ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of preterm birth, as well as the clinical characteristics in dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins and monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 290 premature cases out of 363 twin pregnancies who delivered alive babies in the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University from September 2012 to March 2015. The selected cases, including 219 cases of DCDA and 71 cases of MCDA,were divided into three groups according to their gestational age at delivery: 28-31+6, 32-33+6 and 34-36+6 weeks. The clinical features, causes and risk factors were described between these three groups. Analysis of variance,Chi-square test and multi-variant Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe incidence of premature delivery in twin pregnancies was 79.9% (290/363), while this figure was lower in DCDA twins than in MCDA [76.3%(219/287) vs 93.4%(71/76),χ2=10.955,P=0.001]. The three leading causes of preterm birth in DCDA twins were gestational age≥36 weeks (33.8%, 74/219), preterm labor (30.6%, 67/219) and preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) (8.7%, 19/219), while in MCDA twins were preterm labor (31.0%, 22/71), selective intrauterine growth restriction (21.1%, 15/71) and gestational age≥36 weeks (19.7%, 14/71). Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors of preterm birth in twins at 28-31+6 weeks was PPROM (OR=2.390, 95%CI: 1.006-5.872,P=0.043), and for those twins at 32-33+6 weeks, the independent risk factors were MCDA (OR=2.758, 95%CI: 1.243-6.118,P=0.013), preeclampsia (OR=12.176, 95%CI:4.685-31.642,P=0.000), PPROM (OR=5.348, 95%CI: 2.151-13.294,P=0.000) and preterm labor (OR=3.274, 95%CI:1.453-7.375,P=0.004). MCDA (OR=3.666, 95%CI: 1.364-9.585,P=0.010) and preeclampsia (OR=8.086, 95%CI:1.044-62.617,P=0.045) were the risk factors in the group of 34-36+6 weeks.ConclusionsAlthough preterm birth in MCDA and DCDA twins is due to different reasons, the former has a higher incidence than the latter. The risk factors of premature delivery at different gestations are also different.

ObjectiveTo assess the reliability and validity of Chinese version of tools in measuring yangsheng.MethodsChinese version of tools in measuring yangsheng was administered to 706 elderly citizens and evaluated for the reliability and validity.ResultsThe fittingness of the both exiting model were unidentified.A model of six factors and twenty-six items was determined using exploratory factor analysis.The fitness of such model was perfect ( RMSEA =0.050,AGFI =0.871,GFI =0.902,NFI =0.903,CFI =0.953 ) and all the construct reliability were more than 0.6 while the average variance extracted were higher than 0.5 except the diet yangsheng factor.The Cronbach's α of Chinese version of tools in measuring yangsheng was 0.918 and Cronbach's α of factors were all above 0.7.ConclusionThe Chinese version of tools in measuring yangsheng appears to have good validity and reliability to estimate the Yangsheng of elderly citizens in China.

Objective:To investigate the role of scavenger receptor BⅡ(SR-BⅡ) in the oxidized low density lipid(ox-LDL) induced foam cells formation promoted by porphyromonas gingivalis(P.g).Methods:Peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with P.g and ox-LDL,and then foam cells formation were checked.The expression of SR-BⅡ was detected by Western blot and real-time PCR.Next,siRNA targeting SR-BⅡ was used to detect the change of foam cells formation.Results:After being stimulated with P.g and ox-LDL,the foam cells formation was significantly increased.During the process of foam cells formation,P.g infection increased the expression of SR-BⅡ.And the knockdown of SR-BⅡ by siRNA significantly reduced the foam cells formation.Conclusion:P.g infection can increase the expression of SR-BⅡ and the regulation of SR-BⅡ expression can change the foam cells formation.

Background The occurrence and development of aortic aneurysm (AA) are associated with infection.Some researchers have detected the DNA of periodontal pathogens in AA samples in certain populations.However,it has not been done in Chinese population.The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal pathogens in oral tissue samples and aneurysm samples of AA patients.Methods Eighty-nine subjects with AA and 59 subjects without AA were examined.Periodontal clinical parameters were evaluated.Unstimulated saliva and subgingival plaque somples were collected from all subjects.Twenty-six dissected AA samples were obtained.Evidence of eight periodontal pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg),Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa),Prevotella intermedia (Pi),Tannerella forsythensis (Tf),Treponema denticola (Td),Campylobacter rectus (Cr),Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn),and Prevotella nigrescens (Pn) was ascertained in all samples by 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.Results The periodontal indexes including plaque index (PLI),probing depth (PD),bleeding index (BI),and clinical attachment loss (CAL),of the six Ramfjord index teeth were significantly higher in the AA group than those in the control group (P ＜0.01).Eight periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque samples were more frequently detected in the AA group than in control group.The difference in prevalence between the groups was significant for six (out of eight) periodontal pathogens assayed (Pg,Pi,Fn,Pn,Tf,and Td,P ＜0.01).Additionally,all eight periodontal pathogens were more frequently detected in saliva samples of the AA group than in those of the control group,again with six (out of eight) (Pg,Pi,Fn,Cr,Tf,and Td) displaying significant differences in prevalence between the two groups (P ＜0.01).Out of 26 aneurysm samples examined,Pg,Pi,Fn,Crand Tfwere detected in 6 (23.1％),2 (7.7％),3 (11.5％),1 (3.8％),2 (7.7％),respectively,and Aa,Pn,and Td were not detected in dissected aneurysm samples.Conclusion Results of this study suggested that periodontal infection is associated with the occurrence of AA.

Objective To explore the reliability of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)to evaluate the severity of the neurologic diseases and its accuracy to predict the outcome of patients with these diseases.Metllods Four hundred and four consecutive patients with severe neurologic diseases between 2005 and 2006 were enrolled to obtain the APACHE Ⅱ scores at 0.24,48,72 h after admission to neurointensive care unit.Results The APACHE Ⅱ scores were positively associated with the outcome of the patients with severe neurologic diseases.The higher score corresponded with the higher mortality rate.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of APACHE Ⅱ to predict the outcome was 0.866(95% CI 0.824 to 0.907.P=0.000).The optimal cutoff of APACHE Ⅱ scores to predict the outcome was 17 scores with the sensitivity of 76.7%and the specificity of 78.7%.The predictive chance that was mostly associated with the outcome was 72 h after admission in logistic regression model (x2=137.345,P=0.000,correct class%=85%).The factors that were the most statistically associated with the outcome in the 14 parameters of APACHE Ⅱ were GCS score,heart rate,serum creatinine,body temperature and WBC count.Conelusion APACHE Ⅱ favorably reflects the severity of the neurologic diseases and reliably and accurately predicts the prognosis of the patients.

Objecitve:To investigate effects of urotensin Ⅱ( UⅡ)/UT system on innate immune inflammatory signal pathway TLR4-IRF3 in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Kupffer cells (KCs).Methods: Rat KCs were isolated and cultured.Pro-in-flammatory cytokines including IL-6,IFN-βand IFN-γwere assayed by ELISA in culture supernatant of KCs.Cell surface TLR4 were tested with flow cytometry technique.Expression of IRF3 were tested with real-time PCR and Western blot.Results: Significant increases were showed in IL-6, IFN-βand IFN-γsecretion, TLR4-expressed positive rates and IRF3 mRNA levels in KCs after stimulated by LPS,but were inhibited via urantide pretreatment.In addition,LPS induced upregulation of nuclear IRF3 protein and downregulation of cytoplasm IRF3 protein in KCs,which were blocked by urantide pretreatment.Conclusion:UⅡ/UT system mediates immune inflammatory response in part through activating TLR 4-IRF3 pathway in LPS-stimulated KCs.

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture on gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in patients with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) and evaluate its clinical efficacy.
Methods:A total of 100 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an acupuncture group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). Patients in the acupuncture group were treated by needling Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6), whereas patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of Domperidone. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared; and changes in gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in both groups were observed before and after treatment.
Results:After treatment, the symptom scores, gastric motility and contents of plasma motilin and serum gastrin were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05). There were between-group statistically significant differences in symptom scores, gastric motility and levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin after treatment (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96% in the treatment group, versus 78% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Acupuncture is effective for DGP and can reduce the levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin.

Objective To investigate the effects of urotensin Ⅱ/urotensin Ⅱreceptor ( UⅡ/UT) system on the expression of inflammatory signal molecules p 38 mitogen-activated protein kinase ( p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB ( NF-κB ) in lipopolysaccharide ( LPS )-stimulated Kupffer cells ( KCs ) . Methods Rat KCs were isolated and purified by means of in situ perfusion and density gradient centrifuga-tion.The isolated cells were randomly divided into six treatment groups including group 1:UⅡ(-) urantide (-)LPS(-), group 2:UⅡ(+)urantide(-)LPS(-), group 3: UⅡ(-)urantide(+)LPS(-), group 4:UⅡ(-)urantide(-)LPS(+), group 5:UⅡ(+) urantide(-) LPS(+) and group 6:UⅡ(-)urantide(+) LPS(+) .Western blot assay was performed to detect p 38 MAPK/p-p38 MAPK protein and NF-κB p65 sub-unit.The DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was tested by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).Re-sults There was no significant difference with the expression of p 38 MAPK protein in KCs among the six groups (P>0.05).The expression of p65 protein and p-p38 MAPK and the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB were significantly enhanced in LPS-stimulated KCs from groups 4, 5 and 6 in comparison with those in group 1 (P<0.01).No significant differences with the levels of p65 protein and phosphor-p38 MAPK and the DNA-binding activity of NF-κB were observed between UⅡ/urantide-treated cells ( group 2 or group 3) and untreated cells (group 1) (all P>0.05), but that were decreased in group 6 than those in group 4 (all P<0.01).Conclusion UⅡ/UT system participated in the activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated primary Kupffer cells .

Aim Toinvestigatetheeffectsoftriptonot-erpene methyl ether ( TME ) , a diterpene derived from the medicinal plant Triptergium wilfordii, on human gastric cancer AGS cell proliferation inhibition and ap-optosisinducedinvitro.Methods MTTassaywas used for screening tumor spectrum and detecting the vi-ability of AGS cells and normal human gastric epitheli-al cells GES-1 . Cell morphology was observed by light microscopy and AO / EB staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptotic rate and cell cycle. JC-1 staining and fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were em-ployed to detect the changes of mitochondrial mem-brane potential and reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) . The effect of inhibiting AGS clonogenic survival was as-sayed by the method of plate clone formation. Western blot was used to analyse the expression of caspase-3 , caspase-8,Bcl-2andBax.Results MTTresults showed that TME exhibited significantly higher cytotox-icity to gastric cancer AGS cell line than to noncancer-ous cell line GES-1. IC50 for AGS of 48 h treatment was 23 . 85 μmol · L-1 . TME significantly inhibited colony formation and caused morphological changes in AGS cells. Annexin V-FITC / PI double staining showed the apoptotic rate increased. DCFH-DA stai-ning showed TME resulted in an increase in intracellu-lar ROS levels. Mitochondrial membrane potential de-creased after TME treatment. Western blot results showed that TME increased the proportion of Bax /Bcl-2 , with the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 . The broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk pre-treatment reduced the expression of caspase-8 and caspase-3. TME enabled AGS cell cycle arrest in G0/G1phase.Conclusion TMEpossessespotenttumor selected toxicity and can induce apoptosis of AGS cells through cell cycle arrest, which is associated with Bcl-2 protein family.

Aim To evaluate the mucosal-protective effects of carboxymethylpachyman( CMP) on Fluorou-racil(5-Fu)-induced mice intestinal mucositis and ex-plore its mechanisms. Methods ICR mice were as-signed randomly to four groups:normal group( n=8;re-ceiving pure water orally for 14 d) ,CMP group( n=8;200 mg·kg-1 CMP for 14 d orally),5-Fu group(n=8;25 mg·kg-1 5-Fu for 7 d,intraperitoneally( i. p. ) , and CMP+5-Fu group( n=8;200 mg·kg-1 CMP for 14 d orally and 25 mg·kg-1 5-Fu for 7 d,i. p. ). At day 14the mice were sacrificed. The intestinal propel-ling rate and the colon length were measured. ROS, GSH and IL-1βcontents,and CAT,GSH-Px activities in homogenate supernatant of PPs were measured by kits for observing the effects of CMP on mice lipid peroxida-tion and intestinal mucosal inflammatory induced by 5-Fu. Colon tissues were used for hematoxylin and eosin ( HE ) staining for the determination of the effect of CMP on mice colon histopathology, immunohistochem-istry for the protein levels of NF-κB and p-p38 . Results CMP significantly extended colon lengths,accelerate the intestinal propelling rates, reduced colonic mucosa epithelium goblet cell loss, inflammatory cells infiltra-tion,and crypt depth shallow induced by 5-Fu. CMP obviously reduced ROS and IL-1β contents, and pre-vented reductions in homogenate supernatant of PPs GSH content, CATand GSH-Px activities by 5-Fu ad-ministration,and also reduced the expression of NF-κB and p-p38 in colon tissues. However, CMP alone had no effect on the colon of normal mice. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that CMP may have sig-nificant protective effects against 5-Fu-induced intesti-nal mucositis. Its mechanism may be related to enhan-cing the antioxidant activity,anti-inflammatory and an-ti-apoptotic effects.