Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use

Objective: To study the effects of parathyroid hormone(PTH) on the calcification characters of cultured human dental papilla mesenchymal(DPM) cells.Methods: DPM cells were cultured up to 35 days in two groups. The control group was cultured in DMEM supplemented with 15% FCS,50 ?g/ml ascorbic acid and 10 mmol/L ?-glycerophosphate. The cells in experimental group were cultured in above mentionned medium containing 33.3 nmol/L of PTH. The medium was changed every 3 or 4 days. Osteocalcin secretion of the cells was measured by radioimmunoassay.Results: Addition of TPH in medium caused a significant increase of osteocalcin secretion from 21 to 35 days culture (P

Objective To investigate the pattern of plasma kisspeptin levels in normal female during various pubertal Tanner stages and the girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP) or with premature thelarche(PT), and to evaluate the significance of detecting plasma kisspeptin levels as a new criterion for early differentiation between ICPP and PT.Methods Each study group of normal pubertal females with Tanner stage Ⅰ to Ⅴ comprised 16 to 19 individuals.The levels of plasma kisspeptin were also detected in girls with ICPP(n= 10)or PT(n = 12).The plasma kisspeptin levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The level of kisspeptin was significantly higher in ICPP group than in that of PT group [(1.73±0.23 vs1.43±0.29) ng/ml, P＜0.05].Among the normal pubertal females, the level of kisspeptin decreased gradually from Tanner stage Ⅱ to Tanner stage Ⅴ, being highest in Tanner stage Ⅱ [(1.73±0.22) ag/ml] ,lower in stage Ⅳ and Ⅴ than in stage Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P＜0.01).Conclusions Plasma kisspeptin level was the highest during Tanner stage Ⅱ in normal female pubertal development.It is significant to detect plasma kisspeptin level for the differential diagnosis of ICPP and PT.

OBJECTIVETo prospectively evaluate the efficacy of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based therapy for treating liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and to investigate the patients' perception of the treatment's effects on quality of life (QoL).

METHODSA total of 430 patients with CHB-related liver fibrosis were randomly assigned to treatment groups for receipt of a 12-month course of the antiviral drug entecavir alone (control group) or in combination with the TCM Liuweiwuling tablets. Patients were assessed before (pre-treatment) and after therapy and the treatment-related differences in clinical manifestations, levels of liver function markers and liver fibrosis indexes, color ultrasound images, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load were compared between the two groups by statistical analysis. The generic QoL scale developed by the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to score the patients' perceptions of treatment outcome.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the patients in both groups showed significant improvement in the majority of clinical manifestations (both P less than 0.05), with the exception of bloating. In addition, both groups showed significant improvements of liver function markers and in signs of liver fibrosis (both P less than 0.05). Both groups also showed significant reductions in the diameters of the portal and splenic (both P less than 0.05), as well as increases in the rate of undetectable HBV DNA (with a statistically similar outcome achieved in the two groups). Finally, both groups had higher QoL scores after treatment, with all assessed parameters except environment showing a significant improvement (all P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen used in combination with entecavir, the TCM Liuweiwuling tablet is a safe therapy for CHB and its related liver fibrosis and may help to improve the QoL of these patients.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the effects of diets with different calorie and nutritional values on pubertal onset in female rats. Method Female Wistar rat models receiving calorie-deprived (group R) (Experiment 1) ,fat-rich(group F) ,glucose-rich(group G) and protein-rich(group P) (Experiment 2) test diets were established,and rats receiving diets with normal caloric value were considered as control group (group C). The body weight (BW) ,food-intake and vaginal patency (VP) were observed. The rats were killed at the day of vaginal patency. The BW, uterus weight (UW), uterus index (UI), calorie intake per day (CI), perirenal fat weight (PFW) and perirenal fat index (PFI) were measured. The serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, IGF- Ⅰ were tested by means of ELISA.Results Experiment 1:The VP was retarded in group R compared with group C (P<0. 01). There was a significant difference in BW, UW,UI ,CI,leptin and ghrelin at the VP day between group R and group C (all P<0.01) ,and no significant difference in IGF- Ⅰ levels between these two groups. Experiment 2 :The VP was retarded in group F,group G and group P in comparison with group C (P<0.01). The BW, PFW and PFI in group G and group F were markedly higher than those in group P and group C. The leptin level in group F was the highest, and the lowest in group P. The ghrelin level in group G was the highest,and that in group P was the lowest. However,there were no significant differences in IGF- Ⅰ and UI among these, four groups. Conclusion The normal pubertal onset of female rats requires sufficient caloric stores and balanced nutrient. Diets malnutrition and fat-rich, glucoserich and protein-rich test diets all delay pubertal onset in female rats.

