OBJECTIVETo observe the primary prevention role of Wuling Capsule (WC) on poststroke depression (PSD) patients.

METHODSAcute stroke patients were recruited and randomized into 2 groups by stratification, 55 in each group. All patients received same routine treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Patients in the experimental group additionally took WC (0.33 g each pill), 3 pills per day, three times per day; while those in the control group additionally took placebos, 3 pills per day, three times per day. Two weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. The diagnosis of PSD was performed once every other week. Those in accordance with PSD diagnosis discontinued any drug therapy. Those not in accordance with PSD diagnosis continued the drug therapy for 1-12 therapeutic course(s) (in total of 6 months). If they were still not in accordance with PSD diagnosis, then they discontinued the drug therapy. The morbidity of PSD, the average time of depression occurrence, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) score, and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3-, and 6-month morbidity of PSD was 8%, 16%, and 34% in the experimental group, while they were 19.6%, 29.4%, and 54.9% in the control group. The occurrence rate was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Besides, there was statistical difference in the 6-month occurrence rate between the two groups (chi2 = 4.465, P < 0.05). The average time of PSD occurrence was longer in the experimental group than in the control group (14.96 +/- 8.31 weeks vs. 9.36 +/- 6.06 weeks; t=6.762, P < 0.05). The HAMD score at the PSD occurrence was 11.96 +/- 2.14 in the experimental group, lower than that of the control group (14.57 +/- 4.24), showing statistical difference (t=5.641, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWC was superior to the placebos in lowering the incidence of PSD, delaying the occurrence time of PSD, attenuating the depression degree of PSD, and had certain preventive effect on the incidence of PSD.

Aged ; Capsules ; Depression ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Primary Prevention ; Stroke ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the kinetogenic effects of serum containing Semen Arecae, Dandelion, Semen raphani and Atractylodes macrocephala on the colonic smooth muscle cells of rats.

METHODSSerum containing Chinese materia medicas was made according to standard methods. Smooth muscle cells were isolated from the muscle layers of Wistar rat's colon, referred to modified Bitar's method. The contractile response of colonic smooth muscle cells to serum containing Chinese materia medicas (10%, 50%, 100% concentration) and other medicines (blank and 1 x 10(-3) mol/L acetylcholine) were separately observed. The contractility was presented by the decrease of the cell length between the drug groups and the control.

RESULTSSerum containing each Chinese materia medica can make dose-dependent contraction at different concentrations (P < 0.05), but the strongest effect of each serum had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum containing Semen Arecae, Dandelion, Semen raphani and Atractylodes macrocephala can make notable contraction on colonic smooth muscle cells in rats.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon ; cytology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEAfter chemotherapy was used to treat patients with malignant bone tumors in 1970s, amputation, which was the typical intervention in the 1980s, has been substituted with limb-sparing surgery. This article reported the surgical indications, operative methods, operative effects, and complications of prosthetic replacement of the proximal humerus after the resection of bone tumors.

METHODSFrom April 2004 and December 2008, prosthetic replacement was performed in 18 patients with proximal humerus tumors, including 7 patients with osteosarcoma, 5 patients with chondrosarcoma, 3 patients with giant cell tumor (GCT) of the bone, 1 patient with GCT of the bone combined with an aneurysmal bone cyst, and 1 patient with metastatic bone tumors. Using the Enneking staging system, 7 osteosarcomas and 3 chondrosarcomas were at stage Ib, and 3 GCTs and 2 chondrosarcomas were at stage Ib. The patient with metastatic bone tumors reported severe pain.

RESULTSThe follow-up ranged 5-61 months (mean, 29 months) and showed that 1 patient with osteosarcoma died 19 months after surgery. Local recurrence presented in 1 patient with GCT, 1 patient had inner infection in the area of surgery, and 2 patients had shoulder subluxation after the operation. There was no prosthetic loosening in any patient. The abduction angle of the shoulder was 8 degrees-35 degrees, and circumgyrate angle was 18 degrees-25 degrees, with flexion 35 degrees-90 degrees and extension 25 degrees-42 degrees. According to the functional score developed by the International Society of Limb Salvage, scores ranged between 18 and 29 points, with an average of 24 points.

CONCLUSIONSThe prosthesis replacement for the patients with bone tumors in the proximal humerus is an appropriate procedure with satisfactory therapeutic outcomes; however, many complications should be noted and long-term therapeutic effect needs further investigations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Chondrosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Humerus ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Osteosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Radiography ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the association between polymorphism of 5,10-methylenetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Methods Electronic search strategy was carried out among the databases from home and abroad to collect qualified research papers,according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data on case-control studies on association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and susceptibility to ALL were colleted and analyzed by models of TT vs.CC + CT or TT vs.CC through Meta-analysis.Stratified analysis was carried out according to different age groups (children or adult).Results In systematical analysis,the pooled odds ratios of MTHFR C677T genetype TT vs.CC + CT or TT vs.CC were 0.87(0.69-1.09 ) and 0.82 ( 0.63-1.06 ) respectively; in children' s group,the pooled odds ratios of MTHFR C677T genetype TT vs.CC + CT or TT vs.CC were 0.92 ( 0.79-1.08),0.88 ( 0.75-1.05 ) while in adult group,the pooled odds ratios of MTHFR C677T genetype TT vs.CC + CT or TT vs.CC were 0.45(0.26-0.77),and 0.41 (0.22-0.72) respectively.Conclusion The MTHFR gene 677T variant might not be associated with the risk of children's ALL but might be associated with a reduced risk on adult's ALL.

Objective To study the different effects of valsartan and extended realse nifedipine tablets on lowering blood pressure of essential hypertension patients and their reversal effects on left ventricular hypertrophy. Methods 100 cases of essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were randomly divided into valsartan group(group A) and adalt group(group B).Other antihypertensive drugs except diuretic were removed for 3 weeks.There were 50 cases in group A using valsartan 4～8mg qd,and 50 cases in group B using adalt 30～60 mg qd,the stud),lasted for 24 weeks.The blood pressure was measured and the altrasowic cardiogram examed in baseline and 24 weeks later.Results BP could be significantly reduced after treatment(P

Objective To compare the API and VITEK2 in identifying VanC type Enterococcus.Method A total of 50 VanC type Entero-coccus isolates from 2005~2011 were investigated.We performed the API and VITEK2 test to identified the VanC type Enterococcus respec-tively.API and VITEK2 results combining with the motility test was compared with molecular biology methods to determine the accuracy of API and VITEK2.The MIC of vancomycin and tecoplanin for the strains was performed by agar dilution method.Results Twenty -one and 15 strains of VanC phenotype Enterococcus were identified by the API and VITEK2 test respectively.Compared with molecular bio-logy methods, the accuracy rate was 28.6% and 86.7% respective-ly.Combined with motility test, the accuracy rate of API and VITEK2 reached 100%.Conclusion The VITEK2 had a higher accuracy rate in identifying VanC phenotype Enterococcus than API.API/VITEK2 method combined with bacterial motility test can provide an accurate bacteriological diagnosis for the patients.

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations. In order to examine whether the allele distribution of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in gene STAT4 rs7574865 in patients with SLE is different from those of healthy controls in Chinese Northern Han population, we investigated whether the variants of STAT4 rs7574865 were associated with any specific clinical features of SLE.

METHODSWe genotyped SNPs in STAT4 rs7574865 in 252 patients with SLE and 497 healthy controls. All subjects were from the Northern part of Chinese Han population. The genotypes in rs7574865 were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and consequence direct sequencing of PCR products in the DNA samples.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference in distribution of the SNPs in rs7574865 between the SLE patients and healthy controls. Compared with healthy controls, there was a significant correlation between TT genotypes in rs7574865 and the risk of SLE when GG genotype was used as a reference genotype after adjusting for gender and age. The frequency of T allele in the SLE patients was strongly significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the distribution of SNP in rs7574865 between male and female SLE patients, when compared with healthy controls. The frequency of T allele in rs7574865 in male patients was significantly higher than that of male healthy controls or female patients. There was no significant correlation between the frequencies of T allele in STAT4 rs7574865 and the clinical features of SLE.

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP rs7574865 in STAT4 is strongly associated with risk of SLE in the Chinese Northern Han population. The TT genotype and T allele in STAT4 rs7574869 are susceptibility factors for SLE, especially for male SLE patients.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; genetics ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; STAT4 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the capacity of commercial HIV enzyme immunoassay (EIA) diagnostic kits to detect antibodies against different genotypes of HIV.

METHODSHIV RNA was detected with RT-PCR from samples positive for HIV antibody. The purified PCR products were sequenced directly and the genotypes of HIV from samples were analyzed. The samples for each genotype of HIV were diluted and the diluted samples were detected with different HIV EIA diagnostic kits.

RESULTSAll 20 samples positive for HIV antibody were also positive for HIV RNA; 9 of 20 isolates were genotype B, 9 of them were genotype C or CRF BC, 2 of them were CRF AE. The sensitivity of different HIV EIA diagnostic kits to detect antibodies against different genotypes of HIV was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity of commercial HIV diagnostic kits to detect antibodies against different HIV genotypes may not be significantly different.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genotype ; HIV ; genetics ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective:The present study aim to explore the difference and characteristics of disgust in obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) with/without contamination washing symptoms,adding to the growing literature on the heterogeneity and clinical treatment of OCD.Methods:Totally 66 patients with OCD meeting the criteria of International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and 51 healthy controls matched with gender,age and level of education were recruited.All patients were divided into two subgroups namely washing symptoms group(n =26) and other symptoms group(n =40) based on the contamination washing symptoms.Participants respectively completed the lexical decision task.The results of the tasks were indicators reflecting the disgust feelings,including the accuracy,reaction time to core disgust words,moral disgust words,neutral words,and the rating intensity of disgust provoked by all of the words.Results:The reaction time for core disgust words[(723 ± 89)ms,(746 ± 95) ms vs.(676 ± 96) ms] and moral disgust words[(772 ± 98)ms,(796± 92)ms vs.(723 ± 94)ms] were longer in both group of patients with OCD than in healthy controls.The patients also rated higher degree of disgust for core disgust words[(6.7 ± 1.5),(6.9 ± 1.6)vs.(5.8 ± 1.7)]and moral disgust words [(6.8 ± 1.7),(7.2 ± 1.3)vs.(6.3 ± 1.5)] than healthy controls (Ps ＜0.05).But there were no difference existed between patients with and without contamination washing symptoms on the results of lexical decision task(Ps ＜0.05).Conclusion:It shows that patients with OCD tend to experience intense disgust feelings,and there is no difference between contamination washing symptoms and other symptoms on disgust.These findings suggest that intense disgust feelings may play a role on the etiology and maintenance of OCD,and reducing disgust could be a potential approach for OCD treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) in the sperm of asthenospermia patients, and explore their relationship with sperm motility and related molecular mechanism.

METHODSWe collected 78 semen samples from adult male patients with asthenospermia and another 70 from healthy volunteers as controls. We extracted total RNA and total protein from the sperm following purification of the sperm by Percoll gradient centrifugation, and detected the relative expressions of CRISP2 mRNA and protein in the two groups by RT-PCR, SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe expression of CRISP2 mRNA was down-regulated by 4.3 times and that of the CRISP2 protein by 1.71 times in the asthenospermia patients, significantly lower than in the normal control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe down-regulation of CRISP2 mRNA and protein expressions in the sperm of asthenospermia patients may be closely related with decreased sperm motility, which suggests that CRISP2 may serve as a potential molecular target for the research of asthenospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; physiology