Objective To investigate the relationship between ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) derived from blood pressure monitoring and early signs of renal damage in patients with primary hypertension． Methods 74 primary hypertensive outpatients were divided into two groups according to their AASI values: normal AASI group (AASI≤0.51, n=40) and high AASI group (AASI>0.51, n=32). The urinary micro-albumin, glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were measured and compared. The relationship between AASI and micro-albumin, GFR were tested with Pearson correlation and multiple Logistic regression. Results Compared with those in the normal AASI group, the patients in high AASI group showed a higher level of urinary microalbumin (P<0.05) and a reduction in GFR (P<0.01). AASI was positively correlated with urinary microalbumin （r=0.32, P<0.001）, and negatively correlated with GFR （r=0.44, P<0.001）. After adjusting the potentially confounding variables, the odd ratio (OR) of AASI to renal damage was 2.18 （P=0.008，95%CI：1.76～4.34）. Conclusion The increase of AASI is associated with early signs of renal damage in patients with primary hypertension.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Thalamic Diseases ; therapy

Objective To explore the expression of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ) poisoning, and its relationship with the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Methods 120 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group and 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg PQ poisoning groups (each n = 30). Pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ poisoning model was reproduced by one time administration of 20, 40, 80 mg/kg of 20% PQ, and the rats in control group were given 4 mL normal saline. Fifteen rats in control and different doses of PQ groups were sacrificed at 7 days and 21 days after intragastric administration, and lung tissues were collected. Pulmonary fibrosis was observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The immune-histochemical method was used to determine the expressions of DDR1 and TGF-β1. The relationship between the expression of TGF-β1 and DDR1 was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results The rats in control group were active, and no pathological changes in lung tissue were found. The rats in PQ groups became shortness of breath, bristles, and slow reaction etc. 0.5 hours after intragastric administration. After 7 days, the lung tissue was dark red, hard texture, appearance of yellow soil fiber nodules and obsolete hemorrhage, destruction of alveolar structure. The extent of lung injury increased gradually with the time of poisoning and the increase of PQ dose. It was shown by immune-histochemical staining that the control group had only a small amount of DDR1 and TGF-β1 positive expressions; in PQ groups, there were a large number of DDR1 and TGF-β1 positive expression particles in the alveolar wall, pulmonary interstitial and alveolar cavity. It was displayed by quantitative analysis that compared with the control group, DDR1 and TGF-β1 expressions were significantly increased in 20, 40, 80 mg/kg PQ groups with time- and dose-dependent [DDR1 (integral A value): 0.221±0.014, 0.249±0.021, 0.364±0.016 vs. 0.121±0.036 at 7 days; 0.247±0.025, 0.321±0.015, 0.432±0.027 vs. 0.139±0.021 at 21 days; TGF-β1 (integral A value): 0.230±0.016, 0.265±0.015, 0.339±0.016 vs. 0.129±0.032 at 7 days; 0.248±0.011, 0.295±0.016, 0.399±0.026 vs. 0.119±0.026 at 21 days; all P < 0.05]. It was shown by Pearson correlation analysis that DDR1 expression was positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression with the increase of PQ dose and poisoning time (DDR1 with TGF-β1: r = 0.996, P < 0.000; DDR1 with PQ dose: r = 0.985, P < 0.000; DDR1 with poisoning time: r = 0.989, P < 0.000; TGF-β1 with PQ dose: r = 0.992, P < 0.000; TGF-β1 with poisoning time: r = 0.972, P < 0.000). Conclusions The expression of DDR1 in the lung tissue in PQ poisoning rats showed a time- and dose-dependent change, and it was positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression. DDR1 may be involved in the process of pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ poisoning.

Humans ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; psychology

The broad-spectrum antibacterial action of berberine hydrochloride mainly contributes to recurrent aphtha, periapical periodontitis, radioactive mucositis and pericoronitis, however a little evidence support the action mechanism underlying periodontitis treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of berberine hydrochloride on the expressions of related cytokines in periodontal tissues of experimental periodontitis rats, to reveal and understand the action pathway of berberine hydrochloride on oral tissue repair. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats weighing 160-200 g, aged 3 months Models, were involved in this study.Models of experimental periodontitis were established in rats through a use of local steel-wire ligation and systemic injection of prednisone acetate. Forty successfully established models were randomized into periodontitis model group (n=8) and periodontitis treatment group (n=32), at the same time, 10 normal rats served as control group. The treatment group of animals were fed with 0.06 g/kg berberine hydrochloride daily and medicated to death over the 1, 2, 3, 4 weekends (8 rats each). The model group was fed with isodose normal saline. The model group and normal control group were killed at the fourth weekend. Main observations: ①Oral gross observation and X-ray film examination; ②Pathological assay of periodontal tissues; ③Immunohistochemical SABC method was conducted to determine the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), bone gla protein (BGP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in periodontal tissues in rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:①Following hormone injection, gum tissue exhibited erosion and pyorrhea in model group of rats; the above-mentioned symptoms were relieved in rats of treatment group; there was no abnormality in periodontal tissues of normal rats. X-ray examination revealed alveolar crest resorption and obvious interredicular shadow in the model group.②Rats of model group showed obvious pathologic changes in periodontal tissues, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 were significantly higher and the level of BGP was dramatically lower than those in normal group (P < 0.05); Treatment with berberine hydrochloride decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in periodontal tissues and increased the level of BGP compared with model group (P < 0.05). The periodontal tissues in groups treated with berberine hydrochloride exhibited pathological changes at inflammatory repair stage. Results showed that berberine hydrochloride inhibits the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in periodontal tissues in experiment rat models of periodontitis, and promotes the expression of BGP and repair of periodontal tissue.

Objective The empirical validity of the National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE) has rarely been studied. This is one of the first studies comparing NMLE and annual assess-ment scores. This study provided the criterion-related validity evidence for the NMLE. The NMLE can be used to test the abilities and skills of physicians. Method We evaluated the test 163 residents in 12 medical school-affiliated hospitals who had finished their first year of tralning and had taken the NMLE and an annual skills assessment. We used Pearson correlations to estimate the relationship be-tween NMLE scores and annual assessment scores. Results A total of 163 residents met inclusion requirements. Correlations between NMLE scores and annual assessment scores ranged from 0.300 to 0.843. Conclusions The criterion-related validity of NMLE was high, so it can be use to evaluate the residents clinical competence indeed.

Objective:To investigate the expression of estrogen receptor ? and ?(ER? and ER?) in temporomandibular joints(TMJs) of Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods:The expression of ER? and ER? in TMJs was examined by SABC technique of immunocytochemistry, meanwhile the co-expression of them was detected by double-staining technique of immunocytochemistry.Results:①Intense ER? and ER? immunoreactivity was localized in the hypertrophic layer of condyle cartilage,and some immunoreactivity was found in osteocytes of mandible and temporal bone. ②The immunoreactivity of ER? and ER? was found in both nuclei and cytoplasms. Most of immunoreactivity of ER? was localized in nuclei, while ER? was distrubuted more evenly. ③The expression of ER? was wider than that of ER?.Conclusions:TMJ is one of target organs of estrogen.The expression of ER? is different from that of ER?,which suggests there may be different mechanisms directed by ERs.

ObjectiveTo review the treatment of 132 patients with vascular injuries admitted to our hospital from Jun,1985 to May,2001.Methods Clinical data were analyzed according to the cause, site, type, and surgical modality of vascular injuries. ResultsThe mortality rate in this group was 6.8%, amputation rate 8.3%, and patency rate of primary surgical treatment was 91.9%.ConclusionsSurgical exploration is the mainstay of diagnostic approaches for acute vascular injury; flexible measures should be taken to ensure high patent rate of the injuried blood vessel,lower mortality and high salvage of limbs.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of scaling and root planning combined with application of the emodin thermosensitive hydrogel on periodontitis. Methods Forty patients with chronic periodontitis with a total of eighty teeth were included in the study.For each patient after scaling and root planning,the teeth on one side were assigned as the test group and treated with the emodin thermosensitive hydrogel in the pocket once a week for four weeks.The teeth on the other side were assigned as the control group.All the clinical parameters were recorded at the baseline,the 6th week and 12th week after the treatment. Results At the baseline,there was no difference in the clinical parameters between the test group and the control group(P＞0.05).A statistically significant improvement of all clinical parameters was observed in both groups 6w later(t = 39.06、62.76、20.50、8.05、158.32、31.45、46.53、8.43、8.08、8.03)(P＜0.01＝,and all clinical parameters of the test group were better than those of the control group,the differences were statistically significant(t = 31.50、27.91、3.92、7.38、20.09)(P＜0.01＝. Conclusion The emodin thermosensitive hydrogel could effectively control the symptoms of periodontitis.

Animals ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Muramidase ; biosynthesis ; Quartz ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley