[Purpose] To investigate the relation between isotonic leg extension strength (ILES) and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Japanese male adults.[Methods] This cross-sectional study included 395 Japanese men. Metabolic syndrome was determined according to the criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO), or National Cholesterol Education Program's Adults Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII). Muscular strength was measured on a horizontal dynamometer. Subjects were divided into tertile levels according to ILES (watts/kg). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relation between ILES levels and the prevalence of MS.[Results] The prevalence of MS were 14.4% (IDF), 17.0%(JASSO), and 20.0% (NCEP-ATPIII). After adjustment for confounding factors, the odd's ratios (95% confidence interval) of MS (IDF) compared with the lowest ILES level were 0.90 (0.48-1.68) and 0.31 (0.13-0.64) in the middle and high levels of ILES (p for trend=0.03). The association between the level of ILES and the prevalence of MS by JASSO and NCEP-ATPIIIcriteria were similar.[Conclusion] The prevalence of MS was associated with the level of ILES.

Objective To analyze the differential expression of D2 and D3 alternative splicing sites of human kinectin in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal liver tissues, and to investigate a possible relationship between alternative splicing sites of kinectin and hepatocarcinogenesis. Methods The cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR in 45 coupled HCC cancerous and adjacent tissues, and 10 normal liver tissues. The difference in the expression of D2 and D3 alternative splicing sites in cDNA was examined by semi-quantitative PCR, and statistical analysis was performed. Results The ratio of D2L (long segment contains of the D2 region)/D2S (short segment that does not contain a D2 zone) in hepatocellular cancerous tissues was 2.709 ± 1.025, the ratio of D2L/D2S in adjacent non-cancerous tissues was 1.564 ± 0.357, and the ratio of D2L/D2S in normal liver tissues was 1.507 ± 0.499. The differences were statistically significant (F=29.698, P<0.05);the ratio of D2L/D2S in hepatocellular cancerous tissues was higher than that of adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal liver tissues (P<0.05). The ratio of D3L (long segment contains of the D3 region)/D3S (short segment that does not contain a D3 zone) in hepatocellular cancerous tissues was 1.232 ± 0.041, the ratio of D3L/D3S in adjacent non-cancerous tissues was 1.156 ± 0.309, and the ratio of D3L/D3S in normal liver tissues was 1.282 ± 0.343. The ratio of D3L/D3S was not significantly different among hepatocellular cancerous tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues and normal liver tissues (F = 0.989, P > 0.05). Conclusion Variant containing D2 is over expressed in cancerous tissues and this alteration may be tumor associated.

Coffee administration has been shown to increase maximum voluntary contraction and muscular endurance. However, no study has addressed the association between daily consumption of coffee with muscular function. This cross sectional study aimed to investigate the association between frequency of coffee consumption (CC) in daily life and muscle strength among a population of working adult men. This cross sectional study included men (n = 516, mean age: 47.1) who participated in an annual health examination conducted in Sendai. The monthly frequency of coffee consumed was reported by a brief-type self-administered dietary history questionnaire. Leg extension power (LEP) was measured as an index of muscle strength. Subjects were divided into tertile levels according to CC. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relation between the tertile levels of CC and LEP. After adjustment for potential confounders (including all lifestyle factors), the adjusted means (95% confidence interval) of LEP across the tertiles of CC were 17.4 (16.6 - 18.1) for the lowest tertile, 17.9 (17.4 - 18.5) for the mid tertile, and 18.9 (18.3 - 19.5) for the highest tertile (p for trend = 0.007). Higher frequency of monthly coffee consumption was associated with higher muscle strength.

Objective　To analyze the clinical indications,efficacy and safety of Chinese minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) in treating upper urinary calculi based on our experience.Methods　From June 1992 to September 2010,a total of 10,452 patients (6060 males and 4392 females)with a mean age of (47.6 ± 13.7) years (7 months-93 years) received MPCNL in our center.The mean stone burden was (777.4 ± 740.3) mm2 (20 - 4 080 mm2 ).The data of stone burden,operative techniques,operating time,stone-free rate,major complication,hospital stay and stone composition were investigated.　Results　Of the 10 452 cases,11 801 procedures were performed on 10 876 (5493 left and 5383right) renal units,including 10 102 first stage procedures,1604 secondary procedures,86 third procedures and 9 fourth procedures.There were 11 830 tracts established,including 373 (3.15％ ) tracts of 14 F,7867 (66.50％) tracts of 16 F and 3590 (30.35％) tracts of 18 F.There were 1207 (10.20％),9174(77.55％) and 1449 (12.25％) punctures located in upper,middle and lower pole,respectively.956(8.79％) renal units were managed with multiple tracts,which including 2 tracts in 846 (7.78％) units,3tracts in 85 (0.78％) units,4 tracts in 18 (0.17％) units and 5 tracts in 7 (0.06％) units.Pneumatic lithotripsy was used in 8563 (72.56％) procedures,Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy was used in 2981(25.26％)　procedures and Pneumatic lithotripsy + Holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy was used in 257(2.18％) procedures.762 (7.29％) cases needed ESWL to clean the stone after MPCNL.The average operating time was ( 101.3 ± 44.2) min ( 10 -240 min).The stone-free rate of MPCNL was 89.9％,which increased to 93％ by adjunctive ESWL.And the mean hospital stay was ( 13.2 ± 6.4) days (2 - 72 days).The major complications happened on 321 (3.07％) cases,including 294 (2.81％ ) cases of blood transfusion,12 (0.11％ ) cases of sepsis,2 (0.02％) cases of renal abscess,9 (0.09％) cases of pleura injury,2 (0.02％) cases of colon injury and 2 (0.02％) cases of death.53 (0.51％) cases needed selective renal arterial embolization to achieve hemostasis.The main stone compositions were analyzed in 4345 cases.Calcium oxalate,calcium phosphate,magnesium ammonium phosphate,uric acid,ammonium urate,carbapatite and cystin were 91.74％,90.33％,14.91％,17.77％,4.83％,8.47％ and 0.51％,respectively. Conclusions　MPCNL is an effective and safe treatment option for all kinds of upper urinary calculi in patients at all ages with a high stone free rate and low major complication rate.

In order to effectively manage the atrial fibrillation patients, West China Hospital has established an integrated general-specialty management model within medical consortium. This model takes the atrial fibrillation-stroke integrated management outpatient clinic as the platform, combines general practice and specialty to provide standardized care for atrial fibrillation patients. The model was characterized by primary diagnosis, two-way referral, up and down linkage, and differential management for acute and chronic conditions. This article, taking West China Hospital as an example, introduces the integrated team of cardiologists and general practitioners in the tertiary hospital with general practitioners in the community, and the preliminary accomplishment in the management of atrial fibrillation within the medical consortium. It would provide a reference for the long-range management of atrial fibrillation in other provinces and cities.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the transfer and diffusion of berberine hydrochloride(BBH), the main active component of Coptis and Phellodenticum in the system of carboxymethyl chitosan(CMCS)-sodium alginate(SA). METHODS CMCS and SA were stirred in a certain proportion, and D-gluconolactone(GDL) was added to form polyelectrolyte hydrogel. Rheometer was used to study the rheological properties of CMCS-SA hydrogel, including the elastic modulus G′ and the viscous modulus G′′. A BBH diffusion model for CMCS-SA hydrogel was designed, and the relevant rules of BBH permeation through CMCS-SA polyelectrolyte hydrogel were observed by UV-VIS. RESULTS The elastic modulus G′ of the hydrogel was measured when the ratio of CMCS to SA was 3∶1, 2∶1, 1∶1, 1∶2, and 1∶3. When the ratio of CMCS to SA was 1∶1, G′ was the highest, and the crosslinking strength of the hydrogel was the highest. The cumulative amount of BBH transfer was measured by the BBH transfer model, and the diffusion of BBH in CMCS-SA hydrogel was fitted as the skeleton dissolution by Peppas equation, indicating that BBH dissociation and the transfer efficiency increased as the amino group of CMCS decreased or the carboxyl group of SA increased. The elastic modulus G′ of CMCS-SA hydrogel increased with the increase of GDL content. The reason was that the binding force between CMCS and SA molecules gradually increased with the decrease of pH, and the crosslinking degree of the hydrogel was enhanced. When ratio of fixed CMCS to SA was 1∶1 and the GDL content was 0.15 g·mL−1, the formability of CMCS-SA hydrogel was good. In addition, when BBH was transferred in hydrogel with different concentrations of GDL, the transfer efficiency increased with the increase of GDL content. When BBH was delivered in different thickness hydrogel, the delivery efficiency of CMCS-SA hydrogel increased with the decrease of thickness. CONCLUSION The CMCS-SA hydrogel system, as a potential drug carrier for traditional Chinese medicine extracts such as BBH, is expected to serve as a gel carrier for transdermal drug delivery.

Gel materials have advantages such as comfortable touch, good air permeability, high viscoelasticity, etc., so they are widely used in modern transdermal drug delivery preparations such as patches, gel agents and film agents. With the innovative development of medical materials, many new gel materials with excellent functions have emerged, which has expanded the application scope of transdermal drug delivery preparations and optimized their properties. The classification, properties and application of gel materials in transdermal drug delivery system were reviewed, and the latest research progress was summarized, so as to provide reference for the innovative application of gel materials in transdermal drug delivery system.m.