Objective To investigate the effect of bronchodilators on dyspnea and pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) at different degrees.Methods 50 patients with COPD from January 2014 to January 2015 in pneumology department of Tongchuan City People's Hospital were selected.According to the standard of Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD), the patients were divided into mild degree of 14 cases, moderate degree of 18 cases and severe degree of 18 case.The changes of Borg score of dyspnea, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and inspiratory capacity (IC) after received tiotropium bromide inhalation in each group.Results FEV1, FVC, PEF and IC values significant improved in mild, moderate and severe degree groups after received tiotropium bromide inhalation and the values of improvement rate changed significantly with degrees of disease ( P <0.05 ).The improvement rates of FEV1, FVC and IC were highest in patients at severe degree, improvement rate of PEF was highest in patients at mild degree (P<0.05).After received tiotropium bromide inhalation, the Borg score improved significantly compared with that of pre-treatment in mild, moderate and severe degree groups (P<0.05), the improvement rate of Borg score was highest in severe degree group(P<0.05).There were significantly positive correlations between Borg score and FEV1(r=0.372),FVC(r=0.296),PEF(r=0.284),IC(r=0.704)(all P<0.05).Conclusion Bronchodilator could significantly improve dyspnea and lung function in patients with COPD, and the improvement rate of FEV1, FVC and IC is highest in patients with COPD at server degree, PEF is highest at mild degree and Borg score is highest at server degree, which need the comprehensive analysis of each indicators for reversibility of airflow obstruction.

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical method and its clinical effects of minimally invasive osteosynthesis on the treatment of complex ankle fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2007 to December 2011, 53 patients with complex ankle fractures were treated with minimally invasive osteosynthesis. There were 31 males and 22 females, with an average age of 38.2 years old (ranged, 18 to 65). According to the system of Lauge-Hansen, 32 fractures were supination external rotation injury (grade WV), 13 fractures were pronation external rotation (grade III or IV), 5 fractures were pronation abduction (grade III); and 3 fractures can not be classified due to serious comminution fracture of fibula. According to the system of Denis-Weber, there were 4 cases with type A, 34 cases with type B and 15 cases with type C. Seven cases were open fractures. The duration from injuries to operation ranged from 2 hours to 14 days with an average of 5 days. The sequence of reduction and fixation of ankle fractures was firstly posterior malleolus, then medial malleolus and lateral malleolus, and inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis lastly. The fractures of posterior malleolus were reduced and fixed through anterior ankle approaches; the fractures of medial and lateral malleolus were percutaneously fixed with bolts or blade plate or tensile force band; and inferior tibiofibular syndesmosis were firmly fixed if necessary. Baird-Jackson scoring system was used to evaluate clinical effects.

RESULTSForty-eight patients were followed up from 10 to 36 months with an average of 13 months. The fractures got healing with an average time of 12 weeks (ranged, 10 to 18). According to the Baird-Jackson scoring system, the mean score of ankle function was 94.7 +/- 4.2, and 28 cases obtained excellent results, 15 good, 3 fair and 2 poor. One case experienced superficial infections and was cured by changing dressings, 2 cases experienced fixed syndesmosis screw breakage.

CONCLUSIONThe surgical method of minimally invasive osteosynthesis can ensure the anatomical join restoration, protect the blood supply of fracture end, rebuild the function of ankle joint, obtain satisfactory clinical results in treating complex ankle fractures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods

The purpose of the study was to observe the effect of rapamycin (RAPA) on the differentiation and maturation of rat bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. BMDCs from Wistar rats were cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor plus interleukin-4 in the presence or absence of RAPA (20 ng/mL), and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h before cells and supernatants were collected. Surface phenotype of BMDCs was flow-cytometrically detected to determine the expression of maturation markers, MHC class II and CD86. Supernatants were analyzed for the production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma cytokines by using ELISA. BMDCs were co-cultured with T cells from Lewis rats and mixed lymphocyte reaction was assessed by MTT method. The morphology of BMDCs stimulated with LPS remained immature after RAPA pretreatment. RAPA significantly decreased the CD86 expression, impaired the IL-12 and IFN-gamma production of BMDCs stimulated with LPS, and inhibited the proliferation of allogeneic T cells. In conclusion, RAPA can inhibit the maturation of BMDCs stimulated with LPS in terms of the morphology, surface phenotype, cytokine production, and ability of BMDCs to stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T cells in vitro.

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and organ injury, and the effect of Salviae Miltiorrhizae on iNOS mRNA in severe acute pancreas (SAP) rats.

METHODSForty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the model group (MG), the Salviae Miltiorrhizae group (SMG), and the control group (CG), with 15 rats in each group. Rats in MG and SMG were established to SAP model by intraductal injection with 5% sodium taurocholate in a dose of 1.0 ml/kg, while rats in CG were merely performed sham-operation. Immediately after modeling, rats in SMG were injected with Salviae Miltiorrhizae injection (SMI) 2 ml/kg every 6 h for 4 times in total, but to rats in other two groups same volume of normal saline were administered. The level of serum amylase (AMY), nitric oxide (NO) and the volume of ascites of rats were determined 24h after modeling, and intensity of iNOS mRNA expression in pancreas, lung and kidney were detected in the same time using in situ hybridization and image analysis. The pathologic change was observed as well.

RESULTSThe volume of ascites and serum levels of AMY and NO in MG were significantly higher then those in SMG and CG (P < 0.05 and P <0.01). The expression of iNOS mRNA in pancreas, lung and kidney increased in MG and SMG, it was significantly higher in MG than that in SMG. And the pathological change of pancreas, lung and kidney in SMG was milder than that in MG.

CONCLUSIONSOver-expression of iNOS mRNA could cause excessive synthesis of NO, and lead to injury of pancreas, lung and kidney in SAP. Salviae Miltiorrhizae in early stage of the disease can inhibit the over-expression of iNOS mRNA to ameliorate the injury of the pancreas, lung and kidney.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hepatotoxic effects of N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in the workers of a synthetic leathers factory, and the effects on liver function of covariates such as alcohol consumption and other factors.

METHODSThe workers were classified into three groups (low, high and the control) by the concentration of DMF in workplace which was determined in the past two years. A questionnaire was drawn up for relevant demographic characteristics and other factors influencing liver function. The bloods were collected for laboratory test which included parameters especially relevant to the liver (ALT AST and gamma GT).

RESULTSLow and high-exposure groups were significantly associated with elevated ALT and gamma GT, and high-exposure group was significantly associated with elevated Liver index. Modeling by stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that high concentration of DMF and BMI were associated with and elevated ALT, gamma GT and Liver index, besides DMF and BMI, the elevation of ALT was also associated with high TRIG. AST was only associated with alcohol consumption. The AST/ALT ration < 1 was present in 86.7% of the exposure workers of liver function abnormal.

CONCLUSIONDMF can cause liver function alternations even if air concentration of DMF was below PC-TWA. Besides the levels of DMF exposure, obesity (BMI) and alcohol consumption are covariates alternating liver function. Liver index can be a parameter for assessment liver function, and the AST/ALT ration < 1 may serve as markers of risk in health screening programs.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Dimethylformamide ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo investigate abnormal liver function associated with polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 in workers exposed to N, N-dimethylformamide.

METHODSSixty-nine workers with abnormal liver function in a synthetic leather factory were recruited as case. One hundred and twenty five control subjects with similar work tasks were selected from the same factory. Genotypes for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by multiplex PCR, and for CYP2E1 PstI by PCR-RFLP assay.

RESULTSThe frequency of positive GSTM1 was 59.42% in cases and 38.40% in control, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.34,95% CI: 1.29-4.29 (P=0.005). For GSTT1 and CYP2E1 PstI, the frequencies of genotypes showed no significant difference between case and control.

CONCLUSIONGSTM1 positive genotype may be genetic risk factors for development of abnormal liver function in workers exposed to N, N-dimethylformamide.

Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Dimethylformamide ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Polymorphism, Genetic

BACKGROUNDThe precise mechanisms responsible for the development and growth of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remain unclear. Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein with diverse functions. This study aimed to analyze the expression of OPN in human brain AVMs.

METHODSThe AVM nidus was surgically obtained from patients with AVM, whereas control brain artery specimens were surgically obtained from patients with epilepsy. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of OPN mRNA in biopsy specimens. OPN protein expression was localized by immunohistochemistry. The statistical differences between different groups were assessed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSWe analyzed 36 brain AVM specimens and 8 control brain artery specimens. Eleven patients with brain AVM received embolization treatment, and five underwent gamma knife radiotherapy before resection. Nineteen patients with brain AVM had a history of hemorrhage from AVMs. The expression of OPN mRNA was significantly higher in AVMs than that in the control specimens (25.76 ± 2.71 vs. 21.46 ± 2.01, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the extent of OPN mRNA expression between the AVM group with and that without history of hemorrhage (26.13 ± 2.45 vs. 25.34 ± 2.99) or gamma knife radiotherapy (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 24.53 ± 1.85). However, the difference between the AVM group with and that without embolization treatment history was statistically significant (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 28.80 ± 1.13, P < 0.01). In the group with gamma knife radiotherapy history, OPN expression was found in arteries with early-stage radio-effect.

CONCLUSIONSOPN may contribute to the vascular instability of brain AVMs. It may play an important role in the pathophysiological process related to embolization treatment.

Analysis of Variance ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To study the effect of Siwu decoction on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cells. The Real-time quantitative poly-merase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of MDR1 gene in Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometer was used to study the effect of Siwu decoction on the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells, in order to evaluate the efflux function of P-gp. Western blotting method was used to detect the effect of Siwu decoction on the P-gp protein expression of Caco-2 cells. Compared with the blank control group, after Caco-2 incubation with Siwu decoction at concentrations of 3.3, 5.0, 10.0 g x L(-1) for 24, 48, 72 h, the mRNA expression of MDR1 was up-regulated, suggesting the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the expression of MDR1. After the administration with Siwu decoction in Caco-2 cells for 48 h, the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells decreased by respectively 16.6%, 22.1% (P < 0.05) and 45.4% (P < 0.01), indicating that the long-term administration of Siwu decoction can enhance the P-gp efflux function of Caco-2 cells. After the incubation of Caco-2 cells with Siwu decoction for 48 h, the P-gp protein expression on Caco-2 cell emebranes, demonstrating the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the protein expression of P-gp.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; genetics ; metabolism ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDIntracranial aneurysm (IAN) is a protruding bubble or a sac on a brain artery that balloons out over time, which may lead to spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), ultimately disability and mortality. Current research indicates that the disease is due to multiple causes, including environmental factors and various congenital abnormalities of blood vessels. Apart from congenital predisposition, various high-risk factors such as sex, age, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are involved in the formation of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the formation of sporadic intracranial aneurysms in Chinese Han ethnic patients.

METHODSA total of 251 patients with intracranial aneurysm and 338 patients with other cerebral diseases (control group) were enrolled in this study. Single factor and logistic regression model were used to analyze the association of intracranial aneurysms with age; sex; cigarette smoking; alcohol or cocaine consumption; history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and inherited connective tissue disease; and the levels of fasting blood glucose and blood fat. The data expressed as mean +/- standard deviation were processed with the statistical software SPSS13. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed by the independent-sample t test, and the chi-square test respectively. Logistic regression method was used to analyze the multiple factors.

RESULTSIn the 251 patients, 163 (64.94%) were at age of 40 to 60 years. Sex (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01 - 1.96), cigarette smoking (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.06 - 3.10), hypertension (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.30 - 4.16) and fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with intracranial aneurysm (P < 0.05). Intracranial aneurysm was correlated with alcohol consumption, coronary artery disease, and the level of blood lipids (P > 0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, we identified female sex and advanced age as significant risk factors for sporadic intracranial aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONSSporadic intracranial aneurysms mostly occur in people aged 40 to 60 years. Feminine, cigarette smoking, and hypertension are independent risk factors for the disease, and the gender is the most significant factor. Advanced age can increase the effect of these risk factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; etiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects