Purpose To investigate effect of valsartan on expression of Notch pathway and production of extracellular matrix. Methods Urine protein and production of extracellular matrix were measured after diabetic mice were treated with valsartan. The levels of Jag-ged1, Notch1, Notch intracellular domain 1 (NICD1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TypeⅣcollagen and Laminin were determinated by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time PCR. Results Valsartan suppressed urine protein and production of extracellular matrix in diabetic mice (P<0. 05). Valsartan also inhibits overexpression of Jagged1, Notch1, NICD1, TGF-β1, Type Ⅳ collagen and Laminin in glomerular tissues of diabetic mice (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Conclusion Valsartan inhibits activa-tion of Notch pathway in glomerular tissues of diabetic mice, inhibits production of extracellular matrix in glomerulus and delays glomer-ulosclerosis.

Objective To explore the dose-effect relationship between water fluoride levels and hepatic damage in children and observe the difference in hepatic function between high-loaded fluoride people and dental fluorosis people in the same water fluoride level region. Methods 210 children were selected and divided into seven groups according to drinking water fluoride concentrations and whether they suffered from dental fluorosis. Urine and serum fluoride content total protein TP and albumin ALB content and activities of ALT AST and LDH in serum were determined. Results Both of urine and serum fluoride of high fluoride people and dental fluorosis people were higher than those of the control moreover fluoride contents in urine and serum increased gradually with the increase of fluoride level in drinking water. No significant differences were seen in serum TP ALB ALT and AST levels among groups. Serum LDH activities significantly increased in dental fluorosis people from area of 2.58 mg/L fluoride in drinking water and in two groups from area of 4.51 mg/L fluoride. Moreover there was an obvious dose-effect relationship between the drinking water fluoride concentration and LDH activity. Conclusion If the concentration of fluoride in drinking water exceed 2.0 mg/L it will cause hepatic damage in children with an remarkable dose-effect relationship. The degree of hepatic damage is related to not only water fluoride level but also the condition with or without dental fluorosis.

Objective To identify the expression pattern of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in NK/T-cell lymphoma (NK/TCL) cell lines and to investigate the role of IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling in regulation of cell migration and invasion.Methods RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R.Transwell assay was applied to observe the effects of IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling and downstream kinases activities on cell migration and invasion.Concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were quantified by ELISA.Results Co-expression of IGF-1 and its receptor IGF-1R were identified in two NK/TCL cell lines,SNK-1 and SNK-6,while normal NK cells lack the IGF-1R expression.IGF-1R inhibitors significantly reduced SNK-1 and SNK-6 cells migration and invasion rates.Exogenous IGF-1 promoted both cell lines migration and invasion,but these effects were both blocked by IGF-1R inhibitors.Inhibition of AKT,p38 and JNK,the possible IGF-1R downstream kinases,reduced cell migration rates.Further more,exogenous IGF-1 significantly increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 secretion,while decreased secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed when IGF-1R inhibitors were applied.Conclusion An autocrine IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling loop is aberrantly expressed on NK/TCL cells and the autocrine loop significantly promotes cell migration and invasion through activation of p38,PI3K and JNK signaling and enhances secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

OBJECTIVETo study clinical effects of unilateral pedicle screw-rod system fixation combined with the single the cage of interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative instability via paraspinal intermuscular approach under MAST Quadrant retractor.

METHODSFrom February 2010 to December 2011, 39 patients with lumbar degenerative instability after invalid conservative treatment were treated with unilateral fixation combined with interbody fusion via the paraspinal intermuscular approach under MAST Quadrant retractor. The indexes such as the operative time, blood loss, complications, VAS pain scores, JOA (subjective symptoms of low back pain,lower limb pain and numbness, sensory disturbance, movement disorders) scores, modified Macnab criteria for curative effect evaluation were observed before treatment, at the 1st month after treatment and the latest follow-up. The intervertebral fusion was studied on the X-ray at the latest follow-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the mean during was (22.3 +/- 8.6) months. The operation time was (138 +/- 46) min, and the amount of bleeding was (335 +/- 152) ml. There were no complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and spinal nerve injury during operation, and no incision infection after operation. The VAS pain score was reduced from preoperative 7.93 +/- 1.27 to 2.05 +/- 1.18 on the 1st month after operation and 1.89 +/- 0.42 at the latest follow-up. The JOA total score was improved from preoperative 1.59 +/- 0.42 to 8.86 +/- 0.37 on the 1st month and 9.02 +/- 0.29 at the latest follow-up. According to modified Macnab criteria, there were 17 cases got an excellent result, 19 good, 3 case fair. Thirty-five patients got intervertebral bony fusion at the latest follow-up.

CONCLUSIONUnilateral pedicle screw-rod system fixation combined with single cage interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar degenerative instability via paraspinal intermuscular approach under MAST Quadrant retractor is a safe, minimally invasive, satisfactorily effective methods to treat lumbar degenerative instability.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Fusion ; Treatment Outcome

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the mechanism of L-type calcium channel ( L-Ca2+)/calpain signal transduc-tion pathway in verapamil inversing resistance of papillary thyroid carcinoma to doxorubicin .METHODS:Human papillary thyroid carcinoma TPC-1 cells were cultured for 2 d.For determining the appropriate concentrations and treatment time of verapamil and doxorubicin , a compatibility test was conducted to detect the cell viability by CCK-8 assay.The cells were divided into control group , doxorubicin group , verapamil group and doxorubicin +verapamil group .The techniques of whole-cell patch-clamp was used to record L-Ca2+currents.The protein expression levels of calpain 1 and LC3 were detec-ted by Western blot .RESULTS: Compared with control group , the density of L-Ca2+current decreased in doxorubicin group and verapamil group (P<0.05).Compared with verapamil group , the density of L-Ca2+current decreased in doxo-rubicin+verapamil group (P<0.01).Compared with control group, the expression of calpain 1 decreased in doxorubicin group and verapamil group (P<0.05).Compared with doxorubicin group , the expression of calpain 1 decreased in doxo-rubicin+verapamil group (P<0.05).Compared with control group , the expression of LC3 increased in doxorubicin group and verapamil group (P<0.05).Compared with doxorubicin group , the expression of LC3 increased in doxorubicin +ver-apamil group ( P<0.01) .CONCLUSION:The drug resistance of TPC-1 cells to doxorubicin may be related to the in-crease in autophagic activity .Verapamil further increases autophagic activity of TPC-1 cells, resulting in autophagic death and inversing the resistance of TPC-1 cells to doxorubicin .The mechanism may be involved in L-Ca2+/calpain 1 signal transduction pathway of autophagy .

Objective To observe the influence of insulin therapy on the short-term prognosis of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) complicated with hyperglycaemia.Methods A total of 128 patients with ASTEMI complicated with hyperglycaemia were randomized into 2 groups:treatment group and control group.There were 64 patients(50.0％ )in the treatment group and 64 patients(50.0％ ) in the control group.All of the patients were given anticoagulants,antiplatelet drugs,statins,beta-receptor blockers,nitrates and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) Moreover,the patients in the treatment group were given extra 50 U insulin ( Novolin R) in 50 ml saline by venous infusion.In the treatment group,Venous blood samples were obtained before and 7 days after treatment to determine the fasting blood glucose and hs-CRP in serum; the levels of fasting blood glucose and hs-CRP and short-term prognosis were compared between the 2 groups.ResultsThe levels of fasting blood glucose in the treatment group were decreased significantly after treatment ( [ 5.4 ± 0.8 ] mmol/L vs [ 11.6 ± 2.3 ] mmol/L,P ＜0.01),but there was no significant change in the control group( [ 10.7 ± 2.1 ] mmol/L vs [ 11.2 ± 2.7]mmol/L,P ＞ 0.05 ).The levels of hs-CRP in both groups were decreased significantly after treatment (P ＜0.05),but it was much more obvious in the treatment group( [ 6.2 ± 1.5 ] mg/L vs [ 8.7 ± 1.8 ] mg/L,P ＜0.05).The incidence of major adverse cardiac events(MACE) during a 3 months′ follow-up in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( 12.50％ vs 34.38％,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Insulin therapy can improve the short-term prognosis in patients with ASTEMI complicated with hyperglycaemia.

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the mid-and long-term results between mitral valve repair and mitral valve replacement in mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis.Methods From January 2005 to December 2014, 225 patients with mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis underwent surgical treatment at our institution.159 patients(70.7%) were male, and the mean age was(42±15) years(13-76 years).Among them, mitral valve repair was performed in 89 patients(repair group) and mitral valve replacement in 136 patients(replacement group).Preoperative clinical profiles, perioperative details and follow-up data were reviewed retrospectively.Results There was no operative death in both groups.Compared to replacement group, patients undergoing mitral valve repair suffered significantly less embolism events(9.0% vs.22.8%, P<0.05) and central nerve complications(6.7% vs.17.6%, P<0.05).Patients with mitral valve vegetation were significantly less in repair group as well(59.6% vs.89.0%, P<0.05).The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time[(87±30) min vs.(86±33) min, P>0.05] and aorta clamp time[(52±21) min vs.(51±23) min, P>0.05]were similar between repair group and replacement group.Intensive care stay was significantly shorter in repair group[(1.4±0.7)days vs.(1.9±1.3)days, P<0.05] and hospital stay was shorter in repair group as well[(8.3±4.5)days vs.(9.5±5.3)days, P=0.09].Perioperative cerebral hemorrhage was observed in no patient in repair group and 2 patients(1.5%) in replacement.There was no in-hospital death in repair group.2 in-hospital(1.5%) deaths occurred in replacement group and the causes of death were cerebral hemorrhage and low cardiac output syndrome.The mean follow-up time was(40±35) months(3-134 months), and follow-up was complete in 85% patients.10 years over follow-up, freedom from heart related adverse events was 88% in repair group and 86% in replacement group(P>0.05).Conclusion Mitral valve repair was safe and feasible in mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis, with good mid-and long-term outcomes.Thorough excision of infective tissue and vegetation was necessary to perform mitral valve repair.Yet mitral valve replacement was a viable option in patients for whom repair was infeasible due to severe damage of valve.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 for prevention and control. Methods: Data of notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2020 were extracted from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence and death of notifiable infectious diseases were analyzed and compared with the averages from 2015 to 2019; then the characteristics of some key diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ), influenza and other infectious diarrhea were summarized. Results: Totally 487 271 cases of 30 kinds of infectious diseases were reported. The incidence and mortality rate was 832.94/100 000 and 0.615 4/100 000, which were 7.05% and 14.60% lower than the average value of 2015-2019.The weekly morbidity of Class A and Class B infectious diseases fluctuated between 1.24/100 000 and 3.68/100 000, and hit the bottom in the sixth to eighth week. The morbidity of Class C infectious diseases was 154.19/100 000 in the first week, then dropped to 4.83/100 000 in the second to sixth week and maintained at a low level. High morbidity of infectious diseases were reported in Hangzhou ( 1 412.62/100 000 ), Jinhua ( 960.35/100 000 ) and Ningbo ( 921.25/100 000 ). The morbidity of class C infectious diseases in Hangzhou was 1 248.80/100 000, which was far higher than that of other ten prefecture-level cities. The diseases with high reported morbidity were influenza (438.45/100 000), other infectious diarrhea (140.29/100 000 ), hand-foot-and-mouth disease ( 99.64/100 000 ), pulmonary tuberculosis ( 41.92/100 000 ), syphilis (41.37/100 000) and viral hepatitis ( 30.48/100 000 ). More deaths were reported in AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis, and the mortality were 0.482 1/100 000 and 0.116 2/100 000. A total of 1 306 confirmed cases, 302 asymptomatic infections and 1 death of COVID-19 were reported. Conclusion In 2020, the incidence rate of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang decreased compared with the average value of 2015-2019. Pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis and hepatitis B still have high morbidity, and the COVID-19 epidemic spread widely. The morbidity of some respiratory infectious diseases and imported infectious diseases have dropped significantly compared with previous years.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of two slot size brackets on torque control when teeth interacted in the same arch.

METHODSAfter the upper arch was aligned and leveled in Typodont study, the inclinations of upper teeth 5 +/- 5 were measured when 0.457 2 mm x 0.635 0 mm OPA-K brackets and 0.558 8 mmx0.711 2 mm OPA-K brackets were filled with 0.431 8 mm x 0.635 0 mm stainless steel wire. This experiment was duplicated 10 times. The inclin of each tooth were transformed to the absolute values of the torque play angle psi by computing program, and paired-t test was used.

RESULTSThe two kinds of slot size brackets were different with statistical significance on torque control. When the brackets were filled with 0.431 8 mm x 0.635 0 mm stainless steel wire, the absolute values of the angle psi in 0.558 8 mm x 0.711 2 mm and 0.457 2 mm x 0.635 0 mm slot size brackets were 6.140 degrees +/- 3.758 degrees and 2.608 degrees +/- 1.479 degrees respectively, and the average difference of that between the two slot size brackets was 3.532 degrees. The absolute values of the angle psi in the upper left and right canine brackets were 2.560 degrees +/- 2.605 degrees, 4.230 degrees +/- 2.817 degrees, 1.260 degrees +/- 0.747 degrees and 2.070 degrees +/- 0.663 degrees respectively, and average differences between them were smaller than that in the other teeth.

CONCLUSIONThere was difference between the two kinds of slot size brackets on torque control, and 0.457 2 mm x 0.635 0 mm slot size bracket controls torque better when filled with the same size wire. In this study, the teeth interaction in the same arch probably caused the result that the difference of two slot size brackets on torque control was less than the study results of the theory calculations and material studys before.

Humans ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Stainless Steel ; Tooth ; Torque