OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the course and menopause on the change of bone mineral density (BMD) in female patients with hyperthyroidism. METHODS: BMDs of hip and lumbar vertebrae were measured by dual-energy X-rays absorptiometry(DEXA) in the female patients (n=192, aged 14 approximately 72). Patients were divided into 2 groups (premenopausal and postmenopausal)and 2 subgroups(short-course and long-course). The BMDs were compared between those of age-matched, weight-matched, height-matched and body mass index matched control subgroups. RESULTS: In the premenopausal hyperthyroidic patients, only the BMDs of the second and total lumbar vertebrae with long-course were significantly lower than those of short-course group(P< 0.05). In the post-menopausal group with the long-course,each BMD measured had a lower level compared with that with short-course, of which the hip and the second lumber vertebrae were evident (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION The course and menopause have an effect on the BMDs in female patients with hyperthyroidism.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Menopause ; metabolism ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence of asthma and asthma related symptoms among children aged 0-14 years in three Chinese cities and to obtain a crude estimation of the trend of childhood asthma prevalence in China.

METHODSA cross-sectional, population-based survey of prevalence of asthma was conducted in children aged from 0 to 14 years in 3 major cities of China (Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou) with different geographic locations. All the subjects were randomly selected by a multi-stage sampling method. Three to five schools and kindergartens in 2 urban districts in each city were randomly selected for the survey, and a validated questionnaire that included the core questions of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, Phase III questionnaire and several additional questions were used. All questionnaires were completed by parents or guardians of the selected children. Children whose parents responded affirmatively to the question "Has your child ever been diagnosed as asthma by a doctor" were recognized as victims of asthma.

RESULTSThe prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, and 2.09%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those obtained 10 years ago in the national epidemiological survey in 2000 which used the same method of investigation and the same diagnotic criteria (χ²=3.938, P=0.047; χ²=73.506, P≤0.001; χ²=11.956, P=0.001, in each city). Of the asthmatic children 57.21%, 69.91%, and 60.00% had their first attack before the age of 3 in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, respectively. Wheezing was the primary clinical manifestation for all asthmatic children, followed by persistent cough and repeated respiratory infections. Both the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms were statistically higher in males than in females.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of childhood asthma is statistically higher than that 10 years ago in the three Chinese cities.

Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND:Stem cell transplantation has been used in the clinical treatment of spinal cord injury.However,the efficacy and safety are still controversial.Although there are many approaches for stem cell transplantation,which one is better is unclear as yet.OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury,and to compare the therapeutic difference in stem cell transplantation via different approaches.METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in PubMed,The Cochrane Library (Issue 4,2016),Embase,CNKI,VIP,CBM,and Wan-Fang databases up to May 13,2016 to screen the relevant randomized clinical controlled trials of stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury.Two reviewers independently selected the studies,extracted information,and assessed the quality of included trials.Data extracted from eligible studies was pooled and meta-analyzed using Stata13.1 and Gemtc0.14.3 software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 546 patients (294 in stem cells group and 252 in rehabilitation treatment group) were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that stem cell transplantation had an advantage over rehabilitation treatment in increasing American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) motor score,ASIA sensory score,Barthel Index,and decreasing the bladder residual urine volume.The incidence of low fever,abdominal distension,headache,lower limb numbness,and meningeal irritation was 14％,7％,7％,8％,and 7％,respectively.Taking the rehabilitation treatment as a common reference,the results of the network meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences in ASIA motor score,ASIA sensory score,Barthel Index,and incidence of complications among subarachnoid injection,intravenous injection,and intralesional injection.Compared with the rehabilitation treatment,only stem cell transplantation via subarachnoid injection had significant differences in ASIA motor score [MD=9.77,95％CI (0.26,21.46)],and ASIA sensory score [MD=25.79,95％CI (10.07,45.27)].To conclude,the stem cells transplantation via subarachnoid injection is considered the most effective transplantation method.Due to the limitations of the included studies,more high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to verify the above conclusion.In addition,future studies should focus on the long-term efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury,and should investigate the clinical effects on spinal cord injury with different ASIA grades,types of stem cells,and transplantation time.

No direct comparison of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has yet been carried out in the treatment of liver cirrhosis in China. We designed a double-blind randomized trial to evaluate the potential therapeutic efficacy of TUDCA in liver cirrhosis, using UDCA as parallel control. The enrolled 23 patients with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into TUDCA group (n=12) and UDCA group (n=11), and given TUDCA and UDCA respectively at the daily dose of 750 mg, in a randomly assigned sequence for a 6-month period. Clinical, biochemical and histological features, and liver ultrasonographic findings were evaluated before and after the study. According to the inclusion criteria, 18 patients were included in the final analysis, including 9 cases in both two groups. Serum ALT, AST and ALP levels in TUDCA group and AST levels in UDCA group were significantly reduced as compared with baseline (P<0.05). Serum albumin levels were significantly increased in both TUDCA and UDCA groups (P<0.05). Serum markers for liver fibrosis were slightly decreased with the difference being not significant in either group. Only one patient in TUDCA group had significantly histological relief. Both treatments were well tolerated and no patient complained of side effects. It is suggested that TUDCA therapy is safe and appears to be more effective than UDCA in the treatment of liver cirrhosis, particularly in the improvement of the biochemical expression. However, both drugs exert no effect on the serum markers for liver fibrosis during 6-month treatment.
Adult ; Cholagogues and Choleretics ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the mRNA expression levels of p53-mediating DNA damage and repair genes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers and their exposures to benzene in their working environment.

METHODSThe mRNA expression levels of p53 and related genes were determined by SYBR Green I chimeric fluorescence quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 72 workers, who were classified into group A (46 direct exposure to benzene) and group B (26 indirect exposure to benzene) based on their positions, and 29 controls. The differences of gene expression levels were analyzed by software REST 2005. Meanwhile, the peripheral blood leukocytes, hemoglobin and platelet of workers and controls were counted. Benzene content was measured in the samples of toluene, used as raw material, and spraying agents and benzene, toluene and xylene concentrations in the air of workplaces were monitored.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the mRNA expression levels of p53, Ku80, Ape1 and Mdm-2 between group A or group B and control group (P > 0.05). The expression up-regulation of p21 mRNA was found, but without significant difference (P > 0.05). However, the mRNA expression levels of Rad51, Bcl-2, Bax, Xpa and Xpc in group A and Rad51 in group B were downregulated significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, both the counts of white blood cell, hemoglobin and platelet in group A were (4.93 +/- 1.27) x 10(9)/L, (123.97 +/- 11.80) g/L and (124.02 +/- 41.22) x 10(9)/L respectively and platelet in group B (135.80 +/- 39.44) x 10(9)/L were significantly lower than in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mRNA expression levels of some p53-mediating DNA damage and repair genes are downregulated in the workers chronically exposed to low benzene concentration. The working environment impacts on health of group A workers are greater than the ones of group B.

Adult ; Benzene ; adverse effects ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIn this randomized prospective single-center study, we compared the efficacy of adjunctive thrombectomy using Diver CE device (Linvatec, Italy) versus Guardwire Plus device (Medtronic, USA) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with <12 h acute inferior myocardial infarction (AIMI) and Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to 1. The primary end point was the magnitude of ST-segment resolution after PCI.

METHODSA total of 122 patients (61 in Diver CE group and 61 in Guardwire Plus group) were studied. The magnitude of ST-segment resolution, myocardial blush grade and slow flow or no re-flow 1 h after PCI were measured in study patients.

RESULTSBaseline characteristics were similar between groups: age (59.6 +/- 14 years vs. 60.1 +/- 13 years), males (82% vs. 84%), diabetes (31% vs. 28%), previous coronary artery disease (25% vs. 23%), onset-to-angiogram (350 +/- 185 min vs. 345 +/- 180 min), and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use (11% vs. 13%, all P > 0.05). The magnitude of ST-segment resolution was also similar in these two groups: ST-segment resolution > 70% (57% vs. 59%, P > 0.05). Slow flow/no reflow rate (8% vs. 7%), TIMI flow grade 3 (95% vs. 97%) and myocardial blush grade 3 (70% vs. 72%) post PCI were not different in the groups (all P > 0.05). Left ventricle ejection fraction (0.54 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.53 +/- 0.11), death (3% vs. 3%), re-myocardial infarction (2% vs. 0) and target vessel revascularization (2% vs. 2%) at one month post PCI were comparable (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEfficacy of removing thrombus burden with Diver CE device or Guardwire Plus device was similar in patients with < 12 h acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; instrumentation

This study investigated the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in isoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction in aged rats. The hippocampi were dissected from aged rats which had been intraperitoneally administered lithium chloride (LiCl, 100 mg/kg) and then exposed to 1.4% isoflurane for 6 h. The expression of GSK-3β was detected by Western blotting. The mRNA and protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were measured by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Morris water maze was employed to detect spatial memory ability of rats. The results revealed that the level of GSK-3β was upregulated after isofurane exposure. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that isoflurane anesthesia increased mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, which was consistent with the ELISA results. However, these changes were reversed by prophylactic LiCl, a non-selective inhibitor of GSK-3β. Additionally, we discovered that LiCl alleviated isoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in aged rats. Furthermore, the role of GSK-3β in isoflurae-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction was associated with acetylation of NF-κB p65 (Lys310). In conclusion, these results suggested that GSK-3β is associated with isoflurane-induced upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and cognitive disorder in aged rats.
Animals ; Cognition Disorders ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoflurane ; adverse effects ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEIn recent years, the incidence of allergic diseases in China is increasing. With serious influence on the patients' quality of life and even life-threatening, now allergic diseases have become an important public health problem in our country. This survey aimed to obtain a general epidemic outline of children's major allergic diseases, i.e., childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the downtown of Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

METHODChildhood asthma questionnaire was established by Delphi method based on guidelines for childhood asthma diagnosis and prevention made by Chinese medical association in 2008 with reference to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (ISAAC). This study was carried out from Oct. 2008-Mar. 2009, in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou by a multi-stage sampling method, covering a sample of 24 290 children aged 0 - 14 years by a multi-stage sampling method, the population of children surveyed in the downtown of Beijing Chongqing and Guangzhou was 10 372, 9874 and 4072 respectively; of whom males were 5545, 5258, 2159, and females were 4917, 4588, 1877; the ratio of males to females in the three cities were 1.11:1, 1.15:1, 1.15:1; the average age of surveyed children were 7.63, 8.74 and 8.30 years old. All the questionnaire was filled in by the parents of children or other guardian of children.

RESULTThe self-reported prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, 2.09%, the self-reported prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 14.46%, 20.42%, 7.83%, and the prevalence of eczema was 20.64%, 10.02%, 7.22%. In the survey, asthma combined with allergic rhinitis had the highest rate, 49.54%, 50.14%, 34.83%, respectively in the 3 cities. The self-reported prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis was significantly higher in male than female. Besides, the self-reported prevalences of asthma and allergic rhinitis were relatively lower in children under 1 year and over 10 years of age.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema and other allergic diseases in children 0 - 14 years of age in the three cities gradually increased, and the prevalence of allergic diseases in Chongqing was relatively higher.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Eczema ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the roles and clinical significance of innate immune receptors and cytokine in children with measles.

METHODThe children with measles hospitalized in the department of infectious diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University during 2009-2011 were enrolled into measles group, while the healthy children examined in well baby clinic were enrolled into control group. The mRNA expression of TLR2/3/4/7, melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA-5), retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), IFN-α/β and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of IFN-α, IFN-β and IL-10 in plasma were measured using ELISA. SPSS 13.0 software was applied to analyze the difference between two groups.

RESULTData from a total of 98 patients in measles group and 59 children in control group were collected. The mRNA expressions of TLR2, MDA-5 and RIG-I had no statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05, respectively). The relative mRNA expressions of TLR3, TLR4, TLR7 in measles group (2.25 ± 0.74, 2.05 ± 0.72, 2.12 ± 0.29) were significantly lower than those in control group (2.09 ± 0.78, 1.90 ± 0.75, 1.87 ± 0.68) (P < 0.01; respectively). Both IFN-α and IFN-β had significantly decreased mRNA expressions in measles patients (2.41 ± 1.31, 2.47 ± 1.26) compared with those in controls (2.22 ± 0.48, 2.35 ± 0.64)(P < 0.01 respectively); however, IL-10 mRNA levels significantly increased (2.49 ± 0.58 vs. 2.62 ± 0.95) (P < 0.001). The IL-10 levels in plasma in measles group were significantly higher during the whole period of fever [<5 d group: 29.89 (25.82-38.15) ng/L and ≥ 5 d group:34.55 (28.26-38.70) ng/L] than that in control group [25.15 (24.20-27.38) ng/L] (P < 0.05 respectively).

CONCLUSIONTLR3/4/7 mRNA expression was low in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of measles patients. Levels of IL-10 were significantly raised in the early stage after infection and lasted for a long time, and reduced IFN-α levels in plasma were associated with the fever durations of measles patients. These results indicated that multiple TLRs and cytokines may participate in the immune response after measles virus infection.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Measles ; immunology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDDifferent feasible and safe thrombectomy and distal protection devices have been used in clinical practice. The efficiency and safety of adjunct thrombectomy using Diver CE device (Invatec, Italy) versus Guardwire Plus device (Medtronic, USA) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were compared in patients with acute inferior ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for less than 12 hours, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 to 1, and total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (= 3 mm in diameter) in a prospective randomized single-center study.

METHODSThe primary end point was the magnitude of ST-segment resolution (STR) (> 70%) measured immediately, 90 minutes and 6 hours after PCI, myocardial blush grade and slow flow or no-reflow. Secondary end points were left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) including death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization and stroke at 30 days.

RESULTSA total of 122 patients were equally divided into Diver CE group and Guardwire Plus group, which were comparable by age ((60 +/- 14) years vs (60 +/- 13) years), male (82% vs 84%), diabetes (31% vs 28%), previous coronary artery disease (25% vs 23%), onset-to-angiogram ((350 +/- 185) min vs (345 +/- 180) min), and use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (11% vs 13%). The magnitude of ST-segment resolution was similar in the two groups as ST-segment resolution > 70% (57% vs 59%; P > 0.05). Similar slow flow/no-reflow rates were observed in the Diver CE group (8%) and the Guardwire Plus group (7%). TIMI flow grade 3 was obtained in 95% vs 97% patients, respectively (P > 0.05). Myocardial blush grade 3 was similar (70% vs 72%; P > 0.05). Thirty-day clinical outcome was comparable (LVEF, 0.54 +/- 0.12 vs 0.53 +/- 0.11; death, 3% vs 3%; myocardial infarction, 2% vs 0%; and target vessel revascularization, 2% vs 2%; P > 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSRemoval of thrombus burden with the Diver CE catheter before stenting leads to similar improvement of myocardial reperfusion in patients with inferior STEMI and total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery (= 3 mm in diameter) compared with the Guardwire Plus device, as illustrated by a reduced risk of distal embolization and improved ST-segment resolution.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Suction ; Thrombectomy ; instrumentation ; Ventricular Function, Left