In order to breed and spread a new cultivar of Curcuma wenyujin, the C. wenyujin germplasm resources were investigated in authentic regions. Better varieties were chosen by comparing the yield, economic characters and quality differences between different cultivars. The results showed that the character of new selected cultivar was stable, the yield of zedoary, turmeric and curcuma was reached 313.7, 177.9, 91.2 kg per 667 m2, respectively, it increased 11.6%, 10.2%, 14.2% comparing with farmer varieties. The volatile oil contents in zedoary and turmeric was 4.0%, 3.0%, respectively. The target ingredients (germacrone) content was stable. It is demonstrated that the new cultivar "Wenyujin No. 1" has value for extension at authentic regions.
Breeding ; China ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess occlusal balance of normal occlusion in intercuspal position with maximal bite force.

METHODSMaximal bite force was recorded in intercuspal position by use of T-Scan II system from 123 subjects with normal intact dentitions. Occlusal balance of normal occlusion was quantitatively analyzed from center of force, percentage of bite force, and occlusal contacts.

RESULTSThe relative position of the center of bite force, the difference in bilateral force percentage, and unsymmetrical coefficient followed normal distributions. The 95% reference ranges for corresponding testing items were -6.60 to 6.68 mm, -15.50% to 12.10%, and 0.65 to 1.39. There was no statistic difference (P = 0.915) in occlusal contacts between left and right sides. The 98.4% of normal occlusion subjects had the center of bite force locating in posterior region of dentition when biting with maximal force in intercuspal position.

CONCLUSIONSOcclusal balance could be evaluated by T-Scan II system. Occlusion of normal subjects biting with maximal force was stable and bilaterally balanced in intercuspal position.

Adolescent ; Bite Force ; Dental Occlusion, Balanced ; Dental Stress Analysis ; instrumentation ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaw Relation Record ; Male ; Reference Values ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Child ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; surgery ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; Ear, Middle ; abnormalities ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Male ; Prostheses and Implants ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; surgery ; Ear, Middle ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Background Retinal neovascularization disease is a common cause of blinding.Retinal neovascularization is related to enhancing proliferation of vascular endothelial cells.So how to inhibit proliferation of vascular endothelial cells is a hot burning issue.p21 is known to be involved in the regulation of cell cycle and therefore inhibit the cell proliferation.However,the relationship of p21 and the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in retinal neovascularization disease is for further study.Objective The aim of this experiment was to study the proliferation of rhesus retinal vascular endothelial cells(RF/6A) and expression of p21 in RF/6A cells under the hypoxia condition,and discuss their association.Methods The RF/6A cells were cultured and passaged in vitro,then they were randomly divided into normoxia culture group(5％ CO2 +95％ O2) and hypoxia for 1 hour,3,6,12 hours group(1％ 02+5％ CO2 +94％ N2).Flow cytometer(FCM) was used to check the distribution of RF/6A cell cycle in the normoxia culture group and hypoxia for 1 hour,3,6,12 hours groups.MTT assay was used to detect and compare the cell proliferation(A570)among the various groups.The expression of p21 in the cells was analyzed by Western blot.Results FCM showed that the cells proportion of G0/G1 stage was reduced initially and then increased afterward in hypoxia for 1 hour and 3,6,12 hours groups,showing a significant difference among 5 groups (F =20.083,P =0.000),and the cells proportion of S stage and G2/M stage were increased firstly and then declined in different hypoxia groups with statistical significances (F =7.861,P =0.001 ; F =10.305,P =0.003).Compared with normoxia culture group,cells proportion of G0/G1 stage was declined and that of S stage and G2/M stage were raised after hypoxia culture,showing statistically signifcant differences(P＜0.05).MTT showed that cell multiplication capacity(A570 value)strengthened firstly and then weakened in hypoxia groups with time prolongation,showing a significant difference among all the groups(F=7.768,P=0.001),and A570 value in hypoxia for 3 hours and 6 hours groups (0.315± 0.062,0.365 ± 0.064) was significantly higher than that of the normoxia group (0.205 ± 0.063),respectively(P＜0.05).Western blot showed that the expression of p21 in the cells down-regulated at the beginning and then up-regulated with the increase of hypoxia time,and there was statistical significance (F =16.738,P=0.000).The p21 relative levels in different hypoxia groups were reduced in comparison with the normoxia group,showing statistical signifcances(P＜0.05).Conclusions Short-term hypoxia could reduce the expression of the p21 in RF/6A and induce cell proliferation initially,then p21 increases and cell proliferation is inhibited with the prolongation of hypoxia time.

Objective To investigate the fluctuation of the iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) through continuous monitoring on it. Methods During 2005-2008, 10 monitoring countis (city,district) of IDD were selected in Jiangxi Province. Five townships were selected in each monitoring county, one school was selected in each townships, and 40 students in 8-10 years old from each school were selected to inspect their thyroid glands and determined the idodine content of salts from their home. Among the 40 students, 20 of which were selected to determine the intelligence quotient(IQ) and 6 of which were selected to determine urine iodine. Thirty pregnant women were also selected to determine the urine iodine in each monitoring county. Twenty students of 5th grade in each school and 5 housewives living nearby the school were selected to carry out the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD. Results Monitoring results showed the average goiter rote of 8-10 years old students was between 2.00% and 4.60% during 2005-2008. The rate of IQ of the students higher than 90 was all above 76% each year. The median of urine iodine of students and pregnant women was higher than 100 μg/L, and the proportion of people whose urine iodine content was lower than 50 μg/L was below 4% each year. The rate of inhabitant taking qualified idodine salt wasn't lower than 95%. The pass rate of the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD was between 11.67% and 43.50% in students and 92.50%-99.60% in housewives. Conclusions The situation of iodine deficiency in Jiangxi Province has been greatly improved, reaching the standard of eliminating IDD.

Objective To introduce the experience and analyze the clinical outcome of applica- tion of reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixator combined with limited internal fixation for complex frac- turcs of tibia plateau in patients.Methods From Aug.2002 to Feb.2005,21 patients with complex fractures of tibial plateau were treated with reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixatar combined with lim- ited internal fixation.According to Schatzker classification,there were 13 patients with typeⅤfracture and 8 with typeⅥfracture.Voluntary and non-weight beating knee joint motion to partially weight bear- ing was taken one week after operation.Progressive loading was taken continuously until there was clinical evidence of fracture stability and then full weight bearing was done.Results The mean follow-up peri- od was 15.9 months (10-24 months).All the fractures got united and the mean union time was 4.2 months(3-8 months).All the injured knees could extend to less than 5 degrees and flex to more than 90 degrees after rehabilitation.Evaluated by Merchant score system for knee joint,81% of patients achieved excellent healing (7 cases) and good healing (10 cases).Conclusion Operation by using reinforced bar-ring hybrid external fixator combined with limited internal fixation can reduce complications and avoid stiffness of the knee joint.It is an effective method for complex fractures of tibial plateau.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement for acute cervical radiculopathy. Methods: A total of 85 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group by random numbers, with 43 cases in the observation group and 42 cases in the control group. The observation group was treated with Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement;while the control group was treated with Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position. The treatment was performed once a day, 10 times as a treatment course. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 1 treatment course, and the changes in the scores of visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) were observed. Results: The total effective rate was 97.7% in the observation group, and 83.3% in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P＜0.05). After treatment, the VAS and NDI scores of both groups were significantly decreased (both P＜0.01), and the differences in the VAS and NDI scores between the two groups were statistically significant (both P＜0.01). Conclusion: Both Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement and Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position can relieve pain and improve cervical function in patients with acute cervical radiculopathy, and Ba-pulling and Qian-traction manipulation with neck suspension and movement can produce more significant efficacy than Bashen-pulling and stretching manipulation in a supine position.

BACKGROUNDDiabetic gastroparesis is a disabling condition with no consistently effective treatment. In normal animals, both ghrelin and its synthetic peptide, growth hormone releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6), increase gastric emptying. Thus, we investigated the potential therapeutic significance of ghrelin and GHRP-6 in diabetic guinea pigs with gastric motility disorders.

METHODSA diabetic guinea pig model was produced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 280 mg/kg). Diabetic guinea pigs were injected i.p. with ghrelin or GHRP-6 (10 - 100 microg/kg), and the effects on gastric emptying were measured after intragastric application of phenol red. The effect of atropine or a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) antagonist, D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6, on the gastroprokinetic effects of ghrelin or GHRP-6 (100 microg/kg) was also investigated. Further, the in vitro effects of ghrelin or GHRP-6 (0.01 - 10 micromol/L) on spontaneous or carbachol-induced contractile amplitude in gastric fundic circular strips taken from diabetic guinea pigs were examined. Growth hormone secretagogue receptor transcripts in the fundic strips of diabetic guinea pigs were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSWe established a guinea pig model of delayed gastric emptying. Ghrelin (20, 50, or 100 microg/kg) and GHRP-6 (20, 50, or 100 microg/kg) accelerated gastric emptying in diabetic guinea pigs with gastroparesis (n = 6, P < 0.05). In the presence of atropine, which delayed gastric emptying, ghrelin and GHRP-6 (100 microg/kg) failed to accelerate gastric emptying (n = 6, P < 0.05). D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 also delayed gastric emptying induced by the GHS-R agonist (n = 6, P < 0.05). Ghrelin and GHRP-6 increased the carbachol-induced contractile amplitude in gastric fundic strips taken from diabetic guinea pigs (n = 6, P < 0.05). RT-PCR confirmed the presence of GHS-R mRNA in the strip preparations.

CONCLUSIONSGhrelin and GHRP-6 increased gastric emptying in diabetic guinea pigs with gastroparesis, potentially, by activating the peripheral cholinergic pathways in the enteric nervous system.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Gastroparesis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Ghrelin ; therapeutic use ; Guinea Pigs ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Oligopeptides ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, Ghrelin ; analysis ; Streptozocin

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of ghrelin and its synthetic peptide GHRP-6 on gastric motor in mice.

METHODSIn vivo, the dose-dependent effects of ghrelin (20,50,100,200 mug/kg) and GHRP-6 (20,50,100,200 mug/kg) on gastric emptying were measured by intragastric application of phenol red test which was adapted for use in mice. The effects of atropine, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 (GHS-R antagonist) on the gastric motor induced by ghrelin and GHRP-6 (100 mug/kg) were also investigated. In vitro, the effects of ghrelin (0.01,0.1,1.0,10.0 mumol/L) and GHRP-6 (0.01,0.1,1.0,10.0 mumol/L) on spontaneous contraction of mice fundic muscle strips were studied as well.

RESULTSBoth ghrelin (50,100,200 mug/kg) and GHRP-6 (50,100,200 mug/kg) significantly accelerated gastric emptying (P<0.05), but they failed to accelerate gastric emptying in the presence of atropine, L-NAME and D-Lys(3)-GHRP-6 (P<0.05). Ghrelin (0.1, 1.0, 10.0 mumol/L) and GHRP-6 (0.1, 1.0, 10.0 mumol/L) induced significant contraction of fundic muscle strips in concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05), which could be blocked by tetrodotoxin.

CONCLUSIONGhrelin and its synthetic peptide GHRP-6 accelerate gastric emptying perhaps by activating GHS-R of cholinergic excitatory pathways and nitrergic nervous pathways in the enteric nervous system.

Animals ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Ghrelin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Stomach ; drug effects ; physiology