Objective To measure the diameter of cochlear nerve(CN) in normal hearing children with different ages,and evaluate the diameter variations with age.Methods A total of 156 normal-hearing children were assessed with 3D-FIESTA sequence scanning of the inner ear.All the subjects were divided into 13 groups according to age,witha group of ≤6 months,a group of ≤1 year,and 11 groups from one year to 12 years.Each group had 12 cases,including 6 boys and 6 girls.The diameter of CN was measured at the entrance of the cochlea,the middle of internal auditory canal(IAC) and the fundus of IAC respectively on the axial and oblique sagittal images of 3.0 T MRI by two independent observers.The average values measured by them were the final results.The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to determine the consistency between the two independent observers.The t test was used to access differencesin CN diameter by sex and sides.One-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) and two-way ANOVA were used for comparisons among different groups.Spearman correlation coefficient was applied to find a correlation between the CN diameter and age.Results The diameters of normal-hearing children's CN at the middle of the IAC,IAC fundus and the entrance of the cochlea were (1.12 ± 0.08),(1.05 ± 0.06),(0.87 ± 0.14) mm respectively,and there was significant difference among the three measuring points (F=527.57,P＜0.05).The diameters of the CN had no significant differenc (P＞0.05) in age-groups,gender and sides(P＞0.05),and there was no correlation between the diameters of normal children's CN and age.Conclusions The diameters of normal-hearing children's CN change with different points of the IAC,of which the maximum value is at the middle of the IAC,followed by the IAC fundus,and the entrance of the cochlea is at the minimum,more over the normal size doesn't change with age.

Objective To explore the interaction of sleep quality and depression among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods With multistage cluster sampling, all the participants were interviewed with self-designed questionnaire, diabetes-specific quality of life scale and self-rating depression scale, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale. Chi-square test was used for qualitative data. Risk factors were analyzed by means of multiple linear regression or logistic regression model. The indicator of interaction was calculated according to the delta method. Results There were 944 residents involved in the final analysis, including 365 males and 579 females. The average age was (64. 0 ± 10. 2) years. Compared with patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM) who had good sleep quality and no depression symptoms, the risk of quality of life in those with good sleep quality but depression was 2. 75 (95% CI 1. 59-4. 77); and the risk of quality of life in those with poor sleep quality and no depression was 1. 55(95%CI 1. 03-2. 33). The risk of quality of life in those with poor sleep quality and depression was 4. 97(95% CI 2. 34-9. 63). Due to poor sleep quality and depression in patients with T2DM the combined interaction index was 2. 48 (95% CI 1. 44-4. 29), the relative excess risk was 3. 42(95% CI 2. 16-4. 67), and the attributable proportion was 0. 51(95% CI 0. 32-0. 70). Conclusion A combined interaction of poor sleep quality and depression in affecting the quality of life was found in type 2 diabetic patients. When both factors existed at the same time, the interaction effect of these 2 factors was greater than the single one.

Veregen™ and Fulyzaq are the first two botanical drug products that were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market in the US in recent years. Additional herbal medicines, including Compound Danshen Dripping Pills, Fuzheng Huayu Tablets, Xuezhikang Capsule, Guizhi Fuling Capsule, Kanglaite Capsule and Kanglaite Injection, have filed the investigational new drug (IND) application to the FDA and are in phase II or phase III clinical development. In order to gain better understanding of the process of botanical drug approval in the US, this article examines the aforementioned drugs by looking at their composition, indication, prior clinical experience and clinical development process, and summarizes key features that enabled IND filing and marketing approval by the FDA.
China ; Drug Approval ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Nonprescription Drugs ; therapeutic use ; United States ; United States Food and Drug Administration

Objective To understand the prevalence of smoking in different sub-populations in Xuzhou area so as to develop effective tobacco control policies. Methods Through multi-stage randomized cluster sampling,a face-to-face study with standard questionnaire was carried out among residents aged above 15 years,from June to December 2008,with descriptive nature. Results Totally,44 686 people,with 21 524 males and 23 162 females at age 15 and over were investigated,including 34 391 of them from rural areas and 10 295 from the urban population. Data regarding rates on ever smoked and current smoking,regular smoking,heavy smoking,and average numbers of cigarettes smoked per day,types of tobacco products smoked,rates on quitting smoking successfully,relapse,passive smoke exposure etc.,were 22.45%,21.40%,15.49%,9.49%,15.09/d,4.68%,5.91% and 14.12% respectively. There were no significant differences in the rates of overall smoking,current smoking and regular smoking among urban and rural residents (P>0.05). However,rates of successfully quitting smoking and passive smoke exposure in the urban areas were higher than those in the rural areas (P<0.05). Rates regarding relapse,heavy smoking and average numbers of cigarettes smoked per day in the rural areas were higher than those in the urban areas(P<0.05). Rates on smoking,current smoking,regular smoking,heavy smoking,relapse and average numbers of cigarettes smoked per day were higher in males than those in females (P<0.05). Rates of quitting smoking successfully and passive smoke exposure were higher in females than those in males (P< 0.05). The major types of tobacco products smoked by people aged 15 years old and above were cigarettes (85.17%),and Chinese pipes (3.24%). Conclusion Smoking was quite common in people from Xuzhou. Our data suggested that health education should be strengthened and sustainable intervention measures be developed and implemented to control the tobacco use in the area.

The present study was aimed to explore the expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Snail1 in renal tissues of diabetic rats, and their role in tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (TEMT). Induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into 2-, 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, 20-, 24-week and 16wA, 20wA, 24wA groups. The rats in 16wA, 20wA and 24wA groups were treated with insulin to control blood glucose to the normal level from the 13th week. The age-matched rats were set as controls. Blood glucose, 24-hour urine protein, serum creatinine (Scr), kidney index of rats were measured. PAS staining was used to observe the renal pathological changes. Immunohistochemical staining and (or) Western blot were employed to determine the expressions of TGF-β1, Snail1, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN) proteins. The expressions of Snail1 and E-cadherin mRNAs in renal cortex were examined by RT-PCR. Blood glucose, 24-hour urine protein, Scr and kidney index increased remarkably in diabetic rats as compared with those in the control groups (P<0.05, P<0.01) and insulin-treated rats (P<0.01). TGF-β1 and Snail1 protein expressions could not be detected by immunohistochemical staining in the normal renal tissues, however, the strongly positive staining was observed in diabetic rat renal tubules. A time-dependent loss of TGF-β1 and Snail1 expressions was detected in the kidney of insulin-treated rats. In diabetic rats tubular α-SMA positive staining was seen at the 16th week. E-cadherin expression was lost in diabetic rats. The expressions of TGF-β1, Snail1 proteins and Snail1 mRNA were significantly up-regulated in diabetic rats, while down-regulated in insulin-treated rats (P<0.01). The expressions of E-cadherin protein and mRNA in the cortex were contrary to the expressions of TGF-β1 and Snail1. Therefore, TGF-β1 and Snail1 are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of TEMT in diabetic nephropathy rats.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; Rats ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the synergistic effect of STI571, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase in combination with arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on a multidrug-resistant leukemia cell line expressing bcr-abl.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect of STI571 alone or in combination with different concentrations of As(2)O(3) on both bcr-abl and mdr1 positive leukemia cell line K562-n/VCR was detected by MTT method.

RESULTSThe cytotoxic effect of STI571 (1 micromol/L) combined with As(2)O(3) at concentrations 10(-5), 10(-6), 10(-7), 10(-8) mol/L (IC(50) 0.155 micromol/L) on K562-n/VCR cells was significantly higher than that of As(2)O(3) alone (IC(50) 1.879 micromol/L). The synergistic interaction on K562-n/VCR cells increased the cytotoxic effect by 12.1-fold.

CONCLUSIONCombination of STI571 with As(2)O(3) has a synergistic inhibiting effect on leukemia cells expressing bcr-abl and mdr1.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Synergism ; Genes, MDR ; Genes, abl ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; K562 Cells ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of flexible bronchoscopy in children with respiratory diseases.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 80 children who were hospitalized due to respiratory diseases (including severe pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia with atelectasis/lung consolidation/local emphysema, protracted pneumonia, coughing and wheezing of unknown cause, chronic cough of unknown cause, and laryngeal stridor) and who underwent flexible bronchoscopy/alveolar lavage.

RESULTSBronchoscopy found that all the 80 children had endobronchial inflammation, among whom 28 children had severe airway obstruction by secretion. Twenty-four children had congenital airway dysplasia besides endobronchial inflammation, and three children had bronchial foreign bodies. In the children with coughing and wheezing of unknown cause and laryngeal stridor, some had congenital airway dysplasia or bronchial foreign bodies. Among the 27 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, 26 had severe airway obstruction/embolization by secretion; 25 children (93%) underwent chest imaging again at 2 weeks after alveolar lavage, and the results showed complete or partial lung recruitment. Among the 80 children who underwent bronchoscopy, 3 had severe hypoxemia during surgery, 1 had epistaxis, 1 had minor bleeding during alveolar lavage, 3 had transient bronchospasm, and 5 had postoperative fever; these children were all improved after symptomatic treatment.

CONCLUSIONSFlexible bronchoscopy is safe and reliable in children with respiratory diseases. Early alveolar lavage under a flexible bronchoscope is recommended for children with severe/refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia to improve prognosis. Flexible bronchoscopy is recommended for children with recurrent coughing and wheezing and persistent laryngeal stridor, in order to directly observe the throat and airway under an endoscope.

Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; diagnosis ; Respiratory Sounds ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

To explore the possibility of leukemia cell line of both bcr-abl and mdr-1 positive were cross-resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 and its reversal way, the inhibitory effect of STI571 on K562-n/VCR cells was detected with MTT method and reverse effects of CsA, TAM, IFN-alpha and CsA cominated with IFN-alpha were observed. The results showed that K562-n/VCR cell line expressing bcr-abl and mdr1 positive was resistant to STI571, and could be reversed by 5.18, 1.82 and 1.67-fold respectively, when treated with CsA, TAM, and IFN-alpha. It could be reversed by 34.87-fold with combination of half-dose CsA and IFN-alpha. In conclusion, amplification of mdr1 gene may contribute to drug-resistance of bcr-abl positive leukemic cells against STI571. The reversal agents, CsA, TAM and IFN-alpha show obviously reverse effects on drug-resistance. The combination of half-dose of both CsA and IFN-alpha display stronger effect than the full dose of either.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Genes, MDR ; Genes, abl ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology

Eleven flavonoids were isolated from the twigs of Broussonetia papyrifera by column chromatography over silica gel,ODS,MCI gel,and Sephadex LH-20,as well as RP-HPLC.Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods including NMR,MS,UV,and IR as broupapyrin A(1),5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxy-8-geranylflavone(2),8-prenylquercetin-3-methyl ether(3),broussonol D(4),broussoflavonol B(5),uralenol(6),broussonol E(7),8-(1,1-dimethylallyl)-5'-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflanvonol(8),broussoflavonol E(9),4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone(10),and butein(11).Compound 1 is a new isoprenylated flavonol.Compounds 3,6,10,and 11 were obtained from the genus Broussonetia for the first time,and 4 and 7 were firstly discovered in B.papyrifera.Compounds 1-5 and 7-9 showed significant inhibitory effects on PTP1 B with IC50 values ranging from(0.83±0.30) to(4.66±0.83) μmol·L-1.
Broussonetia ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Phytochemicals ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective: To explore the effect of Chaishao Shugan Lidan Paishitang on inflammation, stress response and gastrointestinal function in gallstones patients with chronic cholecystitis. Method: Gallstones patients with chronic cholecystitis treated in our hospital from March 2017 to May 2018 were randomly divided into two groups, with 65 cases in each group. The control group was orally given ursodeoxycholic acid combined with metronidazole. In addition to the therapy of the control group, the Observation group was also given Chaishao Shugan Lidan Paishitang. Traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), superoxide disproportionation alcohol (SOD), propylene glycol (MDA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), gastric dynamic element (MOT), gastrin-releasing (GAS) and somatostatin (SS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL) and total bile acid (associates), and total cholesterol (TC) levels before and after treatment were observed in two groups, and the curative effect, reactions and relapse were also observed. Result: The inflammatory effect, stone ablation effect and clinical effect of observation group were significantly better than those of control group (Z=2.329, P<0.05; Z=2.686, P<0.05; Z=2.940, P<0.05). The scores of right upper abdominal dull pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, and pale red tongue in the observation group after treatment were lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The levels of ALT, AST, TC, TNF-α, hs-CRP, IL-6, CEA, CA19-9, SS and MDA in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05), while the levels of MOT, GAS and SOD in the observation group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The recurrence rates of observation group and control group were 3.17%(2/63) and 14.29%(9/63), respectively, with statistically significant difference between two groups (χ²=5.140, P<0.05). Conclusion: The treatment of gallstones patients with chronic cholecystitis by Chaishao Shugan Lidan Paishitang has a good curative effect, and can alleviate clinical symptoms, inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation, improve liver and bile functions and gastrointestinal function, and reduce the recurrence rate.