OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to analyze the incidence and the type of the bifid mandibular canal (BMC) by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

METHODSA total of 216 patients (104 female and 112 male) who underwent CBCT were included in this study. The CBCT images were evaluated for the incidence and the type of the BMC.

RESULTSBMC was observed in 39 (18.06%) of 216 patients and 50 (11.57%) of 432 sides, female 18 (17.31 %) and male 21 (18.75%). BMC were classified into four types: type I 17 sides (3.94%), type II 11 sides (2.55%), type III 20 sides (4.63%), and type IV 2 sides (0.46%).

CONCLUSIONBMC is detected at a high rate by using CBCT. When doctors perform surgical procedures in the mandible, they should pay attention to the anatomical variations of BMC of the mandibular canals.

Objective To study the effect of periodontitis on rats with chronic bacterial prostatitis. Methods A total of 80 male rats were randomly divided into the 4 weeks group (n=40) and the 8 weeks group (n=40), and then the two groups were randomly divided into the normal control group (N=10), the periodontitis group (PE=10), the chronic bacterial prostatitis group (CBP=10), and the peri-odontitis+chronic bacterial prostatitis group (CBP+PE=10) respectively. The pathological changes, inflammation score, level of TNF-αand IL-1β, and indicators of periodontal of all rats were observed. Results In the 4 weeks group, the indicators of periodontal in PE group and CBP+PE group were higher than that in N group and CBP group (P<0. 05), but there was no significant difference between PE group and CBP+PE group as well as between the N group and the CBP group (P>0. 05). The pathological changes, inflammation score,TNF-αlevel ,IL-1 β level in CBP+PE group and CBP group were higher than that in N group and PE group (P<0. 05), while there was no sing-nificant difference between N group and PE group as well as between CBP+PE group and CBP group (P>0. 05). In the 8 weeks group, the indicators of periodontal in PE group and CBP+PE group were higher than that in N group and CBP group (P<0. 05), but there was no sig-nificant difference between PE group and CBP+PE group as well as between the N group and the CBP group (P>0. 05). The pathological changes, inflammation score, TNF-α level , IL-1 β level in CBP +PE group and CBP group were higher than that in N group and PE group (P<0. 05),while there was no singnificant difference between N group and PE group (P>0. 05). The pathological changes, inflam-mation score,TNF-α level ,IL-1 β level in CBP+PE group were higher than those in the CBP group (P<0. 05). Compared between 4 weeks group and 8 weeks group, there was no obvious difference in N group in terms of periodontal indexes. Periodontal indexes in 8 weeks PE group was higher than that in 4 weeks PE group (P<0. 05), but there was no significant difference prostate tissue pathology, inflamma-tion score,TNF-α level,IL-1βlevel (P>0. 05). Pathology, inflammation score,TNF-αlevel, IL-1βlevel in 8 weeks CBP group were low-er compared to 4 weeks CBP group (P<0. 05), and there was no significant difference between the indexes of periodontal (P>0. 05). Prostate tissue pathology, inflammation score, TNF-αlevel, IL-1βlevel in 8 weeks CBP+PE group were lower than that in 4 weeks CBP+PE group (P<0. 05), but indicators of periodontal in 8 weeks CBP+PE group were higher than 4 weeks CBP+PE group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Chronic bacterial prostatitis combined with periodontitis can inhibit self-healing tendency of chronic bacterial prostatitis of rats and keep rats in chronic inflammatory phase.

