Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns, Chemical ; therapy ; Female ; Hand Injuries ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Humans ; Hydrofluoric Acid ; adverse effects ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

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

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients' symptoms and signs, serum immunoglobulin levels, peripheral blood lymphocyte autophagy protein, autophagy gene, and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSTotally 59 AS patients were assigned to the treatment group (39 cases) and the control group (20 cases) according to random digit table. Patients in the treatment group received XFC, 0.5 g each pill, three pills each time, 3 times per day, while those in the control group received sulfasalazine (SASP), 0.25 g per tablet, 4 tablets each time, twice per day. Three months consisted of one therapeutic course. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were statistically calculated. Serum immunoglobulins (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA , SIgA, and IgM) were detected using ELISA. Changes of Beclin1, LC3-II, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were detected using Western blot. Serum autophagy related genes such as Atg1, Atg5, Atg12, Atg13, and Atg17 were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The correlation between immunoglobulin subtypes and autophagy gene in AS patients using Spearman correlation.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BASDAI, IgG1, lgG3, and IgA decreased (P < 0.01); PI3K, Akt, and mTOR protein expressions decreased (P < 0.01); ATG1, ATG12, ATG13, and ATG17 mRNA expressions decreased, ATG5 mRNA expression increased (P < 0.01) in the treatment group. But BASDAI, IgG1, and IgA levels decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); PI3K, Akt, and mTOR protein expressions decreased (P < 0.05); ATG1 and ATG13 mRNA expressions decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the control group. Compared with the control group, BASDAI, IgG1, and IgA levels decreased (P < 0.05); PI3K, Akt, mTOR protein expressions decreased (P < 0.01); ATG12 and ATG17 mRNA expression decreased, ATG5 mRNA expression increased (P < 0.01) in the XFC group. Correlation analysis showed AS patients' IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgA, SIgA, IgM had negative correlation with ATG17; IgG4 and ATG17 were positively correlated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXFC could elevate clinical efficacy of AS patients and enhance their autophagy, which might be achieved by acting on PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal, affecting autophagy gene and autophagy protein expression, taking part in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of lymphocyte B, and strengthen humoral immunity.

Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Beclin-1 ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Sulfasalazine ; therapeutic use ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

It is important to research the rules about accumulation and distribution of arsenic and cadmium by tea plants, which will give us some scientific ideas about how to control the contents of arsenic and cadmium in tea. In this study, by field investigation and pot trial, we found that mobility of arsenic and cadmium in tea plants was low. Most arsenic and cadmium absorbed were fixed in feeding roots and only small amount was transported to the above-ground parts. Distribution of arsenic and cadmium, based on their concentrations of unit dry matter, in tea plants grown on un-contaminated soil was in the order: feeding roots>stems approximately main roots>old leaves>young leaves. When tea plants were grown on polluted soils simulated by adding salts of these two metals, feeding roots possibly acted as a buffer and defense, and arsenic and cadmium were transported less to the above-ground parts. The concentration of cadmium in soil significantly and negatively correlated with chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and biomass production of tea plants.
Arsenic ; metabolism ; Biomass ; Cadmium ; metabolism ; Camellia sinensis ; metabolism ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Photochemistry ; Plant Shoots ; metabolism ; Tea ; metabolism

Objective To deduce carotid elasticity transmission index (CETI) and explore the correlation between CETI and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery to investigate the clinical value of CETI. Methods Seventy-seven patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 24 healthy controls were collected. Their blood flow rate of cerebral arteries was detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and the pulsatility index (PI) was calculated. Their IMT and blood flow rate of common carotid artery (CCA) were detected by difunctional color Doppler; and then, their PI was calculated to analyze the correlation between CETI and IMT by curve fitting. The formulas were determined as: CETI1=PIMCA/PICCA, CETI2=PHCA/PICCA and CETB=PIBA/PICCA. Multiple stepwise regression analysis was employed to reflect the sensitive factors of IMT and CETI. Results Curvilinear correlation (curve of quadratic equation) was noted between CETI, including CETI1, CETI2 and CETI3, and IMT; each of the determination coefficient was r2=0.665, 0.601 and 0.573, respectively. Quadratic equations were y1=0.504+0.049x+0.203x2, r=0.815, P=0.000; y2= 1.009-1.141x+0.891x2, r=0.775, P= 0.000; y3=0.775-0.687x+0.641x2, 7=0.756, P=0.000. Among them, the correlation between CETI1 and IMT was the most significant. Linear regression was noted between IMT and LDL-C, daily dosage of smoking, SBP and gender. Linear regression was noted between CETT1 and both SBP and daily dosage of smoking. Linear regression was noted between CETI1 and both SBP and daily dosage of smoking. Linear regression was noted between CETI3 and SBP, CHOL and daily dosage of smoking. Conclusions CETI increases with the increase of IMT, suggesting that the rate of cerebral atherosclerosis is faster than the one of carotid in hypertensive patients when the elastic reserve of intracranial carotid artery and cerebral arteries decreases and the thickness of IMT increases to a certain extent. The risk factors of CETI are similar to IMT.

Objective To observe the diagnostic value of non-invasive 128-slice computed tomography coronary angiography(CTA)in comparison with invasive coronary angiography.Methods 128-slice CTA and invasive coronary angiography were performed in 78 unselected consecutive patients(63 patients with suspected coronary artery disease and 15 patients with previous coronary stenting,56 males,mean age 61±10 years)and ＞50% reduction of minimal lumen diameter was defined as significant coronary stenosis.Results Fifty-eight out of 879 segments(7%)from CTA were not assessable because of irreguldr rhythm,vessel calcification or tachycardia.Compared with invasive coronary angiography,segmentbased analysis from the 821 segments showed the sensitivity by CTA was 87%,specificity 97%,PPV 83% and NPV 97%.Four out of 22 stents implanted in 15 patients were not assessable by CTA because of poor image quality.Compared with invasive coronary angiography,the sensitivity of diagnosing in-stent restenosis by CTA was 100%,specificity 77%,PPV 63% and NPV 100% for the remaining 18 stents-Conclusions One hundred and twenty-eight-slice CTA has a high accuracy for detecting coronary artery disease and instent restenosis after coronary stenting and could be considered as a valuable noninvasive technique for screening coronary artery disease in suspected patients.

Objective To 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. Methods One hundred and five patients were divided into three groups according to the result of coronary angiography: coronary heart disease (stenosis ≥ 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. Results baPWV [(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) μmol/L vs. (83±17) μmol/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) . Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction, reduction of the arterial flexibility as well as increased serum inflammation were associated with mild coronary stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The majority of children with β-thalassemia major have iron overload, and iron overload may have negative effects on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of liver and cardiac iron overload detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* on HLA-identical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with β-thalassemia major. METHODS: Eighty-one children with β-thalassemia major who were over 3 years of age and could cooperate with MRI detection were subjected to liver and heart MRI T2* tests before or after HLA-identical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. According to the test results, we calculated the liver and cardiac iron content, defined as an indicator of liver and heart iron overload. Then, there was a correlation analysis between the liver and cardiac iron content and serum ferritin, time of hematopoietic reconstitution, mortality rate, implantation rate and the morbidity of transplantation related complications, such as graft-versus-host disease, infections, autoimmune hemolysis, pancytopenia, hepatic veno-occlusive disease, septicemia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The liver iron content was positively correlated with the time of hemoglobin implantation (r=0.229, P=0.043), and the cardiac iron content were positively correlated with the mortality rate (r=0.266, P=0.017); the serum ferritin level was negatively correlated with the implantation rate (r=-0.289, P=0.009), and positively correlated with the morbidity of septicemia (r=0.251, P=0.024) and pancytopenia (r=0.276, P=0.013). Therefore, iron overload exerts negative effects on HLA-identical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in β-thalassemia major children, and it is necessary to detect serum ferritin level and assess liver and cardiac iron overload before cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blockness effects of purified polyclonal anti-porin I antibody on N. gonorrhoeae adherence to genitourinary tract epithelia of BALB/c mouse.

METHODSPolyclonal anti GST-PI antibody was generated by immunizing rabbit with GST-PI fusion protein which was constructed and expressed by ourselves. The purified immunoglobulin G was obtained by ammonium sulphate deposition and DEAE cellulose chromatography. Mice model of gonorrhea was established. In order to evaluate the effects of PI-IgG on gonococcus adhesion to vagina mucus, the macroscopic and pathological assessing as well as gonococcus culture was employed after gonococcus challenge on PI-IgG immunized mice.

RESULTNo pus and pathological inflammation were observed on mice vagina mucus treated with 1 mg/ml PI-IgG 3 hours before gonococcus challenge. Gonococcus could not be detected in the smears and washing solutions from vagina. Pathological inflammation was found in mice treated with anti PI-IgG, in which the concentrations were lower than 1 mg/ml or the treated time was longer than 3 hours prior to gonococcus challenge.

CONCLUSIONThe purified anti PI-IgG can effectively inhibit the adherence and infection of gonococci to genitourinary tract epithelia of BALB/c mice. In addition, the blocking duration of anti PI-IgG is associated with antibody concentration.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Adhesion ; drug effects ; Epithelium ; drug effects ; microbiology ; Female ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gonorrhea ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; physiology ; Porins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Urogenital System ; drug effects ; microbiology

Objective To investigate the clinical features of coronary artery spasm patients with or without myocardial bridge and explore the roles of endothelial dysfunction in these patients.Methods One 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 peffusion scintigraphy,plasma level of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide were compared between MB group and NMB group.Results Coronary 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)ns/L vs.(108.5±8.2)ng/L,P＜0.01]while nitric oxide was significant lower[(84.7±17.5)ns/L vs.(99.8±18.2)ng/L,P＜0.05]in MB group compared to NMB group.Conclusion MB 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.