Animals ; Autophagy ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Caveolin 1 ; deficiency ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Myofibroblasts ; pathology ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of the therapeutic effects between Yang's cotton moxibustion and hormonotherapy on neurodermatitis.

METHODSSixty cases of neurodermatitis were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to random number table. The treatment group were treated with Yang's cotton moxibustion and the control group with triamcinolone and urea cream. After treatment for one week, the therapeutic effect was start to be observed. After the treatment was given for 4 weeks, the therapeutic effect was evaluated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group and 80.0% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYang's cotton moxibustion has an obvious therapeutic effect on neurodermatitis with a good safety.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gossypium ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Neurodermatitis ; therapy

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors after percutaneous coronary intervention of women with the first non-ST-segment elevation myoeardial infarction.Methods A total of 123 female patients with AMI,including 70 patients with NSTEMI and 53 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI),who received PCI within 24 hours of onset were selected from June 2013 to June 2015.The clinical data were compared between patients with NSTEMI and with STEMI.Cox regression model was used to analyze the prognostic factors for the elderly patients with NSTEMI.Results The female patients with NSTEMI had more cases of patients with hypertension (48 vs.26),diabetes (38 vs.38) and hyperlipidemia (52 vs.29)than the female patients with STEMI.Significant differences in systolic blood pressure [(134.31±22.26)mmHg vs.(125.04 ± 19.63) mmHg],levels of white blood cell [(9.02 ± 3.75) 109/L vs.(11.37 ± 3.63) 109/L] and troponin Ⅰ [(8.63 ± 18.34) μg/L vs.(18.79 ± 27.76) μg/L] were observed in the above two groups (l P ＜ 0.05,respectively).The rates of revascularization,major adverse cardiovascular events in NSTEMI group were higher than those in STEMI group during 1 year after discharge (47.7％ vs.28.0％,62.9％ vs.35.8％) (P ＜ 0.05,respectively).Cox survival analysis showed that white blood cell (HR =1.241) and troponin-Ⅰ (HR =1.026) elevation were the risk prognostic factors after PCI for women with the first NSTEMI.Conclusion More hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia and higher levels of systolic blood pressure,lower levels of white blood cell and troponin Ⅰ were observed in women with the first NSTEMI.The long-term prognosis of female patients with NSTEMI is poor.And elevated levels of white blood cell and troponin-Ⅰ were the risk prognostic factors after PCI for women with the first NSTEMI.

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of FABP7 in the placenta of pregnant mice and in HTR-8/Svneo cells.

METHODSReal-time PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect FABP7 mRNA and protein expressions in the uterine and placental tissue of pregnant mice at different days of gestation. FABP7 expression was also detected in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells using immunofluorescence assay. The mice were treated with E, Por their combination for 6 and 24 h and Fabp7 mRNA level in the uterus was detected with real-time PCR.

RESULTSAt 7.5-10.5 days of gestation, the pregnant mice showed positive expressions of Fabp7 mRNA in the uterus and placenta, and FABP7 protein was detected in the decidualized cells and trophoblast giant cells. The expressions of FABP7 were detected at both the mRNA and protein levels in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells. In mice treated with P4 alone or with E+Pfor 6 and 24 h, the expression level of Fabp7 mRNA was upregulated in the uterus. Fabp7 upregulation was observed in mice at 24 h following Etreatment but not at 6 h.

CONCLUSIONFABP7 is expressed in trophoblast giant cells and decidual cells in the placental tissue of mice and in cultured HTR-8/Svneo cells, suggesting the involvement of FABP7 in placental development and in maintenance of pregnancy. Eand Pcan regulate the expression of FABP7 in mouse uterus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of BIX01294 (BIX), a methyltransferase inhibitor, on the migration and decidualization of the stromal cells in mouse uterus.

METHODSMouse endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured from the uterus of pregnant mice on day 3.5 of gestation. The migration and decidualization of mouse endometrial stromal cells treated with BIX at different concentrations were observed with wound healing assay and real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe migration distance of mouse endometrial stromal cells increased as the BIX concentration increased within the range below 15 µmol/L. Compared with the control cells, the cells treated with BIX (15 µmol/L) showed significantly increased migration distances, but increasing BIX concentration to 20 µmol/L did not further increase the cell migration distance and began to cause cell death. Compared with the control cells, the BIX-treated stromal cells exhibited significantly down-regulated expression of Ehmt2 mRNA, and 15 µmol/L BIX caused inhibition of decidualization in the stromal cells.

CONCLUSIONWithin a defined concentration range, BIX promotes the migration and inhibits decidualization of mouse uterine stromal cells by inhibiting the expression of Ehmt2 mRNA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular characteristics of phage-type 6b isolates emerging in 1998-2001 cholera epidemics in Sichuan province.

METHODSIsolates were analyzed by phage-typing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ompW gene sequencing.

RESULTSAll phage-type 1b and 6b isolates in Sichuan province from 1998 to 2001 were toxigenic. A total of 24 patterns were identified after PFGE analysis, and one predominant pattern consisted of 13 isolates. Several 1b and 6b isolates from Sichuan and isolates of the 1b from other provinces showed the same PFGE pattern. Mutation in ompW gene was found in 6b isolates.

CONCLUSIONV.cholerae O1 6b isolates in Sichuan province from 1998 to 2001 have special genetic markers, and might genetically correlate with contemporaneous 1b isolates.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Bacteriophage Typing ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholera ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Vibrio cholerae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo better understand the proportions of reported hepatitis B cases in pilot surveillance cites through investigation and laboratory testing.

METHODSTo confirm the reported cases of hepatitis B by collecting blood specimen and laboratory testing on HBsAg, IgM of Anti-HBc, Anti-HAV in 18 pilot surveillance counties.

RESULTSAmong 2858 cases of hepatitis B reported in 2006, 23.97% of them were reported as suspected acute cases, 14.87% as acute cases, 20.33% as suspected chronic cases, 34.67% as chronic cases, 4.09% as cirrhosis and 2.06% as HCC. Among 1681 reported hepatitis B cases confirmed by laboratory testing, results showed that 24.16% of them were diagnosed as acute hepatitis B, but only 15.37% were confirmed as acute hepatitis B. Although the proportion confirmed as hepatitis B kept consistent as before, misclassification was found.

CONCLUSIONIn current surveillance system, reported hepatitis B cases were mainly chronic, only up to one third belonged to acute hepatitis B. The reported incidence of hepatitis B did not reflect the real incidence due to misclassification. To better define the burden on hepatitis B disease, it was necessary and urgent to revise the diagnostic criteria and to conduct surveillance on hepatitis B, under separate reporting categories which including acute and chronic cases of the disease.

China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pilot Projects ; Population Surveillance

BACKGROUNDExcessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to a number of reproductive diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome. This study aimed to establish an animal model of ovarian oxidative stress and to assess the protective effect of curcumin against oxidative injury.

METHODSOvarian oxidative stress was induced in female Kunming mice (n = 40) with intraperitoneal injection of 8 mg/kg sodium arsenite (As) once every other day for 16 days; meanwhile, they were, respectively, treated by intragastric administration of 0, 100, 150, or 200 mg/kg (n = 10/group) curcumin once per day for 21 days. Ten normal mice were used as control. Then, the mice were injected intraperitoneally with BrdU and sacrificed; the right ovaries were collected for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and BrdU immunohistochemistry, and the left ovaries for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting analyses.

RESULTSThe ELISA results showed that ROS (11.74 ± 0.65 IU/mg in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 10.71 ± 0.91 IU/mg in control group, P= 0.021) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (0.32 ± 0.02 nmol/g in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 0.27 ± 0.02 nmol/g in control group, P= 0.048) increased while superoxide dismutase (SOD) (3.96 ± 0.36 U/mg in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 4.51 ± 0.70 U/mg in control group, P= 0.012) and glutathione peroxidase (17.36 ± 1.63 U/g in 8 mg/kg AS + 0 mg/kg curcumin group vs. 18.92 ± 1.80 U/g in control group, P= 0.045) decreased in the ovary after injection of As, indicating successful modeling of oxidative stress. Curcumin treatment could considerably increase SOD (4.57 ± 0.68, 4.49 ± 0.27, and 4.56 ± 0.25 U/mg in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, allP < 0.05) while significantly reduce ROS (10.64 ± 1.38, 10.73 ± 0.71, and 10.67 ± 1.38 IU/mg in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, allP < 0.05) and MDA (0.28 ± 0.02, 0.25 ± 0.03, and 0.27 ± 0.04 nmol/g in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively; bothP < 0.05) in the ovary. HE staining and BrdU immunohistochemistry of the ovarian tissues indicated the increased amount of atretic follicles (5.67 ± 0.81, 5.84 ± 0.98, and 5.72 ± 0.84 in 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg curcumin group, respectively, all P < 0.05), and the inhibited proliferation of granular cells under oxidative stress would be reversed by curcumin. Furthermore, the Western blotting of ovarian tissues showed that the p66Shc expression upregulated under oxidative stress would be lowered by curcumin.

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could alleviate arsenic-induced ovarian oxidative injury to a certain extent.

Animals ; Arsenites ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sodium Compounds ; toxicity ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

AIM:To investigate the changes of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(SCAD)in hypertensive vascular remodeling and to explore the relationship between SCAD and vascular remodeling in hypertension.METHODS:The spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR;24 weeks old)and Wistar rats(24 weeks old)were used as experimental con-trol groups.The SHR and Wistar rats of 16 weeks old were trained by swimming as experimental groups.The systolic pres-sure was measured periodically.The thickness of vascular wall and the diameter of the vascular lumen were measured.The contents of ROS and ATP,the enzyme activity of SCAD, and the expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels in the aorta were determined.The free fatty acid in the serum and aorta was also measured.RESULTS:Compared with Wistar group,the diameter of vascular lumen decreased in SHR group.The thickness of vascular wall,the ratio of vascular wall and the diameter of vascular lumen,and the blood pressure in SHR group were increased significantly(P<0.05).Com-pared with SHR group,the diameter of vascular lumen increased in SHR +swim group.The thickness of vascular wall,the ratio of vascular wall and the diameter of vascular lumen,and the blood pressure in SHR +swim group were decreased sig-nificantly.Compared with control group, the expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels, the enzyme activity of SCAD,and the content of ATP were decreased in SHR group.However,the free fatty acid in the serum and aorta,and the content of ROS in the aorta were increased in SHR group.The expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels,the en-zyme activity of SCAD,the content of ATP were increased in Wistar +swim group and SHR +swim group.However, the free fatty acid in serum and aorta,and the content of ROS in the aorta were decreased in Wistar +swim group and SHR+swim group.CONCLUSION: Decrease in SCAD expression may be associated with hypertensive vascular remodeling. Swimming training can reverse hypertensive vascular remodeling by increasing the expression of SCAD in the aorta.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effectiveness and costs of the eversion carotid endarterectomy (eCEA) and the carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (pCEA) in treating carotid artery stenosis.

METHODSPatients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent the carotid endarterectomy in the vascular surgery department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2009 to October 2012 were enrolled in this study. According to the two different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into eCEA group and pCEA group.

RESULTSThe two groups were not significantly different in terms of gender ,age ,risk factors, stenosis degree of carotid artery, and the ratio of bilateral lesions (all P>0.05).The ratio of shunt and antibiotics application, operative time, hospitalization cost, and length of hospital stay in the eCEA group were significantly lower than those in pCEA group (P<0.05).The therapeutic effectiveness, complications, surgery-related death, restenosis, and ipsilateral stroke were not significantly different between these two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth surgical procedures are safe and effective in treating the carotid artery stenosis;however, eCEA has lower cost when compared with pCEA and therefore can be used as the first choice.

Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; surgery ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Endarterectomy, Carotid ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies