Objective To observe the relationship between urine albumin excretion rate (UAE), growth factors and the bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Fourteen controls and 51 elderly male patients with diabetes divided into three groups: normal albuminuria(UAE

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of noise on the antioxidant capacity in different regions of brain tissue in guinea pigs.

METHODSThirty male white red-eye guinea pigs were equally and randomly divided into five groups: 1-, 3-, 7-, and 14-day groups after noise exposure and control group. The guinea pigs of the experimental groups were exposed to steady white noise with a sound pressure level at 100 dB for 8 h per day and for 2 consecutive days. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) of guinea pigs, as well as the glutathione (GSH) level, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and hippocampus, was determined prior to and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after noise exposure.

RESULTSAfter noise exposure, the shifts in ABR threshold of the experimental groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the SOD activity and GSH level both significantly decreased in the cerebrum tissue of each experimental group after noise exposure (P<0.05) and MDA content significantly increased in the 1-day group (P<0.05). As for cerebellum tissue, the SOD activity and GSH level in the 7-day group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), but there was no difference in MDA level between each experimental group and the control group (P>0.05). In comparison with those in the control group, the GSH and MDA levels in the 1-day group after noise exposure were significantly higher, and the GSH and MDA levels in the 3-day group and the MDA level in the 7-day group after noise exposure were significantly lower (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNoise exposure can lead to hearing loss and affect the antioxidant capacity of brain tissue, which indicates that the improvement in antioxidant levels may alleviate noise-induced damage.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Chemistry ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Glutathione ; chemistry ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; chemistry ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate whether the size,number or location of fibroids affect therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE).Methods 84 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids who had received uterine fibroid embolization with the use of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)or gelfoam sponge particles(GSP).According to the lesion's size,number or location,all patients were divided into different groups and following -up as outpatients. Patient's symptomatic improvement and imaging following -up was assessed after UAE.Results A technically suc-cessful embolization was done in all patients.Postoperative 12 -month following -up was performed in 77 cases.No major life -threatening complications were found and the clinical symptoms were improved after UAE.In the different groups,the uterine size and the leiomyoma size after UAE were markedly decreased(t =5.842,P <0.05).Further comparison showed that the mean reduction in fibroids volume after UAE was not significant between the two groups, so was the mean reduction in uterine volume.Solitary leiomyoma group showed no significant difference in volume reduction rate of fibroids and uterine after UAE as compared with multiple leiomyoma group.Changes were not signifi-cantly in Submucosal uterine fibroids,Subserosal uterine fibroids,Intramural uterine fibroids.Conclusion UAE is an effective treatment for uterine fibroids.In this study,the size,number,and location of fibroids did not affect therapeutic efficacy or the complication rate of UAE.

Objective To analyze the characteristic colligation force vector curves in hemiplegic patients. Methods Eleven hemiplegic patients were recruited, and 11 healthy elderly served as control. The characteristic changes of the patients with regard to colligation force vector demonstrated on a feedback apparatus of the "X.O.S"system during the dynamic training exercise program were analyzed and compared with that of the control group. Results The value of the colligation force vector passing most of the regions were significantly decreased ( P

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of dual stent placements for the treatment of occlusion/stenosis of subclavian artery associated with stenosis of adjacent vertebral artery initial site. Methods The clinical data of 9 patients with occlusion/stenosis of subclavian artery associated with stenosis of adjacent vertebral artery initial site were retrospectively analyzed. Stent implantations in the affected subclavian artery and vertebral artery were separately performed; the patients were followed up for 3-12 months after the treatment. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with the clinical symptoms and Doppler ultrasonic examination. Results Successful implantation of two stents was accomplished in all 9 patients, with the technical success rate of 100%. After the treatment, the blood flow in both the subclavian and vertebral arteries was unobstructed. Following-up examination showed that the subjective symptoms were obviously improved in all 9 patients, and no serious procedure-related complications occurred. Doppler ultrasound examination showed that no in-stent restenosis or stent displacement was observed. Conclusion For the treatment of occlusion/stenosis of subclavian artery associated with stenosis of adjacent vertebral artery initial site, dual stent placement technique is a safe and feasible means with satisfactory effect in improving vertebro-basilar arterial insufficiency.

Objective To study the methylation status of secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) 1 and SFRP2 genes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the relationship between the methylation status of the two genes and the development of HCC.Methods Using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) to detect methylation status of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes of 45 specimens of HCC tissue and adjacent non-tumorous liver tissue from HCC patients during operations,and 6 normal liver tissues from patients with cholecystolithiasis or hepatic hemangiomas. The data were analyzed by chi-square test and Fisher exact test. Results SFRP1 gene methylation was detected in 28 HCC tissues and 16 adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,accounted for 62.2% and 35.6%,respectively;and SFRP2 gene methylation was detected in 23 HCC tissues and 13 adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,accounted for 51.1% and 28.9%,respectively;while no methylation was detected in 6 samples of normal liver tissues. There was no significant difference between the methylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes in HCC tissues and gender,age,HBV serum markers,types of adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues,metastasis and pathological stage (P＞0.05).The abnormal methylation status between SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes was linear correlated in HCC tissues (r=0.381,P=0.01).Conclusion Hypermethylation of SFRP1 and SFRP2 genes frequently occurs in HBV-related HCC,which may be an important molecular biomarker for prediction of hepatocarcinogenesis in the future.

Objective To evaluate the value of MSCT in the diagnosis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The MSCT appearances of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma confirmed by pathology in 27 cases were analyzed retrospectively.Among them,20 patients underwent plain and four-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scans including early arterial phase,late arterial phase,portal phase and delay phase,7 patients only underwent contrast-enhanced CT scans.Results 15 lesions were located in the hilar and 12 lesions were located in the common bile duct.CT features of cholangiocarcinomas in this group were varied with its position and growth pattern.Besides the direct sign such as delay enhancement,the indirect findings were also specific such as hepatic lobe atrophy,dilated bile duct,etc.Conclusion MSCT is of great value in diagnosis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the effects of metabolic factors on the quality of 18F-fluorode oxyglucose (18F-FDG) myocardial metabolic imaging in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Seventy CAD patients aged 60 years or over with T2DM were studied with myocardial 18 F-FDG dual isotope simultaneous acquisition (DISA) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Fasting plasma glucose, total triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-eholesterol(LDL-C), insulin, C peptide and glyeosylated hemoglobia (HbAlc) were detected. Insulin resistance and islet β cell function were calculated by using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) equation. Results Compared with the bad image quality group (36 cases), patients in the excellent image quality group (34 cases) were younger [with average age of (62.2±8.5) years vs. (67.6±8.3) years, P<0.01] and slimmer [with BMI of (24.7±2.6)kg/m2 vs. (26.1±2.5)kg/m2, P<0.05]. The levels of fasting insulin and C peptide were lower in the excellent image quality group than those in the bad image quality group [with fasting insulin level of 8.3 (5.1～12.4) mIu/L vs. 12.7,(6.1～17.9)mIu/L and C-peptide level of 0.6(0.5～0.9)nmol/L vs. 0.9(0.6～1.2)nmol/L, respectively,both P<0.05]. The HOMA insulin resistant index was reduced in the excellent image group [2.7(1.6～4.0) vs. 4.1(1.7～6.5), P<0.05]. Logistic regression analysis showed that obesity and age≥65 years were independent risk factors for image quality, with OR value of 3.73 (95% CI: 1.12～12.45,P=0.022)and 3.75 (95%CI:0.96～14.6,P=0.058)after adjustment of other metabolic factors. Conclusions Insulin resistance is the main factor that influences the quality of 18F-FDG myocardial metabolic imaging in patients with T2DM. In addition, age≥65 years and obesity are also risk factors for image quality.

Objective　To observe the changes of glucocorticoi d receptor (GR) in hepatic cytoplasm in rats after scalding-induced pathologic al stress and its regulation. Methods　The receptor binding capa city (R0) and the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of GR in hepatic cytopla sm of normal, low-degree and heavy-degree scalded rats were measured with rad io-ligand binding assay, with ［3H］ dexamethasone as ligand. The changes of R0 and Kd of GR were regulated by injections of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β a ntibodies, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and KPV peptide( Ac- D-Lys-L-Pro-D-Val) respectively in vivo. Results　The R 0 of GR in hepatic cytoplasm in rats 12 h after heavy-degree scalding ［Mass action robust: （205.52±30.14） fmol/mg; Scatchard: （208.45±30.78） fmol/mg ］were significantly lower than that of control group ［Mass action robust:（307 .86±24.22） fmol/mg;Scatchard:（306.71±27.96） fmol/mg］(P<0.01), but no s ignificant difference was found in the R0 of GR between the control and the ra ts 12 h after low-degree scalding ［Mass action robust: （285.19±16.62） fmol/ mg ; Scatchard: （296.64±16.06） fmol/mg］. The injection of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β antibodies, α-MSH and KVP all prevented the decline of R0 of GR in h epatic cytoplasm in rats with severe scalding. Conclusion　The injections of anti-rat TNFα, IL-1β antibodies, α-MSH or KPV can attenuate the reduction of GR in rat hepatic cytoplasm caused by severe scalding-induced pathological stress to some extent.