BACKGROUND:Compared with the normal intervertebral disk, the density of nerve fibers and number of nerve endings and neuropeptides appear to be more in the degenerated intervertebral disk. However, this phenomenon does not occur in the normal y aged disk.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the axonal growth and induction of a painful neuropeptide and substance P using rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and degenerated human disc cells in vitro.
METHODS:The human intervertebral discs were harvested from patients with discogenic low back pain and normal people. And extracelluar matrix extracted from human degenerative intervertebral discs was cultured with rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The promotion of axonal growth and induction of substance P of dorsal root ganglion neurons in extracted medium were evaluated through morphology observation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normal group, the content of nerve growth factor in the degenerative group was significantly higher and the average length of neuritis was significantly longer in the experimental group (P<0.05). After intervention with anti-nerve growth factorβ, the average length of neuritis became remarkably shorter. The percentage of substance P-immunoreactive cells was significantly higher in the degenerative group compared with the normal group (P<0.001). Nerve growth factors that highly express in the extracellular matrix from the degenerative intervertebral dick can promote neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion neurons and induce release of neuropeptides related to pain transmission.

Objective To know the focus groups' iodine nutrition level after implementation of a new standard of salt iodization,and to provide technical support for iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) prevention in Nanping City.Methods According to the requirements of Focus Groups' Iodine Nutrition and Related Health Monitoring Program in Fujian Province,Yanping,Jian'ou,Zhenghe,Jianyang and Shaowu counties (cities,districts) were selected for monitoring in 2014;Pucheng,Songxi,Wuyishan,Shunchang and Guangze counties (cities,districts) were selected for monitoring in 2015.We studied:①The water iodine:2 tap water samples were collected from centralized water supply system;from decentralized water supply system,2 residents drinking water samples were collected according to each of five directions of east,west,south,north,and center,for determination of water iodine content.②Salt iodine:4 administrative villages (neighborhood committees) were selected from each monitoring site,from which 15 households were selected,edible salt samples were collected,and salt iodine content was tested.③Urinary iodine:one primary school was selected from each monitoring site,30-40 students aged from 8-10 years old were selected from each primary school,urine samples were collected for detecting urinary iodine.④Salt intake per capita:among the 8-10 years old students whom had been collected urine samples,10 students' family edible salt samples were collected,then the salt intake per capita was measured via 3-days weighing method.⑤ Goiter:in Jianyang and Shaowu Cities in 2014,and in Guangze and Shunchang Cities in 2015,the thyroid volume was measured using ultrasound,and goiter rate was calculated of 8-10 years old students whom had been collected urine samples before.⑥Pregnant women urinary iodine:20 pregnant women (early,middle and late pregnancy were included) were selected in each monitoring site,urine samples were collected for detecting urinary iodine.Results Investigation results in 2014 and 2015 were as follows:61 and 50 samples of daily drinking water of the two years were investigated,the medians of drinking water iodine were 1.5 and 5.7 μg/L for each group of samples,respectively;and daily salt intake of 253 and 250 residents of the two years were investigated,and the medians intake were 6.8 and 6.9 g/d,respectively;1 500 and 1 500 residential edible salt samples in the two years were tested,iodized salt coverage rates were 99.7％ (1 496/1 500) and 99.9％ (1 498/1 500),respectively,qualified rates of iodized salt were 95.7％ (1 431/1 496) and 94.5％ (1 416/1 498),respectively,qualified iodized salt consumption rates were 95.4％ (1 431/1 500) and 94.4％ (1 416/ 1 500),respectively;of which 749 and 1 000 8-10 years old children's urinary iodine were also tested,and children's urinary iodine medians were 190.1 and 210.4 μg/L,respectively;300 and 275 thyroids of children aged from 8 to 10 were tested,and goiter rates (ultrasound method) were 1.3％ (4/300) and 2.9％ (8/275),respectively;500 and 500 pregnant women urinary iodine were tested in the two years,and pregnant women urinary iodine medians were 133.2 and 150.3 μg/L,respectively,the pregnant women urinary iodine median of the Nanping City of 10 counties (cities,districts) and 7 counties (cities,districts) were less than 150 μg/L.Conclusions Nanping City's natural environment iodine is deficient.After the new standard of salt iodization,we can continue to promote the process of the standard of eliminating IDD in China,besides,8-10 years old children's iodine nutrition is basically at the appropriate level,but the level of pregnant women has showed a slightly deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 21 autosomal STR loci of Fujian Han population and evaluate the forensic application value of GlobalFiler Express kit. METHODS: Amplified with GlobalFiler Express kit, DNA samples were obtained from 741 unrelated individuals of Fujian Han population. The population genetics parameters of 21 autosomal STR loci were calculated. RESULTS: The 21 autosomal STR loci were found to be no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibration (P > 0.05) and relatively abundant in high polymorphism. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.589 to 0.914, power of discrimination ranged from 0.754 to 0.992, polymorphic information content ranged from 0.520 to 0.940, and power of exclusion ranged from 0.278 to 0.825. The SE33 locus was the highest degree in polymorphism. CONCLUSION The 21 STR loci of GlobalFiler Express kit have high value in discrimination power and can be useful in personal identification and paternity test in Fujian Han population.
Asian People/genetics* ; DNA ; Genetics, Population ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Paternity ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of estrogen combined with progestogen replacement therapy on patients with secondary premature ovary failure (POF) induced by Triptergium wifordii (TW). Methods Twenty-one patients who suffered from secondary suspend menses by TW were treated by estrogen combined with progestogen replacement therapy periodically. The serum levels of E2, LH and FSH were examined and changes of menses and clinical manifestations were observed respectively before and 3 months after the ending of treatment.Results All of the patients were confirmed as POF according to the levels of blood sexual hormone and clinical manifestations. The E2 secreted by ovary was higher [ (392.90?77.53 )pmol/L vs. (83.47?8.46)pmol/L, P

Objective To explore change of peripheral blood CD5+B cells in the systemic lupus ery- thematosus(SLE)patients and the association of this change with the disease activity,Methods The percent- age of CD5~+B ceils in peripheral blood in 57 patients with SLE and 35 healthy controls was determined by flow eytometry.Levels of anti-dsDNA,complement C3 and C4,anti-nuclear antibody(ANA),anticardiolipin anti- body(ACL),were also measured.Results The percentage of CD5~+B cell in SLE patients(2.1?0.4)% was high- er than that in normal controls [(1.5?0.4)%](P＜0.05).In active disease group,the percentage of CD5~+B cells [(2.5?0.5)%] was significantly higher than that in inactive SLE patients [(1.4?0.5)% ](P＜0.01).The percent- age of CD5~+B cell associated with anti-dsDNA,ANA,ALA positively,with C3 negatively and had no associa- tion with C4.Conclusion The percentage of CD5~+B cells in the SLE is significantly high and has correlation and some relationship with the SLE.

Background There is multi-dimensional order of spatial stereopsis perception in human,however,current stereopsis examination is zero-order of position disparity.A multi-dimensional space perception model is very important for the detection of stereoacuity.Objective This study was to screen the deficit of zero-order,first-order,second-order multi-dimensional spatial stereopsis perception in amblyopia and strabismus children and to explore the association of zero-order,first-order,second-order spatial perception deficit.Methods Multidimensional spacial perception was examined in 79 children aged 4-14 years in Beijing Children' s Hospital.Nineteen normal children,19 children with ametropia amblyopia,12 children with anisometropic amblyopia,18 children with strabismus and 11 children with strabismus combined amblyopia were included this study.The random-dot and line spatial stereopsis perception in zero-order,first-order and second-order were examined with a new system of multidimensional space perception screening.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or custodian before any ocular examination associated with this study.Results Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order random-dot channel was found in 24 children (24/79,30.4％),18 children (18/79,22.8％) and 24 children (24/79,30.4％) respectively,with an average percentage of 27.9％.Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order line channel was examined in 37 children (37/79,46.8％),37 children (37/79,46.8％),32 children (32/79,40.5％),with an average percentage of 44.7％.In the children with a deficiency of the zero-order spatial perception,the children who still remained the first-order or/and second-order spatial perception of random-dot accounted for 41.6％ and that of lines accounted for 43.2％.In children without deficiency of zero-order random-dot or lines spatial space perception,deficiency of first-order and/or second-order spatial perception was in 37.5％ children.Various order spatial perception deficiency was seen in children suffering from amblyopia or strabismus compared with normal group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There exists spatial perception deficiency in children with amblyopia or strabismus.The patients with zero-order spatial perception absence partially remain a first-order or/and second-order spatial perception;while the patients with normal zero-order spatial perception might have first-order or second-order spatial perception deficiency.The multi-dimensional space perception model has a directive role for the training of visual information process and the treatment of spatial perceptual learning in children with amblyopia or strabismus.

Objective Genetic analysis was performed to infer the relationship between hantaviruses carried by Rattus norvegicus from Henan and Neimenggu provinces and the other known hantavirus and the vaccine strain. Methods Total RNA was extracted from lung tissues with Trizol reagent. The complete M and S segment sequences of strains NM133 and Q12 were amplified by RT-PCR. The purified DNA fragments were directly subjected to sequencing, and then to sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Results The complete S segment sequences of strains NM133 and Q12 were found to be 1770 nt and 1772 nt in length respectively, with one open reading frame encoding 429 amino acids. The complete M segment sequences of both two strains are 3654 nucleotide in length encoding a protein of 1133 amino acids. The two strains shared a high degree of homology with most of known Seoul virus (SEOV) but quite different from Hantaan virus and other hantaviruses. Furthermore, the nucleoprotein and glycoprotein of the two strains had the congruent structure with the vaccine strain Z37. On the S- and M-phylogenetic trees, both strains (NM133 and Q12) were grouped into the first cluster of SEOV, and were more closely related to the strains, such as: Hb8610, R22, HB55, L99, and K24-e7. Conclusion Both strains (NM133 and Q12) belonged to SEOV, and sharing a high degree of homology and similar secondary structure with strains including the vaccine strains Z37, our data suggested that the present vaccine used in China could effectively prevent HFRS caused by SEOV.

Animals ; Disease Progression ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Renal Agents ; pharmacology ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sclerosis

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), total protein (TP), salivary flow rate, and pH value between Pi deficiency (PD) children and healthy children, thereby providing evidence for Pi controlling saliva theory.

METHODSTwenty PD children were recruited, and 29 healthy children were also recruited at the same time. Saliva samples from all subjects were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. The sAA activity and amount, TP contents, salivary flow rate, and pH value were determined and compared.

RESULTS(1) Citric acid stimulation was able to significantly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, sAA activities, sAA specific activity and sAA amount (including glycosylated and non-glycosylated sAA amount) in healthy children (P<0.05), while it could markedly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, and glycosylated sAA levels in PD children (P<0.05); (2) Although there was no statistical difference in determined salivary indices between the two groups (P>0.05), salivary indices except salivary flow rate and glycosylated sAA levels decreased more in PD children. There was statistical difference in sAA activity ratio, sAA specific activity ratio, and the ratio of glycosylated sAA levels between PD children and healthy children (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPD children had decreased response to citric acid stimulation.

Child ; Citric Acid ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Saliva ; Salivary alpha-Amylases ; metabolism ; alpha-Amylases

OBJECTIVETo study the predicting effect of proly 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide (P4HB) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by Yiqi Chutan Recipe (YCR).

METHODSTotally 46 stage III and IV NSCLC patients were treated by YCR for 4 therapeutic courses. Effect was assessed by RECIST of solid tumor. P4HB expression was detected in the lung cancer tissue by immunohistochemical assay. Factors affecting disease control rates (DCR) of YCR were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis. The correlation between P4HB expression and the effect of YCR was analyzed.

RESULTSThe DCR of advanced NSCLC treated by YCR was 36.96% (17/46 cases). P4HB was high expressed in advanced lung cancer tissue (6/15 cases). Gender, initial treatment, and retreatment are independent factors for affecting DCR of treating lung cancer by YCR.

CONCLUSIONP4HB might be taken as a factor for predicting the effect of YCR in treating NSCLC.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase ; metabolism ; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases ; metabolism