ABSTRACT
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a well-known environmental teratogenic agent for cleft palate. But transforming growth factor ß3 (TGF-ß3) is an essential growth factor for palatogenesis. This study is to clarify effects of TCDD and TGF-ß3 in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal (MEPM) cells. The result showed that with increase of TCDD (0.5 nM-10 nM), the expression of TGF-ß3 increased, but after 10 nM TCDD, the expression of TGF-ß3 reduced. The viabilities of MEPM cells decreased in 10 nM TCDD-treated group. But the viabilities increased in 10 ng/mL TGF-ß3-treated group, or the viabilities were between that of them in combination of 10 nM TCDD and 10 ng/mL TGF-ß3-treated group. This phenomenon was the same as the motilities. In addition, we found that the expression of phosphorylated Smad2/3 and Smad7 was increased by 10 nM TCDD, 10 ng/mL TGF-ß3, or combination of 10 nM TCDD and 10 ng/mL TGF-ß3 induced, but the expression of Smad4 was decreased. These data revealed that the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway affected TCDD and TGF-ß3 in MEPM cells.
ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the effect of applying midnight-midday ebb-flow acupoint massage to patients of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods Selected 60 patients of AECOPD in the respiratory department. They were divided into two groups randomly, the observed group and the compared group, with 30 patients in each group. The compared group applied regular treatment and care, while the observed group combined midnight-midday ebb-flow acupoint and bladder meridian between 3 pm. to 5 pm. The treatment lasted seven days. Compared the evaluation of the patients′main symptoms such as coughs,expectoration,gasp, panting and the changes of PaO2, PaCO2, and SaO2 before and after treatment, and compared the overall efficiency of treatment and average length of stay in hospital. Results After treatment, the ratings of symptoms of the observed group in coughs, expectoration, gasp, panting were (1.51 ± 0.23), (1.12 ± 0.74), (2.05 ± 0.29), (0.25 ± 0.18) points, while the compared group were (2.41 ± 0.25), (2.62 ± 0.64), (3.66 ± 0.24), (2.24 ± 0.32) points. The difference in two groups was valid in terms of statistics (t=2.884-4.147, P<0.05). After treatment, the index of PaO2,PaCO2,and SaO2 in the observed group were (80.80 ± 2.16) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), (50.38 ± 6.67) mmHg,0.982 ± 0.014. The compared group was (71.38 ± 1.24) mmHg, (58.42 ± 4.89) mmHg, 0.873±0.027.The difference was valid in terms of statistics (t=2.358, 3.543, 4.152, P<0.05);the overall efficiency of the the observed group was 93.3%, and the compared group was 83.3%. The difference was valid in terms of statistics (χ2=2.466, P<0.05);in terms of average length of stay in hospital, the observed group was (11.4 ± 1.8)days, and the compared group was (15.6 ± 2.0) days, and the observed group was apparently lower than the compared group (t=2.694, P<0.05). Conclusions The massage of midnight-midday ebb-flow acupoint massage can relieve the symptoms of patients of AECOPD, improve patients' index in arterial blood gas analysis and care effect, shorten the stay in hospital and better the life quality.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the differences in clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) between young/middle-age group and old group.Methods The 84 pSS patients were divided into the young and middle-age group (n=54) and the old group (n = 30). The differences in clinical features, laboratory indices and drug therapy were retrospectively analyzed. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results The positive incidences of xerostomia, dry eye symptom and rampant teeth were 80.0%, 76.7% and 43.3%respectively in the old group. And they were all significantly higher than in young and middle-aged group (57.4%, 51.9% and 20.4%, all P＜0. 05). The positive rates of rheumatoid factor (RF)elevation, antiRo/SSA and antiLa/SSB antibodies were 13. 0%, 36.7% and 16.7% in the old group,and significantly lower than in young and middle-age group (44.4%, 59.3% and 42.6%, all P＜0.05). The incidences of leukopenia and thyroid gland involvement were much lower in the aged group (13.3% and 10.0%) than in the young and middle-age group (48. 1% and 37.0%, P＜0. 05). The percentage of patients receiving hydroxychloroquine as the main medicine was much lower in the aged group than in the young and middle-age group (16.7% vs. 40. 7%, P＜0. 05), while percentage of treatment with exclusive glucosides of Paeony Capsules was much higher (33.3% vs. 14.8%, P＜0.05). There were no statistical differences between two groups in ophthalmological examination,immunoglobulin level and sialography. Conclusions Those pSS patients with late onset exhibit more abnormalities in clinical parameters, but fewer in immunological parameters, which may be helpful in estimating prognosis and pathogenetic factors in pSS.
