Objective To investigate the spousal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)and its related factors in HIV epidemic area,which can be beneficial to prevent HIV from transmitting.Methods Three hundred and forty-six couples with one spouse were anti-HIV positive were cross-sectionally investigated.Blood samples were taken from the spouse of subjects whose anti- HIV were positive to detect the anti-HIV antibody and from 70 acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)patients to do the sequencing of the serum HIV provirus DNA.Results In 346 couples,99 were infected by spousal transmission and its transmission rate was 28.6%.One spouse of 125 couples were infected with HIV by paid blood donation,14.4%(18)of the other spouse were infec- ted by spousal transmission.One spouse of 135 couples were infected by paid blood transfusion, 23.7%(32)of the other spouse were infected by spousal transmission.Eighty-six couples were infec- ted by extramarital sexual contact,49(57.0%)got spousal transmission.Thirty-seven(69.8%) subjects were infected by husband-to-wife transmission and 12(36.4%)were from wife to husband. The difference between them was significant(P

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of recombinant OPG-Fc and recombinant RANK protein on the differentiation of osteoclast precursors.

METHODSMouse osteoblasts cell lines were incubated with osteoclast precursors cell lines RAW 264.7 for 9 days with 10(-5) g/L rhRANK or rhOPG-Fc or PBS added to the coculture system. TRAP stain positive cells counting and cortical bone pit formation counting were performed in the 9th day.

RESULTSMultinuleated TRAP stain positive cells were observed in the cocluture systems after 6 days incubation,and plenty of mature osteoclasts could be observed in the 9th day. With the addition of 10(-5) g/L rhOPG-Fc or rhRANK, multinucleated giant cells and cortical bone pit formation couting decreased significantly compared with the control group, and the rhRANK group decreased more significantly than the rhOPG-Fc group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth rhOPG-Fc and rhRANK can inhabit the differentiation of osteoclast precursors and prevent them forming mature osteoclasts,moreover,the rhRANK shows the significant inhabition effect than the rhOPG-Fc.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteoprotegerin ; pharmacology ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

Objective To study the relationship between facial skin conditions and TCM constitutional types; To provide new means and methods for guidance of skin conservation and skin health improvement from the aspect of constitutional types. Methods Totally 2241 female volunteers in nine provincial capital cities and municipalities participated in this research, and were investigated by web questionnaire. Constitutional types were determined according to the“Classification and Judgment of TCM Constitutional Types”standard issued by China Association of Chinese Medicine. Skin color, glossiness, delicate degree, moistness, firmness, resilience, uniformity and other indicators were scored. Skin conditions were classified into three groups:1-3 score group, 4-6 score group, and 7-9 score group, and the constitutional differences among each group were compared. Results Yang-deficiency and mild constitutional types accounted for the largest proportion. Yellowish skin color accounted for the largest proportion, and the next were white, dark and reddish. Yang-deficiency constitutional type accounted for the largest proportion in 1-3 score group, and the second was Qi-stagnation; Yang-deficiency and mild constitutional types accounted for the largest proportion in 4-6 score group; mild constitutional type accounted for the largest proportion in 7-9 score group. Conclusion People with mild constitutional type got highest score in every skin index, while biased constitutional types influenced the score in varied degrees. The constitutional types which influenced Chinese urban females’ facial skin index more were Yang-deficiency and Qi-stagnation constitutional types.

Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saphenous Vein ; transplantation

BACKGROUNDLeft ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony has been described to occur in patients with myocardial infarction. Dyssynchrony of left ventricular mechanical contraction produces adverse hemodynamic consequences. This study aimed to test the capacity of geometric rebuilding by aneurysm plication to restore a more synchronous contractile pattern after a mechanical, rather than electrical, intervention.

METHODSA total of sixty patients with anterior myocardial infarction, QRS duration < 120 ms, electively undergoing operation between January 2008 and January 2010 were included for analysis. Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography was performed to assess LV function, LV systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony by measuring ejection fraction (EF), peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR) and LV dyssynchrony. LV dyssynchrony was defined as the systolic dyssynchrony of the time to reach the minimum systolic volume for 16 LV segments, expressed in percent cardiac cycle, systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI). We compared changes of LV dyssynchrony at different interval times.

RESULTSLV contraction was significantly asynchronous because preoperative SDI was higher, EF, PER and PFR were lowered. Compared with function after operation, LV mechanical intraventricular resynchronization was improved with decreased SDI ((8.7 ± 0.5)% vs. (14.3 ± 1.6)%, P = 0.01); LV function was improved with EF increasing ((43 ± 9)% vs. (37 ± 7)%, P = 0.001), and LV systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony was improved with more rapid PFR (199.4 ± 15.6 vs. 148.4 ± 21.2, P = 0.002) and PER (212.4 ± 14.5 vs. 156.3 ± 26.2, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSSystolic and diastolic dyssynchrony was highly prevalent in patients with aneurysm, irrespective of QRS duration. Aneurysm plication produces a mechanical intraventricular resynchronization.

Aged ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of puerarin on the neural function and the histopathological changes after ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups as follows: puerarin group (n=10) receiving intravenous infusion of 30 mg/kg puerarin for 10 minutes, control group (n=10) receiving intravenous infusion of the same volume of normal saline as puerarin for 10 minutes, and sham operation group (n=10) undergoing only the surgical exposure of the abdominal aorta. Temporary spinal cord ischemia was induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes and followed by reperfusion. The neural status was scored with the Tarlov criteria at 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion. All the animals were killed at 48 hours after reperfusion and the spinal cords (L5) were removed immediately for histopathological study.

RESULTSThe neural function scores at 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion were higher in the puerarin group and sham operation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). More normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord were present in the puerarin group and sham operation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). There was a strong correlation between the final neural function scores and the number of normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord (r=0.839, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPuerarin can significantly ameliorate the neural function and the histopathological damages after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.

Animals ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge.

METHODSThe compounds were separated by means of solvent extraction, chromatography on absorbent resin SP825 and silica gel C18 repeatedly, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical methods and spectral analyses (FAB-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H COSY).

RESULTSSix steroidal saponins were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. They were identified as (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin N, 1), timosaponin E1 (2), (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-methoxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin O, 3) , timosaponin E2 (4), (25R) -26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5alpha-furostane-2alpha, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-xylpyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (purpureagitosid, 5) and marcogenin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 and compound 3 are new compounds, and compound 5 was isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge for the first time.

Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE : To study the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of bear bile powder (BBP) in Shexiang Tongxin Dripping Pill (STDP) , and to provide scientific evidence for treating atherosclerosis (AS) by its therapeutic characteristics of cool resuscitation.

METHODSAS model was duplicated using ApoE-/- gene knocked mice fed with high-fat diet. Thirty ApoE-/- deficient male mice were divided into four groups according to body weight using random digit table, i.e., the model group (A, n =9), the STDP group (B, n=E7), the STDP without BBP group (C, n =7), and the BBP group (D, n =9). Besides, another 9 C57BL/6J male mice of the same age were recruited as a normal control group (E). All mice in Group B, C, and D were respectively administered with corresponding drugs (30, 30, and 0. 33 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to mice in Group A and E. All medication lasted for 8 successive weeks. Serum levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-α), interferon y (IFNγ), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) were measured by ELISA. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined using biochemical assay. Contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the aortic root was detected by dihydroethidum (DHE) fluorescent probe. Expression levels of microRNAs (such as miR-20, miR-21, miR-126, and miR-155) were detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe fluorescence intensity of the aorta was obviously enhanced in Group A. But it was obviously attenuated in Group B, C, and D, and the attenuation was the most in Group B. Compared with Group E, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, oxLDL, and MDA all increased (P <0. 01), GSH contents and SOD activities decreased (P <0. 01), expression levels of miR-126, miR-21, and miR-155 in aorta increased (P <0. 01), and the expression level of miR-20 decreased in Group A (P<0. 01). Compared with Group A, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, oxLDL, and MDA were all down-regulated (P <0. 01), GSH contents and SOD activities were up-regulated (P <0. 01), expression levels of miR-126, miR-21, and miR-155 in aorta were down-regulated in Group B, C, and D (P <0. 01). The expression level of miR20 was up-regulated in Group B and D (P <0. 01). Compared with Group B, serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ increased (P <0.01); GSH contents and SOD activities decreased, levels of MDA and oxLDL increased (P <0. 01) in Group C and D. Expression levels of miR-20 and miR-155 were down-regulated in Group C and D (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONSSTDP played roles in significantly regulating inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors. Its mechanism might be possibly associated with regulating expressions of miR-126, miR-21, miR-155, and miR-20 in aorta. BBP played significant roles in STDP.

Animals ; Aorta ; Apolipoproteins E ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; Bile ; Cytokines ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; drug therapy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Ursidae

OBJECTIVETo study whether liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension are associated with ET-1 TaqI polymorphism and TNFa promoter-308G to A polymorphism.

METHODSA case control study of 106 patients with liver cirrhosis following HBV C infection was performed in comparison with 108 controls by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThe frequency of C allele and CC+TC genotype in TaqI polymorphism of ET-1 gene in the portal hypertension group (LC+) was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls, and the frequency of TNF2/1 genotype in TNFa promoter -308 G to A polymorphism in LC+ group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The results by stratification analysis showed that TCF2 genotype frequency was higher in the LC+ group than in the control group. ET-1 TaqI polymorphism and TNFa polymorphism were risk factors for the occurrence of portal hypertension by Logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONET-1 TaqI polymorphism and TNFa polymorphism are associated with portal hypertension, and are new risk factors for the occurrence of portal hypertension. TCF2 genotype may be a susceptible gene of portal hypertension.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Endothelin-1 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; etiology ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Taq Polymerase ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the imaging methods,characteristics,diagnostic value of multi- slice CT urography(MSCTU)in congenital abnormities of urinary system.Methods To collect 33 urinary congenital abnormities cases in three years and to analyses these MSCTU images.All examinations were performed with a multi-slice spiral CT scanner.The patients were intravenously injected with 90 ml of Iohexol 300 with a power injector at the rate of 3 ml/s.Nephrographic-phase images were obtained at 75 s after initiation of the injection of contrast material,the appropriate delay time is according to Kidney's enhancement extent and nephrohydrosis degree.Excretory-phase images were obtained through the abdomen and pelvis from 10 min.to 23 h after initiation of the injection of contrast material without abdominal compression.Excretory-phase images were transferred to the workstation and performed maximun intensity projection(MIP),multiplanar reconstruction(MPR),volume rendering(VR),and virtual cystoscopy (VC).Results The urinary congenital abnormities diagnosed by MSCTU in 33 cases,including 1 ectopic kidney,1 horseshoe kidney,1 renal malrotaion,2 supernumerary kidneys,2 ureteral valves,2 retrocaval ureters,4 congenital megaureters,6 ureteropelvic junction stenosis,9 pelviureteric duplication malformations and 5 bladder diverticula.The displaying rate of ureter was 91%(61/66).The scanning time of excretory-phase was less than 20 seconds in All cases.The average CT value of contrast media in displayed ureter lumens was 520 HU.The postprocessing images had clear,dimensional feature and It was satisfy the diagnosis.Conclusion MSCTU has clear,dimensional feature and has strong ability of displaying total anatomy shape and tiny pathology change of congenital abnormities in the urinary system.It is a very useful method for detecting the congenital abnormities in the urinary system.