Objective To compare the characteristics of liver damage in tsutsugamushi disease during different periods. Methods Group A contained 56 cases of tsutsugamushi disease admitted from January 1997 to December 2000,of which 21 cases were complicated by liver damage,while group B contained 80 cased of it admitted from January 2006 to December 2009,including 47 cases complicated by liver damage.Comparative analysis were conducted retrospectively for two groups in terms of liver damage. Results The average age of group A(41.1 ± 14.7)years was significantly lower than that of group B(52.9 ± 15.5)years(t=3.014,P <0.01); The incidences of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in group A were significantly higher than group B(x2=4.675、6.254,both P <0.05)whereas group B had significantly higher incidences of lack of appetite,abdominal distension and jaundice(all P ＜0.05);The values of various liver function in Group B were significantly higher than group A(all P <0.05). Conclusion The incidence of tsutsugamushi disease is increasing in recent years and the liver damage is becoming more severe.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that Wnt signaling pathways play an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
OBJECTIVE:To review the mechanism and regulation of the Wnt signaling pathways, as wel as Wnt signaling pathway effects on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.
METHODS:A computer-based search of PuMed database and CNKI database from September 1998 to March 2013 was performed to search related articles. The key words of“Wnt, mesenchymal stem cells, Wnt signaling pathways, osteoblastic differentiation, canonical wnt signaling pathway, non-canonical signaling pathway”in English or Chinese were used to search the articles in the title and the abstract. A total of 31 articles were included to review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Wnt signaling pathways play a critical role in the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Canonical Wnt signaling pathway, non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, and their mutli-factors were involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells can be promoted effectively via specific induction of Wnt signaling pathways. Wnt11, FZD6, sFRP2, sFRP3 and Ror2 expressions increase, while Wnt9a and FZD7 decreases during the regulation. However, the relations of factors in Wnt signaling pathways and how to use the mechanism of Wnt signaling for promoting mesenchymal stem cells faster, more accurate differentiation need further studies.

0.05). CONCLUSION: The effects of 10 mg?kg -1 m oxonidine on reduced blood pressure and heart rate in SHR is equal to the effect s of 1 mg?kg -1 clonidine after once large dose oral administration. T here is no significant difference between the moxonidine and clonidine of the sa me dose in reducing blood pressure after repeatedly small dose oral administrati on in SHR.

Objective To explore the relationship of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) level with TCM syndrome differentiation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Methods Plasma NE and E levels in 80 ADHD children (Group A) and 32 normal volunteers (Group B) were measured by the method of high performance liquid chromatography_electrochemical detectio n (HPLC_ECD). Among 80 ADHD children, 49 were differentiated with kidney_yin def iciency and liver_yang hyperactivity syndrome (Group A 1) and 31 with heart_sp leen deficiency syndrome (Group A 2). Results Plasma NE and E levels in Gro up A we re higher than Group B (P 0.05 ). Conclusion Hyperactivity and impulsi veness in ADHD children may be related with the high levels of plasma NE and E. The exc essively sympathetic excitement in ADHD with kidney_yin deficiency and liver_yan g hyperactivity syndrome is uncertain.

AIM:To identify and quantify the expression of IL-1βand IL-17 in mast cells ( MCs) in different types of human pericapical diseases using double immunofluorescence staining .METHODS: The specimens ( n=102 ) , including healthy control ( n=35 ) , periapical cyst ( n=35 ) and periapical granuloma ( n=32 ) , were involved in the present study .The tissue samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for at least 48 h and then embedded in paraffin . Serial 5-μm-thick sections were deposited onto SuperFrost/Plus microscope glasses .Routine staining of the sections using hematoxylin&eosin ( HE) was performed for morphological evaluation .The number of IL-1βand IL-17 positive MCs was identified by double immunofluorescence staining .RESULTS:Compared with the healthy controls , the inflammation score of periapical lesions was significantly increased in the periapical patients (P<0.01).The density of IL-1βand IL-17 posi-tive MCs in the periapical lesions were obviously higher than that in the healthy controls (P<0.01).However, no signifi-cant difference between periapical cyst and periapical granuloma was observed .The Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the density of IL-1βand IL-17 double positive MCs and inflammation score in dif-ferent groups of specimens (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:There is significantly increased number of MCs , along with in-creased density of IL-1βand IL-17 positive MCs in human periapical lesions .The increased density of IL-1βand IL-17 positive MCs has the similar tendency as the severity of tissue inflammation in human periapical lesions , suggesting that IL-1βand IL-17 positive MCs may play an important role in the pathogenesis of human periapical diseases .

Objective To investigate the effect of thrombin and hemoglobin on aquaporin (AQP) and the correlation between AQP and hydrocephalus.Methods Eighty-four clean grade healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:a control group,a thrombin group,and a hemoglobin group using the random number table method.A hydrocephalus model was induced by injecting isotonic saline (0.3 ml),thrombin (0.3 ml[10,U/ml]) and hemoglobin (0.3 ml[150 mg/ml]),respectively into the cisterna magna.According to the deficiency and complement way,each group maintained 24 rats.The relative area of the lateral ventricles,the expression of AQP1 and AQP4,and the correlation between AQP and the area of the lateral ventricles were observed at 1,3,7,and 14 d after molding.Results (1) Compared with the control group,both the thrombin group and hemoglobin group showed hydrocephalus at 1 ,3 ,7 and 14 d,and they were most obvious at 1 day (6.94±0.19% and 6.58±0.15% vs.3.40±0.13%,6.06±0.12% and 5.79±0.09% vs.3.55±0.15%,5.80±0.13% and 5.58±0.08% vs.3.78±0.18%,5.66±0.14% and 5.47±0.13% vs.3.52±0.18 %,respectively).There were significant differences (all P<0.01).(2) The increase of AQP1 was mainly in the basal membrane and apical membrane of ventricular choroid plexus epithelial cells,and the increase of AQP4 was mainly in the ependymal cell of ventricle.The relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 at 1,3,7,and 14 d in the control group were 1.09±0.07 and 1.30±0.15,0.91±0.06 and 1.18±0.12,1.33±0.17 and 1.16±0.08,1.22±0.11 and 1.00±0.10,respectively;the thrombin group were 4.40±0.14 and 3.69±0.11,3.88±0.11 and 3.17±0.07,3.55±0.07 and 2.86±0.13,and 3.36±0.07 and 2.70±0.07,respectively,the hemoglobin group were 4.24±0.07 and 3.55±0.10,3.77±0.08 and 3.04±0.09,3.46±0.07 and 2.76±0.08,and 3.31±0.10 and 2.62±0.08,respectively;the relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 of the thrombin group and hemoglobin group at each time point were significantly higher than those of the control group.There were significant differences among the groups (all P<0.01).There were no significant differences in the relative expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 mRNAs in the hemoglobin group at each time point (P>0.05);in the thrombin group and hemoglobin group,compared with those at 1 d,the expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 at 3,7,and 14 d were significantly decreased (all P<0.01);compared with those at 3 d,AQP1 was decreased significantly at 7 and 14 d (P<0.05).The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).(3) The relative expression levels of AQP1 (r=0.983,P<0.01) and AQP4 (r=0.987,P<0.01) in the thrombin group at each time point were positively correlated with the contralateral ventricular area;and the relative expression levels of AQP1 (r=0.964,P<0.01) and AQP4 (r=0.962,P<0.01) in the hemoglobin group at each time point were positively correlated with the contralateral ventricular area Conclusions After injecting thrombin and hemoglobin into subarachnoid space,it could cause the increased expression levels of AQP1 and AQP4 of ventricles and their surrounding areas.Thrombin and hemoglobin may be the important mediating factors of hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of abdominal acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine for the treatment of functional constipation. Methods Ninety-three qi-deficiency functional constipation patients were evenly randomized into western medicine group, Chinese medicine group and combination group. The western medicine group was given oral use of Dupbalac, Chinese medicine group was given modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction, and the combination group was given abdominal acupuncture and oral use of modified Buzhong Yiqi decoction. The treatment of the three groups covered 3 months. After treatment, the therapeutic effect was evaluated accord ing to the symptom scores and the examination results of gastrointestinal kinetics. Results ( 1) The total effective rate for relieving symptoms was 100.00% in combination group, 90.32% in Chinese medicine group, and 38.71% in western medicine group, and the effect was the best in the combination group ( P<0.05). ( 2) The combination group had stronger effect on relieving dyskinesis of anal sphincter, rectal sensibility, colonic transportation than Chinese medicine group and western medicine group (P<0.05). Conclusion Abdominal acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine shows certain therapeutic effect for the treatment of qi-deficiency functional constipation, and the effect is superior to that of Chinese medicine or Dupbalac.

The TCM theory over body constitution has been greatly developed in the past several decades.However,the body constitution for children still lacks a standard classification.Available studies often ignored the impacts of the factors,such as region,climate and diet,on the body constitution of children.Given this situation,the present review focused on the research progress on the discipline of TCM body constitution and its classification and differentiation in Chinese children,and put forward the development on this issue based on current state policy and our own research experience.It was suggested that scholars develop a well-recognized classification method for the TCM body constitution for children in a particular region before investigating interventions according to TCM body constitution.

Objective: To a evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive nutrition interventions among primary school students in Yiwu City, so as to provide insights into malnutrition control among children. Methods: Grade 3 to 5 students were sampled from four primary schools in Yiwu City using a random cluster sampling method and randomly assigned into the intervention group and the control group. Students in the intervention group received comprehensive interventions, including nutritional health education, promotion of physical activities, nutritional meal support and creation of a nutritional campus, while students in the control group were given no interventions. The awareness of nutritional health knowledge, dietary behaviors and nutritional status were compared in students between the two groups prior to interventions and one year following interventions, and the effectiveness of interventions was evaluated using generalized estimating equations. Results: Totally 879 students were enrolled. There were 440 students in the intervention group, including 243 males and 197 females, with a male to female ratio of 1︰0.81 and a mean age of (10.47±0.99) years; and there were 439 students in the control group, including 244 males and 195 females, with a male to female ratio of 1︰0.80 and a mean age of (10.35±1.02) years. Following comprehensive interventions, the awareness of “type of food”, “seven nutriments from food”, “eating at least 12 types of food daily”, “less than 6 g of daily salt intake”, “food composition in nutritional breakfast”, “nutritional labels of pure milk”, “no less than 60 min of daily exercise duration” and “too fat or too thin may threaten health” and the increase in the proportion of 3 and more types of food in breakfast were significantly higher among students in the intervention group than in the control group (all P<0.05); however, there was no statistical difference in the proportion of normal nutrition between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The comprehensive nutritional interventions may effectively increase the awareness of nutrition health knowledge and improve dietary behaviors among primary school students.

Objective To investigate the possibility and surgical effect of simultaneous tympanoplasty to chronic suppurative otitis media in the period of infection. Methods Forty-eight cases (48 ears) with chronic suppurative otitis media in the period of infection (31 with cholesteatoma, 17 with caries) were underwent simultaneous Wullstein Ⅱ and Ⅲ tympanoplasty on the complete elimination of the lesions (typical or modified mastoidectomy). Results All eases had dry ears within 4-10 weeks with average of 7 weeks. The air-bone gap within 10 dB was in 11 eases, 15 to 20 dB in 25 cases, 25 to 30 dB in 9 eases, no change or worse in 3 eases. Conclusions Infection is not the absolute eontraindication to the tympanoplasty in treating chronic suppurative otitis media, Wullstein Ⅲ tympanoplasty plus mastoid cavity obliteration and eonchaplasty is a suitable choice to treating chronic suppurative otitis media on the complete elimination of lesions and reconstruction of the ventilation system among mastoid cavity, tympanum and eustachian. The malfunction of eustachian is the main eanse to failure of surgery.