Objective To investigate the effect of intra-articular carboxymethylated ehitosan(CM- CTS)injection on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)expression in cartilage at the early stage of os- teoarthfitis(OA).Methods Thirty-two white rabbits were underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and were randomly divided into 4 groups 5 weeks after transection.Rabbits of group A re- ceived 0.3 ml of 2% high molecular weight CMCTS(H-CMCTS)once every two weeks.Rabbits in group B were treated using 2% low molecular weight(L-CMCTS)CMCTS at:the same intervals.Group C rabbits were injected intra-articularly with 0.3 ml of 1% sodium hyaluronate(Na-HA)once a week.Animals of group D were not injected.At sacrifice,11 weeks following surgery,the expression of iNOS in cartilages was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)methods.Results Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed that the level of iNOS expression of cartilage in CMCTS in- jection groups was lower than that in Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.There was no significant difference in iNOS expression between the two different molecular weight CMCTS injection groups. No signifi- cant difference of iNOS expression in cartilage was found between Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.Conclusion CMCTS suppresses iNOS expression in cartilage during the early stage of OA.Na-HA treatment has no effect on iNOS expression in cartilage.

Objective : To analyze the trends in incidence of thyroid cancer in Huangpu District, Shanghai from 2002 to 2017, so as to provide insights into the management of thyroid cancer. Methods : The incidence of thyroid cancer in Shanghai from 2002 to 2017 was collected from the cancer registration system created by Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The crude and standardized incidence of thyroid cancer were estimated by year, gender and age groups, and annual change percentage ( APC ) was calculated to analyze the trends in incidence of thyroid cancer. Results : A total of 2 854 new cases of thyroid cancer were reported in Huangpu District from 2002 to 2017, and the crude and standardized incidence rates of thyroid cancer were 19.57/105 and 13.47/105, with APC of 18.15% and 17.93% ( P<0.05 ), respectively. The crude and standardized incidence rates of thyroid cancer were 10.02/105 and 7.06/105 in men, with APC of 19.58% and 19.04% ( P<0.05 ), and were 28.90/105 and 19.95/105 in women, with APC of 17.33% and 16.99% ( P<0.05 ), respectively. The crude incidence of thyroid cancer was higher in women than in men ( P<0.05 ). In addition, there were two peaks in the crude incidence of thyroid cancer in patients at age of 35 to 39 and 60 to 64 years, with crude incidence rates of 28.98/105 and 33.36/105, respectively. Conclusions The incidence of thyroid cancer appeared a tendency towards a rise in Huangpu District from 2002 to 2017, and much attention should be paid to females and patients aged 60 to 64 years.

Objective To master the level of iodine nutrition among population in Jiangxi province,and to provide a scientific basis for establishing the strategy for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods Retrospective method was adopted to analyze the goiter rate and frequency distribution of urinary iodine of children aged 8-10,the qualified rate of iodized salt,the coverage rate of iodized salt and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in residents of Jiangxi province from 1995 to 2010.The method of correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between goiter rate of children (by palpation) and the qualified rate of iodized salt,iodized salt coverage rate and residents consumption rate of qualified iodized salt.Results The goiter rates (measured by the method of palpation) of children aged 8-10 were down from 40.17％(482/1200) in 1995 to 0.80％(16/2000) in 2010(x2 =4.864,P＜ 0.05).The median of urinary iodine of children was higher than 200 μg/L; the proportion of people whose urinary iodine content higher than 300 μg/L was above 25.00％ and the highest propoaion was up to 58.01％ (210/362) between 1995-2010.The minimum median of salt iodine was 17.77 mg/kg in 1995,and 29.30-39.10 mg/kg in other years.The qualified rates of iodized salt,the iodized salt coverage rates and the consumption rates of qualified iodized salt increased from 43.58％(452/1037),86.42％(1037/1200) and 37.67％(452/1200) in 1995 to 97.95％ (1916/1956),99.95％(1956/1957) and 97.90％(1916/1957) in 2010,respectively; there was a growth trend over the years(x2 =5.240,6.118,5.631,all P ＜ 0.05).The goiter rates of children were related to the qualified rates of iodized salt,the iodized salt coverage rates and the consumption rates of qualified iodized salt,and the correlation coefficient(r) was-0.833,-0.881 and-0.918 (all P ＜ 0.05),respectively.Conclusions The level of iodine nutrition among residents in Jiangxi province has already gone beyond the appropriate level,and the iodine concentration in salt should be cut to ensure the appropriate iodine nutrition level among people.

Objective To detect the argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions(Ag-NORs) that express rDNA and rRNA proliferation of T lymphocytes before chemotherapy and after complete remission(CR) in children with primary acute leukemia(AL).Methods The argyrophilic granules area of NOR/nuclear area(I.S%) of T lymphocytes was detected by image analysis system in peripheral blood of 42 patients before chemotherapy and after CR and 30 normal children.Results I.S% in the patients before chemotherapy(5.06%?1.36%) were significantly lower than those in the healthy donors(7.51%?1.06%)(t=8.238 P0.05).Conclusion These results suggest that decrease of Ag-NORs expresses the evidence for tumour induced suppression of immune function of T cells in children with AL prior to treatment.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of PowerPlex21 System (Promega) and study the genetic polymorphism of its 20 short-tandem repeat (STR) loci in southern Chinese Han population.

METHODSWe conducted genotyping experiments using PowerPlex21 System on 20 autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, D1S1656, D6S1043, D13S317, Penta E, D16S539, D18S51, D2S1338, CSF1PO, Penta D, TH01, vWA, D21S11, D7S820, D5S818, TPOX, D8S1179, D12S391, D19S433 and FGA) in 2367 unrelated Chinese Han individuals living in South China. The allele frequencies and parameters commonly used in forensic science were statistically analyzed in these individuals and compared with the reported data of other populations.

RESULTSThe PowerPlex21 System had a power of discrimination (PD) ranging from 0.7839 to 0.9852 and a power of exclusion (PE) ranging from 0.2974 to 0.8099 for the 20 loci. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations was found for all the loci except for D5S818. This southern Chinese Han population had significant differences in the allele frequencies from 8 ethnic groups reported in China, and showed significant differences at 8 to 20 STR foci from 5 foreign populations. The allele frequency at the locus D1S1656 in this southern Chinese Han population differed significantly from those in the 5 foreign populations and from 3 reported Han populations in Beijing, Zhejiang Province and Fujian Province of China. The neighbor-joining phylogenetictree showed clustering of all the Asian populations in one branch, while the northern Italian and Argentina populations clustered in a separate branch. This southern Chinese Han population had the nearest affinity with the Yi ethnic population in Yunnan Province of China.

CONCLUSIONThe 20 STR loci are highly polymorphic in this southern Chinese Han population, suggesting the value of this set of STR loci in forensic personal identification, paternity testing and anthropological study.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; Forensic Sciences ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a worse outcome. However, the risk factors and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients after intracoronary stent implantation are still unknown. METHODS: A retrospective case control study was done in 325 patients who underwent intracoronary stent implantation from January 2010 to March 2011 at the Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University School of Medicine. Those were excluded from the study if they had incomplete clinical data. The patients were divided into a normal group and a AKI group according to the standard of post-operation day 7 to identify AKI. The parameters of the patients included: 1) pre-operative ones: age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, left ventricular insufficiency, peripheral angiopathy, creatinine, urea nitrogen, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hyperuricemia, proteinuria, emergency operation, hydration, medications (ACEI/ARBs, statins); 2) intraoperative ones: dose of contrast media, operative time, hypotension; and 3) postoperative one: hypotension. The parameters were analyzed with univariate analysis and multivariate logistical regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 325 patients, 51(15.7％) developed AKI. Hospital day and in-hospital mortality were increased significantly in the AKI-group. Univariate analysis showed that age, pre-operative parameters (left ventricular insufficiency, peripheral angiopathy, creatinine, urea nitrogen, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, hydration), emergency operation, intraoperative parameters (operative time, hypotension) and postoperative hypotension were significantly different. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased age (OR=0.253, 95％CI=0.088–0.727), pre-operative proteinuria (OR=5.351, 95％CI=2.128–13.459), pre-operative left ventricular insufficiency (OR=8.704, 95％CI=3.170–23.898), eGFR≤60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (OR=6.677, 95％CI=1.167–38.193), prolonged operative time, intraoperative hypotension (OR=25.245, 95％CI=1.001–1.034) were independent risk factors of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: AKI is a common complication and associated with ominous outcome following intracoronary stent implantation. Increased age, pre-operative proteinuria, pre-operative left ventricular insufficiency, pre-operative low estimated glomerular filtration rate, prolonged operative time, intraoperative hypotension were the significant risk factors of AKI.

This study examined the effect of Notch-1 signaling on malignant behaviors of breast cancer cells by regulating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). BCSCs were enriched by using serum-free medium and knocked out of Notch-1 by using a lentiviral vector. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the Notch-1 expression levels in breast cancer cell lines and BCSCs, and flow cytometry to detect the proportion of BCSCs in BCSC spheres. The BCSC self-renewal, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity were examined by the tumor microsphere-forming assay and transwell assay and after xenotransplantation. The results showed that the Notch-1 silencing reduced the number of BCSC spheres, the proportion of BCSCs, and the number of cells penetrating through the transwell membrane. It also decreased the size of tumors that were implanted in the nude mice. These results suggest that Notch-1 signaling is intimately linked to the behaviors of BCSCs. Blocking Notch-1 signaling can inhibit the malignant behaviors of BCSCs, which may provide a promising therapeutical approach for breast cancer.

Through analyzing the influencing factors of congenital heart disease (CHD), it is aimed to establish CHD risk prediction model in fetus, and simultaneously provide theoretical foundation for CHD prevention. One-factor logistic regression method was used to screen the significant factors regarding CHD, and to separately adopt multiple-factor non-conditional logistic regression method and decision tree to set up model prediction fetus CHD risk and to analyze the advantages and shortcomings. Correct classification rates turned to be 80.93% and 82.79% respectively among 215 'training samples' by the two methods and the rates were 85.45 % and 89.09% respectively among 55 'testing samples'. The alliance of logistic regression and decision tree can overcome influence by co-linearity to guarantee the accuracy and perfection, as well as promoting the predictive accuracy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.

METHODSBy using multi-central randomized controlled method, 186 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture combined with cupping and western medicine group (group A), an acupuncture combined with cupping group (group B) and a western medicine group (group C) and treated continuously for 4 weeks. The treatment of acupuncture combined with cupping was produced by acupuncture at five mental points and moving cupping on the Hechelu of the back, once evrey other day, thrice each week, and the western medicine therapy by oral administration of Amitriptyline, once each day. The scores of McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the amount of tenderness point and the time of producing effect were compared and the therapeutic effects were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).

RESULTSThe cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% (39/60) in the group A, which was superior to 15.9% (10/63) in the group B and 16.1% (9/56) in the group C (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the scores of MPQ and HAMD and the amount of tenderness point all decreased in the three groups, group A being significantly better than group B and group C, and the time of producing effect in the group A was more earlier than those in the group B and the group C.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine on fibromyalgia syndrome is superior to that of the simple acupuncture combined with cupping or the simple medicine.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Amitriptyline ; therapeutic use ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Fibromyalgia ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDSterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-2 plays a key role in lipid homeostasis by stimulating gene expression of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways. The insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family regulates growth and metabolism, especially bone cell metabolism, and correlates with osteonecrosis. However, association of their gene polymorphisms with risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) has rarely been reported. We determined whether SREBP-2 and IGFBP-3 gene polymorphisms were associated with increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population.

METHODSTwo single nucleotide polymorphisms of SREBP2 gene, rs2267439 and rs2267443, and one of IGFBP-3 gene, rs2453839, were selected and genotyped in 49 ANFH patients and 42 control individuals by direct sequencing assay.

RESULTSThe frequencies of rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA of SREBP2 and rs2453839 TT and CT of IGFBP-3 in the ANFH group showed increased and decreased tendencies (against normal control group), respectively. Interaction analysis of genes revealed that the frequency of carrying rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA genotypes of SREBF-2 in ANFH patients was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Association analysis between polymorphisms and clinical phenotype demonstrated that the disease course in ANFH patients with the rs2453839 TT genotype of IGFBP-3 was significantly shorter than that of CT + CC carriers (P < 0.01). CT + CC genotype frequency in patients with stage III/IV bilateral hip lesions was significantly higher than in those with stage III/IV unilateral lesions and stage II/III bilateral lesions (P < 0.05 - 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggested that interaction of SREBP-2 gene polymorphisms and the relationship between the polymorphisms and clinical phenotype of IGFBP-3 were closely related to increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population. The most significant finding was that the CT + CC genotype carriers of IGFBP-3 rs2453839 were highly associated with the development of ANFH.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; genetics