ObjectiveTo analyze the differences of United States (US) and France (Fr) Risser grading systems in determining the growth potentiality of girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Methods Girls with AIS undergoing posterior spinal correction with autogenous bone graft were recruited.The Risser grades were recorded for the non-dominant side iliac crest apophysis according to the US and Fr grading systems.Iliac crest cartilage biopsies were harvested during surgery then standard histologic grades(HGs) of proliferation activity of iliac cartilage were analyzed on histological section.The agreement of two grading systems was analyzed by kappa statistics while the correlation between Risser grades and HGs were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was employed for selecting the best parameter in determining growth cessation of girls with AIS.ResultsFifty-three AIS girls with an average age of 14.0 years were recruited.The agreement of two grading systems was poor.The US system showed higher correlation with HGs compared to Fr system.Growth cessation could be determined by Risser grade 5 of US system or Risser grade 4 of Fr system,also older than 16 years or three years after menarche.When combining the results of ROC curve analysis,the Risser grade 4-5 of US system with two years after menarche could be used in determining growth cessation with the highest sensitivity,specificity and accuracy.Furthermore,the mean age of patients with growth cessation determined by this method was 15.2 years,showed 0.9-1.4 years earlier than the age determined by other methods.ConclusionThe US Risser grading system is better in determining maturity of AIS girls compared to Fr Risser grading system.By combining years since menarche,the accuracy of Risser grades in determining growth cessation could be enhanced,and the time of weaning from a brace could be advanced.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of rosmarinic acid (Ros A) on the primary cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury.

METHODPrimary cardiomyocytes of rats were cultured in vitro to establish the H/R injury of cardiomyocytes and observe the changes in the cell viability and LDH leakage. The changes in ATP content and ROS in cardiomyocytes were measured by using chemiluminescence and fluorescent probe technique. The effects of rosmarinic acid on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, cleaved-caspase 3, Akt and p-Akt protein expression were further detected by flow cytometry and western blot analysis.

RESULTAccording to the experimental results, Ros A at doses of 25, 50, 100 mg x L(-1) could inhibit the decrease in H/R-induced cell viability, LDH leakage and excessive ROS generation, and maintain the ATP level in cells. Ros A at doses of 50, 100 mg x L(-1) could remarkably inhibit the H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and down-regulate the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, Ros A at doses of 100 mg x L(-1) could significantly up-regulate the expression of p-Akt.

CONCLUSIONRos A has the significant effect in resisting the cardiomyocyte H/R injury, improve cardiomyocyte energy metabolism and reduce cell apoptosis, which is related to the activation of Akt pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cinnamates ; pharmacology ; Depsides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Rosmarinus ; chemistry

AIMTo study the effect and mechanism of action of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on synoviocytes from rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

METHODSChicken type II collagen was used to induce CIA in rats. Synoviocytes were separated by incubation with collagenase and trypsin, and its ultrastructural changes were observed under transmission electron microscope. Synoviocyte proliferation was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazal-2yl) 2,5- diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay, and IL-1 activity in synoviocytes supernatant was measured by thymocyte proliferation assay. TNFa and PGE, produced by synoviocytes were determined by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSTGP was shown to protect CIA rats against the ultrastructural damages of synoviocytes. Meanwhile, TGP also suppressed the excessive synoviocyte proliferation and over-production of IL-1, TNFalpha and PGE2.

CONCLUSIONTGP has inhibitory effect on hyperfunctional synoviocytes of CIA rats and its mechanism of action may be related with the inhibition of abnormal proliferation and secretion of synoviocytes.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type II ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex(SPC) in sepsis rats.Me-(thods) Fifty Wistar immature rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control(10 cases),septic group(30 cases) and interfe-(rence) group(10 cases).In septic group and interference group,rats were treated by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP).Meanwhile,the interference group was given SPC before 2 hours of CLP and after 2 hours of CLP.Blood of rats was taken from all groups to determine the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),interleukin-1(IL-1),alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) at varying intervals.Results The levels of serum TNF-?,IL-1,ALT and AST after CLP were significantly elevated in septic group compared with the normal control group(P

Objective To observe the protective effect of silybin-phosphatidylcholine compound(SPC) on acute liver damage induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate(ANIT) in mice.Methods Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group,model group,SPCⅠgroup,SPCⅡgroup.Intragastric administration of 0.5% carboxymethylcelluloes-Na(CMC-Na) suspension were given to the normal and model group,and 2 quantities of SPC suspension(150 and 300 mg/kg) were respectively given to SPCⅠ and SPC Ⅱ groups for 1 week.At 12 h after last administration of SPC,all of groups besides normal were given ANIT(dissolved in peanut oil,(60 mg/kg)) by lavage and the normal group just only were given peanute oil by the same volume and same way.After 16 h of ANIT administration,the levels of serum alanine transferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),serum total bilirubin(TB),malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were detected by biochemical method.Results Serum levels of ALT,AST,TB and MDA markedly increased after ANIT was administered via intragastric tube,and the level of serum SOD also decrease.SPC could obviously inhibit the alteration of the activities of serum ALT,AST,TB,MDA and SOD(P

Objective To explore the significance of interleukin -35 (IL -35)in serum of patients with severe hepatitis.Methods Collected 39 cases of chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients and severe hepatitis,and col-lected 19 cases of healthy control's(HC)peripheral blood at the same time.ELISA method was used to detect IL -35 levels.Results IL -35 in CHB and severe hepatitis group [(483.5 ±280.7)ng/mL and (277.9 ±248.7)ng/mL] were higher than HC group (50.5 ±47.8)ng/mL(t =2.089,3.303,P =0.044,0.002).In severe hepatitis group, the IL -35 levels in survivors group (305.3 ±301.2)ng/mL was higher than death group (78.7 ±33.2)ng/mL (P =0.012).IL -35 was positively correlated with ALT and AST,the correlation coefficient were 0.649 and 0.599. Conclusion IL -35 is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B process,the low serum IL -35 levels in severe hepatitis patients may herald a bad prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the growth hormone gene (GH) promotor polymorphism (rs2854184) is associated with the occurrence or curve severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODSTwo hundred and sixty-five AIS patients and 193 normal controls were recruited. The maximum Cobb angles were recorded in AIS patients. PCR-RFLP was used for the genotyping.

