OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Yixintai Granule (YG) on mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla of chronic heart failure (CHF) rabbits.

METHODSCHF rat model was established by ear marginal vein injection of adriamycin. Successfully modeled rabbits were divided into the model group, the high (8.4 g/kg), middle (4.2 g/kg), and low dose (2.1 g/kg) YG group, and the Furosemide group (2 mg/kg). Besides, a normal control group was set up. Equal volume of physiological saline was administered to rabbits of the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. YG at different doses was administered to rabbits of the 3 YG groups by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 4 weeks, once per day. After treatment the urine volume and pathomorphological changes of renal medulla tissue were observed. mRNA and its protein expression levels of AQP2 were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the urine volume decreased significantly, mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the urine volume increased significantly, and mRNA and protein expression levels of renal medulla AQP2 decreased significantly in all medicated groups (all P < 0.01). Compared with the low dose YG group, the urine volume significantly increased and the mRNA expression level of renal medulla AQP2 significantly decreased in the middle and high dose YG groups (all P < 0.01). The expression level of AQP2 protein significantly decreased in the high dose YG group (P < 0.01). Pathological changes of the renal medulla was the most obviously seen in the model group. But they were alleviated to various degrees in all medicated groups. They were more obviously attenuated in the middle and high dose YG groups.

CONCLUSIONYG could improve CHF possibly through down-regulating mRNA and protein expression levels of AQP2 in renal medulla, and elevating the urine volume.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIM: To discuss the single application on iris localization technology in excimer laser for the treatment of astigmatism.
METHODS:Totally 203 cases (406 eyes) of laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK ) in the treatment of compound myopic astigmatism patients were operated from November 2011 to November 2012 in our hospital. They were divided into two groups. One was observation group using iris localization and the other was control group using routine operation. Patients in the observation group of 100 cases ( 200 eyes ) , aged 18-43 years old, spherical diopter was - 1. 25 to - 8. 75D, astigmatism was -1. 0 to -3. 25D. In control group, 103 patients ( 206 eyes ) , aged 19-44 years old, spherical diopter was -1. 75-9. 50D, astigmatism was -1. 0 to -3. 25D. The patients in the observation group before the application of WaveScan aberrometer check for iris image, spherical lens, cylindrical lens and astigmatism axis data operation, only single application of iris location, without using wavefront aberration guided technology, laser cutting patterns for conventional LASIK model, spherical, cylindrical mirror and astigmatism axis  RESULTS: Postoperative residual astigmatism, the observation group was significantly better than the control group. Astigmatism axial measurement after operation, the observation group was significantly less than that of the control group. Postoperative visual acuity at 6mo, the observation group was better than that of the control group. The difference was statistically significant.
data source to preoperative wavefront aberration results. The control group received routine LASIK. It was applicated comprehensive optometry optometry respectively to examine astigmatism and axial, based on the computer analysis during the preoperative, 1wk after the operation, and 6mo. Analysis of using SPSS 17 statistical software, it was independent-sample t test between the two groups of residual astigmatism and astigmatism axis.
CONCLUSION: For patients who cannot complete the wavefront aberration guided treatment of astigmatism, can separate the application of wavefront aberration analyzer automatic iris recognition technology to improve precision of astigmatism treatment, give full play to advanced technical performance of equipment, which has good application value.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the allelic frequency distribution and genetic parameters of nine non-CODIS DNA index systems of the short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D2S1772, D6S1043, D7S3048, D8S1132, D11S2368, D12S391, D13S325, D18S1364, and GATA198B05). METHODS: A total of 353 blood samples were collected, extracted, amplified, and analyzed from unrelated healthy individuals of Han nationality in Hunan Province, China. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen alleles were observed in the population with corresponding allelic frequencies ranged from 0.001 0 to 0.323 0. For all the nine non-CODIS STR loci, the observed genotypic data showed no significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The Ho, He, PIC, DP, and PE of the studied non-CODIS STR loci ranged from 0.1080 to 0.1950, 0.8050 to 0.8920, 0.7700 to 0.8600, 0.9250 to 0.9660 and 0.6070 to 0.7800, respectively. CONCLUSION Nine non-CODIS STR loci have high degrees of polymorphisms, which may be useful in individual forensic identification and parentage testing in forensic practice.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Ethnicity/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To investigate the prevalence and incidence of Keshan disease (KD) and the selenium concentration of food and hair in residents of Yongjin Village, Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province, national monitoring site, in 2007. Methods According to the Standard of Keshan Disease Surveillance and the Standard of Diagnosis of Keshan Disease(GB 17021-1997), the residents living in the monitoring site were surveyed by clinical examination and electrocardiography. For individuals whose hearts showed abnormalities, a chest X-ray photograph was taken. The selenium concentrations of the residents' food (flour) and hair were assayed by flowing injection hydride generation atomic fluoremetric method(FI-HG-AFM). Results Nineteen KD patients were found from 282 residents in 2007 KD surveillance. The prevalence of KD, latent KD and chronic KD were 6.7%(19/282), 2.8%(8/282) and 3.9%(11/282), respectively. Five of the 8 latent KD cases were newly found. In addition, there were 5 the suspected KD cases, including 2 suspected chronic KD cases. No acute KD or sub-acute KD patients were found in Yongjin Village at this monitoring site this year. The average selenium concentration of children hair and residents food were (0.3197±0.0586)mg/kg and (0.0210±0.0062)mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions New cases of KD continued to emerge, indicating that etiological factors still exist. Therefore, the emphasis of monitoring KD in furore is founding the consummate report of infectious disease system and training the personnel to increase the reliability of monitoring.

OBJECTIVETo study and evaluate the curative effect and mechanism of Qiangxin Granule (QXG) in intervening chronic heart failure (CHF) rats with Xin-qi deficiency complicated blood stasis and edema syndrome (XQD-BS-ES).

METHODSTotally 72 SD rats of clean grade were randomly divided to the normal control group (n =10) and the model group (n = 62). The XQD-BS-ES rat model was established by adriamycin plus propylthiouracil method. Survived modeled rats were then randomly divided to 5 groups i.e., the model group (n = 11, administered with normal saline by gastrogavage), the Western medicine (WM) group (n =11 , administered with perindopril and hydrochlorothiazide by gastrogavage), the low dose QXG (QXG(L)) group (n = 11, administered with 9.26 g/kg QXG by gastrogavage), the middle dose QXG (QXG(M)) group (n = 11, administered with 18.52 g/kg QXG by gastrogavage), the high dose QXG (QXG(H)) group (n = 11, administered with 37.04 g/kg QXG by gastrogavage). After 4 weeks of treatment, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), urine output, ear temperature, exhaustive swimming test (EST), tri-iodothyronine (T3), tetra-iodothyronine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as heart, lung, liver weight index and their pathological sections, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), angiotensin II (Ang II), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) were detected and compared.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, LVEF, LVFS, BNP, HR, RR, urine output, ear temperature, EST, T3, T4, TSH, HS-CRP, Ang II, and CA125 changed significantly in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group after treatment, LVEF, LVFS, BNP, urine output, EST, T4, heart and liver weight index, HS-CRP, Ang II, CA125 were significantly improved in each QXG group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, TSH was improved in the QXGL and QXG(M) groups (P < 0.05); ear temperature and T3 in the QXG(M) were also improved (P < 0.05); the lung weight index decreased in the QXG(M) and QXG(H) groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the WM group, T4 and CA125 were obviously improved in all QXG groups (P < 0.01); BNP and ear temperature were obviously improved in QXG(L) and QXG(M) groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); LVEF, LVFS and TSH were obviously improved in the QXG(M) group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). And as far as each treatment group, LVEF, LVFS, urine output increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.01); EST obviously increased in QXG(M) and QXG(H) groups (P < 0.01); ear temperature increased in all QXG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, compared with the model group, pathological changes of heart, lung, and liver were improved to some degree in each treatment group, especially in the QXG(M) group.

CONCLUSIONSGood curative effect was shown in each QXG group. QXG could improve LVEF, LVFS and BNP of CHF rats of XQD-BS-ES, as well as T3, T4, TSH, EST, urine output, and ear temperature. Moreover, QXG showed superiority than WM group in this respect.

Angiotensin II ; Animals ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chronic Disease ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Edema ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Syndrome ; Thyrotropin ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate chronic heart failure (CHF) rat model of Xin-qi deficiency complicated blood stasis and edema syndrome (XQD-BSES).

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (Control), the propylthiouracil (PTU) group, the adriamycin (ADR), and the ADR + PTU group. Normal saline was used as equivalent solvent of each group. Rats in the Control group were intragastrically and intraperitoneally injected with normal saline. Rats in the PTU group were intragastrically injected with PTU suspension and intraperitoneally injected with normal saline. Rats in the ADR group were intragastrically injected with ADR solution and intraperitoneally injected with normal saline. And rats in the ADR + PTU group were intragastrically injected with PTU suspension and intraperitoneally injected with ADR solution. The dose of PTU was 0.2% of daily forage weight, once daily. The dose of ADR was 3.5 mg/kg, once per week. The modeling lasted for 6 weeks. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), urine output, ear temperature, exhaustive swimming test (EST), Tri-iodothyronine (T3), tetra-iodothyronine(T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as heart, lung, liver weight indices and their pathological sections were integrated and compared.

RESULTSCompared with the Control group, LVEF, LVFS, BNP, HR, RR, heart, lung, liver weight indices, urine output, ear temperature, EST, and T3, T4, and TSH changed significantly in the ADR group, the PTU group, and the ADR + PTU group with statistical significance (P < 0.05), and pathological changes of heart failure occurred in pathological sections of heart, lung, and liver. Compared with the ADR group, LVEF, LVFS, BNP, and lung, liver weight indices, urine output, ear temperature, T3, T4, and TSH changed significantly in the ADR + PTU group with statistical significance (P < 0.05), and pathological changes of heart failure were more serious in pathological sections of heart, lung, and liver. Compared with the PTU group, LVEF, LVFS, BNP, HR, RR, urine output, EST, T4, heart and lung weight indices changed significantly in the ADR + PTU group with statistical significance (P < 0.05), and pathological changes of heart failure were quite serious in pathological sections of heart, lung, and liver.

CONCLUSIONADR + PTU was an appropriate method to establish CHF rat model of XQD-BSES.

Animals ; Edema ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Judgment ; Models, Animal ; Qi ; Rats ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective:To analyze the meridian and acupoint-selection patterns in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by data mining technique,for exploring acupoints that could be effective for PCOS and providing suggestion and reference in selecting acupoints for the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS.Methods:Literatures related to the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS published before April 2018 were collected.By a self-made data mining program developed using Microsoft Excel 2007,a database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS was then established.The correlation analysis was performed for the frequency of use of acupoints and acupoint groups.Cluster analysis was also conducted.Results:A total of 92 articles were recruited finally.Sanyinjiao (SP 6),Conception Vessel and chest-abdomen region ranked the top on the list of the most frequently used acupoints,meridians and regions,respectively.Correlation analysis showed that the acupoint group with the highest confidence was Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36),and the group with the highest support was Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4).Cluster analysis revealed five effective clusters:Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6);Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25);Zhongji (CV 3),Zusanli (ST 36) and Qihai (CV 6);Xuehai (SP 10),Shenshu (BL 23),Taichong (LR 3) and Guilai (ST 29);Ganshu (BL 18),Taixi (KI 3),Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Pishu (BL 20).Conclusion:According to the confidence and support report,Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Zusanli (ST 36) or Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are recommended in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PCOS,with adjunct points selected for different patterns,e.g.Zhongwan (CV 12) and Tianshu (ST 25) for tonifying spleen and expelling dampness;Zhongji (CV 3) and Qihai (CV 6) for supplementing qi and cultivating blood;Xuehai (SP 10),Shenshu (BL 23),Taichong (LR 3) and Guilai (ST 29) for tonifying kidney and dissolving stasis;Ganshu (BL 18),Taixi (KI 3),Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Pishu (BL 20) for tonifying kidney and spleen and regulating liver.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of tuina at head and abdomen for headache due to phlegm turbidity. Methods:A total of 56 patients with headache due to phlegm turbidity were randomized into a tuina group and a Chinese medicine group by the random number table, with 28 cases in each group. The tuina group was treated mainly with tuina at the head and abdomen, while the Chinese medicine group was treated with oral administration of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction). The course of treatment was 30 d. The scores of headache index, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale, and the therapeutic efficacy were observed. Results:There were 2 dropouts in each group during treatment. The total effective rate was 92.3％ in the tuina group, significantly higher than 76.9％ in the Chinese medicine group (P<0.05). The scores of headache index and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale in both groups decreased after treatment (bothP<0.05), and scores in the tuina group were lower than those in the Chinese medicine group (bothP<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina mainly at head and abdomen is effective in treating headache due to phlegm turbidity, and has a better effect than Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction).

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant lentiviral vector for manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene expression, and observe its effect on the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSChemical methods were employed for synthesis of the MnSOD cDNA sequence sections, along with the attB sites. Target gene fragment was constructed on the pMD-18T vector, and the recombinant plasmid pDONR221 was obtained after BP recombination reaction. Sequencing was followed by LR recombination reaction between the plasmid and DEST to obtain the lentiviral vector, which worked with helper plasmid for co-transfection of human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (293T cells). Amplification was done to determine its titer, and both transfection and selection procedures were made to get two stable transfected esophageal cancer TE-1 cell lines with medium MnSOD expression (TE-1Mm cells) and high MnSOD expression (TE-1Mh cell), and empty vector cell (TE-1Mn cells). Reverse transcription polymerase chine reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the target gene with respect to its expression in the TE-1 cells. Additionally, colorimetric 3-[4,5-dimethy thiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, agar colony formation assay, annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometry experiments were also conducted as to observe the influence of the medium and high MnSOD overexpressions on the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells.

RESULTSRT-PCR indicated that the transfected TE-1 cells showed positive MnSOD expression at different levels. Immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry and Western blot suggested that TE-1Mm cells and TE-1Mh cells had MnSOD protein expression at different levels. MTT assay indicated that TE-1Mm cells had a significantly decreased survival rate compared with that of the two control cells (TE-1 cells and TE-1Mn cells), and TE-1 Mh cells had an significantly increased survival rate (P<0.05). The colony formation ability of TE-1Mm cells was (23.0 +/- 2.7)%, and that of TE-1Mh cells was (45.3 +/- 4.5)%, significantly different form the (34.7 +/- 4.2)% in TE-1 cells and (33.7 +/- 4.7)% in TE-1Mn cells (P<0.05). Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining experiment of the stably transfected cells cultured for 48 h showed that the early apoptosis rate in TE-1Mm cells was (10.6 +/- 1.0)%, significantly higher than (2.6 +/- 0.2)% in the TE-1 cells, (2.5 +/- 0.6)% in the empty vector cells and (1.0 +/- 0.1)% in the TE-1Mh cels (P<0.05). The fluorescence index (FI) of mitochondrial apoptosis of TE-1Mm cells was 0.948 +/- 0.019, significantly lower than that of TE-1 cell (1.000 +/- 0.022) and empty vector The fluorescence index of TE-1Mn cells (0.997 +/- 0.023) and TE-1 cells (1.000 +/- 0.022) were significant different from that of 0.948 +/- 0.019 in TE-1Mm cells and 1.076 +/- 0.022 in TE-1Mh cells, indicating a significant difference of mitochondrial apoptosis between the cell groups. FCM results indicated that the ROS fluorescence index of TE-1Mm cells was 0.859 +/- 0.040, that of TE-1Mh cells was 0.763 +/- 0.039, significantly lower than that of TE-1 cells (1.000 +/- 0. 042) and empty vector cells (1.002 +/- 0.047) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSStably transfected cell lines with MnSOD expression have been successfully established. MnSOD overexpression shows bidirectional effect on the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mitochondria ; pathology ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) can be difficult to diagnose in elderly patients because of the coexistent diseases and the combination of drugs that they have taken. We aimed to compare the clinical diagnostic values of the Wells score, the revised Geneva score and each of them combined with D-dimer for suspected PE in elderly patients.

METHODSThree hundred and thirty-six patients who were admitted for suspected PE were enrolled retrospectively and divided into two groups based on age (≥65 or <65 years old). The Wells and revised Geneva scores were applied to evaluate the clinical probability of PE, and the positive predictive values of both scores were calculated using computed tomography pulmonary arteriography as a gold standard; overall accuracy was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operator characteristic curve; the negative predictive values of D-dimer, the Wells score combined with D-dimer, and the revised Geneva score combined with D-dimer were calculated.

RESULTSNinety-six cases (28.6%) were definitely diagnosed as PE among 336 cases, among them 56 cases (58.3%) were ≥65 years old. The positive predictive values of Wells and revised Geneva scores were 65.8% and 32.4%, respectively (P < 0.05) in the elderly patients; the AUC for the Wells score and the revised Geneva score in elderly was 0.682 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.612-0.746) and 0.655 (95% CI: 0.584-0.722), respectively (P = 0.389). The negative predictive values of D-dimer, the Wells score combined with D-dimer, and the revised Geneva score combined with D-dimer were 93.7%, 100%, and 100% in the elderly, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnostic value of the Wells score was higher than the revised Geneva score for the elderly cases with suspected PE. The combination of either the Wells score or the revised Geneva score with a normal D-dimer concentration is a safe strategy to rule out PE.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies