OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of Huoxue Qianyang Granule (HXQYG), a traditional Chinese compound medicine, in revising the left ventricular hypertrophy of hypertension. METHODS: Spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) were randomly divided into seven groups: untreated group, Songling Xuemaikang (SLXMK)-treated group, captopril-treated group, high-, medium- and low-dose HXQYG-treated groups, and normal control group. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were measured. The content of angiotensin II (Ang II) in left ventricular tissue was determined by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) protein and mRNA in left ventricular tissue were analyzed separately by immunohistochemical method and RT-PCR. RESULTS: (1) SBP and LVMI were higher in the untreated group than those in the normal control group, and they were lower in the high- and medium-dose HXQYG-treated groups than those in the untreated group, but higher than those in the captopril-treated group, and without significant difference as compared to those in the SLXMK-treated group. (2) The content of Ang II and expressions of ACE protein and mRNA in the left ventricular tissue in the untreated group were higher than those in the normal control group, and they were lower in the HXQYG-treated groups than those in the untreated group, but higher than those in the captopril-treated group, and without significant difference as compared to those in the SLXMK-treated group. CONCLUSION: HXQYG can reverse the left ventricular hypertrophy of SHR, which may be due to decreasing the amount of Ang II and expressions of ACE protein and mRNA in the left ventricular tissue.

Objective To investigate the levels of seminal zinc and prostate specific antigen in abnormal liquefaction sperm and their relationship with spermatozoa motility. Methods Thirty cases of abnormal liquefaction sperm (abnormal group)and 30 cases of normal semen ]iquefaction(normal group)were selected. The semens were analyzed by the CASA,and the seminal plasma was separated and preserved at - 20℃. The levels of seminal zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of PSA in seminal plasma were detected by ELISA. Results Zn~(2+) and PSA levels in abnormal group were significantly lower than in normal group(P<0. 05). The levels of seminal Zn~(2+) in abnormal group and normal group were (82. 50±0. 72)and (120. 43±0. 52) fig/ml respectively,with the difference being significant between two group(P<0. 05). The levels of seminal PSA in abnormal group and normal group were (0. 68±0. 14) and (1. 21±0. 21) mg/ml respectively, with the difference being significant between two groups(P<0. 05). Sperm motility in abnormal group was lower than in normal group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The levels of seminal Zn~(2+) and PSA in the semens with abnormal liquefaction is low, which resulting in abnormal liquefaction sperm and inhibiting the sperm motility.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hospital admission cases with chemical poisoning in Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2020. Methods Data of hospital admissions for chemical poisoning in Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2020 were collected through Guangdong Province Health Statistics Network Reporting System，and descriptive analysis was conducted. The seasonal characteristics of the number of hospitalized poisoning cases were analyzed by the concentration method，the seasonal index（SI）was calculated by the weighted annual ratio averaging method，and the spatial auto-correlation of regional poisoning trend was analyzed by the global and local spatial autocorrelation. Results From 2016 to 2020，the number of hospital admissions for chemical poisoning in Guangdong Province was 54 656，showing a general decreasing trend. The sex ratio（male to female）was 0.90 ∶1.00. The top three types of hospitalization rates were carbon monoxide poisoning，alcohol poisoning and organic solvent poisoning. The main poisoning groups were students and children， farmers，workers and unemployed people，accounting for 31.74%，18.53%，13.91% and 10.39%，respectively. The 74.37% of poisoning cases were cured or improved and discharged，and the case fatality rate was 0.48%. The top three hospitalization rates in age group of 0-<5 years were organic solvent，metal and carbon monoxide poisoning. The hospitalization rate of carbon monoxide poisoning ranked the first among all age groups of ≥5 years. The top three regions with the highest average annual hospitalization rate were Shaoguan City （25.14/105 ），Qingyuan City （17.04/105 ） and Meizhou City （16.09/105 ）. Carbon monoxide poisoning had a strong seasonality（M=0.77），with high incidence months of January，February and December（SI were 3.60，3.08 and 2.48，respectively）. The inpatients with chemical poisoning showed non-random distribution and spatial correlation（all P<0.01），with a high-high clustering among 13 districts and counties in northern Guangdong（all P<0.05）. Conclusion The number of hospital admission cases of chemical poisoning showed an overall decreasing trend in Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2020. The main types of poisoning were carbon monoxide poisoning，alcohol poisoning and organic solvent poisoning. The spatial distribution of chemical poisoning types showed spatial correlation and there were high-high clustering areas.

Objective:To investigate association between loneliness and depressive episode among rural older people.Methods:A total of 839 rural adults (aged over 60 years) from Liuyang in Hunan were enrolled by using multi-stage cluster sampling method.The Short-form of the UCLA Loneliness Scale,the Social Support Rating Scale,the Life Events Scale for the Elderly,Quality of Life Scale,and the Activity of Daily Living Scale were used to assess loneliness,the social support condition,the stimulating quantity of negative life events,the quality of life,and the abilities of daily life activities,respectively.The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-Ⅳ-TR Axis I Disorders questionnaire survey was performed by a face-to-face interview.Results:The prevalence rate of depressive episode among the rural older people was 6.8％.Multivariable analysis showed that the elderly who were with stronger loneliness were the risk factor of depression (OR=1.126,95％CI 1.038 to 1.221).Conclusion:Loneliness is positively associated with an increased risk of depressive episode.

