Objective Recent studies suggest that the red blood cell distribution width ( RDW) may play a role in the diag-nosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) with cardiovascular events in patients with Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) in order to provide the basis for improving the diagnosis level and therapeutic effect. Methods Retrospective study was made on the clinical data of 189 patients with ASTEMI enrolled in Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to March 2014.The survival rates of patients with ASTEMI with different RDW were estimated by Kaplan-Meier and compared by Log-rank test and the prognosis factors were inves-tigated by Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results 97 patients′RDW levels were more than 13.7% and 92 patients′RDW levels were less than or equal to 13.7% in 189 ASTEMI patients. The hs-CRP, BNP, LVEF and HDL-C were significantly different be-tween two groups (P<0.05).The rates of recurrent myocardial in-farction, heart failure, sudden death cardiac in patients with highRDW were higher than that in patients with low RDW (22.7%vs 8.7%, 27.8%vs 10.9%, 15.5%vs 5.4%)(χ2 =6.915, 8.632, 5.019, P<0.05) .There were 60 patients with high RDW who experienced cardiovascular events and the 1-year cardiovascular event-free survival rate was 38.1%, and 20 patients with low RDW cardiovascular events was 79.3% in follow-up period (χ2 =30.959, P<0.001).Multivariate cox regression showed that age>65 (HR=2.43, 95%CI:1.09~5.44) and RDW>13.7%(HR=2.20, 95% CI:1.10~4.43) were risk prognostic factors. Conclusion There is a certain correlation between RDW and cardiovascular e-vents in patients with ASTEMI.The ASTEMI patients with high RDW hold higher risk of cardiovascular events and poorer prognosis.

To obtain the genome sequence of human bocavirus 2 (HBoV2), different regions of HBoV2 genome were amplified through PCR in fecal specimens which had been identified as single-positive for HBoV2 in 2010. A genome sequence of HBoV2 (HBoV2-NC, 5444 bp) was obtained after sequence assembly. The phylogenetic analysis showed that HBoV2-NC had the closest evolutionary relationship with HBoV2 Lanzhou strain. The predication of inverted terminal repeats of HBoV2-NC by DINAMelt showed that inverted terminal repeats were contained in HBoV2-NC 5' terminal, which had the typical stem-loop structure in other parvoviruses. Finally, some flanking sequences of HBoV2-NC were amplified by linker-PCR.
Base Sequence ; Gene Amplification ; Genome, Viral ; Human bocavirus ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Parvoviridae Infections ; virology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Terminal Repeat Sequences

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) is a novel virus that mainly causes respiratory tract infection, and it has the characteristic of genome of Parvovirus, containing three open reading frames that encode non-structural proteins NS1 and NP1 and structural proteins VP1 and VP2. Circular episome is present during the rolling circle replication of HBoV1, which provides the possibility of full genome amplification and infectious clone construction to save HBoV1. The recombination between HBoV1 and HBoV2-4 occurs frequently. With the three-dimensional culture, in vitro culture of HBoV1 provides a powerful tool for research on the pathogenesis of HBoV1. This review focuses on the molecular characteristics, association with diseases, in vitro culture, diagnosis and treatment of HBoV1.
Diarrhea ; virology ; Genomics ; Human bocavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Humans ; Meningitis ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; virology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of epimedium herb (EH), a Chinese herb for replenishing Shen, on regulated on activation, normal T call expressed and secreted (RANTES) and monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) expression in lung tissue of asthmatic rats, for further exploring the action mechanism of EH in treating asthma.

METHODSBrown Norway rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group (A), the allergic asthma model group (B), the group of model rat treated with dexamethasone (C), and the three groups of model rat treated with low (0.125 g/mL), medium (0.5 g/mL), high (2.0 g/mL) dose of EH (D, E and F). RANTES and MCP-3 mRNA expressions in lung tissue were tested with Real-time PCR and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-5 (IL-5) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAs compared with the model group (B), RANTES, MCP-3 expression and TNF-alpha were lower in the 4 treated groups (C, D, E and F, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); IL-4 was lower in Group C, E and F (P = 0.007, P = 0.047, P = 0.033), while that in Group D was higher than that in Group C (P = 0.012). As for level of IL-5, lowering was shown only in Group C and F (P = 0.003, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONApplying EH in the attack stage of asthma can alleviate the airway inflammation by down-regulating the expression of RANTES and MCP-3 in lung tissue.

Animals ; Asthma ; blood ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; Chemokine CCL7 ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-5 ; blood ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

0.1 ?mol?L-1), inducing differentiation through enhancement of melanogenesis and increase of the activity of tyrosinase at lower doses(

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the femoral head trabecular heterogeneity in Chinese male patients with osteoporotic fracture and their effects on osteoporotie fracture.Methods Human femoral heads were obtained from 11 male osteoporotie fracture (OP) patients ranged from 51 to 82 years old [average age (65±9 ) years old], and 7 male trauma ( TM ) patients ranged from 46 to 75 years old [average age (61±11 ) years old] who underwent total hip arthroplasty within two hours after either osteoporotic or trauma hip fracture.The OP was defined as having a fragility fracture.After laying femoral head as living body position and locating mark, nine trabecular specimens were obtained from femoral heads, each of 6 mm × 6 mm× 7 mm.The cortical shell was not included in each specimen.One cube was selected as the primary compressive trabecular region and the other 8 specimens as non-primary compressive trabecular region.These cubes were scanned using high-resolution microcomputed tomography scanner (μCT).After scanning, the data of total cubes, primary compressive trabecular region and noncompressive trabecular region were used for analysis by t test.Results In OP group volumetric bone mineral deosity(vBMD) [( 182.15±66.00) mg/mm3 vs (223.97±70.92) mg/mm3, t =3.041], tissue bone mineral density (tBMD) [(538.76±64.72) mg/mm3 vs (580.01±63.86 ) mg/mm3, t = 3.160],bone volume fraction (TV/BV) [(0.22 ± 0.06) % vs (0.26 ± 0.07 ) %, t = 2.821], trabecular thickness (Tb.Th.) [( 161.07 ±42.75 ) μm vs ( 205.47 ± 74.44 ) μm, t = 3.233] were significantly decreased while bone surface/bone volume ( BS/BV ) [( 13.75 ± 2.55 ) mm-1 vs ( 12.28 ± 2.70 ) mm-1, t =-2.777] was significantly increased in the non-primary compressive trabecular region than that in the primary compressive trabecular region ( P < 0.05 ).vBMD [( 182.15 ± 66.00) mg/mm3 vs ( 248.05 ±105.48) mg/mm3, t = - 3.598], tBMD [(538.76 ± 64.72) mg/mm3 vs ( 570.54 ± 100.32) mg/mm3,t=-2.108],TV/BV [(0.22±0.06) % vs (0.28±0.12) %, t= -3.466], Tb.Th.[(161.07±42.75) μm vs (200.31 ±96.63) μm, t= -2.866], trabecular number (Tb.N.)[(1.46±0.23)/mm3 vs ( 1.57 ± 0.29)/mm3, t = - 2.396] were significantly decreased while trabecular separation ( Tb.Sp.) [(780.82 ± 144.85 )μm vs ( 653.09 ± 119.64) μm, t = 5.470], degree of anisotropy (DA) ( 1.57±0.20 vs 1.47±0.18, t = 2.930 ) were significantly increased in OP than in TM in the non-compressive trabecular region( P < 0.05 ).No significant differents were found between OP and TM for any of the parameters measured in the primary compressive trabecular region.Tb.Th.[(199.37±68.22)μm vs (176.33 ±71.21 )μm, t = 2.060,P < 0.05] were significantly increased in the primary compressive trabecular region than that in the non-primary compressive trabecular region and no significant differences were found in the other parameters in the all 18 specimens.Conclusions The femoral head trabeculae had a heterogenic distribution in OP.Bone loss in OP primarily takes place in non-compressive trabecular region.Femoral neck fracture cannot be prevented though the bone microstructure do not loss in the primary compressive trabecular region.Tb.Th.in the femoral head could be an interesting parameter which is closely related to the femoral neck fracture.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and feasibility of the tracheal stent implantation for treatment of malignant tracheal stenosis under general anaesthesia. Methods Eighteen patients with malignant tracheal stenosis underwent preoperative 64-slice spiral CT scan and airway reconstruction. The stenotic sites were located in main tracheal trunk(5 patients),in right main bronchus( 1 patient),in trachea and left main bronchus (4 patients),in trachea and right main bronchus (3 patients),in main tracheal trunk and bilateral main bronchus(5 patients).The degree of stenosis was rated 51％ to 70％ in 7 cases,71％ to 90％ in 11 cases.All patients,17 patients of ASA grade 1V and 1 patient of grade Ⅲ,presented with severe dyspnea. Under general anaesthesia,implantation of metallic stent was performed through the sputum aspiration hole of the connecting tubing with DSA guidance.The NBP,ECG,RR,SaO2 of the patients were recorded and compared with t test during the entire procedure. At the end of the procedure,relief of dyspnea,complications related to anesthesia and operation were recorded. Results The success rate of stent placement was 18/18,and dyspnea was significantly relived in all patients. Slightly bloody sputum occurred in 7 cases.The stent was obstructed by sputum in 1case,and the patient was treated with medication.There were no severe complications.The operative course were rated 11 to 9 in 17 cases,and 6 to 8 in 1 case.All 18 patients were cooperative during the procedure.Sixteen patients rated the procedure as very comfortable and 2 rated the procedure as comfortable.Respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) decreased in all patients after the operation [ ( 37.1 ± 2.8 )/min and ( 106.5 ± 14.2 ) bpm before the operation respectively,( 18.6 ± 1.4)/min and ( 73.2 ± 7.6) bpm after the operation respectively ],t =17.81 and 3.80,P ＜ 0.01.Pulse oxygen saturation ( SaO2 ) during the operation [ ( 91.2 ± 1.8 ) ％ ]increased [ (76.3 ± 8.6 )％ before the operation ] and increased further after the operation [ (94.5 ±4.3 ) ％ ],t =2.06 and 2.26,P ＜ 0.01.Blood pressure (BP) showed no changes throughout the operation (P ＞ 0.05 ).The conprehensive assessment of operation were favorable in all patients. Conclusion With careful preoperative evaluation and planning, tracheal stent implantation under general anaesthesia in patients with malignant tracheal stenosis is feasible and safe.

Objective To analyze the papers published by domestic scientific research workers in order to improve the academic level of their papers. Methods The papers published by over 3000 domestic scientific research workers were investigated with questionnaires. Their motives to publish papers and the relation between the number of pub-lished papers and the assessment of their performance were analyzed. Results The number of papers published by domestic scientific research workers was increased. However, their academic level was to be further improved. Over quantization of the assessment mechanisms for scientific research increased the external motives to publish papers, thus leading to the insufficient internal motives of them to engage in scientific research. Conclusion A loose and comfortable academic environment should be created for the scientific research workers in order to initiate their in-ternal motives to publish papers. Over quantization of the assessment mechanisms for scientific research should be changed in order to reduce the external motives of domestic scientific research workers to publish papers. Innovative and cultural environment should be created in order to improve the soft power of scientific research in our country.

OBJECTIVETo study changes of several related indexes of neuro-endocrino-immune (NEI) network in rat asthma model, and to observe effects of epimedium herb (EH, a Chinese herb for replenishing Shen) and milkvetch root (MR, a Chinese herb for strengthening qi) on these indexes.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty male healthy Brown Norway rats of clean grade were randomly divided into 11 groups. Their mRNA expression of corticoid release hormone (CRH) in hypothalamus was tested by Realtime-PCR, serum ACTH and CORT, IL-6, IL-4, IFN-gamma were detected with radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed with hematoxylin and eosin stain.

RESULTSAs compared with the normal group, mRNA expression of CRH in hypothalamic tissue, plasma ACTH and serum concentration of IFN-gamma not changed significantly, but serum level of CORT raised significantly and the pre-inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-4 showed an increasing trend in the model rats. As compared with the model group, level of CRH mRNA expression in groups treated with low dose and moderate dose of both EH and the formula (HE and MR), IFN-gamma in group treated with moderate dose of EH and serum CORT in group treated with low dose of MR were higher, and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in groups treated with high dose of MR were lower.

CONCLUSIONRats suffered from repeated asthmatic attack for three weeks had some disorders in indexes of NEI network. Chinese herbs for replenish Shen and strengthening qi could improve the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adjust the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which might be one of the mechanisms of Chinese herbs for treatment of repeated asthma attack.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali, the two Chinese herbs for replenishing Shen and strengthening qi, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, one of the pro-inflammatory factors) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) in asthmatic rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal saline control group, the asthma model group and the three treated groups treated with high, medium and low dose of the Chinese herbs. Serum TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B activity in pulmonary tissue were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSHerba Epimedii and Radix Astragali could effectively reduce the production of TNF-alpha and inhibit NF-kappa B activity, and the efficacies in the three treated group were similar, showing insignificant difference among them.

CONCLUSIONApplication of Herba Epimedii and Radix Astragali in the attack or remission stage of asthma could restrain the development of inflammation by reducing the production of TNF-alpha and inhibiting NF-kappa B activity.

Animals ; Asthma ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood