Biomarkers ; blood ; Biopsy, Needle ; utilization ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

Objective To explore the effects of perinatal exposure to low dose tributyltin (TBT) on development and estrogen level of female offspring KM mice.Methods The CL healthy adult pregnant KM mice were randomly divided into 4 groups,6 in each group,they were given doses of TBT (100,10 and 1 ?g/kg) by gavage from days 6 of gestation to the end of lactation,1 time each day,at a volume of 1 ml/kg.On postnatal day (PND) 49,10 female offspring mice were randomly selected in each group and killed after weighed and the blood was collected.The uterus and ovary were weighed for account of viscera coefficient.The concentrations of estrogen in serum were measured with radioimmunoassay.Results Compared with the control group the time of eye opening was significantly delayed and the vagina opening was significantly ahead in treatment groups (P0.05).The weight of ovary and its coefficient increased significantly in 10 ?g/kg group (P

Aged ; Equipment Failure ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Scoliosis ; Spine ; abnormalities ; Trachea ; Tracheostomy ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVEIn order to get the method for improving the salt resistance of Lycium ruthenium seeds and seedlings under NaCl stress, the seed germination and physiological characteristics of L. ruthenium seedlings was studied.

METHODSeveral physiological indexes of L. ruthenium seeds under NaCl stress, such as the germination rate (Gr), germination vigor (Gv), germination index (Gi), vigor index (Vi), and relative salt damage rate were measured. Other indexes of the seedlings like relative water contents (RWC) , chlorophyll contents, soluble protein contents, electrolyte leakage, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxidase (POD) were also measured.

RESULTNaCl at lower concentration could promote the seed germination but inhibit the seed germination at higher concentration. After the treatment by CaCl2 at the different concentrations, all germination indexes were increased. With the increase of salt concentration, the relative water contents and the contents of chlorophyll were decreased, the content of MDA and electrolyte leakage were increased. The change trend of POD activity showed the first increase and then decrease with the increase of salt concentration, which was similar to that of the soluble protein. After the treatment by CaCl2, relative water contents, chlorophyll and POD activities were decreased more slowly, and also electrolyte leakage and MDA contents increased slowly.

CONCLUSIONThe CaCl2 could significantly alleviate the damages to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium under NaCl stress, and promote the salt resistance to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium.

Calcium ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; Lycium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the status and identify the influencing factors of smoking behaviors among residents in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, so as to provide insights into tobacco control. Methods: Permanent residents at ages of more than 18 years were recruited from 17 communities in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City using the stratified multistage random sampling method from July to November, 2018. Participants' demographic features, smoking, smoking cessation and exposure to secondhand smoke were collected using the Individual Questionnaire for 2018 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance. The factors affecting current smoking were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 1 700 questionnaires were allocated, and 1 625 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 95.59%. The respondents included 714 men and 911 women, with a male to female ratio of 1∶1.27, and had a mean age of ( 45.13±13.59 ) years. The prevalence of current smoking was 15.51%, with 28.15% prevalence in men and 5.60% in women. The mean age of starting daily smoke was ( 21.00±5.52 ) years, and the mean daily smoking frequency was (13.53±9.15) cigarettes/d. The prevalence of smoking cessation was 6.58%, with 10.64% in men and 3.40% in women, and the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke was 41.42%, including 46.63% in men and 37.32% in women. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that an educational level of junior high school ( OR=1.683, 95%CI: 1.088-2.602 ), an educational level of high school/technical secondary school/vocational school (OR=1.687, 95%CI: 1.185-2.402), an occupation of farmers ( OR=2.514, 95%CI: 1.404-4.500 ), and an occupation of commercial and service personnel ( OR=1.939, 95%CI: 1.093-3.439 ) were associated with current smoking. Conclusion The prevalence of current smoking is low among residents in Nanshan District, but the prevalence of current smoking in women is higher than the national level. Educational level and occupation are main factors affecting current smoking.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Liver Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; Liver Failure ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Models, Biological ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models

Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Regeneration ; Receptors, Vitronectin ; biosynthesis

To analyze the characteristics of serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis and evaluate the prognostic ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) in Na-containing models. Patients diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis at our hospital were enrolled for study between June 2005 and October 2010. Patients were classified among three groups, according to serum sodium concentration: less than 125 mmol/L, 125 to 135 mmol/L, and more than 135 mmol/L. Mortality rates among the three groups were compared by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. In addition, the different serum sodium concentrations were analyzed for correlations between Child-Pugh score and complication incidence rates of portal hypertension. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to compare the predictive abilities of MELD, MELD-Na, and the integrated (i) MELD scores for 3-month, 6-month and 1-year mortalities. A total of 467 patients were analyzed, and 50.54% had hyponatremia ( less than 135 mmol/L). Sodium concentration was correlated with mortality, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that mortality was significantly higher in each subgroup with lower sodium concentration (all, P = 0.000). Likewise, sodium concentration decreased in conjunction with increased severity of decompensation, as classified by Child-Pugh scoring (sodium: A more than B more than C; mortality: A less than B less than C). With the exception of digestive tract bleeding, complication incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hepatorenal syndrome increased when sodium concentration decreased. For predicting 3-month mortality, the AUC scores of MELD were not significantly different from the MELD-Na and iMELD scores (P more than 0.05). For predicting 6-month and 1-year mortality, the AUC scores of MELD-Na and iMELD were significantly higher than those of MELD (P less than 0.05). Hyponatremia is correlated with mortality and complications in decompensated cirrhosis patients. Incorporation of Na into the MELD may enhance it's prognostic ability.
Adult ; Aged ; End Stage Liver Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; Liver Failure ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Serum ; chemistry ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sodium ; blood

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain induced by spinal or peripheral nerve injury is very resistant to common pain killers, nerve block, and other pain management approaches. Recently, several studies using stem cells suggested a new way to control the neuropatic pain. In this study, we used the spinal nerve L5 ligation (SNL) model to investigate whether intrathecal rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were able to decrease pain behavior, as well as the relationship between rMSCs and reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS: Neuropathic pain of the left hind paw was induced by unilateral SNL in Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10 in each group). Mechanical sensitivity was assessed using Von Frey filaments at 3, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 24 days post-ligation. rMSCs (10 microl, 1 x 105) or phosphate buffer saline (PBS, 10 microl) was injected intrathecally at 7 days post-ligation. Dihydroethidium (DHE), an oxidative fluorescent dye, was used to detect ROS at 24 days post-ligation. RESULTS: Tight ligation of the L5 spinal nerve induced allodynia in the left hind paw after 3 days post-ligation. ROS expression was increased significantly (P < 0.05) in spinal dorsal horn of L5. Intrathecal rMSCs significantly (P < 0.01) alleviated the allodynia at 10 days after intrathecal injection (17 days post-ligation). Intrathecal rMSCs administration significantly (P < 0.05) reduced ROS expression in the spinal dorsal horn. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rMSCs may modulate neuropathic pain generation through ROS expression after spinal nerve ligation.
Animals ; Horns ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Spinal ; Ligation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Nerve Block ; Neuralgia ; Pain Management ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Spinal Nerves ; Stem Cells