Adolescent ; Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Dacryocystitis ; surgery ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective We analysed the homocysteine level and distribution of ganzhou city crowd ,learned about its elevatory sit‐uation ,and provided theory basis for the intervention of high homocysteine level crowd and the prevention of heart and head blood vessel disease .Methods We detected the blood homocysteine level of 6419 adults who had physical examination in our hospital dur‐ing 2012 by enzymatic methods ,and analyzed the diagnose rate of HHcy and the distributions of Hcy in different age and gender . Results The total detection rate of high homocysteine level in 6419 adults was 39 .11% ,among which 47 .30% in male and 22 .49% in female ,the comparison was statistically significant (χ2 = 424 .28 ,P< 0 .05) ;the detection rate of male was higher than female .In different ages ,the detection rates were statistically significant comparatively (P< 0 .05) .The detection rate of homocys‐teine level in both gender rises with age .At the same time ,homocysteine levels in males of 25 - 34 years old age group and 35 - 44 years old age group ,45 - 54 years old age group and 55 - 64 yeas old age group were not statistically significant ;while there were statistical differences of Hcy level in the rest age groups of male ,different age groups of female and same age different gender groups (P< 0 .05) .Conclusion The HHcy detection rate and the blood Hcy distribution of Ganzhou city crowd has its regional characteristics compared with other regions ,and it may be associated with the main population distribution of hakka people and oth‐er geological factors .The detection rate of HHcy was relatively high ,and it′s advisable to take early prevention to lower the risk of heart and head blood vessel disease .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among serum leptin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidema in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODSEighty-two patients with NAFLD were divided into mild, moderate and severe NAFLD groups according histological examination results of the liver. Twenty healthy volunteers were chosen as the normal control (NC) group. Fasting insulin, glucose, leptin and lipid levels were measured in the 82 patients with NAFLD and the BMI calculated. IR index of the patients was calculated according to the HOMA method.

RESULTSLeptin, HOMA-IR index, BMI and dyslipidemia showed significant differences between NAFLD and NC groups (P<0.05 or 0.01). Leptin and HOMA-IR index increased with the exacerbation of NAFLD, both of which were positively correlated with the severity of NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONIncreased leptin level, HOMA-IR, BMI and dyslipidemia can be important risk factors of NAFLD, and serum leptin level and HOMA-IR are positively correlated with the severity of NAFLD.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Dyslipidemias ; complications ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND:Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are both effective in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but different in the distribution and dispersion of bone cement. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To analyze the factors affecting the bone cement dispersion within the vertebral body in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. ＜br> METHODS:A total of 41 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were included, and divided into three groups:group A (22 cases receiving high viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty treatment), group B (5 cases receiving high viscosity bone cement kyphoplasty), group C (14 cases receiving low viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty treatment). The groups A and C were divided into subgroups according to bone cement injection volume, time from fracture to operation, preoperative degree of vertebral compression. The distribution and dispersion of bone cement in the vertebra were reconstructed by the CT three-dimensional imaging and volume rendering analysis. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the three groups, after operation, relative dispersion area and relative dispersion volume in the vertebrae had no obvious difference, and the bone cement could al diffuse to upper and lower lamina cross the vertebral midline. There was no significant difference in bone cement diffusion coefficient among the three groups. In a certain range, the bone cement injection volume and bone cement dispersion volume was positively correlated. In groups A and C, bone cement diffusion coefficient decreased with the increasing of bone cement injection volume, time from fracture to operation, and the compression degree of the fractured vertebrae, but showed no significant correlation with bone cement viscosity.

Objective To study the relationship between Couagen Ⅰ,MMP-2,TIMP-2 gene expression and atrial fibrosis during heart failure(HF)in dog.Methods Fourteen dogs were used and randomized into HF induced by ventricular tachypacing and control group.Burst atrial pacing was used to induce atrial fibrillation(AF).And the mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technique.Tissue samples were stained with Mallory trichrome.Results Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased from (67.4? 6.0)% to (29.2?7.8)%,the inducible rate of AF(7/7 vs 2/7) and sustained AF(5/7 vs 0/7) increased and duration of AF stabeatrial fibrillation(SAF) [(462.12?181.43)s vs(0.57?0.57) s] prolonged significantly in HF group.Atrial fibrous tissue content and atrial size of HF group were significantly greater than the controls dogs(268.8% in lefe atria and 190.3% in right atria).The mRNA and protein level of collagen Ⅰ(56.2% and 132.2% in lefe atria,37.4% and 78.0% in right atria)and MMP-2 (100.0% and 115.7% in lefe atria,65.7% and 96.8% in right atria) increased evidently in both lefe atria and right atria,TIMP-2 mRNA decreased 46.3% in lefe atria and had no change in right atria and that its protein had no change in both atrium,whereas the ratio of MMP-2/ TIMP-2 of mRNA and protein increased markedly in both lefe atria (285.3% and 148.8%)and right atria (106.1% and 134.7%)of HF group.SAF had a positive correlation with fibrosis and the gene level of collagen Ⅰ in lefe atria,the ratio of MMP-2/TIMP-2 had a positive correlation with fibrosis and collagen Ⅰ gene level in lefe atria during HF.Conclusions The changes of collagen Ⅰ,MMP-2 and TIMP-2 gene expression appear to be a molecular mechanism of AF, and the molecular remodeling of collagen Ⅰ induced by regulation unbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-2 appears to be an important mechanism of atrial fibrosis during HF.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the curative effect of surgical treatment for lumbar discogenic low back pain. METHODS: Forty-two patients with lumbar discogenic low back pain were treated with disc excision and lumbar interbody fusion: 12 of them were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), 30 with afront lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). The clinical results were evaluated by pre- and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS), and the fusion rates of the lumbosacral spine were evaluated by X-ray. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 18 months, ranging from 6 to 36 months. Low back pain basically disappeared in 11 patients treated with PLIF, with mild back pain in one patient; VAS after the operation decreased significantly in comparison with that preoperatively (P<0.01). Low back pain basically disappeared in 28 patients treated with ALIF; VAS after the operation decreased significantly in comparison with that preoperatively (P<0.01). The fusion rate was 90% in patients treated with PLIF, and 93% in patients with ALIF. CONCLUSION Disc excision and interbody fusion is effective in the treatment of lumbar discogenic low back pain, but the operation indications should be paid attention to.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; surgery ; Low Back Pain ; etiology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To compare the advantages and disadvantages among the conventional operative methods with the primary anterior debridement, intercentrum auto grafting, and anterior internal fixation method for the thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis, and to discuss the applying principle. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis were treated by the primary anterior debridement, intercentrum auto grafting, and anterior internal fixation, 8 patients were treated by focus debridement and intercentrum auto grafting operations, and the other 22 patients were treated by focus debridement from Feburary 1998 to July 2003, and we analysed the status of the grafting bone fused, the neural function resumed, the malformation rectified and the whole cure ratio. RESULTS: All patients were cured after the follow-up of 15.2 months averagely. Three thoracic spinal and 1 lumbar spinal tuberculosis patients who suffered local infection were cured by debridement and other managements. The time of beginning active movement postoperatively was shortened, and the degrees of kyphosis correction had increased in the anterior internal fixation group compared with the other two groups (P <0.05). But the cost and the bleeding resulted from operation had increased in the anterior internal fixation group compared with the other two groups (P <0.05). CONCLUSION The conventional and the modern operation methods of thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis have respective advantages and disadvantages, so that they can complement rather than replace each other.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Sedimentation ; Debridement ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms involved in atrial fibrosis which occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and to investigate their effects on the initiation and maintenance of AF.

METHODSThe right atrial tissue samples were taken from 73 patients with rheumatic heart disease who underwent heart valve replacement surgery. 34 patients had no history of AF (sinus rhythm group), 9 patients had paroxysmal AF and 30 patients had persistent AF. The mRNA content of collagen type I, collagen type III, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to beta-actin or GAPDH.

RESULTSCompared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA of collagen type I and MMP-2 increased significantly in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01), followed by the paroxysmal AF group (all, P < 0.05). The mRNA of collagen type III was slightly higher in both AF groups than in the sinus rhythm group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 was down-regulated in the persistent AF group (all, P < 0.01, respectively), however, the trends of reduction did not reach statistical significance in the paroxysmal AF group (P > 0.05). The mRNA of TIMP-4 remained compatible in each group. The mRNA of collagen type I was significantly correlated with left atrial dimension (r = 0.336, P = 0.004) and AF duration (r = 0.339, P = 0.003). The mRNA of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with the mRNA of TIMP-2 (r = -0.326, P = 0.006), the mRNA of collagen type I (r = 0.322, P = 0.006), left atrial dimension (r = 0.300, P = 0.011) and AF duration (r = 0.300, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONThe increased level of collagen type I associated with selective downregulation of TIMP-2 and upregulation of MMP-2 gene expression in atrium could be one of the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrosis during atrial fibrillation, which correlates with the initiation and maintenance of AF.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases ; genetics

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 curative effects of pirfenidone (PF) on pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ) in mice and to provide the theoretical basis for clinical treatment.

METHODSNinety adult healthy male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control group, PQ group, 2 mg/kg Dexamethasone group, 25 mg/kg PF group, 50 mg/kg PF group and 100 mg/kg PF group, there were 15 mice in each group. The corresponding volume of normal saline was given to the each mouse in control group according to the weight, after 2 h 0.1% CMC was given to the each mouse of control group one time by intragastric administration, then the CMC was administrated at regular time until sacrifice. All mice for other 5 groups were exposed to 100 mg/kg PQ by intragastric administration. At 2 h after exposure to PQ, 0.02 ml/10 g dexamethasone and 25, 50, 100 mg/kg PF were given to mice for dexamethasone group and for 3 PF groups by intragastric administration each day for 49 days, respectively. The lung coefficient was calculated and pathological changes of lung tissue were observed by HE staining for each mouse. The hydroxyproline (HYP) level in lung tissue was measured for each mouse. The mRNA level of and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in lung tissue for each mouse were determined, and the protein level of TGF-β(1) in the bronchus-alveolus lavage fluid (BALF) of each mouse was detected.

RESULTSThe survival rates on the 3rd day in PQ group, 3 PF groups and dexamethasone group were 53.33%, 46.67%, 73.33%, 86.67% and 80%, respectively. The survival rates on the 3rd day in dexamethasone group, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg PF groups were significantly higher than those of PQ group and 25 mg/kg PF group (P < 0.05). The lung coefficients of 3 PF groups were significantly lower than that of the PQ group (P < 0.05). The lung tissue HYP levels of dexamethasone group and 3 PF groups were 50.95 ± 11.65, 44.52 ± 9.48, 43.27 ± 6.01 and 40.82 ± 5.90 mg/g respectively, which were significantly lower than that (74.27 ± 3.68) of PQ group (P < 0.01). The TGF-β(1) protein levels of BALF in dexamethasone group, 50 and 100 mg/kg PF groups were 22.03 ± 7.27, 27.75 ± 5.84 and 21.31 ± 6.82 ng/ml respectively, which were significantly lower than that (52.52 ± 15.51) ng/ml of PQ group (P < 0.01) The expression level of TGF-β(1) mRNA in 100 mg/kg PF group decreased significantly, as compared with PQ group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPF could reduce the collagen deposition and pulmonary fibrosis induced by PQ in mice lungs.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pyridones ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism