OBJECTIVETo observe the change of apelin and its receptor (APJ) in the lung tissue of rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline and to explore its significance.

METHODSTwenty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and monocrotaline group (n = 15). On the twenty-first day after the rats were intraperitoneally injected 60 mg/kg monocrotaline for monocrotaline group or equal volume vehicle for control group, the mean pulmonary artery pressure was measured by right heart catheterization. Histopathological study of lung tissue was done with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. The concentration of apelin in the plasma was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of apelin/APJ proteins and genes in lung tissue were measured respectively by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodeling index, content of apelin protein in lung tissue of monocrotaline group were higher than those in control group. APJ protein and gene expression in monocrotaline group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but apelin gene expression in the lung tissue between the two groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONEndogenous apelin/APJ dysfunction may play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline.

Animals ; Apelin ; Apelin Receptors ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism

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

To evaluate the differences of Ophiopogonjaponicus from different cultivations, the metabolomics based method was conducted to compare the effects of Hangmaidong and Chuanmaidong (Chinese name) on plasma endogenous metabolites of normal rats. Data were collected by ultra performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), and were analyzed by multivariate statistical method, such as Principal Component Analysis and Orthogonal Signal Correction Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis. Results revealed that the plasma metabolites profiling of low and middle dose group of Chuanmaidong were similar to the control group, but different from the high dose group obviously. Meanwhile the high, middle and low dose groups of Hangmaidong were different from control group notably, and the difference is dose dependent. Lysophosphatidylcholines, the possible endogenous metabolites which contribute to the classification most significantly, are closely related to cardiovascular system diseases. Compared with the group of Chuanmaidong, Hangmaidong has greater impact on the plasma metabolic profiling of normal rats. Hangmaidong and Chuanmaidong showed significant differences pharmacodynamically.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo study the difference and similarity between Hans and Uighurs in regard to Rhesus box and its significance.

METHODSThe sequence specific primers of upstream, downstream and hybrid Rhesus boxes were designed on the basis of RHD gene sequence. The upstream, downstream and hybrid Rhesus boxes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCP-SSP) and mismatched PCR.

RESULTSThe percentage of RHD-/RHD-, RHD+/RHD- and RHD+/RHD+ genotypes ascertained in the unrelated Hans with RhD(-) were 61.40%, 34.21% and 4.39% respectively, while those in the unrelated Chinese Uighurs with RhD(-) were 94.44%, 2.78% and 2.78% respectively. Furthermore, all 6 cases of some other minorities were RHD-/RHD- types. The percentage of RHD-/RHD- and RHD+/RHD- genotypes ascertained in the unrelated Chinese Uighurs were significantly higher than those in Chinese Hans (P < 0.01), whereas no statistically significant difference in the percentage of RHD+/RDH+ genotype between the two groups was observed (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Rh blood group of Uighurs in Xingjiang possesses both Oriental and Caucasian characteristics, which embodies a special ethnical aspect of the Chinese nation and is in accord with the anthropologic research results.

China ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

Objective:To investigate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features in preoperative screening of patients with uterine fibroids treated by magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS).Methods:The preoperative CEUS features of 28 patients (32 lesions) with uterine fibroids treated by MRgFUS in Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2018 to March 2021 were analyzed. The relationships between the imaging features of lesions and the necrosis range were evaluated, which included echo intensity in gray-scale ultrasound, the patterns of the perfusion intensity, perfusion distribution, the contrast agent into the model, lesions with entangled branch vessels, ring-like enhancement, and perfusion regression.Results:The gray-scale ultrasound showed that 68.75%(22/32) lesions were hypoechoic. The CEUS showed that 81.25%(26/32) lesions were iso/hypo-enhancement, 65.63%(21/32) lesions were heterogeneous enhancement, 68.75%(22/32) lesions with entangled branch vessels, 71.88%(23/32) lesions with ring-like enhancement, and 75%(24/32) lesions with fast-out enhancement. The 6 indicators above-mentioned had effects on the non-perfusion volume ratio≥50%, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:CEUS can evaluate the blood flow characteristics in uterine fibroids, providing important information for preoperative screening of uterine fibroids for MRgFUS ablation.

Objective:To explore the short-term outcomes of dual kidney transplantation and summarize its safety and feasibility.Methods:From September 2018 to September 2019, a total of 7 dual kidney transplantations were performed. And retrospective analysis was performed for baseline profiles, clinical data and postoperative complications.Results:The mean age was (62.7±8.5) years for donors and (43.9±9.3) years for recipients. The Remuzzi score of 6 paired kidneys ranged from 4 to 6 points. During follow-ups, the survival rate of 7 dual kidney transplantation grafts and recipients was 100%. The median follow-up period was 16 months. Renal function of 6 recipients normalized within 1 week and delayed graft function (DGF) occurred in one case. All of them underwent unilateral kidney transplantation with an average operative duration of (5.6±1.4) hours. There was no onset of operative complications. One case of rejection was not confirmed by biopsy. Among three patients of lung infections, there was one case of severe pneumonia. In 3 cases, lateral plasma flow of transplanted kidney exceeded that of medial plasma flow.Conclusions:Dual kidney transplantation in adults is both safe and feasible so as to expand the availability of donated kidney.

With the intensive aging of the population, it's imperative and important to train a number of geriatric specialists. Essential clinical knowledge and skills as well as accomplishment of medical humanistic spirit are core competences of an eligible geriatrician. The standardized training of geriatric specialists is facing a few challenges such as incomplete comprehension of the training program and trainees, a lack of enough trainees, and a lack of standardized management for the program. An efficient social support system, a normative educational training system, an effective supervision and evaluation system, first-class teaching staff, and qualified trainees are important guarantees for the standardized training program.

Objective To learn the status of wild freshwater fish and shrimp infected with metacercaria of clonorchis sinensis in Jinhua city.Methods Wild freshwater fish and shrimp were randomly captured in river channel,reservoir and pond from 3 counties according to the distribution characteristics of main river system in Jinhua city.Direct tabletting microscopic examination was used to detect metacercaria of clonorchis sinensis in the muscle of wild freshwater fish and shrimp.Results A total of 1 1 kinds of wild freshwater fish and shrimp were infected with metacercariae,accounting for 61 .1 1 %(1 1 /1 8),and the total infection rate was 5.63% among 2 326 wild freshwater fish and shrimp.The infection rate of fish(8.24%)was significantly higher than that of the shrimp(2.96%)(P <0.01 ).There were significant differences in the infection rate among different counties (P <0.01 ),and the infection rate in the downstream of the water system in Wu water area (1 2.90%)was the highest.Also,significant differences were observed in infection rate among different water environments (P <0.01 ),and the infection rate of pond (1 0.1 8%)was the highest.Significant differences were observed in the infection rate among different kinds of wild freshwater fish (P =0.00),and the infection rate of side skin fish(1 7.65%)and psendorasbora parve(1 7.65%)were the highest.Conclusion There were metacercaria of clonorchis sinensis infection in wild freshwater fish and shrimp with different degrees in Jinhua city.People who ate raw or undercooked freshwater fish and shrimp may be at the risk of infection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas and their significance in patients with liver cirrhosis (PLC).

METHODSEndoscopic biopsy duodenal mucosa specimens of 60 PLC and 18 healthy volunteers as controls were obtained. Ultrastructural changes of them were studied with transmission electron microscopy. These PLC were divided into groups A, B and C according to the Child-Pugh classification. The ultrastructural changes in the duodenal mucosas of each group were rated and compared with those of the other groups. PLC with and without ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were divided into a positive group and a negative group. Levels of plasma Alb, TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin, and blood ammonia of the PLC were detected and compared.

RESULTSThere were 20 PLC each in groups A, B, and C. Ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in 5 PLC of group A, 9 in group B and 17 in group C. Among the 60 PLC, 52% had some changes in their duodenal mucosas. The changes included decrease and rupture of the microvilli; also karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, widening of the gaps of the tight junction and tumefactions of mitochodrion of duodenal mucosa epithelial cells. No ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in the control group. The rate of changes in the three Child-Pugh class groups and in the control group were 25%, 45%, 85%, 0% respectively (P < 0.01). The level of Alb of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma TBil, PT, endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive group were significantly higher or longer than those of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma Alb of the positive and negative groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive and negative groups were significantly higher or longer than those of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere were ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas in PLC, especially in end-stage PLC. Ultrastructural changes of intestinal mucosas in the PLC may have important pathophysiological and clinical significance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intestine, Small ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features of two families with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and mutations in the pathogenic gene SLC4A1.

METHODSFamily investigation, medical history collection, and measurement of biochemical parameters were performed to analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of dRTA. Direct sequencing was used to detect SLC4A1 gene mutations.

RESULTSThree patients in these two families (two of them were mother and son) were diagnosed with dRTA with typical clinical features, including short stature, metabolic acidosis, alkaline urine, hypokalemia, and nephrocalcinosis. SLC4A1 gene analysis showed that all the three patients had a pathogenic missense mutation R589H (c.1766G>A). The child in family 1 had a de novo mutation of SLC4A1, and the child in family 2 had an SLC4A1 gene mutation inherited from the mother, which met the characteristic of autosomal dominant inheritance.

CONCLUSIONSThis study reports the R589H mutation in SLC4A1 gene in families with hereditary dRTA for the first time in China. Clinical physicians should perform gene detection for patients suspected of hereditary dRTA to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Acidosis, Renal Tubular ; genetics ; Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte ; genetics ; Child ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation