AIM:To conduct the relevance analysis of serum Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the different ages of female populations.METHODS: The women volunteers (n=100, 20~80 years old) were selected and divided into young group (20~39 years old), middle age group (40~59 years old) and elderly group (60~80 years old).The serum levels of Dkk-1 in the 3 groups of volunteers were detected by ELISA.In the middle age group, 25 people of 45~55 years old were selected and divided into postmenopausal group and premenopausal group to de-tect the serum level of Dkk-1 in the 2 groups of volunteers by ELISA.The BMD was measured by the method of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.The differences of Dkk-1 expression levels among different ages of female populations, and the rele-vance with BMD were compared.RESULTS:With the increase in age, the serum Dkk-1 expression level increased ( P<0.05), and BMD were reduced (P<0.05).The blood level of Dkk-1 and BMD negatively correlated (P<0.05) in the 3 groups of volunteers.The serum levels of Dkk-1 and BMD had stronger negative correlation in postmenopausal women group than that in premenopausal women group.CONCLUSION:With the increase in age, the expression level of serum Dkk-1 increases and the BMD level decreases, which contribute to a risk of osteoporosis.In the same age range, the postmeno-pausal women express higher level of Dkk-1, and the decreased BMD is more obvious, which contribute to a greater risk of osteoporosis.The increased level of Dkk-1 also inhibits bone formation and promotes bone resorption.It may become a new target for preventing and treating osteoporosis.

Objective To investigate the analgesic efficacy and spinal neurotoxicity of intrathecal (IT) different doses of dexmedetomidine in rats. Methods Sixty male SD rats weighing 180-220 g were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 12 each): groupnormal control (group C); group IT normal saline (group N); different doses of dexmedetomidine groups received IT dexmedetomidine 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00 μg/kg respectively (groups D1.3). Paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation (PWMT)with yon Frey filaments and tail flick latency (TFL) to a thermal nociceptive stimulus were measured before (To, baseline) and at 30 or60 rin after IT dexmedetomidine or normal saline administration (T1, T2 ) and the percentage of the maximum possible effect ( MPE ) was calculated. Lumbar segment of the spinal cord ( L4-6 ) was removed for microscopic examination and determination of c-Fos expression (by immuno-histochemistry) at 7, 24 and 48 h after IT dexmedetomidine or normal saline administration. Results PWMT, TFL and the percentage of MPE were significantly increased after IT dexmedetomidine as compared with the baseline values at T0 in groups D1-3 ( P ＜ 0.05). PWMT was significantly higher at T1 and TFL and the percentage of MPE were higher at T2 in groups D1-3 than in groups C and N,and in group D3 than in groups D1,2 ( P ＜ 0.05). At 7,24 h after IT dexmedetomidine c-Fos protein expression was significantly higher in group D3 than in groups C and N( P ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference in c-Fos expression at 48 h after IT dexmedetomidine between group D3 and groups C and N ( P ＞ 0.05 ). At 24 h after IT dexmedetomidine c-Fos protein expression was significantly higher in group D3 than in other 4 groups( P ＜ 0.05). Slight spinal cord injury was observed at 24 h after IT dexmedetomidine in group D3. Conclusion IT dexmedetomidine has antinociceptive effect. High dose dexmedetomidine IT can produce transient reversible toxicity to the spinal cord.

The changes of interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC)distribution and connexin 43(Cx43)expression in gastric muscle layers were assayed in gastroparesis models of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.The results showed that gastric emptying was significantly delayed,the contraction frequency and amplitude of gastric muscle segments were greatly decreased,Cx43 gray values were significantly increased and Cx43 distributed homogeneously with ICC immunopositivity in the model rats.These changes appear to be related to the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroparesis.

Current occupational health and occupational medicine teaching content focused on the detection of harmful factors,and more belonged to validation experiments.Closed-end management of experimental teaching,experimental report-based performance evaluation methods and single model of teaching methods reduced the students' study interesting,lack of problem-solving abilities.Therefore,it is necessary to optimize the experimental curriculum,adopt an open experimental teaching,build a reasonable experimental evaluation system and promote the diversification of teaching model.

Objective To compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) versus open liver resection (OLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 89 HCC patients undergoing liver resection between January 2012 and November 2016 were enrolled.Nonparametric tests were employed to compare the clinicalpathological characters and preoperative outcomes.Results No significant difference was observed in clinicalpathological features and postoperative morbidity.LLR group had shorter hospital stay (Z =4.642,P ＜0.01),lower serum ALT level in 1st,3rd and 5 day (Z =2.157,3.089,2.384,all P ＜0.05) and AST level in 1st-and 3rd-day postoperatively (Z =2.688,2.566,all P ＜0.05).The growth rate in serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) postoperatively is higher for LLR group (y =2.348 4x + 51.696 vs.y =0.902 9 + 35.532),(y =1.539 9x + 29.68 vs.y =0.732 9x + 30.406).Conclusion LLR allows quicker liver function recovery and shortens patients' postoperative hospital stay.

Referring to the rules for agricultural seed testing (GB /T 3543-1995) issued by China, the test of sampling, seed purity, weight per 1 000 seeds, seed moisture, seed viability and germination rate had been studied for screening seed quality test methods of Pesudostellaria heterophylla. The seed quality from different collection areas was measured. The results showed that at least 6.5 g seeds should be sampled and passed through 10-mesh sieve for purity analysis. The weight of 1 000 seeds was determined by using the 500-seed method. The phenotypic observation and size measurement were used for authenticity testing. The seed moisture was determined under the higher temperature (130 ± 2) degrees C for 5 hours. The seeds were dipped into 0.2% TTC sustaining 1 hour at 40 degrees C, then the viability could be determined. The break dormancy seeds were cultured on sand at 10 degrees C. K cluster analysis was applied for the data analysis, the seed quality from different collection areas grading of P. Heterophylla was described as three grades. The seed quality of each grade should reach following requirements: for first grade seeds, germination rate ≥ 86%, 1 000-grain weight ≥ 2.59 g, purity ≥ 87%, moisture ≤ 13.1%; for second grade seeds, germination rate ≥ 70%, 1 000-grain weight ≥ 2.40 g, purity ≥ 77%, moisture ≤ 14.3%; for third grade seeds, germination rate ≥ 41%, 1 000-grain weight ≥ 2.29 g, purity ≥ 76%, moisture ≤ 15.8%. The seed testing methods for quality items of P. heterophylla had been initially established, as well as the primary P. heterophylla seed quality classification standard.
Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Germination ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Water ; analysis

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Tracheal Stenosis ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

OBJECTIVEWolfram syndrome (WFS) is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by various clinical manifestations. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of WFS.

METHODSOne case of WFS was reported. Combined with the clinical data of 8 cases of WFS which had been reported in China between 1994 and 2007, the clinical characteristics of WFS were reviewed.

RESULTSInsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus as the earliest manifestation was found in all of the 9 patients, with a median onset age of 5.0 years. Optic atrophy occurred in 8 patients (onset age: 8.5 years), diabetes insipidus in 7 patients (onset age: 8.5 years) and deafness in 7 patients (onset age: 9.8 years). Short stature was found in 6 patients and hydroureteronephrosis in 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was the first presentation in children with WFS. Optic atrophy, diabetes insipidus and deafness were common complications, with a various onset age.

Objective To understand the evolutionary characterization of hemagglutinin (HA)gene of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in Guangdong during 2009-2011. MethodsWe selected 83 pandemic H1N1 strains isolated in Guangdong during 2009-2011. The HA1 genes were sequenced and analyzed comparatively by Bioedit 7.0 and MEGA 4.0. ResultsThe evolutionary rate of Hal gene of pandemic H1N1 and seasonal H1N1 viruses was 5.2×10-3 substitutions/site/year, higher than that of seasonal H1N1 viruses. Most amino acid changes in HA1 molecules accumulated on the surface of the molecule and were partly located in antigenic sites. Two fatal infections were detected with a mutation at HA residue 222, in one virus with a change D222G, and in one virus D222N. ConclusionThe phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the influenza epidemic in Guangdong at the beginning of 2011 are due to occurrence of genetic changes of pandemic H1N1 virus. The amino acid change at residue 222 of the HA1 are likely to be associated with severe or even fatal illness.