OBJECTIVETo measure the effect of atorvastatin on COX-2 expression in monocytes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSForty patients with AMI (AMI group) and 18 patients with stable coronary heart disease (control group) were enrolled, and patients with AMI were randomly given routine therapy (n = 20) and routine therapy plus atorvastatin (20 mg/day, n = 20) for a week. Peripheral blood monocytes for each participant including patients with AMI were isolated and cultured for 24 hours. During the culture, monocytes in patients with pretreatment AMI were incubated with celecoxib in different concentration (0, 0.1, 1 and 10 micromol/L). COX-2 mRNA expression in monocytes was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in supernatant from monocytes and plasma hs-CRP levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSCOX-2 expression in monocytes in patients with AMI (0.92 +/- 0.13) was significantly higher than that in the control subjects (0.19 +/- 0.08), and decreased by 66% after atorvastatin (compared with that on routine therapy, P < 0.05); IL-6 secretions of monocytes in the AMI group (204.8 +/- 45.6 ng/L) increased dramatically compared with those in the control group (40.9 +/- 1.2 ng/L, P < 0.05), and reduced dramatically by 58% when incubated with 10 micromol/L celecoxib (P < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner; plasma levels of CRP in the AMI group (43.3 +/- 14.9 mg/L) significantly increased compared with those in the control group (1.7 +/- 0.8 mg/L), and reduced by 62% after atorvastatin (compared with those in the routine therapy group, P < 0.05). COX-2 expression in monocytes in the AMI group was positively correlated with both secretions of IL-6 and plasma level of CRP (r = 0.636 and 0.662, respectively, both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is an inflammatory activation in peripheral blood monocytes in patients with early AMI, and the monocytes-derived COX-2 may play an important role in promoting early inflammatory process. Atorvastatin may decrease COX-2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes in patients with AMI and cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway might be correlated with the anti-inflammation mechanism of statin.

Aged ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determining quercetin in Herba Euphorbiae Humifusae.

METHODODS column was used with acetonitrile: 0.4% phosphoric acid (40:60) as mobile phase. The detection wavelength was at 370 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 mL.min-1.

RESULTThe linearity was obtained over the range of 0.0364-0.1274 microgram (r = 0.9999). The average recovery was 100.71% with relative standard deviation of 2.45%.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used for quality control of Herba Euphorbiae Humifusae. It is simple, rapid and reliable.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Quercetin ; analysis

Objective:To study the feasibility of preserving the subvalvular structure during mitral valve replacement and whether it is more conducive to the recovery of cardiac function.Methods:The clinical data of 205 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement due to mitral insufficiency in Enshi Central Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether the subvalvular structure of mitral valve was preserved during operation, they were divided into three groups: group A was to preserve all the subvalvular structures of anterior and posterior mitral valve, group B retained all or part of the subvalvular structure of the posterior valve, in group C, all anterior and posterior subvalvular structures were removed. The operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic occlusion time of patients in each group were counted. Postoperative ventilator use time, ICU stay time and incidence of complications; mitral flow velocities (MVE), left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were rechecked by echocardiography at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after operation.Results:There were no significant differences in operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic occlusion time, ventilator use time and ICU stay time among the three groups before surgery ( P>0.05). There were no death cases in perioperative period, and all patients were cured and discharged from hospital. The results of cardiac color ultrasound showed that MVE, LVED, LVEF and LVFS were improved compared with those before operation. Postoperative ultrasound results showed no significant difference in MVE at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months ( P>0.05). At 1 week after surgery, LVED in group A was lower than that in group B and C: (44.90 ± 5.59) mm vs. (46.13 ± 6.15) mm, (48.33 ± 5.59) mm. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Three months after operation, LVED and LVFS in group A were higher than those in group B and group C: (43.37 ± 5.61) mm vs. (44.69 ± 5.45) mm and (53.42 ± 5.35) mm, (33.92 ± 3.34)% vs. (31.67 ± 3.20)% and (30.37 ± 6.96)%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, LVED in group A was lower than that in group B and group C: (41.86 ± 3.27) mm vs. (47.85 ± 6.93) mm and (53.42 ± 8.17) mm. LVFS was higher than that in group B and group C: (33.42 ± 2.64) % vs. (32.18 ± 5.98) % and (32.28 ± 2.58) %, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preserving the whole subvalvular structure of mitral valve will not lead to prosthetic valve dysfunction and increase surgical complications. After operation, it showed better reduction of left ventricular end diastolic diameter and better left ventricular shortening rate, which was more conducive to the recovery of cardiac function.

Objective To evaluate the methods in early warning of schistosomiasis and elimination of snails in an ecological public forest in Yexie Town of Songjiang District, and provide the basis for monitoring and controlling snails in forest land in the future. Methods The monitoring data of snails, schistosomiasis and snail elimination in the public forest were collected to evaluate the effect of controlling snails. Results The area with existence of snails was found to be 10.47 hm², and it was decreased by 98.28% after three times of snail elimination.A total of 1 904 serological tests was performed (test rate of 88.76%) with the positive rate of 0.16%.Pathogenic test result was negative in 3 subjects examined.Serological samples of 11 dogs and 1 sheep were all negative for the test.None of the 1 480 live snails tested was found to be positive in infection.The awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge and behavior formation in 275 students were 98.2% and 95.3%, respectively. Conclusion The snails in the public forest in Yexie Town have been effectively controlled, but there are still scattered living snails.The measures in eliminating and monitoring of snails should be continued and strengthened.

AIMTo establish a suitable condition for extraction of phenylalanine (Phe), 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-OH-Trp) and four diastereomeric salts, (1R,2S)-ephedrine- (2S,3S)-tartaric acid, (1R,2S)-ephedrine-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid, (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine-(2S,3S)-tartaric acid, (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine- (2R,3R)-tartaric acid in supercritical fluid extraction and to assess the solubilities of Phe, 5-OH-Trp and the four diastereomeric salts in CO2.

METHODSSingle-pass method and HPCE.

RESULTSThe solubilities of Phe, 5-OH-Trp and the four diastereomeric salts in CO2 were determined over temperature and pressure ranges of 25-50 degrees C and 6.32-34.03 MPa respectively. The experimental results showed that the solubilities of Phe, 5-OH-Trp and the four diastereomeric salts do not increase with density of CO2. There existed a maximum in the critical region of CO2.

CONCLUSIONThe dramatically high solubilities in the pressure of 6.32-7.78 MPa show a critical behavior, which can be explained by critical characteristic through thermodynamics analysis. The results suggest that the separation of Phe, 5-OH-Trp and the four diastereomeric salts is more efficient in critical region of CO2.

5-Hydroxytryptophan ; chemistry ; Ephedrine ; chemistry ; Phenylalanine ; chemistry ; Pressure ; Solubility ; Stereoisomerism ; Tartrates ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism on the susceptibility of depression and the efficacy of antidepressants.

METHODSA total of 275 patients with depression, who met the diagnostic criteria of both CCMD-3 and DSM-4, were randomly assigned into venlafaxine group (n=136)and paroxetine group(n=139). Another 202 healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD)-17 was adopted as the primary rating instrument to evaluate the severity of depression on the baseline and the end of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th week after treatment, respectively. HAMD scores ≤7 was defined as remission, and the reduction of HAMD scores ≥50% was defined as response while <50% was defined as invalid. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) was applied to detect the genetic polymorphism of the APOE in the case groups and control group.

RESULTSIn the venlafaxine group, the remission rate was 52.9%(n=72), the response rate was 26.5%(n=36), and the invalid rate was 20.6%(n=28), whereas the corresponding data in the paroxetine group wee 42.4%(n=59), 31.7%(n=44), and 25.9% (n=36), respectively. There were no significant differences in the efficacy between the two groups(p>0.05). In the venlafaxine group, there were no significant differences in the genotypes and the allele distribution frequency of APOEΕ2/Ε3/Ε4 between the remitters, nonremitters, and healthy controls at the end of the 6th week(p>0.05), but there was significant differences in the allele distribution frequency between the nonremitters and healthy controls(p=0.02). In paroxetine group, there were no significant differences in the genotypes and the allele distribution frequency of APOEΕ2/Ε3/Ε4 among the remitters, nonremitters and healthy controls at the end of the 6th week(p>0.05), but there were significant differences in the allele distribution frequency between the nonremitters and healthy controls (p=0.04); in addition, there were also significant differences in Ε2/Ε3 and Ε4 allele between the two groups (p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONSThe APOE gene may not play a major role in the pathogenesis of major depression. The efficacy of venlafaxine is same as paroxetine after treatment for six weeks. The APOE (Ε2+Ε3) allele may be an indicator of the bad efficacy of paroxetine treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Cyclohexanols ; therapeutic use ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paroxetine ; therapeutic use ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Treatment Outcome ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo study the occurrence of different anomalies associated with hypospadias and to instruct relevant treatment in clinical practice.

METHODSThree hundred and forty-one cases of hypospadias were investigated, all treated respectively corresponding to their specific anomalies.

RESULTSThe morbidity of associated anomalies in cases of hypospadias was as high as 21.1%. Most of the anomaly cases were undescended testes and inguinal hernia, and the incidence of associated anomalies was related to the degree of hypospadias.

CONCLUSIONSHypospadias is not just a local dysmorphic problem but rather a local manifestation of a systemic disease. It is necessary to take those associated anomalies as a systemic whole and attach enough importance to their clinical treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Urogenital Abnormalities ; complications ; surgery ; Urogenital Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the display of different types injuries of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in laryngeal electromyography (LEMG).

METHODSLEMGs of one hundred and forty-seven patients (147 sides) with traumatic unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) were studied. After LEMGs, the RLNs exploration operations were performed. The condition of RLNs injury and laryngeal muscles was observed and recorded during the operation.

RESULTSThe severe injuries of RLNs were found during operation. The types of injuries were listed as ligation (58 cases), adhesion (28 cases) and cut (61 cases). The waveform morphology of LEMG was recorded less in the patients with the RLNs cut than that in the patients with the RLN ligation or adhesion, respectively. 75.4% RLNs cut showed spontaneous waveform while 96.4% RLNs adhesion and 94.8% RLNs ligation. When the RLN was cut off, single pattern was showed oftener. When the RLN was adhered or ligated, mixed pattern was showed oftener. 92.9% RLN adhesion showed misdirect-regeneration-potentials while 70.7% RLN ligation and 24.6% RLN cut. There were significant difference between two types, but the compound muscular active potential (CMAP) amplitude wasn't significantly different. Evoked amplitude could be recorded in 91.4% patients with ligation and its amplitude was (23.6 +/- 8.1)%, in 85.7% patients with adhesion and its amplitude (16.3 +/- 5.2)%, in 29.5% patients with cut and its amplitude (2.6 +/- 4.2)%.

CONCLUSIONSThe display of different injuries of RLN in LEMG presents significant difference. If RLN was cut off, the CMAP might be recorded in most cases. The clinical injury of RLN often is followed by sub-clinic reinnervation.

Adult ; Aged ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Muscles ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; physiopathology ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

The current proxy indicators and quantitative strategy were summarized for cognitive reserve,the findings of cognitive reserve was discussed then in brain aging and Alzheimer's disease,and some future research directions were presented about cognitive reserve.The reserve of brain explains the disjunction between clinical symptoms and the degree of brain damage,whereby some people can tolerate more of age-related or Alzheimer's disease pathology than others and maintain brain function.The cognitive reserve hypothesis has been widely used in epidemiological and neuroimaging studies,but it lacks a unified quantitative indicator.The future research of cognitive reserve should be focused on the development of quantitative indicators that cover a variety of potential factors dynamically.

Consensus ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Vocal Cord Paralysis/therapy* ; Vocal Cords