Brain ; Dyspepsia ; therapy ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research Design ; Syndrome

Adult ; Carotid Artery, External ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; Tongue ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; innervation

Objective To explore the correlation between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide(A-CCP) antibody and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?, rheumatoid factor(RF), ESR, PLT count and clinical features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA), and the outcome of unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients after six months follow up. The value of A-CCP antibdy in the diagnosis of early RA and its pathogenetic roles is in- vestigated. Methods A-CCP antibody and TNF-?were detected by ELISA and the RF was tested by the rate scatting immunity method in 91 RA patients, 46 unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients and 45 other rheumatic diseases patients. Results A-CCP antibody levels in serum correlated significantly with TNF-?levels, PLT count and the degree of joint swelling in RA and unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients(r= 0.854, P=0.O00; r=0.882, P=0.000; r=0.318, P=0.002; r=0.486, P=0.001; r=0.291, P=0.005; r=0.731, P= 0.000 respectively). A-CCP antibody levels in serum was weakly negatively correlated with the gripping power in RA patients(r=0.228, P=0.030). And it was weakly correlated with ESR in unclassified arthritis(arthrai- gia)patients(r=0.365, P=0.013). Compared with other rheumatic diseases patients, A-CCP antibody levlels in serum increased significantly in RA and unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients(P=0.000). Compared with normal controls, it increased in other rheumatic diseases patients(P=0.011). Twenty-four patients had positive A-CCP antibody in 46 unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients. Thirty-two out of 46 unclassified arthritis(arthralgia)patients were early RA after 6 monthes follow up. 95.8%(23/24)unclassified arthritis (arthralgia)patients with positive A-CCP antibody were early RA. Conclusion A-CCP antibody reflects disease activity in certain extent. It's benefit to the diagnosis of early RA. High A-CCPantibody levels com- bined with high levels of TNF-?, ESR, PLT count and joint swelling can help the diagnosis of early RA.

Objective To discuss the strategy and intervention measures of the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD)control in coastal salt.producing areas so as to shoot the problem of non-iodized salt causing IDD.Methods Accordinng to different areas,periods and crowds,eomplicatd measures and strategies were taken such as supply of iodized salt to peopie in special need while universalizaion of iodized salt,health promotion,private salt factory censu8 and close.iodized salt quality monitoring and promotion of technology of iodized salt producion in Xiamen, where the probiem of non-iodized salt Was serious since 1995.Results Iodized salt manufactured Was qualified in a increased rate from 89.50% in 1995 to 96.17% in 1997,stablized at 99.00%since 2000.Qualified iodized salt sold in the shops waft increased from 87.33%in 1996 to 96.33%in 1998.Popularization covered by iodized salt in urban areas increaased from 0.92%in 1 995 to 100.00%in 2000,and it Was increased from 0 to 99.00%in suburban area8 and increased from 0 to 89.00%in rural areas.Since 2001 iodized salt covered up 93.00%of the people.The rate of child goitre in urban,suburban and rural areas respectively Wag 16.44%(228/1387), 20.57%(266/1293) and 24.93%(651/2611).Moreover,beginning from 1996,it reduced tO below of 5.00%respectively in 1999,2001 and 2005.The median of urinary iodine of children in urban,suburban and rural areas respectively was 137.50, 102.12,94.66 μg/L in 1995,since 1997 it reached 100.00μg/L and kept at 120.00μg/L In 2007 the median of urinarv iedine of children respectively was 271.10,240.40,198.10μg/L in urban,suburban and rural areas.The pereentage of awareness of IDD knowledge was 74.00%(444/600)in students in 1997 and reached 95.00% since 2000.Conclusion The paRern of eliminating iodine deficiency dis ease in Xiamen has successful established,which works efficiently and sets an example for iodized salt supplement in non-iodized salt areas and continually eliminating the iodine deficiency disease.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism and feasibility of the supinator syndrome evoked embitterment test from anatomy and clinic.

METHODS25 cases of The supinator syndrome were reviewed. 18 of them were male and 7 were female. Drop finger deformation were apparent in 25 cases and The supinator syndrome evoked embitterment test was positive for All patients. Operative neurolysis was done in 8 cases, conservation treatment 17 cases; 92 cadaver upper extremities were dissected for a study the relationship between supinator tunnel and posterior interosseous nerve.

RESULTS22 cases had been followed up for an average of 9 months. 16 cases had a full recovery and 6 cases, a partial recovery. the anatomical study shows that The posterior interosseous nerve was compressed by Forhse arcade and the distal border of the supinator muscle during passive pronation forearm.

CONCLUSIONThe supinator syndrome evoked embitterment test was a new test for the diagnosis of supinator syndrome, it was found to be more sensitive and specific than the others test.

Exercise Test ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; diagnosis ; Radial Nerve ; pathology ; Radial Neuropathy ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of the modified maxillary bone disassembly procedures on patients with tumors in the anterior and middle skull base.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was made of patients treated with the modified maxillary bone disassembly procedures. Ten tumors in the anterior and middle skull base were resected according to the pathology, size and site of the skull base tumors including 9 benign tumors and 1 malignant tumor.

RESULTSAll tumors were resected completely. All patients were followed up from 12 months to 5 years postoperatively. The complications were less and the life quality was increased. The patients with benign tumors showed no recurrence . Two patients with cerebrospinal rhinorrhea cured spontaneously after 7 days. One patient with melanoma died of brain metastase.

