Objective:To investigate the aberrant methylation of CpG island in 5′promoter region of p16 gene in the pancreatic juice and its value in diagnosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.Methods:Pure pancreatic juice(PPJ)was collected from the pancreatic duct by a nasopancreatic tube put under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). Cytological examination was performed by H-E staining in pure pancreatic juice.Aberrant p16 methylation was detected using the methylation specific PCR(MSP)in the PPJ.Results:The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy cytological examination in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were 40%,100%,100%,45.4% and 60.0%,respectively.The DNA sequences were successfully extracted from the PPJ of 30 patients with pancreatic diseases and were subjected to MSP.Seven(35%)of the 20 cases with pancreatic cancer showed aberrant methylation of p16 gene.No aberrant methylation was detected in the pancreatic juice samples of patients with chronic pancreatitis and mucinous cystoadenocarcinoma of pancreas.When cytological examination combined with p16 methylation detection,the sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were 55%,100%, 100%,52.6% and 70%,respectively.Conclusion:Pancreatic juice collected by nasopancreatic drainage during ERCP can be used for molecular analysis.Detection of aberrant methylation of p16 gene in pancreatic juice combined with cytological examination is a better method for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To investigate the relationship between advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) and cognitive functional impairment in the elderly. Methods The present investigation enrolled 270 outpatients aged 60 years and above who had presented to the Department of Neurology or Health Check-up Center,Zhujiang Hospital.They were divided into a normal cognition group (n=139) and a cognitive impairment group (n=131) according to Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Their fasting serum was collected to measure AGEs content by fluorimetry in both groups.Associations between their MoCA scores and their age,gender,education and AGEs content were analyzed. Results The AGEs contents were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P＞0.05).The MoCA scores or the detectable rates of cognitive impairment were significantly different among different age groups (P＜0.05),but not between genders (P＞0.05).The detectable rates of cognitive impairment were significantly different among subjects with different educational levels (P＜0.05).Conclusions Age and educational level are significant factors associated with cognitive impairment in the elderly population.Since the serum AGEs level is not linked to the impaired cognitive function in the elderly,it cannot be used as a laboratory index in early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) on myocardial fibrosis in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODSSHR of 12 weeks old were divided into the SBP group, the control group (treated with benazepril) and the model control group. The effects on such indexes as systolic blood pressure (SBP), left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), content of myocardial collagen (MC) in left ventricle, extracellular matrix fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), cardiac fibroblast (cFb) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined after 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTSSBP had no marked pressure depressive effect, but had the effect similar to that of benazepril in reducing the level of LVM, LVMI and content of MC (P < 0.05), as well as the content of LN, FN in myocardium, cFb count and TGF-beta1 expression (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBP can prevent and treat myocardial fibrosis, whose action is independent of its hypotensive effect. The mechanism may be associated with such factors as the decrease of MC synthesis in left ventricle and the deposition of extracellular matrix.

Animals ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; prevention & control ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo analyze the outbreak patterns of acute schistosomiasis in Anhui province in 2003.

METHODSThe criteria of emergency event for schistosomiasis issued by the Ministry of Health were applled in this study. Epidemiological data of acute schistosomiasis outbreak in Anhui province in 2003 were collected, checked and analyzed.

RESULTSIn 2003, there were 6 episodes of acute schistosomiasis outbreaks in Anhui which had met the criteria of being emergency events, issued by the Ministry of Health. The preplanning was initiated in 5 outbreaks to respond to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis. All of the acute schistosomiasis cases received timing treatment, except those misdiagnosed cases coming from the non-endemic areas. There were no deaths or follow-up cases during the outbreaks. Health education, preventive treatment for people living in high risk villages were conducted in order to timely control the epidemics of schistosomiasis.

CONCLUSIONThe implementation of preplanning has played an important role in early cases-finding, timing report and response to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cattle ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disease Reservoirs ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

BACKGROUNDPatients with sliding hiatus hernia (HH) and reflux esophagitis (RE) usually suffer from esophageal dysmotility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of acid reflux and duodenal gastroesophageal reflux (DGER), esophageal manometry, and esophageal dysmotility by applying the barium meal examination.

METHODSRE with HH was initially diagnosed using the reflux disease questionnaire, and was further confirmed by a barium meal examination and an endoscopy. The radiographic technique was used to test for spasms, strictures, and the coarseness of the mucosa, also was to study the types of reflux and clearance. Then, the esophageal manometry, the esophageal 24-hour pH, and the bilirubin monitoring were observed.

RESULTSFifty-five patients were diagnosed as HH combined with RE and divided into two groups according to the severity of their esophagitis: group HH1 (grades A and B) and group HH2 (grades C and D). The barium meal examination revealed that the mucosa was either granular or nodular in all cases. The dump reflux and delayed clearance were more significant in patients in the HH2 group than those in the HH1 group (P < 0.05). The percentages of total, supine, and upright acid exposure time were greater in patients with HH than those in the control group (P < 0.01), but the differences between the HH1 and the HH2 groups were not significant. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) was lower in the HH group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Three DGER parameters: the percentage of time with absorbance greater than 0.14, the number of bile reflux episodes, the number of bile refluxes lasting longer than 5 minutes were (28.43 +/- 23.34), (40.57 +/- 31.30), and (15.15 +/- 8.72), respectively in the HH2 group; these statistics were significantly higher than those for the HH1 (P < 0.05). The frequency and amplitude of peristalsis were all lower in HH patients than in the control (P < 0.05). Of all the patients, 54.3% (30 of 55) with acid reflux and DGER simultaneously in the HH group exhibited refluxes of barium from the stomach to the esophagus in the recumbent position, and 29.4% (5 in 17) with delayed clearance in the HH group were correlated with esophageal body peristalses. The result was that the frequency and amplitude of peristalsis were less and the duration of esophageal peristalsis was longer than those of control group.

CONCLUSIONSEsophageal dysmotility may play an important role in the severity of RE combined with HH. Esophageal motility results on a barium examination may coincide with esophageal manometry, 24-hour pH, and bilirubin monitoring in the RE and HH, but the radiologic method was the simplest to apply.

Adult ; Aged ; Bilirubin ; analysis ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Esophagoscopy ; Female ; Hernia, Hiatal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; methods ; Middle Aged

Objective To study the effects of human uriilary kallikrein(HUK)on the number of apoptotic cells and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rats after focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion(FCIR) injury. Methods Eighty-four Spmque-Dawley(SD)male rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group(n=12),ischemia-reperfusion group(n=36),and HUK-treated group (n=36). Transient focal cerebml ischemia models were established by middle cerebml artery occlusion.Six rats were chosen from sham-operated group,ischemia-reperfusion group,and HUK-treated group for measuring infarct sizes.The rest were used to evaluate neurologic fhnction impaiment and measure the nunlber of apoptotic cells and Bcl-2 or BaX protein positive cells in cerebral cortex with TUNEL and immunohistochemistry.The latter 2 groups were subdivided into 6,12,24,72,168 h reperfusio groups (each n=6). Results The neurologic function impairmlent score,the infarct sizes,the apoptotic cells and the expression of Bax protein of HUK-treated group at different time points (except 168 h group)significantly decreased compared wilh those of ischemia-reperfsion group (p＜0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 protein of HUK-treated group at different time points(except 168 h group) remarkably increased compared with that of ischemia-reperfusion group(P＜0.05). Conclusions HUK can excrt a protection against FCIR injury, maybe through up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating Bax protein in the initial 3 d of FCIR injury to decrease the number of apoptotic cells

Objective To investigate the relationship between CYP19 gene polymorphism and Alzheimer disease. Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze the allele frequency distribution at the Mfe Ⅰ site of CYP19 gene in 102 patients with Alzheimer disease and 121 healthy control subjects. Results The frequencies of CYP19 ml and m2 alleles showed significant differences between the patient group and the control group (66.2% vs 81.0% and 33.8% vs 19.0%, respectively, X2=12.696, P<0.05). In patients with Alzheimer disease, the frequencies ofm1/m1, m1/m2, m2/m2 genotypes of CYP19 gene were 44.1%, 44.1%, and 11.8%, respectively, showing significant differences from the frequencies in the control subjects (65.3%, 31.4%, and 3.3%, respectively, X2=12.384, P<0.05). Conclusion CYP19 gene polymorphism at the Mfe Ⅰ site is associated with the genetic susceptibility to Alzheimer disease.

Objective To explore the effect of continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH)combined with intravenous injection of mannitol in the treatment of intracranial hypertensive patients with renal failure. Methods Nine intracranial hypertensive patients with renal failure from ICU of our hospital were treated with 2-3 times of CVVH combined with intravenous injection of mannitol; their non-invasive intracranial pressure, serum creatinine and cystatin concentrations before and after the treatments were monitored. Results The difference of intracranial pressure was statistically significant before and after CVVH (P＜0.05), so were the values of serum creatinine and cystatin before and after CVVH (P＜0.05). One patient with brain stem hemorrhage died fiom multiple organ failure 2 d after the treatment, and the other 8 patients all smoothed out the rush hours of brain edema without cerebral hernia.Conclusion CVVH combined with intravenous injection of mannitol is a kind of effective treatment for intraeranial hypertensive patients with renal failure.

Objective To investigate the iodine nourishment in women of child-beating age in high risk region of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in Qinghai Province. Methods According to The Notice to Launch a Reinforced Survey on IDD in High Risk Region issued by The Ministry of Public Health, 17 counties in 6 districts were selected as investigated area in Qinghai Province in 2007, using two stage cluster sampling and combining The National IDD Preliminary Surveillance Scheme, 30 women aged from 18 to 40 years were selected in each village, 1 or 2 villages in each town, 3 to 5 towns in each county, who were divided into newly wedding, pregnant, lactation and other women of child-bearing age. Iodine concentration in urine was detected by the method of As3+-Ce4+catalytic spectrophotometry. Results One thousand six hundreds and four urine iodine samples were analyzed. The median was 93.3 μg/L,52.1%(836/1604),31.8%(510/1604) and 12.4%(199/1604) was lower than 100,50 and 20 μg/L, respectively. It was 70.5%(527/747) and 43.0%(128/298) of women in Yushu and Haixi that had urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L, respectively, while it was 50% of women in the 6 districts, to be specific, 88.3%(91/103) in Nangqian, 83.8% (62/74) in Zaduo and 70.7%(118/167) in Zhiduo Counties respectively. The median of urinary iodine in women who were not lactating and not pregnant was only 88.6 μg/L, of whom 53.9% (763/1415) lower than 100 μg/L. Conclusions The women of reproductive age in high risk region of IDD are deficient of iodine in Qinghai Province.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the molecular characteristics and genetic correlations of Vibrio cholerae isolates in Hainan in 2008, so as to provide pathogenic proof to diagnose the plague.

METHODSSeventy six cholera strains were isolated from this cholera epidemic.69 strains were obtained from patients, 7 were isolated from external environment, among which, one was from patient's toilet, one from water sample, three were isolated from fish pond near patient's home, one came from swab of the patient vomit on the ground of health center and one from swab of kitchen knife from Hainan University canteen respectively. With conventional aetiological methods, pulse-field gel electrophoresis was conducted and the patterns of the 76 isolates were analyzed. The PFGE image was analyzed using BioNumerics (Version4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belium). Image bands were identified and similarity coefficient was automatically generated.

RESULTSSeventy six strains were isolated from Vibrio cholerae outbreaks in Hainan in 2008.5 PFGE patterns of patient's isolates in June were the same, sharing a similarity coefficient of 100%. 70 PFGE patterns of patients and water in October and November were completely same, the similarity coefficient being 100%. But they were not same as that of June. 1 PFGE pattern of isolate from the sample in Hainan University was different, only sharing a similarity coefficient of 79.7%, which showed no correlation with the outbreak.

CONCLUSIONDifferent outbreaks of Vibrio cholera occurred in Hainan in 2008. The epidemic in October and November at different counties was one outbreak. The pollution of water in environment was an important factor for outbreak.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; methods ; China ; epidemiology ; Cholera ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Humans ; Vibrio cholerae ; classification ; isolation & purification