Child ; China ; Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases

Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and protein kinase Bβ (Akt2) in the skeletal muscles of insulin-resistant (IR) rats. Methods Twentyfour male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group. The rats of the model group and the EA group were fed with high fat diets to establish a model of insulin resistance. The rats in the EA group were then treated with electroacupuncture for 2 weeks, while those in the model group were not. Blood samples were collected to evaluate fasting insulin (FINS) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) to calculate the insulin sensitivity index (ISI). GLUT4 and Akt2 mRNA in the skeletal muscles were determined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) after 2 weeks of EA treatment. Results Compared with the control group, the FINS in the model group increased significantly, and ISI decreased significantly. Compared with the model group, the FINS in the EA group decreased significantly and ISI increased significantly. The expression of GLUT4 and Akt2 mRNA in the model group was significantly lower than in the control group or the EA group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture might improve the condition of IR rats, probably by enhancing the transposition of GLUT4 in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo assess the economic implications of an annual vaccination strategy against influenza among people who were on a social-health program.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was conducted. 1900 persons who had received the influenza vaccine were served as vaccine group, while 1049 persons who did not receive the vaccine were served as controls. Cluster random sampling method was used. Both of these two groups came from Donfang Company in which there were 12,109 employers in total and all of them joined the social health insurance program. The survey was carried out when the influenza vaccine was given one year ago.

RESULTSThe rates of vaccine group and control group for respiratory system diseases and cardiovascular diseases who were hospitalized, were 0.51%, 2.47% and 1.64%, 5.62% which showed 68.90% and 56.05% decrease, when compared with the control group. The crude inpatient rate among vaccinees and control group after receiving the vaccination for three and four month were 0.62%, 0.80% and 0.28%, 1.00% respectively. The inpatient rate of oldest-age group decreased by 53.59%, compared with control group. The cost-benefit ratio generated by the use of influenza vaccine in reducing the hospitalization rate was 6.48:1 for Social Health Insurants in Xi'an city.

CONCLUSIONThe Strategy to vaccinate the social-health-insured residents on influenza in Xi'an city had gained better economic benefits in reducing the hospitalization rate of respiratory system diseases and cardiovascular diseases for mild and old-aged persons.

Adult ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Hospitalization ; economics ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; economics ; Influenza Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Influenza, Human ; economics ; prevention & control ; Insurance, Health ; economics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Social Security ; economics

Objective To examine the effects of exogenously administered intermedin (IMD,adrenomedullin-2) on arterial blood pressure,cardiac function and the cardiovascular IMD receptor system in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) as well as to investigate the associated mechanisms.Methods Thirteen week-old male rats were divided in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) group (n =12),SHR group (n =12),IMD group (SHRs infused with IMD 1-47 500 ng/kg per hour,n =12),and ADM group (SHRs infused with adrenomedullin 500 ng/kg per hour,n =12).Results A two-week continuous administration of low dose IMD 1-47 via mini-osmotic pumps markedly reduced blood pressure,the maximal rates of increase and decrease of left-ventricle pressure development (LV ± dp/dtmax),left ventricular systolic pressure and heart rate in SHRs.Furthermore,IMD also inhibited protein over-expression of cardiovascular IMD receptors,myocardial Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins (RAMP1 and RAMP2),aortic RAMP1,RAMP2,RAMP3,and calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR);suppressed up-regulation of aortic RAMP1,RAMP2,RAMP3 and CRLR gene expression; and markedly elevated the mRNA abundance of myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and myocardial brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).Additionally,IMD 1-47 administration in SHRs increased aortic cAMP concentration and reduced myocardial cAMP concentration.Conclusion These findings support the speculation that IMD,as a cardiovascular active peptide,is involved in blood pressure reduction and cardiac function amelioration during hypertension.The mechanism underlying this effect may involve IMD binding of a receptor complex formed by RAMPs and CRLR,and consequential regulation of cAMP levels and other cardiovascular active factors,such as ANP and BNP.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the small fiber-evoked dorsal root reflex (DRR) can be obtained by electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve in rats. Fifty-one DRRs were recorded from different kinds of fiber filaments in the proximal ends of the cut L(5) dorsal root following electrical stimulation of the sural nerve. According to the kind of afferent fibers in the sural nerve associated with the DRRs from dorsal root, these DRRs were divided into five different types: A(alphabeta) fiber-evoked A(alphabeta).DRR (A(alphabeta)- A(alphabeta).DRR), A(betadelta) - A(delta ).DRR, A(betadelta)-C.DRR, A(alphabetadelta)-C.DRR and C-C.DRR. The results obtained show that the DRR can be obtained from either A-fibers (including A(delta )-fibers) or C-fibers of dorsal root filaments by stimulation of the sural nerve. It is therefore suggested that either A(delta ).DRR or C.DRR can be used as a validity index of presynaptic inhibition of the thin primary afferent terminals for investigation of the modulation mechanisms of peripheral effectors.
Afferent Pathways ; Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Female ; Male ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; physiology ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex ; physiology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; physiology ; Sural Nerve ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer, and to probe the relationship between the levels of IL-2, IL-8, IgG, IgA and IgM and the progress of cancer.

METHODSThe serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 72 case of primary esophageal cancer, 68 advanced esophageal cancer and 120 healthy controls, and the level of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer was dynamically observed.

RESULTSThe IL-2 level in patients with early esophageal cancer [(1.69 +/- 0.53) ng/ml] or late esophageal cancer [(1.11 +/- 0.60) ng/ml] was lower than the control group [(2.78 +/- 0.51) ng/ml] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was lower than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 in patients with early esophageal cancer [(85.48 +/- 6.14) ng/L] or late esophageal cancer [(121.41 +/- 6.22) ng/L] was much higher than the control group [(54.48 +/- 12.20) ng/L] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was much higher than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.01); There was correlation between the levels of IL-2 and IL-8 and the worsen-extent of the tumour in patients with early esophageal cancer or late esophageal cancer. But the level of IgG [(12.23 +/- 2.50) g/L], IgM [(1.60 +/- 0.80) g/L] in the patients with esophageal cancer compared with the level of IgG [(11.65 +/- 3.70) g/L], IgM [(1.46 +/- 0.71) g/L] in the health control group have no significant difference (P > 0.05), the level of IgA [(3.50 +/- 1.10) g/L] in patients with esophageal cancer Compared with the control group [(1.88 +/- 1.08) g/L] has significant difference (P < 0.01), and along with the worsen-extent of the tumor in patients the level of IgA has the increased tendency.

CONCLUSIONThe IL-8 might accelerate the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer, and the IL-2 might restrain. The positive correlation between the level of IgA and the patients with esophageal cancer is observed in this study; the immune maladjustment of IL-2, IL-8 and IgA might be correlative to esophageal cancer, and the IL-2, IL-8 and IgA levels might be an available index for the severity of esophageal cancer, Which may be of some help for clinic practitioners to judge the progress, curative effect and prognosis of the cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

Oxidative stress can induce significant cell death by apoptosis. We explore whether prior exposure to H2O2 (H2O2 preconditioning) protects PC12 cells against the apoptotic consequences of subsequent oxidative damages and what role the ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels play in the preconditioning protection. PC12 cells were preconditioned with 90 min exposure to H2O2 at 10 micromol/L, followed by 24-h recovery and subsequent exposures to different concentrations (20, 30, 50 and 100 micromol/L) of H2O2 for 24 h respectively. We used PI staining flow cytometry (FCM) to observe the apoptosis of PC12 cells. It was shown that 24-h exposures to H2O2 at 20, 30, 50 and 100 micromol/L respectively induced substantial cell apoptosis, which was greatly prevented in the preconditioning cells, indicating that H2O2 preconditioning protected PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by H2O2. Administration of pinacidil (10 micromol/L), an K(ATP) channel activator, significantly attenuated the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by H2O2 at 30 and 50 micromol/L for 24 h respectively. Glybenclamide (10 micromol/L), a K(ATP) channel inhibitor, significantly suppressed or abolished the protective effects caused by the pinacidil but not by H2O2 preconditioning. However, when both H2O2 preconditioning and pinacidil were co-applied, their protection against the apoptosis of PC12 cells was much stronger than that of the individual one of them. These results suggest that H2O2 preconditioning protects PC12 cells against apoptosis and that the activation of K(ATP) channels is not involved in, but synergetically enhances adaptive protection of H2O2 preconditioning.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Oxidants ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVEIn order to explore the risk factors of the papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC), a hospital-based matched case-control study was carried out in Shanghai.

METHODSMatched by gender, age (+/- 3 years old) and native place,205 pairs of cases and controls were recruited and studied. Database was established with Epi Info 6.0 software. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were carried out with SPSS 11.5 software.

RESULTSData from multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that often drinking tea and having better economic living standard 20 years ago were protective factors of PTC, with ORs of 0.456 and 0.221 respectively. Personal history of CT examination, familial history of cancer and the mother's age was older than 22 years when the research subject was delivered, were risk factors of PTC, with ORs of 12.935, 7.027 and 3.729 respectively. Results data from multivariate analysis on female subjects showed that the history of CT examination, mother's age was older than 22 (when the subject was delivered) and the history of gynecological disease were the risk factors of PTC,with ORs of 107.453,29.246 and 59.521 respectively. Taking bean products frequently and having higher standard of living 20 years ago were the protective factors of PTC,with ORs of 0.025 and 0. 144 respectively.

CONCLUSIONHistory of CT examination, familial history of cancer and the mother's age(older than 22 when the subject was delivered) were the risk factors of PTC. Frequent tea drinking habit and having higher standard of living 20 years ago were the protective factors of PTC. History of CT examination,mother's age (older than 22 when the subject was delivered) and the history of gynecological disease appeared the risk factors of PTC for women. Habit on frequent bean products taking and had higher standard of living 20 years ago were the protective factors of PTC to women.

Carcinoma, Papillary ; epidemiology ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Social Class ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology

BACKGROUNDChina is the most severe endemic area of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the world with 30,000-50,000 cases reported annually, which accounts for more than 90% of total number of cases worldwide. The incidence rate of the syndrome in Shandong Province is one of the highest in China, which has ever reached 50 per 100,000 persons per year. However, the molecular characteristics of hantaviruses (HV) epidemic in Shandong Province remain unclear. Therefore it is useful to clarify nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic characteristics of HV isolated in Shandong Province in order to provide better advices to control and prevent HFRS.

METHODSRNAs were extracted from sera of clinically diagnosed patients and positive rodent lungs that were detected by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Partial M segments of HV were amplified from the RNAs with reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reactions (nested PCR) using hantavirus genotype specific primers. The nested PCR products were sequenced and compared with those from previously epidemic isolates in Shandong and with other representative HV sequences from GenBank. Phylogenetic tree analyses were performed based on the sequences of the M genes.

RESULTSThirty-four HV isolates in Shandong showed 67.1%-100% nucleotide identities. The nucleotide homologies among 6 Hantaan viruses (HTNV) isolates in Shandong were 78.1%-98.7%, while the homologies among 28 Seoul virus (SEOV) isolates in Shandong were 93.7%-100%. There were at least 3 subtypes HTNV (H2, H5, H9) and 2 subtypes SEOV (S2, S3) in Shandong Province.

CONCLUSIONSIn Shandong Province, the homologies of HTNV were lower and there were no predominant subtypes, while the homologies of SEOV were higher and S3 was the predominant subtype. The homologies of SEOV from rodents were higher than those from patients. The distribution of subtypes in Shandong was similar to that of the adjoining provinces. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences showed geographic clustering of HV in Shandong.

Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; analysis ; Base Sequence ; Genetic Variation ; Hantavirus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung ; virology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Rodentia ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the association of polymorphisms in the X-ray repair cross-complementing gene 1 (XRCC1) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

METHODSA hospital based, matched case-control study was carried out. The polymorphisms in XRCC1 for 105 pairs of cases with PTC and controls were identified by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThe frequencies of Arg/Arg, Arg/Trp and Trp/Trp genotypes at XRCC1 Arg194Trp site were 47.6%, 49.5% and 2.9% among cases compared to 45.7%, 48.6% and 5.7% among controls. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (chi(2) = 1.07, P = 0.59). The frequencies of Arg/Arg, Arg/Gln and Gln/Gln genotypes at XRCC1 Arg399Gln site were 46.7%, 41.9% and 11.4% among cases, while 54.2%, 42.9% and 2.9% among controls respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups (chi(2) = 6.40, P = 0.04). Individuals with Gln/Gln genotype had a 3.65-fold increased risk of developing PTC compared to Arg/Arg genotype (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.24 - 17.45). The multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism, negative life events and X-irradiation history were associated with PTC, with odds ratios of 2.71 (95% CI: 1.22 - 6.05), 5.34 (95% CI: 1.40 - 20.38) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.12 - 0.72) respectively. However, XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism, drinking tea, fruit and economic levels did not show statistically significant associations with PTC.

CONCLUSIONThe Gln/Gln genotype at XRCC1 Arg399Gln site and negative life events significantly increased while X-irradiation history decreased the risk of developing PTC.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Repair ; genetics ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1