Objective To investigate the relationship between day-night rhythm of blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) in the elderly with hypertension. Methods According to the result of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring,60 patients were divided into two groups of normal day-night rhythm(n=34) and abnormal day-night rhythm(n=26).All patients were performed ultrasonic cardiography.The interventricular septal thickness(IVST),the left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVDd)and the left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT) were recorded,and the left ventricular mass(LVM) and the left ventricular mass index(LVMI) were calculated according to the Devereux formula. Results There were no significant differences in age,body mass index,serum total cholesterol,triglyceride,fasting blood glucose,24 h mean systolic blood pressure,24 h mean diastolic blood pressure,day time mean systolic blood pressure,day time mean diastolic blood pressure,IVST and LVDd between the the two groups.However,there were significant differences in night time mean systolic blood pressure,night time mean diastolic blood pressure,LVPWT,LVM and LVMI between the two groups(P

Objective To investigate the change of serum Tg levels of DTC patients with positive stimulated Tg (Tg ≥ 10.00 μg/L),negative 131I-diagnostic whole body scan(Dx-WBS) and no distant metastasis 6 months after initial 131I therapy.Methods Fifty-six DTC patients (20 males,36 females,average age 43.11 (21-70) y) with intermediate or low risk of recurrence according to American Thyroid Association (ATA) guideline were enrolled into the retrospective study.All patients were grouped according to stimulated Tg level after initial 131I therapy:group with positive Tg (Tg+ group,n =19) and group with negative Tg (Tgˉ group,n=37).Changes of suppressed Tg at 1 year and 2.5 years (Tg1ysup and Tg2.5ysup) after initial therapy were compared between the two groups.Serum TSH level,TgAb level,neck ultrasound and chest CT results were also evaluated.The two-sample t test and x2 test were used for statistical analysis with SPSS 17.0.Results Stimulated Tg and Tglysup levels in Tg+ group were remarkably higher than those in Tgˉ group:(24.27±4.10) μg/L vs (2.73±3.01) μg/L,t=7.191,P＜0.05(6 months after initial 131I therapy) ; (2.21±0.55) vs (0.48±0.10) μg/L,t=3.102,P＜0.05(1 year after initial 131I therapy),respectively.In Tg+ group,suppressed Tg level decreased with time in 68.4％ (13/19) of patients,of whom the Tg2.5ysup level was much lower than Tglysup level ((0.53±0.15) μg/L vs (1.38±0.50) μg/L).Tg2.5sup level in Tg+ group became comparable to that in Tgˉ group ((1.44±0.52) μg/L vs (0.38±0.07) μg/L; t =2.001,P＞0.05).In each group,one case of recurrence with suppressed Tg of 1.4 μg/L and 0.1 μg/L respectively,was observed using neck ultrasound after 2 years of follow-up.Conclusions Serum Tg levels decreased with time for Tg+/131I-Dx-WBS-DTC patients with intermediate or low risk of recurrence.It might not be necessary to follow up these patients with Tg and 131 I-DxWBS after 6 months of initial 131I therapy.

Objective To investigate the relationship between V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF)v600E mutation and radioactive iodine (RAI) uptake in distant metastases from papillary thyroid cancer(PTC).Methods From January 2011 to December 2012,40 PTC patients (21 males,19 females,average age 39.8 years) with distant metastases were recruited and divided into mutation group and wild group according to the BRAFv600E mutation in primary lesions.The clinical,pathological and serological differences were compared between the two groups.The relationship between BRAFv600E mutation and RAI uptake capability in distant metastases from PTC,as well as its relationship with Tg change after 131I treatment were investigated.Statistical analysis was performed with two-sample t test,x2 test or Fisher exact test.Results The BRAFv600E mutation rate was 30.0％ (12/40) in patients with metastases from PTC.There was no significant difference in clinical,pathological and serological features between mutation group (n =12) and wild group (n=28; t:from-0.533 to 1.728,x2:from-1.951 to 1.088,all P＞0.05).Twelve PTC patients had no RAI uptake in the distant metastases,of which 10 belonged to mutation group (83.3％,10/12) and 2 belonged to wild group (7.1％,2/28; x2=19.734,P＜0.05).BRAFv600E mutation group was more likely to have no RAI uptake in the distant metastases.Tg change after 131I treatment in 30 patients were analyzed.In the wild group,Tg level decreased in 66.7％ (14/21) patients,stabilized in 19.0％ (4/21)and increased in 14.3％ (3/21)patients.While there was no decrease of Tg in the mutation group (0/9).Two patients had increased Tg level and 7 patients (with no RAI uptake) kept stable in mutation group.Conclusions Due to poor RAI uptake capability in PTC patients with BRAFv600E mutation,both primary and metastatic sites may have poor response to 131I treatment.Molecular detection of BRAFv600E mutation might be helpful for choosing PTC with distant metastases and predicting the effect of 131 I treatment.

ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical significance of ultrasonic screening of fetal structural anomalies at 11-13+6 weeks.Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 4853 cases of nuchal translucency screening at 11-13+6 weeks in Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Bao?an of Shenzhen City from September 2011 to May 2014. The screening ultrasound planes included the median sagittal plane, neck sagittal section, cerebral transverse section, cardiac four-chamber view, three-vessel-trachea view, abdominal transverse section, bladder section, upper limb section and lower limb section of the fetuses. All the cases then underwent the ultrasonic structural screening in the second trimester (20-24 weeks) and the third (28-32 weeks) trimester and were followed up until 6 weeks after birth or the biopsy after abortion.Results Eighty-ifve fetal structural anomalies were detected among the 4853 pregnant women at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation with the detection rate of 1.75% (85/4853), including central nervous system abnormalities (28 cases), anterior abdominal wall anomalies (9 cases), cardiac anomalies (6 cases), urinary system malformation (3 cases), skeletal system malformation (2 cases), multilocular cystic tumor and dropsy embryo (35 cases), and abnormal twins (2 cases). Among above abnormal fetuses, 6 cases showed normal structure in the screening after 14 weeks and were born without malformations, while the rest 79 cases were taken artiifcial abortion (73 cases in the ifrst trimester and 6 cases in the second trimester). Only 9 cases were taken chorionic puncture or amniocentesis, including normal karyotypes (3 cases), 47, XN, +18 (3 cases) and 45, X (3 cases). The False negative rate in the ifrst trimester was 23% (25/110). Supplementary detection of fetal structural abnormalities in the second and third trimester were found in 22 cases (20%, 22/110). Two cases of VSD and 1 case of microtia were identiifed after birth.ConclusionsThe fetal malformation can be detected in the earlier gestation with the ultrasonic screening at 11-13+6 weeks, which provide the earlier termination to the abnormal fetus. It has important clinical signiifcance in effectively reducing fetal births with structural abnormalities.

Abstract?AIM: To compare the changes in epithelial thickness profile following TransPRK and Epi-LASIK for myopia.? METHODS: In this prospective non -randomized controlled study, 76 right eyes of 76 myopic patients with the spherical equivalent refraction -1.25 to -6.00D were included under the informed consent. The eyes were divided into TransPRK group for 43 eyes and Epi-LASIK group for 33 eyes. Epithelial thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at different corneal zones ( central, 2mm; paracentral, 2-5mm;and mid-peripheral, 5-6mm) preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6mo postoperatively. The results were compared between the two groups.?RESULTS: The epithelium were thicker at 3 and 6mo after surgery compared to preoperative measurements in the two groups (all P<0.05).In TransPRK group, the epithelial thickness at 3 and 6mo demonstrated a negative meniscus-like lenticular pattern with lesser thickening centrally and progressively great thickening centrifugally (F3mo =-2.687,P=0.027;F6mo =-2.908,P=0.000).No statistically significant change was detected among the three zones in Epi-LASIK group (F=1.365, P=0.237). The epithelial thickness was thicker in the TransPRK group compared to the Epi-LASIK group mid-peripherally ( P<0.05) .? CONCLUSION: Significant epithelial thickening was observed after TransPRK and Epi-LASIK.It was showed a lenticular change with more thickening mid-peripherally after TransPRK than Epi -LASIK. Wound healing and inflammation may account for differences in the effect on epithelial thickness change by both surgeries.

Atrophy ; Disability Evaluation ; Humans ; Kidney

BACKGROUNDFor muscle invasive bladder cancer, radical cystectomy is the most effective treatment now and urinary diversion is often necessary. The use of intestinal tissue for urinary diversion is frequently associated with complications. In this study, we aimed to make a tissue-engineered conduit (TEC) using bladder epithelial cells and bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for urinary diversion in rabbits.

METHODSBladder epithelial cells of rabbit were cultivated and expanded in vitro, then seeded on BAM, and cultured for 7 days. Then cell-seeded graft was used to make TEC. In the experimental group, most of bladder of the rabbit was removed while bladder trigone was retained. The proximal end of TEC was anastomosed with bladder trigone and the distal end was anastomosed with the abdominal stoma. In the control group, TEC was made using unseeded BAM. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted, respectively, at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistochemistry was performed 8 weeks postoperatively. Intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, and cystoscopy of TEC were made at 12 weeks postoperatively.

RESULTSAll animals were alive in the experimental group. Haematoxylin and eosin staining showed epithelial coverage in TEC. Immunohistochemistry showed anti-cytokeratin AE(1)/AE(3) antibody and anti-ZO1 antibody positive, confirming there were mature and functional epithelial cells on the lumen of TEC. Retrograde pyelography and intravenous urography showed that TEC developed well and that there was no obstruction. In the control group, four rabbits were dead within 2 weeks and scar formation, atresia, and severe hydronephrosis were found.

CONCLUSIONSWe successfully made TEC using BAM and bladder epithelial cells for urinary diversion in rabbits. The lumen of this new TEC covered mature epithelial cells and could prevent urinary extravasation.

Animals ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Urinary Bladder ; cytology ; Urinary Diversion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and proper treatment of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver.

METHODSForty-eight consecutive patients with FNH treated from 1998 to 2002 were analyzed. Clinical, pathologic, and preoperative imaging findings of FNH all proved surgically and pathologically were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSMost of the patients were asymptomatic and serum test was normal. Helical multiphasic liver CT and MR imaging demonstrated characteristic features in 25 patients. Histologically, characteristic scar-like tissues were found in 29 cases. The overall complication rate was 2.1% and there was no death. No recurrence was observed after follow-up of 4 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONThere is little evidence for an increased risk for FNH in people using modern oral contraceptives, while characteristic imaging features exist in helical multiphasic liver CT and MR imaging. Operation is the optimal treatment for FNH, but for proved FNH less than 5 cm and asymptomatic patients, close periodic followed up should be done.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of different expression vectors, target genes, and immunization procedures in transfecting mice via liposome to construct murine model of Graves disease.

METHODSWe linked pCDNA3.1(+) and pUBC to full-length human TSHR and TSHR A subunit cDNA to yield four plasmids, which were later injected intramascularly or subcutaneously into female Balb/c mice via liposome. The blood anti-TSHR antibody (TRAb) were determined and the body weight were measured after each immunization. Serum thyroid hormone levels were measured after the animals were sacrificed.

RESULTSIn mice immunized with pUBC, no significant variance with control in weight nor serum TRAb concentration was observed. Weight gain in pCDNA3.1(+) group was significantlyly slower than controls (p<0.05), and serum TRAb concentration was also significantly elevated. In pCDNA group, animals immunized with TSHR A subunit (TSHRA subgroup) as the target gene revealed even significantly slower weight gain (p<0.001) and even faster TRAb elevation than those immunized with full length TSHR. Significantly higher FT4 (p=0.023) was observed in TSHRA and TSHR subgroups, which was reversely correlated to weight gain, but no significant difference (p>0.05) in FT3 was observed. Weight gain and TRAb concentration mainly varied in the later period of immunization.

CONCLUSIONSImmunization with pCDNA3.1(+) and TSHR A subunit gene together with higher immunization frequency increases the chance of model induction. Furthermore, FT4 is a better indicator for assessing the thyroid function in this model.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Graves Disease ; genetics ; Liposomes ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; genetics ; Transfection