Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the stature of children with Turner syndrome(TS) and analyze its influencing factors in treatment.Methods Twelve children with TS were selected in the outpatient department of West China second hospital of sichuan university between Jan.2004 to Jun.2007.They were diagnosed as TS with karyotypically.The average age was 4.9-16.9(11.28?3.64)years old.Every patient must be made sure to have normal liver function,kidney funtion and MRI for hypothalamus and pituitary before enrollment.All cases were never treated with growth hormone or estrin.Not all the patients had the same manifestations:12 cases with short stature,9 cases with cubitus valgue,8 cases with broad chest,4 cases with low posterior hairline,2 cases with webbed neck,11 cases without pubes and armpit hair,none with menarche.Every patient must be made sure to have normal liver function,kidney funtion and MRI for hypothalamus and pituitary before enrollment.rhGH was used subcutaneously 3-5 cm around navel eve-ry night before sleep.Average rhGH dose was 0.16 IU/(kg?d)[0.15-0.18 IU/(kg?d)],and height standard deviation score (HtSDS) was calculated and compared before and after rhGH treatment,and adverse reactions were observed.Results The duration of treatment was different:9 cases for 12 cases months,2 cases for 15 cases months and 1 case for 18 cases months.The average height increase rat was (0.55?0.15) cm / month.Difference of HtSDS existed before and after treatment by t test(t=2.87 P

Objective To detect the serum level of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) before and after infliximab treatment and analyze the relevance between TRACP-5b and activity indexes of RA.The effect of different medicines on bony erosion in RA and its possible mechanism were explored.Methods Patients were divided into two groups:16 patients were treated with inffiximab for 24 weeks (group 1 ),25 patients were treated with MTX for 24 weeks (group 2).The core indicators of RA activity were evaluated.Ranked test,grouped design and matched t test was used to examine the quantity data between groups,while numerate data was analyzed with qui-square test.Correlation between data was tested by Spearmen's and Pearson's tests.RestltsThe levels of TRACP-5b in patients with X-ray stagesⅠ ,Ⅱ ,Ⅲ ,Ⅳ were elevated at the baseline.The levels of TRACP-5b in phase Ⅲ and Ⅳ were [(3.34±1.07) U/L] and[(4.05±0.25) U/L] respectively,higher (P＜0.05) than those in phase Ⅰ[(1.69±0.48) U/L].At week 0,week 12,and week 24,the serum levels of TRACP-5b in group 1 were(3.07±1.32),(2.72±1.18),(2.16±1.09) U/L respectively,while the levels in week 12,and 24 were significantly lower than those of week 0(P＜0.05).A significant decrease of serum TRACP-5b level in group 1[(2.16±1.09 ) U/L]when compared to group two[ (3.05±0.93) U/L] after 24 weeks.TRACP=5b level was positively correlated with the course of disease (r=0.313,P=0.043 ),HAQ(r=0.443,P=0.007).Conclusion Infliximab can reduce TRACP-5b level in RA and inhibit inflammatory bone loss.TRACP-5b can be used to evaluate the efficacy of biological agents in treating RA.

As a novel research tool in the field of the spinal biomechanics, the finite element method (FEM) complements and verifies the traditional research methods, which has been attached increasingly greater importance. In this paper, we briefly introduce the achievement made in the field of spinal biomechanics by FEM in the past decade, summarize the physiological and pathological behaviors of various spinal anatomical parts described by FEM, and present the basic view of using FEM to optimize the surgery instrument design.

The role of bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,which came into application in 1960's,has long been controversial.There are various brace instrument with different reported effectiveness.In this paper,we summarize the research findings and main views in the effectiveness of bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the past ten years,and explore the possible causes leading to the different results.Besides,we are trying to point out the research trend,in hope of drawing a scientific conclusion on the effectiveness of bracing treatment in the near future.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Drug Discovery ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neuraminidase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Viral Core Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neural Tube Defects ; prevention & control

PurposeTo investigate the correlation between iodine concentration and clinical severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) through the quantitative evaluation with dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DESCT), so as to find out an effective imaging technology in the evaluation of clinical severity of AP.Materials and Methods Sixty patients with AP confirmed clinically (AP group) and 30 patients with normal pancreas (control group) were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent enhanced CT scan in the spectral imaging mode. Iodine concentration and normalized iodine concentration (NIC) were respectively measured during arterial phase and portal phase in the material-decomposition images by using a spectral imaging viewer (GSI Viewer). Results Iodine concentration and NIC were significantly higher in the control group than in the AP group (P<0.05,P<0.001). In the AP group, according to Ranson grading, 24 patients were in the mild grade, 20 patients were moderate, and 16 patients were severe. Iodine concentration and NIC decreased along with the increase of their Ranson grade. There were significant difference in iodine concentration and NIC among the three subgroups (iodine concentration on arterial phase:F=8.776,P<0.01; iodine concentration on portal phase:F=4.019,P<0.05; NIC on arterial phase:F=12.700,P<0.001; NIC on portal phase:F=8.732,P<0.01). Iodine concentration and NIC on arterial and portal phases in the mild grade group were both significantly higher than those in the moderate grade group (P<0.05); however, iodine concentration on arterial and portal phases, and NIC on arterial phase in the severe grade group were significantly lower than those in the moderate grade group (P<0.05).Conclusion DESCT can analyze hemodynamic changes in AP quantitatively, which is of great value in evaluating changes in AP of each grade.

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells are gaining widespread interest in the Achil es tendon tissue engineering and regeneration, and an enabling environment (oxygen concentration) for cellinduction and differentiation is particularly necessary.
OBJECTIVE:To co-culture adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells with primary tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension) in order to determine whether the two conditions differ in their effect on tenogenic differentiation.
METHODS:Tenocytes were isolated via serial expansion in culture from several Sprague-Dawley rats’ Achil es tendons. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were purchased. After one passage, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were indirectly co-cultured with tenocytes in standard culture condition (20%O 2 tension) and in an atmosphere of reduced oxygen (2%O 2 tension). Col agen 1, col agen 3, Tenomodulin, Thrombospondin-4, Scleraxis levels were compared for each culture condition at 7, 14 and 21 days fol owing co-culturing. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate production of col agen 1 and Thrombospondin-4.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fol owing indirect co-culturing, hypoxic differentiated adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells expressed higher levels of tendon-related genes and proteins than normoxic controls, which suggest that oxygen levels can significantly affect tenogenic differentiation, and hypoxia is advantageous for efficient differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro for tendon tissue engineering.

The thrombin is a neurotoxic agent,which plays an important role in the course of brain edema and brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage.This article reviews the neurotoxicity mechanisms of thrombin in intracerebral hemorrhage.