OBJECTIVETo investigate changes of serum total oxidation status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and their association with apolipoprotein (a) [Apo(a)] in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined with infertility.

MWTHODSNinety patients with PCOS and infertility were selected as the study group, including 45 patients treated with antioxidants combined with Diane-35(group A) and 45 with Diane-35 therapy only (group B), with 45 healthy volunteers with normal menstruation and normal dual phase basic body temperatures as the control group. Serum TOS of the participants was determined by dual xylenol orange method, and serum TAS was determined with ABTS method; plasma Apo(a) level was determined by dual wavelength immune transmission turbidity method.

RESULTSBefore treatment, serum TOS, OSI, and Apo(a) levels were significantly higher and TAS level was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). Serum TOS, OSI, and Apo (a) were significantly lowered and TAS was significantly increased in group A after the therapy as compared with the levels before therapy and the levels in group B. The rate of natural recovery of menstruation was significantly higher and the incidence of cardiovascular disease was significantly lower in group A than in group B (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum TOS and OSI were positively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=0.524 and 0.531, P<0.05), and serum TAS was negatively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=-0.519, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAntioxidant therapy can lower TOS, OSI and Apo(a) levels and increase TAS level to lessen oxidative stress, improve the prognosis, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease in patients with PCOS and infertility.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoprotein(a) ; blood ; Cyproterone Acetate ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of blood pressure lowering treatment on the International Prostate Syndrome Score (IPSS) and maximum flow rate (Qmax) in old and middle-aged male patients with essential hypertension.

METHODSWe enrolled 193 hypertensive male patients aged 50-75 years from the rural area of Anqing, Anhui, treated them with Amlodipine for 4 weeks, and then analyzed the correlation of their baseline blood pressure and reduced blood pressure with the changes of IPSS and Qmax.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks of medication, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the subjects dropped by 16.8 +/- 16.7 and 8.1 +/- 7.7 mmHg respectively (P < 0.01), IPSS decreased by 2.5 +/- 5.5 points (P < 0.01) and Qmax increased by 0.2 +/- 4.7 ml/s (P = 0.46). Changes of Qmax were not significantly correlated with either the baseline or decreased blood pressure, while changes of IPSS had a significant linear correlation with the former but not with the latter.

CONCLUSIONLowering blood pressure in old and middle-aged male patients with essential hypertension can prevent or alleviate the subjective symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it reduces IPSS more significantly in those with higher baseline blood pressure.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Urodynamics

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; analysis ; Hippocampus ; blood supply ; chemistry ; pathology ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes and the clinical significance of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB) levels in neonates with asphyxia complicated by myocardial injury.

METHODSSixty-four neonates with asphyxia (39 mild, 25 severe) were enrolled. Of the 64 neonates, 30 had myocardial injury and 34 did not develop myocardial injury. Twenty-five healthy neonates served as a control group. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were measured using ELISA. Myocardial enzymes and cardiac troponin I were stimultaneously measured, and electrocardiography and chest radiographs were obtained.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB in neonates with myocardial injury were significantly higher than those in neonates without myocardial injury and in the control group (P<0.01). The neonates with severe asphyxia had significantly increased plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB concentrations compared to those with mild asphyxia and the control group (P<0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that plasma NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with plasma GPBB level in neonates with asphyxia. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were also positively correlated with plasma levels of CK-MB, CK and LDH (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBoth NT-proBNP and GPBB can be used as biomarkers of myocardial injury in neonates with asphyxia. The measurement of plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB levels was useful in early identification of myocardial injury and severity evaluation in neonates with asphyxia.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; Cardiomyopathies ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glycogen Phosphorylase ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

BACKGROUNDAutologous transplantation of the submandibular gland (SMG) into the temporal fossa with microvascular anastomosis has been successfully applied in severe xerophthalmia patients as a permanent tear substitute. However, severe xerophthalmia can be accompanied by salivary gland dysfunction, making such autotransplantation unsuitable. Therefore, SMG allotransplantation might be a solution. The aim of this study was to assess the technical feasibility of submandibular gland allotransplantation.

METHODSTwelve miniature swine were randomized to serve as donors or recipients. One SMG was transplanted between a donor and a recipient. The donor SMG was revascularized by microvascular anastomosis of its vascular pedicle to the recipient lingual artery and external jugular vein. The secretory duct was implanted into the vestibule of the mouth through a subcutaneous tunnel. No immunosuppressive agent was administered. The results were assessed by visual inspection of the secretion, and histopathological examination of the transplanted SMG.

RESULTSTechnically, all surgical procedures were successful. Clear secretion flowed out of the duct as soon as blood supply of the transplanted submandibular gland was reestablished. The secretion of the gland lasted for 5 days. As expected, an acute rejection reaction occurred after surgery because no immunosuppressive agents were used. Secretion from the transplanted SMG ceased within 5 days.

CONCLUSIONSA model of SMG allotransplantation can be established in miniature swine. The technique of submandibular gland allotransplantation is feasible.

Animals ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal ; Submandibular Gland ; pathology ; transplantation ; ultrastructure ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Transplantation, Homologous

Objective To study the effects of coal burning related endemic fluorosis on body development and intelligence levels of fluorosic children in Zhijin county.Methods One hundred and seventy-six fluorosic children and 50 healthy(without fluorostic teeth) children aging 7-12 years who were sampled in cluster sampling were examined for urine fluorosis,physical examination and intelligence tests in Zhijin county,with coal burning pollution related fluorosis.Results Physical development of sick children and the children in control group were in low levels. The intelligence levels and the leves of urine fluorosis in study group were lower than those in control group and there was a significant difference(P

OBJECTIVEOsteopetrosis is a rare genetic disorder and the malignant infantile osteopetrosis (MIOP) is the worst subtype of this disease. Seventy percent of patients die in six years of life without proper treatment. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers the only chance of cure for MIOP.

METHODRetrospective analysis was performed on 8 patients with MIOP who underwent HSCT in Beijing Children's Hospital during the period from 2006 to 2011.

RESULTEight cases (4 male and 4 female, mean age at HSCT 13.5 months) were diagnosed as malignant infantile osteopetrosis. Conditioning regimen included fludarabine, busulfan and cyclophosphamide. All patients received cyclosporin for prophylaxis of graft vs. host disease (GvHD). A UMD recipient underwent CD34(+) cell selection. ATG/ALG, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and methotrexate (MTX) used for recipients with unrelated cord donor (2) and recipients with haplo-identical donors (5). Average time for neutrophil engraftment was 15.7 day (9 - 36), platelet engraftment was 43.3 day (10 - 68). The patients were followed up from 47 days to 5 years, 1 patient died of post-transplant complications. Seven cases presented better in clinical manifestation. Acute GvHD I°-II° was observed in 6 patients, III°-IV° in 2 patients. It was controlled by anti-GvHD therapy.

CONCLUSIONNon-allogenic stem cell transplantation treatment of infantile MIOP showed high survival rate and restoration of hematopoiesis in haploid transplant patients, therefore, non-allogenic HSCT may be an option to treat MIOP in children.

Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Graft vs Host Disease ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Haploidy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Osteopetrosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of short-term forest bathing on human health.

METHODSTwenty healthy male university students participated as subjects and were randomly divided into two groups of 10. One group was sent on a two-night trip to a broad-leaved evergreen forest, and the other was sent to a city area. Serum cytokine levels reflecting inflammatory and stress response, indicators reflecting oxidative stress, the distribution of leukocyte subsets, and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations were measured before and after the experiment to evaluate the positive health effects of forest environments. A profile of mood states (POMS) evaluation was used to assess changes in mood states.

RESULTSNo significant differences in the baseline values of the indicators were observed between the two groups before the experiment. Subjects exposed to the forest environment showed reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory level, as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor a levels compared with the urban group. Serum cortisol levels were also lower than in the urban group. Notably, the concentration of plasma ET-1 was much lower in subjects exposed to the forest environment. The POMS evaluation showed that after exposure to the forest environment, subjects had lower scores in the negative subscales, and the score for vigor was increased.

CONCLUSIONForest bathing is beneficial to human health, perhaps through preventive effects related to several pathological factors.

Baths ; China ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Life Style ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Nature ; Recreation ; Stress, Physiological ; Testosterone ; blood ; Trees ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the etiology and preventive measures of the long-term postoperative complication after esophageal replacement with colon for esophageal benign disease.

METHODSTo review the clinical data of 577 patients with esophageal replacement with colon our department, including 123 cases of esophageal benign disease. Of all, there were 25 cases-time for 11 cases following with severe complication: redundancy and dilated colon 12 cases-time, severe stricture of stoma 4, macrocyst esophagus 2, colon-stomach stoma expansion 4, mechanical obstruction of colon 3. The etiology included iatrogenic and functionality. The therapy included stricture form or resection, redundancy segment resection, obstructed segment solution and stoma resection and form.

RESULTSEight cases underwent once operation, 2 case twice, 1 case three times. After operation, 9 cases took food normally, 2 improved symptoms obviously.

CONCLUSIONSThe iatrogenic and functionality factor contributed to severe complication after esophageal replacement with colon for esophageal benign disease. The preventive measure is followed during operation: cervical esophageal-colon anastomosis exceed 2.5 centimeter, abdominal colon-stomach anastomosis reflux, channel width of colon passage, intestinal canal lay up straight. Re-operation is best choice to for local stricture, colon expansion, redundancy and dilated colon.

Adult ; Colon ; surgery ; Esophageal Diseases ; surgery ; Esophagoplasty ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for brain injury in preterm infants by a multicenter epidemiological investigation of brain injury in hospitalized preterm infants in Anhui, China. METHODS: Preterm infants who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 9 hospitals of Anhui Neonatal Collaboration Network between January 2016 and January 2017 were enrolled as subjects. The data of maternal pregnancy and clinical data of preterm infants were collected, and the logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for brain injury in preterm infants. RESULTS: A total of 3 378 preterm infants were enrolled. Of the 3 378 preterm infants, 798 (23.56%) had periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH), and 88 (2.60%) had periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Intrauterine distress, anemia, hypoglycemia and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were risk factors for PVH-IVH (OR=1.310, 1.591, 1.835, and 3.310 respectively; P<0.05), while a higher gestational age was a protective factor against PVH-IVH (OR=0.671, P<0.05). PVH-IVH, NEC and mechanical ventilation were risk factors for PVL (OR=4.017, 3.018, and 2.166 respectively; P<0.05), and female sex and use of pulmonary surfactant were protective factors against PVL (OR=0.514 and 0.418 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Asphyxia/anoxia, infection/inflammation, mechanical ventilation, anemia and hypoglycemia may increase the risk of brain injury in preterm infants.
Brain Injuries ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; China ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular