OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation in 145 myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) patients, analyze the correlation between JAK2 V617F mutation and clinical features.

METHODSThe JAK2 V617F mutation was detected by direct DNA sequencing of PCR product and allele-specific PCR respectively. The expression of JAK2, phospho-JAK2 and phospho-STAT5 proteins was determined by Western blot. The clinical data of MPDs patients with or without JAK2 V617F mutation was collected and analyzed for evaluating the clinical significance of JAK2 V617F mutation.

RESULTS1) The frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation for PV, IMF, ET was 92%, 58%, 50% respectively. Compared with conventional DNA sequencing (PV 84%, IMF 44%, ET 39%, respectively), allele-specific PCR exhibited a higher sensitivity in JAK2 V617F mutation detection. 2) The expression levels of phospho-JAK2 and phospho-STAT5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were upregulated significantly in JAK2 V617F-positive patients than in JAK2 V617F negative patients. 3) Compared with the patients with no JAK2 V617F mutation, the JAK2 V 617F-positive patients' features were as follows: older age of onset, higher mean leukocyte counts, lower platelet counts and smaller spleen volume. Frequency of thrombosis events in PT, ET, IMF was 17%, 32%, 16% respectively for JAK2 V617F positive group, and 0% (PV), 16% (ET), 5% (IMF) for JAK2 V617F negative group.

CONCLUSIONSMPDs patients display higher frequency of JAK2 V617F mutation. JAK2 V617F mutation positive patients predispose to a thrombosis tendency.

Female ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the causes of acute respiratory distress (ARDS) after thoracotomy and to find out the measures to prevent ARDS.

METHODSThe characteristics of incidence, pathogenicity and treatment of ARDS after thoracotomy in 31 patients were analysed.

RESULTSThe patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long history of smoking, hypertension were prone to ARDS. Injury to lung in operation, shock and pulmonary infection probably caused ARDS. Clearing away respiratory tract secretion, preserving of a clear airway, controlling pulmonary infection, alleviating pneumonedema by diuresis, early executing tracheotomy or mechanic assistant ventilation by tracheointubation were keys to rescuing patients successfully.

CONCLUSIONSIt is suggested that multi factors were related to ARDS after thoracotomy. Shock, injury to lung in operation, pulmonary infection, are important factors that lead to post-operative ARDS after thoracotomy. Early treatment can reduce mortality of ARDS.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Thoracotomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVESTo investigate if hyperinsulinemia or insulin resistance could predict the elevation of blood pressure in non-diabetic adults.

METHODSOne hundred and seventy non-diabetic adults (NGT 107, IGT 63) were included based on the screen by OGTT in 1986. Height, weight, blood pressure were measured. Plasma glucose and insulin concentration at 0.60 and 120 min during OGTT were determined at baseline. All the subjects were followed for six years with blood pressure and plasma glucose examined at the end of the study. Subjects worsening to diabetes were excluded. Insulin area under-curve (INSAUC) and insulin sensitivity index [IAI = (1/FINS x FPG)] were calculated. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of INSAUC and insulin sensitivity to the elevation of blood pressure.

RESULTSBoth SBP and DBP levels at the end of the study were increased with increased INSAUC baseline. The SBP were (119.5 +/- 2.3), (122.1 +/- 2.5), (129.4 +/- 2.4) and (128.3 +/- 2.6) mmHg, and the DBP were (78.6 +/- 1.6), (79.7 +/- 1.7), (85.2 +/- 1.4) and (84.0 +/- 1.0) mmHg from the lowest to the highest quartiles of INSAUC respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed Age, SBP, DBP, BMI, FINS, INS1h, INSAUC at baseline were positively correlated to blood pressure levels at the end of the study. After the adjustment of Age, sex, BMI, smoking, PG2 h and blood pressure at baseline, the INSAUC was significantly correlated to blood pressure six years later, while the insulin sensitivity index was not.

CONCLUSIONThe compensated hyperinsulinemia based on selective insulin resistance rather than insulin resistance to glucose per se could predict the elevation of blood pressure in nondiabetic adults.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; prevention & control ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose Intolerance ; blood ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; complications ; Hypertension ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of testicular tumor in Mongolian men.

METHODSA retrospective review of 35 cases of testicular tumors in Mongolian men from seven medical centers dated from 1990 to 2004 was performed.

RESULTSThe usual presentation of a testicular tumor was a nodular or painless swelling of one gonad. The mean delay in diagnosis was 40.03 +/- 53.45 weeks. For 16 patients, delay in diagnosis was more than or equal to six months. The histologic composition of this series was 21 (60%) seminoma, 10 (28.6%) nonseminoma, 2 (5.7%) lymphoma, 1 (2.35%) fibroneuroma and 1 (2.35%) leiomyoma. Regarding stage, 22, 2, and 5 of 29 germ cell tumors were seen initially as stage I, II, and III, respectively. Combined therapy, including radical orchiectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, were taken. 29 cases have been followed for 2 months to 10 years, 4 out of them died of distant metastasis, one died of other disease, one lives with tumor, the others live without relapse and metastasis. Three and 5-year survival rates for Mongolian patients with seminoma and nonseminoma were 95.0%, 95.0%, 57.1% and 42.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn this article, the rate of seminoma to germ cell tumors is higher than that of general population. There is an increased mean delay in diagnosis for Mongolian patients. Three and 5-year survival rates for nonseminoma are lower than that for seminoma. Better public awareness regarding testicular tumor in this population, advances in diagnosis and therapy will help to improve therapeutic effectiveness and prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Testicular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of axial rotation of lumbar vertebrae on the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using the traditional method, as well as to assess the value of intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) navigation in improving the accuracy.

METHODSSixteen lumbar simulation models at different degrees of axial rotation (0°, 5°, 10° and 20°), with every four assigned with the same degree, were equally divided into two groups (traditional method group and intraoperative 3D navigation group). Random placement of pedicle screws was carried out, followed by CT scan postoperatively. Then the outer pedicle cortex contours were depicted from reconstructed sectional pedicle images using Photoshop. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was evaluated by determining the interrelationship between screw trajectory and pedicle cortex (qualitative) and measuring the shortest distance from pedicle screw axis to outer cortex of the pedicle (quantitative).

RESULTSEighty pedicle screws were implanted respectively in each group. In traditional method group, statistical difference existed in the accuracy of pedicle screw placement at different axial rotational degrees (P < 0.05). With degrees increasing, the accuracy declined. The accuracy of intraoperative 3D navigation group was higher than traditional method group in vertebrae with axial rotation (P < 0.01). In qualitative evaluation, the accuracy of the two methods had statistical difference when the degree was 20°, and in quantitative evaluation, statistical difference existed in 5°, 10° and 20° of vertebral axial rotation.

CONCLUSIONSScrew malposition can be caused by vertebral axial rotation in lumbar spine using traditional method. Accuracy of pedicle screw placement declines with the increase of axial rotational degrees. However, the accuracy can be improved by using intraoperative 3D navigation.

Bone Screws ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Models, Anatomic ; Rotation ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies distribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 subtypes in unrelated healthy Chinese.

METHODPolymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCRSBT) was used to determine HLA high-resolution genotypes of 825 unrelated healthy Chinese.

RESULTSA total of 25 HLA-B27-positive individuals and 8 HLA-B27 subtypes were detected. These subtypes and their corresponding frequencies were B * 2704 (30.77%) , B * 2705 (23.08%), B * 2707 (19.23%), B * 2711 (7.69%), B * 2712 (7.69%), B * 2701 (3.85%), B * 2713 (3.85%) and B * 2721 (3.85%).

CONCLUSIONThe data obtained through PCR-SBT method may serve as important reference for the research of relationship between HLA-B27 subtypes and some diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of short-term forest bathing on human health.

METHODSTwenty healthy male university students participated as subjects and were randomly divided into two groups of 10. One group was sent on a two-night trip to a broad-leaved evergreen forest, and the other was sent to a city area. Serum cytokine levels reflecting inflammatory and stress response, indicators reflecting oxidative stress, the distribution of leukocyte subsets, and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations were measured before and after the experiment to evaluate the positive health effects of forest environments. A profile of mood states (POMS) evaluation was used to assess changes in mood states.

RESULTSNo significant differences in the baseline values of the indicators were observed between the two groups before the experiment. Subjects exposed to the forest environment showed reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory level, as evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor a levels compared with the urban group. Serum cortisol levels were also lower than in the urban group. Notably, the concentration of plasma ET-1 was much lower in subjects exposed to the forest environment. The POMS evaluation showed that after exposure to the forest environment, subjects had lower scores in the negative subscales, and the score for vigor was increased.

CONCLUSIONForest bathing is beneficial to human health, perhaps through preventive effects related to several pathological factors.

Baths ; China ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Life Style ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Nature ; Recreation ; Stress, Physiological ; Testosterone ; blood ; Trees ; Young Adult

AIM To study the effects of Yizhi Congming Decoction (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Poria,Polygoni multiflori Radix praeparata,etc.) on learning and memory deficits through reducing tau hyperphosphorylation in Aβ-induced AD mice and its mechanism of action.METHODS Sixty ICR mice were randomly and equally assigned into six groups.Sham group (injection of 3 μL normal saline into left hippocampus),model group,donepezil group and each group of Yizhi Congming Decoction (injection of 3 μL Aβ25-35 into left hippocampus).Donepezil group and three treatment groups were gavaged with donepezil and Yizhi Congming Decoction.After 15 days of administration,immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expressions of Ser404 and Thr231.Western blot was performed to evaluate the levels of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K),threonine/serine protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β).RESULTS Yizhi Congming Decoction attenuated the levels of phosphorylated tau at the Thr231 and Ser404 sites in the hippocampus and increased the phosphorylation levels of PI3K,AKT and GSK3β.CONCLUSION Yizhi Congming Decoction effectively provides protection against learning and memory deficits and inhibits hyperphosphorylated tau protein expression in the hippocampus.The possible mechanism may occur via the PI3 K/Akt-dependent GSK3 β signalling pathway.

Objective To investigate the blood pressure change in relation to the evolution of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Methods From 1986 to 1992, 334 subjects with IGT were randomized to placebo, diet, exercise and diet plus exercise intervention groups. No anti-hypertension drug was given to these enrolled subjects. Blood pressure was measured at the beginning and the end of the six-year prospective study. In this analysis these subjects were stratified to seven subgroups based on 2 h plasma glucose (2hPG) level during OGTT at the end of the study: < 7.8,7.8~8.8,8.9~9.9,10.0~11.0,11.1~13.8,13.9~16.6 and≥16.7mmol/L. Blood pressure changes in relation to the evolution of glucose tolerance in these subgroups were compared by least square mean procedure. Results Changes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in average in these seven groups were -2.4,0.6,7.7,4.3,1.7,-2.9and-6.9mm Hg (1mm Hg=0.133kPa), and changes of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were-3.2,3.0,3.3,1.7,-0.7,-1.3 and-3.7mm Hg respectively after controlling for age, sex, BMI at baseline and Δ BMI during the follow-up period. In those subjects with IGT evolved into normal glucose tolerance (NGT) or diabetes, reductions in SBP and DBP were significantly greater than those who retained IGT with 2hPG between 8.9-9.9mmol/L (all P < 0.05 ). In 264 out of the 334 subjects with IGT and blood pressure≥130/80mm Hg at baseline, blood pressure changed more strikingly: changes of SBP in these groups were-5.2,-2.6,5.2,2.3,-2.3,-4.2,-7.6mm Hg, and DBP were -5.0, -3.7,1.5, -2.9, -4.3, - 4.0 and-6.0mm Hg respectively after the adjustment of age, sex, BMI, BMI variation. The reductions of SBP and DBP in subjects whose status of IGT was converted to NGT or diabetes were significantly greater than those with retained IGT and 2hPG between 8.9-9.9mmol/L. Conclusion Blood pressure is increased in the subjects with IGT who retained in the IGT group during the six-year follow-up period in Da-Qing Study. On the contrary, subjects with IGT evolved into NGT or diabetes demonstrate significant reduction of blood pressure.

Cardiac Catheterization ; Heart Arrest ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; complications ; therapy ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; methods