BACKGROUND: The occurrence and severity of acute high-altitude disease(AHAD) are determined by the speed entering the highland, the altitude of highland and seasons. The association between obesity and AHAD has not been fully investigated.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between obesity and acute high-altitude in people exposed rapidly to the highland.DESIGN: Comparative observation.SETTING: Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA and Department of Cardiology, Tibetan General Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Tibetan Military Area Command of Chinese PLA in August 2006. Totally 82 Henan subjects aged 28-45 years were selected from the male workers constructing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and their managers with acute high-altitude exposure. They had never been to the highland before, and all agreed to the detection.METHODS: ①Every subject completed the AHAD self-report questionnaire at sea level and 12 hours and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. The items in the questionnaire included symptoms of headache, gastrointestinal symptoms,fatigue or weakness, dizziness, and insomnia. Each symptom was graded from 0-3 with 0 as no symptoms, 1 as mild symptoms, 2 as moderate symptoms, and 3 as severe symptoms and a total score of 15. A score of 4 or more could by identified as AHAD. ②The height and body mass were measured to calculate the body mass (BMI). Those with BMI≥28 kg/m2 served as the obesity group [n =39, mean age (35±8) years], and those with BMI of 18.5-23.9 kg/m2 as the normal body mass group [n =43, mean age (35±8) years]. ③Arterial blood was taken to evaluate arterial oxygen saturation (SO2), arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) at baseline and 24 hours after ascending high-altitude. ④The measurement data was compared by t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BMI, vital capacity of lungs, SO2, PaO2 and PaCO2 levels of obese and normal people.RESULTS: Totally 39 obese people and 43 normal people were involved in the result analysis. ①AHAD score: No symptom was reported at sea level in all participants (scored 0), but the AHAD scores in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in normal group 12-hour and 24-hour after ascending high-altitude. ②Blood gas analysis:At sea level, there were no statistical differences in the levels of SO2, PaO2, and PaCO2 between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).But 24 hours after ascending high-altitude, SO2 and PaO2 of the obesity group were much lower than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01), and PaCO2 was significantly higher than in the normal group (P＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Obese men are more vulnerable to high-altitude hypoxia than people with normal body mass. Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of acute high-altitude disease.

BACKGROUND: Digit amputation coupled with neighboring composite skin loss frequently occurs. Conventional treatment for this lesion is somewhat less desirable in that it either results in shortened or lost fingers as well as delayed skin resurfacing. Therefore, the curative effect is not satisfactory.OBJECTIVE: To observe free forearm venous flap for soft-tissue reconstruction in digit amputation accompanied with neighboring soft tissue loss and postoperative rehabilitation and its effect on functional recovery.DESIGN: Before-and-after controlled observational trial based on the patients.SETTING: Department of orthopedics of a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 11 patients, 8 males and 3 females aged 20 to 45years, who were treated between October 2000 and May 2004 in the Department of Orthopedics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,for digit amputations accompanied with composite skin flaps avulsed in dorsal fingers or hand, were recruited.METHODS: Eleven free venous flaps measuring 1. 5 cm × 1.0 cm to 5 cm × 6. 5 cm from anteromedial ipsilateral forearms were elevated and transferred to the defected sites either antegradely or retrogradely with respect to the nature of the defects. Microvascular anastomosis was performed at both ends of the flaps to the wounds in an end-to-end fashion. Digit replantations in 13 digits were performed simultaneously at one stage. The donor sites were closed primarily by direct suturing or skin grafting. After operation, early rehabilitation was initiated under professional guidance.RESULTS: Complete healing was achieved in 9 out of 11 venous flaps and 12 out of 13 replanted digits. After one-year follow-up, finger motion function in seven cases was satisfactory; however, all the flaps presented diminished sensation.CONCLUSION: The free venous flap from anteromedial forearm is an alternative flap for soft-tissue reconstruction in digit amputation. Easy access,ideal thickness, and good pliability are the advantages of the flap whereas limited sensory recovery is the main shortcoming.

Objective To investigate the relationship between white blood cell count (WBC) and the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease (SFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods We designed a large scale cross-sectional study in an adult population. Participants were selected from Tianjin Medical University's General Hospital-Health Management Centre. The diagnoses of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis were based on liver ultrasonography and serum alanine aminotransferase concentration. A total of 37507 subjects (8644 SFL and 2557 NASH) were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether the quartiles of WBC were associated with the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis for increasing quartiles of WBC were: simple fatty liver disease, 1.00 (reference), 1.37 (1.24, 1.50), 1.70 (1.55, 1.86) and 2.09 (1.90, 2.29) (P for trend<0.0001);nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, 1.00 (reference), 1.39 (1.16, 1.66), 1.69 (1.43, 1.99) and 2.13 (1.81, 2.50) (P for trend<0.0001). Conclusions This study proves the correlation between WBC and the prevalence of simple fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Further study is needed to clarify whether WBC has a predictive value for the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM To observe the effects of Qibao Meiran Oral Liquid (Polygoni multiflori Radix Praeparata,Angelicae sinensis Radix,Psoraleae Fructus,etc.) on learning and memory function,hippocampus tissue pathological morphology,SOD activity and carbonyl protein content in SAMP8 mice.METHODS Twenty-seven SAMP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into model control group,donepezil hydrochloride group and Qibao Meiran Oral Liquid group.Another nine SAMR1 mice were selected as normal control group.Mice were given successive intragastric administration for 60 days.On the 56th day,the passive avoidance test was adopted,and the learning and memory capacities were determined after 5 d;The pathological morphology was observed by HE staining;ELISA assay was used to detect the activity of SOD and the content of carbonyl protein in brain tissue.RESULTS Compared with the model control group,the escape latency of mice in the Qibao Meiran Oral Liquid group was significantly prolonged,and the number of errors decreased significantly (P ＜0.01);the pathological morphology of hippocampus tissue was significantly improved;SOD activity increased significantly,and carbonyl protein content decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION Qibao Meiran Oral Liquid can not only improve the learning and memory function of SAMP8 mice,but also reduce the degree of hippocampus tissue degenerative disease.

Objective To explore the advantages of the bedside DR,taking the quality analysis of the chest image taken from the bedside digital radiography systems (DR) and computed radiography system (CR).Method All of the 900 pieces chest image taken by bedside DR,compared with the 900 pieces CR image randomly chosen.Results Bedside DR could further reduce the rate of the remake and the radiation dose,and provided more excellent image information.Conclusion The chest image taken by bedside DR has obviously advantage than CR.It can play a positive role in the diagnosis and treatment of the critical patient and surgical patient.

This study aims to save cost of sampling for estimating the area under the amlodipine plasma concentration versus time curve in 24 hours (AUC(0-24 h)). Limited sampling strategy (LSS) models was developed and validated by mutiple regression model within 4 or fewer amlodipine concentration values. Absolute prediction error (APE), root of mean square error (RMSE) and visual predict check were used as criterion. The results of Jackknife validation showed that fifteen (9.4%) of the 160 LSS based on regression analysis were not within an APE of 15% by using one concentration-time point. 156 (97.5%), 159 (99.4%) and 160 (100%) of the 160 LSS model were capable of predicting within an APE 15% by using 2, 3, 4 points, separately. Limited sampling strategies have been developed and validated for estimating AUC(0-24 h) of amlodipine. The present study indicated that the implemention of both 5 mg and 10 mg dosage could enable accurate predictions of AUC(0-24 h) by the same LSS model. This study shows that 12, 4, 24, 2 h after administration are key sampling time points. The combination of (12, 4), (12, 4, 24) or (12, 4, 24, 2 h) might be chosen as sampling hours for predicting AUC(0-24 h) in practical application according to requirement.

Objective To observe the biological activities of human doppel(Dpl) protein transiently expressed and Dpl-like protein PrP?32-121 on a human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.Methods Recombinant mammalian expression plasmids containing human PRND gene and truncated PrP?32-121 fragment were generated by PCR.The expression and location of Dpl and PrP?32-121 post-transfection were observed by IFA.The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT analysis.Cellular apoptosis was investigated by flow cytometry and Western blot.Results Both Dpl and PrP?32-121 protein were expressed and mainly located on the cell membrane.Remarkable cytotoxicity was detected on SH-SY5Y cells after 24 h transfection.Meanwhile,more Annexin V/PI positively-stained cells as well as lower levels of cellular pro-caspase-3 and Bel-2 were detected in the cells receiving Dpl and PrP?32-121 expressing plasmids.Conclusion Dpl protein transiently expressed and PrP?32-121 can lead to the similar neural cytotoxicity,probably triggering the cell apoptosis program.

Objective To observe the biological activities of human doppel (Dpl) protein transiently expressed and Dpl-like protein PrPΔ32-121 on a human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Methods Recombinant mammalian expression plasmids containing human PRND gene and truncated PrPΔ32-121 fragment were generated by PCR. The expression and location of Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 post-transfection were observed by IFA. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT analysis. Cellular apoptosis was investigated by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results Both Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 protein were expressed and mainly located on the cell membrane. Remarkable cytotoxicity was detected on SH-SY5Y cells after 24 h transfection. Meanwhile, more Annexin V/PI positively-stained cells as well as lower levels of cellular pro-caspase-3 and Bel-2 were detected in the cells receiving Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 expressing plasmids. Conclusion Dpl protein transiently expressed and PrPΔ32-121 can lead to the similar neural cytotoxicity, probably triggering the cell apoptosis program.

OBJECTIVETo identify the differential expressions of serum cytokines between prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and provide proteomic evidence for the early diagnosis of PCa.

METHODSWe used human cytokine array to determine the profiles of the serum cytokines obtained from 6 PCa and 6 BPH patients with the PSA level within the grey scale of 4 - 10 ng/ml.

RESULTSWe identified 19 differentially expressed cytokines in the PCa patients, 16 obviously up-regulated, including IL-3, IL-6 and IL-16, and 3 markedly down-regulated, which were Fas/TNFRSF6, TRALR-3 and IGFBP-6. Most of them were involved in such cellular bioprocesses as transcription, proliferation, signal transduction, and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThe cytokine antibody assay permits simultaneous measurement of multiple markers in a small volume of serum, and can identify a panel of key cytokines related to the malignant biological behavior of cancer cells. And it helps to find the biomarkers for the early diagnosis, efficacy assessment and prognosis of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Humans ; Interleukin-16 ; blood ; Interleukin-3 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proteomics

Alc in trial group were significant better than those in control group ( P < 0. 05 ). The results indicate that type 2 diabetic patients with Hp infection should receive moxifloxacin-based triple therapy as first-line treatment.