Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the present status of water-improving defuoridation projects in the endmie fluorosis areas in Gansu Province in 2006. Methods The content of fluoride in drinking water in 18 endemic disease counties was screened, and the defluoridation projects built after the 1980s were supervised and inspected. The content of fluoride in drinking water was assessed by F-ion selective electrode. Results Fluoride content was determined in water of 6260 sources in 1252 fluorosis villages in 18 counties, with 63.50% (3975/6260)≤1.0 mg/L and 36.50%(2285/6260)>1.0 mg/L. Nine hundred and ninty-seven water-improving and clefluoridation projects had been investigated in 16 counties, among which 95.49% (952/997) were function well, and projects intermittently running or abandoned respectively accounted for 3.11% (31/997) and 1.40%(14/997). Nine hundred and eighty-three sources of water treated by the water-improving and defluoridation projects had been determined for fluoride content, it turned out that 91.76% (902/983) were within the standard, only 8.24% (81/983) were not; as for outlet and leftover water of 934 water-improving and defluoridatian projects determined for water fluoride content, qualified projects accounted for 92.08% (860/934) and 91.97%(859/934), leaving 7.92%(74/934) and 8.03%(75/934) disqualified, respectively. Water-improving and defluoridation projects mostly relied on drilling a well in gaining under-ground water or collecting surface-ground water, so under-ground water and surface-ground water are the majority. Conclusions Water fluoride content exceeds the standard in some of the villages. A few projects do not function well. Fluorosis damage still exists in Gansu Province, therefore countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as promptly as possible and surveillance on water-improving and defluoridation projects must be strengthened and managed.

Adolescent ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of using percutaneous K-wires fixation after manipulative reduction combining with gypsum or splint fixation for treatment of the Barton fracture of aged people.

METHODSFrom June 2011 to May 2013, 91 patients with closed and fresh Barton fracture were analyzed retrospectively which information was complete. According to different methods these patients were divided into three groups: 33 patients in group A were treated by simplex fixation of gypsum or splint after manipulative reduction, including 20 males and 13 females with an average age of (63.27 ± 5.83) years old; 35 patients in group B were treated by percutaneous K-wires fixation after manipulative reduction combining with gypsum or splint fixation, including 23 males and 12 females with an average age of (64.25 ± 4.53) years old; 23 patients in group C were treated by open reduction and internal fixation including 15 males and 8 females with an average age of (64.04 ± 4.83) years old.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 10 to 16 months with an average of 12 months by the method of recheckging in outpatient clinic. According Dienst scoring system: in group A, the result was excellent in 15 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 11 cases; in group B, excellent in 25 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 4 cases; in group C, excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 2 cases. The excellent and good rate of group C was better than that of group B and A, further more group B is better than group A. According to X- ray standard, in group A, 26 patients were acceptable, 7 patients were unacceptable; in group B,28 patients were acceptable, 7 patients were uacceptable; in group C, 19 patients were acceptable,4 patients were unacceptable; there were no statistical significant difference (P > 0.05). There were 18 patients with emerging recrispation in group A, 10 patients in group B, 6 patients in group C, the result of group B and C was better than that of group A, and there was no statistically significant between group B and C (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing percutaneous K-wires fixation after manipulative reduction combining with gypsum or splint fixation for treatment of the Barton fracture of aged people is an effective method, it has advantages of micro-invasived, reliable fixation, less complication, not need to fix wrist joint and early functional exercise.

Aged ; Bone Wires ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Splints

Objective To study the inhibitory effect of fluorouracil combined with DDP on the growth of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63,and to explore its influence on the expressions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5 )and transient receptor potential vanilloid 6 (TRPV6 )proteins.Methods The MG-63 cells were cultured by the density of 5 × 104 mL-1 .Fluorouracil group,DDP group,fluorouracil+ DDP group and control group containing 10% FBS were set up.The inhibitory rates of growth of MG-63 cells at different time were detected by CCK-8 assay.The apoptosis of MG-63 cells after treated with different drugs was determined by Hoechst staining Kit.The immunocytochemical staining was used to treatent to detect the expressions of TRPV5 and TRPV6 before and after treatment.Results Fluorouracil and DDP both inhibited the growth of MG-63 cells in a time-and dose- dependent manner.There were a lot of black particles in the MG-63 cells and the cells were smaller,aging or death when they were exposed to fluorouracil or DDP.Compared with 24 h group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation of MG-63 cells after treated with the sigle drug of fluorouracil or DDP for 48 and 72 h were increased significantly (P <0.05).Compared with control group,the apoptotic rates of MG-63 cells in fluorouracil group and DDP group 24,48,and 72 h after treatment were increased (P < 0.01)in a time-dependent manner. The expression levels of TRPV5 and TRPV6 in MG-63 cells 72 h after treatment of fluorouracil and DDP were decreased significantly compared with before treatment (P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Fluorouracil, DDP and fluorouracil combined with DDP could significantly inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cells,induce the apoptosis, and decrease the expression levels of TRPV5 and TRPV6.

