ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and clinical features of hyperuricemia and its influencing factors in elderly male people aged 90 years and above. MethodsOne hundred elderly male people aged 90 years and above who underwent routine health examination in our hospital in 2007 were selected in the study. Serum uric acid level was examined by uricase-peroxidase method, and all patients were divided into hyperuricemia group and control group according to the serum uric acid level. Clinical and biochemical indications were compared between the two groups, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hyperuricemia in elderly people. ResultsThe serum uric acid level was increased in 20% of the elderly people, and the prevalence of gouty arthritis was 1%. The levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were higher in hyperuricemia group than in control group[(10. 98±4.29) mmol/L vs. (6. 87± 1.86) mmol/L, (125.2±25.9)μmol/L vs. (93. 4±19. 8)μmol/L;both P<0.05)3. The patients in hyperuricemia group had a higher prevalence of hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia, and a higher proportion of diuretic application than patients in control group(P<0. 05). Logistic regression analysis showed that serum uric acid level had the most remarkable correlation with serum creatinine(OR= 1. 969), followed by fasting blood glucose (OR= 1. 310)and blood urea nitrogen(OR = 1.161). There was negative correlation between serum uric acid level and plasma cholesterol level(OR = 0. 802). ConclusionsThe prevalence of hyperuricemia is high in elderly people aged 90 years and above, while the incidence of gouty arthritis is low. Renal function impairment, metabolic syndrome and thiazide diuretic are the major factors for hyperuricemia.

In this study, a novel resequencing pathogen microarray (RPM)-based multi-pathogen detection assay was developed to simultaneously detect 14 rotaviruses, 7 caliciviruses, 8 astroviruses, 28 enteroviruses, and 16 rare diarrhea viruses in patients with diarrhea syndrome. The specificity of the assay was examined using confirmed virus-positive specimens, and the sensitivity was evaluated by serial ten-fold dilutions of in vitro transcribed RNA. RPM assay could detect and differentiate virus types/subtypes at 20-2000 copies/microL. The detection threshold of RPM was determined by adjusting the reference concentration, and the detection steps were optimized to type Enterovirus. The nucleic acids of 10 stool samples from patients with unexplained diarrhea were screened, and 6 of them showed positive results. The RPM results were further verified by singleplex PCR followed by sequencing, and no difference was found between the two assays. In conclusion, we have established a high-throughput RPM assay with high specificity and sensitivity, which demonstrates a great potential for the identification of pathogens in patients with unexplained diarrhea and the management of emerging epidemic.
DNA Primers ; genetics ; Diarrhea ; virology ; Feces ; virology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

Objective To develop an electrochemical impedance immunosensor based on polypyrrole modified microelectrodes for periodontal bacteria rapid quantification.Methods Mcirofluidic chip with embedded IDAM was prepared by conventional photolithography process.Then polypyrrole structure was deposited on microelectrodes through electropolymerization method.Polypyrrole was biofuncationalized with mouse anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain K IgG antibody using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide-hydrochloride (EDC) chemistry.The linear relationship between the impedance and bacterial concentration,the impedance characteristic and the feasibility of the developed impedic immunosensor in quantifing Porphyromonas gingivalis was investigated respectively.Results The polypyrrole membrane structure was observed on work electrodes,and the lowest detection limit of the immunosensor was 107 cells/L in pure culture.In the concentration range of 107-1012 cells/L,a linear relationship was found between the normalized impedance change and the logarithmic value of the cell concentration.The total detection time from sampling to measurement was less than 1 h.Conclusions The immunosensor developed in the present study offered some insight into chair-side quantifing periodontal bacteria.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) on inflammation and oxidative stress in the diabetic rats.

METHODSAn experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus model was induced by feeding male SD rats with diet of high fat for 4 weeks and then injected them intraperitoneally with streptozocin (STZ) at 30 mg/kg. Then the animals were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, diabetic group and ALA group. Four weeks later, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), nitric oxide (NO) production, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the serum were determined.

RESULTSInflammatory agents including TNF-alpha, sP-selectin and sICAM-1 increased in diabetic rats to compare with control group. Treatment with ALA significantly decreased TNF-alpha, sP-selectin and slCAM-1 to compare with diabetic group. Furthermore, compared with control group, serum MDA production increased whereas NO production, SOD and CAT activities decreased in diabetic rats. Treatment with ALA reduced MDA production, increased NO production, promoted SOD and CAT activities compared with diabetic group.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that diet rich in ALA exerted the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in diabetic rats, which may be beneficial to the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; alpha-Linolenic Acid ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the drug resistance on the radioresistance in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

METHODSThree drug resistant pancreatic cancer cell sublines induced by fluorouracil (5-FU), adriamycin (ADM) and gemcitabine respectively, SW1990/FU, SW1990/ADM and SW1990/Gz, were tested for the cell cycle and radio-sensitivity with flow cytometry and clonogenic assay.

RESULTSCompared with SW1990, the cell cycle assay indicated higher G(0)/G(1) period percentage in SW1990/FU and SW1990/Gz, but the G(2)/M period percentage decreased; SW1990/FU had the same while SW1990/Gz had lower S period percentage. SW1990/ADM almost had a similar cell cycle with SW1990. Clonogenic assay showed both SW1990/FU and SW1990/Gz had greater survival fraction (SF(2)) than SW1990, but SW1990/ADM had seemingly similar SF(2) as SW1990.

CONCLUSIONDrug resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines have reduced G(2)/M period percentage and increased radioresistance.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; genetics ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in the urban air and the scores of Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) between Taiyuan and Changzhi cities and to explore the effects of PAHs in the urban air during pregnancy on neonatal behavioral neurological development.

METHODSHigh-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with subsequent fluorescence detection was used to determine the PAHs levels in the cooperational hospitals in Changzhi and Taiyuan cities and the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels of the 297 pregnant women living Changzhi and Taiyuan cities during Nov. 2009 to May 2010. NBNA was used to determine the development of neonatal neural behavior. The differences of PAHs levels in the urban air, the pregnant women urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels and NBNA scores between Taiyuan and Changzhi were compared.

RESULTSThere are significant differences of levels of pyrene, benz [a] anthracene, Chrysene, benz [a] pyrene, dibenz [a, h] anthracene in the urban air between Taiyuan and Changzhi (P < 0.10). The median of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women of Taiyuan was 1.140 microg/mmolCr, (P25 was 0.457 microg/mmolCr, P75 was 2.678 microg/mmolCr), the median of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women of Changzhi was 0.761 microg/mmolCr, (P25 was 0.133 microg/mmolCr, P75 was 2.095 microg/mmolCr). There are significant differences of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in pregnant women between Taiyuan and Changzhi (t = -3.140, P = 0.002). There are significant differences of the NBNA scores, capacity scores, passive muscle tension scores, active muscle tension scores and general assessment scores between Taiyuan and Changzhi (P < 0.10). There was correlation between NBNA scores and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level in pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONThe PAHs in the urban air during pregnancy may adversely affect the neonatal neurobehavioral development.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; analysis ; urine ; Breast Feeding ; Child Development ; drug effects ; China ; Cities ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; adverse effects ; analysis ; urine ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of personality-related health risk factors on suicidal ideation among medical students.

METHODS1204 medical students at first grade were selected in Beijing, using random cluster sampling method. Data were obtained through health risk behaviors questionnaire, personality diagnostic questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4) and were analyzed by logistic regression method.

RESULTSThere were 12 risk factors selected from single factor analysis, including physical fight, physical abuse, physically forced to have sexual intercourse, sexual risk behaviors, tobacco and alcohol use behaviors, loneliness, bad mood, insomnia, feeling hopeless, higher PDQ-4 score and internet abuse behaviors. Data from Unconditional logistic regression showed that the main risk factors of suicide ideation were insomnia (OR = 4.98), physical abuse (OR = 4.43), sexual risk behaviors (OR = 2.63), bad mood (OR = 2.32), feeling hopeless (OR = 1.98), higher PDQ-4 score (OR = 1.09) in male students; while fighting (OR = 7.10), loneliness (OR = 4.42), physically forced to have sexual intercourse (OR = 4.19), internet abuse behaviors( OR = 1.39) in female students.

CONCLUSIONSuicidal ideation was associated with various factors, with significant gender difference.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Suicide ; psychology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of erythrocyte theology in rabbits with acute renal failure (ARF).

METHODSThirty-eight healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), model group (establishing ARF model via intramuscular injection 1% HgCl2, and divided into 12 h, 24 h, 48 h subgroups, all n = 10), the arterial blood sample was taken out through carotid artery at corresponding times after anesthetization with urethane, for detecting the indices of renal function and erythrocyte rheology.

RESULTSThe levels of urea and creatinine in plasma of model rabbits at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were higher than those of control group, and there was a rise trend along with the time extension. The erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 12 h of model group was higher, the electrophoresis rate and migration rate of erythrocytes were lower compared with those of control group; the erythrocytes electrophoresis time at 24 h of model group was lower and the electrophoresis rate and migration rate were higher compared with those of model group at 12 h; and there were no statistical differences in erythrocytes electrophoresis indices between model group at 48 h and other groups. Meanwhile, there was a rise trend in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), K value of equation and emendation along with the time extension of ARF, but these indices only at 48 h of model group was lower significantly than that of control group. There were no statistical differences in aggregation index and deformability index of erythrocytes among groups.

CONCLUSIONDuring the process of ARF, the erythrocytes electrophoresis time lengthen and electrophoresis rate and migration rate decrease at early stage, and these indices gradually return to normal; the indices of ESR increase gradually.

Acute Kidney Injury ; blood ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Erythrocytes ; physiology ; Hemorheology ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: Primary pulmonary malignancies (PPMs) and non-pulmonary malignancies (PNPMs) may result in airway stenosis requiring stenting. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the clinical features and stent placement outcomes of airway stenosis caused by PPMs and PNPMs. METHODS: A total of 141 patients with malignant airway stenosis who underwent Micro-Tech stent placements between January 2004 and October 2017 at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University were divided into PPM (n = 100) and PNPM groups (n = 41). Patients' clinical features and stent placement outcomes were collected and analyzed. Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables, while independent- or paired-sample t test was used to compare the continuous variables. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex, treatment history, respiratory symptoms, and incidence of obstructive pneumonia between groups. Multiple airway involvement (63.0% vs. 31.7%; χ = 11.459, P = 0.001) and atelectasis (17.0% vs. 2.4%; χ = 5.536, P = 0.019) were more common in the PPM group, while extraluminal obstruction (24.4% vs. 6.0%; χ = 8.033, P = 0.005) was more common in the PNPM group. Before stenting, the American Thoracic Society Dyspnea Index (ADI) and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores showed no significant differences between groups (all P > 0.05). After stenting, a satisfactory rate of symptom improvement was achieved in both groups (98.0% and 100.0% in the PPM and PNPM groups, respectively; χ = 0.016, P = 0.898); ADI and KPS scores, which showed no significant differences between groups (all P > 0.05), were significantly improved in each group (all P < 0.001). Complications after stenting could be effectively managed using bronchoscopic procedures. CONCLUSIONS Among cases of malignant airway stenosis requiring stenting, those caused by PPM are more likely to involve multiple airways and are associated with atelectasis, while those caused by PNPM are more likely to cause extraluminal obstruction. Micro-Tech stent placement has the same immediate effect in terms of improvement in respiratory symptoms and performance status for both malignant airway stenosis caused by PPM and that caused by PNPM.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Tracheal Stenosis ; etiology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEThis study is aimed to develop a two-tube melting curve-based multiplex real time PCR assay (MCMRT-PCR) for the simultaneous detection of six common foodborne pathogenic bacteria (diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella in tube 1, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Listeria monocytogenes in tube 2).

METHODSA two-tube MCMRT-PCR assay was performed on 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA). Amplification by PCR was optimized to obtain high efficiency. The sensitivity and specificity of assays were investigated.

RESULTSThe detection limit of optimized MCMRT-PCR assay was 3.9×102 CFU/mL for S. aureus, 4.4×102 CFU/mL for L. monocytogenes, 3.0×102 CFU/mL for Salmonella, 2.5×102 CFU/mL for Shigella, 2.1×102 CFU/mL for V. parahaemolyticus, and 1.2×102 CFU/mL for E. coli. The feasibility of MCMRT-PCR was further evaluated using artificially contaminated milk, the sensitivity was at the level of 105 CFU/mL.

CONCLUSIONA two-tube MCMRT-PCR assay using six primer sets was developed for detection of multiple pathogens. Our findings demonstrates that the proposed two-tube assay is reliable, useful and rapid for simultaneous detection of six foodborne pathogenic bacteria with an intended application in provincial Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC).

Animals ; Bacteria ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Food Microbiology ; methods ; Milk ; microbiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity