OBJECTIVETo study genetic damage of mice caused by the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of decoration materials.

METHODSFifty-five hotel guest rooms newly decorated within 6 months and 18 hotel guest rooms not decorated within 3 years were selected to determine the concentrations of 6 main VOC (benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, formaldehyde) in the air. Mice were exposed to VOC with the concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40 times respectively as high as those present in the newly decorated rooms in an exposure cabinet for 15 days. DNA damage of peripheral lymphocytes of the mice was determined by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and bone marrow micronucleus test.

RESULTSThe concentrations of benzene, methylbenzene, dimethylbenzene, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and formaldehyde in the rooms newly decorated within 6 months (6.50, 3.00, 6.70, 41.33, 1.70 and 0.14 mg/m(3) respectively) were significantly higher than those in rooms not decorated within 3 years (0.08, 0.94, 1.38, 0.25, 0.25, 0.01 mg/m(3), P < 0.01). DNA damage rates of peripheral lymphocytes in the concentrations of 10, 20, 40 times of exposure groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the frequencies of micronucleus in the mice exposed to 40 times of concentration was significantly higher than that in control group.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentrations of the volatile organic chemical compounds may cause genetic damage in mice. SCGE test is more sensitive than micronucleus test.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; adverse effects ; Animals ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Mice ; Micronucleus Tests ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organic Chemicals ; toxicity ; Paint ; adverse effects

This study was aimed to evaluate the impact of regular donating platelets on serum ferritin (SF) of donors. A total of 93 male blood donors including 24 initial plateletpheresis donors and 69 regular plateletpheresis donors were selected randomly. Their SF level was measured by ELISA. The results showed that the SF level of initial plateletpheresis donors and regular plateletpheresis donors were 91.08 ± 23.38 µg/L and 57.16 ± 35.48 µg/L respectively, and all were in normal levels, but there was significant difference between the 2 groups (p < 0.05). The SF level decreased when the donation frequency increased, there were no significant differences between the groups with different donation frequency. Correlation with lifetime donations of platelets was not found. It is concluded that regular plateletpheresis donors may have lower SF level.
Adult ; Blood Donors ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis ; Serum ; chemistry ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo discuss the technique details of subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention (SAFARI) to improve technical success in the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTO) diseases in lower extremity when there is failure to reenter the distal true lumen.

METHODSBetween May 2009 and Aug 2010, 15 patients underwent endovascular recanalization with SAFARI technique. There were 8 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 74.9 years. There were 3 patients with severe claudication (Rutherford category 3) and 12 patients with critical limb ischemia (Rutherford category 4 to 6). The clinical and follow-up data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSFourteen patients were treated with SAFARI technique successfully. The technique success rates were 93.3%. The mean ankle brachial index increased from 0.39 to 0.83.Symptoms were relieved in 86.6% patients, Ulcer were healed in 93.3%patients.

CONCLUSIONSSAFARI technique is a safe and effective method in treating CTO diseases, when it is failure to renter the distal true lumen with subintimal angioplasty technique.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo improve Madigan prostatectomy (MPC) for a much satisfactory effect in open surgery.

METHODSA total of 52 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated using MPC. The MPC procedure was modified by exposing anterior prostatic urethra near the bladder neck and conjunction with cystotomy. This modified procedure preserved prostatic urethra intact and could also deal with intracystic lesions at the same time.

RESULTSThe intact of prostatic urethra was kept completely or almost for 48 cases. The hemorrhage amount during modified procedure was a less. The mean operative time was 120 minutes. The 35 patients had been followed up for 1 - 12 months. The average Qmax was 18.9 ml/s. The cystourethrography revealed that the urethra and bladder neck were intact in 8 patients postoperatively. Furthermore, the prostatic urethra was obviously wider after modified MPC.

CONCLUSIONSThe modified MPC can reduce the urethra injury and enlarge the MPC indications. The modified technique is easy to perform with little complications and much more satisfactory clinical result. The modified MPC is highly recommended.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery

Aim To investigate the effects of morphine preconditioning (MPC) on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel current in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and the phosphorylation (p) of TRPV1 and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) in PC12 cells that sensitized by nerve growth factor (NGF). Methods DRG neurons isolated from T2-T8 segments of 10 days old SD rat or pheochromo-cytoma (PC12) cells were seeded into 24-well plates or 6-well plates, respectively, and randomly divided into 5 groups:control group (group C), NGF sensiti-zation group (group NGF), and morphine precondi-tioning groups (group MPC 0.3, group MPC 1.0 and group MPC 3.0). DRG neurons were identified by im-munofluorescent method with neuronal specific enolase (NSE). Cells were treated by morphine, NGF and capsaicin to simulate the effects of MPC on DRG neu-rons in T2-T8 segments during myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Afterwards, the inward cur-rent of DRG neurons induced by capsaicin in all groups were detected by whole cell recording; the expression and phosphorylation of TRPV 1 and ERK in PC12 cells were detected by Western blot. Results DRG neu-rons survived and grew nicely,and the staining of neu-ronal specific markers,NSE,was positive. In compar-ison with group C, the inward current of group NGF was enhanced (P <0.05), while MPC inhibited the enhancement (P <0.05). The relative expression of TRPV1,p-TRPV1 and p-ERK in group NGF was up-regulated when compared with group C (P <0.05).Moreover, the up-regulation was also suppressed by MPC (P <0.05). Conclusions MPC inhibits TR-PV1 channel current sensitized by NGF in neurocytes, and the mechanism might be associated with the down-regulation of TRPV1 p-TRPV1 and p-ERK expression.

[Objective]To investigate the effect of GRACE scores on prediction of 30-day cardiovascular adverse events in acute chest pain patients.[Methods]A prospective,observational analysis was conducted in the patients with acute chest pain in Emergency Department(ED)from January 1,2016 through April 1,2016.Data including characteris-tics and GRACE scores were collected.All causes leading to MACE were followed up at 30th day after the onset of acute chest pain.[Results]Among a total of 209 patients presenting with acute chest pain enrolled in this study,110 were male (52.63%)and 99 were female(47.37%).The range of age was 20-98years old,and mean age was(65.28±16.85)years old.During follow-up period,12 patients had MACE,2 patients died in ED,3 patients died in hospital,6 patients died out of hospital,and 1 person was diagnosed with myocardial infarction. When compared with non-MACE group,factors including age,BMI,hospitalized patient number,and number of patients admitted in CCU as well as GRACE scores, were significantly higher in MACE group(P<0.05). The predictive ROC curve area of GRACE scores in 30-day MACE was 0.819(0.735 to 0.902). The optimal sensitivity and specificity were 0.92 and 0.65,respectively. The probability of 30-day cardiovascular adverse events in various GRACE score risk stratification was 0.95%(low-risk),6.67%(medi-um-risk),and 18.92%(high-risk),respectively.[Conclusion]The GRACE score was a useful predictor to the occur-rence of 30-day cardiovascular adverse events in acute chest pain patients.

BACKGROUNDLocal failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy (RT) remains one of the major treatment failures. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and complications of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) with vagina carotica protection technique for local residual of NPC patients after the primary RT.

METHODSFrom August 2006 to August 2010, FSRT with vagina carotica protection technique was applied to 36 patients in our department, the patients aged between 13 and 76 years with a median of 41.3 years, 25 of them were male and 11 were female. According to 2002 Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Staging System, the stages before primary radiotherapy were: IIa 2, IIb 5, III 18, IVa 7, IVb 4. In the first course of radiotherapy, 9 patients received conventional RT, 27 patients received intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 20 out of the 36 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The total dose in the first course of RT was 69.96 - 76.90 Gy (median, 72.58 Gy). The intervals between the primary RT and FSRT ranged from 12 to 147 days (median, 39.8 days). Target volumes ranged from 1.46 to 32.98 cm(3) (median, 14.94 cm(3)). The total FSRT doses were 10.0 - 24.0 Gy (median, 16.5 Gy) with 2.0 - 5.0 Gy per fraction. The most common regimen was 15 Gy in 5 fractions of 3 Gy, the irradiation dose to vagina carotica was less than 2 Gy per fraction.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 34 months (range, 12 - 59 months). The 3-year local control rate was 100%; the 3-year overall survival rate was 94.4%; the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 77.8%. In this study, we had one case of cranial nerve injury, two cases of temporal lobe necrosis, and no nasopharyngeal massive hemorrhage was observed.

CONCLUSIONFSRT with vagina carotica protection technique is an effective and safe RT regimen for local residual of NPC with reduction of radiation-related neurovascular lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Dose Fractionation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of blood pressure and serum lipids, and examine the relationship between hypertension and hyperlipidemia in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese living in Guangxi.

METHODSA total of 1056 people of Hei Yi Zhuang ethnicity were studied. Blood pressure, body height, body weight, and serum levels of lipids and apolipoprotein were measured. The data were compared with those in 925 people of Han ethnicity, who live in the same region.

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension and hypertension was also significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (Apo) B, and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia were significantly lower in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the Apo A1 to Apo B ratio were significantly higher in Hei Yi Zhuang than Han Chinese (P < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese was positively associated with triglycerides (r = 0.425, P < 0.05), whereas the prevalence of hypertension in Han Chinese was positively correlated with total cholesterol (r = 0.623, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe present study revealed a significant difference in blood pressure and serum lipids between Hei Yi Zhuang and Han ethnic groups, and an association between hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; Blood Pressure ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To under smnd influenza A viruses epidemic,antigenicity and genetic characteristics variation between the vaccine and Circulation strains during 2004-2008 year in China.Methods The influenza A viruses(H1N1,H3N2)isolated from 2004-2008 year were under took antigenic and sequence analysis.Influenza A virus antigenicity and genetic characteristics were analyzed thounght amino acid variation compassion of HA1 protein of influenza A virus isilates.Results The antigenicity of influenza H1N1 subtype viruses isolated from 2004 to 2007 is very similar with vaccine strain A/New Caledonia/20/1999(H1N1)-like virus.The influenza H1N1 viruses circulated in 2008 year had similar antigenic characteristics with A/Brisben/59/2007(H1N1)Which is component of influem vaccines for northern hemisphere 2008-2009 year.The influenza H3N2 subtype viruses of 2004-2005 year had antigenic variation comparatively with vaccine strain A/Fujian/411/12002(H3N2),The antigenicity of 2006-2007 H3N2 viruses and 2008 year's is A/Wiscansin/67/2006(H3N2)and A/Brisben/10/2006(H3N2)respectively.Conclusion There is change of influenza A viruses(H1N1,H3N2)antigenic and genetic characteristics during 2004-2008 in China.

Mosaic variants resulting from postzygotic mutations are prevalent in the human genome and play important roles in human diseases. However, except for cancer-related variants, there is no collection of postzygotic mosaic variants in noncancer disease-related and healthy individuals. Here, we present MosaicBase, a comprehensive database that includes 6698 mosaic variants related to 266 noncancer diseases and 27,991 mosaic variants identified in 422 healthy individuals. Genomic and phenotypic information of each variant was manually extracted and curated from 383 publications. MosaicBase supports the query of variants with Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) entries, genomic coordinates, gene symbols, or Entrez IDs. We also provide an integrated genome browser for users to easily access mosaic variants and their related annotations for any genomic region. By analyzing the variants collected in MosaicBase, we find that mosaic variants that directlycontribute to disease phenotype show features distinct from those of variants in individuals with mild or no phenotypes, in terms of their genomic distribution, mutation signatures, and fraction of mutant cells. MosaicBase will not only assist clinicians in genetic counseling and diagnosis but also provide a useful resource to understand the genomic baseline of postzygotic mutations in the general human population. MosaicBase is publicly available at http://mosaicbase.com/ or http://49.4.21.8:8000.