FAK Promotes Osteoblast Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation by Enhancing Wnt Signaling.

Decreased bone formation is often associated with increased bone marrow adiposity. The molecular mechanisms that are accountable for the negative correlation between bone mass and bone marrow adiposity are incompletely understood. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has critical functions in proliferation and differentiation of many cell types; however, its roles in osteoblast lineage cells are largely unknown.

Association between passive smoking and mental distress in adult never-smokers: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Many studies have suggested exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a risk factor for various somatic diseases, but only few studies based on small sample size or specific groups have explored the association between passive smoking and mental distress. We performed this study to examine the relationship between passive smoking and mental distress in adult never-smokers of north-east China.

Methods: Multistage, stratified random cluster sampling design was used in this cross-sectional study in 2012.

Prevalence of Central Obesity among Adults with Normal BMI and Its Association with Metabolic Diseases in Northeast China.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of central obesity among adults with normal BMI and its association with metabolic diseases in Jilin Province, China.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 in Jilin Province of China. Information was collected by face to face interview.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and some associated factors among adult residents of northeast China: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and determine potential influencing factors among adults in northeast China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jilin Province, northeast China, in 2012. A total of 9873 men and 10 966 women aged 18-79 years from the general population were included using a multistage stratified random cluster sampling design.

Types of Obesity and Its Association with the Clustering of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Jilin Province of China.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a serious public health problem in recent years in China. Aggregation of CVD risk factors in one individual increases the risk of CVD and the risk increases substantially with each additional risk factor. This study aims to explore the relationship between the number of clustered CVD risk factors and different types of obesity.

Developmental Regulation of the Growth Plate and Cranial Synchondrosis.

Long bones and the cranial base are both formed through endochondral ossification. Elongation of long bones is primarily through the growth plate, which is a cartilaginous structure at the end of long bones made up of chondrocytes. Growth plate chondrocytes are organized in columns along the longitudinal axis of bone growth.

The risk of smoking on multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis based on 20,626 cases from case-control and cohort studies.

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) has become a disease that represents a tremendous burden on patients, families, and societies. The exact etiology of MS is still unclear, but it is believed that a combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to this disease.

Effect of BMAP-28 on human thyroid cancer TT cells is mediated by inducing apoptosis.

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant endocrine tumor, with significant morbidity and mortality. Bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide 28 (BMAP-28) is a cathelicidin that is found in bovine neutrophils. In the present study, the effect and relative mechanism of BMAP-28 on the human thyroid cancer TT cell line and were investigated.

A useful surgical strategy for proximal tibial fractures (AO/OTA type 41-C) with diaphyseal involvement.

Relatively few studies have addressed surgical strategy for complex proximal tibial fractures by now. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of a single lateral locking plate using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for proximal tibia fractures (AO/OTA type 41-C) with diaphyseal involvement. From Jun 2009 to Jun 2014, 20 patients (fifteen women and five men, mean age 35.

Smoking Prevalence and Associated Factors as well as Attitudes and Perceptions towards Tobacco Control in Northeast China.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), the associated factors of current smoking among adults, and their attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco control.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2012 using a self-reported questionnaire. A representative sample of adults aged 18-79 years was collected in the Jilin Province of Northeast China by a multistage stratified random cluster sampling design.

CD109 attenuates TGF-β1 signaling and enhances EGF signaling in SK-MG-1 human glioblastoma cells.

CD109 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein that is frequently detected in squamous cell carcinomas. CD109 is a negative regulator of TGF-β1 signaling in human keratinocytes, and the N-terminal fragment of CD109 secreted from cells after cleavage by the furin protease is important for modulating TGF-β1 signaling. Previously, we found that CD109 is expressed in human glioblastoma cells; however, the role of CD109 in glioblastoma cells is not established.

InterTan nail versus Gamma3 nail for intramedullary nailing of unstable trochanteric fractures.

Background: Trochanteric fractures (TF) have become a major source of morbidity and mortality in elderly. We conducted this study to compare the outcomes of unstable trochanteric fractures treated with the InterTan nail and Gamma3 nail.

Methods: Between January 2008 and May 2013, patients aged 60 years or older with a diagnosis of unstable TF treated with InterTan nail or Gamma3 nail were included.

ATM-mediated Mad1 Serine 214 phosphorylation regulates Mad1 dimerization and the spindle assembly checkpoint.

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), which blocks anaphase onset until all chromosomes have bi-oriented, is one of the key self-monitoring systems of the eukaryotic cell cycle for genome stability. The mitotic arrest-deficient protein 1 (Mad1), a critical component of the SAC, is hyperphosphorylated in mitosis. However, the kinases responsible for Mad1 phosphorylation and its functional significance are not fully understood.

Free flap reconstruction versus non-free flap reconstruction in treating elderly patients with advanced oral cancer.

Purpose: Our goal was to evaluate whether elderly patients can benefit from free flaps.

Materials And Methods: The clinical information from the included patients was reviewed, and these patients were asked to complete the University of Washington Quality of Life, version 4, questionnaire. Comparisons of the different scales between the 2 groups were performed.

[Changes in the antioxidant level, cell cycle progression and apoptosis of testicular cells in rats with diet-induced impaired glucose regulation].

Objective: To detect the changes of the antioxidant level, cell cycle progression, necrosis and apoptosis, calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+] i) and mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim) in the model rats of impaired glucose regulation (IGR) induced by long-range high-fat diet, and to explore IGR-induced male reproductive injury and its mechanisms.

Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control (n = 10) and an IGR model group (n = 30), and the IGR model was established by 20 weeks of long-range high-fat diet. Pathological changes in the rat spermatogenic cells were detected by HE staining; the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured with biochemical methods; changes in the cell cycle progression, necrosis and apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) dyeing and the Annexin V-FITC kit, respectively, and [Ca2+]i and deltapsim were detected by flow cytometry with Fluo-3 and Rhodamine probe labeling, respectively.

[A retrospective study of infection after onlay graft].

Objective: To investigate the treatment and prevention of infection after alveolar crest onlay bone graft.

Methods: From January 2006 to May 2010, 11 infection cases after onlay graft on alveolar crest were reviewed to evaluate the infection time, clinical situation, treatment measure, and therapeutic effect.

Results: The infection of all 11 cases occurred about 15 days after bone graft, which showed either soft tissue fistulae or bone graft exposure in the oral cavity.

Biological effects of low level exposures to ionizing radiation: theory and practice.

This paper briefly reviewed recent reports on the epidemiological and experimental data on low dose radiation effects that support the concept of radiation hormesis. These reports point to the possibility of existence of a threshold dose in cancer induction by ionizing radiation and in some cases the occurrence of hormetic effects with stimulation of host defense mechanisms. The possibility of the use of low dose radiation in cancer treatment to improve the outcome of conventional radiotherapy was raised by citing previous reports on experimental studies, which showed increased efficacy in tumor control with significant reduction of total dose of radiation when low dose radiation was used in the combined treatment protocol.

Flow cytometric scoring of micronucleated reticulocytes as a possible high-throughput radiation biodosimeter.

Micronucleated reticulocyte (MN-RET) scoring by flow cytometry (FCM) has been used in assessment of the clastogenic effects of chemicals. However, its dose-response to acute whole body irradiation (WBI) at moderate dose rates remains to be established. We show that FCM scoring of MN-RET in peripheral blood from male ICR mice exposed to WBI X-ray doses of 0.

Sexual behavior and risks for HIV infection and transmission among male injecting drug users in Yunnan, China.

Objectives: To analyze the risk factors, particularly sexual behaviors, associated with HIV infection, and to describe the risks for HIV transmission among male injecting drug users (IDUs) in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 314 IDUs in Yunnan Province was conducted. Information on demographics, HIV serostatus, and sexual and drug-using behaviors was collected.

Cancer control related to stimulation of immunity by low-dose radiation.

Previous studies showed that low dose radiation (LDR) could stimulate the immune system in both animal and human populations. This paper reviews the present status of relevant research as support to the use of LDR in clinical practice for cancer prevention and treatment. It has been demonstrated that radiation-induced changes in immune activity follows an inverse J-shaped curve, i.

Increase in efficacy of cancer radiotherapy by combination with whole-body low dose irradiation.

Purpose: Design of cancer radiotherapy protocol to reduce radiation dose and increase treatment efficacy in Lewis lung cancer (LLC) model.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice subcutaneously implanted with LLC were treated by conventional radiotherapy (2Gy x 6) combined with LDWBI (low dose whole-body irradiation; the second, third, fifth and sixth local doses of 2Gy each substituted by LDWBI with 0.075Gy) and/or gene therapy (intratumor injection of pEgr-IL-18-B7.

[Stress analysis of the staggered and straight placement of implants in the mandibular posterior region under the localized load].

Objective: To compare the stress distribution of the staggered and straight placement of implants in the mandibular posterior region.

Methods: Using three-dimensional finite element approach to analyze the stress distribution and variance regularity under the localized load.

Results: Under vertical load, the stress peak value reduced when wide implant was placed straight (min: 3.

UVB induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes and protective effect of antioxidant agents.

This study aims at exploring the oxidative stress in keratinocytes induced by UVB irradiation and the protective effect of nutritional antioxidants. Cultured Colo-16 cells were exposed to UVB in vitro followed by measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, as well as cell death in the presence or absence of supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, or Ginsenoside Panoxatriol. Intracellular ROS content was found significantly reduced 1 h after exposure, but increased at later time points.

Ionizing radiation stimulates secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines: dose-response relationship, mechanisms and implications.

In previous studies we showed a marked increase in secretion of inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta by mouse macrophages in response to different doses of ionizing radiation (IR). Here we show the stimulation of IL-12 and IL-18 secretion by mouse peritoneal macrophages after whole-body irradiation with exploration of the possible mechanisms and implications in cancer radiotherapy. Both low (0.

Combined therapy of low-dose tacrolimus and prednisone in nephrotic syndrome with slight mesangial proliferation.

Aim: Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor that has been increasingly used in transplant medicine. However, the efficacy and safety of combined therapy of low-dose tacrolimus and prednisone in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome (NS) with slight mesangial proliferation has not been reported.

Patients And Methods: Sixty patients with NS with slight mesangial proliferation were randomly divided into a prednisone therapy group (control), a combined low-dose tacrolimus (2 mg/day) and a prednisone therapy group (tacrolimus group).