Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common clinical disease that seriously threatens human health and life. Accurate location of the upper airway obstruction is the key to the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS. Acoustic pharyngometry uses sound reflection to quickly assess the cross-sectional area and volume of the upper airway. Acoustic pharyngometry represents a simple, quick, non-invasive method for measuring upper airway dimensions which could predict sleep apnea risk. In this article we sought to introduce the application of acoustic pharyngometry in the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS.
Acoustics ; Humans ; Larynx ; Pharynx ; diagnostic imaging ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Syndrome

Objective To investigate the evaluation significance of plasma D-dimer level for the prognosis in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) excluding pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods The patients with AECOPD were collected from the respiration department and emergency internal medicine department of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University during 2007-2011.Thirty-five AECOPD cases of D-dimer positive and excluding PE and lower extremity deep venous thrombus(DVT)by CT angiography served as the experimental group and 35 cases of D-dimer negative as the control group.The differences in the first time hospitalization duration,GOLD grade,mortality rate,re-hospitalization times within 4 years,times of admission to ICU,times of intracheal intubation,rehospitalization and outside-hospital mortality rate were compared between the two groups.The receiver operatingcharacteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the short-term and long-term prognostic capacity of D-dimer.The t test at the follow up end point was used to analyze the D-dimer level in the death group and the survival group.Results The D-dimer level,length of hospital stay,death number of first time hospitalization,times of re-hospitalization,times of admission to ICU,times of intubation,re-hospitalization and outside-hospitalization mortality rate and total mortality rate had statistical differences between the experimental group and the control group(P＜0.05);but the differences in the age,gender and GOLD grade between the two groups had no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The sensitivity of D-dimer＞1 165 μg/L for predicting the death number of the first time hospitalization was 87.5 ％,and the specificity was 80.6 ％.The sensitivity of D-dimer＞ 865μg/L for predicting the mortality rate of re-hospitalization and outerside-hospital was 78.9 ％,and the specificity was 74.5 ％.The survival curve graph during the follow up period in the two groups revealed that the survival time and survival rate had statistical difference between the two groups.The D-dimer level in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group with statistical difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion The D-dimer level is an independent risk factor affecting the short-term and longterm prognosis of AECOPD.

BackgroundPterygium is an ocular surface disease of abnormal cell proliferative kind and angiogenesis plays an important role in its development and recurrence.Several anti-angiogenic therapies have been used to treat pterygium,but there very few studtes for the in vivo observation of the microvessles in pterygium.ObjectiveThis study was to observe angiogenesis in pterygium with a high-resolution confocal microscope in vivo and to perform immunohistochemical study in vitro.MethodsA prospective case-controlled study was designed.Twenty eyes of 20 consecutive patients with primary pterygia and 20 age- and sex-matched patients with inner eye diseases and strabismus with normal conjunctiva were enrolled in this study.An in vivo confocal microscopy imaging system (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph Ⅱ Rostock Cornea Module) was used to collect microvascular pictures from the anterior part of pterygia and normal nasal conjunctiva of controls,and then immunochemistry was performed to examine the expression of CD31 in microvessel in vitro.The vascular density values were compared between these two groups.The correlation of vascular density values between in vivo Heidelberg Retina Tomograph and in vitro immunohistochemistry was calculated.Written informed consent was obtained from pationts before any examination and surgery.ResultsUnder the in vivo confocal microscope,the microvessel density was (8929±2993) μm/mm2 and (4202 ±692)μm/mm2,respectively,in pterygium and the normal conjunctiva group with a statistically significant difference between them (t =6.881,P＜0.01 ).Immunochemistry revealed that the expression of CD31 to measure vascular density was ( 21.00 ± 4.06/400 × field ) and ( 6.07 ± 1.75/400 × field ) in pterygium and the normal conjunctiva group,showing significant difference (t =12.312,P＜0.01 ).Positive correlations were found in the vascular density values between in vivo corneal laser confocal microscopy examination and in vitro immunochemistry examination in both the pterygium group and normal conjunctiva group (pterygium group:r=0.649,P＜0.01 ;normal conjunctiva group: r=0.572,P＜0.01 ) ConclusionsIn vivo confocal microscopy imaging is superior to in vitro immunochemistry in evaluating the microvessel of pterygium.The results of this study offer a new way index for further investigation of the biological behavior of pterygium and its mechanism.

Objective To study the relationship of clinical manifestation and pathological changes and prognosis in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)in children.Methods Clinical and pathological characteristics of 42 children with HSPN were analysed.Among them,40 children were detected of angiotensin-convertion enzyme(ACE)gene and had been followed up.Results Among them,there were 9 cases of level Ⅰof pathological types,21 cases of level Ⅱ,12 cases of level Ⅲ,but no cases of level Ⅳ.Ⅰand Ⅱ level were found in those cases of clinical manifestation with solitary hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological grades were Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ levels in the cases of hematuria and albuminuria.Pathological types of nephrotic syndrome(NS)were Ⅱ and Ⅲ level,which were of more gross hematuria than those of other grades.ACE gene DD had serious pathological damnification.Conclusions Change of pathology cannot only be anticipated by clinical manifestation of HSPN.But if pathological damnification gets more serious,the albuminuria gets more serious.Gross hematuria and albuminuria can serve as indicators of biopsy.NS of ACE DD type have serious pathological damnification.Children with HSPN has favourable prognosis in the future.

Objective To observe the combined poisonous effects of fluoride and aluminum on sex hormone of male rats.Methods Sixteen weaned SD healthy male rats aged two week were selected and divided into control group,aluminum group,fluoride group,fluorine-aluminum group,four rats in each group.All rats in the experimental groups were fed with corn collected from the prevailng areas containing different fluorine contents respectively for 90 days.Serum testosterone(T)and estradiol(E2)were detected.Results Compared separatelv with the control group[(3.317±0.635)μg/L],serum T level of fluorine-aluminum group[(15.994±6.558)μg/L]was higher(P＜0.05),but aluminum[(8.134±3.134)μg/L]and fluorine[(1.868±0.367)μg/L]groups had no significant differences(P＞0.05).Compared separately with the control group[(0.319±0.072)nmol/L],E2 level of the fluorine group[(0.172±0.030)nmol/L]being lower(P＜0.05),and it was not significant differences(P＞0.05)in the control group when compared with aluminum group[(0.282±0.012)nmol/L],and fluorine-aluminum group[(0.265±0.047)nmol/L].Fluorine and aluminum interacted with each other(F=9.82,P＜0.05).Conclusion The combined poisonous effects of fluorine and aluminum may influence sex hormone levels of male rats.

In order to identify the chemical constituents of Yushu tablets comprehensively, we studied the chemical constituents of CHCl3 extract from Yushu tablets by the ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-ion trap-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-IT-TOF/MS). It showed that there were more than 100 compounds separated, and forty-nine peaks among these were identified on the basis of high resolution mass spectrometry data and literature data reported. Determination of twelve peaks was further confirmed by standard substances. These components assigned to the different plant sources mainly included phenylpropanoids, triterpenoids, quinones and m-trihydroxybenzene compounds. By analyzing the chemical components of CHCl3 extract from compound Chinese medicine Yushu tablets comprehensively, this study provided the foundation for studying chemical components, pharmacodynamic substance and quality control of Yushu tablets.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tablets ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Objecfive To investigate the association between the exon 2,3,4 of MHC class Ⅰ chain-related gene-B(MICB)and ulcerative colitis(UC)in Chinese Han.Methods Using polymerase chain reaction single-stranded conformation polymorphism,allele frequency of MICB exon 2,3 and 4 in 105 patients with UC and 213 age and sex matched healthy controls were genotyped.All of the studied individuals were Chinese Han.Results Allele frequency of MICB 0106 was increased in patients with UC as compared with normal controls(19.0%vs 8.9%,P=0.000,Pc＜0.001,OR=2.402,95%CI:1.488-3.879).The frequency of MICB 0106 was increased significantly in patients with extensive colitis (24.4%vs 8.9%,P=0.000,Pc＜0.001,OR=3.294,95%CI:1.800-6.027),moderate and severe disease(24.1%vs 8.9%,P=0.000.Pc＜0.001,OR=3.294 95%CI:1.893-5.576)and in those with extra intestinal manifestations(20.5%vs 8.9%,P=0.002,Pc=0.012,OR=2.626,95%CI:1.418-4.861).Furthermore,MICB 0106 allele was higher in frequency in the male patients with UC (22.1%vs 8.0%,P=0.001,Pc=0.006,OR=3.276,95%CI:1.737-6.178)and the patients more than 40 years old(28.8%vs 8.3%,P=0.000,Pc＜0.001,OR=4.500,95%CI:2.381-8.504)as compared with healthy controls.Conclusion MICB 0106 allele is positively associated with UC,especially with extensive colitis,moderate and severe disease,presence of extra intestinal manifestations,male gender and age of more than 40 years in Chinese Han in Hubei province.

Objective To study the content of volatile oil from old leaves, tender leaves, fallen leaves and seeds of cinnamomum camphora tree in Hunan, China. To prepare and identify the volatile oil of its β-cycoldextrin inclusion compound. Methods The volatile oil was extracted by water-steam distillation. With inclusion rate as the index, trituration method, saturated water solution method and ultrasound method were compared. The optimum conditions were investigated by the orthogonal test. The inclusion compound was identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), ultraviolet visible spectrum (UV-Vis) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results From June to July, the average content of volatile oil extracted from old leaves, tender leaves, fallen leaves and seeds were 1.58%, 1.52%, 0.84% and 1.39%, respectively. The optimum preparation conditions were as follows:the ratio of β-cyclodextrin and volatile oil was 10∶1, the adding water was 4 times and inclusing time was 2 h. Before and after inclusion, the spectrum of TLC and UV-Vis of volatile oil showed no obvious change. The DSC of inclusion compound,β-cycoldextrin, volatile oil and the mixture had significant differences. Conclusion The amount of the volatile oil from old leaves is higher. The optimized condition of inclusion is stable and reasonable.

Objective:To study the protective effect of neoeriocitrin on PC12 cell injury induced by amyloid β protein fragment 25-35 (Aβ 25-35), and explore its role in preventing and treating AD. Methods:The MTT method was used to detect the effect of Neoeriocitrin on the proliferation of normal PC12 cells and Aβ 25-35 damaged PC12 cells, and the intervention concentration of neoeriocitrin solution was screened. The PC12 cells were divided into the normal control group, model group, estradiol group and neoeriocitrin group according to the random number table method. The normal control group and model group were cultured with DMEM for 24 h; DMEM and 1×10 -3 μmol/L estradiol solution were added to the estradiol group; DMEM and 6×10 4 μmol/L neoeriocitrin solution were added to the neoeriocitrin group. After 2 hours of culture, except for the normal control group, the remaining groups were added with 20 μmol/L Aβ 25-35 stock solution, and the culture was continued for 22 h. AnnexinV-FITC/PI double labeling was used to detect apoptosis rate, Western blot method was used to detect estrogen receptor β (estrogen receptor β, ERβ) and p-P38/P38 protein expression. The content of acetylcholine (ACh) was detected, and the activity of Choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) and Acetylcholin esterase (AChE) in the supernatant of PC12 cells were detected. Results:Compared with the model group, the cell apoptosis rate [(8.080 ± 0.578)% vs. (18.500 ± 0.870)%] significantly decreased ( P<0.01), the expression of ERβ protein (0.348 ± 0.042 vs. 0.273 ± 0.006) significantly increased ( P<0.01), p-P38/P38 protein expression (0.372 ± 0.058 vs. 0.571 ± 0.063) significantly decreased ( P<0.01), the content of ACh [(14.319 ± 1.039) μg/mg vs. (9.157 ± 1.605) μg/mg], ChAT activity [(0.715 ± 0.053) U/mg vs. (0.280 ± 0.093) U/mg] significantly increased ( P<0.01), AChE activity [(2.607 ± 2.048) U/mg vs. (6.038 ± 1.867) U/mg] significantly reduced ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Neoeriocitrin can promote the proliferation of PC12 cells damaged by Aβ25-35, inhibit cell apoptosis, and has a certain cytoprotective effect. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of ERβ expression and inhibition of P38 protein phosphorylation, thereby improving the function of the cholinergic system related.