Objective To determine the proportion and the clinical value of the thymus extending superiorly into the lower neck in children.Methods The MR images of 400 normal children were retrospectively reviewed.According to the childhood staging criteria.all children were divided into four groups:the infancy and toddlerhood group(0-3 yo,42),the pre-school age group(>3-6 yo,87),the school age group(>6-12 yo,168),and the adolescence group(>12-18 yo,103).The presence or absence of the superior extension of the thymus above the manubrium Was determined on sagittal T2-weighted images.If so,the distance between manubrium and thymic apex was measured.The associations between frequency of ccrvicaI extension and age and sex were evaluated using correlation analysis.Results Superior extension of the thymus was detected in 288(288/400,72.0%)children,with 39(39/42,92.9%)in the infancy and toddlerhood group,72(72/87,82.8%)in the pre-school age group,118(118/168,70.0%)in the school age group,and 59(59/103)in the adolescence group(57.3%).There Was a statistically significant relationship between age group and frequency of cervical extension of the thymus (X2=4.9684,P<0.05).There was no significant decreasing trend in the mean distance of cervical extension between age increasing groups(F=2.28,P>0.05).Conclusions Cervical extension of the thymus occurs in the majority of children,and should be considered as a normal finding.Through recognizing this finding,doctors can avoid misdiagnosing it as a pathologic mass.

The authors analyzed the negative impacts on hospital public welfare performance,caused by such organizational elements imbalances of public hospitals,as objective structure,allocation of rights and responsibilities,and budget resources.In view of these setbacks,they proposed countermeasures for timely solution of such imbalances and maxim optimal combination,for the purpose of more effective reform of such hospitals.

Objective To explore the hereditary susceptibility of children with asthma through studying the relationship between erythroeyte CR1 genomic density polymorphism and erythrocyte immune function. Methods The rates of RBC-C3_(3b)RR and RBC-ICRR were detected to the asthma group consisted of 65 children with asthma and the control group consisted of 28 normal children. The CR1 activity and genomic density polymorphism of erythrocyte from the two groups were detected by Hind Ⅲ restriction enzyme digestion, polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results Frequencies of high expression gene (HH), mid expression gene (HL) and low expression gene (LL) genotypes were 43.08% (28/65), 36.92% (24/65) and 20.00% (13/65) in asthma group, and 78.57% (22/28), 17.86% (5/28) and 3.57%(1/28) in control group respectively. A significant difference was found in the distribution frequency of CR1 genotype between the two groups(P< 0.01).The rates of RBC-C_(3b)RR were significant lower and the rates of RBC-ICRR were significant higher in asthma group than those in control group (P < 0.01). The rates of RBC-C_(3b) RR in HH, HL and LL were decreased in order (P < 0.01),while the rates of RBC-ICRR in HH,HL and LL were increased in order (P < 0.01). Conclusion It suggests that CR1 gene polymorphism may play an important role in determining susceptibility to asthma.

Objective To investigate the expressions of miR-17 and miR-20a in CD4+ T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their correlations with disease activity.Methods CD4+ T cells were isolated from the venous blood of 30 patients with SLE and 18 healthy human controls.RNA was extracted from the CD4+T cells,and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to determine the expression levels of miR-17 and miR-20a.The intergroup comparison of miR-17 and miR-20a expression levels was done using t test and Mann-Whitney test,and the correlations of miR-17 and miR-20a expressions with clinical parameters were assessed using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients.Results The patients with SLE showed increased expression levels (2-△c~) of miR-17 and miR-20a compared with the healthy controls (0.24 ± 0.08 vs.0.15 ± 0.06 for miR-17,0.19 ± 0.10 vs.0.12 ± 0.09 for miR-20a,both P ＜ 0.05).The miR-17 and miR-20a expression levels were also significantly higher in patients with active SLE than in those with inactive SLE and the healthy controls (0.27 ± 0.07 vs.0.20 ± 0.05 and 0.16 ± 0.08 for miR-17,0.22 ± 0.10 vs.0.15-0.07 and 0.13 ± 0.09 for miR-20a,all P ＜ 0.05),but similar between the patients with inactive SLE and healthy controls (both P ＞ 0.05).The expression levels of both miR-17 and miR-20a were positively correlated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI)(r =0.45,0.38,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05) and anti-dsDNA antibody level (r =0.54,0.46,respectively,both P ＜0.05),but negatively correlated with serum C3 levels (r =-0.43,-0.42,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Condusions The expressions of miR-17 and miR-20a are increased in CD4+ T cells from patients with SLE,and correlated with the disease activity in SLE.

Objective To explore the mechanism underlying the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by estrogen, hydralazine and ultraviolet irradiation. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were harvested from 10 patients with SLE and 9 normal human controls, and cultured with or without the intervention with estrogen, hydralazine or ultraviolet irradiation. The DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) activity of PBMCs was quantified by using DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit. Results No statistical difference was observed in DNMT1 activity between patients with SLE and normal controls (0.36 ± 0.24 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, P ＞ 0.05). A significant decrease was noted in DNMT1 activity in PBMCs from patients with SLE after intervention with estrogen (0.32 ± 0.18 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.725, P ＜ 0.05), hydralazine (0.33 ±0.13 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.739, P ＜ 0.05) and ultraviolet irradiation (0.30 ± 0.14 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.739,P ＜ 0.05 ) compared with that from normal human controls. The treatment with hydralazine also induced an attenuation of DNMT1 activity in PBMCs from normal human controls (0.38 ± 0.12 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Estrogen, hydralazine and ultraviolet irradiation can inhibit the DNMT1 activity of SLE patients,indicating that they may induce the initiation of SLE by altering the activity of DNMT1.

Objective To study the assisted diagnostic value and significance in precise surgery of MSCT angiography in torsion of ovar-ian tumors in children. Methods The dual-phase enhanced MSCT images data of 15 children patients with ovarian tumor torsion which were confirmed by surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Showed the vascular changes around the ovaries and judged the ovarian tumors arise and torsion side with the vascular reconstruction methods of multi-planar reconstruction (MPR),maximum intensity projection (MIP),volume rendering ( VR) ,then compared with the operation situation. Results Among the 15 cases aged from 2 months to 11 years old who were de-tected with MSCT scanning and angiography, there were 11 cases of benign tumor (9 cases of ovarian teratoma and 2 cases of serous cystade-noma) and 4 cases of malignant tumor (3 cases of yolk sac tumor and 1 case of malignant mixed germ cell tumor). MSCTA displayed that o-varian vessels changes were abnormal thickening and twisting of distal feeding artery and tumor vascular network formation;and there were thickening, tortuosity, increased density and a few visible‘whirl sign’ in draining veins. Preoperative MSCTA displayed ovarian tumor blood supply arteries were found 5 cases of downlink of ovarian artery and 10 cases of asscending branches of uterine artery. There were 4 cases of ovarian tumor originated from the left ovary combined with reverse and 11 cases originated from the right ovary combined with reverse, which were consistent with intraoperative findings. Intraoperative MSCTA provide information which helped accurate chose of the surgical incision, precise abruption of tumor blood vessels and resection of the tumor and ovarian lesions, thus saved the operation time and reduced the blood loss. Conclusion MSCT angiography can not only provide diagnosis information of torsion of ovarian tumors in children,but also more impor-tantly,it has an important assisted significance in precision surgery.

Objective: To determine asperosaponin VI, psoralen, and angelicin in Xianling Gubao Capsules (XGC) via multi- wavelength HPLC method. Methods: Separation was carried out on Welch Ultimate® XB-C18 column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water system and a linear gradient elution was used. The column temperature was 30℃. The detection wavelength for asperosaponin VI was set at 212 nm, those for psoralen and angelicin were set at 246 nm. Results: Three components reached baseline separation, the linearity was good when sample volumes were in the ranges of 144.1-5 764.0 for asperosaponin VI (r = 0.999 6), 5.4-215.2 (r = 0.998 0) for psoralen, and 6.6-265.6 ng (r = 0.998 5) for angelicin. The average recoveries of asperosaponin VI, psoralen, and psoralen were 98.11%, 97.86%, and 98.22%, respectively. The RSDs of recoveries were all less than 2.0%. Conclusion: The method is simple and accurate and has good separation, with high sensitivity and good efficiency for the determination of more-index components in XGC.

