Endocarditis, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Pregnancy

Purpose There is no agreement for contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. This paper aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of the conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of thyroid nodule by meta analysis. Materials and Methods Literature search was performed in PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases to identify relevant English and Chinese literatures by using pathological results as the gold standard from January 1990 to September 2014. The quality of each selected study was evaluated by QUADAS. The pooled weighted sensitivity, specificity and the corresponding 95% CI were calculated. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC), area under curve (AUC) and the Q* index were also calculated. Results A total of 14 literatures (1970 nodules) were included, the pooled weighted sensitivity and specificity of conventional ultrasonography were 0.74 and 0.70; those of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were 0.86 and 0.82. The AUC by using the two methods were 0.84 and 0.93, respectively, and the Q* index were 0.77 and 0.86, respectively. Conclusion In the diagnosis of thyroid nodule, the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is better than conventional ultrasound; however, both of them have high clinical value in the diagnosis of thyroid nodule, thus they are helpful in avoidance of unnecessary surgical treatment in patients with thyroid disease.

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis of endothelial cells (EC) induced by oxysterols and to examine the effect of amlodipine on the apoptosis induced by oxysterols.METHODS: Light microscope, electron microscope, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptosis of EC.RESULTS: The characteristic morphological features of apoptosis were observed under light and electron microscope; DNA electrophoresis showed"DNA Ladder"; Flow cytometry showed the sub-G1 peak, apoptotic rate is 32.25% and 23.04% in Triol-treated and 25-OH-treated groups, respectively. While treated EC with amlodipine at the same time, the apoptotic rate decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Both Triol and 25-OH can induce apoptosis of EC, which can be inhibited by amlodipine.

AIM: To investigate the effects of oxysterols on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. METHODS: Rabbit aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were cultured in vitro and incubated with cholesterol, Triol and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH), respectively. Slot blot was used to detect the mRNA expression level of TIMP-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); meanwhile the protein expression level of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was detected by immunohistology. RESULTS: Triol and 25-OH inhibited the expression of TIMP-1 compared with control and cholesterol, but have no effect on expression of MMP-9. CONCLUSION: Both Triol and 25-OH downregulated TIMP-1 expression in VSMCs .

Objective To investigate the association of serum angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) with myocardial reperfusion in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 103 consecutive STEMI patients who received primary PCI were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to ST-segment resolution (STR) at 2 h after PCI:STR ≥ 50%group (n=69) and STR<50%group (n=34). Serum concentrations of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Ang-2 to Ang-1 ratios (Ang-2/Ang-1) before and immediately after PCI, 2 h, 6 h, 24 h after PCI were compared. Predictors of poor STR were identiifed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The patients with STR≥50%had significant higher serum Ang-1 levels (P < 0.05) and lower Ang-2/Ang-1 ratios (P < 0.01) from before PCI to 6 h after PCI than those with STR < 50%;Ang-1 and Ang-2/Ang-1 at 24 h after PCI, and Ang-2 at all time points were not signiifcantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, Ang-2/Ang-1 before PCI was independently associated with STR < 50%;Other independent predictors were pain to balloon time, infarct related artery (LAD), and TIMI flow grade<Ⅲafter PCI. Conclusions Higher Ang-2/Ang-1 is an independent predictor of poor myocardial reperfusion in STEMI patients after PCI.

Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Proctectomy ; Rectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Rectum/surgery* ; Transanal Endoscopic Surgery

Objective To study the effect of transfection of livin antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (Livin ASODN) on Livin mRNA and Livin protein expression and proliferation of QBC939 cells.Methods Livin ASODN was transfected into cell line QBC939 by LipofectamineTM 2000. Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the ASODN transfected cells and to calculate the rate of transfection.to measure Livin mRNA and Livin protein expression by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and con-focal laser scanning microscopy after the transfection. Changes in cell proliferation were detected by MTT. Results The highest efficiency was at 24 hours after 500 nmol/L Livin ASODN transfection.The results of MTT showed that the inhibition of cell proliferation of QBC939 cells was most obvious at 60 hours after Livin ASODN transfection (P<0. 05). The level of Livin mRNA and Livin protein expression in the ASODN group was obviously lower than that in the control group (P<0. 05).Conclusion The transfection of Livin ASODN inhibited Livin gene and Livin protein expression, and obviously inhibited the proliferation and depressed the vitality of QBC939 cells.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of nutritional risk,undemutrition,overweight/obesi-ty,and apphcation of nutrition support in departments of neurology in 3 metropolitan hospitals in Beijing. Methods Adult patients in the departments of neurology from 3 metropolitan hospitals in Beijing were consecutively en-rolled from March 2005 to March 2006.Nutritional Risk Screening 2002(NRS2002)score≥3 was defined a8 nu-tritian risk,while body mass index(BMI)<18.5 ks/m2 as undemutrition.NRS2002 was performed on the next morning of admission and nutritional support evaluation was performed on the 14th day of admission or discharge day.The relationship between nutrition risk and nutrition support was analyzed.Results A total of 753 patients were enrolled.NRS2002 scoring results were obtained in 461 patients.The prevalence of undemutrition was 4.2%and nutritional risk Was 21.2%.Among them 292 cases in undemutrition category were estimated by semm albu-min<30g/L without accurate BML If the cases without accurate BMl were excluded,the prevalence of undemutri-tion was 5.4%and nutritional risk Was 10.8%.Twenty-three patients(14.4%)with NRS2002≥3 received nutrition support.Thirteen patients(2.2%)with NRS2002<3 received nutrition support.The average PN:EN ratio Wag 1:2.Conclusions A large proportion of inpatients were at nutritional risk or undemutrition in the de-partments of neurology in metropolitan hospitals in Beijing.The application of nutrition support Wag somehow inap-propriate in these patients.Evidence-based guidelines are required to improve this situation

Objective To study the expression characteristics of Let-7 genes in breast cancer.Methods Twenty-eight patients with breast cancer were randomly selected,and their cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue were collected.TRIzol was used to extract the total RNA and real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative gene expression levels.Results The expression of precursor Let-7 in cancer tissue was (9.65 ± 2.31),which was lower than that in normal tissue (10.05 ± 2.81),P =0.048.Precursor Let-7 had dependence relationship with the long menstruation (b =0.816,P =0.029).The menarche age showed a positive correlation with precursor Let-7 in normal tissue (r =0.502,P =0.048) and a negative correlation in cancer tissue (r =-0.484,P =0.049) Conclusions The expression of precursor Let-7 in cancer tissue is lower than that in normal tissue.The period of menstruation is a protective factor to breast cancer.

Objective To survey the awareness rate of knowledge about vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in community physicians.Methods A questionnaire survey on the awareness of knowledge about VCI was conducted in 87 community physicians from 4 community hospitals in Beijing Chaoyang District from October to December 2012.Among all participants there were 27 males and 60 females with an average age of (39 ± 11) years,85％ (74/87)had college or university degrees,90％ (78/87) held primary or middle-level professional titles,41％ (36/87),of them were internists.Results All participants completed the questionnaire.The awareness rate about minor and major neurocognitive disorder was 39％ (60/87) ; the rates of various causes of dementia were 51％ (44/87)-100％ (87/87) and various symptoms of cognitive impairment were 79％ (69/87)-99 ％ (86/87),respectively.The awareness rate of cognitive impairment as initial symptom displayed in stroke was 54 ％ (47/87).The awareness rates of knowledge related to diagnosis and treatment of dementia were 57％ (50/87)-97％ (84/87) and 80％ (70/87)-100％ (87/87),respectively.The awareness rates about that Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies were not reversed by early treatment were 46％ (40/87)and 37％ (32/87),respectively.The awareness rates of vascular risk factors were 20％ (17/87)-100％ (87/87)and those about the mode of health education were 52％ (45/87)-95 ％ (83/87).There was 36％ (31/87) community physicians who thought that they possessed VCI-related knowledge.Conclusions The results of survey suggest that community physicians shall upgrade their knowledge of diagnosis and treatment for vascular cognitive impairment.