Objective To explore the role of PADI4 mRNA in the initiation and development of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and its correlation with clinical features.Methods Fifty-three RA patients,27 OA patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study.The real-time-fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to measure the expression level of PADI4 mRNA.The level of Anti-CCP antibody and DAS 28 of the RA patients were measured at the same time.Results It was shown that the level of PADI4 mRNA from RA was significantly higher than that of the OA and control group(P

Objective To assess the long efficacy and safety of Lamotrigine(LTG) monotherapy and add-on therapy different types of epileptic seizures in children.Methods According to the classification of the 1981 and 1989 International Union of Antiepileptic for epileptic seizure,a total of 124 cases with epilepsy were included in the study and divided into non-refractory group with 93 cases and refractory group with 31 cases.LTG treatment only or add-on were used.Original drug dosage was not changed and LTG was added slowly and carefully untill the terrible side effect appeared.The average monthly seizure frequency with baseline in the last 3 months was compared and the side effect was observed.Results Total efficiency was 72.6%,control rate was 51.6%.Total efficiency and control rate of the non-refractory group was 81.0% and 61.3%,which was significantly higher than those of refractory group(48.4%,22.6%).Total efficiency and control rate of the combination group with LTG and valproate sodium(VPA) was 78.4% and 54.5%,which was significantly higher than those of the group of LTG only(61.0%,44.0%).Clinical results was different significantly between the course of the observation period within and over 5 years(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in human renal tubular epithelial cells, and to explore the role of MAPK signaling pathway. Methods Real time RT-PCR, Western blot, and reporter gene assay were employed to detect PTH-induced CTGF expression in HK-2 cells. Inhibitors (PD98059 and U0126) of MAPK signaling pathway were used to confirm involved signal pathway. Results HK-2 cells had basic expression level of CTGF mRNA and protein, which were increased significantly after treatment with PTH. The luciferase activity was up-regulated to a higher level as compared with control group after treatment with 10-10 mol/L PTH for 12 h [(1.8884±0.0780) vs (0.9891±0.0300) A, P<0.01]. Moreover, a small amount of p-ERK1/2 was detected in normal HK-2 cells, but it was increased significantly in response to PTH activation, most remarkably when treated with 10-10 mol/L PTH for 30 min. Inhibitors of MAPK signaling pathway, PD98059 and U0126, noticeably inhibited the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein as well as gene promoters in HK-2 cells. Conclusion PTH can induce higher expression of CTGF in HK-2 cells probably via MAPK signaling pathway.

AIM: To observe application of underwater bubble method capsulorhexis overmature period to improve the small incision cataract surgery, so as to explore the clinical value of the surgical method.
● METHODS: From Jul. 2012 to Mar. 2016 at the grassroots of blindness 58 people fail in the 66 eyes overmature period of cataract were randomly divided into underwent capsulorhexis by underwater bubble method to improve the small incision cataract surgery group ( 36 eyes of 30 cases ) and conventional viscoelastic agent underwent capsulorhexis small incision cataract surgery group (30 eyes of 28 cases).
● RESULTS: A total of 66 eyes in success rate of continuous circular capsulorhexis: 92% ( 33/36 eyes ) of underwater bubble method, method of viscoelastic agent only 40% ( 12/30 eyes ) . Two groups of cases of postoperative corneal endothelial cell density are compared with preoperative significantly reduced, no significant statistical difference between the two groups(P>0. 05).
● CONCLUSION: Underwater bubble method capsulorhexis difficult to overmature period of cataract surgery capsulorhexis solution is a better way.

OBJECTIVEDietary factors that could potentially be related to the risk of birth defects are still unknown in Shanxi province, a region with high prevalence of neural tube defects(NTDs) in China. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between NTDs and local dietary factors.

METHODSA population-based case-control study was conducted during 2003-2005 in four selected counties of Shanxi province with 363 NTDs cases ascertained and 523 control babies without any external birth defects.

RESULTSBy multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found the NTDs risk was significantly associated with low consumption of meat and legume, high consumption of pickled vegetables, noncentralized supply of drinking water and drinking tea after adjusting for maternal education level and birth defects history. A significant dose response trend was found between the NTDs risk and the lower frequencies of meat and legume consumption and higher frequency of pickled vegetable consumption, with population attributable risks (PAR) of 69.4%, 22.0% and 18.5%, respectively. Mothers who got their drinking water from river or pond during periconceptional period were more likely to have a NTD-affected pregnancy [OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.44-8.09, population attributable risk (PAR) = 4.7%] compared with those who utilized tap or well water. Those who drank tea everyday had an elevated risk of having a NTD-affected pregnancy compared with those who didn't (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.41-15.36, PAR = 2.6%).

CONCLUSIONHigher intake of meat and legume protects a woman from having a NTD-affected pregnancy, and consumption of pickled vegetables, drinking water from river or pond and drinking tea everyday increase the risk of having such a pregnancy in the study population.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Meat ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Vegetables ; Water Supply

Objective To explore the relationship between maternal passive smoking during early pregnancy and the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Methods Data was derived from a populationbased case-control study on birth defects in Shanxi province. The study subjects included 515 NTDs defects cases (236 cases of anencephaly, 237 spina bifida and 42 encephalocele) ascertained during January 2003 and June 2007 in the study areas and 682 normal controls randomly selected in the same residence during the same period as cases. Results The risk of NTDs in their offspring was 1.84 (95 % CI : 1.39-2.44) for mothers with passive smoking history during peri-conceptional period. There was a marked dose-response relation between maternal passive smoking and the risk of NTDs in offspring. Compared to the women without passive smoking, the NTDs risk in offspring was 1.51 for women with occasional passive smoking and 2.44 for women with passive smoking for almost everyday during the peri-conceptional period.Conclusion Maternal passive smoking during peri-conceptional period increased the risk of NTDs in offspring.

Objective To explore the predictive ability of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) before,during,and 2 months after radiotherapy with concomitant/adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ).Methods GBM patients,admitted to our hospital from January 2011 to January 2016 and confirmed by pathology,were chosen in our study;all patients underwent postoperative three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy with concomitant/adjuvant TMZ.And 3D-MRS was performed before,during,and 2 months after radiotherapy,the levels of N-acetyl-aspartic acid (NAA),choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr),and ratios of Cho/NAA,Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr in the GBM/edge of surgery side and the normal brain tissues were observed.The survival curve,median overall survival (mOS) and median progression free survival (mPFS) of patients with standardized Cho decreased＜30％ and patients with standardized Cho decreased＞30％ 2 months after radiotherapy were compared.Results Twenty-one patients finished the scheduled MRS for 3 times.Until the end of our study,16 patients died and 5 survived.Standardized Cho gradually decreased before,during,and 2 months after radiotherapy (2.08±0.22,1.45 ±0.21 and 1.16±0.18),with significant differences (P＜0.05).Standardized Cho after radiotherapy was significantly decreased as compared with that before radiotherapy (P＜0.05).Ratios of Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr in the GBM/edge of surgery side were significantly higher than those in the normal brain tissues (P＜0.05),and ratio of NAA/Cr in the GBM/edge of surgery side was significantly lower than that in the normal brain tissues (P＜0.05).Ratio of Cho/NAA gradually decreased before,during,and 2 months after radiotherapy,with significant differences (P＜0.05).As compared with patients with standardized Cho decreased＜30％ 2 months after radiotherapy,patients with standardized Cho decreased＞30％ 2 months after radiotherapy had significantly decreased rates of OS and PFS,and statistically shorter mPFS and mOS (4.5 vs.13.5,10.9 vs.25.3,P＜0.05).Conclusion The changes of standardized Cho 2 months after radiotherapy have high prognostic significance for PFS and OS.

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the autologous venous external stents on intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts in rabbits.

METHODSThirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 5 months and weighing 2.8 to 3.0 kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A, group B and group C, with 12 rabbits in each group. First, a section about 6 cm long of vein was cut from the right external jugular vein of each rabbit and severed to have 3 equal-length segments. Next, each distal segment prepared for anastomosis. The proximal segment invaginating middle segment in group A and only middle segment in group B were used for the external stent. Later, the left common carotid artery was separated from surrounding tissue, from it a section about 0.5 cm long was cut away. Finally, the vein graft was inverted and end-to-end anastomosed to the two ends of the artery with a 9-0 suture. After bloodstream re-established, the diameter of each vein graft was measured. At 2 and 4 weeks postoperative, the graft veins were cut off and histologically examined by the means of HE staining and Masson staining. The smooth muscle cells (SMC) proliferation was studied by the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

RESULTSAfter bloodstream re-established, the diameters of vein graft of group A and group B and group C were (1.6 +/- 0.3) mm, (2.2 +/- 0.4) mm and (2.6 +/- 0.6) mm respectively (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks postoperative, the data of the ratio of intima to media thickness and the index of the proliferating cells of the intima were as follow: group A (1.01 +/- 0.07 and 6.84 +/- 1.98), group B (1.32 +/- 0.08 and 11.01 +/- 2.61), group C (1.55 +/- 0.03 and 14.96 +/- 4.14). Both the data of group A were obviously less than that in group B, and that of group B was less than group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe autologous venous two-layer external stents inhibit intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts.

Animals ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stents ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Veins ; pathology ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of berberine hydrochloride on the expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in periodontal tissues in rat periodontitis model.

METHODSBased on the successful rat periodontitis model, the experimental rats were randomized into different groups followed by oral treatment with berberine hydrochloride for 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks and then the rats were sacrificed and analyzed. Pathological assay and HE staining were used to detect the general conditions and pathological changes of rat periodontal tissues. And immunohistochemical staining was conducted to determine the expressions of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in rats periodontitis model periodontal tissues.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the periodontitis tissues were significantly higher than that in the control group. Treatment with berberine hydrochloride decreased the levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in periodontitis tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, the general conditions and pathological changes in the control group and groups treated with berberine hydrochloride were much better than that in periodontitis groups.

CONCLUSIONBerberine hydrochloride inhibited the expression of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in periodontal tissues in rats periodontitis model and promoted the regeneration of the periodontal tissues. This study suggested that berberine hydrochloride may have potential clinical application.

Animals ; Berberine ; Interleukin-1beta ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of borneol on intestinal absorption of muscone in rats.

METHODAn in situ intestinal circulation perfusion experiment was used to study the changes in intestinal absorption kinetics of muscone before and after being compatible with borneol.

RESULTCompared with the muscone group (MG), the absorption rate constants (Ka), the half-life period (T1/2) and the absorption rate (A) of muscone in the borneol + muscone group (BMG) were on the rise, but with no significant difference; after being compatible with borneol for a long period, Ka, T1/2 and A in the last borneol on muscone group (LBMG) increased, with significant difference (P < 0.05). in duodenum, LBMG showed better effects than MG (T1/2, P < 0.05); and so did in jejunum (Ka, P < 0.05; T1/2, P < 0.05); in ileum, there was no significant statistical difference between LBMG and MG.

CONCLUSIONBorneol can promote the intestinal absorption of muscone in rats to some extent.

Animals ; Bornanes ; pharmacology ; Cycloparaffins ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar