Objective To evaluate the performance of the ABX Micro C-reactive protein(CRP)in determination of CRP.Methods The analytic characteristics including precision,carry-over,linearity, stability,interference and comparability were examined.Results The coefficient of variation(CV)was less than 5.1%,10% and d.3% for within-run,between-run and between-day,respectively.Carryover was less than 1.2%.Whole blood samples held at either room temperature or 4℃ were stable for 48 hours with relative deviation less than 6.0% relatively.Linear range was 1.0-70.0 mg/L using undiluted samples.The comparison between the ABX Micro CRP and Behring Nephelometer Ⅱ was well correlated Both serum:Y=0.996 7X-0.398 5,r~2=0.965 9;serum for BN Ⅱ,whole-blood samples for the ABX Micro CRP:Y=0.908 8X-0.138 2,r~2=0.959 4;both serum and whole-blood samples for the ABX Micro CRP: Y=1.001 7X-0.898 2,r~2=0.952 7.No obvious interference was observed by hyperhemoglobinemia and hyperlipidemia.Conclusion The determination of CRP test with ABX Micro is accurate and reliable.

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenque (CV 8) on the energy metabolism and endocrine metabolism indicators of rats undergoing one-time exhaustive swimming, and to explore the differences between moxibustion at different points in the effects on anti-exercise fatigue. Methods: Forty-eight male SPF rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a non-meridian and non-acupoint group, a Shenshu (BL 23) group, a Zusanli (ST 36) group, and a Shenque (CV 8) group using random number table method, with eight rats in each group. Except for the blank group, rats in the other groups were subjected to replicating the one-time exhaustive model using the weight-bearing swimming experiment. Except for the model group, the other model rats received mild moxibustion immediately after swimming. Rats in the non-meridian and non-acupoint group received mild moxibustion at bilateral subcostal non-meridian and non-acupoint points, those in the Shenshu (BL 23) group received mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23), those in the Zusanli (ST 36) group received mild moxibustion at bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), and those in the Shenque (CV 8) group received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 15 min. Four hours after the exhaustive swimming, femoral artery blood was collected to detect blood lactate (BLA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) levels, and calculate the T/C ratio. Results: Compared with the blank group, rat's serum levels of BLA, LDH, CK, BUN and C in the model group and the non-meridian and non-acupoint group were increased, and serum levels of CRE and T, and T/C ratios were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); compared with the model group and the non-meridian and non-acupoint group, the serum levels of BLA, LDH, CK, BUN and C in the Shenshu (BL 23) group, Zusanli (ST 36) group and Shenque (CV 8) group were decreased, and the serum CRE and T levels, and the T/C ratios were increased (all P<0.01); compared with the Shenshu (BL 23) group, the serum CK level was decreased in the Shenque (CV 8) group (P<0.01), the serum levels of T and C were decreased in the Zusanli (ST 36) group and Shenque (CV 8) group (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the T/C ratio was increased in the Shenque (CV 8) group (P<0.01); compared with the Zusanli (ST 36) group, the serum CK and BUN levels were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the T/C ratio was increased in the Shenque (CV 8) group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenque (CV 8) shows different anti-fatigue effects by regulating the energy metabolism and endocrine metabolism in rats undergoing one-time exhaustive swimming. Moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) is better in promoting energy synthesis. Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) is more effective in regulating synthesis and decomposition of the skeletal muscle proteins.

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between monosymptomatic resting tremor (mRT) and Parkinson's disease (PD) remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to assess the function of presynaptic dopaminergic neurons in patients with mRT by dopamine transporter positron emission tomography (DAT-PET) and to evaluate the utility of clinical features or electrophysiological studies in differential diagnosis.

METHODSThirty-three consecutive patients with mRT were enrolled prospectively. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and electromyography were tested before DAT-PET. Striatal asymmetry index (SAI) was calculated, and a normal DAT-PET was defined as a SAI of <15%. Scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficits (SWEDDs) were diagnosed in patients with a subsequent normal DAT-PET and structural magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTSTwenty-eight mRT patients with a significant reduction in uptake of DAT binding in the striatum were diagnosed with PD, while the remained 5 with a normal DAT-PET scan were SWEDDs. As for UPRDS, the dressing and hygiene score, walking in motor experiences of daily living (Part II) and motor examination (Part III) were significant different between two groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Bilateral tremor was more frequent in the SWEDDs group (P < 0.05). The frequency of resting tremor and the amplitude of postural tremor tend to be higher in the SWEDDs group (P = 0.08 and P = 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSmRT is heterogeneous in presynaptic nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration, which can be determined by DAT-PET brain imaging. Clinical and electrophysiological features may provide clues to distinguish PD from SWEDDs.

Adult ; Aged ; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnosis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Tremor ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the relationship between Modic change and disc height together with lumbar hyperosteogeny and study the role of Modic change in lumbar degeneration.

METHODSThe imaging data of 150 elderly patients with chronic low back pain were analysed retrospectively. All patients underwent MRI and lumbar lateral X-ray examination. The lumbar disc from L1-L2 to L5-S1 were selected for this study, including 750 discs, vertebral and endplate close to disc in 150 patients. The incidence rate of lumbar endplate Modic change, disc height and the degree of vertebral bone hyperplasia were recorded. The ratio of disc height/lumbar intervertebral disc height < 50% was defined as disc collapse. The patients were divided into 4 groups in the basis of imaging changes. Group A1:disc collapse without severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group A2: disc collapse with severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group B1: Neither disc collapse nor severe lumbar hyperosteogeny; Group B2: severe lumbar hyperosteogeny without disc collapse. The incidence rates of Modic change were compared between the 4 groups by χ(2) test. Finally, the influence of disc height and vertebral bone hyperplasia on the incidence rate of Modic change was analysed.

RESULTSFour groups of patients observed a total of 750 discs. The number of intervertebral discs in the group A1 was 208, the incidence rate was 54.3%. The number of intervertebral discs in the group A2 was 135, the incidence rate of group A2 was 34.8%. The number of intervertebral discs in the B1 group was 225, the incidence rate of group B1 was 16.9%. The number of intervertebral discs in the B2 group was 182, the incidence rate of group B2 was 29.7%. There was significant difference of lumbar endplate Modic change incidence rate among the 4 groups(χ(2) = 69.565, P < 0.05). The results of post hoc test showed that the incidence rate of Modic change in group A1 was higher than group A2, B1 and B2 (χ(2) = 12.524, 66.701 and 24.102, P < 0.00714). There was significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group A2 and B1(χ(2) = 15.032, P < 0.00714), but there was no significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group A2 and B2 (χ(2) = 0.945, P > 0.00714) . There was significant difference of Modic change incidence rate between group B2 and group B1 (χ(2) = 9.395, P < 0.00714).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence rate of Modic change with disc collapse but without severe lumbar hyperosteogeny is high in elderly patients with chronic low back pain. There is no significant difference of Modic change incidence between patients with both disc collapse and severe lumbar hyperosteogeny and patients with severe lumbar hyperosteogeny but without disc collapse.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; pathology ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; pathology ; Low Back Pain ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo identify factors associated with YMDD mutation in patients with chronic hepatitis B before and after lamivudine treatment in Zunyi region.

METHODS53 patients with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled in this study, HBV DNA,HBV markers, ALT, AST, TBil, albumin in the serum were examined at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after lamivudine treatment. HBV genotype and YMDD mutation were determined by sequencing before lamivudine treatment. YMDD mutation was checked again if serum HBV DNA rebound to more than 1 x 10(4) copies/ml after the initial decrease.

RESULTSHBV genotype in Zunyi region is constitute of B, C and B+C genotype. YMDD mutation occurred in 18 cases after lamivudine treatment, the rate of YMDD mutation was 15.1%, and 34.0% after 1 year and 2 years treatment. There are four types of mutation: rtL180M/M204V, rtL180M/M204I, rtM204I, rtL180M. rtM204V mutation in C gene was always accompanied by rtL180M mutation (100%). The rate of rtL180M/M204V mutation in genotype C group was significantly higher than that in genotype B group (77.8% to 25.0%), the same was true for the rtL180M/ M204I mutation (22.2% to 12.5%). There was no point mutation in genotype C group. The point mutation of rtM204I and rtL180M appeared only in genotype B group. Gender, nation, family history of hepatitis B and HBeAg were not associated with YMDD mutation (P more than 0.05), while the mutation rate was associated with the disease course and severity of disease. YMDD mutation did not occur in patients with low HBV DNA level (less than 10(5) copies/ml).

CONCLUSIONYMDD mutation after lamivudine therapy is associated with HBV genotype and P gene mutation type, and prolonged treatment increases the the mutation rate. In order to reduce the incidence of YMDD mutation, patients with shorter disease course, lower HBV DNA level, more serious liver damage should be treated with lamivudine.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

We found previously that ACh can significantly inhibit the proliferation of cultured human pituitary adenoma cells. In order to make a further investigation of the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of ACh on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells, we observed the levels of protein kinase C (PKC), [Ca(2+)](i) and cAMP/cGMP in cultured pituitary adenoma cells after treatment with ACh. The results demonstrate that (1) compared with control, PMA, a PKC activator, increased the activity of cytoplasm, membrane and total PKC in human pituitary adenoma cells. However, after a 15-min treatment with ACh (10 micromol/L), a significant reduction of the activity of cytoplasm, membrane and total PKC in human pituitary adenoma cells was observed, and the reduction effect could be blocked by atropine. (2) The level of [Ca(2+)](i) of single adenoma cells was found to decrease immediately on the addition of ACh (10 micromol/L), which could also be blocked by atropine. (3) ACh increased the amount of cAMP in the cytoplasm of human pituitary adenoma cells, but had no effect on that of cGMP. These data provide an important clue to explore the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of ACh on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells, and suggest that the modulating effect of ACh on the proliferation of pituitary adenoma cells results from the interactions of several cellular signaling pathways.
Acetylcholine ; physiology ; Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To explore the role of menin in regulation of SOX4 gene expression. Methods Reporter gene vectors with SOX4 promoter were constructed,and the influence of menin on SOX4 gene promoter activity was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay system.Real-time PCR was employed to detect the expression of SOX4 gene in mef cells of MEN1-/-mice and wild-type mef cells. Results Compared with wild-type mef cells,the SOX4 gene promoter activity was significantly higher in mef cells of MEN1-/-mice.After MEN1 gene was transfected into mef cells of MEN1-/-mice,the SOX4 gene promoter activity significantly descreased.The expression of SOX4 gene in mef cells of MEN1-/-mice was 2.5 time higher than that in wild-type mef cells. Conclusion Menin can inhibit the expression of SOX4 gene.

Objective: To investigate jugular bulb venous oxyg en partial pressure(PjO2)， hemoglobin saturation (SjO2) and the arterial t o jugular bulb venous oxygen content difference(AjDO2) during anesthesia with desflurane and isoflurane in patients with brain tumor. Methods: Fifty-six patients with brain tumor were randomized into desflur ane or isoflurane for maintaining anesthesia. PjO2, SjO2 and AjDO2 in pati ents were measured during normoventilation, hyperventilation and hypoventilation . Results: During normoventilation， SjO2 and PjO2 in desflu rane group was significantly higer than those in isoflurane group（P<0.05 or P<0.01）, and AjDO2 in desflurane group was significantly lower than that in isoflurane group（P<0.05）.Except that PjO2 in desflurane group was si gnificantly higer than that in isoflurane group during hyperventilation （P< 0.01）, there were no differences in SjO2, PjO2 or AjDO2 between the 2 g roups during hyperventilation or hypoventilation. While anesthesia with desflura ne and isoflurane, there was a positive correlation between PaCO2 and SjO2. Conclusion: At the same anesthetic effect concentration, desflur ane can significantly increase SjO2 and PjO2 in comparison to isoflurane un der normoventilation, suggesting that desflurane may have stronger effect of rel axing cerebral vessel than isoflurane.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the radiological change of bilateral paravertebral muscles in degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) and analyze its clinical significance.

METHODSAs a retrospective study, 66 patients with DLS and 66 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were retrospectively enrolled from April 2004 to August 2011 as scoliosis group and lumbar spinal stenosis group, meanwhile 66 health persons with no lumbar spinal stenosis were selected as control group. No significant differences were found in the gender, age and body mass index among the three groups. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and percentage of fat infiltration area (FIA) of the bilateral paravertebral muscles at the L(1)-S(1) levels were measured using T2-weighted axial MRI and Image J software. The measured data were analyzed with a paired t-test.

RESULTSIn the DLS with bilateral symptom group, the mean percentage of FIA of the multifidus muscle on the convex side were 18% ± 4%, 21% ± 4%, 27% ± 4%, 34% ± 6%, 42% ± 10% and on the concave side were 25% ± 8%, 30% ± 7%, 35% ± 7%, 40% ± 10%, 44% ± 8% at L(1-2), L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) and L(5)-S(1) levels, which showed significant differences between the convex side and the concave side (t = 7.95, 9.30, 5.35, 2.78, 2.38, P < 0.05); the mean percentage of FIA of the longissimus muscle on the convex side were 25% ± 9%, 28% ± 8% and on the concave side were 27% ± 9%, 31% ± 9% at L(3-4), L(4-5) levels, which showed significant differences between the convex side and the concave side (t = 2.52, 3.48, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the CSA of both muscles between the concave and convex sides (P > 0.05). In the DLS with unilateral symptom group, the mean percentage of FIA of the multifidus muscle on the convex side were 18% ± 5%, 23% ± 5%, 29% ± 5%, 34% ± 6%, 42% ± 9% and on the concave side were 23% ± 6%, 30% ± 7%, 36% ± 7%, 41% ± 10%, 45% ± 8% at L(1-2), L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) and L(5)-S(1) levels, which showed significant differences between the convex side and the concave side (t = 6.67, 7.96, 6.43, 3.86, 2.15, P < 0.05). There were on significant differences in the CSA of both muscles, and in the percentage of FIA of the longissimus between the concave and convex sides (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere exist asymmetric degeneration in paravertebral muscle in DLS, which have potential clinical importance on the evaluation of curve progression, and muscle degeneration is more often seen in the concave side. Spinal deformity and radiculopathy may contribute to the paravertebral muscle degeneration.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Muscular Atrophy ; pathology ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the prognostic factors on long-term surgical outcome in myringoplasty.

METHODSRetrospective cohort 205 patients (223 ears) with sandwich temporal fascia myringoplasty were analyzed using the multiple logistic regression analysis. The charts of inpatients had undergone myringoplasty before at least 2 years between January 1999 and November 2003 at Beijing Tongren Hospital. Postoperative follow-up rate was 78.2%. Their ages ranged from 12 to 65 years (mean = 34. 3 years). Their durations of disease ranged from 1 month to 25 years (mean = 16.07 months). The effect of prognostic factors on myringoplasty were investigated by variables noted from patients' files such as age, sex, causes of disease, duration of disease, period of dry ear of disease, operation types, places of tympanic membrane perforation, size of tympanic membrane perforation, status of middle ear and status of eardrum.

RESULTSThere were 11 ears with re-perforation of eardrum at the last follow-up. Successful closure of the tympanic membrane perforation was obtained in 95.1% of the ears (212 ears) with 2 to 5 years follow-up. There were 26 ears with other complications at the last follow-up. Operations were successful in 186 patients. The overall take rate of the myringoplasty was 83.4%. Multiple logistic regression analysis (ward) was subsequently carried out on these prognostic factors on overall take rate of the myringoplasty and yielded the following classification. Relative importance of the predictive variables was as follows: size of tympanic membrane perforation (OR = 1.900), duration of disease (OR = 1.003) and period of dry ear of disease (OR = 0.908). Hearing outcomes: the average air-bone gap improvement was 7.0 dB and the average air conduction improvement was 6.8 dB for all 175 myringoplasty procedures.

CONCLUSIONSA long term follow-up was important. Late atelectatic pocket was a late complication and a cause of failure. A relatively smaller tympanic membrane perforation, a relatively shorter duration of disease and a relatively longer period of dry ear of disease were found to be significant prognostic factors positively influencing the success rate of myringoplasty.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myringoplasty ; methods ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; surgery ; Young Adult