Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Male ; Silicosis ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To explore the correlation between cystatin C (Cys C) and intima-media thickness of carotid artery (CIMT) in patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and one patients with hypertension (hypertension group) and 54 healthy people (control group) were enrolled in this study.The level of serum Cys C was measured and CIMT was detected by B ultrasound.The correlation between Cys C and CIMT was analyzed.Results The level of Cys C and CIMT in hypertension group were significantly higher than those in control group [(0.92 ±0.21) mg/L vs.(0.85 ±0.20) mg/L,(0.91 ±0.16) mm vs.(0.65 ± 0.15) mm] (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).Multiple linear correlation analysis showed that Cys C and CIMT was positively correlated in total population or hypertension group or control group (r =0.412,0.443,0.315,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Serum Cys C is associated with the degree of hypertension arteriosclerosis,and Cys C may be involved in atherosclerosis.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,pathological classification and therapy strategy of rectal carcinoid and its prognostic factors.Methods Forty four patients with rectal carcinoid were diagnosed and treated in Ruijin Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2006 to November 2013,among whom 21 patients (19 males and 2 females) were followed-up for 1-7.5 years.The clinical data of these cases were retrospectively analyzed.Results The patients underwent colonoscopy because of changed bowel habits and/or abnormal digital rectal examination,none of them had carcinoid syndrome.Colonoscopy showed that most lesions presented yellowish in color and smooth in surface; the diameter of the tumor was ≤ 1.0 cm in 12 cases (57％) ; the tumors were located at the rectum within 8 cm from anal rim in 17cases (76％); most of them were well differentiated.Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that NSE expression was highly positive.The 1 year-and 3year-survival rate were both 100％.Among 8 cases who were followed up for over 5 year,2 relapsed.Conclusions The digital rectal examination plays a key role in detecting rectal carcinoid.Though prognosis is relatively good,we should keep close following-up to detect the recurrence.The main risk factors influencing the prognosis are tumor size,depth of invasion and clinical stage.The combination measurement of CEA,TSGF,CA19-9 and NSE will either increase the sensitivity or the specificity of early detection.

Objective To analyze the abnormal region of gray matter and its distribution characteristics in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI),and to investigate the structural brain changes which closely related to mild cognitive impairment.Methods 27 PD patients were examined by T1WI three-dimensional brain volume (3D-fast spoiled gradient echo,3D-FSPGR) sequence,and were divided into 2 groups:PD patients with mild cognitive impairment group (PD-MCI group,n＝15) and PD patients without mild cognitive impairment (PD-nMCI group,n=12).Gray matter map in the two groups were analyzed by using voxel based morphometry (VBM) based on SPM5.Results There were significant differences in MMSE and MoCA scores between the two groups (P＜0.01 or 0.05).Compared with PD-nMCI group,gray matter volumes in PD-MCI group were decreased in bilateral mid frontal gyrus,left precentral gyrus,right mid-temporal gyrus,left superior temporal gyrus,transverse temporal gyrus,bilateral lingual gyrus,right cuneus,bilateral insular and right posterior cingutate gyrus.Conclusions Gray matter atrophy in bilateral mid-frontal gyrus,insular and left precentral gyrus is closely related to the mild cognitive impairment in PD patients.

Objective To investigate the abnormal region of gray matter and distribution in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD),and explore the brain structural changes closely related to mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods 20 cases of PD-MCI, 1 7 cases of PD-nMCI and 20 normal controls (NC)were examined by 3D-T1 WI brain volume sequence.The data of three groups were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry(VBM)based on SPM8 to generate gray matter map.Results Compared to NC,decreased gray matter volume in PD-nMCI was observed in the right temporal lobe,including the middle temporal gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,and right fusiform gyrus,uncus and left superior temporal gyrus.Compared to PD-nMCI,decreased gray matter volume in PD-MCI was observed in the bilateral midfrontal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,left precentral gyrus,right midtemporal gyrus,superior temporal gyrus,bilateral insular,and right cuneus,lingual gyrus,posterior cingutate.Conclusion Decreased gray volume in PD-nMCI is mainly located in the right temporal lobe and right uncus.With occurrence of MCI,abnormal brain regions are gradually extended.Gray matter atrophy in the bilateral midfrontal gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,and left precentral gyrus are related to the MCI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.

METHODSWe randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.

RESULTSThe plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSignificant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.

Animals ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminal Vesicles ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at points along Foot Yangming Channel on metabolite of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats' cerebral cortex and to identify key metabolites by referring to Pi/Wei-brain related theory in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSThe UC rat model was set up by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) method. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the model group and the EA group, 13 in each group. Another 13 rats were recruited as the blank control group. Rats in the blank control group and the model group received no EA. EA was performed at Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Tianshu (ST25) for 5 days by using disperse-dense wave. Then all rats were sacrificed. Their recto-colon and the ileocecal junction were pathomorphologically observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cerebral cortexes were extracted. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble brain tissue metabolites were respectively extracted for metabolic research using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR).

RESULTSEA could obviously improve the general condition of UC model rats, decrease the value of DAI, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the intestinal tract, stabilize structures such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and so on (P <0.05). 1HNMR analysis showed that in the model group, contents of glutamic acid, cholesterol, very low density lipoproein (VLDL) in the pallium obviously decreased, while alanine and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly increased. After EA, levels of lactic acid, glutamic acid, total cholesterol (TC), and VLDL all increased, and levels of alanine and LDL decreased. All indices were approximate to those of the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONEA at Foot Yangming channel was found to have some effect on metabolites in the brain tissue of UC model rats, which had specific metabonomic material basis and mechanism based on the Pi/Wei-brain related theory.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Electroacupuncture ; Lipids ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo sum up the experience of carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

METHODSFrom January 1999 to July 2003, 59 patients were treated by CEA. There were 40 males and 19 females, and their age ranged from 56 to 79 years with an average of 71.8 years. The stenotic degree of internal carotid artery were over 80% in all cases. The left lesions were in 35 cases, and the right in 19, and the bilateral in 5. Patching were in 5, bypass with a great saphenous vein in 2.

RESULTSFifty-five cases were excellent. Two patient died, one was caused by hyperperfusion syndrome, the another was due to the acute cardiac infarction at 31 days after operation. The complications included 5 hematosis and 1 hoarseness.

CONCLUSIONCEA is still the best method in treating the stenosis and occlusion of carotid artery.

Aged ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Endarterectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression and clinical significance of Caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

METHODReal time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was used to test the expression level of CDX2 gene in 108 de novo AML patients and the clinical features of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTSCDX2 gene transcript levels were detectable in bone marrow mononuclear cells from 108 AML patients and 7 healthy donors, the median expression level were 1179.44 (range 14.15 - 867 961.10) and 105.30 (range 22.30 - 453.11). There was a statistically significant difference in expression level of CDX2 gene between the AML patients and normal donor (P < 0.01). All 14 patients with FLT3-ITD(+) were in CDX2 gene higher expression group (P = 0.018), including 10 patients with normal karyotype. In the 83 treated AML patients (P = 0.046) and 57 higher WBC count (≥ 10×10(9)/L, P = 0.048) patients, the higher expression level of CDX2 gene was associated with lower complete remission (CR) rates.

CONCLUSIONSHigher expression level of CDX2 gene was seen mostly in AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation and with lower CR rates. CDX2 gene might be a prognostic molecular marker in AML patients with normal karyotype.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; CDX2 Transcription Factor ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Young Adult ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics

AIMTo study the effect of volume expansion by 0.9% and 1.8% sodium solution on cardiac-renal reflex activity and the role of cardiac-renal reflex in the regulation of integrated function.

METHODS18 health pentobarbital-anaesthetized rabbits were divided evenly into 2 groups at random, bilateral sino-aortic denervation, intubated via right jugular vein to monitor CVP, left renal nerve separated and ending sectioned to record ERSNA, bilateral ureter intubated to collect urine, right femoral intubated to get blood sample. 15% of whole body blood volume of 0.9% and 1.8% sodium solution were injected via jugular vein 10 ml per minute respectively. The CVP, ERSNA, bilateral urine volume and coefficient of sodium excretion were measured before treated, during treated, one minute, five minutes and ten minutes after treated.

RESULTSVolume expansion by 0.9% and 1.8% sodium solution respectively resulted in the increase of CVP by 64.00% +/- 15.56% and 77.00% +/- 23.74%; the decrease of the frequency of ERSNA by 44.00% +/- 13.64% and 63.00% +/- 12.49%, the average burst time of ERSNA by 37.00% +/- 16.49% and 31.00% +/- 10.69%, the increase of average interval of ERSNA bursts by 60.00% +/- 18.38% and 68.00% +/- 27.04%; the increase of urine volume by 158.00% +/- 28.10% and 640.00% +/- 155.39% in left kidney, 192.00% +/- 32.26% and 1343.00% +/- 429.95% in the right; the increase of coefficient of sodium excretion by 132.00% +/- 35.23% and 376.00% +/- 121.72% in the left, 300.00% +/- 76.99% and 856.00% +/- 261.48% in the right.

CONCLUSIONVolume expansion by different solution stimulate the receptors of cardiopulmonary and regulate the water and sodium excretion of the kidney by the cardiac-renal reflex to modulate the stabilization of blood volume.

Animals ; Blood Volume ; drug effects ; physiology ; Central Venous Pressure ; Heart ; drug effects ; innervation ; Kidney ; drug effects ; innervation ; Rabbits ; Reflex ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; pharmacology