Objective:To investigate the levels of periphreal blood free carnitine and amino acids in healthy pregnant women in the third trimester and their association with maternal, fetal, and neonatal cardiac function and structure.Methods:This prospective descriptive study included healthy singleton pregnancies who underwent routine obstetric examination and delivered in two district maternal and child health hospitals (one in the urban and one in the suburb an area) in Beijing from June 2017 to February 2018. All recruiters had serology Down's syndrome screening test at (18±1) gestational weeks. Besides measurement of amino acids and free carnitine levels in whole blood and urine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, all cases underwent maternal and fetal echocardiography at (35±1) weeks of gestation. And neonatal echocardiography was performed after delivery to assess the heart function and structure. Antenatal factors were also collected, including maternal education background, age at first marriage and conception, gravidity, and folic acid supplement in early pregnancy. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Kappa test. Results:A total of 493 mother-neonate dyads were enrolled in this study. Blood free carnitine levels in the healthy pregnant women in the third trimester ranged from 5.09 to 59.17 μmol/L (reference value: 10.00-50.00 μmol/L) with an average value of (13.03±3.87) μmol/L. None was found with structural abnormalities by cardiac ultrasound, showing an average left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and end systolic diameter (LVESD) of (45.70±3.08) mm and (29.17±3.12) mm, respectively, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of all cases were over 55%. No cardiac malformation was detected by the third-trimester fetal echocardiography. The average birth weight of the 493 newborns was (3 340±313) g. Those whose birth weight <2 500 g and >4 000 g were accounted for 1.0% (5 cases) and 3.0% (15 cases) with the average maternal blood free carnitine level of (13.25±2.17) μmol/L (10.46-19.21 μmol/L) and (12.64±2.50) μmol/L (8.78-17.73 μmol/L) ( t=0.42, P>0.05). The average LVEDD and LVESD of the 493 newborns were (17.21±1.27) mm and (11.03±1.30) mm, respectively. For the 64 newborns (13.0%) whose LVEF<60%, the maternal blood free carnitine level was (12.93±2.78) μmol/L (7.34-22.13 μmol/L), showing no statistical difference ( t=-0.29, P>0.05) with those 59 neonates (12.0%) whose LVEF over 75% and maternal carnitine level of (13.09±3.24) μmol/L (8.66-27.49 μmol/L). All cases were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of maternal blood free carnitine level and no significant difference in maternal or neonatal LVEDD or LVEF was observed among these groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Blood free carnitine concentration in healthy pregnant women in the third trimester is at the lower limit of normal range, and no significant effect on maternal cardiac function and fetal cardiac structure is seen. However, the effect of low maternal carnitine level in the third trimester on children's myocardial function and whether carnitine should be supplemented in the third trimester are worthy of further investigation with larger sample size.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a surgical technique and outcome and illustrate its important of open reduction and internal fixation for fractures of posterior malleolus.

METHODSFrom Jan. 2004 to Jan. 2008, 25 cases were treated with open reduction and internal fixation involving 17 males and 8 females with an average age of 34 years (ranged from 21 to 67 years old). According to Lauge-Hansen classification: 13 cases of type pronation-external rotation (IV), 7 and 5 cases of type supination-external rotation (III and IV). Twenty cases were treated with screw, 5 cases were treated with gypsum. To evaluate the outcome of operation with X-ray.

RESULTSAfter seven months to three years followed-up, clinic therapeutic effect of each patient was evaluated according to the Leeds scoring system, the results were excellent in 21 cases and good in 2. As compared with the uninjured side on the evaluation of the activity range of ankle joint, there were no significant difference in back-extend and plantar flexion.

CONCLUSIONIn order to obtain ankle joint satisfactory result, open reduction and rigid internal fixation must be adopted in the fracture of posterior malleolus.

Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rotation ; Treatment Outcome

Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To identify serum biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis(RA)by protein finger- print pattern. Methods One hundred and forty-one serum samples of 90 RA patients, 20 systemic lupus ery- thematosus(SLE)patients, and 31 healthy individuals were randomly divided into training set(n=93, 60 RA patients, 13 SLE patients and 20 healthy individuals)and test set(n=48, 30 RA patients, 7 SLE patients and 11 healthy individuals). They were detected by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight- mass spectrometry(SELDI-TOF-MS). The protein fingerprint pattern obtained from SELDI-TOF was trained by a multi-layer artificial neural network(ANN)to establish a diagnostic model. Results The detective mod- el obtained by ANN was used to detect the 48 unknown serum samples. The sensitivity and specificity for RA detection was 90% and 90.9% respectively. Conclusion In comparison with traditional methods, SELDI- TOF-MS could identify new serum biomarkers in RA. Combined with ANN, it provides high sensitivity and specificity for RA diagnosis.

Objective To study the association between serum concentrations of total testosterone levels and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the postmenopausal women. Methods The study was designed as a case-control study.394 postmenopausal female patients were selected from Cardiology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.The case group included 183 women patients with CHD aged (62.7±8.0) years,the control group,211 women with normal coronary aged (60.0 ± 8.8) years. Blood samples were collected to determine total testosterone,fasting glucose and lipid profile. CHD severity was expressed as the numbers of coronary arteries that had a stenosis ≥50％.According to the level of testosteron,all cases were divided into 4 groups by interquartile range method:Q1＜3.5 nmol/L(n=190),3.5 nmol/L≤Q2 ＜10.4 nmol/L(n=64),10.4 nmol/L≤Q3 ＜26.0 nmol/L(n=120) and Q4≥26.0 nmol/L(n=20).The association between the serum total testosterone levels and severity of coronary atherosclerosis was analyzed. Results The average total testosterone was higher in case group than in control group[(10.4 ± 24.3 ) nmol/L vs. ( 6.9 ± 17.4 ) nmol/L,Z =0.79,P =0.555].In Quantitative adjusted models,higher levels of total testosterone had strong correlation with CHD,Q4 incidence of CHD (75.0％,15 cases) was significantly higher than Q1 (46.8％,89 cases),Q2 (40.6％,26 cases)and Q3 (44.2％,53 cases) (x2 =7.69,P=0.048).After adjustment for other risk factors,women in the top quartile of total testosterone levels had a more than 3-fold increase in odds of CHD(OR=3.47,95％CI:1.06-11.32,P＜0.05).In addition,the serum concentrations of total testosterone level were significantly associated with the severity of CHD (F=12.94,P＜0.05). Conclusions Higher levels of total testosterone may be associated with high prevalence and severity of CHD as an independent factor in postmenopausal women.

Objective To investigate the expression of inositol requiting enzyme1 α (IRE1 α) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and its significance through establishing models of intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (IIRI) in rats.Methods According to the random number table,50 male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:sham operation group (n =10) and ischemia reperfusion (I/R) group (n =40).Sham group animals underwent laparotomy.I/R group rats were subjected to occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 30 min;then the blood flow was restored.I/R group animals were divided into 4 subgroups:2 h,6 h,12 h,24 h according to the time of reperfusion.Eight rats were examined based on the number of live rats in each subgroup.The HE staining pathological changes in intestinal samples were observed by the light microscope.The small intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis index (AI) was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression levels of intestinal tissues tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (Ⅰ-FABP) were detected by ELISA tests.Situ end labeling method was used to detect intestinal cell AI.Western blot was applied to investigate the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS) proteins IRE1α,phosphorylation IREIα (p-IRE1 α) and TRAF2 in all group rats intestinal tissues.Results (1)The pathological changes showed that the intestinal injury of I/R groups was more severe than that of sham group,especially at 6 h.(2) Compared with sham group,the expression levels of TNF-α [sham group (16.41 ± 4.44)ng/ L,2 h group:(79.71 ± 8.20) ng/L,6 h group:(131.70 ± 11.59) ng/L,12 h group:(94.23 ±7.66) ng/L,24 h group:(69.78 ± 9.58) ng/L],AI[sham group:(3.93 ±0.77)％,2 h group:(16.24 ± 1.97)％,6 h group:(42.19 ±2.40)％,12 h group:(37.79 ± 2.34)％,24 h goup:(10.38 ±1.46)％] and plasma Ⅰ-FABP [sham group:(0.65 ±0.10) × 103 ng/L,2 h group:(1.47 ±0.10) ×103 ng/L,6 h group:(2.36 ±0.17) ×103 ng/L,12 h group:(37.79 ±2.34) ×103 ng/L,24 group:(l.41 ±0.09) × 103 ng/L] were higher (F =231.462,149.032,162.491,all P ＜ 0.01).(3) The expression of TRAF-2 protein and p-IRE1 α/IRE1 α could be up-regulated after IIRI (F =40.473,59.59,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of these proteins was up-regulated 2 h after reperfusion,peaking at 6-12 h reperfusion,and then decreased at 24 h,and the variation tendencies of all groups were the same.Conclusions IIRI could induce ERS,activate IRE1 α and up-regulate TRAF2.IRE1α/TRAF2 mediating ERS might be involved in regulating the cell inflammation,apoptosis and increasing intestinal permeability after IIRI.

