Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Chang'an Juntai Granules(mainly composed of Pseudostellariae Radix,Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma,Poria,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Saposhnikoviae Radix,Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium,Coptidis Rhizoma,and Aucklandiae Radix)in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome,and to evaluate its safety.Methods A single-center,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed.A total of 130 patients with IBS-D of liver depression and spleen deficiency were included.The patients were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group by random number table method,with 65 cases in each group.The treatment group was treated with Chang'an Juntai Granules,and the control group was treated with Chang'an Juntai Placebo Granules.The course of treatment covered 12 weeks.The changes in the scores of IBS Symptom Severity Scale(IBS-SSS),Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS),IBS Quality of Life Questionnaire(IBS-QOL)and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and medication safety in the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)During the trial,six cases in the treatment group and eight cases in the control group fell off.Eventually,a total of 116 patients completed the clinical trial,including 59 cases in the treatment group and 57 cases in the control group.(2)After 12 weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 88.14％(52/59),and that of the control group was 45.61％(26/57).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the clinical efficacy of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the IBS-SSS scores of the two groups and the BSFS and IBS-QOL scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment(P＜0.01),while the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale(HADA)and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression subscale(HADD)in the two groups and the BSFS and IBS-QOL scores in the control group showed no obvious changes(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,the decrease of IBS-SSS,BSFS and IBS-QOL scores in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(4)During the trial,no serious adverse reactions or adverse events occurred in the two groups,no drug-related abnormalities of liver and kidney function,blood,and heart function were found,either.Conclusion Chang'an Juntai Granules are effective on improving the clinical symptoms and fecal characteristics of IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome,and on enhancing the quality of life of patients.The granules excert definite curative effect and high safety,and has certain value of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the expression differences and significance of periostin (PN) in eyelid basal cell carcinoma associated fibroblasts (BCAFs) andnormal fibroblasts (NFs) after separation,culture,purification and identification.Methods The third generation of purified BCAFs and NFs was selected,and the concentrations of cell suspensions were modulated to 20 × 106 L-1 by trypsin,and then the cell suspension were seeded and cultured in 6-well plate by 2 mL per well.The cell culture supernatants were collected when BCAFs and NFs were cultured by serum-free medium for 48 h,then the content of PN in cell culture supernatants from BCAFs and NFs was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The glass coverslips were placed at the bottom of the 6-well plate to make cell slides,and then the expression of PN in BCAFs and NFs cells were tested by immunofluorescence staining.Results ELISA showed that the content of PN in cell culture supernatants from BCAFs and NFs was (9.26 ± 2.35) μg · L-1 and (2.57 ± 0.41) μg · L-1.And the expression level of PN in BCAFs tested by immunofluorescence staining technology was higher than that in NFs cells,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression and secretion of PN in the eyelid BCAFs were highly enhanced when compared with NFs,suggesting that periostein may promote or inhibit the occurrence and development of the eyelid basal cell carcinoma in the microenvironment of the eyelid basal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDAdipocytes behave like a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) participates in the local chronic inflammatory response, and high-density lipoprotein could counterbalance the proinflammatory function of oxLDL, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F on the secretion and expression of MCP-1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by oxLDL and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSFully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated in the medium containing various concentration of L-4F (0-50 μg/ml) with oxLDL (50 μg/ml) stimulated, with/without protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 (10 μmol/L) preincubated. The concentrations of MCP-1 in the supernatant, the mRNA expression of MCP-1, the levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) were evaluated. The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber.

RESULTSOxLDL stimulation induced a significant increase of MCP-1 expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which were inhibited by L-4F preincubation in a dose-dependent manner. PKA inhibitor H-89 markedly reduced the oxLDL-induced MCP-1 expression, but no further decrease was observed when H-89 was used in combination with L-4F (50 μg/ml) (P > 0.05). OxLDL stimulation showed no significant effect on C/EBPα protein level but increased C/EBPβ protein level in a time-dependent manner. H-89 and L-4F both attenuated C/EBPβ protein level in oxLDL-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONSOxLDL induces C/EBPβ protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner and enhances MCP-1 secretion and expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. L-4F dose-dependently counterbalances the pro-inflammatory effect of oxLDL, and cyclic AMP/PKA-C/EBPβ signaling pathway may participate in it.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; analysis ; physiology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; secretion ; Cyclic AMP ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; physiology ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo estimate the size of female sex workers and clients in Taizhou city.

METHODSA household survey using network scale-up method (NSUM) was conducted among the 3000 community residents in Taizhou city from August to October in 2011, which aimed to estimate the social network size (c value) of Taizhou residents, and the c value was adjusted by demographic characteristics, back estimation and outlier elimination. Using the adjusted c value, the number of acquaintance of female sex workers or clients and the respect level toward female sex workers or clients were used to estimate the size of female sex workers and clients.

RESULTSA total of 2783 valid questionnaires were collected, among which 1380 (49.6%) were collected from Taixing city, 1403 (50.4%) were collected from Jingjiang city. 1334 respondents were male (47.9%) and 1449 (47.9%) respondents were female. The mean age was (39.4 ± 10.7) years. The average personal social network size using original data for Taizhou residents was 525, which differed from place, sex, age, educational level and marriage status. Using the remaining known populations through back estimation, the social network size was 419 and became 424 after the elimination of outliers. The estimated population size for female sex worker was 6370 (95%CI: 5886 - 6853), which accounted for 0.52% (6370/1 229 980) of the total number of female aged from 15 to 49. The estimated population size for clients was 15 202 (95%CI: 14 560 - 15 847), which accounted for 1.28% (15 202/1 190 340) of the total number of males aged from 15 to 49 and the ration of clients to female sex worker was 2.39:1.

CONCLUSIONNSUM is an easy and quick way to estimate the size of female sex workers or clients, but the estimated sizes are subject to bias and error due to estimate effect and sample representativeness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Work ; statistics & numerical data ; Sex Workers ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To assess the methodology and quality on Meta-analysis used in papers being published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology.Methods Computerized literature searching was carried out in Wanfang Medical Online to collect articles that Meta-analysis was used in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology since it was founded till December,2012.Manual retrieval was also conducted.Two researchers independently screened for literature and extracted data.Disagreements were resolved through discussion or by resort to a third reviewer if consensus was not reached.Qualities on methodologies or on the processes of reporting and reviewing,were evaluated by both AMSTAR and PRISMA scales.Statistical calculations and analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0.Results Fifty-five papers on meta-analyses were included in this study.Results on the qualities of methodology or evaluation showed that only 2 articles (3.6％) were rated as high,35 articles (63.7％) as moderate and 18 (32.7％) as low.The quality on methodology being used in literature had improved since 2008.However,there were still some problems seen in the following areas as the list of studies (included and excluded),comprehensive search on literature,quality of the included studies having been assessed and documented,etc.Results on evaluation of quality showed that the included reviews had high quality on the titles of the report,sources of information,summary measures and synthesis of results.However,areas as:structured summary,methods on searching,data collection,risk of bias in individual studies,summary of evidence,limitations,funding etc.,were still lack of comprehensive reports.Conclusion Articles on Meta-analysis published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology provided substantial evidence for more reliable information on the etiology and risk factors of the studies.However,both of the qualities on methodology and reports in the included literature presented problems at different levels that called for careful improvement.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of indicators of oxidative stress in serum and NF-kappaB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with silicosis, and explore the mechanism of the development of silicosis.

METHODSThe subjects were divided into (1) 200 workers exposed to SiO2 for at least 1 years in a foundry served as the dust-exposure group; (2) 130 cases with silicosis (I phase silicosis 64 cases, II phase 46 cases III phase 20 cases) served as the silicosis group; (3) 32 cases with 0+ phase silicosis in the foundry served as the observed group,(4)100 subjects from a hotel served as the control group. The serum including superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), lipid malondialdehyde (MDA) and NF-kappaB protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determined, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, NO levels in dust-exposed group and silicosis group significantly increased, and SOD decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group and dust-exposed group, T-AOC, NOS, MDA levels in silicosis group significantly increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). GSH-Px in dust-exposed group and silicosis group were (231.164 +/- 36.484) and (270.469 +/- 39.228)U/ml, respectively which were significantly than that [(223.360 +/- 46.838) U/ml] in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and there was significant difference of GSHPx between the silicosis group and the dust-exposed group significantly (P < 0.01) . GSH-Px level [(290.750 +/- 39.129) U/ml] in III phase silicosis group were significantly higher than those [(256.906 +/- 21.41) and (259.594 +/- 34.79) U/ml] in observation group and I phase silicosis group (P < 0.05). NF-kappaB levels [(72.06 +/- 9.12) and (85.25 +/- 11.64) ng/L] in dust-exposed group and silicosis group were significantly higher than that [(59.71 +/- 9.27) ng/L] in control group (P < 0.01), and there was significant difference of between the silicosis group and the dust-exposed group (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between serum GSH-Px level and the silicosis stages (r = 0.507, P < 0.01). Also there was a positive correlation between NF-kappaB level and silicosis stages, age, GSH-Px or NO levels (r = 0.376, 0.243, 0.233, 0.221, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe imbalance of oxidative and anti-oxidation system and the activation of NF-kappaB are related with the occurrence and development of silicosis. The monitoring of oxidative stress indicators and NF-kappaB is beneficial to the prediction and prognosis assessment of silicosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Silicosis ; blood ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To develop a rapid, sensitive and specific assay method, based on multiplex real time PCR for identifying Vibrio cholerae and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. Methods Cholera toxin A subunit gene (ctxA) and glycosyltransferase gene (LPSgt) were chosen as targets according to Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype,and then the primers and TaqMan-MGB probe were designed. The 5'end of probes was labeled with FAM and VIC fluoresceins respectively while the 3' end of probes was labeled with MGB. The PCR reaction was optimized systematically. Then the specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of multiplex real time PCR were estimated. Finally, multiplex real time PCR was applied to detect the clinical specimens. Results Vibrio cholerae was identified by multiplex real time PCR accurately and quickly,which could distinguish Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio cholerae was identified positive for primer pairs and probes from ctxA gene, and Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype tested was positive for LPSgt gene. Meanwhile, none of other bacteria was identified. Sensitivity of the test was 2 × 102 cfu/ml. When this assay was applied directly to identify 45 clinical specimens, results showed that 10 were positive to Vibrio cholerae, in which 4 clinical specimens were positive to Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype. All the results were the same to the one that had been obtained from the conventional assays. Conclusion Our rsults showed that the multiplex real time PCR was a reliable,accurate and feasible method for identifying Vibrio cholerae that carrying toxin gene and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae O139 serotype from Vibrio cholerae. This method could be applied to the cholera surveillance, prevention and control system for identifying and distinguishing Vibrio cholerae in the labs.

OBJECTIVEHuman growth hormone (hGH) is an essential therapeutic drug for the treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD). However, the process of dissolving hGH of the powder form is complicated and potentially hazardous. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

METHODSA 12-month randomized, open-label, multicenter trial was conducted in 31 previously untreated children with growth failure secondary to GH deficiency [20 boys and 11 girls, mean age (10.5 +/- 4.1) years]. An recombined human growth hormone (rhGH) solution (Iintropin AQ) was given via subcutaneous injection daily in every evening at a weekly dose of 0.25 mg/kg. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of the treatment, and the course of treatment was 12 months. Body height was measured 3-monthly and height velocity (HV) and mean height standard deviation score (HT SDS) were calculated. Serum Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), GH antibodies and safety parameters were assessed at the baseline and at 3-month intervals. Bone age (BA) was assessed at the baseline and the rate of skeletal maturation (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was calculated after 6 and 12 months of rhGH treatment by a central bone age reader. Moreover, the safety of rhGH solution treatment was assessed.

RESULTSAfter 12 months of liquid rhGH therapy, growth parameters were significantly increased over baseline. (1) The mean (+/- SD) height increment DeltaHT (cm) was 4.0 +/- 1.3, 7.0 +/- 2.0, 10.3 +/- 2.6 and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, respectively (P < 0.01), which indicated linear growth after treatment. The GV (cm/years) was 2.7 +/- 0.9 before treatment and increased to 16.0 +/- 5.1, 14.1 +/- 4.0, 13.7 +/- 3.5, and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after treatment, suggesting that catch-up growth was significant after treatment as compared to the pre-treatment status (P < 0.01). Accordingly, post-treatment catch-up growth was obvious, significant differences were observed in HT SDS, which was -4.62 +/- 1.46 at the onset of therapy and increased significantly after the treatment to -3.80 +/- 1.53, -3.28 +/- 1.60, -2.86 +/- 1.75 and -2.47 +/- 1.86, respectively (P < 0.01). The height difference between GH deficient children and unimpaired children of the same age and gender gradually decreased after treatment, which was significantly different from that seen before treatment (P < 0.01). (2) The levels of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were increased comparably for the treatment. IGF-1 level (microg/L) was 41 +/- 64 at baseline and increased to 179 +/- 155, 202 +/- 141, 156 +/- 155 and 159 +/- 167 after 3, 6, 9, 12 months of treatment. IGFBP-3 level (mg/L) was 1540 +/- 1325 at baseline, and increased to 3891 +/- 1815, 4051 +/- 1308, 3408 +/- 1435 and 3533 +/- 1413, respectively, suggesting that with the increases in height, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 were significantly activated to relatively high levels by the medication and reached peak values between 3 and 6 months of treatment. The levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were significantly different before and after treatment (P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio significantly increased during GH therapy (0.143 +/- 0.013 pre-therapy up to 0.240 +/- 0.055 post-therapy, P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio tended to stabilize after 3-month GH therapy. (3) The bone age assessment carried out 6 and 12 months after treatment showed that the bone maturity (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was 1.01 +/- 0.57 and 1.07 +/- 0.75, respectively, suggesting that there was no speed-up development in the bone age. No severe adverse events were observed during the trial and the most frequent accompanying event was mild hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSIONSrhGH solution (Iintropin AQ) is a safe and effective preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

Child ; China ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate wear resistance and hardness of three kinds of new composite resins.

METHODSThree kinds of new composite resins, Solidex, Spectrum, Filtek Z350, were tested. Enamel as control group. A refited MG-200 wear machine was used in this study. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the friction surface of each tested material. Hardness of each tested material was determined by Vickers indentation technique. The data of wear and hardness were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and 1-way ANOVA. The relationship between the hardness of the composites and the amount of wear of them was determined by a regression analysis method.

RESULTSFiltek Z350 showed the lowest volumetric wear and highest Vickers hardness in the composites (P < 0.05). No significant differences in wear and hardness were observed between Solidex and Spectrum (P > 0.05). Significant relationships were observed between the hardness of the composites and the amount of wear of them (r = 0.968 6) (P < 0.05). Different wear characters of the friction surface of the tested materials were observed by SEM.

CONCLUSIONNanofilled composite was superior to the hybrid composite in wear resistance and hardness.

Composite Resins ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Materials ; Dental Restoration Wear ; Hardness ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of N-desulfated heparin on tumor metastasis, tumor angiogenesis and basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) gene expression of orthotopically implanted human gastric carcinoma in NOD-SCID mice.

METHODSHuman gastric cancer SGC-7901 tissues were orthotopically implanted into the stomach of the NOD-SCID mice. Twenty mice were randomly divided into two groups which received either intravenous injection of 0.9% NaCl solution(0.9%NaCl solution group) or 10 mg/kg N-desulfated heparin (N-desulfated heparin group) twice a week for three weeks. Mice were sacrificed six weeks after tumor implantation. Tissues from stomach and other organs were obtained for histopathological evaluation. The intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) in tumor was evaluated immunohistochemically. Real time PCR was used to detect bFGF mRNA expression.

RESULTSThe tumor metastasis rates were 9/10 in 0.9% NaCl solution group and 2/10 in N-desulfated heparin group(P<0.05).MVD was 9.1+/-3.4 in 0.9% NaCl solution group and 4.7+/-1.8 in N-desulfated heparin group (t=3.617,P<0.05). bFGF mRNA expression was lower in N-desulfated heparin group(2.60+/-0.56%)than that in 0.9% NaCl solution group(30.65+/-6.84%).

CONCLUSIONN-desulfated heparin can inhibit the metastasis of gastric cancer through inhibiting tumor bFGF gene expression and tumor angiogenesis with no obvious anticoagulant activity.

Animals ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Heparin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; genetics