Objective To investigate the distribution of high-arsenic drinking water in Honghu city of Hubei province in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease.Methods Investigations were made in 22 townships(towns,districts),68 natural villages of the drainage areas of the Dongjing River,the Neijing River and the Yangtse River in 2006 and 2007,with the townships(towns,districts)around Shahu town in Xiantao city as the focal point.1000 water samples were drawn each year,which was 10% of all the wells in every natural village.Using sampling investigation,water arsenic Was determined by half-quantitative fast reagent kit.All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard(≥0.03 mg/L)were re-determined according to state standard.Surveys on the disease was carried out in the villages(brigades)where arsenic exceeded the standard.Results A total of 2000 samples were surveyed from 68 natural villages,of which there were 401 samples from 48 villages exceeding the standard in a rate of 20.05%(401/2000).The highest arsenic content Was 0.71 mg/L.The high arsenic water sources were distributed mainy in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River,but no patients with endemic arsenic disease were found.Conclusions The high arsenic water sources are distributed mainly in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River.It is suggested that the interrelated government departments should take precise measures to impmve the quality of drinking water and ensure safe water to the residents in high arsenic areas.

Objective To study the tolerance to 188Re-1-hydroxy-1 ,1-ethylidene disodium phosphonate(HEDP) in patients with bone pain caused by osseous metastases. Methods Thirty-one patients(10with prostate cancer, 9 with breast cancer, 3 with lung cancer, 5 with liver cancer, 2 with rectal cancer, 1with esophageal cancer and 1 with renal cancer) received a single injection dose of 188Re-HEDP. The patients were divided into four groups according to the injection dose: 20 MBq/kg (6 patients), 30 MBq/kg(6 patients), 40 MBq/kg (9 patients), and 50 MBq/kg (10 patients). Haematological toxicity (WHO grading) of grade Ⅲ- Ⅳ was considered unacceptable. Vital signs and adverse effects after injection were recorded for 8 weeks. Blood counts were measured weekly during a period of 8 weeks. Biochemical parameters and electrocardiogram were assayed at week 4 and 8. Statistical analysis was performed for per-protocol (pp) population (t-test). Results Twenty-seven patients belonged to PP population with 5 in the group of 20 MBq/kg, 5 in the group of 30 MBq/kg, 8 in the group of 40 MBq/kg and 9 in the group of 50 MBq/kg.No obvious adverse effects and no significant change of vital signs, electrocardiogram, liver and renal function were found after injection. Alkaline phosphatase was slightly higher than baseline at week 4 and 8 after therapy, but the difference was not statistically significant. In the 20 MBq/kg group, reversible grade Ⅰ leucopenia was noted in 1 patient. In the 30 MBq/kg group, 2 patients showed reversible grade Ⅰ leucopenia including 1 alone with reversible grade Ⅲ thrombopenia. In the 40 MBq/kg group, reversible grade Ⅰ leucopenia and thrombopenia was observed in 1 patient and reversible grade Ⅱ leucopenia and thrombopenia in another patient. In the .50 MBq/kg group, 3 patients showed reversible grade Ⅱ leucopenia. The lowest level of thrombopenia was at week 4(143.5 × 109/L), leucopenia at week 6 (5.4 × 109/L) and anaemia at week 8(t = 3.1325, 3.3156, 3.4917, all P ＜ 0. 05 compared with baseline). At week 8, the mean level of platelet and leucocyte recovered to baseline. "Bounce pain" was found in 2 of 27 patients (7.41%).Conclusions The dose of 20 MBq/kg, 30 MBq/kg, 40 MBq/kg or 50 MBq/kg of 188Re-HEDP do not cause significant side effects on cancer patients with bone metastases, though there is a tendency that the haematological toxicity may increase as the dose of 188Re-HEDP increases.

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of Jieyu Anshen Decoction (JAD) combined with aripiprazole in treating chronic schizophrenia.

METHODSAll 100 patients with chronic schizophrenia diagnosed according to CCMD-3 criteria were equally randomly assigned to the study group (treated with JAD combined with aripiprazole) and the control group (treated with aripiprazole alone) for 12 weeks. The efficacy and safety were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Treatment Emergent Side Effect Scale (TESS).

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group, the PANSS score in the study group was significantly decreased with a higher speed and range of decreasing, becoming lower than that in the control group at the same period. But the difference between the two groups in scores of TESS at corresponding times showed no significance.

CONCLUSIONJAD combined with aripiprazole has definite effect in treating chronic schizophrenia, shows advantages of quickly initiating effect, high safety and with no harm for increasing adverse reactions, so it is better than using aripiprazole alone.

Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aripiprazole ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Quinolones ; therapeutic use ; Schizophrenia ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of Taohong Siwu Decoction (TSD) in regulating functions of endothelial cells and treating arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

METHODSThe ASO model was prepared by using high-fat diet plus intimal injury. They were randomly divided into the model group (n = 10), the normal control group (n = 9), the low dose TSD group (group A, n = 12), the middle dose TSD group (group B, n = 10), and the high dose TSD group (group C, n = 9). Eight weeks after modeling, the limb blood perfusion was observed using laser Doppler flowmetry. The arterial morphology was observed using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) was determined using Percoll density gradient centrifugation method. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, ET-1, and NO were detected using double antibody sandwich assay of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe ASO rat model was successfully established. Blood lipids levels significantly increased, the blood perfusion of left hind limbs significantly decreased, the number of CECs in the peripheral blood significantly increased, the arterial lumen was irregularly narrowed, the ultra-structure of vessel walls was damaged, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, and ET-1 significantly increased, and the serum level of NO significantly decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference when compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, significant improvement in the aforesaid indices was shown in group B and C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe injury and abnormal functions of endothelial cells is an important pathological process of ASO. As an effective recipe for treating ASO, TSD could protect vascular endothelial cells and improve the secretion function of vascular endothelial cells.

Animals ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of TRAIL receptors in fibroblasts of hypertrophic scar in the proliferative stage and explore its significance.

METHODS30 samples of hypertrophic scar were taken from 30 burn cases in the proliferative stage. 30 samples of normal skin were taken as the control. The expressions of TRAIL receptors in the fibroblasts of hypertrophic burn scar and the normal skin were assayed by semiquantitative RT-PCR and flowcytometry.

RESULTSThe expression level of DR5 in the fibroblasts of hypertrophic burn scar is much lower than the control (P < 0.05); the expression level of DcR1 in the fibroblasts of hypertrophic burn scar is much higher than the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe down-regulated DR5 expression and elevated DcR1 expressions in the fibroblasts of hypertrophic burn scar may attribute to the apoptosis change induced by TRAIL and explain the apoptosis differences between the fibroblasts of hypertrophic scar and normal skin to a certain extent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the antiarthritic effects and the possible mechanism of total saponins of Psammruosilene tunicoids (TSPT) against rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODAfter establishing AA rat model, the TSPT'S antiarthritic effects and mechanism against RA were studied through observing the changes of ankle swelling, arthritis index and levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha after medication.

RESULTTSPT could effectively inhibits articular swelling, decrease arthritis index and regulate down the content of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the inflammatory tissue soak of AA rats.

CONCLUSIONTSPT has good antiarthritic effects and the possible mechanism may be related to its down-regulation of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; Foot ; pathology ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; complications ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of hCG on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the phallic tissues of hypospadiac mice.

METHODSThe Kunming mouse model of congenital hypospadias was established. As controls, 10 three-week-old normal male mice and 10 3-week-old congenital hypospadiac mice were injected with isometric sodium chloride intraperitoneally. Another 40 mice with hypospadias were divided into 4 groups and injected intraperitoneally with 50 IU, 100 IU, 150 IU and 200 IU of hCG respectively per day for 7 days. Then the concentration of ECG in the phallus and in the serum were assayed by ELISA.

RESULTSThe EGF level in the phallus of the hypospadiac mice was much lower than that of the controls statistically (P < 0. 05). After the injection of exogenous hCG, the concentration of ECG increased with the dose of hCG, 50 IU (59.57 +/- 22.16) pg/ml, 100 IU (57.97 +/- 9.59) pg/ml, 150 IU (73.02 +/- 31.35) pg/ml and 200 IU (92.45 +/- 35.74) pg/ml. The concentration of ECG showed no significant difference between the control group and the 150 IU and 2000 IU groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDecreased concentration of EGF in the mouse phallus may be associated with the pathogeny of hypospadias. A proper dose of exogenous hCG may increase the concentration of EGF in the mouse phallus.

Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; blood ; Hypospadias ; blood ; metabolism ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Penis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

Adolescent ; Brachiocephalic Veins ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Subclavian Vein ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the causative pathogens in littoral hand infections which exhibited chronic granulomatous inflammation, the relationship between chronic granulomatous inflammation and mycobacteria and to discuss the prospects of PCR in clinical application for diagnosis of granulomatous inflammation.

METHODWith 16S-rDNA as the target sequence, Nest-PCR was used to detect mycobacteria directly from 37 cases of chronic granulomatous inflammations, and identified them by gene sequencing.

RESULTSTwenty-four of 37 cases were positive for mycobacteria by Nest-PCR, in which 17 were M.marinum, 1 M.chelonae, 2 M.avium, 2 M.kansasii, and 2 M.tubercular through gene sequencing.

CONCLUSIONSNest-PCR combining gene sequencing proved to be a liable and sensitive method to detect Non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM) in fresh tissue. NTM is the major factor of hand specific chronic infections other than tubercular. Pathological changes are difficult to differentiate TB from NTM and bacterial evidence was necessary.

Chronic Disease ; DNA, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Granuloma ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Mycobacterium marinum ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA