AIM: A novel method for the overall quality control of Herba Artemisiae scopareiae has been established by HPLC fingerprint. METHODS: The chromatographic fingerprints were obtained by injecting ~5 ?L of the sample solution each time on a Kromasil ODS column (250 mm?~4.6 mm ,~5 ?m ) with the gradient elution solvent system composed of 1%acetate acid-water-methanol. The flow rate was 1 mL/min, the column temperature was maintained at ~30 ℃ and the detection wavelength was set at ~326 nm . RESULTS:22 co-possessing peaks were selected as the fingerprint peaks of Herba Artemisiae scopareiae and the similarities between the chromatographic fingerprints of the herbal drugs were calculated taking chlorogenic acid peak as the reference peak. The chromatographic fingerprints also were evaluated by the chromatographic fingerprint index (F), the relative index (Fr) and the fingerprint components apparent prercentage contents (P%). CONCLUSION: This method with good precision and reproducibility can be useful in the quality control of Herba Artemisiae scopareiae.

AIM: To develope the quantitative analysis approach for irigenin (IRG) in Shegan Kangbingdu Injection(Rhizoma Belamcandae, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Bupleuri, etc.). METHODS: The operation was carried out on the Kromasil ODS column (5 ?m, 4.6 mm?200 mm) with the mobile phase comprised of a mixture of water-methanol-acetonitril(50∶46∶5) adjusted pH3.0 by phostrate acid, the flow rate of 0.8 mL?min -1 , the UV detection wavelength at 265 nm and the temperature at (30.5?1) ?C . RESULTS: The linear range was in the range of 0.028 2-9.4 ?g(r=0.999 9). The relative standard deviations of peak areas for IRG was 1.2% and the standard was stable within 18 h(RSD=0.72%). The LOD (S/N=3) was 3.2 ng, and the limit of quantification (S/N=10) was 10.6 ng and the average recovery was 99.7%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, rapid and accurate. It can be used for the quality control of Shegan Kangbingbu Injection.

BACKGROUND: Interverbral disc degeneration (IDD) is the major cause of low back pain, which is considered as the pathological basis of intervertebral disc herniation and other degenerative diseases that severely affect the patients' quality of life. At present, neither conservative treatment nor operative treatment can reverse or inhibit the pathological development of IDD.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the progress of stem cell therapy for IDD, and to further analyze its challenge and potential solutions.METHODS: Relevant studies in PubMed database published before September 2016 were retrieved. Studies about stem cell therapy in IDD in vitro and vivo as well clinical trials were enrolled to analyze its existing problems.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Stem cell therapy provides a new strategy for IDD treatment. So far, a large number of studies in vitro and vivo as well as clinical trials have reported the remarkable effect of stem cell therapy. (2) However, problems such as how to deal with microenvironment of interverbral disc, choose proper stem cells and master indications will be a challenge in the future.

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on acute lung injury induced by hind limb ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: group C(control), group I-R(ischemia-reperfusion), group Pre-Dex(dexmedetomidine)and group Post-Dex. The morphological changes of the lung tissues were observed under light microscope , and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in alveolar septum were counted. Meanwhile, lung coefficient, arterial partial PaO2, lung levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-10, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Results Rats in the I-R group were resulted in the damage of the lung tissues. The rats in group Pre-Dex and group Post-Dex were featured with obvious mild lung injury. TNF-α、IL-6、IL-10 and MDA in lung levels were significantly increased in group I-R , Pre-Dex and Post-Dex. TNF-α, IL-6 and MDA in the lung were significantly decreased in group Pre-Pex and group Post-Dex. IL-10 was increased in group Pre-Dex and group Post-Dex. Conclusions Inflammatory response and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by hind limb ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Dexmedetomidine attenuated the lung injury through anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation.

Objective To evaluate the expression of STAT3, VEGF and Survivin in human gastric carcinoma and its clinicopathological significance. Methods The expression of STAT3, VEGF, survivin was determined by immunohistochemical staining of specimens from 53 cases undergoing radical gastrectomy and 53 cases of normal gastric mucous membranae. We evaluated the relationship between expression of these proteins and various clinicopothological factors. Results The expression rate of STAT3, VEGF and survivin in 53 gastric carcinoma tissues was 58%, 62% and 74%, respectively, which was significantly higher than those in the normal group(P <0. 01). STAT3 expression correlated with VEGF(r =0. 608 ,P <0. 01) ,survivin(r = 0. 451, P = 0. 001). Positive STAT3, VEGF staining was significantly associated with tumor size, Lauren's classification,lymph node metastasis and clinical staging(P < 0. 05). Survivin staining was significantly associated with Lauren's classification, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging(P <0. 05). Multivariate analysis revealed STAT3 expression and lymph node metastasis were independently prognostic factors of poor survival. Conclusion VEGF, survivin possibly regulated by STAT3 leads to tumor angiogenesis and anti-apoptosis. The expression of STAT3 is an independent prognostic factors in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Osteoblasts have become a kind of important seed cells in bone tissue engineering. However, it is difficult to harvest osteoblasts, and the purity and calcification ability of osteoblasts isolated by different methods are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To compare the purity and calcification ability of osteoblasts induced from mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, MC3T3 cell lines, and cultured primarily from the neonatal mouse cranium. METHODS: Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by differential adhesion method, and after passaing, passage 3 cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium for 21 days. MC3T3 cell lines were cultured in osteogenic induction media 1 and 2 for 21 days. Osteoblasts were cultured primarily from neonatal mouse cranium by type Ⅰ coll agenase digestion method. Calcium nodules of osteoblasts obtained by three methods were observed by Alizarin red staining to detect osteogenic activity of cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There were average 16.3 calcium nodules per low-power field after osteogenic induction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. (2) There were sparsely distributed calcium nodules in MC3T3 cells after induction with osteogenic induction medium 1, accounting for 1.7 calcium nodules per low-power field, while there were dense calcium nodules in MC3T3 cells after induction with osteogenic induction medium 2, accounting for 44.6 calcium nodules per low-power field. There was a significant difference in the calcium nodule formation ability between the two groups (P < 0.01). (3) After primary culture, there was only 0.6 calcium nodule per low-power field. (4) Except for the insignificant difference between osteogenic induction medium 1 and primary culture groups, there were significant differences in pair-wise comparison of any other two groups. Except the insignificant difference between group I of MC3T3 inducing conditional media and primary culture osteoblasts, there were significant differences in the osteogenic ability between groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, it is a better method to culture MC3T3 cells in osteogenic induction medium 2 containing dexamethasone, because many uncontrol able factors are involved in the isolation and culture of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To evaluate the effects of age factors on sedation induced by dexmedetomidine.Methods One hundred and thirty-nine patients,aged 18-103 yr,with body mass index ≤ 30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective surgeries on lower abdomen or lower extremities,were divided into4 groups according to the age:group Ⅰ (18 yr≤age≤44 yr,n=40);group Ⅱ (45 yr≤age≤59 yr,n=38);group Ⅲ (60 yr≤age≤89 yr,n=39);group Ⅳ (≥90 yr,n=22).A catheter was placed in the subarachnoid space at L3,4 interspace,and ropivacaine 10-20 mg was injected via the catheter.At 20 min after ropivacaine injection,dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg was infused via a pump over 10 min.The onset time and duration of sedation were recorded,and the occurrence of adverse effects such as hypoxemia,bradycardia and hypotension was observed.Results There was no significant difference in the onset time of sedation and incidence of bradycardia among the 4 groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,the duration of sedation was significantly prolonged in Ⅱ-Ⅳ groups (P＜0.05).Compared with Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups,the duration of sedation was significantly prolonged in group Ⅳ (P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of hypoxemia and hypotension was significantly higher in group Ⅳ than in Ⅰ-Ⅲ groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion Dexmedetomidine-induced sedation is influenced by age factors,the duration of sedation induced by dexmedetomidine is prolonged,and the occurrence of adverse effects is increased,especially if the patients ≥ 90 yr of age.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of malocclusion in China.

METHODSBased on individual normal occlusion and Angle's classification of malocclusion, standard investigation form was made. 25,392 children of different dental ages were evaluated by orthodontic professionals.

RESULTSThe prevalence of malocclusion among Chinese children was 67.82%. The prevalence of malocclusion among children with different dental age and the proportion of the different types of malocclusions were revealed.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of malocclusion among Chinese children had increased from 40% to 67% over the last 40 years.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; classification ; epidemiology ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: It has been found that the distribution and diffusion degree of bone cement are the main factors influencing the clinical effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of analyzing bone cement distribution form and diffusion degree based on Mimics software, and to evaluate the relationship of clinical efficacy with bone cement distribution form and diffusion degree. METHODS: A total of 170 cases of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture admitted to Zigong No. 4 People's Hospital from January 2017 to March 2018 were included, including 41 cases of males and 129 cases of females aged 60-97 years. All of them were treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty. X-ray and CT examination were done at postoperative 2 days, and the bone cement distribution was classified into five types based on the distribution of bone cement in X-ray images, including type Ⅰ (most cement continuously and evenly distributed in the vertebral body), type Ⅱ (most cement distributed in the central vertebral bodies), type Ⅲ (most cement distributed on both sides of vertebral body), type Ⅳ (most cement distribution at the side of the vertebral bodies and the central), type Ⅴ (most cement distribution at the side of the vertebral body). Mimics project files were created based on CT image data to calculate bone cement volume and diffusion volume. After 6 months of follow-up, visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index and Cobb angle were compared among groups to analyze the relationship between bone cement distribution, bone cement diffusion volume, bone cement diffusion volume ratio and clinical efficacy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The visual analogue scale score and Oswestry disability index of the five types of bone cements were significantly improved at 2 days and 6 months after surgery compared with preoperative data (P < 0.05), the Cobb angle of the type Ⅰ group was significantly improved compared with preoperative data (P < 0.05), and the Cobb angles of the type Ⅱ-Ⅴ groups showed no difference from the preoperative data (P> 0.05). (2) The diffusion volume of bone cement was (6.69±1.19) mL, and the diffusion volume ratio of bone cement was (20.93±3.13) ％. There was no correlation between the volume of bone cement injection and the visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index and Cobb angle at 2 days and 6 months after surgery. There was a negative correlation between the bone cement dispersion volume and the visual analogue scale score at 6 months after surgery, and the Oswestry disability index score at 2 days and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05), but the correlation was weak. The diffusion volume ratio of bone cement was negatively correlated with the visual analogue scale score and Oswestry disability index score at 2 days and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05), showing a strong correlation. These findings show that, based on the three-dimensional reconstruction function of Mimics software, the diffusion volume and diffusion volume ratio of bone cement can be accurately calculated. The bone cement evenly distributed can alleviate the local kyphosis. The diffusion volume ratio of bone cement is positively correlated with clinical efficacy, which is more valuable than the volume of bone cement.

［18F］6-fluoro-3, 4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine(［18F］F-DOPA)has been used as a radiotracer for Parkinson′s disease over 30 years. The previously reported electrophilic synthesis method has low radiochemical yield(RCY), low specific activity(SA)and other defects. Recent reported nucleophilic synthesis of ［18F］F-DOPA could overcome the disadvantages. In this paper, the nucleophilic synthetic methods for ［18F］F-DOPA are reviewed.