Background and Objective:Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in many physiologic and pathologic processes.As an important biologic mediator, NO has been the focus of cancer study for its function in tumorigenesis. Tumor progression.and death.This study investigated the effect of NO donor sodium nitroprusside(SNP)on the growth and proliferation of gastric cancer cell line AGS.Methods:The growth inhibition of AGS cells was analyzed by MTT assay.The cell cycle was measured using flow cytometry.The changes of mRNA expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3 were examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expressions of PCNA and caspase.3 were analyzed by Western blot. Results:Dose-dependent SNP inhibited cell growth and proliferation.When the AGS cells were treated with SNP at 100,500,1000,1500,and 2000 μmol/L for 24 h.the growth inhibition rates were(2.02±2.96)%,(10.82±2.21)%,(18.95±3.35)%,(26.88±2.54)%,and(42.57±1.27)%,respectively(P<0.05).SNP altered the cell cycle in AGS cells.Compared with the control group,treatment with SNP at 100,500,1000,1500,and 2000 μmol/L for 24 h reduced the number of cells in the S phase by 2.29%,7.8%,11.34%,20.49%, and 23.6%,respectively, and enhanced the number of cells in the G_1/G_0 phases by 3.33%,9.3%,13.46%,21.37%,and 24.73%,respectively(P<0.05).With the increasing concentration and action time of SNP,the expressions of PCNA mRNA and protein decreased.The expression of caspase.3 mRNA remained unchanged,but procaspase-3 was activated.Conclusions:NO not only inhibits cell growth and proliferation, but also induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, and such effects of NO showed significant dosedependent activity.

Objective To explore the expression and distribution of calcineurin(CaN)in normal and failing human myocardium.Methods Left and right ventricles were obtained from end-staged heart failure patients(n=12)undergoing heart transplantation and donor hearts(n=5)taken from victims of vehicle accidents.Immunohistochemistry and SDS-PAGE technique were used to demonstrate expression and distribution of CaN. Results Positive immunoreactive staining for CaN was detected in human cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts and epicardial mesothelial cells,but not detected in cardiac vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.There was no difference in CaN protein levels between failing hearts and donor hearts (Band intensity of right ventricle in failing hearts and donor hearts was 130.20±8.66 and 139.87±6.21, P=0.33.Band intensity of left ventricle in failing hearts and donor hearts was 106.45 and 126.34 ±12.09)and between left ventricular and right ventricular myocardium(Band intensity of left and right ventricles in failing hearts was 96.99±10.67 and 104.58±13.18, P=0.63.Band intensity of left and right ventricles in failing hearts was 132.12 and 120.74).Conclusions CaN is expressed in human cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts and epicardial mesothelial cells and the protein level and distribution of CaN are similar in failing and donor hearts.

Objective To understand distribution of the endemic fluorosis areas and running status of water-improving defuoridation projects in Gausu province. Methods In 2006, Gansu province endemic fluorosis areas, the content of fluoride in drinking water was measured in villages where water was not improved, running status of delluoridation projects was investigated and the content of fluoride in drinking water were determined in villages where water was improved. Dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis prevalence were examined in children in identified high-fluorlde villages. The fluorine content in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode, dental fluorosis of children was diagnosed using Dean method, and adults skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to "National Standard for Clinical Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fhiorosis" (GB 16396-1996). Results Water samples were examined in 1997 villages of 26 countries, among which water fluoride content was higher than 1.0 mg/L in 598 villages, accounting for 29.94%(598/1997). All 1215 water-improving and defluoridation projects had been investigated, among which 94.90%(1153/1215) of the projects were functioning well, and intermittent and abandoned projects accounted for 2.96%(36/1215) and 2.14%(26/1215). Mean fluoride of treated water of 1084 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fluoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounted for 90.79%(1084/1194) ; mean fluoride of water from 1068 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fuoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounting for 91.75%(1068/1164). Total 86 390 children of 8 to 12 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of dental fluorosis was 22.47%(19 414/86 390) and 142 211 adults above 16 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of skeletal fluorosis was 4.20%(5967/142 211). Conclusions Some villages yet have water fluoride content exceeding the standard. Some projects are abandoned and running badly, leading to fluoride content exceeding the standard. In a few areas, the prevalence of children dental fluorosis and adult skeletal fluorosis still exists in Gansu province, the task of prevention and control for endemic fluorosis is still arduous. We must raise the effect of prevention and treatment of this disease.

BACKGROUNDRepeated attacks of bronchial asthma lead to different degrees of airway remodeling, the mechanism of which is not yet clear. Some evidences indicate that it is related to the excessive expression of some growth promotion factors. Angiotensin II is a polypeptide that may be involved in airway remodeling. To evaluate its role in airway remodeling in asthma, we observed the effects of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (valsartan) on the expression of collagen III, collagen V, and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA and protein in the airway walls of sensitized rats.

METHODSForty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, sensitized group, and valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3. The rats in the sensitized group and in valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Rats in control group were sensitized and challenged with 0.9% NaCl. Rats from valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 were drenched with valsartan (10 microg, 20 microg, or 30 microg, respectively) at the time of the ovalbumin challenges. The expression of collagen III, collagen V, and TGF-beta1 protein were detected using immunohistochemical method in combination with image analysis methods. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSThe expression in the airways of collagen III and collagen V was significantly higher in rats from the sensitized group (7.73 +/- 0.81, 1.34 +/- 0.28) and from valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 (5.73 +/- 0.64, 1.13 +/- 0.15; 4.96 +/- 0.51, 0.98 +/- 0.08; 4.43 +/- 0.35, 0.93 +/- 0.06, respectively) than those in the control group (2.65 +/- 0.38, 0.67 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05). In addition, collagen levels were significantly lower in valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 than those from the sensitized group (P < 0.05). The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein in the airways was significantly higher in rats from the sensitized group (20.49% +/- 3.46%, 29.73% +/- 3.25%) and from valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 (16.47% +/- 1.94%, 19.41% +/- 1.87%; 14.38% +/- 1.58%, 18.29% +/- 1.43%; 12.96% +/- 1.73%, 18.63% +/- 1.11%, respectively) than that from the control group (7.84% +/- 1.61%, 5.63% +/- 1.07%, P < 0.05). TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in valsartan groups 1, 2, and 3 than that in the sensitized group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAngiotensin II receptor antagonist valsartan can suppress synthesis of collagen III and collagen V by downregulating TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein expression. Valsartan can decrease airway remodeling and could play a role in asthma therapy.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Animals ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Bronchi ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; analysis ; Collagen Type V ; analysis ; Immunization ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics, therapeutic regimen and outcome of severe Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) in children.

METHODSClinical data of 79 children with MP, including 69 mild and 10 severe cases, were retrospectively analyzed. The 10 children with severe MP were followed-up.

RESULTSIn severe MP cases, the fever duration prior to hospitalization and the total fever duration were more prolonged, peripheral blood leucocytes counts, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased, and serum IgM and IgE levels increased as compared to mild MP cases. Of the 10 cases of severe MP, 4 manifested as pulmonary consolidation, 4 as pulmonary consolidation complicated by moderate to large pleural effusion and 2 as progressively worsening pulmonary radiographic findings. Nine severe MP cases were administered with glucocorticoid as well as antibiotics, and the therapeutic effect was satisfactory. In the convalescence stage, bronchofiberoscope lavages were used in 5 severe cases because of persistent pulmonary consolidation.

CONCLUSIONSSevere MP was characterized by rapid progression, pulmonary consolidation, moderate to severe pleural effusion, obviously increased inflammatory indexes, and poor therapeutic reaction to simple macrolide antibiotics. Besides antibiotics, glucocorticoid should be used for severe MP cases as soon as possible. For severe cases with persistent pulmonary consolidation, bronchofiberoscope lavages are recommended.

Adolescent ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; blood ; drug therapy