Objective To explore the association between the sortilin-related receptor,L (DLR class) A repeats containing (SORL1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) in Han Chinese populations.Methods Five candicate SNPs,including rs985421,rs12364988,rs4598682,rs3781834,and rs3781836,within the SORL1 gene were genotyped by LDR-PCR methods,and the association of these SNPs with SAD risk were also analyzed in a case-control study with 179 SAD and 106 healthy controls.Results The results indicated that the A allele frequency of the SORL1 SNP rs985421 was significant difference between SAD and healthy controls (Trend test:P =0.0044,P adj =0.022; Allelic:P=0.0023,P adj =0.012).In subjects without APOE s4 allele,higher frequency of the A allele of rs985421 was observed in SAD patients compared with control subjects by the stratified analysis (OR=2.260,95％ CI =1.269-4.024,P=0.0048).In addition,logistic regression analysis further revealed that the A allele of SORL1 SNP rs985421 was significantly associated with SAD risk (OR=1.968,95％ CI =1.273-3.042,P=0.002).However,no positive signals in other four SNPs within the SORL1 gene were observed (all P＞ 0.05).Conclusions The A allele of SORL1 SNP rs985421 may be an APOE ε4-independent factor associated with SAD risk.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenesis of globozoospermia, fertilization ability of round-headed sperm, and the application value of assisted oocyte activation in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the wives of glohozoospermia men.

METHODSWe collected oocytes from the wives of 2 globozoospermia patients and randomly divided them into two groups after ICSI to receive calcium ionophore A23187-activation and conventional treatment, respectively. We reviewed the relevant literature published at home and abroad, and discussed the etiology of globozoospermia, fertilization ability of round-headed sperm, and treatment options for this disease.

RESULTSQuality embryos were obtained in the A23187-activation group while no fertilized oocytes, oocyte cleavage, quality embryos, or blastular formation were found in the conventional treatment group. Both women achieved pregnancy and gave birth to healthy neonates after transfer of the quality embryos from the A23187-activation group.

CONCLUSIONCalcium ionophore A23187 can be applied to ICSI for the wives of globozoospermia men and bring about desirable clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, attention should be paid to its safety.

Calcimycin ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Ionophores ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of adrenomedullin (AM) in the patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODSTwo-step immunohistochemistry method was used to examine the expression of AM in the patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Radioimmunoassay was applied to determine the concentration of AM in the laryngeal carcinoma tissues, adjacent laryngeal mucosa of carcinoma tissues and in the plasma of patients and controls.

RESULTSPositive stainings for AM were found in all 21 specimen examined,distributed mainly in the cytoplasm of the laryngeal carcinoma cells. Positive stainings were more stronger in the circumference than in the center of tumor tissue for the highly and moderately differentiated tumors. While the stainings were distributed homogeneously for poorly and moderately differentiated tumors. The concentration of AM in the laryngeal carcinoma tissues (n = 44) and the adjacent mucosa (n = 44) were (49.67 +/- 28.33) pg/ml and (14.71 +/- 7.17) pg/ml (x +/- s) respectively and laryngeal tumor showed much higher concentration of AM than the adjacent mucosa (u = 135.00, P < 0.01). The concentration of AM in patients with laryngeal carcinoma of T2, T3 and T4 stage were (31.52 +/- 15.22), (56.63 +/- 18.51) and (96.12 +/- 18.22) pg/ml (x + s) respectively,and there were statistically significant difference among them. In the N stage, patients with higher stages were found to express significantly higher AM concentration, but there was not statistically significant difference between NO stage and N1 stage. In the M stage,patients with M1 stage were found to express significantly higher AM concentration (u = 31.00, P < 0.01). But there was not statistically significant difference between AM plasma concentration of laryngeal carcinoma patients and that of healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggested that high expression of AM in tissues of laryngeal carcinoma was related with the TNM stage of laryngeal carcinoma, AM may play an important role in the development of the laryngeal neoplasma.

Adrenomedullin ; metabolism ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

Objective To explore whether straight guiding catheter exchange assisted by double guidewire can slove the difficult problem of the guiding catheter being unable to enter the right carotid artery in patients with carotid stenosis via circuitous approach.Methods Fifteen patients with severe carotid stenosis,admitted to our hospital from August 2005 to January 2013,were chosen in our study; they were performed straight guiding catheter exchange assisted by double guidewire.Secondary carotid sinus syndrome,puncture wound,acute coronary syndrome,cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage in the postprocedural period were observed; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores 3 and 30 days after the surgery were recorded and compared; meanwhile,modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores 3 months after the surgery were compared.Results With the techniques of straight guiding catheter exchange assisted by double guidewire,13 patients were successfully implanted carotid artery stent among the 15 patients.Two patients had secondary carotid sinus syndrome,3 had femoral sheath around postoperative bleeding and 1 had femoral artery fistula during the 13 patients.The NIHSS scores in 1 patient decreased after the operation,but new infarction lesion was not found in the head CT.The NIHSS scores 30 days after the surgery [11 (8-13)] were significantly lower than the preoperative NIHSS scores [14(9-17)] (Z=-10.153,P-0.000).The mRS scores 3 months after the surgery was significantly improved as compared with those before surgery (U=2.079,P=-0.045).Conclusion The application of straight guiding catheter exchange assisted by double guidewire is safe and effective in the carotid-artery stenting via circuitous approach.

Aim: To put forward criteria for the pressure assessment in the operation of intercavemous embedding of bulboperineal urethra for the treatment of urinary incontinence after prostatic operation. Methods: A Fl4 urethral catheter is inserted during the operation and upon suturing the corpora cavemosa centrally, the catheter is slowly pushed in and pulled out in order that the operator feels a certain degree of close-fit resistance. The degree of tightness of the stitches,which regulate the compression pressure, is adjusted in accordance with this close-fit sensation. To further ascertain the adequacy of the force of compression, the bladder is filled with 300 ml physiological saline and observe the appropriateness (size and continuity) of the outflow stream when the lower abdomen is depressed with a pressure of 80-90 cm H2O. The operation was given to six patients suffered from urinary incontinence for 20 or more months after prostatic operation. Results: Five cases achieved complete recovery, while the therapeutic effect of the 6th one was not satisfactory. A second stage operation was carried out 3 months later with the addition of one more stitch both proximally and distally to reinforce the compression force. The condition was improved dramatically. The follow-up period averaged 3.5 years. Conclusion: The adequacy of the compression pressure exerted by the juxtaposed corpora cavernosa is the key point determining the outcome of the operation. The measures for assessing the compression pressure suggested by the authors are helpful in obtaining the good results of the present paper (6/6 success) as compared with 25/34success in the previous report.

By using Western blot and immunofluorescence assays, the recombinant HEV capsid protein p239 was found specifically attached to the HepG2 cell surface and entered to the cytoplasm with the increase of incubation temperature. Pre-mixture of wild-type HEV with p239 blocked the infectivity of the virus on primary cultured human hepatocytes and HepG2 cells, indicating that p239 and HEV competed the same targeting site on these cells. These data provide evidence that p239 has a similar cell surface structure with wild-type HEV.
Blotting, Western ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo discuss the problem difficult to be presented for nerves and blood vessels in the 3D reconstruction of acupoints through studying 3D reconstruction of Jianliao (TE 14).

METHODSMuscles and other tissues were segmented by applying cointeractive segmentation method based on chromatic characteristic space; the nerve and blood vessels can be reconstructed by establishing mathematics model, and the needle-inserting animation of Jianliao (TE 14) could be obtained by running script file.

RESULTSDuring the course of 3D needle-inserting animation of Jianliao (TE 14), the spatial location between all kinds of tissues including the nerve and blood vessels and the needle body could be systematically observed.

CONCLUSIONThe difficulty of presenting the nerve and blood vessels in the study on 3D reconstruction of acupoints can be resolved by establishing mathematics model. The generation of 3D animation for acupoints with the nerve and blood vessels is benefit to acupuncture teaching and study on the essence of acupoints and channels.

Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Muscles ; anatomy & histology ; Nervous System ; anatomy & histology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

To make a thorough investigation of the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in our country, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and the endemic medicinal plant species, Field surveyed was conducted with 25 She people mainly lived area (county, district or city) throughout the country, the folk prescription and treatment cases provided by She's medical personnel, the drug usage and dosage, the commonly used traditional She's medicine and drug samples were collected. And the distribution, growing environment of these plants were investigated, their characteristics, photographs, GPS data and track were record , and the fresh wax leaf or plants specimens were collected. In total 1 600 varieties of folk medicine of She's nationality, 450 disease names and 1 016 prescriptions were collected. 520 kinds of these medicinal plants were commonly used, growing mainly distributed in the southeastern China, about 200 meters above sea level to 1 500 meters. There are 5 First-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), 15 second-Grade State protection wild plants (medicinal), and 11 She characteristic medicinal plants in our study, they belong to 144 families, 312 genera 494 species, 2 subspecies, 17 varieties, 3 forms and 1 cultivated varieties of She's nationality. Folk medicine usage is different from the traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicine. This survey finds out the common She's nationality wild medicinal plants resources in China, including the species, the distribution, the folk application and commonly used drugs, and found the rare and endangered medicinal plants and the She's nationality endemic medicinal plants, which provides a basis for further development and use the traditional She's medicine resources.
China ; ethnology ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo explore factors related to current prevention and treatment of Advanced cases on schistosomiasis.

METHODSIn-depth interviews were introduced to the qualitative study on 61 Advenced cases of schistosomiasis in Dongting Lake regions. Sampling was accidentally and judgmentally performed.

RESULTSRelated factors on prevention and treatment of Advenced cases of schistosomiasis would include: higher degree of social support for patients (61/61), excessive dependence on the past pattern of schistosomiasis control, lack of the idea that one should be responsible for his/her own health, lack of knowledge about prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis (28/61), older age (57.40 +/- 10.80), lower education (4.70 years), less family income, lack of effective medical insurance system and efficient close-to-client system.

CONCLUSIONActive participation from patients, medical institutions and society was needed to control Late Stage Schistosomiasis. Health education campaign should be intensified to improve the health awareness for schistosomiasis among residents in the heavy endemic areas. Medical insurance system should be set up in epidemic areas, while public health and cure systems for important diseases should be intensified in rural areas. The ability of public health system to be responsive and the accessibility of residents to health service system should be improved in rural areas as well.

Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Health ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires