Objective Plasma renin concentration (PRC) offers advantages in processing and standardization as compared with plasma renin activity (PRA). The aim of the study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of plasma aldosterone concentration ( PAC)/PRA (ARR) and PAC/PRC (AARR) in screening primary aldosteronism ( PA ) in hypertensive patients and to observe the influence of different postures on PRC and AARR. Method ( 1 ) PAC and PRC in the supine position and after 1-hour and 2-hour upright posture were determined in 28 patients with PA and 51 patients with essential hypertension. The diagnostic efficacies during different postures were compared according to the ROC curve analysis. (2) 31 patients with PA, 242 patients with essential hypertension, and 145 normotensitive subjects were recruited in the study. The diagnostic efficacy of AARR in screening PA from hypertensive patients was evaluate. PAC, PRA, and PRC were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results ( 1 ) The AUC of AARR in the supine position, 1-hour and 2-hour upright posture were0.950 (95% CI0.906-0.994, P<0. 01), 0.979 (95% CI0.956-1.000, P<0.01) and 0.917 (95% CI 0. 856-0. 979, P<0. 01 ) respectively. AARR of 1 -hour upright yielded the highest screening efficiency. ( 2 ) The correlation coefficient index of Log-PRA and Log-PRC was 0. 705 ( P< 0. 01, n = 418 ), whereas the correlation coefficient index of Log-ARR and Log-AARR was 0.705 (P<0.01, n=418). The AUC of ARR and AARR were 0.998 (95% CI0. 981-1. 000, P<0.01 ) and 0.957 (95% CI0. 929-0.985, P<0.01 ) respectively according to the ROC curve. The optimal cutoff of AARR during upright 1 hour was 42.36 ng · dl-1/ng ·dl-1 ( sensitivity 87.10%, specificity 93.75% ). Conclusion The screening efficacy of AARR in screening PA in hypertensive patients was comparable with ARR. AARR measured after keeping upright 1 hour yielded the highest screening efficiency. The optimal cutoff of AARR was 42.36 ng · dl-1/ng ·dl-1.

Overexpression of survivin may partly protect the NIT-1 cells(mouse insulin-secreting cells) from cytokine-induced apoptosis.In addition, NIT-1 cells transfected with survivin had an slightly improved response of insulin secretion to glucose stimulation.

AIM: To compare the effects of three different cell culture protocols: embryonic body(EB) formation,EB formation-monolayer and monolayer on differentiation of mouse embryonic stem(ES) cells into insulin-secreting cells.METHODS: E14.1 mouse ES cells were treated with GLP-1,betacellulin,activin A,bFGF and nicotinamide by using EB formation,EB formation-monolayer and monolayer culture protocol respectively for 30 days,then insulin expression was examined by RT-PCR,DTZ-staining and immunohistochemistry.The percentage of insulin-secreting cells was evaluated by flow cytometry.RESULTS: DTZ-staining positive cells and insulin immunohistochemical staining positive cells were observed in the differentiated cells for all the three groups.mRNAs of insulin and some other islet-related genes were detected,insulin expression was the strongest in EB formation-monolayer,and the weakest was in monolayer.The percentage of insulin-positive cells of the differentiated cells in the EB formation-monolayer group was higher than that in the EB formation group(P

Syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone(RTH)is a rare hereditary thyroid disease with various clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. RTH could be misdiagnosed and mistreated, resulting in aggravation of the disease. We reviewed the medical records of a patient with RTH over the past six years. In addition, we provided a summary of latest progress for RTH to help the clinicians to improve the understanding of the disease.

Objective:To comparatively evaluate the scan time and the accuracy of maxillary full-arch scans using four intraoral scanners (IOS) on conditions of the intraoral head-simulator and the hand-held model, and to evaluate the influence of different scanning conditions on digital scan.Methods:A upper dental arch model with melamine-formaldehyde resin teeth and silica gel gingiva that could be fixed on a head simulator was scanned with an optical scanner (ATOS Core) in order to obtain the standard tessellation language dataset as reference. Intraoral scans were performed on the model fixed on the head simulator by three researchers with four IOS [A: TRIOS 3; B: CS 3600; C: CEREC Omnicam; D: iTero]. For each scanner and each researcher, six scans were performed, to obtain the datasets as the head simulator group. And another six scans with each of the four intraoral scanners were performed by each researcher on the hand-held model to obtain the STL datasets as the hand-held group. The scan time were recorded for each scan. In the Geomagic Wrap software, the digital models were trimmed with only the teeth information retained and supreimposed by best fit alignment function and compared to obtain the root mean square (RMS) values of the discrepancies by three-dimensional compare function. The test datasets of each group were compared with the reference dataset for trueness. The six test scanning datasets with the same scanner of the same researcher were cross compared for precision. Mann Whitney U test was used to statistically analyze the difference values of the scan time, trueness and precision of the same intraoral scanner between head simulator group and hand-held group. Results:Compared to the hand-held group, the scan time of A [142(82) s] and D [119(52) s], which two IOS both with handle, were longer in head simulator group [A: 98(28) s; D: 85(22) s] ( P<0.01). However there were no significant differences between the two groups for scan time of IOS B and C ( P>0.05). For full-arch scan accuracy (trueness and precision), there were no significant differences between the two groups of IOS A and B ( P>0.05), while the trueness of C ( P<0.05) and the precision of D ( P<0.01) were better in head simulator group [C: 112(38) μm; D: 43(13) μm] compared to hand-held group [C: 135(47) μm; D: 53(18) μm]. However, there were no significant differences for the precision of C ( P>0.05) and the trueness of D ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The scan time and the accuracy of full-arch digital scans with different IOS may be effected by the scan conditions. For in vitro study of intraoral scanning, head-simulator can simulate the intraoral environment of the real patient to some extent. Meanwhile, the position of the dentist and the patient, and also the limited intraoral space during intraoral scanning are also simulated.

Objective:To comparatively evaluate the accuracy and the scan time of three full-arch scan strategies on the head-simulator, to explore a full-arch scan strategy with better clinical operability and high accuracy.Methods:A cross-controlled study design was used. A model with melamine-formaldehyde resin teeth and silica gel gingiva of an upper dental arch which can be fixed on a head simulator was scanned with an optical scanner (ATOS Core) in order to obtain the standard tessellation language (STL) dataset as reference. Intraoral scans were performed on the model fixed on the head simulator with four intraoral scanners (IOS) [A (TRIOS 3), B (CS 3600), C (CEREC Omnicam), D (iTero)]. The STL datasets were obtained from each of the four different IOS systems by using three scan strategies (scan strategies 1, 2 and 3 were composed of 10, 5 and 7 paths respectively) all by one attending doctor with 3 years of intraoral scanning experience. For each scanner and each scan strategy, nine scans were acquired. And the scan time was recorded for each scan. Following the scan strategy, the scan path was completed to obtain a full-arch digital model, and the scan time was recorded as full-arch scan time. Complementary scans were performed to fill the missing image, and this scan time was recorded as complementary scan time. The total scan time was obtained by adding full-arch scan time and complementary scan time. Through the Geomagic Wrap software, the three-dimensional (3D) models were overlaid by best fit alignment function and compared to obtain the root mean square values of the discrepancies by 3D compare function. The intraoral scanning datasets were compared with the reference for trueness. The nine intraoral scanning datasets were cross compared with same scan strategy and same intraoral scanner for precision.Results:There were no significant differences among the three scan strategies for trueness ( P>0.05), while the differences among the three scan strategies for precision were affected by difference IOSs ( P<0.05), and only scan strategy 3 showed the highest precision with all the four IOS. The full-arch scan time of scan strategies 1, 2 and 3 were (130±24), (72±17) and (90±19) s respectively ( P<0.05). For complementary scan time, scan strategy 2 [(50±24) s] took longer time than scan strategy 1 [(26±18) s] and scan strategy [(25±21) s] ( P<0.05), while no significant differences between the latter two ( P>0.05). For total scan time, scan strategy 1 [(156±31) s] took longer time than scan strategy 2 [(122±30) s ] and scan strategy 3 [(115±29) s ] ( P<0.05), while no significant differences between the latter two ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Full-arch scanning on the head-simulator with scan strategy 3 which can obtain scanning datasets with high accuracy, was more convenient to operate and took shorter scan time, and is generally suitable for intraoral scanners commonly used in clinic.