One hundred and fifty patients with 70 percent or more of carotid steno-ocelusion confirmed by digital subtraction angiography were selected to analyze risk factors for its clinical symptoms.Results of analysis showed that risk for clinical symptom increased with severity of unilateral carotid stenosis (OR = 3.546,95% CI 1.515-8.300,P = 0.004).Whereas presence of "functional complete circle of Willis" was a protective factor for it (OR = 0.208,95 % CI 0.045-0.962,P = 0.045).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity in the serum and seminal plasma of infertile men with chronic viral hepatitis and their influence on the semen parameters of the patients.

METHODSWe collected serum and semen samples from 42 infertile men, 45 infertile males with chronic viral hepatitis, and 50 healthy fertile men as controls. We measured the MDA level in the serum and seminal plasma by spectrophotometry, detected the PON-1 activity by spectrophotometry, and determined the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by acridine orange fluorescence staining.

RESULTSThe MDA level was significantly higher but the PON-1 activity remarkably lower in the serum and seminal plasma of the infertile males with chronic viral hepatitis than in the healthy controls and infertile patients (P <0.01 or P <0.05). Total sperm motility and sperm survival rate were significantly lower while the sperm DFI markedly higher in the former than in the latter two groups (P <0.01 or P <0.05). No statistically significant difference was found among the three groups in sperm concentration (P >0.05). The WBC counts in the semen of the infertile and infertile with chronic viral hepatitis groups were significantly higher than that in the health controls (P <0.05). The MDA level and PON-1 activity in the seminal plasma were positively correlated with those in the serum in the infertile males with chronic viral hepatitis (r=0.57 or 0.48, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONVirus-induced chronic active hepatitis enhances oxidative stress in the reproductive system, aggravates sperm damage, and affects sperm quality parameters.

Adult ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertility ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; complications ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

AIM: To investigate the effect of soybean isoflavones (SI) on ventricular remodeling induced by myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in male Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: shamThree hours after the operation, the drugs or solvent were administrated ig qd for 35 d. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, heart rate (HR), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), peak systolic left ventricular pressure (Peak), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rising (+dp/dtmax), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure declining (-dp/dtmax) and myocardial maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) were measured. After above hemodynamic parameters were measured, hearts were extracted. The ratio of total ventricle weight to body weight(TVW/BW) was calculated. Myocardial collagen was shown with the collagen-specific picrosirius red stain,myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction(ICVF), perivascular collagen volume fraction(PCVF), infarct size,septal thickness (ST) and left ventricular diameter (LVD) were measured by image analysis system. RESULTS:(31 ± 5) %, respectively, all of which were significantly smaller than that in MI group (( 38.9 ± 2.9) %, P ＜ 0.01 ).In MI group, TVW/BW, LVD, ICVF and PCVF were remarkably increased compared with those in sham group (P ＜ 0.01 ). The increased TVW/BW, LVD, ICVF and PCVF were significantly reduced by treatment with eaprats in MI group was significantly decreased than that in sham group (P ＜ 0.01 ). The reduced ST could be in-dp/dtmax and Vmax were decreased (P ＜ 0.01 ), while LVEDP was increased (P ＜ 0.01 ), significantly. The reSION: SI can improve cardiac function and ventricular remodeling induced by myocardial infarction in the rat.

Objective To investigate the role of IL-6 and IL-6R in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its clinical significance. Methods RT-PCR technique was used to semiquantitatively analyze IL-6R mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and double antibody sandwich ELISA was applied to determine the serum level of IL-6 from 89 SLE patients . Results The positive IL-6R mRNA expression was found in each individuals among active SLE group (groupⅠ), inactive SLE group (groupⅡ) and control group (group Ⅲ). The mean levels of IL-6R mRNA expressions in groupⅠ,Ⅱ or Ⅲ were 0.902 ? 0.273, 0.519?0.11 and 0.573?0.24, respectively. Compared with group Ⅱand group Ⅲ, the mean level of IL-6R mRNA expression in groupⅠ was markedly increased (P = 0.00), while there was no statistical difference between group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ(P = 0.289). The mean serum levels of IL-6 in groupⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were 71.89 ? 20.02,17.96 ? 6.93, and 0.035 ? 0.035, respectively. Compared with group Ⅱand group Ⅲ, the mean level of IL-6 in groupⅠ was significantly higher than those in groupⅡ and groupⅢ (P = 0.00), while that in groupⅡwas higher than group Ⅲ (P = 0.00). There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and IL-6R in active SLE group and inactive SLE group(r = 0.887, and r = 0.615 P

Objective To detect p16 gene DNA methylation in the plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its significance in the disease activity and clinical manifestations. Methods Forty-five cases of SLE and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Promoter methylation in p16 gene was measured by methylation specific PCR (MSP) in patients' plasma, and the correlation between the methylation status and clinical manifestations and routine laboratory findings were analyzed. Results Hypermethylation of p16 gene DNA was observed in the plasma of SLE. It was found that the rate of DNA hypermethylation was significantly higher in active SLE patients (20/24, 83.33%) than that in inactive patients (9/21, 42.85%) (x2 = 8.008 b; P

Objective To evaluate the effects of sevoflurane postconditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in chronically-infarcted rat hearts.Methods Left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to induce myocardial infarction in male Sperague-Dawley rats.Six weeks later,chronically-infarcted hearts were isolated and passively perfused in a Langendorff apparatus.Eighty chronically-infarcted hearts were randomized into 8 groups (n =10 each)∶ Ⅰ-Ⅷ groups.In group Ⅰ,hearts were continously perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution for 90 min.In group Ⅱ,hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia,followed by 60 min of reperfusion.In groups Ⅲ to Ⅵ,hearts were exposed to 30 min of global ischemia,specific phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 15 μmol/L and mitogen-activated extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) inhibitor PD98059 20 μmol/L,0.02％ dimethyl sulfoxide,and K-H solution saturated with 3％ sevoflurane were administered,respectively,during the first 15 min of reperfusion,followed by perfusion with plain K-H solution for 45 min.In groups Ⅶ and Ⅷ,hearts were exposed to 30 min of global isehemia,K-H solution saturated with 3％sevoflurane was given during the first 15 min of reperfusion,LY294002 15 μmol/L and PD98059 20 μmol/L were simultaneously administered,respectively,followed by perfusion with plain K-H solution for 45 min.Coronary flow (CF),left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP),± dp/dt,left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded after 20 min of equilibration (baseline,T0),immediately before ischemia (T1),and at 15,30 and 60 min of reperfusion (T2-4).The concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) in the collected coronary effluent were determined at T0 and T4.Acute myocardial infarct size was determined at T4.Left ventricular tissue samples were collected at T2 to measure the phosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt),and extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and degree of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (rnPTP) opening.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,LVDP,± dp/dt,HR and CF were significantly decreased,LVEDP was increased,the acute myocardial infarct size was enlarged,and the concentrations of LDH and CK-MB in the coronary effluent and degree of mPTP opening were increased during reperfusion in groups Ⅱ-Ⅷ (P ＜ 0.05).LVDP,± dp/dt,HR and CF were significantly higher,LVEDP was lower,the acute myocardial infarct size was smaller,the concentrations of LDH and CK-MB in the coronary effluent were lower,the phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and ERK1/2 was higher,and the degree of mPTP opening was lower during reperfusion in group Ⅵ than in group Ⅱ (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Sevoflurane postconditioning protects chronically-infarcted rat hearts against ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating PI3K-PKB/Akt and MEK1/2-ERK1/2 and inhibiting mPTP opening.

Objective To analyze the mutation status of K‐ras gene in colorectal cancer patients ,further more ,to provide guid‐ance for personalized therapy for colorectal cancer .Methods Nested and COLD‐PCR were used to detect the K‐ras mutations in 560 patients with colorectal cancer .Results In 560 colorectal cancer patients ,the total positive rate of K‐ras gene mutations was 27 .08% ,the mutation rate was 0 in 128 plasma samples and it was 27 .08% in 432 tissue samples .The mutate sites were G12S , G12C ,G12D ,G12A ,G12V ,G13R ,G13C ,G13D ,Q61K ,Q61L ,there were significant differences existed in different samples (P <0 .000 1) ;the mutation rate of 362 male patients was 20 .44% and the types of mutation include G12S ,G12C ,G12D ,G12V ,G13R , G13C ,G13D ,Q61K and Q61L .The mutation frequency was 21 .72% in 198 female patients ,the mutation points were G12S ,G12C , G12D ,G12A ,G12V ,G13R and G13D .There were no significant difference between different sex (P= 0 .722 7) ;the mutation fre‐quency was 20% in 80 youth patients including G12S ,G12C ,G12D ,G12V ,G13D and the mutation rate was 33 .07% in 127 middle age patients ,the points of mutation were G12S ,G12D ,G12A ,G12V ,G13R ,G13C ,G13D ,Q61K ,Q61L ,the mutation frequency was 16 .71% in 353 old age patients ,the types of mutation include G12C ,G12D ,G12V ,G13R ,G13D ,the difference was significant a‐mong different age patients (P= 0 .000 5) .Conclusion The total rate of mutations is 27 .08% in 560 colorectal cancer patients ,and the main points of mutation is G12D ,G12V ,G13D .There are significant differences in different type of samples as well as in differ‐ent ages ,but no statistical significance in different sex patients .

Objective To analyze the etiologies,clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with acute renal failure(ARF)admitted to the hospital at high altitude.Method This retrospective study included clinical data of patients with acute renal failure in the General Hospital of Tibet Military Command from May 2001 to April,2006.Results There were 85 male patients and 63 female patients with mean age(42.4?18.1)years old.Among 148 patients with acquired ARF,52.7% was iatrogenic or nosoeomal origin, demonstrating a trend of increasing.The ARF included pre-renal(n=48,32.4%),renal parenchymal(n= 90,60.8%)and post-renal(n=10,6.8%)in origin.Acute high altitude sickness(n=20)was the major causes of pre-renal ARF.Renal parenchymal ARF could be classified into glomerular vascular lesions(n=24), acute tubular necrosis(n=53),acute interstitial nephritides(n=12),and contusion of unitesticle(n=1).of 90 cases of renal parenchymal ARF,39 patients(43.3%)were induced by medicines.Lithiasis was the major causes of post-renal ARF.The mortality of ARF in our study was 42.6%.The mortality of patients contracted ARF in hospital was much higher than that of patients community ARF in community(55.1 vs 23.6%;P=0.01). There was no significant differences of the mortality between the patients with and without dialysis treatment. Univariate analysis showed that prognosis was correlated with age,the presence of hematuria and oliguria or anuria Hb,and the number of organ system failures.The logistic regression showed that age,Hb and the number of organ system dysfunction were the predictors of mortality.Conlusions The major causes of ARF at high altitude were acute high altitude sickness and the use of medicines with nephrotoxicity.The morbility and mortality of nosocomisl ARF increased significantly.Prevention of MODS is a key management to decrease mortality in severe ARF.

Objective To evaluate the effect of lipoxin A4 receptor agonist BML-111 on acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats.Methods Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 6-8 weeks,weighing 200-250 g,were randomized into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S group),hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation group (HSR group),BML-111 group,and BML-111 plus BOC-2 (lipoxin A4 receptor antagonist) group (BOC-2 group).The animals were anesthetized with 2％ pentobarbital sodium 80 mg/kg,tracheostomized and mechanically ventilated.Left common carotid artery was cannulated for blood-letting and fluid infusion.Hemorrhagic shock was induced according to the method described by Kochanek et al.MAP was reduced to 35-45 mmHg and maintained at this level for 30 min.The animals were then resuscitated for 30 min with infusion of the blood withdrawn and lactated Ringer' s solution 2 times the volume of blood withdrawn.In BML-111 and BOC-2 groups,BML-111 (1 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at the beginning of resuscitation.In BOC-2 group,BOC-2 (50 μg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally before blood-letting.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h after completion of resuscitation.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of neutrophil count.Lungs were excised for microscopic examination of the pathological changes and for determination of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio),contents of interleukin-1 (IL-1β) and IL-6,and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK).Results Compared with group S,the neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio,contents of IL-1β and IL-6,and phosphorylation of MAPK were significantly increased in HSR group (P ＜ 0.05).The neutrophil count in BALF,W/D ratio,contents of IL-1β and IL-6,and phosphorylation of MAPK were significantly lower in BML-111 group than in HSR group,and higher in BOC-2 group than in BML-111 group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion BML-111 can attenuate acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in rats and inhibition of activation of MAPK pathways and reduction of inflammatory responses in lung tissues are involved in the mechanism.

Objective Schistasoma japonicum(S.japonicum)lysophospholipase gene(Sjl539)from cDNA of S japonicum adult worms was amplified and subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)for expression of recombinant antigen and immunogenicity analysis.Methods Total RNA of S.japonicum was extracted to generato cDNA by RT-PCR.The Sj1539 gent was amplified.The DNA fragment was subcloned into eukaryofic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)following insertion and amplification in pGEM-T.The recombinant plasmid was transfected into human cervical carcinoma cell strain(Hela cells)and expression products were identified by Western blotting.Results The size of PCR product was approximately 684 bp.It was confirmed that Sj1539 gene had been inserted successfully by the recombinant plasmid digested with two enzymes and PCR.It was verified that the expression product could react with S.japonicum-infected rabbit serum by Western blotting and the molecular weight was approximately 25×103.Conclusions The eukaryotie expression vector carrying Sj1539 gene has been established and the expression product has been obtained.