Objective:To explore the hemodynamic changes in aged patients with essential hypertension (EH).
Methods: Our research included 2 groups, EH group, n=180 patients and Control group, n=100 subjects without cardiovascular diseases. The relevant indexes were recorded and compared by BioZ.com noninvasive hemodynamic monitor between 2 groups.
Results: With statistic processing, the cardiac output/index (CO/CI), cardiac index, thoracic lfuid content (TFC), systemic vascular resistance/index (SVR/SVRI) were signiifcantly different between EH group and Control group, all P<0.05.
Conclusion: The hemodynamic changes exist at certain degree indicating the potential injury of cardiac function in aged EH patients, such changes might be helpful for clinical diagnosis and treatment in EH patients.

Objective To study the expression level of thyroid insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) in iodine deficiency and excess mice and the effect of thyroid gland IGF-Ⅰ in the thyroid morphological change. Methods Forty-eight Balb/c mice were chosen as studied objects,weighing about 16 g. They were divided into three groups: low iodine(LI,iodine content of 50 μg/kg in feed,drinking deironized water) group,normoi(NI,iodine content of 300 μg/kg in feed,drinking deironized water) group and high(HI,iodine content of 300 μg/kg in feed,iodoine of content 14 700 μg/kg in drinking) group,16 mice in each group. Mice were put to death after 12 weeks and taken out of their thyroid gland. The body weight,absolute and relative weights of thyroid gland were measured and the morphological change of thyroid gland were observed under microscope. The expression levels of thyroid gland IGF-Ⅰ mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively. Results There were statistical significances between groups of thyroid absolute and relative weights(F = 315.881,405.921,all P < 0.01). LI group [(10.71±4.03) mg,(44.98±15.39)mg/100 g body weight]and HI group [(3.42±1.17)mg,(13.50± 3.89)mg/100 g body weight]had heavier thyroid absolute and relative weights than NI group[(2.11±0.53)mg,(8.35±1.98)mg/100 g body weight,all P < 0.01]. Under microscopy,the thyroid follicle capacity grew down and the follicle quantity grew up in LI group,the epithelium was stylolitic,the colloid diminished or absence in follicular cavity,while HI group presented colloid accumulation without follicular hyperplasia. The expression level of thyroid gland IGF-Ⅰ mRNA in LI group(1.03±0.32) was more than that in NI(0.65±0.19) and HI(0.59± 0.20) groups(F= 7.518,P< 0.01). In contrast to NI,there was no difference in the expression level of thyroid gland IGF-Ⅰ mRNA in HI group(P > 0.05). The brownish particles of LI group were more than NI and HI groups in the thyroid follicle epithelium by immunohistochemistry,while HI group was less than NI group. Conclusions The mice of iodine deficiency presented follicular hyperplasia goiter,the mice of iodine excess presented colloid accumulative goiter. The change of IGF-Ⅰ mRNA and protein expression may participate morphologleal change,indicating autocrine IGF-Ⅰ of thyroid gland may play an important role in regulating goiter formation.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosometen ten (PTEN) protein, a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer and its correlation with p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 expression.

METHODSPTEN protein expression, p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 protein expression were detected by immunohistochemical method in paraffin sections from 61 women with primary breast cancer. PTEN protein expression was compared with clinico-pathologic parameters as related to p27(kip1) and cyclin D1.

RESULTSPTEN, being shown in the cytoplasm, was negative in 6.6% (4/61), reduced in 41.0% (25/61) and positive in 52.5% (32/61) samples. PTEN expression level was correlated with axillary lymph node status, loss of estrogen receptor stain, recurrence and metastasis. On univariate analysis, the disease-free survival rate of patients with higher PTEN expression (> 50% cells stained) was better than those with lower expression (P = 0.0101). However, there was no correlation between p27(kip1), cyclin D1 expression or PTEN expression.

CONCLUSIONPTEN, its lower expression being correlated with poor outcome of breast cancer patients, plays a prominent role in breast cancer. p27(kip1) or cyclin D1 may not be the primary downstream genes of PTEN in breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; analysis ; physiology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; analysis ; physiology ; Prognosis

Objective To study the effects of different level of iodine nutrition on the thyroid function in women of reproductive age. Methods A total of 100 (50 from each) women of reproductive age but not pregnant were collected from iodine deficient and adequate areas. The questionnaire was obtained individually with items concerning personal history of thyroid diseases, goiters and category of edible salt and drinking water based on the project design. The household salt and drinking water were collected for measuring iodine content, and blood samples were obtained for TSH, FT4 and FT3 testing. Results The coverage of iodized salt and the median level of urinary iodine in iodine deficient women(72.0% and 95.5 μg/L) were obviously lower than that in iodine sufficient women(100.0% and 167.4 μg/L, χ2=16.28, U = 632.00, P < 0.01). Median level of serum TSH in iodine deficient women (2.56 m U/L) appeared in an increasing tendency compared to the iodine sufficient women (1.88 mU/L), but there was no significance (U=990.50, P > 0.05). Serum FT4 mean level in iodine deficient women [(14.7±2.0) pmol/L]was lower than that in iodine sufficient women[(17.0±3.8)pmoI/L, t=3.76, P<0.01]. There was no difference in serum FT3 between two group women[(5.1±1.4), (4.8±0.5)pmoI/L, t = 1.59, P > 0.05]; but FT3/FT4 ratio in iodine deficient women(0.33±0.04) was markedly higher than that in the iodine sufficient women(0.30±0.04, t=3.13, P<0.01). The percentage of thyroid dysfunction in iodine deficient women[20.0% (10/50)]was higher compared with the iodine sufficient women[8.0%(4/50)], but without significance(χ2=2.99, P>0.05). Conclusions Iodine deficiency is a primary cause leading to hypothyroid in women of reproductive age. Long term of iodized salt usage is an efficient way to correct iodine deficiency.

Objective To improve the quality of personal dose equivalent measurement by exploring optimal annealing temperature conditions.Methods Totally 60 pieces of thermoluminescent detectors were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups.The 6 groups underwent 10-min annealing under 200,220,230,240,250 or 260 ℃ respectively,and then were cooled with the same conditions and went through measurement after irradiation by the calibrated radiation source.The above operation of annealing,cooling and measurement were repeated for 10 times,and the 6 groups were compared on dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve.Results Single test proved that under 240 ℃ the dispersity,sensitivity and glow curve gained optimal results comprehensively,while repeated tests showed that the dispersity had the optimal value under 250 ℃ and the sensitivity decreased significantly as the times of annealing rose.Conclusion Annealing conditions have to be selected according to the requirements of the thermoluminescent detector.

OBJECTIVETo study the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae inside the Acanthamoeba polyphage.

METHODSSurvival and growth of Vibro cholerae O139, co-cultured with Acanthamoeba polyphaga, was observed inside the trophozoites and cysts, using Gram stain and electron microscope.

RESULTSViable O139 was observed inside the amoebal vacuoles in 24 hours. Vacuoles were filled with more bacteria along with the longer period of co-culture. The process of O139 infection with Amoebae would include uptake, formation of O139 vacuole, multiplication, trophozoites lysed and expel under electron microscopy. Some infected trophozoites could subsequently encyst and the surviving O139 could locate in the vesicles inside the cysts.

CONCLUSIONO139 might survive and multiply in the trophozoites and reside inside the cysts of Amoebae, suggesting that Acanthamoebae might serve as one of the environmental hosts of Vibro cholerae.

Acanthamoeba ; growth & development ; microbiology ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Culture Media ; Vibrio cholerae O139 ; growth & development ; ultrastructure ; Water ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo determine the correlation of the CYP1A1 (rs4646422) gene polymorphisms with male infertility in the Chinese Han population.

METHODSUsing the Mass ARRAY iPLEX GOLD technique, we conducted a case-control study on theCYPlA1 (rs4646422) gene polymorphisms in 636 infertile males aged 21-49 years (case group) and 442 normal healthy men aged 23-47 years (control group) of the Chinese Han population. We analyzed the genotypes and allele frequencies in the two groups ofsubjects with the SPSS 20.0 software.

RESULTSCompared with the wild homozygous genotype GG, the heterozygous genotype AG (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.81-1.38) and homozygous genotype AA (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.56-2.21) showed no correlation with male infertility, nor did the mutant allele A (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.85-1.32) in comparison with the wild allele G.

CONCLUSIONThe CYP1A1 (rs4646422) gene polymorphisms might not be correlated with male infertility in the Chinese Han population.

Adult ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

Asthma ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; therapy

To investigate the spatiotemporal properties of epileptiform activity in vitro, 400 microm-thick transverse hippocampal slices were prepared from juvenile rat and planar multi-electrode array (MEA) containing 60 electrodes was used to record the electrical activity induced by bath application of high potassium artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) on slices. Following successful induction of epileptiform bursts, phenobarbital sodium was applied to test for its inhibitory effects on bursting activity in different regions of slice. Region-specific characteristics of epileptiform activity and anticonvulsant actions of phenobarbital sodium in the hippocampal network were determined by comparing the population activity obtained from MEA. The results showed that: (1) 15 min after high-K+ ACSF application, rhythmic and synchronous epileptiform bursts could be detected from all CA sub-regions. Quantitative analysis indicates that the firing patterns of different CA sub-regions were not statistically different (P>0.05). However, no bursting activity was recorded from granular cells in dentate gyrus, only sparse spikes were observed, with frequency significantly lower than that in CA regions (P<0.05). (2) The high-K+-induced bursting activity could last for more than 40 min with stable bursting activities. (3) Bath application of 60 micromol/L phenobarbital sodium inhibited the bursting activities on hippocampal slice. Bursting activities in CA3c and CA1 were firstly suppressed. 10 min after the phenobarbital sodium application, strong bursting activities persisted only in some of pyramidal cells in CA3a and CA3b. These results show that MEA could be applied for studying the spatial and temporal properties of epileptiform activity in vitro, as well as the region-specific effects of anti-epileptic drugs.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; physiology ; Epilepsy ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of varicocele (VC) with the expressions of T-type channel alpha1H and alpha1G in the sperm of VC patients.

METHODSBased on the WHO criteria, we examined the semen samples by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), and divided the samples into groups A (normal semen from volunteers, n = 20), B (normal semen from VC patients, n = 16) and C (abnormal semen from VC patients, n = 44). We optimized the semen by discontinuous Percoll grade centrifugation, and determined the mRNA expressions of T-type channel alpha1H and alpha1G in the three groups using using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with group A, the mRNA expressions of alpha1H and alpha1G showed with no significant decrease in group B (P>0.05), but were remarkably reduced in group C (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal mRNA expressions of T-type channel alpha1H and alpha1G may be one of the causes of declined semen quality and consequently infertility in VC patients, which has pointed out a new direction for the studies of the causes and treatment of VC-related infertility.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Calcium Channels, T-Type ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult