Objective To establish the linear regression equation between body height and com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum of sternum m easured by CTvolum e rendering technique (CT-VRT) in southw est H an population. Methods One hundred and sixty subjects, including 80 m ales and 80 fem ales w ere selected from southw est H an population for routine CT-VRT(reconstruction thickness 1 m m ) ex-am ination. The lengths of both manubrium and mesosternum w ere recorded, and the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum was equal to the algebraic sum of them . The sex-specific linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum and the real body height of each subject w ere deduced. Results The sex-specific sim ple linear regression equations between the com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum (x3) and body height (y) w ere established (m ale:y=135.000+2.118x3 and fem ale:y=120.790+2.808x3).Both equations show ed statisticalsignificance (P<0.05) w ith a 100% predictive accuracy. Conclusion CT-VRTis an effective m ethod for m easurem ent of the index of sternum . The com bined length of manubrium and mesosternum from CT-VRTcan be used for body height estim ation in southw est H an population.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the linear regression equation between body height and combined length of manubrium and mesostenum of sternum measured by CT volume rendering technique (CT-VRT) in southwest Han population. METHODS: One hundred and sixty subjects, including 80 males and 80 females were selected from southwest Han population for routine CT-VRT (reconstruction thickness 1 mm) examination. The lengths of both manubrium and mesosternum were recorded, and the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum was equal to the algebraic sum of them. The sex-specific linear regression equations between the combined length of manubrium and mesosternum and the real body height of each subject were deduced. RESULTS: The sex-specific simple linear regression equations between the combined length of manubrium and mesostenum (x3) and body height (y) were established (male: y = 135.000+2.118 x3 and female: y = 120.790+2.808 x3). Both equations showed statistical significance (P < 0.05) with a 100% predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION CT-VRT is an effective method for measurement of the index of sternum. The combined length of manubrium and mesosternum from CT-VRT can be used for body height estimation in southwest Han population.
Asian People ; Body Height ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Manubrium/anatomy & histology* ; Regression Analysis ; Sternum/anatomy & histology* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (SB) on the occurrence of acute GVHD and intestine damage after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in mice.

METHODSSixty BALB/c mice, as recipients, were randomized to control group, irradiation group, model group and intervention group. C57BL/6 mice, as donors, were raised to prepare the bone marrow cells (BMCs) and spleen cells (SCs), which were injected into irradiated recipients mice by tail vein. Except control group, other groups accepted 7.5Gy total body irradiation. Model group and intervention group were infused with BMCs 5×10⁶ and SCs 5×10⁵ by less than 4 h after irradiation. SB was injected into intervention group by intraperitoneally, but only DMSO for model group. The general status and survival rate of each group were evaluated. The expression of p-p38MAPK, Fas and FasL in intestine were determined by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTSThe weight changes of intervention group (13.00±0.50)% was significantly lighter than that of model group (25.00±0.75)% (P<0.05). The clinical score of acute GVHD in the intervention group (3.33±0.82) was significantly lower than that of model group (6.33±1.36) (P<0.05). The expression levels of p-p38MAPK, Fas and FasL in small intestine of intervention group (1.43±0.02, 0.81±0.03, 0.97±0.03) were lower than those of model group (1.76±0.05, 1.52±0.04, 1.48±0.04).

CONCLUSIONSB inhibited the activation of p38MAPK and Fas/ FasL signal pathway and alleviated the apoptosis of small intestine. And SB could relieve small intestine damages induced by allogeneic T lymphocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Graft vs Host Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transplantation, Homologous ; fas Receptor ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEA R1210C mutation of complement factor H (CFH) gene has been associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasian population. This study was to verify above association in Han Chinese population.

METHODSThe mutation was detected by direct sequencing in 258 patients with wet AMD and 426 matched controls.

RESULTSThe R1210C mutation has not been identified in either sample.

CONCLUSIONThe R1210C mutation in CFH gene is not associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the initial clinical characteristics, the response to treatment, and the outcome in adult patients with Evans syndrome.

METHODSThe clinical data of 84 adult patients (20 males, 64 females) with Evans syndrome diagnosed at our center between 1984 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for a median duration of 17.5 (0.03 - 140) months. All the patients initially received intravenous steroids with or without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Forty-seven patients were treated with corticosteroids alone initially. Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were achieved in 38 of the patients, but 92.1% of them relapsed during a median follow-up of 12 months. Twenty-eight patients who were resistant to corticosteroids therapy or with severe bleeding were subsequently administered immunosupressive agents. CR and PR were obtained in 89.3% of them. Within a median follow-up of 8 months, 84% of these patients relapsed.

CONCLUSIONSEvans syndrome is a chronic and easy to recurrent disease, which is often refractory to conventional therapy. Treatment with combination agents might be a useful therapeutic approach to the patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

In order to characterize the molecular epidemiology of HFMD-associated Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) in Fujian Province, a total of 1340 specimens from non-EV71 non-CVA16 HFMD patients were collected during 2011-2013. Isolated virus strains were identified and subtyped. Full-length coding regions for the VP1 gene of the predominant serotype CVA6 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Among the 375 non-EV71 non-CVA16 HFMD cases confirmed by virus isolation and molecular subtyping, 182 (48.5%) were found to be caused by CVA6, accounting for 7.9%, 16.2% and 39.6% HFMD-associated enteroviruses in FujianProvince during 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Compared with general features observed in the HFMD epidemic, no difference in CVA6-specificity or severity rates was observed between geographical origins, gender, or age groups. Nucleotide sequence analyses of VP1 genes revealed high diversity levels of 16.2%-18.6% among CVA6 strains from Fujian Province, in contrast to the prototype CVA6 strain, and showed low levels of diversity in the amino acid sequences (4.3%-6.2%). Phylogenetic analysis also indicated that CVA6 isolates from Fujian Province were distinct from the prototype strain and other isolates from abroad; however, it was homologous to domestic strains, although the Fujian isolates clustered into multiple branches. These results suggested that significant changes in the pathogenic spectrum of HFMD in Fujian Province occurred during 2011-2013, as CVA6 was one of the predominant serotypes of HFMD. CVA6 isolates from Fujian Province were co-circulating and co-evolving with other domestic strains as multiple closely related CVA6 transmission chains were observed in Fujian Province overall and within each prefecture.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Evolution, Molecular ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

To explore methods of maintaining the self-renewal capacity of hematopoietic stem cells, inhibiting their overdue differentiation and expanding hematopoietic cells massively, the murine bone marrow stromal cells were coated on microcarriers, then co-cultured with hematopoietic cells from murine bone marrow as group 2 (G2). The G2 contents were wrapped by sodium alginate, then cultivated as group 1 (G1). The only microcarriers coated with stromal cells as group 3 (G3) and the only bone marrow cells as group 4 (G4) were cultivated as control groups. Contrasting observation and microphotograph were performed; the number of total marrow cells, the colony efficiency of CFU-GM and the percentages of CD34(+) cells were determined. Three repeated experiments indicated that the colony efficiency of CFU-GM before culture (G0) were 118.8 +/- 38.1/10(5) marrow cells, and the total outputs of CFU-GM (G0) were 9 501.3 +/- 3 049.0. After culture for two weeks, hematopoietic cells were adhered to or embedded in stromal cells coating the microcarriers, and had formed hematopoietic focus. The colony efficiency of CFU-GM per 10(5) mononuclear cells in group G1, G2, G3 and G4 averaged 30.9 +/- 13.7, 147.3 +/- 66.0, 23.4 +/- 23.1 and 15.9 +/- 8.1, respectively; the total outputs of CFU-GM in group G1, G2, G3 and G4 averaged 273.8 +/- 75.3, 9 424.8 +/- 7 933.7, 419.1 +/- 305.6 and 140.7 +/- 20.7, respectively; the measured CFU-GM output in group G2 was significantly higher than that in group G4, and still significantly higher than the sum of groups G3 and G4 (t = 6.553, t = 5.494; P < 0.05). The percentage of CD34 cells before culture was 10.0 +/- 1.0; after cultuer for two weeks, the percentages of CD34(+) cells in G1, G2, G3 and G4 averaged 4.0 +/- 1.0, 11.0 +/- 1.0, 3.3 +/- 1.5 and 2.2 +/- 0.8, respectively. The percentage of CD34 positive control (3T3 cells) was 17.0 +/- 1.0. This result was consistent with the result of CFU-GM outputs measured. These data suggest that microcarriers coated with stromal cells can perfectly support the ex vivo hematopoiesis at least to four weeks, while hematopoietic cells fixed by alginate are not significantly different from control groups. The hematopoiesis-simulating model of microcarriers is successful, whereas the hematopoiesis-simulating model of alginate macrocarriers can not support the ex vivo hematopoiesis.

The present study investigated the contribution of endogenous heme oxygenase (HO)/carbon monoxide (CO) system to hypertension pathogenesis of rats. Zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bisglycol (ZnDPBG),an inhibitor of heme oxygenase (HO), was used to inhibit HO activity in vivo. It was found that the blood pressure of rats with HO inhibition was significantly elevated, and plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline,endothelin, nitrate and nitrite were significantly increased. HO activity and HbCO formation within vascular smooth muscle tissues were significantly inhibited after administration of ZnDPBG. Furthermore, administration of exogenous CO into HO inhibiting rats led to MABP decrease, but injection of HO substrate, heme-Llysinate, had no effect on HO inhibition-induced hypertension. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, injection of exogenous CO resulted in a significant decrease of MABP, and heme-L-lystnate had a similar effect with exogenous CO. These data show that HO/CO system has an anti-hypertension biological action, suggesting that endogenous CO plays an important role in hypertension pathogenesis.

A sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture was used to study the role of endogenous carbon monoxide in hypotension pathogenesis of rats during septic shock. After administration of zinc deuteroporphyrin 2,4-bisglycol (ZnDPBG),an inhibitor of heme oxygenase (HO),blood pressure (BP),HO activity and carbon monoxide (CO) release from vascular muscle tissue were measured. The results showed that BP of sepsis rats,including systolic and diastolic arterial BP,decreased significantly while HO activity and CO content were significantly increased. In contrast,after administration of ZnDPBG,BP of sepsis rats was significantly increased while the HO activity and CO production were significantly decreased. These findings suggest that HO activity and CO release within vascular musculature are increased during septic shock;inhibition of HO may elevate BP of rats during septic shock through a decrease of endogenous CO production. It is concluded that endogenous CO derived from vascular muscle cells plays an important role in regulating vascular tone,and the up-regulation of HO activity followed by subsequent CO production contributes to hypotension pathogenesis during septic shock.

OBJECTIVETo explore suitable scaffold material for big segmental long bone defect by studying the properties of the prepared deproteinized bone.

METHODSCancellated bone were made as 30 mm x mm x 3 mm bone blocks from inferior extremity of pig femur along bone trabecula. The deproteinized bone was prepared with an improved method. Their morphological features, components, cell compatibility, mechanical and immunological properties were investigated respectively.

RESULTSDeproteinized bone maintained natural reticular pore system. The main organic material is collagen I and inorganic composition is hydroxyapatite. It has good mechanical properties, cell adhesion rate and histocompatibility.

CONCLUSIONThis deproteinized bone can be applicable as scaffold for reparation of big segmental defect in long bone.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; physiology ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Collagen ; Hydroxyapatites ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds