BACKGROUND: In the past, a lot of researches used one-time lead level in umbilical cord blood at birth for investigations,however, one-time lead level in umbilical cord blood at birth can not represent lead caused cumu lative injury to neonatal nervous system during the whole period of preg nancy. Lead in meconium is mainly from digestive juice secreted by fetal alimentary tract, exfoliative epithelia from neonatal intestinal tract and am niotic fluid and sebum cutaneum swallowed by fetus, which is excreted from the very start of pregnancy to 24 hours after birth of neonates and re flects the lead deposit in neonatal intestinal tract during the whole period of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between neurobehavioral devel opment in neonates with intrauterine exposure to lead at low level and the lead level in umbilical cord blood (CBPb) and meconium (MPb). DESIGN: Take lead levels in umbilical cord blood and meconium as neonatal intrauterine exposure indicators and scores of neonatal neurobe havioral development as effect indicators, and descriptive analysis is used to evaluate the correlativity. SETTING: Wuhan University of Science and Technology; Laboratory of Occupation Disease and Epidemiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan First Metallurgical Con struction Company Hospital for Workers and Staff. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 103 cases of full-term and healthy neonates were selected as objects of observation. The neonates were born in Depart ment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Wuhan First Metallurgical Constrction Company Hospital, Qingshan District of New Industrial District of Wuhan from January to October 1999. Their parents were agreed to participate in the study and filled in the questionnaire, and provided neonatal meconium and performed neonatal tests on schedule. METHODS: ① Collection and assay of sample: 5 mL umbilical cord blood were collected and reserved in refrigerator at -4 ℃. Meconium with in 24 hours after birth, with dry weight between 5 to 10 g was collected, the lead levels in umbilical cord blood and meconium were assayed with the method of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. ② Group ing: The neonates were divided into two groups with high and low-exposure to lead based on the cutoff value of CBPb of 0.483 μmol/L and MPb of 127.78 mg/kg. ③ Neonatal neurobehavioral development examination: Neonatal neurobehavioral development examination method was used for examination 3 days before delivery. Meanwhile, self-designed questionnaire was used to conduct a survey in puerperas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Lead levels in neonatal umbilical cord blood and meconium. ② Scores of neurobehavioral development of neonates with different lead levels of umbilical cord blood and meconium. RESULTS: All the 103 cases of neonates entered results analysis. ①There was significant difference only in scores of neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) and biological visual and auditory orientation reaction (BVAOR)between groups with high and low-exposure to lead in umbilical cord blood (P ＜ 0.05). However, there was no rank correlativity between lead level in umbilical cord blood and scores of NBNA,non-biological auditory orientation reaction (NBAOR), non-biological visual orientation reaction (NBVOR) and biological visual and auditory orientation reaction (NBVOR). ②here was significant difference in scores of NBNA,NBAOR, NBVOR and BVAOR between groups with high and low-exposure to lead in meconium (P ＜ 0.05-0.01). The lead level in meconium clearly correlated reversely with scores of NBNA, NBVOR and BVAOR.CONCLUSION: Lead level in meconium is more sensitively related to the scores of neonatal neurobehavioral development, which could be used as indicator for lead deposit in the fetal body during the period of pregnancy.

Objective To evaluate the effect of alveolar recruitment maneuver on the perioperative pulmonary function in the morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.Methods Forty morbidly obese patients of both sexes,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2,scheduled for elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy,were randomly divided into either control group (group C) or alveolar recruitment maneuver group (group R) using a random number table,with 20 patients in each group.Patients in group C were treated with volume-or pressure-controlled ventilation after creation of pneumoperitoneum,maintaining the peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak) ≤ 30 cmH2O and partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 35-40 mmHg.Patients in group R received alveolar recruitment maneuver once every 30 min starting from creation of pneumoperitoneum until the end of surgery.Patients were transfered to post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) with endotracheal tube which was extubated when the unified extubation standard was achieved in PACU.The patients who stayed in PACU for 2 h showing no indications for extubation were transfered to intensive care unit for continuous ventilation support.Immediately after intubation,immediately after creation of pneumoperitoneum,at 30,60 and 90 min of pneumoperitoneum,and at the end of pneumoperitoneum,blood samples were collected from the radial artery for blood gas analysis.Immediately after intubation,immediately after creation of pneumoperitoneum,at 30,60 and 90 min of pneumoperitoneum,at the end of surgery,and immediately before discharge from PACU,Ppeak,plateau pressure (Peat),and dynamic lung compliance were recorded.The time for achieving extubation standard and time for achieving the standard for discharge from PACU were recorded.Patients were followed up until discharge,and the feeding time and duration of hospital stay were recorded.Results Compared with group C,PaO2 and oxygenation index were significantly increased at 90 min of pneumoperitoneum,at the end of surgery,and immediately before discharge from PACU,Ppeak was decreased at 60 and 90 min of pneumoperitoneum and immediately after the end of pneumoperitoneum,Pplat was decreased at 60 and 90 min of pneumoperitoneum,the dynamic lung compliance was increased at 30,60 and 90 min of pneumoperitoneum and immediately after the end of pneumoperitoneum,and the time for achieving extubation standard,time for achieving the standard for discharge from PACU,feeding time,and duration of hospital stay were shortened in group R (P＜0.05 or 0.01).In group C,one patient did not present with indications for extubation and were transfered to intensive care unit for continuous ventilation support.Conclusion Intraoperative alveolar recruitment maneuver can effectively improve the intraoperative pulmonary function and promote the recovery of postoperative pulmonary function in the morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Adolescent ; Catheter Ablation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yigu capsule contained serum on mRNA and protein expression of osteoblast estrogen receptor (ER), for investigating the mechanism of its preventing and treating osteoporosis by means of regulating estrogen.

METHODSOsteoblasts separated from newborn SD rats were cultured, and divided into 3 groups after being passaged, i.e. the drug-serum treated group, the blank serum group and the DMEM medium control group. The relative amount of ERalpha and ERbeta expression were determined with RT-PCR, the affinity (expressed by equilibrium dissociation constant, KD) and number of ER (RT) were analysed by radioligand assay.

RESULTSThe relative amount of ERbeta mRNA expression were increased in the drug-serum group, with significant difference as compared with that in the other two groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference among the three groups in ERa mRNA expression (P > 0.05). KD in the drug-serum group showed insignificant difference as compared with that in the other two groups (P > 0.05), but RT increased in the drug-serum group and the difference in the three groups was significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDrug-contained serum of Yigu capsule can up-regulate the expression of osteoblast ERbeta mRNA and increase the amount of ERs. Regulating estrogen is possibly one of the mechanisms of Yigu capsule in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

Animals ; Capsules ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Serum

A total of 152 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the barks of Eucommia ulmoides in three regions (Lueyang country, Zunyi country, Cili country). Based on morphological characteristics and analysis of ITS sequences, these strains were identified into 8 genera. Thereinto Phomopsis, Diaporthe and Alternaria were common genera to Eucommia barks from different sites. But the dominant genus was different: Alternaria was the dominant genus in the barks from Cili country, and Phomopsis was the dominant genus from Zunyi country, then Diaporthe was the one from Lueyang country. According to the similarity coefficient, the composition of the endophytic fungi was distinctly different between the barks from three sites. The diversity and species richness in Lueyang country and Cili country were found higher than those in Zunyi country. The evenness of endophytic fungi was 0.936 5 in Lueyang county, which was higher than 0.737 1 or 0.641 0 in Cili county or Zunyi county, respectively. After phylogenic analysis and calculating the genetic distances of typical strains belong to Phomopsis and its perfect stage--Diaporthe, there was very high genetic diversity in the two genera from our study. In conclusion, the community structure and diversity of endophytic fungi were significant different in Eucommia barks from the three habitats.
DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Ecosystem ; Endophytes ; classification ; physiology ; Eucommiaceae ; microbiology ; Fungi ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Bark ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo compare the ability of osthole (OST) and genistein (GEN) in enhancing bone peak bone mass of rats to prevent osteoporosis.

METHODSThirty-six female one-month-old SD rats of (125 +/- 3) g body weight were randomly divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group, one group was orally administered osthole at 9 mg x kg(-1) d(-1), one group was given genistein at 10 mg x kg(-1) d(-1) and another was given equal quantity of distilled water as the control. The body weight was monitored weekly and the bone mineral density (BMD) of total body was measured every month. All rats were sacrificed after three months, the femoral bone mineral density, the serum levels of osteocalcin (OC) and anti-tartaric acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) were measured by Elisa. The bone microarchitectures were analyzed with micro-CT and the bone biomechanics properties were tested with universal material machine.

RESULTSNo significant differences were observed between O-treated or GEN group and the control for the food-intake and body weight during three months. However, the rats treated with OST had significant higher BMD for both total body and femur than the control and GEN group. The O-treated rats also had higher level of serum OC and lower level of TRACP 5b. Besides, they owned bigger bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number but smaller trabecular spacing. In the three point bending tests of femurs,they were found to have larger maximum load, the young's modulus and structural model index (SMI).

CONCLUSIONOrally administered osthole could efficiently increase the peak bone mass of rats,which provide new ideas for preventing osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Female ; Femur ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; pathology ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Radiography ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

Objective To estimate the incidence,mortality and 5-year prevalence of prostate cancer in China,in 2008.Methods Data from 36 cancer registries and the Third National Death Survey in China (2004-2005)was used to estimate the incidence,mortality and 5-year prevalence rates of prostate cancer in China in 2008.Mathematical models were used to predict the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in the next 20 years.Results In 2008,the incidence of prostate cancer was 33 802 (2.1％),with the incidence rate as 4.3/100 000,which ranked the eighth among all the male cancers.Mortality of prostate cancer in China was 14 297 (1.2％) with the mortality rate of 1.8/100 000,which ranked eleventh among all the male cancers.The 5-year prevalence rate of prostate cancer in China was 75 535 (3.5％) with the proportion of 13.8/100 000,ranking the seventh among all the male cancers.The incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in men before the age of 60 maintained at a low level,but rose rapidly after the age of 60.Data on prediction showed that the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in China would gradually increase in the next 20 years.Conclusion Both incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in China would keep increasing in the future.Prevention and control programs for prostate cancer should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor effects of melittin against malignant human glioma cells in vitro.

METHODSTwo malignant human glioma cell lines (U87 and U251) were treated with melittin at various concentrations, and the cell growth inhibition and apoptosis were evaluated using MTT assay, flow cytometry and agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSMelittin could obviously inhibit the proliferation of the two glioma cell lines (P<0.05). At the concentrations of 1, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 200 mg/L, melittin resulted in U87 cell apoptosis rates of 12.80%, 16.92%, 22.69%, 34.05%, 41.82%, 59.87%, and 80.25%, and in U251 cell apoptosis rate of 11.61%, 16.21%, 22.03%, 30.57%, 41.10%, 58.33%, and 79.12%, respectively, showing a dose-dependent effect in its action of inducing cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONMelittin inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of malignant human glioma cell lines in vitro.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Glioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Melitten ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the perfusion characteristics of the peritumoral brain edema of intracranial meningiomas using 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging.

METHODSDynamic contrast-enhanced single-location sequence CT scan was performed in 19 patients with intracranial meningiomas and peritumoral brain edema. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) and the mean transit time (MTT) were calculated for the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe rCBF and rCBV in the peritumoral brain edema were significantly lower than those of the contralateral white matter in patients with meningiomas (rCBF: 14.26-/+7.44 vs 26.92-/+15.71 ml/100 g tissue.min, P<0.05; rCBV: 0.96-/+0.35 vs 2.47-/+1.69 ml/100 g tissue, P<0.05). But the MTT showed no significant difference between the peritumoral brain edema and the contralateral white matter (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rCBF and rCBV are significantly lowered in the peritumoral brain edema in comparison with those of the contralateral white matter. Vascular compression by the edema fluid may have a major effect on the tissue blood flow and blood volume.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Edema ; complications ; diagnosis ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; Meningioma ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Compound Xuanju Capsule on type III prostatitis.

METHODSA total of 242 patients with type III prostatitis diagnosed by the NIH criteria were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group of equal number, the former treated with Compound Xuanju Capsule + Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, and the latter with Quinolinone antibiotics + Tamsulosin and Hydrochloride, both for 6 months. After treatment, we assessed the therapeutic effects based on the NIH-CPSI scores and the improvement of relevant complications.

RESULTSAll the 242 patients completed the treatment. The total effectiveness rate was 77.69% (94/121) in the experimental group, 71.56% (78/109) in those with complications. In comparison, it was only 47.10% (57/121) in the control group, 31.78% (34/107) in those with complications. Both the NIH-CPSI scores and the improvement of complications were significantly higher in the experimental than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompound Xuanju Capsule has a good therapeutic effect on type III prostatitis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult