Objective To evaluate tear ferning changes of conjunctivochalasis.Design Prospective case study series.Partici- pants 30 patients(60 eyes)of conjunctivochalasis and normal subjects were selected.Methods The subjects were observed with gen- eral ophthalmic examination and tear fern test(TFT).Tear ferning was classified into 4 types.TypeⅠand TypeⅡare normal.TypeⅢand TypeⅣare abnormal.Main Outcome Measures The type of tear feming.Results TFT showed that tear ferning was de- creased in conjunctivochalasis group(TypeⅢand TypeⅣoccupied 61.7%).The difference between conjunctivoehalasis and normal control group was significant(P

Objective To investigate the clinical value of measurement of phrenic nerve conduction function.Methods Evoked potentials of the phrenic nerve were measured in 292 patients with brachial plexus injuries.According to the normal value that was established in the electromyogram in our hospital,we divided them into normal and abnormal evoked potential groups,and then,the latent period and wave amplitude in the two groups were compared.Results Compared to those in the normal potential group,the latent period in abnormal group was significantly high and wave amplitude low(P＜0.05).Conclusion Measurement of phrenic nerve conduction is convenient,safe,and reliable to evaluate the conduction function of the phrenic nerve.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of fractional nitric oxide concentration in exhaled breath (FeNO) in assessing the level of asthma control in children.

METHODSA total of 226 asthmatic children were divided into controlled asthma (n= 86), partially controlled asthma (n=63), and uncontrolled asthma groups (n=77). Ninety healthy children were enrolled as controls. FeNO was measured for both asthmatic and healthy children using the Swedish-designed NIOX system.

RESULTSThe control group had an FeNO of 14±6 ppb, the controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 29±26 ppb, the partially controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 32±30 ppb, and the uncontrolled asthma group had an FeNO of 40±32 ppb. The three asthma groups showed significantly higher FeNO than the control group (P<0.05). The uncontrolled asthma group showed significantly higher FeNO than the controlled asthma group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in FeNO between the partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma groups and between the partially controlled and controlled asthma groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsthmatic children have significantly higher FeNO than healthy children, and FeNO is correlated with the level of asthma control.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis

The related substances in docetaxel injection were identified by LC-MS/MS. Ethyl acetate was used to extract the injection to remove the pharmaceutical excipients. HPLC separation was carried out on a Hedera ODS-2 column (150 mm x 2.1 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - 0.1% acetate acid aqueous solution (40: 60). Electrospray ionization source was set in the positive mode for the LC-ESI-MS/MS, and the ion monitoring modes were full scan and product ion scan. According to the mass spectra of the related substances, the fragment profiles were explained, and the chemical structures were elucidated. Docetaxel and its main related substances were well separated. Nine related substances in docetaxel injection were detected by LC-MS/MS. Their chemical structures were proposed, and four of them were identified in the docetaxel injection for the first time. The established LC-MS/MS method is effective in the separation and identification of the related substances in docetaxel injection. The test results are useful for its quality control.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Contamination ; Injections ; Molecular Weight ; Quality Control ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between moderate to severe periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) and to examine the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in subjects with CHD and/or moderate to severe periodontitis.

METHODSSerum CRP levels, serum lipids [low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG)] and clinical periodontal parameters [clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP)] were measured and analyzed in coexistent moderate to severe periodontitis and CHD patients (n = 47), CHD patients (n = 28), moderate to severe periodontitis patients (n = 40), and healthy subjects (n = 40).

RESULTSThe serum CRP levels in control group, moderate to severe periodontitis patients, CHD patients and patients with both diseases were (1.30 +/- 0.15), (2.44 +/- 0.18), (5.99 +/- 0.82) and (6.88 +/- 0.71) mg/L, respectively. The differences among these four groups were significant (P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that moderate to severe periodontitis patients exhibited markedly elevated odds of having CHD (OR = 2.417, 95% CI: 1.126 - 6.659). The total cholesterol levels were also significantly different among the four groups (P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONSThe moderate to severe periodontitis was associated with elevated serum CRP levels which may in turn affect the initiation and progression of CHD, and may be a risk factor for CHD.

Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; blood

The chronic effects of carboxyl-terminal polypeptide of Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1-CP) on ventricular electrical remodeling were investigated. CT-1-CP, which contains 16 amino acids in sequence of the C-terminal of Cardiotrophin-1, was selected and synthesized, and then administered to Kunming mice (aged 5 weeks) by intraperitoneal injection (500 ng·g⁻¹·day⁻¹) (4 groups, n=10 and female: male=1:1 in each group) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. The control group (n=10, female: male=1:1) was injected by physiological saline for 4 weeks. The epicardial monophasic action potential (MAP) was recorded by using a contact-type MAP electrode placed vertically on the left ventricular (LV) epicardium surface, and the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal in lead II was monitored synchronously. ECG intervals (RR, PR, QRS and QT) and the amplitude of MAP (Am), the maximum upstroke velocity (Vmax), as well as action potential durations (APDs) at different repolarization levels (APD30, APD50, APD70, and APD90) of MAP were determined and analyzed in detail. There were no significant differences in RR and P intervals between CT-1-CP-treated groups and control group, but the PR segment and the QRS complex were greater in the former than in the latter (F=2.681 and 5.462 respectively, P<0.05). Though QT interval and the corrected QT interval (QTc) were shorter in CT-1-CP-treated groups than in control group, the QT dispersion (QTd) of them was greater in the latter than in the former (F=3.090, P<0.05) and increased with the time. The ECG monitoring synchronously with the MAP showed that the compression of MAP electrode on the left ventricular epicardium induced performance similar to myocardium ischemia. As compared with those before chest-opening, the PR segment and QT intervals remained basically unchanged in control group, but prolonged significantly in all CT-1-CP-treated groups and the prolongation of QT intervals increased gradually along with the time of exposure to CT-1-CP. The QRS complex had no significant change in control group, one-week and three-week CT-1-CP-treated groups, but prolonged significantly in two-week and four-week CT-1-CP-treated groups. Interestingly, the QTd after chest-opening was significantly greater than that before chest-opening in control group (t=5.242, P<0.01), but decreased along with the time in CT-1-CP-treated groups. The mean MAP amplitude, Vmax and APD were greater in CT-1-CP-treated groups than those in control group, and became more obvious along with the time. The APD in four CT-1-CP-treat groups was prolonged mainly in middle to final repolarization phase. The difference among these groups became significant in middle phase (APD50) (F=6.076, P<0.01) and increased furthermore in late and final phases (APD70: F=10.054; APD90: F=18.691, P<0.01) along with the time of injection of CT-1-CP. The chronic action of CT-1-CP might induce the adapting alteration in cardiac conductivity and ventricular repolarization. The amplitude and the Vmax of the anterior LV epicardial MAP increased obviously, and the APD prolonged mainly in late and final phase of repolarization.
Animals ; Cytokines ; chemistry ; physiology ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; metabolism ; Mice ; Peptide Fragments ; physiology ; Ventricular Function

Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) activates a distinct form of cardiac muscle cell hypertrophy in which the sarcomeric units are assembled in series. The aim of the study was to determine the expression pattern of sarcomeric contractile protein α-actin, specialized cytoskeletal protein α-actinin and mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) in myocardial remodeling induced by chronic exposure to CT-1. Kunming mice were intraperitoneally injected with carboxy-terminal polypeptide (CP) of CT-1 (CT-1-CP, 500 μg·kg(-1)· day(-1)) for 1, 2, 3 and 4 week (s), respectively (4 groups obtained according to the injection time, n=10 each, with 5 males and 5 females in each group). Those injected with physiological saline for 4 weeks served as controls (n=10, with 5 males and 5 females). The heart tissues of mice were harvested at 1, 2, 3 or 4 week (s). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting (WB) were used to detect the distribution and expression of sarcomeric α-actin, α-actinin and mitochondrial UCP2 in myocardial tissues. IHC showed that α-actin was mainly distributed around the nuclei of cardiomyocytes, α-actinin concentrated around the striae and UCP2 scattered rather evenly in the plasma. The expression of α-actin was slightly greater than that of α-actinin and UCP2 in the control group (IHC: χ(2)=6.125; WB: F=0.249, P>0.05) and it gradually decreased after exposure to CT-1-CP. There was no significant difference in the expression of α-actin between the control group and the CT-1-CP-treated groups (χ (2)=7.386, P>0.05). But Western blotting revealed significant difference in the expression of α-actin between the control group and the 4-week CT-1-CP-treated group (F=2.912; q=4.203, P<0.05). Moreover, it was found that the expression of α-actinin increased stepwise with the exposure time in CT-1-CP-treated groups and differed significantly between CT-1-CP-treated groups and the control group (ICH: χ (2)=21.977; WB: F=50.388; P<0.01). The expression of UCP2 was initially increased (WB: control group vs. 1- or 2-week group, q values: 5.603 and 9.995, respectively, P<0.01) and then decreased (WB: control group vs. 3-week group, q=4.742, P<0.01; control group vs. 4-week group, q=0.558, P>0.05). It was suggested that long-term exposure to CT-1-CP could lead to the alteration in the expression of sarcomeric α-actin, α-actinin and mitochondrial UCP2. The different expressions of sarcomeric structure proteins and mitochondrial UCP2 may be involved in myocardial remodeling.
Actinin ; biosynthesis ; Actins ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytokines ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Ion Channels ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcomeres ; metabolism ; pathology ; Uncoupling Protein 2

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prognosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation.

METHODSThirty-eight patients (37 males; 1 female) with HBV-related end-stage liver disease underwent liver transplantation at our institute between December 1998 and November 2009 and experienced HBV recurrence. Clinical data from pre-transplant and follow-up examinations were retrospectively retrieved from medical records, and included serologic indices of HBV (HBV DNA, markers of liver function) and histological findings from liver biopsy.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 45.1 months. The median time to HBV recurrence after transplantation was 31.8 months (range: 0.3 to 72.8 months) for histologically benign cases and 13.7 months (range: 0.3 to 66.6 months) for malignant cases. HBV DNA gene mutations were detected in 21% (8/38) of cases. Eighteen patients were treated with entecavir or adefovir, with respect to gene mutations, and HBV DNA fell below 103 copies/ml and liver function became normal. Twenty-two patients died, and causes of death included hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n=18), organ failure (n=2), or infection (n=1).

CONCLUSIONHBV gene mutations and HCC recurrence were important risk factors for HBV recurrence in our study population. In addition, patients with benign liver diseases who received salvage therapy with adefovir or entecavir achieved a satisfactory prognosis.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; pharmacology ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the oncolytic effect of E1B mutant adenovirus (d11520) on human malignant gliomas. Methods Ad-βgal vector was used to investigate the infectibility of dl1520.U251,Hep3B (positive control) and T24 (negative control) cell lines were infected with dl1520respectively at 50,5,0.5,0.005 and 0 pfu of multiplicity of infection (MOI).The replication efficiency of d11520 in host cells was assessed by plaque assay.The cytopathic effect (CPE) was assessed by crystal violet staining in a panel of tumor cells. Results Crystal violet staining showed the Hep3B cell line was the most sensitive to dl1520 and had the fastest CPE,followed by the U251 cell line,while the T24cell line had no CEP.The replication and infection rates ofdl1520 in the U251 cell line were lower than in the Hep3B cell line but significantly higher than in the T24 cell line (P＜0.05). Conclusion The E1B mutant adenovirus (dl1520) has a significant oncolytic effect on human malignant gliomas.

Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) is a pathological state which presents with a spectrum of renal lesions. MGRS is characterized by pathogenic monoclonal immunoglobulins or light chains produced by a premalignant plasma cell or B cell clone. In view of inadequate understanding in the past, the low detection rate of MGRS often results in poor outcomes and reduces quality of life of patients. Thus, MGRS stands for a group of clinical refractory renal diseases. To date, no standard treatment strategy for MGRS is available. Current consensus suggests a clone-directed approach that aims to eradicate the offending clone, but its long-term prognosis is not clear. In this article, we discuss the diagnostic methods, highlight treatment advances, and introduce integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the management of MGRS.