OBJECTIVETo provide quantitative foundation for the diagnosis of atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation by analyzing the various imaging features of normal atlanto-axial joints in neutral position and rotary functional position on the MSCT images.

METHODSForty-one normal volunteers were examined by CT on the atlanto-axial joint in neutral position and rotary functional position. By the observation and measurement of atlanto-dental interval (ADI), lateral atlanta-dental space (LADS), VBLADS and rotating angle of atlas on dentate (RAAD), the imaging manifestations and anatomical characteristics were analyzed and compared. In order to compare VBLADS and RAAD and make a correlation analysis between different age groups, 51 normal volunteers were divided into two groups: age younger than 45 years old group and age older than or equal to 45 years old group.

RESULTSThe dens in neutral position deviated in an angle range of (3.22±0.89)°. The articular facets of lateral atlantoaxial joint in rotary functional position had rotatory displacement and the range of the relative rotation angle was (33.85± 2.79)°. Through the correlation analysis of matching data, it could be concluded that there was no correlation between atlantoaxial relative rotation angle and VBLADS within a certain range. There were statistically differences of atlantoaxial relative rotation angle in rotary functional position between two groups.

CONCLUSIONMSCT imaging in rotary functional position can clearly show the anatomical structure and rotation function of a normal atlanto-axial joint, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of atlanto axial rotatory subluxation.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Rotation

Objective To study the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) and serum interleukin-6(IL-6) in wheezing children under 5 years of age.Methods A total of 224 wheezing children under 5 years of age were divided into API(asthma predictive index)-positive (n=116) and API-negative groups (n=108).Serum level of IL-6 and TLR4 expression on CD14+ monocytes were measured after wheezing was stable for one month.TLR4 expression on CD14+ monoeytes was quantified via flow-cytometry.Serum level of IL-6 was detected by ELISA.Results Serum level of IL-6 and TLR4 expression on CD14+ monocytes of API-positive group were higher than API-negative group [LR4(％):34.9±10.0 vs.30.2± 8.8;IL-6(ng/L):46.4±15.1 vs.40.5±13.6].There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of TLR4 and the content of serum IL-6 in two groups of wheezing children(P＜0.05).Conclusion TLR4 may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma through promoting the expression of IL-6.TLR4 may be a index to predicting asthma in wheezing children.

Objective To examine the distribution and expression of dentin matrix protein1 ( DMP1 ) in the condylar cartilage and subchondral bone of osteoporosis rats. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 months (n=30)wererandomlydividedinto3groups. TheShamgroupunderwentshamoperationonly(n=10),theOVX group ( n = 10 ) received a bilateral ovariectomy first and then saline solution treatment subcutaneously for 3 months. The RIS group ( n=10 ) also received a bilateral ovariectomy and then with risedronate treatment ( 2. 4μg/kg) subcutaneously for 3 months. Three months after the operation, the animals were sacrificed. Toluidine blue staining showed the structure changes of rat condylar cartilage region. The changes of osteoclasts in the bony subcondylar region were evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase ( TRAP) staining. The expression of DMP1 was analyzed immunohistochemically and then performed by semi-quantitative imaging analyses. Results Toluidine blue staining showed a thickened hypertrophic layers of condylar cartilage in RIS group. The results of TRAP staining indicated that the number of osteoclasts was significantly greater in OVX group than RIS group (P<0. 05). Immunohistochemistry showed that DMP1 localized mainly in the chondrogenic layers and osteocytes, bony subcondylar region in three groups. The expression levels of DMP1 proteins statistically decreased in OVX group than the other two groups(both P<0. 05). Conclusion Bisphophonates may reduce the the number of osteoclasts in the condyle from osteoporosis rats, with increasing of the expression of DMP1, which may influences condylar cartilage biomineralization.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The number of apoptotic cels in rat condylar cartilage and subcondylar region: the sham operation group < the treatment group < the model group (alP< 0.05). (2)Expression of Bcl-2: The trend of the model group was lower than that in the sham operation group, although there was no statisticaly significant difference between the two groups; Bcl-2 expression in the treatment group was statisticaly higher compared to the model group (P< 0.05).(3)Expression of Bax and Caspase-3: The expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 were higher in the model group than in the sham operation group (alP< 0.05), while Bax and Caspase-3 expression was lower in the treatment group than that in the model group (alP< 0.05). The results suggested that bisphophonates can regulate apoptosis in condylar cartilage from osteoporosis rats by changing the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3.

BACKGROUND:Insulin-like growth factor 1 is the key factor during cartilage development, which is involved in the growth and reconstruction of condylar cartilage.
OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 on cel apoptosis and the apopotosis-associated factors of Bcl-2, Bax mRNA and protein expressions of rat condylar chondrocytes.
METHODS:The 1-day-old and 28-day-old rat condylar chondrocytes were cultured and identified in vitro. The condylar chondrocytes with different ages were divided into experimental group and control group. After being starved for 24 hours, chondrocytes in the experimental group were incubated with 100μg/L recombined rat insulin-like growth factor 1 for 48 hours, while the chondrocytes in the control group were incubated normal y. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, after being incubated with recombined
insulin-like growth factor 1, the number of condylar chondrocytes was increased with high speed proliferation (P<0.05). Real-time RCR and western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were increased after added with recombined rat insulin-like growth factor 1, while the expression levels of Bax and protein were decreased (P<0.05). The results indicate that insulin-like growth factor 1 can promote the
proliferation and reduce cel apoptosis of newborn and adolescent rat condylar chondrocytes, which may be mediated by Bcl-2 and Bax.

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the epidemic characteristics of etiologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis, and the outcome of treatment in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of tuberculosis prevention and control measures in Liaoning Province. Methods　The medical records information of registered pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022 was collected from the "Tuberculosis Information Management System", a subsystem of the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System". A descriptive analysis was performed on the epidemiological characteristics and treatment outcomes of cases of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Results　From 2016 to 2022, a total of 152 778 cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis were registered in Liaoning Province. Registration rates decreased from 54.48/100 000 in 2016 to 39.12/100 000 in 2022, displaying a downward trend (χ2trend=1 921.17, P<0.001). The etiological positive rate increased from 26.70% in 2016 to 51.21% in 2022, indicating an upward trend (χ2trend=5 203.00, P<0.001). The etiological positive registration rate increased from 14.54/100 000 in 2016 to 20.03/100 000 in 2022, showing an upward trend (χ2trend=647.97, P<0.001). The male-female ratio of etiological positive was 3.35∶1. The age group of 55-<65 had the highest incidence rate at 25.45% (16 127/63 376) among pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases. Patients over 45 years of age accounted for 71.27% (41 570/63 376) of total cases, pointing towards an aging trend. The main occupations of the patients were household and unemployed, making up 41.78% (26 477/63 376) of total cases and showed an increasing year-on-year trend (χ2trend=17.404, P<0.001). Direct medical consultation was the primary mode of patient source at 50.28%(31 864/63 376), while 64.54%(40 904/63 376) cases reported a delay in seeking treatment. Seasonality was observed in the occurrence of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, with February and September being the months of lowest incidence, while May and June witnessed peak incidences. The etiological positive patients were mainly in Shenyang, Dalian, Jinzhou and other regions. The proportion of successful treatment of etiologically positive decreased from 91.15% in 2016 to 85.88% in 2022, manifesting a downward trend (χ2trend=35.892, P<0.001). Conclusions　From 2016 to 2022, the incidence and registration rates of pathogen-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Liaoning Province displayed an upward trend. Several characteristics were observed including seasonal variations, delayed treatment, regional distribution differences, and a decline in successful treatment rates. Targeted prevention and control measures should be formulated according to the actual situation in Liaoning Province.

Objective To investigate the expression difference of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)between lung cancer and lung benign disease,and its relation to clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC),and to research the possible role of VEGF in the growth of lung can- cer.Methods The expression of VEGF and microvascular density(MVD)were detected in 60 lung cancer tissues and 30 lung benign disease tissues after operation by immunohistochemical method and put up statisti- cal analysis.Results The positive rate of VEGF expression(63%)and MVD(45.13?10.27)in lung cancer tissues were both higher than those in lung benign disease tissues(27%,33?6.49)(P

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the application of TB laboratory detection technology in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022, and to provide scientific basis for further improving the detection rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the province. Methods The medical records of registered tuberculosis patients in Liaoning Province from 2016 to 2022 were collected from the "Tuberculosis Information Management System" in the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" subsystem. Statistical analysis was performed for sputum coating, sputum culture, and molecular biology testing. Results From 2016 to 2022, a total of 152 778 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were registered in Liaoning Province. The detection rate of sputum smear microscopy was 98.03% (149 775/152 778), the detection rate of sputum culture was 20.72% (31 661/152 778), and the detection rate of molecular biology testing was 20.21% (30 737/152 778). From 2018 to 2022, the rate of molecular biological detection showed an increasing trend (χ2trend=7 104.466, P<0.01), while from 2016 to 2021, the detection rate of sputum culture showed an increasing trend, with statistical significance (χ2trend=3,068.701, P<0.01). The sputum smear detection rate showed a downward trend（χ2trend=689.913, P<0.01). . There were significant differences in the results of sputum smear microscopy, sputum culture, and molecular biology testing, as confirmed by the McNemar test (P<0.01). The positive rate of pathogenic academics increased from 26.27% in 2016 to 51.55% in 2022, showing a yearly upward trend (χ2trend=5 262.863, P<0.01), with significant differences between each year (χ2=5 686.935, P<0.01). Among pulmonary tuberculosis patients with positive pathogenic microorganisms, the proportion of sputum smear-positive cases decreased from 94.32% to 52.36%, showing a downward trend (χ2trend=5 010.104, P<0.01). The proportion of culture-positive cases increased from 5.68% in 2016 to 12.83% in 2022, showing an upward trend (χ2trend=122.501, P<0.01). In Liaoning Province, molecular biology testing has been carried out since 2018, and the proportion of molecular biology-positive cases increased from 11.51% to 34.81%, showing an increasing trend (χ2trend=1 969.326, P<0.01). The number of positive patients in molecular biological tests in municipal hospitals accounted for 18.69% (8 386/44 778) of etiological positive patients, while the number of positive patients in county-level hospitals accounted for 13.61% (2 439/17 924) of etiological positive patients, with significant differences (χ2=231.594, P<0.01). Conclusions The implementation of molecular biology testing for tuberculosis in Liaoning Province is one of the main measures to improve the positive rate of etiology, and it helps to diagnose tuberculosis patients timely and accurately

Objective To study the effects of Weibimei and its Chinese medicine portions(cortex frangulae, fennel powder, acorus tatarinowii, glycyrrhizae and asparagus) on cell cycle regulation in gastric cancer cells and growth inhibition in gastric cancer Xenografts.Methods Gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were normally cultured and treated with Weibimei, extractum glycyrrhizae, cortex frangulae, fennel powder, acorus tatarinowii and asparagus.Then, the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells were detected by MTT assay, their effect on SGC-7901 cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry, and the expression of cell cycle related proteins were examined by Western blot.Animal models of SGC-7901 cells xenografts in nude mice were constructed to evaluate the growth inhibition effects of Weibimei and its Chinese medicine portions, and the expression of STAT3,p-STAT3, Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Survivin in gastric tumors were detected by immunohistochemical assays.Results Weibimei and its three kinds of Chinese medicine portions, cortex frangulae, fennel and acorus tatarinowii could obviously inhibit the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, compared to control group, with a statistical significant difference (P<0.05).The cell cycle of SGC-7901 was arrested at G1 phase with cortex frangulae, fennel and acorus tatarinowii treatment, the expression of Cyclin A, B, D, E were decreased significantly (P<0.05).However, no significant effects was found in glycyrrhizae or asparagus group.Xenografts tumor sizes in Weibimei, cortex frangulae, fennel or acorus tatarinowi groups were much smaller than that in saline group or Triple Therapy group (three-kinds-drugs-combination for the treatment of gastric ulcer) (P<0.05).Xenografts experiments showed that the tumor growth in nude mice in Weibimei, cortex frangulae, fennel or acorus tatarinowi groups were significantly smaller than that in control group or in Triple Therapy Group (P<0.05), and phosphorylated STAT3, and STAT3 signaling targeted genes, including Bcl-2, Cyclin D1 and Survivin were all significantly down-regulated by immunostaining.Conclusion Weibimei and its Chinese medicine portions including cortex frangulae, fennel and acorus tatarinowii can could significantly inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 cells proliferation and arrested the cell cycle of G1 phase in vitro, and inhibit gastric cancer xenografts in nude mice in vivo.

AIM: The activity and expression of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and the adrenomedullin (ADM) contents in various tissues were observed in septic shock and control rats to study the possible role of NEP in the change of ADM contents in tissues during septic shock. METHODS: The septic shock model of rats were established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). ADM contents, NEP activities, level of NEP mRNA and NEP protein were measured. RESULTS: (1) In early septic shock (ES), the ADM contents were generally higher in detected tissues, the NEP activity in left ventricle and small intestine were lower and was higher in blood than those in controls, and in lung, kidney and aorta were similar with the controls. NEP immunoreactive staining were less in lung, left ventricle, endothelium and media of aorta, but more in adventitia of aorta and kidney than those of the controls; (2) In late septic shock (LS), the ADM contents in small intestine was less but in plasma and other tissues were higher, and the NEP activity were less in plasma and other tissues than those in ES. The NEP immunoreactive staining were less in heart, endothelium and media of aorta, lung and kidney than those in ES, and was no significant change in adventitia of aorta compared with those of ES. RT-PCR found that NEP gene expression were significantly less in left ventricle, aortas, lung and small intestine than those in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: In septic shock rats, the NEP activity changes heterogeneously but the ADM contents elevate in most tissues. These results indicate that during the septic shock, the local concentrations and actions of ADM in various tissues may be regulated differently by the NEP. [