AIMTo fabricate multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) modified electrode and study the electrochemical behaviors of diethylstilbestrol at the MWNT-modified electrode.

METHODSCyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry.

RESULTSThe oxidation peak current of diethylstilbestrol increased remarkably and the peak potential shifted negatively at the MWNT-dihexadecyl hydrogen phosphate (DHP) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE), in contrast to that at the bare GC electrode and DHP-modified GC electrode. The oxidation peak current is linear with the concentration of diethylstilbestrol over the range from 1 x 10(-8) to 2 x 10(-6) mol.L-1. The detection limit was 2.5 x 10(-9) mol.L-1. The relative standard deviation (n = 10) was 2.9% for 1 x 10(-6) mol.L-1 diethylstilbestrol.

CONCLUSIONThe MWNT-DHP modified GCE exhibits catalytic activity to the oxidation of diethylstilbestrol.

Carbon ; chemistry ; Diethylstilbestrol ; analysis ; chemistry ; Electrochemistry ; Electrodes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nanotechnology

AIM: To understand the epidemiology and related factors of strabismic amblyopia of students of primary school, and to provide guidances for the prevention and control strategy.
METHODS: A total of 600 cases of primary school students of Leshan City, Jiajiang County were given vision, oblique incidence and ocular and other screening. The prevalence rate of poor eyesight of strabismus, amblyopia prevalence rate of different sexes, ages were compared, and the degree of amblyopia and strabismus of children with different types of amblyopia and whether or not had stereoscopic vision were counted.
RESULTS: The prevalence rate of amblyopia and strabismus prevalence rate were respectively 4. 0% and 2.5%;With the growth of all age, low vision of students was significantly decreased, the difference of comparison of low vision rate of each age had statistical significance (P<0. 05), but different ages, strabismus prevalence of different sexes, amblyopia prevalence were compared, the difference had no significant differences ( P>0. 05 );Ametropic amblyopia was the main type, accounting for 55. 6%, and the degree of amblyopia mainly was light, moderate; ametropic amblyopia, most of ametropic amblyopia and strabismus had stereo vision, but there were no stereopsis of most of the strabismic amblyopia and all esotropia.
CONCLUSION:Ametropic is mainly type of amblyopia, the prevalence of relationship between the incidence of strabismic amblyopia of primary school students and sexes is not obvious, but the oblique amblyopia treatment effect, such as the establishment of stereoscopic vision and the age, eye position has a close relationship, should be early discovered, early treatment.

BACKGROUNDIncreased triglyceride (TG) occurs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and apolipoprotein AV (apoAV) has been shown to lower TG levels. In the present study, we investigated plasma apoAV level and its relationship with TG and C-reactive protein (CRP) in ACS patients.

METHODSA total of 459 subjects were recruited and categorized into control group (n = 116), stable angina (SA) group (n = 115), unstable angina group (n = 116) and acute myocardial infarction group (n = 112). Plasma apoAV level was measured by a sandwich ELISA assay.

RESULTSCompared with controls ((100.27 +/- 22.44) ng/ml), plasma apoAV was decreased in SA patients ((76.54 +/- 16.91) ng/ml) but increased in patients with unstable angina ((330.89 +/- 66.48) ng/ml, P < 0.05) or acute myocardial infarction ((368.66 +/- 60.53) ng/ml, P < 0.05). Inverse correlations between apoAV and TG were observed in the control or stable angina groups (r = -0.573 or -0.603, respectively, P < 0.001), whereas positive correlations were observed in the patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction (r = 0.696 or 0.690, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive relationship between apoAV and CRP was observed in the ACS patients but not in the non-ACS subjects.

CONCLUSIONThe plasma apoAV concentration is increased and positively correlates with TG and CRP in ACS patients.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Apolipoprotein A-V ; Apolipoproteins A ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To explore the relationship between serum apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) and lipid profile or high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods Serum apoA5 and hs-CRP levels were measured by ELISA and immunoturbidimetry in control subjects (n=232), patients with stable angina (SA, n=127), unstable angina (UA, n=116) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=112). Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were also measured. Results Compared with controls [(108.7±23.2 )μg/L] and SA patients [(78.3±20.2 )μg/L], serum ApoA5 level was significantly increased in UA [(340. 6±63.5)μg/L] and AMI patients [(373.2±73.8) μg/L] ( all P<0.05 ). ApoA5 was positively correlated with TG (r=0.63 and 0.67, respectively, all P<0.05) and hs-CRP (r=0.57 and 0. 55, respectively, all P<0.05) in UA and AMI patients but there were no significant correlations between ApoA5 and TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in ACS patients (all P>0.05). Conclusion Increased serum apoA5 level and the positive correlation between ApoA5 and serum TG and hs-CRP in ACS patients might reflect increased inflammation responses in ACS patients.

Objective To explore the potential role of apolipoprotein A5 (apoA5) on the hypertriglyceridemia (HTG)-lowering effects of statin. Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups: ( 1 ) control group ( n = 8), with no special treatment; (2) HTG group (n = 8),treated with 10% fructose water for 6 weeks; (3) statin group(n =8), treated with 10% fructose water for lipids and the hepatic expressions of apoA5 and peroxisome proliferstor activated receptor (PPAR)α were determined. In separate in vitro experiments, we tested the effects of atorvastatin on TG and the expressions of apoA5 and PPARα in HepG2 cells. Results ( 1 ) At 6 weeks, plasma TG was higher in rats in HTG group than in controls, which was significantly reduced in statin group (both P <0. 05). (2) Rat hepatic apoA5 expression in HTG group was significantly lower than in control group and was significantly higher in statin group than in HTG group ( both P < 0. 05 ). (3) Similarly, rat PPARα mRNA expression in HTG group was lower than in control group and was higher in statin group than in HTG group ( both P < 0. 05 ).(4) Statin significantly upregulated the expressions of apoA5 and PPARα and decreased TG in HepG2 cells.The above effects induced by statin was blocked in the presence of PPARα inhibitor. Conclusions Upregulation of apoA5 expression contributes to TG lowering effect of statin via PPARα signaling pathway.

BACKGROUNDMyocardial bridging with systolic compression of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) may be associated with myocardial ischaemia. The clinical outcome in patients with surgical treatment for symptomatic myocardial bridging remains undetermined. This study assessed the middle- and long-term results of surgical treatment for symptomatic myocardial bridging.

METHODSFrom 1997 to 2006, 37,463 patients received selective coronary angiography in the Fuwai Cardiovascular Hospital, Beijing, China. Of these, 484 patients had angiographic diagnosis of myocardial bridging. Of the 484 patients, 35 underwent surgery for treatment of myocardial bridging with significant systolic arterial compression. Among the surgical treatment patients, 24 presented with other cardiac disorders, and the remaining 11 symptomatic patients with isolated myocardial bridging were included in the follow-up study.

RESULTSThe angiographic prevalence of myocardial bridging was 1.3% in this study. The coronary angiographies of the 11 patients revealed myocardial bridging in the middle segment of LAD causing systolic compression > or = 75% (ranging from 75% to 90%). The mean age of patients was 48.4 years. Surgical myotomy was performed in 3 patients and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 8 patients. Eight patients were operated on with an off-pump approach and 3 with a cardiopulmonary bypass technique after median sternotomy. Conversion to on-pump CABG surgery was necessary in 1 patient because of perforation of the right ventricle. The left internal mammary artery was used in all patients with CABG. The acute clinical success rate was 100% with respect to the absence of myocardial infarction, death or other major in-hospital complications. All of the patients were followed up clinically. The median follow-up was 35.3 months (range: 6 to 120 months). Nine patients were free from symptoms and one of them continued taking beta blockers. The remaining 2 patients with myotomy had atypical chest pain. One received coronary angiography again and no stenosis was found two years after operation; while exercise testing was performed in the other patient and revealed no evidence of myocardial ischaemia. None of the patients sustained a myocardial infarction or other major adverse cardiac events (death or vessel revascularization) during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSMyocardial bridging is a relatively common angiographic finding. Surgical myotomy or CABG should be limited to patients who are refractory to oral medication. Surgical relief of myocardial ischaemia due to systolic compression of intramyocardial coronary arteries can be accomplished with low operative risk and excellent middle- and long-term results.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the association between the platelet count of peripheral blood and clincopathologic parameters of esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSPlatelets of peripheral blood were measured in 415 cases of esophageal carcinoma and 325 healthy subjects as control. The correlation of platelet counts and clinicopathological features of cancer was analyzed.

RESULTPlatelet count in patients with esophageal carcinomas (286+/-88)x10(9)/L was significantly higher than that in the control subjects [(204+/-114)x10(9)/L, P<0.05 ]. Increased platelet counts (>300 x 10(9)/L) was significantly associated with tumor infiltration and lymph node metastasis in patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPlatelet count of peripheral blood might be associated with the development and progression of esophageal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count

OBJECTIVETo introduce the experience of diagnosis and surgical treatment of Williams syndrome combined with cardiovascular disease.

METHODSBetween October 1996 and June 2003, 8 patients of Williams syndrome with cardiovascular disease were admitted in Fuwai hospital. Seven patients underwent surgical correction. One didn't undergo surgical procedure. There were 6 male and 2 female ranging from 1.5 to 12.0 years old (medium age 6.4). Three had localized type supravalvular aortic stenosis and 5 diffused type supravalvular aortic stenosis. In them, 2 patients were combined with peripheral pulmonary stenosis. Single patch aortoplasty were performed in 6 cases, and inverted bifurcated patch aortoplasty in one patient.

RESULTSOne patient died and one patient suffered renal insufficiency. In the early postoperative period, the mean speed of flow was reduced to 1.7 m/s from 4.6 m/s, and the mean systolic pressure gradient was reduced from 91 mm Hg to 18 mm Hg. Six patients were followed up 16 to 91 months. There were 5 cases in NYHA function class I, and one in class II.

CONCLUSIONSatisfied result can be achieved in surgical treatment of Williams syndrome with supravalvular aortic stenosis, but it is not in combined with peripheral pulmonary stenosis.

Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular ; complications ; congenital ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; complications ; congenital ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Williams Syndrome ; complications ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo summarize the recent experience of surgical management of the active infective endocarditis (IE) disease in Fuwai Hospital.

METHODSFrom October 1, 1996 to December 31, 2003, 54 patients with active IE underwent heart operation in Fuwai Hospital. There were 41 males, 13 females, with an average age of 35 years old and an average weight 58 kg. Of the cases, 23 had congenital anomalies of the heart, and 1 had rheumatic valvulitis. Streptococci were found in 20 patients, staphylococci in 3, enterococci in 1, enterococcus in 2 and G(+) cocci in 1. Pre-operative cardiac classification (NYHA): class I was in 6 cases, class II in 12 cases, class III in 7 cases and class IV in 29 cases. Systemic embolization occurred in 23 cases and pulmonary infarction in 2 cases. Emergent operations were performed in 27 cases because of heart failure (8 cases), embolism (4 cases), aggressive infection (3 cases), heart failure plus embolism (2 cases), heart failure with aggressive infection (4 cases), aggressive infection with embolism (2 cases) and all the three factors (4 cases). The operations included aortic valve replacement (25 cases), aortic and mitral valves replacement (15 cases), mitral valve replacement (6 cases), mitral valve repair (3 cases), pulmonic valve replacement (1 case) and intracardiac shunt repair (4 cases).

RESULTSThe operative mortality was 17% (5 operative death and 4 lost in following-up after being discharged). All of operative deaths were due to infection. Fourteen patients had operative complications. The morbidity included peri-prosthetic leakage (8 cases), prosthetic IE (5 cases), residual intracardiac shunt (2 cases), complete heart block (2 cases), myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, pulmonary trunk stenosis, and mitral regurgitation (1 case in each). Post-operative cardiac classification (NYHA): class I was in 41 cases, class II in 3 cases, class III in 1 case. Two patients were re-operated because of peri-prosthetic leakage, and then they were cured. Re-operation was also performed in other 3 patients. Unrelated late sudden death occurred in 1 patient and hemiplegia caused by anticoagulant intracranial hemorrhage in another patient.

CONCLUSIONAcceptable results can be achieved with active surgical intervention in active patients with IE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Child ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo identify the mutational genotype of three Chinese families with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD: MIM#300100).

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients 1, 2 and the mother of patient 3, using RNA blood Mini kit (QIAGEN). After reverse transcription, cDNA was amplified in four overlapping segments. The PCR products were purified and directly sequenced. To confirm the mutations, the genomic DNA was isolated from the patients and their family members using DNA blood isolation kit (MO-BIO) and analyzed by PCR-restrictive digestion or amplification refractory mutation system.

RESULTSThree distinct mutations were detected in the ABCD1 gene of the three pedigrees. A mutation of CCC-->CGC was detected at codon 534 of the ABCD1 gene from patient 1, resulting in the arginine for proline substitution. A change of GGG-->AGG was found at codon 266 of the second patient's gene, accompanied with the replacement of glycine by arginine. A mutation of CGC-->GGC was found at codon 617 in one ABCD1 allele of the third patient's mother, leading to the glycine for arginine substitution. The three mutations were confirmed through restriction analysis or amplification refractory mutation system.

CONCLUSIONThree ABCD1 gene missense mutations were detected in three unrelated Chinese families with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, one of which, the mutation (P534R), is novel in Chinese with ALD, and the other two G266R and R617G mutations, have been reported outside China.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family D, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adrenoleukodystrophy ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree