[Abstract ]Objective:To estimate dental maturation norms of permanent dentition in a group of Nanjing children using Nolla's tech-nique.Methods:549 cases of panoramic radiographs (279 males and 270 females)of Nanjing children at the age range of 3 to 16 years were collected for the study.All permanent mandibular teeth on the left side (except for the third molars)were scored according to Nolla's method,and data were presented in tables and used to plot dental maturation curves for the Nanjing boys and girls.Results:Females were found to be more advanced in the degrees of dental development.Dental maturation is significantly associated with chron-ological age (for males and females:r =0.959,P <0.001 and r =0.953,P <0.001,respectively).The mathematical model of them was established,and then the fitting equation was obtained.Conclusion:The dental maturation curve and chronology of permanent dentition can provide the growth norms of permanent teeth for Nanjing children and facilitate the way for dentists to assess the growing children during diagnosis and treatment planning.

0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that HPDLFs exposured to static magnetic field produced by magnetic attachment have little mutagenic effects on chromosomes and DNA.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of mobilization and harvesting by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) on treating myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods One patient with MG was enrolled in the study. Autologous peripheral blood stem cells(APBSCs) were mobilized with cyclophosphamide(CTX) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF). PBSCs harvesting was performed by continuous flow leukapheresis using a CS-3000 plus blood separator.CD +_ 34 cells were analyzed by flow cytometer and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GM-CFU) was detected by semisolid methlcelluose after mobilization. The clinical effect was evaluated by a relative score system.Results The numbers of mononuclear cells (MNC),GM-CFU and CD +_ 34 cells were 8.08?10 8/kg,7?10 5/kg or 81/10 5/MNC and 1.09?10 6/kg after mobilization in graft respectively. The clinic relative score of the patient was 7/8.Conclusion CTX and G-CSF can mobilize effectively and provide enough peripheral blood stem cells for transplantation in treating MG.

Objective To evaluate the effect of emulsified isoflurane on cognitive function in rats.Methods Seventy-two adult male SD rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group (group C,n =12),intralipid group(group E,n =12),and 8％ emulsified isoflurane group ( group EI,n =48).Morris water maze test was performed at 2 h after administration in group E and at 2 h,1,7,14 d after administration in 12 rats at each time point in group EI.The escape latency,staying time at the original platform quadrant,frequency of crossing the original platform and swimming speed were recorded.Orbital blood samples were taken from 6 rats in each group after water maze test for determination of the plasma corticosterone concentration,and then the animals were sacrificed and their hippocampi were removed for determination of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) contents.Brains were removed from another 6 rats in each group after water maze test for determination of the expression of BDNF and NGF in DG,CA3,CA2,CA1 of hippocampus.Results Compared with group C,in group EI the escape latency at 2 h after administration was prolonged,staying time at the original platform quadrant was shortened,the expression of BDNF in DG and CA3 of hippocampus was down-regulated and the BDNF content in hippocampus was decreased at 2 h and 1 d after administration( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The escape latency was shortened and staying time at the original platform quadrant was prolonged at 7 and 14 d after administration,the content of NGF in hippocampus was increased at 1,7 and 14 d after administration and the expression of BDNF in DG and CA3 of hippocampus was up-regulated at 1d after administration as compared with those at 2 h after administration in group E1( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).There was no significant difference in the variables mentioned above between groups E and C( P ＞ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in plasma corticosterone concentration among the 3 groups ( P ＞ 0.01 ).Conclusion The mechanism by which emulsified isoflurane results in transient cognitive impairment in rats is related to down-regulating the expression of BDNF in hippocampus,but not related to corticosterone and NGF.

Purpose To investigate the expression of Periostin and VEGF protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue and their significance. Methods Immunohistochemical staining (SP method) was used to detect Periostin and VEGF expression in 130 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 130 cases of normal esophageal mucosa tissues. Results There was a significantly difference between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and normal esophageal mucoma ( P<0. 05 ) . The expression of Periostin was related to the depth of invasion and the metastasis of lymph node (P<0. 05). A dramatic correlation has been found in the expression of VEGF to the degrees of differentiation, the depth of invasion and the metastasis of lymph node (P<0. 05). The expression of Peri-ostin was also positively correlated with the expression of VEGF (P<0. 05). Follow-up data was available in 66 cases with a range of 1 to 48 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed survival rate of Periostin-positive group was significantly lower than that of Perios-tin-negative group (P<0. 05). The survival rate of VEGF-positive group was significantly lower than that of VEGF-negative group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The expression of Periostin has a close relationship with VEGF in the carcinogenesis, combined detection of both Periostin and VEGF can become an objective target to evaluate Potentials of invasion and lymph node metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which has a great significance to the judgment of prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To explore the in vitro isolation of ?2m-/Thy-1+ bone marrow-derived liver stem cells(BDLSCs) which bear double features of stem and liver cells from bone marrow stem cells(BMSCs)as so to provide suitable donor cells for the treatment of liver diseases by cellular transplant. Methods ?2m-/Thy-1+ BDLSCs were isolated by magnetic bead cell sorting(MACS) method from cholestatic rats in vitro,and cell purity was detected using flow cytometry.Liver associated phenotype markers were characterized by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results BDLSCs isolated by MACS were purified and viable,and possessed hepatocyte-like features at gene and protein levels. Conclusion ?2m-/Thy-1+ BDLSCs are special subsets of BMSCs which may have promising potentials in the stem cell-based treatment of liver diseases.

Objective To identify the isolated rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs),and evaluate the efficiency of adenoviral vector expressing human urokinase type plasminogen activator(uPA) in transfection of rat MSCs and its effect on proliferation of MSCs. Methods MSCs were isolated and purified by pasted wall purification,and were identified by immunicytochemistry.The transfection efficiency of uPA was detected by fluorescent microscopy,the expression of uPA in MSCs was detected by Western blotting,and the proliferation of MSCs was evaluated by MTT. Results The harvested MSCs exhibited the typical appearance of MSCs,and it was revealed by immunohistochemistry that the expression of MSCs markers CD29 and CD90 was positive,while that of CD34 and CD45 was negative.A tendency of increase in expression of green fluorescent protein(GFP) was observed with increase of multiplicity of infection(MOI).After transfection with AduPA for 72 h,the transfection efficiency reached(94.0?1.5)% at MOI of 80,and positive GFP cells could still be observed even after 7 d.The transfected uPA had no effect on the proliferation of MSCs. Conclusion MSCs are favourable genetic vectors to express uPA,and can be used for treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on glucose metabolism,circulating resistin and adiponectin concentrations,and tissue resistin levels in rats with insulin resistance induced by free fatty acid (FFA).Methods A hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and[3-~3H]-glucose tracing technique were used in awake rats.Insulin-mediated peripheral and hepatic glucose metabolism,plasma resistin and adipenectin levels, resistin levels in tissues were assessed by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp with elevation of FFA by lipid infusion over 4 h in rats pretreated with or without pioglitazone.Results During steady-state of clamp,there was a significant increase in plasma FFA in lipid-infused group(L group)and pioglitazone-pretreated lipid-infused group(P/L group)compared to control rats(P＜0.01).The glucose infusion rate(GIR)in P/L group was significantly reduced as compared with controls[(20.6?0.9 vs 33.6?1.5)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01], whereas the GIR was lower in L group than in P/L group[(12.6?0.8 vs 20.6?0.9)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01].As compared with baseline,the hepatic glucose production(HGP)was significantly suppressed by 85% [(18.3?2.1 vs 2.7+2.4)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1) and (17.5?2.6 vs 2.6?1.0)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),both P＜0.01]during the hyperinsulinaemic clamp in control and P/L groups.The suppressive effect of insulin on HGP was significantly blunted in L group[(17.3?2.1 vs 15.8?1.5]mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1)].The rate of glucose disappearance(G_(Rd))was reduced in L group and P/L group compared with controls(P＜0.01).Baseline plasma resistin level was lower in P/L group than that in the controls[(7.8?1.3 vs 29.1?3.1)?g/L,P＜0.01].After lipid infusion,plasma resistin levels significantly increased in P/L group,but remained lower than that of L group [(18.1?3.8 vs 47.0?2.2)?g/L,P＜0.01].Baseline adiponectin level was higher in P/L group than those in the controls and L groups[(3.9?0.2 vs 2.8?0.1 and 2.6?0.2)mg/L,P＜0.01].After clamp,plasma adiponectin levels were decreased in L group and L/P group compared with baseline(both P＜0.05).In addition, the resistin level in the liver of P/L group decreased compared with the controls and L groups(both P＜0.05), whereas significantly increased in the muscle of L group.Conclusion Lipid infusion induces an acute insulin- resistance in vivo.Pioglitazone pretreatment partly prevents FFA-induced insulin resistance possibly by changing resistin and adiponectin levels.

Objective To evaluate the differences and consistency of different diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) in adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 920 healthy middle school students (aged11-16years,53.2% males). All participants underwentant hropometric and biochemical examinations,andwere diagnosed as MetS separately using criterion of the Pediatric Academy of Chinese Medical Association ( abbreviated as Chinese criterion) , 2007 International Diabetes Federation criterion ( IDF criterion) , and Cook criterion based on the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel in 2003 ( Cook criterion) . Statistic analysis was used to compare the prevalence of MetS diagnosed and the individual MetS components detected by the different diagnostic criteria, and to evaluate the differences and consistency between the three criteria. Results The prevalence of MetS diagnosed with the Cook criterion (16. 2%) was significantly higher than that by the Chinese criterion(11. 0%) and the IDF criterion. The most frequently detected components were low high-density with the Chinese criterion and IDF criterion, hypertension with the Cook criterion. The least frequently detected component was hyperglycemia with each criterion. The consistency was found stronger between the Chinese and IDF criteria ( Kappa=0. 798-0. 829, P<0.01), but weak between the Cook and the other two criteria (Kappa=0. 465-0. 789,P<0. 01). The adolescents solely diagnosed as MetS patients by the Cook criterion but not the other two criteria had more central obesity, higher plasma glucose and lipid levels and HOMA insulin resistance index (all P<0. 05). Conclusion The prevalence of MetS and components diagnosed with the three criteria was evidently different. The Cook criterion may diagnose more adolescents with higher cardiovascular risks and insulin resistance.

Objective To reinvestigate the value of overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Methods Fifty-two patients with Cushing syndrome and 153 patients with simple obesity or essential hypertension in whom Cushing syndrome was excluded were studied retrospectively in order to compare the sensitivity and specificity of different serum cortisol cut-off levels in overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.Results The sensitivity of 50% of basal serum cortisol level at 8:00 and of the serum cortisol cut-off levels of 275,200,138,50 nmoL/L at 8:00 after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test was 92.3%,92.3%,92.3%,92.3% and 100.0% respectively, and the specificity was 90.8%,98.7%,96.1%,91.5% and 78.4%,respectively.Conclusion The serum cortisol cut-off level of 50 nmol/L in the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test has very high sensitivity and can be used as a screening test for Cushing syndrome.