Objective To examine the expression of Toll-like receptor(TLR)4 protein and the transcription of TLR4 mRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection and explore the relationship between TLR4 and chronic HBV infec- tion.Methods The expression level and transcription level of TLR4 were determined by flow cytometre and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction respectively in PBMC from 37 chronic hepatitis patients,28 liver cirrhosis patients,31 severe hepatitis patients and 27 healthy controls. Meanwhile,liver function,as well as blood routine test,prothrombin test activity(PTA)and HBV DNA was measured.Results The expression level and transcription level of TLR4 in patients were higher than those in healthy controls(P

Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Publishing ; standards ; Quality Control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; standards

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the pollution of paralytic shellfish poisons (PSP) in shellfish sold in Hainan Province from 2018 to 2021. Methods　From 2018 to 2021, the content of 10 paralytic shellfish poisons including saxitoxin (STX), neosaxitoxin (neoSTX), gonyautoxins 1 (GTX1), gonyautoxins 2 (GTX2), gonyautoxins 3 (GTX3), gonyautoxins 4 (GTX4), gonyautoxins 5 (GTX5), decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dcSTX), decarbamoylgonyau toxins 2 (dcGTX2) and decarbamoylgonyau toxins 3 (dcGTX3) in 7 kinds of shellfish commonly sold in 13 cities and counties in Hainan province was analyzed. Results　The detection rate of PSP in 360 shellfish samples was 10.3%. Among them, the highest detection rate of STX was 5.83%, followed by GTX2 detection rate of 4.17%; the detection rate of neoSTX and GTX3 were both 1.67%; the detection rate of GTX1 was 1.39%. None of the five PSP, GTX4, GTX5, dcSTX, dcGTX2 and dcGTX3, were detected. Four types of PSP were detected in fanscallops, two were detected in oysters, mussels and Scapharca subcrenata, only one was detected in scallops, and no toxin contamination was detected in clams and razor clams. A single sample of fanscallops detected a maximum of 4 PSP, and a single sample of oysters, scallops, mussels and Scapharca subcrenata detected a maximum of 1 PSP. The equivalence of PSP in all samples was ND-155.6 μg/kg.The annual detection rate of PSP from high to low was: 20.0% in 2020, 15.6% in 2019, 5.3% in 2018, and 2.0% in 2021, and none of the samples tested exceeded the standard. Continuously detectable STX in 2018-2020, all PSP that could be detected in 2018 were STX. In 2019, in addition to STX detected in scallops and Scapharca subcrenata, neoSTX was also detected in oysters, mussels and Scapharca subcrenata. In 2020, PSP was only detected from scallops, and GTX2 could be detected in all positive specimens, while 5 STX, 5 GTX1 and 6 GTX3 were detected. Only GTX2 detected from scallops in 2021. STX was detected in shellfish sold in 12 cities and counties, GTX2 can be detected in 10 cities and counties, neoSTX can be detected in 5 cities and counties, GTX1 and GTX2 were detected in 4 cities and counties respectively. Shellfish sold in Wenchang and Lingshui markets can detect 5 types of PSP. Conclusion　Some types of shellfish on the market in Hainan are contaminated with some kind of PSP pollution risks, and it is necessary to strengthen the supervision of PSP in marketed shellfish.

Starting from the thinking characteristics of TCM in the holistic approach of syndrome and process of syndrome differentiation, the problems in the criteria of syndrome diagnosis was analyzed, combining with the outcome of investigation on macrocosmic diagnosis of syndrome carried on twice by expert group nationwide in China, a concept for designing basic framework of standard for macrocosmic diagnosis of syndrome was advocated in this study. In order to recognize and master fully the standard, the following items would be the contents of the framework: give a standardized term of each syndrome; the basic clinical features of a syndrome; the qualitative parameters which could be used to distinguish the nature of a syndrome, and indexes to be used to judge the affected location of a syndrome during identifying process for a syndrome; the order of pertinent indexes with their given score, and the threshold for quantitative diagnosis. It is considered that the above framework defined the sufficient criteria which is constructed on the bases of the approaches with integrated qualitative and quantitative methods. It may enable the syndrome differentiation to access the real world of a patient to be used appropriately this framework.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of pre-pregnancy body weight, gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention among women in Beijing.

