OBJECTIVE Although it is generally believed that nicotine accounts for the beneficial effect of smoking on ulcerative colitis, the underlying mechanisms remain not well- understood. Our previous finding that nicotine inhibits inflammatory responses through inducing miRNA-124 prompted us to ask whether the miRNA is involved in the protective action of nicotine on UC. METHODS MiR-124 expression in colon tissues and cells was determined by q-PCR and in situ hybridization. The effect of miR-124 on protective role of nicotine in ulcerative colitis was evaluated in DSS-treated mice and IL-6-treated Caco-2 colon epithelial cells. Expression of p-STAT3/STAT3 was detected by immuno?histochemistry and Western blot analysis. RESULTS miR- 124 expression is upregulated in colon tissues from patients and DSS- induced colitis. Nicotine treatment further elevated miR- 124 level in colon tissues of the mice, in infiltrated lymphocytes and epithelial cells, and augmented miR- 124 expression in lymphocytes isolated from human ulcerative colon tissues. Administration of nicotine also reduced weight loss, improved DAI and decreased HE score in DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, knock?down of miR-124 in vivo significantly diminished the beneficial effect of nicotine, and in vitro on IL-6-treated Caco-2 colon epithelial cells. Further analysis indicated that nicotine inhibited STAT3 activation in vivo and in IL-6-treated Caco-2 colon epithelial cells and Jurkat human T lymphocytes, in which miR-124 knockdown led to increased activation of STAT3. CONCLUSION These data indicated that nicotine exerts its protective action in UC through inducing miR-124 and its effect on STAT3, suggesting that the miR-124/STAT3 system is a potential target for the therapeutic intervention of UC.

In recent years, miR-124 has emerged as a critical modulator of immunity and inflammation. Here, we summarize studies on the function and mechanism of miR-124 in the immune system and immunity-related diseases. They indicated that miR-124 exerts a crucial role in the development of immune system, regulation of immune responses, and inflammatory disorders. It is evident that miR-124 may serve as an informative diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in the future.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of hyaluronidase iontophoresis in the treatment of in- fants with congenital muscular torticollis(CMT).Methods Fifty infants with congenital muscular torticollis were divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group.Manual stretching was performed with both groups,while hyaluronidase iontophoresis was also administered to those in the treatment group.The range of side-flexion and rota- tion of the neck was examined at the beginning of and after 1 and 2 months of treatment.At the end of the treatment, the overall outcome was assessed according to a scoring system.Results There was no significant difference be- tween the two groups at admission.Compared with the control group,the range of side-flexion and rotation of the neck,and the overall treatment outcome were all significantly better in the treatment group after treatment.Conclu- sion Hyaluronidase iontophoresis can effectively improve function in infants with CMT and alleviate their symptoms.

Objective: To explore the association of hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype ( HTGW ) with impaired fasting glucose ( IFG ) and diabetes, so as to provide reference for the early prevention and control of diabetes. Methods: The survey was conducted among 35 to 75-year-old residents in 8 project sites in Jiangsu Province from 2015 to 2019. The information about demography and lifestyle was collected by the general information questionnaire and the primary screening questionnaire from the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases; waist circumference, height, weight, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose were measured. The multinomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association of HTGW with IFG and diabetes. Results: A total of 118 383 subjects were included, among whom 21 851 cases of HTGW, 27 245 cases of IFG and 22 899 cases of diabetes were identified, with the prevalence of 18.46%, 23.01% and 19.34%. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed HTGW was statistically associated with IFG ( OR=1.414, 95%CI: 1.343-1.489 ) and diabetes ( OR=2.216, 95%CI: 2.098-2.341 ). Conclusion HTGW is associated with IFG and diabetes, which make it possible to be an indicator for screening and assessment of glucose abnormality in middle-aged and elderly population.

OBJECTIVETo explore the vulnerability to HIV infection and related risk behaviors of the out-of-school adolescents who migrated with their parents from rural areas to cities.

METHODSFrom September to October 2005, 260 out-of-school adolescents aged 14-20 years were interviewed through a questionnaire.

RESULTSOut-of-school adolescents lacked HIV/AIDS knowledge and related life skills, and their psychosocial competency was relatively low. The interviewed adolescents were open in their sexuality, showing a low rate of condom use. Their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS prevention competency were positively correlated with family well-being, harmonious relations between their parents, a stable job, knowledge, life skill, and psychosocial competency for emotion control and empathy.

CONCLUSIONOut-of-school adolescents are highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection and transmission. Practical and feasible health and life skill education and psychosocial competency are the keys to effective HIV/AIDS prevention among out-of-school adolescent migrants.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Data Collection ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo examine the prevalence of obesity phenotypes and cardiometablic disorders (CDs) among children aged 6- 17 in Beijing from 2004 to 2013.

METHODSData were obtained from two cross-section surveys, which were conducted in 2004 and 2013. In 2004, by using stratified cluster sampling design, 20 primary or middle schools were selected from 7 districts (Xicheng, Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, Daxing, Pinggu, and Yanqing) in Beijing, and 20 554 school children aged 6-17 were recruited, with weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measured. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in 962 subjects from one school. In 2013, by using the same sampling design, 7 211 students from two districts (Haidian and Dongcheng) were surveyed with weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measured, and fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C) were measured for 1 344 subjects in the same school measured in 2004. Student's-t test was used to analyze the difference in body mass index(BMI), WC, and waist to height ratio (WHtR) among children between 2004 and 2010. Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference of hypertension, impaired fasting glucose(IFG), dyslipidemia, and metabolic disorders clustering between 2004 and 2010, and among different types of obesity; logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between three types of obesity and risks of cardiovascular metabolic disorders.

RESULTSIn boys, BMI ((20.3 ± 4.4) vs (19.4 ± 4.2) kg/m(2), t=11.18, P<0.001), WC ((70.6 ± 12.8) vs (66.7 ± 11.8) cm, t=17.20, P<0.001) and WHtR (0.451 ± 0.064 vs 0.437 ± 0.059, t=11.64, P<0.001) were significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. Similarly in girls, BMI ((18.9 ± 3.6) vs (18.7 ± 3.7) kg/m(2), t=12.21, P<0.001), WC ((64.5 ± 9.6) vs (63.0 ± 9.3) cm, t=8.15, P<0.001) and WHtR (0.430 ± 0.047 vs 0.423 ± 0.047, t=14.13, P<0.001) were also significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. The prevalence of combined obesity rose from 8.27% (1 697/20 526) in 2004 to 10.74% (774/7 209) in 2013, and central obesity from 3.08% (632/20 526) to 4.44% (320/7 209). The prevalence of hypertension (10.78%(313/1 344) vs 4.29% (42/962), χ(2)=36.76, P<0.001), IFG(49.54%(664/1 344) vs 6.45%(63/962), χ(2)=506.61, P<0.001), high TC(11.53%(155/1 344) vs 5.03%(49/962), χ(2)=28.31, P< 0.001), high TG(7.51%(101/1 344) vs 3.59%(35/962), χ(2)=29.59, P<0.001) were significantly higher in 2013 than those in 2004. Subjects with combined obesity had higher risks of hypertension (OR=5.88, 95% CI: 4.42-7.82), high TG (OR=7.12, 95%CI: 4.35-11.64), low HDL-C (OR=3.04, 95%CI: 1.55-5.95), high LDL-C (OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.22-4.02), CDs≥2 (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 2.09-4.50), comparing to children without obesity.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of types of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders, except for low HDL-C and high HDL-C, were significantly higher in 2013 than those 2004 among chlildren aged 6-17 year in Beijing. Children with combined obesity had higher prevalence of metabolic disorders.

Adolescent ; Beijing ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Child ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Lipids ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; epidemiology ; Pediatric Obesity ; epidemiology ; Phenotype ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical quality of root canal therapy (RCT) in West China Dental Hospital of Sichuan University.

METHODS1 423 RCT teeth were finished from Mar. 2001 to Feb. 2002 in West China Dental Hospital. Root canal filling quality and treatment period of these teeth were evaluated. 695 teeth of the total were revisited 2 years later and 2-year success rate were evaluated.

RESULTSThe ratios of adequate filling, underfilling, and overfilling were 79.97%, 14.62% and 5.41%, receptively. Full canal RCT ratio of molar was 89.44%. Average RCT treatment period was 2.8 weeks. 2-year success rate of RCT was 94.39%.

CONCLUSIONClinical RCT level of West China Dental Hospital was satisfactory from 2001 to 2002.

Adult ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molar ; Root Canal Obturation ; standards ; Root Canal Therapy ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of intrajejunal nutrition on uptake of amino acid and enzyme-protein synthesis in pancreatic acinar cell and subcellular fractionation and zymogen granules in dogs with acute pancreatitis.

METHODSFifteen dogs were induced acute pancreatitis by retrograde injection of 5% sodium-taurocholate into the pancreatic duct. Radioactive tracing and electron microscope were used to evaluate the change of amino acid uptake, enzyme-protein synthesis in acinar cell, subcellular fractionation, the quantitative analysis of mean zymogen granule number and mean zymogen granule area after injection L-(3)H-phenylalanine 30, 60, 120 1nd 180 min on the 7(th) day.

RESULTSThe radioactivity of L-(3)H phenylalanine uptake by pancreatic acinar cells and incorporations of L-(3)H phenylalanine into newly synthesized enzyme-protein peaked at 60 min. In enteral nutrition (EN) group it was higher that that in parenteral nutrition (PN) group (P < 0.05), and then gradually declined. The radioactivity peaked at 60 min in zymogen granule, lysosomal-mitochondria and microsomal subcellular fractionation. The latter two decreased, bat there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The change of the mean number and mean area of zymogen granules were not significant different between the EN group and PN group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEN or PN do not stimulate pancreatic acinar uptake amino acid and enzyme-protein synthesis in acinar cell and subcellular fractionation.

Acute Disease ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Enteral Nutrition ; Enzyme Precursors ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Male ; Pancreas, Exocrine ; metabolism ; Pancreatitis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Random Allocation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of emodin in young rats with intrahepatic cholestasis.

METHODSA total of 120 young Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model, and high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups, with 24 rats in each group. The rats in the control and model groups were given sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage, while the other groups were given different doses of emodin solution by gavage. On the 5th day of experiment, alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 50 mg/kg) was applied by gavage to establish the model of intrahepatic cholestasis in all groups except the control group. At 24, 48, and 72 hours after gavage, 8 rats in each group were sacrificed. Colorimetry was used to measure the serum levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bile acid (TBA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in each group, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was applied to observe the morphological changes of the liver under a light microscope at different time points.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the model group had significantly increased serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST at the 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour time points (P<0.01). In the model group, the serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, TBA, ALT, and AST showed varying degrees of increase at 48 hours after establishment of model, compared with the values at 24 and 72 hours (P<0.05). At 24, 48, and 72 hours, the high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups had varying degrees of reductions in the serum levels of TBIL and TBA compared with the model group (P<0.05); the high- and low-dose emodin groups had significantly increased serum levels of TBA compared with the medium-dose emodin group (P<0.05). The model group had the most severe pathological changes at 48 hours. Compared with the model group, the high-, medium-, and low-dose emodin groups showed certain improvement in pathological changes of the liver at each time point, and the medium-dose emodin group had better improvement compared with the high- and low-dose emodin groups.

CONCLUSIONSEmodin can effectively improve ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in young rats, and medium-dose emodin shows the best effect.

Alanine Transaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; metabolism ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Emodin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of ZNF217 expression to the carcinogenesis and progression of human ovarian cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR were used to detect ZNF217 expression in human ovarian cystadenocarcinoma, ovarian cystadenoma and normal ovary tissues.

RESULTSThe expression levels of ZNF217 protein and mRNA in ovarian cystadenocarcinoma was significantly higher than those in matched ovarian cystadenoma and normal tissues (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression between ovarian cystadenoma and normal ovarian tissues (P>0.05). The mRNA expression in the specimens was consistent with the protein expression of ZNF217 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONZNF217 gene expression is closely correlated to the occurrence and clinical stages of ovarian carcinomas, suggesting that ZNF217 can be an important candidate gene responsible for the occurrence and progression of ovarian carcinomas.

Cystadenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors ; Trans-Activators ; genetics