Objective:To investigate the non-thymoma thymic morphology in patients with Myasthenia Gravis(MG), and provide the theoretical basis for extended thymectomy.Methods:From September 2008 to March 2018, extended thymectomy had been performed for 150 patients with MG in our department. In order to achieve maximal benefit, combined thoracoscopic and mediastinoscopic approach had been adopted to completely remove both thymus and ectopic thymic tissue in the neck and the anterior mediastinum. Cervical and mediastinal tissue including fat from the thyroid isthmus to the diaphragm was swept away from above the phrenic nerve. The regions containing mediastinal fat were divided into 12 stations.Results:There was no mortality. Pathology reports revealed 126(84.0%) patients with MG had hyperplastic thymus, 17(11.3%)cases with involuted thymus and 7 (4.7%)cases with normal thymus. 98 (65.3%)cases had more than two superior horns, and 59(39.3%) patients had ectopic thymic tissue in the mediastinum and in the neck. Positive rates of ectopic thymic tissue in the 12 cervical-mediastinal fat stations were 7.8%, 10.0%, 8.8%, 3.8%, 3.0%, 2.5%, 0, 0, 0.7%, 13.3%, 12.3% and 9.1%, respectively. After a follow-up period of 2-12 years, the rate of complete stable remission was 44.7%(59/132), and the effective rate was 89.4%(118/132).Conclusion:It is very meaningful to study non-thymoma thymic morphology in patients with MG in order to guide the performance of extended thymectomy and improve its outcome. For the purpose of minimally invasion, one side of mediastinal pleural should be carefully protected.

Hypertension is one of main risk factors for the occurrence and death of stroke and coronary heart disease. Its prevalence rate is rising year by year. It severely threatens the health of the human beings. The acupuncture method of "activating blood and dispersing wind, harmonizing Gan-Pi" for treating hypertension launched by Academician SHI Xue-min has aroused great attention due to good cur- ative effect and less adverse reactions. In this paper principles of the circular motion covered by the acupuncture method of "activating blood and dispersing wind, harmonizing Gan-Pi" were clarified.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Wind

Objectives To study the level and development of serum specific antibody against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus(SARS-CoV)of different populations in SARS pestilence district after SARS outbreak in a general hospital.Discuss SARS sub-clinical infection and protective action of the IgG antibody.Methods Seroepidemiology method,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and indirect immunfluorescence assay(IFA)were employed to investigate the changing level of serum antibody to SARS-associated coronavirus in non-SARS population in SARS pestilence district during and after SARS outbreak.The development of IgM and IgG antibody in patients with SARS in 6 weeks after the onset of SARS was studied qualitatively.The level changing of IgG antibody in con- valescent patients with SARS in 82 weeks after the onset was observed dynamically.Results The ELISA test outcome of IgG antibody was negative in 200 non-SARS people who were random samples of normal mass in SARS pestilence district and common community.The positive rate was 0.41% in 487 SARS high risk population tested by ELISA,but showed negative when retested by IFA.The A value level of IgG antibody existed significant difference in non SARS mass during and after SARS outbreak and the later's was higher them the former's(P

Objective To study the effects of ?2-adrenergic receptor gene Arg16Gly polymorphism on blood lipid and apolipoprotein ratio and its role in blood lipid and apolipoprotein ratio mediated by high carbohydrate/low fat (HC/LF) diet in healthy young persons.Methods Fifty-six healthy young volunteers had regular diet for 7 d followed by HC/LF diet for 6 d.Twelve-hour fasting venous blood samples were collected on days 1,8 and 14 to measure blood lipid and apolipoprotein (apo) AI and B100 levels,and to calculate ratios of TG/HDL-C,log (TG/HDL-C),TC/HDL-C,LDL-C/HDL-C and apoAI/apoB100.DNA was isolated from genome.Arg16Gly polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP.Results No significant difference was found in the baseline lipid and apolipoprotein ratio in subjects with AA genotype and G carriers before and after regular or HC/LF diet.The ratios of TG/HDL-C (P=0.017),log (TG/HDL-C) (P=0.031),and apoAI/apoB100 (P=0.006) were significantly higher,while those of TC/HDL-C (P=0.001) and LDL-C/HDL-C (P

Hydrothermal oxidation was used to prepare a nickel-titanium alloy ( NiTi ) solid-phase microextraction fiber. The experimental results demonstrated that a nanoporous NiTi oxide composite coating was in situ grown on the surface of NiTi substrate by direct oxidation in aqueous H2 O2 solution at 80℃. The resulting composite oxide coating included more nickel and less titanium. The prepared NiTi fiber with Ni-rich oxide coating was used to extract typical aromatic compounds coupled with HPLC-UV and exhibited good extraction selectivity for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs). The key factors affecting extraction efficiency of PAHs were examined. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range from 0. 05 to 500 ng / mL with correlation coefficients ≥0. 999, and the limits of detection were 0. 026-0. 056 ng / mL. Furthermore, the relative standard deviations ( RSDs) for intra-day and inter-day repeatability of the single fiber varied from 4. 8% to 6. 2% and from 5. 4% to 6. 5% for five replicates of PAHs at the spiking level of 50 ng / mL, respectively. The RSDs for the fiber-to-fiber reproducibility of five fibers prepared in different batches ranged from 6. 4% to 8. 4% . This method was suitable for selective enrichment and detection of target PAHs in environmental water samples with relative recoveries of 87. 4% -108. 2% and RSDs <8. 1% . Moreover, this novel NiTi fiber was mechanically strong and chemically stable, and its preparation was precisely controllable.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Myricaria bracteata.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTEleven compounds were obtained and identified as rhamnetin, 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavone, 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol, quercetin, chrysoerio, gallic acid, gallic acid ethylester, beta-sitosterol, daucosterol.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were obtained from M. bracteata for the first time.

Flavones ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; Kaempferols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Monosaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Tamaricaceae ; chemistry

Abstract: Objective To understand the mental health literacy level of residents in Hainan Province, and to provide evidence for promoting mental health promotion and improving the mental health literacy level of residents. Methods Multi-stage random sampling method was used to investigate The National Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire among 6 895 residents in 12 districts including Changjiang, Chengmai, Dongfang, Ledong, Lingshui, Haikou Longhua District, Haikou Meilan District, Qionghai, Sanya, Tunchang, Wenchang and Wuzhishan. Results　In the survey 6 895 residents in 12 counties, cities, districts of Hainan Province, 365 of them reached the standard of mental health with the standard rate of 5.3%. The mental health knowledge score was (54.00±17.02) with the standard rate of 7.7%; the self-assessment score was (26.11±3.99) with the standard rate of 75.9%; the score of mental health skill was (26.22±7.25) with the standard rate of 44.8%. The mental health literacy level of medical workers was the highest, with the standard rate of 13.5% (112/830), and the mental health literacy level of farmers was the lowest, with the standard rate of 0.8% (13/1 647). The results of unconditional Logistic regression showed that the factors entering the regression model included educational background (OR=2.268), personal monthly income (OR=1.129), gender (OR=1.302), household registration (OR=0.776), and whether they had participated in mental health related courses OR training (OR=0.511). The higher the educational background and personal monthly income, the higher the psychological quality. The mental health of women was higher than that of men, and that of urban was higher than that of rural, and those who had participated in mental health related courses were higher than those who had not. Conclusions The mental health literacy level of Hainan residents is at a low level, and the influencing factors are multifaceted. It is suggested to strengthen the mental health monitoring comprehensively and carry out rich health education service mode for different groups.

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and often fatal disease. Early after pulmonary thromboembolism, inflammation and associated intimal hyperplasia occur within the pulmonary arteries, similar to what is observed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This study tested the hypothesis that thrombolytic and anticoagulant agents would have anti-inflammatory effects or inhibit intimal hyperplasia of involved pulmonary arteries.

METHODSSeventy-two male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (54 rabbits in the PE group and 18 in the sham group). Experimental PE was induced in 54 rabbits by femoral vein injection of autologous blood clots and confirmed with pulmonary angiography, and other 18 rabbits underwent sham operations. Fifty-four rabbits in the PE group were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (treated with normal saline), a low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) group (treated with LMWH), and a urokinase (UK) group (treated with UK). Arterial blood gas was analyzed at 2, 7, and 28 days (n = 6 per time point by random group division), then lung tissues were removed and were analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and were stained for intimal hyperplasia.

RESULTSThe overall survival of rabbits undergoing PE was 100%. PE distribution detected on digital signal angiography (DSA) and histopathology was shown in 67% of rabbits (36/54) in the bilateral low lobar pulmonary arteries (PAs). The results showed that alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) difference (PA-aO2) significantly increased and PO2 decreased in the control group compared with the sham group. Compared with controls, the UK group had a decreased level of PA-aO2 on day 2 (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the LMWH group. Compared with controls, the LMWH group had a decreased level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in affected tissue and serum samples on days 7 and 28 (P < 0.05), and the UK group had decreased levels on days 2 and 7 (P < 0.05). Compared with sham group, all PE groups had an increased level of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in unaffected lung tissue samples at days 2 and 7. IL-13 in affected lung tissue in the LMWH group was decreased at all time points compared with controls (P < 0.05). However, TGF-β in affected lung tissue of the LMWH and UK groups increased at day 28. There was less intimal hyperplasia in involved pulmonary arteries at days 7 and 28 in the LMWH group compared with controls; there was no statistical difference in the UK group compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSUK treatment can rapidly improve the V/Q mismatch in PE and appears a short-term anti-inflammatory benefit. However, LMWH maybe inhibit the later local inflammatory reaction and reduce intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Chemokines ; analysis ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; pathology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) encoded by the hepatitis C virus RNA genome affects the expression of hepcidin gene.

METHODSHCV NS5A expression plasmid (pCN5A) and pRc/CMV were transfected into QSG7701 cells individually, RT-PCR was employed to detect the HCV NS5A and hepcidin mRNA transcription. Western blot was used for detection of HCV NS5A and hepcidin proteins. Iron was stained to evaluate the intracellular iron level.

RESULTSHCV NS5A plasmid was successfully transfected into QSG7701 cells, which was evidenced by HCV NS5A mRNA and protein from the transfected cells. The hepcidin mRNA relative quantification in untransfected cells, pRc/CMV transfected cells and pCNS5A transfected cells were 0.711+/-0.049, 0.718+/-0.052 and 0.264+/-0.030 respectively. The transcription of hepcidin mRNA decreased remarkably in the cells transfected with pCNS5A plasmid as compared to the untransfected cells and pRc/CMV transfected cells (P less than 0.01). The level of hepcidin protein expression was found also significantly lower in the pCN5A plasmid transfected cells as compared to the untransfected cells and pRc/CMV transfected cells. The intracellular iron staining was remarkably higher in the pcNS5A transfected cells than untransfected or pRc/CMV transfected cells.

CONCLUSIONSHCV NS5A inhibits the transcription of hepcidin mRNA and expression of hepcidin protein, inducing hepatic intracellular iron storage.

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepcidins ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Transfection ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the relationship between the extent of the damage and clinical data in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with AD and twenty-two controls received MR-diffusion tensor scanning. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of white matter in AD patients were measured respectively in parietal lobe and the genu of corpus callosum. Independent-samples t-test for non-paired data was used to test differences between AD and controls for FA values. Correlation analysis was applied to reveal the correlations between FA values in each region and the MMSE, FOM, RVR, BD and DS scores.

RESULTSPositive correlations were found between FA values in left parietal lobe and FOM/DS, and between FA values in genu of corpus callosum and MMSE scores.

CONCLUSIONSIn AD, the MR-DTI can reflect the relationship between the degree of white matter abnormalities and the cognitive impairment.

Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; psychology ; Anisotropy ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; Cognition ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wechsler Scales