Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; therapy ; Treatment Failure

Objective To investigate the clinical value of 256-slice CT angiography (CTA) in diagnosing coronary artery fistula(CAF).Methods A total of 18 patients with CAF were analyzed retrospectively.The raw data were transferred to the work station.Image reconstruction techniques were employed, including multiplanar reconstruction (MPR),curved planar reconstruction (CPR),maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume render (VR).Results Coronary artery angiography showed fistula affluxed to the pulmonary artery in 5 cases,affluxed to the coronary sinus in 5 cases,affluxed to the right atrium in 3 cases,affluxed to the left atrium in 3 cases, affluxed to the right ventricle in 2 cases.The blood flow from abnormal vessels to pulmonary arteries was demonstrated in 5 patients,and injection sign or hyper-density of contrast material in the main pulmonary artery was seen.The tortuous vascular networks on the surface of the main pulmonary artery trunk were seen in 2 cases.Formation of aneurysm was seen in 3 cases.Conclusion 256-slice CTA can precisely show the detailed anatomy variations and heomodynamic information of CAF, and directly display the abnormal vessels with multiple image reconstruction techniques.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of 64-slice spiral computed tomography(64-MSCT)triple-phase enhanced scan in diagnosis of lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer.Methods Thirty patients with gastric cancer underwent plain and triple-phase enhanced scan by using 64-MSCT to analyze the relevant parameters of lymphatic metastasis.Results The four parameters de-termined metastatic perigastric lymph node as follows:①the short diameter ≥6 mm,②the ratio of short-to-long diameter ≥0.6,③the CT value in the portal venous phase≥ 65 HU,④the difference of CT values between portal venous phase and plain scan≥35 HU.The sensitivity and specificity of combining two parameters (①+②)in diagnosing metastatic lymph node were 90.5% and 29.0%,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combining three parameters (①+②+③)were 98.2% and 1 9.4%,respec-tively.The sensitivity and specificity of combining four parameters (①+②+③+④)were 99.7% and 13.2%,respectively.In ad-dition,metastatic lymph nodes were considered if they were ring-enhancement,or adhesions of several lymph nodes.Conclusion The use of 64-MSCT triple-phase enhanced scan and synthesis of various parameters of lymph nodes could lead to reliable diagnosis of lymphatic metastasis in gastric cancer with rapid,non-invasive,high sensitive and specific features.

Objective:To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP), haplotypes and genotypes of mannan-binding lectin(MBL) gene in the Bai(Pai) nationality from YunNan province, China.Methods:The three SNP sites CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA(named alleles D, B and C respectively, wildtype named A) in exon1 of MBL gene of 70 DNA samples of Bai nationality whose three SNP sites, -550G/C, -221C/G and +4C/T(named alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q respectively), in promoter region of MBL gene had been clear, haplotypes and genotypes of MBL genes were detected and analyzed by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction.Results:It was found that in Bais population, the frequency of alleles B was 0.100, there only were five haplotypes, HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA and LYPB, whose frequencies were 0.250, 0.107, 0.407, 0.135 and 0.100 respectively, the frequencies of several genotypes were LYPA/LYPA 0.043, LXPA/LYQA 0.143, LYPA/LYPB 0.014, HYPA/LYQA 0.086, LYPA/ LYQA 0.157, HYPA/LYPA 0.014, LYPB/LYQA 0.143, HYPA/LYPB 0.043, LXPA/LXPA 0.014, HYPA/LXPA 0.043, LYQA/LYQA 0.143 and HYPA/HYPA 0.157.Conclusion:In the MBL genes in Bais population, there is the allele B, the polymorphism haplotypes are mostly LYQA and HYPA, and the genotypes, LYPA/LYQA, HYPA/HYPA, LXPA/LYQA, LYPB/LYQA and LYQA/LYQA.

There is abundant processing theory in the system of traditional Chinese medicine. The deep excavation and research of that is conducive to promoting the development of science of Chinese materia medica (CMM), ensuring the quality of CMM prepared in ready-to-use forms and promoting the clinical rational use of drugs. Based on the current research status of CMM processing theory, using the representative drugs as the object, modern pharmacological research as a guide, the contents of the relevant studies of “raw and cooked different use” theory, “carbonic herbs for hemostasis” theory and theory of auxiliary material action were elaborated. The review provided reference for the further research on traditional processing theory and also provided a scientific basis for the clinical rational use of processed products of CMM.

MISA (MicroSAtelite) software was employed to screen SSRs in 68 787 contigs of Swertia mussotii transcriptome sequences. 5 610 SSRs were distributed in 5 099 contigs which accounted for 7.41% of 68 787 contigs. There are 220 kinds of SSR motifs existing in S. mussotii transcriptome. On average, SSRs occurred every 12.60 kb in length. In the SSRs, the tri-nucleotide repeat motif was the most abundant (45.99%), followed by the di-nucleotide (41.62%). AT/TA and AAT/TTA were the main types of motif in di-, tri-nucleotide repeats. The repeat numbers of SSRs which from S. mussotii transcriptome SSRs were mainly from 5 to 10 and motif length of them mostly ranged from 12 bp to 30 bp. A total of 30 651 contigs were annotated, and only 1 447 SSRs were occurred in protein-coding regions. In the six repeat motifs, tri-nucleotide repeats were the most abundant in coding regions (928). There are abundant SSRs in S. mussotii transcriptome with high frequency and various types, indicating their usefulness in theory. This research may lay the foundation for designing the targeted SSR primers and developing SSR molecular markers by mining the information of SSRs loci in S. mussotii transcriptome sequences data.
Data Mining ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Swertia ; genetics ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo observe abnormalities in heart rate variability (HRV) in diabetic rats and to explore the effects of treatment with Guizhi Decoction ([symbols; see text]) on cardiac autonomic nervous (CAN) imbalance.

METHODSA radio-telemetry system for monitoring physiological parameters was implanted into rats to record electrocardiac signals and all indictors of HRV [time domain measures: standard deviation of all RR intervals in 24 h (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percentage of differences between adjacent RR intervals greater than 50 ms (PNN50), and standard deviation of the averages of RR intervals (SDANN); frequency domain measures: low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), total power (TP), and LF/HF ratio]. The normal group was randomly selected, and the remaining rats were used to establish streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. After 4 weeks, the model rats were divided into the model group, the methycobal group, and the Guizhi Decoction group, 9 rats in each group. Four weeks after intragastric administration of the corresponding drugs, the right atria of the rats were collected for immunohistochemical staining of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) to observe the distribution of the sympathetic and vagus nerves in the right atrium. The myocardial homogenate from the interventricular septum and the left ventricle was used for determination of TH, CHAT, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), nerve growth factor (NGF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS(1) STZ rats had elevated blood glucose levels, reduced body weight, and decreased heart rate; there was no difference between the model group and the drug treated groups. (2) Compared with the model group, only RMSSD and TP increased in the methycobal group significantly (P<0.05); SDNN, RMSSD, PNN50, LF, HF, and TP increased, LF/HF decreased (P<0.05), and SDANN just showed a decreasing trend in the Guizhi Decoction group (P>0.05). TH increased, CHAT decreased, and TH/CHAT increased in the myocardial homogenate of the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, left ventricular TH reduced in the methycobal group; and in the Guizhi Decoction group CHAT increased, while TH and TH/CHAT decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, CNTF in the interventricular septum increased in the methycobal group (P<0.05); GAP-43 increased, NGF decreased, and CNTF increased (P<0.05) in the Guizhi Decoction group. There were significant differences in the reduction of NGF and elevation of CNTF between the Guizhi Decoction group and the methycobal group (P<0.05). (3) Immunohistochemical results showed that TH expression significantly increased and CHAT expression significantly decreased in the myocardia of the model group, whereas TH expression decreased and CHAT expression increased in the Guizhi Decoction group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONGuizhi Decoction was effective in improving the function of the vagus nerve, and it could alleviate autonomic nerve damage.

Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats, Wistar ; Telemetry ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEBone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) of rabbits transferred with mammalian hBMP-4 expression plasmid were used to construct tissue-engineered bone. Gene therapy combined with tissue-engineering technique was explored to further improve osteogenesis.

METHODSpEGFP-hBMP-4 plasmid was constructed by subcloning technique. bMSCs were then transferred with either pEGFP-hBMP-4, pEGFP plasmid by lipofectamine or left uninfected in vitro. The cells from the 3 groups were combined with natural non-organic bone (NNB) to construct tissue-engineered bones, which were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice (6 implants per group) for 4 weeks. Specimens were evaluated through histological and computerized new bone formation analysis.

RESULTSpEGFP-hBMP-4 plasmid was successfully constructed. bMSCs could attach and proliferate on the surface on NNB. In vivo experiment showed that new bone formation in pEGFP-hBMP-4 group was higher than those of the control groups.

CONCLUSIONSTissue-engineered bone using hBMP-4 gene modified bMSCs might be an ideal alternative for the repair of bone.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVETo gain a deeper insight into the benefits of oral tadalafil for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSFrom January 2008 to June 2009, we conducted a nationwide survey on the quality of male erectile function among the outpatients under the direction of the Chinese Association of Andrology. A total of 205 ED patients were prescribed oral tadalafil and accomplished a questionnaire investigation after 4 weeks of medication. We compared various parameters of the patients before and after the treatment.

RESULTSFour weeks of oral tadalafil medication achieved a total rate of effectiveness of 85.9% (176/205). The proportion of those with moderate to severe ED was decreased from 67.8% (139/205) before medication to 16.6% (34/205) after it. Those who enjoyed sexual life were increased from 21.5% (44/205) before medication to 84.9% (174/205) after it. Only 1.0% (2/205) of the patients could achieve grade 4 penile hardness before the treatment, as compared with 60.5% (124/205) after it. And the frequency of sexual intercourse was significantly increased, over 4 times in 90.2% (159/205) of the patients.

CONCLUSIONOral tadalafil, with its sure effectiveness on ED, can bring great benefits to the sexual life of ED patients.

Adult ; Carbolines ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological changes of erectile dysfunction (ED) patients in the past five years.

METHODSIn 2003 and 2008, we conducted two questionnaire investigations on the epidemiological changes of ED outpatients in 11 Chinese cities in such aspects as age, disease course, ED severity, smoking and drinking habits, accompanying hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD), and sexual intercourse satisfaction.

RESULTSAccording to the valid copies of the questionnaire collected (808 in 2003 and 858 in 2008), the age pattern of the ED patients hardly changed in the past five years, over 60% aged 30 - 50 years. Compared with the results obtained in 2003, the second investigation showed obvious increases in the following numbers of the ED patients: by 13% in those with longer disease courses (5 - 10 yr), from 24.1 to 42.9% in those with moderate ED, from 20.4 to 29.9% in those with severe ED, by at least 10% in those with smoking and drinking habits, from 11.5 to 16.2% in those with hypertension, from 9.4 to 13.5% in those with diabetes, and from 57.6 to 73.3% in those without sexual satisfaction, while the number of those with CHD did not change significantly.

CONCLUSIONIncreased unhealthy living habits and erectile function impairing diseases have added to the incidence and severity of ED. There is still much work to be done in the prevention and early treatment of ED.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Penile Erection ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population