Objectives To investigate fluoride in drinking waters and fluorosis status and evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride-reducing projects in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2007. Methods In the Shaanxi province-wide, the 10 endemic areas of fluorosis were chosen according to historical data as focusing areas for investigation. The village was considered as investigation spot, 5 water samples were collected from each village for investigating of fluoride content. Four water samples were collected from each fluoride-reducing project for evaluating its effectiveness. Fluoride concentrations in drinking water were measured by fluoride-selective electrode method or speetrophotometry. When fluoride content in drinking water was greater than 1.00 mg/L, the epidemical study wasd conducted to investigate fluorosis patients, focusing on investigating of dental fluorosis prevalence in 8 to 12-year-old children and skeletal fluorosis prevalence in adults. Dental fluorosis of children was diagnosed by using Dean's method, and adult skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to National Standard for Clinical Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fiuorosis(GB 16396-1996). Results The fluoride content in drinking water from 6390 villages was measured. The fluoride content of drinking water of 2619 villages ranged from 1.0 to<2.0 mg/L, where 1 654 998 people exposed. Additionally, the fluoride content of water of 845 villages ranged from 2.0 to<4.0 mg/L, where 355 623 people exposed. Moreover, the fluoride contents of water of 272 villages exceeded 4.0 mg/L, where 111 466 people exposed. The median of fluoride content in drinking water was 1.15% in the whole province, and fluoride content in drinking water exceeded 1.00 mg/L in Weinan, Xianyang and Yulin where were concentrated distribution areas of high fluoride water. Among 3115 fluoride-reducing projects, the fluoride content of drinking water of 1269 projects ranged from 1.0 to<2.0 mg/L, where 1 415 877 people exposed. Additionally, the fluoride content of drinking water of 120 projects ranged from 2.0 to<4.0 mg/L, where 43 888 people exposed. Moreover, the fluoride content of drinking water of 14 projects exceeded 4.0 mg/L, where 5960 people exposed. The detectable rate of dental fluorosis of 8 to 12 year-old children and skeletal fluorosis of adults reached 37.4%(16 489/44 081) and 5.1%(15 877/310 993), respectively. Conclusions The widely distribution of high-fluoride in drinking water still contributes to the prevalence of fluorosis in Shaanxi Province. The quality of fluoride-reducing projects should be further improved.

Along with the development of biomarkers, the diagnostic criterion for early AD is continuously progressing until the preclinical stage of AD, on the base of which, the conception of subjective cognitive decline was raised.In order to highlight new ideas of the early diagnosis for AD in its preclinical stage, the current paper will talk about SCD in connection with neuroimaging tech-niques and examination of cerebrospinal fluid.

AlM: To study the effects of different concentrations of Coix seed oil on human retinal capillary endothelial cells ( HRCECs ) proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) expression in high glucose environment.
METHODS: HRCECs extracted from human fresher eyeball and cultured in vitro, and ultimately used in the experiment were the growth of 3rd ~ 4th cells, the experimental were divided into blank control group, low glucose control group, high glucose control group, high glucose + ( 50ü L/mL, 100ü L/mL, 200ü L/mL ) different concentrations Coix seed oil group. Detecting the multiplication of HRCECs by MTT, the immunocytochemical method was employed to detect the each group HRCECs of VEGF expression.
RESULTS:MTT assay results showed that: different concentrations of coix seed oil acted at HRCECs for 48h, inhibition of cell proliferation was significant difference compared with high glucose control group (P<0. 05). Within 48h showed concentration dependence. There was no statistical difference between the low glucose group and high glucose control group (P>0. 05). lmmunocytochemical assay showed that:50ü L/mL, 100ü L/mL, 200ü L/mL Coix seed oil acted at HRCECs 48h, the expression of VEGF decreased significantly compared with the high glucose control group ( P< 0. 05 ), and in a dose- dependent manner. However, in high glucose control group, the expression of VEGF was obvious higher than that of low glucose control group (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON:Coix seed oil can inhibit the HRCECs proliferation and suppress the VEGF expression in high glucose environment.

Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin(IL)-2 and interferon(IFN)-γin serum and synovial fluid of patients with joint injure with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD), and study the roles of IL-2 and IFN-γ in KBD joint injure. Methods In accordance with the "Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin-Beck disease"(GB16003-1995),48 cases of KBD patients and 26 healthy people(control group) from KBD endemic area in Long county Shaanxi province were enrolled in the study. KBD patient were 24 males and 24 females, respectively, aged 40 to 65 years (mean age 51 years). Forty-eight serum specimens and 28 synovial fluid specimens of patients(14 males and 14 females,respectively) were collected. Healthy control group were 13 males and 13 females, respectively. Twenty-six serum specimens of healthy controls were collected. Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results In healthy controls and KBD patients, the midian of serum IL-2 were 46.8 ng/L and 55.7 ng/L, respectively, and IFN-γ were 52.3 ng/L and 48.8 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between healthy controls and KBD patients(t = 0.62, 0.70, all P ＞ 0.05).In synovial fluid of KBD patient, the midian of IL-2 and IFN-γwere 48.3 ng/L and 44.1 ng/L, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant between serum and synovial fluid in KBD patients(t = 0.69, 1.72, all P ＞0.05). Conclusion Serum and synovial fluid IL-2 and IFN-γare not significantly increased in KBD patients with articular damage, indicating that IL-2 and IFN-γare not involved in KBD joint injury.

Objective To establish a three- dimensional hindlimb gait data toolkit (THGT) for healthy and spinal cord injured (SCI) non-human primate (rhesus monkey) based on Matlab to realize upload of original data, automatic gait division, calculation and drawing of multiple gait parameters, etc. Methods Vicon system was used to collect three-dimensional hindlimb gait data of healthy and SCI (after 6 weeks) rhesus monkey to obtain the kinematics data of both hindlimbs in continuous strides. It was analyzed with THGT to process the gait division, calculation and drawing of multiple gait parameters. Results THGT read the data, distinguished cycles of gait, calculated 140 kinds of gait parameters and drew graphs of the results. Conclusion THGT extends the universality of the Vicon data, realizes automatically gait division and friendly interactive interface, and puts out the visible results.

Osteoporotic fractures represent the most severe complications of osteoporosis,characterized by insidious onset,high mortality and disability rates,and a steadily increasing incidence,imposing a significant socioeconomic burden.Western medicine has advantages in diagnosis and surgical interventions,while traditional Chinese medicine excels in holistic manage-ment and the restoration of bodily equilibrium.The integration of both traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and western medicine emerges as an effective therapeutic strategy for osteoporotic fractures.In order to propagate the concept of integrated diagnosis and treatment,foster the advancement of integrated medical techniques for osteoporotic fractures,and establish standardized and nor-mative protocols for disease prevention,diagnosis,and treatment,a consensus expert group,led by Geriatric Branch of Chinese Geriatrics Society,the Young Osteoporosis Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Association,Osteoporosis Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Physician Association,and Osteoporosis Professional Committee of the Shanghai Society of Inte-grated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine,was established.This group engaged in deliberations and formulated the"Ex-pert Consensus on Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporotic Fractures"elu-cidating the concept of integrated medicine and offering recommendations in the domains of prevention,diagnosis,and treatment,with the aspiration of ameliorating the prognosis of osteoporotic fractures and enhancing the quality of life for these patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of double-balloon endoscopy for the diagnosis of small bowel Crohn disease(CD).MethodsData of 141 patients with suspected CD undergoing double-balloon endoscopy were reviewed.Diagnosis was made based on pathological,endoscopic findings and clinic follow-up results.Detection rates and diagnosis rates of small bowel CD were compared by double-balloon enteroscopy,CT enterography and capsule endoscopy.ResultsThe detection and diagnosis rates of small bowel CD by double-balloon endoscopy were 90.8％ ( 128/141 ) and 98.4％ ( 126/128),respectively.These two variables by CT enterography were 76.0％ (19/25) and 89.5％ (17/19),and those by capsule endoscopy were 60.0％ (15/25) and 93.3％ (14/15).ConclusionDouble balloon enteroscopy has high application value for the diagnosis of small bowel CD.For those contraindicated with endoscopy,CT enterography can be considered as a preferred auxiliary diagnostic modality.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of artesunate on human endometrial carcinoma RL95-2 cell line proliferation in vitro and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of artesunate on the cell proliferation was assessed with MTT assay. Transmission electron miscrosopy was used to observe the morphological change of the cells after the treatment. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the changes in the cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels (with DCFH-DA labeling) and mitochondrial membrane potential (rhodamine123 staining), and caspase-3 activity was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSArtesunate inhibited the proliferation of RL95-2 cells with an IC(50) of 26.29 microg/ml. Transmission electron microscopy revealed early apoptotic changes of the cells with obvious chromatin fragmentation. The cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase was observed by flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated caspase-3 positivity in cytoplasm. ROS generation in the cells increased obviously after treatment with artesunate for 72 h, which also resulted in lowered mitochondrial membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONArtesunate suppressed the proliferation of RL95-2 cells in vitro possibly by inducing cell apoptosis.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes in CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and Foxp3 expression in peripheral blood and brain tissues of rats after acute cerebral ischemia and explore their role in the pathophysiological evolution of acute ischemic stroke.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats were randomized equally into ischemia and sham-operated groups, and right middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in the former group. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells and Foxp3 expression, respectively, in the peripheral blood and brain tissue at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after modeling. The behavioral changes of the rats were evaluated using an improved NSS neurological functional scoring system.

RESULTSThe neurological function scores of the two groups both gradually declined after the operation, and showed significant differences between the two groups at all the time points of measurement (P<0.01). The CD4(+)CD25 T cells in the peripheral blood were similar between the two group at 1 and 3 days after the operation (P>0.05), but increased significantly in the ischemia group at 7 and 14 days (P<0.05) with an inverse correlation to the neurological scores (r=-0.68, P=0.01). Immunohistochemistry detected the presence of Foxp3 primarily in the ischemic region of the brain tissue 1 day after cerebral ischemia; the contralateral hemisphere also showed a small quantity of Foxp3 expression. No Foxp3 expression was detected in the brain tissue of the sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONCD4(+)CD25 T regulatory cells participate in the inflammatory immune reactions as early as 1 day after acute cerebral ischemia in rats, which might be a protective mechanism of the brain cells.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; immunology ; metabolism ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop a new drug of treating the hepatitis C virus by studing the mechanisms of songzhi pills.

METHODThe four-wee old mice and two-month old rats were chosen to induce interferon.

RESULTThe contents of interferon among the groups treated with songzhi pills were significantly higher than those of the normal group and the model group (P < 0.01),

CONCLUSIONSSongzhi pills may have the function of inducing interferon.

Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyporales ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley