OBJECTIVEYoga is becoming more and more popular in the female society while the concomitant sports injury is seldom mentioned. Many clinicians have noted that yoga may result in knee problems, which though requires more researches to corroborate. This investigation was conducted to ascertain the relationship between yoga and meniscus injury as well as the extent of impairment according to variant yoga practice periods.

METHODSTotally 819 women aged 20-49 years who practiced yoga or other popular sports including badminton, jogging, climbing hills, etc for at least one hour per day were selected to participate in this research. These subjects were required to complete a questionnaire and receive relevant physical examination. Magnetic resonance (MR) scan of the knee was recommended for the suspicious subjects for ultimate diagnosis. The subject with abnormal meniscus MR signals was defined as a case and matched with two controls in terms of age and body mass index (BMI). Altogether there were 273 cases and 546 controls. The nested case-control model was adopted to assess the risk of meniscus injury between variant exposures in practicing yoga and several other popular sports. Moreover, the 181 yoga subjects were subdivided into three groups according to different exercise durations, followed by further analysis with the variables of age, BMI and Lysholm score.

RESULTSYoga was found associated with a higher risk (P equal to 0.008, OR equal to 1.621) of meniscus injury compared with badminton, jogging and climbing hills. The three yoga subgroups showed statistical difference between each other in terms of Lysholm score (P equal to 0.027) and BMI (P equal to 0.003). The subjects with longer-term yoga practice had lighter weight but lower Lysholm scores.

CONCLUSIONSYoga perhaps exerts destructive impact on the meniscus for Chinese women, yet it needs further verifications. Furthermore, the female yoga players with longer exercise duration are more susceptible to meniscus injury though they can become leaner.

Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Motor Activity ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries ; Yoga

OBJECTIVETo study the causes of neonatal death in the Xiaogan region of Hubei Province between 2007 and 2010.

METHODSThe causes of 664 cases of neonatal death between 2007 and 2010, from 7 counties (cities) of the Xiaogan region of Hubei Province, were investigated.

RESULTSNeonatal mortality in the Xiaogan region between 2007 and 2010 accounted for 51.12% of under-five mortality. The top three causes of neonatal death in this region were preterm birth/low birth weight, birth asphyxia and congenital diseases.

CONCLUSIONSIt is important to reduce neonatal mortality through the prevention of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth asphyxia and congenital defects.

Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay method of detecting proteolytic activity of non-structural protein 3-4A (NS3-4A) serine protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV) for high throughput screening inhibitors against HCV in vitro.

METHODSHCV recombinant plasmid pMAL~c2/NS3-4A was transformed into the E.coli strain K12TB1. Maltose-binding-protein (MBP) NS3-4A fusion protein expression was induced by adding isopropyl-β-D-thiogalacto-pyranoside (IPTG) and purified by affinity chromatography. The proteolytic activity of MBP-NS3-4A protease was analyzed by FRET with the special protease substrate. The reaction system in this model was optimized, and the reliability of the model was evaluated.

RESULTSHigh throughput screening model for HCV NS3-4A protease inhibitors was established, and the best concentrations of enzyme and substrate were optimized. In the model, the Km value of protease was 4.74 μmol/L, Z factor was up to 0.80, and coefficient of variation (CV) was 1.91%. BILN 2061, one of the known HCV protease inhibitors, was measured with the Ki of 0.30 nmol/L.

CONCLUSIONThe assay model using FRET method for HCV NS3 4A serine protease is stable and reliable, and the model is suitable for high throughput screening for HCV NS3 4A protease inhibitors.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; Hepacivirus ; enzymology ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of 'erythroblast island (EI)' formation in the bone marrow of patients with immun-related hemocytopenia (IRP).

METHODSThe category of BM-auto antibody (au Ab) in 48 patients with IRP was detected with FCM. The BM-au Ab in the 'EI' of these cases were explored with immuonhistofluorescence (IF). Clinical and laboratory characteristics of these cases were also analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIgG could be detected in the 'EI' on the BM smear of 14 cases (29.17%), BM-au Ab mainly deposited at the edge/membranes between macrophage and erythroblasts rather than cyto plasm. Positive reaction were seen in all the cases with GlycoAIgG. The red blood cell count [(1.8 ± 0.5) × 10(12)/L] and hemoglobin level [(59.6 ± 16.2)g/L] were significantly lower than that in the IF(-) group [(2.5 ± 0.9) × 10(12)/L and (83.4 ± 25.0) g/L] (P < 0.05). The percentage of reticulocyte [(2.0 ± 0.8)%], serum level of IBIL [(9.4 ± 4.7) µmol/L], percentage of erythroblats in sternum BM (0.441 ± 0.139) and response rate to therapy (85.7%) in IF(+) group were significantly higher than that in IF(-)group [(1.3 ± 1.0)%, (6.6 ± 6.7)µmol/L, 0.298 ± 0.082, 61.3%, respectively] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMacrophage was connected with erythroblasts through autologous IgG in the 'EI's of some patients with IRP. 'EI' were the places where macrophages devoured and destroyed erythroblasts rather than erythroid development and differentiation. The pathogenetic mechanism of IRP might be associated with macrophages phagocytosing and destroying BM hematopoietic cells.

Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Coombs Test ; Erythroblasts ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the compatibility of composite herbal medicines of the Ling Gui Zhu Gan Decoction.

METHODEthanol extract test solutions of the different combinations were prepared according to the orthogonal layout L16(4(5)). Pharmacologic experiments, such as the time of surviving of mice in shortage of oxygen in regular air pressure, the antagonizing effect on arrhythmia induced by chloroform and diuresis were carried out with the solutions. Variance analysis, canonical correlation and stepwise regression analysis were applied to interrelate the amount of each drug and the pharmacologic data.

RESULTThe results confirmed that Fuling and Guizhi are the basis, while Baizhuand Gancao are the adjuvans, which is conformed to the theory of TCM.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides a significant try for studying the compatibility of composite herbal medicines.

Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate complication features following gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR), and to assess factors causing complications.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for 253 patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVMs), meningiomas, glial neoplasms, germinomas and metastatic cancer, respectively, which were treated with GKR.The incidences of acute, subacute and late complications following GKR were evaluated. Meanwhile, risk factors inducing subacute complications, such as the cell proliferative population of target tissues and location of target in AVM and meningioma, were evaluated, respectively.

RESULTSThe subacute complications are the prominent reactions in all the five diseases. There is a significant difference in the incidence rate of subacute complications between early responding tissues and slow responding tissues, central and peripheral AVM, basal and non-basal meningioma.

CONCLUSIONSSubacute complications are the prominent reactions after GKR, and the reactions are almost always reversible. The risk of subacute complications following GKR treatment is correlated to the proliferative cell population in the target tissues and the target location (AVM, meningioma).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; surgery ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; surgery ; Glioma ; surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Meningioma ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Radiosurgery ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To establish a method of detecting hepatitis B virus x antigen (HBxAg) and antibody to HBxAg (anti-HBx) and to demonstrate its clinical significance of HBxAg and anti-HBx in sera from patients of chronic hepatitis B (CHB),liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Full length HBx gene was cloned into pET30a(+),a prokaryotic expression vector,named pET30a-X.It was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3),followed the fusion protein of HBx-His was induced by IPTG.The purified fusion protein was used to immunize rabbit as an antigen to generate polyclonal antibody to HBx protein.The method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established by using purified fusion protein and generated antibody,which was used to detect HBxAg and anti-HBx in sera from patients of CHB,LC,HCC and normal healthy people.Results The positive rates of HBxAg/anti-HBx were 8.7%/10.4% for CHB,17.9%/40.6% for LC,and 9.8%/34.4% for HCC, respectively.In statistics,the positive rates of anti-HBx in LC and HCC were higher than that in CHB (P

Objective To research curved cutter stapler in anterior resection of ultra-low rectal cancer.Methods From Oct 2005 to March 2006，there were 52 patients diagnosed as low/ultra-low rectal cancer，with distance between dentate line 1～3cm were 18 cases，3～5 cln 27 cases and 5～7 cm were 7 cases.The age was 28～79(average 66.3)year.The body massindex(BMI)was 18-26(average 23.4). In the low anterior resection 2 cases， ultra-low anterior resection and colo-anal anastomosis were 50 cases.The distal ends of rectum were cut and close by curved cutting stapler,some with reverse double-stapling technique(DST)27 cases.Results There were 27 cases in standard total mesorectal excision, and others were in mini-incision total nlesorectal excision(TME) with average incision length 8.2 cm.All patients finished anastomosis successfully,without cancer residual in incisal edges.There were no recent complications.Follow up in 6～12 months，there were no local reemxent.Conclusion Application of curved cutter stapler contributed to faster and easier progression of cutting and stapling.It was good for less pollution， safer distal-end incisal edge， wider used and so on，being important instrument for mini-invasive or mini-incision rectal radical excision.

Objective To research curved cutter stapler in anterior resection of ultra-low rectal cancer.Methods From Oct 2005 to March 2006，there were 52 patients diagnosed as low/ultra-low rectal cancer，with distance between dentate line 1～3cm were 18 cases，3～5 cln 27 cases and 5～7 cm were 7 cases.The age was 28～79(average 66.3)year.The body massindex(BMI)was 18-26(average 23.4). In the low anterior resection 2 cases， ultra-low anterior resection and colo-anal anastomosis were 50 cases.The distal ends of rectum were cut and close by curved cutting stapler,some with reverse double-stapling technique(DST)27 cases.Results There were 27 cases in standard total mesorectal excision, and others were in mini-incision total nlesorectal excision(TME) with average incision length 8.2 cm.All patients finished anastomosis successfully,without cancer residual in incisal edges.There were no recent complications.Follow up in 6～12 months，there were no local reemxent.Conclusion Application of curved cutter stapler contributed to faster and easier progression of cutting and stapling.It was good for less pollution， safer distal-end incisal edge， wider used and so on，being important instrument for mini-invasive or mini-incision rectal radical excision.

Objective Pulmonary surfactant protein-D (SP-D) is regarded as a valuable biomarker in acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the alterations of SP-D in lung tissues in the early course of ALI remain unknown. This study was designed to explore the temporal fluctuations of SP-D and SP-D mRNA in young rats with ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) , as well as the alterations of ultrastructures of alveolar type Ⅱ (ATⅡ) cells. Methods Rat ALI models were established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (4 mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hrs after LPS injection (8 rats each time point). Western blot and RT-PCR were employed to detect the contents of SP-D and SP-D mRNA in lung tissues. The ultrastructures of AT Ⅱ cells were studied with transmission electron microscopy. Results Both SP-D mRNA and SP-D levels decreased after 12 hrs of LPS administration. The SP-DmRNA level reached a nadir at 24-36 hrs, but the SP-D level was reduced to its nadir by 48 hrs after LPS administration. LPS resulted in the alterations of lamellar bodies (LBs) in size ( multilamellar forms), density (vacuole-like deformity) and number. The alterations of ultrastructures of AT Ⅱ cells were most significant at 48 hrs. The clinical symptoms of ALI rats were most severe at 48 hrs. Conclusions The alterations of the SP-D level were timedependent in the early course of LPS-induced ALI. The lowest level of SP-D occurred at 48 hrs while severe multideformities of AT Ⅱ cells were presented. A decreased level of SP-D in the lungs in the early stage of ALI may be associated with a worse clinical outcome.