OBJECTIVEFor heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

METHODSLeft ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr. The results are analyzed by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology, and then measured the dynamic changes of the volumes of each atriam and ventricule during their contractions and relaxations. The gender, age, height and weight were analyzed by multiple linear regression to predict LV functional parameters.

RESULTSExcept the LVEF was lower in man than in women (P < 0.001), all other LV functional parameters of EDV, ESV, SV, FE and CO were higher in man (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that age, gender, height and weight are all independent factors of EDV, ESV and SV (P < 0.001). CO could be significantly predicted by age, gender and weight (P < 0.001), but not height (P > 0.05). The predict equation for CO (L x min(-1)) = 6.963+0.446 (Male) -0.037 x age (yr) +0.013 x weight (kg).

CONCLUSIONAge, gender, height and weight are predictors of heart functions. The reference values and predict equations are important for noninvasive and accurate evaluation of cardiovascular disease and individualized treatment.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

Somatic gene therapy based on nonviral and viral vectors is an attractive approach for treatment of human diseases. It has developed from preliminary animal experiments to clinical trials. Vectors and target genes used in gene therapy are mainly focused on viral, nonviral vector and single target gene or monogene and each vector system has a series of advantages and limitations. However, the application of gene therapy to human disease is currently hampered by potential hazards of methods of gene delivery, the relatively low efficiency and intracellular stability of target gene. Safety, efficacy and stability are three problems that people often met and also three principles that people should be followed in gene therapy.
Genetic Therapy ; adverse effects ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans

OBJECTIVEMeasures of ventilation-CO₂output relationship have been shown to be more prognostic than peak O₂uptake in assessing life expectancy in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Because both the ratios (VE/Vco₂) and slopes (VE-vs-Vco₂) of ventilation-co₂ output of differing durations can be used, we aim to ascertain which measurements best predicted CHF life expectancy.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-one CHF patients with NYHA class II-IV underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and were followed-up for a median duration of 479 days. Four different linear regression VE-vs- Vco₂ slopes were calculated from warm-up exercise onset to: 180 s, anaerobic threshold (AT), ventilatory compensation point (VCP); and peak exercise. Five VE/Vco₂ ratios were calculated for the following durations: rest (120 s), warm-up (30 s), AT (60 s), lowest value (90 s), and peak exercise (30 s). Death or heart transplant were considered end-points. Multiple statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTSCHF patients had high lowest VE/Vco₂ (41.0 ± 9.2, 141 ± 30%pred), high VE/Vco₂ at AT (42.5 ± 10.4, 145 ± 35%pred), and high VE-vs-Vco₂ slope to VCP (37.6 ± 12.1, 126 ± 41%pred). The best predictor of death was a higher lowest VE/Vco₂ (≥ 42, ≥ 141%pred), whereas the VE-vs-Vco₂slope to VCP was less variable than other slopes. For death prognosis in 6 months, %pred values were superior: for longer times, absolute values were superior.

CONCLUSIONThe increased lowest VE/Vco₂ ratio easily identifiable and simply measured during exercise, is the best measurement to assess the ventilation-co₂output relationship in prognosticating death in CHF patients.

Carbon Dioxide ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Progression ; Exercise Test ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Respiratory Function Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential therapeutic effect of tamoxifen in treating abnormal skin scar contraction.

METHODSFibroblast-populated collagen lattices, which were made by embedding human dermal fibroblasts within type I collagen forming a three-dimensional culture system, were used as an invitro model. Then media either without or with addition of tamoxifen from 1 mumol/L to 50 mumol/L were added to the collagen lattices. Lattice areas were measured at intervals to assess the influence of tamoxifen on the lattice contraction. To visualize changes in the morphology and vitality of fibroblasts, MTT was added to the lattices.

RESULTSTamoxifen had an inhibitory effect on lattice contraction by a dose- and time-dependent pattern. 5 mumol/L or less of tamoxifen didn't show any influence on lattice contraction but 30 mumol/L or higher completely inhibited contraction. At intermediate concentrations from 10 mumol/L to 20 mumol/L the degree of lattice contraction was dose- and time-dependent, which was demonstrated by the reversibility of inhibition. Both the inhibition of contraction and the reversibility of inhibition appeared to correlate with changes in fibroblast morphology.

CONCLUSIONTamoxifen could inhibit the contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen lattices, indicating that tamoxifen may have potential effect on abnormal scar contraction in vivo.

Cicatrix ; drug therapy ; Collagen ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Skin ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors

The basidiomycete fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is an important pathogen of immunocompromised people. The ability of the fungus to sense its environment is critical for proliferation and the generation of infectious propagules, as well as for adaptation to the mammalian host during infection. The conserved cAMP/protein kinase A pathway makes an important contribution to sensing, as demonstrated by the phenotypes of mutants with pathway defects. These phenotypes include loss of the ability to mate and to elaborate the key virulence factors capsule and melanin. This review summarizes recent work that reveals new targets of the pathway, new phenotypic consequences of signaling defects, and a more detailed understanding of connections with other aspects of cryptococcal biology including iron regulation, pH sensing, and stress.
Basidiomycota ; Biology ; Cryptococcus ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Fungi ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iron ; Melanins ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases ; Signal Transduction ; Virulence Factors

Objective: To estimate the health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) of adults in Zhejiang province and evaluate the health status of the adults. Methods: This study was based on the mortality data collected from Zhejiang Chronic Disease Surveillance Information and Management System, and mortality rates from the underreporting survey and self-reported health data in 2016. Hierarchical Ordered Probit (HOPIT) model was used to estimate the severity-weighted prevalence of disability. Sullivan's method was used to calculate the HALE. Results: After adjustment by HOPIT model, the severity-weighted prevalence of disability increased significantly with age (χ(2)=5 795.81,P<0.001), and it was higher in females than in males (χ(2)=5 353.27, P<0.001). The life expectancy and self-evaluated HALE were 59.08 years and 48.68 years, respectively, in those aged ≥20 years, the difference was 10.40 years due to disability. The proportion of HALE loss due to disability in the total life expectancy was 17.61%, and it increased with age. HALE was higher in males than in females (49.21 years vs. 48.14 years), and in urban residents than in rural residents (49.92 years vs. 47.43 years). Conclusion: The proportion of loss of HALE in the total life expectancy in adults was high in Zhejiang, and it higher in males than in females, in urban residents than rural residents. Programs on improving health care in women and rural residents should be promoted.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/epidemiology* ; Disabled Persons/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Life Expectancy/ethnology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sex Distribution

Brucellosis is an emerging infectious disease affecting humans and animals. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of tannic acid (TA) against Brucella abortus infection. After infection, F-actin polymerization and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (ERK 1/2 and p38α) phosphorylation were reduced in TA-treated cells compared with that in control cells. The mice were infected via an intraperitoneal route and were orally given TA or phosphate-buffered saline for 14 days. Spleen weights of the TA-treated and control mice were not different; however, splenic proliferation of B. abortus was significantly reduced in the TA-treated group. Immune response analysis showed that, compared with the control group, non-infected TA-treated mice displayed increased levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-10 at 3 days post-infection and a further increase in IFN-γ and MCP-1 at 14 days post-infection. In contrast, compared with the control group, infected TA-treated mice displayed elevated levels of IFN-γ at 3 days post-infection, which continued to increase at 14 days post-infection, as was also observed for tumor necrosis factor. Taken together, the results showing TA activation of cytokine production and inhibition of bacterial proliferation in the host highlight a potential use of TA treatment in the control of Brucella infection.
Actins ; Animals ; Brucella abortus ; Brucella ; Brucellosis ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; Cytokines ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-10 ; Mice ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Phosphorylation ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Spleen ; Tannins ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Weights and Measures

Objective: To analyze the trend of suicide mortality in residents of Hainan province, and explore the application of time sequence model in the prediction of the mortality of suicide. Methods: The mortality data of suicide in residents of Hainan province between January, 2014 and December, 2016 were collected and analyzed with time sequence model and the mortality rate of suicide during January-June, 2017 in Hainan was predicted with the model. Results: During January, 2014 to June 2017, a total of 576 suicide cases were reported in Hainan, the mortality rate was 1.5/100 000. The established ARIMA model had good fitting for the suicide mortality in previous times and the prediction result was quite similar to the actual mortality, the predicted mortality rate was within the 95% confidence interval of the actual rate. Conclusion: The time sequence model for the prediction of suicide mortality in Hainan was "ARIMA (0, 1, 0) (0, 0, 0) (12)" , and the prediction effect of the model was better, which can be used to predict the suicide mortality in Hainan.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Models, Statistical ; Mortality/trends* ; Suicide/trends*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prehospital intervention based on emergency medical services (EMS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) for door-to-needle time (DNT) with intravenous thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) impact. METHODS: 112 emergency patients receiving rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis admitted to the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao City based on EMS from June 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled. According to whether or not to receive prehospital interventions, patients were divided into prehospital intervention group (n = 42) and routine treatment group (n = 70). Both groups followed the general principles of first aid, including assessment and support of the airway, respiration, and circulation, and blood glucose, electrocardiogram, and dynamic vital signs were monitored. Based on the general principle of EMS, first-aid personnel in the prehospital intervention group screened suspected acute stroke patients requiring prehospitalization according to Los Angeles prehospital stroke screening table (LAPSS), and established fluid ways, and got blood samples to evaluate rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis and risks. Factors influenced DNT compliance were analyzed through multivariate Logistic regression, which included the education level of the patient, whether there were risk factors related to cerebrovascular disease (hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes), visit time, National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score, whether received EMS intervention or not. The average DNT, DNT ≤ 60 minutes compliance rate, communication time, and decision time for thrombolysis were compared between the two groups. NIHSS score was used to evaluate the effective rate of thrombolysis for 7 days. The modified Rankin score (mRs) was used to evaluate the neurological function after 3 months of thrombolysis (a mRs score of 0-2 was defined as a good nerve function). RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the DNT of patients with NIHSS score > 5 was significantly shorter than those with NIHSS score ≤ 5, and DNT in patients received EMS intervention was significantly shorter than the non-receiver; but education level, visiting time, and risk factors associated with cerebrovascular disease had nothing to do with DNT. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that NIHSS score and EMS intervention were the influencing factors of DNT compliance [NIHSS score: odds ratio (OR) = 0.452, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.162-1.263, P = 0.030; EMS intervention: OR = 3.077, 95%CI = 1.260-7.514, P = 0.014]. Compared with conventional treatment group, DNT of intravenous thrombolytic in prehospital intervention group was significantly shortened (minutes: 62.00±11.07 vs. 78.03±21.04), DNT ≤ 60 minutes compliance rate was significantly increased [35.7% (15/42) vs. 12.9% (9/70)], communication time [minutes: 4 (3, 6) vs. 6 (5, 9)] and decision-making thrombolytic time (minutes: 5.81±2.48 vs. 6.70±2.15) were significantly shortened, the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The 7-day effective rate in the prehospital intervention group [33.3% (14/42) vs. 14.3% (10/70), χ² = 5.657, P = 0.017] and the 3-mouth good rate of nerve function [38.1% (16/42) vs. 14.3% (10/70), χ² = 10.759, P = 0.001] were significantly higher than those in the conventional treatment group. CONCLUSIONS Prehospital interventions based on EMS can shorten DNT of intravenous thrombolysis in the patients with AIS, improve treatment efficiency, and improve prognosis.
Brain Ischemia ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are increasing evidences for gastrointestinal motility disorder (GIMD) and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress. The present study was to investigate the reversed effect of melatonin on GIMD and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress and potential mechanism. METHODS: Noise stress was induced on rats, and melatonin (15 mg/kg) was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection. Differences were assessed in gastric residual rate (GRR), small intestine propulsion rate (SPR), Guth injury score, cortisol, gastrointestinal hormones (calcitonin-gene-related peptide and motilin) and oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase and malondialde hyde) in blood plasma as well as gastric mucosa homogenate with or without melatonin. The pathological examination of gastric mucosa was also performed. RESULTS: The GRR and SPR were improved by noise stress compared with control (P < 0.05). The pathological examination and Guth injury score revealed gastric stress ulcer. Moreover, the levels of cortisol, motilin and malondialdehyde in blood plasma and malondialdehyde in gastric mucosa homogenate were increased by noise stress (P < 0.05). CGRP and superoxide dismutase activity in both of blood plasma and gastric mucosa homogenate were significantly decreased (P< 0.05). Furthermore, melatonin reversed changes in GRR, SPR, pathological examination, Guth injury score, cortisol, motilin, CGRP, superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin is effective in reversing the GIMD and gastric stress ulcer induced by noise stress. The underlying mechanism may be involved in oxidative stress and gastrointestinal hormones.
Animals ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastrointestinal Hormones* ; Gastrointestinal Motility* ; Hydrocortisone ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestine, Small ; Malondialdehyde ; Melatonin* ; Motilin ; Noise* ; Oxidative Stress* ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Ulcer*