Objective To establish a method for simultaneously measuring L-citrulline and L-arginine concentration in plasma using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC)with ultraviolet detection,and the novel method is applied to the patients with digestive system tumor.Methods Plasma samples were deproteinized by trichloroacetic acid with heating method.Phenylisothiocyanate (PITC)was used as derivatization reagent and a gradient elution was adopted. The feasibility verification of method was carried out by detecting plasma L-citrulline and L-arginine acid concentration in 21 cases of advanced digestive tract malignant tumor patients,21 cases of non malignant tumor patients and 39 cases of healthy people.Results The linearity for L-citrulline and L-arginine ranged from 0 to at least 1 000 μmol/L.r=0.999 95 for both. The lower limits of quantification for L-citrulline and L-arginine were 0.240 μmol/L and 0.448 μmol/L respectively.The in-traday and interday coefficients of variation (CVs)were less than 3.4% and 7.2%,respectively.The average recovery rate was from 95.2% to 104.1%.The ratio of plasma L-citrulline/L-arginine in patients with digestive cancar was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group,t-test,P =0.009.The sensitivity and specificity of plasma L-citrulline/L-argi-nine ratio in the malignant tumor of digestive system were 81% and 71.4% respectively.Conclusion This method can pro-vide a reliable and efficient method for the clinical determination of the L-citrulline and L-arginine concentration in plasma. The ratio of plasma citrulline/arginine increased obviously in patients with digestive cancer,suggesting that this ratio is a more sensitive index than single concentration of L-citrulline or L-arginine when evaluating patients with digestive tumor.

OBJECTIVETo assess therapeutic effect of combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine on optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy.

METHODSOne hundred and seventeen cases were divided into an observation group (n = 79) and a control group (n = 38). The control group were treated with routine western medicine treatment including neurotrophic drugs and high pressure oxygen, etc. and the observation group with acupuncture at Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Chengqi (ST 1), etc. and injection of 0.2-0.3 mL Compound Danshen Injectio into Qiuhou (EX-HN 7), on the basis of the same treatment of western medicine as that in the control group. Fundus examination and the tracing body angle detection were conducted before and after treatment and the therapeutic effects were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.1% in the observation group and 60.5% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001); after treatment the angle of tracing body significantly increased in the two groups (P < 0.01) with the observation group better than the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine is an effective therapy for optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; complications ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Optic Atrophy ; therapy

Expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigens(HLA-DR, DQ and DP), interleukin2 receptors(IL-2R) and transferrin receptors(TfR) of blood monocytes from 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes meIlitus (IDDM) were assayed with the indirect immune fluorescence technique using corresponding monoclonal antibodies and the FITC-labelled second antibody. The results showed that the number of HLA-DQ~+ monocytes was much more in diabetics than in normal controls. The percentages of HLA-DR~+ and HLA-DP~+ monocytes in diabetics were not different significantly from those in normal controls. Besides, IL-2R~+ and TfR~+ monocytes were also found to be very much increased in diabetics as compared with controls. It was possible that increased expression of HLA-DQ antigen, IL-2R and TfR of monocytes in patients with IDDM might play a role in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune reaction.

This study examined the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) and minocycline postconditioning (MT) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in atherosclerosis (AS) animals and the possible mechanism. Forty male healthy rabbits were injected with bovine serum albumin following feeding on a high fat diet for 6 weeks to establish AS model. AS rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) I/R group, the rabbits were subjected to myocardial ischemia for 35 min and then reperfusion for 12 h; (2) IPoC group, the myocardial ischemia lasted for 35 min, and then reperfusion for 20 s and ischemia for 20 s [a total of 3 cycles (R20s/I20s×3)], and then reperfusion was sustained for 12 h; (3) MT group, minocycline was intravenously injected 10 min before reperfusion. The blood lipids, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), soluble cell adhesion molecule (sICAM), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) were biochemically determined. The myocardial infarction size (IS) and apoptosis index (AI) were measured by pathological examination. The expression of bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected in the myocardial tissue by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that the AS models were successfully established. The myocardial IS, the plasma levels of MDA, sICAM, MPO and cTnT, and the enzymatic activity of MPO were significantly decreased, and the plasma SOD activity was significantly increased in IPoC group and MT group as compared with I/R group (P<0.05 for all). The myocardial AI and the caspase-3 mRNA expression were lower and the bcl-2 mRNA expression was higher in IPoC and MT groups than those in I/R group (all P<0.05). It is concluded that the IPoC and MT can effectively reduce the I/R injury in the AS rabbits, and the mechanisms involved anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, up-regulation of bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of caspase-3 expression. Minocycline can be used as an effective pharmacologic postconditioning drug to protect myocardia from I/R injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of genes (CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1) involved in estrogen metabolism and susceptibility to breast cancer in Chinese women.

METHODSA case-control study was performed. PCR-base restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) assays were used to detect the polymorphism distribution of CYP17, CYP19 and SULT1A1 in 213 breast cancer cases and 430 matched controls. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the OR, multivariate adjusted OR and 95% CI of each and all three genes and estrogen exposure factors on the risk of breast cancer. Relationship between polymorphisms and clinic-pathological features was also assessed.

RESULTSThe frequency of A2 allele of CYP17 was 49.8% in cases and 49.1% in controls (P > 0.05). The frequency His allele of SULT1A1 in cases (13.6%) was significant higher than that of controls (9.5%) (P = 0.03). There was also significant difference in the frequencies of (TTTA)10 allele CYP19 which was 12.4% in cases and 8.2% in controls (P = 0.02). Multigenic model indicated that there was an increased risk of breast cancer with more numbers of high-risk genotypes in a dose-response effect (trend P = 0.05). Data from multivariate analysis showed that the allele of SULT1A1 His and CYP19 (TTTA)10 was positively associated with the risk of breast cancer. Other well-established risk factors as higher estrogen exposure including total years of menstrual, early menarche etc, and women with a higher BMI and WHR were all served as independent risks.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that the polymorphisms of estrogen-metabolizing genes were related to breast cancer.

Aromatase ; genetics ; Arylsulfotransferase ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics

Objective To analyze the virulence genes and drug resistance in Vibrio parahaemolyti-cus strains isolated in Nantong City from 2015 to 2016 in order to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection and for rational use of medicines. Methods Virulence genes of tlh,tdh and trh in Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Micro-broth dilution method was used to analyze antimicrobial resistance in these strains to 15 kinds of antibiotics. Results Eighty-two Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were all positive for tlh gene and negative for trh gene and among them,72 carried tdh gene (87.8%). Antimicrobial resistance rates of these strains to ampicil-lin,cefazolin,tetracycline and chloramphenicol were all 1.2% (1/82). Two strains (2.4%) were resist-ant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. All strains were sensitive or intermediate to another 10 kinds of antibi-otics. Conclusion From 2015 to 2016,Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains carrying virulence genes of tlh and tdh were prevalent in Nantong and no trh gene-positive strains were reported. Except ampicillin, cefazolin, tetracycline,chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole these five kinds of antibiotics, the remai-ning 10 kinds of antibiotics were effective against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and could be used as the treatment of choice.

Objective To explore the risk factors of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis (endemic fluorosis) and to provide a scientific basis for making prevention and control strategy.Methods One hundred children with dental fluorosis and 30 adults with skeletal fluorosis who lived in Wushan county and Fengjie county,the endemic fluorosis regions northeast of Chongqing were randomly selected as the case group in 2010.One hundred healthy children and 30 healthy adults were selected from the population where the cases were selected from as the control group and 30 healthy external adults control were selected from Yubei district,a non-endemic fluorosis area.Fasting venous blood was draw from all subjects and the content of zinc (Zn),copper(Cu),calcium (Ca),magnesium(Mg),and ferrum(Fe) in venous blood was measured by atomic spectrophotometric.Instant urine was collected from all subjects and urinary fluorine was measured by fluorine selective electrode.We also did questionnaire survey to 100 dental fluorosis children and 100 control children about their situation of fluorine pollution and knowledge related to endemic fluorosis.Results Children's blood Zn of the ease group[(70.88 ±9.28) μmol/L] was lower than that of the control group [(75.53 ± 10.78)μmol/L],and the difference was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).But the average blood Cu content[(30.28 ± 2.58)μ mol/L] and the average urinary fluorine of the case group [(0.74 ± 0.36)mg/L] were significantly higher than that [Cu (28.45 ± 4.05)μmol/L and urinary fluorine (0.48 ± 0.21)mg/L] of the control group in children,respectively,and the differences was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The average blood Zn content of adults in the case group[(91.13 ± 10.29)μ mol/L] was lower than that of the control group[(99.57 ± 11.73)μmol/L],and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The average content of Mg[(1.57 ± 0.19)mmol/L],Fe[(8.17 ± 1.01) mmol/L] and urinary fluorine[(2.37 ± 1.01)mg/L] in the case group were higher than that [Mg(1.46 ± 0.16) mmol/L,Fe(7.72 ± 0.96) mmol/L and urinary fluorine(0.92 ± 0.85)mg/L] of the control group,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(P ＜0.05).In the questionnaire survey,we found that the following were important related factors (OR values were 2.7335,0.3339,2.8428,0.4633,0.5439,0.4009,0.4805 and 0.3994,P ＜ 0.05) between the case group and the control group:using local coal for heating,furnaces and stoves improvement,eating local coal fire baked food,knowing the harm of endemic fluorosis to the health of human body,knowing endemic fluorosis can be prevented,knowing consuming baked food can cause endemic fluorosis,knowing drinking milk can prevent endemic fluorosis and having the habit of eating calcium tablets.Conclusions In addition to the main pathogenic element of fluorine,body Zn content is closely related to the process of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in the two counties,fluorosis patients have lower blood Zn levels,Zn deficiency is an auxiliary factor in the etiology of fluorosis.Reduce the use of local coal for heating,do not consume the baked food,improve stoves,learn more knowledge about endemic fluorosis and ingest anti-fluoride elements can reduce the risk of endemic fluorosis.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupoints, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion with different moxibustion methods on skin surface and inside temperature, and to provide references for the clinical standardization of moxibustion amount. Methods: The 42 big-ear white rabbits were divided into 6 groups according to the random number table method, a 1-cone direct moxibustion group, a 2-cone direct moxibustion group, a 3-cone direct moxibustion group, a 1-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, a 2-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a 3-cone herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, with 7 rabbits in each group. Shenque (CV 8), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) were used in each group, but the moxibustion methods, cone numbers and durations of moxibustion were different. Rabbits in each group received moxibustion once every other day for 5 times in total. During the intervention, a thermoelectricity coupled probe and a temperature recorder were used to record the real-time acupoint skin temperature and the temperature at different time points, so as to observe, analyze and process the real-time changes in the temperature difference between the surface and inside of acupoint skin. Results: For herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion, the best temperature for cone changing was (46.38±0.51) ℃ when the highest surface temperature was (49.20±0.52) ℃; the multi-factor comparison of acupoint × cone number × time and acupoint × moxibustion method × time showed that time × acupoint, time × moxibustion method and cone number × acupoint had interactive effects (all P<0.05). Comparing skin temperature differences between different cone numbers at the same acupoint, Shenque (CV 8) on the 1st and the 5th days, Shenshu (BL 23) on the 3rd and the 7th days, Zusanli (ST 36) on the 1st and the 9th days of experiment showed statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The skin temperature comparison of different moxibustion methods at the same acupoint all had statistical differences (all P<0.05), except for Shenque (CV 8) before moxibustion, Shenshu (BL 23) before moxibustion and on the 5th day; Zusanli (ST 36) only showed statistical differences on the 5th and 7th days (both P<0.05). The skin temperature differences of different acupoints after moxibustion in the 1-cone, 2-cone and 3-cone groups were statistically different (all P<0.05); direct moxibustion and herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion at different acupoints were all statistically different (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Cone changing temperature under the same specifications of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion was confirmed. Temperature difference between surface and inside of different acupoint skin at the same maximum temperature was significantly different due to the cone numbers and moxibustion methods, which showed the highest at Shenshu (BL 23), the second at Shenque (CV 8), and the lowest at Zusanli (ST 36). The influence of acupoint factor should be considered to determine the quantitative indicators of moxibustion.

Objective To study the surgical treatment and effects of the lesions in the third ventricle. Methods The data of 15 patients with third ventricular lesion, accepted surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The lesions were removed through transcallosal approach in 11 patients, frontal trans-cortical approach in 2 and trans-terminalis approach in 2,respectively. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed in 5 and chemotherapy in 2. VP shunt was performed in 1. Results The lesions were total-resected in 8 (53.3%), subtotal-resected in 5 (33.3%) and partial-resected in 2 (13.3%) with 1 postoperative death. The hydrocephalus were resolved in all cases. With a follow-up of 3 to 12 months, all the 14 patients recovered without obvious neurological deficits. Conclusion Proper microsurgical approach and perfect surgical skills are the keys to high resection and good prognosis. And postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be helpful in improving the outcome

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2 ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism