Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood ; complications ; Male ; Optic Neuritis ; etiology

Objective The present study was designed to investigate the efficiency of simvastatin therapy for experimental pul‐monary hypertension (PH) in rat ,and the effects on the number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) . Methods Twenty four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly :model group ,treatment group and control group , 8 rats in each group .Rats were treated with a single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline to induce PH (PBS used as control) . The rats in the experimental group were administrated with simvastatin 3 days following subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline .In the 21st day ,the number of circulating EPC ,the right ventricle systolic pressure of rat ,pulmonary vascular structural changes and the quantity of cultured EPC were measured .At the same time ,EPC in each group were cultured in vitro ,then the ability of prolif‐eration and function were analyzed and compared .Results The number of circulating EPC in model group was decreased signifi‐cantly compared to both control and model groups (P< 0 .01) .Compared with model group ,simvastatin treatment markedly de‐creased the RVSP and the ratio of media thickness to eternal diameter (P<0 .01) ,but the ratio of vessel area to total arterial area (VA/TAA) was definitively increased(P<0 .01) .After 7 days of culture in vitro ,both the output of EPC and the ability of prolif‐eration ,conglutination and migration of EPC in treatment group were up -regulated compared with those in model group (P<0 .01) .Conclusion This study confirmed that simvastatin effectively treat experimental PH through improving quantity and func‐tion of circulating EPC .

OBJECTIVEThis study examines the impacts of an improved electrode placement on the electrocardiogram (ECG) results in order to determine a better electrode placement for ECG monitoring in children.

METHODSECG was recorded using the traditional electrode placement and the modified electrode placement (with shortened electrode distance) respectively in 50 pediatric patients. The amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave on ECG by the two measurements were compared. Furthermore, the impacts of different body positions on the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave were studied after applying the modified electrode placement.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave on ECG by the traditional electrode placement and the modified electrode placement (P>0.05). When modified electrode placement was utilized, the body position change did not lead to significant changes in the amplitudes of P wave and QRS wave (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA satisfactory ECG can be obtained with the modified electrode placement independent of patient's body position, suggesting that the modified electrode placement can be used instead of the traditional placement in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; instrumentation ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Patient Positioning

OBJECTIVETo determine if miniprostheses would form a capsule of significantly different biophysical, biochemical and histologic properties than the conventional silicone implant.

METHODSFour miniprostheses (experimental group) and one big silicone implants (control 1 group) were separately implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of 30 rabbits. After 3 months, measures related to contracture and capsular histology were performed on anesthetized animals.

RESULTSBaker ranking, capsular incision width and capsular thickness of the control groups were evidently higher than that of experimental groups (P < 0.01). Implant compression of the control groups was evidently lower than that of the experimental group. Histology revealed a thinner, more flexed capsule around the miniprostheses as compared with big silicone implants.

CONCLUSIONSThe miniprostheses form a looser and thinner capsule than the conventional silicone implant.

Animals ; Breast Implantation ; adverse effects ; Breast Implants ; adverse effects ; Contracture ; pathology ; Female ; Postoperative Complications ; pathology ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo explore the use of triamcinolone acetonide for the prevention of implant capsular contracture.

METHODS20 rabbits were randomly undivided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. Every 10 ml silicone implant was implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of one rabbit. At the same time, a modified expander catheter was mounted on the implant. This catheter has many lateral holes and the end was blind. Triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/3 ml) was infused through the expander pot and catheter as the experimental groups. On the other hand, 3 ml saline was used as the control group at 1, 2, and 3 months. At 6 months, measures related to contracture and capsular histology examinations were performed on anesthetized animals.

RESULTSBaker scores, capsular incision width and capsular thickness of the saline groups were evidently higher than that of triamcinolone acetonide groups (P < 0.01). Implant compression of the saline groups was evidently lower than that of triamcinolone acetonide group. Histology revealed a thinner capsules and less fibrous tissue deposition around the triamcinolone acetonide group, as compared with saline group.

CONCLUSIONSIt is effective to deliver triamcinolone acetonide to reduction of capsular contracture through the catheter and its pot.

Animals ; Breast Implantation ; adverse effects ; Contracture ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rabbits ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo identify the relationship between amino acid mutations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and their antibiotic resistance.

METHODSPI gene fragments of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 17 clinical isolates were obtained with PCR amplification. They were cloned into the PCR cloning vector pBS-T to form pBS-T-PI and sequenced. The sequences of PI genes were analyzed. At the same time, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin and tetracycline to these 17 isolates were measured and contrasted with the corresponding PI sequence.

RESULTSThe recombinants of PI gene from 17 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were successfully constructed and sequenced. They were divided into PIA and PIB subtypes according to the results from blastn software by comparing the sequences with the GenBank. Mutations were found at the sites of 120 and 121. There were only some of the sequences having an aspartic acid (D) mutation on 120 and 121 sites, which was not the same as reported. On the other hand,there were two PI sequences,5-9 and 6-1, whose mutations on No. 120 were lysine, similar to those documented.

CONCLUSIONSome relationship between PI amino acids mutations at sites 120 and 121 in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Chengdu, China and their resistance to penicillin and tetracycline were found. However,further studies need to be done in the future to confirm this hypothesis.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between vascular remodeling index (RI) and serum adiponectin, plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), endothelial function and evaluate the mechanism of coronary in-stent restenosis.

METHODSRI 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), serum adiponectin, plasma MCP-1 and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and 3 days,6 months after PCI were measured in 30 patients with and 30 without coronary in-stent restenosis.

RESULTSCompared with patients without restenosis and those with restenosis before PCI, the patients with coronary in-stent restenosis showed significantly increased plasma MCP-1 3 days and 6 months after PCI (P<0.05) and reduced RI 6 months after PCI, serum adiponectin and FMD 3 days and 6 months after PCI (P<0.05). RI was positively correlated to serum adiponectin and FMD and inversely to MCP-1.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of coronary in-stent restenosis is the result of the interrelations between multiple factors.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; blood ; etiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo describe the temporal trends in the mortality rate of gastric cancer during the period of 1988 and 2010, and to predict the gastric cancer mortality between 2016 - 2020.

METHODSThe data of gastric cancer mortality in Linzhou city between 1988 and 2010 was extracted from the cancer registry, including a total of 11 714 cases, covering 22 447 073 person-years. The mortality rate of gastric cancer of each 5-year period was calculated by sub-site and gender. Age-standardized rate (ASR) was calculated using the Chinese standard population in 1982. Intrinsic estimator (IE) model was used to fit the mortality trend by sub-site and gender, and to predict the mortality of gastric cancer in Linzhou city between 2016 and 2020.

RESULTSFrom 1988 to 2010, the gastric cancer mortality in Linzhou city was 52.18/100 000 (11 714/22 447 073) with the ASR at 49.23/100 000; the mortality in male was 67.02/100 000 (7678/11 455 512) with ASR at 68.68/100 000 while the mortality in female was 36.72/100 000 (4036/10 991 561) with ASR at 32.12/100 000. The mortality of cardia carcinoma was 27.87/100 000 (6257/22 447 073) with the ASR at 26.37/100 000; while the mortality of non-cardia carcinoma was 24.31/100 000 (5457/22 447 073) with the ASR at 22.86/100 000. The ASR of gastric cancer during 1988 - 1990 was 63.37/100 000 (1653 cases) and decreased by 28.34%, to 45.41/100 000 (2622 cases) during 2006 - 2010. The IE model showed that the birth cohort effect decreased greatly. The mortality risk of cardia carcinoma in population born after 1950s, decreased significantly; and the mortality risk of non-cardia carcinoma in population born in 20 century continually decreased. The death of gastric cancer among the population over 30 years old was predicted to be 3626 cases, increasing by 40.60% compared with the number between 2006 and 2010 (2579 cases). Among them, the mortality of cardia carcinoma increased by 51.89% (predicted number between 2016 and 2020 was 2456 cases, and 1617 cases between 2006 and 2010), and the mortality of non-cardia carcinoma increased by 21.62% (predicted number between 2016 and 2020 was 1170 cases, and 962 cases between 2006 and 2010).

CONCLUSIONThe mortality rate of gastric cancer in Linzhou city showed a decreasing trend during the period of 1988-2010, being mainly attributed to the cohort effect. However, the mortality will still increase in the future, between 2016 and 2020.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Registries ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of neferine against damages of endothelial cells induced by lysophos-phatidylcholine (LPC) and the relationship with asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA).

METHODThe human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC-12) were treated with LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h to establish the model of endothelial cells damages; HUVECs were prior exposed to neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1) ) for 1 h, and then exposed to LPC in the presence of the neferine for 24 h. At the end of the experiment, the cultured medium was collected for measuring the concentration of nitric oxide (NO), aleic dialdehyde (MDA) as well as ADMA and the cells were collected for measuring the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).

RESULTCompared with control group, exposure of endothelial cells to LPC (10 mg x L(-1)) for 24 h significantly increased the concentration of MDA and ADMA in the medium and the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly decreased the concentration of NO in the medium. Neferine (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 micromol x L(-1)) significantly inhibited the elevated concentration of MDA, ADMA as well as the level of intracellular ROS and coinstantaneously significantly attenuated the decreased level of NO induced by LPC.

CONCLUSIONNeferine can protect the endothelial cells against damages induced by LPC and the protective effect is related to the decrease of the concentration of ADMA.

Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism