OBJECTIVETo observe the thoracic aorta features in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with echocardiography.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the echocardiographic features and clinical manifestations in 273 patients with BAV detected from 1991-04 to 2006-02.

RESULTS(1) Aortic dimensions of the anulus, the sinuses of valsalva, the sinotubular junction, the ascending aorta at the level of its largest diameter of 31 patients with functionally normal BAV were significantly increased compared that in control subjects (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) while the dimension of the descending aorta posterior to the left atrium was similar between the two groups (P > 0.05). (2) There is no relation between the vulval positions of BAV and aortic dimensions (P > 0.05). (3) The dimensions of the annulus as well as the sinuses of valsalva were negatively related to the aortic valve gradient, and the dimension of the annulus, the sinuses of valsalva and sinotubular junction were positively related to the degree of aortic regurgitation in 273 patients with BAV (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur results show there is a hemodynamic independent thoracic aortic dilation in patients with functionally normal BAV. Gradient and aortic regurgitation are related to the dimension of the annulus, the sinuses of valsalva and sinotubular junction in patients with BAV.

Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Valve ; abnormalities ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Both market research and literature reports both found that the ootheca of mantodea was all used as medicine. However, Chinese Pharmacopoeia only records the ootheca of three mantis species. The clinical use of ootheca unrecorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, will pose potential risks to drug safety. It's urgent to identify the origin of Mantidis Oötheca. The current researches about original animal in Mantidis Oötheca are based on morphology and unanimous. DNA barcoding fill gaps of the traditional morphological identification, which is widely used in animal classification studies. This study first use DNA barcoding to analyze genetic distance among different Mantidis Oötheca types, align COI sequences between mantis and Mantidis Oötheca and construct the phylogeny tree. The result confirmed that Tenodera sinensis and Hierodula patellifera were the origin insects of Tuanpiaoxiao and Heipiaoxiao, respectively, and Statilia maculate and Mantis religiosa were the origin insects of Changpiaoxiao.
Animals ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; Insect Proteins ; genetics ; Mantodea ; classification ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of interleukin (IL) 21 alone, IL12 alone, and IL21 plus IL12 for inducing the antitumor activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODSPBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood in patients with endometrial cancer in vitro, and kept the culture with low-level IL2. IL2-stimulated PBMCs were cocultured under different conditions (with anti-IL21 antibody, IL21 alone, IL12 alone, or IL21 plus IL12) for 72 h. The cytotoxicity of PBMCs was then examined by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) released assay. CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) regulatory (Treg) cell and CD4(+) IL17A(+) T-helper (Th17) cell proportion were determined with flow cytometry. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSIn comparison to control group, both IL21 and IL12 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of PBMCs. The IL21 plus IL12 group had superior effect to IL21 alone and IL12 alone. IL21 and IL12 significantly decreased the percentages of Treg cells and the rate of PBMCs apoptosis. IL21 or IL12 had no significant effect on the differentiation of Th17 cells and the proliferation of PBMCs.

CONCLUSIONSIL21 and IL12 can enhance the cytotoxicity of PBMCs in patients with endometrial cancer, which can be further strengthened with treatment of IL21 plus IL12. Such effects may be achieved by inhibiting the differentiation of Treg cells and the apoptosis of PBMCs, but not by the differentiation of Th17 cell.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Interleukins ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Objective To study the decomposition kinetics of omethoate in blood.Methods The acetonitrile precipitated protein was added into the blood, with the chromatographic column of a Waters BEH C18column (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7μm), the mobile phase of 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate aqueous solution-methanol, and the gradient elution with a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min and injection volume of 2μL.With electrospray ionization (ESI) source and positive ion detection, qualitative and quantitative analyses were taken using multi-reaction monitoring mode.Omethoate standard was added into blank human blood to the mass concentrations of 0.78, 1.40, 2.30, 4.50, and 7.20μg/mL, and each mass concentration was preserved at 3 temperatures of-20℃, 4℃, and 20℃, respectively.The content of omethoate was detected at different time points (0, 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 15, 24, 32, 40, 48, 64, 80, 96, and 120 d).Results Different concentrations of omethoate all showed a descended trend in human blood under different temperature conditions.The decomposition in storage environment of-20℃, 4℃, and 20℃was fit to a one-compartment open model with a first-order kinetic process, which could be expressed as Ct=Coe-αt, with the calculated theoretical values of omethoate concentration close to the measured values.Conclusion All concentrations of omethoate are decomposed in the blood, which vary a lot in different preservation conditions.It is suggested that blood samples should be frozen and detected timely in suspected omethoate poisoning cases.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene defect in a hereditary coagulation factor V (FV) deficiency family.

METHODSThe plasma FV actigen was measured by one-stage clotting assay. The FV antigen was assayed by Biotin-Avidin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (BA-ELISA). The full length of exon 1 to exon 25 and the 5' untranslated sequence of FV genomic DNA were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing of the amplified fragments, meanwhile the defect was identified by T/A cloning sequencing.

RESULTSThe plasma coagulant activity and amount of FV of the proband were marked deficient (1% and 1.54%, respectively). DNA sequence analysis for the proband revealed a causative mutation in a heterozygous status. It was one base pair deletion in exon 4 at nucleotide 675 inherited from her mother.

CONCLUSIONSA novel mutation in the FV gene was identified in the proband with congenital FV deficiency. The mutation was 675delA in exon 4 resulting in a frameshift and a premature termination codon.

Adolescent ; Blood Coagulation ; Factor V ; analysis ; genetics ; Factor V Deficiency ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method and estimate its outcome to repair deep heel tissue injuries with local tissue flap.

METHODSAt lower cnemis, a fat fascial flap combined with perineal tendofascial flap were designed and elevated between the lateral malleolars blank, the largest area is 6 cm x 13 cm, which were transplanted to cover naked calcaneal tendon and calcaneal bone, full-thickness free skin graft or middle-thickness free skin graft were grafted on flap.

RESULTS6 patients suffered from heel tissue defects had been treated from January 2004 to November 2005. The smallest area was 3.5 cm x 4.0 cm and the largest was 4 cm x 6 cm. All fascial flaps and free skin grafts were successfully survived after operations. All patients were followed up 3-23 months, the operation areas were healed, the functions and configurations were satisfied.

CONCLUSIONSPerineal tendofascial flap conjoined with adipofasical flap and free skin graft are used to repair heel deep tissue defects, which is a handy, dependable way for repairing of the small tissue defects of the lower third of leg and heel.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Fascia ; transplantation ; Female ; Fibula ; surgery ; Heel ; injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

Decoction is one of the most commonly used dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine. The stability of chemical constituents in decoction is closely related to the clinical efficacy and safety. There were few reports about the influence of metal ions in the stability of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine. However, there is no evidence that metal ions in decoction water need to be controlled. In this study, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), one of the main constituents in Polygoni Multiflori Radix was studied. Ordinary tap water, deionized water, and water containing different metal ions were used to investigate and compare the influence on THSG. The results showed that after storage in a dark place at the room temperature for 10 days, the degradation of THSG was 7% in deionized water, while undetectable in tap water. The content of THSG could be decreased by different kinds of metal ions, and the effect was concentration-dependent. Moreover, Fe3+ and Fe2+ showed the greatest influence at the same concentration; and our study has shown that THSG decreased more than 98% in Fe and Fe2+ solutions at 500 ppm concentration. In the same time we found out p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (molecular weight: 122.036 7) and 2,3,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde-2-O-glycoside (molecular weight: 316.079 4) were the main degradation products of THSG in tap water and water containing Cu2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+ and Al3+. The product of THSG dimer with a water molecule was found in water containing Fe3+ and Fe2+. The above results showed that the metal ions in water could significantly influence the stability of THSG in water, indicating that the clinical efficacy and safety of decoction would be affected if the metal ions in water were not under control. It's suggested that deionized water should be used in the preparation of decoction containing Polygoni Multiflori Radix in the clinic to avoid degradation of THSG. Meanwhile, decoction prepared by tap water should be taken by patients in a short time. Our investigation provides important information and reference about the influence of metal ions on the stability of decoctions in other traditional Chinese medicine that have unstable groups such as hydroxyls and unsaturated bonds, etc.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Ions ; chemistry ; Metals ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polygonaceae ; chemistry ; Stilbenes ; chemistry

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Low Back Pain ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Recovery of Function ; Recurrence ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVELyme disease and Human granulocytic anaplasmosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum respectively. We have investigated infection and co-infection of the two diseases in the population of forest areas of eight provinces in China by measuring seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum.

METHODSForest areas in 8 provinces were chosen for investigation using whole sampling and questionnaire survey methods. 3 669 serum samples from people in the forest areas were tested for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA).

RESULTSSeroprevalence against B. burgdorferi was 3% to 15% and against A. phagocytophilum was 2% to 18% in the study sites in the 8 provinces in China. We also found co-infection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in 7 of the 8 provinces (the exception being the Miyun area in Beijing). The seroprevalence for both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was significantly higher among people exposed to ticks than among people who were not exposed to ticks.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that both pathogens are endemic in the forest areas in the eight provinces, but the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum differs between the provinces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; pathogenicity ; Anaplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; pathogenicity ; Child ; China ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trees ; Young Adult

Objective:To discuss the safety and effectiveness of del Nido cardioplegia solution in severe valvular surgery.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 138 patients of severe valvular disease underwent valve replacement or valvuloplasty in Hunan Provincial People′s Hospital between July 2019 and December 2020 was performed. According to the different cardioplegic solution used, patients were separated in two groups: the del Nido cardioplegia group (D group, n=73) and the St. Thomas cardioplegia group (C group, n=65). The perioperative clinical results of the two groups were compared to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of del Nido cardioplegia in the operation of severe valvular disease. Results:Preoperative characteristics were similar between the two groups, including gender, age, body weight, ejection fraction, and myocardial markers ( P>0.05). No statistical differences were noted in cardiopulmonary bypass time, clamp time, mechanical ventilation time, vasoactive drug use time, ICU and hospital stay time, and ejection fraction before discharge ( P>0.05). However, the times of cardioplegia perfusion [(1.33±0.47)times vs (4.08±0.48)times] and the total perfusion time [(3.96±1.41)min vs (13.15±1.46)min] in group D were lower than those in group C, while the automatic rebound rate (90.41% vs 76.92%) was higher than that in group C ( P<0.05). Both groups successfully completed the operation. There were no serious complications of important organs such as low cardiac output, brain, liver and kidney during and after the operation. There were no deaths during hospitalization, and all patients were cured and discharged. Conclusions:There was no significant difference in myocardial protection between del Nido and St. Thomas cardioplegia solution in severe valvular surgery. The application of del Nido cardioplegia could reduce the frequency of perfusions and total perfusion time.