Objective To assess the diagnostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and compare it with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factors (RF). Methods Commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to detect anti-MCV antibodies in a group of 177 RA patients, 46 patients with other rheumatic diseases, and 48 healthy blood donors. At the same time, anti-CCP, RF were detected. T test and χ2 test were selected. Results The average concentration of anti-MCV was (523±376) U/ml in RA, (96± 55) U/ml in patients with other rheumatic diseases, (34±18) U/ml in healthy controls. Different threshold levels (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140 U/ml) for positive results were calculated bythe areas under the ROC curve (the areas were 0.521, 0.706, 0.769, 0.791, 0.816, 0.826, 0.822), then the best diagnosis efficacy for RA was determined as more than 120 U/ml. At this level, the sensitivity and the specificity for anti-MCV were 80.1% and 80.9% for RA diagnosis. The positive and negative predictive value were 92% and 67.8%. Comparing with anti-CCP, anti-MCV showed comparable specificity but higher sensitivity. And it's also better than RF apparently. If all 3 antibodies were detected at the same time, or anti-MCV combine with one of them, the sensitivity would increase to 95.7%. In addition, Anti-MCV showed positive in 32 of 67(55.2%) patients with RA whose anti-CCP was negative, meanwhile 31 of 59 (52.5%) patients with RA whose RF was negative. Conclusion RF and anti-CCP are complementary in diagnosing RA. The combination detection of RF and anti-CCP could significantly improve the specificity for the diagnosis of RA.

Calcium hydroxide (CH) is applied to improve disinfection of root canals in most root canal retreatment. This study aimed to analyze the CH removal efficacy using 7 different root preparing files (K file, pre-curved K file, EndoActivator, Ultrasonic file, pre-curved ultrasonic file, F file and needle irrigation alone) with apical transportation. Standardized models of curved canal with such apical transportation or not were set up before applying CH to root canal for 7 days. Seven techniques described above were used for its removal. Then the roots were disassembled and digital photos were taken. The ratio of residual CH in the overall canal surface was calculated using the image analyzer image pro plus 6.0. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Results revealed that CH was effectively removed (P<0.05) by using all 6 mechanical methods except irrigation alone. In curved root canals with apical transportation, EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file were found to be more effective in removing CH than the other four file (P<0.001), while there was no significant difference among EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file groups (P>0.05). The percentage of residual CH in the canal with apical transportation was higher than that in the canal without apical transportation (P<0.05). In conclusion, CH can be hardly removed completely. Canal with apical transportation will result in insufficient CH removal. EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file are more effective in the curved root canal with apical transportation.

ObjectiveThis work is aimed to investigate the possible association of dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility in Chinese Han population.Methods A total of 523 patients with RA and 510 healthy controls were genotyped for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2377422 and rs10840759.Association analyses were performed on the whole data set and on RA subsets based on the status of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (CCP) in RA patients.Finally,we carried out the association analysis of rs2377422 with DCIR mRNA expression in RA patients.Statistical analysis used in this study included X2 test,Logistic regression,and Mann-Whitney U test.ResultsDCIR rs2377422 was found significantly associated with RA(allele analysis: OR 1.26; 95％CI 1.06～1.51,P=0.005; genotype analysis CC vs TT+TC: OR 1.34; 95％CI 1.18～2.06,P=0.004).Following stratification for anti-CCP antibody status,association of ra2377422 with anti-CCP-positive RA was observed(allele analysis: OR 1.22,95％CI 0.99～1.48,P=0.055).In contrast,the SNP rs2377422 was found specifically susceptible to anti-CCP-negative RA(allele analysis: OR 1.46; 95％CI 1.10～1.93,P=0.0091; genotype analysis CC vs TT+TC: OR 1.58;95％CI 1.01～2.47,P=0.043),despite loss of power in the analysis.DCIR gene transcription quantification analysis further proved the dominant effect of rs2480256 CC genotype on DCIR mRNA expression levels in RA patients (CC vs TT+TC: 0.429±0.069 vs 0.238±-0.023,U=1861,P=0.0015).ConclusionThe study provides evidence for the association between DCIR rs2377422 and RA,particularly with anti-CCP-negative RA in Chinese Han populations.

Objective To investigate the effects of different standard cross sections and angles on the measurement accuracy of induced postnatal fetal long bones. Methods Fetal long bones (femori and humeri) in 30 cases with induced abortion were measured utilizing ultrasound from different angles and /or at different directions. The values measured from different sections and angles with vernier calipers were compared prenatally and postnatally. Results There was no apparent difference between the pre-induced abortion and those of the post-induced abortion. The results in the 30 cases showed that: (1) the values measured from anterior 90 degree, the long bone length would best match with the bare long bone length up to 96.7%, the match rate of other angles and/or directions was up to 80%; (2) no apparent statistical difference was between the length of left and right bone and no difference was found using 4 different directions and 3 different angles; (3)there was no difference between the left and right femuri and humeri.Conclusions Though the measured value from anterior 90 degree direction was the most accurate one, the statistical analtical results showed no difference among 12 values measured from 3 different angles and/or 4 different directions.

Curcumin (Cur) is an important bioactive component of polyphenols in the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L., Tulipa gesneriana L. and other Curcuma plants. It has a wide range of pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotection. Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that often occurs in the elderly. Its main pathological characteristics are the characteristic loss of substantia nigra dopaminer?gic neurons, the decrease of dopamine content in the striatum, and the formation of Lewy bodies. At present, the main methods of clinical treatment of PD include drug therapy and surgical operation, but due to its complicated pathogene?sis, they can only play a role in relieving, but cannot be completely cured. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Cur has certain effects in the treatment of PD. ① Anti-oxidative stress: oxidative stress is closely related to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Studies have found that Cur can increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) content, thereby reducing oxidative stress damage and protecting dopaminergic neuron.②Reduce inflammation in brain tissue:neuroinflammation plays an impor?tant role in the development of PD. Reducing the level of inflammatory factors can have a certain therapeutic effect on PD. Studies have shown that high-dose Cur can reduce the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis fac?tor-α (TNF-α) in brain tissue, reduce inflammation, inhibit further neuronal damage, improve learning and memory, and exert neuroprotective effects. ③ Activation of autophagy: the abnormal accumulation of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) in Lewy bodies is closely related to PD, and autophagy dysfunction leads to α-Syn clearance obstacles and an important factor of abnormal aggregation. Cur can increase the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3-Ⅱ) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 2A (LAMP2A), and reduce the protein and mRNA expression of α-Syn. It can be seen that Cur promotes the elimination ofα-Syn and protects neurons from damage by activating autophagy.④Inhi?bition of mitochondrial dysfunction:mitochondria plays a central regulatory role in the process of cell apoptosis, and mito?chondrial dysfunction is related to reactive oxygen species, energy and mitochondrial membrane potential, which may cause substantia nigra striatal neuropathy. Experiments have shown that Cur can reduce the active oxygen content in PC12 cells induced by MPP+, maintain the normal membrane potential of mitochondria, thereby stabilizing mitochondrial function and inhibiting PC12 cell apoptosis. This study summarized the action mechanism of Cur in the treatment of PD, and clarified the basis of its pharmacodynamics, providing a reference for the clinical research and new drug develop?ment research of Cur in the treatment of PD.

Objective To determine the expression pattern of macrophage-inducible c-type lectin (MINCLE)on Macrophage(Mφ),myeloid dendritic cell (mDC)and plasmacytoid DC(pDC)in peripheral blood (PB)and synovial fluid(SF)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods For mRNA expression of MINCLE,253 RA patients and 71 healthy control subjects were enrolled.The mRNA level of MINCLE was determined by real-time PCR.For protein expression of MINCLE,18 patients with RA,5 patients with osteoarthritis(OA)and 12 healthy control subjects were enrolled.The expression of MINCLE on Mφ,mDC and pDC were detected by flow cytometry.The differences of MINCLE expressions in PB between RA patients,OA patients and healthy controls,or differences between PB and SF in RA patients were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test or paired-samples t test.Results ①Compared to the healthy controls,RA patients showed elevated mRNA expression level of MINCLE in PBMCs[(1.65±0.36)vs (0.37±0.06),U=6057,P=2.75×10-5].②At protein level,MINCLE was hardly detected in Mφ,mDC and pDC in PB of OA patients and healthy controls.In SF,MINCLE was highiy expressed on mDC in RA patients,compared with that in OA patients[(34.8±4.4)%,U=0,P=2.6×10-3].In RA patients,the expression level of MINCLE was remarkably elevated in Mφ,mDC and pDC in SF compared with that in PB[Mφ(2.01±0.53)%vs(0.273±0.51)%,t=4.879,P=2.23×10-6;mDC(34.8±4.4)%vs(22.7±5.5)%t=2.535.P=0.017].Conclusion MINCLE is selectively expressed on Mφ.mDC and pDC in SF in RA patients.MINCLE may serve as a potential important marker,or even target,for RA and possibly even for inflammation in general.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on spastic cerebral palsy.

METHODSEighty children of spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and a exercise therapy group, 40 cases in each group. The scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group were treated with scalp-acupuncture and exercise therapy, with Yundongqu (the motor area), Pinghengqu (the balance area), Ganjuequ (the sensory area), etc. selected for scalp-acupuncture, and puncture at main points Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and exercise therapy. The exercise therapy group were treated by exercise therapy. Changes of GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and after treatment were compared.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and treatment in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group (P < 0.001) and in the exercise therapy group (P < 0.05), the former being better than the later (P < 0.05); the total effective rate was 92.5% in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and 72.5% in the exercise therapy group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), the former being significantly higher than the later.

CONCLUSIONThe scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy can improve motor function of limits of children with spastic cerebral palsy, with therapeutic effect better than that of simple exercise therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Motor Activity

Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; pathology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; injuries ; pathology ; transplantation ; Male ; Organ Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo research the bacteriostatic effects of Qingkailing Injection Extract (QKLIE) and combination therapy of Qingkailing Injection (QKLI) and antibiotics on bacteria carrying New Delhi metallo-3-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) blaNDM-1 resistance gene, and to determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC).

METHODSThe antimicrobial experiments of QKLIE (Radix Isatidis, baicalin, gardenia, honeysuckle) and combination therapy of QKLI and antibiotics were performed by using the agar dilution method and K-B method. The MIC was determined from each extract.

RESULTSThere were different degrees of inhibitory effects on resistant bacteria carrying blaNDM-1 by extracts from main components of QKLI. Of them, the inhibitory effect of baicalin was the best and the MIC of the resistant bacteria was 0.015 g/mL to WD, 0.020 g/mL to WX, 0. 005 g/mL to WJ, and more than 0.020 g/mL to pGEX-4T-NDM-1/DH5alpha (GST-NDM-1), respectively. The MIC value of each extract was sequenced from high to low as baicalin, honeysuckle, gardenia, and Radix Isatidis. Furthermore, combination therapy of QKLI and antibiotics greatly enhanced the antimicrobial activity of each antibiotics when used alone, showing very obvious antibacterial effects on multidrug resistant bacteria carrying blaNDM-1 gene. Of them, the optimal effects were obtained when combined with penicillins (penicillin G, mezlocillin, piperacillin/ tazobactam, ampicillin/sulbactam), with the antibacterial effects improved by 10 folds. The antibacterial effects of other kinds of antibiotics were improved to some extent. Conclusions QKLIE and combination therapy of QKLI and antibiotics showed better bacteriostatic effects on resistant bacteria carrying blaNDM-1 gene. This study provided theoretical bases for drug development, medication and treatment for super-resistant bacteria carrying blaNDM-1.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; drug effects ; genetics ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; beta-Lactamases ; genetics

Calcium hydroxide (CH) is applied to improve disinfection of root canals in most root canal retreatment. This study aimed to analyze the CH removal efficacy using 7 different root preparing files (K file, pre-curved K file, EndoActivator, Ultrasonic file, pre-curved ultrasonic file, F file and needle irrigation alone) with apical transportation. Standardized models of curved canal with such apical transportation or not were set up before applying CH to root canal for 7 days. Seven techniques described above were used for its removal. Then the roots were disassembled and digital photos were taken. The ratio of residual CH in the overall canal surface was calculated using the image analyzer image pro plus 6.0. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Results revealed that CH was effectively removed (P<0.05) by using all 6 mechanical methods except irrigation alone. In curved root canals with apical transportation, EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file were found to be more effective in removing CH than the other four file (P<0.001), while there was no significant difference among EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file groups (P>0.05). The percentage of residual CH in the canal with apical transportation was higher than that in the canal without apical transportation (P<0.05). In conclusion, CH can be hardly removed completely. Canal with apical transportation will result in insufficient CH removal. EndoActivator, pre-curved ultrasonic file and F file are more effective in the curved root canal with apical transportation.
Animals ; Bone Cements ; pharmacology ; Calcium Hydroxide ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Disinfectants ; pharmacology ; Root Canal Preparation ; methods