Objective: To observe the curative effect of Yiwei Huayu Powder (YHP) and the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines in patients with precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC). Methods: There were 100 diagnosed chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with gastric mucous membrane dysplasia (Dys) and/or intestinal metaplasia (IM) patients who were randomly divided into treatment group (50 cases) and control group (50 cases). The patients in the treatment group were administrated with YHP for three months, while the other one with Teprenone Capsules and folic acid. Results: Compared with the control group, the symptom scores of the patients in the treatment group decreased more obviously (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the pathological scores of the patients in the treatment group decreased more obviously (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the expression of the Th1 (IL-2, INF-γ) level escalated and the Th2 (IL-4, IL-6) level decreased in the treatment group, which existed an obvious difference compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: YHP has played a therapeutic effect in patients with PLGC through intervening immune drift and inducing tumor cell apoptosis, thereby blocking or reversing the development of PLGC.

Objective: To explore influence of coping style on sleep quality and blood pressure in community male population with high normal value blood pressure. Methods: The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and coping style questionnaire (CSQ) were used to assess 120 men with high normal blood pressure in community. With PSQI>7 scores as criterion for judging sleep quality disorders, the subjects were divided into sleep disorder group (n=51) and normal sleep group (n=69), and sleep disorder group received psychological intervention. Results: Sleep disorders existed in 42.5% male population with high normal blood pressure. Compared with normal sleep group, there was significant increase in PSQI [（6.43±2.59）scores vs. (8.33±3.14）scores] and diastolic blood pressure [(81.00±8.91) mmHg vs. (88.00±5.69) mmHg] and significant decrease in factor scores of “problem solving” [(0.76±0.21) scores vs. (0.61±0.18) scores] and “asking for help” [(0.52±0.26) scores vs. (0.41±0.11) scores] in sleep disorder group, P<0.05 all; Compared with before intervention there were significant increase in scores of “problem solving” [(0.61±0.18) scores vs. (0.71±0.12) scores]and “asking for help” [(0.41±0.11) scores vs. ( 0.51±0.13) scores]and significant decrease in PSQI score [(8.33±3.14) scores vs. (7.41±2.37) scores] and diastolic blood pressure [(88±5.69)mmHg vs. (80± 4.17)mmHg] after psychological intervention 12 weeks in sleep disorder group, P<0.05 all. Conclusion: Psychological intervention may improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure in community male population with high normal value blood pressure.

Objective To explore the effects of matrine and oxymatrine on apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.Methods The MTT assay and double staining of annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate(annexin V-FITC)/propidium iodide(propidium iodide, PI)were used to detect proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells, respectively.Results When the concentrations of matrine and oxymatrine were 0.50 mg/ml, 1.00 mg/ml and 2.00 mg/ml, the proliferation inhibition rates in SMMC-7721 cells was gradually increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner,and the inhibition of matrine on proliferation were greater than that of oxymatrine in the same concentration(1.00 mg/ml)(24 h:42.39%±0.04%vs. 21.36%±0.02%;48 h: 51.69%±0.03%vs. 36.16%±0.02%;72 h: 78.98%±0.05%vs. 61.24%±0.13%;allP<0.05). When the concentrations of matrine and oxymatrine were 0.25 mg/ml, 0.50 mg/ml and 1.00 mg/ml, the apoptosis rates of SMMC-7721 cells were significantly increased;and induction of matrine in apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells was greater than that of oxymatrine at the same time point(48 h)(apoptosis rates in 0.25 mg/ml, 4.08%±0.20%vs. 2.20%±0.18%;0.50 mg/ml: 4.32%±0.19%vs. 3.08%±0.26%;1.00 mg/ml: 9.93%±0.18%vs. 9.01%±0.20%;allP<0.05).Conclusion Matrine and oxymatrine can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.