Objective To summary the experience of management for orthotopic homologous heart transplantation,heart-lung co-transplantation and to discuss the postoperative treatment of short-term complications.Methods Orthotopic homologous heart transplantation and heart-lung co- transplantation on 9 cases were performed from May 2004 to February 2006.The patients were traced closely and all complications were treated in time.Results During hospital stay,hypertension oc- curred in one case,right heart insufficiency in one case,infection of mycetes and cytomegalovirus in 2 cases after the heart transplantation,and in the patient undergoing heart-lung co-transplantation,renal inadequacy,bronchial anastomosis stenosis and fungus infection occurred.All patients obtained symp- tomatic relief before discharge.Conclusion Proper perioperative management,immunosuppressive therapy and management of postoperative complications could reduce mortality and obtain satisfactory therapeutic effect in the near future.

To explore the dual regulatory effects of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on cell cycle in Lewis-bearing mice with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression.

OBJECTIVEThe main purpose of this work was to give the evidence of reasonable and feasible dust control measures which will be taken in the future by analyzing the trend of dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 and identifying working faces with the severe dust contamination in one underground iron mine.

METHODSThe data was from routine monitoring between the years 1991 and 2010, which enclosed the total dust concentrations and silica contents. China National Standard of Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace used to judge whether the dust concentration exceeded the National Standard.

RESULTSThe general trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, especially maximum and average levels. The highest exceeding rate was 43.16% in 1993 and the best years were 2009 and 2010, but the exceeding rates were still over 30%. The dust exposure levels varied with different work faces. The mining and supporting were the most severe dust pollution faces which the highest ultra exceeding rates were 51.61% and 51.48% and the maximum exceeding times were 64.6 and 16.4 respectively. The next was constructing face with 40.23% exceeding rate and 24.6 times more than standard.

CONCLUSIONThe trend of total dust concentration from 1991 to 2010 was decreased, but the dust exceeding rate was still high. The strong measures should be taken to control the dust pollution in this iron mine, especially mining and supporting faces.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Dust ; analysis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Iron ; analysis ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiological characteristics of acute pesticide poisoning in Shaoxing, China during 2006-2011 and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of pesticide poisoning.

METHODSThe data on pesticide poisoning in Shaoxing during 2006-2011 were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and were then analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 2024 cases of acute pesticide poisoning were reported in Shaoxing during 2006-2011, and 44 cases were missed, accounting for 2.1% (44/2068) of all cases. Among the 2024 cases, 119 (5.9%) died; the fatality rates of productive poisoning and unproductive poisoning were 1.0% (3/289) and 6.7% (116/1735), respectively. The reported cases included 1038 (51.3%) females and 986 (48.7%) males, and there were no significant differences in the ratio between male and female cases of acute pesticide poisoning from 2006 to 2011 (χ2 = 9.16, P = 0.10). The 2024 cases had a mean age of 47.0±18.7 years; the male cases had a significantly higher mean age than the female cases (50.7±19.0 vs 43.4±17.8 years, t = 9.01, P < 0.001). Among the 2024 cases, 289 (14.3%) suffered productive poisoning, and 1735 (85.7%) suffered unproductive poisoning. In the 986 male cases, 219 (22.2%) suffered productive poisoning; in the 1038 female cases, 968 (93.3%) suffered unproductive poisoning. The pesticides that caused poisoning included insecticide (86.7%, 1754/2024), herbicide (5.1%, 104/2024), rodenticide (3.6%, 72/2024), and bactericide, mixed preparation, biochemical pesticides, and other four categories of pesticides (4.6%, 94/2024); of the 1754 cases caused by insecticide, 1455 (83.0%) were attributed to organophosphorus insecticide.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of unproductive acute pesticide poisoning is high in Shaoxing, and it mainly affects females. Most cases of acute pesticide poisoning are aged 30∼60 years. Insecticide is the main cause of poisoning. It is necessary to enhance health knowledge popularization and safety management of pesticides.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of -1C/T single nucleotide polymorphism within Annexin A5 gene in the genetic susceptibility to coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP).

METHODSFour hundred and seventy CWP Han chinese patients and 428 Han chinese controls were enclosed in present case-control study. All subjects were exposed to coal dusts. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the -1C/T SNP in Annexin A5 gene for all subjects. The relationship between the -1C/T SNP in Annexin A5 gene and CWP was analyzed.

RESULTSCT/TT genotype in -1C/T SNP was associated with a significantly decreased risk of CWP, as compared with the CC genotype among subgroups exposed to coal dusts for ≥ 27 years (adjusted OR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.44 - 0.98, P = 0.039) and patients with CWP at stage II (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34 - 0.90, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study suggest that the Annexin A5 -1C/T polymorphism may be involved in the development of CWP in Han Chinese coal miners.

Aged ; Annexin A5 ; genetics ; Anthracosis ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To establish a dual RT-PCR detection method for bovine viral diarrhea virus(BVDV)in bovine-derived samples. Methods The primers were designed and synthesized according to the published BVDV1 and BVDV2 genes containing highly conservative sequences in the 5' untranslated regions(5' UTR)to establish the dual RT-PCR method. The specificity,sensitivity,stability of this method were evaluated. Then 41 bovine-derived samples and 64 bovine plasma samples including bovine calf serum, deproteinized calf serum extract and one lienal polypeptide injection were detected with this method. Results There was no cross reaction with bovine parainfluenza virus type 3(BPIV3), classical swine fever virus(CSFV)and Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)when samples were detected with the established dual RT-PCR method. The lowest concentration of template DNA for detection of BVDV1 and BVDV2 was 8.87 × 102copies and 6.31 × 102copies per microliter,respectively. Electrophoresis bands of about 151 bp and 303 bp were still amplified and detected after the BVDV1 and BVDV2 cDNA was stored at -30℃ for 12 months. The BVDV positive rate of 41 bovine-derived samples and 64 bovine plasma samples detected with this dual RT-PCR method was 14.6% and 29.7%, respectively. Conclusions The established dual RT-PCR method has the advantages of high efficiency, specificity,sensitivity and stability,and can be used for the detection of BVDV in bovine-derived samples.

AIMTo investigate the effects of RLI on plasma nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) isoforms of healthy humans.

METHODS30 healthy human subjects (aged from 40 - 70 years old) were recruited. RLI was induced by five 5 min cycles of ischemia of non dominant arm (200 mmHg, 5 min interval). Blood pressure, heart rate, and the feelings of ischemic arm were continuously monitored. Venous plasma was collected in contralateral arm at Pre, Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h. Plasma level of NO was measured by Griess reaction, and NOS was measured by chemical method.

RESULTSBlood pressure and heart rate varied in normal range. The uncomfortable feeling was decreased with the increasing numbers of ischemic cycles. Plasma level of NO, and iNOS in plasma were significantly increased at Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). tNOS was also significantly increased at Post-0 h and Post-4 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). No significant change in plasma cNOS was shown at following three time points than Pre.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that RLI can elevate plasma level of NO, tNOS, and iNOS in healthy humans. RLI might be a safe method as a rIPC, and it would have important possibility to be performed in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Arm ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

Objective To evaluate the three-year efficacy and safety with standardized dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods Ninety patients who were diagnosed as allergic to mite by skin prick test and serum IgE were include in the standardized allergenspecific dose-escalation regimen.Nasal symptom score (0 - 3 ) were collected before treatment and three years after treatment; VAS( visual analogue scale,0 - 10) of all nasal symptoms and drug use score were collected every four months; frequency of local and systemic reactions were recorded in the duration of dose escalation and maintenance.Results Nasal blocking,sneeze,rhinorrhia and nasal itch were significantly improved after 3 years treatment ( before treatment:2 [ 2 ; 3 ],2 [ 2 ;3 ],2 [ 2 ;3 ],2 [ 1 ; 2 ] ; after treatment:all were 0 [ 0 ;0 ] ; Z value were - 8.310,- 8.408,- 8.377,- 8.287,all P were 0.000 ).VAS of all nasal symptoms and drug use score decreased dramatically after escalation period ( before treatment:8.00 [7.00;8.85],2.00[ 1.50;2.00] ; after treatment:1.00[ 1.00;1.50],0 [0;0] ; Z value were -8.287,- 8.248,P value 0.086,0.744 ),and maintained afterwards ( F value were 2.483,0.296 ; P value were 0.086,0.744).Ninty-eight case times (64.47％ ) local reactions mainly happened in maintenance period;the frequency of systemic reactions was 2.54％. Conclusion The standardized specific allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is safe and effective.

OBJECTIVETo explore the toxicological mechanism of hydroquinone in human bronchial epithelial cells and to investigate whether DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone.

METHODSDNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line was established via RNA interference as an experimental group. Normal human bronchial epithelial cells and cells transfected with the empty vector of pEGFP-C1 were used as controls. Cells were treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone (ranged from 10 micromol/L to 120 micromol/L) for 4 hours. MTT assay and Comet assay [single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)] were performed respectively to detect the toxicity of hydroquinone.

RESULTSMTT assay showed that DNA polymerase beta knock-down cells treated with different concentrations of hydroquinone had a lower absorbance value at 490 nm than the control cells in a dose-dependant manner. Comet assay revealed that different concentrations of hydroquinone caused more severe DNA damage in DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line than in control cells and there was no significant difference in the two control groups.

CONCLUSIONSHydroquinone has significant toxicity to human bronchial epithelial cells and causes DNA damage. DNA polymerase beta knock-down cell line appears more sensitive to hydroquinone than the control cells. The results suggest that DNA polymerase beta is involved in protecting cells from damage caused by hydroquinone.

Bronchi ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Comet Assay ; Cytotoxins ; toxicity ; DNA Damage ; DNA Polymerase beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; toxicity ; RNA Interference

BACKGROUNDRNA interference using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) can mediate sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression in mammalian cells. A vector-based approach for synthesizing shRNA has been developed recently. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the MDR1 gene product, confers multidrug resistance (MDR) to cancer cells. In this study, we reversed MDR using shRNA expression vectors in a multidrug-resistant human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7/AdrR).

METHODSThe two shRNA expression vectors were constructed and introduced into MCF-7/AdrR cells. Expression of MDR1 mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR, and P-gp expression was determined by Western Blot and immunocytochemistry. Apoptosis and sensitization of the breast cancer cells to doxorubicin were quantified by flow cytometry and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays, respectively. Cellular daunorubicin accumulation was assayed by laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM). Statistical significance of differences in mean values was evaluated by Student's t tests. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSIn MCF-7/AdrA cells transfected with MDR1-A and MDR1-B shRNA expression vectors, RT-PCR showed that MDR1 mRNA expression was reduced by 40.9% (P < 0.05), 30.1% (P < 0.01) (transient transfection) and 37.6% (P < 0.05), 28.0% (P < 0.01) (stable transfection), respectively. Western Blot and immunocytochemistry showed that P-gp expression was significantly and specifically inhibited. Resistance against doxorubicin was decreased from 162-fold to 109-fold (P < 0.05), 54-fold (P < 0.01) (transient transfection) and to 108-fold (P < 0.05), 50-fold (P < 0.01) (stable transfection). Furthermore, shRNA vectors significantly enhanced the cellular daunorubicin accumulation. The combination of shRNA vectors and doxorubicin significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7/AdrR cells.

CONCLUSIONSshRNA expression vectors effectively reduce MDR expression in a sustained fashion and can restore the sensitivity of drug-resistant cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Flow Cytometry ; Genes, MDR ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection