To identify the genetic factors influencing complex diseases is a challenging problem. With the development of several technologies, such as large-scale genome sequencing, gene chips and mass spectrometry, and the successful completion of the first phase of International HapMap Project, it is feasible to explore the associations between hundreds of polymorphisms in the human genome, even the whole genome, and complex diseases in populations with large number of samples. The present paper briefly describes the results of the International HapMap Project, the merging whole-genome association study, and some new methods applicable to data including multiple loci.
Bayes Theorem ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Human Genome Project ; Humans ; Statistics, Nonparametric

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of Taohong Siwu Decoction (TSD) in regulating functions of endothelial cells and treating arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).

METHODSThe ASO model was prepared by using high-fat diet plus intimal injury. They were randomly divided into the model group (n = 10), the normal control group (n = 9), the low dose TSD group (group A, n = 12), the middle dose TSD group (group B, n = 10), and the high dose TSD group (group C, n = 9). Eight weeks after modeling, the limb blood perfusion was observed using laser Doppler flowmetry. The arterial morphology was observed using light microscope and transmission electron microscope. The number of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) was determined using Percoll density gradient centrifugation method. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, ET-1, and NO were detected using double antibody sandwich assay of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe ASO rat model was successfully established. Blood lipids levels significantly increased, the blood perfusion of left hind limbs significantly decreased, the number of CECs in the peripheral blood significantly increased, the arterial lumen was irregularly narrowed, the ultra-structure of vessel walls was damaged, serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1, and ET-1 significantly increased, and the serum level of NO significantly decreased in the model group, showing statistical difference when compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, significant improvement in the aforesaid indices was shown in group B and C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe injury and abnormal functions of endothelial cells is an important pathological process of ASO. As an effective recipe for treating ASO, TSD could protect vascular endothelial cells and improve the secretion function of vascular endothelial cells.

Animals ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

As the dilution procedure was applied, a simple, rapid and cost-effective high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 was successfully by performed in a total 83 samples of 10 traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), which were collected from 5 different hospital pharmacies and 5 different medical stores in Guangzhou city. Matrix effects of these 10 TCMs were ranged from 80.23% to 115.5% in low, intermediate and high concentration levels, indicating that the negative effect was overcome in this study. Meanwhile, the analysis method was proved to be stable and reliable during the whole analysis using Semen Armeniacae Amarum spiked 3 concentration levels of standard solution as quality control samples and the RSD < 6.6% was obtained. The contamination levels of 83 investigated samples were 13.89% and 17.02% in hospital pharmacies and medical stores, respectively. The result was presented to provide relevant reference and supplement to those researchers in TCMs analysis and screening.
Aflatoxin B1 ; analysis ; Aflatoxins ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism and re-ablation strategy of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) following circumferential ablation of pulmonary veins (PV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSFifteen patients with recurrent ATA following first AF ablation procedure were included in this study. Under CARTO guidance, PVs were remapped and ablated subsequently for relapse of left atrium to PV conduction. The whole atrium was then remapped and individualized ablation was made to eliminate inducible ATA.

RESULTSLeft atrium to PV conduction relapses were evidenced in 14 patients. After re-ablation, there were no inducible ATA in 9 patients, inducible left atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 3 patients and all were terminated by further linear ablation on the roof and left atrial isthmus, inducible atrial focal tachycardia from left atrial isthmus in 1 patient and was eliminated after additional focal ablation, inducible right atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 2 patients and were eliminated by right isthmus linear ablation. During 1 - 16 (5.5 +/- 4.4) months follow-up, ATA was disappeared in 13 patients and reduced in another 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONSRelapse of left atrium to PV conduction is one of the main mechanisms for postablation ATA in patients with AF. Atrial macro-reentry tachycardia and focal atrial tachycardia were less common mechanisms for postablation ATA. Re-ablation focused on closing the PV gaps and additional individualized focal and lineal ablation strategies were helpful for treating postablation ATA in AF patients.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Heart Atria ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; etiology ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDPatients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a higher risk of thromboembolic events; however, the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of various DAPT durations in patients with DM undergoing drug-eluting stent implantation.

METHODSWe conducted a literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched databases including EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus up to June 2016. Investigators extracted data independently, including outcomes, characteristics, and study quality. A random-effect model was used to pool odds ratios (OR s) with 95% confidence intervals (CI s) of the clinical outcomes.

RESULTSSix RCTs totaling 6040 patients with DM were included in the study. Shorter-duration DAPT resulted in an increased rate of stent thrombosis (ST) (OR, 1.83, 95% CI: 1.03-3.26, P = 0.04), but did not increase the risk of myocardial infarction (OR, 1.33, 95% CI: 0.71-2.47, P = 0.37), stroke (OR, 0.96, 95% CI: 0.52-1.77, P = 0.90), target vessel revascularization (OR, 1.19, 95% CI: 0.46-3.07, P = 0.71), all-cause death (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.48-1.09, P = 0.12), or cardiac death (OR, 0.82, 95% CI: 0.49-1.36, P = 0.44) significantly. Shorter-duration DAPT was associated with a decreased risk of major bleeding (OR, 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38-0.94, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONIn patients with DM, longer-duration DAPT had a lower risk of ST, but was associated with an increased bleeding risk.

Diabetes Mellitus ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Thrombosis ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to establish chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for quantitative determination of theophylline levels in human serum.

METHODSTo measure the concentration of theophylline (n=122) and evaluate the assay.

RESULTSThe linear range of the CLIA method was 0.51-40 mg/L (Y=1.02X+0.44, r=0.995). The intra and inter CV (coefficient variance) of CLIA were 3.20% and 3.57%, respectively. The average recovery rate was 102.3%. This method was free from interference by brilirubin (<200 micromol/L), hemoglobin (<10 g/L), and triglycerides (<15 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple, convenient and precise for clinical pharmacokinetics study of theophylline.

Blood Chemical Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay ; methods ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; methods ; Lung Diseases ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Theophylline ; blood

A large stone with 8.7 cm multiply 7.2 cm multiply 6.5 cm in size and 420 g in weight dropped down spontaneously from a 93-year-old man's scrotum, who had suffered from left intrascrotal mass and pain for more than 20 years. The component of the stone was magnesium ammonium phosphate. To the best of our knowledge, it is the largest intrascrotal calculus reported in the world. We hereby present the case and discuss the diagnosis and etiology of scrotal calculi.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calculi ; chemistry ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnesium Compounds ; analysis ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Phosphates ; analysis ; Scrotum ; pathology ; Struvite

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immediate change of left ventricular systolic performance and asynchronization between simultaneous biventricular pacing and sequential biventricular pacing by tissue synchronization imaging (TSI) and tissue velocity imaging (TVI) in patients with congestive heart failure. The effect of sequential biventricular resynchronization therapy was also observed.

METHODSTen patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who received sequential biventricular resynchronization were enrolled. The TVI and TSI imagings were performed by GE vivid7 with M3S probe. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV), aortic velocity time integral (VTI), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd), the standard deviation of the electro-mechanical delay (EMD-SD) of 6 segments and TSI index were measured before implanting of InSync 8042 and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after implanting respectively.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of implanting, the LVEF, SV and VTI were obviously increased from (22.0 +/- 8.8)% to (38.0 +/- 9.9)%; (36.0 +/- 14.9) ml to (57.0 +/- 15.7) ml; (20.22 +/- 5.72) cm to (26.20 +/- 5.98) cm, P < 0.05, respectively, compared with the before of implanting. The LVEDd was decreased from (6.6 +/- 0.6) cm, to (6.0 +/- 0.9) cm, P < 0.05. The EMD-SD and TSI-index were declined gradually after implanting, which was more evident in the 6 months after implanting, from (83.07 +/- 46.99) ms to (22.37 +/- 16.38) ms; (2.20 +/- 0.36) to (1.50 +/- 0.43), P < 0.05, respectively, but the immediate EMD-SD did not change obviously between simultaneous biventricular pacing and sequential biventricular pacing, whereas, the TSI index and VTI were significantly improved from (1.87 +/- 0.31) to (1.71 +/- 0.29); (22.44 +/- 5.43) cm to (25.44 +/- 5.36) cm, P < 0.05, respectively, in the sequential biventricular pacing.

CONCLUSIONSequential biventricular resynchronization could improve the left ventricular systolic function and synchronism of wall motion in the patients with congestive heart failure, which is more effective than simultaneous biventricular pacing after implanting immediately.

Aged ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Ervatamia hainanensis.

METHODThe compounds were separated and purified by column chromatography with silica gel, and identified by IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR.

RESULTFive compounds were identified as I (isolariciresinol 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), II (cycloartenol), III (beta-amyrin acetate), IV (beta-sitosterol), V (daucosterol), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Apocynaceae ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phytosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method to measure trihexyphenidyl, chlorpromazine and clozapine in human blood with GC-MS. METHODS: The specimens were alkalized (pH > 10) and extracted with V (benzene):V(ethyl acetate) = 1:1, and qualitatively analyzed using GC-MS-Full Scan with internal standard SKF525A. The specimens were alkalized (pH > 10) and extracted with V(benzene):V(ethyl acetate) = 1:1, and quantitatively analyzed using GC-MS-SIM with internal standard diazepam-d5. RESULTS: The lowest detection limits of trihexyphenidyl, chlorpromazine and clozapine were 0.3, 0.3 and 0.7 ng/mL (S/N > or = 3) respectively. The calibration curve in 20-10 000 ng/mL showed a good linear distribution. The recovery rate was 79.9% to 85.5%. The RSDs of intraday and interday were less than 5.1%. CONCLUSION The established method was simple, sensitive and accurate for simultaneous determination of trihexyphenidyl, chlorpromazine and clozapine in human blood, and can be applied in forensic toxicological cases.
Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents/poisoning* ; Chlorpromazine/blood* ; Clozapine/blood* ; Female ; Forensic Toxicology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solvents/chemistry* ; Trihexyphenidyl/blood*