ObjectivesTo study the treatment timing and method of glucocorticoids in the treatment of abdominal type Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP).MethodsA total of 201 children with abdominal type HSP hospitalized from September 2009 to April 2013 received either conventional glucocorticoids treatment or rapid titration treatment of glucocorticoids based on the same basic therapy. According to the treatment timing and method of glucocorticoids, all patients were divided into 4 groups including early convention group (n=46), late convention group (n=44), early titration group (n=56) and late titration group (n=55). The duration from the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms to using glucocorticoids less than or equal to three days was deifned as early treatment and more than three days was deifned as late treatment. The patients in two convention groups (early and late) were treated with methylprednisolone (2-6mg/kg per day).The patients in two titration groups (early and late) received rapid titration of methylprednisolone from an initial low dose of 2mg/kg per day to the ifnal target dose. The gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated every 12 hours. If the gastrointestinal symptoms were not alleviated, an additional dosage of methyl-prednisolone was given. On the next day, the total dose of methylprednisolone in previous 24 hours was used as the initial dose. The dosage was increased in such a way till the gastrointestinal symptoms disappeared and this dosage was remained for 3 days. Then the dosage was gradually reduced to the maintenance dose and stopped. If the gastrointestinal symptoms were relapsed, the patients were treated again. A follow-up of 3-6 months was performed. The dosage, recurrence of symptoms and the side effects were compared among four groups.ResultsThe time of remission, target dose of glucocorticoids, total dose of glucocorticoids, recurrence rate, incidence of severe symptoms and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis were signiifcantly different among four groups (P<0.05). The curative effect was best in early titration group and worst in late convention group.ConclusionsIn the treatment of abdominal type HSP, early titration treatment with glucocorticoids can signiifcantly relieve the gastrointestinal symp-toms and reduce the total dosage of glucocorticoids.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling could regulate the expression of histone demethylases in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).

METHODSHuman recombinant SHH-N protein or over-expression of the mutant 2 smoothened (M2-SMO) was applied to activate the Shh signaling in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line-SCC-6 in this study. Cyclopamine was used to block the Shh signaling in SCC-6. The real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to detect the expression of histone demethylases at the mRNA level.

RESULTSThe data showed that activation of the Shh signaling up-regulated the expression of histone demethylase, lysine-specific demethylase 8 (KDM-8) at the mRNA level by human recombinant SHH-N protein (1.841 ∼ 3.591 fold compare with untreated group; P < 0.01), over-expression of the M2-SMO also increased the expression of KDM-8 (1.358 ∼ 3.013 fold compared with empty vector group; P < 0.05), and after the Shh signaling was blocked by Cyclopamine, the expression of KDM-8 was down regulated (decreased 25.6% ∼ 66.6% compared with control cells, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHistone demethylase KDM-8 was downstream target gene of Shh signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCC-6, and its expression was positively regulated by the Shh signaling.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hedgehog Proteins ; metabolism ; Histone Demethylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mutant Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smoothened Receptor ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristic of functional articulation disorders in children and provide more evidence for differential diagnosis and speech therapy.

METHODS172 children with functional articulation disorders were grouped by age. Children aged 4-5 years were assigned to one group, and those aged 6-10 years were to another group. Their phonological samples were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSIn the two groups, substitution and omission (deletion) were the mainly articulation errors in these children, dental consonants were the main wrong sounds, and bilabial and labio-dental were rarely wrong. In age 4-5 group, sequence according to the error frequency from the highest to lowest was dental, velar, lingual, apical, bilabial, and labio-dental. In age 6-10 group, the sequence was dental, lingual, apical, velar, bilabial, labio-dental. Lateral misarticulation and palatalized misarticulation occurred more often in age 6-10 group than age 4-5 group and were only found in lingual and dental consonants in two groups.

CONCLUSIONMisarticulation of functional articulation disorders mainly occurs in dental and rarely in bilabial and labio-dental. Substitution and omission are the most often occurred errors. Lateral misarticulation and palatalized misarticulation occur mainly in lingual and dental consonants.