Objective To investigate the usage of defluoridation stove and the formation of related behavior in the disease affected areas and the current situation of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis,to evaluate the control effect,so as to provide a theoretical basis for superior department to adjust the control strategy in time.Methods According to The Implementation Plan for Prevention and Treatment of Coal-burning-borne Endemic Fluorosis in Shaanxi Province,Ziyang and Langao in Ankang City were chosen for epidemiological survey.Using stratified sampling method,according to the degree of disease situation,each county was divided into 3 layers and then 5％ from each layer was extracted to carry out an investigation,respectively.The number of investigated village was at least 1,up to 30.The number in a non-endemic area was 1-3.Questionnaire survey of all residents was carried out to ask of the changes of cooking and heating fuel;the correct usage of the improved stove;the changes of life behavior related to the corn and pepper for human consumption and the development of prevention and treatment of post management.In endemic areas and in non-endemic areas,according to the Determination of Fluoride in Foods (GB/T 5009.18-2003),fluoride levels of corn (or rice) and chili which collected from 10 families were determined.Meanwhile,the criteria for Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis (WS/T 208-2011) was used to diagnose dental fluorosis and the criteria of Urine-determination of Fluoride-ion Specific Electrode Method (WS/T 89-1996) was used to evaluate urine fluoride;dental fluorosis of every child aged 8-12 was examined and 10 copies of urine samples were randomly collected in each age group.Housewives and students over the age of 16 in endemic areas were quizzed of the knowledge of health and diagnosed serious skeletal fluorosis according to The Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Results The rates of correct usage of improved furnace and oven were 91.43％ (3 019/3 302) and 95.72％ (3 578/3 738).The autonomous maintenance rate of stoves was 0.61％ (49/7 998).In endemic areas,the correct drying rate and the correct storage rate of corn and pepper were all 100.0％ (300/300);the washing rate of corn and pepper before eating was 98.3％ (7 863/7 998).The fluoride median contents of corn and pepper was 0.800 and 2.863 mg/kg,respectively.In non-endemic areas,The fluoride median contents of corn and pepper was 0.443 and 4.065 mg/kg,respectively.The awareness rates of health knowledge were 81.27％ in housewives and 90.32％ in students.Dental fluorosis detection rate of 8-12 years old children was 12.52％ (87/695);the fluoride content was between 0.04-7.00 mg/L and the geometric mean value of fluoride content was 0.61 mg/L in endemic areas.There was no new case of serious skeletal fluorosis.Conclusions The prevention effect is obvious.Disease surveillance,health education and management of defluoridation stoves are keys to prevent coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis.

Problem based learning(PBL) is a teaching mode which is based on the autonomous learning of students in small groups.Due to the limited conditions,PBL method can not be widely applied in Guangzhou Medical University.Teaching and research section of pharmacology established a web based PBL teaching mode (W-PBL) in the school through Blackboard net platform,which enlarged the teaching scope and provided students and teachers with a teaching mode having updated learning patterns and high efficiency.Results of this practice were satisfactory and teaching effect was improved significantly.

Spinal infection is a serious health-threatening clinical condition, which more frequently occurs in solid organ transplantation receipients than in non transplant receipients. With the increase of solid organ transplantation, the incidence of secondary spinal infection has been increased in recent years. The symptoms and signs of secondary spinal infection are not obvious, and early diagnosis and treatment are difficult, leading to recurrent attacks and protracted disease courses. This article reviews the progress in the diagnosis and treatment of secondary spinal infection after solid organ transplantation.

Objective:To investigate the change in 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels in hospitalized newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between baseline and vitamin D supplementation, and to explore the effect of different levels of vitamin D on the complications.Method:A prospective study was conducted on the newborns admitted to NICU at Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University within 72 h after birth from January 2021 to January 2022. Vitamin D supplementation was initiated after the detection of basal 25-OHD levels within 72 h after birth. Serum 25-OHD levels were measured after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of supplementation. Newborns were categorized into four groups according to the basal 25-OHD level: sufficient, insufficient, deficient, and severely deficient groups. The analysis of variants, independent sample t-test, paired sample t-test, Chi-square test, or Fisher's exact probability method were employed to evaluate the differences in basal 25-OHD levels among newborns with different clinical conditions and gestational ages, as well as the variation in 25-OHD levels before and after supplementation among the four groups. Furthermore, differences in the morbidity and mortality among different basal status groups were analyzed. Result:(1) During the study period, 626 cases met the inclusion criteria, and after excluding seven cases, 619 infants were ultimately included in the study with serum 25-OHD level within 72 h being (21.8±10.1) ng/ml. There were 134 cases (21.6%) in the sufficient group, 208 cases (33.6%) in the insufficient group, 186 cases (30.0%) in the deficient group, and 91 cases (14.7%) in the severe deficient group. (2) No statistically significant differences were observed in the basal 25-OHD levels regardless of the genders, gestational age, birth month, number of fetuses or small for gestational age (all P>0.05). (3) Among all infants, 158 cases continued to supplement vitamin D for two weeks, 64 cases continued for four weeks, and 13 cases continued for six weeks, with all of them discharged within eight weeks. Compared with the basal 25-OHD levels, there were no statistically significant differences in the serum 25-OHD levels among the sufficient, insufficient, deficient, and severely deficient groups after two weeks of supplementation [(37.1±9.3) vs. (36.8±4.9) ng/ml, (24.7±7.2) vs. (24.7±2.9) ng/ml, (16.0±7.6) vs. (15.4±2.9) ng/ml, (8.1±5.6) vs. (7.6±1.4) ng/ml; t=0.18, 0.04, 0.65 and 0.48, respectively; all P>0.05]. After four weeks of supplementation, however, the serum 25-OHD levels in the four groups were higher than those before supplementation [(40.0±5.2) vs. (35.8±3.9) ng/ml, (29.7±6.4) vs. (24.5±2.9) ng/ml, (20.3±7.1) vs. (15.6±3.0) ng/ml, (14.9±7.3) vs. (6.5±2.3) ng/ml; t=2.13, 2.66, 5.08 and 7.64, respectively; all P<0.05]. (4) The incidence of hypocalcemia [23.1% (21/91) vs. 9.7% (18/186)] and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome [15.4% (14/91) vs. 3.2% (6/186)] were higher in the severely deficient group than those in the deficient group ( χ2=9.07 and 13.49, both P<0.008). No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of neonatal sepsis, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and mortality among the four groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The insufficiency of 25-OHD levels and vitamin D deficiency were prevalent in NICU neonates. Vitamin D status did not significantly differ among newborns with varying gestational ages. A prolonged period of sustained vitamin D supplementation may be required to elevate the serum 25-OHD level. The incidence of hypocalcemia and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome are higher in newborns with severe vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a non-invasive method for beta-thalassemia by detecting parental CD41-42 mutation in cell-free DNA derived from maternal plasma with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). METHODS: Beta-actin gene and beta-thalassemia gene CD41-42 mutation were respectively set as the reference and target sequences. A novel method was established based on Bio-Rad ddPCR technique with specific primers and TaqMan probes for the two genes. The accuracy, sensitivity and detective linearity range of the developed method were evaluated by detection of the target gene gradient concentration samples. The applicability was also evaluated by testing 20 maternal plasma samples. RESULTS: The ddPCR method could accurately detect the beta-thalassemia CD41-42 mutation in cell-free DNA derived from maternal plasma. Within the target sequence concentration ratio of 5.00%-0.50%, the relative errors were all < 0.05, the linear regression equation was Y=1.0101-X-0.0071 and R=0.9994. The results of 20 maternal plasma cell-free DNA samples were all consistent with those of the follow-up testing. CONCLUSION A ddPCR method for detecting parental CD41-42 mutation in cell-free DNA from maternal plasma was developed. The method is simple, rapid, accurate, and can be applied for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for couples simultaneously carrying the CD41-42 mutation.
Cell-Free Nucleic Acids ; DNA ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

To discover the nephroprotective substances from Huangkui capsule.The components of Huangkui capsule were isolated by preparative liquid chromatography, and the active components were screened by LC/MS and identified. The adriamycine-injured HK-2 cells were treated with various active components with different concentrations, and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate were measured to verify the protective activity of the compounds.Four active components in Huangkui capsule were identified to exert nephroprotective effects. Fifteen flavanoids from these four components were tentatively identified by LC/MS, and hyperin, myricetin, quercetin, rutin and isoquercetin were confirmed. Hyperin, myricetin quercetin and rutin showed dose-dependent protective effects on injured HK-2 cells. Espacially, hyperin significantly reduced MDA content, quercetin and rutin significantly increased ATP level, and myricetin significantly increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate.Hyperin, myricetin, querctein and rutin might be the potential nephroprotective compounds in Huangkui capsule, their effects may be related to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the alleviation of mitochondrial damage.
Abelmoschus ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; drug effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Oxygen Consumption ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Rutin ; pharmacology

Objective:To observe central responses and functional connectivity (FC) during urinary bladder storage in neurogenic overactive bladder (NOAB).Methods:Twenty patients with NOAB were recruited. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI)were performed in all subjects under the following two conditions: empty bladder state and full bladder (strong desire to void)state. Software MATLAB, SPM8 and DPABI were adopted to analyze the difference of brain imaging between the two conditions. Voxel-based analysis of the REHO was performed to analyze rs-fMRI data including the main excitatory regions and inhibitory areas, peak value(X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis), clusters size (active volume unit: number of voxel), T value(the excitatory and inhibitory extent of brain active regions). Voxel-based analysis of the REHO maps and FC between empty and full bladder were performed.Results:Increased activity during strong desire to void with NOAB patients was observed in the left orbital part of superior frontal, right middle frontal gyrus, and right superior frontal. Decreased activity was observed in right precentral. FC analysis found that these activated or deactivated brain regions were widely connected with other brain areas, include: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, cingulate gyrus, lenticular nucleus, insular lobe, angular gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and anterior and posterior central gyrus.Conclusions:Our results suggested that the right frontal robe may play a role in the control of bladder with NOAB during strong desire to void, and inhibitory areas located in right precentral. In NOAB patients, excitatory and inhibitory connections were increased in frontal lobe and central gyrus, decreased in insular lobe and parhippocampal gyrus.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of Lacosamide add-on therapy in Chinese children with partial-onset seizures.Methods:SP848 was a global multicenter single-arm study involving 60 Chinese children with partial-onset seizures with the age of 4-17 years who were managed by Lacosamide add-on therapy at seven hospitals across China from April 2018 to May 2019.After treatment with at least two kinds of anti-seizure medications simultaneously or sequentially, partial seizures were still poorly controlled and Lacosamide oral solution (syrup) or tablets were added.The minimum initial oral dose was 2 mg/(kg·d), and the maximum allowable dose was 12 mg/(kg·d)or 600 mg/d during the study period.The dose was adjusted according to the tolerance and seizure control level of partial-onset seizures children.Seizure frequency and the median percentage change in partial-onset seizures per 28 days from baseline to the final visit were recorded, including 50% responder rate and 75% responder rate.Results:A total of 60 Chinese children with the mean age of 9.18 (4.00-15.40) years were included in this interim analysis, involving 39 males and 21 females.The mean course of epilepsy was 5.04 (0.50-15.20) years.A total of 43 patients (71.7%) still have been treated.One patient (1.7%) has completed the 6-12 months of follow-up, and 14 patients (23.3%) have completed the follow-up for less than 6 months.The median change in the frequency of partial seizures every 28 days from baseline to the last visit was -2.91, with its median percentage as -25.46%, and the proportions of ≥50%, while ≥75% responder rate were 40.0% and 28.3%, respectively.A total of 52 patients (86.7%) had 265 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), 11 patients (18.3%) had 19 serious TEAE, 37 patients (61.7%) had 127 drug-related TEAE, and 11 patients (18.3%) had 16 TEAE leading to the discontinuation of the trial.The most common TEAE were upper respiratory tract infections (20 cases, 33.3%), followed by drowsiness (16 cases, 26.7%), dizziness (15 cases, 25.0%) and vomiting (13 cases, 21.7%). There were no abnormal changes in the electrocardiographic findings during the treatment.Conclusions:For Chinese patients with partial seizures who are older than the age of 4 years and poorly controlled by other drugs, Lacosamide is effective and well tolerated as an add-on therapy drug.The safety characteristics are consistent with those reported in children and adults.No new safety concerns are identified.