China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; ultrastructure ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology

20?10 9/L) was observed (mean 41 days, range 12 to 118 days). There w as the association between the number of CD34 +CD44 + cells infusion and time to neutrophic recovery (?= -0.657 , P

Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Objective To investigate the association between endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.Methods Ninetyfour stable CAPD patients from a single center were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.Ultrasound evaluation was conducted on brachial artery to estimate endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD).Automatice pulse wave velocity (PWV) measuring system was applied to examine the carotidfemoral PWV.Blood pressure and biochemical parameters were detected.Pearson's correlation and Stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed to explore the relationship between FMD and PWV.Results PWV was significantly higher in patients with diabetes as compared to those without diabetes[(13.25± 1.66) m/s vs (11.24±1.92) m/s,P ＜ 0.01].Furthermore,PWV was positively correlated with age(r=0.319,P=0.002),SBP (r=0.289,P=0.005) and C-reactive protein (r=0.211,P=0.041),was negatively correlated with albumin (r =-0.429,P =0.001) and FMD (r=-0.466,P=0.001).In multivariate regression analysis,diabetes mellitus,albumin,FMD,age and SBP were independently associated with PWV after adjustment.Conclusion Endothelial dysfunction is associated with greater arterial stiffness in CAPD patients.

Objective To understand status and influencing factors for cervical discomfort in medical staff and to provide evidence for cervical spondylosis control. Methods We made a cervical discomfort questionnaire for medical personnel, including information about demography, life style, occupational hazard and symptoms of cervical discomfort. Then we carried out a survey from May to July 2017 in a hospital and used logistic regression model to analyze the influencing factors for cervical discomfort in medical staff. Results There were 965 medical staff participated in the survey, the response rate was 79.88% (965/1 208) . A total of 454 cases reported to have cervical discomfort, the prevalence was 47.05%. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that years of service (OR4-10=2.551, 95% CI: 1.683-3.861; OR ＞10=1.767, 95% CI:1.325-2.358), air pollution in the workplace (ORgeneral=0.612, 95%CI: 0.418-0.898; ORno=0.684, 95%CI: 0.469-0.997), new business adaptability (OR=1.749, 95%CI: 1.325-2.309) were the influencing factors for cervical discomfort in medical staff. Conclusion The prevalence of cervical discomfort is high in medical staff. Years of service, working environment and new business adaptability are associated with cervical discomfort in medical staff.

The objective of this research was to explore whether the number of CD34(+)CD38(+) cells infused affects hematopoietic reconstitution after cord blood transplantation. The number of CD34(+)CD38(+) cells in cord blood was analysed with flow cytometry after freezethawing. The body weight and time for neutrophil and platelet recovery were measured in 20 children with acute leukemia. The results showed that the median number of CD34(+)CD38(+) cells infused was 29.47 (9.85 - 325.71) x 10(4)/kg. A median time for neutrophil recovery (> 5 x 10(8)/L) in 20 patients was 18.5 (11 - 32) days, and time for platlet recovery (> 2 x 10(10)/L) in 19 of 20 patients was 45 (12 - 118) days. The number of CD34(+)CD38(+) cells infused correlated with time to neutrophil and platelet recovery (r = -0.577, P < 0.01 and r = 0.503, P < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, the number of CD34(+)CD38(+) cells infused is correlated with the time for hematologic recovery.
ADP-ribosyl Cyclase ; analysis ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Adolescent ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; transplantation ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; blood ; therapy ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; blood ; therapy

OBJECTIVESeveral studies have shown that L-selectin on CD34-positive cells play a role in hematopoietic reconstitution after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and allograft bone marrow transplantation. This study sought to investigate whether the numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells infused affect the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and the time to neutrophil and platelet recovery after unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation for the treatment of childhood acute leukemia.

METHODSTwenty-three children with acute leukemia who received unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation of mostly mismatched HLA locus were included in this study. Flow cytometry was used to count the numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells after freezing-thawing by labelling the cells with anti-CD(34) and anti-CD62L. The patients' clinical data including body weight, engraftment of the HSC, times to neutrophil and platelet recovery were evaluated.

RESULTSTwenty-one patients who received CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cell infusion at a number ranging from 1.37 x 10(5)/kg to 2.68 x 10(6)/kg (median, 3.567 x 10(5)/kg) had successful engraftment of the unrelated umbilical HSC. The numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells infused were statistically different between patients who had successful engraftment of the umbilical HSC and those who had not (P < 0.05). The engraftment occurred more commonly in patients who received > 1.3 x 10(5) CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells/kg. The time of neutrophil recovery (> 500/ microl) ranged from 11 days to 32 days (median, 17.5 days). The data of the time to platelet recovery (> 2 x 10(5)/ microl) were obtained in 18 patients, and it ranged from 12 days to 118 days (median, 14 days). There seemed to be a tendency of correlation between the numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells infused and time to platelet recovery (gamma = -0.324, 0.05 < P < 0.1), whereas the numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells infused correlated with the time to platelet recovery (gamma = -0.470, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that the numbers of CD(34)(+)CD(62L)(+) cells infused might be involved in the engraftment of HSC and hematologic reconstitution after umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infusions, Intravenous ; L-Selectin ; blood ; Leukemia ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hypoglycemic action of rhein (4,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid), one of the anthraquinone derivatives isolated from rhubarb, and study its effects on pancreatic beta-cells in db/db mice.

METHODSThirty 4-week-old db/db mice were randomized for an 8-week treatment with intragastric administration of rhein (120 mg/kg, n=15) or placebo (1% natrium cellulose solution, n=15). After the treatment, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed and the area under curve (AUC) of insulin levels in IPGTT was calculated to evaluate insulin secretory function. The AUC(INS0-30) was calculated to evaluate the early-phase insulin secretion. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin was performed to estimate the beta-cell mass, and beta-cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL assay.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, rhein-treated group showed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min after glucose load with significantly higher insulin levels at 30, 60 and 120 min. The early-phase insulin secretion was also obviously increased. The beta-cell mass was obviously rescued by the 8-week treatment with rhein, which also notably improved the staining intensity of insulin and suppressed beta-cell apoptosis compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONSEarly rhein treatment significantly improves glucose tolerance by restoring the early-phase insulin secretion in db/db mice and inhibiting the apoptosis of the beta-cells, suggesting the potential of rhein as a novel therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of atorfastatin on the cognitive function of patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and different apolipoprotein E genotypes.

METHODSThe ApoE polymorphism was genotyped by PCR sequencing and the patients were divided into Eepsilon4 carrier (epsilon4+) group (n=24) and epsilon4- group (n=51). All the patients were given 20 mg oral atorfastatin every evening. The indices of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, as well as the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test were compared between the two groups before and 24 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTSCompared with those without epsilon4 allele, epsilon4+ patients had obviously increased plasma LDL level and lowered scores of MMSE. Plasma TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased significantly in the two groups after the treatment, and the improvement of TC was greater in patients without epsilon4 allele. The scores of MMSE increased significantly in patients with epsilon4 allele. The improvement in the scores of MMSE and clock-drawing test was greater in epsilon4+ group than in epsilon4- group.

CONCLUSIONAtorfastatin may improve the cognitive function in patients with VCI carrying epsilon4 allele, the effect of which may not be related to lowed blood lipids.

Aged ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Cognition Disorders ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Heptanoic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Pyrroles ; therapeutic use

AIMTo report the clinical experience during collecting sperm samples in the Fragile X syndrome (FXS) male patients.

METHODSTwo different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods were used for the molecular diagnosis of FXS. Sperm collection was done mostly according to the laboratory manual of the World Health Organization.

RESULTSWe failed to collect sperm samples from five Fragile X subjects aged 18-60 years as a result of an unexpected erectile dysfunction (ED). Multiple examinations of the same subject at different times, and of different subjects from different provinces examined by different physicians, showed the same result consistently in all the five subjects.

CONCLUSIONErectile reflex is an instinctive response in all healthy males. The absence of erection can be caused by hormonal, physical or neuronal malfunction. As hormonal profiles were reported to be generally normal in Fragile X men, we propose that an unknown physical factor or the neuronal circuit, or both, underlying the erection is compromised. The finding of this symptom in Fragile X patients may help better understand the clinical spectrum and pathogeneses of the disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Female ; Fragile X Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics