Cytotoxicity of JEZ-C(A), GA (B) and SMZ(C) on chondrocytes after 3 d (mean ± SD, n = 5).

<p>*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.</p

Quantitative comparison of ECM-related gene expression of aggrecan (a), collagen II (b), Sox9 (c) collagen I (d) and by qRT-PCR.

<p>The chondrocytes were cultured with different concentrations of JEZ-C, GA and SMZ: Control (K: 0 μg/ml), JEZ-C (J-1: 6.25×10⁻⁷ μg/ml; J-2: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; J-3: 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml), GA (G-1: 0.078 μg/ml; G-2: 0.125 μg/ml; G-3: 0.156μg/ml) and SDM (S-1: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; S-2: 6.25×10⁻⁵μg/ml; S-3: 6.25×10⁻⁴ μg/ml) for 6 d (n = 3 for each experiment). The gene expression levels in JEZ-C, GA and SMZ media relative to the control group were analyzed by the 2^-ΔΔCT method using β-actin as the internal control. The data represent the means ± SD of three independent culture experiments. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***P<0.001.</p

Hematoxylin-eosin staining (a) and Safranin O/fast green staining (b) images respectively showing the GAG production and the morphology of chondrocytes and cultured <i>in vitro</i> with different concentrations of JEZ-C, GA and SMZ for 6 d: JEZ-C (A. 6.25×10⁻⁷ μg/ml; B. 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; C. 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml), Control (D. without IL-1β), GA (E. 0.078 μg/ml; F. 0.125 μg/ml; G. 0.156 μg/ml), SMZ (H. 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; I. 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml; J. 6.25×10⁻⁴ μg/ml); cell seeding density: 2×10⁴/ml (original magnification ×100).

<p>Scale bar = 200 <b>μ</b>m.</p

Confocal laser scanning microscopy images showing the viability (a) and distribution of the actin cytoskeleton (b) of chondrocytes cultured <i>in vitro</i> with different concentrations of JEZ-C, GA and SMZ for 6 d: JEZ-C (A. 6.25×10⁻⁷ μg/ml; B. 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; C. 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml), Control (D. without IL-1β), GA (E. 0.078 μg/ml; F. 0.125 μg/ml; G. 0.156 μg/ml), SMZ (H. 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; I. 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml; J. 6.25×10⁻⁴ μg/ml); cell seeding density: 2×10⁴/ml (original magnification ×100).

<p>Scale bar = 200 <b>μ</b>m.</p

Quantitative comparison of ECM-related gene expression of MMP-1 (A), MMP-13 (B) and TIMP-1 (C) by qRT-PCR.

<p>The chondrocytes were cultured with different concentrations of JEZ-C, GA and SMZ: Control (without IL-1β), Model (with IL-1β), JEZ-C (J-1: 6.25×10⁻⁷ μg/ml; J-2: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; J-3: 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml), GA (G-1: 0.078 μg/ml; G-2: 0.125 μg/ml; G-3: 0.156μg/ml) and SMZ (S-1: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; S-2: 6.25×10⁻⁵μg/ml; S-3: 6.25×10⁻⁴ μg/ml) on the induction by IL-1β for 6 days (n = 3 for each experiment). The gene expression levels in JEZ-C, GA and SMZ media relative to the control group were analysed by the 2^-ΔΔCT method using β-actin as the internal control. The data represent the mean±SD of three independent culture experiments. Bars with different letters are significantly different from each other at P﹤0.05.</p

Quantification of cell proliferation (DNA) and matrix production (glycosaminoglycan (GAG)) of cells by biochemical assays: (A) the proliferation of chondrocytes cultured with different concentrations of JEZ-C, GA and SMZ: Control (K: 0 μg/ml), JEZ-C (J-1: 6.25×10⁻⁷ μg/ml; J-2: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; J-3: 6.25×10⁻⁵ μg/ml), GA (G-1: 0.078 μg/ml; G-2: 0.125 μg/ml; G-3: 0.156μg/ml) and SDM (S-1: 6.25×10⁻⁶ μg/ml; S-2: 6.25×10⁻⁵μg/ml; S-3: 6.25×10⁻⁴ μg/ml) <i>in vitro</i> for 6 d; (B) GAG (mg) normalized to DNA (mg).

<p>Data from six independent experiments were evaluated and mean ±SD was showed, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001.</p

Reagents and conditions: (a) Acetyl oxide, oil bath, 120°C (b) SOCl₂, oil bath, 80°C (c) Sulfamethoxazole, THF, Pyridine, ice bath (d) HCl, THF, 60°C.

<p>Reagents and conditions: (a) Acetyl oxide, oil bath, 120°C (b) SOCl₂, oil bath, 80°C (c) Sulfamethoxazole, THF, Pyridine, ice bath (d) HCl, THF, 60°C.</p

Investigation of EMF exposure from sources other than HVT lines.

a)<p>Dada may not sum up to n = 206 in School A due to non-response.</p>c)<p>Dada may not sum up to n = 221 in School B due to non-response.</p>b)<p>and^d) Dada sum up to 100% due to calculation not included non-response.</p>e)<p>It was defined as the use of one or more of the household appliances, namely computers, TVs, mobile phones and fixed-line telephone in daily life.</p>*<p>Compared with students in School A, P<0.05.</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of participants [n (%)].

a)<p>Dada may not sum up to n = 206 in School A due to non-response.</p>c)<p>Dada may not sum up to n = 221 in School B due to non-response.</p>b)<p>and^d) Dada sum up to 100% due to calculation not included non-response.</p>e)<p>A chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare categorical variables.</p><p>^f)Monthly income per capita.</p

Socio-demographic characteristics of participants (Mean ± SD).

<p>^a)One-way analysis of variance was used for continuous variables; BMI = body mass index.</p