Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of chronic high glucose on α-cells glucagon releasing in relation to insulin resistance induced by high glucose. Methods TC1-6 cells, an α-cell line, were incubated separately in DMEM containing high (25.0 mmol/L), medium (11.1 mmol/L) and low (5.5 mmol/L) concentrations of glucose for 1 to 5 days. The secretion and gene expression of glueagon were measured. When TC1-6 cells had been cultured for 5 days, three different concentrations of insulin were added for 6 h and then glucagon secretion was detected. Western blot was used for 1 and 3 days to confirm the effect of high glucose on phosphorylation of Akt in TC1-6 cells. Results (1) Exposure of TC1-6 cells to 11.1 and 25.0 mmol/L glucose resulted in a slight increase of glucagon secretion compared with those incubated with 5.5 mmol/L. However, after 5 days in media containing 25.0 mmol/L glucose, glucagan secretion was significantly increased as compared to cells treated with low glucose [(136.80±10.94 vs 78.62±4.72 ) ng/106 cells, P<0.05]; moreover, in TC1-6 cell cultured with high glucose glucagon mRNA expression was increased significantly. (2) 10-7 mol/L insulin reduced significantly glucagon secretion of TC1-6 ceils exposed to low glucose [(21.59±1.30 vs 55.12±3.86) ng/106 cells], but just scarcely inhibited glucagon secretion of cells incubated with high glucose [(106.58±8.53 vs 117.18±10.55) ng/106 cells]. When insulin concentration was increased to 10-5 mol/L, glucagon secretion of TC1-6 cells in high glucose was also reduced [(46.55±3.72 vs 118.61±10.68 )ng/106 cells]. (3) After treated with 10-5 mol/L insulin for 2h, the levels of Akt phosphorylation in both groups of TC1-6 cells were increased by 180% and 70%, while the level in high glucose group was significantly lower than that in low glucose group. In the presence of phosphoinositide 3 kinase inhibitor, the levels of Akt phosphorylation were both lowered, but the inhibition in low glucose group was more significant than in high glucose group. Conclusion High glucose induces hypersecretion of glucagon, which may be due to the a-cell insulin resistance.

Objective With awareness, attitudes, and rice-intake behavior of Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) and the analysis of the factors that influence KBD related rice-intake behaviors among resident's in Aba,this research could provide evidences for KBD-Control, and benefit the policy development related to KBD-Control.Methods Villages were chosen by proportional stratified random sampling from KBD monitoring villages among agriculture areas, pastoral areas, and farming & pastoral areas in Aba, Sichuan, in July 2009. Interview questionnaire of household survey, designed by research associates of this project, was used in this research for residents in endemic area of KBD in Aba. The questionnaire covered demographic and socio-economic characteristics, KBD knowledge and diet habits. Multi-level Variance Component Analysis was used to explore factors which would influence the KBD related rice-intake behaviors. Results A total of 1029 permanent residents were recruited in this research, among which the detection rate of KBD was 48.01％ (482/1004). Most of the patients lived in farming & pastoral areas(84.44％, 407/482). Pastoral residents had the least knowledge of KashinBeck disease, and the composition ratios ofGeneral andGood were 15.87％ (33/208)and 3.36％ (7/208),respectively. Still, people who were willing to have rice as staple food were 93.13％(935/1004). It indicated that only (50.40 ± 23.68)％ on average, of research subjects had the life style of rice intake. Ethnic, work status,language situation and attitudes to rice intake were influencing factors for rice-intake behavior. Conclusions The percentage of rice intake in Aba KBD epidemic areas is low. And to prevent KBD, the advocacy actions should be targeted at ethnic, work status, language situation, and attitudes to rice intake.

T polymorphism,was selected as putative promoter.The recombinant constructions containing-1328-+812 of TGF-?_1 gene and CAT reporter gene(phTGF2.14T,phTGF2.14C)were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells with liposomal trans- fection method,then the transfected HepG2 cells were treated with IL-10(4 ng/ml),HGF(10 ng/ml)or IFN-?(20 ng/ml). Reporter gene activity was analyzed by ELISA.Results:Reporter gene activity in cells transfected with phTGF2.14C was sig- nificantly higher than those transfected with phTGF2.14T(P

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of color doppler flow image (CDFI) and three-dimension color power angiography(3D-CPA) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 62 pathologically confirmed thyroid nodules of 30 patients were analyzed. All the patients underwent ultrasound examination and operation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between January, 2008 and May, 2009. Both CDFI and 3D-CPA were performed before the operation. All the nodules were divided into three groups including nodular goiters, thyroid adenomas and thyroid cancers according to the pathological results. The hemodynamic features and the vascular morphology characteristics of nodules in different groups were compared. Results 3D-CPA showed that blood vessels of nodular goiters commonly distributed surrounding the mass and the inner vessels were thin and regular, thyroid adenomas were bulb-shaped and netted structure, and malignant thyroid nodules displayed distorted and irregular distributed vessels. Peak systolic velocity (PSV)of the three groups were (39.43±11.17a), (46.39±12.98) and (65.17±9.23)cm/s, respectively. Resistance index(RI) of the three groups were (0.32±0.08), (0.41±0.06) and (0.69±0.07)cm/s, respectively. Both PSV and RI in malignant thyroid nodules were higher than in nodular goiters and in thyroid adenomas and the difference were statistical significant (all P < 0.05). The blood flow grade of malignant nodules was also higher in malignant nodules than in other two groups(χ2 = 17.11, 12.79, 23.05, 15.41, P< 0.01). Conclusions CDFI and 3D-CPA could visually demonstrate the characteristic and distribution of the inner and outer blood vessels, display the vessels structures, and they are benefit the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most popular diseases that cause menstrual dysfunction and infertility in women. The present paper is a brief retrospection on the progress in treatment of PCOS caused infertility with integrative Chinese and Western medicine (ICWM). It can be seen from these materials that using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recipes formulated by Shen-replenishing herbs or acupuncture to reinforce Gan-Shen, regulate Chong-Ren Channels in treating PCOS, stable clinical efficacy could be obtained, with less adverse reaction, though the effect initiated somewhat late. Whereas, when Shen-replenishing recipe and acupuncture are combined with hormone or ovulation promoting drugs of Western medicine, the above-mentioned shortcomings would be overcome. So, this combined therapy is frequently used in clinical practice.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy, safety and possible mechanism of rhIL-11 in the management of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in acute leukemia.

METHODSThirty-two acute leukemia patients were enrolled in the study. rhIL-11 was given when platelet count dropped below 30 x 10(9)/L after chemotherapy, at 1.5 mg/d, ih, for 7-14 days or withdrawn when the increase of platelet count was more than 50 x 10(9)/L. Serum IL-11 level was determined by ELISA, IL-11R alpha gene expression by RT-PCR. Efficacy and safety data were collected and their correlation with serum IL-11 and IL-11Ralpha expression were analyzed.

RESULTSThe platelet counts on day 7 and 14 after medication were (63.40 +/- 7.24) x 10(9)/L and (98.70 +/- 9.37) x 10(9)/L for 32 patients in IL-11 group [26 complete remission (CR), 2 partial remission (PR), 4 non-remission (NR)] and (42.50 +/- 6.38) x 10(9)/L and (70.30 +/- 7.12) x 10(9)/L for the control group (20 CR, 3 PR, 5 NR). There were 10 patients who received platelet transfusion (16-32 U) in IL-11 group and 19 patients (32-48 U) in control group. Compared with the IL-11 group a delay of platelet recovery was observed in controls (P < 0.05). IL-11 was generally well tolerated. Five experienced transient atrial arrhythmia and relieved after extenuation or withdrawal. The responders' serum IL-11 level of pre-medication was (21.81 +/- 1.88) ng/L, lower than that of non-responders (P < 0.05). IL-11Ralpha level was 0.3552 +/- 0.0224, higher than that of non-responders (P < 0.05). No correlation was observed among serum IL-11, IL-11Ralpha expression, platelet count, and megakaryocyte number.

CONCLUSIONSrhIL-11 can safely accelerate the recovery of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in acute leukemia. The serum IL-11 level and IL-11Ralpha of mononuclear cells might predict the efficacy of rhIL-11.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDCisplatin based chemotherapy is a well recognized risk factor for coagulation disorders and thrombosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms by which cisplatin promote thrombosis are not well understood.

METHODSRed blood cells (RBCs) were separated from peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer (n = 10) and healthy adults (n = 6) and treated with cisplatin. Coagulation time of RBCs was assessed by one step recalcification time and the productions of thrombin, intrinsic and extrinsic factor Xa were measured in the presence or absence of various concentrations of lactadherin. Exposed phosphatidylserine was stained with lactadherin and observed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

RESULTSNeither fresh RBCs nor RBCs treated without cisplatin had potent procoagulant activity. Cisplatin treatment increased procoagulant activity of RBCs in a cell number- and concentration-dependent manner. Exposed phosphatidylserine was stained with lactadherin and after cisplatin treatment, strong fluorescence was revealed by confocal microscopy. Lactadherin bound RBCs from patients with breast cancer increased from (1.9 +/- 0.5)% on control RBCs to (68.0 +/- 3.5)% on RBCs treated with 10 micromol/L cisplatin for 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONSCisplatin treatment increases procoagulant activity of RBCs, which have a strong association with exposure of phosphatidylserine. The increased procoagulant activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of thrombophilia during cisplatin based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between lifestyle factors, parental obesity and adiposity in children, in order to provide theoretical evidence for public health policy establishment.

METHODSA cross-sectional observation study was conducted among approximately 20 thousand children aged 2 - 18 years old in urban and rural regions of Beijing, by using stratified randomization clustering sampling methods. Familial environmental risk factors of children adiposity and parental obesity were assessed with standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were conducted. SPSS 13.0 software was applied to analyze the data, including general description, chi(2) trend test and non-condition logistic analyse.

RESULTSWith IOTF obesity references, the prevalence of obesity in 21,198 children aged 2 - 18 years old was 5.6%. The behavioral characters (for example, smoking and drinking) and children obesity showed significant familial aggregation. In groups including "both parents not smoke", "only one parent smoke" and "both parents smoke", the smoking rates of offsprings were 1.50%, 2.93% and 6.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). A similar pattern was found for offsprings' alcohol consumption rates (5.85%, 9.12% and 13.96%; chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). Based on parents' BMI status, in groups including "both parents had normal weight", "father was obese", "mother was obese" and "both parents were obese", the prevalence of obesity in children were 3.29%, 11.48%, 9.12% and 27.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 293.404, P < 0.01). After controlling for sex and ages, factors such as physical exercises, sleeping times per day, fat intakes, watching TV, drinking alcohol were impact factors of children obesity. After controlling of confounding factors, such as children gender, age, birth weight, puberty, smoking history, drinking history, fat intakes, soft drink, physical exercises, education experiences of parents, smoking history, drinking history, family income and so on, maternal obesity had a greater influence on daughters than on sons (OR = 5.93, 95% CI: 3.57 - 9.84), and paternal obesity showed similar influence on sons (OR = 4.29, 95% CI: 3.21 - 5.72). Comparing to parents with normal weight, obese parents had more powerful impact on daughters (OR = 28.51, 95% CI: 15.13 - 53.72) than on sons (OR = 7.21, 95% CI: 4.07 - 12.75), regarding to 2 - 5 years group and 10 - 12 years group versus other age group (OR = 18.67, 95% CI: 1.49 - 234.46; OR = 22.25, 95% CI: 10.62 - 46.59).

CONCLUSIONParental obesity is an independent risk factor of adiposity in children; gender and age affect this association. The lifestyle patterns of parents should have great impact on children. When prevention or intervention with children obesity, familial environmental factors should be emphasized.

Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires