OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms involved in the ligustrazine alleviation of the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) during exacerbation.

METHODSSeventy patients of COPD and CCP with acute exacerbation were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. The control group received standard treatment with antibiotics, antiasthmatic and expectorant medications, and oxygenation; and the ligustrazine treatment group received ligustrazine treatment (80 mg/d; i.v.; for 2 weeks) in addition to the standard treatment. Before and at the end of 2 week treatment, the clinic responses of the two regimens were evaluated, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), outflow tract of right ventricle (RVOT), and internal diameter of right ventricle (RV) were measured.

RESULTSGood clinic benefits were achieved in both the standard and ligustrazine regimens, plasma level of ET-1, values of mPAP, RV and RVOT decreased significantly, plasma level of NO and PaO2 values decreased (all P < 0.01 vs pre-treatment to all parameters). Compared with the control group, ligustrazine greatly enhanced the clinic efficacy from 77.1% to 97.1% (P < 0.05), and also resulted in more significant changes of all these parameters (P < 0.01 vs control group for all parameters). For both groups, the levels of plasma ET-1 were positively correlated with values of mPAP, RVOT, and RV (r = 0.710, 0.853, and 0.766, respectively, all P = 0.000), and negatively correlated with plasma NO and PaO2 (r = - 0.823, and - 0.752, respectively, all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine is effective in treating pulmonary artery hypertension during acute exacerbation of COPD and CCP in patients from the plateau area. The observed changes in the plasma levels of NO and ET-1 in response to ligustrazine treatment suggest that ligustrazine may act through the selective effect on pulmonary blood vessels to enhance the synthesis and release of NO and suppress those of ET-1 from lung vascular endothelial cells, thus reducing pulmonary artery pressure and decreasing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Altitude ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Respiration

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel method for the multiplex analysis of the methylation and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

METHODSThe imprinted SNP rs220028 was chosen as a model. Genomic DNA, after being digested with methylation sensitive restriction enzyme, were typed by mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR). The polymorphism of restriction site was excluded by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSBy post-digestion MS-PCR, the methylated allele was detected selectively, the maternal origin of which was confirmed by pedigree analysis; A=0.5085, G=0.4915,PIC=0.3749.

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex analysis of methylation markers and SNP can be achieved by post-digestion MS-PCR. The imprinted SNP locus rs220028 is a potentially useful marker in screening Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome.

DNA Methylation ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To observe the c linical effect of scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia. Methods Sixty-eight patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into treatment group (N = 34)and control group (N = 34). Both groups were given the internal medicine treatment for lowering blood lipids,stabilizing plaque,and nourishing nerves,and took rehabilitation training. And additionally,the treatment group was given scalp acupuncture therapy and the treatment with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument,and the control group was given the treatment with s wallowing speech therapeutic instrument alone. Two weeks constituted one treatment course, and the two groups were treated for 4 weeks. The scores of Standardized Swallowing Assessment(SSA) and Swallowing Quality of Life Instrument (SWAL-QOL) of the two groups were observed before and after treatment, and then the curative effects were evaluated by Saito 7-grade dysphagia assessment method. Results (1)Till the end of the trial,7 cases of the 68 patients were excluded for transferring to other departments or loss to follow-up. Of the 7 excluded cases, 3 cases were from the treatment group and 4 were from the control group. (2) The total effective rate of the treatment group was 90.32%and that of the control group was 66.67%,the difference being significant(P < 0.05).(3)After treatment,SSA scores of the 2 groups were decreased(P < 0.01)and SWAL-QOL scores were increased (P < 0.01),and the effect on improving SSA scores and SWAL-QOL scores in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Both groups can relieve dysphagia and improve the quality of life of post-stroke dysphagia patients,and the scalp acupuncture combined with swallowing and speech therapeutic instrument is more effective for the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.

Objective To explore the association of body mass index (BMI),waist circumstance (WC)and the risk of hypertension among residents.Methods Multi -stage stratified random sampling was conducted to recruit the study objects in Huai'an City.The questionnaire investigation and body measurement were conducted to collect relevant data. Results The prevalence rates of hypertension in male and female residents of Huai'an City were 28.73% and 28.08%, respectively,with the standardized rates were 20.22% and 19.39%.Influencing factors of hypertension were gender (OR=0.88,95%CI :0.815 -0.952),age(OR =1.55,95%CI :1.503 -1.601),WC(OR =1.40,95%CI:1.294 -1.518),BMI (OR =1.50,95% CI:1.417 -1.578 ),respectively.Conclusion BMI and WC were related to hypertension.The control of BMI and WC can prevent hypertension effectively.

This article review the application of chi-square test of various data handling methods and exact test in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing of human genetic marker in population genetics. The importance of HWE-exact test in multiallelic system was emphasized, especially in the study of forensic VNTR and STR typing.
Alleles ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population/methods* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Likelihood Functions ; Models, Genetic ; Models, Statistical

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing based on allele specific PCR: fragment length discrepant allele specific PCR (FLDAS-PCR), and study the influence on specific extension by introducing a mismatch at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base of allele specific primers. METHODS: For SNP loci rs759117 and rs760887, two allele specific forward primers, with different length and a mismatch introduced at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base, and a public reverse primer were designed for SNP typing. The genotyping of SNP was determined by the two allele specific fragments different in size after polyacrylamide gel and silver staining. RESULTS: The different homozygote genotypes comprised a single band with different size respectively, and the heterozygote genotypes comprised two bands. Typing results were completely consistent with those by direct sequencing. Non-specific primer extension was decreased remarkably after introducing a mismatch at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base of allele specific primers, and the stringency of PCR reaction was cut down. CONCLUSION FLDAS-PCR is a simple, rapid and efficient new method for SNP typing. During FLDAS-PCR, specific primers with a mismatch at the third or fourth 3'-terminal base have more power to identify two alleles.
Alleles ; Base Pair Mismatch/genetics* ; DNA/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple and effective technique for detecting haplotype and heteroplasmy of mtDNA, and investigate their frequencies in Chinese Han population. METHODS: The fragments from 29-290 nt of mtDNA HV II from peripheral leukocytes of 200 unrelated Wuhan Han individuals were analyzed by using PCR-DGGE technique. RESULTS: Seventeen haplotypes were found in the range of 29-290 nt, and the haplotype diversity (HD) was 0.8844. The heterogeneity was observed from 4 individuals, and its frequency was 2%. CONCLUSION PCR-DGGE is a simple, sensitive and effective technique in analyzing polymorphism and heteroplasmy of mtDNA, and can be used in forensic practice.
Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/methods* ; Genetic Heterogeneity ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To investigate the expression levels of CD40,sCD40L,hs-CRP,WBC in acute coronary syndrome ( ACS)patients and the association between CD40-1C/T single nucleotide polymorphism and risk of ACS in Han Chinese,moreover,the regulatory effects of IFN-γ and fluvastatin on the expression of CD40 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMNC)were also observed.Methods (1) 160 ACS patients and 92 control patients diagnosed by coronary angiography were recruited.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay,flow cytometry were used to detect the levels of soluble CD40L,hs-CRP,and WBC count.(2)The CD40 genotype and allele frequency were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)and DNA sequencing technology.(3)PBMNC were separated by density gradient centrifugating heparinized venous blood from 40 ACS patients,cultured for 24 h with or without 100 ng/ml IFN-γ in the absence or present of 10 μmol/L fluvastatin.The CD40 expression levels were then detected by flow cytometry. Results Inflammatory cytokine CD40、sCD40L、hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in ACS patients than in controls.The CD40-1C allele frequency was 0.606 in ACS group and 0.489 in controls,while T allele frequency was 0.394 in ACS group and 0.511 in controls.The frequency of CC genotype was significantly higher in ACS group than in controls(P＜0.01).C allele carriers had significantly higher risk of ACS (OR=1.608,95%CI:1.12-2.32,P=0.011).CD40 production increased after 24 h culturing and the CD40 levels were significantly higher in subiects with CC genotype than that in subiects with CT or TF genotype[CC:(14.78 ±4.56)MFI,CT:(11.98±4.12)MFI,TT:(9.86±3.83)MFI,P＜0.05],IFN-γ further increased PBMNC CD40 expressions in all subjects after culturing for 24 h and fluvastatin equally inhibited IFN-γ induced PBMNC CD40 expression from various genotypes(CC,CT,TT was 30.3%,26.3%,29.3% respectively,all P＞0.05).Conclusion Inflammatory cytokines were increased in ACS patients and CD40-1C/T polymorphism iS associated with higher risk for ACS in Han Chinese.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein in human insulinoma and explore its clinical significance.

METHODSNineteen pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissue were collected from patients treated in Nanfang Hospital between 2000 and 2014. The protein expression of YY1 in benign and malignant insulinoma tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPositive expression for YY1 protein was detected in both benign and malignant tumor tissues, but the malignant tissues had a significantly greater intensity of YY1 expression than the benign tissues (P=0.042). The intensity of YY1 expression was positively correlated with the nature of the tumor, and the insulinomas with high expressions of YY1 had significantly greater malignant potentials (P=0.037).

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of YY1 protein is associated with the development of insulinima. YY1 may serve as a new tumor marker for detecting the malignant transformation of insulinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; YY1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlations of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) with the clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic events, and survival outcomes in esophageal cancer (EC) patients.

METHODSThe PubMed, Web of Science, Embase database and Cochrane database were searched for studies reporting the outcomes of interest. The studies were selected according to established inclusion/exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the studies was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata12.0 software with the odds ratio (OR), risk ratio (RR) , hazard ratio (HR) , and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) as the effect indexes.

RESULTSNineteen studies involving a total of 1766 patients were included in the analysis. Significant correlations of CTCs and DTCs were found with the clinicopathological parameters including the tumor stage (OR=1.95), depth of invasion (OR=1.99), lymph node metastasis (OR=2.44), distal metastasis (OR=5.98), histological differentiation (OR=1.67) and lymphovascular invasion (OR=4.48). CTCs and DTCs were also correlated with the prognostic events including relapse (RR=6.86) and metastasis (RR=3.22) and with the survival outcomes including the overall survival (OS) overall analysis (HR=3.46) and disease-free survival/progression-free survival (DFS/PFS) overall analysis (HR=3.00).

CONCLUSIONCTCs and DTCs are significantly associated with an advanced tumor stage, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis before therapy, differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, relapse and metastasis in patients with EC. They are also significantly correlated with a poorer survival for OS and DFS/PFS to serve as clinical and prognostic predictors in patients with EC.

Disease-Free Survival ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Analysis