ObjectiveTo investigate methods of early postoperative rehabilitation and its effects on patients with bicondylar tibial plateau fracture treated by modified dual plating.Methods66 patients with bicondylar tibial plateau fracture from Tianjin Hospital were divided into 2 groups according to the starting time for postoperative rehabilitation: early rehabilitation group (n=30), convalescents rehabilitation group (n=36). The two groups had the same treatment since the fourth week postoperative. Tibial plateau angle (TPA) and posterior slope angle (PA) of tibial plateau were measured to evaluate the stability of proximal tibial and knee alignment. The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score system and knee joint range of motion (ROM) were used as the parameters for knee function.ResultsThe mean value of TPA and PA had no significant changes, compared to the final follow-up and postoperative X-ray films(P>0.05); the differences between the two groups were statistically significant in the mean HSS score and mean value of knee flexion and extention ROM(P<0.01 or 0.05). There was significantly positive correlation between starting time and the total number of treatment was significant(P<0.01), while negative correlation with flexion ROM of knee joint and the HSS score(P<0.01).ConclusionThe correlation between rehabilitation intervention timing and functional recovery for patients with bicondylar tibial plateau fracture treated by modified dual plating is significant, early individual and systematic rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the prognosis features of patients.

OBJECTIVETo establish a RP-HPLC method for fast and simultaneous determination of four index contents, which are Genpioside, Baicalin, Berberine Hydrochloride and Ammonium Glyeyrrhizinate, in Qingwei Huanglian tablets.

METHODA separation was well achieved by gradient elution on a Hypersil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with the mobile phases of acetontrile -0.5% triethylamine water-solution (pH 3.0) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), detection wavelength of 230 nm, and room temperature.

RESULTThe calibration curve were linear in the ranges of 4.82-77.2, 5.80-92.8, 1.63-26.1 and 6.40-102 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997-0.9999) for genpioside, baicalin, berberine hydrochloride and ammonium glyeyrrhizinate, respectively. The average recoveries of four index components were not less than 98.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is convenient, rapid and accurate. It is suitable for the quality control of Qingwei Huanglian tablets.

Berberine ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Tablets

Objective To observe the effect of ischemia postconditioning during the first minutes of reperfusion for the myocardial reperfusion injury in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI)patients undergoing emergency percutaneeus coronary intervention(PCI). Methods STEMI patients undergoing emergency PCI in affiliated hospital of Beihua University between October 2006 and January 2009 were randomly divided into two groups: the control group(n = 34)without any intervention after PTCA, and the postconditioning group(n = 30)with ischemia postconditioning within first minutes of reflow by 3 episodes of 30-second inflation and 30-second deflation with the angioplasty balloon. Reperfusion arrhythmias, CK and CKMB, corrected TIMI frame count(CTFC), wall motion score index(WMSI)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)by echocardiography were compared between the two groups. MI areas were evaluated with the ECG-54 criteria/32 system and myocardial blush grade(MBG)was measured. Results The incidence of reperfusion arrhythmias-frequent ventricular premature(26. 7% vs.52. 9%)and short array ventricular tachycardia beat(23.3% vs. 58. 8%)as well as values of peaks CK [(l162±548)U/L vs.(1732±480)U/L, P＜0. 01], CKMB[(165±70)U/L vs.(280±99)U/L,P＜0. 01],CTFC(22.23 ±3.81 vs. 26.97 ±3.42), WMSI(1.27 ±0.52 vs. 1.82 ±0.83),and infarction areas determined by ECG methods(10. 60% ±4. 97% vs. 14. 65% ±6. 88%, all P ＜0. 05)were all significantly lower in the postconditioning group than in control group while LVEF(0. 55 ± 0. 08 vs.0. 47 ±0. 10)and MBG(2. 27 ± 0. 64 vs. 1.47 ± 0. 61, all P ＜ 0. 05)were signiticantly higher in the postconditioning group than in control group. Conclusions Ischemia postconditioning can significantly reduce myocardial reperfusion injury in patients with STEMI.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between genetic polymorphism of serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) with carotid intima media thickness in a healthy Han Chinese population of Xinjiang.

METHODSA total of 449 healthy Han Chinese participating the cardiovascular risk survey between June 2007 and September 2009 were included, the genotypes of the SAA1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The mean IMT of the right and left common carotid arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS(1) There was strong linkage disequilibrium between rs12218 and rs2229338 (D' = 0.89). (2) The carotid common IMT (CC-IMT) and the carotid bulb IMT (CB-IMT) were similar between the AA genotype (wild genotype) and the GGFAG genotype (mutational genotype) in rs2229338 of SAA1 gene. (3) CC-IMT [(0.081 ± 0.071) cm vs (0.068 ± 0.019) cm, P = 0.01] was significantly thicker in CC + CT genotype (mutational genotype) group than in TT genotype (wild genotype) of rs12218 group and the difference remains significant after adjustment for age, gender, blood pressure, waist circumference, creatinine and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. CB-IMT [(0.085 ± 0.038) cm vs. (0.081 ± 0.052) cm, P = 0.36] was similar between CC + CT genotype and TT genotype of rs12218 groups.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that the genetic polymorphism of SAA1 might be linked with IMT and rs12218 mutation could serve as a promoting factor for IMT in Han Chinese people.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Female ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; genetics