Objective To examine the relationship between plasma homocysteine level and status of congestive heart failure. Methods Plasma homocysteine level was determined in 106 patients with congestive heart failure(CHF).Among them,40 patients were diagnosed as having recent onset of CHF(group 1) and the remaining 66 were receiving conventional treatment(group 2).Thirty healthy subjects were served as a control group. Results(The plasma) homocysteine levels in group 1,group 2 and the control group were(14.87?5.22),(13.25?5.45) and((7.52)?1.73) ?mol/L,respectively.The plasma homocysteine level was significantly higher in group 1 and group 2 than in the control group(P

Objective: To establish a method for discovering single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cDNA sequence of dammaranediol synthase (DS) gene, a key enzyme in the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway of Panax ginseng, thus to provide reference for the SNP analysis of DS gene and authentication of ginseng medicinal materials. Methods: P. ginseng samples from various cultivars, production regions, and growth years were collected. Total RNA was extracted and reversely transcribed into cDNA. The cDNA was amplified by nested PCR method to prepare the products for directly sequencing. The sequences were analyzed by BLAST for homology alignment and then by DNAMAN for multiple sequence alignment to explore different loci among different samples, which was regarded as candidate SNP. Results: One hundred and eleven amplicons of the upper or lower half part of DS gene were obtained from 57 samples after nested PCR, and 103 amplicons were successfully sequenced. All of these sequences were confirmed to be the P. ginseng DS gene by BLAST analysis. Seven SNPs from six samples were discovered by multiple sequence alignment analysis. Conclusion: We have developed a method to discover the unknown SNPs from the cDNA sequence of DS gene in P. ginseng with the advantages of good specificity, simple operation, and accurate result. This method can be used to detect if P. ginseng samples contain SNP and its type, and it also provides a valuable tool for the genetic research and molecular markers resources for establishing a new quality evaluation method for P. ginseng and related Chinese matereia medica and its products.

Accurate identification of varieties is the most important part of quality control of Chinese materia medica (CMM). To find an efficient, convenient, and accurate identification method is the development trend of identification technology of CMM. Compared with the traditional identification method based on phenotypic markers, DNA molecular marker technology is more accurate and reliable, suitable for the identification of closely related species and sample with confusion and multiple sources, but unable to realize the rapid identification due to the limits of the PCR technology, such as high cost, complex procedures, and the drawback of long time. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel nucleic acid amplification technology, with the advantages of high specificity, high sensitivity, simple, rapid, low cost, etc., become another new technology after PCR to realize the rapid molecular identification of CMM successfully. In this paper, the common isothermal amplification of nucleic acid technology and its application in the study of molecular identification of Chinese herbal medicines were reviewed analysis, to provide a reference for the study of rapid molecular identification system of Chinese herbal medicines.

Background There is multi-dimensional order of spatial stereopsis perception in human,however,current stereopsis examination is zero-order of position disparity.A multi-dimensional space perception model is very important for the detection of stereoacuity.Objective This study was to screen the deficit of zero-order,first-order,second-order multi-dimensional spatial stereopsis perception in amblyopia and strabismus children and to explore the association of zero-order,first-order,second-order spatial perception deficit.Methods Multidimensional spacial perception was examined in 79 children aged 4-14 years in Beijing Children' s Hospital.Nineteen normal children,19 children with ametropia amblyopia,12 children with anisometropic amblyopia,18 children with strabismus and 11 children with strabismus combined amblyopia were included this study.The random-dot and line spatial stereopsis perception in zero-order,first-order and second-order were examined with a new system of multidimensional space perception screening.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or custodian before any ocular examination associated with this study.Results Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order random-dot channel was found in 24 children (24/79,30.4％),18 children (18/79,22.8％) and 24 children (24/79,30.4％) respectively,with an average percentage of 27.9％.Absence of zero-order,first-order,second-order line channel was examined in 37 children (37/79,46.8％),37 children (37/79,46.8％),32 children (32/79,40.5％),with an average percentage of 44.7％.In the children with a deficiency of the zero-order spatial perception,the children who still remained the first-order or/and second-order spatial perception of random-dot accounted for 41.6％ and that of lines accounted for 43.2％.In children without deficiency of zero-order random-dot or lines spatial space perception,deficiency of first-order and/or second-order spatial perception was in 37.5％ children.Various order spatial perception deficiency was seen in children suffering from amblyopia or strabismus compared with normal group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There exists spatial perception deficiency in children with amblyopia or strabismus.The patients with zero-order spatial perception absence partially remain a first-order or/and second-order spatial perception;while the patients with normal zero-order spatial perception might have first-order or second-order spatial perception deficiency.The multi-dimensional space perception model has a directive role for the training of visual information process and the treatment of spatial perceptual learning in children with amblyopia or strabismus.

To investigate the effects of Losartan,an angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ)receptor(AT_1) antagonist,on pancreatic stellate cells(PSCs)and its possible mechanisms.Methods (1)PSCs were isolated from pancreatic cancerous samples to test the expressions of AT_1 and collagenⅠafter incubated with AngⅡor/and Losartan.(2)Ninety S-D rats were divided into normal group,control group and treatment group,with 30 rats in each.The rats in control and treatment groups were induced pancreatic fibrosis by injection of 2% trinitrobenenze sulfonic acid(TNBS)into biliopancreatic duct.Rats in treat- ment group were then treated with Losartan by garage daily and rats in control group were only given distilled water.The rats were sacrificed on day 3,7,14,21 and 28,respectively,and pancreas were removed.The histological abnormalities were observed by electron microscope.The mRNAs of trans- forming growth factor?_1(TGF?_1)and procollagenⅠwere detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The expression of TGF?_1 and?-smooth muscle actin(?-SMA)proteins was assessed by immunohistochemistry and the level of?-SMA protein was quantified by Western blot. Results In vitro,there existed AT_1 expression in PSCs,and Losartan reduced expression of collagenⅠ.Losartan treatment reversed the histological abnormalities observed by electron microscope,com- pared to treatment with distill water.The expression of?-SMA,TGF?_1 and procollagenⅠwere signifi- cantly higher in the control group than those in normal group and were reduced by Losartan to different extent in treatment group.Conclusion AT_1 antagonist can inhibit the activation and the profibrogenic action of PSCs by blocking AT_1 receptor-mediated pathways.

OBJECTIVETo follow up the cohort of a certain factory and analyze the death cause of the employees.

METHODSA dynamic cohort was adopted and the study population consisted of all workers stayed at the factory for more than 1 year. The cohort data was mainly from the personnel ministry in the factory,the death data provided by the personnel ministry,the labour union and the hospital. All cause of death of the all employee and the death condition of radiation group and no-radiation group were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe mortality of the workers in the factory was significantly lower than national population, the SMR of all cause of death in all employee, radiation group and no-radiation group were 0.41 (95% CI: 0.37-0.45), 0.24, 0.75 respectively; all cancer death in the three group was 0.59, 0.40 and 0.92. But the death order was different in radiation group and no-radiation group,the order of liver cancer was list first in radiation group, which was unlike that of the nation order and the no-radiation order.

CONCLUSIONThere have no excess death in the factory, but the order of liver cancer is precedence.

Cause of Death ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; mortality ; Nuclear Reactors ; Occupational Exposure ; Power Plants ; Prospective Studies ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the value and diagnostic efficiency of the quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) parameters using three dimention (3D)-histogram analysis for discriminating the Gleason score (GS) of prostate cancer. Methods A total of 53 patients pathologically confirmed as prostate cancer by systemic prostate biopsy who had routine , DCE and DWI-MRI scans were retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 cases for low-risk and 38 cases for intermediate/high-risk prostate cancer. The 3D ROI of all lesions based on T2WI was achieved by image registration to get the quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI and DWI-IVIM. The parameters of DCE-MRI contains: transfer constant (Ktrans), rate constant (Kep) and extracellular-extravascular volume fraction (Ve).The DWI-IVIM related quantitative parameters were ADC, diffusion coefficient (D), diffusion coefficient related to perfusion (D*) and perfusion fraction (f). Then the histogram analysis of these quantitative parameters was performed to get the mean, median, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, Skewness and Kurtosis. Using the Spearman rank correlation analysis to evaluate the correlation of these parameters and GS of prostate cancer. The diagnostic performance of these quantitative histogram parameters related to the GS in identifying low-risk and intermediate/high-risk of prostate cancer was carried by ROC. Results The Kep and Ktrans (mean, median, 25th, 75th) of DCE-MRI were positively correlated with GS (r value was 0.346 to 0.696, P<0.05). The ADC (mean, median, 25th, 75th), D (mean, median, 25th, 75th, Skewness, Kurtosis) and D*(25th) of DWI-IVIM were correlated with GS (r value was-0.544 to 0.428, P<0.05). The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters Kep (25th) had the highest area under curve (AUC, 0.961); The ADC (median) and D (25th) had higher AUC( 0.832, 0.888) in the quantitative parameters of DWI-IVIM, the difference between Kep(25th) and ADC (median) was statistically significant (Z value was 2.212, P value was 0.027). The difference of AUC between Kep (25th) and D (25th), D (25th) and ADC (median) was not statistically significant (Z values were 1.027 and 1.398, P values were 0.162 and 0.304, respectively).Conclusion DCE and IVIM quantitative parameters (Kep, Ktrans, ADC, D) histogram analysis results are correlated with GS, and can be used for distinguishing low-risk from intermediate/high-risk prostate cancer.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between cardiac troponin I autoantibody (cTnIAAb) and left ventricular remodeling in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: A total of 131 AMI patients were enrolled. Serum levels of cTnIAAb were measured by ELISA. Echocardiography was examined at the onset of AMI and 1 year follow-up evaluation. Taking left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) increasing>15% as left ventricular remodeling, 2-classified logistic stepwise regression analysis was conducted to screen 12 risk factors related to left ventricular remodeling. Results: 23/131(17.6%) patients were with positive cTnIAAb and 82.4% with negative cTnIAAb. 49 patients lost contact and in the rest 91 patients, 21.1% were with positive cTnIAAb. Clinical information was similar between cTnIAAb positive and negative patients upon admission, P>0.05; echocardiography showed that 28 (42.2%) patients had LVESV increasing>15% by 1 year follow-up study whom including 10 (52.6%) patients with cTnIAAb positive and 18 (25.4%) negative. 2-classified logistic stepwise regression analysis indicated that BNP peak and positive cTnIAAb were the risk factors for left ventricular remodeling (OR=1.001, 95% CI 1.001-1.002) and (OR=3.552, 95% CI 1.148-10.989), both P=0.028. Conclusions: Serum cTnIAAb was positive in part of AMI patients which was related to increased risk of left ventricular remodeling; cTnIAAb might be involved in pathophysiological process of left ventricular remodeling in AMI patients.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical characteristics of alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 13 children with AHC were analyzed. Cranial MRI, EEG, analysis of serum amino acids and urinary organic acids, measurement of plasma lactate and pyruvate levels were done in all patients. Other laboratory examinations such as magnetic resonance angio-imaging (MRA), digital subtraction arteriography (DSA) and Video-EEG were also performed in some patients.

RESULTSOf the 13 patients, 12 were male, and 1 was female. The age of onset was from 2 days to 55 months (average 13.1 months). The initial symptoms were abnormal ocular movements (AOMs) consisting of ocular deviation, gaze or nystagmus in 2 cases, AOMs and dystonic posturing in 9 cases, hemiplegia in 2 cases. All patients had recurrent alternating hemiplegic episodes. The hemiplegic attacks lasted from a few minutes to 10 days. The occurrence of the attacks ranged from 8 times daily to one time every 2 months. In 10 patients the abnormal eye movements or dystonic posturing, at times, recurred intermittently during the hemiplegic attack. Choreoathetosis was present in 2 cases. Ataxia was present in 1 case; 7 patients also had the episodes of quadriplegia. During the episodes of quadriplegia, dysarthria or aphasia was present in 4 cases, dyspnea and dysphagia was present in 2 cases, respectively. Sleep could relieve both weakness and associated paroxysmal symptoms. Mental retardation was present in 9 cases, seizures in 3 cases. Except for EEG or Video-EEG was abnormal in 3 patients, other laboratory investigations were normal in all patients. Twelve patients received flunarizine therapy. Flunarizine reduced the severity, duration, or frequency of hemiplegic attacks in 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that AHC is characterized by frequent episodes of alternating hemiplegia with extrapyramidal symptoms and mental retardation, flunarizine is effective in treating some AHC patients.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Flunarizine ; therapeutic use ; Hemiplegia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intelligence Tests ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the capability and accuracy of multi-shce spiral computed tomography(MSCT)in detecting atherosclerotic plaques in nonstenotic coronary arteries with reference to the findings of intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)in a segment analysis.Methods Both IVUS exams and 16-row MSCT scans were performed on 35 consecutive patients among whom 30 patients had successful MSCT scans.A total of 94 coronary segments without significant coronary stenoses were paired-analyzed both on IVUS and MSCT segment by segment.The plaques were classified as calcified,fibrotic and soft types according to the echogeneity on IVUS.Plaque attenuation on MSCT was measured and expressed by Hounsfield units(HU).Results When referred to IVUS,MSCT had a sensitivity of 82.1%(46/56)and specificity of 89.5% (34/38),respectively in detectiong any plaques.For the detection of calcified plaques,the sensitivity and specificity were 92.1%(35/38)and 96.4%(54/56),respectively.For the detection of mixed and noncalcified plaques,MSCT had sensitivity of 73.2%(30/41)and specificity of 88.7%(47/53).But for the detection of the noncalcified plaque,the sensitivity was 66.7%(12/18). According to the findings On IVUS,the plaques were classified as calcified(n=19),fibrotic(n=19)and soft(n=16).The CT attenuation of calcified plaques was(489?169)HU(196 to 817 HU),fibrotic plaques(69?21)HU(25 to 117 HU)and soft plaques(23?18)HU(-12 to 47 HU).Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference of plaque attenuation among the three groups(P