Objective To observe the effect of Zhuyun Capsule(Pregnant-promoting Capsule)on serum sex hormone and expres- sion of ovarian cytokine of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)rats.Methods Progestogen plus human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)was adopted to make PCOS rat models.Totally 40 SD rats were randomized into control group,PCOS model group,Zhuyun Capsule group,and clomiphene citrate group with 10 in each.Radioimmune assay(RIA)was used to measure the sex hormone and immunohistochemical test was done to measure the expression of tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)of ovarian tissue,insulin-like growth factors-1(IGF-1),and leukemia inhibitory factor(LIF)to analyze the relations among these factors.Results Zhuyun Capsule could reduce greatly serum testosterone(T)and luteinizing hormone(LH),decrease expression of TNF-?and IGF-1,but increase expres- sion of LIF.Conclusion Zhuyun Capsule could regulate endocrine function and expression of ovarian cytokine to improve gonad func- tions of PCOS rats and to promote the maturation of follicle and ovulation.

Objective To explore sub-clinical items in evaluating the prognosis of epileptic patients,the study on differences of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in both effective treated and incomplete-controlled patients with idiopathic generalized tonic clonic seizure (GTCS) was carried out.Methods Interictal rCBF measurements using 99m Tc-ethyl cysteinates dimmer (ECD) SPECT was performed on 29 effective treated idiopathic GTCS patients and 12 incomplete controlled idiopathic GTCS patients. The rCBF distribution was semi-quantitatively analyzed by regions of interest (ROIs) comparing with abnormal rate of interictal hypoperfusion rCBF,clinical seizure time and EEG.Results ROI analysis showed that rCBF decreased in basal ganglia and thalamus of incomplete controlled patients with idiopathic GTCS compared to that of effective treated ones′ significantly ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the curative effect and therapeutical mechanism of composite salvia injection (CSI) in treating ischemic cerebral infarction in the respect of oxygen free radical and apolipoprotein.

METHODSSixty-eight cases of ischemic cerebral infarction within the first 72 hrs after onset were divided randomly into the CSI group (treated with CSI) and the control group (treated with Xueshuantong). Serum lipid peroxide (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by colorimetry and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and ApoB100 were measured with unidirectional immune diffusion method.

RESULTSSerum levels of LPO and ApoB100 were obviously lower, and levels of SOD and ApoA1 significantly higher in the CSI group than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The total effective rate of CSI in treating cerebral infarction was 88.24%, which was significantly higher than that of the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCSI shows definite effect in treating cerebral infarction, to reduce the oxygen free radical damage and regulate the apolipoprotein metabolism possibly was the important therapeutical mechanism.

Aged ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

Objective To investigate the dynamic epidemiological characteristics of perinatal birth defects in Xi'an so as to provide scientific evidence for the priority of future birth defect prevention.Methods We made a statistical description of the data of perinatal birth defects from 2010 to 2015 reported by all the maternity hospitals in Xi'an.Results The incidence of birth defects in Xi'an from 2010 to 2015 was 89.62/104 (87.60/104,91.74/ 104) and had an annual ascending tendency (x2-157.13,P＜0.01).The top five main birth defects in a descending order were congenital heart disease (26.53/104),polydactyly (13.10/104),total cleft lip (11.42/104),neural tube defects (6.06 /104),and congenital hydrocephalus (5.08/104),accounting for 69.39％ of the total number of birth defects.And the incidence of congenital heart diseases showed a year-by-year ascending trend (x2=837.65,P＜ 0.01).The incidence of birth defects was higher in urban areas than in rural areas (OR 1.108,95％ CI:1.056-1.162).The birth defects were more frequently seen in males than in females (OB=1.151,95％ CI:1.097-1.208).Mother's age ＜20 (OR=1.764,95％ CI..1.532-2.032) and mother'sage≥35 (OR=1.283,95％ CI:1.179-1.395) also were risk factors for birth defects.Up to 72.54％ of the defects were live births.There were 52.83％ cases diagnosed by ultrasound and 46.24％ ones by clinical examination.The prenatal diagnosis rate was 33.20％.Conclusion The incidence of perinatal birth defects in Xi'an from 2010 to 2015 showed an annual ascending trend.We should improve the prenatal diagnosis level of all monitored hospitals in order to reduce incidence of birth defects and increase the quality of population.

Objective To study the effects of air pollution including sulphur dioxide (SO2),nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and PM10 in Xi'an on birth defects.Methods We collected the birth defects data from Xi'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital,meteorological data from Xi'an Bureau of Meteorology,and the air pollution data from Xi'an Environment Monitoring Station from 2010 to 2015.Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore the relationship between air pollution and birth defects after adjusting the effects of long-term and seasonal trend,temperature,and relative humidity.Results The monthly average birth defects were 89 cases;the monthly average concentration of SO2,NO2 and PM10 was 34.05 μg/m3,45.13 μg/m3,and 96.77 μg/m3,respectively.In the GAM,the monthly average temperature was 13.57 ℃ and the relative humidity was 63.20％.The three kinds of air pollutants all had a certain lag effect in 10 months,which reached the maximum.With an increase of concentration by 10 μg/m3 in three air pollutants,the relative risks and confidence interval of SO2,NO2,and PM10 were 1.060 (1.023-1.097),1.033 (1.014-1.052) and 1.018 (1.007-1.029),with significant differences (P＜0.05).Conclusion Exposure to SO2,NO2,and PM10 may be associated with the risk of birth defects.

Objective To analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of birth defects and air pollution in Xi'an and the correlation between air pollution exposure and birth defects.Methods In this study,we calculated the mean and median concentration of air pollutants in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 to describe their concentration trends.Then we analyzed quartile range to describe their discrete trend.The spatial distribution of air pollution in the whole study area was calculated by inverse distance weighted spatial interpolation method to describe its overall occurrence level.The global trend was analyzed to describe the main body change pattern in the birth defect space.The total number of birth defects in the districts and counties of Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 was calculated and the incidence of birth defects was calculated according to the monitoring data of live births.Correlation between birth defects and air pollution was analyzed by rank correlation analysis.Results The spatial distribution of air pollutants in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 was as follows:the concentration of SO2 was relatively high in Lianhu District,Yanta District,Baqiao District,Beilin District,and Xincheng District.The concentration of NO2 was relatively high in Yanta District,Baqiao District,Lianhu District,Beilin District,and Xincheng District.The concentration of PM10 was relatively high in Baqiao District,Yanta District,Xincheng District,Weiyang District,and Yanliang District.In Baqiao District,Xincheng District,Lianhu District,Weiyang District,and Gaoling District,the concentration of PM2.5 was relatively high.The total number of birth defects was 6 858 cases in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015,and the total number of perinatal births was 752 142 cases,with the incidence of 91.18 (1/10 000).The spatial distribution of birth defects from the west to the east direction and from south to north direction was generally characterized of inverted U type.The birth defects were positively correlated with NO2 concentration.Conclusion There are obvious regional differences in air pollution and birth defects in Xi'an.Birth defects may be related to NO2.

BACKGROUNDStatins improve arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertension is a predominant contributor of arterial stiffening. However, the influence of hypertension on the effect of statins for improving arterial stiffness in CAD patients has seldom been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationships between statin use and arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

METHODSBrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) was measured in 437 patients, including 220 hypertensive CAD patients (121 used statins, 99 did not) and 217 normotensive CAD patients (105 used statins, 112 did not). The normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients were matched according to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTSIn the normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients, lipid profiles were significantly improved in the statin group compared with the non-statin group. No significant differences in the administered statins (i.e., atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin) and statin therapy duration were found between normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). No significant correlation of ba-PWV and statin therapy duration was found in all CAD patients, normotensive CAD patients, or hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). ba-PWV in the statin group was significantly lower than that in the non-statin group in normotensive CAD patients ((1331.68 ± 167.52) cm/s vs. (1468.61 ± 244.54) cm/s, P = 0.002) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, statin therapy was significantly associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for confounding variables in normotensive CAD patients (P = 0.018) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSStatins may significantly improve arterial stiffness in CAD patients, and hypertension may probably influence the effectiveness of statin therapy in improving arterial stiffness in this population. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of statins on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

Aged ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Vascular Stiffness ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation in mice.

METHODSThe biological effects of infrasound on the activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-betaHSDH) and acid phosphatase(ACP) of the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate were observed when exposure to 8 and 16 Hz infrasound at 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 dB for 1 day, 7 days and 14 days or 14 days after the exposure.

RESULTSWhen exposure to 8 Hz infrasound, the enzyme activities of 3-betaHSDH increase as the sound pressure levels increase. Only when the sound pressure levels reach 130 dB, the enzyme activities began to decrease exceptionally. When exposure to 16 Hz, 80 dB infrasound, no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the activities of 3-betaHSDH could be observed, but the injury of the polygonal cells had appeared. When exposure to 16 Hz, 100 dB infrasound, the activities of 3-betaHSDH started to increase. The cell injury still existed. When exposed to 16 Hz, 120 dB infrasound, the local tissue damage represented. Fourteen days after the mice exposure to 8 Hz, 90 dB and 130 dB infrasound for 14 days continuously, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation began to recover at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the poorer the tissue recovery.

CONCLUSIONThe biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation response to the frequency of the infrasound are found at certain action strength range, but this characteristic usually is covered by the severe tissue injury. When exposure to infrasound is stopped for a period of time, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation could recovers at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the more poorer the tissue recovery.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenal Cortex ; cytology ; enzymology ; Animals ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Noise ; Zona Fasciculata ; enzymology ; Zona Reticularis ; enzymology

Objective To analyze the trend of birth defects and air pollution in Xi'an and discuss the correlation between air pollution exposure and birth defects.Methods Time series multiplication model was used to decompose the time series of birth defects and concentration of air pollutants to describe their long-term trend and seasonal variations.The rank correlation and cross-correlation between birth defects and air pollutants were analyzed by ecological approach.Results During 2010-2015,the results of air pollution analysis in Xi'an showed that the overall trend of NO2 increased in 2013 and then fluctuated at a high level.Generally,SO2 showed a trend of slow decline,but there were two peaks in 2012 and 2013.The overall trend of PM10 had two small peaks in 2013 and 2014,and during the rest of the time the change was stable.The overall trend of PM2.5 showed a slow decline,but after 2015 it showed a slight increase.Analysis of the birth defects during 2010-2015 in Xi'an showed that the long-term trend of total birth defects and congenital heart disease increased in 2010-2014,but then decreased rapidly.The long-term trend of cleft lip and palate and neural tube defects fluctuated at a low level.Analysis of the correlation between air pollutants and birth defects showed that total birth defects and congenital heart disease were positively correlated with NO2 at 3 months before pregnancy and early 3 months of pregnancy.Congenital heart disease 3 months before pregnancy had a positive correlation with PM10.Conclusion Birth defects and air pollution in Xi'an have trend variations and seasonal regularity.There is a positive correlation of women's exposure to NO2 3 months before pregnancy and the first 3 months of pregnancy with the incidence of congenital heart disease.

The relationship between T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3)/Galectin (Gal)-9 pathway and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) was studied. Thirty-one pregnant women with RSA and 27 normal early gravidas were investigated to detect the levels of Tim-3 and Gal-9 in villi and deciduas by Western blotting. Meanwhile, the concentration of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12 in peripheral blood plasma was determined by ELISA in 25 healthy fertile non-pregnant controls, the normal early gravidas and pregnant women with RSA mentioned above, respectively. It was found that the relative expression levels of Tim-3 and Gal-9 in villi and deciduas were significantly increased in pregnant women with RSA as compared with those in the normal early gravidas. The concentration of IL-4 in peripheral blood plasma of pregnant women with RSA was lower than that of the normal early gravidas (P<0.05) and healthy fertile non-pregnant controls (P<0.05), but that of IL-2 in pregnant women with RSA was significantly higher than that of the normal early gravidas (P<0.05) and healthy fertile non-pregnant controls (P<0.05). It was suggested that the overexpression of Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway may be related to the pathogenesis of RSA.