ITRAQ-based proteomics analysis of human ectopic endometrial stromal cells treated by Maqian essential oil.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a common and complex syndrome characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Chinese medicine has been recently found to show good efficacy in treating endometriosis. Our previous results revealed that Maqian fruit essential oil (MQEO) could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs), but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of MQEO's specific effects in EESCs. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ on EESCs treated with MQEO or DMSO. Then deep analysis was performed based on differentially expressed proteins, including Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and protein interaction analysis. Candidate protein targets were subsequently verified by western blotting. RESULTS: Among 6575 identified proteins, 435 proteins exhibited altered expression levels in MQEO-treated EESCs. Of these proteins, most were distributed in signal transduction as well as immune system and the most significantly altered pathway was complement and coagulation cascades. Moreover, two differentially expressed proteins (Heme oxygenase 1 and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase) were verified and they can be potential biomarkers for endometriosis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our proteomic analysis revealed distinct protein expression patterns induced by MQEO treatment in EESCs, highlighting the potential of MQEO for endometriosis treatment and biomarker discovery.

A Retrospective Analysis of Clinically Focused Exome Sequencing Results of 372 Infants with Suspected Monogenic Disorders in China.

Objective: The context was designed to optimize the diagnostic utility of clinically focused exome sequencing (CFES) and shorten the diagnostic odyssey among pediatric patients suspected of monogenic disorders (MDs). Methods: Here, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical notes of 372 patients from different areas in the Jiangxi province that were referred for a diagnostic CFES and analysis from June 2018 to March 2022 with symptoms suggestive of MDs. In our study, preliminary tests using the proband-only clinical exome sequencing as a cost-effective first-tier diagnostic test for pediatric patients with unidentified MDs, supplemented by family segregation studies for targeted variants when indicated. Results: Probands with confirmed diagnostic (CD) or likely diagnostic (LD) genetic influences accounted for 12% of all cases, whereas those with an uncertain diagnosis accounted for 48%. We also found that systemic primary carnitine deficiency (CDSP) (SLC22A5 gene) and phenylketonuria (PAH gene) were relatively more prevalent, and these patients with CDSP had the most frequent c.1400C > G variant (p.S467C) and c.51C > G variant (p. F17L) in this study. In addition, statistical analysis revealed that the estimates of diagnostic yields varied across certain phenotypic features of patients, and patients with specific phenotypic traits tended to benefit more from CFES. Conclusion: The CFES may be a first-line genetic test for diagnosing young children with suspected genetic conditions, as it validates the identification of molecular genetics alterations and facilitates comprehensive medical management. Moreover, we found that infants exhibiting metabolism/homeostasis abnormalities, craniofacial /otolaryngology/ ophthalmologic abnormalities, and/or the integument were significantly more likely to receive a genetic diagnosis via CFES than infants without such features. However, due to the current study's low diagnostic yield and inherent limitations, high-quality clinical studies with larger sample sizes are still needed to provide more likely results and confirm our findings.

Quantitative HBcrAg and HBcAb versus HBsAg and HBV DNA in predicting liver fibrosis levels of chronic hepatitis B patients / HBcrAg y HBcAb cuantitativos versus HBsAg y ADN del VHB en la predicción de los niveles de fibrosis hepática de los pacientes con hepatitis B crónica

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the quantitative markers of hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen antibodies HbcAb versus hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) in predicting liver fibrosis levels in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 245 HBeAg-negative patients were enrolled. With reference to the Scheuer standard, stage 2 or higher and stage 4 liver disease were defined as significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the HBV markers investigated. RESULTS: The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of HBcrAg in predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients (0.577 and 0.700) were both close to those of HBsAg (0.617 and 0.762) (both P> 0.05). In HBeAg-negative patients (0.797 and 0.837), they were both significantly greater than those of HBV DNA (0.723 and 0.738) (P=0.0090 and P=0.0079). The AUCs of HBcAb in predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients (0.640 and 0.665) were both close to those of HBsAg. In HBeAg-negative patients (0.570 and 0.621), they were both significantly less than those of HBcrAg (P <0.0001 and P=0.0001). Specificity in predicting significant fibrosis and sensitivity in predicting cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients, using a single cut-off of HBsAg ≤5,000 IU/ml, were 76.5% and 72.7%, respectively. In HBeAg-negative patients, using a single cut-off of HBcrAg>80kU/ml, they were 85.9% and 81.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg has good performance in predicting liver fibrosis levels in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients, and HBcrAg has very good performance in predicting liver fibrosis levels in HBeAg-negative patients

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el rendimiento de los marcadores cuantitativos del antígeno central de la hepatitis B (HBcrAg) y los anticuerpos contra el antígeno central de la hepatitis B (HBcAb) frente al antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis B (HBsAg) y el ADN del virus de la hepatitis B (ADN del VHB) en la predicción de los niveles de fibrosis hepática de los pacientes con hepatitis B crónica. MÉTODOS: Se inscribieron 250 pacientes con HBsAg positivo y 245 pacientes con HBeAg negativo. Con referencia al estándar de Scheuer, la etapa patológica hepática 2 o superior y la etapa 4 se definieron como fibrosis y cirrosis significativas, respectivamente. Se utilizó la curva característica de funcionamiento del receptor (ROC) para evaluar el rendimiento de los marcadores del VHB investigados. RESULTADOS: Las áreas bajo la curva ROC (AUC) del HBcrAg en la predicción de la fibrosis y cirrosis significativa de los pacientes positivos para el HBeAg (0,577 y 0,700) fueron ambas cercanas a las del HBsAg (0,617 y 0,762) (ambas p > 0,05); de los pacientes negativos para el HBeAg (0,797 y 0,837) fueron ambas significativamente mayores que las del ADN del VHB (0,723 y 0,738) (p = 0,0090 y p = 0,0079); las AUC del HBcAb en la predicción de la fibrosis y cirrosis significativa de los pacientes positivos para el HBeAg (0,640 y 0,665) fueron ambas cercanas a las del HBsAg; de los pacientes negativos para el HBeAg (0,570 y 0,621) fueron ambas significativamente menores que las del HBcrAg (p < 0,0001 y p = 0,0001). La especificidad en la predicción de la fibrosis significativa y la sensibilidad en la predicción de la cirrosis de los pacientes positivos para el HBeAg, utilizando un solo corte de HBsAg ≤ 5.000 UI/mL fueron 76,5 y 72,7%, respectivamente; de los pacientes negativos para el HBeAg utilizando un solo corte de HBcrAg > 80 kU/mL fueron 85,9 y 81,3%, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: El HBsAg tiene un buen rendimiento en la predicción de los niveles de fibrosis hepática de los pacientes HBeAg positivos y negativos, mientras que HBcrAg tiene un muy buen rendimiento en la predicción de los niveles de fibrosis de los pacientes HBaAg negativos

Next-generation sequencing: a follow-up of 36,913 singleton pregnancies with noninvasive prenatal testing in central China.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) results of 36,913 cases in Jiangxi province of central China and explore its application value in prenatal screening and diagnosis. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 36,913 singleton pregnant women who underwent NIPT because of moderate-/high-risk pregnancy or voluntary requirements between January 2017 and December 2019 in our hospital. Chromosomal abnormalities such as trisomies 21, 18, and 13 (T21, T18, T13) and sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) were judged by standard Z-score analysis. Positive NIPT results were confirmed by amniocentesis and karyotyping. Pregnancy outcomes were followed up via telephone interview. RESULTS: A total of 1.01% (371/36,913) positive cases were detected by NIPT, comprising 137, 46, 31, and 157 cases of T21, T18, T13, and SCAs, respectively. A total of 116 of T21, 27 of T18, 13 of T13, and 51 of SCAs were confirmed to be true positive; all normal cases that had been followed up were verified to be true negative. The NIPT sensitivity in T21, T18, T13, and SCAs was 100.00% individually, whereas the specificity was 99.94% (36,488/36,509), 99.95% (36,579/36,598), 99.95% (36,594/36,612), and 99.72% (36,472/36,574), respectively. Furthermore, the negative predictive values of T21, T18, T13, and SCAs were all 100%, while the positive predictive values were 84.67%, 58.70%, 41.94%, and 33.33%, respectively. CONCLUSION: NIPT is highly sensitive and has a low false positive rate in testing clinically significant fetal aneuploidies of general reproductive women. However, this technique cannot substitute for amniocentesis and karyotyping, and detailed genetic counseling is also essential for the high-risk group of NIPT.

Quantitative HBcrAg and HBcAb versus HBsAg and HBV DNA in predicting liver fibrosis levels of chronic hepatitis B patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the quantitative markers of hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and anti-hepatitis B core antigen antibodies HbcAb versus hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) in predicting liver fibrosis levels in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 245 HBeAg-negative patients were enrolled. With reference to the Scheuer standard, stage 2 or higher and stage 4 liver disease were defined as significant fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the HBV markers investigated. RESULTS: The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of HBcrAg in predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients (0.577 and 0.700) were both close to those of HBsAg (0.617 and 0.762) (both P> 0.05). In HBeAg-negative patients (0.797 and 0.837), they were both significantly greater than those of HBV DNA (0.723 and 0.738) (P=0.0090 and P=0.0079). The AUCs of HBcAb in predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients (0.640 and 0.665) were both close to those of HBsAg. In HBeAg-negative patients (0.570 and 0.621), they were both significantly less than those of HBcrAg (P <0.0001 and P=0.0001). Specificity in predicting significant fibrosis and sensitivity in predicting cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients, using a single cut-off of HBsAg ≤5,000 IU/ml, were 76.5% and 72.7%, respectively. In HBeAg-negative patients, using a single cut-off of HBcrAg>80kU/ml, they were 85.9% and 81.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg has good performance in predicting liver fibrosis levels in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients, and HBcrAg has very good performance in predicting liver fibrosis levels in HBeAg-negative patients.

[The Effects of Social Support and Health Literacy on Depression among Rural Patients with Hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of social support and health literacy on depression among hypertensive patients in rural areas and to provide reference for improving depression in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 549 hypertensive patients in a rural area of Chengdu city for a questionnaire survey. Structural equation model was used to analyze the effects of social support and health literacy on depression in hypertensive patients. RESULTS: Social support ( ß=-0.116, 95% CI: (-0.198)-(-0.132)) and health literacy ( ß=-0.209, 95% CI: (-0.289)-(-0.132)) had a direct negative effect on depression, and social support had a direct positive effect on health literacy ( ß=0.146, 95% CI: 0.064-0.229). Health literacy was a mediator between social support and depression ( ß=-0.030, 95% CI: (-0.054)-(-0.013)). The gender, employment status and per capita annual income of the patients affected the incidence of depression ( P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Social support and health literacy are important predictors of depression among hypertensive patients. We should construct a good social support network, strengthen the publicity of health knowledge, and improve social support and health literacy to alleviate the depression in hypertensive patients. At the same time, more attention should be paid to women, people with low per capita annual income and working hypertensive patients.

The number of stents was an independent risk of stent restenosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the most effective therapies for coronary artery disease, but stent restenosis remains an important clinical challenge. The studies about the independent effect of the number of stents on stent restenosis were limited.The purpose was to identify the independent effect of the number of stents on stent restenosis.A retrospective cohort study of data reuse.From July 2009 to August 2011, a total of 2338 cases met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The univariate analysis showed that the number of stents was a risk of stent restenosis, the OR value was 1.30 (95% CI:1.15 to 1.47, P < .001). The multi-factor regression analysis also showed that the number of stents was an independent risk of stent restenosis, the adjusted OR value was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.15 to 1.66, P < .001).Compared with 1-2 stents, the adjusted OR values of 3-5 stents and more than 6 stents were respectively 2.20 (95% CI: 1.24 to 3.90, P = .007) and 5.33 (95% CI: 1.89 to 15.08, P = .002), and the trend adjusted OR values was 2.26 (95% CI: 1.43 to 3.59, P < .001).The subgroup analysis of multi-factor regression analysis showed that when patients with the following conditions: 50 < Age, female, non-DES or SES, the risk of stent restenosis increased obviously.The number of stents was an independent risk of stent restenosis in patients undergoing PCI, especially for patients with the following conditions: 2

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes via p38, ERK, and Akt pathways.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic joint disease worldwide. Chondrocyte, as the only resident cell type in cartilage, its apoptosis is of pathogenetic significance in OA. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based-therapy has been proved effective in OA in animals and clinical studies. Nowadays, the regenerative potential of MSC-based therapy is mostly attributed to its paracrine secretion, in which exosomes may play an important role. In the present study, we aimed to find out the significance of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) on the viability of chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions. Bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs) and chondrocytes from rabbits were cultured in vitro. BMSC-Exos were isolated by an ultracentrifugation method. Transmission electron microscopy and Western blot were used to identify exosomes. The internalization of BMSC-Exos into chondrocytes was observed by fluorescent microscope. The viability and apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by IL-1ß were tested through MTT method, Hoechst33324 dying, and mitochondrial damage measurement. Phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and Akt were evaluated by Western blot. The results showed that BMSC-Exos were round-shaped. Co-culturing BMSC-Exos with chondrocytes could observe the uptake of BMSC-Exos by chondrocytes. The viability decreased, apoptosis occurred, and the mitochondrial membrane potential of chondrocytes changed a lot when IL-1ß were given, but all the changes were almost abolished when BMSC-Exos was added. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK were inhibited, and phosphorylation of Akt was promoted by BMSC-Exos compared with IL-1ß group. The present study demonstrated that BMSC-Exos inhibited mitochondrial-induced apoptosis in response to IL-1ß, and p38, ERK, and Akt pathways were involved. BMSC-Exo might represent a novel cell-free therapeutic approach for the treatment of OA.

Performance of Hepatitis B Core-Related Antigen Versus Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Predicting HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: We examined changes in hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) during the four sequential phases of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic infection (EPCI) and hepatitis (EPCH), followed by HBeAg-negative chronic infection (ENCI) and hepatitis (ENCH). We compared the performance of serum HBcrAg, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HBV DNA in predicting EPCH and ENCH. METHODS: We enrolled 492 consecutive patients: 49 with EPCI, 243 with EPCH, 101 with ENCI, and 99 with ENCH. HBcrAg was detected by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays. HBV DNA was detected by real-time PCR. Predictive performance of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA was evaluated using ROC curves. RESULTS: Areas under ROC curves (AUCs) of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting EPCH were 0.738, 0.812, and 0.717, respectively; optimal cutoffs were ≤1.43×105 kU/mL, ≤1.89×104 IU/mL, and ≤3.97×107 IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 66.3% and 77.6%, 65.0% and 93.9%, and 60.5% and 79.6%, respectively. AUCs of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting ENCH were 0.887, 0.581, and 0.978, respectively; optimal cutoffs were >26.8 kU/mL, >2.29×10² IU/mL, and >8.75×10³ IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 72.7% and 95.1%, 86.9% and 39.6%, and 89.9% and 92.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg and HBV DNA were the best predictors of EPCH and ENCH, respectively. HBcrAg is an important surrogate marker for predicting EPCH and ENCH.

Quantitative Anti-HBc in Liver Pathological States in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

BACKGROUND: Changes of hepatitis B core antigen antibody (anti-HBc) in liver pathological involvement in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have not been investigated in detail. This study aimed to explore evolving patterns of anti-HBc following liver pathological states and to investigate validities of anti-HBc for predicting liver pathological states. METHODS: 254 HBeAg-positive and 237 HBeAg-negative patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled. Liver pathological diagnoses referred to Scheuer standard, and anti-HBc was measured using chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. RESULTS: Anti-HBc was significantly positively correlated with pathological grades and stages in both HBeAg-positive (r s = 0.312, P < 0.0001, and r s = 0.268, P < 0.0001) and HBeAg-negative (r s = 0.270, P < 0.0001, and r s = 0.147, P=0.0237) patients. The medians of anti-HBc in pathological grades of G1, G2, and G3 and stages of S1, S2, S3, and S4 in HBeAg-positive patients were all significantly lower than those in HBeAg-negative patients (all P < 0.005). The areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) of anti-HBc for predicting pathological grades ≥G2 and ≥G3, and stages ≥S2 and =S4 in HBeAg-positive patients were 0.683 (0.622-0.740) and 0.662 (0.601-0.720), and 0.627 (0.564-0.687) and 0.683 (0.622-0.740), respectively, and in HBeAg-negative patients were 0.681 (0.618-0.740) and 0.702 (0.639-0.760), and 0.569 (0.503-0.633) and 0.630 (0.565-0.691), respectively. CONCLUSION: Following hepatic aggravation of necroinflammation and progression of fibrosis, anti-HBc increases gradually in HBeAg-positive patients and continues to increase gradually in HBeAg-negative patients, which is a useful but unsatisfactory marker for monitoring pathological states.

[Medical Service Information Seeking Behaviors in Rural and Urban Patients in Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand how rural and urban patients seek medical service information in Sichuan province. METHODS: A self-designed questionnaire was distributed randomly to patients who visited primary,secondary and tertiary health facilities in Chengdu,Yibin and Suining,collecting data in relation to their sources of medical service information,as well as the contents and credibility of the information. RESULTS: The major sources of medical service information came from friends,past experiences and television programs,which were consistent with the most desirable access channels. The urban patients were more likely to trust (5.3%) and use (10.6%) the Internet to obtain medical service information compared with their rural counterparts (3.4% and 5.5%,respectively,P<0.05). The most sought after information concerned about medical staff,reputation and price. The rural patients were more likely to be concerned about price (26.7%) than their urban counterparts (20.3%,P<0.05). The choices of patients were likely to be influenced by advices from family members,relatives and friends,and doctors and nurses. The patients had a higher level of trust in doctors and nurses than their relatives and friends,but lower than their family members. CONCLUSION: Patient choices are shaped by their medical service information seeking behaviors and advices from others. Targeted marketing strategies for urban and rural patients should be developed to channel patients to appropriate health facilities.

[Equivalence of SF-12v2 and SF-36v2 in Assessing Health Related Quality of Life in a General Population in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the equivalence of SF-12v2 and SF-36v2 for assessing health related quality of life in a general population in Chengdu. METHODS: The equivalence between SF-12v2 and SF-36v2 was assessed using reliability,validity and responsiveness. RESULTS: The eight sub-scales of SF-36v2 had a score ranging from 64.13 to 89.15,compared with a range between 47.45 and 87.92 for SF-12v2. The SF-12v2 had larger standard deviations than the SF-36v2. No floor effects were detected; but ceiling effects were significant in the subscales of physical functioning (PF) ,role-physical (RP),bodily pain (BP),social functioning (SF) and role emotion (RE). The SF-12v2 had higher ceiling effects (56.66%-68.32%) than the SF-36v2 (50.14%-63.87%). The exploratory factor analyses extracted two factors in both cases,representing physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS),respectively. The total variances explained by the common factors reached 64.05% for the SF-36v2 and 55.79% for the SF-12v2. The SF-12v2 PCS and MCS scores explained 91.0% and 80.3% of the total variances of those of the SF-36v2,respectively. The effect size of PCSs ranges from 0.78 to 2.77 in the subpopulations with different health conditions,compared with 0.00-0.57 for MSCs. The relative validity (RV) of PCS-12 to PCS-36 ranged from 0.89 to 0.94,compared with a MCS-12 to MCS-36 range of 0.60-0.75. CONCLUSION: SF-12v2 is reliable and valid as a brief substitute version of SF-36v2 with acceptable responsiveness and equitable structure for assessing health related quality of life in the general population of Chengdu. But sub-scale scores were not recommended when using the SF-12v2 due to reduced precision.

[Perceptions and Attitudes of Chengdu Residents toward "Medical and Aged Care" Integrated Models].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Chengdu residents toward "medical and aged care" integrated models and associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 935 residents who were 45 years or older in 8 communities in Chengdu. Descriptive analyses and logistic binary regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: About 91.1% of respondents preferred self-care and family support, and only 8.9% preferred community and institutional care. About 84.9% of respondents reported no knowledge about the "medical and aged care" integrated models, and 15.1% had some basic understanding of the integrated care models. Middle-aged respondents were more likely to understand the integrated care models than their older counterparts, with 21.7% willing to endorse the integrated care models. The logistic regression analyses showed that age, educational attainment, marital status, chronic illness, available financial support, and knowledge and awareness were associated with the choice. CONCLUSIONS: Chengdu residents have low level of knowledge and awareness of the "medical and aged care" integrated models. Public education is needed to promote the new aged care models.

Biocompatibility and in vivo osteogenic capability of novel bone tissue engineering scaffold A-W-MGC/CS.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the biocompatibility and in vivo osteogenic capability of the novel bone tissue engineering scaffold apatite-wollastonite-magnetic glass ceramic/chitosan (A-W-MGC/CS). METHODS: Rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were transfected with adenovirus-human bone morphogenetic protein-2-green fluorescent protein (Ad-hBMP2-GFP). The transfected BMSCs were then inoculated onto the scaffold material A-W-MGC/CS to construct tissue-engineered bone. The attachment and proliferation of BMSCs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) detection, respectively. Rabbit models of bone defects were established and divided into three groups. Experimental group 1 was implanted with prepared tissue-engineered bone. Experimental group 2 was implanted with A-W-MGC/CS without transfected BMSCs. The blank group was injected with transfected BMSCs, without implantation of any scaffold. In the 12th week after surgery, the repair of bone defect was observed by X-ray examination, and histological observations of the area of bone defect were performed. RESULTS: A-W-MGC/CS resulted in good BMSC attachment and had no obvious effects on cell proliferation. In experimental group 1, good repair of bone defect was observed, and the scaffold material degraded completely. In experimental group 2, new bone was formed, but its quality was poor. In the blank group, there was mainly filling of fibrous connective tissues with no observable bone defect repair. CONCLUSION: A-W-MGC/CS possesses good biocompatibility and in vivo osteogenic capability for bone defect repair.

[Assessing quality of life in an urban population in Chengdu using the SF-12].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health-related quality of life in an urban population in Chengdu China using the SF-12. METHODS: A random sampling strategy stratified by age and sex was adopted to select the participants in Chengdu. A total of 1365 respondents with an age of older than 18 years completed the interviewer-administered SF-12 survey. The physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary measures of the SF-12 were calculated using the standard US scoring method and compared to the urban population norms of Hong Kong and Australia. RESULTS: Similar PCS and MCS scores were obtained for the urban Chengdu population compared to the Hong Kong and Australian population norms, albeit a closer similarity between the Chengdu and Hong Kong populations. The PCS and MCS scores of the SF-12 changed with sex and age. CONCLUSION: The age- and sex-adjusted PCS and MCS scores of the SF-12 in the urban Chengdu population can serve as a reference for future studies using the SF-12 in China.

[Quantitative assessment of risks on cerebral vascular diseases in urban residents in Sichuan].

OBJECTIVE: To set a quantitative criteria for determining the risks on cerebral vascular disease (CVD) so to identify that potential risk of an individual dying from CVD and to predict the individual risk of CVD. METHODS: Data on case-control and cohort studies published during 1978 to 2003 was collected through retrieval of literatures, and data on surveillance of behavior exposure was provided by Chengdu Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) of all risk factors for CVD were estimated using software for meta-analysis to enable the varied levels of risk factors be converted into risk fractions by statistical models. RESULTS: A risk score conversion table (quantitative criteria for assessment) of main risk factors for CVD was developed for men and women aged 35 - 69 at an interval of five years, including smoking, passive smoking, hypertension, high blood cholesterol levels, body mass index, lack of physical activity, alcohol drinking, dietary fat consumption, milk intake, oral contraceptive use, past history of diabetes and CVD, family history of CVD etc. Individuals with all these risk factors had a risk score beyond 1.00, but was equal to or below 1.00 when without. The risk score would increase along with the rise of one's risk level. CONCLUSION: Estimation of risk of dying from CVD was based on risk score conversion table of risk factors for CVD, which could be used to predict individual potential risk of dying from CVD in the following 10 years. Our data provides evidence that education to be strengthened to persuade people to change their unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors.