The complete chloroplast genome of Agrimonia pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai.

Agrimonia pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai is an herbaceous species of Rosaceae distributed in China. It has ornamental and ecological values. Lack of genetic background seriously hinders its further research and utilization. To provide genetic information for further study of it, complete chloroplast (cp) genome was characterized in this study. The genome is a circular molecule of 155,147 bp in length with overall GC content of 36.9%, which contains 85 protein-coding genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and 37 transfer RNA genes. It contains a typical tetrad structure, including a large single copy, a small single copy, and two inverted repeat regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. pilosa var. nepalensis and A. pilosa are closely related. Result of this study could provide genetic information for further research of A. pilosa var. nepalensis.

[Preliminary evaluation on 3-demension changes of facial soft tissue with structure light scanning technique before and after orthognathic surgery of Class III deformities].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate facial soft tissue 3-deminsion changes of skeletal Class III malocclusion patients after orthognathic surgery using structure light scanning technique. METHODS: Eight patients [3 males and 5 females, aged (27.08 ± 4.42) years] with Class III dentoskeletal relationship who underwent a bimaxillary orthognathic surgical procedure involving advancement of the maxilla by Le Fort I osteotomy and mandibular setback by bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSO) and genioplasty to correct deformity were included. 3D facial images were obtained by structure light scanner for all the patients 2 weeks preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The facial soft tissue changes were evaluated in 3-dimension. The linear distances and angulation changes for facial soft tissue landmarks were analyzed. The soft tissue volumetric changes were assessed too. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the sagittal and vertical changes of soft tissue landmarks. The greatest amount of soft tissue change was close to lips. There were more volumetric changes in the chin than in the maxilla, and fewer in the forehead. CONCLUSION: After biomaxillary surgery, there were significant facial soft tissue differences mainly in the sagittal and vertical dimension for skeletal Class III patients. The structure light 3D scanning technique can be accurately used to estimate the soft tissue changes in patients who undergo orthognathic surgery.

[The analyses of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody test results in patients with respiratory tract infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the infection rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and age, sex and season. METHODS: Passive agglutination assay was used to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies (MP-Ab) in the serum of patients with respiratory tract infection, and MP-Ab test results in 2010 were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rates of 5 year test results were 30.10%; among the results, the positive rates of male and female patients were respectively 30.74% and 36.12%, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05); And every age group were significantly different (P < 0.001), among each group, the positive rate of 3-14 years old patients was the highest; the season was no significant difference in incidence rates; the patients of positive titer > 1:640 accounted for 10.18% of the patients. CONCLUSION: MP infection is increasing year by year, children aged 3 to 14 has become the high-risk groups. Women are more susceptible to MP than the men and the chances of infection are throughout the year, but the most of the patients have a good prognosis.

Follow-up results of children with melamine induced urolithiasis: a prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Melamine-contaminated milk powder was the cause of the 2008 outbreak of urolithiasis in young children and infants in China, but the prognosis of these children remains unknown. We hypothesized that urolithiasis induced by melamine-contaminated milk powder may be associated with secondary renal injury. METHODS: A total of 8335 children (≤6 years old) with a history of consuming melamine-contaminated milk powder were screened. Urine analysis and urinary system ultrasonography were performed. For children with urolithiasis, the basic information and the results of examination were recorded, and effective therapy was given. They were followed up for 6 months after the original diagnosis, and urinary microprotein profiles were measured. RESULTS: Of the 8335 children, 105 (1.26%) were diagnosed with melamine-contaminated milk powder-associated urolithiasis. The size of the stone was correlated with the duration of exposure to melamine. Six months later, 69.8% (67) of the children with urolithiasis passed stones (follow-up rate: 91.4%). Of the 67 children, 28 passed stones within 2 months. The higher possibility of passing a stone was correlated with the smaller diameter of the stone (P<0.001). The detection rate of abnormal urinary microprotein excretion (microalbumin, immunoglobulin G, and N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosidase) was 52.4% in children with persistent stones and 38.2% in those who passed their stones. The detection rate was lower in children who passed stones within 2 months (31.8%) than in those who passed stones in 2 to 6 months (50.0%). The levels of microalbumin/creatinine and immunoglobulin G/creatinine were significantly higher in children with persistent stones than in those who passed their stones. CONCLUSIONS: Early passage of a stone may reduce the renal injury induced by melamine-contaminated milk powder-associated urolithiasis.

[Change of expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the periodontal tissues of diabetes mellitus rats during orthodontic tooth movement].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression and distribution of matrix mentallproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the periodontal tissues of diabetes mellitus (DM) rats during tooth movement, and to observe the affection of diabetes mellitus on the collagen metabolism. METHODS: Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Mesial force was applied to pull the maxillary first molar. Forty rats were rendered diabetic by injection of streptozotocin. In 3 weeks after the injection, rats were subjected to lateral tooth movement. The animals were sacrificed after 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days respectively. Two-step immunohistochemical method was applied to localize and examine the expression of MMP-2 in periodontal tissue of rats. RESULTS: MMP-2 immunohistochemical results indicated that the MMP-2 expression increased and was observed on both sides periodontium of movement tooth, osteoclast, cementoblast, osteocyte, fibroblast and osteoblast appeared positive. According to the immunohistochemistry image analysis, experiment group changes was less obvious than control group. Dynamic changes of OD occured, reaching the minimum on the 7th day and then increasing slowly. IOD increased steadily, up to the peak on the 7th day, and then decreased, which still remained a high level on the 21st day. CONCLUSION: DM alveolar bone collagen metabolism increases. DM alveolar bone reactive potency decreases in orthodontic tooth movement, weak collagen metabolism. MMP-2's activity changes regularly, in close relation to bone remodeling, and plays an important role during the orthodontic tooth movement.