OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the proliferation and osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLC) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

METHODSHuman periodontal cells were isolated from the ligament of surgically extracted human teeth, and through the limiting dilution assay, got mono-clone of the cell, hPDLCs were isolated from MesenPRO RS medium. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D environment. Control group and experiment groups were assigned according to the concentration of IGF-I. There were 5 level of experiment groups (0.1, 1, 10, 50, 100 µg/L). Proliferation was tested with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), and alkine phosphatase (ALP) level was assayed by spectrophotometer to analyze the osteogenesis of hPDLCs. Gene expression of ostetocalcin (OCN) and type I collagen (Col I) were assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn 3D culture system, the effect of IGF-I on cell proliferation was significantly different between control group and experiment groups (P < 0.05), and there showed significant differences between the group of 0.1 µg/L (0.219 ± 0.021) IGF-I and the groups of 50, 100 µg/L (0.287 ± 0.011, 0.293 ± 0.012). However, there showed no significant differences among other groups. Significant differences of ALP activity were observed between the control group and experiment groups, and between the groups of 1, 10 µg/L (0.304 ± 0.020, 0.310 ± 0.013) and that of 50, 100 µg/L (0.347 ± 0.011, 0.344 ± 0.010) (P < 0.05). While no significant differences were detected between the group of 1 µg/L and that of 10 µg/L, nor between the group of 50 µg/L and that of 100 µg/L. Expressions of Col I and OCN in mRNA and protein level both showed dose-dependent increase.

CONCLUSIONSIn 3D culture system, in the scale of 0.1 - 100 µg/L, the effect of IGF-I on the proliferation of hPDLCs increased dose-dependently. 100 µg/L IGF-I promotes osteogenesis of the cells significantly.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Osteocalcin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

Adult ; Blast Injuries ; therapy ; Explosions ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; therapy

Objective To investigated the effect of TangNaiKang (TNK) on VEGF protein expression of GK rats Thoracic aorta. Methods 51 male GK rats were divided into five groups randomly: model group, pioglitazone group, and TNK treatment group (low, immediate and high dose). Another 10 male Wistar rats were served as normal control group. GK rats were fed with high-grease forage, while normal control group was fed with a standard diet. Fasting blood glucose, general HE staining and VEGF protein expression were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The fasting glucose had a significant decline in TNK treatment groups. HE staining showing TNK can ameliorate intima thickness, reduce hyperplasia of shallow vascular smooth muscle cell, and improve wavy and plexiform arrangement of elastic lamina. Immunohistochemistry also showed that TNK decreased VEGF protein expression of great vessels. Conclusion TangNaiKang can prevent and cure diabetic vascular complication of GK rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the awareness and use of banned pesticides among vegetable greenhouse farmers in a town of Ledu County, Qinghai Province, China and to provide a basis for the management and control of banned pesticides.

METHODSLocal residents who lived in a town of Ledu County for more than 5 years were selected as subjects in August 2012. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 267 vegetable greenhouse farmers who were selected from five villages of the town by cluster random sampling.

RESULTSOf the 267 subjects, 249 (93.26%) completed and returned the questionnaires. Eighty-seven (34.9%) of the 249 subjects were aware of banned pesticides, and the banned pesticide awareness rate varied significantly among the subjects with different education levels (χ(2) = 11.061, P = 0.011). Only education level entered the regression equation in non-conditional logistic regression analysis. Only five (2.0%) of the 249 subjects knew the banned pesticides as well as the details. All the 249 subjects used banned pesticides to varying degrees in the past 5 years. Only 9.0% (17/189) of the vegetable greenhouse farmers knew the time pesticides were initially banned in China.

CONCLUSIONThe banned pesticide awareness rate is relatively low in the town of Ledu County, and this rate is influenced by education level. It is needed to spread the knowledge and hazards of banned pesticides.

Agriculture ; China ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Pesticides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor- I (IGF- I) on the proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) under three-dimensional (3D) culture system.

METHODSThe hPDLCs were cultured from periodontium of human teeth by the outgrowth method. Rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was enrolled to set 3D culture system. Samples were set to four groups: Negative control group, positive control group (3D group, IGF-I group), and experimental group (3D with IGF- I group). Proliferation was tested with methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), and ALP activity was assayed by spectrophotometer at 1, 3, 5, 7 d respectively.

RESULTSCompared with that of negative control group, cell proliferation increased significantly in 3D with IGF-I group since 3 d (P < 0.05). Besides, the cell proliferation of 3D with IGF-I group was significantly higher than that of 3D group (P < 0.05). ALP activity of 3D with IGF- I group was significantly higher than that of negative control group, and 3D group at 3, 5, 7 d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIGF-I significantly promotes the proliferation and ALP activity of hPDLCs under 3D culture system.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Periodontal Ligament ; Somatomedins

AIMTo investigate the effects of human urotensin II (hUII) on in vivo pia mater microcirculation in rats.

METHODSAdult SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: control, sodium chloride injection (NS), UII(10(-6) mol/L), noradrenaline (NA, 10(-6) mol/L), and UII (10(-6) mol/L) + NA (10(-6) mol/L) groups. For recording of microcirculation images in pia mater, skull windows were performed and mounted on the stage of an intravital microscope equipped with a TV camera. Video images of microcirculation were stored by a video cassette recorder. Temporal changes in internal diameter and microcirculatory velocity of microvessels were measured by computer using the Image Pro software. The blood flow in cerebral tissues were measured with PIMII laser Doppler perfusion Imager (Lisca, Sweden).

RESULTSThe internal diameters of arterioles and venules in control group were (35.4 +/- 3.6) microm and (40.6 +/- 8.5) microm, respectively. In UII group, the arterioles and venules contracted immediately after treated with UII and up to the peak at 1 min, the internal diameters of arterioles and venules were (25.6 +/- 3.4) microm and (23.4 +/- 3.3) microm, respectively (P < 0.05). Both microcirculatory velocity in arterioles and venules had no significant changes in UII group (P > 0.05). The blood flow in meninges increased 1 min after treated with UII and up to high peak at 5 min (3.5 +/- 0.4 perfusion unit vs. control 2.3 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONhUII can contract microvessels in pia mater of rats and increase microcirculatory blood perfusion to cerebral tissue involved.

Animals ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; etiology ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Introns ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk ; ras Proteins ; genetics

Objective To construct a three-dimensional (3D) dynamic head-neck finite element model which ac cords with the anatomical structure,and study its dynamic responses under the extemal force.Methods By using the neck CT images of a Chinese adult male volunteer and obtaining the 3D cervical point cloud data,the finite element model of cervical spine was established using ICEM-CFD and HyperMesh software.This model,including vertebrae,intervertebral discs,facet joints,ligaments and cartilage tissues,and combining with the es tablished and verified head finite element model,was assembled as human head-neck finite element model with detailed anatomical structures.Results The model was validated by data of head-neck axial impact experiments reported in previously published literature.The simulation results showed that the neck deformation,head acceleration,head force and injury positions were preferably consistent with the experimental data.Conclusions The established 3D dynamic finite element model can be used to study head-neck dynamic responses and damage mechanism in the fields of traffic safety and impact injuries.

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg) in liver of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and their correlation with clinical parameters.

METHODS35 patients with ACLF, 35 patients with HBV related chronic liver failure (CLF), 27 patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) and 15 normal control were enrolled to study the expressions of COX-2 and PPARg in the liver tissues by immunohistochemical staining, and to analyze the correlation of the COX-2 and PPARg levels in liver tissues with clinical parameters.

RESULTSCOX-2 was distinctly expressed in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, but PPARg was mostly expressed in the nuclei of the hepatocytes and also could be seen in the cytoplasm. The expressions of COX-2 in the liver of ACLF, CLF and CHB groups increased significantly as compared with NC group (z = -5.18, -4.50, -5.32, P is less than 0.01). The levels of COX-2 in ACLF livers also increased evidently as compared with CLF groups (z = -1.98, P is less than 0.05). The expression levels of PPARg in ACLF liver tissues were much higher than the other three groups, and statistical significances existed between ACLF group and the other two groups (CLF, NC groups) (z = -2.62, -4.28, P is less than 0.01). In ACLF group, the expression of COX-2 correlated with MELD score (r = 0.337, P is less than 0.05) and the expression of PPARg correlated with HBV DNA load (r = 0.348, P is less than 0.05). Clinical data showed that the levels of AST, TBil, CHOL, PT, INR, FIB and MELD score in ACLF group were significantly different from that in CLF, CHB and NC groups.

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2 expressed in liver may be a marker to reflect the degree of inflammation and injury of liver tissue. The PPARg expression of liver could be increased during chronic HBV infection and may be a protective mechanism against liver injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; End Stage Liver Disease ; metabolism ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Failure, Acute ; metabolism ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of amphotericin B for treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in patients with hematologic diseases.

METHODS121 patients were given amphotericin B 5 -50 mg/d for 5 - 101 d with a median of 19 d.

RESULTSThe clinical efficacy rate was 67.3%, and fungal elimination rate 66.7%. The adverse events included rigor and fever, hypokalaemia, hepatic damage, nephrotoxicity, nausea and vomiting, phlebitis and teeter.

CONCLUSIONAmphotericin B is still a high-efficiency drug in the treatment of IFI, although it has many side effects. With monitoring of hepatic and renal function, it is still a relatively safe and effective drug.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amphotericin B ; therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult