OBJECTIVETo investigate the dental compensation in different sagittal jaw relationships.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-seven post-treatment cases with satisfied outcome were chosen. Computerized cephalometric analysis was performed to evaluate the sagittal jaw relationship. Incisor torque were measured based on study models. Correlation analysis was performed.

RESULTSCompared with skeletal class I cases, the upper incisors of skeletal class III cases were more proclined, and lower incisors were more retroclined; the opposite result was found in skeletal class II cases. Dental compensation in class I cases took place primarily at lower incisors.

CONCLUSIONSIncisor torque control was important in patients with various sagittal jaw relationships.

Cephalometry ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Malocclusion ; therapy ; Mandible ; anatomy & histology ; Maxilla ; anatomy & histology ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; Torque

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBX) on expression of the host gene Wnt induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1) that is related to the pathogenic process of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTumor and paratumor tissues were collected from HCC patients, and normal liver tissues were collected from healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the in vivo presence and expression levels of HBX and WISP-1 in the three tissue types. HepG2 cells stably transfected with pc-DNA3.1(+)-HBX or with pc-DNA3.1(+) only (G0, control) were generated and used to examine in vitro the HBX-induced changes in WISP-1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe HCC tissues showed significantly higher rates of positivity for WISP-1 expression than the non-tumor controls (76.6% vs. paratumor: 23.4% or normal tissues: 0%, x2= 35.967, P less than 0.01). HBX increased WISP-1 expression in HepG2 cells at both the mRNA (1170.33 +/- 41.26 vs. G0: 265.34 +/- 27.47, t = 31.63, P less than 0.01) and protein (240.33 +/- 11.37 vs. G0: 40.33 +/- 7.09, F = 600.57, P less than 0.01) levels.

CONCLUSIONHBV may up-regulate expression of the host gene WISP-1 through its X protein and thus promote the development of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Wnt1 Protein

Blindness ; prevention & control ; China ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Ophthalmology ; Staff Development

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors for sepsis caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (MDR-KP) and to provide a reference for the prevention of MDR-KP sepsis and rational use of antibiotics.

METHODSA retrospective case-control study of 41 children with MDR-KP sepsis (case group) and 53 pediatric patients without MDR-KP sepsis (control group) between March 2010 and Febrary 2014 was conducted. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the independent risk factors for MDR-KP sepsis.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the case group had a longer length of stay in the PICU before infection (P<0.05), more prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation before infection (P<0.05), a larger total number of days of mechanical ventilation (P<0.05), more days of antibiotic use before infection (P<0.05), more types of antibiotics used before infection (P<0.05), and a higher mortality (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that more types of antibiotics used before infection and use of third-generation cephalosporin and carbapenems were independent risk factors for MDR-KP sepsis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRational use of antibiotics is an effective measure to prevent MDR-KP sepsis.

Bacteremia ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Klebsiella Infections ; drug therapy ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To construct RhoA siRNA plasmid expression vector.Methods According to the computer aided design,RhoA-specific siRNA gene was synthesized and cloned into the RNAi-Ready Pgenesil-1 Vector.The constructed RhoA-RNAi plasmid were transfected into human HEPG2 cell.Western blot was used to detect the effect of RhoA-RNAi plasmid.Results The recombinant was cloned and the se- quence was obtained.RhoA-RNAi plasmid can down-regulate the expression of RhoA in human hepatocel- lular carcinoma cell line HEPG2.Conclusion Successfully cloning the recombinant makes it possible for searching new mechanism of RhoA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Human interleukin 4 (IL-4) cDNA was optimized and synthesized according to E. coli preferred codon. A recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a (+)/rhIL-4 was constructed with the target cDNA inserted between Nde I and EcoR I sites, which can translate the mature IL-4 protein with an extra methionine residue at N-terminal. The expression vector was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The rhIL-4 protein was expressed in the inclusion body. By using the optimized fermentation conditions, the high expression level was achieved with the expression level as high as 35% of total protein obtained. A purification strategy has been designed which includes Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography and dialysis renaturation. The rhIL-4 was purified with the purity more than 98% and the yield of 40 mg per liter fermentation culture achieved. Western blot proved that the purified protein is IL-4. Amino acid sequencing revealed that N-terminal 16 residue sequence is identical to the theoretical sequence. Biological activity assay on TF-1 cells demonstrated that the rhIL-4 is active with an activity of 2.5 x 10(6) AU/mg. This study promises large scale production of rhIL-4.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of 640-slice 3D CT angiography (3D-CTA) plus 3D printing for improving the outcomes of surgeries for intracranial aneurysms.

METHODSSixty patients with intracranial aneurysm were randomly divided into trial group (n=30) and control group (n=30). The control group received routine surgery, and the simulation models of the intracranial aneurysm in trial group was printed using a 3D printer using the imaging data from 3D-CTA. Using the simulation model, the surgery was designed and planned before operation (including surgical approaches and placement of clips) and simulation surgery was also conducted. The coincidence rates between preoperative and intraoperative findings of the intracranial aneurysms on 3D-CTA were compared. CT scan was performed at 1 and 3 days after the operation to detect potential cerebral infarction or bleeding associated with the operation; CTA was performed both at the same time and at 3-6 months after the operation to detect stenosis, occlusion and aneurysm clipping. The patients were followed up for 3-6 months to assess the outcomes using Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS).

RESULTSThe preoperative 3D-CTA findings were basically consistent with the intraoperative findings in all the 60 patients. Nine patients in the control group and 2 patients in the trial group had short-term adverse operation events; 11 patients in control group and 4 patients in trial group had long-term adverse events; 18 patients in control group and 25 patients in trial group had good neurologic function. The incidences of short-term and long-term adverse events associated with the operation was significantly lower in the trial group than in the control group (χ=5.364, P=0.021; χ=4.841, P=0.028), and the outcomes were significantly better in the trial group than in the control group (χ=4.633, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONThe simulation model of intracranial aneurysm is helpful to improve the quality of surgery and patients outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo provide evidence for more accurate diagnosis of birth defects based on the pathoanatomy of congenital malformations.

METHODSData used in this study were obtained from Luliang City Hospital and three county hospitals of Shanxi province between February 2004 and March 2006. Autopsy and pathological examination of 160 dead fetuses and stillbirths were performed. Photos of dead fetuses and stillbirths were taken, tissues were cut into sections for pathological examination under microscope, all pathological information was recorded, and percentage of birth defects was calculated.

RESULTSThe proportion of dead fetuses and stillbirths with or without congenital malformations was 84.4% (135/160) and 15.6% (25/160), respectively. There were 16 categories of major external and internal birth defects in 135 cases of such defects. Congenital heart defects, anencephaly and spina bifida had a higher prevalence rate in the study period. The prevalence rate of non-malformation death and birth defects < 28 gestational weeks and internal anomalies > or = 28 gestational weeks was 14.61% (61/4175) and 17.25% (72/4175), respectively. A total of 413 in situ anomalies were found in 135 cases of autopsy. Spina bifida, anencephaly, congenital heart defects, aplasia or accessory lobe of lung, renal agenesis and dysplasis and congenital hydrocephaly were more closely associated with severe malformations than with mitis malformations. The cases of dead fetuses and stillbirths with multiple malformations (> or = 2 in situ anomalies) had a higher proportion (74.1%), whereas those with isolated malformations had a lower proportion (25.93%).

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of congenital malformations in different embryonic developmental stages affects multiple organs. Postmortem examination of internal and multiple malformations of fetal deaths and stillbirths can provide more accurate diagnostic information for birth defects.

Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Population Surveillance ; Pregnancy ; Stillbirth

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of action of Tougu Xiaotong Capsule (透骨消痛胶囊, TGXTC) ex vivo in suppressing chondrocyte (CD) apoptosis induced by sodium nitroprussiate (SNP).

METHODSThirty New Zealand rabbits, 2 months old, were randomized by lottery into five groups, six in each: the blank group treated with saline, the positive control group treated with Zhuanggu Guanjie Pill (壮骨关节丸, 70 mg/kg), and the three experimental groups, EGA, EGB, and EGC, treated with low dose (35 mg/kg), moderate dose (70 mg/kg), and high dose (140 mg/kg) of TGXTC, respectively. All treatments were administered via gastrogavage twice a day for 3 days. Arterial blood was collected from the abdominal aorta and drug or drug metabolites-containing serum was prepared. CDs obtained from knee joints of 16 four-week-old New Zealand rabbits were cultured to the third passage and confirmed by toluidine blue staining. SNP of various final concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mmol/L) was used to induce CD apoptosis, and the dosage-effect relationship of SNP in inducing CD apoptosis was determined. Serum samples from the blank, control, and three dosages of TGXTC-treated rabbits were tested in the CD culture in the presence of SNP. Cell apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33342 staining, viability of CDs was quantified by MTT, CD apoptosis rate was determined by annexin V-FITC/PI staining, levels of p53 and Bcl-2 mRNA expression in CDs were determined with RT-PCR, and contents of caspase-3 and caspase-9 proteins were determined by colorimetry.

RESULTSCD apoptosis was induced by SNP at all concentrations tested and in a dose-dependent manner. The SNP concentration of 1 mmol/L and treatment duration of 24 h appeared to be optimal and were selected for the study. Serum samples from the positive control rabbits and from the two higher doses of TGXTC-treated rabbits showed reduction of SNP-induced CD apoptosis, decrease in p53 mRNA expression, inhibition of catalytic activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and increase in Bcl-2 mRNA expression when compared with the serum from the blank group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTGXTC-containing sera antagonized SNP-induced CD apoptosis and the molecular basis for the action was associated with up-regulation of Bcl-2, down-regulation of p53 expression, and inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-9 catalytic activities.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Biocatalysis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Nitroprusside ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Reproducibility of Results ; Serum ; chemistry ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease ; etiology ; therapy