Adult ; Endocarditis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoses ; Recurrence

Objective: To analyze the composition regularities of the traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMFs) for treating five kinds of ophthalmic diseases, including swelling and pain of eyes, night blindness, pterygium, blepharitis marginalis and nebula based on the data mining methodology. Methods: A total of 1999 TCMFs for ophthalmic diseases were collected from the Dictionary of Chinese Medicine Prescriptions. Then frequency analyses and association rules analyses were conducted with the three indicators of support, confidence and lift based on the Apriori algorithm. Results: The diaphoretic drugs and heat-clearing drugs were the commonly used types of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for swelling and pain of eyes, pterygium and blepharitis marginalis. The heat-clearing drugs and tonifying drugs were the commonly used types of TCMs for night blindness and nebula. Coptidis Rhizoma was frequently used for swelling and pain of eyes, Schizonepetae Herba was for blepharitis marginalis, and Chuanxiong Rhizoma was for nebula. The latent association rules with significant lift included Margarita→Calamina for swelling and pain of eyes, Myrrha→Olibanum for pterygium, Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix→Saposhnikoviae Radix for blepharitis marginalis, and Lithargite→Sal Ammoniac for nebula. Conclusion: Using association rules, the comparative study on the five kinds of ophthalmic diseases can reveal the similarities and differences of treatments for these ophthalmic diseases and explore the composition regularities of TCMs, which helps to explore the hidden value of TCMFs.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical features of amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in human hepatocellular carcinoma and to observe the effect of AIB1 silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) on expression of EMT markers and invasiveness of HepG2 cells.Methods In this study,expression of AIB1,E-cadherin,Vimentin,ZO-1,and N-cadherin protein in 81 hepatocellular carcinomas were assessed through immunohistochemistry and clinicopathological significance was analyzed.After the lentiviral vector of AIB1 RNA interference was transfected into HepG2 cells,the expression of AIB1 and EMT markers was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.The invasion and metastasis was evaluated by Transwell analysis.Results The expression of AIB1 protein was significantly up-regulated in the hepatocellular carcinoma tissue compared to the normal tumor adjacent tissue.The frequency of AIB1 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinomas with lymph node metastasis is 63％ (P ＜ 0.05).Correlation analysis demonstrated that the AIB1 protein expression was inversely correlated with E-cadherin,and positively correlated with Vimentin in hepatocellular carcinomas.After transfection with AIB1 targeting siRNA,the expression of AIB1 mRNA and protein decreased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).Knockdown of AIB1 expression increased the expression of E-cadherin and inhibited the expression of Vimentin.In addition,the invasion of HepG2 cells silenced AIB1 were significantly descented.Conclusion Above data suggests that overexpression of AIB1 might promote invasiveness and metastasis of cancer cells through regulation of E-cadherin and Vimentin expression in hepatocellular carcinomas.

Objective To investigate the development trend of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu Province,and to provide the basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods In 2009,eight major counties were chosen,and in each county all diseased villages were classified into light,moderate and severe disease types according to water fluorine content based on historical data,and one village was chosen from each type.In monitoring villages with improved water,one source water and three tap water samples were collected,respectively.Five water samples were collected in water unimproved monitoring villages according to water well locations of the east,the west,the south,the north and the center.The fluorine content in water was determined according to the Standard Testing Methods for Drinking Water (GB/T 5750-2006).Children aged 8 to 12 were examined for dental fluorosis by Dean method.Residents over the age of 16 were examined for clinical osteofluorosis,and two monitoring counties were chosen,then one village was respectively chosen in each county,and clinically diagnosed patients with skeletal fluorosis were examined again by X-ray.Both clinical and X-ray diagnosis were on the basis of Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Urine samples of 30 children aged 8 to 12 and of 20 adults over the age of 16 were randomly collected and urinary fluoride was determined by F-ion selective electrode method(WS/T 89-1996).Results Of all the 24 villages of 8 counties,20 villages were water improved,and water-improvedprojects ran normally in 18 villages,while scrapped in the rest 2 villages.One hundred and two samples were tested,and the mean of water fluoride in water-improved villages was 1.10 mg/L,while in water unimproved villages and villages with water improved projects scrapped was 1.90 mg/L.The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 42.51％(854/2009).The prevalence of clinical skeletal fluorosis was 23.23％ (2024/8713) and the X-ray detection rate was 32.00％ (24/75).Six hundred and sixty-four urine samples of children were determined,and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 1.59 mg/L,while 370 adult urine samples were determined,and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 2.20 mg/L.Conclusions Endemic fluorosis in Jiangsu Province has not been fully controlled and there are signs of recovery.We must pay attention to water improvement measures to reduce fluoride and the management and maintenance of water improvement projects,and further strengthen the prevention and control of endemic fluorosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the AGT gene M235T variant with essential hypertension in Han population of Zhejiang Province.

METHODSThe study included 230 subjects: 116 hypertensive patients and 114 normotensive controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with restrictive fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to detect the M235T variant of angiotensinogen (AGT) gene. Blood pressure, body height and weight, fasting blood glucose and serum lipid were measured in all subjects.

RESULTS(1)The systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of hypertensive group were significantly higher than those of control group, while no significant difference was observed with regard to age, gender, body mass index, blood glucose, or lipid profile. (2)The genotype distribution of AGT gene in both groups was in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (3)The genotype distribution of the M235T variant differed significantly in hypertensives and controls (chi(2)=6.966,P<0.05). The frequencies of genotype TT and T235 allele in hypertensives were higher than those in controls (TT genotype: 0.47 compared with 0.33, chi(2)=5.36,P<0.05; T235 allele: 0.71 compared with 0.60, chi(2)=6.179, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular variant M235T of the AGT gene is significantly associated with essential hypertension in this population. The genotype TT or allele T235 might be a genetic risk factor for hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiotensinogen ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Abnormalities, Multiple ; Adult ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; complications ; Aortic Aneurysm ; complications ; Aortic Rupture ; complications ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; etiology ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Sinus of Valsalva

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of the angiotensinogen(AGT) gene M235T variant on the prevalence and severity of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM).

METHODSThe authors conducted a case-control study on 152 subjects, including 72 HCM patients and 80 normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) was used to detect the M235T variant of AGT gene. Interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness and apical wall thickness were measured by means of M-mode echocardiography under two-dimensional guidance in the parasternal long-axis plane and apical two- and four-chamber views.

RESULTS(1) The genotype distributions of AGT gene in both groups were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. (2) The genotype distributions of the M235T variant differed significantly in HCM patients and controls(chi-square=6.090 P<0.05). The frequencies of TT genotype and T235 allele in HCM patients were higher than did the patients in controls(TT genotype 0.63 vs 0.45 OR=2.037 95%CI 1.064-7.899 P<0.05 T235 allele 0.78 vs 0.64 OR=1.990 95%CI 1.197-3.308 P<0.01). (3)The patients with the TT genotype had significantly greater mean left ventricular maximal wall thickness than did the patients with the MM and MT genotypes [(19.1+/-4.8) mm vs(15.3+/-2.6)mm and(16.2+/-5.1)mm F=4.261 P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe variant M235T of the AGT gene is significantly associated with HCM in this population. The genotype TT or allele T might be a genetic risk factor for the development and extent of hypertrophy in HCM patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiotensinogen ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) were developed to predict the pK(a) values of sulfa drugs via heuristic method (HM) and gene expression programming (GEP). The descriptors of 31 sulfa drugs were calculated by the software CODESSA, which can calculate constitutional, topological, geometrical, electrostatic, and quantum chemical descriptors. HM was also used for the preselection of 4 appropriate molecular descriptors. Linear and nonlinear QSPR models were developed based on the HM and GEP separately and two prediction models lead to a good correlation coefficient (R) of 0.90 and 0.95. The two QSPR models are tseful in predicting pK(a) during the discovery of new drugs and providing theory information for studying the new drugs.
Algorithms ; Gene Expression ; Models, Chemical ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Software ; Sulfonamides ; chemistry

We report electroversion in treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and cervical spinal cord injury. At first, the patient sustained respiratory failure and weak cough reflex, thereafter repeated bronchoscopy was used to aspirate the sputum as well as control the pneumonia, which resulted in arrhythmia (AF and AVNRT). Two doses of intravenous amiodarone failed to correct the arrhythmia. After restoration of sinus rhythm by electroversion, he was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and discharged from the intensive care unit without recurrent arrhythmia.
Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; therapy ; Bronchoscopy ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Electric Countershock ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiration, Artificial ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome ; complications

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of the no-flip procedure with the Chinese Shang Ring when circumcising adult males with redundant prepuce or phimosis, and to discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

METHODSUsing the no-flip Shang Ring technique, we performed circumcision for 167 adult males aged 18 -72 (mean 27.8) years with redundant prepuce or phimosis, and analyzed the clinical data, including the operation time, postoperative complications, ring-removal time, and postoperative appearance of the penis.

RESULTSComplete follow-up data of 94 cases (56.29%) were obtained. The mean operation time was (5.03 +/- 0.71) minutes and the average ring-removal time was (18.83 +/- 6.70) days. The primary postoperative complications were edema (35 cases [37.23%] at 2 weeks and 9 cases [9.57%] at 4 weeks), including 2 severe cases (2.13%), and infection (3 cases [3.19%]). The pain scores were 2.01 +/- 2.46 during the procedure and 4.52 +/- 2.53 at 24 hours postoperatively. Slipping of the outer ring occurred in 1 case, and delayed removal of the ring in 30 cases (31.91%).

CONCLUSIONAdult male circumcision with the no-flip Shang Ring technique is recommended for its short operation time, simple procedure, fewer postoperative complications, less pain, and better incision appearance.

Adult ; Aged ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Edema ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; etiology ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Young Adult