To observe the influence of the placental apoptosis on the expression of Bax,Bcl-2, Fas, FasLand TNF-α during the second trimester of pregnancy, mice of experimental group were intraperitoneal injected with 100 purified Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites added in 0.2mL of PBS, while those of the control group were injected with 0.2 mL of sterile PBS (0.01 mol/L, pH 7.4) in the 8-th day of pregnancy. During the 12, 14, 16 and 18-th days of pregnancy, 5 mice both in experimental and control group were randomly killed and the expression levels of the apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, FasL and TNF-α in the placental tissues were determined by means of immunohistochemical methods. It was showed that the apoptosis-related protein expressed both in villus and decidua of the placenta, most of which were expressed in syneytiotrophoblast (ST). The positive cells with expression of Bax, Fas, FasL and TNF-α increased along with the increase of the pregnant days in both the experimental group and the control group, and the positive cells with expression of Bcl-2 decreased along with the increase of the pregnant days. It was also demonstrated that the positive cells with expression of Bax, Fas, FasL and TNF-α of the experimental group showed a higher percentage of expression than that of the control group on the same pregnant days, but the positive cells with Bcl-2 expression of the experimental group were fewer than that of the control group. It is concluded that the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, FasL and TNF-α in the placenta were altered when the pregnant mice were infected with Toxoplasma gondii during the second trimester, which may induce the apoptosis through the endogenic and ectogenic pathway.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of adult osteofluomsis in the endemic fluomsis areas in Tianjin and to provide scientific foundation for endemic fluorosis.Methods Stratified sampling in 55 villages were selected in 3 areas with slight,moderate and severe fluorosis regions in Tianjin from April to June in 2008.Water fluorine were tested and clinical osteofluorosis examinations were conducted to the population aging 16 and above in the villages.Tweenty villages were selected randomly in the slight,moderate and severe fluorosis regions.X-ray osteofluorosis examination were conducted to patients and suspected patients in these 20 villages.Results The geometric mean fluoride content in the water for the 3 areas were 1.35 mg/L,3.44 mg/L,5.49 mg/L,respectively.The prevalence of osteofluorosis were 36.7%(44/120),20.6%(33/160),39.4%(43/109),respectively.The prevalence of osteofluorosis Was increased gradually(r=0.534,P<0.01)and the symptoms and signs of the disease were more serious(H=84.813,P<0.01).The prevalence of X-ray diagnosis Was increased gradually(r=0.990,P<0.01)and signs of the disease were more severe(H=25.169,P<0.01)with an increase in age.There was no statistical significance of prevalence rate of osteofluorosis between males and females,regardless if it Was a clinical diagnosis(X2=0.343,P>0.05)or an X-ray diagnosis(X2=3.532,P>0.05).Conclusions Adult osteofluorosis to a certain extent is still prevalent in the fluorosis areas in Tianjin.Endemic fluorosis is still rampant.Improving water in fulorosis areas should be mandatory.

This study was aimed to establish an HPLC method for simultaneous content determination of valtrate, acevaltrate, and their degradation products, which were baldrinal and 11-ethoxyviburtinal, in Valeriana jatamansi Jones. The separation and quantification of 4 constituents mentioned above were performed on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of water (A) - acetonitrile (B) with an optimized gradient program. The flow rate was 1 mL·min-1. The column temperature was set at 25℃. The wavelength was set at 241 nm. And the injection volume was 10μL. The results showed that among 14 different places of V. jatamansi, the 4 contents determined were different. The contents of valtrate, acevaltrate, and baldrinal in the Yunnan Baoshan Mount were the highest. And the content of 11-ethoxyviburtinal was the highest in Yunnan Dali. It was concluded that the method was with good precision, reproducibility and stability. And it was suitable for the determination of 4 valepotriates ingredients in V. jatamansi. It also provided references for the quality control and exploitation of V. jatamansi.

Objective To build the suitable index system of the clinical research program acceptance evaluation.Methods The Delphi method and the weighted average method were adopted to determine the weight of each index.Results Followed by two rounds of Delphi method, twenty five evaluation indices were selected, including three first-class indices, seven second-class indices and fifteen third-class indices, and the weight of each index was calculated.Conclusions The index system,simple and reasonable, reflects the characteristics of clinical applied researches to a certain extent with a certain degree of operability, laid the foundation for the further supporting to carry out scientific research projects.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism ( PHPT) initially with urinary calculus .Methods The clinical data of 26 patients who diagnosed as PHPT ini-tially with urinary calculus were retrospectively reviewed .Results There were 22 cases with bilateral urinary calculus and 4 cases with unilateral relapsed urinary calculus .Ultrasonography , CT and radionuclide were helpful to determine the location of the neoplasia .24 cases underwent percutaneous nephroscope or ureteroscopy pneu-matic ballistic lithotripsy , 2 cases discharged ureteral calculi by themselves .All patients were performed surgical treatment of PHPT , which was confirmed by intraoperative frozen pathology and postoperative pathological exami -nation.There was great improvement of clinical symptoms after surgical procedures .The preoperative serum calci-um, urine calcium and parathyroid hormone elevated , while serum phosphate decreased .The postoperative indi-cators were just the opposite .The difference had statistical significance ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusions Laboratory investigations and imaging studies are very important to diagnose PHPT initially with urinary calculus .The para-thyroid surgery can remarkably reduce the calculus recurrence and improve renal function .

Objective To investigate the consumption status of iodized salt and iodine nutrition status of Tianjin residents,and to provide a scientific basis for iodine supplementation.Methods Sampling methods:① Salt iodine:According to The National Project of Surveillance on IDD,the iodine in salt samples from 18 Tianjin districts (counties) was tested between 2002 to 2011.②Iodine nutritional status of children:Investigation of iodine nutritional status of children was conducted four times in 2002,2005,2009 and 2011.In 2002 and 2005,two primary schools were selected in each district.By age,gender parity principle,40 subjects aged from 8 to 10 in each school were randomly selected to perform thyroid examination and 20 of them were selected to collect urine samples for determination of urinary iodine.In 2009,according to their sub-area positions in the north,the south,the east,the west and the center of each district,5 primary schools were selected in each town (if there were less than five towns in the district,all towns had been selected).Twenty subjects aged from 8 to 10 in each school were selected to collect urine samples for determination of urinary iodine.In 2011,probability sampling method (PPS) was used to select 30 primary schools,and then 40 children aged from 8 to 10 were randomly selected in each school to examine thyroids.At the same time,urine samples from 12 children of the 40 selected children were tested.③Iodine nutritional status of women of childbearing age:In 2007,2008 and 2010,150,50 and 60 women of childbearing age were selected in Hangu District,urine samples of them were collected for determination of urinary iodine.④Iodine nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women:In 2011,3 towns around each primary school were selected.Five pregnant and five lactating women were selected in each town,urine samples of them were collected for determination of urinary iodine.Test methods:①Salt iodine was tested by direct titration,while Sichuan salt and other reinforced edible salt by arbitration determination based on the General Test Method in Salt Industry-Determination of Iodide Ion (GB/T 13025.7-1999).②Thyroid was tested by B-type-ultrasound and judged according to Diagnostic Criterion of Endemic Goiter (WS 276-2007).③Urinary iodine was tested by the Method for Determination of Iodine in Urine by As3+-Ce4+ Catalytic Spectrophotometry (WS/T 107-2006).Results From 2002 to 2011,the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt,the rate of qualified iodized salt,the coverage rate of iodized salt,the rate of non-iodinated salt was 92.7％(43 489/46 926),97.4％(43 489/44 694),95.1％ (44 694/46 926) and 4.8％(2273/46 926),respectively.The median salt iodine was in the range of 29.2-36.7 mg/kg.Children's urinary iodine was monitored 4 times,the median urinary iodine was 228.0,221.5,191.8; and 194.7 μg/L,respectively.Children goiter rates were 2.1％(27/1258),1.6％(19/1186) and 2.1％(26/1219) of the 3 times monitored.The median urinary iodine in pregnant and lactating women was 145.2 and 136.0 μg/L.The median urinary iodine in women of childbearing age was 130.7,196.1 and 229.5 μg/L,which increased with the increase of coverage of iodized salt.Conclusions The iodine nutrition of Tianjin residents,women of childbearing age and lactating women are at appropriate level.The iodine nutrition of pregnant women is lower than appropriate level.Recommended salt iodine level in our city is 30 mg/kg,or 25 mg/kg for ordinary residents,and 30 mg/kg for pregnant women.

Objective:To observe the effect of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) in rabbits with atherosclerosis.Methods:Thirty-six male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and a simvastatin group according to the random number table method,with 9 rabbits in each group.Rabbits in the model group,the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were modeled by high fat feeding method which took 12 weeks.After verification of the successful model,rabbits in the normal group were not treated,in the model group were bundled,in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group were treated with herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion,and those in the simvastatin group were treated with simvastatin,all for a total of 4 weeks.At the end of the experiment,the aorta and liver were observed for pathological changes;serum and liver were used to detect lipid levels;Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect LXRα protein and mRNA expression levels,respectively.Results:Compared with the normal group,the structure of aorta was disordered,the wall was rough and thick,the intima was unsmooth,and the vascular smooth muscle cells were arranged closely and disorderly in the model group,which was consistent with the characteristics of the rabbit model of aortic atherosclerosis.Compared with the model group,the aortic structure was clear,the degree of hepatocyte degeneration was reduced,the serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly decreased (all P＜0.01),the high-density lipoprotein level was elevated (P＜0.01),and the total liver cholesterol was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the rabbits of the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group;compared with the model group,the protein (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05) and mRNA (P＜0.01) expressions of rabbit LXRα in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the simvastatin group were increased.Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can improve the aortic and hepatic lesions,regulate blood lipid and liver lipid levels,increase the expression of liver cholesterol reverse transport nuclear receptor LXRα,promote reverse cholesterol transport in the rabbits with aortic atherosclerosis,therefore produces an antiatherogenic effect.

OBJECTIVETo Study the protective effect of curcumin on three models of experimental liver injury in mice.

METHODThe experimental models of live injury were induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), D-galactosamine (D-Gal N), and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Plus lipolysaccharides (LPS), respectively, in mice. The serum ALT, AST, NO and liver MDA were measured to evaluate the protective effect of curcumin on experimental injury in mice.

RESULTCurcumin (50 mg.kg-1, 100 mg.kg-1, 150 mg.kg-1), like biophenyldicarboxylate, were shown to significantly inhibit the increase of serum ALT, AST, NO and liver molondialdehyde (MDA) content induced by CCl4, D-Gal N, BCG + LPS.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin showed protective effect against liver injury induced by CCl4, D-Gal N, BCG plus LPS.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Galactosamine ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the periodontal indices and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) between the use of self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets.

METHODSThirty patients were divided into 2 groups(n=15). Self-ligating brackets were used in the experimental group. Conventional brackets were used in the control group. Clinical periodontal indices, including plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI) and probing depth (PD) of observed teeth were examined at three different time points: Before orthodontic treatment, the first month after treatment and the third month after treatment. Subgingival plaques were collected simultaneously at each time point. The number of total bacteria and P. gingivalis in each sample were detectd and quantitated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the percentage of P. gingivalis in total bacteria was obtained.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the periodontal indices and the percentage of P. gingivalis in total bacteria had no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After 1 and 3 months respectively, the periodontal indices and the percentage of P. gingivalis in total bacteria increased with time (P<0.05) and were obviously lower than those of the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with conventional brackets, the self-ligating brackets are better for periodontal health. But it is adverse effect on oral health.

Dental Plaque ; Dental Plaque Index ; Humans ; Periodontal Index ; Porphyromonas gingivalis

OBJECTIVE: To examine various pneumatized extensions of the sphenoid sinus of Chinese people. METHOD: The sphenoid sinus and its surrounding structures were examined from 100 computed tomography images of the sinus. The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified according to the various extensions of the sinus. RESULT: The type of the sphenoid sinus was classified into the following 6 basic types based on the direction of pneumatization: sphenoid body, lateral, clival, lesser wing, anterior, and combined. CONCLUSION The variations in the extensions of pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus may facilitate entry into areas bordering the sphenoid sinus.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Sphenoid Bone ; anatomy & histology ; Sphenoid Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed