Objective To investigate the expression of T helper type 17 cells (Th17) and cell‐related cytokines ,including interleukin (IL)‐21 ,IL‐22 ,IL‐23 in the peripheral blood of different clinical stages of patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) .Methods Ten cases of AHB patients were enrolled .The frequency of Th17 cells in the three clinical stages (i .e .acute phase ,convalescent phase and resolved phase) were detected by flow cytometry . IL‐21 , IL‐22 and IL‐23 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) .Control group was composed of ten healthy subjects .The comparison between the two groups was done by t test and the differences among multiple groups were compared by one way ANOVA .Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis .Results The frequency of Th17 in healthy controls was (0 .68 ± 0 .29)% ,while those in acute phase ,convalescent phase and resolved phase of AHB patients were (18 .22 ± 4 .13)% , (3 .14 ± 1 .90 )% and (3 .31 ± 0 .95 )% , The differences between the two groups were significant (t= 13 .405 ,4 .047 and 8 .342 , respectively ;all P< 0 .01) .The levels of IL‐21 ,IL‐22 and IL‐23 in healthy controls were (42 .00 ± 6 .95) ,(315 .89 ± 96 .16) and (11 .95 ± 6 .95) ng/L ,respectively .Those in acute phase of AHB patients were (575 .39 ± 47 .01) ,(648 .44 ± 47 .12) and (38 .29 ± 4 .68) ng/L ,respectively ,those in convalescent phase were (366 .50 ± 33 .74) ,(405 .04 ± 47 .12) and (25 .10 ± 4 .69) ng/L ,respectively ,while those in resolved phase of AHB patients were (46 .62 ± 8 .28) ,(365 .94 ± 45 .62) and (15 .29 ± 4 .69) ng/L , respectively .Compared with healthy controls ,t values of the levels of IL‐21 in three different phases of AHB patients were 35 .497 ,29 .792 and 1 .354 with P value of <0 .01 ,<0 .01 and 0 .193 ,respectively ;those of IL‐22 were 9 .820 ,2 .632 and 1 .487 with P value of < 0 .01 ,0 .021 and 0 .161 ,respectively ;those of IL‐23 were 9 .944 ,4 .961 and 1 .260 with P values of <0 .01 ,<0 .01 and 0 .226 ,respectively . After comparison of IL‐21 ,IL‐22 and IL‐23 among three different phase of AHB ,F values were 622 .784 , 107 .772 and 60 .743 with all P values less than 0 .01 ,respectively .The levels of IL‐21 ,IL‐22 and IL‐23 were all positively correlated with the serum ALT level in acute phase (r= 0 .655 ,0 .666 and 0 .673 , respectively ;all P<0 .05) .Correlation analysis demonstrated that the frequency of Th17 was positively correlated with the levels of IL‐21 , IL‐22 and IL‐23 in acute phase ( r= 0 .879 ,0 .866 and 0 .879 , respectively ;all P<0 .01) .The frequency of Th17 was positively correlated with the level of IL‐21 in the resolved phase . No correlations between the remaining groups were confirmed . Conclusion The expressions of Th17 and cell‐related cytokines ,including IL‐21 ,IL‐22 and IL‐23 decline with the recovery of A HB .

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes in the frequencies ofTh17 (CD3+CD8-IL-17+) and regulatory T cells (Treg,CD4+CD25+CD127low) and Th17/Treg ratio in the peripheral blood in patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB),as well as their association with the outcome of AHB.Methods A total of 10 AHB patients were enrolled as observation group,and according to the outcome of AHB,these patients were further divided into acute stage group,early recovery group,and full recovery group.Another 10 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination were enrolled as control group.Flow cytometry was used to measure the frequencies of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood,and the Th17/Treg ratio was calculated.An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure liver function parameters,and RT-PCR was used to measure HBV DNA.An one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups,and the t-test was used for comparison between any two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the acute stage group showed significant increases in the frequencies of Th1 7 and Treg (18.22％±4.13％/6.46％±2.46％ vs 0.68％±0.29％/1.62％±0.18％,P ＜ 0.01) and the Th1 7/Treg ratio (3.37±1.73 vs 0.42±0.20,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the acute stage group,the early recovery group showed a significant reduction in the frequency of Th 17 (3.14％± 1.90％,P ＜ 0.01),a significant increase in the frequency of Treg (11.73 ％± 1.76％,P ＜ 0.01),and a significant reduction in the Th17/Treg ratio (0.27±0.19,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the early recovery group,the full recovery group showed a slight increase in the frequency of Th17 (3.31±0.95,P =0.888),a significant reduction in the frequency of Treg (6.83％±1.85％,P ＜ 0.01),but which was significantly higher than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.01),and a slight increase in the Th17/Treg ratio (0.52±0.21,P ＜ 0.05),which showed no significant difference between this group and the control group (P =0.286).In the acute stage ofAHB,HBsAg and HBeAg levels were positively correlated with Th17/Treg ratio (r =0.639,P ＜ 0.05;r =0.633,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The dynamic changes in the frequencies of Th17 and Treg and the Th1 7/Treg ratio may be associated with the outcome of AHB.

Objective To investigate the effects of preconditioning with different doses of levothyroxine sodium on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in immature rats. Methods Forty-eight female immature Wistar rats, aged 35 days, weighing 120-140 g, were randomly allocated into 6 groups ( n = 8 each): control group (group C), I/R group, and preconditioning with levothyroxine sodium 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/100 g groups (groups LS1-4 ) . The rats received levothyroxine sodium 10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/100 g through a gastric tube every day for 7 days in groups LS1-4 , respectively. Venous blood samples were taken on 8th day for determination of serum thyroid hormone levels. The hearts were removed from the animals and perfused in a Langendorff apparatus with K-H solution saturated with 95% O2-5% CO2 at 37 ℃. The hearts were continuously perfused for 80 min in group C. After 30 min of equilibration, the isolated hearts were subjected to 20 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion in I/R and LS1-4 groups. HR, SP and ± dp/dtmax were recorded at 20 min of perfusion and 30 min of reperfusion. The recovery rates of HR, SP and ± dp/dtmax were calculated at 30 min of reperfusion. The coronary effluent was collected at 10 min of perfusion and 15 min of reperfusion for determination of creatine kinase (CKMB) activity. The samples of ventricular myocardial tissues were taken at 30 min of reperfusion to detect the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), thyroid hormone receptor (TR) mRNA (TRa, , TRoj and TRft ) and myosin heavy chain (MHC) mRNA. Results Compared with group C, the recovery rates of HR, SP and. ± dp/dtmax were significantly decreased, the CK-MB activity was significantly increased, and MHCα mRNA expression was down-regulated in group I/R, the recovery rates of SP and ± dp/dtmax were significantly decreased, the CK-MB activity was significantly increased, and the expression of HSP70 and MHCα mRNA was up-regulated in groups LS1-4, and the serum thyroid hormone level was significantly increased and the expression of TRa, mRNA was up-regulated in groups LS2-4 ( P ＜ 0.05) . Compared with group I/R, the recovery rates of HR and ± dp/dtmax were significantly increased, the pression of HSP70 and MHCa mRNA was up-regulated, and the MHCJ3 mRNA expression was down-regulated in groups LS1-4 the CK-MB activity was significantly decreased in groups LS1-3, and the serum thyroid hormone level was significantly increased and the expression of TRα1, mRNA was up-regulated in groups LS2-4 ( P ＜ 0.05) . The serum thyroid hormone level increased gradually with the increase in the dose of levothyroxine sodium in groups LS1-4 ( P ＜ 0.05) . The CK-MB activity was significantly higher, while the HSP70 expression lower in groups LS3-4 than in groups LS1-2 (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Preconditioning with levothyroxine sodium 10 μg/100 g can alleviate the myocardial I/R injury in immature rats and does not lead to the increase in the level of thyroid hormone, and the up-regulation of HSP70 and MHCa mRNA expression may be involved in the mechanism.

Accidents, Occupational ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic Poisoning ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Water Pollution, Chemical

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between various complications of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and Chinese medical syndromes, thus indicating distribution laws of Chinese medical syndromes in various complications of CHF patients.

METHODSChinese medical syndrome typing was performed in 630 CHF patients by cross-sectional study of the demographic data, history of present diseases, related information on Chinese medical four diagnostic methods, and the distribution of complications. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation of various complications of CHF patients and Chinese medical syndromes.

RESULTSIn this study, recruited were common complications such as hypertension, diabetes, arrhythmia, hyperlipemia, and cerebral vascular accident, and so on. Main syndromes were sequenced as qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, water retention syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm turbid syndrome, yang deficiency syndrome. Results of Logistic regression analysis indicated that correlation existed between common complications and Chinese medical syndromes. In CHF complicated hypertension patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with hypertension (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated diabetes patients, Logistic regression analysis showed phlegm turbid syndrome and water retention syndrome were positively correlated with diabetes (P < 0.05). In CHF complicated arrhythmia patients, there was no statistical difference in the distribution of each syndrome (P > 0.05). In CHF complicated hyperlipemia patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and water retention syndrome were negatively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.05), while blood stasis syndrome, yin deficiency syndrome, and phlegm turbid syndrome were positively correlated with hyperlipemia (P < 0.01). In CHF complicated cerebral vascular accident patients, Logistic regression analysis showed qi deficiency syndrome and yang deficiency syndrome were negatively correlated with cerebral vascular accident (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere existed certain correlations between complications of CHF and the distribution of main Chinese medical syndromes. It could be used as guidance for treating CHF and its various complications by Chinese medicine and pharmacy.

Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency ; complications ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective To evaluate left ventricular function in patients with hypertensive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HHC)using real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Thirty patients with HHC and 32 control subjects were studied.Full-volume RT-3DE data from apical window were acquired,and regional volumetric time curves of 17 segments were obtained by fast 3-dimensional border detection software.Several left ventricular function parameters were calculated semiautomatically,including global left ventricular end-diastolic volume(EDV),end-systolic volume(ESV),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),the ratio of ESV/EDV of 17 segments,the standard deviation(SD)and difference(Dif)(adjusted by the R-R interval) of time to minimum systolic volume(Tmsv)in 16 segments(Tmsv16-SD and Tmsv16-Dif).Results EDV and ESV were significantly larger in patients with HHC than that in control subjects[(88±29)ml vs (72±15) ml,t=-2.680,P=0.008;(28±10)ml vs (22±6 )ml,t=-2.613,P=0.01].HHC had a higher ratio of ESV/EDV at interventricular septum(IVS)compared with control group[mid-segments of anterior IVS:(40.51±20.28)% vs (26.43±10.10)%,t=-3.378,P=0.002;mid-segments of posterior IVS:(41.44±23.55)% vs (24.46±8.12)%,t=-3.688,P=0.001;apical segments of IVS:(30.96±21.31)% vs (19.53±7.33)%,t=-2.745,P=0.01].In patients with HHC,Tmsv16-SD and Tmsv16-Dif were significantly longer[(2.48±1.38)% vs (1.16±0.26)%,t=-5.117,P＜0.001;(7.67±5.07)% vs (3.95±1.48)%,t=-3.865,P＜0.001].And the prevalence of left ventricular dyssynchrony was higher than that in control subjects(43% vs 3%).Conclusions HHC patients may have regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction before global changes,and have a higher prevalence of left ventricular dyssynchrony.RT-3DE is a useful imaging modality for assessing left ventricular systolic function.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability and validity of the questionnaire we designed for subhealth status survey based on the symptoms described in traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODBy on-the-spot investigation, the recovery rate of the questionnaires was 96.3% and the response rate of the items was 97.2%.

RESULTSInternal consistency reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was high (0.9274-0.9676), and each item was closely associated with its related factors (with Spearman coefficient mostly above 0.6 except for that for bodily symptoms in female). Factor loading was approximately consistent with the structure and content of the questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONThis subhealth status questionnaire can be reliable and effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

BACKGROUNDAtrial fibrillation (AF) is accompanied by atrial structural remodeling. Calpain activity is induced during AF. To test a causal relationship between calpain activation and atrial structural changes, N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Met (ALLM), a calpain inhibitor, was utilized in a canine AF model.

METHODSFifteen dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, control group and calpain inhibitor group; each with 5 dogs. Sustained AF was induced by rapid right atrium pacing at 600 beats per minute for 3 weeks. ALLM was administered at a dosage of 1.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) in the calpain inhibitor group. Three weeks later, the proteolysis, protein expression of TnT and myosin, calpain I localization and expression and structural changes were examined in left atrial free walls, right atrial free walls and the interatrial septum respectively. Atrial size and contractile function were also measured by echocardiography.

RESULTSLong-term rapid atrial pacing induced marked structural changes such as enlarged atrial volume, myolysis, degradation of TnT and myosin, accumulation of glycogen and changes in mitochondrial shape and size, which were paralleled by an increase in calpain activity. The positive correlation between calpain activity and the degree of myolysis (r(s) = 0.90 961, P < 0.0001) was demonstrated. In addition to structural abnormalities, pacing-induced atrial contractile dysfunction was observed in this study. The pacing-induced atrial structural alterations and loss of contractility were partially prevented by the calpain inhibitor ALLM.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of calpain represents key features in the progression towards overt structural remodeling. Calpain inhibitor, ALLM, suppressed the increased calpain activity and reversed structural remodeling caused by sustained atrial fibrillation in the present model. Calpain inhibition may therefore provide a possibility for therapeutic intervention in AF.

Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; pathology ; Calpain ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Myosins ; analysis ; Troponin T ; analysis

Objective This project aims to establish an interactive oral and maxillofacial radiological image annotation database and to analyze its feasibility for implementation into curricula in order to develop a highly effective software for image browsing. Methods We established the interactive image annotation database primarily on the basis of the local net-work and Foxit Reader. A pilot survey was then conducted to determine the performance of the interactive database. Seventy-six students were asked to complete a structured and open questionnaire related to their perceptions of using the database. Simple numeric quantitative and qualitative analyses were then applied. Results A total of 542 portable document format (PDF) digital teaching images and corresponding annotated files were collected. The survey revealed that most of the students found the database useful. Approximately 87.50% of the 64 subjects who compelete questionnaire believed that the database was superior to an older system (joint photographic experts group, JPEG) of image browsing. Conclusion The integration and sharing of teaching resources and the establishment of an internet-based learning platform is the key to realizing a digital medical teaching system. The established database has high potential in a wide range of practical applications.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemic situation,clinical symptom,diagnosis and epidemiological characteristics of human Fasciola gigantica infection in Dali,Yunnan province.It will also provide a scientific basis for fasciolosis control and prevention.Methods Epidemic data were collected and patient's clinical signs and symptoms were studied.Serum soluble antigen of Fasciola gigantica of patients and part of family members and health people in the same village was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the eggs of Fasciola gigantica in stool were observed under microscope.Sequencing and PCR amplification of Fasciola gigantica eggs had been done.Sequencing results were analyzed using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) program of the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the similarity of the two in the sequence of nucleic acid was compared.Furthermore,patients were experimentally given orally therapeutic doses of Triclabendazole 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 daily for 2 days,and kept in the hospital for observation for one week.Moreover,host and vector were investigated in the surrounding ditches of Dali prefecture and Limnaea peregra snail samples were collected.All the snails were squashed by glass sheet in order to detect the cercarie.Cow dung and sheep manure was collected in the Limnaea peregra distribution environment,and the eggs in the feces were checked by microscope after washing and precipitation.Results All the 26 patients had a continued hyperpyrexia with distinct alimentary system symptoms of nausea,vomiting,stomachache,abdominal distension as well as hepatomegaly,sensitive to percussion,different levels of liver damage detected by CT.All the patients had an eaten history of raw Herba Houttuyniae and other aquatic plants,and the course of the disease was similar,with the same epidemiological characteristics.ELISA detection was used in the 26 patients,family members and other healthy population,the results of all the 26 patients were positive(100.0％,26/26) ; the positive rates of the 57 family members and other health people of the same village were 31.6％ (18/57) and 17.1％ (6/35),respectively.The results of sequencing and BLAST program showed that the pathogen was Fasciola gigantica with the similarity between 99％-100％.PCR amplification also confirmed that the eggs were Fasciola gigantica eggs with an approximately 1000 bp band on agarose gel.After treatment with Triclabendazole,body temperature of the patients dropped to normal and symptoms improved markedly.Moreover,329 Limnaea peregra snails were collected including 5 ones with redia and one-tailed cercariae which were preliminary identified as the larva of Fasciola gigantica.There were also eggs of Fasciola gigantica detected in one stool of cattle and one of goat.Conclusions Eating raw food is the leading cause of the onset of the disease.Triclabendazole is the drug of choice to treat Fasciolasis.Health education should be strengthened by government and disease prevention and control departments in order to make the local residents to understand the potential hazard of eating raw aquatic vegetable and drinking unboiled water,which is the key to prevent the occurrence of the disease.