OBJECTIVETo study the biological effects of phenytoin (PHT) on cultured human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLF), and explore the possibility of its accelerating periodontal regeneration.

METHODSIncreasing concentrations of PHT (1, 5, 20, 100, 500, 2 500 mg/L) were added into the medium of the fourth passage of cultured hPDLF, respectively. After co-incubated for 3 days, cell proliferation activity, the total amount of protein and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were detected. Mineralized sodium and PHT (20, 100, 500 mg/L) were added into the medium of the fourth passage hPDLF. After co-incubated, the mineralized nodules formation were detected by Von Kossa staining. The third passage hPDLF were stimulated by PHT (20, 100 mg/L), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) concentration was analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAt the concentration of 20 or 100 mg/L, PHT significantly enhanced the proliferating activity and ALP activity of hPDLF (P<0.01). PHT at 100 mg/L could increase protein synthesis of hPDLF (P<0.05). The capability of mineralization and BMP-2 expression of hPDLF were increased significantly (P<0.01) in 100 mg/L group when compared with that in the control group. However, higher concentration (2 500 mg/L) not only changed cell morphology, but also significantly inhibited cell activity.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that proper doses of PHT could promote proliferation and biosynthesis and also enhance osteogenesis by increasing the differentiation, mineralization and BMP-2 expression of hPDLF while higher concentrations of PHT had cytotoxic effect.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Ligament ; Phenytoin

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with diet adjustment and aerobic exercise and simple diet adjustment combined with aerobic exercise for treatment of simple obesity, in order to scientifically evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with diet adjustment and aerobic exercise for simple obesity.

METHODSSixty-one cases were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases) and a control group (30 cases). The control group was treated with diet adjustment combined with aerobic exercise, on the basis of this, the observation group was treated with acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) etc., once a day, 15 days constituting one course. After three course of treatment, the changes of body weight and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in both groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter one course of treatment, both the body weight and WHR in the observation group were obviously lower than those of control group (both P < 0.05); after two courses of treatment, there were no significant differences of body weight and WHR between two groups (both P > 0.05); after three courses of treatment, the body weight of observation group was obviously lower than that of control group (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference of WHR between two groups (P > 0.05); the body weight and WHR of both groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.01); the difference comparison of the body weight in observation group was obviously higher than that of control group before and after treatment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth two treatments can decrease the body weight and WHR of patients with simple obesity, while the effect of acupuncture combined with diet adjustment and aerobic exercise is more obvious in the early stage of the treatment for body weight and WHR.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Weight ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; diet therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore and compare the clinical effect and safety of liposomal albendazole (L-ABZ) and tablet-albendazole (T-ABZ) in the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE1, CE2, and CE3).

METHODSA total of 269 cases treated with cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Xinjiang Medical University the First Affiliated Hospital from 1998 to 2008 were reviewed. 51 cases were excluded and 218 cases were enrolled in this research by retrospective case-control method. Among 110 cases were treated with L-ABZ and 108 cases were treated with T-ABZ for short-term (3 months) and long-term courses (6 months) respectively. The effects and safety of the two medicines were compared by analyzing the clinical symptoms, imaging check and serologic test results.

RESULTSIn short-term effect evaluation, the total effective rates and curative rates of L-ABZ group and T-ABZ group were 77.9% and 49.1% vs 28.4% and 13.9%, respectively. The effects of L-ABZ group was better than that of T-ABZ group, with remarkable difference in total effective rates and curative rates (x2 value was 19.581, 6.877, respectively, P is less than 0.05). In long-term effect evaluation, the total effective rates and curative rates of L-ABZ and T-ABZ group were 81.7% and 49.0% vs 47.6% and 20.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between L-ABZ group and T-ABZ group in total effective rates and curative rates (x2 value was 20.977, 15.049, respectively, P is less than 0.05). In T-ABZ group the short-term curative rates were 50.0% (15/30), 8.8% (8/91) and 33.3% (7/21) respectively in CE1, CE2, and CE3, the short-term total effective rates were 56.7% (17/30), 35.2% (32/91) and 61.9% (13/21) respectively in CE1, CE2, and CE3. The long-term curative rates were 58.3% (7/12), 28.6% (12/42) and 70.0% (7/10) respectively in CE1, CE2 and CE3, the long-term total effective rates were 75.0% (9/12), 69.0% (29/42) and 100.0% (10/10) respectively in CE1, CE2, and CE3. When compared with CE2, differences existed in CE1 (x2 = 24.887, 4.329; P is less than 0.05) and CE3 groups (x2 = 8.860, 5.076; P is less than 0.05) in terms of short-term effects. In L-ABZ group, the short-term curative rates were 47.4% (18/38), 12.2% (12/98) and 61.5% (8/13) respectively in CE1, CE2 and CE3, the short-term total effective rates were 92.1% (35/38), 65.3% (64/98) and 92.3% (12/13) respectively in CE1, CE2 and CE3, the long-term curative rates were 79.3% (23/29), 35.9% (23/64) and 50.0% (3/6) respectively in CE1, CE2 and CE3, the long-term total effective rates were 96.6% (28/29), 84.4% (54/64) and 100% (6/6) respectively in CE1, CE2 and CE3. When compared with CE2, there were significant differences in CE1 (x2 = 19.648, 9.930; P is less than 0.05) and CE3 groups (x2 = 18.880, 3.876; P is less than 0.05) in terms of short-term effect. In L-ABZ and T-ABZ groups, the drug-related adverse effects were 11.1% (12/108) and 12.7% (14/110) respectively without significant difference (x2 = 0.155, P is more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONL-ABZ and T-ABZ were both effective anti-echinococcosis drugs without dominant side-effects. The clinical effect of L-ABZ was better than that of T-ABZ.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Albendazole ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Echinococcosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liposomes ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tablets ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Child ; Female ; Glioma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo screen primary aldosteronism cases with ARR (aldosterone/plasma renin activity, ARR) from patients with hypertension, and to evaluate the diagnosis value of ARR in primary aldosteronism cases and analysis the clinical characters of primary aldosteronism cases.

METHODSNine hundred and two patients with hypertension were collected, the plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity ratio were detected by radio-immunity method, after that, ARR were calculated. Retrospective analysis was made of clinical data in 126 primary aldosteronism cases, which ARR were over 25.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-six cases (14%) were diagnosed as primary aldosteronism, and of them, 49 cases had hypokalemia. 25 patients received surgical operation and the rate of efficiency and cure of surgery treatment were 100% and 48%, respectively. The rate of efficiency and cure of drug treatment was 89% and 24% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary aldosteronism affects over 10% of patients with hypertension in China. Patients with hypertension and most patients with treatment-resistant hypertension should undergo screening for primary aldosteronism with ARR. A high ARR is a positive screening test result, a finding that warrants confirmatory testing.

Aldosterone ; blood ; Clinical Chemistry Tests ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; diagnosis ; Hypertension ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Potassium ; blood ; Renin ; blood ; Renin-Angiotensin System

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of stroke and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level and the mutation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene.

METHODSThree hundred patients with stroke were included as the case group in this study while 300 subjects without stroke matched with the case group for sex and age were collected as the control group. Plasma Hcy level was measured using HPLC and MTHFR 667C-->T mutant was determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment analysis. The relationship of stroke and plasma Hcy level and the mutation of MTHFR gene was then analysed.

RESULTSThe plasma Hcy level of the case group was significantly higher than that of the control group (16.92 +/- 3.43 micromol/L vs. 14.57 +/- 2.59 micromol/L, P <0.05). There was no significant difference in mutation rate of MTHFR C677T between stroke group and control group (P >0.05), as well as between ischemic stroke group and homorrhagic stroke group (P >0.05). The mutation of MTHFR C677T had no significant influence on the Hcy level (15.28 +/- 2.17 micromol/L vs. 15.11 +/- 3.81 micromol/L, P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONIncreased plasma Hcy level played an important role in the occurrence of stroke in Chinese people, and the mutation of MTHFR C677T was not associated with Hcy level or stroke which led to the speculation that plasma Hcy level was important in the prevention of cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases among Chinese people.

Case-Control Studies ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Stroke ; blood ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo study the serum homocysteine (Hcy) distribution and characteristics in different sex and age groups in the community residents in Wuhan, and to analyse its associated factors with multi-stepwise regression analysis.

METHODSThe population under study was from three community areas in Wuhan. Demographic distribution and the correlation with other risk factors of serum Hcy were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS(1) Geometric mean of serum Hcy was 14.43 micromol/L in males and 10.89 micromol/L in females with P <0.001. (2) Hcy of per age level in males was also higher (P <0.001). (3) The prevalence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia was 23.94% in the general population in Wuhan. The prevalence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia in males was 2.62 times higher than in females. (4) Multi-stepwise regression analysis showed that Hcy had different affecting factors in males and females. The affecting factors of Hcy in males were daily cigarettes smoking, urine micro-albumin (UMALB) and times of exercise per week. The affecting factors of Hcy in females were duration of exercise each time, weight, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), urine micro-albumin (UMALB) and age.

CONCLUSIONS(1) Hcy at the population level was significantly different by sex and age. (2) Population living in the community in Wuhan had a higher serum level and prevalence rate of Hcy comparing to some other cities in China and even in developed countries. (3) The important affecting factors of Hcy in population also showed sex difference, unlike the reports from other countries or other areas in China. Serum Hcy seemed to be affected by environmental and other factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Groups ; Reference Values ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the use of L-carnitine before percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PESA-ICSI) in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSSeventy-nine cases of obstructive azoospermia treated in our center from Sep 2008 to Aug 2009 were divided into an L-carnitine (n = 43) and a control group (n = 36), the former given oral L-carnitine at 1 g bid for 3 months before PESA-ICSI, while the latter left untreated. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes as well as the number and rate of good embryos.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of retrieved oocytes and fertilized oocytes. But the number and rate of good embryos were significantly higher in the L-carnitine than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThree-month oral medication of L-carnitine before PESA-ICSI can raise the number and rate of good embryos in obstructive azoospermia patients and therefore benefit the therapeutic outcome.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; therapy ; Carnitine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Epididymis ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and cystatin C levels in patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We recruited 87 CAD patients (39 with acute myocardial infarction and 48 with unstable angina pectoris ) and 51 non-CAD controls. Plasma ADMA was measured by HPLC, cystatin C by particleenhanced immunonephelometric assay (N Latex cystatin C, Dade Behring) with anephelometer (BNII, Dade Behring). CAD patients were further divided into low cystatin C group ( < 1.0 mg/L, 36 cases) and high cystatin C group ( > 1.0 mg/L, 51 cases). Results ( 1 ) The plasma levels of ADMA [(0. 47 ± 0. 15 )μmol/L vs. (0. 37 ±0. 15) μmol/L], SDMA [(0. 39 ±0. 19) μmol/L vs. (0. 28 ±0. 12) μmol/L] and cystatin C [(1.16 ±0. 32)mg/L vs. (0. 73 ±0. 16)mg/L] were significantly higher in CAD patients than in controls (all P < 0. 05 ). The plasma L-Arg was significantly lower in CAD patients than in controls [(59.4 ± 19.4) μmol/L vs. (83. 7 ± 19. 6) μmol/L, P <0. 05]. (2) Plasma ADMA was similar in CAD patients with low cystatin C level and controls [(0. 42 ±0. 12) μmol/L vs. (0. 39 ±0. 15) μ mol/L, P =0. 251] and Plasma ADMA was significantly higher in CAD patients with high cystatin C level than in controls [(0. 50 ±0. 17) μmol/L vs. (0. 39 ±0. 15) μmol/L, P <0. 05]. Conclusion ADMA levels were significantly increased only in CAD patients with elevated cystatin C levels but not in CAD patients with normal renal function. The reported relationship between coronary heart disease and ADMA may not be direct, but could be secondary due to reduced renal function.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the values of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in etiologic diagnosis and understanding therapeutic effect in cerebral developmental retardation, and to help patients in early diagnosis, treatment and favorable prognosis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-eight childhood patients with brain heteroplasia were tested from July 2004 to October 2006. The blood was collected on filter paper, punched and extracted into methanol solution with stable isotope labeled internal standards, then derivatized with butanolic-HCl. After preparation, the samples were analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Eleven MS/MS-positive patients were further analyzed based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of urine, clinical course, and treatment outcome.

RESULTSEleven of 158 patients (7.0%) with inborn metabolic error were confirmed, including five with methylmalonic acidemia, two with propionic acidemia, one with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, one with maple syrup urine disease, one with phenylketonuria, and one with biotinidase deficiency. Among them, five were male, six were female, aged from 4 days to 21 months. The clinical manifestations were diverse, including mental developmental retardation or degradation (11 cases), convulsion (5 cases), coma (4 cases), vomiting (4 cases), malnutrition (4 cases), lethargy (3 cases), repeated infection (3 cases), hypotonia (2 cases), etc. Laboratory findings showed metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, hyperlactacidemia, anemia, etc. MRI findings of the brain showed cerebral atrophy, a pattern of bilateral T(2)W high signal intensity or/and T(1)W low signal intensity in cerebral white matter and multiple encephalomalacia or vesicular change, ect. In methylmalonic acidemia patients, the early onset with severe acidosis and coma have had a poor prognosis. Improvement was observed in 8 cases after treatment with vitamin B(12), L-carnitine, special milk, low-protein diet or biotin, etc. However 3 MMA patients died.

CONCLUSIONMS/MS was helpful for some patients in etiologic diagnosis and understanding therapeutic effect of cerebral developmental retardation. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to improve the prognosis and prevent brain damage.

Adolescent ; Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Psychomotor Disorders ; diagnosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods