OBJECTIVE: To determine the cellular compatibility of combined deproteinized bone(DPB) coated with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and to observe the adherent effect of osteoblasts in response to HGF. METHODS: Osteoblasts were isolated from fetal rabbits. Osteoblasts were cultured with DPB coated with HGF and deproteinized bone as experimental group and contral group, respectively. The proliferation and alkalinephosphatase activity were tested. Their growth was examined by inverted phase contrast microscope and scanning electronmicroscope. RESULTS: The osteoblasts were attached to the outside and inside surfaces and grew well. HGF/DPB could stimulate the alkalinephosphatase activity of the osteoblasts and improve the proliferation of the osteoblasts. CONCLUSION HGF/DPB has good biocompatibility and bone induction. HGF could improve the adherent effect of DPB on osteoblasts, and it could be used as scaffold material for the bone tissue engineering.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; pharmacology ; Bone Substitutes ; metabolism ; Bone and Bones ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fetus ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Osteogenesis ; Pregnancy ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of mining operations on the mental health of residents living in a mining area in Hubei province.

METHODSVillagers (n = 93) living in the mining area were compared with a control group of residents (n = 101) in mental health status, and knowledge of environment and health. The mental health status of villagers was assessed using the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); The knowledge of environment and health was evaluated using a self-designed questionnaire. The urine and hair samples were collected from some subjects. The lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper and zinc contents were detected as well as the total protein, NAG, d-ALA in the urine.

RESULTSThe occurrence rate of lead, cadmium, arsenic exposure symptoms was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group. The urine cadmium, the hair cadmium, the hair arsenic and hair lead were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The positive symptom detection rate of SCL-90 in the exposed group was 8.60% compared with 0.99% of the control group. For the SCL-90, the total scale, somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, other symptom in the exposed groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), indicating the status of the psychological hygiene of the exposed group was worse than the control group. The total S-AI (anxiety) score and the sex-specific value in the exposed group were higher than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), which showed that the anxiety of the exposed group was more evident. The total T-AI score and the sex-specific value in women of the exposed group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.01), showing that the anxiety were more significant in the exposed group, especially the women of the exposed group.

CONCLUSIONThe mental health status of the residents who living in a mining area is affected and they have a higher S-AI and T-AI scale than those living a non-mining area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Environment ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Metals, Heavy ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Mining ; Sex Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of infrasound and its effects on the workers at power plants.

METHODSThe audible noise and infrasound in three thermoelectricity plants were measured and by using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), the subjective sensation, and the physiological indices were compared between exposed workers and controls.

RESULTSThe infrasound levels were different at different measure sites of the three thermoelectricity works ranging from 40 to 98 dB. There was still 40 approximately 80 dB infrasound even when the soot blower stopped running. Different apparatus produced different infrasound levels with the highest ranging from 62 to 115 dB. A single frequency (16 Hz) infrasound was produced in certain department during working hour with sound pressure levels of 110 to 120 dB, but the audible noise sound pressure level was less than 70 dB. There was no significant difference in the indices representing vision fatigue and neurobehaviour function between exposed workers and controls. Workers at certain department experienced evident subjective sensation of neurobehavioral dysfunction, and the scores of somatization, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychotism in the SCL-90 were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control and the norm in China (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfrasound is ubiquitous in the working environment, but usually, the noise levels are less than 120 dB. In some special production department, there is persistent infrasound above 110 to 120 dB. No obvious health effects are found among those who are exposed to infrasound below 100 dB. However, the workers who are chronically exposed to infrasound above 110 to 120 dB present notable subjective sensation of autonomic neurobehavioral dysfunction, and their psychological health status is not as good as those in the control and those in the domestic normal pattern.

Adult ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Power Plants ; Sound ; adverse effects ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo obtain the genetic polymorphism of Y chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci in Ningxia Hui population.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from 150 unrelated healthy male individuals of Ningxia Hui ethnic group. Twelve Y-STR loci were amplified in one tube by using the PowerPlex System STR Amplification Kit, and the genotypes were determined using Genescan and Genotype software of ABI377 DNA sequencer and the frequency of alleles and haplotypes of Ningxia Hui ethnic was obtained.

RESULTSSeventy-five alleles were observed at 12 Y-STR loci. The frequency ranged from 0.0067-0.7067 and the gene diversity ranged from 0.4446-0.8877. Totally 148 different haplotypes were found, which were unique in 150 males. Two haplotypes were shared by 2 males respectively. The haplotype diversity was 0.9864.

CONCLUSIONThe 12 Y-STR loci are highly polymorphic in Ningxia Hui population and are suitable for genetics and forensic research.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the status of glucometabolic abnormalities in cardiological outpatients without previous diabetes diagnosis and with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension.

METHODSPatients without previous diagnosis of diabetes but with hypertension and CAD aged 18 years or above were recruited from cardiology departments of 11 general hospitals in China. Demographic data, disease diagnosis and medical history were collected. Physical examination and questionnaire survey were performed after the random blood glucose test. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) examination was made for patients with fasting blood glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/L or postprandial random glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/L. Adjusted prevalence rates were used in the study.

RESULTSA total of 7778 patients were included in 11 centers. After preliminary screening by fasting blood glucose and random blood glucose tests, 3861 patients were required to take OGTT, and 3019 (78.2%) patients actually took the test. 1287 out of 3019 patients screened with OGTT were diagnosed with diabetes, and the adjusted diabetes prevalence rate was 18.64% (1287/6904). The prevalence rate of diabetes was 19.87% (95/478), 9.22% (352/3819) and 14.81% (153/1033) in patients with CAD, hypertension, and CAD combined with hypertension, respectively. A total of 996 patients were diagnosed with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and its prevalence was 14.43% (996/6904). Of the enrolled population, 153 patients with random blood glucose lower than 7.8 mmol/L were also screened with OGTT test, 26.14% (40/153) patients met the diagnostic criteria of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONA high prevalence of diabetes is found in patients without previous diagnosis of diabetes and with hypertension and CAD consulting at cardiology departments. We thus suggest to perform OGTT in this patient cohort to improve the early diagnosis of IGT and diabetes, and prevent missed detection of type 2 diabetes mellitus or IGT in cardiovascular patients with normal fasting blood glucose. Our results indicate that it was feasible to use OGTT as a screening tool for detecting diabetes in these patients and the patient compliance is satisfactory.

Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients

The influence of early-stage intensive insulin therapy on the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the related parameters in patients with severe trauma and the clinical implication were investigated. Sixty-four cases of severe trauma (injury severity score ≥20) with stress hyperglycemia (blood glucose >9 mmol/L) were randomly divided into intensive insulin therapy group and conventional therapy group. ELISA method, radioimmunoassay and density gradient gradation one-step process were used to determine plasma VEGF, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and the number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) at the day of 0, 2, 3, 5 and 7 after admission. Simultaneously, the changes of CRP concentration in plasma were monitored to evaluate inflammatory response. The results showed that plasma levels of observational indexes in patients receiving early-stage intensive insulin therapy were all significantly lower than those in conventional therapy groups 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after admission [for VEGF (ng/L), 122.2±23.8 vs. 135.9±26.5, 109.6±27.3 vs. 129.0±18.4, 88.7±18.2 vs. 102.6±27.3, 54.2±26.4 vs. 85.7±35.2, P<0.05, 0.01, 0.05, 0.05 respectively; for ET-1 (ng/L), 162.8±23.5 vs. 173.7±13.2, 128.6±17.5 vs. 148.8±22.4, 96.5±14.8 vs. 125.7±14.8, 90.7±16.9 vs. 104.9±22.5, P<0.05, 0.01, 0.01, 0.01 respectively; for CRP (mg/L), 23.2±13.8 vs. 31.9±16.5, 13.6±17.3 vs. 23.5±18.4, 8.7±10.2 vs. 15.6±13.3, 5.2±9.4 vs. 10.7±11.2, all P<0.05; for CECs (/0.9 μL), 10.9±5.6 vs. 13.9±6.2, 8.5±4.9 vs. 11.3±5.3, 6.3±6.4 vs. 9.4±5.7, 4.8±7.1 vs. 7.8±4.8, all P<0.05]. It was concluded that intensive insulin therapy could antagonize the endothelium injury after trauma and reduce inflammation response quickly, which was one of important mechanisms by which intensive insulin therapy improves the prognosis of trauma patients.
Adult ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Wounds and Injuries ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

Objective: To observe the effect of Shaoyaotang on mRNA and protein expressions of colon tissue activated protein-1 (AP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of hot and humid-type intrinsic ulcerative colitis (UC) model in rats, in order to explore the mechanism of action of herbaceous peony decoction in the treatment of UC. Method: Totally 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, SASP group, and low, medium and high-dose Shaoyaotang groups. The damp-heat intrinsic UC rat model was replicated based on integrated disease and syndrome, namely, high-fat and high-sugar spicy food and immune complex method combined with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfolnic acid (TNBS) and ethanol complex method. After the successful modeling, low, medium and high-dose Shaoyaotang (6, 12, 24 g·kg^-1) was given by gavage, and 1 g·kg^-1 dose of salazol sulfadiazine was given to by gavage. The blank group was given constant volume normal saline for 21 d. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was used to detect mRNA expressions of AP-1 and TNF-α in colon tissues, and Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of AP-1 and TNF-α in colon tissues. Result: Compared with the blank group, relative mRNA and protein expressions of AP-1, TNF-α in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, mRNA and protein expressions of AP-1, TNF-α in the treatment groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Shaoyaotang can inhibit the expression of TNF-α and stimulate AP-1 protein expression in rats with damp-heat UC.

Background and Objectives: Chronic inflammation of bone tissue often results in bone defects and hazards to tissue repair and regeneration. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural cannabinoid with multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and osteogenic potential. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of CBD in the promotion of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) osteogenic differentiation in the inflammatory microenvironment. Methods: and Results: BMSCs isolated from C57BL/6 mice, expressed stem cell characteristic surface markers and pre-sented multidirectional differentiation potential. The CCK-8 assay was applied to evaluate the effects of CBD on BMSCs’ vitality, and demonstrating the safety of CBD on BMSCs. Then, BMSCs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammatory microenvironment. We found that CBD intervention down-regulated mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and promoted cells proliferation in LPS-treated BMSCs, also reversed the protein and mRNA levels downregulation of osteogenic markers caused by LPS treatment. Moreover, CBD intervention activated the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. While AM630, a selective CB2 inhibitor, reduced phosphorylated (p)-p38 levels. In addition, AM630 and SB530689, a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, attenuated the enhancement of osteogenic markers expression levels by CBD in inflammatory microenvironment, respectively. Conclusions CBD promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via the CB2/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in the inflammatory microenvironment.

Objective:To observe the effect of Shaoyaotang on the contents of cell adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1） and transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁） in serum of large intestine damp-heat syndrome of ulcerative colitis （UC） in rats， and the gene and protein expressions of leukocyte differentiation antigen14 （CD14）， Fas-related death domain protein （FADD） and cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-8 （Caspase-8） in the focal colon tissue. Method:A total of 80 SPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group （n=10） and modeling group （n=70）. The large intestine damp-heat syndrome of UC rats was replicated by the combination of disease and syndrome， which was high-fat， high-sugar and spicy diets combined with 2， 4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid （DNBS） and ethanol. After successful modeling， the modeled groups were divided into model group， sulfasalazine （SASP）control group， and low， medium and high-dose Shaoyaotang groups by the method of random number table， with14 rats in each group. Low， medium and high doses of Sulfasalazine 0.2 g·kg^-1·d^-1 and Shaoyaotang （6， 12， 24 g·kg^-1·d^-1）were given by gavage. The blank group and the model group were given equal volume of normal saline for 21 days. The contents of serum ICAM-1 and TGF-β₁ were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， the expressions of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 mRNA in colon tissues were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the expressions of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 protein in colon tissues were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the blank group， the serum ICAM-1 level in the model group were significantly increased， whereas the content of TGF-β₁ were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The relative expression levels of CD14， FADD， Caspase-8 mRNA and protein were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the content of ICAM-1 in the serum of the rats in the medium， high-dose Shaoyaotang groups and the SASP group were significantly decreased， while the content of TGF-β₁ in the serum of the rats in the low， medium， high-dose Shaoyaotang groups and the SASP group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. The expression levels of CD14， FADD， Caspase-8 mRNA and protein in each intervention group were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， especially in the high-dose Shaoyaotang group and the SASP group. Conclusion:Shaoyaotang has a certain intervention effect on UC rats with large intestine damp-heat syndrome， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of CD14， FADD and Caspase-8 genes and proteins expression.

Objective: To investigate the current status of antithrombotic strategy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after stent implantation in Beijing area and to study the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic strategy. Methods: A total of 467 relevant patients were enrolled by re-travelling electronic medical records from 12 hospitals in Beijing area. The patients' mean age was (78.70±3.32) years and they were divided into 2 groups by antithrombotic therapy condition: Triple therapy group, n=17 (3.64％), Double therapy group, n=450 (96.36％). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) including all-caused death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization (TVR), stoke and bleeding was compared between Triple therapy group and Double therapy group.Results: The medication in Double therapy group included aspirin+ticagrelor, aspirin+clopidogrel, clopidogrel+warfarin and cilostazol+clopidogrel; in Triple therapy group was aspirin+clopidogrel+warfarin. Patient with HAS-BLED score≥3 was defined as high risk of bleeding and they were all treated by double therapy; HAS-BLED<3 was defined as low risk of bleeding, only 5.03％ patients were treated by triple therapy. 3 patients in Triple therapy group and 33 in Double therapy group suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding, P=0.338; 6 patients in Triple therapy group and 128 in Double therapy group had MACCE, P=0.589; 3 and 80 patients died in Triple therapy group and Double therapy group, P=0.766. Conclusion: Triple therapy was rarely used in elderly AF and ACS patients after stent implantation, double therapy was the main strategy; the incidence of MACCE and mortality were similar between triple and double therapies; patients with triple therapy had the higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.