Articulation Disorders ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lip ; Male ; Tongue

According to the training requirement of the biological-psycho-social medical model to the clinical medical students,in order to promote the comprehensive improvement of medical students' professional knowledge,hands-on ability and human qualities,we design the course of introduction to clinical medicine.Through six major functional modules such as basic professional quality,clinical diagnosis basic technology,basic skills related to the operation,the new progress in clinical medicine and technology,clinical nursing and medical relationship,and medical information management,we build up the core content of integrated course of introduction to clinical medical.In this way,the clinical and related basic knowledge and skills are integrated,the clinical course is closely connected with the basic curriculum,the medical and the humanities exchanges.Through this design,the foundation is laid out for the collaborative efforts of the organ-system of integrated curriculum reform.

Objective: To assess the status of handgrip strength of elderly population from longevity areas in China, and to analyze the correlative factors of handgrip strength of elderly people. Methods: Data from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) in 2012 was used, from which1 967 participants aged ≥60 years old with valid data of grip strength value from 8 Chinese longevity areas were included. Information on demographics characteristic, life style and health status was collected using questionnaires. The handgrip strength of both left and right hands were measured by grip dynamometer. The different characteristics of group of participants with different grip strength were compared and then analyzed by adopting the Cumulative odds Logistic regression model to identify main factors associated with hand grip strength. Results: The P₅₀ (P₂₅-P₅₀) of hand grip strength of elderly people from the eight longevity areas was 20 (11-28) kg; The hand grip strength of males was 26 (18-34) kg, which was higher than that of females(14 (9-20) kg) (P<0.001). Cumulative odds Logistic regression model showed that the hand grip strength of females was lower than males, whose β value (95%CI) was-1.22 (-1.43--1.00). The elderly who was at a higher age, smoking, drinking or with anemia, had a comparatively lower handgrip strength, whose β (95%CI) value were separately-0.08(-0.09~-0.07),-0.29(-0.56~-0.02),-0.54(-0.80~-0.28), and-0.41(-0.62~-0.20). And the elderly who had a higher boby mass index, drinking tea and outdoor activities, had a comparatively higher handgrip strength, whose β(95%CI) value were separately 0.28 (0.15-0.40), 0.25(0.03-0.47) and 0.51(0.30-0.71). Conclusion Age and gender were the main correlative factors, lifestyles and physical conditions might also be correlative factors of hand grip strength of the elderly from longevity areas in China.

Objective: To discuss the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive impairment among elderly adults aged ≥65 years old from longevity areas of China. Methods: A total of 2 439 elderly adults from 8 longevity areas were included in our baseline survey by answering questionnaire and taking body measurements and blood biochemical examinations in 2012. In the follow-up study in 2014, we studied the cognitive impairment status among the 1 135 elderly adults aging ≥65 years old. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between BMI and cognitive impairment risk. Results: 113 participants were defined as cognitive impairment, with a positive rate at 10.0%. The positive rate in group of underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese elderly were 22.2% (51/230), 7.5% (47/629), 5.4% (15/276). The rate of cognitive impairment in groups of low BMI (<19.7 kg/m²), middle BMI (19.7-23.1 kg/m²) and high BMI (>23.1 kg/m²) were separately 17.7% (66/372), 7.1% (27/379) and 5.2% (20/384) (P<0.001). Every 1.0 kg/m² increase in BMI, the risk of cognitive impairment would significantly decreased by 7% (RR(95%CI): 0.93(0.87-0.99)). Compared with participants with middle BMI level, the group of low BMI participants was associated with a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment (RR (95% CI): 1.98(1.14-3.44)); while there was no significant association was observed in the high BMI group (RR(95%CI): 1.15(0.57-2.32)). Compared with elderly in normal weight, the elderly with under weight was in higher risk of cognitive impairment (RR (95%CI: 2.19(1.31-3.66)) and there was no significant association found between the elderly with overweight (RR(95%CI): 1.18(0.58-2.38)). Conclusion Among the elderly ≥65 years old from longevity area, low BMI level and underweight were associated with the increased risk of cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of activating blood circulation drugs or activating blood circulation and detoxication drugs on indices of platelet activation, inflammation, and coagulation status correlated with blood-stasis and toxin in acute myocardial infarction rats.

METHODSTotally 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the activating blood circulation group, the activating blood circulation and detoxication group, and the metoprolol group, 20 in each group. Rats in the activating blood circulation group were administered with Xiongshao Capsule at the daily dose of 0.39 g/kg. Rats in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group were administered with Xiongshao Capsule (at the daily dose of 0.39 g/kg) and Huanglian Capsule (at the daily dose of 0.135 g/kg). Rats in the metoprolol group received metoprolol at the daily dose of 2.25 mg/kg. And rats in the rest two groups were administered with normal saline. All medication lasted for 3 successive weeks. After the last administration, the rat model of acute myocardial infarction was prepared by ligation of left anterior descending artery. No ligation was given to rats in the sham-operation group. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after modeling. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), platelet α granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140), 11 dehydro-thromboxane B2 (11-DH-TXB2), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), antithrombin III (AT-III), and D-dimer (DD) were detected by ELISA. The mRNA expression of TNF-α was tested by RT-PCR.

RESULTSPlatelet activation parameters were significantly increased in the model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, all indices (except GMP-140 in the metoprolol group) obviously decreased in each medicated group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Besides, β-TG and 11-DH-TXB2 were superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to that of the metoprolol group (P < 0.05). But 11-DH-TXB2 was also obviously superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to that of the activating blood circulation group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, an obviously hypercoagulable state was obviously shown in the AMI model group, with significantly increased FPA and DD (P < 0.05 or 0.01) and significantly decreased AT III (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the FPA level significantly decreased in each medicated group (P < 0.01), and the AT III level significantly increased in the activating blood circulation group and the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (both P < 0.01). The level of DD obviously decreased in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (P < 0.01). Besides, the 3 indices were superior in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group to those of the metoprolol group (P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the serum TNF-α level and myocardial TNF-α mRNA expression were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, not only the serum TNF-α level was significantly decreased, but also the TNF-α gene expression in the myocardial tissue was improved in the activating blood circulation and detoxication group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of activating blood circulation and detoxication drugs could play an effective role in treatment of coronary heart disease by fighting against platelet activation, improving the hypercoagulable state, and inhibiting inflammation, which was significantly better than using activating blood circulation and removing stasis drugs alone.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to study the sealing ability and the furcal appearance of repairing subpulpal wall perforation with resinous inlay.

METHODSFifty newly extracted human molars were randomly divided into three experiment groups (group A, group B, group C, 15 teeth each) and one control group (5 teeth). In experiment groups, perforations were made perpendicularly to the center of the pulp chamber floor. Perforations of group A and B were repaired with resinous inlay and sealed by AH Plus sealer and luting glass-ionomer, respectively. Perforations of group C were directly repaired using light-cure composite resin. Perforations were not made in five teeth of control group. The furcal appearances were evaluated under stereomicroscope after repairing. Microleakage was measured by glucose oxidase detection.

RESULTSThe fineness rate of furcal appearances with resinous inlay repairing were 83.3%, while the fineness rate of furcal appearances with light-cure composite resin directly repairing were 46.7%. There were statistics difference between resinous inlay repairing and light-cure composite resin directly repairing (P<0.05). There were statistics difference among the daily microleakage of three experiment groups, group A

CONCLUSIONUsing resinous inlay to repair the subpulpal wall perforation can improve the sealing effect and avoid material overextension. AH Plus can be used as perforation sealant because of its better sealing ability.

Bicuspid ; Composite Resins ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Inlays ; Molar

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics