OBJECTIVETo establish a rat model of low calcium diet related hyperoxaluria and explore its features.

METHODSBy means of randomized blocks design, totally 24 SD male rats were divided into low calcium diet group, medium calcium diet group, and high calcium diet group. Each group was sequentially fed on different calcium diets for 3 days. The urinary volume within 24 hours was recorded, the consistency of urinary oxalate by high-efficiency liquid chromatography, and the consistency of urine creatinine by automatic biochemical analyzer. The consistency was corrected to the output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours, and the results were evaluated by repeated measurement of variance analysis and multivariate analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours varied with time (F=7.893, P0.05). The output of urinary oxalate of rats in 24 hours varied with group division (F=3.565, P<0.05). The output of urinary oxalate in 24 hours in three groups on the third day was significantly higher than that on the first day (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONBy controlling the calcium intake, we successfully established the model of low calcium diet related hyperoxaluria in rat.

Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; administration & dosage ; Diet ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperoxaluria ; etiology ; urine ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the compatibility of a modified prescription of Simiao Pill in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis and to verify the clinical efficacy and safety of the drug through a clinical trial.

METHODSA randomized and controlled clinical trial was designed based on clinical epidemiological principles. A total of 107 patients with acute gouty arthritis were enrolled and randomly assigned to four groups. The first group (Group I) included 27 patients taking gout prescription I; the second group (Group II) included 27 patients taking gout prescription II; the third group (Group III) included 28 patients taking gout prescription III; and the fourth group (control group) included 25 patients taking indomethacin and Benzobromarone as a control group. The duration of the treatment in all 4 groups was two weeks. After the treatment, the index of blood uric acid, blood leukocyte count, score of clinical symptoms, etc. were observed and measured.

RESULTSThe total clinical effective rate of the three different modified prescriptions of the Simiao Pill was above 96%, significantly superior to that of the control group (68%, P<0.05). In terms of the improvement of main symptoms, the scores of four symptoms in all TCM treatment and control groups decreased after treatment, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Moreover, the scores markedly fell more so in the three Chinese herb groups than in the control group, and especially in Group III (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in blood uric acid values before and after the treatment in the same group but no significant inter-group difference was seen.

CONCLUSIONThe modified prescriptions, based on the clinical research, clinical experience and traditional Chinese medicine theory, did show a better effect than Western medicine in this clinical study. Moreover, the prescriptions were precise, with the herbs inexpensive and readily available. The patients had good compliance with less adverse reactions noted. The modified prescription has a favorable prospect for future development and is worthy of further blind trials with larger samples.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Gouty ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles of cell adhesion, multidrug resistance and cell proliferation in short-term recurrent cases with superficial bladder cancer, and the prognostic value of the three indexes.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining for E-cad, P-gp and Ki-67 was performed on the tumors of 100 patients with stage T0-T1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who had been included in a retrospective research by follow-up.

RESULTSE-cad and P-gp expression was positive in 51 (43.2%)and 17 (14.4%) of the tumors, respectively and mean proliferation index (PI) was 22.1%. The decrease in E-cad expression was accompanied with the increasing recurrent episodes (P < 0.05), while increase of P-gp expression and PI were accompanied with the increasing recurrence episodes (P < 0.05). There was significant difference according to E-cad, P-gp positivity and between T(1)G(3) patients and no-T(1)G(3) patients (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation of E-cad expression with P-gp expression and PI.

CONCLUSIONSMinimum adhesion, strong drug resistance and maximum proliferation are the main factors that promote short-term recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and also the inherent reasons for easy recurrence and high malignancy of T(1)G(3) tumors. During this course, the three aspects may interact.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; Adult ; Cadherins ; analysis ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Division ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; etiology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology

ADP receptors on platelets are mainly divided into two categories: P2X and P2Y. The activation of P2Y receptor is closely related to the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. It plays an important role in regulating platelet activation and aggregation, vascular inflammation, thrombosis and so on. It is the target of ADP receptor blockers. This kind of drugs is also a hot spot in the research and development of antiplatelet drugs. This article reviews the role of P2Y receptor in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, in order to provide new ideas and reference for the application of P2Y receptor antagonists in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

To investigate the effect of a new reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) scavenger as immune adjuvant in NK cell-mediated killing effect on K562 cell, IL-2 and PHA were used to activate monocyte to produce ROM, and different concentrations of tiopronin as ROM scavenger was used in the cultivated systems with different ratio of monocytes plus NK cells and K562 cells, while histamine dihydrochloride (DHT) with different concentrations was used as positive control. The reuslts indicated that after IL-2 and PHA were supplemented in the cultivated systems mixing with NK cells and K562 cells as the E/T ratio was 10/1, the ROM production increased from 33.17 +/- 25.02 U/ml to 223.59 +/- 59.41 U/ml (P < 0.05) while K562 cell inhibition rate (KIR) increased from 65.56% to 85.89% (P < 0.05). When the monocytes as the E/MO ratios of 10/2, 10/5 and 10/10 were supplemented respectively, ROM production increased correspondingly (ROM production was 389.79 +/- 43.83 U/ml, 456.74 +/- 42.77 U/ml, 601.42 +/- 21.92 U/ml, respectively), and KIR was on the other round (KIR was 82.36%, 81.36%, 48.09% respectively). Tiopronin, DHT were used in the K562 + NK + MO + IL-2/PHA cultivated systems as the E/MO ratio was 10/2, the ROM production also decreased from 389.79 +/- 43.83 U/ml to -1.20 +/- 60.70 U/ml, 50.21 +/- 22.4 U/ml (P < 0.05), respectively, however KIR increased from 82.53% to 96.09% and 94.64% either (P < 0.05). Higher concentrations of tiopronin and DHT were used, ROM production decreased accordingly. There showed a reverse correlation between ROM production and KIR (r = -0.518). When E/MO ratio was 10/5 or 10/10, tiopronin at any testing concentration and DHT at the higher testing concentration could reduce the ROM production (P < 0.05), but did not improve KIR significantly (P > 0.05). Tiopronin was as good as DHT in ameliorating KIR (P > 0.05) and better than DHT in scavenging ROM (P < 0.05). It is concluded that (1) Monocytes are the major resources of ROM, and the ROM derived from monocytes can disable NK cells in killing neoplasm cells (K562 cells); (2) A new ROM scavenger, tiopronin, can scavenge ROM effectively, and reverse the ROM induced inhibition of NK cell-mediated killing of K562 cell in a certain extent. And tiopronin is better than DHT in scavenging ROM, and as good as DHT in up-regulating KIR. The new ROM scavenger tiopronin with less side effect may take the place of DHT as adjuvant during the adoptive immuno-therapy in leukemia.
Coculture Techniques ; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tiopronin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of pneumatic lithotripsy on children urethral calculi.

METHODSTwenty-two cases of the male children with urethral calculi were treated with pneumatic lithotripsy under ureteroscopy.

RESULTSAll the patients were treated successfully in a single procedure. The time of lithotripsy was (5.5 +/- 2.2) minutes, and no serious complication such as obvious hematuria, infection and urethral stricture occurred.

CONCLUSIONSIt is suggested that pneumatic lithotripsy under ureteroscopy is an effective and simple way for the treatment of urethral calculi in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; methods ; Male ; Ureteral Calculi ; therapy ; Ureteroscopy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of oncoprotein c-erbB2 in primary breast cancer and to analyze its relation to its prognosis.

METHODSImmunohistochemical staining for c-erbB2 was performed on paraffin-embedded specimens of primary breast cancer from 284 patients, and the relation to its prognosis was statistically analyzed.

RESULTSPositive expression rate of c-erbB2 was 26.8% (76/284) in 284 primary breast cancer patients. Expression of c-erbB2 was positively correlated with the status of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003). Univariate analysis indicated that c-erbB2 expression is a significant prognostic factor for the disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.024) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002), while multivariate analysis demonstrated that c-erbB2 is an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.023). Moreover, tumors with c-erbB2 positive expression are more tend to metastasis to other viscera than those with c-erbB2 negative. c-erbB2 expression has different prognostic values for patients with different status of estrogen receptor (ER) and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONc-erbB2 expression is an independent prognostic factor for total survival time in primary breast cancer patients, and its prognostic values are different according to the different ER status and lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUNDTo find out the timing of serologic responses after illness onset and distribution of IgG antibody to SARS-CoV in SARS cases of transmission chain or non-transmission chain.

METHODSThe IgG and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV were tested by indirect ELISA in serum samples from 301 clinically diagnosed SARS cases.

RESULTSTotally 158 SARS cases were involved in 15 chains of transmission. The positive rates of SARS-CoV IgG in those chains were 85.70%-100.00% and the overall rate was 94.30% (149/158). The chain of transmission could spread to four generations, but the SARS cases were reduced with increase of generations. There was no significant difference among positive rates of SARS-CoV IgG for generations, Chi square=5.11, P greater than 0.05. The positive rate of SARS-CoV IgG in cases who were not in chain of transmission was 12.59%(18/143) which was statistically significantly different from that of cases in chain of transmission, Chi square=199.64, P less than 0.001. During days 0-7,8-14,15-21,22-30 after onset, the cumulated positive rate of SARS-CoV IgG was 16.67%, 40.00%, 70.00% and 93.10%, respectively, then was kept at the level above 90% and lasted for 217 days. The cumulated positive rate of SARS-CoV IgM during days 0-7 after onset was the same to that of IgG. During days 8-14, 55.17% of cases had seroconversion for IgM which reached a peak (86.96%) during days 21-30. Then the rate rapidly declined.

CONCLUSIONMore than 94% of cases with SARS could produce IgG antibody when they were infected by SARS-CoV. Detecting SARS-CoV IgG could provide a diagnostic evidence for case confirmation. SARS-CoV IgG appeared as early as 7 days after onset and reached the peak at about weeks 4. Then the high rate of antibody was maintained for more than 6 months.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; transmission

OBJECTIVETo study the biomechanical properties of self-designed calcaneal anatomical plate and pre-cut gudgeon system and its efficacy for calcaneal fracture fixation.

METHODSSixteen fresh foot specimens were randomly divided into experimental group and the control group. Axial compressive load were applied to all specimens in order to create a calcaneal fracture model, and the maximum load and the maximum arch displacement of experimental group were recorded. In experimental group, self-designed intenal fixation system were utilized, while the AO plate internal fixation system were utilized in the control group. Axial compressive test were applied again to both groups, and the maximum load, the foot arch displacement and calcanus broadens were measured and recorded.

RESULTSComparison between before and after fixing the calcaneus fracture by self-designed internal fixation system in experimental group, the difference of the maximum load was significant (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) of the maximum arch displacement. All parameters were significantly different (P<0.01) between the experimental group and the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe fractured calcaneus will be able to regain normal foot biomechanical function after treated by self-designed internal fixation system, and able to support foot arch to bear great load. The self-designed internal fixation and pre-cut gudgeon system is considered to outperform the conventional AO internal fixation system with its better effectiveness and outcome in treating calcaneus fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To know the situation of tobacco advertisement, promotions and related factors in six cities in China. Methods 4815 adults (above 18 years), selected form Beijing, Shanghai,Shenyang, Changsha, Guangzhou and Yinchuan through probability proportionate sampling and simple random sampling, were investigated through questionnaires. Results The most commonly reported channels that smokers noticed tobacco advertisements were billboards (35.6%) and television (34.4%).The most commonly reported tobacco promotional activities that were noticed by smokers were flee gills when buying cigarettes (23.1% ) and free samples of cigarettes (13.9%). Smokers in Changsha were more likely to report noticing tobacco advertisement on billboards (X2=562.474, P<0.001), and on television(X2=265.570, P<0.001 ). Smokers in Claangsha (X2=58.314, P<0.001 ) were more likely to notice tobacco related news and games. A logistic regression analysis showed that the living and education level were related to awareness of tobacco advertisement and promotion. Conclusion It was universal to see tobacco advertisement and promotions in cities in China but the laws and regulations about tobacco-control were not uniformly executed in different cities. It is necessary to perfect and uniform related laws and regulations.