BACKGROUND: There are so many experimental and clinical researches on levels of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in serum and endothelins in plasma of patients with stroke; however, ratio and significance between them are still unclear.OBJECTIVE: To observe dynamic changes of levels of NO in serum and endothelins in plasma of patients with stroke.DESIGN: Case-controlled observation.SETTING: Neurological Department and Clinical Neurological Laboratory of the Second Hospital affiliated to Suzhou University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 216 patients with acute cerebral infarction including 133 males and 83 females and 112 cases with cerebral hemorrhage including 68 males and 44 females were selected from Neurological Department of the Second Hospital affiliated to Suzhou University from September 1999 to December 2001. Another 106 subjects including 63males and 43 females were regarded as healthy control group.METHODS: Contents of NO in serum and endothelins in plasma were measured on 328 patients with stroke and 106 healthy subjects in the courses of 1-3 days, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks with nitrate reductase and radio-immunity methods, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contents of NO in serum and endothelins in plasma; ratio between NO in serum and endothelins in plasma (NO/endothelins).RESULTS: ① As compared with those in the control group, content of NO in serum of patients with cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage was decreased and reached the lowest value during acute period (within 1-3 days), and then increased gradually and closed to the normal level at about 4 weeks. In addition, content of endothelins in plasma was increased obviously during acute period, reached the peak at 2 weeks, and then decreased gradually. The level was still high at stage of recovery and closed to normal value within 4-8 weeks. ② As compared with that in the control group, NO/endothelins was decreased in cerebral infarction group at the courses of 1-3 days (P ＜ 0.05), reached the lowest value at 1 week (P ＜ 0.001), and increased to the normal level at 2 weeks. Moreover,NO/endothelins was remarkably decreased in cerebral hemorrhage group at the courses of 1-3 days (P ＜ 0.001), reached the lowest value at 1week (P ＜ 0.001), and increased gradually. The changes of course were great and the level reached above normal value at 8 weeks. There was significant difference of dynamic changes of NO/endothelins between cerebral hemorrhage group and cerebral infarction group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: NO and endothelins play an important role in onset and development of ischemic cerebrovascular disease and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, and their contents are related to prognosis.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions with rimlike peripheral calcification.Methods Seventy-three patients of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification were analyzed retrospectively.All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology.The efficacy of sonographic features on diagnosis of thyroid nodules was analyzed.Results Among 73 patients,58 (58/73,79.45％) were benign and 15 (15/73,20.55％) were malignant.Among the sonographic features mentioned,the mean size,margin,internal echo and presence of halo showed no significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＞0.05).Proportion of thyroid nodules coexisting with nodular goiter,irregular thickness and interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification had significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of coexisting with nodular goiter for diagnosing benign nodules were 77.59％ (45/58),60.00％ (9/15),88.24 ％ (45/51),40.91％ (9/22),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of irregular thickness for diagnosing malignant nodules were 53.33 ％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),53.33％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification for diagnosing malignant nodules were 73.33％ (11/15),68.97％ (40/58),37.93％ (11/29),90.91％ (40/44),respectively.Conclusion Ultrasonography is helpful to diagnosis of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification.Irregular thickness and interruption of calcification are associated with malignancy.

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical characteristics of ischemic colitis (IC) and ulcerative colitis (UC).MethodsThe data of 43 IC patients and 36 UC patients diagnosed from January 2008 to June 2011 were compared on the clinical and endoscopic characteristics.ResultsThere were statistical differences in terms of gender,age,course of disease and underlying diseases between the two groups( P ＜0.05 ).IC was more frequently seen in aged women with cardiovascular diseases,and with short course of disease (29/43,67.0％).IC group showed higher CRP and lower PLT level than did UC group (P ＜ 0.05 ).IC mostly involved sigmoid colon,with localized lesions of vertical or irregular ulcer which cured more quick and characterized with mucosal inflammation,while UC mainly originated from rectum and involved the whole intestinal wall,manifested with scattered spot ulcer,cryptitis and abscess.Conclusion Age,disease course,underlying diseases,serum CRP level,endoscopic and pathological characteristics are all factors to consider for differential diagnosis of IC and UC.

Aim We used bone marrow-derived macro-phages ( BMMs ) , to explore the mechanism of macro-phage activation and the effect of TGF-β activated ki-nase-1 ( TAK1 ) inhibitor 5 Z-7-oxozeaenol on it under AGEs conditions. Methods The BMMs were obtained from C57 mice, and purity of BMMs was detected by flow cytometry. Cell viability was tested after treatment with different concentrations of TAK1 inhibitors. Laser confocal microscopy was used to detect macrophage M1 subtype . Flow cytometry was used to analyse the macro-phage activated by AGEs. TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of TAK1 signal pathway protein. Results AGEs stimulation could in-crese the activity of M1 macrophages,and 5Z-7-oxoze-aenol could inhibit the differentiation of BMMs. Com-pared with control group, AGEs increased the expres-sion of MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA(P<0. 01). p-TAK1, TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38MAPK and NF-κBp65 proteins ex-pression also increased significantly ( P <0. 05 ) . After treatment with inhibitor, transcription levels of MCP-1 and TNF-α decreased significantly ( P < 0. 05 , P <0. 01 ) . 5 Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment downregulated the expression of p-TAK1,TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38MAPK and
NF-κBp65 proteins ( P <0. 05 ) . Conclusions AGEs can induce BMMs to M1 phenotypic polarization. 5Z-7-oxozeaenol reduces the expression of inflammatory cyto-kine via inhibiting TAK1/MAPKs, MAPKs/NF-κB pathways.

Objective To investigate the renoprotective effect of transforming growth factor beta activator kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol (OZ) in diabetic db/db mice and the mechanism.Methods Twenty-four male db/db mice were randomly divided into two groups:db/db mice (db/db,n=12) and db/db mice with 5Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment (db/db+OZ,n=12).Another group of wild type mice (n=12) was held as the control group.OZ 2 mg/kg was administrated by intraperitoneal injection every other day.At week 8 and 12 after 5Z-7-oxozeaenol treatment,blood glucose (BG),body weight (BW),kidney weight (KW) and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were evaluated.Kidney pathological lesions were detected by light and electron microscopy.NF-κB p65,monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-ot (TNF-o) were detected by immunohistochemistry.Western blotting was used to detect p-TAK1,TAB1,p-p38MAPK and IL-1β expression,while ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA levels were evaluated by real-time PCR.Results Compared with control group,the levels of BG,BW,KW and UAER were higher (P ＜ 0.01) in db/db mice group,while BW,KW and UAER levels were significantly decreased in db/db + OZ group compared with that in db/db mice group (P ＜ 0.05).In week 8 and 12 db/db mice,glomerular volume and extracellular matrix were increased,while pathological lesions in kidney tissue were positively improved by TAK1 inhibitor.Immunohistochemistry showed that NF-κB p65,MCP-1 and TNF-α expression levels were apparently increased in db/db mice group compared with that in control group (P ＜ 0.05) and were significantly inhibited by TAK1 inhibitor (P ＜ 0.05).Western blotting showed that p-TAK1,TAB1,p-p38MAPK and IL-1β expression levels were higher in db/db mice group than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05) and lower in db/db+ OZ group than that in db/db mice group (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,real-time PCR showed that the expressions of ICAM-1 and MCP-1 mRNA were higher in db/db mice group than that in control group and lower in db/db+OZ group than that in db/db mice group (P ＜0.05).Conclusions TAK1 Inhibitor can down-regulate MAPK and NF-κB pathway to restrain the reaction of inflammation and alleviate kidney injury in diabetic db/db mice.

Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factor-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) signaling pathway in the activation of bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) induced by high glucose.Methods Purity of mouse BMDM was detected by flow cytometry.The mice macrophages cultured in vitro were stimulated by high glucose and treated with TAK1 specific inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol.Cells were divided into normal control group (RPMI 1640),osmolality control group (25 mmol/L mannitol),high glucose group (33 mmol/L D-glucose) and inhibitor group (33 mmol/L D-glucose+300 nmol/L 5Z-7-oxozeaenol).Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were used to detect macrophage subtype.The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA were determined by real time PCR.Expressions of p-TAK1,TAK1 binding protein (TAB1),p-JNK,p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.Results The purity of BMDM was about 99.36％.Compared with normal control group,high glucose group had increased percentage of M1 macrophages,increased expression of MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA (all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,p-TAK1,TAB1,p-JNK,p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 proteins expression also increased significantly in high glucose group (all P ＜ 0.05).After treatment with inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol,the effects induced by high glucose were inhibited (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions High glucose can induce M1 macrophage activation and expression of inflammatory cytokine of BMDM,which can be inhibited 5Z-7-oxozeaenol through inhibiting TAK1/MAPK and TAK1/NF-κB pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage is a common complication of portal hypertension. Endoscopic therapy is currently recommended for preventing gastroesophageal variceal rebleed. However, the rate of variceal rebleed and its associated mortality remain concerning. This study is aimed at differentiating patient response to endoscopic therapy based on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) findings. METHODS: One-hundred seventy patients previously treated with repeat endoscopic therapy for secondary prophylaxis were enrolled and classified into two groups based on treatment response. Prior to consolidation therapy, all patients received an EUS examination to observe for extraluminal phenomena. All available follow-up endoscopic examination records were retrieved to validate study results. RESULTS: Of the 170 subjects, 106 were poor responders, while 64 were good responders. The presence of para-gastric, gastric perforating, and esophageal perforating veins was associated with poor patient response (p < 0.001). The odds ratio for para-gastric veins was 5.374. Follow-up endoscopic findings for poor responders with incomplete variceal obliteration was closely correlated with the presence of para-gastric veins (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of para-gastric veins is a characteristic of poor response to endoscopic therapy for treating gastroesophageal varices. Early identification of this subgroup necessitates a change in course of treatment to improve overall patient outcome.
Cyanoacrylates ; Endosonography ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Assessment ; Ultrasonography* ; Varicose Veins* ; Veins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between children's and their parents' lifestyles, household environmental exposures and risk of childhood acute leukemia (AL).

