Data Collection ; methods ; Metabolomics ; methods

The estimation of chronologic age based on the stages of third-molar development was evaluated by using the eight stages (A-H) method of Demirjian and the third-molar development was compared, in terms of sex and age, with results of previous studies. The samples consisted of 291 orthopantomograms from young Chinese subjects of known chronologic age and sex (including 139 males with a mean age of 14.67+/-3.62 y and 152 females with a mean age of 14.85+/-3.70 y). Statistical analysis was performed by employing the Mann-Whitney U-test and the t-test. Regression analysis was conducted to obtain regression formulas for calculating dental age from the chronologic age. Our results showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in third-molar development between males and females, at the calcification stages D, E and H. And a strong correlation was found between age and third-molar development in both males (r (2)=0.65) and females (r (2)=0.61). New equations (Age=8.76+1.32 Development stage) for estimating chronologic age were derived. It is concluded that third-molar genesis took place earlier in males than in females. The use of third molars as a developmental marker is appropriate in young adults of Central China. The formula obtained in the present study can be used as a guide for estimation of dental maturity and a standard for age estimation for young adults of Central China.

Objective To investigate the effect of olfactory entheath cells (OECs) transplantation on neural function and synaptic density of rats with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and the possible mechanism. Methods Rats were divided into sham operation group, TBI group and OECs engrafted group. The brains of the rats were injured by Feeney percussion device through free falling. After cultured and identified by using specific marker (known as P75), OECs were transplanted into the area around the injured brain. Cortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP) and motor evoked potential ( MEP) were evaluated at day 14 after cell transplantation to determine the neurophysiologic function following TBI. Moreover, the synaptic densities around the injured brain were determined by using immunohistochemical method. One-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. Results The transplanted OECs could survive and migrate around the injury site in the host brain 14 days after OECs transplantation. In addition, rats subjected to OECs implantation showed a marked neurophysiologic improvement and a significant increase of synaptic densities compared with the control group. Conclusion OECs transplantation can improve the neurophysiologic function and increase the synaptic density, which provides experimental basis for treatment of TBI with OECs.

Objective To discuss the clinical values of transabdominal ultrasonic diagnosis of nontraumatic hiatal gastric hernia of esophagus in middle-aged and elderly people.Methods Thirty-two cases were examined with fasting and filing methods in half-sitting,standing,supine and supine right anterior oblique positions.The findings were contrasted with X-ray barium meal examination,endoscopy and operation.Results Twenty-nine cases were of sliding hiatal gastric hernia of esophagus,3 of impacted hernia.The ultrasonic diagnosis coincidence rate was 100%.The signs and symtoms of acoustic images were widening of esophageal hiatus diaphragmatic muscle(≥1.37 cm),echoes of gastric mucosa were found in superior phrenic hernail sac and inside hernial sac.The display rates were 100%,100%,15.6%respectively.Conclusions The transabdominal ultrasonic diagnosis of nontraumatic hiatal gastric hernia of esophagus in middle-aged and elderly people is brief and accurate.

Objective To establish contusion brain injury model in rats, and investigate the efficacy of intravenous administration of neural stem cells(NSC) on posttraumatic neurocognitive function recovery and NGF expression in rats. Methods Cerebral contusion model in motor-sensory cortex of the right parietal cortex in rat was established by a 50 g-weight hammer falling respectively from 30 cm height along guide stick to impact collision pole by improved trauma device for model of contusion brain injury based on Feeney method. And the NSC isolated from GFP transgenic mice were injected intravenously via the tail vein 24 h after the brain trauma, and 1 week later neurocognitive function scores and NGF immunostaining were performed to explore the efficacy of NSC transplant. Results The NSCs from the GFP transgenic mice gathered at the injury site 1 weeks after transplants.Neurocognitive function scores and NGF-positive cells measurement(226 ±27,23 ±4 ) in the treatment group revealed significant increase than in the brain trauma group(300 ±36;15 ±3 )(P＜0.05). Conclusion The intravenous NSC injection in rats can survive and migrate to the injured brain region and promote the post-injury neurocognitive function restoration. The increase of NGF expression may underline one of most important mechanisms in NSC treatment' s rats after brain injury.

Objective To understand the laboratory testing current situation of ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn(ABO-HDN)in Chizhou area,and to analyze the test results of serological three indexes tests in order to provide the basis for clinical diag-nosis.Methods The ABO blood group identification and serological three indexes tests(direct antiglobulin test,free antibody test, antibody release test)were performed by using microcolumn gel method.Results A,B,O and AB blood groups were 29.13%, 31.09%,37.82% and 1.96%;the total positive rate of ABO-HDN was 22.41%(80/357),the positive rates of ABO-HDN in A and B blood groups were 38.46% (40/104)and 36.04% (40/111 )respectively;the occurrence rate of ABO-HDN had no statistical difference between blood group A and B (P >0.05);the positive rates of the direct antiglobulin test,free antibody test and antibody release test were 1.96%(7/357),4.76%(17/357)and 22.41%(80/357)respectively.Conclusion The serological three indexes tests are the main basis for the diagnosis of ABO-HDN,the antibody release test shows the highest positive rate.If clinically consid-ering HDN,the newborns should conduct the ABO-HDN screening as early as possible for clarifying the diagnosis and performing the early treatment.

Objective To explore the relationship between thyroid hormone and colorectal adenomatous polyps (CAP) in middle-aged and elderly people.Methods We surveyed 3 042 middle-aged employees and retirees aged 45 years and over at a petrochemical enterprise of Ningbo.Their colonoscopic findings,body mass index,waist circumference and thyroid function were analyzed.Results Age and serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) of females with CAP were higher than those of the corresponding non-CAP group,so were age and waist circumference of males with CAP (P ＜ 0.05).Furthermore,these differences were statistically significant.The detection rate of CAP was significantly higher in males than in females (x2 =49.418,P ＜ 0.01).The detection rate of CAP was higher in females with higher levels of FT3.Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analyses showed the effects of thyroid hormone on the CAP differed by gender.Age and FT3 (OR =1.60,95％ CI:1.12-2.28,P =0.01) were correlated with CAP in females.However,only age and waist circumference were correlated with CAP in males.Conclusion Elevated FT3 may be a risk factor of CAP in elderly females.The detection rate of CAP may not be affected by FT3 levels in males.

AIM: To observe the inhibitory effect of recombinant human endostatin (rhES) on plaque angio-genesis, and to explore the regulatory mechanism of Dll4 /Notch pathway in the anti-angiogenic effect of rhES.METH-ODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups: normal control group (N group), atherosclerotic model group (AS group), and rhES treated group (AS +rhES group).The rats in N group were fed a normal diet, while the remaining 2 groups were established to atherosclerotic rat model via high-cholesterol diet, intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D3 and aor-tic balloon injury.The rats in AS +rhES group received intraperitoneal injection of rhES.The blood total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and troponin I (TnI) were measured.The atherosclerotic abdominal aortas were taken for pathological observation.Immu-nohistochemical staining was used to measure the density of neovessels in the plaques, which were marked by CD31.The protein levels of Dll4 and Notch1 in the aortas were analyzed by Western blot.RESULTS: The levels of blood TC, TG, LDL-C, CRP and IL-1 in AS group and AS +rhES group were much higher than those in N group (P <0.05), and no sta-tistical difference between AS group and AS +rhES group was observed.The expression of CD31 in AS group was the high-est among all groups.Compared with AS group, the density of neovessels in the plaques of AS +rhES group decreased sig-nificantly (P <0.05).The protein expression of Dll4 and Notch1 in AS group was lower than that in N group (P <0.05). Compared with AS group, the protein expression of Dll4 and Notch1 increased significantly (P <0.05).CONCLUSION:rhES has the ability to inhibit plaque angiogenesis in rats.The activation of Dll4 /Notch pathway may be the mechanism of rhES in inhibiting plaque angiogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze medication laws of Chinese medicine (CM) treatment in hypertension patients with yin deficiency yang hyperactivity syndrome.

METHODSChina National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, Jan. 1979-Dec 2014), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP, Jan 1989-Dec2014), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM, Jan.1978-Dec.2014), Wanfang Database (Jan 1990-Dec 2014) were retrieved by using "hypertension", "CM", "Chinese herbs", "syndrome" as keywords. Totally 149 literatures concerning CM treatment for hypertension patients with yin deficiency yanghyperactivity syndrome were included in this study. The herbs database was established by SPSS20.0,and correlation laws were analyzed by SAS9.3. With the Pajek3.1, results were presented visually withcomplex networks.

RESULTSThere were 149 literatures including 131 kinds of herbs with 1,598 frequencies. The conventional compatibility program of herbs for asthenic yin and predominant yang syndrome of hypertension were two toothed achyranthes root, tall gastrodia rhizome, Cassia obtusifolia L., eucommiabark, baikal skullcap root, and so on, about 29 kinds. Of them, core herbs were two toothed achyranthes root, tall gastrodia rhizome, Cassia obtusifolia L., poria, prepared rhizome of rehmannia, oriental water-plantain tuber, asiatic cornelian cherry fruit, Uncariae Rhynchophylla, common yam rhizome, the rootbark of the peony tree, and so on.

CONCLUSIONMedication laws of CM treatment in hypertension patientswith yin deficiency yang hyperactivity syndrome obtained by analysis of complex networks reflected thetherapeutics of nourishing yin to suppress yang, which could further provide reference for clinical studies.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires