Background: Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011 showed that 20.8% of Malaysians above 30 years have diabetes. 10.1%of them are undiagnosed. Mobile blood drives could complement the public health department efforts in diabetes screening for early detection of the illness. Aims: This study aims to determine the necessity of diabetes screening as a routine screening program during blood donation campaign. Methods and Material: Blood donation campaigns which involved the public community between January 2013 and June 2013 were included in this study. Donors above 30-years-old, not known to have diabetes, consented for diabetes screening. Diabetes screening was done by checking random capillary blood sugar (RCBS) levels while performing a Hemoglobin test and ABO grouping. Donors with RCBS of ≥7.8 mmol/L were given appointments for oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to confirm the diagnosis of diabetes. Results: A total of 211 diabetes screenings were performed. Mean RCBS was 6mmol/L. 43(20.4%) donors had RCBS≥ 7.8mmol/L. 10 donors were later diagnosed to have diabetes (5.0%) and 5 donors were prediabetes (2.5%). 9 donors (4.3%) did not turn up for further investigation. Conclusions: Blood donors are expected to be healthy volunteers. The diabetes prevalence among blood donors (5.0%) is considered low if compared with the prevalence in the whole population (20.8%). However, the number is largely comparable to the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in the country (10.1%). Routine diabetes screening during blood donation campaign should be implemented to safeguard donors’ health and serve as a public health initiative to improve community health.

Objective To explore the effect of L-carnosine on neuronal cell apoptosis in young rats with experimental febrile seizures(FS).Methods Forty 15-day SD rats were randomly divided into intervention group(n=30)and FS group(n=10).Warm water was used to induce 10 times FS.The intervention group was divided into E,G and H group,10 rats in each group.Intraperitoneal injection of L-carnosine(250 mg/kg)was separately given to the rats in E group,G group and H group respectively after 30,60 and 120 min of seizure.FS group were induced FS,but they were not given intervention.The rats were sacrificed at 12 hours after the last seizure.Neuronal cell apoptosis was determined by terminal eoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)in situ cell death kit.TUNEL positive cells were stained and counted as apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex.Ultrastructural changes of apoptosis neurons were observed under the electron microscope.Results The neuronal cells apoptosis count was 25.37?1.95 in FS group,12.36?1.13 in E group,17.85?2.04 in G group,and 22.69?2.69 in H group.Neuronal apoptosis of FS group was apparently higher than that of interventional groups(F=10.75 P0.05).Under the electron microscope,neuronal damage on hippocampal CA1 area and dentate gyrus of FS group and H group was obviously higher than that of E group.Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only relieve neuronal apoptosis of repeated FS,but also play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.

0.05).Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only improve cerebral oxidative phosphorylation,relieve neuronal injury of repeated FS,but play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.

A reasonable method for the quality control of tablets of Ginkgo biloba leaves was established in this paper. The total flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones of G. biloba tablets were quantified by HPLC. Totally, 16 batches of the commercially available tablets of G. biloba leaves were determined. Among of them, 2 batches were unqualified in the content of total flavonol glycosides, and 3 batches were unqualified in the content of terpene lactones. A validated HPLC fingerprint method was established to evaluate the commercially available tablets of G. biloba leaves with the assistance of LC-MS. Sixteen batches showed the similarity of 0.763-0.989. There were 31 fingerprint chromatogram peaks were identified as flavonoids compositions by LC-MS. This provides a research idea for the quality control of tablets of G. biloba leaves.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Tablets ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shugan Jianpi Recipe (SJR) on LXRα/FAS signaling pathway mediated hepatocyte fatty deposits in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats.

METHODSTotally 75 SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Shugan Recipe (SR) treatment groups, the Jianpi Recipe (JR) treatment group, and the SJR group. Except rats in the normal control group, the NAFLD rat model was duplicated using high fat diet (HFD). SR (Chaihu Shugan Powder) was administered to rats in the SR group. JR (Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the JR group. SJR (Chaihu Shugan Powder plus Shenlin Baizhu Powder) was administered to rats in the SJR group. Changes of liver fat were analyzed using automatic biochemical analyzer. Liver cells were separated by low-speed centrifugation. Their activities and purities were identify using Typan blue and flow cytometry (FCM). Expression levels of LXRα and FAS mRNA in hepatocytes detected by Real-time quantitative PCR. Expression levels of LXRα and FAS protein were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Pathological results showed in the model group, hepatocytes were swollen with nucleus locating at the cell edge after oil red O staining; unequal sized small vacuoles could be seen inside cytoplasm. Some small vacuoles merged big vacuoles. All these indi- cated a NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. Pathological structural changes could be impaired to some degree in all medicated groups, especially in the SR group. (2) Compared with the normal control group, expression levels of LXRα and FAS genes and proteins obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, their expression levels were obviously down-regulated in the JR group and the SR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was an important signaling pathway for mediating lipid metabolism disorders of NAFLD rats. SJR could make hepatocyte fatty deposits tend to repair by adjusting the LXRα/FAS signaling pathway in NAFLD rats, which might be one of important mechanisms for SJR to prevent and cure NAFLD.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; metabolism ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical results of proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) combined with zoledronic acid injection in the treatment of osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly.

METHODS60 elderly patients with osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures were diagnosed using a dual energy X-ray bone density instrument. Patients were randomly divided into treatment or control groups (30 cases in each group). Patients in both groups were treated by closed/open reduction and internal fixation using PFNA. In the treatment group, patients received one zoledronic phosphonic acid injection of 5 mg/100 ml via intravenous drip, in addition to 600 mg of Caltrate D (qd) and 0.25 mg of alpha ossification alcohol (qd). The control group received 600 mg of Caltrate D (qd) and 0.25 mg of alpha ossification alcohol (qd). The oral drugs were administered for 12 months. Bone pain relief was observed, and changes in the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar and health-side hip were recorded. Clinical results were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Harris joint function score, and Osteo- porosis Quality of Life Scale (OQOLS).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, bone pain symptoms were significantly alleviated (p < 0.05) in the treatment group. In the treatment and control groups, both between-group and within-group differences in BMD were significantly increased in L1e4, femoral neck and trochanter (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in regard to the involved hip or the total rate of improvement at the end of the follow-up period, although cases in the treatment group had higher OQOLS scores than those of the controls (p = 0.04). Cases in the treatment group healed more quickly than those in the control group [(13 ± 3.2) weeks vs (15 ± 4.6) weeks, p = 0.02]. During the follow-up period, cases in the treatment group had no new fractures, whereas 2 new cases of hip fracture and 2 cases of distal radial fractures were observed among the controls.

CONCLUSIONZoledronic acid injection combined with PFNA is a favorable treatment option for the elderly patients with osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture. It can effectively relieve bone pain, increase bone density, improve quality of life, reduce the occurrence of new fractures and promote fracture healing.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Bone Nails ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diphosphonates ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; psychology ; therapy ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; administration & dosage ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; psychology ; therapy ; Quality of Life

No abstract available.
HMGB1 Protein* ; Pemphigus*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiological and prognostic changes of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODSThis retrospective study analyzed 7319 hospitalized patients (male 62.07%) with validated primary discharge diagnosis of chronic heart failure in Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2007. Etiological characteristics, comorbidities and 30-day hospitalized mortality in the following three periods: 1993 - 1997 (n = 1623), 1998 - 2002 (n = 2444), and 2003 - 2007 (n = 3252) were compared.

RESULTS(1) The patient age increased [(56.0 ± 17.5) years, (57.8 ± 17.6) years and (62.7 ± 15.5) years, P < 0.01] and hospital stay time decreased [(31.3 ± 17.4) days, (22.7 ± 14.1) days and (20.1 ± 15.2) days, P < 0.01] from 1993 to 2007. (2) The common causes of heart failure were coronary heart disease, hypertension, rheumatic valvular heart disease and diabetes mellitus. From 1993 - 1998 to 2003 - 2007, the proportion of patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus rose from 37.2%, 23.3% and 12.3% to 46.8%, 46.7% and 21.1%, respectively (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile the proportion of patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease fell from 35.2% to 16.6% (P < 0.05). (3) The main etiologies and comorbidities were atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and renal failure. From 1993 - 1998 to 2003 - 2007, atrial fibrillation was the most common cause of heart failure, and the rate of myocardial infarction, pneumonia and renal failure rose from 11.0%, 8.9% and 5.2% to 14.7%, 14.5% and 9.1%, respectively (all P < 0.05) and the rate of COPD fell from 12.9% to 8.4% (P < 0.05). (4) The 30-day hospitalized mortalities in the three periods were 7.0%, 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively, and the mortalities in the 1998 - 2002 and 2003 - 2007 periods were lower than those of in the 1993 - 1998 period (all P < 0.05). The mortality related to coronary heart disease decreased significantly from 1993 to 2007 (9.3%, 5.0% and 3.8% in the three periods, respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIt is demonstrated that the primary diseases causing heart failure were coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and rheumatic valvular heart disease, and the former three diseases exhibited a upward trend and the later one exhibited a downward trend. Moreover, the proportion of comorbidities in patients with heart failure increased over the study period. The 30-day hospital mortality exhibited a downward trend and decreased significantly in patients with coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Acetic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Cysts ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo measure the effect of laser fluence and scanning velocity on ablation efficiency of enamel and dentin.

METHODSTwo extracted human incisors and two molars were cut transversely along the axial plane with a diamond saw to obtain dentin and enamel slices with thickness of about 1 mm. Samples were fixed on a motorized translation stage, the linear reciprocating movement in the plane perpendicular to the direction of laser incident was programmed by the controller, and the laser focused on the tooth surface, then 36 ablation lines on enamel and 48 ablation lines on dentin were produced. A femtosecond laser system with wavelength of 800 nm, pulse width 30 fs, repetition frequency 1000 Hz was used, and the diameter of the focused spot was approximately 25 µm. A group of different fluence (1.33, 1.77, 2.21, 4.42, 8.85, 17.69 J/cm(2) for enamel and 0.44, 0.66, 0.88, 1.33, 1.77, 2.21, 4.42, 6.63 J/cm(2) for dentin) and two scanning velocity (10 mm/s and 20 mm/s) were tested. Confocal laser scanning microscope was used to measure the ablation volume.Ablation efficiency for enamel and dentin was then calculated.

RESULTSUnder the fluence of 8.85 J/cm(2) there was the highest ablation efficiency for enamel, 18.703×10(-3) mm(3)/J (20 mm/s), and the highest ablation efficiency for dentin was found under the fluence of 2.21 J/cm(2), ie.223.458×10(-3) mm(3)/J (20 mm/s).

CONCLUSIONSFluence and scanning speed of this femtosecond laser can affect ablation efficiency for both enamel and dentin, and this suggests that with appropriate choice of fluence and scanning speed we can improve the ablation efficiency for enamel and dentin.

Dental Enamel ; radiation effects ; Dentin ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Incisor ; anatomy & histology ; Lasers ; Molar ; anatomy & histology