OBJECTIVE: To determine the chlorpyrifos in human blood by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and to validate its application in poisoning cases. METHODS: The samples were extracted by a simple one-step protein precipitation procedure. Chromatography was performed on a Capcell Pack C18 MGII column (250 mm x 2.0 mm, 5 μm) using an isocratic elution of solvent A (0.1% formic acid-water with 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate) and solvent B (methanol with 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate) at 5:95 V:V). RESULTS: The linear ranged from 5 to 500 ng/mL (r = 0.998 7). The limit of detection (LOD) and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 2 ng/mL and 4 ng/mL, respectively. For this method, the precision and accuracy of intra-day and inter-day were < 10% and 97.44%-101.10%, respectively. The results in stability test of long-term frozen were satisfied. The matrix effect, recovery and process efficiency were 64.97%-86.81%, 76.70%-85.52%, and 55.57%-66.58%, respectively. CONCLUSION This method can provide a rapid approach to chlorpyrifos extraction and determination in toxicological analysis of forensic and clinical treatment.
Chlorpyrifos/blood* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods* ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Poisoning ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

OBJECTIVETo get a comprehensive understanding about the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma by reviewing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestation and then summarizing the latest progress on diagnosis and treatment.

DATA SOURCESArticles referred in this review were mainly collected from a comprehensive search of the PubMed published in English from 1990 to 2015 with the terms "OSA" and "asthma" as the main keywords. Highly regarded older publications were also included.

STUDY SELECTIONInformation about the features of the two diseases in common, the pathophysiologic association between them and their current treatments from the literature search were identified, retrieved, and summarized.

RESULTSBoth OSA and asthma are very prevalent conditions. The incidences of them have kept on rising in recent years. Asthma is often accompanied by snoring and apnea, and OSA often combines with asthma, as well. They have many predisposing and aggravating factors in common. Possible shared direct mechanistic links between them include mechanical effects, intermittent hypoxia, nerve reflex, inflammation, leptin, etc. Indirect mechanistic links include medication, nose diseases, smoking, obesity, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Since OSA presents many similar features with nocturnal asthma, some scholars termed them as a sole syndrome - "alternative overlap syndrome," and proved that asthma symptoms in those patients could be improved through the treatment of continuous positive airway pressure.

CONCLUSIONSOSA and asthma are closely associated in pathogenesis, symptoms, and therapies. With the growing awareness of the relationship between them, we should raise our vigilance on the coexistence of OSA in those difficult-to-control asthmatic patients. Further studies are still needed to guide the clinical works.

Asthma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of measuring ankle brachial index (ABI) for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease(PAD) compared with conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard.

METHODSA total of 383 consecutive inpatients (245 male, mean age 64.1 +/- 11.7 years) underwent both conventional DSA and ABI measurements.

RESULTSThe rate of statin intervention was 90.9%, ACEI 69.2%, antiplatelet 96.6% and beta-blockers 67.9%. The intravascular stenosis was classified into six degrees: normal, < 30%, 30% - 49%, 50% - 69%, 70% - 89% and > or = 90%. Compared to the traditional gold standard (DSA) in diagnosis PDA, the ABI value decreased in proportion to the severity of PAD (the ABI value was 1.08 +/- 0.11, 1.05 +/- 0.16, 0.99 +/- 0.17, 0.66 +/- 0.24, 0.55 +/- 0.28 and 0.54 +/- 0.00 respectively in the six ranks). There was a significant correlation between DSA and ABI in diagnosis PAD.

CONCLUSIONABI measurement is an accurate and reliable non-invasive alternative to conventional DSA in the assessment of lower extremity arteries in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Aged ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Ankle ; blood supply ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Brachial Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in pulmonary vascular remodeling of pulmonary hypertensive rats, and investigate the regulation of CTGF expression by simvastatin in this animal model.

METHODSEighty male Sprague-Dawley rats (350 to 400 g) were randomized to 7 groups. The rats in group PM(1 - 21) (n = 10) and PM(1 - 35) (n = 12) were treated with pneumonectomy + monocrotaline (MCT), and sacrificed at the 21st or 35th experimental day;those in groups PMS(1 - 35) (n = 12), PMS(21 - 35) (n = 12), PMV(1 - 35) (n = 12) and PMV(21 - 35) (n = 12) were given daily lavage of simvastatin (or vehicle) as intervention measure which began from the 1st and 21st experimental days, respectively; additional 10 rats were used as control without any intervention. The animals were sacrificed at the end of experiment (35 th day) as hemodynamic measurements and study on the morphological parameters relevant to pulmonary vascular remodeling were performed on each group of rats. The expression of ET-1 mRNA, CTGF mRNA and protein, and synthesis of collagen in these pneumonectomized, MCT-treated rats were compared between control and rats treated with simvastatin.

RESULTSRats in PM(1 - 35) Group developed severe PAH (mPAP = 39.75 +/- 3.62 mm Hg) (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), right ventricular hypertrophy [RV/(LV + S) ratio = 0.627 +/- 0.040], and arterial medial hypertrophy (WT% = 61.73 +/- 5.39), these parameters of the control animals were 17.10 +/- 1.20 mm Hg, 0.262 +/- 0.018 and 14.71 +/- 1.16, respectively. CTGF mRNA and protein were mainly located in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and interstitial macrophage shown by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The expression of ET-1 mRNA and CTGF mRNA detected by fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR in Group PM(1 - 35) were significantly increased in comparison with controls, and so did the CTGF protein expression determined by Western blotting in these diseased rats. The content of hydroxyproline (1.30 +/- 0.19 microg/mg wet lung) was remarkably higher than that of control animals (0.56 +/- 0.10 microg/mg wet lung). The up-regulation of ET-1 and CTGF gene expression, and elevated synthesis of hydroxyproline were reversed in rats intervened with simvastatin. The pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy and medial hypertrophy were attenuated in all simvastatin-treated rats no matter the intervention was initiated from the beginning or midway of the study.

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of CTGF gene expression may play an important role in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH. Simvastatin can prevent and, to some extent, reverse the vascular remodeling via down-regulation of CTGF gene expression.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEDevelopment and application of a real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) assay for detecting WU polyomavirus in children with low respiratory tract infections.

METHODSThe VP2 gene of WU polyomavirus was selected as the detection target, from which the real time primers and probes were designed. The standard curve was established by using recombinant plasmid as template. And the FQ-PCR assay for specific detection of WU polyomavirus was established. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the method were evaluated. Furthermore, the clinical specimens from children with respiratory tract infections collected in Wenling First People's Hospital were quantitatively detected using this method.

RESULTSIn this study, the FQ-PCR method was established to detect a specific fragment in VP2gene of WU polyomavirus. The standard curve coefficient R2 was 0.998. And this method can detect as low as 50 copies recombinant plasmid. The clinical specimens of sputum and throat swab from children with respiratory tract infections were quantitatively detected using this method. 7 sputum specimens were detected as WU polyomavirus positive in 700 sputum specimens, the positive ratio was 1.00%. No positive specimens were detected in 146 specimens of throat swabs and 846 blood samples from same patient population.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the FQ-PCR assay method established in this study was specific, rapid and sensitive for detecting WU polyomavirus in children with lower respiratory tract infections. The sputum specimen is more suitable to be used for gene detection of WU polyomavirus than throat swab or blood.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polyomavirus ; isolation & purification ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; virology ; Sputum ; virology

OBJECTIVEBased on establishment of four rat models of experimental pulmonary hypertension (PH), the authors examined the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by doxycycline and its effect on the development of PH and associated pulmonary vascular remodeling.

METHODHealthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight 350 g to 400 g) were randomly divided into nine groups: Normal control group (N), four model groups (H, M, P, PM) and their corresponding drug intervention groups (HD, MD, PD, PMD) in which doxycycline was given by gavage at a 20 mg/kg daily dosage. On day 28 (day 35 for PM and PMD models), the animals were catheterized to record mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and then sacrificed. Fulton Index [RV/(LV + S)] was measured immediately. Morphometric parameters, including percent vascular wall thickness and muscularization of non-muscularized peripheral pulmonary arterioles were determined microscopically. The activity of MMPs was measured by gelatin zymography in the lung tissue.

RESULTS(1) Rats in all model groups (H, M, P, PM) developed significant pulmonary arterial hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy in comparison with their corresponding drug intervention groups (HD, MD, PD, PMD) and normal control group (N) (P < 0.01). For example, mPAP (mm Hg)(1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa):N: 18.10 +/- 1.45, H: 27.20 +/- 1.55, HD: 23.90 +/- 2.13; Fulton Inedx(%):N: 23.41 +/- 1.84, H: 34.44 +/- 2.70, HD: 27.55 +/- 2.45. (2) The percent vascular wall thickness (WT%) and percentage of muscularization of non-muscular pulmonary arterioles were significantly increased in all model groups compared with drug intervention groups and normal group (P < 0.01). For example, WT%:N: 10.90 +/- 3.11, H:41.41 +/- 5.21, HD: 17.73 +/- 3.12; Muscularization(%):N: 13.83 +/- 3.72, H: 44.93 +/- 2.43, HD: 29.89 +/- 4.45. (3) The activity of MMPs was inhibited by doxycycline effectively as assessed by gelatin zymography (P < 0.01). For example, the activity of MMP2 (A x 10(3)):N: 1.43 +/- 0.24, H: 3.58 +/- 0.28, HD: 2.29 +/- 0.31.

CONCLUSIONDoxycycline attenuated PH and associated pulmonary vascular remodeling in all rat PH models. The study suggests that high expression and enhanced activity of MMPs may play a brutial role in the development of PH. Such phenomenon seems to be common in a variety of PH models of different etiology.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF) on the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSWe divided prostate cancer PC-3 cells into a blank control group and three experimental groups, the latter treated with SF at 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then we determined the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay, measured their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and detected the expression of P53 mRNA by RT-qPCR.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the survival rates of the prostate cancer PC-3 cells in the 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml SF groups were (93.76 +/- 2.63)%, (81.21 +/- 1.80)% and (18.01 +/- 3.84)% at 24 hours, (94.67 +/-1.11)%, (78.33 +/- 2.89)% and (10.34 +/- 1.44)% at48 hours, and (91.30 +/- 0.47)%, (36.67 +/- 1.56)% and (1.33 +/- 0.32)% at 72 hours, all significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p53 mRNA was also markedly increased in all the three experimental groups at 48 hours (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSF can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which may due to its upregulation of the p53 mRNA expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)in gynecological patients in a hospital and analyze the use rationality of PPIs for the prevention of stress ulcer so as to provide reference for the clinical application of PPIs. Methods:To-tally 1000 patients' medical records admitted to the gynecological department for the first time from January 1st to December 31st in 2016 were randomly selected to conduct a retrospective analysis,and the rationality of PPIs was evaluated. Results:The preventive use rate of PPIs was 90.72%(880/970). Among the 880 patients, 28.18%(248/880) of the patients were without indications for the preventive medication,95.68%(842/880) of the patients were with wrong administration time, and 91.46%(578/632) of the pa-tients were with wrong usage and dosage. Conclusion:When PPIs are used for the prevention of SU in gynecological surgery,irrational use such as without indications, unsuitable variety selection and wrong usage and dosage still exists. It is suggested that regulators should strengthen technical and administrative interventions and establish standard for the rational use of PPIs in hospitals so as to avoid the excessive use of PPIs and improve the situation of inappropriate application.

Objective To investigate the clinical values of L-6-18 F-fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylala-nine ( 18 F-DOPA) PET in the diagnosis and severity assessment of early-stage Parkinson's disease ( PD) . Methods Thirty-eight patients (24 males, 14 females; age:34-74 years) with early-stage PD (Hoehn-Yahr ( H-Y) staging:1-2) and 5 age-matched healthy volunteers ( all males;age:45-65 years) from July 2016 to March 2017 were included and underwent 18 F-DOPA PET scan in this retrospective study. The stria-tal-to-occipital ratio ( SOR) was calculated and compared between PD patients and healthy volunteers. The unified PD rating scale ( UPDRS) Ⅲ score and H-Y staging were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms. Two-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used. Results In the control group, 18 F-DOPA SORs in bilateral putamen and caudate nucleus were 2.50±0.24 and 2.61±0.23, respectively. In PD group, the SORs of ipsilateral and contralateral putamen nucleus were 2.02±0.27 and 1.80±0.26 respectively, lower than those in the control group ( t values:-4.006,-5.440, both P<0.01) . The SORs of ipsilateral and contralater-al caudate nucleus were 2.16±0.32 and 2.08±0.28 respectively, lower than those in the control group ( t val-ues:-2.990,-4.047, both P<0.01). The SORs of contralateral putamen and caudate nucleus were signifi-cantly lower than those of the ipsilateral striatum respectively (t values:-6.431,-3.837, both P<0.01). Fur-thermore, the SORs in the striatum (putamen and caudate nucleus) were negatively correlated with UPDRSⅢscore, H-Y staging, and duration of disease (r values:from-0.526 to-0.369, all P<0.05). Conclusions 18F-DOPA PET can reflect the changes in the striatum neurons, and it may be an important method in the diag-nosis and assessment of early-stage PD patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula on cell apoptosis in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); To preliminarily explore its mechanism of action. Methods Totally sixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly devided into normal group, positive control group, Yiqi Huoxue XiaozhengFormula low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the rats in normal group, rats in other groups were treated with castrate and testosterone propionate injection to replicate BPH model. The normal group and the model group were given normal saline for gavage; Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were given Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula 10, 20, 40 mg/100 g for gavage, respectively; rats in positive control group were given Longkai Granule suspension 11 mg/100 g for gavage, once a day, for 30 d. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The prostate tissue was taken. The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in the prostate tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the normol group, the expression of Bax in the prostate tissue of the model group decreased significantly, while the expression of Bcl-2 increased significantly; Compared with the model group, the expression of Bax in the prostate tissue of rats in administration groups increased significantly, while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced, and Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula high-dose group was superior to other groups. Conclusion Yiqi Huoxue Xiaozheng Formula can improve benign prostatic hyperplasia by promoting the apoptosis of rat prostate tissue, and its mechanism is related to the increase of the expression of Bax protein and the decrease of Bcl-2 protein expression in prostate tissue.