Large urban-rural disparity in the severity of two-week illness: updated results based on the first health service survey of Hunan Province, China.

Background: To examine urban-rural differences in the severity of non-fatal disease and injury using the latest household interview survey data of Hunan Province, China.

Methods: Two-week illness data were from the first provincial health household interview survey of Hunan in 2013. The proportion of patients being bedridden, the average days of being bedridden and the average off-work days were calculated to measure the severity of two-week illness.

Competitive Degradation of Steroid Estrogens by Potassium Permanganate Combined with Ultrasound.

The occurrence of natural estrogens including estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and synthetic 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), which can be excreted by both humans and animals, and can enter the aqueous environment along with the discharge of domestic sewage, is a major concern since this may represent a serious health risk to humans even at extremely trace levels (ng·L(-1)). Simultaneous degradation of three coexisting steroid estrogens (SEs) in aqueous solutions by coupled ultrasound and KMnO₄ systems (KMnO₄/ultrasound) were investigated to find out whether there is a competitive degradation of multiple contaminants or not. Results indicate that the degradation ratios of target SEs were all more than 50% after 120 min reaction contact, greatly enhanced when compared with the single KMnO₄ (2 mg·L(-1)) oxidation of E2 (37.

TRIM72 modulates caveolar endocytosis in repair of lung cells.

Alveolar epithelial and endothelial cell injury is a major feature of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, in particular when in conjunction with ventilation therapies. Previously we showed [Kim SC, Kellett T, Wang S, Nishi M, Nagre N, Zhou B, Flodby P, Shilo K, Ghadiali SN, Takeshima H, Hubmayr RD, Zhao X. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 307: L449-L459, 2014.

[Antibacterial effect of the carboxymethyl chitosan zinc peptide on several periodontal pathogens in vitro].

Objective: To determine the antimicrobial effects of carboxymethyl chitosan zinc (CMC-Zn(+)) and CMC-Zn(+)-peptide (CMC-Zn(+)-P) on four kinds of periodontal pathogens.

Methods: Dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CMC-Zn(+) for Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Actinobacillusactinomycetemcomitans (Aa), Prevotella intermedia (Pi) and Actinomyces viscosus (Av). The antimicrobial characters of CMC-Zn(+) and CMC-Zn(+)-P on these four kinds of pathogens were evaluated by disk diffusion method.

A study of stereo microscope measurements based on interpolated feature matching.

Recently, digital stereo microscopes have been becoming increasingly popular in fields such as biomedicine and biotechnology. As such, being able to precisely match left/right feature pairs is critical, which is an important step in stereo matching. We hereby propose a dynamic interpolation method that combines two dimensional calibration and depth information to achieve stereo matching.

Simultaneous Degradation of Estrone, 17β-Estradiol and 17α-Ethinyl Estradiol in an Aqueous UV/H₂O₂ System.

UV/H₂O₂, which is an advanced treatment technology used to reduce multiple contaminants, is effective in potable water treatment. Simultaneous degradation effects and kinetics of three types of coexisting micropollutant estrogens (steroid estrogens, SEs), including estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), in deionized water were studied. Experiments were carried out with ultraviolet-C (UVC) radiation, together with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), in a cylinder photoreactor.

Hydrogen sulfide preconditioning protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through inhibition of endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum stress.

Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of myocardial damage. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous signal molecule, has drawn considerable attention for its role in various pathophysiological processes. Multiple lines of evidence reveal the protective effects of H2S in various models of cardiac injury, however, the exact mechanism underlying this protective effect of H2S against myocardial I/R injury is not fully understood.

NOS1-derived nitric oxide promotes NF-κB transcriptional activity through inhibition of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1.

The NF-κB pathway is central to the regulation of inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that the low-output nitric oxide (NO) synthase 1 (NOS1 or nNOS) plays a critical role in the inflammatory response by promoting the activity of NF-κB. Specifically, NOS1-derived NO production in macrophages leads to proteolysis of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), alleviating its repression of NF-κB transcriptional activity.

Health allowance for improving the nutritional status and development of 3-5-year-old left-behind children in poor rural areas of China: study protocol for a cluster randomised trial.

Background: Left-behind children (LBC) are recognised as a new social group in China. LBC are young children who are abandoned in rural villages whilst their parents travel to distant urban centres for employment (a new generation of migrant workers). Following the rapid growth in the number of migrant workers, the LBC population is also rapidly increasing.

Neurokinin-2 receptor polymorphism predicts lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

To analyze the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of two subtypes of neurokinin (NK) receptors, and (also known as and ), in colorectal cancer (CRC), peripheral blood samples were collected from 199 CRC patients. Direct-sequencing was performed to identify the rs10198644 and rs4644560 SNPs. Genotype results were correlated with clinical factors.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of exenatide twice daily (BID) vs insulin glargine once daily (QD) as add-on therapy in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled by oral therapies.

Objective: To estimate cost-effectiveness of exenatide twice daily (BID) vs insulin glargine once daily (QD) as add-on therapy in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients not well controlled by oral anti-diabetic (OAD) agents.

Methods: The Cardiff model was populated with data synthesized from three head-to-head randomized clinical trials of up to 30 weeks in China comparing exenatide BID vs insulin glargine as add-on therapies to oral therapies in the Chinese population. The Cardiff model generated outputs including macrovascular and microvascular complications, diabetes-specific mortality, costs, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Pivotal Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activated Protein Kinase 2 in Inflammatory Pulmonary Diseases.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase (MK2) is exclusively regulated by p38 MAPK in vivo. Upon activation of p38 MAPK, MK2 binds with p38 MAPK, leading to phosphorylation of TTP, Hsp27, Akt, and Cdc25 that are involved in regulation of various essential cellular functions. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about molecular mechanisms of MK2 in regulation of TNF-α production, NADPH oxidase activation, neutrophil migration, and DNA-damage-induced cell cycle arrest which are involved in the molecular pathogenesis of acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, and non-small-cell lung cancer.

The transcription factor PU.1 promotes alternative macrophage polarization and asthmatic airway inflammation.

The transcription factor PU.1 is involved in regulation of macrophage differentiation and maturation. However, the role of PU.

Impact of tea drinking upon tuberculosis: a neglected issue.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health issue posing serious harm to the human health. Many studies have suggested that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are risk factors for TB. Laboratory evidence suggests that EGCG in tea leaves can arrest the growth of tubercle bacillus.

A Sensitive Dilute-and-Shoot Approach for the Simultaneous Screening of 71 Stimulants and 7 Metabolites in Human Urine by LC-MS-MS with Dynamic MRM.

A novel, reliable and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method was developed with dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) mode for the simultaneous screening of 71 stimulants and 7 metabolites in human urine using unsophisticated MS instruments (Agilent triple-quadruple 6410 B mass spectrometer). With a known retention time of an analyte, dMRM algorithm monitors each MRM transition only around its expected retention time. Therefore, dMRM enables the maximization of dwell times and provides much higher sensitivity and reproducibility than the conventional multiple reaction monitoring mode (cMRM).

Cost-effectiveness of saxagliptin vs glimepiride as a second-line therapy added to metformin in Type 2 diabetes in China.

Objective: This study aims to estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of saxagliptin + metformin (SAXA + MET) vs glimepiride + metformin (GLI + MET) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled with MET in China.

Methods: The Cardiff Model was used to simulate disease progression and estimate the long-term effect of treatments on patients. Systematic literature reviews and hospital surveys were conducted to obtain patients profiles, clinical data, and costs.

[Adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to removable denture crowns].

Objective: To determine adhesion of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) to different kinds of removable denture crowns for the purpose of minimizing influence of removable denture on oral environment.

Methods: Three kinds of removable denture crowns (single color synthetic resin teeth, alloy pin porcelain tooth and minute color synthetic resin teeth) were adsorbed S.

[Study on the correlation of epidermal growth factor and Sjoigren's syndrome with atrophic glossitis].

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EFG) and atrophic glossitis (AG) in patients with Sjoigren's syndromes (SS) and explore its pathogenesis.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with SS (60 with AG and 33 without AG) and 20 normal were selected. The concentrations of EGF in saliva were analyzed by ELISA.

Association of methylation of the RAR-β gene with cigarette smoking in non-small cell lung cancer with Southern-Central Chinese population.

Pathogenesis of lung cancer is a complicated biological process including multiple genetic and epigenetic changes. Since cigarette smoking is confirmed as the most main risk factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the aim of this study was to determine whether tobacco exposure plays a role in gene methylation. Methylation of the RAR-β gene were detected using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in DNA from 167 newly diagnosed cases with NSCLC and corresponding 105 controls.

[Treatment of mandibular first premolars with complex root canals: report of 2 cases].

Mandibular first premolars have complex root canals. Double root canals and three root canals usually happen. Clinicians should be aware of the normal anatomy of root canal system and vigilant about the possibility of canal variation.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha regulates autophagy to activate hepatic stellate cells.

The role of autophagy in Hif-1α modulated activation of hepatic stellate cells was illustrated in current work. Autophagy markers were determined in livers of Schistosoma japonicum infected mice and hypoxia or LPS treated human hepatic stellate cell, LX-2 cells. The action of Hif-1 to autophagy was defined as increase of autophagy markers was significantly suppressed in Hif-1α siRNA transfected cells upon hypoxia or LPS stimulation.

Distinct role of FoxO1 in M-CSF- and GM-CSF-differentiated macrophages contributes LPS-mediated IL-10: implication in hyperglycemia.

Macrophages are a heterogeneous population of immune cells that are essential for the initiation and containment inflammation. There are 2 well-established populations of inflammatory macrophages: classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. The FoxO family of transcription factors plays key roles in a number of cellular processes, including cell growth, metabolism, survival, and inflammation.