Herbicides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy

Objective To explore the relationship between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization in carotid artery and the level of serum homocysteine.Methods Contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed on 72 carotid atherosclerotic plaques of 48 patients.Contrast-enhancement within the plaque was categorizde as grade 1 to grade 3.The level of serum homocysteine were detected in the fasting state during the same period.Results According to the degree of contrast enhancement(grade 1 to 3),patients were divided into 3 groups.The more new vessels in plaque,the higher the level of homocysteine.The levels of homocysteine in three groups increased in turn.There were distinct differences among the three groups(F =18.49,P ＜0.05),and there was significant difference between every two groups (P ＜0.05).The linear correlation analysis showed that the level of homocysteine was positively correlated with the degree of carotid plaque enhancement (r =0.66,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Contrastenhanced ultrasonography could semi-quantitate new vessles in plaque.There was positive correlation between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization with the level of serum homocysteine.Combine with the level of serum homocysteine based on intraplaque neovascularization detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound,the plaque stability could be more accurately evaluated.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and arteriosclerosis in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODSForty premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal women were examined for serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone and intima-media thickness of the carotid artery, and the serum concentrations of lipids, estrogen, endothelin, and E-selectin were also measured.

RESULTSCompared with premenopausal women, the mean intima-media thickness was increased but dehydroepiandrosterone and estrogen levels were decreased in postmenopausal women. A significant inverse correlation was detected between the intima-media thicknesses and dehydroepiandrosterone level. The postmenopausal women had decreased antioxidation and elevated low-density lipoprotein level.

CONCLUSIONArteriosclerosis is more likely to occur in women with low dehydroepiandrosterone level which causes decreased antioxidation and elevation of blood lipid levels.

Adult ; Arteriosclerosis ; blood ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; blood ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; blood ; Premenopause ; blood

Naringenin (1) was transformed to three metabolites (2-4) by Mucor sp. Based on LCMS(n)-IT-TOF and NMR spectroscopic data, 2-4 were identified as naringenin-7-O-sulphate, naringenin-4'-O-sulphate, and naringenin-5-O-sulphate, respectively. These results might provide hints to the mammalian/human metabolism of naringenin.
Biotransformation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Mucor ; metabolism ; Sulfates ; metabolism

ADAM Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; ADAMTS13 Protein ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; von Willebrand Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Aike Mixture (AKM) on prostatic inflammatory infiltration in patients with chronic prostatitis type III A (III A-CP/CPPS) and evaluate its anti-inflammatory action. METHODS METHODS: A total of 60 patients with III A-CP/CPPS suitable to operation and differentiated as Chinese medicine: Gan qi stagnancy syndrome type were selected. They were assigned with the random number table to two groups equally. Before operation, the patients in the treated group were administered with Proscar combined with AKM, but those in the control group treated with Proscar only. Suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy was performed two weeks later, and prostatic pathological examination was conducted.

RESULTSGrading of: inflammatory cell infiltration showed that the mean grade in the treated group was 0.78 ± 0.90 grades, which was significantly lower than that in the control group 1.68 ± 0.87 grades (P<0.05). However, the two groups were not different in the grades of fibroblast proliferation (1.50 ± 0.70 grades vs 1.62 ± 0.87 grades, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAKM could suppress the inflammatory cell infiltration, be an effective and safe remedy for the treatment of IIIA-CP/CPPS of Gan-qi stagnancy syndrome type, and worthy for spreading in clinical use.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Fibroblasts ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatitis ; classification ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of coronary artery spasm patients with or without myocardial bridge and explore the roles of endothelial dysfunction in these patients.

METHODSOne hundred eighteen patients undergone acetylcholine provoking test were divided into myocardial bridge (MB) group (n = 26) and non-myocardial bridge (NMB) group (n = 92). The results of acetylcholine test, treadmill exercise electrocardiography, stress myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, plasma level of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide were compared between MB group and NMB group.

RESULTSCoronary artery spasm was induced in 21 patients in MB group (81%) and 52 patients in NMB group (57%, P < 0.05). Positive treadmill electrocardiography was obtained in 19 patients in MB group (73%) and 7 patients in NMB group (8%, P < 0.001). Ischemic perfusion defect in 20 (77%) and 9 patients (10%, P < 0.001) and reverse redistribution in 23 (88%) and 68 patients (74%, P > 0.05). Patients showed different clinical features in MB group and NMB group (more short-duration exertional angina and could not be readily released by nitroglycerine in MB group while more patients experienced long-lasting variant angina and symptoms could be readily released by nitroglycerine). Plasma endothelin-1 level was significantly higher [(132.1 +/- 6.5) ng/L vs. (108.5 +/- 8.2) ng/L, P < 0.01] while nitric oxide was significant lower [(84.7 +/- 17.5) ng/L vs. (99.8 +/- 18.2) ng/L, P < 0.05] in MB group compared to NMB group.

CONCLUSIONMB patients were prone to coronary artery spasm partly due to endothelial dysfunction. Patients with MB and coronary artery spasm also showed classic clinical symptoms and positive stress tests for ischemia.

Adult ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vasospasm ; complications ; diagnosis ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; complications ; diagnosis ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (DPL) is a rare disease that is characterized by diffuse proliferation of abnormal pulmonary lymphatic channels. DPL occurs mostly in children and young adults and often undergoes a progressive clinical course, eventually causing deterioration of the lung. Both the clinical diagnosis and treatment of DPL remain a challenge. Here, we report a case of DPL in a 53-year-old Chinese woman with comprehensive investigations including pulmonary function tests, computer tomography (CT), bronchoscopy and histological examination of the lung biopsy, and review the literature.
Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Lymphangiectasis ; congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of multi-noninvasive indexes including endothelial function, arterial flexibility, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with mild coronary stenosis.

METHODSOne hundred and five patients were divided into three groups according to the result of coronary angiography: coronary heart disease (stenosis > or = 50% in at least one coronary segment), mild coronary stenosis (stenosis < 50% in at least one coronary segment) and control group (normal coronary). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), reflecting arterial flexibility and the lower extremity vascular disease respectively, were measured by a Colin system, carotid artery IMT was detected echocardiographically. Serum levels of NO, vWF, hs-CRP were measured before coronary angiography in all patients.

RESULTSbaPWV [(1482 +/- 155) cm/s vs. (1249 +/- 158) cm/s] and carotid IMT [(0.88 +/- 0.18) mm vs. (0.72 +/- 0.20) mm] were significantly higher while serum levels of NO [(64 +/- 17) micromol/L vs. (83 +/- 17) micromol/L] was significantly lower in mild coronary stenosis group than those in control group (all P < 0.05). vWF, ABI and hs-CRP were similar between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that NO, baPWV, smoking are independent predicting factors for mild coronary stenosis (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEndothelial dysfunction, reduction of the arterial flexibility as well as increased serum inflammation were associated with mild coronary stenosis.

Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; physiopathology ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Stenosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Elasticity ; Endothelium, Vascular ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo determine the methods for establishing an in vivo model of long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

METHODSSeventy-seven neonate (1-3 days old) and 49 young adult (2 weeks to 1 year old) tree shrews were inoculated with different HBV sources (chronic hepatitis B (CHB) human patient serum, single or pooled; HBV-infected tree shrew serum, single only; HBV-infected HepG2.2.15 cells' culture medium supernatant; HBV genome-transfected HepG2.2.15 cells' culture medium supernatant) through various routes of injection (subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and direct liver via abdominal skin; adults also received intravenous and indirect liver via spleen). Serum and liver biopsies were collected from the animals at various time points post-inoculation for detection of HBV markers by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, time-resolved immunofluorescence, Southern blotting, dot blotting, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.

RESULTSAmong the neonatal group of tree shrews, six (7.8%) were confirmed as HBV-infected for more than 72 (up to 228) weeks after inoculation and another seven (9.1%) were suspected of persistent infections. None of the young adult tree shrews developed persistent infection. Inoculation with single-source serum from either CHB humans or tree shrews were responsible for the most cases of infections, and the subcutaneous injection produced more infections than the other inoculation routes. The most reliable methods of determining HBV infection status were detection of serum HBV immunoreactive markers and intrahepatic HBV DNA.

CONCLUSIONIn order to establish an in vivo model of CHB in the tree shrew, the animals should be inoculated in the neonatal period using subcutaneous injection.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Tupaia