Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Zinc ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effects of amiodarone and metoprolol, either alone or in combination, on chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by ventricular arrhythmia.

METHODSA total of 110 NYHA class II-III patients with CHF complicated by ventricular arrhythmia were randomly divided into amiodarone group, metoprolol group and amiodarone + metoprolol group. The therapeutic effects was evaluated at the end of the 1-year follow-up.

RESULTSAmiodarone, metoprolol and their combination produced statistically different therapeutic effects (P<0.05). Compared with amiodarone and metoprolol used alone, amiodarone combined with metoprolol resulted in significant cardiac function improvement (P<0.05) and ventricular arrhythmia control (P<0.01). During the 1-year follow-up, the readmission rate and cardiac event rate in the amiodarone + metoprolol group were significantly lower than those in amiodarone group (P<0.01) and metoprolol group (P<0.05). The adverse reaction rates in the 3 groups were similar (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of amiodarone and metoprolol produces better effect than amiodarone or metoprolol alone in the treatment of CHF complicated by ventricular arrhythmia.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Amiodarone ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Metoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; drug therapy ; etiology

Objective Labial gland biopsy is one of major diagnostic methods for Sj(o)gren's syn-drome(SS).Meanwhile,99TcmO-4 parotid scintigraphy has been proven useful for the clinical evaluation of SS.This study was performed to investigate the correlation between the two examinations and evaluate the semi-quantitative parotid scintigraphy in the early diagnosis and staging for SS patients.Methods There were 135 SS patients and 30 normal subjects as control group in this study.They all underwent 99TcmO-4 pa-rotid scintigraphy.Semi-quantitative analyses of parotid scintigraphy were conducted with parameters inclu-ding maximum accumulation ratio (MAR),maximum secretion ratio(MSR),time interval from stimulation to minimum count(tparotid),prestimulatory oral activity index (PRI) and poststimulatory oral activity index (POI).For comparison, the biopsy of labial gland was performed in each patient and the pathological se-verity was classified into grade 0,1,2,3,4 (also defined as subgroups).One-way ANOVA and q-teat were applied for the correlation analyses between the two examinations.Results There was significant difference between pathological subgroup 3 or subgroup 4 and the control in all the semi-quantitative parame-ters (q=6.79-38.64,P<0.O1).In subgroups 1 and 2,only PRI and POI showed significant changes compared with the control(q=8.33,8.63,all P<0.01).The pathological stages were negatively correla-ted with MAR(r=-0.679,P<0.01),MSR(r=-0.601,P<0.01),PRI(r=-0.724,P<0.01)and POI(r=-0.751,P<0.01),but only positively correlated with tparotid(r=0.364,P<0.01).Con-clusions Most semi-quantitative parameters of 99TcmaO-4 parotid scintigraphy may be well correlated with the pathological severity of labial gland biopsy in SS patients.Further,the semi-quantitative indices espe-eially PRI and POI may be helpful for the early diagnosis and staging of SS patients.

To study the effect of pulchinenoside (PULC) on the Frizzled (FZD) expression of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats. AA rats were prepared through the toe injection with complete Freund's adjuvant to culture fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The effect of the oral administration with PULC on the FZD8 expression was detected by the real time qPCR. The effect of FZD8 knockout on the expressions of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 were detected by MTT and ELISA. The role of miR-375 in the abnomal expression of FZD8 was detected by the real time qPCR. The results showed signfiicant decrease in the FZD8 expression among AA rats, FLS proliferation ater FZD8 knockout and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 expressions and notable increase in miR-375 expression after the oral administration with PULC. The up-regulated miR-375 expression can inhibit the FZD8 expression. PULC may inhibit the FZD8 expression by up-regulating the miR-375 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; administration & dosage

The role of pulchinenoside (PULC) in the regulation of MeCP2 expression was investigated in RA model rats. Adjuvant arthritis rats were used as RA model rats, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the RA model rats were cultured. The effect of 100 mg x kg(-1) PULC gavage treatment on the MeCP2 expression and the effect of MeCP2 siRNA on the expression of SFRP2 and β-catenin were detected by real time qPCR and Western blotting. The role of PULC in the FLS proliferation was detected by MTT. The results showed that the MeCP2 expression was down-regulated, the SFRP2 expression was up-regulated and the FLS proliferation was inhibited in FLS after therapy. MeCP2 siRNA significantly inhibited the MeCP2 expression, up-regulated the SFRP2 expression and inhibited the β-catenin expression in FLS from RA model rats. PULC may increase the SFRP2 expression, inhibit the Wnt signaling and inhibit the FLS proliferation in FLS from the RA model rats by inhibiting the MeCP2 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the influence of coal burning fluorosis on learning and memory ability in rats and reveal its possible mechanisms. Methods Healthy 48 SD rats were divided into control, low-fluoride and high-fluoride group. All rats in fluoride exposed groups were fed with the eom polluted by drying processes with burning coal containing high level of fluoride obtained from the endemic fluorosis area to produce the animal model of fluorosis. The experiment period were 3,6 mouths, respectively. The ability of leaning and memory was measured by Morris test and cholinesterase activity detected by photometric method at 3 or 6 month after experiment, respectively. Results Fluoride contents signifieantlly influenced the escape latency, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms(the value of F was 29.29,6.47,6.50, respectively, P<0.01).In addition, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms were influenced by the exposed time(the value of F was 16.11,45.59, P<0.01). Furthermore, the fluoride contents and the exposed time had an interaction between the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms (the value of F was 4.67,5.68, P<0.05 or<0.01). Three months after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency [(14.71± 4.85)s] of rats in highly fluoride exposed group were significantly prolonged as compared with controls [(9.28±4.22)s]; 6 month after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency[(12.42±8.03)s, (17.48± 8.05)s] of rats in both groups exposed to fluoride were significantly prolonged as compared to controls [(7.04± 3.29)s, P<0.05]. The decreased numbers of crossing the platforms[(1.62±0.87)number] and the declined time of staying the platforms[(16.70±5.02)s] were found in the rats exposed to high fluoride as compared to controls [(3.53±1.67 )number, (23.33±5.35)s, P<0.05]. The fluoride contents obviously influenced the activities of acetylcholinesterase and butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 12.83,13.27, P<0.01). On the other hand, the times of breeding also influnced the activities of butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 16.26, P<0.01). In 3 months of the experiment, the activities of butylcolinesterase [(0.55±0.12)kU/g] in low fluoride exposed group were significantly decreased in comparison with controls[(0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The activities of acetylcholinesterase[(0.62±0.42)kU/g] and butylcolioesterase[(0.58±0.10)kU/g] in high fluoride group were significantly decreased as compared to eontrois[(1.41±0.52), (0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the cholinesterase and the escape latency(r=-0.68, P< 0.01), and a positive correlation between the cholinesterase and the time of staying the platforms(r=0.57, P< 0.01). Conclusions The ability of learning and memory in rats with coal buring fluorosis was decreased, which might be connected to the decreased activity of cholinesterase in a dose-effect correlation.

BACKGROUNDCurrently, all the diagnostic indicators for endometriosis lack perfect sensitivity and specificity. According to the characteristic of endometriosis, we analyzed the new biomarker neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the combination of NLR and serum CA-125 to investigate their diagnostic value for identifying stages III and IV endometriosis.

METHODSThe values of serum CA-125 and routine blood tests were collected from 197 patients with endometriosis, 102 with benign tumors and 112 healthy individuals. We investigated the sensitivity and specificity of NLR and its combination with serum-CA-125 for diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

RESULTSThe mean values of NLR, the combination of serum CA-125 and NLR (combination) of the groups with stages III and IV endometriosis were significantly higher than the other two groups. Serum CA-125, NLR, and the combined biomarkers could significantly discriminate the stages III and IV endometriosis group from the other two groups (P < 0.05). NLR shows a lower sensitivity of 57.9% and specificity of 65.2% with a cutoff value at 1.82. And the combination of biomarkers has the highest AUC of 0.949 with a sensitivity of 86.8% and specificity of 92.0% at the cutoff value of 44.40. In addition, for patients with negative CA-125, 55.36% and 53.57% of the patients were able to be diagnosed with endometriosis by using NLR alone and the combination of biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONFor diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a better adjuvant to serum CA-125, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is valuable in diagnosing stages III and IV endometriosis for patients with negative serum CA-125.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Endometriosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sociopsychological basis of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (HDP) and explore a new pathway for etiological study of HDP.

METHODSA prospective investigation was conducted in 1154 women in second trimester pregnancy and 9 factors were surveyed using Olson marital quality questionnaire (ENRIC). The discrepancy between the norms and factor scores of ENRIC was analyzed, and the scores of ENRIC were compared between normal gravidas and patients with HDP. The correlation between ENRIC scores and the severity of the condition was also evaluated.

RESULTSThe score of the 1124 gravidas for marital satisfaction was significantly higher than the norm (P<0.05), but the scores for relationship with relatives and sexual life were significantly lower (P<0.05). The other 6 factors had similar scores with the norms (P>0.05). Patients with HDP had significantly lower scores for 7 factors than the normal gravidas (P<0.05), but had comparable scores for financial arrangement and sexual life (P>0.05). The severity of HDP was not found to associate with variation of the scores for the 9 factors (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMarital quality is an important social and psychological basis of HDP, and this study provides some evidence for the social and psychological investigation of the etiology of HDP.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Marriage ; psychology ; Pregnancy ; psychology ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the phenotypes and functions of cord blood dendritic cells of fetuses whose mothers are patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSPeripheral blood and cord blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from whole blood by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll-Hypaque. The adherent cells were cultured in AIM-V medium containing recombinant human IL-4, TNF-alpha and GM-CSF. On day 9, mature DCs (mDC) were harvested and used for phenotype analysis. The amounts of IL-12 which dendritic cells produced were measured. The dendritic cells that were studied and compared were from cord blood of fetuses of both CHB positive and negative mothers and from CHC adult peripheral blood.

RESULTSThe expression rate of CD80 and CD83 of chronic hepatitis B mother cord blood dendritic cells was low compared with that of the healthy cord blood, healthy adult peripheral blood, and chronic hepatitis B adult peripheral blood, P < 0.05. The amount of IL-12 produced by chronic hepatitis B mother cord blood dendritic cells was lower than that of healthy cord blood, healthy adult peripheral blood, chronic hepatitis B adult peripheral blood (P < 0.05). The T lymphocyte proliferation inducing ability of dendritic cells of healthy adult peripheral blood was higher in inducing cord blood T lymphocytes proliferation, which was greater than that of the healthy adult peripheral blood in inducing adult T lymphocytes and was greater than that of the healthy cord blood dendritic cells in inducing cord blood T lymphocytes, which was greater than that of the healthy cord blood in inducing adult T lymphocytes, which was greater than that of chronic hepatitis B mothers in inducing cord blood T lymphocytes, which was greater than that of chronic hepatitis B mother cord blood in inducing adult T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONThe maturation and functioning of CHB mother cord blood dendritic cells were lower than those of healthy cord blood, healthy adult peripheral blood and CHB adult peripheral blood.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of HBV markers and HBV DNA and the perioperative factors influencing them after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODSA retrospective study was undertaken. Data was collected from 97 patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March 1999 to October 2003. Patients were investigated on the 7-14, 14-30, 30-90, 90-180, 180-360 and 360- days after OLT. All the patients who received OLT were serum HBV positive before their operations.

RESULTSKinetic expressions of HBV serum marker and HBV DNA were established. A few patient's HBeAg was negative (8%) before their operation. Within 7 day following surgery, no patient was HBeAg positive. However, the rate of HBeAg positive increased on the 90-180 day following surgery. The postoperation time of taking lamivudine was different between patients with HBeAg seroconversion and of those without (U = 88.5). Peaks occurred within 14 d of HBsAg negative and 14-30 d of anti-HBs positive after operation. Then they decreased and minimized at 90-180 day after liver transplantation. Patients who suffered more bleeding during the operation were more likely to be anti-HBs positive (3800ml vs. 3000ml, U = 8193.0) and HBsAg negative in serum within 2 week (5200ml vs. 4200ml, U = 1648.5) after OLT. While patient's who received more blood transfusion (1000ml vs. 1600ml, U = 9796.0) during operation were not likely to be anti-HBs positive in serum after surgery. Furthermore, the time of infusing HBIg did not affect the state of anti-HBs (U = 1252.5). At the same time, there were no correlations between the change of HBsAg in serum and in the method of operation (chi2 = 0.042). During this process, presentation of anti-HBc changed a little.

CONCLUSIONThe advantages brought on by operative factors become blunt 7-14 d following OLT. More attention should be taken to avoid reinfection of HBV 90-180 day after OLT. Tyrosine-methionine-aspartic acid-aspartic acid (YMDD) mutation of HBV is more likely to occur when taking lamivudine longer. Then, HBV DNA should be monitored and a liver biopsy should be scheduled regularly after OLT.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; virology ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies