Stroke is one of the major diseases that threaten human health, early diagnosis and treatment are very important for stroke. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is measured noninvasively to diagnosis stroke, and it is a independent predictor for stroke because its thickening can timely predict the incidence and development of stroke. As an important predictor of cardiovascular disease, more and more attention is played on CIMT. In this review, we will make a summary on the important role of CIMT in stroke and the mechanisms of carotid intima-media thickening in stroke as well as the potential use of traditional Chinese medicine in treating carotid intima-media thickening.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Endometrial Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on virologic response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues.Methods Three hundred and thirty-two treatment-naive patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who visited clinic or hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from January 2007 to December 2009 were enrolled and finally 316 patients completed the research.Among them,106 patients were diagnosed with CHB complicated with NAFLD by ultrasonography (NAFLD group),and the remaining 210 patients were diagnosed with simple CHB (CHB group).Patients in both groups were treated with combination therapy of lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or entecavir (ETV) monotherapy for 96 weeks.Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels,virologic response and serological response were compared pre-and post-treatment in both groups.Enumeration data was compared using x2 test,and correlation analysis was performed using Logistic multivariate regression analysis.Results Rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA clearance in the NAFLD group at week 12,24 and 48 were 46.2％,61.3％ and 74.5％,respectively,which were all significantly lower than those in CHB group (61.9％,73.8％ and 83.8％,x2 =7.051,5.195,3.895,respectively; all P＜0.05).However,rates of HBV DNA clearance were 85.8％ in the NAFLD group and 91.9％ in the CHB group at week 96.This difference did not reach the level of significance (x2 =2.838,P＞0.05).Rates of HBeAg loss in the NAFLD group were 27.4％ at week 48 and 37.7％ at week 96,compared to 33.3％ and 44.8％ in the CHB group.There was no significant difference in these two groups (x2 =1.169,1.424,both P＞0.05).Rate of HBeAg seroconversion in the NAFLD group was significantly lower than that in the CHB group at week 96 (17.9％ vs29.5％,x2=4.972,P＜0.05).Rates of ALT normalization were also found to be significantly lower in the NAFLD group than those in the CHB group at week 48 (69.8％ vs 80.5％,P＜0.05) and at week 96 (82.1％ vs 91.0％,P＜0.05).Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that serum levels of triacylglycerol (OR=3.725,P=0.000),uric acid (OR=1.005,P=0.040) and fasting blood-glucose (OR=3.067,P=0.000) were independent risk factors associated with NAFLD.NAFLD was found to be a risk factor of virologic response at each time point throughout the treatment.(week 12,OR=2.749,P=0.001; week 24,OR=1.981,P=0.030; week48,OR=2.348,P=0.021; week 96,OR=8.053,P=0.001).Conclusions During antiviral therapy,NAFLD may affect biochemical and serological responses in CHB patients treated with nucleos(t) ide analogues,and may affect early virologic response in these patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in type 2 diabetes patients, by comparing the sexual function between type 2 diabetic women and non-diabetic women with Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

METHODS115 type 2 diabetic women and 107 age-matched non-diabetes women were enrolled with similar backgrounds. Their sexual functions were evaluated with FSFI. Metabolic parameters such as body mass index, blood lipid profile, hemoglobin A1C, plasma glucose were also collected.

RESULTSTotal score of FSFI of the type 2 diabetic women were significantly lower than that of the non-diabetic controls (18.27±8.96 vs. 23.02±5.78, P=0.000). Scores of the FSFI domains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain) of the type 2 diabetic group were also lower than those of the control group. According to the FSD criterion (FSFI<25) available in China, the percentage of FSD in the type 2 diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (79.2%vs. 55.0%, P<0.001). These trends seemed more prominent in pre-menopause subgroups. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age and diabetes were independent risk factors of FSD. Body Mass Index (BMI) also had influence in the diabetes group.

CONCLUSIONFindings from this study showed that there are more FDS in Chinese type 2 diabetic women than in their non-diabetic counterparts, especially in pre-menopause participants.

Objective To investigate the expression of osteopontin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9),and the relationship of osteopontin and MMP9 in malignant melanoma.Methods Expression of osteopontin and MMP9 was measured by immunohistochemical SP method in 23 patients with primary cuta- neous malignant melanoma,17 patients with metastatic melanoma and 20 patients with pigmented nevus. Results Osteopontin and MMP9 were expressed respectively in 87.5% and 75.0% of 40 malignant melanoma specimens,15.0% and 10.0% of 20 pigmented nevus specimens.The expression of both osteo- pontin and MMP9 was significantly higher (both P＜0.05) in malignant melanoma than in pigmented ne- vus.There was no correlation between the expression of osteopontin and MMP9,with age,sex,lymph node metastasis or location of lesions (P＞0.05).Twenty-nine cases were positive for both osteopontin and MMP9,4 negative for either osteopontin or MMP9.Conclusion Both osteopontin and MMP9 were over- expressed in malignant melanoma,but neither was related to lymph node metastasis.

Objective To establish a closed-chest pulmonary embolism-reperfusion animal model by Swan-Ganz catheter and to explore the mechanisms of pulmonary embolism(PE)-reperfusion injury(RI). Methods Experiments were made on 14 mongrel dogs,ranging in weight from 15 to 18 kg,anesthetized with 3% pentobarbital sodium.The dogs were intubated with I.D.7 endotracheal tubes.Under sterile conditions,a 7 F Swan-Ganz catheter via the external jugular vein was positioned in the unilateral pulmonary diaphragmatic lobe(DL)artery.Occlusion/reperfusion of the DL artery was controlled with 1.2 ml diluted contrast agent filled into/drawn from the balloon.After the 24 h PE,the balloon was deflated to result in 4 h reperfusion of the DL.Measurements of blood gases and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)were made at normal condition,at 24 h PE and at 4 h reperfusion.Thin-section CT scans were performed at normal condition,24 h PE,30 min,1,2,3 and 4 h reperfusion,respectively.At the end of each experiment, tissue specimens of bilateral diaphragmatic lobes were obtained for both wet/dry(W/D)weight ratio and for pathological study.Results Reperfusion pulmonary edema(RPE)was an acute,mixed,noncardiogenic edema that was observed in all 14 dogs who had been successfully established as PE/RI animal models.RPE demonstrated heterogeneous ground-glass opacifications that predominated in the areas distal to the recanalized vessels.It manifested pathologically as an edematous lung infiltrated by inflammatory cells.The mean ofPaO_2 and TNF-? of 4 h reperfusion was(81?4)mm Hg(l mm Hg=0.133 kPa)and(16.0? 2.5)pg/ml,which were significantly different(P

Objective To study the effects of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)decoy oligodeoxynucleotide(ODN)on the preeclamptic umbilical serum induced expression of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)in cultured human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC).Methods Primary cultured HUASMC of normal pregnancy were divided into four groups: group A(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of normal pregnancy);group B(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group C(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B cis decoy ODN 48 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group D(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B scramble ODN 24 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia).NF-?B cis decoy ODN and NF-?B scramble ODN were transfected with cationic lipofectamine to the latter two groups,respectively.The proliferation of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression levels of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA were detected by RT-PCR,the expression levels of TNF-? were detected by western blot.Results(1)The proliferation of group B(0.19?0.02)and group D(0.18?0.03)was significantly increased as compared with those of group A(0.11?0.02)and group C(0.14?20.02)(P0.05).(5)The expression of TNF-? of group B(0.74?0.11),group C(0.36?0.09)and group D(0.79?0.12)were significantly higher than that of group A(0.15?0.03)(P0.05).Conclusions NF-?B cis decoy ODN could down-regulate the proliferation,as well as the expression levels of precollagen and TNF-? of HUASMC induced by umbilical serum of preeclampsia.NF-?B may play an important role in the pathogenesis of placental artery abnormalities in preeclampsia.

Perimenopausal women have a very high risk suffering from dry eye. Local disorder such as inflammation or estrogen deficiency were usually attributed as the main mechanism in recent researches. However, the author believes that comparing with other types of dre eye, there are some others risk factors should be noticed. This article reviewed recent literatures on causes of dry eye in perimenopausal women, including lacrimal gland and conjunctiva dysfunction, hormones deficiency, psychological disorder, systemic diseases, as well as living conditions and personal habits.

Objective To investigate HPV infection and its correlation with the expression of sur- vivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in condyloma acuminatum (CA).Methods HPV6/11 and 16/18 DNA were detected by PCR in 41 cases of CA and 23 specimens of normal skin.The expression of survivin and PCNA was measured by immunohistochemical technique in these two groups. Results The infection rates of HPV6/11 and 16/18 were 87.80% (36/41) and 19.51%(8/41),respective- ly,in CA,and 0 in normal skin epidermis.The expression of survivin and PCNA was found in 53.66% (22/41) and 87.80% (36/41) of CA ,and was 8.70%(2/23)and 47.83% (11/23) in normal skin,respec- tively.The expression of survivin was positively correlated with the high expression of PCNA in CA.The expression of survivin and PCNA was higher in HPV6/11 positive lesions than in HPV6/11 negative lesions. Conclusion HPV infection may up-regulate the expressions of survivin and PCNA,inhibit the apoptosis and promote the proliferation of keratinocytes.

Objective To investigate the association between physical activity and glucose metabolism during the second trimester of pregnancy． Methods A cross－sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to November 2018． 1 083 pregnant women at 20－28 weeks of gestation in Guangzhou，China were recruited into this study． A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographics and lifestyles． Physical activity was assessed by the international physical activity questionnaire． The participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test． Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between physical activity and blood glucose． Logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the association between physical activity and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) ． Results Only 36. 57% of pregnant women met the recommended level of total physical activity． There was a negative correlation ( β= －0. 104， P= 0. 017) between total physical activity and postprandial 2 h blood glucose． Results from different types of physical activities showed that the recreation，sport，and leisure－time physical activity were negatively associated with postprandial 1 h blood glucose ( β = －0. 114，P = 0. 042) ． No significant association was found between either various types of physical activities or sedentary time and GDM． Conclusions Physical activity during mid－pregnancy is inadequate in pregnant women in Guangzhou，China． Higher total physical activity and recreation，sport，and leisure－time physical activity in the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with lower postprandial blood glucose.