Objective To identify the histological features as well as factors influencing the course of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus ( HBV)-infected patients with persistently normal alanine amino-transferase (ALT) levels (PNAL). Methods Ninety-eight HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected patients with PNAL who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy were recruited from October 2003 to March 2008. The ALT level, HBV markers, HBV DNA level and liver histological changes were detected. Comparison of means was done by t test and single factor analysis of variance. Nonparametric statistics was done by Marm-Whitey U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Analysis of independent risk factor was done using Logistic model. The dianostic value of ALT level to significant liver histological changes was evaluated by receiver performance curve. Results Twenty-two point four percent and 17.3% of subjects had the histological activity index (HAI)≥4and fibrosis (F) score≥3 respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that subjects with ALT＞0.50 × upper limit of normal (ULN) had a significantly higher rate of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 than those with ALT≤0.50×ULN (HAI≥4:36.4% vs 11.1%, χ2 =8.881, P=0.003;F score≥3:27.3% vs 9.3%, χ2 =5.487, P= 0.019, respectively), and older subjects (more than 45 years old) had a higher proportion of HAI ≥4 than the younger (33.3% vs 13.4%, χ2 =4.923, P=0.027). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that a decade increase in age was the independent predictor of HAI≥4 (OR=2.410, P=0.023).Receive operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that 87.0% and 90.7% of subjects with ALT＜0.50× ULN had histological changes of HAI＜4 and F score＜3 respectively. The proportions of HAI≥4 and F score≥3 in subjects with HBV DNA＜1×104 copy/mL were 14.9% and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusions Significant histological changes may be present in part of the subjects with persistently normal ALT and different HBV DNA levels, so that liver biopsy is very important, especially in those with age ＞45 years.Half time the ULN may serve as an appropriate cutoff value of normal ALT level for managing Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-int'ected patients.

In the present study, the effect of high density lipoproteins (HDLs) on the antiaggregating activity of nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial cells was investigated with the use of cultured bovine aortal endothelial cells (BAECs). The BAECs were placed in an aggregometer in contact with rabbit platelets after blocking cyclo-oxygenase with acetylsalicylic acid. Under this circumstance, the antiaggregating effect of endothelial cells was exclusively dependent on the release of NO, which was further confirmed by prevention of antiaggregating activity of BAECs with 1 mmol/L NG-Nitro-L-arginine. When this system was used, thrombin (0.1 U/ml) evoked 67.33±7.52% aggregation of rabbit platelets (2×108/ml). This effect was inhibited by NO derived from endothelial cells (1×105～1×106/ml) in a cell number dependent manner. HDLs (1 mg/ml), added into the system immediately before BAECs, enhanced this antiaggregating effect of NO. However, incubating BAECs with HDLs for an hour and removing the HDLs by centrifugation did not have the same effect, unless HDLs were present during aggregation. No direct effect of HDLs on platelet aggregation was observed. The above findings suggest that HDLs can enhance the antiaggregating effects of BAECs mediated by direct interaction with NO.

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and feasibility of acupotomy therapy through the observation on the influences of acupotomy therapy on ethology and morphology in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis.Methods The model of knee osteoarthritis was established by applying the fixed method of knee extension posture in rabbits. The therapy of electro-acupuncture and acupotomy therapy were used to treat the rabbits. After 3 weeks the knee joint function was observed and reviewed based on Lequesne algofunctional index. The light microscope was used to observe tibia tissue after HE staining. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the internal femoral condyle cartilage.Results Lequesne algofunctional index showed that in local reaction, gait reaction and joint motion there was a significant different between the electro-acupuncture group or acupotomy group and the normal group or model group (P<0.05), respectively, while there was no different between the electro-acupuncture group and acupotomy group (P>0.05). HE staining showed that the cartilage injury was relieved and tended to recovery in the electro-acupuncture group and acupotomy group. The result of TEM showed that the lesion of cartilage cells and disorder of collagen fibrils were relieved in the acupotomy group, which is similar to those in the electro-acupuncture group.Conclusion The acupotomy therapy has a good curative effect on knee osteoarthritis, which is proved at macroscopic and microscopic levels.

