Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; adverse effects ; methods ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups

Objective To retrospectively evalute the value and accuracy of adenosine stress and rest SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging. Methods A total of 1858 patients who were suspected or known for coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ( MIBI ) myocardial perfusionSPECT with adenosine infusion using the standard 2-day protocol. Images were interpreted by two or more experienced nuclear medicine physicians . Coronary angiography was carried out in all patients within one month. Kappa test was used to analyze the correlation between the two imaging studies. Results By coronary angiography, there were 957 patients diagnosed of CAD (one-, two-, three-vessel disease: 506,256,195, respectively) and 901 normal. Stenosis was found in 1603 vessels, including left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD): 765, left circumflex coronary artery (LCX): 399 and right coronary artery (RCA): 439. By adenosine induced stress myocardial perfusion imaging, 876 patients were diagnosed of myocardial ischemia ( sensitivity: 876/957, 91.54% ) and 651 patients had negative findings ( specificity:651/901,72.25 % ). The positive and negative predictive values were 77.80% ( 876/1126 ) and 88.93% (651/732), respectively. The correlation coefficient between the two imaging studies was 0.641. The vessel-based sensitivity was 81.31% (622/765) for LAD, 56.64% (226/399) for LCX and 70.62% (310/439) for RCA, respectively. The sensitivity for detection of one-, two-, three-vessel stenosis was 87.55% (443/506), 94.92% (243/256) and 97.44% (190/195), respectively. The side-effects was mild and transient with an incidence rate of 84.12% ( 1563/1858), without major cardiac events. Conclusion Stress myocardial perfusion imaging induced by adenosine is reliable for the evaluation of myocardial blood supply in CAD patients.

Obesity has become a worldwide health problem. Orlistat, an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase, is currently approved as an anti-obesity drug. However, gastrointestinal side effects caused by Orlistat may limit its use. In this study the inhibitory activities of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) against pancreatic lipase in vitro and in vivo were measured to determine its possible use as a natural anti-obesity agent. The inhibitory activities of the 95% ethanol extract of T. officinale and Orlistat were measured using 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate (4-MU oleate) as a substrate at concentrations of 250, 125, 100, 25, 12.5 and 4 microgram/ml. To determine pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity in vivo, mice (n=16) were orally administered with corn oil emulsion (5 ml/kg) alone or with the 95% ethanol extract of T. officinale (400 mg/kg) following an overnight fast. Plasma triglyceride levels were measured at 0, 90, 180, and 240 min after treatment and incremental areas under the response curves (AUC) were calculated. The 95% ethanol extract of T. officinale and Orlistat, inhibited, porcine pancreatic lipase activity by 86.3% and 95.7% at a concentration of 250 microg/ml, respectively. T. officinale extract showed dose-dependent inhibition with the IC50 of 78.2 microg/ml. A single oral dose of the extract significantly inhibited increases in plasma triglyceride levels at 90 and 180 min and reduced AUC of plasma triglyceride response curve (p<0.05). The results indicate that T. officinale exhibits inhibitory activities against pancreatic lipase in vitro and in vivo. Further studies to elucidate anti-obesity effects of chronic consumption of T. officinale and to identify the active components responsible for inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase are necessary.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Corn Oil ; Ethanol ; Hymecromone ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Lactones ; Lipase ; Mice ; Obesity ; Oleic Acid ; Plasma ; Taraxacum

BACKGROUND: Successful therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requires appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy based on the local microbe and resistance patterns. However, the available data on the bacterial etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of CAP in Korea is very limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide prospective multicenter study of CAP in adult patients was carried out between March 2009 and February 2010. Most patients underwent detailed assessment for bacterial and viral pathogens (cultures, urinary antigen testing, serological methods and polymerase chain reaction). RESULTS: A total of 619 patients were studied. More than half (50.4%) of the patients were > or =65 years, 59.3% were males and 48.1% had underlying illness. The etiology was identified in 246 (39.7%) of the patients. The most common etiologic agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae (52 episodes, 21.1%), and the majority (36/52) of which were diagnosed by a positive urinary antigen test alone. The other common bacterial agents included Mycoplasma pneumoniae (41, 16.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (26, 10.6%), Chlamydia pneumoniae (13, 5.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11, 4.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (8, 3.1%). All S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to penicillin with MIC of 2 microg/mL or less, only 1/16 (6.2%) was resistant to levofloxacin and 10/16 (62.5%) were resistant to erythromycin. Of the 26 K. pneumoniae isolates, 25 (96.2%) were susceptible to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: S. pneumoniae remains the most frequent pathogen in adults with CAP and this should be covered with empirical antimicrobial treatment. Atypical pathogens such as M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were the second most common etiologic agents and they should be tested for. The rate of CAP caused by gram-negative bacilli such as K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa was high, which is similar to that of the previous Korean studies. Further study, with excluding healthcare-associated pneumonia, is needed to clarify the etiology of CAP in Korea.
Adult ; Cefotaxime ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Erythromycin ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Korea ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Ofloxacin ; Penicillins ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

OBJECTIVETo analyze the changing trends of frequency and localization of gastric cancers arising from the gastric cardia, corpus and antrum during the past 14 years in population of the high incidence area of esophageal and gastric carcinoma in Hebei province, China.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 4334 cases of gastric carcinomas among the local residents of Cixian and Zanhuang counties, initially diagnosed in our department from 1993 to 2006, were retrospectively analyzed. The proportion of gastric carcinomas arising from the gastric cardia, corpus and antrum in different years and in patients with different sex and ages were analyzed and compared, and the changing trends of the frequency of gastric carcinoma arising from different sites of the stomach were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the 4334 gastric carcinomas, gastric cardia carcinoma accounted for 68.0%, significantly higher than that of corpus (24.2%) and antrum (7.9%; chi(2) = 124.396, P < 0.0001). An increasing tendency in the proportion of gastric cardia carcinoma from 1993 to 2006 was seen. The percentage of cardiac carcinoma in the high incidence area of esophageal carcinoma (Cixian county) was higher than that in the high incidence area of gastric cancer (Zanhuang county) (71.2% vs. 51.2%; chi(2) = 109.648, P < 0.0001). The increase in the incidence of cardiac carcinoma in Cixian county was mainly due to the increase of cardiac carcinoma from 1993 to 2006, while the contributing factor for the increase in the proportion of cardiac carcinomas was resulted from the decrease of incidence of antrum carcinoma in Zanhuang county during the same period. The occurring site of gastric carcinoma was related with age of patients (chi(2) = 58.380, P < 0.0001). The percentage of carcinoma of the gastric body was highest in < 50 year age group, while that in the gastric cardia was highest in 61 - 70 year age group (71.6%).

CONCLUSIONThe major occurring site of gastric carcinoma is the gastric cardia among the local residents in population of the high incidence areas of esophageal and gastric carcinomas during the past 14 years in Hebei province, China. The increasing trend of cardiac carcinoma and decreasing trend of corpus carcinoma in Cixian county and antrum carcinoma in Zanhuang county will be maintained in the coming years if the epidemiological conditions will not be changed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardia ; pathology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyloric Antrum ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Metabonomics, a new and rapid-developing technology, will be powerful means to the research of complexed theory system and modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Discovery of biomarkers and analysis of common properties from the metabolome of a specific TCM syndrome will facilitate the modernized study of TCM system, promote the quantitative and scientific elucidation of TCM syndrome differentiation, provide an in-depth understanding of the TCM theory of Zang-xiang, help predict the disease on-set, and achieve a comprehensive evaluation of systemic clinical efficacy, safety and mechanism of action of the TCM combination formulas along with a better understanding of intestinal microflora ecology. The new approach with combined metabonomics and TCM methodologies will provide a new pathway and methodology for the study of complicated theory system of TCM and its modernization.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the optical density index of serum aspergillus galactomannan (GM) assay and invasive aspergillosis (IA).

METHODSFrom Jan 2008 to Dec 2011, 825 hematological diseases patients with neutrophil count <0.5×10⁹/L⁹ by continuous blood count tests were admitted into our hospital. The optical density index of GM assay was ≥0.5 at least once. Of 825 patients, 247 cases were manifested as fever during hospitalization. The optical density index of GM antigen was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the sensitivity and specificity of optical density ranged in 0.5-1.5.

RESULTSIn this study, the sensitivity and specificity of GM assay with continuous twice samples (73% and 93%, respectively) were higher than single sample (66% and 80%, respectively) when optical density index ≥1.0. 69 cases were diagnosed as proven IA with the incidence rate of 8.36%.

CONCLUSIONThe cut-off level for serum GM antigen assay should be decided as optical density index in two continuous samples of ≥1.0.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Fungal ; blood ; Aspergillosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; blood ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mannans ; blood ; immunology ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in the unstable plaque of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and the impact of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on the EMMPRIN expression in macrophages.

METHODSThe EMMPRIN expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in 11 unstable plaques from patients with ACS. Protein expression of EMMPRIN was evaluated by Western blot on macrophages differentiated from THP-1 which were stimulated with LTB4 in the absence or presence of LTB4 antagonist U75302. There are 8 study groups: 1-THP-1, 2-8-the macrophages derived from THP-1, 2-6-macrophages were stimulated by LTB4 (0, 10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/L) for 24 h, 7-8-the macrophages were pretreated by 10(-6) mol/L or 10(-7) mol/L U75302 2 h before the LTB4 (10(-7) mol/L) stimulation.

RESULTSAbundant EMMPRIN expression was detected in macrophages and smooth muscle cells of unstable plaques from ACS patients. As to the THP-1 derived macrophages, EMMPRIN expression was significantly upregulated in a concentration-dependent manner in LTB4 stimulated groups, which was significantly higher in group 3-6 than in the THP-1 group (group 1) and macrophages group (group 2) (all P < 0.05) and pretreatment with U75302 significantly reduced the LTB4 induced upregulation of EMMPRIN in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEMMPRIN expression is enhanced in macrophages and smooth muscle cells on unstable coronary artery plaques from ACS patients. LTB4 could stimulate EMMPRIN expression on THP-1 derived macrophages suggesting that LTB4 and EMMPRIN might be both involved in the formation and progression of unstable plaques, future studies are warranted to explore if LTB4 and EMMPRIN antagonists are effective or not for treating patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basigin ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Leukotriene B4 ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between serum pepsinogen (PG) level and gastric mucosal changes of the residents who live in the high incidence area of gastric cancer, and investigate the value of serum PG level in screening for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and gastric cancer (GC).

METHODSSerum PG level was detected with time resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA). The correlation between serum PG level and gastric mucosal changes was analyzed through endoscopic biopsy and pathological examination in 720 adult residents.

RESULTSThe median serum PG I, PG II level and PG I / PG II ratio in 30 healthy residents with normal gastric mucosa was 172.0 microg/L, 9.6 microg/L and 17.5, respectively. The median serum PG I level of GC patients was significantly lower than that of chronic gastritis patients, gastric ulcer (GU) patients and local healthy residents (P < 0.05). The median PG I level of GU patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy resident group and the other groups (P <0.05). Serum PG II level in CAG, GC and GU groups were all significantly higher than that in CSG and healthy resident group (P <0.05). The PG I/PG II ratio in CAG or GC patients was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of serum PG I < or = 60 microg/L for screening CAG or GC was 19.7% and 95.5% respectively, which were 34.7%, 89.3% for PG I/PG II < or =6, and 14.1%, 97.3% for PG I < or =60 microg/L + PG I /PG II < or =6. None in GU group was found to have serum PG I < or =60 microg/L. The median serum PG I level and PG I /PG II ratio in chronic gastritis (including CSG and CAG) with intestinal metaplasia were significantly lower than that of healthy resident group (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity for screening of intestinal metaplasia were 16.6% and 92.9% by PG I < or =60 microg/L; 25.6% and 80.4% by PG I/PG II < or =6; 11.9% and 93.9% by PG I < or =60 microg/L + PG I/ PG II < or = 6.

CONCLUSIONSerum pepsinogen level of the residents in the high incidence area of gastric cancer is closely correlated with the pathological changes of gastric mucosa. Though the sensitivity of serum pepsinogen level is relatively lower in the screening for chronic gastritis, gastric cancer and intestinal metaplasia, the specificity was quite high. PG I < or = 60 microg/L may be usful in differential diagnosis of gastric cancer from gastric ulcer.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Pepsinogen A ; blood ; Pepsinogen C ; blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Stomach Ulcer ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the availability of serum level of macrophage clony stimulating factor (M-CSF) as a marker for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe serum levels of M-CSF in 70 patients with AD, 52 healthy controls, 22 patients with VAD (vascular dementia) were measured and the serum levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha in 32 patients with AD and 20 controls were measured as well.

RESULTSSerum levels of M-CSF were significantly elevated in patients with AD when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.01) and VAD controls (P < 0.05) respectively. At the early stage of mild dementia and middle dementia, serum levels of M-CSF were significantly elevated, but at the later stage of severe dementia, they returned to normal level. Serum levels of IL-1 beta were significantly elevated in AD patients compared with controls (P < 0.05), and serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were within the normal range in patients with AD.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that serum M-CSF level may provide a convenient and sensitive means for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism