OBJECTIVETo study the interactive effect of job stress and genetic susceptibility (or gene polymorphism) on hypertension.

METHODSA cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 452 workers from a thermal power plant in China. Extrinsic effort, occupational reward, and over-commitment were measured. Hypertensive patients were defined by three phases of screening, reexamination, and final diagnosis. beta2-AR genotypes and allele frequencies at amino acid positions 16 (beta2-AR-16: Arg-->Gly) and 27 (beta2-AR-27: Gln-->Glu) were identified by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSJob stress was related with the prevalence of hypertension in males (P < 0.05), whereas no significant relationship was found in females (P > 0.05). Differences in genotypes and allele frequencies of the beta2-AR-16 were statistically significant between the hypertension and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas those of beta2-AR-27 were not (P > 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in individuals carrying Gly16 allele than in those carrying Arg16 allele of the high job stress group (P < 0.01 or 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh job stress and polymorphism of beta2-AR-16 have an interactive effect on the prevalence of hypertension in male workers.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Employment ; psychology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Power Plants ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) on apoptosis and intracellular free calcium([Ca(2+)]i), cell surface ICAM-1 expression of rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs).

METHODSThe RPMCs apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry. [Ca(2+)]i in the cells were monitered the fluorescence at 528 nm by confocus laser microscopy. Cell surface ICAM-1 expression were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTAfter PDS treatment for 1 h, the RPMCs apoptosis rate were increased. Such increase was more manifest with higher glucose concentration in PDS and longer treatment time of the cells. At the same times, after 3 hours, ICAM-1 expressions of the PDS containing glucose and mannitol are all increased. With the increase of glucose concentrations, the descend of [Ca(2+)]i levels were aggravated.

CONCLUSIONPDS containing high- concentration glucose can induce significant apoptosis of RPMCs in vitro. This may be related with the enhanced level of ICAM-1 expressions and the decreased level of [Ca(2+)]i. Which may due to the occurrence of peritoneal fibrosis and ultrafiltrate failure in patients suffering long term peritoneal dialysis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Dialysis Solutions ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Intracellular Space ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Peritoneal Cavity ; cytology ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and reliability on the quantitative evaluation of Colles' fracture by multislice CT (MSCT) multiplanner reconstruction (MPR).

METHODSA total of 36 patients with Colles' fracture from July 2011 to July 2014 were investigated in this study. There were 11 males and 25 females with a mean age of (42.5 ± 5.4) years old (ranged 35 to 72 years). All the patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and MSCT scans on wrist joints within 2 days after trauma. Images were sent to the workstation through picture archiving and conserving system (PACS). One associate chief physician independently and respectively measured the dorsal intercalation depth of distal fracture block, palmar angle and dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse on anteroposterior and lateral X-ray film and MSCT-MPR. The time interval between the two measurements was 2 weeks. All the data between the first and second measurement on X-ray and MPR and the mean value between the X-ray and MPR was examined with paired t-test. The pearson analyzed their correlation.

RESULTSAmong the 35 cases, 35 cases of palmar angle, 21 cases of intercalation depth and 16 cases of dislocation of wrist articular surface collapse could be measured on both X-ray and MPR. For the above parameters, the first measurement results were (12.5 ± 3.6)°, (4.5 ± 2.1) mm, (3.7 ± 1.6) mm and the second measurement results were (4.8 ± 2.2)°, (6.4 ± 3.6) mm, (2.5 ± 1.2) mm on X-ray films respectively. The first measurement results on MPR were (14.5 ± 5.3)°, (4.2 ± 1.2) mm, (5.7 ± 2.3) mm, and the results were (13.2 ± 2.6)°, (4.7 ± 2.2) mm, (4.6 ± 2.1) mm for the second measurement respectively. The three parameters between the first and second measurement on plain film had statistical difference and low correlation (r = 0.681, 0.640, 0.345, P < 0.05). The data between the first and second measurement on MPR showed that the dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse had statistical difference (P < 0.05) and no statistical significance was found for the other two parameters (P > 0.05), with the moderate correlation (r = 0.954, 0.854, 0.642). The three parameters had low or moderate correlation with each other on X-ray (r = 0.454, 0.532, 0.378, P < 0.05), compared with the mean value on MPR.

CONCLUSIONUsing MSCT MPR images may carry on the multiple parameter measurement of Colles fracture, to make quantitative evaluation, and repeated measurement is better reliability.

Adult ; Aged ; Colles' Fracture ; diagnostic imaging ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS) on proliferation and apoptosis of rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs).

METHODSThe proliferation of RPMCs treated with PDS containing glucose of different concentrations for different times in vitro were examined by MTT colorimeric assay. The cell cycles and cell apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter PDS treatment for 1 h, the cell proliferation inhibition rate, percentage of cells at G(0)/G(1) stage and early cell apoptosis rate increased, and such increment was more manifest with higher glucose concentration in PDS and longer treatment time of the cells. After treatment with PDS containing 4.25% glucose for 3 h, the proliferation inhibition rate of the RPMCs reached 44.12%, the percentage of cells at the G(0)/G(1) stage amounted to 71.95% and the early apoptosis rate reached 23.59%, which was several times higher than that of the negative control and 1.5% glucose/PDS groups, and also higher than that of 4.25% mannitol/PDS groups.

CONCLUSIONPDS containing high-concentration glucose can induce significant apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of RPMCs in vitro.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dialysis Solutions ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneum ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To assess the feasibility, indications and therapeutic effect of repeatgamma knife radiosurgery for treatment of primary trigeminai neuralgia. Methods From January 1995to February 2006, 277 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia underwent stereotactic radiosurgerytargeting the cistemal trigeminal nerve with a maximal central dose of 70-80 Gy. A second gamma kniferadiosurgery with a maximal central dose of 65-80 Gy was performed in 23 patients with refractory and15 with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia after the primary surgery. The 50% isodose line encompassed thetarget area for radiation. The trigeminal root entry zone was included in a single target area in 33 patients,and in 5 patients, two target areas were chosen. Results All patients were followed up for 12 to 108months (mean 55 months) by telephone. The pain relief lasted for 1 to 180 days (mean 120 days) after thesecond gamma knife radiosurgery. The primary stereotactic radiosurgery resulted in a complete or partialpain relief rate of 91.7%(254/277). In the 23 patients with refractory trigeminal neuralgia, the secondradiosurgery achieved a pain relief rate of 73.9% (17/23), significantly lower than the rate of 100%(15/15) in the 15 patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (P=0.045). Facial numbness or paresthesiaoccurred in 30 patients (10.8%) after the primary radiosurgery, and in another 8 patients (21.1%) after thesecond surgery. Conclusion Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery is safe and effective and causesfew complications for relieving trigeminal neuralgia. A repeat gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery isalso effective for management of recurrent or refractory trigeminal neuralgia, especially in recurrentcases.

In this report, a full account of an extremely rare case on esophageal intramural dissection (EID) is presented. A 56-year-old female patient, misdiagnosed as esophageal mediastinal fistula under endoscopic view, was diagnosed correctly as EID with contained esophageal perforation in the operation and cured by thoracic esophagectomy.
Esophageal Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Esophageal Perforation ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo grasp clinical characteristics, therapeutic methods and prognosis of the patients with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma, and explore the optimal therapeutic modalities.

METHODSTwenty one cases with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. The treatment results were compared between radiotherapy alone and combined therapy.

RESULTSThe cases with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma in T1, T2 phases was 28.6%, the cases in T3, T4 phases was 71.4%. The lymphatic node metastasis rate was 14.3%. The present symptoms were nasal discharge with blood, headache, nasal obstruction, deafness, double vision, facial insensibility, etc. One of 21 cases was lost follow up. Five years free-disease survival rates of the patients with nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma was 42.9% (9/21). Five years free-disease survival rate of the patients with radiotherapy alone (RA) and the patients with radiotherapy combining surgery (R + S) were respectively 38.5% (5/12) and 50.0% (4/8), P = 0.472. Ten years free-disease survival rates of the patients was 16.7% (3/18). Ten years free-disease survival rates of the patients with RA and the patients with R + S were respectively 0/12 and 3/6, P = 0.025. The local recurrent rate was 50.0% (10/20). The local recurrent rates of the patients with RA and the patients with R + S were respectively 66.7% (8/12) and 25.0% (2/8), P = 0.085. The distant metastasis rate was 30. 0% (6/20). The distant metastasis rates of the patients with RA and the patients with R + S were respectively 25.0% (3/12) and 37.5% (3/8), P = 0.455.

CONCLUSIONSThe course of nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma is long, and it is prone to the local recurrence and the distant metastasis in advanced stage. Comparing with the radiotherapy alone, the radiotherapy combining surgery has better 10 years free-disease survival rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate.

METHODSA retrospective review was conducted in 42 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate treated in our hospital from 1967 to 1998. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Log Rank test.

RESULTSThe overall 5-, 10-, 15-year accumulative survival rates were 85.0%, 61.8% and 28.1%, and the 5-, 10-, 15-year accumulative disease-free survival rates were 52.4%, 32.7% and 22.4%, respectively. The 5-, 10-, 15-year accumulative local recurrence rates were 25.2%, 50.9% and 73.1%, and the 5-, 10-, 15-year accumulative distant metastasis rates were 28.5%, 50.4% and 66.0% respectively. T stage, bone invasion, extent of tumor, local recurrence and distant metastasis were significant prognostic factors. Treatment method, dose and area covered by radiotherapy were related to the prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSurgery alone can be done for early lesions, and combination of surgery with radiotherapy should be adopted for advanced lesions in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate. Radiotherapic salvage could prolong the survival of the locally recurrent patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; diagnosis ; secondary ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Palatal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Palate ; radiation effects ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of sildenafil plus sertraline with those of sertraline alone in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSSeventy-two patients with PE but without any obvious organic cause were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into Groups A and B of equal number. Group A received 50 mg sertraline daily 4 to 6 hours before planned sexual activity for 12 weeks, and Group B were given 50 mg sertraline daily plus 50 mg sildenafil as needed, 1 hour before planned sexual activity, for 12 weeks. Before and after the treatment, the mean intravaginal ejaculation latency time, the intercourse satisfaction, the mean number of coituses per week and the drug-related side effects were evaluated.

RESULTSThe mean intravaginal ejaculatory latency time was (0.59 +/- 0.12), (3.9 +/- 0.15) minutes (P < 0.001) at baseline and post-treatment in Group A, and (0.56 +/- 0.11), (5.6 +/- 0.12) minutes (P < 0.001) in Group B, improved in both of the 2 groups, but more significantly in Group B (P < 0.05). Before and after the treatment, the mean intercourse satisfaction domain values of the IIEF were (8.9 +/- 1.2), (10.8 +/- 1.1) (P < 0.05) and (8.8 +/- 1.1), (13.8 +/- 1.3) (P < 0.001) in Groups A and B, respectively, significantly greater in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05) after the treatment; the mean numbers of coituses per week in Groups A and B were (0.9 +/- 0.2), (1.9 +/- 0.3) (P < 0.05) and (1.0 +/- 0.2), (2.7 +/- 0.2) (P <0.001) respectively, significantly larger in Group B (P<0.05) after the treatment. As for the side effects, there was a higher rate of headaches (P < 0.01) and flushing episodes (P < 0.001) in Group B than in Group A.

CONCLUSIONSertraline combined with sildenafil can produce significantly better results than sertraline alone in patients with premature ejaculation. However, the combined treatment is associated with a slight increase in the drug-related side effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Ejaculation ; Genital Diseases, Male ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Purines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Sertraline ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of growth hormone( GH) supplementation on erectile function and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves in aging rats.

METHODSTwenty male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 18 months were randomly divided into Groups A and B, and ten 2-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats included in Group C. 1 U/(kg x d) GH was given to Group A, and the same volume of saline to Groups B and C. After 8 weeks of treatment, evaluation was made of the erections induced by apomorphine (APO), maximal intracavernous pressure (ICP) induced by intracavernous papaverine injection and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves by streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of treatment, the erection frequency, maximal ICP and expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves of the rats in Groups A and C were significantly higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGrowth hormone supplementation can improve the erectile function of aging rats, which may be attributed to the increase in the expression of nNOS in the intracavernosal nerves.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; biosynthesis ; Papaverine ; pharmacology ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; enzymology ; innervation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley