Objective To observe the curative effect of captopril and metoprolol in the treatment of chronic Keshan disease (CKD). Methods One hundred and ninty-five patients with CKD chosen from Juxian, Wulian, Yishui, Pingyi, Sishui and Zoucheng in Shandong Province were randomly assigned to control group, captopril group and metoprolol group according to NYHA cardiac functional grading. All cases were given diuretics, digitalis and vasodilating agents as routine treatment. On this basis, captopril and metoprolol was administered in captopril group and metoprolol group respectively. After 12 months of follow-up visit, the causes of cardiac death, hospitalization status and the changes of heart size, electrocardiogram, blood pressure and heart rate were all observed. Results It was found that the mortality of captopril group and metoprolo] group was 4.76% (3/63), 5.00% (3/60) respectively, both lower than the control group 10.61%(7/66). But this difference had no statistically significance(P=0.39). Besides, the hospitalization days of each year in captopril group and metoprolol group was respectively (19.12± 20.35) and(18.86±21.52)days, much more reduced than in the control group[(21.45±21.74)days, q=3.17, 3.38, P<0.05]. The detection rate of cardiothoracic ratio decreased in captopril group and metoprolol group [45% (27/60) and 40.4% (23/57)] After treatment showed more pronounced amelioration than the control group [18.6% (11/59), χ2=9.51,6.59, all P<0.0125], still the detection rate of cardiomegaly and invariability had no significant difference among three groups (χ2=2.50,4.75, all P>0.05). The elimination coefficient of ectopic rhythm in metoprolol group [56.5% (13/23)] was pronounced higher than the control group and captopril group [23.8% (5/21), 22.7% (5/22)], but differences had no statistically significance(P=0.0358,0.0331, all P>0.0125). Significant differences were found in systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and heart rate(HR) in three groups prior and post-treatment(F=47.51,44.23,80.66, all P<0.01). The interaction of therapy and treatment time had influence on SBP and HR (F=3.19,37.44, all P<0.05), but had no influence on DBP(F=2.21, P> 0.05). There was no difference in SBP, DBP or HR among three groups before treatment(F=0.28,0.57,1.80, all P>0.05). After treatment, SBP and DBP in captopril group, metoprolol group and the control group[(109.0±10.9), (112.2±12.8), (114.7±13.2)mm Hg, (69.3±7.2), (72.1±9.5), (73.3±9.3)mm Hg] were all lowered compared with pre-treatment[ (117.1±13.4), (119.0±14.4), (117.6±14.1)mm Hg and (74.2±10.2), (76.3±10.8), (75.4±11.1)mm Hg, t=4.79,4.47,2.08,5.12, 4.32,2.15, all P<0.05]. HR was reduced in metoprolol group, being [(66.2±7.7), (75.9±11.5)times/min] before and after treatment(t=10.81, P<0.01), while it remained unchanged in captopril group and control group[(70.6±8.0), (72.6±10.5) times/min and (71.9±10.4), (73.8± 12.2)times/min, t=1.77,1.74, all P>0.05]. After treatment, both SBP and DBP of captopril group were significantly lower than that in the control group (q=3.52,3.56, all P<0.05); HR was reduced in metoprolol group, lower than that in captopril group and control group(q=5.44,3.73, all P<0.01). Conclusions Having a tendency of depressing mortality, captopril and metoprolol can reverse or delay myocardial remodeling and reduce admission rate in a safe,reliable and economic way, and are worth to be widely used in the treatment of chronic Keshan disease.

Objective To study the effects of different glucocorticasteroid(GCS) inhalation regimens for remissive children with asthma. Methods Three hundred and twenty - three patients with moderate asthma were enrolled on a 12 - week randomized parallel group remissive treatment after a 4 - week baseline treatment. During the baseline treatment terbutaline sulfate 250 ?g tid a day and bud esonide 200 ?g twice a day were given, and oral bronchodilators were used if necessary. The remissive treatment were composed of budesomde inhabit ion 100 ?g once a day (group A), 100 ?g twice a day(group B) and 200 ?g once a day(group 0). Patients subsequently returned to the clinic for 3 additional clinic visits (4,8 and 12 weeks) or telephone visits . On every clinic visit, the daytime and nocturnal time seventy score were recorded and spirometry was conducted in patients who were capable of performing the maneuver. Results Ultimately, 323 children were enrolled on the baseline treatment and 281 (87%) children achieved clinical remission. The rate of compliance decreased gradually during the remissive treatment, but in group B(P

0.05).Conclusions The serum concentrations of cortisol,GH,IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP3 in children suffered from asthma have no obvious change before and after 24 months long-term inhaled corticosteroids.The height changes before and after therapy have no significant difference between observation group and control group with same age and gender.

Objective To screen the arsenic content situation of drinking water in lower reaches of Yellow River and survey the amount of threatened people drinking high arsenic water and the condition of endemic arsenism.Methods Four counties of Yuncheng,Jiaxiang,Dongchangfu and Boxing were selected to colleft the water samples by CroOSS-sectional survey method.The water arsenic content wag determined by semi-quantitative rapid kit.All water samples having arsenic were re-determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.And the nurober of threatened people who drinking high arsenic water were investigated.Results In 4765 water wells screened,303 water samples had contained arsenic,arsenic content of 35 samples Was≥0.030 mg/L,12 samples were exceeding the international standard (arsenic content≥0.050 ms/L),they distributed in 3 counties of Dongchangfu,Yuncheng and Jiaxiang.The residents drinking water wells of arsenic content≥0.030 mg/L were surveyed by epidemiological investigation.And in the 28 villages 13 032 residents and 11 Bu8picious patient8 wlere checked out.Conclusion The wells with excesive water arsenic content are existing in the lower reaches of Yellow River and people suspicious of endemic arsenism need to be further identified.

Objective To observe the electrocardiogram changes of threatened crowds in Keshan disease (KSD) endemic area in Shandong province. Methods In 2008,inhabitants from 21 villages of Zoucheng,Sishui,Tengzhou, Yishui, Pingyi, Wulian, Juxian and Qingzhou regions were selected as subjects undergoing electrocardiogram. No less than 100 people were chosen from each village and the examination rate was not lower than 85%. Results Among the 3378 inhabitants investigated,460 cases showed abnormal electrocardiogram and the total incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram was 13.62% (460/3378). The relatively high incidence was T-wave changes,QRS low voltage and ST-T changes,the detection rate being respectively 2.69% (91/3378), 1.92% (65/3378) and 1.72% (41/3378). The highest incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (26.76%,55/213),the intermediate(21.50%,43/200) and the lowest(5.50%,12/218) was respectively found in Pingyi,Qingzhou and Sishui. Conclusions The threatened crowds in KSD endemic area in Shandong province are still in a state of high abnormal electrocardiogram detection,and electrocardiogram is of great value in the evaluation of KSD patients.

Objective To investigate the current condition of Keshan disease(KD), and inner and outer environmental selenium (Se) levels in Shandong Province, in order to provide scientific evidence for the research, prevention and control work. Methods Inhabitants from 20 villages of 8 counties in KD endemic areas were selected as subjects undergoing general physical examination and electrocardiogram (ECG). Suspicious cases were followed up by chest X-ray radiographs. Meanwhile the Se contents in hair, wheat, corn and sweet potato were measured. Results Ninety one patients with KD, including 82 with latent KD and 9 with chronic KD, were screened out of 2613 inhabitants. The total incidence of KD was 3.48% (91/2613), while the incidence of latent and chronic KD was 3.14%(82/2613) and 0.34%(9/2613) respectively. No new cases of acute or sub-acute KD were found. A total of 368 abnormal ECCs were discovered and the rate of abnormal ECG detected among surveyed population was 14.08% (368/2613). Out of 113 suspects who took X-ray, 57 cases had cardiomagaly. In 217 samples of hair, 228 samples of wheat, 214 samples of corn and 190 samples of sweet potato that were collected, the Se contents were determined by fluorescence. The average Se content in hair, wheat,corn and sweet potato were (0.406±0.090), (0.026±0.009), (0.023±0.010), (0.024±0.006)mg/kg respectively. Conclusions Current condition of KD in Shandong Province remains relatively stable. Se content was increased in the hair, nearly achieving the level in normal areas, but remains low in food.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of lymphatic micovessel density (LMVD) detected by monoclonal antibody D2-40) with the VEGF-C expression in human breast cancer.

METHODSTissue samples of 102 breast cancers, 25 breast fibroadenomas and 10 normal breasts were collected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detected the lymphatic micovessels with monoclonal antibody D2-40. The expression of VEGF-C was detect by SP immunohistochemistry, and VEGF-C mRNA by hybridization in situ.

RESULTSIn 102 breast cancers, the positive rate of D2-40 was 76.5% (78/102), higher than that in the breast fibroadenomas. LMVD in the periphery of breast cancer was 30.1 lymphatic microvessels per x 100 field of vision, which was significantly higher than that in the central area of the tumors (P = 0.000). The LMVD in the periphery of the breast cancers was correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (r = 0.964, P < 0.01). The positive rates of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were 55.9% (57/102) and 59.8% (61/102), respectively, significantly higher than that in the breast fiberoadenomas and normal breast tissues (chi2 = 11.653, P = 0.003; chi2 = 10.345, P = 0.006), and were significantly correlated with the status of lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and the expressions of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein (P < 0.05). Both of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were significantly correlated with LMVD detected by D2-40 (P < 0.05), especially with the LMVD in the periphery of breast cancers (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe monoclonal antibody D240 can be used to detect the lymphatic endothelium in human breast cancer. The lymphatic microvessel density in the periphery of breast cancer is correlated with the lymph node metastasis and expression of VEGF-C. Therefore, VEGF-C may play a significant role in the lymphangiogenesis leading to metastasis of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; pathology ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical characteristics in leukemia.

METHODSThe protocol of RT-PCR was used to detect the hTERTmRNA expressing levels in peripheral blood samples from leukemic patients under primary treatment(n=42), in complete remission(n=21), with recurrent leukemia (n=4); and from normal subjects (n=5), respectively.

RESULTSThe positive percentage of hTERTmRNA expression was 73.81% for the primary treatment cases, and 19.05% for the complete remission cases. All of the recurrent cases gave positive results. One of the normal controls presented low level of hTERTmRNA expression. The expressing level of hTERTmRNA in primary treatment cases was 0.64+/-0.21, in complete remission leukemia 0.31+/-0.16, in recurrent cases 0.84+/-0.09, and in normal controls 0.10.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of telomerase may be an essential factor in the development of leukemia and usually be the late event in its progression. As an indicator of leukemia cell, the detection of hTERT mRNA may be used in clinical analysis, disease monitoring and prognosis judgement.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Remission Induction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; genetics

The effect of alveolar macrophages (AM) harvested from Wistar rats by lung lavage on proliferation of human embryo pulmonary fibroblasts in culture was investigated. It was observed that supernatants of AM decreased the uptake of (3)H TdR by the pulmonary fibroblasts. The AM activated with opsonized zymosan (OPZ) showed a stronger inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation compared with inactivated AM. Following pretreatment with indomethacin, the inhibitory effect of AM was abolished and reversed to stimulatory effect on pulmonary fibroblast proliferation. The PGE content in AM supernatant was measured with radioimmunoassay. It was observed that the inhibitory effect of AM was highly correlated to prostaglandin (PGE) content in the supernatant of AM. The results suggest that AM has both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on the proliferation of pulmonary fibroblast; the inhibitory effect is primary under normal conditions. This inhibitory action is mainly due to PGE secreted from AM. It is, therefore, suggested that AM plays an important role in suppressing pulmonary fibrosis under normal conditions.
Animals ; Cell Division ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; embryology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; physiology ; Male ; Prostaglandins E ; analysis ; physiology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Rats

Autopsy ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality ; Folic Acid ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; adverse effects