High altitude polycythemia (HAPC) had become one of the main common chronic diseases, which had seriously threatened the health of Plateau people. In the Tibetan medicine classic bookSi-Bu Yi-Dian, there were recordings on HAPC treatment methods and medications, which had the unique advantages of identified therapeutic effect with little side effect. This article analyzed Tibetan medicine in the prevention and treatment of HAPC from aspects such as etiology and pathogenesis, clinical treatment advantages and modern innovation study. Questions were also raised on lacking of standardization on HAPC clinical effectiveness, as well as Tibetan medicine compound material basis and action mechanisms were unclear. It was proposed that based on the inheritance of Tibetan medicine theoretical basis and clinical therapeutic effect, the Tibetan medicine original thinking should be combined with modern science and technology, in order to strengthen the analysis of ancient literature collection in HAPC treatment and data mining in medication experiences. The clinical treatment standards and medication plan should be standardized. Methods of systems biology, such as metabolomics, can be used in the further study of the scientific connotation of HAPC treatment by Tibetan medicine.

OBJECTIVETo compare the value of head-chest lead electrocardiogram (HCECG) and routine lead electrocardiogram (RLECG) in diagnosis of acute positive posterior myocardial infarction.

METHODSHCECGs and RLECGs were recorded simultaneously in 68 normal individuals and 32 patients with acute posterior wall myocardial infarction confirmed by coronary angiography and echocardiography. Each HCECG and RLECG was analyzed by two senior physicians specialized in clinical electrophysiology who were blinded to the results. The HCECG- and RLECG-based diagnostic results were compared with the results of coronary angiography, and the coincidence rates and false positive rates of diagnosis based on HCECGs and RLECGs were calculated.

RESULTSThe coincidence rate was 93.8% (30/32) for RLECGs and 100% (32/32) for HCECGs in the diagnosis of acute posterior wall myocardial infarction, showing no significant difference between them (P>0.05). RLECGs-based diagnosis, however, resulted in a significantly higher false positive rate than HCECGs [13.2% (9/68) vs 0% (0/68), P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONHead-chest lead system is superior to routine lead system for its low false positive rates in the diagnosis of acute posterior wall myocardial infarction.

Adult ; Coronary Angiography ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo introduce the experience in the treatment of lower eyelid pouches orbital rim.

METHODSAn incision was made along the margin of lower eyelid and dissection was performed under the orbicularis muscle to expose the orbital septum and periosteum of lower orbital rim. The fat released from orbital septum was transposed just below the lower orbital rim and fixed on the periosteum. If lacrimal groove deformity was not corrected completely, the musculocutaneous flap, which may be excised beside the incision, was kept to correct the deformities further with only the muscle portion.

RESULTS72 cases with lower eyelid pouches complicated with lacrimal groove deformities were treated with transposition of orbital fat and orbicularis muscular flaps. Satisfactory results were achieved in all the patients after a follow-up period of 3-6 months.

CONCLUSIONIt is an effective and feasible technique to correct lacrimal groove deformities with transposition of orbital fat and orbicularis muscular flaps.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Aged ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Humans ; Orbit ; Periosteum ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) silencing on EPCs cell cycle.

METHODSRat bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were isolated and cultured in L-DMEM with 20% FBS. Ad-si/rSTIM1 and Ad-hSTIM1 were then transfected into EPCs and the expression of STIM1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The cell cycle was determined using flow cytometry analysis and intracellular free Ca2+ was measured using LSCM. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to examine the interaction between STIM1 and TRPC1. Protein levels of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate were analyzed with ELISA assay.

