OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to explore the value of the New York University Pediatric Heart Failure Index (NYU PHFI) for diagnosing and grading chronic heart failure in children.

METHODSTotally 105 children with chronic heart failure or structural heart disease but without signs and symptoms of heart failure were enrolled. They were diagnosed using modified Ross score, NYU PHFI and NT-proBNP, respectively. According to modified Ross score as the referent criteria, the diagnostic value of NYU PHFI in quantifying chronic heart failure severity in children was studied. Furthermore, according to the grading of heart failure using modified Ross score, the area under the ROC curves of NYU PHFI was examined, respectively, in order to find out the optimal cut-off point.

RESULTSNYU PHFI score was positively correlated with the modified Ross score (r = 0.909, P = 0.000). According to modified Ross score, NYU PHFI scores in different severity of heart failure in children differed significantly (F = 80.034, P = 0.000). A significantly positive correlation was found between plasma NT-proBNP and modified Ross score, and between NT-proBNP and NYU PHFI score. Correlation coefficients between plasma NT-proBNP and modified Ross score, and between plasma NT-proBNP and NYU PHFI score were 0.752 and 0.918, respectively. The correlation between NYU PHFI and plasma NT-proBNP was superior to that between modified Ross score and plasma NT-proBNP. According to modified Ross scores of 0 - 2 as being without heart failure, 3 - 6 as mild degree of heart failure, 7 - 9 as moderate degree of heart failure and 10 - 12 as severe degree of heart failure, the areas under the ROC curve of the NYU PHFI diagnosing if heart failure was present, differentiating moderate from mild and severe from moderate heart failure were 0.982, 0.942 and 0.918, respectively, and the sum of sensitivity and specificity was favorite when 6, 10 and 13 scores were set as cut-off value diagnosing the presence of heart failure, differentiating moderate from mild, and severe from moderate heart failure, respectively. According to above classification of heart failure based on NYU PHFI score, plasma NT-proBNP concentration was significantly different in different degree of heart failure (F = 53.31, P < 0.001). Plasma NT-proBNP concentration in those without heart failure was significantly lower than that of mild heart failure, and it was also significantly lower in mild heart failure than that of severe heart failure.

CONCLUSIONNYU PHFI was highly valuable for diagnosing chronic heart failure in children and 0 - 6 scores as being without heart failure, 7 - 10 scores as mild degree, 11 - 13 scores as moderate degree and 14 - 30 scores as severe degree of heart failure could be used as the reference criteria of different severities of heart failure.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship among 25-hydroxyvitamin D,serum calcium,calcium-sensing receptor,and breast cancer. Methods The expressions of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in primary breast cancer,breast benign tumors,and normal breast tissue beside tumors were determined by immunohistochemistry S-P method as well as the concentration of serum 25 (OH) D and serum calcium in breast cancer and breast benign tumors by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),Tribromoarsenazo Ⅲ method.ResultsSerum 25 (OH) D level of breast cancer was significantly lower than the breast benign tumors [ (34.13 ± 14.14) nmol/L vs (50.29 ± 25.65 ) nmol/L,t =2.870,P =0.001 ].Serum level of 25 ( OH ) D in lymph node metastasis positive patient was lower than that in negative group [ (30.8 ± 9.71 ) nmol/L vs (43.7 ± 23.59) nmol/L,t =2.467,P =0.021 ].The positive expression of CaSR in breast cancer(88.9％ )was higher than breast benign tumors(60％,x2 =6.717,P ＜ 0.01 ) and normal breast tissue beside tumors (60％,x2 =5.628,P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsConcentration of serum 25 (OH)D and expression of calcium-sensing receptor in the tissues may be associated with occurrence,development and prognosis of breast cancer.

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Codon ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Point Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Major depression disorder is an increasing heavy burden in modem society, but its pathological mechanism is still vague. Recent evidence indicated that two pore potassium channel, TREK1, is one of the important drug targets of antidepressants. The structural and functional research progress of TREK1 potassium channel were reviewed with an emphasis on its roles in anti-depression, neuronal protection, and neuronal plasticity. The complicated interactions between TREK1 potassium channel and monoamine transmitters-receptors were also reviewed and future directions to explore the underline mechanism were also discussed.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Humans ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, Serotonin ; metabolism ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 ; Serotonin ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of NAD (P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)and X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and their correlation with smoking on the susceptibility to gastric cancer. Methods A 1:1 case-control study of 334 patients with primary gastric cancer, with non-cancer or alimentary inpatients as control group (matched for ages ± 5 years, sex and reqion) in Anhui province was conducted to analyze theNQO1C609T and XRCC1G28152A. Gene types by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. Interaction index (γ) was calculated to determine the type of gene- environment interaction. Results The average age of 334 cases of gastric cancer patients was 57 years, with 65.3% of them were male. Smoking rate in the case group (55.09%) was significantly higher than in the control group (36.53%). The consequence showing that it carried the heterozygous variant (CT)or homozygous variant (TT) of NQO1 could enhance the risk of gastric cancer(OR= 1.507,3.050),but not the XRCC1G28152A gene polymorphism or the susceptibility to gastric cancer. At the same time,individuals that carrying XRCC1AG and NQO1TT could increase 2.789 times the incidence of gastric cancer than those who carrying the XRCC1AG or NQO1CC. The gastric cancer risk of XRCC1GG individuals that carrying NQO1TT was 4.448 times higher than those who carrying XRCC1GG or NQO1 CC. The positive interactions of NQO1 homozygous variant (TT) , XRCC1 homozygous variant (GG) and smoking were revealed in the occurrence rates of gastric cancer (OR=3.094,γ =2.070). Conclusion Our research findings showed that the significant interactions between genetic polymorphisms of NQO1, XRCC1 and smoking added the risk of gastric cancer, while genetic and environmental hazardous factors co-effecting the development of gastric cancer.

Objective To explore the bioactive constituents of Gentiana rhodantha for its serum pharmacochemistry research.Methods The blood migrating constituents of Gentiana rhodantha were determined by comparing the HPLC fingerprints of the aqueous extracts,drug contained serum and blank serum.Results Twenty compounds were detected in drug contained serum,four among which were original constituents of Gentiana rhodantha,the rest might be metabolites of the original ingredients.Conclusion These twenty constituents absorbed in blood could be the bioactive components of Gentiana rhodantha.Further studies will be useful to clarify the bioactive constituents and action mechanisms of Gentiana rhodantha.

Objective To study the prevalence of common infections with soil-borne intestinal nematodes amongst kindergarten children aged 3 to 6 years in Hangzhou,Zhejiang Province to provide evidence for determination of the priority of disease prevention and control.Methods Totally,1667 preschool children were selected from 14 kindergartens of Classes A,B and C in east,middle and west Hangzhou.Perianal skin Scotch Tape(a short strip of sealing cellophane pressure-sensitive tape)specimens were collected for detection of eggs of Enterobius vermicularis,and stool specimens for eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides,Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichiura by Kato-Katz method and saturated brine floatation,as well as questionnaire interview,for all the children.Results Two hundred and sixteen of 1667 children examined were found infected with common soil-borne intestinal nematodes,with an overall prevalence of 12.96%,4.44% for Enterobius vermicularis,8.28% for Ascaris lumbricoides,0.54% for Trichuris trichiura and 0.24% for Ancylostoma duodenale.Prevalence of infection of common intestinal nematodes was 7.31% in children of the Class A kindergartens,12.60% of Class B,and 21.47% of Class C,with statistically significant difference(?~2 = 49.95,P

To study the chemical constituents of the 95% ethanol extract of Psidium guajava. Compounds were separated by using a combination of various chromatographic methods including silica gel, D101 macroporous resin, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral data Eighteen compounds were isolated and identified as (+) -globulol (1), clovane-2beta, 9alpha-diol (2), 2beta-acetoxyclovan-9alpha-ol (3), (+) -caryolane-1 ,9beta-diol (4), ent-T-muurolol (5), clov-2-ene-9alpha-ol (6), isophytol (7), tamarixetin (8), gossypetin (9), quercetin (10), kaempferol (11), guajaverin (12), avicularin (13), chrysin 6-C-glucoside (14), 3'-O-methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyellagic acid 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15), p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (16), guavinoside A (17) and guavinoside B (18). Compounds 2-9 and 14-16 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The ethanol extract showed 61.3% inhibition against the proliferation of colon cancer cell line SW480.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Psidium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and hemostatic mechanism of Shenqi Guchong Recipe (SGR) in treating peri-menopausal anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (ADUB) of qi deficiency blood stasis syndrome type (QDBS).

METHODSPatients of ADUB-QDBS were assigned to two groups, the 47 patients in the treated group administering orally with SGR and the 31 in the control group treated with Kunning Oral Liquid. The hemostatic effect, and the changes before and after treatment of 6-ketoprostaglandin 1alpha (6-K-PGF1 alpha), thromboxane B2(TXB2), T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3 and CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio) in menstrual blood, and serum calcium level in patients were observed.

RESULTSThe hemostatic effect in the treated group [85.1% (40/47)] was better than that in the control group [51.6% (16/31)], significant difference was shown between groups (P < 0.05). Changes of 6-K-PGF1 alpha TXB2, and 6-K-PGF1 alph/TXB2 ratio in the treated group were significant after treatment and showed significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Meantime, serum Ca2+ level was increased and parameters of T-lymphocyte subsets improved significantly in the treated group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), also statistically different to those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGR shows obvious hemostatic effect in treating patients with ADUB of QDBS type, and the mechanism may be related to its actions for improving microcirculation, enhancing immune function, and improving uterine local micro-environment, etc.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Menopause ; Metrorrhagia ; drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy