Objective To find out severity and types of syphilis infection in blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premrital medical examination in Zhoushan City and offer a new measure for prevention and treatment of syphilis. Methods Totally, 174 589 blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations were screened preliminarily for inapparent syphilis with non-TPHA, and then TPHA was applied to confirm the diagnosis, according to the National Standard No. GB 15974-1995, combining with clinical symptoms and physical check-up. Results A total of 1 327 cases of syphilis from 174 589 samples tested, including blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations, were diagnosed, with an inapparent infection rate of 7. 60‰ in average, 6. 42‰in males and 8. 74‰ in females, with a sex ratio of 0.71 (X2 = 29. 92, P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of microcystin (MC) in drinking water with the incidence of colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe study was designed as a retrospective cohort. Eight townships or towns were randomly selected as the study sites in Haining City of Zhejiang Province, China. 408 cases of colon and rectum carcinomas diagnosed from 1977 to 1996 in the study sites were included, and a survey on types of drinking water of these patients was conducted. Samples of different water sources (well, tap, river and pond) were collected separately and microcystin concentrations were determined by indirect competitive ELISA method.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of colorectal cancer was significantly higher in population who drank river and pond water than those who drank well and tap water. Compared to well water, the relative risk (RR) for colorectal cancer was 1.88 (tap), 7.94 (river) and 7.70 (pond) respectively. The positive rate (> 50 pg/mL) of microcystin in samples of well, tap, river and pond water was 0, 0, 36.23% and 17.14% respectively. The concentration of microcystin in river and pond water was significantly higher than that in well and tap water (P < 0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that in the study sites, the microcystin concentration of river and pond water was positively associated with the incidence of colorectal cancer (rs = 0.881, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe types of drinking water are positively associated with the incidence of colorectal cancer in the study sites, and this may be related to microcystin contamination of drinking water. Further biological study is needed to support the possible causative role of mycrocystin in carcinogenesis of colon and rectum.

Bacterial Toxins ; toxicity ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microcystins ; Peptides, Cyclic ; toxicity ; Retrospective Studies ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; toxicity ; Water Supply ; standards

Angioplasty ; Embolectomy ; Ischemia ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenteric Ischemia ; Thrombosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Diseases ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of fenofibrate on the proliferation and apoptosis and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). METHODS: HUVECs were cultured in vitro. The study was designated to 5 groups according to fenofibrate concentration: control group, LPC group, LPC + low-concentration fenofibrate (10 micromol/L), LPC + middle-concentration fenofibrate (50 micromol/L), and LPC + high-concentration fenofibrate (100 micromol/L). The study was designated to 6 groups according to the intervention time: control group, LPC group, LPC + fenofibrate (50 micromol/L) 6 h, LPC + fenofibrate 12 h, LPC + fenofibrate 24 h, and LPC + fenofibrate 48 h. The proliferation and apoptosis of HUVECs were evaluated by MTT assay, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. eNOS mRNA were assayed by real time-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, LPC could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis, and downregulate eNOS mRNA expression and decrease NO production of HUVECs. Fenofibrate could increase the proliferation and decrease the apoptosis, and up-regulate eNOS mRNA expression and enhance NO production in HUVECs. CONCLUSION Fenofibrate could improve the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis, and up-regulate eNOS mRNA expression of HUVECs induced by LPC, which may be responsible for fenofibrate to prevent and treat atherosclerosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between PAR1 (Protease-Activated Receptor 1) expression and the clinicopathologic features and to investigate the prognostic value of PAR1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in early stage after curative resection.

METHODSReal-time PCR was used to detect PAR1 expression in 41 pairs of tumors and matched peritumoral samples of HCC in early stage. Prognostic value of PAR1 mRNA expression was evaluated. Meanwhile, another 49 tissue paraffin slices of HCC were tested using immunohistochemistry (Envision) and the prognostic value of PAR1 expression and other clinicopathologic factors were evaluated.

RESULTSPeritumoral PAR1 mRNA expression was significantly increased in HCCs from the patients with tumor recurrence as compared with those without recurrence (P < 0.05). Peritumoral PAR1 protein expression was related to tumor differentiation (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Peritumoral PAR1 protein expression was associated with the overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05) of HCC patients and the time to recurrence (TTR) (P < 0.05). The 1, 3 and 5 -year overall survival time and the cumulative recurrence time in the high PAR1 protein expression group were significantly lower as compared to the low PAR1 expression group in the peritumoral liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONSPeritumoral PAR1 expression is closely associated with the prognosis of early stage HCC patients after curable surgery. PAR1 may be involved in thrombin-mediated invasion process and may be used as a prognostic marker for HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Receptor, PAR-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Chinese drugs for the treatment of children's infectious mononucleosis (CIM).

METHODSSixty CIM patients were assigned into the treated group and the control group, patients in the treated group were administered with Chinese herbal decoction, and those in the control group were treated with intravenous dripping of ganciclovir 10 mg/kg per day, for a treatment course of 14 days.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 96.0% in the treated group and 97.1% in the control group, showing insignificant difference between groups. The efficacy in the treated group was superior to that in the control group on the fever clearance time (3.0+/-1.5 days vs 4.9+/-3.9 days ) and the disappearance time of cervical lymph node swelling (0.8+/-1.0 score vs 1.5+/-1.2 score), showing statistical significance (all P<0.05). T-cell subsets were markedly improved in both groups after treatment. Adverse reaction occurred in four cases of the control group.

CONCLUSIONUsing Chinese herbs for clearing heat, removing toxin, activating blood circulation, and dissolving stasis is effective and safe for the treatment of CIM. It can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and shows a certain effect on immune regulation.

Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Child ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of double balloon enteroscope (DBE) on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(OGIB) and to analyze etiological characteristics among different age groups.

METHODSThe clinical data of patients undergoing DBE due to OGIB in the Department of Gastroenterology in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2007 to January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed and compared among different age groups. Patients were divided into the young group(age≤40, n=86), the middle age group(aged 41-59, n=81), and the elderly group (age≥60, n=49). The detection of bleeding origin by DBE was compared between different age groups.

RESULTSDiagnosis rates in young, middle age, elderly group were 83.7%(72/86), 87.7%(71/81), 81.6%(40/49) without statistical differences(P>0.05). Complication rates in the young, middle age, and elderly group were 1.2%(1/86), 2.5%(2/81), 2.0%(1/49) without statistic difference(P>0.05). The most common cause in young group was diverticulum/replica malformation while the most common location was ileum. The most common cause in both middle age and elderly group was tumor.

CONCLUSIONSDBE is an effective and safe method for diagnosis of OGIB among different age groups. Each age group has its etiological characteristics. Diagnosis and therapeutic strategy based on age-related characteristics is worthy of further investigation.

Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileum ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDAquaporin-1 (AQP1) has involved in fluid transport in diverse pulmonary edema diseases. Our study aimed to explore the dynamic changes of AQP1 in pulmonary water metabolism in rats following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the protective effect provided by shenmai injection.

METHODSSixty male Sprague Dawley rats weighting 280 - 300 g were randomly divided into three groups: the normal control group, the model group and the shenmai injection (SMI) group. One piece skull was taken away without injuring cerebral tissue in normal control group, while rats in model group and SMI group were subject to free fall injury in the cerebral hemisphere. Rats in model group received intraperitoneal normal sodium (15 ml/kg) at one hour post-injury and the same dose of shenmai injection instead in SMI group, respectively. The expression of AQP1 was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and semi-quantitative RT-PCR at 0 hour, 10 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours after TBI. Arterial blood gas analysis and lung wet to dry were also measured.

RESULTSAQP1 was mainly presented in the capillary endothelium and slightly alveolar epithelial cells in three groups, but the expression of AQP1 in the normal control group was positive and tenuous, weakly positive in the model and SMI groups, respectively. Compared with normal control group, AQP1 mRNA levels were down regulated in the model and SMI groups at 10 hours, 72 hours and 120 hours (P < 0.05). While AQP1 mRNA levels in the SMI group was up-regulated than that in the model group (P < 0.05). Lung wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) in the model and SMI groups at 10 hours were higher than that in normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with normal control group, PaO2 was markedly lower in the model and SMI groups (P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between model and SMI groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe decreased AQP1 expression may be involved in the increased lung water content and dysfunction of pulmonary water metabolism following TBI. The treatment with SMI could improve water metabolism by promoting AQP1 expression.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDConventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred neuroimaging method in the evaluation of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between clinical and immunological features with MRI abnormalities in female patients with NPSLE, to screen for the value of conventional MRI in NPSLE.

METHODSA total of 59 female NPSLE patients with conventional MRI examinations were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients were classified into different groups according to MRI abnormalities. Both clinical and immunological features were compared between MRI abnormal and normal groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score for MRI abnormalities. Multivariate logistic regression analysis investigated the correlation between immunological features, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and MRI abnormalities.

RESULTSThirty-six NPSLE patients (61%) showed a variety of MRI abnormalities. There were statistically significant differences in SLEDAI scores (P < 0.001), incidence of neurologic disorders (P = 0.001), levels of 24-h proteinuria (P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin M (P = 0.004), and incidence of acute confusional state (P = 0.002), cerebrovascular disease (P = 0.004), and seizure disorder (P = 0.028) between MRI abnormal and normal groups. In the MRI abnormal group, SLEDAI scores for cerebral atrophy (CA), cortex involvement, and restricted diffusion (RD) were much higher than in the MRI normal group (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, P = 0.038, respectively). Statistically significant positive correlations between seizure disorder and cortex involvement (odds ratio [OR] = 14.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-151.70; P = 0.023) and cerebrovascular disease and infratentorial involvement (OR = 10.00; 95% CI, 1.70-60.00; P = 0.012) were found.

CONCLUSIONSMRI abnormalities in NPSLE, especially CA, cortex involvement, and RD might be markers of high systemic lupus erythematosus activity. Some MRI abnormalities might correspond to neuropsychiatric manifestations and might be helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of NPSLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; pathology ; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System ; immunology ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDIn clinical practice, the mechanisms underlying chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) remain insufficiently understood. The primary goals of this study were to determine the incidence of chronic pain after thoracic surgery and to identify possible risk factors associated with the development of chronic post-thoracotomy pain in Chinese patients. The secondary goal was to determine whether the difference between pre- and post-operative white blood cell (WBC) counts could predict the prevalence of CPSP after thoracotomy. The impact of chronic pain on daily life was also investigated.

METHODSWe contacted by phone 607 patients who had undergone thoracotomy at our hospital during the period February 2009 to May 2010. Statistical comparisons were made between patients with or without CPSP.

RESULTS

RESULTSwere ultimately analyzed from 466 qualified patients. The overall incidence of CPSP was 64.5%. Difference between pre- and post-operative WBC counts differed significantly between patients with or without CPSP (P < 0.001) and was considered as an independent risk factor for the development of CPSP following thoracotomy (P < 0.001). Other predictive factors for chronic pain included younger age (< 60 years, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.023), acute post-operative pain (P = 0.005) and the duration of chest tube drainage (P < 0.001). At the time of interviews, the pain resulted in at least moderate restriction of daily activities in 15% of the patients, of which only 16 patients had paid a visit to the doctor and only three of them were satisfied with the therapeutic effects.

CONCLUSIONSChronic pain is common after thoracotomy. WBC count may be a new independent risk factoring surgical patients during peri-operative period. Besides, age, diabetes mellitus, acute post-operative pain, and duration of chest tube drainage may also play a role in chronic post-surgical pain occurrence.

Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Thoracotomy ; adverse effects