RESULTSForty-eight hours after transfection, the expression of STIM1 mRNA was significantly downregulated (0.37 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.00 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05) and intracellular free Ca2+ level was significantly reduced (34.07 +/- 4.10 vs. 86.51 +/- 14.12, P < 0.05) in Ad-si/rSTIM1 group compared with control group. The cell cycle was arrested at G1 phase [(90.91 +/- 1.10)% vs. (77.10 +/- 0.56)%, P < 0.05] and the store-operated channel entry was strikingly inhibited in EPCs after treatment with Ad-si/rSTIM1. However, cotransfection of Ad-hSTIM1 with Ad-si/rSTIM1 significantly reversed these responses. Interestingly, co-immunoprecipitation study showed that STIM1 co-precipitated with TRPC1, and IP3 levels measured by ELISA were similar among three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA-mediated knockdown of STIM1 inhibited EPCs proliferation by reducing intracellular free Ca2+ through TRPC1-SOC signaling pathway.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels ; metabolism

Conventional medical experiments can hardly simulate cardiac excitation propagation and observe the evolvement of cardiac electrical activities firsthand as is possible with computer simulation. Based on the anatomic structure of the heart, simulation of cardiac electrical activity mainly consists of the emulation of the excitation process among the cardiac cells and calculation of the electrical activities of individual cardiac cells. In this study we establish a geometric ventricular structure model demonstrating the direction of the cardiac muscle fibers and the layers of the ventricular cells, and endow different action potential models to the ventricular cells of different layers, and observe the activation process of the ventricular parts in view of the three-dimensional anatomy. This method gives attention to both enough calculation amounts and efficiency, which achieves satisfactory simulation results of ventricular electrical activity based on the anatomic structure and cell electrophysiology through an improved algorithm on personal computer.
Algorithms ; Computer Simulation ; Electrophysiology ; Heart ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Humans ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Cardiovascular

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent papers have highlighted the role of diet and lifestyle habits in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but very few population-based studies have evaluated this association in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between diet and lifestyle habits and IBS. METHODS: A food frequency and lifestyle habits questionnaire was used to record the diet and lifestyle habits of 78 IBS subjects and 79 healthy subjects. Cross-tabulation analysis and logistic regression were used to reveal any association among lifestyle habits, eating habits, food consumption frequency, and other associated conditions. RESULTS: The results from logistic regression analysis indicated that IBS was associated with irregular eating (odds ratio [OR], 3.257), physical inactivity (OR, 3.588), and good quality sleep (OR, 0.132). IBS subjects ate fruit (OR, 3.082) vegetables (OR, 3.778), and legumes (OR, 2.111) and drank tea (OR, 2.221) significantly more frequently than the control subjects. After adjusting for age and sex, irregular eating (OR, 3.963), physical inactivity (OR, 6.297), eating vegetables (OR, 7.904), legumes (OR, 2.674), drinking tea (OR, 3.421) and good quality sleep (OR, 0.054) were independent predictors of IBS. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals a possible association between diet and lifestyle habits and IBS.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diet/*adverse effects ; Female ; *Food Habits ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*etiology ; *Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVECoronary arterial plaque rupture and secondary thrombosis are the major pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Metalloprotease (MMPs) secreted by monocyte/macrophage was the main predisposing factor of the plaque rupture and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is involved in a variety of inflammatory cytokine gene transcriptional regulations. We explored the possible role of PPAR-gamma in the regulation of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expressed by peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from patients with ACS.

METHODSPeripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 48 patients with ACS and 28 healthy controls and stimulated by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (0.1 microg/ml for 24 hours) to form MDMs. MDMs were then incubated under various concentrations of rosiglitazone (0, 1, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 48 hours. The concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the supernatant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma, MMP-9 by RT-PCR and nuclear factor-kappaB P65 (NF-kappaB P65) expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPPAR-gamma mRNA expression was significantly lower while NF-kappaB P65 and MMP-9 expression as well as MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations in supernatant were significantly higher in ACS group than those in control group (all P < 0.05). After rosiglitazone intervention, PPAR-gamma mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in both ACS and control groups in a dose-dependent manner. Both the MMP-9 concentration in the supernatant and MMP-9 mRNA expression were reduced post intervention with rosiglitazone in both groups. The TIMP-1 mRNA expression and concentration in supernatant were not affected by rosiglitazone in both groups. Rosiglitazone induced significant downregulation of NF-kappaB P65 expression in both groups.

CONCLUSIONRosiglitazone intervention may downregulate MMP-9 expression by upregulating PPAR-gamma expression, and by downregulating NF-kappaB expression in MDMs isolated from patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo understand the genotypes of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the genetic character of hMPV attachment protein G sequence in Hunan, China.

METHODS232 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) samples from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections were collected from Hunan, China in 2005. HMPV was detected. The full length of G glycoprotein genes were amplified and sequenced. Bioinformatics soft-wares were employed to analyze the sequences.

RESULTS17/232 (7.3%) were showed hMPV positive. And co-infection rate with other viruses is 35%. The diagnoses of these hMPV positive cases are pneumonia, bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia. Phylogenetic analysis for G genes from 13 hMPVs revealed the existence of four major subgroups: A1, A2, B1, B2 in Hunan, China in 2005. There are four types of sequence lengths of hMPV G glycoprotein, which are 711, 675, 660, 696nt. It is different in potential N-linked glycosylation sites and number of cysteine residues among these hMPVs of Hunan, China and Beijing, China. Also it is different from those in Japan and North America.

CONCLUSIONThe investigation of hMPV from Hunan, China in 2005 revealed the high speed of genetic variation and the marked character of geographic epidemic differences.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Metapneumovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Viral Proteins ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of eye-needling combined with medication for treatment of ophthalmoplegia and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. According to etiological factors, the control group were treated with medication and the treatment group with the medication plus eye-acupuncture at main point ocular muscles. Changes of the rima oculi, the range of ocular movement and the dialopia angle after treatment were recorded and statistically analyzed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.4% and the cured rate was 54.1% in the treatment group, and 74.6% and 18.6% in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01).

CONCLUSIONEye-needling combined with medication has an obvious therapeutic effect which is better than simple medication for ophthalmoplegia.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoplegia ; therapy

Objective: To investigate whether inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is involved in the electrical remodeling of cardiomyocytes by regulating ultra-rapid delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(kur)) and the role of Src kinase. Methods: H9c2 cells, embryonic cardiomyocytes of rat, were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) and atrium-derived HL-1 cells were cultured in Claycomb medium. Both H9c2 and HL-1 cells were cultured at 37 ℃ with 5% CO(2). Cells cultured in normal conditions without additional treatment served as control group. Experimental groups were treated with different concentration of TNF-α (25 or 50 or 100 ng/ml) for 24 hours. To study whether Src specific inhibitor PP1 could abrogate the effect of TNF-α, cells were pre-treated with 10 μmol/L PP1 for 1 hour, followed by TNF-α (100 ng/ml) for 24 hours. Western blot and the whole cell patch clamp technique were used to detect the protein expression of Kv1.5 and Src and I(kur) in each group. Results: (1) In H9c2 cells, high concentration of TNF-α treatment (100 ng/ml) significantly reduced the Kv1.5 protein expression compared with control group and TNF-α 25 ng/ml group (both P<0.05). Compared with control group, the expression of p-Src protein was higher in 25 ng/ml, 50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml TNF-α group (all P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the expression of Src protein among groups (P>0.05). In addition, the current density of I(kur) was decreased in 50 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml TNF-α group (both P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of Kv1.5 protein and the current density of I(kur) were increased in PP1+TNF-α group compared with TNF-α 100 ng/ml group (both P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of Kv1.5 protein and the current density of I(kur) between the control group and PP1+TNF-α group (both P>0.05). (2) In atrium-derived HL-1 cells, the expression of Kv1.5 protein was reduced in 100 ng/ml TNF-α group compared with control group and TNF-α 25 ng/ml group (both P<0.01). In addition, the expression of p-Src protein was increased in TNF-α 100 ng/ml group compared with control group (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the protein expression of Src among groups (P>0.05). The expression of Kv1.5 protein was increased in PP1+TNF-α group compared with TNF-α 100 ng/ml group (P<0.05). Conclusion: TNF-α is involved in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation, probably via decreasing I(kur) current density in atrium-derived myocytes through the activation of Src kinase.
Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Heart Atria ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; src-Family Kinases