Objective To explore the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in diffuse thyroid disease.Methods The elastic modulus were detected by SWE in 41cases of diffuse thyroid disease [including 16 cases of Graves' disease (GD),16 cases of Hashimoto' s thyroiditis (HT) and 9 cases of subacute thyroiditis(SAT)] and 30 cases of healthy volunteers.The elastic modulus,including Emean,Emin and Emax,were measured and compared.Results Compared with the normal group[Emean(15.7-± 2.5)kPa,Emin(11.6 ± 2.4)kPa and Emax (20.2 ± 3.0)kPa],the Emean[(20.4 ± 4.7)kPa],Emin[(14.4-± 3.8)kPa] and Emax [(27.8 ± 7.3)kPa] of GD,the Emean [(18.4-± 5.0)kPa] and Emax [(25.2 ± 5.8)kPa] of HT,and the Emean[(11.0 ± 2.9)kPa] and Emin [(6.0 ± 2.7)kPa] of the SAT were different significantly(P =0.001,0.007,0.001 ; P =0.045,0.001 ; P =0.000,0.000).There were significant differences between the SAT and the other two groups,namely GD and HT (P ＜0.05).Such differences,however,were not found between GD and HT (P ＞0.05).Conclusions SWE can be used to measure the elastic modulus of the thyroid tissue quantitatively and objectively,serving as a useful technique to predict the diffuse thyroid disease.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the shear-wave elasticity (SWE) imaging technology on the quantitative diagnosis of chronic nephrosis stage.Methods Sixty patients with nephrosis (nephrosis group) were evaluated with SWE and the renal function test.The Young's modulus value and the renal function were measured,and the results were compared with those of twenty healthy subjects (control group).Results Twenty cases of healthy control group were definited as R0.Sixty patients of nephrosis group were divided into four groups according to renal function:R1-R4.The Young's modulus of the nephrosis group was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜0.01).There were also statistically significant differences among each stage of the nephrosis group (except R1 and R2 of nephrosis group)(P ＜ 0.01).According the ROC curve,the cut-off value of the Young's modulus was 5.53 kPa when maximum area under the curve equal to 0.886,the sensitivity and specificity were 81.70％ and 80.40％.The Young's modulus value and renal function were positively correlated with the stage of nephrosis.The areas under the ROC curves for the Young's modulus,urea nitrogen and csytatin C were 0.965,0.950,0.965 for ≥R3,0.978,0.912,0.961 for =R4,respectively.Conclusions SWE imaging technology provided a new quantitative index for the stage of nephrosis through quantizing the elasticity of the tissue.

AIMTo isolate and purify gonyautoxins from Alexandrium mimutum Halim Amtk2 strain.

METHODSThe ethanol extracts of culture Alexandriun minutum Halim Amtk2 were isolated by means of gel filtration chromatography, the toxin fraction obtained was then purified by ion exchange chromatography.

RESULTSFrom 100 liter of cultivation liquid of Alexandrium mimutum Halim Amtk2 (6.74 +/- 0.31) x 10(9) cells were obtained. The ethanol extracts of Alexandriun minutum Halim purified by gel filtration chromatography obtained gonyautoxins mixture 29.59 mg. 4.06 mg of the mixture was further purified by two steps of ion exchange chromatography, and obtained pure GTX-4 (0.40 +/- 0.002) mg, GTX-1 (5.95 +/- 0.03) x 10(-2) mg, GTX-3 (6.92 +/- 0.05) x 10(-4) mg and GTX-2 (0.11 +/- 0.005) mg.

CONCLUSIONPure gonyautoxins can be obtained by means of gel filtration chromatography and ion exchange chromatography from ethanol extracts of cultured Alexandriun minutum Halim Amtk2 strain.

Animals ; Chromatography, Gel ; methods ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Dinoflagellida ; chemistry ; Marine Toxins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Saxitoxin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Abstract Long-term use of levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease can cause motor complications, which seriously impair the patients'motor function, reduce the quality of life, and aggravate the functional disability. Since there has been no effective treatment for motor complications, clarifying the influencing factors and prevention methods are conducive to reducing the risk of incidence and improving the quality of life of the patients. This paper summarizes the types and mechanism of motor complications of Parkinson's disease, the influencing factors ( levodopa dose, onset age, Helicobacter pylori infection and high protein diet ) and preventive measures ( psychological intervention, low protein diet, rehabilitation exercise and drugs ), so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of the disease.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and determine its influencing factors in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with pegylated-interferon alpha (peg-IFNa)-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

METHODSA total of 194 CHC patients were treated with peg-IFNa-2a and RBV for 48 weeks. Development of thyroid dysfunction was recorded. Clinical and biological factors from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment were statistically analyzed to determine correlation with thyroid dysfunction in this patient population.

RESULTSFifty-two (26.80%) of 194 peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-treated patients developed thyroid dysfunction. Dysfunction severity ranged from hyperthyroidism (n = 1, 0.52%) and hypothyroidism (n = 10, 5.15%) to subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 4, 2.06%) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 37, 19.07%). The dysfunction rate was significantly higher after peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment (26.80% vs. 12.37% at baseline, x2 = 12.829, P less than 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 0.386, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.226-0.657), in females (33.00% vs. 20.21% in males, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.016-3.040), and in thyroid auto-antibody positive patients (64.29% vs. 23.89% in negative patients, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.681-36.183). Early virological response did not have any significant effect on dysfunction rate (23.00% vs. 30.85% no early virological response, x2 = 1.522, P more than 0.05) nor did end of treatment response (27.19% vs. 26.25% no response at end of treatment, x2 = 0.021, P more than 0.05). Patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had higher interleukin (IL)-6 at baseline (i.e. before peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment) (27.08+/-14.90 vs. 11.65+/-5.46 in patients who maintained normal thyroid function, t = 3.127, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 5.28-25.58). IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the two groups at 24 weeks (6.30+/-2.47 vs. 6.81+/-2.80, t = 0.352, P more than 0.05). IL-6 levels before and after 48 weeks of treatment in normal thyroid function patients were 27.08+/-14.90 and 6.30+/-2.47, t = 3.632, P less than 0.05, and in thyroid dysfunction patients were 11.65+/-5.46 and 6.81+/-2.80, t = 1.997, P more than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONPeg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may cause thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism, in CHC patients. Female sex and thyroid auto-antibody positivity may put CHC patients at higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV therapy. Elevated IL-6 may be a predictive marker of peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

Abstract: Objective To explore the threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in HBV infected patients, and to provide a basis for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV-infected patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study recruited 707 consecutive treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing diagnostic liver biopsy in the department of infectious diseases of the Affiliated Hospital of Yan′an University from October 2013 to August 2018. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained under ultrasound guidance using Menghini 16G disposable needles. The METAVIR scoring system, which is commonly used internationally, was used to divide the patients into the group with mild liver tissue injury and the group with significant liver tissue injury, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured separately. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Mann-Whitney U test were used to evaluate the diagnostic value of ALT for significant liver tissue injury under different demographic characteristics. Results Of 707 patients, 292 (41.30%) had significant liver tissue injury confirmed by liver biopsy (METAVIR ≥A2 and/or F2). When the ULN of ALT was set to NICE criteria (30 U/L for males, 19 U/L for females), AASLD criteria (35 U/L for males, 25 U/L for females) and EASL or APASL criteria (40 U/L for males and females), CHB patients with 30 years olds, 22 U/L for HBeAg negative and 31 U/L for HBeAg positive patients. Conclusions The threshold of ALT for initiating antiviral therapy in chronic HBV patients should be individualized, especially should be down-regulated for the females, olders and HBeAg-negative patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different doses of berberine on hemodynamic parameters and calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) of diastole heart failure rat models.

METHODThe mouse models of diastole heart failure were made by the imcomplete ligation of abdominal aorta. Forty Wistar heart failure rats were divided randomly into four groups, with 10 for each group (n = 10). Heart failure rats were treated according to different doses drugs as follows: Model (natrii chloride 2 mL), berberine (63 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), berberine (42 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), berberine (21 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) ig, for each of the four groups respectively, 4 weeks after coarctation of ascending aorta operation; and 10 age matched sham operation group was taken as control (natrii chloridi, 2 mL). After administration four weeks, cardiac function was determined by catheter. Isolate single cardiomyocytes of rat which were loaded with Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent indicator Fluo-3/AM. [Ca2+]i represented by fluorescent intensity [FI] was measured by laser scanning cofocal microscope [LSCM].

RESULTThe rats of operation group have no significant changes with those of the control on left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximal rising rate of ventricular pressure (+dp/dt(max)), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was much higher in operation group (P < 0.01), but maximal falling rate of ventricular pressure (-dp/dt(max)) was depressed (P < 0.01), left ventricular relax time constant quantity (T) was markedly extended (P < 0.01). [Ca2+]i level in carkiac muscle cell was elevated markedly (P < 0.05). Compared with operation group, high dose of Ber can decrease LEVDP, improve (-dp/dt(max)) (P < 0.01), decurtate left ventricular relax time constant quantity (P < 0.01) and decrease [Ca2+]i level better than those of middle and low dose group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBerberine is an effective new potent drug for conspicuous symptom relief of heart failure with positive dose dependency and step down [Ca2+]i of myocardial cell.

Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Pressure ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of formula of removing both phlegm and blood stasis (TYTZ) on myocardial tissues of Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome.

METHODTotally 36 Chinese mini-swine were randomly divided to six groups: the normal control group, the model group, the Danlou tablet group, and TYTZ groups with doses of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 g x kg(-1), with six in each group. Except for the normal control group, all of other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 2 weeks. Interventional balloons are adopted to injure their left anterior descending artery endothelium. After the operation, they were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to prepare the coronary heart disease model of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome in Chinese mini-swine. After the operation, they were administered with drugs for 8 weeks. The SOD activity and MDA content of each group were observed at the 0th week (before the experiment), the 2nd week after the high-fat diet (before the operation or drug administration) , the 6th week after the high-fat diet (4 weeks after the drug administration) and the 10th week after the high-fat diet (8 weeks after the drug administration). Meanwhile, the myocardial enzymogram test and the HE staining pathological observation were performed at the end of the experiment. The changes in the myocardial cell ultra-structure were observed under transmission electron microscope.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significant decrease in serum SOD activity and notable increase in MDA content from the 2nd week to the end of experiment (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). In the 10th week, the CK, LDH and CK-MB levels in serum also significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), with obvious structural abnormality in myocardial tissue pathologic morphology and ultra-structure. Compared with the model group, TYTZ groups showed specific increase in serum SOD activity and oblivious decrease in the MDA level (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Meanwhile, TYTZ could significantly decrease serum CK and LDH levels in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), attenuate the ischemia injury of myocardial tissue, and improve the ultra-structure of cardiomyocytes.

CONCLUSIONTYTZ shows an obvious protective effect on the myocardial injury in Chinese mini-swine with coronary heart disease of phlegm-stasis cementation syndrome. Its mechanism is related to the resistance against free radical oxidation injury and the inhibition of the lipid per-oxidation.

Animals ; Coronary Artery Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mucus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

Aged ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; RNA Precursors

This study aims to examine the levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and their correlation with the tumor stage. Forty-one patients with biopsy-proven NHL and 16 healthy individuals were recruited. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by density gradient centrifugation, and cEPCs were characterized by triple staining using antibodies against CD133, CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2, CD309) and quantified by flow cytometry. In NHL patients, the number of cEPCs was significantly greater than in control group (P=0.000). The cEPCs counts in patients with NHL of stage III-IV were significantly greater than in stage I-II (P=0.010). FACS analysis revealed that the number of cEPCs in NHL patients had no correlation with the gender (P=0.401) or the pathological category (P=0.852). It was suggested that the over-expression of cEPCs in NHL patients may serve as a novel biomarker for disease progression in NHL.
Blood Cell Count ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; pathology ; Statistics as Topic ; Stem Cells ; pathology