In order to make sure whether Panax notoginseng is sensitive to chloridion and guide fertilization in planting of P. notoginseng, the effects of the different proportion of potassium chloride (KCl) and potassium sulfate (K2SO4) on the yield, quality of P. notoginseng were studied. The results showed that K fertilizer significantly improved the growth of P. notoginseng and increased the biomass per plant or per pot and the content of N, P, K and the content of saponin. In cases of conditions such as potassium, and the effects of K2SO4 on increasing the petiole length, leaf size, rhizome length, root length, and content and accumulation of Ginsenoside Rg1 were better than those of KCl. While compared with K2SO4, KCl was more conducive to augmenting height, root width, the biomass of shoot, rhizome, root and the content of Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd. There was not remarkable difference in agronomic characters, biomass and the content of N, P, K among KCl, K2SO4 and the combination of KCl and K2SO4. However, the content of saponin of the treatment with combination of KCl and K2SO4 was significant higher than that of single KCl or K2SO4 treatments. K fertilizer significantly increased yield and the content of saponins. And P. notoginseng was not sensitive to chloridion. KCl increased the yield and the content of saponins of P. notoginseng as well as K2SO4, and the combination treatment was superior to single treatment. It is recommended that the KCl should be adopted in production, to reduce the cost of potash fertilizer.
Agriculture ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Potassium Chloride ; analysis ; metabolism ; Quality Control ; Soil ; chemistry ; Sulfates ; analysis ; metabolism

Many of early findings regarding intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and their niche in the human intestine have relied on colorectal cancer cell lines and labor-intensive and time-consuming mouse models. However, these models cannot accurately recapitulate the physiologically relevant aspects of human ISCs. In this study, we demonstrate a reliable and robust culture method for 3D expanding intestinal spheroids (InSexp ) mainly comprising ISCs and progenitors, which can be derived from 3D human intestinal organoids (HIOs). We did functional chararcterization of InSexp derived from 3D HIOs, differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells, and optimization culture methods. Our results indicate that InSexp can be rapidly expanded and easily passaged, and show enhanced growth rates via WNT pathway activation. InSexp are capable of exponential cell expansion and cryopreservation. Furthermore, in vitro-matured HIO-derived InSexp proliferate faster than immature HIO-derived InSexp with preservation of the parental HIO characteristics. These findings may facilitate the development of scalable culture systems for the long-term maintenance of human ISCs and provide an alternative platform for studying ISC biology.

The nutritional support of acutely ill patients is very important and early enteral nutrition is recommended. Feeding via the nasogastric route is used widely for its ease of access if the patient cannot maintain volitional food intake. If the position of the tip or side holes of the nasogastric tube (NGT) is above the gastroesophageal junction, there is the possibility of retention and solidification of the administered enteral feeding formula in the esophagus. Therefore, the tip of the NGT should be checked carefully; a chest radiograph to confirm its position can be considered, especially in patients with a higher risk of aspiration and gastroesophageal reflux. In addition, careful consideration of the risk factors that can trigger esophageal obstruction is required when feeding patients in the intensive care unit. This paper describes two unusual cases of esophageal obstruction caused by the solidification of residue of an enteral feeding formula.