CONCLUSIONSIt is necessary to estimate the tumors thoroughly before surgery. According to the location of the tumor, the modified maxillary bone disassembly is the nearest and harmless approach, through which the tumors can be completely excised with minimal invasiveness. The life quality is thus increased.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; surgery ; Surgery, Oral ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a critical transcription factor for cell proliferation and survival. It is activated within cells by many cytokines to mediate immune and inflammatory responses to injury. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by Crohn′s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestinal tract. STAT3 has been shown to be abnormally activated in IBD colon tissues by many pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier and excessive innate immune and Th17 responses. The persistent chronic inflammation eventually leads to intestinal fibrosis and stenosis. In addition to immune responses, STAT3 is also involved in intestinal fibrosis in IBD by promoting the transcription of fibrosis-related genes. Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of colorectal cancer and is associated with chronic inflammation-induced IBD. STAT3 has also been associated with CAC initiation and development. STAT3 is overactivated in tumors, which leads to suppression of the anti-tumor activity of immune cells and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. In the present article, we summarize the role of STAT3 in IBD and CAC and the research progress of the related drugs developed for UC and CAC treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on radiation induced-cell cycle redistribution and radiosensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep3b.

METHODSMTT assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of PTX on p53-defective human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep3b and clonogenic assay employed to observe its effects on the radiosensitivity of the cells quantified by calculating the sensitive enhancement ratio (SER). Flow cytometry was performed to observe the cell cycle changes of Hep3b cells in response to X-ray irradiation and the interventional effect of PTX.

RESULTSThe cytotoxicity of PTX on the cells increased in a dose-dependent manner following a 48-hour treatment, with the optimal dose range of 1-5 mmol/L. A sub-toxic dose of PTX at 2 mmol/L was then used in subsequent experiments. Clonogenic survival assays up to 12 Gy demonstrated that p53-defective Hep3b cells (SER of 2.68+/-0.24) were sensitized by PTX (2 mmol/L). PTX (2 mmol/L) treatment following exposure to irradiation (6 Gy) resulted in abrogation of radiation-induced G(2)/M arrest of Hep3b cells, and the proportions of Hep3b cells in G(2)/M phase were 86.8% and 14.8% after exposure to 6 Gy alone and 6 Gy plus 2 mmol/L PTX, respectively.

CONCLUSIONRadiosensitization by PTX is possibly associated with the abrogation of G(2)/M arrest in Hep3b cells following radiation exposure, suggesting that potential clinical application of PTX may enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Pentoxifylline ; pharmacology ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of persistent rapid atrial pacing on the levels of connexin 43 (Cx43) and type III collagen in pulmonary vein and atrium in a canine model.

METHODSSixteen mongrel dogs were divided into rapid atrial pacing (RAP) group (n = 8) and normal control group (n = 8) randomly. In the RAP group, atrial pacing was performed with a rate of 400 bpm for 10 weeks to establish atrial fibrillation model. The tissues of left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV), left atrial free wall (LAFW) and right atrial appendage (RAA) were collected from each dogs. The levels of Cx43 and type III collagen were measured in each tissue.

RESULTSTen weeks later, persistent atrial fibrillation was induced in all dogs in RAP group. The level of Cx43 in RAP group was higher than that in normal control group (LSPV: 3370.91 +/- 275.11 vs 1405.82 +/- 90.38, P < 0.05; LAFW: 2448.68 +/- 272.10 vs 1467.12 +/- 147.93, P < 0.05, RAA: 2331.96 +/- 199.61 vs 1288.27 +/- 216.22, P < 0.05). The level of Cx43 in LSPV was higher than that in LAFW and RAA in RAP group, whereas the difference between LAFW and RAA was not significant in RAP group. The quantities of type III collagen in RAP group were higher than those in normal control group (LSPV: 3301.97 +/- 309.70 vs 1404.56 +/- 178.02, P < 0.05; LAFW: 2477.86 +/- 190.43 vs 1479.20 +/- 187.17, P < 0.05; RAA: 2045.92 +/- 139.43 vs 1417.07 +/- 139.43, P < 0.05). The quantities of type III collagen in LSPV was higher than those in LAFW and RAA in RAP group.

CONCLUSIONSPersistent rapid atrial pacing could increase the levels of Cx43 and type III collagen in pulmonary vein and atrium in a canine model of atrial fibrillation. The levels of Cx43 and type III collagen in pulmonary vein were higher than those in atrium. This findings indicated that pulmonary vein may be a crucial regions in maintaining atrial fibrillation.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Connexin 43 ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Female ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins ; metabolism ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Wenhua Juanbi Recipe (WJR) on proliferation and apoptosis of synoviocytes in rats with collagen-inducing arthritis (CIA).

METHODSA CIA model was induced by intradermal injection of bovine collagen type II emulsion at the base of rat tails. Thirty modeled healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (10 per group): the model group, the methotrexate (MTX)-treated group (0.78 mg/kg) and the WJR-treated group (22.9 g/kg). A group of 10 healthy rats was used as normal control. Treatments or normal saline for the control group were administered by oral gavage once daily. Rats were sacrificed after 30-day treatment and subjected to the following examinations: arthritis index (AI) was estimated, inflammatory cell infiltration and proliferation in synovial membrane were evaluated by microscopy, the synoviocyte apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay, and the cell apoptosis index was calculated.

RESULTSAI was lowered significantly in the WJR group compared to the model group (P<0.01). The pathological findings observed in the model group were reversed in the WJR group, including increase in inflammatory cell infiltration and synoviocyte proliferation in synovial membrane and reduction in cell apoptosis index (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSynoviocyte proliferation and apoptosis reduction were present in CIA rats. WJR was effective in treating the rat model of CIA. The therapeutic effect might be exerted through inducing apoptosis and suppressing proliferation of synoviocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Experimental ; pathology ; Cattle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; pathology