OBJECTIVETo study the coordination of facial soft tissue in Angle's Class I, II1, III malocclusion, providing reference for the clinical practice.

METHODS60 lateral cephalometric radiographs of three classes of Angle's malocclusion were included. 13 measurements were analyzed by SPSS 10.0.

RESULTSProtrusion of the upper and lower lips increased in Angle's II1 comparing with Angle's I and protrusion of the upper lip was larger than the lower lip, no difference was found in the facial convexity. Increase of upper lip inclination and underdevelopment of maxillary in Angle's III comparing with Angle's I. No significant different was found in the form of lower lip, soft tissue facial angle and Z angle. Comparing Angle's II1 with Angle's III, every measurements were significantly different except upper lip inclination, nasolabial angle, representing the formation mechanism of malocclusion.

CONCLUSIONSome differences were found in form and position of lip in three classes of Angle's malocclusion. However, the deformity was not obvious in Angle's II1 and Angle's III because of compensation mechanism. Nasolabial angle only reflected change of upper lip, but could not reflect characters of facial profile.

Cephalometry ; Face ; Humans ; Lip ; Malocclusion ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of blood concentration monitoring during high-dose methotrexate (MTX) treatment.

METHODSHigh-dose MTX (1.5-9.0 g) was infused to 105 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma, and then the blood MTX concentration was measured by fluorescence polarization immune assay (FPIA) 44 hours after the start of administration. The procedure was repeated every 6-12 hours until the concentration was less than 0.1 micromol/L.

RESULTSForty-four hours after the start of administration, the blood MTX concentration (C(MTX/44h)) was > or = 5 micromol/L in 6 patients (2.8%) and was between 1 and 5 micromol/L in 23 patients (10.6%). C(MTX/44h) > or = 1 micromol/L was more common in patients received 5.0 g MTX. No severe adverse event was observed in all patients.

CONCLUSIONSBlood MTX concentration is different after high-dose MTX treatment due to individual metabolic differences, and therefore it is clinically important to monitor blood concentration of MTX. Elimination delay is more common in patients receive 5.0 g MTX. Application of high-dose MTX therapy under the monitoring of blood MTX concentration is safe and feasible.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Drug Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Male ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to do a meta-analysis of the existing literature to assess the accuracy of prostate cancer studies which use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) as a diagnostic tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospectively, independent, blind studies were selected from the Cochrane library, Pubmed, and other network databases. The criteria for inclusion and exclusion in this study referenced the criteria of diagnostic research published by the Cochrane center. The statistical analysis was adopted by using Meta-Test version 6.0. Using the homogeneity test, a statistical effect model was chosen to calculate different pooled weighted values of sensitivity, specificity, and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves method was used to assess the results. RESULTS: We chose two cut-off values (0.75 and 0.86) as the diagnostic criteria for discriminating between benign and malignant. In the first diagnostic criterion, the pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and corresponding 95% CI (expressed as area under curve [AUC]) were 0.82 (0.73, 0.89), 0.68 (0.58, 0.76), and 83.4% (74.97, 91.83). In the second criterion, the pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity, and corresponding 95% CI were 0.64 (0.55, 0.72), 0.86 (0.79, 0.91) and 82.7% (68.73, 96.68). CONCLUSION: As a new method in the diagnostic of prostate cancer, MRS has a better applied value compared to other common modalities. Ultimately, large scale RCT (randomized controlled trial) randomized controlled trial studies are necessary to assess its clinical value.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/*diagnostic use ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Prostatic Neoplasms/*diagnosis/metabolism ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of congenital heart disease (CHD) aged 3 - 18 in several regions of Yunnan province.

METHODSCross-rectional studies were carried out among 48 638 children from Xishuangbanna, Dali, Baoshan Longling, Luxi Mangshi and Gejiu in Yunnan province with stratified, clustered sampling.

RESULTSThe overall morbidity of CHD was 5.08 per thousand with 5.09 per thousand in males and 5.07 per thousand in females. Morbidity rates in different regions were 2.75 per thousand in Xishuangbanna, 7.85 per thousand in Dali, 9.59 per thousand in Baoshan Long ling, 4.80 per thousand in Gejiu, 16.99 per thousand in Luxi Wuchalu. However, in the same area, rates were different among different residents:3.25 per thousand in Gejiu, and was 9.10 per thousand in Laochang stannum mine, 11.20 per thousand in Datunxuanchang; 5.74 per thousand at the city of Baoshan Longling, 11.35 per thousand at countryside; 4.90 per thousand at the city of Dali, 8.71 per thousand at countryside; 1.69 per thousand at the city of Xishuangbanna, 4.40 per thousand at country. Morbidity rates in different ethnic groups were as follows: 5.39 per thousand in Dai, 6.83 per thousand in Jinuo, 0 per thousand in Hani, 8.12 per thousand in Bai, 14.18 per thousand in Jingpo.

CONCLUSIONThere were significant regional and ethnic differences seen in Yunnan on the mobidity of CHD which was different from the domestic literature reported.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vitro effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on hepcidin of monocytes and its molecular mechanisms.

METHODSHepcidin and signaling molecules including C/EBPalpha, Smad1/5/8, p-Smad1/5/8 and p-STAT3 were detected by real time PCR and Western blot. THP-1 monocytes were stimulated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). EPO receptor (EPOR) antibody was added to observe its antagonistic effect on EPO and impact on the signaling proteins.

RESULTSEPO suppressed mRNA expression of THP-1 hepcidin of monocytes induced by 20 ng/ml IL-6 or 1 microg/ml LPS in both dose and time dependent manner. The most decrease of hepcidin expression was observed at 2 IU/ml EPO for 6 hours. EPO also down-regulated hepcidin protein induced by 20 ng/ml IL-6. At 2 IU/ml EPO for 6 hours hepcidin protein was down-regulated, as was C/EBPalpha, p-Smad1/5/8 and p-STAT3. Antibody to EPOR antagonized the down-regulation of EPO on hepcidin and signaling proteins.

CONCLUSIONSMonocytes hepcidin can be reduced by EPO when stimulated by IL-6 or LPS. The mechanism of which may be at least in part, via suppression of C/EBPalpha, p-Smad1/5/8 and p-STAT3 signaling.

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Hepcidins ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUNDBatroxobin (BX), a serine protease used in defibrinogenation and thrombolysis, also has an effect on c-fos gene and growth factor. This study attempted to determine the effects of BX on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and calcium metabolism.

METHODSVSMCs were treated with BX at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mmol/L and cell numbers were determined at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured using direct fluorescence methods.

RESULTSBX was found to suppress proliferation of VSMCs in a dose-dependent fashion with inhibition rates of 18% and 31% by 48 and 72 hours, respectively. In addition, BX decreases basal [Ca2+]i significantly. The basal level in untreated cells was 162.7 +/- 33.8 nmol/L, and decreased to 131.5 +/- 27.7 nmol/L, 128.3 +/- 28.5 nmol/L, and 125.6 +/- 34.3 nmol/L with the three concentrations of BX, respectively. Noradrenaline (NE)-induced [Ca2+]i stimulation was also attenuated by BX (0.1 mmol/L BX, 20% +/- 8% inhibition; 0.3 mmol/L BX, 54% +/- 11% inhibition; 1.0 mmol/L BX, 62% +/- 15% inhibition). The ability of NE to stimulate [Ca2+]i was attenuated in cultures in Ca(2+)-free medium, as was the ability of BX to blunt NE-induced stimulation.

CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrate that BX can effectively inhibit proliferation of VSMCs, probably by blocking the release and uptake of Ca2+, thus influencing [Ca2+]i.

Animals ; Batroxobin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect and safety of Longjintonglin Capsule in the treatment of type III prostatitis (chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, CP/CPPS).

METHODWe selected 240 patients with type III prostatitis according to the diagnostic standards of the American National Institute of Health (NIH) and treated them with Longjintonglin Capsule orally 3 capsules once tid for 12 weeks. Based on the NIH chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, and leukocyte count in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), we evaluated the results of treatment.

RESULTSTotally 238 patients completed the treatment, including 108 IIIA and 120 III B prostatitis cases. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, the total NIH-CPSI scores were 23.12 ± 6.99, 18.22 ± 6.39, 14.12 ± 5.88, and 12.36 ± 6.04 (P < 0.01) in the IIIA prostatitis patients and 22.01 ± 6.28, 17.56 ± 5.89, 13.67 ± 5.18, and 11.45 ± 5.22 in the III prostatitis patients (P < 0.01), the TCM syndrome scores were 52.12 ± 13.08, 48.13 ± 12.11, 43.05 ± 11.19, and 40.78 ± 10. 59 in the former (P < 0.01) and 53.02 ± 12.12, 49.32 ± 12.78, 44.01 ± 11.79, and 39.67 ± 10.26 in the latter (P < 0.01), and the leukocyte counts were 26.09 ± 21.55, 23.02 ± 18.61, 18.25 ± 17.79, and 15.36 ± 16.38 in the IIIA cases (P < 0.01). Neither abnormalities in liver and renal function nor obvious adverse events were observed during the experiment.

CONCLUSIONLongjintonglin Capsule, with its advantages of safety, effectiveness, and no obvious adverse reactions in the treatment of type III prostatitis, deserves to be recommended for clinical application.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Capsules ; Chronic Pain ; drug therapy ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Spinal Stenosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDCatheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity has good effect, but whether iliac vein stent placement after thrombolytic therapy is still controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of stent placement in the iliac vein following CDT in lower extremity DVT.

METHODSThis was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial. After receiving CDT, the major branch of the distal iliac vein was completely patent in 155 patients with lower extremity DVT, and 74 of these patients with iliac vein residual stenosis of >50% were randomly divided into a control group (n = 29) and a test group (n = 45). In the test group, stents were implanted in the iliac vein, whereas no stents were implanted in the control group. We evaluated the clinical indicators, including patency of the deep vein, C in CEAP classification, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ) Score.

RESULTSAll patients had postoperative follow-up visits for a period of 6-24 months. Venography or color ultrasound was conducted in subjects. There was a significant difference between the patency rate at the last follow-up visit (87.5% vs. 29.6%) and the 1-year patency rate (86.0% vs. 54.8%) between the test and control groups. The change in the C in CEAP classification pre- and post-procedure was significantly different between the test and control groups (1.61 ± 0.21 vs. 0.69 ± 0.23). In addition, at the last follow-up visit, VCSS and CIVIQ Score were both significantly different between the test and control groups (7.57 ± 0.27 vs. 0.69 ± 0.23; 22.67 ± 3.01 vs. 39.34 ± 6.66, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe stenting of iliac vein obstruction following CDT in lower extremity DVT may increase the patency of the deep vein, and thus provides better efficacy and quality of life.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Catheterization, Peripheral ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Lower Extremity ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; methods ; Venous Thrombosis ; therapy ; Young Adult

Based on the complete genome sequence of pigeon-origin Newcastle disease virus strain JS/07/04/ Pi(genotype VIb), nine overlapped fragments covering its full-length genome were amplified by RT-PCR. The fragments were connected sequentially and then inserted into the transcription vector TVT7/R resulting in the TVT/071204 which contained the full genome of strain JS/07/04/Pi. The TVT/071204 was co-transfected with three helper plasmids pCI-NP, pCI-P and pCI-L into the BSR cells, and the transfected cells and culture supernatant were inoculated into 9-day-old SPF embryonated eggs 60 h post-transfection. The HA and HI tests were conducted following the death of embryonated eggs. The results showed that the allantoic fluids obtained were HA positive and the HA could be inhibited by anti-NDV serum which indicated that the strain JS/07/04/Pi was rescued successfully. The rescued virus rNDV/071204 showed similar growth kinetics to its parental virus in CEF. The successful recovery of this strain would contribute to the understanding of the host-specificity of pigeon-origin NDV and to the development of the novel vaccines against the NDV infection in pigeons.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; CHO Cells ; Chick Embryo ; Columbidae ; virology ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Newcastle disease virus ; genetics ; growth & development