ObjectiveTo explore the development and mechanism of hepatic cell apoptosis, and the effect of anti-apoptosis apoptosis of Se in the liver in obstructive jaundice rats. Methods(GPx) activity and (ROS) level were measured by biochemical methods,terminal-deoxynucleotidyl medicated nick end labeling (TUNEL)in different groups at different time points, and analysed by multivariate regression. Results Apoptosis cells appeared on day 3 after common bile duct(CBD) ligation ,significantly increased on day 7,reached the peak level on day 11, and began to decrease on day 14. The longer the time of obstructive jaundice in rats, the higher the level of ROS and apotosis index(AI), while the level of GPx decreased progressively. AI reached the peak 11-day after CBD ligation. Less hepatic apoptosis appeared after the rats treated with Se at every time point (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic values of vestibular autorotation test (VAT) for patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI).

METHODSVAT and videonystagmography ( VNG) were performed on 73 patients with VBI and 48 patients with peripheral vestibular lesions (contrast group). Parameters analyzed included Gain, phase and asymmetry of VAT, as well as the canal paresis (CP) of caloric test and results of optokinetic-pursuit tests in VNG. Positive result of the test could be defined if anyone of the parameters was abnormal.

RESULTSFor VAT test, Gain was enhanced in VBI group and was reduced in contrast group. In VBI group and contrast group, Gain enhanced showed in 47 (64.4%) cases and 5 (10.4%) cases, respectively (chi2 = 31.19, P < 0.01). Simultaneity, Gain reduced in 11 cases (15.5%) and 22 cases (45.8%), respectively (chi2 = 13.82, P < 0.01). But there was no statistics significant for results of the parameters of phase, asymmetry and integration between two groups. For VNG test, results with optokinetic-pursuit tests were more abnormal in VBI group than that in contrast group, which showed central lesions characteristics. Forty-four cases (60.3%) in VBI group and 10 cases (20.8%) in control group showed central lesions results with optokinetic-pursuit tests and visual fixation test (chi2 = 15.89, P < 0.01). Unilateral or bilateral CP showed in 33 cases (68.6%) in control group and 51 cases (69.9%) in VBI group with caloric test.

CONCLUSIONSGain of VAT is mostly enhanced in VBI group, and Gain as a main characteristic is reduced in patients with peripheral vestibular lesions. The Gain parameter is availability for assessing characteristics of vestibular lesions. Phase and asymmetry can be used to assess the vestibular function but can not indicate the characteristics of vestibular lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency ; complications ; physiopathology ; Vertigo ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Function Tests ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of subjective visual horizontal (SVH) and evaluate its clinical value for vestibular function in peripheral unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH).

METHODSEighty-five patients with UVH (study group) and 39 normal persons (control group) accepted vestibular function tests, including SVH, subjective visual vertical (SVV) and caloric test by video-nystagmography. The parameters of the angle of SVH and SVV, directional preponderance (DP) and unilateral weakness (UW) of caloric test were observed. The correlation between SVH/SVV, DP, UW and the course of disease were investigated respectively. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSReference range of SVH and SVV was from -2° to 2° in the control group. Among the 85 patients, 46 cases (54.1%) and 43 cases (50.6%) had the abnormal values of SVH and SVV respectively, with no statistical significance (χ(2) = 12.5, P = 0.481) by chi square test. Fifty-five cases (64.7%) with abnormal DP had no statistical significance when compared with SVH and SVV respectively (χ(2) values were 0.19 and 2.86, respectively, P value were 0.164, 0.067, respectively). In UVH, there were positive correlation between SVH, SVV and DP (r value was 0.939, 0.648, 0.658, all P < 0.05) respectively, but no correlation between UW and SVH or SVV (r value was 0.048, 0.085, all P > 0.05). According to the permutation and combination of the four parameters, positive or negative, three main groups could be defined [SVH(+)DP(+)UW(+), SVH(-)DP(+)UW(+), SVH(-)DP(-)UW(+); SVV(+)DP(+)UW(+), SVV(-)DP(+)UW(+), SVV(-)DP(-)UW(+)]. The course of disease in the three main groups was positively skewed distribution, with median of 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 d and 5.0, 9.5, 14.5 d respectively. By Kruskal-Wallis Test, χ(2) value were 8.80 and 6.26, respectively(P value were 0.012, 0.040, respectively), with statistical significance between the above three main groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe SVH value can evaluate the function of the otolithic. The angle of SVH and SVV are changing in the course of disease, SVH and SVV can be used as a guidance of the vestibular compensation evaluation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Caloric Tests ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vestibular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Function Tests ; methods ; Visual Perception ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels of 22 HFRS patients (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) 1, 4, and 12 weeks after they were diagnosed. Sixteen healthy blood donors were recruited as control group.

RESULTSThe levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-8 in HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in control group 1 week after they were diagnosed (all P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in HFRS patients returned to the normal levels four weeks after the diagnosis, while those of IL-1beta, IL-8, and IL-10 remained significantly higher than those in control group 12 weeks after the diagnosis (all P < 0.01). The IL-8 and IL-10 levels in mild HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in moderate HFRS patients at the same period (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAbnormal expressions and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs during the disease course of HFRS.

Adult ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the selective isolation of a single chemical component from volatile oil of Fructus foeniculi by inclucion method.

METHODThe host molecule was selected and a single chemical component isolated from volatile oil by the host-guest recognition.

RESULTX-ray single crystal analysis showed that 1,1,6,6-tetraphenylhexa-2, 4-diyne-1, 6-diol could successfully include 4-[1-propenyl] benzaldehyde from volatile oil of Fructus foeniculi.

CONCLUSIONThe host-guest inclusion technology can be used to isolate a single component selectively from mixture.

Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; methods ; Foeniculum ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe changes in T cell subsets and TH1/TH2 secreted cytokines in the plasma of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODSTotally 22 patients with HFRS (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) were enrolled. Blood samples were taken 1, 4, and 12 weeks after presentation. T cell subsets were tested by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of cytokines in plasma were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Another 16 healthy blood donors were enrolled as the control group.

RESULTSCD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes increased at week 1 and 4 (P < 0.01), which was more significant in mild cases than in moderate cases (P < 0.05). The change of CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes during the disease course were not significantly different from that in control group (P > 0.05). One week after presentation, TH1 [interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)] and TH2 (IL-6, IL-10) cytokine productions were significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01); IL-2 and IL-10 remained high levels during the whole observation period, and were still significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). At week 4, the plasma IL-5 level was significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01), and were still significantly higher than in the control group at week 12 (P < 0.01). At week 1 and 4, the plasma INF-gamma levels were significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients (P < 0.05); at week 12, the plasma IL-10 level was significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes remarkably increases at the early stage of disease in patients with mild HFRS. The early cell mediated immune response is helpful for disease control. The cytokines INF-gamma and IL-10 increase more obviously in moderate patients, indicating that cytokines also are key pathogenic factors of HRFS.

Adult ; Female ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Shanghai residents.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai with a representative sample of 14,327 Chinese adults from 15 to 74 years of age. The sample was randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling. The criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guidelines and the China Diabetes Society (CDS), respectively, were applied for diagnosis.

RESULTSDiagnosed by using the IDF criterion, the crude prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 17.51%, and the age and gender-adjusted prevalence was 12.81% (95% CI: 12.26 - 13.36). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in females than in males (14.79% and 10.93%, respectively), and higher in urban residents than in rural ones (13.71% and 10.72%, respectively). The age-specific prevalence of the metabolic syndrome increased in both male and female residents and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in females 45 years of age or elder was significantly increased. The prevalence of having at least 3 parameters of metabolic syndrome was 22.28%. According to the ATP III guideline, the crude and age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.03% and 8.62%, respectively. Based on the criterion of CDS, they were 13.98% and 10.41%.

CONCLUSIONThere is a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Shanghai residents. Metabolic syndrome has become a noteworthy public health problem. It suggests that community-integrated control of metabolic syndrome should have its priority.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; epidemiology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syndrome ; Young Adult

Gastric resection can cause a multifactorial clinical manifestations of dyspepsia,such as flatulence,diarrhea,weight loss,and fat diarrhea.Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is one of the possible mechanisms of fat maldigestion following gastric surgery,the main causes may be related to rapid gastric emptying;asynchrony between gastric emptying and bilio-pancreatic secretion due to new tracts of various reconstructions;bacterial overgrowth after gastrectomy and so on.Oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the mainstay of treatment for EPI,due to lack of available evidence so far,the efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme substitution in patients following gastric resection remains unclear and cannot be generally recommended.This review will sum up the revelant studies addressing EPI and PERT after gastric resection in recent years,and summarizes the mechanisms,clinical diagnostic methods and PERT treatment perscription of EPI after gastrectomy to improve the cognition of clinicans.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of the Chinese medicine Huzhangdanshenyin on male immune infertility, and provide an effective therapy for this disease.

METHODSNinety men with immune infertility were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into two groups, 60 in the treatment group, treated by Huzhangdanshenyin, and the other 30 in the control, treated by prednisone, both for 3 months. The improvement of clinical symptoms, immunologic indexes (antisperm antibodies in serum and seminal plasma) and sperm indexes (semen liquefied duration, motility, viability, density and abnormal morphology rate) were observed and the results analyzed.

RESULTSThe total antisperm antibody reversing ratio of the treatment group was higher than that of the control (P < 0.01), especially the serum antisperm antibody reversing ratio. There were significant differences in the clinical cure rate and total validity rate between the treatment group and the control (P < 0.01). After the treatment, the markers of the clinical symptoms (P < 0.01), especially the serum antisperm antibody reversing ratio. There were significant differences in the clinical cure rate and total validity rate between the treatment group and the control (P < 0.01). After the treatment, the markers of the clinical symptoms were lower (P < 0.01), and the improvement of the clinical symptoms was better in the treatment group than in the control (P < 0.01), especially the symptoms of pain in the back and knees, distending and bearing-down sensation of the perineum and testis, hypersexuality and topalgias. Compared with pre-treatment, sperm motility and viability of the treatment group significantly improved (P < 0.01), and so did sperm density (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in sperm density, semen liquefied duration, abnormal morphology rate and pH (P > 0.05) before and after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese medicine Huzhangdanshenyin works more effectively than prednisone in the treatment of male immune infertility. It could improve the antisperm antibody reversing ratio, clinical symptoms and signs and ameliorate sperm indexes with no obvious advierse effects.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; immunology

BACKGROUNDThe pharmacokinetics of zidovudine (AZT) are possibly influenced by weight, age, sex, liver and renal functions, severity of disease, and ethnicity. Currently, little information is available on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of AZT in Chinese HIV-infected patients. The current study aimed to characterize the steady-state pharmacokinetics of AZT in a Chinese set-up.

METHODSEleven Chinese HIV-infected patients were involved in the steady-state pharmacokinetic study. In total, 300 mg of AZT, as a part of combination therapy, was given to patients, and serial blood samples were collected for 12 hours. The samples were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay, and the results were analyzed by both the non-compartment model and the one-compartment model.

RESULTSThe C(max) of AZT in Chinese patients was higher than that in non-Asian patients. The half-life of AZT, analyzed by the non-compartment model (P = 0.02), in male patients ((1.02 ± 0.22) hours) was shorter than that of AZT in female patients ((1.55 ± 0.29) hours). The AZT clearance, analyzed by the one-compartment model (P = 0.045), in male patients ((262.60 ± 28.13) L/h) was higher than that in female patients ((195.85 ± 60.51) L/h).

CONCLUSIONThe present study provides valuable information for the clinical practice of AZT-based highly active antiretroviral therapy in a Chinese set-up.

Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; HIV Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Zidovudine ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use