Oil-Red O staining. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was measured by a spectrophotometric method. MTT method and 3H-TdR incorporation were applied to examine the changes of cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 cells. Cell cycle analysis was taken by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIL-8 could inhibit the differentiation and GDPH activity in a dose dependent manner. IL-8 decreased the cell proliferation and DNA synthesis in clonal expansion after induction. Also, the proportion of cells in G1 phase was increased and that of cells in S and G2 phase was declined after the treatment of IL-8.

CONCLUSIONIL-8 inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by decreasing the clonal expansion of the cells.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of experimentally osteoporosis to osteogenic efficiency of bone matrix gelatin(BMG) implanted into the calvarial defects of rats.

METHODSSixty-eight female SD rats of 12 +/- 1 weeks were randomly divided into two groups with 34 rats in each group. The ovaries were excised in the ovariectomized group (VG). The control group underwent sham surgery. Ninety days after ovariectomy, 10 rats from each group were examined to ensure the formation of postmenopausal osteoporosis by measuring bone density of the femur with single photon absorptiometric measurements. A critical-sized (8 mm in diameter) calvarial defect was created on the rest of 48 rats. Bone matrix gelatin was implanted to the defect. The rats were scarified at the 21st and 56th day after surgery respectively. The new bone forming capability of BMG was evaluated with undecalcified histological observation, tetracycline fluorescence marker, quantitative bone histomorphometry, At 90th day after ovariectomy, bone density of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectrometry.

RESULTSOVG showed very significant difference compared with the control group (0.315 +/-.015) g/cm2 vs [(0.347 +/- 0.017) g/cm2, P < 0.01 ]. At the 21st day following the implantation operation, new bone formed within the bone defects in both groups. The amount of new bone in OVG was lower than the control group. The tetracycline-labeled region in the bone defect was sparser in the OVG. At the 56th day, the bone defects healed mostly in the control group but fibrous tissue filled parts of bone defect in the OVG. The distance between two fluorescent lines of incorporated tetracycline and the mean mineralization deposition were significantly lower in the OVG than the control at the 21st day and 56th day. Mineralization of callus in OVG was inferior. Significant difference was found between the OVG and the control group in the calcium to phosphate ratio of callus in bone defects at the two time-points.

CONCLUSIONSExperimentally induced osteoporosis depressed osteogenic efficiency of BMG, suggesting that estrogen could play an important role in bone remodeling with bone substitute participating.

Animals ; Bone Matrix ; chemistry ; Bone Regeneration ; Female ; Femur ; metabolism ; Gelatin ; therapeutic use ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; surgery ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skull Fractures ; surgery

Objective To study the influence of lactational dioxin exposure(2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dixon,TCDD)on development of alveolar bone in SD rat offspring.Methods The rats of TCDD exposure group and control group were sacrificed and the alveolar bone with molars of PD60 rats in the two groups were embedded in resin.The sections were observed by fluorescent microscope.The alveolar bone formation was evaluated by histological examination,tetracycline fluorescence marker and quantitative histomorphometry.The indices of quantitative histomorphometry were compaired.Resuits The trabecular structure of abeolar bone was looser in TCDD exposure group than in the control group.The tetracycline fluorescence markers were more disorganized in TCDD group.The indices of quantitative histomorphometry of alveolar bone between two groups showed significantly difierent. Conclusions Lactational 2,3,7,8-TCDD exposure decreased the quality and quantity of alveolar bone in SD rat offspring.It is suggested that dioxins exposure may interrupt the spatial configuration.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of lead exposure at different levels in utero on the teeth eruption and enamel development of rat offsprings.

METHODS27 pregnant SD rats were divided into three groups randomly: high level lead group (HLG), low level lead group (LLG) and control group with nine rats in each group. The three groups from the gestation day to the end of the gestation were given either deionized water in control group or deionized water containing 200 mg/L Pb2+ as lead acetate through drinking method in high level lead experimental group and 50 mg/L Pb2+ as lead acetate through drinking method in low level lead experimental group. The incisors of newborn rats were marked at the level of the gingival papilla on the 26th day after birth. On the 36th day, the incisors of newborn rats were marked again at the same level. Then the rat offsprings were killed and their blood was collected for lead analysis. The mandible incisors of rat offspring were separated and the content of Pb in incisors was determined by using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method. The teeth of rat offspring were observed and the distance between two marks were measured by means of stereomicroscope. The ratio of calcium to phosphate of enamel of rat offspring was compared by electron probe microanalyses.

RESULTSThe level of blood lead in 200 mg/L, 50 mg/L treated rat offspring groups was higher than that in control group. The tooth lead of 200 mg/L, 50 mg/L treated rat offspring groups [(77.3 +/- 6.3), (27.8 +/- 4.5) microg/g] were higher than the control [(6.6 +/- 0.8) microg/g, P < 0.01]. Compared with the control group, the teeth of lead exposure experimental groups were smaller and severity of attrition was obvious and pulpal perforations were often observed. These appearances was more distinct in rats of high level lead experimental group. The incisors of lead-treated rat offspring erupted [(0.25 +/- 0.08), (0.30 +/- 0.09) mm/d] more slowly than control ones [(0.39 +/- 0.09) mm/d, P < 0.01]. The ratio of calcium to phosphate (Ca/P) decreased with the increase of lead exposure. It was found that Ca/P in lead exposure experimental groups (1.68 +/- 0.54), (1.37 +/- 0.47) was significantly lower than that in the control group (2.14 +/- 0.33).

CONCLUSIONLead exposure in utero affects the normal eruption of teeth and enamel formation and the degree was related with the lead exposure level.

Animals ; Enamel Organ ; drug effects ; Female ; Lead ; adverse effects ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tooth Eruption ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the mental health state of parents of children with autism.

METHODSThe mental health state was evaluated by conducting the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) on parents of 34 children with autism and of 35 healthy children.

RESULTSThe SCL-90 total scores in the fathers (162.5±34.0) and mothers of autistic children (175.1±51.0) were significantly higher than those in healthy children's parents (142.4±42.8 and 152.3±40.6, respectively) (P<0.05). The SCL-90 scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety and paranoia in the fathers of autistic children were significantly higher than those in the fathers of healthy children (P<0.05). The SCL-90 scores of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychotic symptoms, hostility and sleep/diet were significantly higher in the mothers of autistic children than those in the mothers of healthy children (P<0.05). The mothers of autistic children presented higher SCL-90 factor scores in interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety and psychotic symptoms than the fathers (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWe should pay more attention to the mental health of parents of autistic children.

Autistic Disorder ; diagnosis ; Child ; Fathers ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Mothers ; Parents ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo investigate association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility to chronic periodontitis (CP) of Han Nationality.

METHODSBuccal swabs from 166 patients with severe, moderate and mild CP respectively and 80 matched control individuals were collected. DNA was extracted from these buccal swabs using Chelex-100 method. VDR BsmI, ApaI, TaqI were tested with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The distribution of the genotypes and allele frequencies in the patient and control groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe frequency of VDR ApaI allele A was significantly higher among patients with CP than controls. Frequencies of VDR ApaI allele A were significantly higher in severe CP patients than in moderate CP and mild CP respectively. There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution or the allele frequencies of VDR BsmI and TaqI between the controls and CP patients.

CONCLUSIONSThese data indicate that VDR ApaI allele A may be related to the susceptibility to CP in Han Nationality.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Chronic Periodontitis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

OBJECTIVESepsis remains a serious clinical problem because of high morbidity and mortality. The importance of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) for the induction of immune responses against sepsis was demonstrated in humans. The present study aimed to probe the gene polymorphisms of TLR4 (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) and TLR2 (Arg753Gln) in patients with sepsis among Chinese Han children in Wenzhou, and investigate the correlation with sepsis.

METHODThis study was conducted as a case-control study. Using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, gene polymorphisms of TLR4 (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) and TLR2 (Arg753Gln) in 59 children with sepsis, 38 children with severe sepsis (including 20 septic shock) and 57 healthy controls were analyzed. Hardy-Weinberg method of statistics was used to compare the frequency of genotypes alleles among three groups.

RESULTThe mutant genotypes of TLR4 gene (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) were not found among sepsis, septic shock and control groups. In severe sepsis group, the Arg753Gln TLR2 polymorphism occurred in 2 out of 38 severe sepsis patients and both of the subjects with the TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism had fatal staphylococcal infections.

CONCLUSIONTLR4 gene (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) polymorphisms may not be correlated with susceptibility to sepsis among Chinese Han children in Wenzhou. The fact that only 2 out of 38 severe sepsis patients had Arg753Gln TLR2 polymorphism suggests that a larger sample size is needed because of the rarity of the TLR2 allele among Chinese Han children in Wenzhou.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sepsis ; ethnology ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics

Objective To explore the effect of higher-level duty nurses in hierarchical management on falls prevention of elderly wards,and study patients' satisfaction with nursing care.Methods Developed of higher-level duty nurses selection criteria and appraisal methods,preferred collection for internal medicine clinical nursing in elderly department,and analyzed the difference of nursing quality.Results Compared with before,the incidence of falls in older patients had decreased significantly (0.40％ vs 3.60％)(x2 =6.5,P ＜0.01),and patients' satisfaction with nursing care was improved (98.0％ vs 88.0％) (x2 =38.4,P ＜ 0.01),after the establishment of senior nurses.Conclusions The establishment of senior nurses can pay more attention to the risk of falls in hospitalized patients,which can effectively avoid the occurrence of accidents,and ensure patients' safety.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the process of smoking prevention and control among Chinese adolescent with a model on health promotion in junior high school.

METHODSA cluster-randomized, controlled and schooled-based trial on smoking prevention was conducted among 2343 students at four secondary schools in Huangpu District of Guangzhou. Students 'reports and investigators' daily records were used to evaluate the intervention measures.

RESULTSDuring the one-year period of intervention (Dec. 2004 through Dec. 2005), eighteen activities had been implemented among students, teachers, parents and cigarette retailers. Ranked by the rate of awareness, the top six activities were shown as follows: "the nicotine toxicity experiment" (90.7%), "agreement of building families free of smoking"(77.7%), "a letter to parents" (77.1%), "no-smoking signs" (76.5%), "Blackboard information about health and smoking" (75.0%), and "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (70.2%). Among all the activities, "the nicotine toxicity experiment" had the highest rate of participation (88.5%), followed by "a letter to parents" (73.6%), "agreement of building families free of smoking" (69.8%), "health education through experiments"(68.6%), "health education through multimedia" (65.7%) and "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (65.6%). The top seven activities in which students showed greatest interests were "the nicotine toxicity experiment" (64.5%), "signature on the 18th World Day of No Smoking" (33.0%), "health education through experiments" (31.2%), "health education through multimedia" (29.8%), "class meetings with a thesis of smoking" (26.8%), "health pamphlets" (26.6%), "specific textbooks" (25.9%). The extent of students' general satisfaction to the work of tobacco control in school during the last year was 52.4%. The biggest perceived shortcoming for the intervention plan was the low participation of students.

CONCLUSIONSome intervention measures had not been fully carried out among the students and only covered part of them. It is necessary to adjust the previous intervention measures through keeping the nicotine toxicity experiment, health education through multimedia and other measures with extensive participation of students and at the same time, to avoid literal materials, exhibition boards and traditional single-way health education program.

China ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Smoking Prevention ; Students

BACKGROUNDA high mortality rate of pancreatic cancer becomes a bottleneck for further treatment with long-term efficacy. It is urgent to find a new mean to predict the early onset of pancreatic cancer accurately. The authors hypothesized that genetic variants of cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) gene could affect trypsin expression/function and result in abnormal activation of protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), then lead to pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to elaborate some novel mutations of PRSS1 gene in the patients with pancreatic cancer.

METHODSTotally 156 patients with pancreatic cancer and 220 unrelated individuals as controls were enrolled in this study. The mutations of PRSS1 gene were analyzed by direct sequencing. K-ras Mutation Detection Kit was used to find the general k-ras gene disorder in the pancreatic cancer tissue. Then the clinical data were collected and analyzed simultaneously.

RESULTSThere were two patients who carried novel mutations which was IVS 3 + 157 G > C of PRSS1 gene in peripheral blood specimens and pancreatic cancer tissue. What's more, it was surprising to find a novel complicated mutation of exon 3 in PRSS1 gene (c.409 A > G and c.416 C > T) in another young patient. The complicated mutation made No. 135 and No. 137 amino acid transfer from Thr to Ala and Thr to Met respectively. No any mutation was found in the normal controls while no mutations of k-ras gene were detected in the three patients.

CONCLUSIONMutations of PRSS1 gene may be an important factor of pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Trypsin ; genetics