Objective To explore the expressions of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in acute liver failure mice induced by D-galactosamine (GalN)/lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the correlation with miRNAs in the liver.Methods Forty clean grade Balb/C mice,with 32 in the model group and 8 in the control group were enrolled in the study.Liver failure was induced by intraperitoneally injection of D-GalN and LPS in mice of the model group,while mice of the control group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL 0.9 ％ sodium chloride solution.Serum and liver samples were collected at 0,3,5,7 hours following administration,and eight mice should be supplied to each sample,and changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and histopathology of the liver were observed.miRNA from both the serum and the liver was extracted,miRNA expression profile in the liver at 0,5,7 hours by locked nucleic acid (LNA)-miRNA microarray was analyzed and miRNA by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was detected.Means of the two groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and correlation analyses were performed using Pearson and Spearman correlation.Results Expression of miRNAs in the liver tissue changed significantly over time with the occurrence of acute liver failure in the mice.Twenty-one miRNAs were up-regulated and 27 were down-regulated,among which miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 were down-regulated while miRNA-146a and miRNA-155 were up-regulated.It was confirmed by the PCR assay that the expression of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in the liver gradually decreased,while those in the serum were up-regulated over time.However,the expressions of inflammation associated miRNA-155 and miRNA-146a were up-regulated both in the serum and the liver after administration.The expressions of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 were negatively correlated between serum and liver (r=-0.477,P=0.0089,r=-0.420,P=0.231),while the expressions of miRNA-155 in serum and liver were positively correlated (r=0.678,P=0.0001).Moreover,the expressions of miRNA-122 (r=0.571,0.554) and miRNA-1187 (r=0.471,0.542) were also positively correlated with serum levels of ALT and AST (all P＜0.05).Liver and serum levels of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 changed significantly at 5 hours after administration,which preceded the changes of ALT/AST.Conclusions The expressions of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in serum are well inversely correlated with the corresponding expressions in liver tissues during acute liver failure in mice.The changes of miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 in the serum precede those of ALT/AST.These data suggest that serum miRNA-122 and miRNA-1187 might be the candidate serum biomarkers for early prediction of liver injury.

ObjectiveTo investigate the histological features as well as the factors influencing liver disease progression in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MethodsA total of 102 CHC patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy between August 2007 and May 2010 were recruited. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and transmission route of recruited patients were recorded. Serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), HCV genotypes, HCV viral load and liver histological changes were detected. Statistical analysis was done by t test and Logistic regression. ResultsThe serum levels of ALT and AST in CHC patients with histological activity index (HAI) ≥4 were much higher, while platelet (PLT) counts were lower than those with HAI ＜4(t=2.209, 2. 298 and 2. 565, respectively; all P＜0.05). Likewise, in patients with F≥3, the serum levels of ALT and AST as well as the mean age and the duration of infection were significantly elevated compared with F ＜ 3 group ( t = 3.497, 2. 758, 2. 340 and 2. 570,respectively; all P＜0. 05), while PLT counts were much lower (t = 2. 761, P=0. 007). The unvariate predictors for HAI≥4 were female, ALT＞1 × upper limits of normal (ULN), AST level,F≥3, HCV RNA≥6 lgIU/mL and PLT counts. By mutivariate analysis, the Ishak stage score was the only independent predictor for HAI≥4 (OR 3.098, 95％CI 1.884-5. 092; P＜0.01). Finally,the univariate predictors for F≥3 were age, BMI≥24 kg/m2 , ALT＞1 × ULN, AST level, HAI≥4,PLT counts and duration of infection≥ 15 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR 1. 074,95％CI 1.006-1. 146; P=0.033), ALT level (OR 1. 035, 95％CI 1.015－1.055; P＜0.01), ASTlevel (OR 0. 969, 95％CI 0. 948－0. 990; P=0. 005), the duration of infection ≥15 years (OR 37. 215, 95％CI 5. 816－238. 127; P＜0.01) and HAI≥4 (OR 1. 939, 95％CI 1. 426－2. 636; P＜0.01) were independent predictors for F≥ 3. ConclusionAge, ALT level, AST level, duration of infection≥15 years, HAI≥4 are independent predictors for liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of self-formulated Xiaokang Zhongzi Recipe (XZR) in treating male infertility with positive antisperm antibody (AsAb).

METHODSOne hundred and ten male infertility patients with positive AsAb were randomly assigned, according to randomized digital table, to the trial group treated with XZR, and the control group, treated with prednisone, 55 in each group. Clinical therapeutic effect and adverse reactions of the drugs were observed after 3 months of treatment.

RESULTSIn the trial group after treatment, 38 patients (69.1%) were cured, 14 (25.4%) improved and 3 treated in vain (5.5%, including 2 dropped out). While in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 12 (21.8%), 11 (20.0%) and 32 (58.2%, including 4 dropped out, 20 remained AsAb positive and 8 with AsAb reverted to positive after negative conversion). The negative conversion rate and average negative conversion time in the trial group and the control group were respectively 94.5%, (45 +/- 14) days and 41.8%, (62 +/- 21) days. Significant difference between the two groups was shown in therapeutic effectiveness and average negative conversion time (P < 0.01). Adverse reactions occurred in 3 cases (5.5%) in the trial group and 8 (14.5%) in the control group.

CONCLUSIONXZR is better than prednisone in treating male infertility with positive AsAb, and with fewer and milder adverse reactions.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate how network education can improve college students' knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in Ningbo city.

METHODSFrom December 2012 to June 2013, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among college students in Ningbo city about the effects of network education on their knowledge about sexual psychology, sexual physiology, sexual ethics, and reproductive health.

RESULTSA total of 7 362 college students accomplished the investigation, of whom 2 483 (42.1% males and 57.9% females) received network education, while the other 4 879 (24.1% males and 75.9% females) did not. Approximately 47.1% of the male and 28.0% of the female students acquired sexual and reproductive knowledge via network education. Reproductive health-related network education significantly enriched the students' knowledge about the reproductive system and sex, pubertal development, sexual physiology, conception and embryonic development, methods of contraception, sexual psychology, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention, pregnancy care and eugenics, and environment- and occupation-related reproductive health (P < 0.01). It also remarkably improved their cognitive attitude towards reproductive health knowledge (P < 0.01). Those who received reproductive health-related network education showed a significantly higher rate of masturbation (P < 0.01) but markedly later time of the first masturbation (P < 0.01) than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONNetwork education can enhance the effect of reproductive health education among college students and improve their sexual experience and health.

China ; Contraception ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Masturbation ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; psychology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate and compare the pharmacokinetics of midazolam in Chinese Korean and Han healthy volunteers after oral administration.Methods Nine healthy Chinese Korean volunteers and ten healthy Han volunteers were given 15 mg midazolam tablets.The concentration of midazolam in plasma was determined by HPLC method and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0.1 software.Results The pharmacokinetic parameters of midazolam in Chinese Korean and Han were as follow:t_(max) were(0.63±0.72)and(1.52±0.74)h,C_(max) were(189.03 4±82.05) and (103.11±26.37)μg·L~(-1),t_(1/2) were (3.82±2.33) and (2.96±0.77)h,AUC_(0-12) were (369.75±85.47) and (368.95±103.63)μg·h·L~(-1),AUC_(0-∞) were (403.29±124.28) and (397.29±124.06)μg·h·L~(-1),respectively. Conclusion There is large interindividual variabilities in pharmacokinetic parameters of Chinese Korean and Han healthy volunteers,after administration.There were double peaks in plasma concentration-time profile after oral administration.There is significant difference in the t_(max) and C_(max) between Chinese Korean and Han healthy volunteers.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huayu tablets (FZHY) combined with entecavir (ETV) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) liver fibrosis. MethodsA total of 52 patients with CHB liver fibrosis with an Ishak stage of ≥F3 who were treated in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2011 to January 2013 were enrolled and divided into FZHY combined with ETV group (combination group) and placebo combined with ETV group (control group), with 26 patients in each group, and the course of treatment was 48 weeks for both groups. Liver biopsy was performed before and after these treatment; clinical outcome was determined based on the reversal rate of Ishak stage for liver fibrosis and the improvement rate of histological activity index (HAI) for inflammation grade, and safety was evaluated based on electrocardiographic findings. Three datasets (full analysis set, per-protocol set, and safety dataset) were identified for analysis; the t-test or the Wilcoxon test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the CMH chi-square test, the chi-square test, or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsOf all 52 patients, 46 underwent the two liver biopsies before and after treatment, with 22 in the combination group and 24 in the control group. At week 48 of treatment, there was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with Ishak stage reduced by ≥1 stage between the combination group and the control group (81.8% vs 54.2%, χ2=5.297, P=0.021). There was also a significant difference in the improvement rate of HAI grade between the combination group and the control group were (59.1% vs 25.0%, χ2=6.822, P=0.009). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence rates of adverse events and serious adverse events, the safety analysis of vital signs, and laboratory safety indicators (all P＞0.05). ConclusionFZHY combined with ETV has significant advantages over ETV alone in improving liver fibrosis and inflammation, and antiviral therapy combined with anti-fibrosis therapy can bring better hepatic histological improvement for CHB patients. FZHY combined with ETV has good safety in the treatment of patients with CHB liver fibrosis.