Objective To assess the efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue(GnRHa)with or without recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)treatment in Chinese short pubertal children with non-growth hormone deficiency.Methods Of 42 short pubertal children(14 males,28 females)without growth hormone deftcieney,the average age was(11.6±0.8)year.30 children were treated with slow release GnRHa with initial dose (100μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)and maintenance dose(60-80μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)labd rgGH with initial dose(0.15IU·kg-1·d-1)and maintenance dose(0.10-0.15IU·kg-1·d-1)for at least 1year.16 of them were still ongoing till the end of the second year.12 children were treated with GnRHa alone by initial dose(100μg·kg-1·d-1,28d)and maintenance dose (60-80μg·kg-1·d-1,28d),and 7 of them remained on it for 2 years.Dynamic changes including annual growth velocity(GV),bone age(BA)/chronologic age(CA)ratio,Tanner stage,height SDS for CA (HtSDSCA),height SDS for BA(HtSDSBA),and predicted adult height (PAHSDS)were observed.Results By the end of the first year tretment with combination therapy,the following parameters:GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS all increased significantly(all P<0.05).Treatment with GnRHa alone did not yield significant changes in GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS(all P>0.05).Changes in GV,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS between these two groups were statistically significant(all P<0.05).By the end of the second year treatment,in the combination group,GV slowed from 6.7 to 5.5 cm/year(P<0.05).HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,PAHSDS increased(all P<0.05).In the group with GnRHa treatment alone,GV slowed from 4.0 to 3.6 cm/year(P>0.05).HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,PAHSDS increased(all P>0.05).Changes in GV,HtSDSCA,HtSDSBA,and PAHSDS between these 2 groups were statistically significant respectively(all P<0.05).Conclusion This combined treatment regimen significantly impreved the growth by increasing growth rate and delaying bone matumtion in pubertal chidren without growth hormone deficiency.Further study is needed to verify beneficial effects on the final height gain.

Objective To observe the final adult height (FAH) outcome and influencing factors in Turner′s Syndrome(TS) children treated with recombinant human growth hormone ( rhGH ).Methods Thirty TS children treated with rhGH were compared with 16 TS children without rhGH treatment and were followed up to achieve their FAH.Comparisons were made regarding predicted adult height (PAH),height standard deviation score for chronological age( HtSDScA ),height SDS for BA( HtSDSRA ),and growth velocity ( GV ) between rhGH treatment and without treatment groups and between the onset and by the end of rhGH treatment group.The factors determining FAH were also evaluated.Results FAH in rhGH treatment group was obviously improved as compared with untreatment group[ ( 149.5±6.3 vs 142.4±5.2) cm,P＜0.01 ].FAH in treatment group was positively correlated with height standard deviation score for chronological age ( Ht0 SDSCA ),Hto SDS for BA ( Hto SDSBA ),height age ( HA0 ) at preliminary diagnosis,and correlated with duration of rhGH therapy,duration of estrogen-free rhGH therapy,and PAH0SDS at preliminary diagnosis.Stepwise regression analysis indicated that duration of estrogen-free rhGH therapy and PAH0 SDS were the variables with the greatest identified influence on FAH (F =11.56 and F =86.91,P＜ 0.01 ).FAH in the 45,XO group was significantly different from the mosaicism group (45,XO/46,XX ) [ ( 147.2 ± 6.3 vs 153.3±6.4) cm,P =0.038].Conclusion rhGH treatment is efficacious in improving FAH of TS children,but a variability in the magnitude of the response to rhGH is recognized.Duration of estrogen-free rhGH therapy and PAH0SDS are the variables with the greatest identified influence on FAH,and karyotype may be one of the influence factors.rhGH treatment should be initiated as early as possible and sufficient course of estrogen-free rhGH therapy is needed to yield a satisfactory FAH.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Mongolia ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To analyze the effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources in intra‐cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos .Methods A retrospective study was carried out to compare the blasto‐cyst rate of the surplus embryos from 2 697 patients .According to the fertilization methods ,the embryos were divided into IVF group and ICSI group .According to sperm sources ,the ICSI group was divided into ejaculated group and testicular sperm group . The rates of blastocyst formation and good quality blastocysts were compared between different fertilization methods and sperm sources .Results There were 8 426 embryo developed in 2 697 patients .The blastocyst formation rate of surplus embryos was high‐er in the IVF group(n=1 048 ,53 .18% ) than that in the ICSI group(n=1 378 ,49 .27% ) ,but with no statistically significant differ‐ent(P> 0 .05) .The rates of blastocyst were not statistically significant different between the IVF group and in the rescue ICSI group(P>0 .05) .The rates of blastocyst were not statistically significant different between the ejaculated group and the testicular sperm group(P>0 .05) .Conclusion There were not statistically significant different of the rate of blastocyst between different fer‐tilization methods and sperm sources in ICSI .