Decision Support Systems, Clinical ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo describe the characteristic of tongue images of patients with lung cancer of different Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and to reveal the elemental rule on the changes of the tongue images.

METHODSA total of 207 patients with lung cancer were divided into four syndrome groups according to the theory of CM: Fei and Shen deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi deficiency and phlegm deficiency and phlegm) and Shen (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency syndrome (Group A, 72 cases), Pi (deficiency and phlegm) deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome (Group B, 57 cases), phlegm-heat retention in Fei (Group C, 36 cases) and yin asthenia generating intrinsic heat syndrome (Group D, 42 cases). The tongue parameters were detected by tongue image digital analysis instrument, and the tongue images were described with qualitative, tongue color and quantitative analysis, respectively. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L·a·b (CIELAB) color model was used for the quantitative classification.

RESULTSThere was a significant statistical difference between different syndrome groups of lung cancer on tongue color, coating color, and thickness of tongue coating (P<0.01), and there was significant statistical difference between the four syndrome groups on Lab values of the tongue and coating (P<0.05). The correct identification rate of discriminant function on the raw data was 65.7%, including 72.2% for Group C, 69.4% for Group A, 69.0% for Group D and 54.4% for Group B.

CONCLUSIONSA tongue image digital analysis instrument can objectively describe the tongue features of patients with different syndromes of lung cancer. The tongue diagnosis is very important to syndrome differentiation in CM. Tongue diagnosis should be combined with some important characteristics of syndromes in the future to establish a "combination of four examination methods, including inspection, auscultation, interrogation, and pulse-feeling and palpation" in the tongue diagnostic system.

Color ; Discriminant Analysis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Tongue

OBJECTIVETo establish a cell line for stable expression of human beta-defensin 3 (hBD3).

METHODSFull length cDNA of hBD3 was isolated from previously constructed pGEM-hBD3 and then inserted into pcDNA3. The recombinant vector identified carrying hBD3 with right direction was introduced into COS-7 cells by Lipofectamine. Cell clones survived in G418-rich medium and with stable expression of hBD3 in both mRNA and protein levels were identified by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Genomic integration of the hBD3 gene with the COS-7 cells was confirmed by Southern dot blot and primary analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the secreted hBD3 was also evaluated.

RESULTSCOS-7 cells transfected with pcDNA3-hBD3 expressed hBD3 stably in mRNA and protein level. Southern dot blot analysis showed successful integration of the hBD3 gene into the genome of COS-7 cell and the hBD-3 protein secreted into the culture medium showed antimicrobial activity.

CONCLUSIONWe successfully established a hBD3-expressing cell line.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Transfection ; beta-Defensins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology

Tongue diagnosis is one of unique techniques of TCM diagnosis. Its subjective and empirical description of written words, spoken language and pictures have been used until now, however, which cannot express the complete information of tongue image comprehensively and objectively. The development of modern technology provides new ideas and methods for the study of tongue diagnosis in TCM. For example, the application of spectroscopy is of great significance for restoring tongue image information. This article briefly introduced the spectroscopy method, summarized its research and application in the field of TCM tongue diagnosis, and put forward the problems and prospects to provide references for further research.

OBJECTIVETo find a new method to perform medial canthoplasty and upper eyelid fold formation at one stage.

METHODSBased on the principle to release the skin tension and minimize incision scarring around the medial canthus, an operation was designed for medial canthoplasty together with upper eyelid fold formation. 136 patients with mild or moderate epicanthus underwent this procedure. Postoperative follow-up was as long as 34 months.

RESULTSBased on the follow-up of 67 cases, the appearances of the upper eyelid fold and medial canthus were evaluated. The upper eyelid fold was the parallel type. The epicanthus was corrected completely or mostly.

CONCLUSIONThis new method for medial canthoplasty together with upper eyelid fold formation is suitable to all the simple epicanthus except the reverse epicanthus. The operative results were effective and satisfactory.

Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Skin

Objective To investigate the relationship between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and coronary artery stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction.Methods For this study we consecutively enrolled 345 patients who received coronary angiography (CAG).According to the results,the subjects were divided into coronary stenosis group (232 cases)and control group (113 cases)to investigate the the relationship of IMA and IMA/albumin (IMAr)with coronary stenosis.Results ① The levels of IMA and IMAr in coronary stenosis group were higher than those in control group (P＜0.001).② The IMA and IMAr were higher in single-branch and multi-branch lesion groups than in control group (P＜0.05),whereas there was no significant difference between single-branch lesion group and multi-branch lesion group (P＞0.05).③ In receiver operating characteristics curve analysis,the sensitivity of IMA and IMAr was 64.4% and 78.0%,respectively (AUC:0.653,0.705,P＜0.001)in predicting coronary stenosis.④ Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IMAr was an independent risk factor for coronary stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction (OR=73.05,P＜0.001).Conclusion IMA and IMAr are closely correlated with coronary stenosis and have a value in predicting coronary artery stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction.

Objective To study the correlation between coronary artery stenosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease and subclinical hypothyroidism.Methods According to the results of coronary angiography and thyroid function,the patients were divided into coronary heart disease with subclinical hypothyroidism (group A,n=71),coronary heart disease without subclinical hypothyroidism (group B,n=73), and normal coronary angiography (control group,n=59).The degree of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated by Gensini integral method.Fasting blood was taken to measure nitric oxide (NO),high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP),and endothelin (ET)to evaluate endothelial dysfunction.Results TC,TG,LDL-c,FT3,TSH,hs-CRP,ET and Gensini score were higher in Group A than in Group B and control group (P＜0.05).The level of NO in Group A and Group B were lower than that in control group (P＜0 .0 5).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,TSH,ET and NO were independent risk factors for coronary heart disease.ET and NO levels in patients with coronary heart disease combined with subclinical hypothyroidism were correlated with Gensini scores (r=0.431,r=-0.383,P＜0.001).Conclusion Subclinical hypothyroidism may cause endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease,which may increase cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Objective To investigate the association of low level of free thyroxin (FT4)within normal range with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD)and carotid atherosclerosis.Methods We enrolled 312 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG)and divided them into CAD group (196 cases)and non-CAD group (116 cases)according to CAG results.We calculated Gensini score and divided CAD group into≤10 Gensini score group (n=65),10-30 Gensini score group (n=67)and ＞30 Gensini score group (n=64).Thyroid hormone level,carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)and other clinical data were measured and compared between the groups,and the correlation analysis was used to find the relationship of FT4 level with Gensini score.By taking CIMT reference value of 0.9 mm as the standard,we divided the patients into thickened IMT group (IMT≥0.9 mm)and normal IMT group (IMT＜0.9 mm).Results The level of FT4 was significantly lower in CAD group and subgroups than in non-CAD group (P＜0.05).The level of FT4 was negatively correlated with Gensini score (P＜0.05).The levels of FT4 and TT4 were significantly lower in thickened CIMT group than in normal CIMT group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Low level of FT4 within normal range is significantly related to the severity of CAD,and low level of FT4 can be used as an independent risk factor for the severity of CAD.Low levels of FT4 and TT4 are significantly related to carotid atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To collect and analyze multi-dimensional pulse diagram features with the array sensor of a pressure profile system (PPS) and study the characteristic parameters of the new multi-dimensional pulse diagram by pulse diagram analysis technology. METHODS: The pulse signals at the Guan position of left wrist were acquired from 105 volunteers at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We obtained the pulse data using an array sensor with 3×4 channels. Three dimensional pulse diagrams were constructed for the validated pulse data, and the array pulse volume (APV) parameter was computed by a linear interpolation algorithm. The APV differences among normal pulse (NP), wiry pulse (WP) and slippery pulse (SP) were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated for WP, SP and NP. RESULTS: The APV difference between WP and NP in the 105 volunteers was statistically significant (6.26±0.28 vs. 6.04±0.36, P=0.048), as well as the difference between WP and SP (6.26±0.28 vs. 6.07±0.46, P=0.049). However, no statistically significant difference was found between NP and SP (P=0.75). WP showed a similar CV (4.47%) to those of NP (5.96%) and SP (7.58%). CONCLUSION The new parameter APV could differentiate between NP or SP and WP. Accordingly, APV could be considered an useful parameter for the analysis of array pulse diagrams in Chinese medicine.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pulse ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

BACKGROUNDEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) commonly infects the general population and has been associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which has a high incidence in certain regions. This study aimed to address how EBV variations contribute to the risk of NPC.

METHODSUsing logistic regression analysis and based on the sequence variations at EBV-encoded RPMS1, a multi-stage association study was conducted to identify EBV variations associated with NPC risk. A protein degradation assay was performed to characterize the functional relevance of the RPMS1 variations.

RESULTSBased on EBV-encoded RPMS1 variations, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the EBV genome (locus 155391: G>A, named G155391A) was associated with NPC in 157 cases and 319 healthy controls from an NPC endemic region in South China [P < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 4.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.71-7.37]. The results were further validated in three independent cohorts from the NPC endemic region (P < 0.001, OR = 5.20, 95% CI 3.18-8.50 in 168 cases vs. 241 controls, and P < 0.001, OR = 5.27, 95% CI 4.06-6.85 in 726 cases vs. 880 controls) and a non-endemic region (P < 0.001, OR = 7.52, 95% CI 3.69-15.32 in 58 cases vs. 612 controls). The combined analysis in 1109 cases and 2052 controls revealed that the SNP G155391A was strongly associated with NPC (P(combined) < 0.001, OR = 5.27, 95% CI 4.31-6.44). Moreover, the frequency of the SNP G155391A was associated with NPC incidence but was not associated with the incidences of other EBV-related malignancies. Furthermore, the protein degradation assay showed that this SNP decreased the degradation of the oncogenic RPMS1 protein.

CONCLUSIONSOur study identified an EBV variation specifically and significantly associated with a high risk of NPC. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of NPC and strategies for prevention.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genome, Viral ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; virology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Assessment ; methods ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Viral Proteins ; genetics