Objective To investigate the correlation of uric acid(UA) level and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Methods Among the individuals who presented to the cardiology clinic, 70 patients who had hypertension and were diagnozed with non- dipper hypertension (non-dipper hypertension group) by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), 70 patients with dipper hypertension patients (dipper hypertension group), and 52 normotensive individuals (control group) were enrolled in this study. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all the patients in order to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters. All the assessed parameters were compared among three groups. Results The level of UA in non-dipper hypertension group was the highest, in dipper hypertension group was higher and in contrl group was the lowerst:(393.57 ± 53.52), (280.57 ± 41.64), (267.66 ± 59.38) μmol/L, and there were significant differences (P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the level of UA was an independent risk factor for non-dipper circadian rhythm of blood pressure (P = 0.003, OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.34- 3.89). Conclusions The higher level of UA may be a risk factor for non-dipper circadian rhythm of blood pressure in hypertension patients.

Phased array transducers are very attractive because the beam generated by the arrays can be electronically focused and steered. The present work characterizes far-field 2D properties of phased array system by functions that are deduced from rectangle source, rectangle line array and phased array based on point source. Results are presented for the distribution of ultrasound intensity on plane xoz and on x-axis by simulation using numerical calculation. It is shown that the shape of response of rectangle line array is modulated by the single array element. It is also demonstrated that the delay time of phased array is the key to steer the beam, sacrificing the value of main lobe and increasing the number of side lobes.
Computer Simulation ; Models, Theoretical ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics ; instrumentation ; methods

ObjectiveTo investigate the localization and therapeutic effect of allogeneic bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation in the rat model of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). MethodsBone marrow HSCs from allogeneic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were isolated and cultured in vitro and labeled with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) before transplantation. Eighteen female SD rats were randomly and equally divided into groups A, B, and C. A female rat model of liver fibrosis was established using CCl4. The rats in group A were injected with HSC-containing suspension through the caudal vein in the fourth week after CCl4 injection, while the rats in groups B and C were injected with normal saline through the caudal vein. In the eighth week, blood samples were taken from all groups. Then all rats were sacrificed, and the liver, pancreatic, and stomach tissues were collected to examine the localization of HSC and evaluate the therapeutic effect of HSC on liver damage. The double-blind method was used to statistically analyze experimental results. Comparison of continuous data between these groups was made by analysis of variance, and pairwise comparison was made by SNK-q test; comparison of categorical data between these groups was made by Kruskal-Wallis H test, and pairwise comparison was made by Nemenyi test. ResultsGroup A showed significantly improved histopathology compared with group B, while groups A and C showed approximately the same histological findings. There were significant differences in classification of liver fibrosis between groups A, B, and C (χ2=13.14, P=0.001), and groups A and C had significantly lower grades of liver fibrosis than group B (both P＜0.05). In group A, BrdU-positive cells were detected in the liver tissues of all rats, but no positive cells were detected in the pancreatic and stomach tissues; no BrdU-positive cells were detected in groups B and C. Compared with group B, groups A and C had significantly lower alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels but a significantly higher albumin level (all P＜0.05). ConclusionAllogeneic HSC can be localized in the rat model of liver fibrosis and reverse the liver damage.