?AIM: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs1157699 in the calcitonin receptor-like receptor ( CRLR ) gene with primary angle closure ( PAC) in a Han Chinese population.?METHODS: All samples, involved 232 PAC cases and 306 controls, were obtained from an epidemiologic survey conducted in Funing, Jiangsu Province, China. Genotyping were carried out by TaqMan-MGB probe using the real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction system to study the relationship between SNP of rs1157699 in CRLR gene and PAC.?RESULTS: The prevalence of CRLRrs1157699 genotype was 67.4%, 30.0%, 2.6% for CC, CT, TT in cases, and 71.3%, 27.0%, 1.7% in controls respectively.There was no difference between the two groups in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of rs1157699 (P>0.05).?CONCLUSION:Our results do not support a significant role for rs1157699 in CRLR with PAC.

OBJECTIVEIn order to investigate whether the presence of distant metastases is associated with serum lipid abnormalities.

METHODSThe fasting serum lipid profile and various clinicopathological data of 324 breast cancer patients with and without synchronous distant metastases were collected and analyzed. The serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was determined. The nutritional status, the serum albumin was measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out to investigate the association of serum lipid profile with distant metastases.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that the distant metastasis rate was significantly higher in the breast cancer patients with an higher level of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that higher serum levels of TC, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were independent risk factors for distant metastasis in breast cancer (OR = 2.324, 2.648 and 4.862, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHyperlipidemia is significantly associated with the distant metastasis in breast cancer patients. Monitoring of serum lipid profile may be helpful to predict the occurrence of distant metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nutritional Status ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Triglycerides ; blood

The real sanghuang is a new species belonging to the Inonotus, which is commonly used for cancer treatment and human immune system improvement. This review summarized the progress on the studies of Phellinus Quel in recent years, including its taxonomy status, bioactive components, pharmacodynamics, separation and purification technologies. In addition, some related problems and perspectives were also discussed.
Animals ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of GLUMA desensitizing bonding system in desensitizing hypersensitivity of vital abutment.

METHODS69 central incisors with vital pulp from 69 patients were randomly divided into A, B and C group. After tooth preparation, group A coated with primer after etching, group B coated with primer after etching cervical dentin only, and group C was control group without special treatment. The cold sensitivity of abutments was tested after coating with primer, after cementation of crown and three months later. Two fresh extracted caries and restoration-free middle incisor were prepared in routine way. The surface of specimen 1 was etched with conditioner and the control specimen 2 was prepared without any special surface treatment. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation was used to examine the details on dentin surface.

RESULTSIn all three times of examination, the sensitivities of two experimental groups had been significantly reduced compared with the control group. Immediately after coating, group B were more sensitive than group A (P < 0.05). After cementation of crown and three months later, there was no statistically significant between group A and group B. SEM photomicrograph showed that the smear layer was removed from etched dentine surface with open dentinal tubules.

CONCLUSIONCoating with GLUMA desensitizing bonding system could prevent hypersensitivity of vital abutment.

Acid Etching, Dental ; Cementation ; Dental Pulp ; Dentin ; Dentin Sensitivity ; prevention & control ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Smear Layer

Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; Esophagus ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Stents ; Stomach ; surgery ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula ; surgery

Objective To observe the seasonal changes in serum levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and melatonin (MT) in Bizheng rat model, and explore the relationship between MT and the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods One hundred and sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups in summer (n=80) and winter (n=80) respectively:normal group, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model group, operation group, and sham-operation group (n=20 in each group). The CIA model group was injected with collagen emulsion at the base of the tail to induce arthritis. The rats in the operation group received pineal gland resection, and 7 days after the first operation, underwent testectomy or oophorectomy. The rats in the sham-operation group were operated to ligature the sagittal sinus, without extracting the pineal gland. After the operations, the operation group and the sham-operation group both were immunized as the CIA group was.The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and MT in different groups were measured by radioimmunoassay.
Results Compared with the normal group, the serum levels of IL-1βand IL-6 increased in the CIA model, operation, and sham-operation groups both in summer and in winter (IL-1βin summer, P=0.008, P<0.01, P=0.012; IL-1β in winter, P=0.019, P<0.01, P=0.027; IL-6 in summer, P=0.028, P<0.01, P=0.024;IL-6 in winter, P=0.006, P<0.01, P=0.008). In the operation group, the serum levels of IL-1βand IL-6 in winter were higher than in summer, but with no statistically significant differences (P=0.844, 0.679). Compared with the normal group, the serum level of MT significantly increased in summer and winter in both the CIA model group (P=0.002, 0.008) and the sham-operation group (P=0.003, 0.007), while significantly decreased in the operation group (P=0.023, 0.003). There was no significant difference in MT level in the operation group between summer and winter (P=0.947).
Conclusions The increase of serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 may exacerbate the inflammatory reaction and cause a more severe condition in the rheumatoid arthritis. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and MT correspond with the change of seasons, confirming that there are connections between nature and human body.

This study was aimed to reveal the species characteristics of Chinese patent medicines for antitussive ef-fect and provide references for developing new drugs. This research targeted Chinese patent medicines for antitussive effect which were included in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and the New National Chinese Patent Medicines as well as those characterized by keywords such as cough cure, cough alleviating, antitussive effect, cough, persistent cough. The analysis was made on the species characteristics, such as the number of Chinese patent medicines for antitussive effect, license number, ethnomedicine patent medicines, drugs for children use, protection of varieties of traditional Chinese medicine, the number of drugs, the generic names of drug, and drug forms. The results showed that 684 Chinese patent medicines for antitussive effect collected in this research had ac-counted for 8.60% of the total 7 260 of Chinese patent medicines. A total of 7 450 license numbers were approved, and 33% of the Chinese patent medicines shares one license number. One Chinese patent medicine owns 16.6 li-cense numbers on average. Ethnomedicine patent medicines had 3 Tibetan prescriptions such as the Shiwuwei Chenxiang pill and 4 Mongolian prescriptions, such as the Siwei Tumuxiang powder. Drugs for children accounted for 14%, including 9 forms. The type of the generic names of drug reached 16 and most of them originate from abbrevia-tions of the main drug in prescription. The number of drugs in prescription ranges from 8 to 16. Chinese patent medicines for antitussive effect involved 16 forms, of which the proportion of the use of solid preparation was higher than the liquid preparation. It was concluded that Chinese patent medicines for antitussive effect were characterized by such advantages such as a variety of species, various forms, the reasonable number of drugs, considerable medicine retail market share and drug for children use which can meet the clinical needs, and meanwhile some prob-lems, such as a lack of criteria for the generic names of drug, the homogenization of fierce competition, and inade-quacy of ethnomedicine patent medicines.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small dosage aspirin on platelet biochemical indexes in patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and the intervening action of Naoxintong (NXT).

METHODSThe blood levels of P-selectin (P), thrombin B2 (TXB2), and platelet aggregation (PAG) induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were determined in 145 patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction), after they were medicated with aspirin 100 mg per day for 7 days. Then they were randomly assigned to the aspirin group and the NXT group Both groups took aspirin 100 mg per day continually, but to patients in the NXT group, NXT 9 tablets per day was given additionally. The blood levels of above-mentioned biochemical indexes were re-examined 1 month after medication.

RESULTSThe first determination showed the plasma level of P-selectin and TXB2 concentration were positively correlated with PAG, either induced by AA (r = 0.449, P < 0.01 and r = 0.576, P < 0.01) or by ADP (r = 0.525, P < 0.01; r = 0.501, P < 0.01). Positive correlation also showed between plasma level of P-selectin and TXB2 (r = 0.610, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of all the three indexes between the two groups (P > 0.05). Re-examination showed that levels of the 3 indexes significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.01), and all were lower in the NXT group than in the aspirin group respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reaction between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-platelet effect of one-week administration of aspirin for patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases can not be optimal, the combination with NXT could enhance the effect without increase of adverse reaction.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; physiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; blood ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVEDespite progress in antibiotic therapy and intensive care, childhood bacterial meningitis (BM) remains a devastating disease. We conducted this study to investigate the changes in clinical characteristics, the etiologic agents and antimicrobial susceptibility of BM during the past 10 years in children under 14 years of age.

METHODSThese 126 patients were divided into two groups according to their date of admission. Group 1 included 64 patients admitted from January 1998 to December 2002, and group 2 included 62 cases admitted from January 2003 to December 2007. All pediatric medical charts of them were reviewed.

RESULTSThe predominant isolated bacteria from CSF were coagulase-negative staphylococcus (17/62, 27.4%) and Escherichia coli (9/62, 14.5%) in group 2. The resistance rate of staphylococcus against oxacillin (MRS) was 68.4% (13/19) in group 2, significantly higher than that of group 1 (16.7%, 2/12). Among 126 cases, 42 had seizure attack and 16 had consciousness disturbance, the proportions of them in group 2 (11/62, 17.7%; 4/62, 6.4%) were lower than those in group 1 (31/64, 48.4%; 12/64, 18.8%, P < 0.05). Cases in group 2 survived with complications [13/62 (21.0%)] and sequelae [11/62 (17.7%)] were lower than those in group 1 (24/64, 37.5%, 23/64, 35.9%, P < 0.05), but the rate of empirical therapy modification in group 2 (21/62, 33.9%) was higher than that in group 1 (7/64, 10.9%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe predominant bacteria in children with BM are staphylococcus and Escherichia coli in recent years. The antibiotic resistance rate of bacteria has been higher year after year. The clinical patterns of pediatric BM have changed with a decrease in clinically serious cases, complications and sequelae, but an increase in modification of empirical therapy.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study whether the polymorphisms of TaqIB of cholesteryl transfer protein (CETP) gene and 1444C/T of C reactive protein (CRP) gene are associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the Chinese Han population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to detect the distribution of genotypes of CETP TaqIB and CRP 1444C/T in 147 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and 147 control subjects in Chinese Han population.

RESULTS(1) The distribution of CETP TaqIB and CRP 1444C/T genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (2) A statistically significant difference between patients and controls for CETP TaqIB (P= 0.005, OR= 0.614, beta = -0.488) and CRP 1444C/T (P= 0.003, OR= 2.428, beta = 0.887) was observed. (3) In female group, significant difference was observed in smoking, CETP TaqIB and CRP 1444C/T polymorphisms. And in male group, significant difference was observed in body mass index and CETP TaqIB polymorphisms.

CONCLUSION(1) These results suggest that CETP TaqIB (B2 allele as protective factor) and CRP1444C/T (T allele as risk factor) genetic polymorphisms may be associated with the non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the Chinese Han population. (2) Smoking and CRP1444T single nucleotide polymorphism may induce hereditary susceptibility to non-valvular atrial fibrillation in female. Obesity may induce hereditary susceptibility to non-valvular atrial fibrillation in male.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Atrial Fibrillation ; genetics ; C-Reactive Protein ; genetics ; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Risk Factors ; Smoking