METHODSUsing a cohort design, 600 pregnant women who went to district obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Beijing to establish preconception health care card from 5(th) February to 15(th) March 2009 were recruited. A total of 112 subjects (109 with valid data), 20% of that in baseline, were followed up at 6 months after delivery.70 subjects (66 with valid data) were followed up at one year after delivery. Weight, weight changes and postpartum weight retention were measured for low weight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (18.5 kg/m(2) ≤ BMI ≤ 24.0 kg/m(2)) and overweight or obesity (BMI > 24.0 kg/m(2)) group.

RESULTSThe pre-pregnancy weight and antenatal weight were (54.8 ± 8.0) and (70.8 ± 9.3) kg respectively. Gestational weight gain was (16.0 ± 7.0) kg. The postpartum weight of 6 and 12 months were (60.5 ± 9.4) and (57.6 ± 8.6) kg respectively. Comparing to pre-pregnancy, postpartum weight retention in 6 months and 12 months were (5.7 ± 4.5) and (2.7 ± 4.5) kg, weight retention rates were (10.6 ± 8.6)% and (5.2 ± 9.3)%. Antenatal weight among low pre-pregnancy weight group, normal weight and overweight and obese women were (62.6 ± 5.7), (69.9 ± 6.6) and (84.2 ± 9.9) kg, and weight at postpartum 12 months among 3 groups were (49.3 ± 3.2), (56.5 ± 6.9) and (70.5 ± 6.0) kg respectively (F = 25.3, P < 0.01); At postpartum 12 months, low pre-pregnancy weight group ((5.6 ± 5.9) kg), overweight and obese women group ((4.7 ± 1.9) kg) postpartum weight retention was significantly higher than that of the normal weight group ((1.8 ± 4.3) kg) (F = 3.82, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pre-pregnancy body weight is a key risk factor in weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum weight retention.

Adult ; Body Mass Index ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Overweight ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of T(1) locus allele in ADAM33 gene and bronchial asthma in South China Han population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing were used to determine the polymorphism of T(1) locus allele in ADAM33 gene in 160 unrelated patients with asthma and 95 unrelated healthy controls from South China Han population.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in T(1) locus allele distribution frequency in populations of UK, US, Germany, Korea, and South China (Chi(2)=9.085, P=0.109). The frequencies of the genotypes (TT, TC, CC) were 80.6% (n=129), 16.9% (n=27) and 2.5% (n=4) in the 160 asthmatic patients and 94.7% (n=90), 3.2% (n=3) and 2.1% (n= 2) in the 95 controls, respectively, showing a significant difference in the distribution of the genotypes (TT, TC, CC ) between asthmatic patients and healthy controls (Chi(2)=10.955, P<0.05). The frequencies of the alleles (T, C) were 0.891 and 0.109 in the asthmatic patients and 0.963 and 0.037 in the controls, respectively, showing also a significant difference in the allele frequency between them (Chi square =8.299, P<0.05). The presence of C allele of ADAM33 gene T1 locus was found to be a greater risk factor in asthmatic patients than in the healthy controls. The odds ratio (OR) of TC and TC+CC were 6.279 (1.849-21.328) and 4.326 (1.620-11.550), respectively, with P value of 0.001 and 0.002, respectively, in comparison with TT genotype.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of T(1) locus allele in ADAM33 gene is associated with the susceptibility to asthma in South China Han population.

ADAM Proteins ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Asthma ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of lead exposure in rats during the developmental stage on the expression of leptin in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and hippocampus, as well as investigating whether leptin is associated with the mechanism of cognitive impairment induced by lead exposure.

