Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, which has antiretroviral, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HBV DNA replication inhibition in the mouse model with betulinic acid. Hydrodynamic injection method via the tail vein with the Paywl. 3 plasmid was used to establish the animal mode (n = 15), and the mice were randomly divided into the PBS control group (n = 5), Betulinic acid treatment group (n = 5) and lamivudine control group (n = 5). The day after successful modeling , the mice would have taken Betulinic acid (100 mg x kg(-1)), lamivudine (50 mg x kg(-1)), PBS drugs orally, once daily for 7 days, blood samples were acquired from the orbital venous blood at 3, 5, 7 days after the administering, HBsAg and HBeAg in serum concentration were measured by ELISA and the mice were sacrificed after 7 days, HBV DNA southern detections were used with part of mice livers. The results showed that betulinic acid significantly inhibited the expression of HbsAg in the mice model at the fifth day compared with the control group, and there was no significant differences between the effects of lamivudine and the PBS control group; both the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups had no significant inhibition for the HBeAg expression; the HBV DNA expressions of the liver tissue from the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups were inhibited compared with the control group. Taken together, these results reveal betulinic acid can inhibit the HBsAg expression and replication of the liver HBV DNA in the mouse model.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Purpose: To evaluate the use of signal intensity index (SII) of skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), select a best cut-off SII value to predict the outcome of NPC. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty-two NPC patients (92 men, 30 women) with skull-base invasion were included. All patients underwent MRI, signal intensities on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) were measured for each invaded site and its contralateral normal counterpart. The SIIs were calculated, receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The optimal cut-off values were extracted. The overall survival (OS) rates of 5-year follow-up were performed. Results: Sensitivities for differentiating skull-base invasion from normal contralateral anatomy were 98.9%, 88.5% and 70.0%, and specificities were 98.9%, 96.0% and 74.4%, respectively. There were three cut-off values for differentiating invasion from normal anatomy of skull-base, 49%, 98%, and 60%. Significant difference in OS rates (84.2% vs. 57.1%, p=0.007) was seen for SII threshold values > 60% and those ≤ 60%. Conclusions: The SII might be a useful means of differentiating invasion from normal tissue at the skull-base in NPC. The cut-off value of quantitative SII at the skull-base may aid in monitoring the response to treatment of NPC patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between children's motor coordination and their physical growth to provide clues for clarifying the causal relationship between them and to effectively enhance the children's physical growth.

METHODTen kindergartens were selected randomly from district of Hongkou, Putuo and Pudong in Shanghai, and 1099 children were included in the analysis. The children's motor coordination was assessed using Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ). The relationship between the children's motor coordination and their physical growth were analyzed by Structural Equation Model (SEM). The above relationship by different gender, age and BMI (overweight or not) were analyzed with multi-group SEM.

RESULTSOf 1099 subjects, 561 were boys (51%), and 538 were girls (49%). Of the total subjects, 354 (32.2%) were children aged 3-years old, 441 (40.1%) were children aged 4-years, 276 (25.2%) were children aged 5-years, and 28 were children (2.5%) aged 6-years old. The result of SEM showed that the children's gross motor, fine motor and general motor ability was correlated positively with children's physical growth (P < 0.001), their standardized estimation of structural coefficient were 0.40, 0.36, 0.37 respectively. The result of multi-group SEM showed that there was no significant difference in the SEM between different gender and ages. The fine motor ability was positively correlated with child physical growth (P < 0.001). There was no inter-group difference in the structural model (each P > 0.05). However, there was difference in the structural model between overweight and normal group, of them, only the structural coefficient of gross motor and physical growth were different between the two groups (t = 1.697, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a relationship between children's motor coordination and physical growth. The degree of association between the gross moter and physical growth in overweight children were different from the normal children. Further study on the factors influencing the children's physical growth is needed.

Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Skills ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the value of measuring electrical discharge of external oblique in assessment of young rat model of visceral hypersensitivity.

METHODSEight-day-old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group and a control group (n=16 each). Rats in the experimental group were subjected to mechanical colorectal irritation daily for 7 consecutive days, while the rats in the control group did not received colorectal irritation treatment. On the 6th week of their lives, the spike amplitude of external oblique were measured to evaluate the bowel sensitivity.

RESULTSWhen the colorectal distention (CRD) pressure was 30 and 45 mmHg, the 95% confidence interval of the spike amplitude in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). When the CRD pressure were 60 and 75 mmHg, the 95% confidence interval of the spike amplitude in female rats was significantly higher than that in males (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electrical discharge of external oblique confirmed that chronic colorectal irritation in neonatal rats can result in a chronic visceral hypersensitivity in the juvenile stage, with gender differences. Electrophysiological assessment is a quantitative test, and can objectively reflect visceral sensibility of pain.

Animals ; Colon ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rectum ; physiopathology ; Reflex ; physiology

BACKGROUNDThe effect of selective and non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on tendon healing was variable. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of non-selective COX inhibitor, ibuprofen and flurbiprofen axetil and selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib on the tendon healing process in a rabbit model.

METHODSNinety-six New Zealand rabbits were used as rotator cuff repair models. After surgery, they were divided randomly into four groups: ibuprofen (10 mg·kg-1·d-1), celecoxib (8 mg·kg-1·d-1), flurbiprofen axetil (2 mg·kg-1·d-1), and control group (blank group). All drugs were provided for 7 days. Rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after tendon repair. Tendon biomechanical load failure tests were performed. The percentage of type I collagen on the bone tendon insertion was calculated by Picric acid Sirius red staining and image analysis. All data were compared among the four groups at the same time point. All data in each group were also compared across the different time points. Qualitative histological evaluation of the bone tendon insertion was also performed among groups.

RESULTSThe load to failure increased significantly with time in each group. There were significantly lower failure loads in the celecoxib group than in the control group at 3 weeks (0.533 vs. 0.700, P = 0.002), 6 weeks (0.607 vs. 0.763, P = 0.01), and 12 weeks (0.660 vs. 0.803, P = 0.002), and significantly lower percentage of type I collagen at 3 weeks (11.5% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), 6 weeks (40.5% vs. 66.3%, P = 0.005), and 12 weeks (59.5% vs. 86.3%, P = 0.001). Flurbiprofen axetil showed significant differences at 3 weeks (failure load: 0.600 vs. 0.700, P = 0.024; percentage of type I collagen: 15.6% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.001), but no significant differences at 6 and 12 weeks comparing with control group, whereas the ibuprofen groups did not show any significant difference at each time point.

CONCLUSIONSNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can delay tendon healing in the early stage after rotator cuff repair. Compared with nonselective COX inhibitors, selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly impact tendon healing.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Celecoxib ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Flurbiprofen ; pharmacology ; Ibuprofen ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Rotator Cuff ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tendon Injuries ; drug therapy ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the early diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency rickets.

METHODSConcentrations of serum 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were measured in normal control (n=73), suspected rickets (n=45) and confirmed rickets groups (n=65). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum 25(OH)D for rickets.

RESULTSSerum 25(OH)D levels in the suspected and confirmed rickets groups were 83±30 and 72±31 nmol/L respectively, which was lower than in the normal control group (112±37 nmol/L) (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the suspected and confirmed rickets groups (P>0.05). Vitamin D deficiency rates in the suspected and confirmed rickets groups were higher than in the control group (P<0.01). The ROC curve area of serum 25(OH)D for the diagnosis of rickets was 0.760 (95%CI 0.692-0.820, P<0.01), and the optimal operating point was 90.70 nmol/L (sensitivity 68.49%, specificity 72.73%). There was no significant difference in levels of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase between the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum 25(OH)D levels in infants with suspected and confirmed rickets are significantly reduced and this may reflect vitamin D deficiency . Therefore, it may be useful to check serum 25(OH)D levels in screening for rickets.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; ROC Curve ; Rickets ; blood ; diagnosis ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous alcohol embolization(PAE) combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP) for aggressive vertebral haemangiomas (AVHs) with epidural extension.Methods The data of 26 consecutive patients underwent PAE combined with PVP for the treatment of AVHs with epidural extension from October 2013 to November 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.The average follow-up time was (12.21 ± 1.34) months.The pain symptom before and after surgery were evaluated with a visual analogue scale (VAS).Results Pre-procedure mean VAS score was (7.23 ± 1.3) and the postoperative VAS score was (3.11 ± 1.9) at last follow-up.Ten patients (38.5％) remained asymptomatic.Eighty-eight percent of the patients with neurosensory disorders had complete regression of these symptoms.Two of the three patients with motor deficit did not show any improvement.No major complication was recorded.Conclusion PAE combined with PVP is a minimally invasive safe and effective therapeutic approach for AVH with epidural extension.This technique appears mainly effective for pain and neurosensory symptoms,but seems less effective for motor deficit relief.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy and safety of screw placement position through second sacral alar -iliac(S2AI)with in-teroperative cone beam CT(CBCT)scan.Methods Collected 22 patients who underwent second sacral alar-iliac screw implant surgery in our hospital from June 2015 to June 2017.All the patients had intraoperative CBCT scan and conventional CT scan after operation.Regard the postoperative CT scan imageing as gold standard to assess the accuracy and safety of S 2AI screws position.The S2AI tract parameters were measured with intraoperative CBCT images and postoperative CT images respectively.Results There was no significant difference between the S2AI tract parameters which were measured with intraoperative CBCT images and postoperative CT images(P>0.05).Conclusion The intraoperative CBCT scan could accurately evaluate the position of S 2AI screws,as well as clarify the damage of the inner and outer plate of the iliac bone in the process of fixation.Compared with postoperative conventional CT scan,the intraoperative CBCT scan can potentially re-duce the reoperation rate.

Objective To assess the validity and reliability of Family Environment Scale on Motor Development for Urban Pre-school Chiidren(FESMDUPC) so as to provide valid and reliable tools for measuring the influencing factors from home environment on motor development of the children.Methods One thousand eight hundreds and twenty fore preschool children from 15 kindergartens in Suzhou city were included in this study which related to reliability and validity of FESMDUPC.Data on test-retest reliability,internal consistent reliability,content validity and construct validity were assessed using the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC),Cronbach α coefficient,Item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).When the Observation for Measurement of the Environment Revisited was used as criteria,the criteria-related validity of MABC was assessed,using the Spearman correlation analysis.Results This study showed that the ICC of all items was above or close to 0.9.The total Cronbach α eoeffcient was 0.875 and the Cronbach α coefficient was 0.868-0.873 when each item was deleted.Formal validity and reliability study showed that I-CVI of the 23 items was 0.79-1.00.The average I-CVI was 0.92.Results from the CFA model showed that x2=1077.5,df=224 and x2/df-=4.810.Fit of Goodness on the other indices of the model were as follows:GFI (0.949),AGF (0.937),NFI (0.889),CFI (0.896),with each of them above or close to 0.9.The RMSEA was 0.046 which showed that the model's Fit of Goodness could be accepted.The factor loadings were all above 0.3 with statistical significance.However,according to this model,the strengths of relationship between Outside Space,Inside Space and Toy were high,so the high-step CFA of FESMDUPC was further analyzed.The model' s Fit of Goodness was good.The factor loadings were all above 0.3 with statistical significance.Results showed that the Spearman Coefficient of the total score of FESMDUPC and HOME scale was 0.476 (each P＜0.001 ).Among them only the learning staff and movement variety were comparatively and highly correlated with Toy,Parental Rearing Patterns.Spearman coefficients were all above 0.3 (each P＜0.001 ).Conclusion The above results showed that the reliability of test-retest,the internal consistent reliability,the content validity and the construct validity of FESMDUPC were fair and had met the basic psychometric demands.FESMDUPC could be used as a quantitative tool to assess the motor development among children.

Objective To investigate the feasibility to execute percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) in the field comprehensive surgical shelter during kinds of natural disasters. Methods Five experimental pigs underwent PKP in a comprehensive surgical shelter during simulated natural disasters, and were observed for operating time, intraoperative blood loss, complications and postoperative survival rate. Results All the 5 pigs had the operations completed successfully with high postoperative performances in extremities motion and survival rate, and the mean operating time was(43±5.7)min and the mean intraoperative blood loss was (42±3.6)ml.Cement penetrated into the intervertebral space of one pig with satisfactory extremities motion,while no complications occurred in the other pigs.Conclusion The comprehensive surgical shelter proves to enable PKP,and thus extends emergency treatment to the frontier during simulated natural disasters.