METHODSA 1:2 matched case-control study of childhood AL was conducted in Shanghai between April 2011 and January 2014. The study enrolled 66 cases aged < 15, diagnosed with AL and 132 controls matched by age, gender and residence. All of the controls had no hematological diseases or previous history of malignancy. Children who had been adopted and had congenital genetic syndromes such as Down's syndrome or a positive HIV test result were not eligible as either cases or controls. Information was obtained from standardized face-to-face interviews of their parents/guardians with detailed questions on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and household environment. Conditional logistic regression models were used to analyze effecting factors of childhood AL, odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTSAmong 198 cases, 66 cases were aged (5.0 ± 3.7) years old, and 132 controls were aged (6.0 ± 3.8) years old (t = 0.48, P = 0.523). The paternal drink frequencies of cases and controls were 57.6% (38/66), and 31.1% (41/132), respectively (χ² = 4.91, P = 0.027). And the frequencies of household insecticides usage in the last year in the two groups were 78.8% (52/66), and 65.2% (86/132) (χ² = 3.87, P = 0.049). Chemical exposure during childhood (OR = 4.76, 95% CI: 1.34-16.89), maternal exposure to chemicals (OR = 4.51, 95% CI: 1.65-12.33), household insecticides use during 0-3 years of child (OR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.31-6.39), and renovating after their children's birth (OR = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.26-7.74) were associated with an increased risk of childhood AL and these differences between the cases and the controls have statistical significance. Besides, we found that frequent contaction with other children during 0-3 years old (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.69) and ventilation during sleeping in summer (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.18-0.98) were associated with a decreased risk of childhood AL.

CONCLUSIONOur results support the association between children's and their parents' lifestyles, household environmental exposures and childhood AL.

Acute Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; Leukemia ; epidemiology ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Maternal Exposure ; Neoplasms ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Risk Factors

ObjectiveThis study is aimed to investigate the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese Han population.MethodsA total of 281 Chinese Han patients with RA and 202 healthy controls were recruited.DNA was extracted from PBMC and HLA typing was performed by sequence based typing and PCR-Sequence Specific Primer.The frequency of HLADRB1 was compared between patients and controls using x2 test with continuity correction.ResultsThe susceptible HLA-DRB1 alleles were * 0101,* 0102,*0404,* 0405,and * 0410 which belonged to QRRAA.DRRAA and DERAA were protective alleles.At genotypic level,The association of S3P and S3D was detected.However,the protective effect of S3D was shown to be in a recessive mode.ConclusionOur results have shown that there are racial differences in RA susceptibility between Chinese Han population and Caucasians.

Objective:To investigate the awareness and application of exercise prescription among general practice faculty in Taiyuan City, and to analyze the related factors.Methods:A questionnaire survey on the awareness and application of exercise prescriptions was conducted from July to September 2021 among general practice faculty in Taiyuan City selected by stratified random sampling method. The influencing factors of awareness and application were analyzed with logistic regression.Results:A total of 589 general practice faculty were enrolled in the study, 342 of whom were females (58.06%). The overall awareness rate of exercise prescription was 38.74% (1 369/3 534); the awareness rate of basic knowledge was 56.08% (991/1 767) and the awareness rate of core knowledge was 21.39% (378/1 767). Logistic analysis showed that specialty as general practitioner ( OR=1.66, 95% CI:1.07-2.57, P=0.024), experience of exercise prescriptions ( OR=2.07, 95% CI:1.37-3.12, P=0.001) and willingness of public promotion of exercise benefits ( OR=2.08, 95% CI:1.05-4.15, P=0.037) were factors related to higher awareness of exercise prescription. The survey showed that 231 responders (39.22%) had given patients exercise guidance, among whom 125 (54.11%) gave oral and specific practice guidance, 206 (89.18%) would ask patients to perform health screening before exercise, and 184 (79.65%) performed health fitness evaluation. The knowledge used for guidance was mostly from textbooks or related guidelines (42.42%, n=98), but none of them had prescribed standardized exercise prescriptions. Conclusions:The survey shows that the knowledge and application rate is relatively low among general practice faculty in Taiyuan City. It is necessary to strengthen the training of exercise prescription for them.