RESULTSThe genotype frequency distribution were AA 38.3%, AT 50.3%, TT 11.4% in AIS patients and AA 39.6%, AT 50.2%, 10.1% TT in controls for the promotor polymorphism rs2854184 in GH gene. It was comparable between AIS and normal control. The allele frequency distribution was also comparable between AIS and normal control. It was 63.5% for allele A, 36.5% for allele T in AIS patients and 64.7% for allele A, 35.3% for allele T in normal control. The mean maximum Cobb angle in AIS patients with AA, AT, TT genotypes were 33.8 degrees +/- 10.0 degrees, 36.4 degrees +/- 15.0 degrees, 34.5 degrees +/- 9.1 degrees, respectively, it was similar with each other.

CONCLUSIONThe GH gene promoter polymorphism is neither associated with the occurrence nor the curve severity of AIS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Human Growth Hormone ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Scoliosis ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of reversed nasolabial flap pedicled with superior labial artery for the recon-struction of nasal and infraorbital defects .Methods From September 2006 to May 2013 ,13 cases with large nasal and infraorbital defects were reconstructed by the reversed nasolabial flap pedicled with superior labial artery .In all patients these defects were re-sulted by the excision of carcinomas .The disease course ranged from 2 months to 28 years .The size of nasal and infraorbital defects was from 2 .0 cm × 1 .2 cm to 4 .0 cm × 3 .6 cm .All defects were restored by the reversed nasolabial flap pedicled with superior labial artery in 10 cases and by the island flap in 3 cases .The size of flap was similar to that of defects .The donor areas were sutured di-rectly .Results All flaps were completely survived .The incision at the donor and accepted sites healed in the first stage .In 4 pa-tients flap revision was performed after 6-12 months because of mild swelling at the pedicles of skin flaps .Patients were followed up for 4-60 months (the mean was 28 .4 months) .All patients were satisfied with the nasal ventilatory function and appearance , flap texture and color .No obvious scars were found at donor sites .Conclusion Reversed nasolabial flap pedicled with superior labial artery is a better choice to repair the nasal and infraorbital defect after excision of carcinomas .

To establish neonatal rat cardiac fibroblast inflammatory secretion model by using LPS 100 microg x L(-1) combined with ATP 5 mmol x L(-1), in order to study the inhibitory effect of quercetin on the secretion of inflammatory factors TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 of cardiac fibroblasts, further investigate the effect of quercetin on the protein expression of p-NF-kappaB p65 (S276) and p-Akt (S473) by western blot, and discuss the inhibitory effect of quercetin on the inflammatory secretion of cardiac fibroblasts. According to the findings, quercetin with the concentrations between 51.74 micromol x L(-1) and 827.81 micromol x L(-1) had no significant effect on the activity of cardiac fibroblasts. Quercetin with the concentrations of 82.78, 41.39, 20.70 micromol x L(-1) could notably inhibit the increase of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta induced by LPS 100 microg x L(-1) for 3 h and then ATP 5 mmol x L(-1) for 36 h (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Quercetin with the concentrations of 82.78, 41.39 micromol x L(-1) could notably inhibit the increase of IL-6 induced LPS 100 microg x L(-1) for 3 h and then ATP 5 mmol x L(-1) for 36 h (P < 0.05), without any notable effect of quercetin with the concentration of 20.70 micromol x L(-1). Quercetin with the concentrations of 82.78, 41.39, 20. 70 micromol x L(-1) could notably inhibit the NF-kappaB p65 (S276) activation induced by LPS 100 microg x L(-1) for 3 h and then ATP 5 mmol x L(-1) for 15 min, with the most significant effect in 20.70 micromol x L(-1). Quercetin with the concentrations of 82.78, 41.39, 20.70 micromol x L(-1) could notably inhibit the increase of p-Akt(473) expression induced by LPS 100 microg x L(-1) for 3 h and then ATP 5 mmol x L(-1) for 240 min (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study believes that quercetin could attenuate the secretion of inflammatory factors TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 of cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB p65 (S276) and Akt (473).
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Endomyocardial Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; immunology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; immunology ; Quercetin ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Huatuo Zaizao extractum (HTZZ) on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) neurogenesis in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and its mechanism.

METHODTotally 55 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the sham operation group, the MCAO model group and HTZZ high, middle and low dose groups (5, 2.5, 1.25 g x kg(-1)), with 11 rats in each group, and orally administered with drugs. The focal cerebral ischemia model was established by performing a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion (once a day). The neurogenesis and expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were detected by the immunofluorescent staining. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

RESULTMCAO (90 min) followed by a seven-day reperfusion resulted in the significant increase in the number of penumbra cortex newborn neurons (BrdU(+) -NeuN(+)), which was accompanied by the growth of ERK and CREB phosphorylation and VEGF and BDNF levels. HTZZ could promote the generation of newborn neurons (BrdU(+)-NeuN(+)) and the ERK and CREB phosphorylation and increase VEGF and BDNF levels at the ischemic side.

CONCLUSIONHTZZ could promote the neurogenesis, which may be the interventional targets of effective traditional Chinese medicine Huatuo Zaizao extractum in promoting the self-repair function of the cerebral ischemic areas.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism