Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To develop a highly sensitive and accurate time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TR-IFMA) for measurement of Dickkopf-1(DKK-1),as a novel serologic biomarker for lung cancer. Methods The study constructed a two-manoclonal-antibody "sandwich"-type assay and the sensitivity, within run CV and between run CV and accuracy were evaluated. Serum DKK-1 concentrations were measured by TR-IFMA in 120 healthy controls, in 72 benign lung disease patients, and in 212 lung cancer patients before surgery. The association between serum DKK-1 levels and clinicopathological features were evaluated. Results A standard curve for DKK-1 TR-IFMA had been developed with good sensitivity (0.08 μg/L). Both within run CV and between run CV were less than 6.5%. Accuracy studies, parallelism and precision data were determined and all found to be satisfactory. The validity of DKK-1 assay was confirmed by the good correlation between the results obtained by TR-IFMA and commercial ELISA (r=0.972, P=0.01). The serum levels of DKK-1 were higher in lung cancer patients 31.93(79.47-18.03) μg/L than in benign lung diseases 15.25(18.41-11.49) μg/L and in healthy controls 13. 90( 16. 91-11.02) μg/L DKK-1 levels were significant associated with the presence of distant metastases, as well as lymph node metastases and TNM stage, but not with patients' age, gender and tumor histology. At the cutoff of 22.63 μg/L, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the TR-IFMA for lung carcinoma were 68.4%, 92.2%, 82.1% ,90.6% and 72.5%. Diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy were higher for small cell carcinoma than for non-small cell carcinoma (70.7% vs 69.5% and 85.6% vs 80.7%, respectively). Conclusions A highly sensitive and reliable TR-IFMA for DKK-1 has been developed. The determination of serum DKK-1 levels may be useful for diagnosis and tumor staging of lung cancer.

Adult ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Ear, Inner ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male

Adult ; Ambroxol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Expectorants ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; drug therapy

Objective To evaluate the distribution of non-motor symptoms(NMS) and dominant factors impacting on the prevalence of NMS in Parkinson's disease(PD). Methods The NMS questionnaire(NMSQuest) was administered to 128 patients(PD group) and 128 healthy adults(control group).The distribution of items of NMS was analyzed between the two groups,and clinical characteristics were also collected to assess the dominant factors impacting on the prevalence of NMS. Results There were significant differences in the prevalence of NMS between the two groups(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Qianjing Decoction in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS).

METHODSWe randomly divided 100 SPF male rats into five groups of equal number: normal, model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing. OAS models were established in the animals followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline, ornidazole, Huangjingzanyu Capsules (200 mg per kg body weight per day), levocarnitine (100 mg per kg body weight per day), and Qianjing Decoction (10 g per kg body weight per day), respectively, qd, for 4 successive weeks. Then, we detected the concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm, obtained the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-glucosidase, and fructose in the epididymis, and determined the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the epididymal tissue of the rats by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm in the model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qianging groups were (35.34 ± 4.22) x 10(6)/ml and (40.04 ± 7.05)%, (48.12 ± 5.56) x 10(6)/ml and (62.46 ± 7.12)%, (47.14 ± 4.87) x 10(6)/ml and (63.23 ± 6.34)%, and (50.25 ± 5.08) x 10(6)/ml and (66.34 ± 7.58)%, respectively, all significantly lower than in the normal group ([53.05 ± 4.55] x 10(6)/ml and [70.20 ± 8.54]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups than in the model rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the thinned epididymal lumen walls, decreased sperm count, and disorderly and loose arrangement of the lumens in the OAS models, the rats in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups showed evidently thicker epididymal lumen walls, with the lumens full of sperm cells and arranged regularly and compactly, similar to those of the normal rats. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower but that of MDA markedly higher in the model rats ([84.12 ± 23.25], [10.56 ± 3.02], and [14.04 ± 2.06] nmol/mg) than in the normal group ([110.04 ± 19.56], [17.25 ± 3.56], and [8.87 ± 1.35] nmol/mg) (P < 0.05), while the former two indexes remarkably higher and the latter one significantly lower in the animals treated with Qiangjing Decoction ([120.56 ± 23.68], [16.34 ± 3.12], and [8.45 ± 1.56] nmol/mg), Huangjingzanyu Capsules ([115.34 ± 21.35], [15.23 ± 3.67], and [8.33 ± 1.54] nmol/mg), and levocarnitine ([116.67 ± 22.67], [15.35 ± 3.45], and [8.05 ± 1.78] nmol/mg) than in the models (P < 0.05). The levels of fructose, LDH and α-glucosidase were decreased markedly in the OAS models ([100.22 ± 12.12] mg/[ ml x g], [322 ± 46.13] U/[ ml x g], and [10.48 ± 2.33] U/[ml x g]) as compared with the normal rats ([128.12 ± 13.45] mg/[ml x g], [428 ± 35.12] U/[ml x g], and [15.34 ± 3.12] U/[ ml x g]) (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the rats treated with Qiangjing ([130.23 ± 13.67] mg/[ml x g] [455 ± 51.50] U/[ml x g], and [18.56 ± 4.67] U/[ml x g]), Huangjingzanyu ([124.16 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [ 419 ± 43.14] U/[ml x g], and [17.64 ± 4.08] U/[ml x g]), and levocarnitine ([123.34 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [430 ± 31.80] U/ [ml x g], and [16.85 ± 5.55] U/[ml x g]) than in the models (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the models as compared with the normal rats (P < 0.05) but remarkably increased in the Huangingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05). The SDH mRNA expression was significantly lower in the model than in the normal rats (P < 0.05) but markedly elevated in the Huangjingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the Qiangjing than in the Huangjingzanyu group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOrnidazole induces OAS in rats, which is closely associated with excessive oxidation and energy metabolism dysfunction. Qiangjing Decoction can improve and even reverse ornidazole-induced OAS in rats as well as improve the ultrastructure of their testicular and epididymal tissues. Antioxidation and improvement of energy metabolism are probably the action mechanisms of Qiangjing Decoction in the treatment of OAS.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

Objective To explore the sonographic characteristics and to evaluate its diagnostic value of hepatic lymphoma (HL). Methods The clinical data and abdominal sonographic ifndings of 18 consecutive patients with histological proven diagnosis of lymphoma with liver involvement were reviewed, including contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images. Results The liver sonographic features of 18 HL were differentiated as three types including nodular, diffuse and mixed type. Nodular type showed well-deifned hypoecho lesions in 6 cases with penetrating vascular lfow signals in 2 cases and no vascular lfow signals in 6 cases by color Doppler imaging. In 3 cases by CEUS, all the hepatic focal nodulars showed variable arterial enhancement but wash-out in the portal venous and late phases. For diffuse type cases, hepatomegaly without nodule was showed in 11 cases. Vasular in liver showed normal in 8 cases and abnormal in 3 cases. For mixed type cases, hepatomegaly and multiple ill-deifned hypoechoic lesions with normal vascular in liver were showed in 1 case. Hepatosplenomegaly and abdominal lymphoadenopathies were identiifed in 11 cases. Conclusions The characteristics and the types of sonographic ifndings may be helpful in differentiating HL from other liver lesions.

Objective To improve the canines myocardial infarction curative effect by using ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) combining with nuclear localization signal(NLS) peptide to increase hAng-1 gene transfection efficiency.Methods Forty-six canines were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 in each group) after the models of myocardial infarction were prepared.Group A were untreated control;Group B were transfected with hAng-1;Group C were transfected with UTMD+hAng-1;Group D were transfected with UTMD+NLS nuclear localization signal+hAng-1.The therapeutic agents were intravenously injected at one week after myocardial infarction in each group,and the ultrasound were irradiated at the precardium in group C and D.①Echocardiography was used before and at one week after myocardial infarction and 28 days after gene transfection.Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to detect cardiac function,the left ventricular ejection fraction,the left ventricular wall motion and the myocardial contrast echocardiography were used to detect myocardial perfusion of all canines in the four groups.②On twenty-eight days after gene transfection,mRNA and Western Blot were used to detect the expression of hAng-1.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect capillary density of peri-infarct area and microvessel density (MVD).Masson′s trichromatic staining and gross specimen were used to evaluate the degree and the area of myocardial fibrosis.The gene transfection efficiency and the curative effect of all the four groups were evaluated and compared.Results ①Before myocardial infarction,in four groups canine ventricular wall motion and cardiac function were normal,and myocardial filling defect was not showed by myocardial contrast echocardiography.At one week after myocardial infarction,the left ventricular anterior and interval walls motion and the left ventricular ejection fraction in the four groups were significantly decreased.Myocardial contrast echocardiography showed anterior and interval walls myocardial filling defect.There was no significant difference among the four groups(P>0.05);On 28 days after gene transfection the left ventricular ejection fraction in the four group were increased in an order of group A,B,C,D,there was significant difference when comparing group C and D with other groups separately(P<0.05).Myocardial contrast echocardiography showed much contrast filling in the infarction and surrounding area in group D,a little contrast filling in group C and filling defect in group A and group B,there was significant difference when comparing group C and D with other groups separately(P<0.05).②RT-PCR and Western Blot showed the hAng-1 mRNA and protein expression in group D were higher than those in the other group.There was significant difference when comparing group C and group D with other groups separately(P<0.05).③Immunofluorescence showed the capillary densities were(4.7±1.6)/mm2,(11.2±2.8)/mm2,(70.0±6.4)/mm2 and (85.3±7.0)/mm2 in group A,group B,group C and group D.The differences were statistically significant compared group C and group D with other groups (P<0.05).④Masson′s trichromatic staining and cardiac gross specimen showed that the degree and area of myocardial fibrosis were gradually reduced in an order of group A,B,C,D.Conclusions UTMD and NLS peptide could effectively transfect hAng-1 gene and it provided a novel strategy of gene treatment for ischemic heart disease.

ObjectiveTo investigate the long term effect of different antihypertensive agents on renal hemodynamics with ultrasound Doppler.Methods52 essential hypertensive patients were divided into three groups according to the antihypertensive agent they took: angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), calcium channel blocker (CCB) and β-adrenoceptor blocker (βB). The blood pressures of right upper arms were measured with mercury column blood pressure gauge using Korotkoff method. Renal hemodynamics were examined with ultrasound Doppler before and after treatment with agents. ResultsSystolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of all patients were decreased significantly. An significant correlation was found between the deceases of blood pressure and the betterment of renal homodynamic parameters in ACEI and CCB groups, but not in βB group. ConclusionTo a degree, the betterment of renal hemodynamics is correlation with the reduction of systemic blood pressure and mechanism of action of antihypertensive agents.