Objective To observe the curative effect of captopril and metoprolol in the treatment of chronic Keshan disease (CKD). Methods One hundred and ninty-five patients with CKD chosen from Juxian, Wulian, Yishui, Pingyi, Sishui and Zoucheng in Shandong Province were randomly assigned to control group, captopril group and metoprolol group according to NYHA cardiac functional grading. All cases were given diuretics, digitalis and vasodilating agents as routine treatment. On this basis, captopril and metoprolol was administered in captopril group and metoprolol group respectively. After 12 months of follow-up visit, the causes of cardiac death, hospitalization status and the changes of heart size, electrocardiogram, blood pressure and heart rate were all observed. Results It was found that the mortality of captopril group and metoprolo] group was 4.76% (3/63), 5.00% (3/60) respectively, both lower than the control group 10.61%(7/66). But this difference had no statistically significance(P=0.39). Besides, the hospitalization days of each year in captopril group and metoprolol group was respectively (19.12± 20.35) and(18.86±21.52)days, much more reduced than in the control group[(21.45±21.74)days, q=3.17, 3.38, P<0.05]. The detection rate of cardiothoracic ratio decreased in captopril group and metoprolol group [45% (27/60) and 40.4% (23/57)] After treatment showed more pronounced amelioration than the control group [18.6% (11/59), χ2=9.51,6.59, all P<0.0125], still the detection rate of cardiomegaly and invariability had no significant difference among three groups (χ2=2.50,4.75, all P>0.05). The elimination coefficient of ectopic rhythm in metoprolol group [56.5% (13/23)] was pronounced higher than the control group and captopril group [23.8% (5/21), 22.7% (5/22)], but differences had no statistically significance(P=0.0358,0.0331, all P>0.0125). Significant differences were found in systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and heart rate(HR) in three groups prior and post-treatment(F=47.51,44.23,80.66, all P<0.01). The interaction of therapy and treatment time had influence on SBP and HR (F=3.19,37.44, all P<0.05), but had no influence on DBP(F=2.21, P> 0.05). There was no difference in SBP, DBP or HR among three groups before treatment(F=0.28,0.57,1.80, all P>0.05). After treatment, SBP and DBP in captopril group, metoprolol group and the control group[(109.0±10.9), (112.2±12.8), (114.7±13.2)mm Hg, (69.3±7.2), (72.1±9.5), (73.3±9.3)mm Hg] were all lowered compared with pre-treatment[ (117.1±13.4), (119.0±14.4), (117.6±14.1)mm Hg and (74.2±10.2), (76.3±10.8), (75.4±11.1)mm Hg, t=4.79,4.47,2.08,5.12, 4.32,2.15, all P<0.05]. HR was reduced in metoprolol group, being [(66.2±7.7), (75.9±11.5)times/min] before and after treatment(t=10.81, P<0.01), while it remained unchanged in captopril group and control group[(70.6±8.0), (72.6±10.5) times/min and (71.9±10.4), (73.8± 12.2)times/min, t=1.77,1.74, all P>0.05]. After treatment, both SBP and DBP of captopril group were significantly lower than that in the control group (q=3.52,3.56, all P<0.05); HR was reduced in metoprolol group, lower than that in captopril group and control group(q=5.44,3.73, all P<0.01). Conclusions Having a tendency of depressing mortality, captopril and metoprolol can reverse or delay myocardial remodeling and reduce admission rate in a safe,reliable and economic way, and are worth to be widely used in the treatment of chronic Keshan disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the precise locations of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding the seminal vesicles (SV) in men and provide some anatomical evidence for SV-related minimally invasive surgery.

METHODSWe observed the courses and distribution of the blood vessels and nerves surrounding SVs and obtained the data for positioning the SV neuroplexes in 20 male pelvises.

RESULTSOne branch of the neuroplexes was distributed to the SVs bilaterally with the neurovascular bundles, (2.85 ± 0.18) cm from the median sulcus of the prostate (MSP), while another branch ran through the Denonvillier fascia behind the SV, (0.81 ± 0.06) cm from the MSP. The arterial SVs (ASV) originated from the inferior vesical artery and fell into 4 types, 55% going directly to the SVs as one branch, 15% running between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct as another branch, 25% downward as 2 branches to the SV and between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct respectively, and 5% as the other ASVs. The shortest distance from the ASV through the prostatic neuroplexus to the posterior SV was (1.08 ± 0.09) cm.

CONCLUSIONIn SV resection, neuroplexus injury can be reduced with a bilateral distance of < 2.85 cm and a posterior distance of < 0.81 cm from the MSP, and so can bleeding by vascular ligation between the SV and the ampulla of the deferent duct.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; blood supply ; innervation ; Seminal Vesicles ; blood supply ; innervation ; Vas Deferens ; blood supply ; innervation

To investigate the anticancer effects of ring C in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a series of GA derivatives featured with 9(11)-ene moiety in ring C were designed and synthesized. The structures were confirmed by IR, LC-MS and 1H NMR. Their inhibitory effects towards human prostate cancer PC-3 and leukemia HL-60 cell lines were determined. Most of the derivatives displayed stronger antiproliferative activities than GA. Particularly, compound 14 showed promising anticancer activity with the GI50 values of 4.48 µmol · L(-1) and 1.2 µmol · L(-1) against PC-3 and HL-60 cells respectively, which is worth further study.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; HL-60 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

A high productive poly ?-glutamic acid(?-PGA) strain PGA-N in a culture medium containing no L-glutamine was isolated from fermentation products.With the following identifications of colony mor-phology,physiological and biochemistry experiments,and genetics,the strain PGA-N was classified as a Bacillus licheniformis.According to the product environment,the base culture medium having no L-glutamine was simulated.In order to enhance the production of the strain PGA-N,the fermentation condi-tions,such as carbon source,nitrogen source,were optimized and the ?-glutamic acid production reached 5.16 g/L after getting the optimum formulation of this culture medium.PGA-N was mutagenized with com-bination of NTG and UV.A mutant PGA-N-C10 was screened which PGA production was increased from 5.16 g/L to 8.82 g/L.The study also investigated the effects of agitation speed on the cell biomass,?-PGA production and the ?-PGA molecular weight.The ?-PGA yield of PGA-N-C10 was as high as 11.00 g/L when the agitation speed was 400 r/min.

Objective To screen the arsenic content situation of drinking water in lower reaches of Yellow River and survey the amount of threatened people drinking high arsenic water and the condition of endemic arsenism.Methods Four counties of Yuncheng,Jiaxiang,Dongchangfu and Boxing were selected to colleft the water samples by CroOSS-sectional survey method.The water arsenic content wag determined by semi-quantitative rapid kit.All water samples having arsenic were re-determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.And the nurober of threatened people who drinking high arsenic water were investigated.Results In 4765 water wells screened,303 water samples had contained arsenic,arsenic content of 35 samples Was≥0.030 mg/L,12 samples were exceeding the international standard (arsenic content≥0.050 ms/L),they distributed in 3 counties of Dongchangfu,Yuncheng and Jiaxiang.The residents drinking water wells of arsenic content≥0.030 mg/L were surveyed by epidemiological investigation.And in the 28 villages 13 032 residents and 11 Bu8picious patient8 wlere checked out.Conclusion The wells with excesive water arsenic content are existing in the lower reaches of Yellow River and people suspicious of endemic arsenism need to be further identified.

A poly-?-glutamic acid producing strain--BLN-2, was isolated from the soybean products. According to the biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Using soybeans as culture, the solid-state fermentation conditions of BLN-2 have been studied. The results showed that the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources of BLN-2 were glucose, fructose, NaNO3 and KNO3, respectively. The orthrogonal experiments showed, when the final concentration of the fructose which was added to the soybean culture was 0.5%, the glucose, NaNO3 and KNO3 final concentraion were 2.0%, the production of ?-PGA was the highest--89.05 g/kg. It is 48.42% higher than other comparable soybean medium under the same conditions.

By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), an open reading frame of pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1) was isolated from Panax notoginseng and named as PnPR1. Molecular and bioinformatic analyses of PnPR1 revealed that an open reading frame of 501 bp was predicted to encode a 166-amino acid protein with a deduced molecular mass of 18.1 kD. Homology analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence of PR1 protein of Panax notoginseng had a high similarity with other higher plants had the same conservative structure domain of cysteine-rich secretory protein (CAP). The recombinant expressed plasmid pET28a(+)-PnPR1 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The expression conditions were optimized by induction at different times, different temperatures, different IPTG concentrations and different giving times. The optimum expression condition was 0.4 mmol.L-1 IPTG at 28 degrees C for 20 h. The successful expression of PnPR1 provides some basis for protein purification and preparation of the monoclonal antibody.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment

Objective To observe the electrocardiogram changes of threatened crowds in Keshan disease (KSD) endemic area in Shandong province. Methods In 2008,inhabitants from 21 villages of Zoucheng,Sishui,Tengzhou, Yishui, Pingyi, Wulian, Juxian and Qingzhou regions were selected as subjects undergoing electrocardiogram. No less than 100 people were chosen from each village and the examination rate was not lower than 85%. Results Among the 3378 inhabitants investigated,460 cases showed abnormal electrocardiogram and the total incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram was 13.62% (460/3378). The relatively high incidence was T-wave changes,QRS low voltage and ST-T changes,the detection rate being respectively 2.69% (91/3378), 1.92% (65/3378) and 1.72% (41/3378). The highest incidence of abnormal electrocardiogram (26.76%,55/213),the intermediate(21.50%,43/200) and the lowest(5.50%,12/218) was respectively found in Pingyi,Qingzhou and Sishui. Conclusions The threatened crowds in KSD endemic area in Shandong province are still in a state of high abnormal electrocardiogram detection,and electrocardiogram is of great value in the evaluation of KSD patients.

Objective To investigate the current condition of Keshan disease(KD), and inner and outer environmental selenium (Se) levels in Shandong Province, in order to provide scientific evidence for the research, prevention and control work. Methods Inhabitants from 20 villages of 8 counties in KD endemic areas were selected as subjects undergoing general physical examination and electrocardiogram (ECG). Suspicious cases were followed up by chest X-ray radiographs. Meanwhile the Se contents in hair, wheat, corn and sweet potato were measured. Results Ninety one patients with KD, including 82 with latent KD and 9 with chronic KD, were screened out of 2613 inhabitants. The total incidence of KD was 3.48% (91/2613), while the incidence of latent and chronic KD was 3.14%(82/2613) and 0.34%(9/2613) respectively. No new cases of acute or sub-acute KD were found. A total of 368 abnormal ECCs were discovered and the rate of abnormal ECG detected among surveyed population was 14.08% (368/2613). Out of 113 suspects who took X-ray, 57 cases had cardiomagaly. In 217 samples of hair, 228 samples of wheat, 214 samples of corn and 190 samples of sweet potato that were collected, the Se contents were determined by fluorescence. The average Se content in hair, wheat,corn and sweet potato were (0.406±0.090), (0.026±0.009), (0.023±0.010), (0.024±0.006)mg/kg respectively. Conclusions Current condition of KD in Shandong Province remains relatively stable. Se content was increased in the hair, nearly achieving the level in normal areas, but remains low in food.

OBJECTIVETo observe the serial changes of condition and related factors of Keshan disease (KSD) and provide the scientific basis for disease control and further research.

METHODSThe villages in KSD epidemic area of Juxian, Yishui, Pingyi, Zoucheng counties were selected. Since 1990, every five-year was counted as a stage. For the first to third stage, 3-14 year-old residents and over 14 year-old suspicious patients were selected as surveillance subjects. And in the fourth stage, all residents were selected as surveillance subjects. The same group of surveillance subjects in each stage were observed consecutively for 5 years. Surveillance contents included physical checkup, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Xray. At the same time, the selenium (Se) concentration in hair, wheat, corn and sweet potato was measured. The economic income and grain availability were also investigated.

RESULTSTotally, 14,510 cases were visited during 18 years. The incidence of KSD was 3.02% in the first stage, 2.31% in the second stage, 3.57% in the third stages and 3.65% in the fourth stage. Totally, 14,510 cases were examined by ECG, 809 cases showed the abnormal ECG and the total incidence of abnormal ECG was 5.49%. The incidence of abnormal ECG was 3.52% -5.24% from 1990 to 2004 but was 10.97%-10.91% from 2005 to 2007. 732 of hair samples, 701 of wheat samples, 615 of corn samples and 643 of sweet potato samples were collected and the Se concentration was determined by the fluorescent method. Se levels in hair samples had increased (P < 0.05) year by year but Se levels in food have not changed significantly. The economic income and grain availability had increased gradually from 535.8 yuan and 254.6 kg per person in 1990 to 2968.0 yuan and 602.0 kg per person in 2007.

CONCLUSIONThe condition of KSD was in a stable situation in Shandong Province. Related factors improvement should be an important environmental condition.

Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Selenium ; analysis ; deficiency