Eating ; Enteral Nutrition* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Nutritional Support ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate is the first-line drug in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exhibiting higher efficacy and better tolerability than most other DMARDs. To have a better understanding of the anti-arthritic mechanism of methotrexate, we investigated the effect of methotrexate on suppressing the autoimmune inflammatory and destructive arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. METHODS: The effects of methotrexate on joint inflammation were assessed by clinical scoring and histologic analysis. Levels of cytokines and autoreactive antibodies were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The population of TH17 and Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and phosphorylation of their critical transcription activators, STAT3 and STAT5, were examined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Treatment with methotrexate significantly alleviated joint inflammation and cartilage destruction in CIA. Serum levels of total immunoglobulins G, G1, G2a specific to type II collagen were also reduced considerably in methotrexate-treated mice. The drug inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-17 in arthritic joints ex vivo as well as by splenocytes in vitro. Moreover, methotrexate treatment resulted in reciprocal modulation of TH17 cells and Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in spleen tissues, in which TH17 cells were decreased and Treg cells in number were increased. Subsequent analysis of CD4+T cells showed that phosphorylation of STAT3 was decreased whereas phosphorylation of STAT5 was increased in methotrexate-treated mice. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate treatment effectively suppressed autoimmune arthritis and restored homeostasis of the immune system by reciprocal regulation of TH17 and Treg cells in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cartilage ; Collagen Type II ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Homeostasis ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-6 ; Joints ; Methotrexate ; Mice ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phosphorylation ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Thyroid antibodies are frequently observed in urticaria patients, but their roles in urticaria are not clearly elucidated. We investigated the role of serum specific IgE to thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in patients with aspirin intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU) and aspirin intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU). We recruited 59 AIAU and 96 AICU patients with 69 normal controls (NC). Serum specific IgE to TPO was measured by manual direct ELISA, and CD203c expressions on basophil with additions of TPO were measured to prove a direct role of TPO in effector cells. The prevalences of serum specific IgE to TPO were significantly higher in AIAU (15.2%) and AICU groups (7.5%) compared to NC (0%, P=0.018: P=0.013, respectively). Flow cytometry showed CD203c induction in a dose dependent manner with serial additions of TPO in some AIAU and AICU patients having high specific IgE to TPO. Our findings show that the prevalence of serum specific IgE to TPO was significantly higher in both AIAU and AICU patients than in NC. It is suggested that specific IgE to TPO play a pathogenic role in AIAU and AICU.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Aspirin/*adverse effects ; Autoantibodies/immunology ; Basophils/drug effects/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/blood/*immunology ; Iodide Peroxidase/blood/*immunology ; Urticaria/*chemically induced/*immunology/pathology

PURPOSE: Congenital dacryocystocele is an uncommon variant of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. We report a case of infected congenital dacryocystoceles with nasolacrimal duct cysts bilaterally. METHODS: A 5-day-old girl had bilateral bluish swellings over the lacrimal sacs. Although she had been treated with systemic antibiotics, antibiotic eyedrops and massage, the swelling was not reduced. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated distension of both lacrimal sacs and nasolacrimal ducts with soft tissue masses beneath the inferior turbinates bilaterally. RESULTS: After marsupialization of bilateral nasolacrimal duct cysts under nasal endoscopic visualization, the swellings over both lacrimal sacs were rapidly resolved without recurrence 3 months thereafter.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Female ; Humans ; Massage ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Recurrence ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND: Means to measure death anxiety, death depression and sense of symbolic immortality with approved validity and reliability does not yet exist in Korea. METHODS: Existing English questionnaires such as Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS), Death Depression Scale (DDS), Sense of Symbolic Immortaligy Scale (SSIS) were translated into Korean by 5 translators, and then reviewed by 3 non-participants of translation for collegial summary and this summary was counter-translated again by another 2 non-participants. Another 3 non-participants of translation and counter-translation were chosen to examine the two sentences of each item. Then reexamination was done by retranslating and counter-translating the parts with errors. Aftr pretest on ordinary people. the completed questionnaires were given to medical students, residents and nurses of a university hospital. Pastors and missionaries were selected as comparison group. RESULTS: Kuder-Richardson or Cronbach-alpha that represent internal consistency of TDAS, DDS and SSIs was 0.69, 0.84 and 0.78. The three sentences that lowered internal consistency of SSIS was deleted. BDI and DDS showed a positive correlation (0.32, P=0.02), suggesting proved construct validity. Correlation coefficient that proves construct validity of TDAS and DDS was 0.54 (P<0.01), of SSIS and TDAS -0.23(P=0.04), of SSIS and DDS -0.29(P=0.01). The TDAS and DDS(P<0.01), DDS and BDI(P=0.02) have shown a positive correlation were shown. There was significant difference in the score of SSIS(P<0.01). The same results in cases where the 3 sentences was deleted. CONCLUSION: Korean versions of TDAS, DDS and SSIS were reliable and valid.
Anxiety* ; Attitude to Death ; Depression* ; Humans ; Korea ; Missions and Missionaries ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Chinese children and adolescents to provide scientific basis for early prevention of MS in the related populations.Methods Studies on CNKI,Wanfangdata,VIP and PubMed databases on related prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Chinese children and adolescents between 2004-2014 were searched.Quality of literatures was evaluated according to the cross-sectional study standard in Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement.Stata 12.0 software was used to estimate the prevalence of MS,as well as on gender,weight and other factors to make subgroup analysis.According to funnel plot and Egger assess publication bias,sensitivity analysis performed by excluding the impact of any article was generated by the combined effect of the value of literature.Results This study included 19 papers from the literature (5 in English,14 in Chinese).According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF),National Cholesterol Education Program Ⅲ (NCEP Ⅲ) and The definition and prevention recommends of metabolic syndrome in Chinese children and adolescents (CHN2012),the prevalence rates of MS in Chinese children were seen as 1.8％,2.6％ and 2.0％.According to IDF,the prevalence rates of MS appeared 2.9％ in boys and 1.8％ in girls,0.2％ in children with normal weight,4.7％ in overweight and 17.3％ in obesity.Both the results from NCEP Ⅲ and CHN2012 showed that the prevalence rates of MS as boys＞girls,obesity＞overweight＞normal weight.Conclusion Prevalence of MS in Chinese children and adolescents showed a general trend.Data under different standards showed different prevalence rates.Obesity appeared an important risk factor of MS,suggesting that in order to control obesity in children,attention should be paid to identifying and carrying out effective interventions on children under overweight or obesity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become widely used for the treatment of chronic or recurrent rhinosinusitis that is unresponsive to medical management. But the effect of pediatric ESS on facial growth or sinus growth are controversial and not well understood. The object of the present study was to determine whether pediatric ESS causes the volumetric restriction of the sinuses. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Fifteen cases of patients who underwent unilateral endoscopic sinus surgery for antrochoanal polyp were reviewed retrospectively. Postoperative maxillary and ethmoid sinus volumes were measured by computed tomography at 73.5 (51-101) months after surgery, and these were compared with non-operated sinus volumes. RESULTS: The mean volume of the operated and non-operated maxillary sinuses were 18.9+/-6.4 ml and 21.7+/-5.3 ml. and the mean volume of the operated and non-operated ethmoid sinuses were 4.1+/-1.2 ml and 3.7+/-1.2 ml. There was no significant difference in sinus growth between operated and non-operated sinuses. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence that pediatric ESS affected maxillary and ethmoid sinus growth.
Ethmoid Sinus ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Polyps* ; Retrospective Studies

Objectives: In Korea, health insurance payment systems are applied differently for mentally ill patients depending on the type of medical insurance. Moreover, medical use differs according to the type of medical insurance. In 2017, the payment system for outpatients with mental disorders under the medical aid program was changed to fee-for-service. This study examined the medical use of outpatients with mental disorders after the policy change. Methods: This study used the data of claims from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2015 to 2019. A controlled interrupted time series analysis of medical aid and health insurance patients was used as target and control groups. The dependent variables were the number of visits and prescription days for monthly outpatients, which can represent the medical use. Results: 5020773 health insurance beneficiaries, and 433435 were medical beneficiaries. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was higher for medical aid patients than for health insurance patients. Before the policy, compared to health insurance patients, medical aid patients had a lower number of hospital visits and a higher number of days prescribed. After the policy, the number of hospital visits for medical aid patients increased (p<0.0001) compared to health insurance ones, and the trend increased (p=0.0070). The number of days prescribed decreased (p<0.0001) and the trend showed a decrease (p<0.0001). Conclusion After changes in the medical payment system, the differences in psychiatric outpatient treatment utilization decreased depending on the type of health insurance.