OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs) in causing the precocious puberty.

METHODSThe blood samples were collected from 79 cases of precocious puberty patients and 42 cases of normal children. The concentrations of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), 1, 1-dichloro-2, 2, bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p, p'-DDE) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in blood serum samples were measured by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The volume of uterus and ovary, the bone density, and the content of estradiol (E(2)) in serum were determined at the same time. The contents of EEDs in blood serums of precocious puberty and the indices of the target organs were analyzed by using of correlation and regression.

RESULTSIn normal control group, p, p'-DDE was detected in all the blood samples (14.93 - 40.39 ng/ml), but 4-NP and DEHP were detected in some samples (ND -6.77 ng/ml, ND -17.61 ng/ml). The levels of 4-NP, p, p'-DDE and DEHP in blood serum in precocious puberty group were notably increased than that in control group (P < 0.01). In precocious puberty group, there was a positive correlations between the 4-NP in volume of uterus and the volume of ovary and the density of bone (r = 0.394, 0.286, 0.237, P < 0.01); p, p'-DDE and volume of uterus also showed a the positive correlation (r = 0.306, P < 0.01). The influencing extent of 4-NP was 1.3 times to that of the p, p'-DDE.

CONCLUSIONThe normal children and the children with precocious puberty should be all contaminated by EEDs, and the later be exposured to more EEDs. There might exist a close relationship between EEDs and the precocious puberty, and EEDs should be an important factor in causing the disease. Different kinds of EEDs might have different influencing extents to the target organs.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene ; blood ; Endocrine Disruptors ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; blood ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood

Objective In this paper we analyzed the major risk factors of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS) as well as its clinical manifestation,so as to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and effective control of HFRS in Xi'an.Methods The method of retrospective study was used to collect clinical data of hospitalized patients with HFRS between 2005 and 2010 in the Hospitals for Infectious Diseases in Xi'an city,Zhouzhi and Huxian counties and then clinical manifestations of the patients with HFRS were analyzed and classified according to the national standards for clinical symptoms and test indicators of HFRS.HFRS patients matched by the ratio of 1 ∶ 2 healthy human controls were retrospectively investigated in order to obtain risk factors relevant to HFRS incidence using casecontrol study.Odds ratio(OR) method was used for single factor study.While for the multifactor study,we took the conditional Logistic regression approach.We also built models for both studies.Factor with OR ＞ 1 and P ＜ 0.05 was judged to be a risk factor.Results A total of 3090 cases information of patients with HFRS and 6018 healthy controls were collected.Of the 3090 cases of HFRS patients,sixty vaccinated patients showed atypical clinical manifestations and they were mild or moderate cases and no deaths.A total of 3030 nonvaccinated patients had obvious clinical symptoms.Severe or critical cases accounted for 39.07％(1184/3030)and 60 patients died and the fatality rate was 1.98％ (60/3030).The results of single factor Logistic regression analysis showed that of the 16 factors analyzed,the difference of 11 risk factors between the case group and the control group was statistically significant.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that of the 11 factors,the difference of six factors between the case group and the control group was statistically significant.The main risk factors of suffering HFRS in the order were:exposure to rat pollutants,living in the affected areas,sitting or lying on grass fields in the affected areas,working in the affected areas,house rat infestation,and domesticated cats or dogs(OR =6.826,5.764,4.882,4.857,3.126 and 2.875; P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Vaccines are very useful in the sense that vaccinated HFRS patients tend to have mild symptoms and good prognosis.Health education in this area should be focused on the six risk factors in order to prevent the spreading of HFRS.

OBJECTIVETo detect the in-vitro effects of arbidol hydrochloride against 2009 new influenza virus A (H1N1).

METHODSThe activity of arbidol hydrochloride against 2009 new influenza virus A (H1N1) was determined in MDCK cell cultures. Hemagglutination assay, observation of cytopathic effects, RT-PCR and quantitative RT-PCR tests were performed for determination of virus titers. Inhibition concentration 50% and cytotoxic concentration 50% were calculated with Chou's Menu of Dose-Effect Program.

RESULTSArbidol hydrochloride showed low cytotoxicity (cytotoxic concentration 50%>100 μmol/L)and significant anti-2009 new influenza virus A (H1N1) activity in cell cultures. Inhibition concentration 50% were (5.5 ± 0.9), (3.4 ± 0.8), and (1.5 ± 0.2) μmol/L in hemagglutination assay, cytopathic effect test, and quantitative RT-PCR assay, respectively.

CONCLUSIONArbidol has low cytotoxicity and high anti-virus activity and can effectively trigger the activities of interferon and immune response, and therefore can be a valuable anti-influenza virus drug.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Dogs ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Objective To assessed the expression of inducible costimulator(ICOS)on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4,CDS,CD45RO T cells and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Expression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4~+CD8~+T cells and ICOS ligand(ICOSL)on CD19 B cells from RA patients and healthy volunteers were determind by three-color flow cytometry.Compar- ision with active and inactive RA,initial and relapsed RA had been done.Results Joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing ICOS,ICOS/CD45RO were significantly increased than peripheral blood in RA patients and healthy subjects.Joint fluid B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced than peripheral blood in RA patients.Meanwhile,peripheral blood B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced in active RA than inactive RA patients.Conclusion Hyperexpression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells and lowexpression of ICOSL in B cells from RA patients,expecially in active RA may contribute to the local immunopathological roles and joint destructions in the pathogenesis of RA.

OBJECTIVETo study spiral CT cholangiography (SCTC) before treatment in patients with obstructive jaundice due to unknown cause.

METHODSBetween October 1998 and November 2000, a total of 59 patients with obstructive jaundice of unknown cause were examined by two-phase enhanced spiral CT (eSCT). Twenty-nine of these cases were excluded because they had had T-Bil of > 34 micromol/L so that their biliary duct system could not have been visualized. The remaining 30 patients were 17 male and 13 female with an age range of 31 - 76 years (mean 56.6). Pathologically, the lesion was proven to be carcinoma of pancreatic head (n = 9), Vater's ampulla carcinoma (n = 4), extrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 13), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 1), chronic pancreatitis (n = 1) and cholelithiasis (n = 2). SCTC was performed through intravenous injection of 20 ml 50% Cholografin within 20 min before eSCT. SCTC was undertaken with parameters of a slice thickness of 2 - 3 mm, a table feed of 3 - 5 mm, a gantry time of 0.75 sec, a reconstruction interval of 1 - 2 mm, a pitch of 1.1 - 1.2, a voltage of 120 kV, a current of 220 - 240 mA, a matrix of 512 x 512 and a scan range from the level above hepatic hilum to the third segment of duodenum within 60 - 105 min following the injection. Both reconstructed SCTC source images and later eSCT scans were considered as axial CT (ACT). Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) was obtained immediately on the operator console. 3D imaging adopted in our study was volume rendering technology (VRT) that was processed on the Siemens 3D Virtuoso workstation within 30 min. Opacification of biliary tree (OBT) analyzed by Grades 1 to 5 and image quality (IQ) assessed by 4 scales as excellent, good, fair and poor were investigated in ACT, MPR and VRT, respectively. The correlation between total OBT, which was the highest among the 3 image methods in the same case, and T-Bil, D-Bil, ALT, severity of the biliary obstruction (SBO) as well as level of the obstruction was analyzed.

RESULTSIn OBT, no statistically significant difference was found in the five grades by the three imaging techniques (P > 0.05), the distribution of percentages being 0, 0, 13.3%, 30.0% and 56.7% in ACT, 0, 6.7%, 20.0%, 30.0% and 43.3% in MPR and 0, 0, 13.3%, 40.0% and 46.7% in VRT. The evident correlation between total OBT and D-Bil (r(s) = -0.719), ALT (r(s) = -0.544) and SBO (r(s) = 0.650) was showed. In IQ, only a statistical significance existed between ACT and MPR (P = 0.034), having the scales "excellent to poor" in percentages of 93.3%, 6.7%, 0 and 0 for ACT, 66.7%, 30.0%, 3.3% and 0 for MPR and 70.0%, 23.3%, 6.7% and 0 for VRT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAccording to our study, spiral CT cholangiography is very useful for the evaluation of selected patients with suspected obstructive jaundice before treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Cholangiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of a low level of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, and fermentation characteristics in term infants by comparing with human milk and a standard infant formula without GOS.

METHODSA total of 371 term infants from four hospitals of China were enrolled. The infants started with breast feeding. After 1-2 weeks, some of the infants were changed to feeding with formula milk and then were randomly assigned to two formula-feeding groups: with or without GOS supplementation (2.4 g/L). Growth, stool characteristics, and side effects were recorded in a 3-month-follow-up. Faecal samples were collected for analysis of intestinal bacteria (culture technique), acetic acid (gas chromatography) and pH (indicator strip) at postnatal 3 months.

RESULTSCompared with the formula-feeding group without GOS, the contents of bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and acetic acid and stool frequency increased, and faecal pH decreased significantly in the GOS-formula-feeding and the human milk group. There were no significant differences between the GOS-formula-feeding and the human milk groups. Supplementation with GOS did not lead to an increase in the incidence of crying, regurgitation and vomiting.

CONCLUSIONSA supplementation of low levels of GOS in infant formula seemed to improve stool frequency, decrease faecal pH, and stimulate intestinal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli up to levels as found in breast-fed infants.

Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; Dietary Supplements ; Galactose ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; isolation & purification ; Oligosaccharides ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of male reproductive health among middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory results of 884 middle-aged and older men aged 55 - 89 years from the Xuanwu District of Nanjing present for routine physical examinations, including those of blood routine tests, liver and kidney function, blood glucose, blood lipid, and total prostate specific antigen (TPSA), as well as such reproductive hormone indexes as total serum testosterone (TT), free serum testosterone (fT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). We also obtained the above reproductive hormone indexes from 119 young and middle-aged men aged 20 - 39 years as controls.

RESULTSAging-related changes were found in the 50 percentiles of all the reproductive hormones and relevant parameters but those of TT and E2, with gradual increases in LH, FSH and SHBG and decreases in fT, TSI and fTI. Comparison of reproductive hormones and relevant parameters by Mann-Whitney U test did not show any statistically significant differences in the TT level between any two of the five age groups (20 - 39, 55 - 59, 60 - 69, 70 - 79, and > or = 80 yr) (P > 0.05) except between the control and > or = 80 yr groups and the 60 - 69 and > or = 80 yr groups (P < 0.05), nor in the E2 level between any two groups, nor in the levels of LH and FSH except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups and the 70 - 79 and > or = 80 yr groups, and nor in the levels of fT and TSI except between the 55 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups. However, there were significant differences in the levels of SHBG and fTI between any two age groups. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that fT, TSI, and fTI were correlated negatively with aging and LH (P < 0.05, I r I > 0.5) but weakly positively with cholesterol, blood glucose and hemoglobin (P < 0.05, /r/ < 0.5), SHBG and LH positively with aging, SHBG weakly negatively with blood glucose and hemoglobin, LH weakly negatively with hemoglobin, and TT weakly negatively with aging but positively with hemoglobin.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum testosterone, particularly that of fT, declined with aging in middle-aged and older men in the urban area of Nanjing, which may contribute to abnormal lipid metabolism, low hemoglobin and high blood glucose.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; analysis ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation on the testicular histology and reproductive endocrine function in male rats and investigate the possible mechanism of inflammation affecting male fertility.

METHODSThirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (A) and three LPS intervention groups (B, C, and D) to receive saline and LPS (5 mg/kg i. p, once), respectively. The animals in groups B, C, and D were killed by anesthesia at 12, 24, and 72 hours after treatment. Histopathological changes in the left testis of the rats were observed by HE staining and the levels of the reproductive hormones T, FSH, and LH in the serum were determined by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with group B, group A showed clear structure of seminiferous tubules, orderly arrangement of spermatogenic cells, a slightly decreased number of sperm in some seminiferous tubular lumens, and shed spermatogenic cells in the rat testis tissue; group C exhibited thinner seminiferous epithelia, disordered structure of seminiferous tubules, irregular arrangement of spermatogenic cells, decreased number of mature sperm and obvious shedding of spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubular lumens; group D manifested similar findings to those of group C, with even more shed spermatogenic cells that blocked the tubular lumens. The levels of serum T, LH, and FSH were (0.490 +/- 0.028) ng/ml, (6.290 +/- 0.515) ng/L, and (1.837 +/- 0.127) IU/L in group A, (0.460 +/- 0.024) ng/ml, (5.881 +/- 0.124) ng/L, and (1.707 +/- 0.098) IU/L in group B, (0.417 +/- 0.021) ng/ml, (5.123 +/- 0.271) ng/L, and (1.620 +/- 0.115) IU/L in group C, and (0.378 +/- 0.021) ng/ml, (4.504 +/- 0.279) ng/L and (1.562 +/- 0.216) IU/L in group D, all decreased in group B as compared with A (P > 0.05). The decreases of T and LH were extremely significant (P < 0.01) and that of FSH was significant in groups C and D (P < 0.05) in comparison with A.

CONCLUSIONLPS-induced inflammation affects the testicular tissue and reproductive endocrine function of male rats, resulting in decreased levels of serum T, LH, and FSH.

Animals ; Endocrine System ; drug effects ; physiology ; Fertility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reproduction ; Seminiferous Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Spermatocytes ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

Objective To learn the changes of blood lead levels and serum biochemical parameters of the school agechildren from different areas. Methods All research objects, the school age children, were from three different areasrespectively, including a mountainous area (L area), an island area (H area) where there is not history of Pb pollution,and an industry area (N area) in relation to Pb pollution. The morning urine and peripheral venous blood samples werecollected from the school age children. Pb in blood (PbB), δ-aminoaevulinic acid in urine (ALA), Ca2+, BUN, Cr inserum, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), free thyroxin (FT4) levels were detected. ResultsPbB levels [M was 36.0 ppb] of the school age children from N area were significantly higher than that of L area [22.0 ppb] andH area [23.8 ppb]. On the contrary, serum Ca2+ levels of the school age children from N area were significantly lower than thatof L area and H area. Serum T4 of N area was significantly lower than that of L area and H area. Serum FT4 of H area wassignificantly higher than that of L area and N area. And TSH of N area and H area were both obviously lower than that of L area.But all of these thyroxin indexes were in the range of normal values. Conclusion It should be widely concerned that thesignificant elevation of PbB levels may have a negative impact on school age children in the future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Danshen Injection (DSI) on the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA FLSs) cultured in RA patients' serum.

METHODSThe RA FLSs harvested from RA patients' synovial fluid were primarily cultured by routines. The cells were cultured with 10% inactivated human serum (the healthy human serum and the RA patients' serum) for 24 h. Then DSI at the final concentration of 0. 4 mg/mL was added in the cells for further 24 h culture. By taking 10% fetal calf serum as the control, the morphological changes were observed under optical microscope. The proliferation was analyzed by MTT. The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The total RNA was extracted and reverse transcription was performed. The Bax mRNA expression was detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTS(1) After human serum was added in the healthy human serum and RA patients' serum, cells could grow adhering to the wall. Compared with the fetal calf serum group (FCS), the cell density was higher in the healthy human serum group than in the fetal calf serum group, with no obvious morphological changes. (2) MTT results showed that, compared with the fetal calf serum group, the absorbance value (OD) obviously increased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). After adding DSI at the final concentration of 0.4 mg/mL, cells from different serums were inhibited to various degrees (with OD significantly decreased, P <0.05). The OD value significantly increased more in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group than in the fetal calf serum group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). There was statistical difference between the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group (P <0.01). (3) The apoptosis rate in the RA patients' serum group obviously decreased with statistical difference, when compared with the Salvia miltiorrhiza free fetal calf serum group (P >0. 01). The apoptosis rate in the fetal calf serum group and the RA patients' serum group significantly increased after adding 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, showing statistical difference when compared with the Salvia miltiorrhiza free fetal calf serum group and the Salvia miltiorrhiza free RA patients' serum group (P <0.05). The FLSs were effected by 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, the apoptosis rate significantly decreased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference when compared with the fetal calf serum group (P <0. 05, P <0.01). (4) The expression of Bax gene significantly increased in the RA patients' serum group and the fetal calf serum group after action of 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, showing statistical difference (P <0. 01). When 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza was added, the expression of Bax mRNA obviously increased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference when compared with the fetal calf serum group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Although healthy human serum can be favorable to the growth of RA FLSs, the fetal calf serum could reflect the actual results better in the cyto biological research on specific diseases (if there is no serum from patients with corresponding disease). (2) DSI could inhibit the proliferation of RA FLSs through promoting their apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Phenanthrolines ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects