AIM and METHODS: : The present study observed the change of L-arginine (L-Arg)/Nitric oxide (NO) pathway in ergthrocytes in hypertension with insulin resistance rat induced by fructose and the effect of taurine on L-Arg/NO pathway. RESULTS: Drinking 4% fructose, while inducing blood pressure, glucose and plasma insulin contents increase, obviously decreased the maximal velocity of L-Arg transport about 31% and 37% (P

To observe the effects of Qishe Pill, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on lumbar vertebral bone formation induced by long-time upright posture in rats and to investigate the potential mechanism.

Objective To investigate the effects of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) on the myocardial cells of mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with hyperuricemia (HUA), and clarify the mechanism thereof. Methods The mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cultured with 25mmol/L high glucose (HG) medium were divided into two groups: HG plus 300μmol/L sodium palmitate for 18 hours as high glucose and high fat (HG+HF) group, and HG+HF plus 1500μmol/L uric acid (UA) for 18 hours as HG+HF+HUA group. Then the myocardial cells in HG+HF+HUA group, by use or not use UCP2 inhibitor genipin, were further divided into two groups: vehicle group and genipin group. In order to verify the mechanism of UCP2 in myocardial cells injury caused by high glucose, high lipid and high uric acid, the myocardial cells were divided again into genipin group and genipin+N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group. Accordingly, the apoptosis of myocardial cells were measured by flow cytometry at specific time, the mRNA and protein expressions of UCP2 were determined by q-PCR and Western blotting, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DHE staining and ELISA. Results The apoptosis rate of myocardial cells increased obviously, and the expression levels of UCP2 decreased and of ROS elevated significantly in HG+HF+HUA group than in HG+HF group (P<0.05). As the expression levels of UCP2 decreased by genipin intervention, the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells and ROS level in HG+HF+HUA group increased more obviously (P<0.05). In contrast, such an effect was reversed by the application of antioxidants NAC (P<0.05). Conclusion UCP2 can inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate the apoptosis of myocardial cells induced by high glucose, high fat and high uric acid.

Objective To study the correlation between morphological characteristics of coronary artery calcified plaques and luminal stenosis of local coronary artery segments with 64-slice computed tomography.Methods One hundred and eleven patients who had undergone 64-slice computed tomographic coronary angiography(CTCA)and conventional coronary angiography(CAG)were retrospectively analyzed.The calcified plaques were classified as punctate,nodular,strip-like and nubbly in long-axis view of coronary artery lumen,and were classified as crescent,semilunar,round moon and circinate in short-axis view.The morphologic characteristics of these calcified plaques on CTCA were retrospectively analyzed and compared with luminal stenosis of CAG results.Results Among 528 calcified coronary segments which were analyzed in 111 patients,there were 383(72.5%)punctate calcified plaque segments and 145(27.5%)of non-punctate plaques.There were 34(23.4%,34/145)non-punctate calcified plaques which caused severe stenosis(≥75%),including 4(11.8%)nodular,8(23.5%)stripe-like and 22(64.7%)nubbly calcified plaques on the long-axis view,and 0(0.0%)cresent,8(23.5%)semilunar,18(52.9%)round moon and 8(23.5%)circinate calcified plaques on the short-axis view.The ratios of different morphological coronary artery calcifications which caused severe stenoses were significantly different with each other(all P＜0.01).Conclusion Different figures of coronary artery calcified plaques demonstrate different degrees of stenoses of local coronary artery lumen.Severe stenoses were mostly caused by nubbly calcified plaque on long-axis view,round moon and circinate calcified plaque on short-axis view.

Objective: Select the appropriate disease assessment indicators, formulate the comprehensive evaluation group of pneumoconiosis patients, and explore the role of the comprehensive evaluation grouping in the clinical evaluation of pneumoconiosis, and provide the basis for the prognosis of pneumoconiosis. Methods: Combined with clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, pneumoconiosis stage, acute exacerbation and complications, a comprehensive assessment of pneumoconiosis patients was established.138 newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis patients were divided into low risk group, middle risk group and (very) high risk group. The patients were followed up by telephone to record their health status and quality of life within one year after discharge from hospital. Analysis of the relationship between the comprehensive assessment group of patients with pneumoconiosis and symptom score, pulmonary function, pneumoconiosis stage, acute exacerbation and complications. The relationship between the comprehensive assessment group of pneumoconiosis patients and the risk events (the number of visits, hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, death cases in one year) and CAT score were analyzed. Results: There were significant differences in clinical symptoms, pulmonary function injury, pneumoconiosis stage, acute exacerbation and complications among patients in low risk group, middle risk group and (very) high risk group (P<0.01) . With the increase of comprehensive assessment score, CAT score increased, the risk events increased, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01) . Spearman correlation analysis showed that the comprehensive assessment group was significantly correlated with the number of visits, hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, deaths and CAT score in one year. Conclusion Combined with clinical symptom assessment, pulmonary function assessment, chest imaging assessment, acute exacerbation assessment, and complication assessment, the pneumoconiosis patients' comprehensive assessment group formulated can evaluate the severity of pneumoconiosis patients, and make a more accurate and comprehensive judgement of the disease.

Objective To investigate the intra- and interobserver repeatability of coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis based on invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and CT coronary angiography (CTCA).Methods Two readers with comparable experience ( over 10 years) independently evaluated ICA results of 42 consecutive patients with a blind method. After 30 days,one of them reviewed the same patients again.Another two comparable-experience (over 10 years) readers evaluated the results of CTCA (prospectively ECG-triggering) from the same 42 patients in the same way.The inter-reader and intra-reader repeatability of ICA and CTCA were analyzed by performing Kappa test and calculating the percentage of the segments with agreement on stenotic degree.Using ICA as reference,the accuracy of CTCA in diagnosing CAD was studied by comparing the area under ROC. Results The Kappa between readers for ICA and CTCA were 0.91 and 0.81.Intra-reader Kappa were 0.92 and 0.83 respectively (x2 =509.4 and 432.5,all P ＜0.01 ).The percentage of the segments with agreement between readers on the degree of stenosis were 80.8％ (494/611) in ICA and 75.2％ (469/624) in CTCA ( x2 =2.75,P =0.10),and within the same reader,86.9％ (531/611)in ICA and 81.9％ (511/624) in CTCA(x2 =3.76,P =0.053).With≥ 50％narrowing as a CAD diagnosis criterion,the agreement rates for two readers were 96.6％ (590/611 ) in ICA and 94.4％ (589/624) in CTCA( x2 =3.36,P =0.07),and for the same reader,97.4％ (595/611) in ICA,95.4％ (595/624) in CTCA ( x2 =3.62,P =0.06).Using ICA as reference,two readers of CTCA results achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 84.9％ (530/624)and 98.1％ (612/624).The area under ROC was 0.94 (95％ CI 0.91-0.97).Conclusions Both ICA and CTCA demonstrate good repeatability in diagnosing CAD.The repeatability of ICA is superior to that of CTCA.A certain discrepancy exists in two readings from the same reader or two readers.

Objective To review the clinical characteristics and current management strategy and to examine the factors to be considered in the selection of treatment options for mitral regurgitation (MR) in elderly inpatients.Methods Elderly patients(≥60years old)who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe MR by transthoracic echocardiography and hospitalized from May 1,2014 to April 30,2015were included in this study (N=680).Patients were grouped according to therapy:the surgery group (n=372) and the medication group (n=308).Data at baseline including medical history and echocardiography were collected for comparison between the two groups and for analysis of factors associated with treatment choice.Results Of the 680 patients with moderate to severe MR,45.3％ were treated with medication.Compared with the surgery group,patients in the medication group were older,with a lower prevalence of primary MR,a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease and higher Euroscore-Ⅱ scores (all P＜0.01).Furthermore,the medication group had a lower prevalence of moderate MR(75/308 or 24.4％ vs.200/372 or 53.8％,P＜ 0.01),a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (47.8 ± 16.1) ％ vs (61.5 ± 9.2)％(P＜0.01),and a larger left ventricular end diastolic diameter(59.2±11.4)mmw (55.8±8.8)mm (P＜ 0.01).Besides,multivariable analysis revealed that regurgitation grade,left ventricular ejection fraction,multiple valve disease,age,and diabetes were correlated with therapy decisions(OR=62.067,1.089,4.791,0.879 and 0.414,respectively,P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).Conclusions Old age,impaired left ventricular ejection fraction,low regurgitation grade,diabetes,and absence of multiple valves are the most salientfactors for which surgery should not be selected.

Objective:To compare the clinical effects of discectomy combined with transpedicular dynamic stabilization and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in treating single-level lumbar disc herniation.Methods:From November 2012 to November 2015, a total of 96 patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation (disc height decreased more than 1/3, the width of the basilar part of the herniated disc >6 mm, massive disc herniation or Modic type I endplate changes) treated by discectomy combined with Dynesys dynamic stabilization (Dynesys group, n=48) or TLIF (fusion group, n=48) were enrolled. Clinical assessments included operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, MacNab score, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and rate of complications. Radiographs were evaluated for lumbar mobility, intervertebral height, etc. Results:A total of 86 patients were included in the final analysis (44 in Dynesys group and 42 in fusion group) and were evaluated after 5 years follow-up. The operation duration of Dynesys group (159.61±37.29 min) was less than that of the fusion group (177.42±39.90 min) significantly ( t=2.140, P=0.035). Intraoperative blood loss in Dynesys group (151.78±50.88 ml) was less than that in fusion group (197.74±76.55 ml) with significant difference ( t=3.293, P=0.001). At 5 years follow-up, there were 2 cases with screw loosening and 5 cases with adjacent segmental degeneration in Dynesys group without symptom. In fusion group, there were 12 cases with adjacent segmental degeneration and two of them with symptom. There were significant differences in the incidence of adjacent segment degeneration between the two groups ( χ2=4.012, P=0.045). According to the MacNab criteria, excellent or good cases accounted for 95% in Dynesys group and 93% in fusion group without significant differences ( Z=0.425, P=0.671). VAS back, VAS leg and ODI scores were improved significantly in both groups after 2 years and 5 years ( P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.05). The activity of the surgical segment was 4.59°±0.48° in Dynesys group and 1.00°±0.42° in fusion group at 5 years after surgery. The height of intervertebral space in Dynesys group decreased from 11.19±2.07 mm before surgery to 9.98±2.02 mm at 2 years after surgery and to 9.86±1.64 mm at 5 years after surgery ( F=6.462, P=0.002). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 and 5 years follow-up ( q=0.415, P>0.05). At 5 years after surgery, the activity of the first proximal segment in the two groups was 9.74°±3.29° and 11.69°±3.89°, respectively ( t=2.514, P=0.014). Conclusion:Both discectomy combined with dynamic stabilization and TLIF can achieve satisfied clinical effects in treating single-level lumbar disc herniation. Dynamic stabilization preserves the intervertebral activity of surgical segments and results in a lower incidence of adjacent segment degeneration compared with that in fusion surgery. Furthermore, discectomy combined with dynamic stabilization is a less invasive intervention with shorter operation duration and less blood loss compared with TLIF.

To revise GBZ 188 Technical Specification for Occupational Health Surveillance based on national laws, regulations, standards, specifications and legal documents of occupational disease, and combination with the actual situation in China. The main modifications are as follows: the occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to toluene (xylene may implement by reference), bromopropane, methyl iodide, ethylene oxide, chloroacetic acid, indium and its compounds, coal tar, coal tarasphalt, asphalt, β-naphthylamine, dust of metal and its compounds(tin, iron, antimony, barium and its compounds), hard metal dust, erionite dust, low temperature, laser, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, and human immunodeficiency virus, for scraper or grind operators, and underground workers using squatting or kneeling position, crawling position, side-lying position, or shoulder position for a long period of time are included. The emergency health screening for workers exposed to arsenic, fluorine and its inorganic compounds, and acrylamide are included. The occupational medical examination (OME) for workers exposed to amino and nitro compounds of benzene, phosgene, monomethylamine, organic fluorine and dimethyl sulfate has been adjusted and made mandatory, with corresponding assessments required upon leaving the job. The special occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis virus is removed. The OME conclusion of reexamination is removed, and standardize recheck/additional inspection requirements. The optional items in OME performed before, during and after leaving post are removed, but the optional items in emergency medical examination are retained. Additional OME items are added. The Guideline for OME Summary Reports is added as informative appendix, and so on. The revised GBZ 188 Technical Specification for Occupational Health Surveillance is more scientific and practical.