OBJECTIVEThe cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) could be obtained by measuring pulse wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure (BP). This method is associated with various technical drawbacks. We evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of CAVI measured by ultrasound via detecting the aortic and ankle flow directly by ultrasonic probe.

METHODSCAVI was determined in 96 subjects [64 male, mean age (41.2 +/- 8.9) years] who took part in the annual check up program in our department by means of the professional equipment (BP-203RPEII, VP-1000, Japan, CAVIp), the M-mode (CAVIm) and color Doppler flow imaging (CAVId). Measurement reproducibility on was obtained by repeat the measurements in 20 subjects choose randomly from the 96 subjects. Carotid ultrasound (CU) was performed to obtain intima-media thickness (IMT) and beta index in all subjects.

RESULTSCAVI obtained by various methods were similar and comparable (CAVIm 7.74 +/- 1.62, CAVId 7.77 +/- 1.59, CAVIp 8.74 +/- 1.57, all P > 0.05). Inter-group and inter-observer variance was negligible (r1 = 0.98, r2 = 0.97). There were also significant correlations between CAVIm and IMT, CAVIm and beta (r1 = 0.824, r2 = 0.812, all P < 0.01), and between CAVId and IMT, CAVId and beta (r1 = 0.815, r2 = 0.813, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCAVI could be correctly measured by ultrasound technique.

Adult ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Atherosclerosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Blood Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse ; Ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the MR features of different clinical staging of scapulohumeral periarthritis and provide relevant support data for the clinical staging of scapulohumeral periarthritis, so as to guide clinical treatment. Methods 30 patients with scapulohumeral periar-thritis received in the hospital from June 2015 to February 2017 were selected to form the observation group and 8 same-sex and same-aged volunteers without such disease were selected to form the control group. MR imaging was used to observe and measure the structure of shoulder joint of the people in the two groups and statistical analysis was performed to analyze the changes in the structure of the shoulder around dif-ferent clinical stages. Results The thickness of joint capsule and coracohumeral ligament ( CHL) , the ratio of subcoracoid fat triangle re-placed were significantly greater in patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis than those in the control group, and the difference was statisti-cally significant (P<0. 05). Comparing the thickness of joint capsule in the third stage of the scapulohumeral periarthritis group compare with those in the first and second stages, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). There was no statistically significant differ-ence (P>0. 05) in the thickness of the coracohumeral ligament and the ratio of subcoracoid fat triangle replaced in the scapulohumeral peri-arthritis group between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages. Conclusion Patients with different stages have different structures around the shoulder joints. The thickness of joint capsule can be used as an important reference for diagnosing scapulohumeral periarthritis and can guide the clin-ical staging. The thickness of coracohumeral ligament and the ratio of subcoracoid fat triangle replaced can be used as a basis for diagnosing scapulohumeral periarthritis, but it cannot be used as a guideline for clinical staging.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,muscle pathological features and pathogenic gene mutation in 4 cases with LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy (L-CMD).Methods Clinical data of the probands and the parents were collected.Skeletal muscle specimens were biopsied from the probands for pathological analysis.Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes,and PCR,reverse transcription(RT)-PCR and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the LMNA gene to determine the gene mutation and confirm the pathogenicity.Results Four patients had symptoms from fetal period to several months after birth.They presented with motor retardation,muscle weakness with prominent the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,with mild to moderate elevation of CK level.The muscle biopsies showed muscular dystrophic and with inflammatory changes,and the abnormal nuclear morphology was observed with transmission electron microscopy.Genetic analysis of them detected 4 dominant de novo mutations.Three of them had unreported pathogenic mutations.The same sites of the LMNA gene were wild type in their parents.Conclusions Four cases of L-CMD are genetically identified.Genetic counseling of the family can be possible.The patients should be considered LMNA gene mutation of they present themselves with muscle weakness with the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,mild to moderate elevation of CK level,and if the biopsies show muscular dystrophic changes but also with inflammatory changes should be considered LMNA gene mutation.Genetic analysis is the most reliable method for diagnosing L-CMD.

Humans ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Singapore

OBJECTIVETo investigate sperm DNA integrity in male infertility patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODSThis study included 90 infertile men with HBV infection (group A), 82 infertile men without HBV infection (group B) and 70 normal fertile men (group C). We detected sperm DNA integrity among the subjects, including DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS), by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and compared them among the three groups.

RESULTSDFI was higher in group A ([28.17 +/- 13.06]%) than in B ([26.64 +/- 9.79]%) and C ([15.67 +/- 4.73]%), significantly higher in A and B than in C (P < 0.05) but with no significant difference between A and B (P > 0.05). HDS was higher in group A ([10.83 +/- 5.601]%) than in B ([9.04 +/- 3.48]%) and C ([8.04-2.25]%), with significant difference between A and C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA integrity of infertile males is significantly different from that of normal fertile men, and infertility with HBV infection further impairs sperm DNA, which is manifested by abnormal sperm nuclear maturity.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromatin ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; Hepatitis B ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of anluohuaqianwan on experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) in rats.

METHODS36 male SD rats were randomly dividied into three groups: model group, normal group, anluohuaqianwan group. The rats in the three groups were treated with DMN daily for 4 weeks. The liver function was detected using auto biochemistry analyzer, the serum HA, LN, IV-C, PIIIP were detected by immunoradiometry, the histopathology was observed in the left liver lobe after HE staining, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TP, ALB and the contents of HA, LN, IV-C in model group were significantly increased compared to these in the normal group (P less than 0.01). The serum levels of ALT, AST and the contents of HA in anluohuaqianwan group were significantly lower than those in the model group (P less than 0.01). The liver MMP-2 in the model group was significantly increased compared to that in the normal group (P less than 0.05). The expression of MMP-2 in liver tissue of model group was lower than that in the anluohuaqianwan group (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnluohuaqianwan can inhibit liver fibrosis in rats induced by DMN.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To understand the distribution,molecular characteristics and virulence genes of the O1 and O139 Vibrio cholerae isolates from the Pearl River Estuary water.Methods Vibrio cholerae isolates collected from the Pearl River estuary waters from January 2009 to December 2010,were tested by PCR for eight virulence-related genes,including cholera toxin(ctxA),zonula occludens toxin(zot),accessory cholera enterotoxin(ace),hemolysin(hlyA),toxin-coregulated pilus (tcpA),outer membrane protein(ompU),and the regulatory protein genes(tcpⅠ,toxR).Genetic relation was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)and the patterns were clustered by BioNumerics.Results From 1152 aquatic samples,69 isolates were identified,including 41 Inaba,18 Ogawa and 10 O139.All the isolates showed ctxA negative,while the hlyA and toxR genes were positive in all the isolates.34.15％(14/41)of the Inaba strains were hlyA + toxR + ompU + ace + zot + tcpI+,while 66.67％(12/18)belonged to Ogawa strains and 70％(7/10)of the O139 strains were hlyA + toxR+.Through PFGE analysis,the O1 isolates formed three clusters in this study.The patterns of O1 isolates differed widely,with the similarity as 72.8％-100.0％,while the patterns of O139 isolates having the similarity of 69.9％-95.5％.Conclusion The non-toxigenic O1 and O139 V.cholerae had a wide distribution in the environment of Pearl River estuary water during the nonepidemic period of cholera.All the aquatic isolates presented diversities on the related virulent genes.

Objective To analyze the etiologic characteristics of Vibrio cholerae in Guangdong province in 2007.Genetic relationship was observed including among predominated biotype isolates from different areas within the province and among same biotypes isolates from cholera cases and regular surveillance.Methods Isolates from cholera cases and through environmental surveillance were typed by sero-and phage-typings.Similarity of molecular fingerprinting was analyzed through comparing the pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)pattern of predominated biotype isolates,and those of the same biotype isolates from cholera cases and environment surveillance,respectively.In addition,genetic relationship was determined by clustering analysis,using bionumerics software.Results In total,31 isolates from cholera cases were collected and subtyped for 3 serogroups.V.cholerae O1 El Tor Inaba phage 1d was the predominant biotype which causing most of the cases in Guangdong province in 2007.Data from cluster analysis showed that the similarity among Inaba phage 1d strains from different areas were from 94.5% to 100%.However.16 isolates were collected from environment surveillance programs and the predominated biotype could not be found.Additionally,the biotype distribution of cases isolates was not consistent with those isolates through surveillance.High phylogenetic diversity was observed for the same biotypes isolates from cases and surveillance samples.Conclusion Our data showed that V.cholerae O1 El Tor Inaba phage 1d was the predominated biotype with multi-clone coexisting and circulating in Guangdong province in 2007.It also appeared to be the characteristics of cholera in the non-epidemic period,suggesting that it was necessary to enhance the alert surveillance programs for cholera epidemic based on the molecular typing techniques.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of protein kinase B （Akt） overexpression in the inhibition of human bladder cancer 5637 cell proliferation by erianin and related mechanisms. MethodThe 5637 cells stably over-expressing Akt were induced using the lentivirus vector. The 5637 cells infected with the empty vector were classified into blank group. Then the Akt group， empty vector combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group， and Akt combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group were set up. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and the clone formation of 5637 cells in each group was determined in the clone formation experiment. The cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to assay the protein expression levels of phosphorylated （p）-Akt， Akt， p21. The glycolysis of 5637 cells was determined in glucose uptake and lactate secretion assays. ResultCompared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt partially reversed the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Clone formation assay showed that erianin inhibited the clone formation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）， which was partially reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. As revealed by comparison with the blank group， erianin arrested the bladder cancer 5637 cells in G₁ phase （P<0.05）， which was also reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. Western bolt showed that erianin promoted the expression of p21 but suppressed the expression of p-Akt and Akt （P<0.05）. By contrast， the overexpression of Akt down-regulated the elevated p21 protein expression induced by erianin （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the glucose uptake and lactate secretion of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt weakened the inhibitory effect of erianin against the glycolysis of 5637 cells （P<0.05）. ConclusionErianin is able to inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， promote the expression of p21， and inhibit the expression of p-Akt. Overexpressed Akt reduces the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， suggesting that Akt plays an important role in the inhibition of 5637 cell proliferation by erianin， which has provided a new target for the application of erianin in the treatment of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVETo develop a real-time SYBR Green polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139, and to evaluate its reliability through detection of estuary water samples.

METHODSO antigen rfb genes specific for O1 and O139 were used for the design of PCR primers. The real-time SYBR Green PCR system in detecting O1 and O139 specific rfb genes in one tube was developed, and its sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility were evaluated. The ability of the real-time PCR in detection of estuary water samples was compared with the routine PCR and bacteria isolation.

RESULTSThe amplification of O1 or O139 specific target gene could be detected according to the melt curve temperature of amplicons. No amplification was observed in the templates of other 10 non-cholerae vibrios. When comparing to the real-time PCR to bacteria isolation in detection of 524 estuary water samples, it showed high sensitivity, plus also positive in real-time PCR detection among all the samples in which bacteria of O1 or O139 were isolated.

CONCLUSIONThe real-time SYBR Green PCR could be used as the first step of rapid environment screen of V. cholerae in water samples thus might enhance the efficiency of isolation in screening of large amount of water samples.

Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Genes, Bacterial ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rivers ; microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vibrio cholerae O1 ; isolation & purification ; Vibrio cholerae O139 ; isolation & purification