OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of content of minor elements and its biological implication in apoptotic processes. METHODS: The content of minor elements of apoptotic cells from breast cancer induced by anti-cancer drugs was quantitatively analysed with synchronous radiation X-ray fluorescence. RESULTS: Seven kinds of minor elements including Ti, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga and Ge as well as five major elements P, S, Ca, Cl and K were detected in the apoptotic and control cells. The content of elements Zn and P in apoptotic cells after 48 h treatment with taxol and colchicine was significantly increased higher than that in the control cells P<0.05). The content of element Fe in 48 h treatment with taxol was significantly decreased lower than that in the control cells P<0.05). The same trend of change of elements was observed during the process of apoptotic cells death induced with VP-16 or cycloheximide. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the elements Zn, Fe and P should be involved in apoptosis induced by anti-cancer drugs.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of single-port laparoscopic ligation (SPLL) with suture silk for the management of varicocele.

METHODSWe analyzed the clinical effects of SPLL with suture silk in the treatment of 20 cases of varicocele, and compared them with those of conventional three-port laparoscopic ligation (TPLL) for another 24 varicocele patients.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. The operation time was 20-35 (mean 28) minutes and the hospital stay was 2 days for SPLL, as compared with 15-28 (mean 20) minutes and 3 days for TPLL. The cure rate was 75% for the former, and 67% for the latter, with no signification difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPLL with suture silk for the treatment of varicocele has more advantages over TPLL for minimal invasiveness, faster recovery, and less scarring and extraneous residual.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligation ; methods ; Male ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the autologous venous external stents on intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts in rabbits.

METHODSThirty-six male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 5 months and weighing 2.8 to 3.0 kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A, group B and group C, with 12 rabbits in each group. First, a section about 6 cm long of vein was cut from the right external jugular vein of each rabbit and severed to have 3 equal-length segments. Next, each distal segment prepared for anastomosis. The proximal segment invaginating middle segment in group A and only middle segment in group B were used for the external stent. Later, the left common carotid artery was separated from surrounding tissue, from it a section about 0.5 cm long was cut away. Finally, the vein graft was inverted and end-to-end anastomosed to the two ends of the artery with a 9-0 suture. After bloodstream re-established, the diameter of each vein graft was measured. At 2 and 4 weeks postoperative, the graft veins were cut off and histologically examined by the means of HE staining and Masson staining. The smooth muscle cells (SMC) proliferation was studied by the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

RESULTSAfter bloodstream re-established, the diameters of vein graft of group A and group B and group C were (1.6 +/- 0.3) mm, (2.2 +/- 0.4) mm and (2.6 +/- 0.6) mm respectively (P < 0.05). At 4 weeks postoperative, the data of the ratio of intima to media thickness and the index of the proliferating cells of the intima were as follow: group A (1.01 +/- 0.07 and 6.84 +/- 1.98), group B (1.32 +/- 0.08 and 11.01 +/- 2.61), group C (1.55 +/- 0.03 and 14.96 +/- 4.14). Both the data of group A were obviously less than that in group B, and that of group B was less than group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe autologous venous two-layer external stents inhibit intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts.

Animals ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stents ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Tunica Intima ; pathology ; Veins ; pathology ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo study the biomechanical properties of self-designed calcaneal anatomical plate and pre-cut gudgeon system and its efficacy for calcaneal fracture fixation.

METHODSSixteen fresh foot specimens were randomly divided into experimental group and the control group. Axial compressive load were applied to all specimens in order to create a calcaneal fracture model, and the maximum load and the maximum arch displacement of experimental group were recorded. In experimental group, self-designed intenal fixation system were utilized, while the AO plate internal fixation system were utilized in the control group. Axial compressive test were applied again to both groups, and the maximum load, the foot arch displacement and calcanus broadens were measured and recorded.

RESULTSComparison between before and after fixing the calcaneus fracture by self-designed internal fixation system in experimental group, the difference of the maximum load was significant (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) of the maximum arch displacement. All parameters were significantly different (P<0.01) between the experimental group and the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe fractured calcaneus will be able to regain normal foot biomechanical function after treated by self-designed internal fixation system, and able to support foot arch to bear great load. The self-designed internal fixation and pre-cut gudgeon system is considered to outperform the conventional AO internal fixation system with its better effectiveness and outcome in treating calcaneus fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristic of subtypes and genetic diversity of HIV-1 circulating in Hubei province and its molecular epidemiological linkages with regard to risk factors of viral transmission.

METHODSplasma samples of 80 diagnosed individuals was characterized. The gene fragments of gag were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and HIV-1 genotypes were determined based on the nucleotide sequences of gag region.

RESULTSSeven HIV-1 group M subtypes or CRF including B, B', G, CRF01-AE, CRF07-BC, CRF08-BC and CRF15-01B were identified. CRF01-AE was found to be the most dominant subtype (48.4%) followed by CRF7-BC (22.6%) and B' (12.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe data from this study indicate the existence of multiple HIV-1 subtypes or CRFs in Hubei province and the surveillance of HIV-1 gene variation should be paid more attention to.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult ; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) genotypes in Hubei province.

METHODSEpidemiological survey was carried out to HIV-1 carriers who were identified in Hubei province. HIV-1 env V3-V4, gag P17/24 and the first exon of tat region were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction(nPCR) .The sequences were determined, and phylogenetic analyses were then performed.

RESULTS4 HIV-1 strains or circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) were identified in Hubei province with subtype B' the predominant which covered 5 kinds of populations including former blood donors, blood receivers, spouses of the infected people, sex workers and their clients, homosexuals, mainly distributed in the areas with many former blood donors. CRF08-BC and CRF01-AE were found distributed in economically more developed cities or southern area of the province, and the major transmission routes was through sexual contact. Only 1 patient, an injecting drug user, was identified having subtype C.

CONCLUSIONSubtype B' was the main epidemic subtypes in Hubei province while CRF08-BC, CRF01-AE and subtype C were also circulating in the province, indicating the transmission of the disease might to become more complex.

China ; epidemiology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

Objective To study the effect of systemic group music therapy (SGMT) on social living function and life quality in patients with schizophrenia. Methods By systematic sampling, 160 patients were divided into intervention group (80 patients) and control group (80 patients).Patients in the intervention group were treated by SGMT, and the control group was treated by general care.Comparison was made before intervention and 18 months after intervention on the following:scores of social living function as determined by the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS), and Social Maladjustment (SOC) scale.The WHO quality of Life-BREF scale was used to analyze score changes of patients′ life quality. Results ADL, SDSS and SOC scores of the patients in intervention group were significantly lower than those in control group (P values all 0.05).In comparison of the life quality scores, physical health, mental health and social relationship scores were higher in intervention group than those in control group(P values all < 0.05).There was no significant difference between two groups in environment scores(P>0.05). Conclusion Implementation of SGMT intervention can efficiently improve patients′ social living function and quality of life.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of aildenafil citrate, an oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

METHODSIntegrated analyses were made of 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical trials involving 250 men with mild-to-severe erectile dysfunction of various etiologies who received aildenafil citrate 30 or 60 mg (n = 167) or placebo (n = 83).

RESULTSThe statistic results of International Index of Erectile Function, Patient Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) diaries and Global Assessment Question (GAQ) were significantly higher in the aildenafil citrate patients than in the placebo controls. The main drug-related adverse events were flushing, headache, dizziness and naupathia, which were mild and could be self-relieved.

CONCLUSIONThe aildenafil citrate therapy significantly ameliorated erectile function and was well tolerated by a wide range of patients with erectile dysfunction.

Administration, Oral ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To identify the risk factors for reported sudden rise of measles incidence in November,2011,in some areas of Hubei province.Methods We analyzed all measles patients reported in the measles surveillance system from November 2011 to February 2012 in two prefectures with highest attack rates and their vaccination history by reviewing vaccination records.We interviewed patients' parents by telephone to obtain the history of visiting health care within 7 to 21 days before onset.We also used case-crossover study to estimate the relative risk (RR) of hospital acquired infection and to compare the exposure to health care between 7-21 days before onset to 37-51 days before onset among measles patients.Results Totally 140 patients were reported in the two prefectures.Reported measles incidence rates among the population aged ＜8 m (69/100 000) and 8 m to 17 m (72/100 000) were higher than other age groups (rang from 0 to 5.8 per 100 000).Among the population aged 8 m to 17 m,estimated vaccination coverage was lower than 75％,and it was lower than 90％ among those aged 18 m to 3 yrs.During 7-21 days before onset,58％(29/50) of the patients had an exposure to health care settings,compared to 14％ (7/50) of patients during 37 to 51 days before onset (MH RR=5.4,95％ confidence interval=2.1-14.0).Conclusion Under the condition of measles vaccination coverage lower than 95％,iatrogenic infection was a risk factor for measles in Hubei.

Aim To investigate the effects of realgar on the proliferation, invasion and ferroptosis of esophageal cancer cells. Methods Different concentrations of realgar(0, 10,20, 40, 60, 80, 100 μmol·L-1)or realgar 1/2IC