[Correlation between morphological characteristics of retinal microvessels and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on a machine learning model].

Objective: To explore the correlation between the morphological characteristics of retinal microvessels and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The clinical data and fundus photography of patients with T2DM treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. According to the presence of abnormal renal function, the patients were divided into DKD group and control group. The morphology and structure of fundus vessels were digitized by U-Net depth convolution neural network, and the correlation between fundus vascular morphology and DKD was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 648 patients with T2DM were enrolled, including 410 males and 238 females, and aged (53±10) years. There were 398 and 250 cases in control and DKD groups, respectively. Meanwhile, 1 296 fundus images were collected. Compared with control group, the male ratio (68.4% vs 60.1%, P=0.032), age [(54±9) vs (52±10) years, P=0.005], blood pressure [(136.8±17.3) vs (130.3±15.4) mmHg（1 mmHg=0.133 kPa）, P<0.001], total cholesterol [(4.5±1.4) vs (4.2±1.0) mmol/L, P=0.009], triglyceride [M (Q1, Q3)][1.7 (1.2, 3.0) vs 1.4 (1.0, 2.3) mmol/L, P<0.001] and Cystatin C [(0.9 (0.8, 1.0) vs 0.8 (0.7, 0.9) mg/L, P<0.001] were higher in the DKD group, while high-density lipoprotein [(1.0±0.3) vs (1.1±0.3) mmol/L, P=0.001] was lower in the DKD group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of DKD in the third quartile (right eye: OR=1.825, 95%CI: 1.204-2.768, P=0.005) and fourth quartile (left eye: OR=1.929, 95%CI: 1.218-3.055, P=0.005) was higher than that in the lowest quartile of vascular curvature after adjusting for age and gender. The increase of average diameter of retinal vein was associated with the risk of DKD (left eye: OR=1.044, 95%CI: 1.013-1.075, P=0.005). The decrease of vascular fractal dimension (fourth quartile of left eye: OR=0.444, 95%CI: 0.199-0.987, P=0.046) and retinal vascular density (the second and fourth quartile of the right eye: OR=0.639, 95%CI: 0.409-0.998, P=0.049; OR=0.534, 95%CI: 0.331-0.864, P=0.010) were related to the risk of DKD. Conclusions: The abnormal morphological characteristics of retinal microvessels are related to the occurrence of DKD. The increase of retinal vein diameter and the decrease of retinal vessel density correlate with the occurrence of DKD.

[Prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease in diabetic population aged over 40 years in Henan province].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetic patients aged over 40 years in Henan province. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Diabetic patients aged over 40 years were recruited from four cities including Xuchang, Zhumadian, Luoyang and Zhengzhou in Henan Province between June 2015 and July 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the risk factors for CKD. Results: A total of 3 067 diabetic patients were included in this study, including 1 238 males and 1 829 females. The mean age of all participants was (60.9±9.7) years and 85.8% (2 633/3 067) of them were living in rural areas. There were 1 155 participants who had CKD, and the overall prevalence of CKD was 37.7% (95%CI: 35.9%-39.4%). Compared with those without CKD, participants with CKD had older age [(61.4±10.3) vs (60.6±9.3) years], higher proportion of male patients (43.2% vs 38.7%), urban residents (19.4% vs 11.0%) and habitual drinkers (15.8% vs 12.7%), higher body mass index [(25.8±3.7) vs (25.4±3.6) kg/m2), higher proportion of having hypertension (57.0% vs 37.2%), hyperuricemia (10.7% vs 7.1%) and dyslipidemia (46.5% vs 42.7%) (all P<0.05). The prevalence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 and albuminuria was 4.9% (149/3 067) and 35.6% (1 092/3 067), respectively. Compared with rural participants [35.4% (95%CI: 34.4%-36.4%)], urban participants [51.6% (95%CI: 50.0%-53.2%)] had higher prevalence of CKD (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that habitual drinker (OR=1.27, 95%CI: 1.00-1.61, P=0.046), moderate physical activities (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.01-1.51, P=0.039), having hypertension (OR=2.27, 95%CI: 1.95-2.64, P<0.001), dyslipidemia (OR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.04-1.40, P=0.012) and hyperuricemia (OR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.21-2.02, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for CKD. Conclusions: The prevalence of CKD is high in diabetic patients who aged over 40 years in Henan province. The associated factors for developing CKD include habitual drinking, heavier physical activities and having chronic diseases. Targeted prevention and intervention for associated factors would be beneficial for controlling CKD in middle and old aged diabetic patients.

[Impact of NLR on atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation patients combined with heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) for atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation patients combined with heart failure. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure who received radiofrequency ablation in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to June 2020 were included. Patient were followed up in the outpatient clinic at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after radiofrequency ablation and were divided into recurrent and non-recurrent groups according to the absence or presence of atrial fibrillation. Demographic data, echocardiographic indices and inflammation-related indices including NLR were collected and compared between the two groups. Spearman rank correlation was performed to analyze the correlation of NLR with atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent risk factors of atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of NLR in predicting the atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. Results: A total of 883 patients were included, of which 460 (52.1%) were male, mean age was (64.4±10.7) years old. There were 246 patients (27.9%) in the recurrence group and 637 patients (72.1%) in the non-recurrence group. Compared with the non-recurrent group, the duration of atrial fibrillation, NLR, neutrophil count, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) and body mass index levels were significantly higher, while lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the recurrence group than in the non-recurrent group (all P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that NLR was positively correlated with the atrial fibrillation recurrence (r=0.333, P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation patients combined heart failure (OR=1.634, P<0.001). The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR in predicting the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation was 0.715 (95%CI: 0.668-0.762, P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 55.61% and a specificity of 84.54%. Conclusion: NLR is a useful predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation patients combined with heart failure.

[Prevalence and related factors of hyperkalemia in patients with diabetic kidney disease].

Objective: To explore the prevalence and related factors of hyperkalemia in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Methods: DKD patients from the Department of Nephrology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to December 2020 were selected, and the clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected. The prevalence of hyperkalemia in DKD patients and the prevalence of hyperkalemia in patients with different age, gender and different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were studied, and the related factors of hyperkalemia were further explored. Results: A total of 1 721 patients with DKD were included, with 1 117 males (64.9%) [mean age: (56±12) years] and 604 females (35.1%) [mean age: (59±12) years]. The blood potassium level of the study population was (4.93±0.77) mmol/L, in which the serum potassium level of male and female was (4.92±0.77) mmol/L and (4.93±0.76) mmol/L, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.752). Further grouping by CKD stage, the serum potassium levels of CKD stage 1-5 patients were (4.58±0.52), (4.65±0.47), (4.86±0.59), (5.21±0.79) and (5.61±0.88) mmol/L, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (F=170.701, P<0.001). The prevalence of hyperkalemia was 37.0% (636/1 721). The prevalence of mild, moderate and severe hyperkalemia was 17.4%, 10.5% and 9.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of hyperkalemia between men and women (36.8% vs 37.3%, χ²=0.035, P=0.851). The prevalence of hyperkalemia in CKD stage 1-5 patients was 16.3%, 21.2%, 37.6%, 55.2%, 72.5%, respectively, which increased with the severity of CKD (χ²=365.721, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR=0.975, 95%CI: 0.972-0.979), diastolic blood pressure (OR=0.985, 95%CI: 0.975-0.994) and serum sodium concentration (OR=0.972, 95%CI: 0.945-1.000) were the influencing factors of hyperkalemia in DKD patients. Conclusions: The prevalence of hyperkalemia in DKD patients was 37.0%. Glomerular filtration rate, diastolic blood pressure and serum sodium concentration were the influencing factors. The serum potassium level and the prevalence of hyperkalemia increased with the deterioration of renal function.

[The correlation between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and idiopathic membranous nephropathy].

Objective: To explore the relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the major component of atmospheric pollutant particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and its possible mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-five (24 males and 11 females) patients with IMN confirmed by renal biopsy pathology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June to September 2020 were selected as the research group, with an age of (47.3±12.9) years. Meanwhile, patients with secondary membranous nephropathy (SMN, n=10) and minimal-change disease (MCD, n=10) were selected as control group. Blood samples were collected to detect PAHs and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and the relationship of PAHs with clinical indicators and oxidative stress indicator HO-1 was analyzed. Results: Compared with SMN and MCD groups [(2.6±1.7) mg/L and (2.8±1.0) mg/L], the concentration of PAHs in IMN group [(4.1±1.9) mg/L] increased (both P<0.05). The concentration of PAHs was positively correlated with the levels of ß2 microglobulin, total cholesterol and 24-hour urine total protein (r=0.509, 0.336, and 0.653, respectively, all P<0.05), but was negatively correlated with the levels of total protein and albumin (r=-0.499,-0.530, respectively, both P<0.05). Additionally, the concentration of PAHs was negatively correlated with the level of HO-1 (r=-0.358, P=0.017). Linear regression analysis showed that the concentration of HO-1 decreased by 1.737 µg/L when the concentration of PAHs increased by 1 mg/L (P=0.035). Conclusion: PAHs have a high level in IMN patients, and may be involved in the occurrence and development of IMN through oxidative stress.

[Application of pancreaticojejunostomy with pancreatic duct binding external drainage in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy].

Objective: To examine the effect of pancreaticojejunostomy with pancreatic duct binding external drainage in laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy. Methods: The data of 21 patients who underwent laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy in the same treatment group from January 2017 to October 2019 in Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent pancreaticojejunostomy with external drainage of pancreatic ducts.There were 12 males and 9 females, aged (63.1±8.1)years old (range: 46 to 77 years old), body mass index (24.8±3.2)kg/m(2)(range: 18.8 to 29.1 kg/m(2)).There were 3 cases of hypertension, 5 cases of diabetes, 3 cases of hypertension and diabetes, 3 cases of liver cirrhosis. Results: Laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy was successfully performed in all 21 patients.The operation time was (359.3±71.0)minutes, the pancreaticojejunostomy time was (23.8±7.4)minutes, the diameter of pancreatic duct was(3.3±0.6)mm, the intraoperative blood loss was (247.6±90.1)ml, the postoperative hospital stay was(13.7±4.9)days, the leakage of B-level fistula occurred in 1 case(4.8%), and there was no C-level pancreatic fistula.There were 3 cases of bile leakage, 1 case of incision infection, 2 cases of gastroparesis, 1 case of hydrops abdominis, no death and secondary operation. Conclusion: It is a simple and easy method of pancreatoenterostomy with pancreatic duct binding external drainage, which can reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula and related complications after laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy for patients with high risk pancreatic fistula.

[Effect of concentrated growth factors combined with guided tissue regeneration in treatment of classII furcation involvements of mandibular molars].

OBJECTIVE: Tissues loss due to periodontal disease is typically treated by a variety of regenerative treatment modalities, including bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and growth factors, to reform the supporting tissues of teeth. Concentrated growth factors (CGF) are produced by centrifuging blood samples at alternating and controlled speeds using a special centrifuge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether GTR could improve the effect of CGF combined with bone graft in the treatment of classII furcations of mandibular molars. METHODS: In the present study, thirty-five classII furcation involvements were included and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n=17) accepted GTR combined with CGF and bone graft therapy, and the controlled group (n=18) accepted CGF combined with bone graft therapy. The clinical examinations and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed at baseline and 1 year post-surgery. Comparisons of clinical and CBCT data before and after operation between the experimental group and the control group were made. RESULTS: The clinical and CBCT data of both groups were not statistically different at baseline (P>0.05). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the clinical parameters of both groups were significantly improved (P<0.001). The probing depths of the experimental group were (4.81±1.95) mm and (3.56±1.94) mm, respectively, significantly higher than the changes of the control group (P<0.001). The vertical and horizontal attachment gains of the experimental group were (4.11±1.98) mm and (3.84±1.68) mm, respectively, significantly higher than the changes of the control group (P<0.001). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the experimental group showed significantly higher bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with those of the control group: (3.84±1.68) and (3.88±2.12) mm, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the present study, GTR showed positive role in the effect of CGF combined with bone graft in the treatment of classII furcation involvements of mandibular molars.

[Associations of impaired glucose metabolism with chronic peridontitis in pre-diabetes patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance with chronic periodontitis in pre-diabetes patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted and we included a total of 171 pre-diabetes patients aged 30-65 years, free of diabetes. pre-diabetes was defined as impaired fasting glucose (IFG) [fasting glucose (FG): 6.1-7.0 mmol/L] and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) [oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): 7.8-11.0 mmol/L]. Chronic periodontitis was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) definition and the patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe chronic periodontitis groups [mild: at least two interproximal sites with clinical attachment loss (CAL) ≥3 mm and at least two interproxima sites with probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm or 1 site with PD≥5 mm; moderate: at least two interproximal sites with CAL ≥4 mm and at least two interproxima sites with at least two interproximal sites with PD ≥5 mm; severe: at least two interproximal sites with CAL ≥6 mm and at least one interproxima site with at least two interproximal sites with PD≥5 mm]. A periodontal examination indexes [plaque index (PLI), PD, CAL, and bleeding on probing (BOP)] and glucose metabolism indexes [FG, OGTT, hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)] were measured. The association of glucose metabolism and chronic periodontitis was investigated by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: FG in the moderate and severe chronic periodontitis groups was significantly higher compared with mild chronic periodontitis group, HOMA-IR in the moderate and severe chronic periodontitis groups was significantly higher compared with mild chronic periodontitis group, OGTT in the severe chronic periodntitis group was significantly higher compared with mild chronic peridontitis group and moderate chronic periodontitis groups, and there was no significant difference between moderate and mild chronic periodontitis groups. For the insulin and HbA1c, there was no significant difference among mild, moderate and severe chronic periodontitis groups. After multivariable adjustment of age, gender, smoking status, hypertension and body mass index, IFG (OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.01-1.98) and HOMA-IR (OR=1.36, 95%CI: 1.04-1.76) were associated with moderate periodontitis; IFG (OR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.17-2.40), IGT (OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.21-2.26), and HOMA-IR (OR=1.72, 95%CI: 1.23-2.41) were significantly associated with severe periodontitis. CONCLUSION: Our data provided evidences that impaired glucose metabolism were associated with chronic periodontitis among pre-diabetes patients.

MiR-497 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion ability by targeting HMGA2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs have been implicated to play a crucial regulating role in human cancers. The study aims to explore the role and clinical significance of miR-497 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The relative expression of miR-497 in human PDAC tissue samples and adjacent normal tissues was measured using the quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8) assay, cell migration, and invasion assays were performed to detect cell proliferation and invasion ability. Downstream target gene was confirmed by using luciferase activity assays. QRT-PCR and Western blotting assays also were performed. RESULTS: We found that miR-497 expression was significantly downregulated in PDAC tissues and cells. Lower miR-497 expression associated with lymph node metastasis and predicts a poor prognosis in PDAC patients. In in vitro assay, we demonstrated that miR-497 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of PDAC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HMGA2 was a direct target of miR-497 in PDAC cells. MiR-497 inhibited cell proliferation and invasion by regulating HMGA2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that miR-497 may serve as a predictor for PDAC and could be a novel target of PDAC treatment.

[Clinical abservations of pulmonary surfactant' s autologous transfusion in massive lung lavage].

Objective: Investigate the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion effect on the recovery of respiratory function in patients with whole lung lavage, to provide theoretical basis for the clinical application. Methods: We taken 30 patients of pneumoconiosis treated by whole lung lavage as the subjects. We extracted the pulmonary surfactant from lavage fluid, after single postoperative lung lavage for the first time; after one weeks when the second times of lung lavage were performed to the other side of the lung of patients, we put PS into the right side. We taken the patients the second times of lung lavage who were put PS into the right side as returning group, the first times of lung lavage who were not put PS into as on returning group. We observed indi-cators, such as expiratory resistance, respiratory work, lung compliance, airway pressure, PO(2), the pulmonary function recovery time and other indicators, comparing with the changes of pulmonary function before lung la-vage for the first time and at 0、60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion. Results: Com-pared with the no returning group, the expiratory resistance of the returning group decreased significantly at 90 min、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion; the respiratory work and airway pressure of the re-turning group decreased significantly at 60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion, there was statistically significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the no returning group, the lung compliance and the PO(2) of the returning group increased significantly at 60 min、90 min、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion, there was statistically significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). The lung function recovery time of returning group was (155.7 ± 35.2) min, the lung function recovery time of no returning group was (183.71±41.81) min, there was statistical-ly significant in the difference between different groups (P<0.05). Compared with the no returning, there were not statistically significant in the difference of the Heart rate、the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure about the returning at 60、90、120 min after the pulmonary surfactant autotransfusion.There was no ad-verse reactions such as pulmonary infection, pulmonary infection and so on. Conclusion: The pulmonary surfac-tant autotransfusion may reduce expiratory resistance, work of breathing, airway pressure; improve lung compliance, alveolar ventilation function; increase oxygen partial pressure and decrease the surgery recovery time in patients with pneumoconiosis.

[Effect of concentrated growth factors on the treatment of degree II furcation involvements of mandibular molars].

OBJECTIVE: Concentrated growth factors (CGF), a new generation of platelet concentrate products, appears to have more abundant growth factors because of its special centrifugation process. However, there are few studies supporting this. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of CGFs in the treatment of II° furcations of mandibular molars. METHODS: In the present study, thirty-one II° furcation involvements in twenty mandiblular molars were included and randomly divided into two groups. The furcation involvements in the experimental group were treated with bone graft therapy combined with CGFs, and the furcation involvements in the control group were treated with bone graft therapy alone. The clinical examination and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed at baseline and 1 year post-surgery for the two groups. The changes of clinical and CBCT data at baseline and 1 year post-surgery were compared between the experimental group and the control group. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the probing depth (PD), vertical clinical attachment loss (CAL-V) and horizontal clinical attachment loss (CAL-H): PD (7.36±2.32) mm (the experimental group) vs. (7.53±2.06) mm (the control group); CAL-V (8.69±1.65) mm (the experimental group) vs. (8.81±1.53) mm (the control group); CAL-H (5.24±2.01) mm (the experimental group) vs. (5.35±2.14) mm (the control group). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the clinical parameters of both groups were significantly improved (P<0.001). For the experimental group, the average vertical attachment gain was (2.78±1.66) mm, and the vertical attachment loss was improved significantly compared with the baseline (P<0.001); the average horizontal attachment gain was (2.10±1.89) mm, and the horizontal attachment loss were improved significantly compared with the baseline (P<0.001). Furthermore, the improvement degree of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.001). At baseline, there were no statistical differences in the vertical bone loss (BL-V) or horizontal bone loss (BL-H) between the two groups (P>0.05): BL-V (5.08±2.17) mm (the experimental group) vs. (5.84±2.65) mm (the control group); BL-H (5.85±2.13) mm (the experimental group) vs. (6.01±2.27) mm (the control group). At 1 year post-surgery, both groups showed significant radiographic bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with baseline (P<0.001). For the experimental group, the average vertical radiographic bone gain was (2.20±1.98) mm, the horizontal radiographic bone gain was (2.51±2.18) mm, the vertical and horizontal radiographic bone loss were both significantly reduced compared with the baseline (P<0.001). For the control group, the average vertical radiographic bone gain was (1.89±2.15) mm, the horizontal radiographic bone gain was (1.30±2.47) mm, the vertical and horizontal radiographic bone losses were both significantly reduced compared with the baseline (P<0.001). And the experimental group showed significantly higher bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of the present study, CGFs showed positive role in the treatment of II° furcation involvements of mandibular molars.

The divergence pattern of Trichinella spiralis isolates from China revealed by mitochondrial and ribosomal markers.

Trichinella spiralis is the main etiological agent of human trichinellosis. In China, trichinellosis remains a serious food-borne parasitic zoonosis and poses a serious threat to human health. However, the genetic structure of Chinese T. spiralis population is still little known. In this study, we used three molecular markers to analyze phylogeographic structure of the Chinese T. spiralis population. A total of 11 T. spiralis isolates were collected from 10 geographical locations in mainland China. The cytochrome c-oxidase gene (COI), large subunit ribosomal DNA (mt-lsrDNA) and 5S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region (5S ISR) genes of each isolate was amplified and sequenced. Only four haplotypes were found in these concatenated sequences. Both multimodal frequency distributions of mismatch analysis and the Bayesian skyline plot analysis rejected a possible population expansion of Chinese T. spiralis population. The phylogenetic inference based on neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and the Bayesian estimation of divergence times under the uncorrelated log-normal relaxed molecular-clock model suggested that the Chinese T. spiralis isolates started radiating in the late Miocene.

[Accuracy analysis of cone beam computed tomography in assessing furcation involvements of mandibular molars].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in assessing furcation involvements of mandibular molars. METHODS: In the study, 38 furcation involvements of 22 mandibular molars which would accept furcation surgery were included. Pre-surgical examination, CBCT and periapical radiograph were performed. Then, intra-surgical furcation assessments were compared with those data. RESULTS: Intra-surgical findings confirmed 86.8% of the CBCT data, with a weighed kappa of 0.976. Of the four parameters tested of detailed root anatomy and furcation morphology, the vertical bone loss, the mesial-distal bone loss and the length of the root trunk revealed by CBCT were consistent with their respective intra-surgical values (P>0.05): about vertical bone loss, CBCT was (4.03±2.27) mm, but in surgery was (4.32±2.31) mm; about mesial-distal bone loss, CBCT was (2.05±0.89) mm, but in surgery was (2.07±0.97) mm; about length of the root trunk, CBCT was (2.35±0.88) mm, but in surgery was (2.24± 0.75) mm. The horizontal bone loss revealed by CBCT [(3.40±1.27) mm] was significantly smaller than that by surgery [(3.72±1.19) mm]. However, the mean difference was only 0.32 mm. Periapical radiograph could only obtain vertical bone loss [(2.17±1.32) mm] and mesial-distal bone loss [(1.46± 0.88) mm], which was significantly different from that obtained in surgery. CONCLUSION: CBCT proved high accuracy in assessing the furcation involvement of mandibular molars.

[Anti-inflammatory and immunologic actions of buyang huanwu tang].

Orally administered with Buyang Huanwu Tang (BHT) markedly inhibited swelling of mice's ear induced by xylene and significantly depressed the increase of capillary permeability induced by acetic acid in mice. The carrageenin induced edema of hind paws and the proliferation of granuloma induced by subcutaneous implantation of plastic ring in rats were inhibited by BHT. The results indicated that BHT possessed a marked anti-acute and chronic inflammatory effects. The weights of spleen and thymus, and clearance rate of charcoal particles by intravenous in mice could be increased by oral administration of BHT. It markedly promoted phagocytosis of the peritoneal macrophages of mice and hemolysin reaction. The above data revealed that anti-inflammatory effect of BHT could relatively improve immunological functions.