Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; B-Cell CLL-Lymphoma 10 Protein ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; genetics ; Paraffin Embedding ; Translocation, Genetic

Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Coronary Sinus ; surgery ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry ; pathology ; surgery

Heishui county, located in northwest Sichuan province, southwestern China, is an endemic area of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and is the most intractable area. VL is never destroyed in it. Asymptomatic dogs (Leishmania parasites have been diagnosed but clinically healthy) are considered to be a potential reservoir host in zoonotic VL area, and most can lead to infection of individuals, that is a new challenge for controlling VL in humans. The present study aimed to assess the Leishmania infection rate of asymptomatic dogs in Heishui county. Total 105 asymptomatic domestic dogs were gathered from 4 districts in Heishui county to investigate the infection rate with serological and molecular methods based on ELISA and kinetoplast minicircle DNA(kDNA) PCR, respectively. Out of 105 dogs, 44 (41.9%) were positive by more than 1 method; 21 (20.0%) were positive by ELISA, and 30 (28.6%) were positive by kDNA-PCR. Our study showed that Leishmania infection of domestic dogs which is clinically healthy is prevalent in the studied district, and the asymptomatic dogs infected by Leishmania may be the primary reason for the prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis in the area.
Animals ; China* ; Dogs* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Leishmania* ; Leishmaniasis, Visceral* ; Methods ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo summarize the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in post-operative neurosurgical patients.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 7 patients who experienced pulmonary thromboembolism after neurosurgical operations in our department from October 2009 to March 2010.

RESULTSOf these 7 patients, 6 were confirmed with computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and 1 was diagnosed according to the clinical manifestations and other diagnostic examinations. All the patients were treated initially with low-dose heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin and then with warfarin. Two patients were implanted with permanent inferior vena cava filters before anticoagulation. One received anticoagulant therapy and died of respiratory failure due to pulmonary embolism on the fourth post-operative day. Six patients were discharged after significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONSMany risk factors may cause PTE peri-operatively. Post-operative CTPA may be indicated. Anticoagulation and other management strategies may be applied to improve the outcome.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEThere are scant data about normal reference values of blood glucose (BG) in children. This study was conducted to learn the BG profile of children and adolescents in Beijing area.

METHODThe population for survey was selected as a stratified cluster sample from 8 urban and 10 rural areas in Beijing. Fasting capillary blood glucose (FCBG) was determined in 19,593 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in 4 urban and 3 rural areas using haemosaccharometer model II [Roche Diagnostic, (Shanghai) Ltd].

RESULTSThere were 1 9112 (97.5%) individuals with complete records, the mean age was 12.1 +/- 3.3 years (ranged from 6 to 18.9 years); 9514 (49.8%) were boys, 9598 (50.2%) were girls, 9792 were (51.2%) from urban areas and 9320 (48.8%) from rural areas. The average level of FCBG in boys was higher than that in girls (4.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 0.5, u = 28.0, P < 0.01). Among urban children, the trend of variation of FCBG was similar between boys and girls, the levels of FCBG increased with age, the peak of FCBG was reached at 12-13 years in urban girls, and from the age of 15 years, the level of FCBG declined. In boys, the FCBG level increased slowly from 13 years of age, there was no significant variation until 17 years old, and declined at the age of 18. Among suburban children, the trend of variation of FCBG was similar between boys and girls, both of them had two peaks, from 6 to 11 years old, FCBG of both boys and girls increased with age, and both reached the first peak at the age of 11 years. While at 13 years of age, there was an obvious drop in FCBG level. From 14 years of age on, there was a rise of FCBG in both boys and girls, and the second peak of FCBG was reached at 15 and 16 years of age in girls and boys respectively. The FCBG level of urban children was higher than that of rural children (4.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.6 +/- 0.5, u = 13.8, P < 0.01). The level of FCBG in overweight and obese children was higher than that of normal children. More boys, more obese and more urban children had abnormal FCBG.

CONCLUSIONSThe blood glucose level of children was associated with age, gender, obesity and district.

Adolescent ; Anthropometry ; Blood Glucose ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the causes of the formation of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas and the therapeutic effect of detachable balloon and/or coil embolization and the prevention of its complications.

METHODSFrom October, 1992 to March, 2002, 17 patients with traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas were treated with detachable balloon and/or coil embolization in our hospital. The clinical data and imaging features of CT, MR and selective angiogram of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTSOne week after treatment with embolization, the clinical symptoms of the 17 patients were remitted, and optic cacophony, nystagmus, exophthalmos and dropsy of conjunctiva disappeared. Two patients manifested surgical complications, one patient died. Sixteen patients survived. They were all followed up for more than 2 years, which showed one patient had handicap in movement, and in one patient the signs and symptoms of traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas reoccurred 2 months after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe detachable balloon and/or coil embolization is safe and reliable. It is a good method to treat traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Balloon Occlusion ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; China ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sampling Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds, Penetrating ; complications

This study is designed to evaluate antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of corn tassel extracts (CTTs). The major bioactive components of CTTs include flavonoid, saponin and polysaccharide. The antioxidant properties of the three bioactive components of CTTs were investigated by Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Property (FRAP) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The activities of the extracts were determined by assessing the inhibition of mutagenicity of the direct-acting mutagen fenaminosulf, sodium azide, and indirect-acting mutagen 2-aminofluorene using the Ames test (strains TA98 and TA100). The results showed that the extraction rates of flavonoid, saponin, and polysaccharide from the dried corn tassels were 1.67%, 2.41% and 4.76% respectively. DPPH and FRAP assay strongly demonstrated that CTTs had antioxidant properties. CTTs at doses of 625, 1250 and 2500 μg per plate reduced 2-aminofluorene mutagenicity by 12.52%, 28.76% and 36.49% in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain assay respectively and by 10.98%, 25.27% and 37.83%, at the same doses in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 assay system, respectively. 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the different concentrations of CTTs inhibited the proliferation of MGC80-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). It is concluded that these integrated approaches to antioxidant and antigenotoxicity assessment may be useful to study corn tassel as a natural herbal material.
Antimutagenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Biphenyl Compounds ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Fluorenes ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflorescence ; chemistry ; Mutagens ; pharmacology ; Picrates ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Salmonella typhimurium ; drug effects ; genetics ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Zea mays ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immediate effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), tissue synchronization imaging (TSI) and tissue tracking imaging (TTI) in patients with congestive heart failure.

METHODSTen patients with congestive heart failure who had cardiac resynchronization therapy were enrolled. The TSI and TTI imaging were performed by GE vivid 7 with M3s probe. The TTI image was obtained in diastole to determine delayed longitude contraction (DLC). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the percentage of delayed longitude contraction segments (DLC), the standard deviation of the time to peak myocardial systolic contraction of 16 segments (Ts-SD), the standard deviation of the time to peak myocardial diastole of 16 segments (Td-SD), the systolic velocity of right ventricule (RV-Sm) and the average systolic velocity of mitral valve annulus (LV-Sm) were measured. The intraventricular dyssynchrony could be semi-quantified by TSI as 4 (red), 3 (orange), 2 (yellow), 1 (green), and the average value of 16 segments was defined as the TSI index. The immediate changes of these parameters were investigated when the pacemaker was turned on and off. The correlation of the Ts and TSI index was also analyzed.

RESULTSWhen the pacemaker was on, the LVEF improved significantly from (37 +/- 11.30)% to (46 +/- 10.10)% (P < 0.01), and LV-Sm increased significantly from (3.16 +/- 0.87) cm/s to (3.76 +/- 0.74) cm/s (P < 0.01), RV-Sm increased significantly from (6.79 +/- 1.78) cm/s to (7.75 +/- 1.92) cm/s (P < 0.01). DLCs decreased significantly from (35 +/- 6.04)% to (18.13 +/- 9.97)% (P < 0.01), Ts-SD decreased from (83.97 +/- 33.02) ms to (52.67 +/- 19.65) ms, P < 0.05, Td-SD decreased from (87.81 +/- 22.34) ms to (63.45 +/- 31.49) ms, P < 0.05 and TSI index reduced from 2.11 +/- 0.15 to 1.60 +/- 0.33 (P < 0.01) respectively. In addition, the reduction of TSI index correlated significantly with that of Ts-SD (r = 0.75, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCRT could immediately improve the systolic and diastolic synchrony of the left ventricle and ventricular function. TSI and TTI may be as the new effective modalities to assess the mechanical dyssynchrony. TSI index was direct and reliable in this study.

Aged ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo determine the distribution and virologic characteristics of HBV genotypes, sub-type and possible association with the severity of liver disease.

METHODS884 patients infected with HBV were enrolled from 8 provinces in China. HBV genotype and sub-type was determined, using PCR-RFLP method.

RESULTSThe most common HBV genotypes were B (20.77% ) and C (78.22 % ) but only 1 patient showed genotypes D. We found sub-type Ba in patients with genotype B, C1 and C2 sub-type in patients with genotype C. Genotype C (83.62%) and sub-type C2 (90.32%) were predominant in northern China. Patients with genotype B were much younger than those with genotype C. There was no significant difference between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. There was no significant difference in liver function and serum HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C,or between patients with sub type C1 and C2. However, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C.

CONCLUSIONThere were no significantly differences in liver function and HBV-DNA load between patients with genotype B and C, or between patients with sub-type C1 and C2. Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis score in patients with genotype B were significantly lower than those with genotype C. Genotype C/sub-type C2 were preponderance in northern China.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; physiopathology ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Humans ; Liver ; immunology ; physiopathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

AIM:To explore the role of Sirt1/eNOS signalling pathway in the protective effect of hydrogen sul-phide(H2S)against endothelial cell senescence induced by high glucose.METHODS:High glucose(33 mmol/L)was applied to induce senescence in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).The cell viability,the propor-tion of senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)positive cells and the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1) expression were detected to assess the senescence model.Mean while,Sirt1 siRNA was used to examine the effect of Sirt 1 on eNOS expression and the senescence-related parameters.RESULTS: Treatment of HUVECs with high glucose de-creased the cell viability slowly with a larger proportion of the cells stained with SA-β-Gal, and the protein expression of PAI-1 was dramatically increased.The increased cell viability,reduced SA-β-Gal positive cells and decreased protein ex-pression of PAI-1 were detected after sodium hydrosulfide(NaHS,100 μmol/L)treatment.Furthermore,NaHS treatment upregulated the protein expression of Sirt 1 and eNOS,and eventually increased the production of nitric oxide(NO).CON-CLUSION:Exogenous H2S modulates Sirt1/eNOS/NO pathway to prevent HUVECs against high glucose-induced senes-cence.