Objective To assess the influencing factors of the progression of carotid atherosclerotic stenosis using color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). Methods From January 2009 to December 2014, a total of data 279 consecutive patients first assessed by CDFI as moderate stenosis of carotid atherosclerosis (stenosis rate 50 -69%)and regularly reexamined with CDFI at 12,24 and 36 months after initial examination were enrolled retrospectively. The residual diameter of vascular lesions and the changes of hemodynamic parameters were documented,and they were divided into either a progression group (n = 40)or a non-progression group (n = 239,and the non-progression group was divided into steady group[n = 210]and improved group [n = 29])according to whether the degree of stenosis progressed into severe stenosis (stenosis rate 70 -99%)or occlusion. The effects of the risk factors for common cerebrovascular disease and taking lipid lowering drugs (atorvastatin 20 mg/ d)on stenosis progression were compared in patients between the 2 groups. There were significant differences in hypertension,smoking and the regular use of atorvastatin . The effects of those factors on the progression of carotid stenosis were compared further through Logistic regression analysis. Results The residual vascular diameters of stenosis at 24,and 36 months were reduced obviously in the progression group compared with those of the non-progression group. There was significant difference (all P < 0. 05),and both the stenotic sites and distal peak systolic flow velocity ratio were significantly higher than those of the steady group and improved group (all P < 0. 05). Among the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease,hypertension (OR,2. 686,95% CI 1. 120 -6. 442,P = 0. 027)and smoking (OR,2. 265,95% CI 1. 081 -4. 746,P = 0. 030)were the major risk factors for affecting the progression of carotid stenosis. Regularly taking atorvastatin was a protective factor of delaying the progression of carotid stenosis (OR,0. 383,95% CI 0. 178 -0. 827,P = 0. 015). Conclusions CDFI may objectively evaluate the progression of carotid stenosis. Smoking and hypertension are the independent risk factors for affecting the progression of carotid stenosis,and regularly taking atorvastatin contributes to delay the progression of carotid stenosis.

Objective Establish a laboratory quality control system to ensure accurate and reliable test data and to contrapose the influence of error factors in current detection methods for urinary iodine measurement. Methods The results of reagent blank absorbance value and uric iodine standard materials were collected, then their relevant technical indexes such as mean, standard deviation, control limit, auxiliary line were worked out. Then the quality control chart of blank test and the relative error control chart were made base on these technical indexes. And different iodine concentrations (high, middle and low concentration) were tested and their mean,relative reduction difference value, weighted mean value and critical limit Rc value were calculated, and then critical limit Rc value precision control chart was made. Results The range of absorbance of blank control test was 1.183 to 1.553. And the limit of the accuracy control Rc value was 0.0883, 0.0572, respectively, when the concentrations of urinary iodine was 0～ < 150 μg/L and 150 ～ 300 μg/L. The control limit of the relative error was 9.3%. Conclusions The method of quality control chart could be satisfactorily applied to identify the quality of the analytical results of urine iodine, and ensure the results of the urine iodine reliable and authentic.

Child, Preschool ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; Humans ; Male

Objective:To explore the clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain by reviewing the relevant studies published between 1985 and 2017.Methods:Based on the Chinese Medicine Acupuncture-moxibustion Information Database,quantitative analysis,correlation analysis and Chi-square test were applied to analyze the commonly used acupoints,meridian affiliations and body region distributions,commonly used methods and acupoint correlations,treatment method correlations,the efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder for cancer pain,and indicators.Results:Zusanli (ST 36),Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) ranked the top on the list of frequency;points from Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang and Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming were often used;points from the lower limbs and back had high frequencies.The most commonly used treatment method was acupuncture-moxibustion plus medication.Acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder showed certain advantage compared with the two methods used separately,and among the integrated methods,acupoint application plus the three-step analgesic ladder produced the most significant efficacy.It took (44.77±55.54) min for the analgesic effect to act and the effect lasted for (12.81±14.59) h.Numerical rating scale (NRS),visual analog scale (VAS) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores all showed significant changes after interventions (all P＜0.01);there was no significant change in the score of quality of life (QOL) after interventions (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Zusanli (ST 36),Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are commonly selected in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain;acupuncture and acupoint application are often used;acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder can boost the treatment efficacy.

Objective To construct cDNA entry library and cDNA expression library of Armillifer agkistrodontis (A.) nymphs and make a preliminary immunoscreening for the cDNA expression library.Methods The nymphs were collected from the Kunming mice infected experimentally with A.agkistrodontis eggs and the total RNA were extracted from the nymphs using TRIzol Reagent.After purifying the mRNA,the synthesized cDNAs were cloned into the donor vector pDONR222 by BP reaction of Gateway technology and the recombinants were transformed into the DH10B cells by electroporation,the cDNA entry library was obtained.Next,the expression vector pDEST17 was ligated with entry clones by LR reaction,and the recombinants were transformed into the BL21 (DE3) cells.Hence,the cDNA expression library was constructed.Then,the expression library was immunoscreened with the mixed sera of mice infected with A.agkistrodontis,and the insertions of positive clones were sequenced.After that,the open reading frame(ORF) of positive slone sequence,the homology of the screened genes and their encoded proteins were analyzed by Finder and BLAST (basic local alignment search tool) program of National Center of Biotechnology Information(NCBI),and the discovered new genes were submitted into the GenBank.Besides,the physico-chemical properties,secondary structure and B cell epitopes of encoded proteins were also analyzed by bioinformatics software.Results The average titer and total clones of the cDNA entry library were 1.45 × 105 CFU/ml(colony-forming unit,CFU) and 1.74 × 106 CFU,respectively,and the range of fragment length of the inserted cDNA was between 0.2-4.0 kb,with an average of 1.4 kb.The total clones of cDNA expression library were 1.00 × 105 CFU,and the fragment length of the inserted cDNA was between 0.3-2.2 kb,with an average of 1.0 kb.Five positive clones,coded S1,S5,A1,D1 and F1,respectively,were obtained through preliminary immunoscreening.The sequence and homology of the five positive clones were sequenced and analyzed by BLAST program.No significant similarities were found in pentastomida species,which meant that they were all novel genes of A.agkistrodontis.The gene sequences were submitted to GenBank,with the accession number from JQ180451 to JQ180455.Also,results obtained by bioinformatics software showed that the predictive encoding proteins were all potential to be valuable recombinant diagnostic antigens.Conclusions The cDNA library of A.agkistrodontis nymphs is successfully constructed,and five new genes of A.agkistrodontis are discovered.The establishment of cDNA library and the discovery of the new genes will lay a foundation for further studying the gene functions and screening the immunodiagnostic antigens.

Objective To observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA and protein in fluoride(F~-) treated fibroblast(FB) of mice in planar(2D) and FBs populated collagen lattice(3D) culture systems and to further explore the effects of VEGF on the osteogenic action of FB. Methods FB were divided into 0 (control group), 0.0001,0.0010,0.1000,1.0000,10.0000 and 20.0000 mg/L groups(F~-). The levels of VEGF mRNA and protein at 48 h were measured by using RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods. Results The expression of VEGF mRNA increased obviously in group of 0.1000 mg/L(1.08 ± 0.09) in 3D FB compared with the control group(0.93 ± 0.02, all P < 0.05). Fluoride increased the content of VEGF protein obviously in groups of 0.1000,1.0000,10.0000 mg/L(0.19 ± 0.02, 0.26 ± 0.01 and 0.32 ± 0.01 ), higher than that in 2D FB culture supematant in the control group(0.14 ± 0.01, all P < 0.05) ; and in groups of 0.1000, 1.0000 rag/L(0.59 ± 0.06 and 0.52 ± 0.03) it was higher than that in 3D FB culture supematant in the control group(0.37 ± 0.05, all P< 0.01 ). The IHC results showed that the VEGF positive staining cells increased significantly in group of 0.001 mg/L (0.45 ± 0.05) in 2D FB when it was compared with control group(0.36 ± 0.03, P< 0.05); and in groups of 0.0010, 0.1000, 1.0000 rag/L(0.62 ± 0.04,0.70 ± 0.06 and 0.65 ± 0.07) are it was higher than that in 3D FB control group (0.44 ± 0.04, P < 0.05 or < 0.01 ). Conclusions The higher expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in 2D and 3D FB induced by fluoride may play an important role in stimulating the osteogenesis ability in FB.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between the progressive effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on cognitive function and the change of cholinergic neuron.

METHODSForty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly averagely divided into four groups: control group, CIH 1 week group, CIH 3 week group and CIH 5 week group. The cognitive function was assessed by the Morris Water Maze. The necrosis neurons in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were observed and counted. The cholin acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunostained cells in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were identified and quantitated.

RESULTSThe spatial learning and memory impairments progressed from 1 to 5 5 weeks in rats. Compared with the control group, the cognitive impairments in CIH5w group were significant (P < 0.05). The degeneration or necrosis neurons in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were significantly increased in CIH rats, and worsen gradually along with the hypoxia. The ChAT immunostained cells in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were gradually reduced. The ChAT immunostained cells of prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in CIH3w group and CIH5w group were less than that in control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChronic intermittent hypoxia induced slowly progressive spatial learning and memory impairments in rats, which maybe associated with the damage of neurons and the reduction of ChAT in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Animals ; Cholinergic Fibers ; pathology ; physiology ; Cholinergic Neurons ; pathology ; physiology ; Cognition ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Prefrontal Cortex ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To evaluate the situation of musculoskeletal imaging research at home and abroad and the disparity and consistency between them.Methods Statistic analysis was done with the musculoskeletal articles published in those journals during the last decade,including Chinese Journal of Radiology,Journal of Clinical Radiology,Radiology,American Journal of Roentgenology(AJR)and the British Journal of Radiology(BJR).Results The development of museuloskeletal imaging research was very imbalaneed among different areas and hospitals in China.The rate of clinical research treatise and imaging technique articles at home was 76.3%(357/468)and 10.0%(47/468),respectively,while that was 75.7%(731/966)and 10.8%(105/966),respectively abroad.The rate of MR image technique articles in China was lower than that abroad.The rate of articles on basic research at home and abroad was 5.3%(25/468)and 7.9%(76/966),respectively.The rate of articles about museuloskeletal imaging simply using CT or MR at home was 20.1%(94/468)and 29.7%(139/468),respectively,while that was 5.1%(49/966)and 60.4%(548/966),respectively abroad.The rate of articles about interventional therapy and synthetic imaging at home was 9.2%(43/468)and 29.3%(137/468),respectively,while that was 4.7%(45/966)and 22.5%(217/966),respectively abroad.With regard to the diseases category,the research focused on the bone tumors and the tumor-like disease in China,while in other countries,the research focus had been diverted to the trauma of bone and joint,and the anatomy and disease of muscle and ligament,which was unsatisfactory in China.More focus had been put on imaging anatomy, cartilage disease and osteoporosis in other countries than in China.The research on the radiation dosage the subject received in the examination,the apphcation of Micro-CT and Micro-MR to musculoskeletal imaging was developed in other countries,but it had not been reported in China.Conclusion Although great success has been achieved in the research of musculoskeletal imaging in the last decade,there is still much disparity comparing with other countries,and the research is very imbalanced among different areas and hospitals in China.We should emphasize the application of MRI to musculoskeletal system and pay more attention to the basic research and imaging anatomy research,especially the research on ligament,muscle and cartilage.

OBJECTIVETo determine dopamine and its metabolites during in vivo cerebral microdialysis by routine high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

METHODSMicrodialysis probes were placed into the right striatum of Wistar rat brains and perfused with Ringer's solution at a rate of 1.5 microL/min. A reverse phase HPLC with electrochemistry was used to assay DA, DOPAC, and HVA after cerebral microdialysates were collected every 20 minutes from awake and freely moving rats. In order to identify the reliability of this method, its selectivity, linear range, precision and accuracy were tested and the contents of DA, DOPAC, and HVA in rat microdialysates were determined.

RESULTSThe standard curve was in good linear at the concentration ranging from 74 nmol/L to 1.5 micromol/L for DOPAC (r2=0.9996), from 66 nmol/L to 1.3 micromol/L for DA (r2=1.0000) and from 69 nmol/L to 1.4 micromol/L for HVA (r2=0.9992). The recovery of DOPAC (0.30, 0.77, 1.49 micromol/L), DA (0.26, 0.69, 1.32 micromol/L), and HVA (0.27, 0.71, 1.37 micromol/L) was 82.00+/-1.70%, 104.00+/-4.00%, 98.70+/-3.10%; 92.30+/-1.50%, 105.30+/-2.30%, 108.00+/-2.00%; 80.00+/-7.80%, 107.69+/-8.00%, and 108.66+/-3.10%, respectively at each concentration. Their intra-day RSD was 3.3%, 3.4%, and 2.5%, and inter-day RSD was 4.2%, 2.3%, and 5.6%, respectively. The mean extracellular concentrations of DOPAC, DA, and HVA in rat brain microdialysates were 10.7, 2.4, and 9.2 micromol/L (n=6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe findings of our study suggested that the simple, accurate and stable method can be applied to basic researches of diseases related to monoamines neurotransmitters by cerebral microdialysis in rats.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Microdialysis ; Rats ; Reference Standards ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Qizhi Jiangtang Capsule (QJC) in treating stage 3b diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients with macroalbuminuria.

METHODSPatients who conformed to the diagnostic criteria of stage 3b DKD were randomly assigned to two groups according to random digital table, the experiment group and the control group, 84 in each group. All patients received a two-week elution period, and then were treated with basic Western therapy. Patients in the experiment group took QJC, 5 pills per time, 3 times a day, while those in the control group took Valsartan Capsule 160 mg each time, once daily. The observation period of follow-ups was limited within 6 months, and the time points were set as the baseline, 1st month, 3rd month, and 6th month. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBS), 24 h urine protein quantitative (24 h UPQ), plasma albumin (ALB), and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected and recorded, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. The occurrence of hypoglycemic reaction, coagulation disorder, gastrointestinal tract reaction, allergy, hyperkalemia, doubling of creatinine, and overall adverse events were observed and recorded at same time.

RESULTSFinally 81 patients in the experiment group and 80 patients in the control group were effectively included. Compared with the baseline level, SBP and DBS obviously decreased in the control group at month 1 of treatment (P < 0.05), and more significantly decreased at month 6 of treatment (P < 0.01). SBP at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups; DBS at month 6 of follow-ups was lower in the control group than in the experiment group (P < 0.05). At month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups, 24 h UPQ of the experiment group was significantly lower than the baseline level (P < 0.01). It was also significantly lower than the level of the control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in 24 h UPQ at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups between the control group and the baseline level (P > 0.05). ALB of the experiment group showed an increasing trend. It was significantly higher than the baseline level at month 6 (P < 0.05), which was also higher than that of the control group at same period (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the ALB level in the control group (P > 0.05). SCr of two groups showed an increasing trend. SCr of the experiment group was significantly higher at month 1, 3, and 6 follow-ups than the baseline level (P < 0.05). But the increment of SCr was higher in the control group than in the experimental group, and obviously higher than the baseline levels (P < 0.05). eGFR of both groups showed a decreasing trend. The decrement was higher in the control group than in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The proportion of progression of renal functions at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups in the experimental group was 0.0% (0 case), 9.55% (8 cases), and 21.4% (18 cases), while they were 8.3% (7 cases), 21.4% (18 cases), and 40.5% (34 cases) in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of progression of renal functions between the two groups at month 3 and 6 of follow-ups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQJC could effectively reduce urinary protein of patients with stage 3b DKD, and delay the progression of renal functions.

Adult ; Albumins ; analysis ; Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Creatinine ; blood ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan