Objective To evaluate the levels of high-sensitivity-CRP(hs-CRP),interleukin-10(IL-10) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods Fifty cases with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome from Jul.2012 to Dec.2013 in the People's Hospital of Pudong New Area were selected as our subjects,of which,22 patients were with mild-moderate OSAHS and 28 patients were with severe OSA.Twenty-seven health people were served as control group.The levels of hs-CRP,IL-10 were measured.Information of sleep study and other clinical characteristics were collected.Results There were no significant differences in terms of age,hip circumference and waist-to-hipratio (WHR) among three groups (P ＞0.05).Body mass index (BMI),neck circumference,waist circumference,Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI),the lowest arterial oxygen saturation(SaO2％) and hs-CRP in mild,severe OSA and control group were (28.01 ±3.41),(28.55±2.87) and (5.51±3.28) kg/m2,(41.18±4.37),(41.46±3.32) and (38.76±2.66) cm,(101.86±8.05),(102.32±7.97) and (94.56±10.25) cm,(44.55±16.26),(10.54±7.08) and (2.02 ±1.51) time/h,(85.05±6.40)％,(72.85±15.07)％,(88.59±3.43)％,(8.35±2.71),(9.19±2.85),(7.06 ± 1.30) mg/L,and the differences were significant(P＜0.05).In patients with OSA,SaO2％ was related to BMI (r =-0.274,P =0.027) and AHI (r =-0.651,P ＜ 0.001).Level of hs-CRP was associated with AHI (r =0.336,P =0.006) and BMI (r =0.247,P =0.047),and weakly associated with IL-10 concentrations.Conclusion Levels of hs-CRP is an important inflammation marker of OSAHS severity.However,levels of IL-10 shows an increasing in mild-moderate OSA patients,then decreasing in patients with severe OSA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the lead exposure, its effects, and the relationships between biomarkers of susceptibility in the workers with low-level occupational lead exposure, and to explore its sensitivity and practical value to evaluate the health hazard.

METHODSThe concentrations of lead fume and lead dust in workplaces of a lead acid storage battery enterprise in Jiangsu Province, China, were measured by occupational health monitoring method. The blood samples of 233 workers with occupational lead exposure and 76 non-occupational lead exposure were collected to measure the blood lead (Pb-B) level using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), the zinc Protoporphyrin (ZPP) level with blood fluorescence assay, and the delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) concentration by a spectrophotometer, and to determine the gene polymorphism of ALAD with TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction. At the same time, their urine samples were collected to measure urine lead (Pb-U) concentration with GFAAS and delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA-U) concentration with a spectrophotometer. The correlations between the above indices were analyzed by multiple linear regression method.

RESULTSThe concentration of lead fume in 18 testing sites and the concentration of lead dust in 30 testing sites were 0.002-0.019 mg/m3 and 0.004-0.013 mg/m3, respectively. Pb-B level was positively correlated with Pb-U concentration (r=0.62, P<0.01) and ZPP level (r=0.47, P<0.01) and was negatively correlated with ALAD concentration (r=-0.77, P<0.01) in 233 workers with occupational lead exposure. Among 233 workers, 218 (93.6%) had ≤70 µg/L Pb-U, and 15 (6.9%) had ≥400≥g/L Pb-B. Pb-B level was not correlated with ZPP level as Pb-B level was <190 µg/L (r=0.18, P=0.068 ), while Pb-B level was positively correlated with ZPP level as Pb-B level was ≥190 µg/L (r=0.36, P<0.01). Pb-U concentration was positively correlated with ALA-U concentration (r=0.49, P<0.01) and ZPP level (r=0.47, P<0.01). ZPP level was negatively correlated with ALAD concentration (r=-0. 19, P<0.01), and was positively correlated with ALA-U concentration (r=0.27, P<0.01). ALAD concentration was not correlated with ALA-U concentration (r =-0. 11, P>0.05). And in 233 workers with occupational lead exposure, there were no significant differences in Pb-B level, ZPP level, and ALAD activity between the workers with ALAD1-2 genotype and the workers with ALAD1-1 genotype (P>0.05). In 76 workers with non-occupational lead exposure, there was no significant difference in Pb-B level between the workers with ALAD1-2 genotype and the workers with ALAD1-1 genotype (P >0.05). The workers with ALAD1-2 genotype had a significantly lower ALAD activity, and a significantly higher ZPP level compared with those ALAD1-1 genotype (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn the workers with low-level occupational lead exposure, ZPP level is positively correlated with Pb-B level when Pb-B level was ≥190 µ/L. ALAD could be used as an effect biomarker of low Pb-B level. ALAD gene polymorphism shows different effects on the Pb-B level and the toxic effects between the workers with occupational lead exposure and the workers with non-occupational lead exposure.

Aminolevulinic Acid ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; China ; Electric Power Supplies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Linear Models ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Porphobilinogen Synthase ; blood ; genetics ; Protoporphyrins ; blood

Objective To evaluate the sampling efficiency of rotary biopsy forceps in gastric precancerous lesions. Methods A total of 60 gastric lesions with suspected pre-cancerous characters under narrow band imaging were enrolled,and consecutive samples were taken from same lesion by one endoscopist with routine and rotary forceps,respectively. The most severe pathological diagnosis was regarded as the final diagnosis. Results There was a significant difference between rotary biopsy forceps and routine ones in regarding of sample quality and capability of minimize tissue damage (P＜0. 05). The concordance rate with final pathological diagnosis from sample taken by rotary biopsy forceps was higher than that from routine ones,but without significance (P＞0. 05). Conclusion The rotary biopsy forceps is superior to routine ones in sampling of gastric pre-cancerous lesions.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of MR elastography in the diagnosis of prostate cancer at 3.0 T, and to assess the elasticity and viscosity of prostate cancer and benign prostatic diseases. Methods Eight patients (63±7years old) with 12 foci of prostate cancer and 10 patients(59±3 years old) with 14 foci of prostatitis in the peripheral zone were evaluated by MR elastography.MR elastography was performed by transmitting low-frequency longitudinal mechanical waves of 100 Hz into prostate with a transducer placed above the pubic bones. The phase images were reconstructed to acquire viscoelastic mapping. T test was used to compare the mean elasticity and viscosity of prostate cancer and prostatitis. The correlation of elasticity and Gleason scores between prostate cancer and prostatitis were also retrospectively analyzed with Pearson Correlation. Results The mean elasticity and viscosity were significantly higher in prostate cancer[(6.55±0.47)kPa,(6.56±0.99)Pa·s,respectively]than in prostatitis[(1.99±0.66)kPa,(2.13±0.21)Pa·s,respectively],and the difference was statistically significant (t=19.392,16. 372; P ＜ 0.01). In 8 patients with prostate cancer, the Gleason scores were 5 (2 cases), 6 (3 cases), 7 (2 cases) and 8 (1 case), respectively. The mean elasticity for the cases with different Gleason scores was 5.83,6.02,7.45 and 8.05 kPa, respectively. There was a positive correlation between Gleason scores and elasticity of the prostate cancer( r = 0. 913, P ＜ 0. 01 ) in this study.Conclusion MR elastography can be used to visualize the difference in stiffness between prostate cancer and benign prostatic disease, it is a new imaging method with great potential in grading of prostate cancer.

Objective To explore the effect of calreticulin (CRT) on cell proliferation and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and HepG2.Methods SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA).The transfection rate was detected by immunoflurescence and western blot.The cell proliferation,invasion and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were determined by using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays,transwell assays and flow cytometry,respectively.The p-Akt and Akt levels were detected by western blot.Results The growth inhibition rate in the siRNA experimental group of SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells for 24,36 and 48 h were (41.0 ±2.2) ％,(46.5 ±1.6)％,(59.7 ±2.2)％ and (36.8 ±2.7)％,(47.3 ± 1.8)％,(61.5 ±3.2)％,respectively.The apoptosis rate after down-regulating the expression of CRT in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells for 36h were (45.2 ± 9.1) ％ and (48.9 ± 8.0) ％,respectively.Compared with the blank group and the negative control group,the growth inhibition rate in the siRNA experimental group was lower (P ＜0.05),but the apoptosis rate was significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05).Transwell experiments confirmed that the numbers of invaded SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells in the blank group and the negative control group and siRNA experimental group were (96.8±7.3),(95.6±5.4),(34.0±4.2) and (124.0 ±9.9),(121.6 ±7.0),(70.4±9.5),respectively,indicating that cell invasion in the siRNA experimental group was significantly suppressed (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of p-Akt was decreased (P ＜ 0.05) after down-regulating the expression of CRT for 36h.Conclusion CRT gene silencing by siRNA can inhibit the SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cell proliferation and invasion,but increase the cell apoptosis by regulating PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

Twenty patients with prostate cancer and 20 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in the transitional zone underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) /magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ( MRSI ) examinations. The choline + creatine/citrate (CC/Ci) ratio and the choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) ratio were evaluated in each voxel with cancer or BPH confirmed by pathological results.Discriminant analysis was used to determine the power of the two ratios in differentiation between cancer and BPH. The CC/Ci ratio and Cho/Cr ratio for cancer voxels were significantly higher than those in the voxels with BPH in the transitional zone (CC/Ci: 2.26 ± 1.35 vs. 0.81 ±0.22, t =5.17, P ＜0. 01, Cho/Cr:4. 12 ± 1.65 vs. 1.25 ±0. 35, P＜0. 01 ). As for the discriminant function with the CC/Cr ratio and the Cho/Cr ratio, the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy were 99%, 86%, 93% respectively for the differentiation between cancer and BPH.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) targeted treatment has been a standard therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but it is not tolerated well by all patients. In China, some studies have reported that traditional Chinese medicinal herbs (TCMHs) may increase efficacy and reduce toxicity when combined with EGFR-TKI, but outside of China few studies of this kind have been attempted.

AIM: To investigate the use of therapy ultrasound to enhance nonviral gene delivery. METHODS: Endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were cultured in 6-well plates. Plasmid (pcDNA3.1/His/LacZ) with or without microbubbles at the different concentrations was transfected into the cells with the use of ultrasound for 1 min at 2 MHz, 1.8 mechanical index (MI). Additional controls included ultrasound alone, microbubble alone and microbubble plus plasmid. The rate of blue cells and the activities of ?-Gal were measured. In addition, cell viability was detected with different time from 1 to 30 min of ultrasound irradiation and the different concentrations of microbubbles. RESULTS: In the group of ultrasound with microbubble, the rate of blue cells and activity of ?-Gal markedly increased by 60% and 9-fold, respectively. Microbubbles at concentration of 10% led to the highest transfection effect. Ultrasoud exposure at 1 to 30 minute had no cell toxic effects, while microbubbles at the concentration of 50% had significant effect on cell survival. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin-coated microbubbles markedly enhance gene delivery by therapeutic ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction, which can be used as a safe and practicality vectors in gene therapy.

Objective To investigate the effects of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on non-fluent aphasia in patients after stroke.Methods Forty stroke patients displaying non-fluent aphasia were randomly assigned to an rTMS group and a control group using a random number table.Both groups were treated with conventional language therapy,while the rTMS group was additionally given 0.5 Hz rTMS over the Broca's homologues of the unaffected hemisphere 5 days a week for 3 weeks.The patients were stimulated at 90％ of the motor threshold (MT),with 16 second trains and intervals of 3 seconds 48 times (384 pulses) in a session.Before and after the 3 weeks of treatment,the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and the Communicative Abilities in Daily Living (CADL) test were conducted in both groups to evaluate their language function and communication ability.Results Only spontaneous speech improved significantly (P＜0.05) in the control group after 3 weeks of treatment.In the rTMS group,the spontaneous speech,auditory comprehension,repetition,naming and aphasia quotient (AQ) had all improved significantly (P＜0.05).Moreover,after the treatment,the average score of the auditory comprehension (153.90± 31.79),repetition (82.65± 15.14),naming(81.28±22.12) and AQ (63.66± 13.64) of the rTMS group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion rTMS applied to the Broca's homologues of the unaffected hemisphere can significantly improve language function in those exhibiting non-fluent aphasia after stroke.

Objective:To investigate the safety of early hip fracture surgery for elderly patients on clopidogrel.Methods:This retrospective study included 242 consecutive elderly patients (≥65 years) with acute hip fracture who had undergone surgery at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital between November 2016 and April 2017. Of them, 20 were assigned into the study group who had taken clopidogrel before injury but discontinued its use within 4 days before surgery. They were 6 males and 14 females, with a median age of 80 years (77, 81). Their operation procedures for hip fracture included internal fixation with cannulated screws for femoral neck fracture in 2 cases, hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fracture in 11 cases, and internal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture in 7 cases. The control group included 222 patients who had undergone the same operative procedures but not taken any antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs. The 2 groups were compared in terms of time between admission and operation, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative transfusion and complications related to bleeding to analyze the safety of early surgery.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the time between admission and operation [42.5 (36.3, 48.0) h for the study group versus 43.0 (28.0, 61.0) h for the control group] ( P=0.870). The median time between the last use of clopidogrel and operation was 55.0 (30.5, 71.0) h. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in preoperative hemoglobin, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, rate or amount of perioperative blood transfusion, or rate or amount of wound drainage ( P>0.05). The rate of general anesthesia was significantly higher for the study group (45.0%, 9/20) than for the control group (18.5%,41/222) ( P=0.012). No complications related to spinal hematoma occurred in the patients receiving spinal anesthesia from the study group. Wound hematoma and subsequent infection occurred in 2 patients from the control group. Conclusion:Early hip fracture surgery is safe for elderly patients on clopidogrel.