Objective To investigate the clinical significance of atrial septal aneurysm(ASA)and the value of echocardiography in detecting ASA. Methods One hundred and fifty-one patients with ASA diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into two groups:group Ⅰ included 57 patients who had experience of transient ischaemic attack(TIA)or cerebral shock and group Ⅱ included 94 age-and sexmatched patients without those cerebral ischemic event who underwent echocardiography during the same period of time. The following parameters of the ASA were measured:maximal excursion or protrusionbeyond the plane of the atrial septum,direction of protrusion,thickness of the wall,presence of theombi attaching to the wall and other structural abnormalities associated with ASA. Results One hundred and thirty-two of 151 cases(87.42%) located at fossa ovalis of atrial septum. The wall thickness of ASA increased with depth.The extent of bulging and thinkness of wall in group Ⅰ were greater than those in group Ⅱ and more patent foramen ovale(PFO)were observed in group Ⅰ. However,no difference was found in direction of protrusion and incidence of oscillations between the two groups. As to the performance of the two techniques in the evaluation of ASA,TEE showed better result than TTE. Conclusions Echocardiography is a reliable means to detect ASA and its complications. Greater maximal excursion and thicker aneurysm wall of ASA is associated with a higher risk of cerebral ischaemic event.

By measuring the absolute weight and growth index of the bursa of Fabricius and using routine H.E method,the growth and histological development of the bursa in 1 to 49 days duckling were studied.The results showed that the absolute weight of the bursa increased as the ducklings grew.The growth index of the bursa reached its peak at 21 days.The height and width of both the large plica and projection formed by the follicle-associated epithelium(FAE)enlarged gradually,the same as the lymphoid follicle area and cortex width.The results indicated that the bursa of Fabricius in duckling develops slowly from 1 to 14 days,and quickly from 14 to 35 days(especially from 21 to 28 days),then steadily from 35 to 49 days.Histologically,the duckling bursa has approached its maturation by the 28th day.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of TCM Syndromes, involving Viscera Syndrome and involving Meridian Syndrome, with blood hypercoagulative state and insulin resistance in patients with diabetic ischemic stroke.

METHODSInsulin sensitivity index (ISI) could reflect the insulin resistance, and those reflecting blood hypercoagulative state parameters such as platelet agglutination test (PAgT), fibrinogen (FG), in vitro thrombus length (VTL) and activating partial thrombinogen time (APTT), were used to expound and prove the relationship with the stroke syndrome.

RESULTSThe symptom scores, PAgT, VTL, FG levels in patients involved with Viscera Syndromes (including those of Wind Syndrome, Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome, Heat-Fire Syndrome and Yin-deficiency with Yang-excess Syndrome) were significantly higher than those in patients involved with Meridian Syndromes (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while the ISI level in the former was lower than that in the latter (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere is close relationship between blood hypercoagulative state, insulin resistance and TCM Stroke Syndromes in patients with diabetic ischemic stroke.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Viscosity ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; Stroke ; blood

OBJECTIVETo establish a predicting model of survival rates and to evaluate the weighted contributions of each key prognostic factor of the patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).

METHODSOne hundred and eighteen follow-up cases with SACC were analyzed for the survival study with retrospective cohort method. Ten possible clinical and pathologic factors were selected. A multivariate analysis was performed by Cox proportional hazard model and prognostic index (PI) was calculated. According to the PI, all cases were divided into three risk subgroups respectively: lower, intermediate and higher risk subgroups. Ten-year survival rate and median survival time were calculated and the predicting models of survival rates were established.

RESULTSThe significant prognostic factors influencing the survival rate were age at diagnosis, clinical presentation, TNM clinical stage, treatment, surgical margins (P < 0.05). The predicting formula was PI = 0.031X(2) + 0.665X(5) + 0.420X(6)-0.576X(7) + 0.999X(10). According to the value of PI, the prognosis of the patients was significantly different among the three subgroups (P < 0.05). In the three risk subgroups, 10-year survival rates were 83.56%, 31.45% and 11.20% respectively, the median survival time was 18 years, 7 years and 4 years respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe established predicting model of survival rates can predict the prognosis of the patients with SACC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate two single nucleotide polymorphism sites of T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-4 (TIM4) and to detect their relationship with allergic asthma in a population of Hans from Hubei province of China.

METHODSThe polymorphisms (8570G > A and 11515C > A) were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 145 cases of allergic asthma and 130 healthy controls. The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTSThe genotype frequencies of GG, GA and AA in 8570G > A polymorphism were 0.985, 0.015 and 0 respectively in the healthy population and 0.931, 0.069 and 0 respectively in the allergic asthma population. There was significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the allergic asthma patients and control subjects (P=0. 030, P=0.032). The polymorphism of 11515C>o A was not detected.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of 8570G > A in TIM4 may be associated with allergic asthma in the population of Han nationality from Hubei province of China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Asthma ; ethnology ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether two polymorphism sites of the G protein-coupled receptor 154 gene (GPR154) are associated with asthma in Han nationality of Hubei province in China.

METHODSThe polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 145 cases of allergic asthma and 120 healthy controls.

RESULTS(1)The genotype frequencies of SNP563704 were 0.324 for CC, 0.524 for CT, 0.152 for TT in allergic asthma patients in a Chinese population. The genotype frequencies of SNP522363 were 0.289 for CC, 0.521 for CG, 0.190 for GG in allergic asthma patients in a Chinese population. (2)No significant differences in the distributions of SNP563704 and SNP522363 polymorphisms were found between allergic asthma and healthy control subjects (chi square is 1.880, P> 0.05; chi square is 0.700, P> 0.05, respectively). (3)No significant difference in serum total IgE was found between patients with allergic asthma with different genotypes of SNP563704 and SNP522363 (F is 0.714, P> 0.05; F is 0.083, P> 0.05, respectively). (4) The distribution of frequencies of 4 haplotypes showed significant difference(chi square is 16.50,P< 0.01). The haplotype frequencies of CT and GT were remarkably higher in asthma subjects than those in controls.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphisms of SNP563704 and SNP522363 are not associated with allergic asthma in Han nationality in Hubei Chinese population. However, the haplotypes are associated with allergic asthma.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Asthma ; enzymology ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; Young Adult

Purpose: The prevalence of frailty among patients with heart failure is about 45%. Frailty may result in patients' functional decline, falls, disability, and decreased quality of life. Qualitative studies can explore older patients' perceptions of frailty and help patients cope with it. However, a qualitative approach that explores the experience of frailty in older patients living with heart failure is lacking. This study aimed to explore the lived experience of frailty in older patients with heart failure. Methods: This qualitative study applies Giorgi's phenomenological method. Data were collected from October 2019 to August 2020. Thirteen older patients with heart failure aged at least 60 years were recruited using purposive sampling from a medical center in Taiwan. The participants participated in an in-depth interview using a semistructured interview guide. Results: Seven themes were identified: “being reborn at the end of the road but having difficulty recovering”, “living with a disease with an ineffable feeling”, “feeling like being drained: physical weakness and a dysfunctional body”, “struggling with impaired physical mobility and facing unexpected events”, “suffering from mental exhaustion”, “receiving care from loved ones”, and “turning over a new leaf”. Conclusions Frailty in older patients with heart failure was obscure and difficult to describe. Frailty could be improved by medical intervention, self-management, and social support but was difficult to reverse. Patients with heart failure should be evaluated for frailty using multidimensional assessment tools at first diagnosis and provided frailty-related information so that patients have proper insight into their disease as early as possible.

OBJECTIVETo study in the linkage between eotaxin-3 gene polymorphisms and allergic asthma susceptivity, blood plasma IgE or peripheral blood eosinophil in adult population of Han nationality from Hubei province of China.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), tetra-primer PCR technique and restriction analysis were applied to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism.

RESULTSThe allele frequency of eotaxin-3 +2497 G, total levels of plasma IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil counts revealed the significant difference between control and allergic asthma group, that the P value was 0.011, 0.021 or 0.029 respectively. The allele frequency of eotaxin-3 +77 T and total levels of plasma IgE showed to have no significant difference between control and allergic asthma group, that the P value was 0.824 and 0.473 respectively. However, the peripheral blood eosinophil counts was significantly different between control and allergic asthma group, and the P value was 0.044.

CONCLUSIONSingle nucleotide polymorphism of eotaxin-3 +2497 is associated with the asthma susceptibility, peripheral eosinophil counts and total levels of plasma IgE in adult population from Hubei province, and polymorphism of +77 is associated with peripheral eosinophil counts.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asthma ; genetics ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; Chemokine CCL26 ; Chemokines, CC ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate two polymorphism sites of exon 4 in T cells, immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-1 (TIM-1, also human hepatitis A virus cellular receptor-1) and to detect whether they are associated with allergic asthma in children of the Hans in Hubei province of China.

METHODSThe ins/del and IVS 8+9 G/A polymorphisms in TIM-1 were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). The genotypes and alleles frequencies were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Two alleles, a wide type del and a variant allele ins were identified in the TIM-1 exon 4. The genotype frequencies of ins/ins, ins/del, and del/del were 0.065,0.326, and 0.608 respectively in the healthy population of the Hans. Another IVS 8/9 G/A polymorphism was also found. The genotype frequencies of A/A, G/A, G/G were 0.022, 0.196 and 0.783, respectively. (2) The genotype frequencies of ins/ins, ins/del, and del/del were 0.045, 0.318, and 0.636 respectively in the allergic asthma population in children of the Hans. No significant difference in ins/del polymorphism was found between allergic asthma patients and control subjects. Another 8/9 IVS G/A polymorphism was also found. The genotype frequencies of A/A, G/A and G/G were 0.009, 0.209 and 0.782 respectively in allergic asthma. No significant difference in IVS G/A polymorphism was found between allergic asthma patients and control subjects.

CONCLUSIONThe genotype and allele frequencies in the two polymorphism sites in TIM-1 in healthy population of the Hans from Hubei province of China were similar to those in Japanese. The two polymorphism sites of TIM-1 are not associated with allergic asthma in Chinese children.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

AIMTo explore the effect of chronic hypoxic hypercapnia on learning-memory and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODSFifty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: Normal control group (NC, n=18), 2-week (2HH, n=18), and 4-week hypoxic hypercapnia (4HH, n=20) group. The rats, spatial learning-memory tasks were assessed by the Morris water maze. The expression of NMDAR1mRNA was determined by hybridization in situ.

RESULTSCompared with NC group, rats exposed to chronic hypoxic hypercapnia displayed significant impairment in their performance assessed by two measures: mean escape latencies (2HH: 38.59 +/- 8.35 s, 4HH: 60.59 +/- 17.28 s) and swim path distances(2HH: 9893.45 +/- 1958.16 mm, 4HH: 18077.57 +/- 6878.85 mm). The expression level of NMDAR1mRNA in the hippocampus and cortex were lower than those in the NC group, especially, the NMDAR1mRNA expression of hippocampus CA1 in 4HH decreased by 21.4% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONChronic hypoxic hypercapnia could impair the rat spatial learning-memory and the decrease in expression of NMDAR1mRNA might be involved in.

Animals ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism