Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a specific receptor of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) expressed in endothelial cells. It is a type Ⅱ single-chain transmembrane protein and belongs to C-type lectin family. LOX-1 leads to the injury of endothelial cells by mediating oxLDL, and plays a role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis. This article reviews the association between LOX-1 and atherosclerosis.

In order to offer the theoretical basis of preventing and treating rickets as well as providing information on scientific feeding, a case-control study of 300 infants, less than 24 months of age diagnosed by multiple means was undertaken to investigate the risk factors of infantile rickets in Beijing urban districts. The results showed that the occurrence of infantile rickets was related to maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy, certain birth circumstance, insufficient sunlight exposure and unsuitable feedings. Thus,a concerted policy of systematic management involving early prevention and treatment should be emphasized.

Weanling rats were divided randomly into two groups: taurine (0.6%) Supplemented group (ST) and taurine-free group (TF) . The water maze was used to measure the effect of the taurine on the ability of learning and remembrance of the rats. Cell culture method was used to investigate the effect of taurine and zinc on fibrocellular proliferation. The results indicated that the ability of learning and remembrance of ST rats were significantly higher than that of the TF rats. The rats of ST group had significantly higher weight of whole brain, cerebral and cerebellum, cerebral zinc, copper, iron and free animo acids than those of the TF. The results of cell culture tests showed that fibroblast could grow very well in 10% calf serum medium even taurine was not added to the medium. However, they would not grow as well as when low level taurine was added.The response was a dose-dependent manner, reaching the maximum at 800?M. But cells viability decreases to 80% of the controls at 51mM taurine. Nevertheless, if a combination of tau-rine and zinc was added, there was a striking inhibitive effect on cell proliferation and showed dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that taur-ine-Zn/taurine might act as a regulator in human cell proliferation.From the above results, it is suggested that taurine may play an important role in brain development.

Objective To identify the factors related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) prognosis in a retrospective study.Methods One hundred and six patients were evaluated with ALS enrolled in our hospital from January 1994 to December 2004.The patients were monitored with a standard evaluation form,which recorded clinical features,function rating scale (FRS) and forced vital capacity (FVC) every 3 or 6 months from visit to death or having tracheostomy.Results Mean age at onset was (52.1±10.5) years.According to revised El Escorial diagnostic criteria (EEDC),52 patients had definite ALS,37 probable ALS,17 possible ALS.The median survival time from symptom onset was 35 months (95% CI 30-40 months).In the univariate analysis,survival was significantly related to lesion site,lag time from onset to diagnosis and predicted FVC at diagnosis (Log rank 6.84,43.30,4.78,all P < 0.05).In the Cox multivariate model,lag time from onset to diagnosis was significantly related to survival (Wald 20.221,hazard ratio 0.351,P<0.05).Age,sex,EEDC classification,FRS at diagnosis were not related to survival.Conclusion Lag time from onset to diagnosis is a strong predictor of survival,which suggests that progression rate is highly related to survival and further study is needed.

Objective To investigate the progression rate and prognosis of spinal decompression surgery after the onset of symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Methods A total of 329consecutive patients with deftnite or probable ALS were enrolled in the study.The patients were recorded with clinical features,history of spinal surgery,etc. Some of the patients were monitored every 3 months from visit to death or tracheostomy.Results Of 329 typical sporadic ALS,we found cervical spondylosis in 156(47.4%)patients,among whom 19(5.8%)underwent decompressive spinal surgery.No differences were noted regarding age at symptom onset,Sex and ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis between ALS patients who underwent spinal surgery and other ALS patients.But the time from symptom onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in patients with spinal surgery((23.0±6.5)months vs(13.7±7.9)months,t=4.800,P=0.000).In the folow-up study,there were no differences in the rate of disease progression and survival between 2 groups.Conclusions All patients have inevitably progressed after spinal surgery.Although the surgery does not obviously fasten disease progression rate and shorten survival,it prolongs the time from disease onset to diagnosis,therefore should be handled with caution in patients with concurrent ALS and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective To improve the unsatisfactory situation of endoscope disinfection and develop endoscopic anti-cross- infection security protection sheath. Methods The protective sheath was processed by using tube and cylinder of medical flexible rubber that was non -toxic, harmless, tasteless and transparent, which size was coincide with the shank of endoscopic fore-end. The openings of fore-end and back-end were designed by immerse extra-strong circle. Every sheath was molded into barrel roll based on the midline axis of twist and bagging standby after disinfection and sterilization. Results The instruction of sheath was streamlined that could be unwound smoothly from back-end and accreted tightly to endoscopic mirror. Conclusion The sheath can be reduced effectively the risk of cross-infection in endoscope examination.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the current situation and epidemiological features of syphilis among inpatients in our hospital since 2003.METHODS This study was retrospective.The data were obtained from the inpatients′ files from Jan 2003 to May 2006,All patients with syphilis were analyzed with epidemiological methods.RESULTS Of the 127 586 inpatients screened for syphilis,740(0.58%) were positive,in which 13 were congenital syphilis,371 were latent syphilis and 356 were dominant syphilis.The yearly syphilis positive rate steadily increased,especially the proportion of latent syphilis,being higher among male(0.70%) than female(0.49%)(OR=1.47).The syphilis positive rate of the elder was higher than that of the younger.The syphilis occurred in all departments and all age groups.CONCLUSIONS There is a need for a routine syphilis screening among all inpatients in order to prevent the misdiagnosis of syphilis among them,especially for the latent syphilis.This could be benefit for the latent syphilis patients to get treatment earlier and minimize the spreading of syphilis.

Objective This study was aimed to investigate the methodology of radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in complicated cases Methods 130 cases (87 males) with the average age of 56 years were enrolled consecutively Each patient was diagnosed PAF by Holter and ECG After routine transseptal procedure and cannulation, retrograde pulmonary venography was taken to show the anatomic morphology of all pulmonary veins (PVs) Under the guidance of Lasso circular mapping catheter, all cases underwent electrical isolation for four PVs using the saline irrigated ablation catheter Results (1) By venography,21 PVs (16 2%) were found to have enormously dilated ostia in 21 out of 130 cases 5 PVs (3 8%) had left common trunks 3 PVs (2 3%) had right common trunks In 6 cases right PVs were found to have multiple bifurcated ostia, and the prevalence rate was 4 7% (2) A total of 341 PVs were targeted for segmental ablation in 130 cases Complete isolation was failed in 29 PVs, including 11 PVs with dilated ostia Among the 29 PVs, 14 were left superior PVs (LSPVs), 8 were left inferior PVs (LIPVs), 5 were right inferior PVs (RIPVs), and 2 were right superior PVs (RSPVs) Conclusion The anatomical variants of PV was the main cause of complicating radiofrequency ablation in patients with PAF

Objective To investigate the expression levels of of interleukin-17(IL-17),interferon-gamma(IFN-?),and macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha(MIP-3?)mRNA in skin lesions of pa-tients with psoriasis vulgaris.Methods The skin biopsies were collected from skin lesions in31cases of psoriasis vulgaris and16normal controls.The expressions of IL-17,IFN-?,and MIP-3?mRNA were semi-quantitatively analyzed with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)in psoriatic lesions and normal skin tissues.Results Expressions of IL-17,IFN-?,and MIP-3?were presented in all speci-mens of both psoriatic lesions and normal controls.The expression levels were1.142?0.059for IL-17mRNA,1.114?0.056for IFN-?mRNA,1.140?0.052for MIP-3?mRNA,in skin lesions,respectively,which were greatly higher than those in normal controls(0.879?0.034,0.905?0.026and0.868?0.031,respectively)(all P

20?10 9/L) were 12 (8-20), 17(10-28) and 21 days (7-78), respectively. The average follow-up period was 7 3 years(ranged from 1 month to 14 years). The overall survival (OS) and death rates after transplantation were 70%(18/26) and 30%(8/26) respectively. Transplant-related mortality was 7 7%(2/26). Conclusion The combination of chemotherapy and G-CSF is an effective and low toxicity protocol for the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells. APBSCT can be safely performed in children with malignant tumors.