METHODSThe rat model of cognitive impairment after chronic lead exposure was established by adding lead acetate into drinking water. According to the concentration of lead acetate in drinking water, the rats were divided into control (0 ppm), low-lead (50 ppm), medium-lead (200 ppm), and high-lead groups (1 000 ppm), with 16 rats in each group. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure the content of lead in the plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and hippocampus. ELISA was used to measure the level of leptin in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the distribution of leptin protein in the hippocampus. Western blot was used for relative quantification of leptin proteins in the hippocampus.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the lead exposure groups showed significant increases in the content of lead in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and hippocampus (P<0.01), as well as significant reductions in the levels of leptin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that leptin was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA region. The results of Western blot showed that compared with the control group, the three lead exposure groups showed a slight increase in the protein expression of leptin in the hippocampus (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLead exposure can reduce the levels of leptin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in rats, which may be associated with the mechanism of cognitive impairment induced by lead exposure.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Female ; Hippocampus ; chemistry ; drug effects ; pathology ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Leptin ; analysis ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Ultrafine powder and cell wall-broken powder of herbal medicine lack of the morphological characters and microscopic identification features. This makes it hard to identify herb's authenticity with traditional methods. We tested ITS2 sequence as DNA barcode in identification of herbal medicine in ultrafine powder and cell wall-broken powder in this study. We extracted genomic DNAs of 93 samples of 31 representative herbal medicines (28 species), which include whole plant, roots and bulbs, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. The ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced bidirectionally. The ITS2 sequences were identified using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) method in the GenBank database and DNA barcoding system to identify the herbal medicine. The genetic distance was analyzed using the Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA 6.0. The results showed that DNA can be extracted successfully from 93 samples and high quality ITS2 sequences can be amplified. All 31 herbal medicines can get correct identification via BLAST method. The ITS2 sequences of raw material medicines, ultrafine powder and cell wall-broken powder have same sequence in 26 herbal medicines, while the ITS2 sequences in other 5 herbal medicines exhibited variation. The maximum intraspecific genetic-distances of each species were all less than the minimum interspecific genetic distances. ITS2 sequences of each species are all converged to their standard DNA barcodes using NJ method. Therefore, using ITS2 barcode can accurately and effectively distinguish ultrafine powder and cell wall-broken powder of herbal medicine. It provides a new molecular method to identify ultrafine powder and cell wall-broken powder of herbal medicine in the quality control and market supervision.
Cell Wall ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Powders ; Quality Control

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carrier State ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the results of application of Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy and Pringle hepatectomy in 118 cases of liver tumors.

METHODSThe clinical data of 118 patients, including 59 patients undergoing Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy (Group QG) and 59 patients undergone Pringle first hepatic portal clamping hepatectomy (Group PG) since March 2009 in the Ningbo Tumor Hospital and Jiangxi Provincial Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The changes of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, urine volume, intravenous fluid volume, amount of bleeding, time of abdominal aorta (or first hepatic portal) clamping, duration of operation and anesthesia, and other intraoperative indexes of the two groups were compared, and the changes of peritoneal drainage, blood tests, liver functions, etc. before operation and 1, 3, 7, 14 days after the hepatectomy in the two groups were also analyzed.

RESULTSAfter taking appropriate measures for intraoperative blood pressure control, only small fluctuations of blood pressure, which could be safely adjusted and controlled with stable vital signs, was observed in the group QG. The amount of intraoperative bleeding in the group QG was (96.25 ± 18.45) ml, significantly less than (536.25 ± 35.65) ml in the group PG (P < 0.05). In the group QG, both the duration of operation time [(227.58 ± 28.20) min] and duration of anesthesia [(249.48 ± 31.35) min] were significantly shorter than that [(261.46 ± 32.12) min and (286.58 ± 35.62) min, respectively] in the group PG (both P < 0.05). The postoperative liver dysfunction in the group QG was also milder than that in the group PG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor liver tumor patients, Qu single abdominal aorta clamping for bloodless hepatectomy can basically achieve the goal of bloodless hepatectomy. This surgical operation is simple and safe, worthy of recommendation to skillful liver surgeons in hospitals there are some difficulties of blood supply.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Blood Pressure ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; surgery ; Constriction ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; blood ; surgery ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Young Adult