Objective To evaluate the effect of breathing exercise program (shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics) on dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Methods A total of 90 hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COPD were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group with 45 cases in each group. The experimental group lost one case and the control group lost three cases, 86 patients finished the experiment. During hospitalization, on the base of conventional treatment and care, the experimental group
received training of shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics after medical staff′s care, with folk music as the background. Exercise frequency:morning, afternoon, 2 times per day, 15 min per time and continue to exercise with researchers′ guidance after discharge. In the control group:take exercises by self, take routine follow-up after discharge. The intervention continued for three months. The indicators such as dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and life quality of both groups were assessed respectively before and after the intervention. Results There were no significant differences in dyspnea symptoms, lung function, exercise endurance, quality of life between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). The dyspnea scored 1.43±0.87 after intervention in the experimental group, and 1.93 ±0.97 in the control group, there was significant difference (Z=-2.293, P=0.022). The 6 min walking test distance was (371.34 ± 67.74) m after intervention in the experimental group, and (301.57 ± 61.67) m in the control group, there was significant difference(t = 4.988, P =0.000). The St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (respiratory symptoms, limited activity, influence disease) score and total score were 54.73 ± 11.96, 52.55 ± 14.48, 55.45 ± 10.01, 54.56 ± 10.79 after intervention in experimental group respectively, and 61.19 ± 10.72, 61.35 ± 14.66, 60.48 ± 9.39, 60.93 ± 10.16 in the control group, there were significant differences(t=-2.815--2.397, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in lung function after intervention between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions The program of shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics can relieve dyspnea in patients with moderate to severe COPD, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, which is a safe and effective rehabilitation for patients with COPD.

Objective To observe the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm and the inhibitory and dispersive effects of betaine on the biofilm.Methods The inhibitory and dispersive effects of 0.1％ betaine on the biofilm from 20 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were examined by crystal violet assay.Results All the 20 strains of Staphylococcus aureus formed biofilm.The biofilm of methicillinsensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was formed in 24 hours with peak value of absorbance (A590 nm) (1.99 ± 0.53).The biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus atureus(MRSA) was formed in 48 hours with peak value of absorbance(A590 nm) (1.13 ±0.47).After adding betaine,the absorbance(A590 nm) of MSSA biofilm fell down to(1.74 ± 0.61) in 24 hours,while the absorbance(A590 nm) of MRSA biofilm fell down to(0.40 ± 0.12) in 48 hours,which was significantly reduced compared with the controls (t =2.43,5.84,P ＜ 0.05 respectively).When adding betaine after the biofilm formed,the absorbancies (A590 nm) of both MSSA and MRSA showed no significant difference compared with the controls (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Betaine could inhibit biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus at concentration of 0.1％,but it could not disperse the mature biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus.

Background and purpose:The incidence of liver cancer is high in China. Primary liver cancers usually occur in patients with liver cirrhosis, which is a challenge for the early diagnosis of liver cancer. Our purpose is to investigate the efifcacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the early identiifcation and diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regularly tracking and supervising the high risk population. Methods:A total of 320 high risk patients of HCC admitted in our hospital from February 2011 to November 2013 were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound and hepatic CEUS. The differential diagnosis of malignant HCCs from benign ones was based on the enhancement patterns of hepatic lesions in different phases on CEUS. Results:Twenty patients were diagnosed as small HCC among 320 HCC high risk patients who were under regular surveillance using CEUS and all were pathologically conifrmed. Seven of the 20 HCC cases were smaller than 1.0 cm and 13 measured 1.1-2.0 cm. There were 6 (30.0%) HCCs presented as“early wash-in and slow wash-out”atypical pattern of HCC. The small size of the lesion and iso-echogenicity were the main factors of atypical pattern of HCC on CEUS.Conclusion:Ultrasonography and CEUS surveillance is a useful strategy for the early detection of small HCCs in high risk patients, which can help them to receive proper therapeutic management in time.

Objective To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases T1 (GSTrl), M1 (GSTM1) and P1 (GSTP1) with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) of Chinese people in Wenzhou of China. Methods Fifty-nine patientswith AAN (AAN group) including 29 male and 30 female as well as 157 healthy ethnically matched controls (control group) including 93 male and 64 female were enrolled in this study. The genotypes of GSTT1, GSTMI and GSTP1 were determined by multiple PCR and confronting two-pair primers PCR (CTPP-PCR). Results The genotype frequencies of GSTP1 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Compared with the healthy controls, the frequency of GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher in the patients with AAN (66.1% vs 48.4%,P＜0.05). Risk of A.AN for individuals with GSTT1 null genotype was 1.747 fold of those without GSTIl null genotype (95% CI=0.818-3.731). The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype, GSTP1 variant genotypes and GSTP1 G allele in the patients and in the controls were 40.7%, 28.8%, 16.1% and 47.8%, 31.8%, 17.5%, respectively, which were not significantly different. No significant differences were found in prevalence of GSTM1 and GSTP1 gene distribution between patients and controls. Conclusion GSTrl gene polymorphism appears to be associated with susceptibility to AAN in Southern China.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Young Adult

To study the influence of IFN-alpha on function of CML-DC cultured in vitro and expression of chemokine and its chemokine receptor, bone marrow mononuclear cells from 13 CML patients were cultured in the fetal calf serum culture system supplemented with rhSCF, rhFlt-3L for expansion system, and adding rhGM-CSF, rhTNF-alpha, rhIL-4, with or without rhIFN-alpha to induce DCs. After incubation for two weeks, the phenotypes of CML-DC were analyzed by direct immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The concentration of MIP-3beta expressed by CML-DC in the supernatant were analyzed by ELISA. The proliferative ability of T cells from healthy volunteers stimulated by CML-DCs were measured by MTT assay. The results showed that expression of CD86, CD83, CD40, MHC-I class molecules, CCR7, the concentration of MIP-3beta expressed by CML-DC, and the proliferative ability of T cells stimulated by CML-DCs in IFN-alpha group were all significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the immunophenotype of CML-DCs can be partially changed by IFN-alpha to accelerate the maturation of CML-DCs, enhance the capacity of CML-DCs, and stimulate allogeneic T lymphocyte proliferation.
Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; B7-2 Antigen ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD40 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokines ; biosynthesis ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; analysis ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Chemokine ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,and to evaluate the relationship between brain reorganization and motor recovery.Methods Nine AIS patients and 9 healthy volunteers were assessed by fMR1 during passive finger clenching at a pace of 1 Hz.The fMRI results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Lateral indices (LIs) and activated regions were calculated,and the relationship between LI and muscle strength was examined.Results In the control group,activation was observed in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the bilateral supplementary area (SMA) during the passive movement.In the AIS group,similar results were recorded dur- ing unaffected hand movement,but the ipsilateral activation areas were greater than those on the eontralateral side during movement of the affected hand.LI results confirmed that movement of the affected hand mainly elici- ted activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere.Conclusion The different fMRI manifestations of patients and nor- mal subjects reflect brain compensation,and fMRI is valuable for studying the correlation between motor function and brain reorganization.

Germ cells make two major decisions when they move from an indeterminate state to their final stage of gamete production. One decision is sexual commitment for sperm or egg production, and the other is to maintain mitotic division or entry into meiosis. It is unclear whether the two decisions are made as a single event or separate events, because there has been no evidence for the presence of germ cell sex prior to meiosis. Here we report direct evidence in the fish rainbow trout that gonia have distinct sexuality. We show that dazl expression occurs in both male and female gonia but exhibits differential intracellular distribution. More strikingly, we show that boule is highly expressed in male gonia but absent in female gonia. Therefore, mitotic gonia possess sex, sperm/egg decision and mitosis/meiosis decision are two independent events, and sperm/egg decision precedes mitosis/meiosis decision in rainbow trout, making this organism a unique vertebrate model for mechanistic understanding of germ cell sex differentiation and relationship between the two decisions.
Animals ; Female ; Fish Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Male ; Meiosis ; Oncorhynchus mykiss ; genetics ; physiology ; Ovary ; cytology ; metabolism ; Ovum ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Sex Determination Processes ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplexing Y-STR system and study haplotype frequencies of 4 Y-specific loci in China Han population. METHODS: DYS439, DYS390, GATA-A7.2 and DYS393 loci were amplified simultaneously and were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. RESULTS: When 558 unrelated male individuals from the Han population in China were tested by the multiplex system, DYS439, DYS390, GATA-A7.2 and DYS393 show 7,7,7,6 alleles, respectively. 180 different haplotypes were detected. The power of discrimination of this system was 0.9853. CONCLUSION The multiplex amplified system of these 4 Y-specific loci and their database are useful for human origin exploration and forensic practice.
Alleles ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Frequency ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Silver Staining ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

OBJECTIVE To characterize the homogeneous polysaccharides from Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo and study the hypoglycemic activity of the isolated polysaccharides.METHODS DEAE-cellulose anion-exchange chromatography was used to isolate homogeneous polysaccharides from crude polysaccharides (DOP);Monosaccharide composition was ana-lysed after trimethylsilation;and the chemical structure of isolated polysaccharide was characterized with infrared spectroscopy;The effects of isolated polysaccharides on the levels of fasting blood glucose,plasma insulin,and glycosylated serum protein were estimated using diabetic mice models induced by alloxan.RESULTS Four isolated polysaccharides were isolated from DOP,in which DOP1 had the highest content.DOP1 was composed of arabinose,galactose,glucose and mannose in a molar ratio of 3.5∶1.2∶1.5∶1.0.The infrared spectroscopy of various isolated polysaccharides showed that they all had the obvi-ous characteristic absorption peaks of corresponding monosaccharides.The levels of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated ser-um protein decreased obviously after a 21 day ig administration in diabetic mice models(P <0.01),in addition,all the four iso-lated polysaccharides increased glycosylated serum protein levels in varying degrees after a 21 day dosage (P <0.05 ~0.01). DOP1 displayed the optimal effects on the improvements of above three biochemistry indexes compared with the other three i-solated polysaccharides.CONCLUSION Four isolated polysaccharides from DOP displayed hypoglycemic activity in diabetic mice models induced by alloxan.