Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Diarrhea ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Young Adult

Three human leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains (LRIG) genes and proteins, named LRIG1-3, has been previously characterized and it was proposed that they may act as suppressors of tumor growth. The LRIG1 protein can inhibit the growth of tumors of glial cells and the down-regulation of the LRIG1 gene may be involved in the development and progression of the tumor. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a recently developed technique for quantitative assessment of specific RNA levels. In the current study, it was demonstrated that LRIG1-3 and EGFR mRNA was detected in human pituitary adenoma cell lines and a normal pituitary sample, with differences in the expression levels. Compared to the normal pituitary samples, the expression of LRIG1-3 in HP75 cell line was lower, but the expression of EGFR in HP75 cell line was higher. The results are consistent with LRIG1-3 being tumour suppressor genes, and LRIG genes decreasing the expression of EGFR. The ratio of EGFR/LRIG1 was increased at least 13-fold in HP75 cells compared with the normal pituitary cells, which was also the case for the ratio of EGFR/LRIG2 (14-fold increase in HP75) and EGFR/LRIG3 (11-fold increase in HP75). Further studies were needed to elucidate the explicit role of LRIG genes as negative regulators of oncogenesis in human pituitary adenoma.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to keep a good cervical curvature for improving nerve symptom in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). It is verified that cervical anterior plate internal fixation implant is effective to restore the physiological curvature of cervical vertebra.OBJECTIVE: To assess the physiological lordosis of cervical vertebra in CSM patients after cervical anterior plate internal fixation implantation.DESIGN: Observational study.SETTING: First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.PARTICIpANTS: Totally 72 CSM patients were enrolled at Department of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital,Nanchang University from February 2003 to January 2006, including 46 males and 26 females, aged 45-70 years,averagely 54 years, with the history of 2-6 years. Inclusive criteria included ①cervical spinal cord compression shown in MRI, and ②using autogenous iliac bone. The experiment was approved by Hospital Ethics Committee, and all patients signed the informed consent. Cervical anterior plate was Orion locking plate offered by Shufamo Company. There were single segmental discectomy group (n =32) and two-level segmental discectomy group (n =40) according to experimental requirement.METHODS: ①Anterior decompression plus autogenous iliac bone implant plus titanium plate internal fixation were utilized.The patients were in supine position; shoulder and back were blocked up; neck backward, and endotracheal tube was done under general anesthesia. Transverse or oblique incision was made at right anterior neck. Discectomy decompression was performed with Caspar vertebra ecarteur. Three-dimensional autogenous iliac bone was implanted in decompressed intervertebral space. Immediate stability was obtained after Orion locking titanium plate was fixed, with placement drainage, and then the incision was sutured. ②Postoperative daily activities were conducted with cervical gear, which was removed 8 weeks later. ③Lateral cervical vertebrae X-rays were taken before operation, immediately after operation, 6 and 12 months after operation. Lordosis of the fusion segment was measured with Cobb's angle, and lordosis of cervical vertebra was assessed with D value. These data were analysed by statistic software. ④Bone fusion of the patients was followed up for 12 months after operation. Vertebral fusion standards included no abnormity between two spinous processes of the fusion segment, no lucency between implant and vertebra, as well as bone trabecula across the interface between implant bone and vertebra. ⑤Biocompatibility between material and host was observed during follow-up.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Changes of Cobb's angle and D value at different time points before and after operation,and ②Bone fusion and rejection were followed up.RESULTS: Totally 72 patients were involved in the result analysis. ①Cobb's angle was larger and D value was higher immediately after operation, 6 and 12 months after operation than those before operation in the single segmental discectomy group and the two-level segmental discectomy group (P＜0.05). ②Findings of 12-month follow-up showed that bone fusion appeared in all patients of the two groups. ③No significant rejection was found after titanium plate internal fixation implantation. It was found that material and host had a good biocompatibility.CONCLUSION: It is satisfactory to restore physiological lordosis of cervical spine by using cervical anterior plate internal fixation plus autogenous iliac bone for CSM.

Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Objective To study the effect of glutamine (Gln) on the intestinal mucosa inflammatory reaction and permeability after intestine ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods The rat model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury was established by clamping the mesenteric superior artery and then restoring blood flow.Forty-eight model rats were divided into control group (n =24) and model + Gln group (n =24)according to the stochastic indicator method.Both groups were given enteral nutrition with equal energy and nitrogen [energy 125.4 kJ/ (kg · d) and nitrogen 0.2 g/ (kg · d)].The model +Gln group was fed with enteral nutrition plus 3％ Gln,while the control group was fed with enteral nutrition plus 3％ soybean protein.The experiment lasted 8 days after modeling.The intestinal mucosa and the plasma levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),Gln,D-LACtic acid and diamine oxidase (DAO) were observed in rats before and after modeling and on the 3rb and 8rd day of the experiment.Changes in the morphology of intestinal mucosa were observed by electron microscopy.Results After modeling in control and model + Gln group,the level of NF-κB in intestinal mucosa [18 cases (75.0％) and 17 cases (70.8％)] were significantly higher than those before modeling [0 case (0.0％),P =0.013,P =0.019],the level of IL-6 in intestinal mucosa [(313.27±75.28) pg/g and (321.75±76.46) pg/g] were significantly higher than those before modeling [(227.52 ±58.13) pg/g,P =0.023,P =0.043],and the level of TNF-α in intestinal mucosa [(241.28 ±65.29) pg/g and (240.35 ±64.86) pg/g] were significantly higher than those before modeling [(172.45 ±33.76) pg/g,P=0.036,P=0.011].The plasma level of IL-6 [(150.32 ± 18.74) ng/L and (148.21 ±20.19) ng/L] were significantly higher than those before modeling [(116.37 ± 14.59) ng/L,P =0.032,P =0.025],the plasma level of TNF-α [(127.62 ± 14.24) ng/Land (123.86 ± 13.75) ng/L] were significantly higher than those before modeling [(85.18 ± 8.84) ng/L,P =0.018,P =0.035],and the plasma level of D-LAC [(0.46 ±0.03) mmol/L and (0.51 ±0.04) mmol/L]were significantly higher than those before modeling [(0.27 ±0.02) mmol/L,P =0.041,P =0.018],and the plasma level ofDAO [(2.76±0.57) U/ml and (2.58 ±0.51) U/ml] were significantly higher than those before modeling [(1.52±0.24) U/ml,P=0.015,P=0.037],while the plasma level of Gln [(0.18 ±0.01) g/L and (0.21 ± 0.01) g/L] were significantly lower than those before modeling [(0.39 ± 0.03) g/L,P =0.026,P =0.031].On the 3rd and 8th days of the experiment in the control group,the level of NF-κB in intestinal mucosa [16 cases (66.7％),15 cases (62.5％)] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.027,P =0.002),the level of TNF-α in intestinal mucosa [(226.23 ±55.35) pg/g and (214.76 ±54.82) pg/g] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P=0.042,P =0.038)],the level of IL-6in intestinal mucosa [(297.56 ± 71.39) pg/g and (291.49 ± 68.46) pg/g] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.031,P =0.012).On the 3rd and 8th days in the control group,the plasma level of IL-6[(147.38 ± 17.25) ng/L and (144.65 ± 15.32) ng/L] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.016,P =0.034),the plasma level of TNF-α [(121.75 ± 13.72) ng/L and (113.83 ± 11.69) ng/L] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.025,P =0.041),the plasma level of D-LAC [(0.41 ±0.03) mmol/L and (0.53 ±0.05) mmol/L)] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.029,P =0.030),the plasma level of DAO [(2.51 ± 0.52) U/ml and (1.76 ± 0.34) U/ml] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.034,P =0.016).The plasma level of Gln [(0.22 ±0.01) g/L and (0.21 ±0.03) g/L] were significantly lower than those before modeling (P =0.042,P =0.035).On the 3rd day of the experiment in the model + Gln group,the levels of NF-κB,TNF-α,and IL-6 in intestinal mucosa [14 cases (58.3％),(213.78 ±43.76) pg/g,(293.72 ±69.86) pg/g] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.038,P =0.026,P =0.013) ; the plasma level of IL-6,TNF-α,D-LAC,and DAO [(135.61 ±14.25) ng/L,(117.35 ±11.29) ng/L,(0.45 ±0.03) mmol/L,and (2.26 ± 0.43) U/ml] were significantly higher than those before modeling (P =0.021,P =0.032,P =0.032,P =0.025).On the 8th day of the experiment in the model + Gln group,the levels of NF-κB,TNF-α,and IL-6 in intestinal mucosa [9 cases (37.5％),(184.53 ± 42.16) pg/g,and (236.83 ±66.52) pg/g] were significantly lower than those after modeling and those in the control group (P =0.024,P=0.027; P=0.026,P=0.039; P=0.013,P=0.028) ; the plasma levels of IL-6,TNF-α,D-LAC,and DAO [(126.35±12.74) ng/L,(92.76±9.42) ng/L,(0.31 ±0.02) mmol/L,and (1.76±0.34) U/ml]were significantly lower than those after modeling and those in the control group (P =0.021,P =0.030; P =0.032,P =0.025 ; P =0.024,P =0.037 ; P =0.022,P =0.036) ; the plasma level of Gln [(0.40 ±0.03) g/L] was significantly higher than those after modeling and in the control group (P =0.028,P =0.032).Under the electron microscope,the structure of villus and recess was damaged after modeling,villi were sparse and short,with a lot of inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria.Lymphangiectasia and edema occured after modeling.On the 8th day,compared with after modeling and the control group,intestinal villi and recess structure were significantly restored in the model + Gln group; compared with the after-modeling status,the recovery of intestinal mucosa villi and recess structure was not obvious,and the inflammatory cell infiltration in the lamina propria persisted in the control group.Conclusion Gln repairs ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intestinal mucosa by regulating intestinal mucosa inflammatory cytokine release,inhibitng inflammatory response,and reducing the permeability of the intestinal mucosa.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp ; Young Adult

A total of 209 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:without,with mild to moderate,or severe diabetic lower extremity arterial disease based on the ankle brachial index value.60 healthy subjects were used as a control group.Retinol binding protein4 (RBP4),cystatin C,and biochemical parameters were determined in all subjects.The results showed that RBP4 and cystatin C levels were progressively raised with the increasing severity of lower extremity arterial disease in various groups,being significantly higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild to moderate and severe arterial disease compared with control group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).RBP4 and cystatin C levels in groups with lower extremity arterial disease were significantly higher than those in the group without arterial disease (P＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis showed that RBP4 level was positively correlated with total cholesterol,triglyceride,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,fasting serum insulin,body mass index,cystatin C etc while negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that serum RBP4 and cystatin C were significantly associated with lower extremity arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVETo measure quantitatively the health costs of 380 farmer families using the pesticides and influence factors, and to provide the base for establishing the protective measures.

METHODSBased on the surveyed data of rice producers in Anhui province, a quantitative analysis of health cost of pesticide application was conducted with COI, the influence factors on farmers' pesticide application have been examined.

RESULTSThe results shown that the health cost of pesticide application was as RMB 54.44 yuans per farmer a year. The influence factors of health cost were the amount and time of pesticide application, protective facilities, pesticide label illiteracy, age, gender and education level of farmers.

CONCLUSIONThe measures of reducing the health cost for pesticide application were to train the farmers for knowledge of pesticide application and occupational safety, to provide convenient and cheap protective equipment and instructions of pesticide application and to standardize pesticide labels.

Agriculture ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; economics ; Occupational Health ; economics ; Pesticides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A growing number of children and adolescents are being diagnosed as Chiari malformation type Ⅰ (CM-Ⅰ) for behavioral disorders,developmental delay,seizures,or abnormal orpharyngeal function.The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics,imaging findings and surgical outcomes of CM-Ⅰ in pediatric and adult patients.Between January 2014 and June 2017,84 patients with CM-Ⅰ underwent surgical treatment in our department.We divided the patients into two groups:pediatric group (n=1 1,age ＜18 years)and adult group (n=73,age ≥18 years).Data on clinical characteristics,imaging findings,surgical outcomes,and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed and compared between these two groups.For clinical presentation,scoliosis (36.4％) and developmental delay (36.4％) were more common in pediatric patients,whereas,sensory disturbance (58.9％) and motor weakness (41.1％) were more common in adult patients.Imaging findings showed that the incidence of hydrocephalus and craniovertebral junctional abnormalities was significantly higher in pediatric group than in adult group (P＜0.05).Compared to adult group,pediatric group showed a better improvement or resolution of syrinx and tonsillar herniation after surgical treatments (P＜0.05).The total Chicago Chiari Outcome Scale (CCOS) score in pediatric patients at the last follow-up was significantly higher than that in adult patients (P=0.002).In conclusion,the clinical characteristics and imaging findings appeared to be different in pediatric and adult patients with CM-Ⅰ.The surgical outcomes of pediatric patients were shown to be significantly better than those of adult patients.

BACKGROUNDLenalidomide has emerged as an important treatment for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, its role in the management of MM is still controversial and requires further clarification. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of lenalidomide for MM using a meta-analysis.

METHODSWe searched the electronic databases including: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials. Seven randomized clinical trials were identified, which included a total of 2357 patients with MM who received lenalidomide-containing, noncontaining lenalidomide regimens or placebo as induction therapy or maintenance therapy. The outcomes included overall response (OR) rate, complete response (CR) rate, 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate, 3-year overall survival (OS) rate, and different types of treatment-related adverse events. We calculated the risk ratios (RRs) as well as their 95% confidence intervals of these outcomes and pooled the results using RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTSFor patients with previously untreated MM, OR rate and CR rate was significantly higher in lenalidomide-containing group than the control group. For relapsed or refractory MM patients, lenalidomide-containing regimens significantly improved the OR rate, CR rate, 3-year PFS rate and 3-year OS rate. With regard to MM patients after autologous stem cell transplantation, lenalidomide maintenance therapy significantly improved 3-year PFS rate but did not result in improved 3-year OS rate. In terms of toxicities, lenalidomide therapy has a higher rate of Grade 3-4 grade cytopenias, infection, deep-vein thrombosis, and diarrhea. Furthermore, the incidence of second primary malignancies was significantly higher in the lenalidomide group.

CONCLUSIONSThe lenalidomide-containing regimens as induction therapy clearly increased response rates and improved intervals of survival with acceptable toxicity rates for patients with MM. However, when physicians choose to use the lenalidomide as maintenance therapy, whether the benefits outweigh the risks should be taken into account.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Thalidomide ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome