OBJECTIVETo explore the association between C825T polymorphism of G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) gene and different Hilit types of essential hypertension (EH) in the Uygur nationality of Xinjiang.

METHODSAccording to Uygur medical theories, EH patients (as the EH group) and non-EH patients (as the control group) were assigned to four Hilit groups. The C825T polymorphism of GNB3 was detected in 161 EH patients and 379 non-EH subjects of different Hilit types by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) to explore the difference of the genotypes and allelic frequencies and hypertension.

RESULTS(1) In Xinjiang Uygur population, the distribution frequencies of GNB3 C825T polymorphism were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg (chi2 = 0.871, P = 0.647). (2) There was no statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles of GNB3 between the EH group and the control group (P > 0.05). (3) There was statistical difference in distribution frequencies of three genotypes between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (the sum of abnormal Sewda, abnormal Kan, and abnormal Balhem) (chi2 = 6.905, P = 0.032), especially between the abnormal Sapra and abnormal Balhem groups (chi2 = 10.404, P = 0.006), but there was no statistical difference in distribution frequencies of alleles between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) In 161 EH patients, there was statistical difference in the distribution frequencies of three genotypes and two alleles between the abnormal Sapra and non-abnormal Sapra group (chi2 = 9.034, P = 0.011; chi2 = 4.701, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSBoth TT genotype and T allele of GNB3 C825T polymorphism might not be associated with EH patients in Xinjiang Uygur populations. However, they were correlated with hypertension patients of non-abnormal Sapra, indicating the pathogeneses of EH with different Hilit types might be different.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Minority Groups ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Spinal biomechanics, especially the range of spine motion,has close connection with spinal surgery. The change of the range of motion (ROM) is an important indicator of diseases and injuries of spine, and the essential evaluating standards of effect of surgeries and therapies to spine. The analysis of ROM can be dated to the time of the invention of X-ray and even that before it. With the development of science and technology as well as the optimization of various types of calculation methods, diverse measuring methods have emerged, from imaging methods to non-imaging methods, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, from measuring directly on the X-ray films to calculating automatically by computer. Analysis of ROM has made great progress, but there are some older methods cannot meet the needs of the times and disappear, some classical methods such as X-ray still have vitality. Combining different methods, three dimensions and more vivo spine research are the trend of analysis of ROM. And more and more researchers began to focus on vivo spine research. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods utilized recently are presented through viewing recent literatures, providing reference and help for the movement analysis of spine.
Animals ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Radiography ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging

Objective:To explore the traits of gray matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in patients with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by magnetic resonance imaging technique (MRI).Methods:Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia,20 patients with OCD and 23 normal controls were recruited in this study.All of the patients satisfied diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition (DSM-Ⅳ),patients and the normal controls were well matched for gender,age and years of education.All subjects received structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and resting functional MRI scans.The ANOVA and post hoe anolysis were used to compoare the GMV and Relto differences among the subjects.Results:Compared with the normal controls,patients with schizophrenia and OCD had common GMV loss in the right anterior cingulate (P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected),while lower ReHo in the left cuneus(P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected) and higher ReHo in the left upper medial frontal gyrus(P ＜ 0.001,uncorrected) respectively.Conclusion:It suggests that patients with schizophrenia and OCD share common structural changes and functional alterations,which could attribute so many similarities between the two diseases.

BACKGROUNDNeural respiratory drive is usually measured during inspiration, even in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in whom the primary physiological deficit is expiratory flow limitation. The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that inspiratory muscle neural respiratory drive could be used to assess expiratory load.

METHODSTen healthy young men, (26 ± 4) years old, were asked to expire through a tube immersed in water where an expiratory load was required. The load was judged by the depth of the tube in water and the different loads (0 cmH2O, 10 cmH2O, 20 cmH2O and 30 cmH2O) were randomly introduced. Each expiratory load lasted for 3 - 5 minutes and inspiration was unimpeded throughout. Diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) and transdiaphragmatic pressure were recorded by a catheter with 10 metal coils and two balloons. Incremental cycle exercise with and without an expiratory load at 30 cmH2O was also performed.

RESULTSNeural drive during expiratory loaded breathing was larger than during unloaded breathing but neural drive did not increase proportionally with increasing expiratory load; neural drive during expiratory loading at 0, 10, 20 and 30 cmH2O was (10.1 ± 3.1) µV, (16.7 ± 7.3) µV, (18.4 ± 10.7) µV and (22.9 ± 13.2) µV, respectively. Neural drive as a percentage of maximum at the end of exercise with or without load was similar ((57.4 ± 11.0)% max vs. (62.7 ± 16.4)% max, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNeural respiratory drive measured at inspiration does not accurately quantify expiratory load either at rest or during exercise.

Adult ; Electromyography ; Exercise ; Humans ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Male ; Respiration ; Respiratory Muscles ; innervation ; Tidal Volume

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between psychological distress and T lymphocyte counts in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSA total of 102 HIV/AIDS patients were measured by symptom check list (SCL-90), self-rating depressive scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS). Patients were divided into 2 groups based on CD4+ T lymphocyte counts < 0.2 x 10(9)/L (group A) and > or = 0.2 x 10(9)/L(group B).

RESULTS77 cases (75.49%) had psychological problems, including depression, relationship problems, psychosis, force etc. The prevalence of depression and anxiety were 67.65% (69/102) and 43.13% (44/102) respectively. The symptom of depression and anxiety of patients in group A were severer than those in group B (P < 0.05). The CD4+ T lymphocyte counts were significantly negatively correlated with the total score, depression score, paranoid score and psychosis score of SCL-90 (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONMost of the HIV/AIDS patients were in an obviously abnormal psychological status. The psychological distress symptom of HIV/AIDS patients might had negative effects on the number of CD4+ T lymphocyte.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; immunology ; psychology ; Anxiety ; etiology ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Depression ; etiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; complications ; immunology ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective action of Epimedium against chemotherapy-induced damage to rat epididymides.

METHODSFifty 60-day-old male rats were divided into a control, a model and a treatment group. Procarbazine was injected into the abdominal cavity of the model rats at the dose of 30 mg/(kg x d). In addition to procarbazine, Epimedium was given intragastrically to the treatment group. The changes in the ultrastructure of the epididymis were observed after 10 and 20 days.

RESULTSElectron microscopy showed that the chemotherapy-induced damages to the epididymal epithelia mainly included cell swelling, local cavitation of mitochondria, tumor-like change in nucleoli, agglutination of marginal translocation of heterochromatin and cell apoptosis. The damage to the epithelial ultrastructure was slight in the treatment group as compared with the model rats. Chemotherapy significantly affected sperm concentration, sperm viability and sialic acid (SA), which were (15.59 +/- 4.01) x 10(6)/ml, (76.71 +/- 10.11)% and (19.38 +/- 9.34) g/mg prot in the model group in comparison with (10.63 +/- 3.82) x 10(6)/ml (P < 0.01), (60.03 +/- 7.54)% (P < 0.01) and (13.62 +/- 7.81) g/g prot (P < 0.05) in the control. Epimedium significantly increased sperm viability in the treatment group (60.03 +/- 7.54)% as compared with the model rats (69.90 +/- 12.58)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEpimedium can lessen chemotherapy-induced damage to the epididymis and protect the reproductive function of rats.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; ultrastructure ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Xifeng Zhidong Tablet (XZT) in treating tic disorder children patients of internal disturbance of Gan-wind with phlegm syndrome (IDGWPS).

METHODSA stratified randomized, double-blinded, parallel control of placebo, multi-center trial was conducted in 160 subjects from 5 hospitals in China. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the test group and the control group, 80 in each group. Those in the test group were treated with XZT, while those in the control group were treated with placebos. The therapeutic course was 4 weeks for all. The effectiveness indicators covered main indicators and secondary indicators. Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) was taken as the main indicators. The amelioration of social function impairment, efficacy, single index of Chinese medical syndromes, Chinese medical syndrome efficacy as well as disappearance rate of single Chinese medical symptoms were evaluated as secondary indicators. The safety indicators included clinical adverse events, vital signs, blood/urine/stool routines, renal and liver functions, and electrocardiogram (ECG).

RESULTSAs for main indicators, the score of YGTSS decreased from 22.10 +/- 6.38 to 11.34 +/- 6.58 in the test group, while it decreased from 22.65 +/- 6.70 to 16.82 +/- 6.53 in the control group, showing statistical difference when compared with the same group before treatment (P < 0.01). Besides, the decrement was more significant in the test group after treatment (P < 0.05). As for secondary indicators, the total effective rate was 83.54% in the test group and 34.18% in the controlled group, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). As for social function impairment, 20,38, 16, 3, 1 case(s) in the test group were ranked as normal, minimal, mild, moderate, obvious degree, while 1, 24, 45, 7, and 0 case(s) in the control group were ranked as normal, minimal, mild, moderate, obvious degree. Better effect was obtained in the test group (P < 0.05).As for Chinese medical syndrome efficacy, it was 87.34% in the test group and 64.56% in the control group (P < 0.05). As for single index of Chinese medical syndromes, the disappearance rate of motor tics, irritability, dreaminess, abnormal tongue proper,abnormal tongue fur, and abnormal tongue pulse condition was 78.67%, 34.72%, 62.26%, 34.62%, 58.97%, and 39.74%, respectively in the test group, while they were 34.67%, 13.11%, 21.82%, 15.58%, 25.97%, and 19.48%, respectively in the control group. Better results were shown in the test group (P < 0.05). Totally 5 adverse events occurred. The incidence of adverse events was 3.75% in the test group and 2.53% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSAfter 4 weeks of XZT treatment, the integral of YGTSS could be obviously reduced, the degree of social function impairment ameliorated, and Chinese medical syndromes improved. In addition, no adverse reaction occurred in this study.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Placebos ; Tic Disorders ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

The swallowable camera-capsule,described in the aper, 11 mm in diameter and 30 mm in length , contains a CMOS image sensor, an optical system, a battery, a light source, a transmitter, a antenna and so on. The CMOS image sensor and its driving circuit can be miniaturized with MEMS technology. Image signal can be transmitted by analog or digital way. Image signal can be wirelessly transmitted through serial data interface. Finally, the processing technics of the capsule's crust is introduced.
Capsule Endoscopes ; Equipment Design ; Wireless Technology

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the cytotoxicity and mechanism of 23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside isolated from C. dahurica on HepG2 cells and to find the leading compound for new drug development.

METHODMTT, AO/EB staining observation, flow cytometry and western blot methods were used to study the cytotoxicity, morphological changes, cell cycle distribution and protein expression profile of 23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside on HepG2 cells.

RESULT23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells with IC50 at 16 micromol x L(-1), and could also induce apoptosis and G2-M cell cycle arrest. Further study demonstrated that the compound could cleavage PARP, regulate protein expression of bcl-2 family and decrease the expression of cdc 2 and cyclin B.

CONCLUSION23-O-acetylcimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside exerts its cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells via apoptosis and G2-M arrest. In addition, caspases family activation, regulation of protein expression of bcl-2 family and down regulation of cdc 2 and cyclin B were involved in apoptosis and G2-M arrest induced by it.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Cyclin B ; metabolism ; Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of the acupoint sticking therapy with Chuanfuling for preventing and treating asthma.

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (normal saline, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline, spray inhalation), model group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +no acupoint sticking+ normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), and acupoint sticking group (normal saline with ovalbumin, p.i. +acupoint sticking with Chuan fuling+normal saline with ovalbumin, spray inhalation), 10 rats in each group. The incubation period of nodding breath, symptom of asthmatic attack, expression level of interleukin-4 mRNA (IL-4 mRNA) and interferon-gamma mRNA (IF-gamma mRNA), as well as pathological changes on the middle leaf of right lung, were observed in each group.

RESULTS(1) Comparing with the control group, the model group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in the peripheral blood cells (PBMC) was increased, while hyperemia, edema and eosinocyte (EOS) invasion of lung tissue was more serious (P < 0.01). (2) Comparing with the model group, the acupoint sticking group was showed that the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC was decreased, the incubation period of nodding breath was prolonged for induced asthma on the fifth and seventh time with lower frequency, while in the lung tissue EOS invasion was reduced (P < 0.05), but there were no significant changes on the hyperemia and edema (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking for treating asthma of model rats with Chuanfuling can inhibit the expression level of IL-4 mRNA in PBMC, and the release of the inflammatory mediator and cytokine from the EOS to the air passage, in order to reduce the injury of epithelial layer and high reaction on the air passage.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley