Objective To identify the role of paravertebral muscles in the pathogenesis of scoliosis.MethodsParavertebral muscles were gotten from the 37 patients(12 congenital scoliosis patients and 25 idiopathic scoliosis patients) during the operations.Cryostat sections were cut by 10 μm nd stained with H&E,m-GT,NADH-TR,ATPase.ResultsMyogenic changes,incuding muscle fibrosis,fiber necrosis,etc,were common in paravertebral muscles of scoliosis patients,however regenerating fibers were quite rare.Diffuse fibrosis and remarkablely disorganized fiber directions presented in most of congenital scoliosis patients,while focal fibrosis without necrosis in most of idiopathic scoliosis patients.Neurogenic changes were found in one congenital scoliosis patient and 4 idiopathic scoliosis patients,however four of the five patients had undergone orthopedics.Thickened capsule wall of muscle spindles and connective tissue infiltration in muscle spindles were found in both kinds of scoliosis.ConclusionThere are some differences on pathological changes of paravertebral muscles between congenital scoliosis and idiopathic scoliosis,which indicates that paravertebral muscles may play a special role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVETo comprehensively understand the situation of antenatal care in the last thirty years and to identify the existing problems and challenges.

METHODSPPS method was used to select those women under study and face to face interview was carried out at the house.

RESULTSThe quality and coverage rate of antenatal care as well as the rate of hospital delivery had been continuously increasing over time and the coverage rate of antenatal checkup had increased from 38.7% in 1970s to 95.9%, while the institutional delivery rose from 20.1% to 87.4% in the last three years. However, problems and challenges were found refering to the of delay first antenatal care, inadequate timing and with incomplete contents. Only 71.7% of the pregnant women had received first checkup during the first three months. 64.1% of the women received 5 times or more of the checkups while only 29.1% of the women had received all the 7 basic checkup items. Rate of hospital delivery was unsatisfactory that most (79.5%) of the women had the delivery not in the hospitals when under the assistance of midwife/village doctors. Indicators showed that the worst was in the western regions.

CONCLUSIONGreat progress had been made in the field of antenatal care in last thirty yeats in China. The coverage rate of antenatal checkup and institutional delivery had been improved. But the quality of antenatal care should be further improved, especially in the western regions.

China ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Health Services ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Health Care ; Surveys and Questionnaires

AIMTo prepare magnetoliposome (MLP) containing dextran-encapsulated magnetite (Fe3O4), and to examine its physicochemical properties and its in vivo behavior on ICR mice.

METHODSReverse phase evaporation method was used to formulate MLP and the Fe2+ concentration was measured by o-phenanthroline method. Then the basic properties of MLP and in vivo distribution were studied with the aid of 3H isotope as biomarker.

RESULTSThe mean diameter of MLP was 602.5 nm and the final concentration of encapsulated Fe3O4 was 88.1 mg x L(-1). Under natural conditions most of the MLP was taken up by spleen after the administration via tail vain, but its uptake was reduced under the magnetic field. There was a great difference in vivo distribution between the left and right lobes of the liver and the left and right kidneys in magnetic fields.

CONCLUSIONReverse phase evaporation method was utilized to prepare magnetoliposomes. The formulation was stable and encapsulated high amount of magnetite. The delivery system could be oriented to certain tissues under magnetic field and satisfying magnetic responsiveness was observed.

Animals ; Dextrans ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; Iron ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liposomes ; Liver ; metabolism ; Magnetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nanotechnology ; Oxides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Particle Size ; Spleen ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Whether activating transcription factor 7 interacting protein(Atf7ip)is involved in the regulation in osteogenic differentiation is still controversial,and studying its impact on osteogenic differentiation and its specific mechanisms is of great significance. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Atf7ip on bone morphogenetic protein 2 promoting osteogenic differentiation of mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells(MC3T3-E1). METHODS:MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in vitro were divided into three groups:normal group,interference group(NC-siRNA group,Atf7ip-siRNA group),and high expression group(CMV-VC group and CMV-Atf7ip group),and were transfected for 24 hours,and then treated with 200 ng/mL bone morphogenetic protein 2 for 0,12,24,and 48 hours,respectively.qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of Atf7ip,alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,type I collagen α1 in the cells of each group.Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of osteogenic differentiation markers Sp7 and Runx2,and the expression of Atf7ip binding molecule SETDB1,histone H3 and H3K9me3.Alkaline phosphatase activity was detected by alkaline phosphatase staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of bone morphogenetic protein 2 treatment time,the protein and mRNA expression of Atf7ip decreased,while the protein expression of Sp7,Runx2 and the mRNA expression of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly(P<0.05).There was no significant change in the protein expression of Atf7ip binding molecule SETDB1.(2)Compared with the NC-siRNA group,the protein expression of Sp7,Runx2 and the mRNA expression of osteocalcin and type I collagen α1 were significantly up-regulated(P<0.05),and alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly enhanced;and H3K9 methylation significantly decreased in the Atf7ip-siRNA group(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the CMV-VC group,the protein expression of Sp7 and Runx,as well as mRNA expression of osteocalcin,alkaline phosphatase,and type I collagen α1 was significantly downregulated(P<0.05),and the alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly reduced in the CMV-Atf7ip group,while the H3K9 methylation protein in the CMV-Atf7ip group was significantly upregulated compared to the control group(P<0.05).(4)In conclusion,Atf7ip expression was decreased during bone morphogenetic protein 2-induced osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1,and osteogenic differentiation was significantly increased after knockdown of Atf7ip.Overexpression of Atf7ip significantly weakened osteogenic differentiation,indicating that Atf7ip is a negative regulatory factor of bone morphogenetic protein 2 promoting osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

BACKGROUNDUrotensin II (UII) is a new vasoconstrictive peptide that may activate the adventitial fibroblasts. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is an important factor that could induce the phenotypical transdifferentiation of adventitial fibroblasts. This study aimed to explore whether TGF-β1 is involved in UII-induced phenotypic differentiation of adventitial fibroblasts from rat aorta.

METHODSAdventitial fibroblasts were prepared by the explant culture method. TGF-β1 protein secretion from the cells was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA and protein expression of α-smooth nuscle actin (α-SM-actin), the marker of phenotypic differentiation from fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, were determined using real-time quantitative RT-PCR (real-time RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSUII stimulated the secretion of TGF-β1 in cultured adventitial fibroblasts in a time-dependent manner. The secretion reached a peak at 24 hours, was higher by 69.8% (P < 0.01), than the control group. This effect was also concentration dependent. Maximal stimulation was reached at 10(-8) mol/L of UII (P < 0.01), which was increased by 59.9%, compared with in the control group (P < 0.01). The secretion of TGF-β1 induced by UII was significantly blocked by SB-710411 (10(-7) mol/L), a specific antagonist of UII receptor. In addition, both UII (10(-8) mol/L) and TGF-β1 significantly stimulated α-SM-actin mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, the α-SM-actin induced by UII was inhibited by the specific neutralizing antibody (20 µg/ml) of TGF-β1, while the α-SM-actin expression stimulated by TGF-β1 (20 ng/ml) was inhibited by SB-710411 (10(-7) mol/L), the UII receptor antagonist.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that UII could induce TGF-β1 secretion in adventitial fibroblasts via UT activation, and TGF-β1 might be involved in phenotypic differentiation from adventitial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts induced by UII, and TGF-β1 signaling might be one of the important pathways by which UII is involved in vascular fibrosis.

Actins ; analysis ; genetics ; Animals ; Aorta ; cytology ; Cell Transdifferentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Myofibroblasts ; cytology ; Phenotype ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology ; Urotensins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the white matter microstructural change between autism spectrum disorder(ASD) children and the healthy controls and it's correlation with the age and the clinical symptoms.Methods Thirty-three patients with ASD and thirty-three healthy controls (HC) matched for sex-,age-and handedness underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans.Use the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule(ADOS) and the Neuropsychological Development Inventory for Children Aged 0-6 Years Old (SLAS) to assess the clinical symptoms.Use tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) based on fiber skeleton to analyze the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the whole brain DTI then to identify the differentiated brain regions.And analyze the correlation with age and clinical symptoms.Results (1) FA value of the body of corpus callosum (BCC) (x =-10,y =11,z =26;P=0.0012),left posterior limb of internal capsule (LPLI) (x =-23,y =-11,z =12;P＜0.01),left anterior corona radiata (LACR) (x =-28,y =28,z =16;P＜ 0.01),lift superior corona radiata(LSCR) (x=-27,y=-1,z=21;P=0.0017) was significantly lower in ASD group.(2) There was a positive correlation between the FA value of LPLI and the LACR,LSCR with age among the ASD group(r=0.436,P=0.012;r=0.443,P=0.010;r=0.475,P=0.005).There was a negative correlation between the FA value of the BCC,LPLI and the LACR,LSCR with the age among the HC children.(3) There was a correlation between the LPLI with the score of A DOS (communication:r=0.406,P=0.025;communication+social behavior:r=0.377,P=0.039;restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors:r=0.375,P=0.041) and SLAS (gross motor:r=-0.409,P=0.024),There was a correlation between the LSCR with the score of the SLAS (gross motor:r=-0.539,P=0.002,adaptive capacity:r=-0.373,P=0.041,mental age:r=-0.388,P=0.034).Conclusion The brain white matter microstructure change of BCC,LPLI,LACR,LSCR may be the pathophysiological basis of ASD.The development trend of brain white matter structure varied with age in ASD children is different from that of normal children.Brain white matter microstructure of the LPLI,LSCR is correlation with ASD symptoms.

The monitoring of chronic diseases , including diabetes , hypertension , coronary heart disease and osteoporosis among residents in the community was conducted by Shanghai Changfeng Community Health Service Center , and the identification of physical constitution according to Traditional Chinese Medicine system was performed simultaneously .The medical checkup report and advices on prevention and treatment was provided to the residents , so that they know better about their health condition and its management .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T polymorphism with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a northern Chinese population.

METHODSThe NQO1 C609T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 193 patients with ESCC and 141 unrelated healthy controls.

RESULTSThe frequency of the T allele (null) among ESCC patients was significantly higher than that among healthy controls (Chi-square=4.86, P=0.028). The NQO1 C/C and C/T genotype distribution among ESCC patients was not significantly different from that among healthy controls (Chi-square= 2.27 and 0.127; P=0.132 and 0.721, respectively). However, the T/T genotype frequency among ESCC patients was significantly higher than that among healthy controls (Chi-square=4.39, P=0.036). The NQO1 T/T genotype significantly increased the risk for developing ESCC, compared to the combination of C/C and C/T genotypes, with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.81 (95%CI: 1.04-3.15). This increased susceptibility exhibited pronouncedly in patients with family history of upper gastrointestinal cancers (adjusted OR=2.22, 95%CI 1.18-4.17).

CONCLUSIONDetermination of the NQO1 C609T genotype may be used as a stratification marker to predicate high-risk individuals for ESCC.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

【Objective】To provide a rabbit model for dry eye using a dry environment induced by Controlled Drying System.【Methods】Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits were used in the experiment. They were randomly divided into control group and dry group，each one with 12 rabbits. The dry group was randomly housed in Controlled Drying System（CDS）for 14 days. The relative humidity，airflow and temperature were kept at（22±4）%，3~4 m/s and（23~25）℃， respectively. The control group were fed in a normal environment where relative humidity，airflow and temperature were kept at 60%~70%，0.2 m/s and（23~25）℃. The Schirmer test，corneal fluorescein staining，conjunctival lissamine green staining were performed during the experimental process on days 0，3，7，and 14. On the last day，the rabbits were euthanized and the eye tissues were made into paraffin-cut sections. After staining，we evaluated the corneal epithelial thickness and goblet cell number in the conjunctiva using light microscopy. MUC5AC in the conjunctival epithelium was detected by immunofluorescence. The apoptosis level changes on the ocular surface were evaluated using Caspase- 3 by immunohistochemistry. 【Results】 Decreased tear production ，increased corneal fluorescein staining and increased conjunctival lissamine green staining were found on days 3，7，and 14 in the dry group compared with the control group（P < 0.001）. Corneal epithelial thickness of control group and dry group were （58.0±7.2）μ m and（47.8±7.6）μ m ，which showed corneal epithelial thickness of dry group was decreased（P＜0.05）. Goblet cells in the conjunctiva of control group and dry group were 15 ± 4 and 10 ± 2，which showed goblet cells of dry group was decreased（P＜0.01）. The expression of MUC5AC（consistent with goblet cells deficiency） was also reduced. Caspase- 3 was highly expressed on the corneal epithelium in the dry group. IOD/field of control group and dry group were（17±2）% and（20±2）%（P＜0.01）.【Conclusions】 Dry environment can make rabbits have pathological changes of dry eye on ocular surface epithelium. This dry eye model of rabbit caused by Controlled Drying System would be an effective tool to study the pathogenesis of dry eye.

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.