Objective: To study the effect of ghrelin on L-type calcium channel current (ICa-L) of ventricular myocytes in experimental rats. Methods: The single ventricular myocyte in experimental rats were obtained by enzymolysis method, and the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the effect of ghrelin on ICa-L of ventricular myocytes at different doses of 10 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L and 1μmol/L respectively. Results: Ghrelin at 10 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L and 1μmol/L may inhibit ICa-L at (8.95 ± 2.13) %, (31.18 ± 4.78) % and (64.63 ± 8.57)% respectively,P<0.05, and the current-voltage curve was shifted upwards. The channel half inactivation curve decreased from (-1.34 ± 1.9) mV to (-8.04 ± 1.32 ) mV, (9.76 ± 1.17) mV and (-11.81 ± 0.73) mV respectively,P<0.05, and the recovery time after inactivation was prolonged as τ value from (63.23 ± 9.32) to (98.95 ± 10.74), (109.56 ± 13.42) and (127.39 ± 16.13) respectively,P<0.05. Conclusion: Ghrelin may accelerate ICa-L inactivation and prolong the recovery time after inactivation. Ghrelin inhibits ICa-L in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective To study a novel method for the high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR) CT image to the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) CT image deformable image registration and dose accumulation.Methods The applicator in the HDR CT image is first segmented and removed,then a deflation step is performed on the applicator-free HDR CT image by solving the Navier-Stokes equation.Demons algorithm is utilized to register the deflated HDR CT image to the IMRT CT image,along with the HDR dose.The deformed HDR dose is then added on the IMRT dose and yield the final accumulated dose.Results The HDR CT image and IMRT CT image,as well as the corresponding dose distribution,from five cervical cancer patients are used for evaluation of the proposed algorithm,the results show that the proposed method can effectively get rid of the influence of the applicator and produce an accurate accumulated dose.Conclusions Dose accumulation and supervision is an important step in adaptive radiotherapy for accurate dose delivery and treatment plan re-optimization.The proposed method in this study can effectively accumulate the HDR dose to the IMRT dose domain,and the accuracy is proved to be sufficient for clinical needs.

Objective To explore the effects of wogonin on hyperlipidemia in mice and clarify the molecule mechanism. Methods Thirty mice were evenly divided into three group normal control group,model control group and treatment group. The normal control group was given normal diet,the model control group received high-fat diet,the treatment group received high-fat diet with wogonin (500 mg·kg-1 ). Results The mice developed hyperlipidemia 12 weeks after starting the high-fat diet. The body weight,visceral fat and fat index were increased (P<0. 05). After treatment,these indices were reduced ( P < 0. 01). Wogonin significantly reduced the total cholesterol ( TC),low density lipoprotein ( LDL),high density lipoprotein (HDL),except the triglyceride (TG). Compared to the model control group,the hepatic lipase(HL) and lipoprotein lipase(LPL) activity in the treatment group were recovered (P<0. 05),but HMG-CoA reductase activity was inhibited ( P<0. 01). Mechanistic study suggested that the lipid-lowering effect might be related to the lipid synthesis genes (SREBP-1c,FAS, PPARγ) and the lipid metabolism genes (PPARα,CPT-1). Conclusion Wogonin can prevent hyperlipidemia,which might be related to the regulation of enzyme activity and the changes of lipid synthesis and oxidative metabolism.

Objective To assess the characteristics of abdominal hernia and summarize the therapeutic efficacy of mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty in elderly ventral hernia. Methods All 207 elderly patients with abdominal hernia who were admitted to our hospital during January 1999 to December 2001 and received the mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty were analyzed retrospectively. Results There were 405 patients receiving the mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty from 1999 to 2001, in whom 207 had elderly ventral hermia. Among the 207 elderly patients, 144 had inguinal oblique hernia, 38 direct hernia, 11 direct and indirect hernia, 6 sliding hernia, 6 incisional hernia, 1 femoral hernia, and 1 femoral and inguinal direct hernia. Postoperative complications were urinary retention(8 cases), hypoincisional hematoma(4), scrotal hydroceles(1), and incisional infection (1). One hundred eithty-seven patients were followed-up for 4-40 months and no recurrence was found. Conclusions The mesh plug tension-free hernioplasty is of advantages for elderly abdominal hernia, such as simpleness in performance and a good therapeutic effect. It is especially suitable for the elderly patients due to less trauma and low recurrence rate. It is also important to pay attention to the postoperative complications to the elderly.

Objective To investigate the changes of silver-stainng protein of nuclear organizer regions(AgNORs)expression of T lymphocytes and helper T (Th) cell subsets in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cancer patients and to analyze the relationship between them.Methods AgNORs expression in T cells activated by a multiple clonal activator was examined using a special image system. After activation of PBMC with ionomycin plus PMA for 5 h, both interferon-? (IFN ?) and interleukin-4 (IL-4)producing cell frequencies were detected by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). The stimulated with ionomycin plus PMA for 24 h, the IFN ?-and IL-4-production were assayed by ELISA.Resuts AgNORs expression of activated T cells in PBMC from cancer patients (n=86) and healthy persons (n=44) was (4.90?1.20) I.S% and (7.82?1.28) I.S% respectively. Th2 frequency was significantly higher and the ratio of Th1 to Th2 frequency was more lower in cancer patient group. Moreover, the IFN ? and IL-4 production in cancer patient group were changed in the way similar to Th subset frequencies. In lung cancer patients the AgNORs expression, Th1 frequency, Th1/Th2 ratio and IFN ? production were significantly decreased in metastasis or in recurrence status,AgNORs expression in cancer patients correlated with their Th1 frequencies, Th1/Th2 ratio, IFN ? production levels and Karnofsky′s estimators.Conclusions In analyzed cancer patient cases, the expression of AgNORs and the function of Th1 cell were significantly decreased and correlated.