Objective To find out iodine nutritional status of pregnant women in the third trimester and the relationship between pregnant women and their neonates thyroid function in a high iodine area.Methods From April to June 2010,210 copies of fasting morning urine and venous blood,and their neonatal umbilical cord blood samples were collected in Haixing Hospital,Cangzhou city,Hebei province.Urinary iodine was determined by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.The levels of free triiodothyronine(FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (sTSH) in serum were measured by chemiluminescence.Results Median urinary iodine of 210 pregnant women(average age 27.69 ± 4.73 years) in the third trimester was 1240.70 μg/L,84.3％(177/210) of them was in excessive iodine nutrition,and only 0.5％(1/210) of them was in adequate iodine nutrition.The prevalence rate of thyroid diseases was 19.5％ (41/210),and the spectrum of diseases were subclinical hypothyroidism(16.2％,34/210),subclinical hyperthyroidism(0.9％,2/210),hypothyroidism(2.4％,5/210) and hyperthyroidism (0,0/210).The number of newborns with sTSH 5 - ＞ 10 mU/L were 104 persons (49.5％); 10 - ＞ 20 mU/L were 44 persons(21.0％),and ≥20 mU/L were 16 persons(7.6％).Of pregnant women suffer from thyroid disease,the ratio(50.0％,24/48 ) of sTSH equal to 10.18 mU/L and ＞ 10 mU/L of their neonates was higher than that of their corresponding non-ill pregnant women(6.78 mU/L,Z =- 2.867,P ＜ 0.05; 22.2％,36/162,x2 =14.000,P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between neonates' and their mothers' sTSH levels (r =0.278,P ＜ 0.05).There was also a positive correlation between neonates' (sTSH ＞ 10 mU/L) and their mothers' abnormal sTSH levels (r =0.240,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Most of the pregnant women in high iodine areas are iodine excess.The level of neonates' sTSH is higher,and it is due to their mothers' abnormal sTSH and suffering from thyroid diseases to some extent.As a result,the monitoring of pregnant women's iodine nutrition and thyroid function and sTSH level of their neonates should be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo reveal the iodine status of pregnant women and its impact on thyroid function of neonates in high iodine area.

METHODSA total of 210 pregnant women were chosen from a hospital in Haixing county, Hebei province. Pregnant women's random urinary and neonates' cord blood were collected. The urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was examined by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. The levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (sTSH) in serum were measured by chemiluminescence.

RESULTSThe age of 210 pregnant women was (27.69 +/- 4.73) years old, whose urinary iodine median (inter-quartile range ) was 1240.70 (1292.68) microg/L. 84.3% (177/210) of the pregnant women had excessive iodine intake (UIC > or = 500 microg/L), 13.8% (29/210) had more than adequate iodine intake( UIC within 250 - 499 microg/L), 0.5% (1/210) had adequate iodine intake (UIC within 150 - 249 microg/L) and 1.4% (3/210) had insufficient iodine intake (UIC < 150 microg/L). The average serum level of FT3, FT4 in neonates were (2.93 +/- 0.59), (15.03 +/- 1.92) pmol/L, respectively. The median (inter-quartile range) of serum sTSH in neonates were 7.33 (5.59) mU/L 78.1% (164/210) of the neonates' serum TSH were beyond 5 mU/L. There were no correlation between pregnant women's urinary iodine level and neonates' serum FT3 and sTSH level (P > 0.05), but there was a positive correlation between pregnant women's urinary iodine level and neonates' serum FT4 level (P < 0.01). Serum FT4 level of the neonates with whose mothers had insufficient iodine intake ((12.99 +/- 1.10) pmol/L) were statistically lower than those with their mothers had excessive iodine intake (15.16 +/- 1.83) pmol/L) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMost of the pregnant women in high iodine area were excessive for iodine nutrition, but still a few pregnant women had insufficient iodine nutrition. The level of neonates' serum sTSH were relatively high and monitoring of risk of hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism should be strengthened.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; epidemiology ; Infant, Newborn ; Iodine ; urine ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Topography, Medical ; Triiodothyronine ; blood ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONElectrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), such as the Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria were derived from Western populations. However, their utility and accuracy for diagnosing echocardiographic LVH in Asian populations is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of ECG criteria for LVH in Asians and to determine if alternative gender-specific ECG cut-offs may improve its diagnostic accuracy.

MATERIALS AND METHODSECG and echocardiographic assessments were performed on 668 community-dwelling Asian adults (50.9% women; 57 ± 10 years) in Singapore. The accuracy of ECG voltage criteria was compared to echocardiographic LVH criteria based on the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines, and Asian ethnicity and gender-specific partition values.

RESULTSEchocardiographic LVH was present in 93 (13.6%) adults. Cornell criteria had low sensitivity (5.5%) and high specificity (98.9%) for diagnosing LVH. Modified gender specific cut-offs (18 mm in women, 22 mm in men) improved sensitivity (8.8% to 17.5%, 0% to 14.7%, respectively) whilst preserving specificity (98.2% to 94.2%, 100% to 95.8%). Similarly, Sokolow-Lyon criteria had poor sensitivity (7.7%) and high specificity (96.1%) for diagnosing LVH. Lowering the cut-off value from 35 mm to 31 mm improved the sensitivity in women from 3.5% to 14% while preserving specificity at 94.2%. A cut-off of 36 mm was optimal in men (sensitivity of 14.7%, specificity of 95.5%).

CONCLUSIONCurrent ECG criteria for LVH derived in Western cohorts have limited sensitivity in Asian populations. Our data suggests that ethnicity- and gender-specific ECG criteria may be needed.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Dimensional Measurement Accuracy ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; diagnosis ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the significance of anti-soluble liver antigen/liver-pancreas (anti-SLA/LP) in diagnosing and typing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

METHODSSix thousand patients with abnormal liver functions, who had their autoantibodies checked by immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and immune blotting assay, were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTSOf these 6000 patients with liver diseases, 84 were diagnosed AIH. Eighteen patients, 0.3% of the 6000, patients with abnormal liver functions, were SLA/LP antibody positive, of which 17 were with AIH-III [2/17 with AIH /primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) overlap syndrome], and 1 with chronic hepatitis B. Sensitivity and specificity of SLA/LP antibody in diagnosing AIH were 20.2% and 99.7% respectively, and the positive prediction value was 94.44%. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer in the AIH-III group was significantly lower than that of the AIH-I group (P < 0.05). The age of patients with anti-SLA/LP was higher (58.8% were over 50 years old) than those without this antibody (52.2% were 30 to 50 years old). There were no significant differences between the type III and type I AIH regarding gender, age, abnormal degree of liver function, PTA, IgG, liver cirrhosis rates and response to immunosuppressive therapy.

CONCLUSIONAnti-SLA/LP is highly specific for diagnosing AIH. Comparing the clinical data of type III and type I AIH, we did not find significant differences between the two groups.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; immunology ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the toxicity of joint exposure to diazinon, propoxur and bisphenol A on phagocytosis.

METHODSFlow cytometer was employed to detect the influence of diazinon and bisphenol A, propoxur and bisphenol A in mixture (mixed according to ratio of IC(50)) on mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells' function to phagocyte fluorescent microspheres, adopting the percentage of phagocytic cells (PP) and the phagocytic index (PI) as measurement indicators. The final concentrations of mixture of diazinon and bisphenol A were (0.4 + 0.1), (3.6 + 0.7), (36.2 + 7.2), (43.4 + 8.7), (52.1 + 10.4), (62.5 + 12.5), (75.0 + 15.0) µg/ml; while those of mixture of propoxur and bisphenol A were (0.2 + 2.0 × 10(-2)), (2.4 + 0.2), (23.7 + 2.0), (35.6 + 3.0), (53.3 + 4.4), (80.0 + 6.7), (120.0 + 10.0) µg/ml. Then based on the dose-response relationship, a 2 × 2 factorial design was then carried out among different doses of mixture with statistical significance to statistically evaluate the interaction between diazinon and bisphenol A, propoxur and bisphenol A.

RESULTSAfter the joint exposure, compared to the control group (PP = (23.6 ± 2.2)%; PI = 0.36 ± 0.03), any dose of the mixture of diazinon and bisphenol A ((52.1 + 10.4), (62.5 + 12.5), (75.0 + 15.0) µg/ml) could significantly increase the levels of PP ((29.0 ± 1.4)%, t = 3.89, P < 0.05; (30.2 ± 2.3)%, t = 4.74, P < 0.05; (35.0 ± 3.4)%, t = 8.21, P < 0.05) and PI (0.43 ± 0.03, t = 3.86, P < 0.05; 0.41 ± 0.02, t = 2.95, P < 0.05; 0.46 ± 0.03, t = 5.34, P < 0.05); while that of propoxur and bisphenol A ((35.6 + 3.0), (53.3 + 4.4), (80.0 + 6.7), (120.0 + 10.0) µg/ml) reduced the levels of PP ((20.6 ± 1.1)%, t = -3.00, P < 0.05; (20.2 ± 1.0)%, t = -3.42, P < 0.05; (19.4 ± 1.3)%, t = -4.23, P < 0.05; (18.8 ± 2.1)%, t = -4.81, P < 0.05) and PI (0.31 ± 0.01, t = -4.75, P < 0.05; 0.31 ± 0.01, t = -4.58, P < 0.05; 0.30 ± 0.01, t = -4.92, P < 0.05; 0.27 ± 0.02, t = -7.80, P < 0.05) on the contrary. The 2 × 2 factorial design was carried out between the mixture of diazinon (60.0 µg/ml; PP = (28.5 ± 3.4)%; PI = 0.49 ± 0.07) and bisphenol A (12.0 µg/ml; PP = (35.7 ± 2.7)%; PI = 0.67 ± 0.07), and the mixture of propoxur (48.0 µg/ml ; PP = (28.1 ± 2.2)%; PI = 0.48 ± 0.04) and bisphenol A (4.0 µg/ml; PP = (34.4 ± 2.7)%; PI = 0.59 ± 0.07). The mixture of diazinon and bisphenol A (PP = (30.4 ± 1.4)%, F(interaction) = 6.22, P < 0.05; PI = 0.53 ± 0.03, F(interaction) = 7.35, P < 0.05) and the mixture of propoxur and bisphenol A (PP = (27.5 ± 4.1)%, F(interaction) = 4.56, P < 0.05; PI = 0.46 ± 0.08, F(interaction) = 11.13, P < 0.05) both showed a significant antagonistic interaction on phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cell.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that the interactions between diazinon & bisphenol A and propoxur & bisphenol A both played the antagonistic role on phagocytic function of macrophages in vitro.

Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Cell Line ; Diazinon ; toxicity ; Drug Synergism ; Environmental Exposure ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Phenols ; toxicity ; Propoxur ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo observe the ECG and electrophysiological characteristic of patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular contraction (PVC) originating from left (LVOT) and right (RVOT) ventricular outflow tracts and assess the clinical effect of radio frequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on these patients.

METHODSRFCA was performed in 58 patients (10 with VT and 48 with PVC, 5 patients with VT from RVOT under the guidance of non-contact mapping system Ensite3000). VT or PVC originated from LVOT in 15 patients (12 out of 15 from left sinus of Valsalva) and RVOT in 43 patients.

RESULTS(1) R wave in II, III, aVF leads was the common characteristics of VT or PVC originated from LVOT and RVOT and difference in wave duration index and R/S-wave amplitude ratio in V(1) or V(2) could be used to define VT and PVC originated from LVOT or RVOT. (2) Ablation was successful in 55 out of 58 patients (9 patients with the 2nd ablation, evaluated as arrhythmia-free at 3 months post ablation without medication) and failed in 3 patients. One patient developed pericardial tamponade during ablation and recovered without complication after related treatments.

CONCLUSIONSRFCA is an effective, safe and curative therapy for VT or PVC originated from LVOT and RVOT. Non-contact mapping system (Ensite3000) is a safe and reliable tool to guide mapping and ablation in patients with complex VT and unstable hemodynamics.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; etiology ; therapy ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction ; complications ; Ventricular Premature Complexes ; etiology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo probe into the mechanism and methods of needle knife relaxing therapy for treatment of osteoarthritis of knee from biomechanical view.

METHODSNeedle knife relaxing therapy was given to 92 pain points around the knee joint in 14 cases of osteoarthritis of knee, and the displacement of the local pain point under the stress of 500 g (L500 g) was measured and the VAS scores were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSL500 g of the pain point was (4.72+/-1.03) mm before treatment and (5.39+/-1.01) mm after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and VAS score was (7.10+/-1.49) points before treatment and (1.49+/-1.24) points after treatment with a very significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and there was a linear correlation between the changes of L500 g and VAS scores.

CONCLUSIONThere was close connection between the local pain and tension of local soft tissue in knee osteoarthritis. The needle knife relaxing therapy can relieve the neurovascular compression or traction syndrome by relaxing the local contracted, adhesive soft tissue, so as to relieve tension pain and finally recover internal force equilibrium of the knee joint.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Pain Measurement ; Pressure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of neonatal asphyxia and possible contributing factors for the development of severe asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, China. METHODS: A total of 16 hospitals in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture were selected as research centers. A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 22 294 live births in these 16 hospitals from January to December, 2016 to investigate the incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia and possible contributing factors for the development of severe asphyxia. RESULTS: Of the 22 294 neonates born alive, 733 (3.29%) were diagnosed with neonatal asphyxia, among whom 627 had mild asphyxia and 106 had severe asphyxia. The neonates with low maternal education level, maternal anemia during pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, abnormal amniotic fluid, abnormal umbilical cord, placenta previa, placental abruption, Tujia Minority, preterm birth, and low birth weight had a higher incidence of severe asphyxia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is higher. Low maternal education level, maternal anemia during pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, abnormal amniotic fluid, abnormal umbilical cord, placenta previa, placental abruption, Tujia Minority, preterm birth, and low birth weight may be related to the development of severe neonatal asphyxia.
Asphyxia Neonatorum ; epidemiology ; China ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVESTo compare the sensitivity of mammogram and breast dedicated MRI in detecting ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvaion (DCIS-MI) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions, and to further investigate the independent predictive factors of mammogram and MRI sensitivity.

METHODSFrom August 2009 to November 2011, 122 consecutive confirmed breast cancer patients who had received operations were recruited for this clinical research. These patients were divided into two groups including DCIS (72 cases) and DCIS-MI (50 cases) based on pathologic reports. All the patients were female, with mean ages of 52.6 years and 54.4 years. Preoperative bilateral breast mammogram, breast dedicated MRI depictions and reports as well as histopathological reports were collected.

RESULTSSensitivity of MRI outstood mammogram in each subgroups: 84.7% vs. 42.4% in DCIS (χ(2) = 27.028, P = 0.000), 94.0% vs. 80.0% in DCIS-MI group (χ(2) = 4.540, P = 0.040). And further analysis showed that MRI was more sensitive to high nuclear grade DCIS and DCIS-MI lesions than low nuclear grade ones (OR = 3.471, P = 0.031).

RESULTSof logistic regression analysis proved microcalcification was an independent predictive factor of mammogram sensitivity (OR = 11.287, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSSensitivity of breast dedicated MRI is superior to mammogram in detecting DCIS and DCIS-MI groups. Lesions with microcalcifiation is an independent predictive marker which meant that mammogram would achieve high detection rate in cancers presented calcification on mammogram image when compared with non-calcification. Diagnostic performance of breast MRI is less affected by clinical and pathological characteristics of the early stage breast cancer patients but further increased detection rate is observed in DCIS and DCIS-MI with high nuclear grade lesions which indicated that MRI could detect more early stage cancers with relative more aggression biological behaviour and provide these patients with early surgical interventions before possible progression to invasive breast cancers.

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnosis ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Chalcones is a flavonoid wildly presented in many herbs. It has the effect to inhibit cells adipogenic differentiation. In order to study the effect of pinostrobin chalcone extracted and isolated from leaves of hickoryes on the adipogenic differentiation of murine embryonic mesenchymal stem cell (C3H10T1/2), MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)- 2H-tetrazolium] method was used to detect the cell proliferation; adipogenic differentiation was characterized by oil red O staining and isopropanol extraction; the triglyceride content was detected by GAP-PAP enzyme method; and the C3H10T1/2 cell differentiation into adipocytes was also examined by the mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα and FABP4 by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. Results indicated that pinostrobin chalcone almost had no effect on cell proliferation activity when the concentration was less than or equal to 50 μmol•L⁻¹; the oil red O staining, isopropanol extraction and GAP-PAP enzyme method showed that pinostrobin chalcone significantly decreased the C3H10T1/2 adipogenic differentiation and triglyceride content in the cytoplasm of adipocytes; the RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that pinostrobin chalcone can down-regulate the mRNA and protein levels of FABP4, PPARγ and C/EBPα in C3H10T1/2 cells(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The experiment results suggest that pinostrobin chalcone can inhibit C3H10T1/2 adipogenic differentiation.