Objective To study the effect of melatonin on ultrastructural changes of aorta endothelium of insulin-resistant (IR) rats. Methods Insulin-resistant rat model was established with SD rats (n=20) aged 6-8 weeks by high-glucose diet (70% calories from glucose) for 6 weeks. All the IR rats were divided into 2 groups: with melatonin (MEL group, n=10) and without melatonin (control group, n=10). Rats in MEL group were filled with melatonin (10mg? kg -1?d -1) for 6 weeks. The ultrastructure of aorta endothelium was observed with transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results Systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), insulin (Ins), and malondialdehyde (MDA) declined while the Serum high-density lipoprotein(HDL-c), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and insulin sensitive index (ISI) elevated in the rats of MEL group than that in control group (P

Causal inference research is a causal test designed to assess the impact of exposures on outcomes.Both experimental and observational studies can be used to examine causal associations between exposure factors and outcomes. Experimental studies are sometimes limited by factors such as ethics or experimental conditions. Observational studies account for a large proportion in clinical studies, but the effectiveness and research value of observational studies will be affected if the design of observational studies is not rigorous and the confounding factors are not well controlled.The Guidelines for controlling confounding factors and reporting results in causal inference studie formulated by a special group of 47 editors from 35 journals from all over the world provide good guidance to researchers. This article interprets the guidelines and hopes to provide help for clinical researchers.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic role of bispectral index (BIS) monitoring in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods Thirtythree adult patients after CPR were enrolled and divided into survived group and non - survived group as per 7-day survival.During their stay in the ICU,BIS and SaO2 (saturation of artery oxygen) levels of all the patients were continuously monitored.The neurological status of the patients was measured with Glasgow coma scale (GCS).Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ ( APACHE Ⅱ ) was used to evaluate the patient condition. SjO2 (saturation of jugular bulb venous oxygen ) levels of 23 patients were continuously monitored and then the difference in values between SaO2 and SjO2 was calculated to show oxygen metabolism in the brain. The studied variables were compared between the two groups. The correlations between BIS values and GCS scores,and between BIS and APACHE Ⅱ scores were respectively analyzed. Results The BIS values and difference in values between the SaO2 and SjO2 were significantly higher in the patients of survived group than those in the patients of non-survived group (P ＜0.01 ).There were positive correlation between BIS and GCS (r =0.821,P ＜ 0.01 ) and as well as positive correlation between BIS and APACHE- Ⅱ ( r =0.434,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions The BIS may be useful to predict the post - resuscitative outcome of patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Objective To investigate the current status of self-management action of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during early-mid stage and its influencing factors. Methods 80 patients were recruited in a tertiary hospital in Beijing from March to June 2011.They were surveyed with a self-designed self-management action questionnaire of patients with CKD. Results The total score of self-management action in patients with CKD was(69.10±5.63 ).1.25％ patients with CKD had bad self-management ability and 88.75％ patients had moderate self-management ability,only 10.00％ patients had good self-management ability.Patients of younger age,with higher education level,ever attending lectures or having inpatient experience had better self-management ability.And the methods of payment also had significant influence on the self-management of patients with CKD. Conclusions When taking care of patients with CKD,health care providers should be more individual case-based,especially paying more attention to those who are older,with low education degree,never have attended health education lectures and do not have inpatient experience,in order to increase patients' self-management ability and help them improve their health status.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Ziyin Yikang Recipe plus hexadecadrol on anti-HCG antibody positive secondary sterility and the influence on anti-HCG antibody titers. Methods Sixty patients with anti-HCG antibody positive secondary sterility were randomly divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG), 30 cases in each. Patients in the TG were treated with Ziyin Yikang Recipe plus hexadecadrol, while patients in the CG were given hexadecadrol only. The Chinese medicine symptom scores and changes of anti-HCG antibody titers were evaluated and compared between the two groups.Results The Chinese medicine symptom scores in the two groups decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the TG showed a more significant decrease than the CG (P<0.05). The anti-HCG antibody titers in both groups dropped compared with those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistically difference between the two group after treatment (P>0.05). The total effective rate in the TG was higher that that in the CG (P<0.05), with 63.33% (19/30) in the TG and 47.66% (14/30) in the CG.Conclusion The treatment of Ziyin Yikang Recipe plus hexadecadrol on anti-HCG positive secondary sterility can obviously improve the clinical syndrome of yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity, and promote pregnancy success.

Objective To investigate the signal mechanism of protein kinase C alpha(PKC-α)participated in enhanced expression of type Ⅰ inositol 1,4,5-trisphophate receptors (IP3 RI) induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα),in order to delineate the mechanisms of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in hepatorenal syndrome caused by TNFα.Methods The glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs)line from rats was chosen as experimental material.GMCs were divided into control (D),TNFα-2 h,TNFα-4 h,TNFα-8 h,and TNFα-24 h groups.Moreover,another two groups were sanflngol-8h (S),TNFα + Sanfingol-8h(TS)groups.The effect of TNFα on the expression of IP3RI was detected by immunocytochemical staining,Western blotting,teal time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.Results Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that IP3 RI was mainly distributed in cytoplasm of GMCs.Enhanced positive staining was determined in all TNFα-treated groups,especially in TNFα-8 h group.Western blotting demonstrated that the expression of IP3RI protein was significantly higher in TNFα-4 h,TNFα-8h and TNFα-24 h groups than control group(4 h:1.82 ± 0.63 ; 8 h:2.95 ± 0.66 ; 24 h:2.48 ± 0.72 ; D:1 ±0.02 ; F =9.24,P ＜ 0.05).The expression of IP3 RI protein was the highest in TNFα-8 h and TNFα-24 h groups(P ＜0.05).No difference was found among S,TS,and control groups(S:1.39 ±0.65; TS:1.35± 0.37 ; P ＞ 0.05).Real time-PCR found the expression of IP3 RImRNA was significantly higher in all TNFα-treated groups than control group(2 h:3.35 ± 1.97; 4 h:3.16 ± 1.35; 8 h:3.70 ± 1.76; 24 h:4.49±1.70; D:1 ±0.01; F =6.167,P ＜0.05).No difference was found among all TNFα-treated groups(P ＞0.05).No difference was found among S,TS,and control groups(S:1.53 ±0.79; TS:1.32 ± 0.38 ; P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions IP3 RI was mainly distributed in cytoplasm of GMCs.TNFa could enhance the expression of IP3 RI protein and IP3 RI mRNA,which could be blocked by sanfingol,a PKCα inhibitor.It might be an important signal in the mechanisms of GFR decrease caused by TNFα in hepatorenal syndrome.

Objective To explore the contamination of water samples from centralized air conditioning system and other domestic environment by legionella. Methods One hundred and eighty-six samples were collected from 75 sampling sites located among centralized air conditioning system, shower bath and humidifiers. The serology identification and semi-nested PCR were used to identify legionella in water samples. Results The positive rate was 8.60% (16/186) for legionella and 8.06%(15/186) for Legionella pneumophila among water samples respectively. Legionella and Legionella pneumophila were found in cooling water and condensate of centralized air conditioning system and water from shower bath in different degree. Water samples from cooling tower of centralized air conditioning system showed the highest positive rate for legionella and Legionella pneumophila. Conclusion Cooling water and condensate of centralized air conditioning system and water from shower bath present the risk of contamination by legionella. It should be paid more attention to prevent legionnaires' disease.

Chronic inflammation,oxidative stress and retinal ganglion cell apoptosis play important roles in the development of diabetic retinopathy.Fenofibrate,a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonist,is used for dyslipidemia.In addition to its lipid-modulating effects,fenofibrate also has antiinflammatory,antioxidant,anti-apoptotic and anti-angiogenesis properties that may be useful to delay the progression of diabetic retinopathy.Some clinical studies have already confirmed that fenofibrate has therapeutic effect on diabetic retinopathy.Further studies the application of fenofibrate in the treatment of diabetic microangiopathy to clarify the safety and efficacy of fenofibrate is of great significance.

ObjectiveTo evaluate percutaneous cyst in jection of aluminous mixture for renal cystic diseases.MethodsRetrospective analysis was made on 1295 cases of renal cystic diseases t reated by percutaneous cyst injection of aluminous mixture under guidance of ult rasound B.All together 1529 cysts including 1142 monocystic cysts and 153 polycy stic cysts were treated.ResultsAll the patients were f ollowed up for six months.The curative rate was 85.4%(1306/1529) and the markedl y improving rate 13.0 %(199/1529),the total effective rate was 98.4%.The lon g-term follow-up showed that reoccurence rates were 0.75%(6/798),0.92%(5/546), 1.72%(3/174) and 1.14%(1/71) in 1,3,5 and ten or more years respectively.3.1%(40 /1295) of the patients complained of lumber discomfort.No one had infection,feve r,sharp lumber pain or headache.ConclusionsCystic inje ction of aluminous mixture under the guidance of ultrasound B is a safe,feasible and effective method for the treatment of renal cystic diseases.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between Helicobac ter pylori (Hp) related gastritis and gastric mucosa content of interleukin - 8 (IL-8) and granuloeyte colony-stimulating factor ( G-CSF). Methods ELISA was used to detect the amount of IL-8 and G-CSF in supernate fluid of gastromucosal tissue culture from 60 patients, and to examine the difference between Hp infected and non-Hp infected cases. These 60 cases include normal gastric mucosa (n =20) , chronic gastritis mucosa (n = 14) , gastric ulcer mucosa (n = 13) , duodenal ulcer mucosa ( n = 13 ). Results The amounts of IL-8 and G-CSF in cases with Hp infection were significantly higher than those without infection (P